Fall 2011 Volume 20 • Number 3
Published Quarterly by The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia
Victoria Notary Sabrina Hanousek and her Fabulous Team! INSIDE: Teamwork
Publications Mail Agreement: 40010827 Teamwork! Creating More through Collaboration
As the Number One mortgage broker team with Invis in Canada, we are true team-players. We value our collaboration with BC Notaries and lawyers. We know that working with dedicated professionals throughout the financing process is what creates a great customer experience. No one wants a mortgage! Clients want a home and peace of mind in uncertain times. Invis-Team Rob Regan-Pollock will create the mortgage plan that’s right for your clients. Let our “strength in numbers” take your clients home!
www.invis.ca BC Notaries Are Respected in Their Communities.
What Does it Take to Become a BC Notary Public?
• Strong entrepreneurial and people skills • Fluency in English; other languages an asset • The highest degree of honesty and integrity • Financial backing • University degree and 5 years’ related experience • Dedication to serving the public Those are the characteristics of a BC Notary Public. There are business opportunities for Notaries in various communities throughout British Columbia.
As a BC Notary, you will have the If you have the qualities noted For more information, please opportunity to enjoy a rewarding above, and are looking for a new contact The Society of Notaries career as an independent career path, consider our Master Public of British Columbia businessperson who serves the of Arts in Applied Legal Studies 1-800-663-0343 public, and sets the example (MAALS) program for BC Notaries, or visit our Website of integrity and trust for which conducted through Simon Fraser www.notaries.bc.ca. Notaries are known throughout University. the world. Published by The Society of Notaries Public of BC Photo by: www.franceslitman.com
THE PRESIDENT Of THE SOCIETY COVER STORY Incapacity Planning: The New Law 6 John Eastwood Getting the Job Done . . . with Fun! 38
Creating Effective Teams FEATURES at the Real Estate Institute of BC 30 Brenda Southam CEO/Secretary TMNWRK is KXY! 7 Teamwork Builds Strong Wayne Braid and Healthy Organizations 32 Chuck Salmon KEYNOTE Teamwork Takes Team Work 8 Strengthening the Home Team 34 Val Wilson Garry Gaudet
Teams: The Bigger Picture 10 Teamwork: A View from the Other Side 36 Nigel Atkin Mark McGladrey Teamwork in the Sale and Purchase of Property 13 Tazmeen Woodall
Turning Insight into Vision: Team Work and the SFU MAALS Program for BC Notaries 14 What Does it Take to Become a BC Notary Public? 3 John Whatley The Scrivener: What’s in a Name? 5 Leading the Team to Success! 17 Del Virk Convocation of the Class of 2011 41 BC Notaries’ Annual Fall Conference 2011 Serve Your Clients with Collaborative Alliances 18 and AGM 42 Rhonda Latreille Hassan El Masri Remote Teams 20 Executive Committee and Directors 2011–2012 43 Less “Me,” More “We” 22 Newest Members Donna Van Beek of the BC Notaries’ 25-Year-Club 44
Did You Wake Up This Morning Images from the Fall Conference 2011 45 Intending to Change the World? 24 Profile of a BC Notary: Neal Diamond Linda Manning in Prince George: Busier than Ever! 52 Get Your Team Cooking! 26 Julie Burke Today’s Prince George 54 A Model for Teamwork: PRIVATE RECIPE Living Together In Recovery 28 Baked Bruschetta 55 R. Brent Lang Linda Manning
4 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 Building Be t t e r Communities, On e Gr a n t a t a Ti m e Spotlight on Good Works Published by The Society VCC Student Awards Ceremony 56 of Notaries Public of British Columbia Douglas College Awards 56 Board Appointment 57 Editor-in-Chief Val Wilson The Board of Governors Legal Editors Wayne Braid, Ken Sherk of the Notary Foundation of BC 58 PR and Magazine Akash Sablok, Chair Committee Tammy Morin-Nakashima, Vice Chair Sabrina Hanousek The MiX Kate Manvell Business to Business 9, 27 laurie Salvador Services a BC Notary Can Provide 35 Terry Sidhu EDITOR’S 51 Distribution Amber Rooke LETTERS 59 History of British Columbia: Part 12 The Scrivener History of Vancouver 60 Voice: 604 985-9250 Bob Reid email: [email protected] Real Estate Institute of BC Website: www.notaries.bc.ca/scrivener REIBC’s Annual Recognition Dinner 66 Brenda Southam The Society of Notaries Public of BC Wills & Estates 604 681-4516 Financial Abuse 67 Trevor Todd To send photographs to The Scrivener, Judith Milliken please see the Editor's column on page 51. LAND SURVEYING IN BC All rights reserved. Contents may not be The Subdivision of Land 70 reprinted or reproduced without written Jeff Beddoes permission from the publisher. This journal WELL-BEING is a forum for discussion, not a medium Exercise at the Office 75 of official pronouncement. The Society Catherine D’Aoust does not, in any sense, endorse or accept responsibility for opinions expressed by TECHNOLOGY contributors. Fall Tech 76 Akash Sablok Honours & Events PEOPLE 78 Where in the World has The Scrivener Been? 78 Canada post: Publications mail agreement No. 40010827 The Scrivener: What’s in a Name? Postage Paid at Vancouver, BC “A professional penman, a copyist, a scribe . . . a Notary.” Thus the Return undeliverable Canadian Oxford English Dictionary describes a Scrivener, the craftsman charged Addresses to circulation dept.: with ensuring that the written affairs of others flow smoothly, seamlessly, and accurately. Where a Scrivener must record the files accurately, it’s the The society of notaries Notary whose Seal is bond. public of bc We chose The Scrivener as the name of our magazine to celebrate the Suite 1220 – 625 Howe Street Notary’s role in drafting, communicating, authenticating, and getting the Box 44 facts straight. We strive to publish articles about points of law and the Vancouver, BC V6C 2T6 Notary profession for the education and enjoyment of our members, our [email protected] allied professionals in business, and the public.
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 5 THE PRESIDENT Of THE SOCIETY
John Eastwood
Incapacity Planning: The New Law www.TheBigPictureStudio.com
n September 1 this The Act now places a greater With the exception of routine responsibility on the attorney, financial matters, legal and year, changes were including the following. financial decision-making—which implemented to • To manage the adult’s business previously could be included in O and property prudently a Representation Agreement—has a number of Acts allowing • To keep records been moved to the Power of Attorney, a person to grant decision-making • To act according to the adult's resulting in less confusion as to the wishes, known beliefs, and values authority being granted. authority to another person with • To be aware of the adult's Will or Advance Directive regard the following documents. other testamentary instrument • To keep separate the assets of the The Advance Directive replaces • Powers of Attorney Instruments adult and the assets of the attorney previous health care directives or “Living Wills.” The Advance Directive • Representation Agreements The Power of Attorney now ends if the attorney is a spouse and the is intended to allow adults in BC • Advance Directives marriage/relationship ends, unless the to predetermine what health care This is a brief summary of some document provides otherwise. they may wish to have or not have, of the changes as they affect Representation Agreement at a time when they are no longer capable of giving instructions. BC Notaries and the people of British The changes to the Representation Through the Advance Directive, the Columbia. In the Spring 2012 issue Agreement result in a much improved adult gives legally binding directions of The Scrivener magazine, we will document that is less complex and and guidance to a substitute decision- provide much greater detail about the more readily understood that the initial maker and health care providers. changes under the theme of “Working version. Through a Representation Together.” Agreement, an adult may stipulate Many Advance Directives will Power of Attorney in advance how, when, and by whom address “end of life” decisions and may The Power of Attorney allows an decisions will be made about his or also address specific types of treatments. adult to appoint another person or her health care or personal care, the For example, an adult may not wish persons to act for him or her in legal routine management of his or her to have a particular form of treatment and financial matters. The Power financial affairs, and other matters, or medication regardless of the of Attorney Act has been updated and should the adult become incapable consequences, and may now set out expanded to allow an adult to make of making decisions independently. those details in an Advance Directive. more choices, such as the following. Through this document, the adult appoints a representative or An Advance Directive must be • Does the adult wish to make representatives to assist him or her signed in the presence of 2 witnesses a gift, loan, or charitable gift? to make those decisions. both present with the adult, or only 1 witness if the witness is a BC Notary • Does the adult wish to allow the For use in major health care or a lawyer. attorney to claim compensation decision-making, Enhanced for acting as attorney? If so, that Representation Agreements (Section More information on those must be expressly authorized and 9 Agreements) may now be witnessed changes and samples of the types the amount or rate specified. by 2 witnesses both present with the of forms used are available online. • Does the adult wish to give adult, or by only 1 witness if that Please visit the BC Notaries’ direction regarding investing witness is BC Notary or lawyer. The Website, www.notaries.bc.ca, or the in a manner that is outside the previous requirement for certification BC Government Website, www.ag.gov. Trustee Act? by a lawyer has been removed. bc.ca/incapacity-planning/. s
6 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 CEO/Secretary
Wayne Braid
TMNWRK is KXY! www.wildmanphotography.com
am really pleased to That little story illustrates the Each team should determine the need for everyone who is part of the process through which decisions will welcome you to this issue team to work together; otherwise the be made . . . by majority consensus, of The Scrivener with our objective will never be achieved or, by full committee, by agreement, or I at the very least, it will be delayed. another method—Mark McGladrey’s focus on Teamwork. article notwithstanding because Kode It also illustrates the issue Dog doesn’t speak English! Over these last few months, of communication. I have had the opportunity to view the thoughts and perspectives of our many writers on this subject. Teamwork is an essential part Teamwork is an essential of running a successful business, an part of running important part of engaging others in a successful business, a project, and an integral part of our personal lives, as well. an important part of engaging others in a project, and an integral part of our personal lives, as well.
Over the years, I have had many opportunities to work with various Kode Dog and Mark McGladrey, BCLS, CLS teams, on projects, committees, ©iStockphoto.com/Online Creative Media professional boards, and volunteer Team members must also agree I recall the old typewriter that boards. In my experience, the issue that once a decision has been made, I used when I first entered business of communications was most often everyone will support the decision in the late 1960s. (My children the reason for the team to flounder of the group. Even those who had think that was 800 years ago!) That or struggle. a differing opinion will support the old typewriter reminds me of the team’s decision. For each one of us, as we work importance of teamwork. You see, two on a team, it is important to make When I am working with a team, of the keys did not work. certain we clearly state our objectives I often remember my old typxwrxtxr The old typxwrxtxr was a Rxmingtln and report our issues—pros and and try to remember that it is not in that I had to usx flr many tasks cons—on all the matters surrounding the best interests of the work we must including typing plicixs and mxmls. the mandate . . . the goals, the accomplish to be the one key that Whn, hlxvxr, a couple of kxys insxrted project, the strategic plan, or the doesn’t function or the one that puts slmxthing differnet than what was current topic of discussion facing the entire communication process and being xntxrxd, it wss rxrlly prlblxmatic! the team. project in jeopardy. s
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 7 KEYNOTE
Val Wilson
Teamwork Takes Team Work Photo credit: Louiza Jamoukhanova
e all are members I have a great deal Marilyn’s skills, patient expertise, and of appreciation and respect knowledge of printing technology are of a team . . . at work, for the vision, leadership, pivotal to the success of each issue. and insight of our CEO/ at home, and in our Amber Rooke at The W Secretary Wayne Braid. Society office provides leisure activities. As busy as he is, Wayne Wayne capable administrative notices everything. He has In The Bridge of Teamwork, Braid support. At the end of her 1000 eyes! Lee Colan, PhD, says, “Although email messages to me, members of any team must perform Akash Sablok and the Amber she often writes, “Let me independently, we are connected by Public Relations and Rooke know what else I can do a common goal—to win, to complete Magazine Committee to help.” Every time I see a project on time, to raise great kids, of The Society ably guide those words, I am moved. Amber is to improve returns for shareholders, to Akash the selection of the theme the essence of team spirit! make the world a better place through for each issue. Akash’s Sablok Our printer does a terrific job our product/service...” predecessors of printing and shipping over 9500 Leta Best One of the keys to a great team copies of each issue, on time and and Laurie is forging a relationship between and on budget. Our mailing-house team Salvador among the members that is courteous efficiently applies mailing labels and helped build and considerate. Although the team sends the magazines to Canada Post the magazine members may not always agree, they for the fast delivery of The Scrivener Leta to the Laurie can choose to take the high road and each quarter. Best standing it Salvador adopt an attitude and approach that enjoys today in our province. For my part, I have been are positive and professional. associated with The Society Our Cover Story showcases of Notaries Public of BC since 1992 a superb example of a successful This magazine is the work and became Editor-in-Chief of the team that works together to assist the of a large, cohesive team magazine in 1997. The maxim “Love clients—and has fun in the process! that works remotely . . . what you do and you will never work again” is true. It is my privilege to This magazine is the work not under one roof. steward the publication . . . for 56 of a large, cohesive team that works issues now and counting. remotely . . . not under one roof. The mandate of the publication is Our many talented contributing writers to educate our readers and provide provide intelligent, well-written articles information about noncontentious legal for our themes and the matters in BC and other interesting other features in the and timely topics. magazine. The feedback from the BC professionals who read our magazine I wish to acknowledge and We can thank our graphic is that The Scrivener just keeps getting thank the members of the team artist Marilyn MacDonald better. whose collective input helps create Marilyn for the design and layout The Scrivener each quarter. MacDonald of the publication. Yay, Team! s
8 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 Business to Business
BINFET, RICHARDSON & COMPANY NOTARIES PUBLIC
MEMBER A. W. (BILL) Binfet D.B.A., B.Sc (B.A.), C.I.T.T., R.I.(BC) N.P. KABAN PROTECTIVE Conveyancing • Wills • Attestations Your Security and Protective Specialists Powers of Attorney • Mobile Homes 434 Main Street, Penticton, BC V2A 5C5 Criminal & Civil investigation • Due DiligenCe • Corporate intelligenCe Bus: (250) 492-3110 • Fax: (250) 492-7992 Tel.: 604 251-2121 Fax: 604 251-2323 Toll Free: 1-866-451-2121 104–13229 Henry Ave., Summerland, BC V0H 1Z0 [email protected] • www.kabanpro.com Bus: (250) 494-4044 • Fax (250) 494-4045 Associates in 63 countries E-Mail: [email protected]
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Westcoast Surveys Ltd. Registered member of ASTT of BC
Site surveys for Mortage Purposes
Don and Laura Prokopetz Tel 604 543-8665 Fax 604 543-8610
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 9 Nigel Atkin
Teams: The Bigger Picture
here are many definitions One good example is the well-run Recently, at all levels executive suite where the corporate of government and community for the concept of teams, body is managed by a CEO wise enough involvement, we have watched teams often specific to their to seek counsel from respective minds manifest and expand quickly to deal T of team members well trained and with critical community incidents. purpose and intended goals. experienced in the interdependent The earthquakes, tsunamis, and areas—often involving the legal, Aspects of training, team composition resultant nuclear disasters in Japan; technical, human resources, financial, and cohesion, bonding, and respect the wildfire emergencies in the United cultural, ethical, and communication through understanding of the unified States, in Slave Lake, Alberta, and aspects of decision-making. purpose all come in to play. Northern Ontario; the numerous floods in Manitoba, in Minot, North Dakota, One definition, from an A team becomes more than and elsewhere; and the Alabama and online business dictionary, (www. Joplin tornadoes are a few of many businessdictionary.com), captures the just a collection of people examples. idea that a team is “a group of people when a strong sense with a full set of complementary skills Teams vs. Mobs required to complete a task, job, or of mutual commitment Teams can manifest through clear project. Team members operate with creates synergy… vision, by the intent of purpose and a high degree of interdependence, implemented design. share authority and responsibility for In government, where policy and self-management, are accountable Mobs often erupt through neglect, programs affect regulation, service for collective performance, and work from the lack of forethought, the delivery, and public perception, good toward a common goal and shared lack of good governance, an absence teams—those inclusive of diverse rewards.” of safety nets and valves. Mobs are and critical thinking and a sound often created or readily exploited with A team becomes more than just understanding of consequence—are ideological or criminal intent. a collection of people when a strong a joy to behold. sense of mutual commitment creates Common definitions of the term Good governments, in concert with synergy, thus generating performance “mob” usually focus on the idea their inherent wider citizen interests, greater than the sum of the performance of a highly emotional crowd of people deliver safety, security, and sustainable of its individual members. that pursues a violent or destructive economies, from independent tribal goal. A mob is usually disorderly, even Many of us have had the bands and other communities through chaotic, and its collective intention is opportunity of working in an municipal, regional, provincial, and the one of causing trouble. environment of a good team—in federal institutions, including global business, academia, in government, in alliances and international treaties Lawlessness is an element in the military, in sports, and in the not- with likeminded jurisdictions sharing many definitions of mob. A “mob” for-profit sectors. interdependent and common interests. syndicate in organized crime is
10 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 often a loose affiliation of gangsters, In locations where chaos today can be defined and each member where the idea of “gang” is but an causes misery and hardship, building of the team can embrace with clear association of criminals. teams is one of the ways to a better understanding what the team stands future. In places where no institutions for and its goal. We have also had too many exist because of dictatorship, building examples of mob activity from teams—be they soccer teams, medical In a world witnessing the opportunistic riots in Vancouver, teams, education teams, or governing collapse of both collective totality and London, Manchester, and other councils through public participation— individual greed, Canada represents locations, to more politically driven helps manage and suppress a mob the best of the middle ground, rebellions in the Arab world, to specific mentality and halt a further descent that of a synthesis of freedom and gang-related shootings in British into the abyss of tragedy, crime, democratic socialism, a balanced Columbia. The incidents of mob suffering, and oppression. and often-envied liberalism. Open, activity seem to be increasing. honest sharing of information Winding-down conflict in war The Next 40 Years between and among team members zones often involves creating space creates the productive participation These phenomena—both teams and for communication and collaboration, of all members. The contribution mobs—can be easily viewed in recent a place where a survivor mentality can of experience, data, and knowledge history. evolve into one of planning respective leads to consensual decision-making. futures. The past 40 years of recessions When a decision is made and wars, civil uprisings, and natural and conveyed, trust will create and man-made disasters are well As change continues to more openness and a sense documented. We can also chart the accelerate, history is not of belonging to accomplish the advancements in human rights, the team goal. Participatory planning, spread of democracy, and sustained what should concern us implementation, and leadership economic growth in specialty teams most. More pressing is how create an environment where diversity that fight chaos, promote governance we manage the future. of thought is nurtured, helps manage and economic development, and risk, and allows for flexibility to change advance human rights, communication, as needed. and the rule of law. In both Iraq and Afghanistan today, many more individuals and As change continues to nascent institutions can vision the When a team functions well, accelerate, history is not what should longer-term benefits of planning. there is a positive sense of belonging. concern us most. More pressing is Teams have been built in those places. In our communities, there is always how we manage the future. History is Hundreds of thousands of individuals a need to widen the circle, to be more an admittedly important continuum have had the opportunity to improve inclusive to include more youth, our that helps us predict possible their collective and individual futures. First Nations elders, and the many futures with measured certainty. It Whether war once again trumps good newcomers to our society. is an excellent guide where human work is always a question. Can the Communicating to members, nature stays basically the same but teams deliver what the people need or reinforcing team goals, and offering technology advances to change the will the mobs rule? positive feedback provide way humans interact—in government, immeasurable results as teams in war, in commerce, in all aspects Support for Collaboration are redeveloped for sustainable of our lives. In British Columbia and Canada as growth, for policing and security, a whole, support for collaboration for emergency preparedness, and What should concern us more is is the key element to building and for economic prosperity. our future—the next 40 years and maintaining teams. While many of us beyond. That’s where our choices lie. know this and take collaboration As we listen and engage our young Will our future be dominated by teams as a given, many people do not or mobs? people who will always continue to understand or have never witnessed lead in technological advances; as It depends. In an extreme, a failed state or a truly dysfunctional we listen to aboriginal elders who the future could manifest in the society. excel in organizing their communities, totality of fascism versus an Humanity is often considered who have well-tested and proven ongoing insurgency in a wide variety a constant flow, like a river; young survival skills, and who understand of combinations. Untended, neglected people, indeed all people, need good the ways of working with nature; and through ignorance, or developed by education and training, role models to as we dialogue with new Canadians, design, both those extremes have emulate, and positive traditions to follow. we can tap their experience and existed throughout history; the seeds wisdom gained outside our borders for both are still well planted in the Collaboration’s primary tool is to everyone’s benefit, as we face what human psyche. communication where a team’s vision looms in the next exciting 40 years.
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 11 MPW-393 Philip Francis ads:Risk 4.9375 x 4.75 6/14/2011 12:31 PM Page 1
Rules of Law Communicating clear rules of team “Risk comes from behaviour is also a hallmark of excellent team management. This not knowing what is true on all teams. In international development and in working with you are doing.” young people on any sports team, their conduct such as attendance, open discussion, constructive — Warren Buffett criticism, and the inclusion of everyone working as part of the same team is important. In today's volatile financial markets, risk comes in many different forms including: In Western democracies such • higher interest rates • adverse currency movements as we enjoy and nurture in Canada, • falling commodity prices • rising inflation the “rule of law” is not an “arid • credit concerns • stock market weakness. legal doctrine but the foundation We help you understand what risks you're taking and how to manage them. of a fair and just society, a guarantee It's what we do best. Come and talk to us. of responsible government, and an important contributor to economic Philip Francis, CIM, FCSI, Ch.P. Strategic Wealth®, Investment Advisor growth.” Tom Bingham, Britain’s 604 640 0209 | [email protected] | philipfrancis.ca former senior Law Lord, quotes Aristotle in his brief but excellent Macquarie Private Wealth book, The Rule of Law (2010), “it No entity within the Macquarie Group of Companies is registered as a bank or an authorized foreign bank in Canada under the Bank Act, S.C. 1991, c. 46 is better for the law to rule than one and no entity within the Macquarie Group of Companies is regulated in Canada as a financial institution, bank holding company or an insurance holding company. Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 (MBL) is a company incorporated in Australia and authorized under the Banking Act 1959 (Australia) of the citizens…so even the guardians to conduct banking business in Australia. MBL is not authorized to conduct business in Canada. No entity within the Macquarie Group of Companies other than MBL is an authorized deposit-taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Australia), and their obligations do not represent deposits of the laws are obeying the laws.” or other liabilities of MBL. MBL does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of any other Macquarie Group company. Macquarie Private Wealth Inc. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and IIROC. Mobs manifest in many forms when teams are in disarray, when teams fail to communicate or evolve with the times, or when the law is not understood or followed by those who pass the laws or not practised by corrupt officials who administer them. Clear rules of behaviour are derived from the rule of law. Bingham’s very readable tome, the winner of the Orwell Prize for Best Political Book for 2011, is timely and useful to leaders who need inspiration as to why we have rules in our societies. Bingham provides literate and moral support to those building successful teams, at all levels in society. A sound understanding of history, Lifting children from sorrow and despair the consequences of human nature as it embraces empowering technology, to smiles and hope. and a clear understanding of the rule At Lift the Children our mission is to seek out the world’s most destitute children of law will help leaders steer society and provide them with a loving home, as well as the training and inspiration away from chaos to a betterment they need to become self-sufficient young adults. We currently support of teams. s 51 orphanages across Africa. Eight members of our team will be working at 3 of them in Nairobi, Kenya, from November 15 to December 7. Nigel Atkin is a university instructor R. Brent Lang: 604 789-3700 • [email protected] and international development We invite you to join us in the rewarding endeavour. consultant specializing in strategy, communication, and ethics. www.liftthechildren.org [email protected]
12 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 Tazmeen Woodall A Legacy Gift to Canuck Place helps children embrace life Teamwork in the Sale and Purchase of Property
strong team of service providers is of utmost importance in the sale or purchase of a home. A Many allied professionals in British Columbia work together in the sale or purchase of a property. The members of the team include land surveyors, real estate professionals, appraisers, home inspectors, mortgage brokers, banks and other financial institutions, and BC Notaries and/or lawyers. To make the experience as pleasant and as seamless as possible, teamwork among the professional players is required. A home is, after all, the most expensive purchase most of us will ever make. We all want it to go well. From a Realtor’s point of view, once a contract of purchase and sale is successfully negotiated, a number of steps must be executed to achieve a smooth and successful culmination. The listing and selling agents, together with their respective clients, coordinate the “due diligence” period, also known as fulfilling the “condition/subject to” clauses. For example, the agents assist with the home inspection and the access to the property for bank appraisal purposes. When the subjects and conditions are removed, contract documents are forwarded to the legal representatives of the buyer and seller. The Notary or lawyer reviews the contract, draws up the documents for registration at the Land Title office, disburses funds on behalf of the buyer and/or the seller, and ensures the contract or transaction is completed without delay. Good teamwork makes it happen in a timely and professional manner. s Tazmeen Woodall is an experienced real estate professional who lives and works on Vancouver’s North Shore. A staunch supporter of the Kidney Foundation, she loves to travel and takes pride in making an everlasting difference in the lives For more information, call 604.731.4847 of those around her. www.canuckplace.org Voice: 604 988-2449 [email protected] www.tazmeenwoodall.com
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 13 John Whatley
Turning Insight into Vision: Team Work and the SFU MAALS Program for BC Notaries
hile “team work” degree of team work and continues in The strategic players that way. With its 2011 CAUCE award were Wayne Braid, is heard often in (Canadian Association for University Chief Executive Officer/ business culture, you’ll Continuing Education), the MAALS Secretary of the W degree is now enough of a success BC Notaries; Rob not hear it much in a university. that it could be studied by anyone Gordon, Professor interested in team-building or project of Criminology and In disciplines like the humanities Wayne Braid management—and it makes an Director of the and social sciences, a more interesting narrative in its own right. well-known School individualistic and contrarian ethic of Criminology at applies. An instructor of English SFU; Professor literature, say, would not be caught this The program was developed of Criminology David side of the grave quoting from Maginn’s MacAlister; Professor Making Teams Work, at least not without in 2007–2008 with a high of Criminology attaching a lot of witty qualifiers.1 degree of team work and Neil Boyd, Chair Rob Gordon There are exceptions—large- continues in that way. of Graduate Studies scale science research projects in in Criminology; and in Physics, team-teaching in Education, The program was the result a lesser role, myself or the theory of athletic teams in of a complex interaction among three as a CODE program 2 Kinesiology—but these are exceptions institutions. director. proving the rule. Something of this distrust of the term “team” filters into • Two are within SFU: The School The motive for this David university administrative units, even of Criminology and the SFU team-building occurred MacAlister though they likely practise the art Centre for Online and Distance when insight turned into of team work most of the time. Education (CODE). vision.
The new MA in Applied Legal • The third, The Society of Notaries This was the Studies for BC Notaries, offered by Public of BC, is exterior to insight: Notaries were the SFU School of Criminology, is SFU and provided the initial performing work that another exception. The program was gateway for the project, plus the went unrecognized. Neil Boyd developed in 2007–2008 with a high important initial funding. Getting these institutions together was 2 A number of other members of the team played key roles: Roxanne Jantzi and 1 Michael Maginn, Making Teams Work, a complicated business, but it worked and was successful. Tania St. John of Criminology; Peter Kou, McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing, Greg Holoboff, and Hope Miller of CODE; Blacklick, OH, USA, 2003; some other and Marny Morin of the BC Society of texts include Donna Deeprose, Making All three have quite different Notaries. Without them and their dedicated Teams Work: How to Form, Measure, cultures and agendas. How did it work, the program would not have been and Transition Today’s Teams. Amacom, happen? How did such a successful launched. 2001. Frank M. J. LaFasto, When Teams Work Best, Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage team develop from these different CODE is the acronym for the SFU Centre Publications, 2001. orientations? for Online and Distance Education.
14 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 • They had a professional approach. Applied Legal Studies. In that same Applied Legal Studies for Notaries ever • They were well trained and knew year, SFU’s CODE began development developed. a great deal. of 7 online courses for the program. In the Summer of 2008, full SFU An anecdote may shed another • They were valuable for drawing Senate approval was received; the SFU light on how this successful viable contracts, Wills, and Board of Governors assent followed team was formed. I was called to mortgages. shortly after. make a presentation to the first cohort of students. After 2 years • They performed sophisticated CEO Wayne Braid and his staff of administrative development to get analysis of claims to property. evaluated and proposed an initial the program ready, there they were • They had developed an ethical cohort; it was approved through the . . . the first live beings in the program code of conduct and officers for SFU graduate committee in Criminology. arranged in front of me. My task was policing it. In August 2008, 23 students were simple: Communicate solutions to any accepted for the first cohort. On problems that had developed and show • They performed research that September 4, the program was launched students what was upcoming for them came with legal responsibilities. at the SFU Surrey campus. online in the final 2 semesters of their Yet they were treated as slightly MA. Straightforward enough. less than a profession—they were seen But during the presentation, as something like “para-professionals.” The standard of academic qualification and level something dawned on me: I was In the 2005 period, Rob Gordon part of a definitively pragmatic and Wayne Braid discussed the matter of work expected of students university program. Instead of shaping and insight began to form into a vision was high. a student’s insights into Atwood, about a graduate program. It was Shelley, or aesthetic theory, I had Wayne Braid’s vision to increase the helped create a graduate program that academic standard and requirements; The standard of academic would result in a career. And it would it was Rob Gordon’s vision to make it qualification and level of work be a good career—more guaranteed happen within the University. expected of students was high. than most. A career that, if the Courses included the following. candidates applied their energies and • A required MA in Applied Legal new education, could make a new life. Studies for Notaries could • Theoretical work in Canadian law decisively change the image • Contract law Our project’s essence became of a Notary Public in British crystal clear to me: We had developed Columbia. • Research in legislation and legal something immediately useful. precedent • The requirement of the MA would This grasp of the team’s raison clarify the tasks required • Theory and practice of real was behind the effective team work of a Notary Public. property that made the project a success. The team work manuals and textbooks all • The philosophy of law • It would outline an educative stress this. “If the team can’t ‘see’ project and the learning curve • Laws of succession, transfer it, the team can’t do it” (14), said of a candidate that would of property, Wills, Powers Maginn. For Robbins and Finley, the be on par with many of the of Attorney team vision “is not really words at professions—including lawyers. all. It is a burning thought, and it • The business and legal side of the • It could make what was exists solely in the heads (and hearts) profession 3 considered a limited profession of the team.” Participants, in all into a fully accepted profession. There was to be a research project their individualistic variety, must have A candidate, having completed in the last course and a stringent final this moment, the singular vision of an the MA and the provincial exams, exam. From Fall 2008 to Fall 2009, outcome . . . an epiphany, if you would now enter a career and be the first cohort, now at 17 students, will—and it must come individually. on an equal footing with other completed all 10 courses in the Despite the library of manuals professionals. program. and theory, though, I doubt anyone The setting of foundations for the In Fall 2009, a second cohort can take training to arrive at it. program began in 2006 when, after of 24 students entered the program, To form a team without force or extensive discussion with Wayne Braid, followed in 2010 by a third cohort Professors Gordon and MacAlister of the same number. In June 2010, 3 Robbins, Harvey, and Michael Finley. put forward a Notice of Intent to the the first cohort passed through the “Chapter 13 – Faulty Vision.” The New Simon Fraser University Senate. The SFU Summer graduation ceremony Why Teams Don’t Work: What Goes Wrong and How to Make it Right. Berrett-Koehler Senate quickly approved the NOI for on Burnaby Mountain. Seventeen Publishers, © 2000. Books 24x7. Web. the development of a 10-course MA in students received the first MA in Aug. 31, 2011.
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 15 manipulation and to work together a complicated set of differences to excellently requires something more get there because we had a common than manuals. People need to have the vision. In the end, we walked away initial grasp—achieved through their with the yearly award for programming own creative and free insight—of the excellence, given by CAUCE. reasons for the team work. The award was In our case, that part simply accepted at occurred with no “team retreat,” no St. Michael’s whiteboards with snappy aphorisms, Campus, and no leader trained in motivational Brennan techniques. It occurred because giving Hall, at the BC Notaries a chance at a graduate University education was such a good idea. of Toronto in June 2011. When Professor MacAlister worked Creative, with Professor Gordon to get the informed team John with the project through all the hoops of the work made us 2011 CAUCE award SFU Senate proposal, they were award winners and continues to do successful because they saw the value so. We are helping change the image of what they were planning; their work of the Notaries in BC to reflect their was energized by a concrete image dedication and the difficulties of the of an outcome. work they perform—they can now be From his perspective, Rob Gordon considered members of a profession. It saw that the high standard of work will not be long, we hope, before that in the MA was vitally necessary. becomes the official portrait. s Both Wayne and Rob saw the larger vision, which allowed them to work Program Director at CODE together even through different lenses, (Centre for Online and Distance viewpoints, management styles, and Education), Dr. Whatley is responsible agendas. for the development and supervision When Marny Morin revised of distance and online programs in standard Society of Notaries’ course English, Criminology, Humanities, and materials to fit an German at Simon Fraser University. In MA degree, she addition, he is responsible for external saw a difficulty and programming at CODE. He has held this overcame it because position since 1996. He was a Lecturer she also saw the in the Department of English at SFU and outcome. Each a Lektor in the Fachbereich Anglistik Marny individual instructor at Justus Liebig University in Hessen, Morin who developed specific Germany. He has published articles on courses in the MA—some practising both literary subjects and in distance lawyers and some professional academics—was infused, in my education. In Literature his interests experience, with a similar insight.4 include Romantic and Gothic Literature, They recognized they were constructing Crime and Literature, the literary essay, something new and of real value, and and the relation between the social the value was always evident to them. sciences and literary criticism. He is currently at work on a textbook, Voicing The team for this project came together over about 2 years and the Essay, about the plurality of voices has continued to the present. As in the literary essay. I think I’ve shown, we negotiated Voice: 778 782-4354, x 8138 [email protected] 4 George Cadman, Tony Wilson, Neil Boyd, www.sfu.ca/~whatley David MacAlister, Todd McKendrick, Marny Morin, Graeme Bowbrick, Peter Ramsay, For further information on the SFU and Rob Gordon make up the program’s initial faculty. David Bilinsky and Ron MA in Applied Legal Studies, please visit Usher have joined the faculty recently. http://www.sfu.ca/notaries/.
16 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 Del Virk
Leading the Team to Success!
• Trademark Prosecution, eam work is a concept individual team member, assign tasks Registration, accordingly, and encourage each Opposition, and where all members of the participant to be the very best he or Tteam work to achieve she can be. Expungement a common goal. The leader must utilize people’s Proceedings strengths without creating friction A challenge for the leader is to or resentment and make sure each get everyone to pull together and person feels respected and an equally • Trade Name function as a team instead of going in important part of the team. separate directions. One way to foster and Trademark team work is to engage the members in activities that require them to work A challenge for the leader Searches together. Activities can be physical is to get everyone to pull in nature or require the use of team together and function as brainpower to solve problems and • Corporate Name a team instead of going in overcome obstacles. Reservations Fun activities such as sports can separate directions. encourage team members to become comfortable with each other. Informal The leader must be able to social activities allow them to relax communicate the role of each member Box 12109 and develop the rapport necessary to of the project effectively and clearly. 2200–555 West Hastings Street function as a unit. The team’s collective effort makes the Vancouver, BC V6B 4N6 Other activities that help build task complete and whole. effective teams include helping to With team work, a good team can organize events such as fundraising achieve lofty goals. The job is well Phone: 604 687-7432 for a worthy cause . . . sport camps, done when all members of the team Fax: 604 687-3478 hospital “runs,” events to raise feel they have put their best efforts money for cancer research, and so into the task and they are proud [email protected] on. Those activities make people feel of their work. s good about what they are doing. As Del Virk was commissioned as they work together, they learn from Specializing each other and have the opportunity a BC Notary in 1998. He is Vice to discover abilities that can be used President of The Society of Notaries in Trademarks constructively in current and future Public of BC and a former Parks Board adventures. Commissioner for City of Surrey. since 1983 The role of the team leader Voice: 604 953-0500 is to recognize the talents of the [email protected]
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 17 Rhonda Latreille
Serve Your Clients with Collaborative Alliances
t was my first management processing of an often confusing It was Tim Stiles’ fault. As the and difficult life passage; they local Director of Probation, he brought job out of university, and didn’t see the unprecedented levels together all the people who had what I lacked in experience of collaboration and teamwork that a stake in the future of the young I went on behind the scenes to make people and, through his example, I made up for with eagerness the program come together. modelled how it can be done. Personal and energy. agendas were checked at the door, each individual participant’s value I look back at that opportunity and So before I had a chance to was acknowledged and respected, realize that experience ruined me for become jaded or cynical, successes were celebrated, and the rest of my career. I was exposed to the power above all, the needs of the youth were I was hired by the John placed as the central focus of each of collaboration, of working discussion. Howard Society to run a pilot together for a common goal. program for youth in trouble with Silos, territories, and personal the law—a program that diverted fiefdoms were temporarily dissolved; teenagers from the court system to The second year into the 3-year we established a system that removed the community system. pilot funding, a representative from the redundancies and crossed traditional federal government came to Nanaimo Rather than standing before reporting structures. It worked. I have to see why this little program seemed a judge, first offenders came to this been privileged to engage in those types to be working so well. He was shocked program to face the toughest judge of collaborative initiatives many times. to witness the collaboration among and jury of all—a jury of their own the RCMP, Crown Counsel’s office, I have heard the objection that community members. A mother from District Probation, Boys and Girls Club, those examples are social programs down the street, a local teacher, or Community Support Services, the but, in the real business world, there perhaps even the real estate agent Alternative School, the community at is a tough environment of competition, who lives next door would hear the large, and the John Howard Society. not collaboration. Are the two really teen’s story in his or her own words mutually exclusive? and—based on the interview and the As I was giving this government facts from the police report—would official a ride to the Nanaimo airport It might just depend on how we determine what Johnny or Susie would for his return flight to Ottawa, he experience competition and define have to do to make restitution . . . not just had to ask, “How is it that you success. One viewpoint puts all the to a “system” but to a community that are all getting along?” To which, my attention on yourself and the other had been violated. completely innocent, sincere, and guy; the second puts all the attention naïve reply was, “I guess no one told on the customer or client experience. And frankly, they were a much us not to.” more formidable force than a lone When the attention is on ourselves judge who had heard it all before. So before I had a chance to and where we are, relative to “the It was a powerful and successful become jaded or cynical, I was other guy,” success is usually defined program. The teens and their parents exposed to the power of collaboration, by eliminating the other guy and faced a fairly seamless and timely of working together for a common goal. ultimately winning as the last man
18 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 standing. It takes a lot of energy to • Can you list 17 related professional keep track and tally the score; I would services that your clients utilize in suggest with that perspective, little addition to your own? energy is left to identify or respond to Open Your Doors your customers’ needs. • What related services are they likely to need and what referrals If, on the other hand, your can you make with confidence? to a New Wave experience of competition focused more on competing with your own • Who are the professionals in of Customers! standard and continually raising the your community most likely to come into contact with your ideal bar of your own performance, the The Boomer-Senior Market definition of success then becomes clients, especially at a key point the provision of exceptional customer in their life when they are most Wants to Do Business in need of your services? service that truly responds to the with People They Trust . . . needs of your marketplace. It isn’t just about making or People Who The first perspective keeps your receiving a referral. Your work with world limited and small while you other professionals could include joint Have Taken the Time work against something, whereas the projects, promotions, presentations, to Learn about Their Needs! second perspective opens up a world education, and client appreciation of opportunities and potential, while events. When you work together with you work for something. other professionals in your community, We Have Helped your clients get to meet them, and Thousands of Businesses Grow There is a famous and often- their clients are introduced to you and quoted story about Mother Teresa. She your services. by Teaching was asked one day if she would join in What Boomers and Seniors Want a march against the war in Vietnam. Collaborative business practices “No, but if you have a march for are established through diligence, and peace, I’ll be there.” commitment to common goals How They Wish to Be Treated! and objectives, clarification So take a moment to consider what of expectations, planning, follow- Call Us Today you are for and consider the powerful through, and ultimately, respect and to Learn force you can generate when working trust. With the right training and the collaboratively with other professionals right support systems, those types How We Can Help who are for the same thing. of alliances can offer powerful ways Your Business Grow! to build your business and enjoy It not only takes a community to exponential growth, without having raise a child, it takes a community to to kill a single competitor. operate a successful business. Imagine your collaborative Larry, a life insurance agent, business community . . . ? s experienced first-hand the power of collaborative business practices. Rhonda Latreille, MBA, CPCA, is the After training to learn more about founder of Age-Friendly Business®. the needs of an aging client base, he Inspired by the UN-endorsed Age- looked outward to see how he could Friendly City initiative, Rhonda expanded collaborate with other professionals to offer an exceptional client this vision to include a curriculum, experience to a maturing market. certification, and celebration of businesses and professionals He identified 17 other professions Founder, that serve the 50+ population, who have made the commitment to Rhonda Latreille, MBA, CPCA and established a referring alliance better understand and serve an aging of services—creating a one-stop population. Their purple-wave logo—The source for a maturing customer. Age Wave—is becoming a symbol In 1 year, he took his solo business worldwide of service excellence for the annual revenues from $60,000 to 50+ population. For information about $300,000 and was positioned for professional certification, please go to a 7-figure income in the next year. www.CPCAcanada.com. 1-877-272-8086 Your clients have a constellation Voice: 1-877-272-7575 www.CPCAcanada.com of needs. [email protected]
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 19 Remote Teams
One of the key things that Despite the myriad benefits associated A More Productive Workforce with remote working, the biggest A change in team dynamics can attracts people to a job roadblock seems to be support be positive. Almost half the HR from management. Only 33 percent is having it contribute to professional respondents believed “ of the survey respondents said their that working remotely at least some their overall work-life balance,” workplaces are currently considered of the time is linked to an increase “friendly” for the remote worker. says Peter Harris, in productivity.
content manager Note: The proportion of respondents for the employment Despite the myriad benefits who believe remote working at Website Workopolis. associated with remote least some of the time is linked to working, the biggest increased productivity was higher Peter Harris among respondents who were younger “Companies that roadblock seems to be offer flexible scheduling, the option HR professionals vs. executive level of telecommuting, and the option to work support from management. HR professionals—61 vs. 38 percent. from home really have an advantage Says Rhonda Latreille, founder when it comes to recruiting and retaining Management Concerns of Age-Friendly Business, “Our team the talent they’re looking for.” The survey reveals that interest in has worked remotely since 2003. Our Says Claude Balthazard, Vice remote working is a trend for the challenge is getting our staff to take President, Regulatory Affairs future, yet support from management breaks and time off! and Registrar, Human Resources is stuck in the past. Management is Professionals Association (HRPA), “With the right people often the barrier to further adoption and the right projects, “The majority of ingredients for of this practice. According to the a culture of remote working are already virtual offices can survey, their concerns include the be very effective! in place—wide-spread adoption following areas. of technology, high gas prices, Individuals must have environmental concerns regarding • Employees` work effort and focus the ability to focus and Rhonda organize their work on commuting, and an increasing desire • Challenges to work scheduling for more work-life Latreille their own. We have balance. To complete • Security of company property found it works best for this recipe, employers off‑premises duties that can be defined and where productivity is better measured by the need to step into the • Loss of control over employees kitchen and show their quality and quantity of work produced, support for a style • Change in team dynamics rather than the number of hours of work from which they clocked. Claude "Forward-looking organizations Balthazard would stand to benefit.” are developing a code of conduct “Promoting a sense of team and Working from home works for many for remote working, working with belonging to a common cause is more Canadians. A recent HRPA survey employees to set achievable goals difficult when people can’t physically showed an overwhelming majority and simply trusting in their workers," meet around a water cooler, but that of Canadian HR professionals (86 says Balthazard. "Remote working can doesn’t mean it can’t be done. With percent) believe there will be an be a win-win for both the employee guidance, regular telephone staff increase in the number of employees and the employer, if concerns are meetings, good communication, working remotely in the near future. addressed head on." and solid support tools, staff feel
20 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 empowered and respected and part of something bigger than themselves. “Electronic connection is good. Help create a better Where possible, it is still important to schedule face-to-face time. We establish quarterly staff meetings future for everyone at a central location to keep this connection. If we let these slide, we really feel a decreased sense touched by cancer. of connection to the objectives and each other. When handled well, though, our greatest challenge is getting people to make sure they actually take breaks and time off! Discovery needs willing partners.
“It is important to recognize When your client remembers the BC Cancer Foundation in their will, that remote teams are not a fit for they’ll be supporting world-renowned research in BC that is shaping everyone. For those professionals who the future of cancer care. find it difficult to remain focused and connected without daily interpersonal Please be sure to use the full legal name of our organization: contact, a traditional office setting BC Cancer Foundation is a better way to tap their skills and Registration Number: 11881 8434 RR0001 talents. For more information, please contact “As Baby Boomers start to retire, Isabela Zabava, LL.B at 604.877.6157 many companies are concerned about or [email protected] a mass exodus and a significant experience-drain and brain-drain. More than ever, companies will be required to offer greater flexibility to remain attractive to the Boomers. Remote offices and flexible work weeks defined by outputs and outcomes rather than time sheets will need to be offered to keep this Licensed Home Inspectors workforce interested and engaged.” of Choice It is important to recognize The Certified House Inspector (CHI) and Certified Property that remote teams are Inspector (CPI) are professionals certified by ASTTBC, one of the not a fit for everyone. largest professional associations in BC.
About the Survey Find competent home inspectors for every assignment – from real The survey was conducted in estate pre-purchase inspections to litigation inspection reports. June by the Human Resources Professionals Association (www.hrpa. ca) in partnership with the Canadian Visit our web site for more information, including a listing of licensed CHI HR Reporter through an online poll and CPI inspectors in your area… of nearly 800 HR professionals from across Canada. For full survey bcipi.asttbc.org findings, please go to www.hrpa. ca/hrthoughtleadership/pages/ pulsesurveys.aspx. For commentary PARTNERS on the report, visit http://www. hrreporter.com/articleview?articleid=1 in EXCELLENCE 0996&headline=more-firms-plan-to- offer-teleworking-over-next-few-years- survey. s
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 21 Donna Van Beek
Less “Me,” More “We”
well-run successful office businesses. Your staff is a reflection I believe in charging a fair rate for of your own personality and ideals, our services. I do not typically “match environment has several which create your management style. rates” with other offices to obtain new work. I believe the work we do and our common elements. As a practising BC Notary for over A time are important and should not be 17 years, I consider myself one of the • There is a firm, fair, and friendly undervalued by anyone. lucky ones. I met my staff early in my atmosphere. career. They have been instrumental in There is little or no overtime • Each team player has the same building my practice. We are a smooth- expected in the office, which also goes focus and goals. running team. I am delighted to tell my toward providing that balance in life clients, “I am nothing without my team. that is so crucial. My staff members • Each team player contributes They make me look good.” point out that our daily lunchtime to the whole. usually ends up as an informal staff • There is visible acknowledgement meeting where individual challenges of individual achievement. We strive for balance and are discussed and resolved. We stand together and that solidarity is easily • There is freedom to grow. harmony in our workplace and we all work toward that seen and felt by our clients. My first experience with Cathe, my administrator and entrepreneurship, albeit at arm’s goal by supporting each other. receptionist, has been with me for length, was observing my dad and the operating of his Earls Restaurant in almost all the 17 years of my practice. My job is to be the “face” of the She greets everyone with a friendly Edmonton Centre. His management organization. I am with clients in the style was composed of the five points smile and knows our repeat clients very Boardroom for most of the day. My above, therefore his staff was happy, well. She is responsible for appointment clients know me but they also know productive, and enjoyed their work. scheduling for all of us, accounting, my staff. The combination of our skills That feeling was apparent to and banking, and myriad administrative ensures that our clients are pleased appreciated by their customers. chores. Cathe is very involved in and satisfied. Personal, quality service community theatre, either as a stage It may sound a bit simplistic— is guaranteed! manager or an actor. We enjoy attending just keep your staff happy and her shows and watching her in action. productive—but it needs to be the We strive for balance and foremost impetus of a well-run office. harmony in our workplace and we all Lynda has been my conveyancer Staffing is always a challenge for work toward that goal by supporting for over 15 years; she is a highly each other. We are all mothers with efficient conveyancing machine. She family obligations, appointments, and is a runner; we have attended her school events that aren’t always easy half-marathon events to cheer her over to “fit in.” Each staff member has the finish line. Her passion for running been trained to cover-off another’s means we have excuses to take road job to allow time for those inevitable trips outside the Lower Mainland. extracurricular activities. This training Sonja, our newest team member, has contributed to seamless holiday joined us 6 ½ years ago. She From left: Lynda McGaire, Donna Van coverage and now everyone can share prepares the Wills, Powers of Attorney, Beek, Cathe Busswood, Sonja Burgess the available Summer time. Representation Agreements, and so on
22 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 and also helps Lynda with completions and reporting in conveyancing and helps Cathe with scheduling and banking. Sonja is a member of the Langley Curling Club, enjoying weekly league play and weekend bonspiels. Lynda has been known to help out Sonja’s team by sparing, while Cathe and I can be found in the cheering section. As a member of Soroptimist International of the Langleys, I enjoy— and appreciate—the support of my staff in my charitable endeavours. For several years, I have chaired or participated in the Soroptimist’s Bras For a Cause™, [see Noreen Straker’s article in The Casual Fridays Scrivener, Fall 2009 issue] held annually deserve the perk. So, I take them on in our Langley community. trips and minivacations and treat them to spa packages and gift certificates. We have gone to Las Vegas a few times and on repositioning cruises and road trips. Trips are always anticipated and provide relaxing time away and valuable time to reconnect. My philosophy is that if you give of yourself freely, through service, The Soroptimist’s Bras For a Cause™: mentoring, wisdom, and integrity, See Noreen Straker’s article in it will be returned to you two-fold! The Scrivener, Fall 2009 issue. Personally, I have gotten back three- That translates into more work fold—Cathe, Lynda, and Sonja! (and fun) for my staff. They design I encourage you to check my the gorgeous themed bras, attend the Website and meet my team. They are dinner and auction evening, and help extraordinary; I value each and every with ticketing and Visa processing. one of them. s LeaveLeave aa LLegacyegacy Our office is currently decorated with in yourin Your Wi WillLL themed bras that have been purchased Donna Van Beek is a BC Notary Public at auctions over the last 7 years. They commissioned in 1993. She earned By remembering remembering Variety Variety – -The The provide a unique décor and encourage a BA in Criminology from SFU in 1985 Children’s Charity Charity in in your your will, will, interesting conversations with clients and qualified as a Certified Professional youyou can help children who have and an opportunity to promote Consultant on Aging in 2007. She specialspecial needs needs in in the the province. province. Soroptimist charitable events. practises in Langley (Walnut Grove), YourYour generositygenerosity will will provide provide hope, British Columbia. As you can see, our interests hope,enrich enrich lives, andlives, build and abuild better are varied but we still support each Voice: 604 888-6605 afuture better for future children for like children Xander. other inside and outside the office. [email protected] likeFor Xander. more inFormation on I maintain you should treat staff and www.donnavanbeek.com clients “the way you would want to hoW Forto Lmoreeave info a L .egacy: . . be treated” and lead by example. Call (604)Call 320-0505 (604) 320-0505 or As I welcome students and “new Toll-freeToll-free 1(800) 1 (800) 381-2040 381-2040 Notaries” into my office for mentoring, or visitVisit our ourwebsite website at at that is my strongest advice for them. www.variety.bc.ca/legacywww.variety.bc.ca/legacy. To that end, I show my appreciation by doing the extra stuff for my staff. It’s not always about the money! I believe if you give women bonus money, they will usually spend it on their families BUT it is they who
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 23 Neal Diamond
Did You Wake Up This Morning Intending to Change the World?
ecently, I spoke to Number 1 above is vital for realization of that vision. Keep a company to prosper. Strong, creative your eyes open to whatever results a colleague who worked individuals are a lot more stimulating occur, not just planned goals. to be around. What can you learn from as the event planner “Most of what we call management R those who know less than you? They consists of making it difficult for for a major music festival. may massage your ego for a while and people to get their work done.” take orders easily, but they won’t help The project was exciting and had Peter Drucker you grow. the potential to create a lasting legacy for the music industry in Canada. The 3. Great teams are made of people who see the current reality as event worked but by the time it was What can you learn over, the entire team had imploded. a fraction of what it could be. The festival lost serious money. It is from those who know Look for people who believe they doubtful there will be a second. less than you? can change the world. When you What happened? build your team, don’t give in to the temptation of hiring the The reality is that most owners, In my work with organizations, underemployed or unemployed managers, and supervisors settle for large and small, I have discovered because it’s easy. Great people number 2 above, then wonder why the something. In every case, the are usually busy contributing projects and the company fail to move founding entrepreneurs faced the to important projects and are forward. same challenge as Google, Apple, and often unavailable. Getting those Facebook: They needed a good team! Here are some tips on how you can individuals on your team speaks While the festival founder had the assemble an effective team. to the merit of what you are idea for the event and the passion to 1. Pay attention to the basics. working to accomplish. pursue it, he didn’t possess all the • Know what you are doing. With the music festival, it became skills needed to make the idea happen. painfully obvious that the majority He had to assemble a team. • Communicate what you are of people hired came with zero 1. He realized he needed to hire doing. experience in running an event of that nature. Although they didn’t have the people with greater experience • Expect the team to add value ability to pull it off, the leader wanted than he had—strong-willed, self- to your ideas. reliant, and confident people who to “help them out.” In so doing, he wouldn’t be afraid to debate with 2. It is not your role to control your created a poorly performing team. him, but people. Business is not charity. It’s about 2. he was reluctant to delegate. The role of the leader is to act creating a team of leaders who want Afraid to bring in truly smart, as a catalyst that brings the to change a culture and leave a legacy successful individuals as high-level pieces together. Yes, you have and, at the end, create a satisfied managers, he surrounded himself an overarching vision, but you customer. To do that, you need people with faithful aides—”yes-people.” should not be autocratic in the with proven ability and passion.
24 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 “Executives owe it to the A great company is first about organization and to their who, then what. It is more important A great team requires a high fellow workers not to tolerate that we have the right people on the degree of single-mindedness, nonperforming individuals in team than to have a particular product important jobs.” Peter Drucker or service. In time, your company unity, and unreasonable may need to change the direction it is passion. 4. Keep your team as small as going or the market it is serving. You possible. want a team that wants to be together, regardless of what you are doing. the individual to retain positive A great team requires a high feelings about your organization. degree of single-mindedness, Here’s how to do that. unity, and unreasonable passion. • Autopsy your hiring mistakes so • Be diligent in your selection Those three characteristics get you learn for the future. process. watered down when the team gets Maybe you don’t want to change too large. • Invest substantial time in the world, or at least most of it, but evaluating each candidate. The festival team had more than you can change your corner of it by 30 people. Before long, everyone was • When in doubt, don’t bring the developing a team based upon the working on his or her own agenda in person onto the team. above ideas. Go forth and conquer! s little fiefdoms. They were not following • Make sure you have 100 percent Neal Diamond is the CEO of Corpwell the plan set out by the festival. of the key seats filled with the Consulting Ltd. whose purpose Note: The firm that coordinated the right people. is to guide, advise, and nurture opening and closing ceremonies of the • If you think a person is in the entrepreneurs to work less, make more, 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver wrong job, put him or her into while building the business of their consisted of only 10 people. a more suitable position. dreams from start-up to succession. Let me leave you with some advice • If you have the wrong person in Voice: 778 240-8140 from Jim Collins in Good to Great a job, be rigorous in dealing with [email protected] around team development. that, but not ruthless—you want www.corpwellconsulting.com
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 25 Julie Burke Get Your Team Cooking!
ood is a universal Julie has long found fellowship For 22 years, through “Everything in food through her involvement in Done Right,” Julie Burke catered to language. Les Dames d’Escoffier and the pulse Vancouver’s visiting stars, the Molson of a busy kitchen. She works her In the right company, it provides Indy masses, and all-sized parties and F culinary energies and organizational nourishment and narrative, function points in between. insights into the lives of teams the and fuel. world over. The result is a deeper bond, Founded in 2001, Tall Order offers For this Vancouver-based culinary unhampered by hierarchy, forged in the a full pantry of programs, ranging from team-building company, the focus is kitchen, celebrated at the table. corporate retreats to culinary team- fundamentally on the fun. In the Tall building that can be savoured in full. Order kitchen, everyone leaves their work hat at the door and dons a white The moments of catharsis and Tall Order Culinary Teambuilding, stovepipe head-topper. calamity, both essential to Building Relationships Through Food The experience is as removed from team-building, are inevitable Voice: 604 597-7296 attending a cooking class as flying in byproducts of bringing [email protected] a plane is to piloting one. Everyone www.tallorder.ca cooks and everyone eats together. It’s a menu together… a team-building affair. Julie Burke and her crew do the The moments of catharsis and shopping and handle everything but calamity, both essential to team- the cooking. They skillfully guide the building, are inevitable byproducts team; the heavy lifting is made light of bringing a menu together—especially by many hands and hands-on thinking. a multicourse affair to be simultaneously Conversation and libation flow. Good crafted for a shared table time. The company results. Stronger teams emerge. burn-and-learn philosophy has yielded countless memorable moments. “We use culinary as the vehicle. At its core, the experience is all about orchestration. Every team is a unique challenge; we stir the pot to see how people work and panic together,” says Julie, who has worked with teams ranging from fewer than a baker’s dozen to a beachside outdoor cook-off involving 450 people. “The key to the art of team-building is that everyone participates.” s
26 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 Business to Business
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Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 27 R. Brent Lang
A Model for Teamwork: Living Together In Recovery
eamwork in society means a foundation that gives back to many forms a miniature society in which purposes. students, and staff in their role as extending your hand to Bad decisions and obstacles in facilitators, fulfill distinctive roles and the vulnerable, defeated, life have bumped all of us around, and adhere to clear rules—all designed T when we see someone we don’t know to promote the transitional process. and destitute, and having those stumble or fall, we choose either to There is a collaboration opportunity individuals contribute back in help or to walk past. for open communication and resolution, from a peer, a mentor, and a positive way to the community. a solid complement of staff on hand Imagine . . . a diverse group Bad decisions and obstacles 24/7, 365. of individuals, men and women facing in life have bumped all of us Within the program, accountability the many challenges of overcoming around, and when we see to self and community is paramount. substance abuse, working and living someone we don’t know For example, daily chores are assigned together (not co-ed) while successfully within their home and their work. The running an enterprising nonprofit stumble or fall, we choose most-senior students (not by age, but business . . . excelling at customer either to help or to walk past. by advancement within the Welcome service and helping to contribute Home program) ensure that every to their community and to 51—and task, by each student, is done to its growing—orphanages across Africa. Welcome Home Society (www. highest level. Cooking and cleaning WelcomeHomeSociety.org) is emerging responsibilities are shared. That is clearly a daunting task. as a “best-in-world” facility for With a dignified, meaningful, flexible, addiction recovery. The students work within an and supported work environment, each “Enterprising Non-Profit”/“Social task throughout every day provides Located in Surrey, BC, and Enterprise,” called PricePro (www. the opportunity to be helpful and Seattle, WA, these addiction recovery PricePro.org), that is run as a model empathetic to customers, colleagues, academies offer men and women business and is reflective of real and “students” in the recovery program. a minimum 2-year opportunity to life and job settings. This is their Character and compassion are change their lives in a safe, respectful, opportunity to do meaningful and strong human traits but a stigma prevails and responsible manner—while dignified work where their combined in the realm of substance abuse, learning valuable life skills through efforts are measurable in revenue and addiction, and mental health. That teamwork, trust, and dedication to in smiles from customers. stigma has a formidable grasp on themselves, their fellow students, their family, and the community. The Students work their required shifts, our perception of what “addicts” are Monday through Saturday. They are capable of—and although their road to per-student cost for the program is committed to doing their very best and, recovery is very difficult, the result can $78,000 over 2 years; that fee is when things go wrong, as customer be a truly beautiful thing. covered 100 percent by the John Volken Foundation. service often can, there is a safety net The capacity of these individuals of help. Students are carefully monitored is not diminished; I have been involved In numerous studies, long-term and evaluated, including peer and self- in the transition of a downtown east- therapeutic communities are shown to evaluation. With progress comes more side addict to recover and thrive to have the best success rate in treating challenges and responsibilities, as well run a multimillion-dollar company and addicts. A therapeutic community as more privileges.
28 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 Students cannot accept welfare, enhances our community and the they will have no costs, and the communities where our students come Thousands of program will not accept government from and will call home in the future. funding. That paradigm shift in All of us benefit by a measurable BC Decision-Makers thinking, over the duration of the reduction in related crime. In addition, Read The Scrivener! program, creates great citizens. It successful, enduring rehabilitation speaks to personal responsibility and cuts the high cost that our health and This magazine reaches the following commitment to be contributors. Life emergency services system bears.” spheres of influence, quarterly. Skills Academy students graduate Welcome Home has been approved • BC Notaries from Welcome Home Society as by CARF (Commission on Accreditation taxpayers with the skills to be • Land Appraisers of Rehabilitation Facilities). They successful in life. A $3000 grant is • Land Surveyors of BC demand excellence in effectiveness. presented to all graduates to help • Lawyers Welcome Home is the only therapeutic them start their new life. • Real Estate Professionals community specializing in alcohol The students participate daily in and drug addiction recovery in British • Real Estate Boards and learning how to improve themselves Columbia and 1 of 76 in all of North Associations as well as valuable, permanent, and America. • Provincial/Federal Court Judges professional employable skills in Volunteer involvement plays • Registrars trades and entrepreneurism. Students a large role in fulfilling Welcome • MLAs and MPs effectively learn the following, doing Home’s mission and is very much • Life Insurance Brokers and their best, holding each other to needed. If you have a desire to give Agents account, and helping when one needs back, we would love to hear from you. • Accountants assistance. The first-everRun for Recovery • Managers of Financial • Life Skills Training (personal 5K and 10K event took place Institutions hygiene, proper etiquette, proper September 11. To see the teamwork • Mayors dress, counselling on nutrition, and transformation of these great • Government Ministries behaviour, and finance) men and women, please visit www. • Libraries: Public and Private, • Career Training RunForRecovery.net. including Law Society, Legal • High School Equivalency Donor Appreciation: By way Services, Educational Facilities Education of a specific financial gift, a donor • Investment Management has made it possible for two • Public Speaking Agencies recent graduates to participate in • Chambers of Commerce • Financial Planning a humanitarian mission to Nairobi, • BC Housing • Entrepreneurial/Management Kenya, departing November 15, Skills 2011, for a 3-week, three-orphanage • BC Assessment visit that will include construction • BC Buildings Corporation • Leadership Skills of various new facilities for these Welcome Home Addiction Recovery sponsored orphanages. Advertising Deadline for the Academy is a residential therapeutic (www.LiftTheChildren.org) s Winter 2011 Issue: November 17 community. Students are provided R. Brent Lang, CIM, FCSI, is active in Promote your services to housing, food, clothing, and activities, the field of finance and philanthropy. as well as medical and dental care, our prequalified audience debt counselling, and legal assistance. He obtained the CIM (Canadian of Allied Professionals! With all basic needs looked after, the Investment Manager), FCSI (Fellow students are free of outside pressures of the Canadian Securities Institute), Quarterly Press Run: Over 9500 copies and can focus on personal and peer and Branch Manager’s designations. growth and development. He has invested over 19 years in financial services, compliance, and Graduates are encouraged to maintain an association with Welcome philanthropy. He prefers to focus Home (peer mentoring) so they have on nonprofit organizations with 604 985-9250 a source to renew and strengthen an emphasis on social enterprise/ their commitment to sobriety and— enterprising nonprofit structure, scrivener@ as they are a source of inspiration— planned giving, and community society. to motivate current students. relations. notaries.bc.ca Founder John Volken says, Voice: 604 789-3700 “Welcome Home’s Life Skills Academy [email protected]
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 29 Brenda Southam
Creating Effective Teams at the Real Estate Institute of BC
ith over 1000 on each committee as a nonvoting With so many people and a lot member. He or she is able to of items on the go at a time, it is members, a bevy contribute policy knowledge to the imperative that the teams function well. of volunteers, and committee and work with committee W members to reach the common goal. • Each team or committee needs 3 full-time staff, teamwork is the a captain to motivate and assist only way to get the job done! the members to complete each A team of committed task. Our Board consists of 12 individuals keeps the focus • Our staff is the team that assists volunteers. More than 16 volunteers on results; their work the captains. work on the 10 committees. In our matters to them. • The captain reports each group’s organization, a staff member sits accomplishments to the Board of Governors. Teams don’t always set their own goals. Sometimes goals are derived through a Board decision and a team is put together to work on that item. Volunteers are sought who are interested in working on that particular team; they are aware of the goal before they commit. When calls go out for volunteers, it is important to contact everyone who responds, whether or not there is a role for them at the moment. That keeps people updated as to what is happening; they can be advised there is nothing for them now, although there may be in future. A team of committed individuals keeps the focus on results; their work matters to them. Their team involvement enables The REIBC Board of Governors them to be part of the organization Back row, from right: André Gravelle, Mandy Hansen, John Castle, Wayne Yu, and lets them feel they belong and Tracy Wall, Peter Bretherton that they are contributing. Most people Front row: Mark Litwin, Nathan Worbets, Bonnie Knight, Dave Graham want to contribute in some way and MIA: Ken Sherk often don’t know how they can do it.
30 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 By participating on teams Support your client’s inspired giving One in three Canadian deaths are or committees, people are caused by Heart Disease and Stroke being immensely helpful. Your Client’s Gift Will Save Lives
The good work of volunteers Call or email for a free is a fundamental building Legacy Planning Kit: Melanie Brooks block in any nonprofit… Bequest Coordinator [email protected] 604-730-7370 www.heartandstroke.bc.ca/givingbywill By participating on teams or committees, people are being immensely helpful. The good work www.heartandstroke.bc.ca of volunteers is a fundamental building block in any nonprofit organization; it is part of good governance. Effective communication is key to teams. Each team has common goals that match the strategic plan of the organization; communicating those goals is imperative for a team to Estate work. Without communication, team members wouldn’t be able to do the job they were asked to do because they wouldn’t understand the common goal. Litigation Valuable discussion can take place only when everyone is aware and understands what they are there to achieve. I can help. By working toward the goals of the association, each team respects what • Past President, TLABC the others are doing because they all understand the big picture. • Past Chair Wills & If managed properly, teams Trusts Section, CBA are effective and allow smaller organizations to accomplish much • Over 37 years of larger goals. s litigation experience Executive Officer of REIBC since January 2007, Brenda Southam is a Certified Association Executive with a Certificate in Business Administration from the University of Saskatchewan. Her 20 years of experience in Association Management Trevor To d d include the recycling industry. Brenda’s approach to the real estate Wills industry is one of asking questions Estates and learning. Member relations are always on her agenda; she continually Estate Litigation strives to give value to the membership. Brenda has served as President of the Rotary Club of Coquitlam and Referrals Welcome. Strata Council NW 2085. Voice: 1-800-667-2166 P | 604 264-8470 www.disinherited.com [email protected] E | [email protected] www.reibc.org
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 31 Chuck Salmon
Teamwork Builds Strong and Healthy Organizations
ociety today is faced with A committee on the other hand of participation and attendance will is a team that is structured to look result in a less effective team and may change on a constant into ongoing issues and items that well disrupt the process. play a role over a much longer period basis. Teams are not just internal. The S of time. teams in professional organizations Change comes in a number • Occasionally, the team players are all facing the same or similar of different patterns across a broad will change; anyone working in issues. The Association of BC Land spectrum from technology to these situations is aware that it Surveyors has worked closely with the member requirements to professional takes a bit of time before a new Law Society of BC and The Society responsibility. How organizations committee member gets up of Notaries Public to look at the issues deal with that change may vary. The to speed and becomes a fully relating to title insurance over the past Association of BC Land Surveyors functioning team member. few years. Although the issue may faces all these changes by taking not have gone away, all three of our a close look at the requirements, organizations have had input into and then using teams to work together to In short-term teams and worked together to deal with the issues address the need. long-term committees, trust face-on. We use Work Groups to manage is critical; all players must Similarly, the Association of BC one-off issues that require a small support the group and work Land Surveyors participates with the team of members with solid skills in organization called the Executive the particular topic. together for a good result. Directors and Registrars of BC; • These Work Groups are a number of professional bodies meet established for the duration of the • New members may seem as if they monthly to discuss issues relating to project and should not be mixed are participating well from the regulatory authority in BC. start, but to be full team players, up with committees. The teamwork developed through they must learn to work closely this group helps organizations by • The Work Groups are comprised within the team environment and sharing concerns, discussing those of a strong team of individuals the players on the team. concerns, and providing input and who support each other, work In short-term teams and long-term advice. Through the good work closely, and come to a consensus committees, trust is critical; all players of this organization, a regulatory on the end result. must support the group and work body does not have to feel alone as • Team dynamics do play a part together for a good result. Members it faces challenges and change. The in the process but, due to the must learn to listen closely, provide shared input provided can save an shorter length of involvement, are their input as needed, and have a say organization many hours of developing restricted to the function rather in any decisions. That requires full the information on their own, and also than the players. attendance at all meetings. Lack provide a broader look at the issue.
32 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 For many years now, the The members of the team from I have been involved in a number Association of BC Land Surveyors both organizations noted at the of organizations over the past 35 has worked closely with its sister conclusion that none of us expected years. Probably the most learning- organizations across the country to reach the agreement we did and based organization is Scouts and through the Canadian Council that it was only by developing into an Canada through which I was fortunate of Land Surveyors—a forum for all exceptional team that the end product to attend a number of training courses land surveying organizations to work was achieved. dealing with teamwork. It would be together for the betterment of the impossible to determine the value surveying professions across Canada. of those educational experiences This team of professional organizations Through much discussion, but I do know they helped me has faced many issues and developed the team developed into significantly with work and the ability a number of solutions. a cohesive unit that listened for advancement. Key projects dealt with in this closely and grew to trust Teamwork is critical for any teamwork model of cooperation each other. organization to move forward. For the include team to function at full strength, the • standardization of professional members must work together and entry requirements, With the implementation of the trust each other. Without a strong changes to the Agreement on Internal team in place, an organization will • labour mobility, Trade (AIT) a few years later, the same be working as if it had a member in • professional liability insurance, process was put in place with a similar the penalty box—short-handed. With and result. Unfortunately, the inclusion keen players, that might work for of a more diversified group made the a while but the process tends to burn- • NAFTA. process a little more complicated. out people quickly. With the implementation of the The other complicating factor A great team will function well and Trade Investment and Labour was that most meetings were held by make it easier for all the players to do Mobility Agreement (TILMA) teleconference and the team spirit did their appropriate part for the success between Alberta and BC, the not develop as well. The one face- of the organization. The organization/ two professional land surveying to-face meeting worked much better committee will thrive as the result organizations met regularly through but we met only once, due to the of a good, strong team. s a team of keen individuals to address significant cost of travel. the requirements and how the two This process for me has identified Chuck Salmon, BCLS, is the Secretary organizations would handle the Registrar of the Association of BC Land requirements being placed upon us. the need for an assessment about when a teleconference will work and Surveyors. He has been a BC Land When the team first got together, when a face-to-face meeting will Surveyor for 33 years and was the our separate associations were work better. You can make decisions Surveyor General of BC until his a long way apart and couldn’t see through a teleconference but for a full retirement in 2002. how we would resolve this concern. discussion of complex issues, the Through much discussion, the team team really needs to meet in person. [email protected] developed into a cohesive unit that listened closely and grew to trust each other. The discussions became very productive with a result acceptable to both provincial government organizations; it well exceeded our own expectations.
The Team that Worked Together From left, back row: Geoff Hobbs, Larry Pals, Chuck Salmon, Bruce Beairsto (partially hidden), Rob Scott (partially hidden) and Brian Munday Neil Bennett and Bob Wallace signing Front row: ABCLS President Neil Bennett shaking hands with Bob Wallace, the TILMA agreement President of the Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 33 Garry Gaudet
Strengthening the Home Team
or most of us, no place on “Right from the start, ASTTBC inspection gives buyers confidence has set the highest standards for that they’re getting full value for their earth is more important professional certification and member investment.” accountability,” says Dennis Gall than our home. Thirty-year Richmond Realtor F of Golden, BC, veteran property Chris Neumann says, “Helping the For what else but our very own inspector and municipal building home buyer avoid costly mistakes Home, Sweet Home do we save, inspector. He trained for house and is a tremendous responsibility. struggle, and sacrifice, spending property inspection at BCIT, earning his I absolutely support using properly months—even years—to find just professional registration as a Certified accredited inspectors.” Neumann adds the right one? There, we shelter our Property Inspector in 2000. loved ones, raise our families, fashion that his MacDonald Realty Westmar our lives, and build many of our most office, with 250 agents, requires precious memories. a stern waiver from buyers who choose We rely on BC Notaries to decline a pre-purchase inspection. Good thing we have teams and lawyers for correct With 16 years of experience of capable, competent professionals and precise documentation to help us along the way. in home and commercial property of the single-most- inspections, Delta CPI Ken McNames BC home buyers have long been important purchase we’re has been a Mentor-Assessor able to turn to licensed real estate of certification candidates for 12. professionals to help search out and likely to make. His firm suggestion for Realtors and provide reliable information on suitable homebuyers alike: “I always recommend homes. Our mortgage brokers, banks, a visit to the BC Institute of Property and credit unions have an enviable Protecting Your Clients Inspectors Website, www.bcipi.ca.” record of arranging secure financing. Says Richmond Notary Tammy Morin- We rely on BC Notaries and lawyers Nakashima, “In the past, we normally Certifying Inspection Excellence for correct and precise documentation met clients only after all the subjects Executive Director John Leech says of the single-most-important purchase were off. Lately, more the 10,000-member Applied Science we’re likely to make. and more clients are Technologists and Technicians of BC coming in for related is proud to work with the team The Applied Science Technologists advice. When they ask of professionals that helps families find, and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) is about inspections, secure, and operate their homes. “In another key member of the team going I recommend they home inspection, we’ve recently asked to bat for the prudent home buyer, look for the CPI or the BC Government and Consumer providing qualified inspectors who’ve Tammy Morin- CHI accreditation.” Protection to adopt our rigorous earned CHI (house) or CPI (house Nakashima standards of inspector qualification for and commercial property) inspector Penticton Notary Bill Binfet all certifying agencies, including code designation, through the BC Institute agrees. “For my clients’ protection, of ethics, public complaint resolution, of Property Inspectors. The agency has the more accurate the discipline, and continuing professional credentialled inspectors since 1995, property inspection, development requirements. long before all inspectors were brought the better. I’ve heard under regulation within Consumer past concerns about “Think of everything that’s Protection BC. In 2009, BC became inspections done by connected to your home: Hydro, gas, the first province to regulate all house people with minimal water and sewer lines, phone, and and property inspectors. training. Proper Bill Binfet cable. All those services rely on certified
34 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 technologists, technicians, and technical of equipment, roads, environment, specialists. I feel for first-time buyers, and water and wastewater systems. Services a BC Notary anxious about committing their future They work in all levels of government, Can Provide earnings to mountain-sized mortgages,” in private enterprise as consultants continues Leech, who has headed the in engineering and technology • Affidavits for All Documents required 10,000 member organization for the companies, and for utilities such as at a Public Registry within BC past 37 years. “They need reliable BC Hydro, Telus, and Terasen Gas. • Authorization of Minor Child Travel property information.” Those professionals are in high • Business Purchase/Sale “Even before the home was built,” and growing demand, even when the • Certified True Copies of Documents he adds, “ASTTBC members worked economy is slow. New careers appear • Commercial Leases & Assignment in teams of engineers, architects, and in technologies every year. Social of Leases consultants—designing the home, media, nonexistent a generation ago, surveying the lot, and building then have brought about an explosion • Contracts and Agreements maintaining the home and its service of new careers in computer science • Easements & Rights of Way systems. They also create subdivisions, and telecommunications. Millions • Estate Planning roads, bridges, and highways; our of users now rely on those new tools, • Execution/Authentications of International inspectors even design and inspect not merely for recreation but to Documents federal prisons and RCMP facilities!” manage and expand businesses and • Health Care Declarations commerce world-wide. Services and Careers • Insurance Loss Declarations for You and Your Youngsters Like The Society of Notaries • Letters of Invitation for Foreign Travel Public and BCREA, ASTTBC promotes The organization has regulated • Manufactured Home Transfers education and careers to ensure the technology professionals and provided • Marine Bills of Sale and Mortgages public protection through dispute incoming flow of qualified individuals. • Marine Protestations resolution mechanisms since it The organization sponsors FEAT, an was formed in 1958. The Province educational foundation that assists • Mortgage Refinancing Documentation of British Columbia conferred self- capable students. We foster excellence • Notarizations/Attestations of Signatures governing status on its professional in professional practice and stimulate • Passport Application Documentation innovation in sustainable building technologists, technicians, and • Personal Property Security Agreements design and construction through technical specialists through the • Powers of Attorney ASTT Act of 1985. individual and organizational awards, some available to nonmembers. • Proof of Identity for Travel Purposes The organization strongly • Purchaser’s Side of Foreclosures Our prestigious new TechGREEN encourages math- and science-capable • Representation Agreements men and women to pursue certificate awards, which honour sustainable • Residential & Commercial Real Estate and diploma programs offered through design and building excellence, are BC colleges and universities. Graduate of special interest to real estate Transfers members work collegially with other developers, designers, and builders. • Restrictive Covenants and Builder’s Liens design and engineering professionals The 2011 winners will be recognized • Statutory Declarations in November—Technology Month in to plan, construct, inspect, test, • Subdivisions and Statutory Building Canada—at our annual Technology maintain, and manage operating Schemes systems the world over—structures Awards & Recognition Celebration • Wills Preparation and communities, computers, in Vancouver. • Wills Searches electrical power, all manner Nominations for the 2012 ASTTBC TechGREEN awards open • Zoning Applications in January 2012. Look for details at www.asttbc.org. s Some BC Notaries provide these services. CHQM and CBC Radio, NUVO Magazine, The Professional Skater, • Marriage Licences and www.thetyee.ca appear on • Mediation Garry’s résumé, along with a decade • Real Estate Disclosure Statements of experience in administration at Over 300 Notaries to Serve You! Okanagan College. Semi-retired, he currently does freelance narration For the BC Notary office and writing and manages ASTTBC nearest you, media relations. John Leech, AScT, CAE please call 1-800-663-0343 Executive Director, ASTTBC [email protected] or visit www.notaries.bc.ca.
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 35 Mark McGladrey
Teamwork: A View from the Other Side Mark and Kode Dog
y wife stepped over While they may think they have a say because they lead by example, the rest in the operations, they really don’t. of the team flounders. my only employee and What makes a team work is the Their coach Alain Vignault employs Mbest friend Kode Dog team leader. The ideal team leader the modern pat-on-the-back, build-on- on her way to my office. must be a buck-stops-here, do-as-I-say- the-positive techniques. not-as-I-do type of person with some Look at the heyday of the When she asked what I was ability to show humility: “I couldn’t Philadelphia Flyers with Bobby Clark working on, I told her I was writing an have done this without my team.” and coach Fred Shero who used the article on teamwork. old-school, time-tested approach “Who in their right mind would ask Recently, for a brief period, of intimidation, threats, and bullying. you to talk about teamwork?” To cite the achievements of Hannibal, I was part of a venture Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Patton, Contrary to what some people may where the team captain and others, those techniques work. think, I am very much a team player . . . as long as I am in charge and the had no leadership skills Today’s feel-good motivation others do as I say. If they choose to whatsoever. That resulted techniques and putting everyone on exercise some initiative of their own, in 15 other people trying a level playing field have brought the it had better be good . . . and work Western world to its knees, financially. much, much better than my way. to lead—and sheer chaos. What is needed to get things back on track is teamwork. We need to address The team concept is a great tool this together. for business. Here are the 5 phases Recently, for a brief period, of a typical project. I was part of a venture where the But for the team to work, we need team captain had no leadership skills great leadership—someone to slap 1. Enthusiasm whatsoever. That resulted in 15 other some reality and responsibility into 2. Disillusionment people trying to lead—and sheer people and to lead us with a firm hand 3. Search for the guilty chaos. out of this mess. 4. Persecution of the innocent 5. Praise for the uninvolved Look at the Vancouver Canucks In the words of Forrest Gump . . . team and their hapless performance in “That’s all I have to say about that!” With the right team concept in the playoffs. They persist in choosing My other team member needs a walk place, it is so much simpler to address the team captains for their playing and someone to throw a frisbee for phases 3 and 4. skills rather than their leadership him. s Look at the big box stores that abilities. By the end of the season, Mark McGladrey, is a BCLS and classify all their employees as a “team many of the high-paid players are Canada Lands Surveyor in practice member” or an “associate.” That thinking only of going home and on Vancouver Island. is a great way to get people to work thus have consistently failed to show harder and longer and for lower wages. up effectively for the playoffs. And, [email protected]
36 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 Spread your wings. Benefit from ONLINE mortgage processing.
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Getting the Job Done . . . with Fun! Photos by: www.franceslitman.com
In July 1987, I returned to The Scrivener: Why and when did Canada to attend a wedding and met you become a BC Notary? my now-husband Mike who was in the Sabrina: Our son and only child Navy in Victoria. A year later, I moved Nathan was born in 1993. I continued back to Victoria and we bought a house. to work part-time for Mike. While doing conveyancing, I learned about BC Notaries and decided to write Photos by: www.franceslitman.com Sabrina Hanousek to The Society for an information My bet to myself was package. Quickly realizing I had most The Scrivener: Sabrina, please tell to double my income of the requirements, I applied for the us a bit about yourself. within 5 years. Notary Program. My attitude about the Sabrina: I was born in Ontario and whole thing was relaxed. I thought, If moved to Victoria when I was 8. I get in and no Notary Seal is available I graduated from high school in 1980 I worked for Mike Greene, in Victoria and I can’t practise, it then moved to Vancouver where a corporate/commercial lawyer, won’t be a waste because the Notary I attended UBC for a year. The following for 10 “long and gruelling years” education alone will be valuable to me. year I spent working in a securities law (LAUGHTER) before becoming a Notary My bet to myself was to double my firm in Vancouver and a further year Public in 1998. Mike and I got along income within 5 years. I also liked the travelling and working in a law firm tremendously and, as he puts it, he idea of being self-employed and having in Sydney, Australia. UBC beckoned taught me everything I know. We really a career. and I went back to obtain my BA in know it was primarily my friend and 1986. I moved to London, England, co-worker Lois Hayes who taught me The Scrivener: Where did you and worked in yet another law firm everything about the conveyancing practise after you were commissioned for 6 months. world. as a BC Notary?
38 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 Sabrina: I was fortunate to start place that work very well because At the end of a busy month- practising in 1998 with Leta Best at of our information sheets and end, we all have a great feeling Kitto & Best where I stayed for 9 years. checklists. of accomplishment for a job well Four years ago, I opened my own I really like being a BC Notary. done because of our teamwork. We office, calling it “Notaries on Douglas.” I am proud when we do a good job manage to maintain our team spirit The name was my friend Lois’s idea. and help our clients. I love the work and efficiency by working together and Clients find the location attractive environment because I don’t have helping each other. because it’s not all the way downtown the added stress of staff fighting and That is a large part of where Hilary and parking is free. We’re on the conflicts. shines. She works for all of us, not just second floor with no elevator; if clients me, and will do anything, including are unable to manage the stairs, I go multiple daily on-demand bank runs. down to the parking lot and we have I really like being If Amber has completed her the appointment in their car. a BC Notary. I am proud closings for the day, she’ll ask The Scrivener: Please tell us about when we do a good job Laura if she wants help and vice versa. your terrific team! No one is left feeling she has more and help our clients. work than the others. Sabrina: I have four staff members: Laura, Amber, Hilary, and Trish. If one of us needs help, we When I arrive at the office, I am help—most of the time without even • Laura has worked not worried about what kind of mood asking. If there are dishes to be done, for me for over 7 someone will be in or if we have to someone does them. Garbage to be years and is a full- tiptoe around someone who’s bringing taken out? Someone does it. Luckily, time conveyancer. the whole office down. It’s not that we have Shred-it for our shredding, • Amber, who joined we all don’t have our moments; if you since no one likes to do that! We all us almost 2 years want to be left alone, you can say so. do whatever it takes to get the jobs ago, is also a full- Laura The name of the game is to be happy done and no one keeps score. time conveyancer. where you work and enjoy your work environment. I have been so fortunate and Having two spoiled by Laura over the years that conveyancers helps The Scrivener: You have a strong and sometimes I compare us to Radar and cover the volume and cohesive team. What values did you Colonel Blake on M.A.S.H. She finishes holidays. That means use to build it? my thoughts and sometimes when I’ve Laura and I have much Sabrina: I always knew that when hung up the phone, she knows what more of a life now. We Amber I had my own office, I would want transpired in the call and is acting on don’t have to work as a group of employees who got along it even before I’ve finished. many hours as we did in the past. well—no squabbling, no negativity. Luck has played a big part in my • We rely heavily on Once in a while if someone’s grumpy, hiring process but referrals are very Hilary who works she lets the others know and then important. If someone is looking for as our receptionist it’s all good. We know how to respect a job or needs a conveyancer, word but does so much each other’s feelings, space, and the gets around Victoria pretty quickly. way we all work. more. The other thing is that we do a lot • Trish works 2 days The Scrivener: How do you maintain of things together outside of office per week as our Hilary your fine team spirit and efficiency? hours. We’ve gone to hockey games, concerts, fundraisers, dinner, weekend bookkeeper. Sabrina: My biggest goal with staff trips, and so on, which makes us more and the office environment is for all My team of “girls” than boss and employees; we’re also of us to have fun. I want them to is fabulous! Their very friends. Quite often we communicate want to get out of bed and not dread different styles work over the weekends about anything and coming to work. Of course, I want the for me and for them. everything. We support each other in same for me. We are finessing our our lives outside the office and work. systems so Laura and Trish In my estimation, we spend It’s worth noting that our teamwork Amber can easily take about a quarter of our lives at work. extends to our families; they are all very over each other’s files without feeling If we’re not happy at work, we spend supportive, especially my husband. frustrated or wasting time. It’s very much of our life unhappy. We already The Scrivener: How is your office important that any of us can pick up have so much stress in our jobs, with configured? a file and know its status right away, conveyancing in particular. Having rather than having to leaf through to a happy environment makes everything We all sit in the same office space; figure it out. We have procedures in so much easier. it’s very open, except for the signing
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 39 office and small kitchen and I never blame my girls for mistakes I would like to see “Notaries on washroom. I like sitting out with on files because we all know it’s Douglas” remain a respectable and everyone; we all pretty much know ultimately my responsibility. Nor would busy firm for years and years to come. everything that’s going on with files I ever insult them in front of clients by I plan to reach the BC Notaries’ 25- and appointments. I can’t imagine pointing out an error or getting mad Year Club . . . only 12 years to go! being holed up in an office, missing at them for it. We always say Good all the action. Morning and Goodbye to each other While my casual approach to the and I try to thank them every day. office might not work for everyone, The Scrivener: What do your clients They know how valuable they are to especially larger firms, I wouldn’t have say about your customer service? s me; I know they’re very happy and that it any other way. Sabrina: I can’t count how many they like working at “NOD.” times, when I’m signing documents The Scrivener: What do you see for Trish says . . . with clients, that they say how nice the future of your business? “Sabrina’s office it is to deal with my staff. Realtors, Sabrina: A few of my girls will become is fun. The mortgage brokers, bankers, and atmosphere is others refer business to us because pregnant. They talk and have it all planned out so that only one of them generally relaxed we get the job done and as quickly as and professional. possible. will be off on maternity leave at the same time. That’s dedication! We all treat each One of the key features in our other with respect and there’s lots With maternity leaves in our of laughter. office is that we’re easy-going and future, we likely will bring on another we act a little crazy sometimes. person to help out; it’s my hope that “Having Meg and Daisy in the Most clients like this environment no one leaves for good. office contributes more to the because, under the surface, they know I also see room for another work environment than you would we do the best for them in a very expect; they help diffuse any professional way. Notary in the office, which would be wonderful. That person would have tensions and clients generally We are not a stuffy, pretentious to fit in, of course. Having another react very positively to two little office. Our laid-back style includes Notary would mean we would turn furry greeters. our two office dogs, Meg and Daisy. away less work and it would make it “As bookkeeper, I’m responsible The dogs are wonderful easier for me and my staff to take for making sure all transactions because they make holidays. I would also like to become are documented and I serve as people smile, instantly more involved with The Society in a back-up to ensure Sabrina’s relieving some of their the next year or so, once my son high standards of accuracy are stress. Occasionally, completes Grade 12 in June 2012. maintained. Sabrina, Laura, Amber, we have to watch I have recently joined the PR and and Hilary are great to work with, them with children or Magazine Committee and would also and they put up with my attention Meg our clients’ dogs but like to become a Director to support to detail with good grace.” overall, they are a super our wonderful Society of Notaries. addition to the office. One of my regular notarization clients is allergic to dogs so she just peeks her head in the door and I notarize Daisy her documents outside. We don’t meet as a group on a regular basis, although I think that’s a great idea. I have no formal management- skills training . . . it probably wouldn’t hurt. We have informal meetings that just start because someone has something to say. With our office, if no clients are there, we all speak freely; sometimes it’s constant chatter and sometimes it’s very quiet. If, however, someone has something to say, we get everyone’s attention and discuss the matter at hand. We wore our jerseys every playoff game. Clients loved it.
40 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 BC notaries Convocation of the Class of 2011 www.wildmanphotography.com Pipers leading the dignitaries, new BC Notaries, and others to the SFU Convocation Ceremony This is an excerpt from the address Convocation of The Honourable at Simon Fraser University Madam Justice Loo to the new June 16, 2011 BC Notaries at the Vancouver Court On behalf of the faculty Madame House on May 5, and staff involved Justice Loo 2011. in the Applied Legal Studies program, We are fortunate in this I offer heartiest democratic country to enjoy congratulations to those a legal system of which you are who recently graduated now a part, where we carry out Rob Gordon with their MAs. our work free from coercion, free The commitment of time and energy Dr. Gordon carrying the ceremonial Mace from corruption, and free from is significant and the sacrifices great. the influence of political power. We hope the rewards more than You have just pledged to place outweigh the occasional cruel and honesty and integrity above all unusual punishments. else and not to make or attest to any act, contract, or instrument in Best wishes for a successful career! which you know there is violence Rob Gordon or fraud and in all things to act Dr. R. M. Gordon, uprightly and justly in the office Professor and Director, of a Notary Public. ...To all of you School of Criminology, and Coordinator, today is passed the responsibility of carrying on the legacy Applied Legal Studies Program, Wayne Braid and Ken Sherk of generations of Notaries Public Simon Fraser University in the grand procession who have come before you, so many of whom have contributed in ways large and small to the creation of a profession that essentially functions on honour and trust. ...Your good name and your reputation for integrity and honesty are your greatest assets. Some of the new BC Notaries
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 41 BC notaries
Hassan El Masri
BC Notaries’ Annual Fall Conference 2011 and AGM September 23 to 25, 2011 n one of the last beautiful by developing e-campaigns, brand manifestos, Web copy, and collateral warm weekends of the materials. She offered excellent Summer, the Delta Grand tips and stats about technology and O effective marketing. Hotel in Kelowna played host to “Refinance with Confidence” another outstanding BC Notaries’ Wayne Braid Ron Usher Business consultant Fall Conference. Practice Issues James Spack has a technology and The theme was Teamwork, modelled Our CEO/Secretary Wayne Braid and The Society’s General Counsel Ron marketing background. skillfully by the staff of the hotel and He introduced the especially talented Society staff. Usher treated the members to an intriguing session on Practice Issues. a program called “Refinance with James Spack Mediation Confidence” to help and Alternative Dispute Resolution BC Notaries gain market share in the Neil Hain, Solvit mortgage refinance sector, offering Dispute Resolution, total security for the lender and is a mediator, unmatched professional service that arbitrator, lawyer, and meets The Society’s best practices facilitator who strives standards. to help parties adopt Our insightful presenters and flexible approaches to Neil Hain hardworking staff helped make this effectively manage their conference a rousing success. differences. He highlighted ways for Trevor Linden BC Notaries to provide value-added service by serving their clients as Legendary Canuck Trevor Linden was problem-solvers. Sponsors our guest speaker at the Saturday Night Dinner and Dance. Who better Employment Matters/Interviewing PLATINUM to espouse the virtues of teamwork?! for Hiring/Terminating/References Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Stewart Title Guaranty Company Our presenters offered an excellent Arthur Docherty, assortment of education topics. an established GOLD HR professional BDO Powers of Attorney: Big Changes! with working-level TELUS (Assyst) Geoffrey White, experience as SILVER principal of Geoffrey a businessman and Marsh Canada/Chubb Insurance W. White Law Corp., entrepreneur, presented Arthur Real Estate Institute of BC is helping design “Avoiding HR Risks.” Docherty Granville West Group Ltd. the lawyer education program for BC’s Building BRONZE new Wills, Estate a Successful Practice Affleck Hira Burgoyne LLP Geoffrey W. through Technology BMO Bank of Montreal White and Succession Act, expected to take effect Pam Goossen, Zoom PRIZE DONORS this year. He shed light on the big Consulting Ltd., has The Metropolitan Hotel changes that have recently come into served clients in Telus Mobility effect with Powers of Attorney. a variety of industries Pam Goossen
42 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 2011 – 2012 Executive Committee
ESTATES • TAXATION • TRUSTS • ACCOUNTING
Wayne Braid, John Eastwood, Susan Davis, CEO/Secretary President Past President Many of my clients are Executors, Notaries, and Lawyers who come to me from all over BC and Canada. I help my clients understand and navigate through the complexities surrounding death and taxes. I provide essential expertise required to minimize income taxes and expedite final distributions. Akash Sablok, Tammy Morin- First VP Nakashima, Second VP Heather MacLean, BComm, CGA Our firm provides advice on and preparation of: Directors Senior Estate Accountant • Unfiled prior tax returns and adjustments Phone: 604-524-8688 • Date of Death T1 (Terminal T1) and optional tax returns Email: [email protected] • Estate T3 tax returns to final distribution Web: www.mti-cga.com • Tax Clearance Certificates • Estate accounting
Trish Joan Fedewich Letendre #350 – 522 Seventh Street, New Westminster, BC V3M 5T5
Linda Derek Susan He needs your help... Manning Smoluk Tong ach year the BC Society for the EPrevention of Cruelty to Animals helps more than 36,000 abused, sick, homeless, injured, lost and neglected animals across BC through its 37 branches.
Jessie Del Rhoda Your support enables us to resuce animals Vaid Virk Witherly in need and give them a second chance We welcome these BC Notaries at life. to our Board of Directors. Please help us by making a donation or leaving a gift to the animals in your Will. To find out how, visit us at spca.bc.ca/donate or contact:
John Hoole, Senior Manager, Gift Planning Filip de Sagher Lorne Mann Email: [email protected] Phone: (250) 388-7722 Ext 225 BCSPCA Kate Manvell David Watts spca.bc.ca SPEAKING FOR ANIMALS Photos by www.wildmanphotography.com and www.TheBigPictureStudio.com
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 43 BC notaries
Newest Members of the BC Notaries’ 25-Year-Club
Daryl McLane, Susan Davis, Christine Lloyd, Wayne Braid, Laurie Salvador, and Frank Spartano We welcomed 5 new members to this prestigious group this year. There are now 54 members in the 25-Year-Club of The Society of Notaries Public of BC.
Frank L. kitto registry services Ltd. Serving all your registry needs in Victoria • Land Titles • Personal Property • Companies • Ships 55th Year • Manufactured Homes • Court Anniversary of Serving And for your notarial needs: Victorians kitto & Best notaries puBLic Serving you since 1958 Real Estate and Manufactured Home Transfers Mortgages • Affidavits • Notarizing Powers of Attorney • Wills Photo: www.franceslitman.com Representation Agreements Let us do the Leta C. Best running for you! [email protected] 100 – 895 Fort Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1H7 PO Box 1057, Victoria, BC V8W 2S6 Registry 250 384-8054 Notary 250 384-8051 Fax 250 381-5552
44 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 BC notaries
Images from the Fall Conference 2011
Ernie and Agnes Janzen, Tim Janzen, Wayne Braid, Tracy Janzen, Akash Sablok Quang Duong and family
Brian Trotter Leta Best and Albert Smith Michael Kravetz Chris and Janet Dupuis and Linda Manning and Jennifer Adler
Sandra and Bill Anderson Wayne Braid Lisa Stevenson Raman and Rimpy Sadhra and Laurie Salvador and Tom Anderson
Laura and David Watts Bryanne and John Eastwood Noreen and El Fedewich Gary Holowaychuk and Megan Knight
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 45 Nev, Savin (Harman’s Son), Del, Paramjit, Harman, and Simrita Virk
Megan, Nick, Brenda, and Kate Aubin Timothy Ko and Jenny Ho Roy Spires and Kristy Martin
Seiko Ouchi Carmen Langstaff Mike Haines Brian Ganden and Joe Lopes Jessica Orlowski and Sophie Riendeau
Ashia Lohia and Jodi Pallan Milshan Wright and Jessie Vaid Edna Wong and Rob Selnes Lucinda and Alex Ning
Donna Van Beek, Steve Ewen, Glory Ewen, Trish Watson Brad Bodnarchuk, Jennifer MacKay, Ozzy Ati, Tiffany Postler, Bill Todd
46 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 Brenda Petrie and Joy Russell Zoe Stevens and Marie Chilton Wendy Whitter Sukainah and Shahnaz Rahimtula
Michelle LeTourneur Marny Morin Brent Atkinson Brenda Southam Ron Kostiuk Barry Piersdorff
Derek Smoluk Senad Sijercic Joan Letendre Cheryl Bennewith Zoe Stevens and Jim Robinson
John Simon Phyllis Simon Louise Currier Debra Van Beers Shinil Park
Elisabeth Rechsteiner, Kevin Conroy, Leif Christensen and Dawn Lagerbom Patrick Kelly and Amar Kler Albert Rechsteiner
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 47 Ishan, Shabnam, Raj, Arayan, Akash, and Tarlok Sablok Gary Richardson Peter Griffiths Michelle Broughton
Laurie Salvador, Trevor Linden, Wafaa and Kassem El Masri Cherry and Robert Inglis Morgan Shaw
Hilde Deprez Rhoda Chapman, Glen Mitchell, Zoe Stevens, Marvin and Valerie Hawke and Filip de Sagher Debra Burden with Stephen Pellizzari
Sheri and Brendan Rothwell Greg and Teresa Litwin Kathy and Daryl McLane Trevor Linden and Lorraine John
Niki and Larry Stevens Jr. Stan Nicol Rose Miller and Ron Usher Phil Kanigan and Leanne Rebantad and Meghann Hutton
48 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 Angie Therrien and Sean Braid Naib and Ruby Brar Mary and James Spack Lisa Ehrlich and Susan Davis
Dhama Sahota Sarah Christie Rob and Mary-Ellen Mason Nelson Dias and Editha Corrales Nelson and Simon Manvell and Christina Bertsch
Trish Fedewich, Terry Sidhu, Denise Hinton Sabrina Hanousek Cam Sherk Bob Simpson
Gurpreet Minhas Rob and Debra Mitchell Miriam and Brian Gregory Brent and Tracy Parker and Terri Parker
Reg and Betty Chow Dean and Suzanne Simpson, Scott and Jacquie Simpson Olive McLean and Elaine Aubry
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 49 Ruben and Maureen Friesen Bill Ramsey Kristy Martin and James Farley Steve Tidder and Judy Piccolo and Tiffany Postler
Daniel Aubry Judy Griffiths Dawn Cammack, Leda Kwichak, Roy Cammack Amy Badesha and Odina Skovgaard
Brad Waal Pauline Martin Kastelein Murali Krishnan Raj Sablok with baby Ishan Marg Rankin Fong-Leung
Raj Gajjar and Rashida Samji Bill Binfet Christine Duncan Charmaine Marco Castro Gail Maida Van Tine
Gurdeep Sidhu Jimmy Chong Heather Waal Jaron Manning Doug Franks Peter Reimer Cory Liu
50 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 GEORGE E.H. CADmAN,* Q.C. Editor’s 604 647-4123 Cell 604 290-8947 [email protected] www.boughton.ca Corrections from the 2011 Spring Seminar images. Real Estate, Corporate Litigation and Dispute Resolution BOUGHTON LAW CORPORATION Suite 1000, 595 Burrard St., P.O. BOx 49290, VancOuVer, Bc V7x 1S8 tel 604 687-6789 Fax 604 683-5317 *law cOrPOratiOn
Tim Terry Dale Shipley Roberts NEXT ISSUE Winter 2011 Customer Service Excellence STEREOTYPE You can be a master of your craft, profession, or trade and “ Poor kids on the Downtown Eastside can’t have knowledgeable and efficient be helped; their parents are too messed up. staff, but unless you understand and practise the art of Customer THERE’S NO HOPE.” Service Excellence, you and your organization will never achieve your full potential. In our next At Union Gospel Mission, we issue, the Cover Story Interview hear these kinds of stereotypes and other feature articles will focus all the time. Like you, we believe on proven strategies for Customer every person has a story, and all Service success. deserve to be treated with dignity.
The proven continuum of programs at UGM helps ease the burden of the most vulnerable and gives them the support they need to build bright futures.
Michael Harman Kravetz Virk A gift through your estate is the best way to give families hope for The MiX showcases interesting and generations to come. Please consider timely articles. Consider submitting leaving a charitable bequest in your an article to the publication. Write Will. Your gift can create a legacy of to [email protected]. hope for our community. Deadline for articles: November 10 To send photographs to the magazine, please . . . • go to www.graffiki.ca, and • click on "Send A File." For more information From the top box, delete the words on leaving a bequest, "Your e-mail." In that now-empty box, contact Carey Bornn type your email address. at 604.215.5441 or [email protected] Send up to 5 photos at once. Repeat as necessary. UGM.ca
Advertising Deadline: November 17 [email protected] Call: 604 985-9250 www.notaries.bc.ca/scrivener
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 51 BC notaries
Profile of a BC Notary: Linda Manning in Prince George: Busier than Ever!
was born in Calgary, A couple of years later, a job offer to a British Columbia Notary! The came from the local school district; seed was planted and over the next Alberta, and spent most I remained there for over 20 years, number of years, it remained till of my “growing up” years working as school secretary in both I applied to The Society for acceptance I elementary and secondary schools as to the Notaries’ Preparatory Program. in Edmonton. well as in a variety of clerical positions I received my commission in 2000. My only regret is that I didn’t apply sooner! My younger brother currently lives in the school board office. My first job was as senior secretary at Prince in the Lower Mainland and my mom When I started my practice, the George Secondary School that had resides in Kelowna. I have always had real estate market was very slow— over 2000 students in Grades 11 and the strong support of my family for and there were five other Notaries all my endeavours, both personal and 12. I started the job in May; no one practising in Prince George so I had the professional. mentioned one of my tasks would opportunity to take my time in getting be the preparation of all graduating my office going. My practice has grown. I had a couple of jobs while in high students’ Dogwood Certificates—on I now have 2 full-time conveyancing school—a cashier at a local Safeway a typewriter. No corrections permitted! staff and 1 part-time person. store and an assistant in a floral shop in downtown Edmonton. I had a lot In addition, my youngest son Jaron of ideas of what to do with my life— I received my commission received his BC Notary commission in most of which did not come to any in 2000. My only regret is 2009 and joined the practice. Jaron fruition! Some days I still wonder what that I didn’t apply sooner! was born and grew up here in Prince I want to do when I grow up! George; since returning to Prince George, he has reconnected with many My first job after high school was people he knew. with the Students’ Assistance Branch When I applied to The Society of Notaries Public, I was Business of the Department of Education Manager at Prince George Secondary I became a Director of the Board in Alberta. After a couple of years School, addressing the noneducational of The Society in the Fall of 2010, I was offered a job with the Bank requirements of the school—the which I am enjoying very much. It has of Nova Scotia where I took on various accounting work, ordering of supplies, given me an appreciation and deeper positions, from teller to accounting support staff supervision, and understanding of the operation of The assistant to manager’s secretary. managing a performing arts theatre— Society and an opportunity to more When my family relocated to Prince Vanier Hall—attached to the school. fully get to know many more members. George, a position was offered to me I have been made to feel very welcome at a local branch where I worked as A visit to the office of local Notary on the committees in which I am the accounting assistant. Susan Bullock was my first introduction involved as well as on the Board itself.
52 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 I have found a strong sense entertainment. The of “team” among the members of the mother dog Piper is Board; everyone is encouraged to often at the office and participate and their comments are has endeared herself to welcomed. many clients. Having Jaron work with me Brian and I like to allows more freedom to participate travel and have made in Board activities that I might not Piper three recent trips to have working as an independent Cuba. I had the pleasure of meeting practitioner. Dulce Lucia Rodriguez Cambeiro, A glimpse of the Kermode Bear: a Notary Public The Spirit Bear My practice is busy with the usual in Veradaro, notarizations, conveyancing, and Will Cuba. She was clientele. I particularly like working a delightful lady; with seniors. I had anticipated time we spent some off after Jaron came to work with me, time together but it actually appears to me that I am discussing the busier than ever! differences I am blessed with 3 beautiful between Notary children and their spouses and 6 activities in British Linda with Cuban grandchildren. They all live here Columbia and Notary Dulce in Prince George, making family Cuba. Lucia Rodriguez gatherings frequent. Cambeiro We live on an acreage that In my spare time, I love Whale watching off Victoria abounds with wildlife—deer, moose, and bear as well as foxes and many spending time at our kinds of birds. A fox visits us daily and log cabin at a local lake, has come to feel comfortable enough gardening, and reading. to curl up and sleep on our back deck. He has almost convinced one of my Our three poodles provide dogs to play with him and I have seen endless entertainment. them chasing up and down in our yard. A neighbour told me the fox plays with Despite all the stresses of a Notary their dog and another neighbour’s cat! life, I look forward to many more In my spare time, I love spending years of enjoying the rewards of the time at our log cabin at a local relationships I have with my peers, lake, gardening, and reading. Our my clients, my community, and my three poodles provide endless family. s A winter shot from the deck at our cabin
Brian and I on the Peak-to-Peak in Whistler Visiting Okanagan vineyards
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 53 Today’s Prince George
Prince George Court House nown as BC’s northern Heritage, College Heights, Wood drives the local Hart Highlands, and St. Lawrence capital, Prince George economy, with forestry, Heights are prime residential is a bustling city of over areas. Commercial and residential K plywood manufacture, developments are growing at 77,000 people situated at the 12 sawmills and 3 pulp an accelerated rate and more crossroads of Highway 97 mills as major employers subdivisions are planned for St. Lawrence Heights, West Cranbrook (north-south) and Highway and customers. Hill, and East Austin Road. 16 (east-west), and at the Wood drives the local economy, confluence of the Fraser and with forestry, plywood manufacture, Nechako Rivers. 12 sawmills, and 3 pulp mills as major employers and customers. Other industry includes 2 chemical plants, an oil refinery, brewery, dairy, machine shops, aluminum boat- Prince George Aquatic Centre building, log home construction, and value-added forestry product and specialty equipment manufacturing. Prince George is also a staging centre for mining and prospecting and a major regional transportation, trade, and government hub. Several major retailers are expanding into the Prince George market, a trend CN Centre Fraser River expected to persist. Home of the Prince George Cougars
54 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 several research institutes, UNBC has recently completed the construction PRIVATE RECIPE of the I. K. Barber Enhanced Forestry Lab. UNBC’s hilltop campus overlooks the City of Prince George and offers spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains to the east.
Prince George Airport provides access to the world through Air Canada and WestJet while Central University of the North, British Columbia Mountain Air and Northern Prince George’s education Thunderbird fly to regional and system encompasses 37 elementary, smaller centres. Both CNR freight 8 secondary, 2 junior secondary, and BC Rail freight lines operate out 1 middle school, and 8 private of Prince George, as does VIA rail schools. Postsecondary education passenger service. Some major choices include the regional College trucking lines accommodate the of New Caledonia (CNC), which region. Greyhound Bus Lines provides offers 2-year university courses plus daily bus service and PG Transit buses vocational and professional programs. serve the city. Several BC universities, the British Recreation facilities include Columbia Institute of Technology 116 playgrounds and parks, plus Photo credit: Brian Trotter (BCIT), and the Open Learning Agency tennis courts, ice rinks, 2 swimming have integrated their local programs pools, and an 11-kilometre riverfront with CNC. Baked trail system. Four provincial parks The University of Northern in the region provide downhill, British Columbia (UNBC) is the cross-country, and heli skiing. Other Bruschetta first new university to be built in amenities include an art gallery, ½ cup mayonnaise Canada in over 25 years. A total craft guild, theatre workshop, (Not Miracle Whip. of 55 undergraduate programs, symphony, Playhouse, and the Civic/ That is salad dressing.) 15 Master’s programs, and 2 PhD Convention Centre. Prince George programs are now offered at UNBC, has a WHL hockey team, the Prince 1 cup shredded as well as the new Northern Medical George Cougars, and a 7000 seat mozzarella cheese Program. A degree-granting institution multipurpose arena—the CN Centre— ¼ cup shredded asiago cheese with regional teaching centres in 9 as well as a BCJHL team, the Prince BC communities and a sponsor for George Spruce Kings. s ¼ cup chopped black olives (optional) 2 diced tomatoes ¼ tsp dried oregano ¼ tsp dried basil ¼ tsp black pepper 2 cloves of garlic, finely minced Mix all ingredients together. Spread on slices of fresh baguette. Bake until bubbly and nicely browned. Linda Manning is a BC Notary Public practising in Prince George. [email protected] Gardens on Connaught Hill
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 55 Building Be t t e r Communities, On e Gr a n t a t a Ti m e Spotlight on Good Works VCC Student Awards Douglas College Awards Ceremony, July 2011
From left: Susan Davis, Chair of the Notary Foundation of BC, Amanda McLaughlin, Courtney Thiessen, and Julia Trela The 2011 recipients of The Notary Foundation and BC Notaries Scholarship were thrilled to be recognized for their studies.
On behalf of the Notary Foundation of BC, Akash Sablok, Delta resident Amanda McLaughlin received the Notary Vice President of The Society of Notaries Public of BC, presented Foundation and BC Notaries Bursary. “I was super excited the award to VCC student Ondine Carion. and proud.” Amanda juggles full-time school with a part- time job and a 4-year-old daughter. She hopes to go to law The Award Ceremonies offer a wonderful opportunity to see school one day. just what a difference you [the Notary Foundation of BC] and other donors make in the lives of VCC Students who are Courtney Thiessen enrolled in Criminology at Douglas. making every effort to reach their education and career goals. Because she needed to work part-time, she switched to the Legal Administrative Assistant program, graduating You are real partners in their endeavours and their with honours before transferring to the Legal Studies accomplishments. Diploma program. She graduated in August and plans to The funding made available through the Notary work for a couple of years, “then I will continue on to train Foundation Scholarship at Vancouver Community College as a paralegal or take the BC Notary Master of Arts in is tremendously appreciated by the students selected to Applied Legal Studies program at SFU,” Thiessen says. receive it, not only for the financial assistance, but also Julia Trela is a new Canadian who came to Canada from for the boost it gives to their morale. Poland as a Grade 10 student; she enrolled at Douglas Your support of students at VCC is immensely upon completion of high school. Once she completes the appreciated. The Board of Directors of the Vancouver Legal Studies Diploma at Douglas, this Delta resident plans Community College Foundation joins me in extending to transfer to SFU to become a BC Notary. “It felt like my sincere thanks. hard work was being acknowledged and appreciated; it [the scholarship] encouraged me to keep up my grades.” Sincerely, Edith Voszler, Development Officer Regards, Voice: 604 871-7147 Hazel Postma, Associate VP External Relations [email protected] Voice: 604 777-6173 [email protected]
56 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 Building Be t t e r Communities, On e Gr a n t a t a Ti m e Hope. Board Appointment
Attorney General Barry Penner has appointed Lisa Nakamura as the BC Government’s representative to the Board of the BC Notary Sometimes, hope is all you have. To help or find out more, Foundation. For over 70 years, EFry has helped visit www.elizabethfry.com Notary Foundation Chair Susan Davis or call 604-520-1166. says, “We are pleased to welcome women, girls and children touched Lisa to be part of the great work we do.” by the justice system achieve better lives through our counselling, As a Senior Policy Analyst in the housing and support programs. Justice Services Branch of the Ministry of Attorney General, Lisa’s portfolio Your gift can help us turn hope embraces Public Legal Education and into a better tomorrow. Information (PLEI) and administrative justice transformation. She has regular contact with the Law Foundation, Courthouse Libraries BC, Justice Education Society, Legal Save time. increase revenues. Services Society, People’s Law School, and PovNet. Accept Credit Card payments—and receive Lisa’s work with Justice Services your money the next business day! Branch has included opportunities to contribute to the development of justice transformation initiatives such as Justice Access Centres, branch level corporate support, and legal aid policy. Merchant ServiceS SOLUtiOnS
She completed a Master’s degree Our secure services start in Public Administration, a Bachelor at $16 per month. of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts and is currently in the Conflict Resolution Our equipment is easy to use. program at the Justice Institute of BC. Added optimal convenience for Born in Regina, Lisa has lived you, your staff, and your clients. Mary-Ellen Mason Lisa Leitch most of her life in Victoria where she currently resides with her spouse and young son. Contact us today for a personalized assessment. Having lived and travelled in both By phone at 1 (866) 288-1587 ext. 103 and 109 Europe and Asia, she has a deep or by email at [email protected]. appreciation of all that we enjoy as Canadians and especially as British Columbians. Lisa is looking forward to learning more about BC Notaries and the exciting work of the Notary Members of the BC Notaries Affinity Program Foundation. s
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 57 $39,821,356 Building Be t t e r Communities, On e Gr a n t a t a Ti m e
The Board of Governors of the Notary Foundation of BC is comprised of 30 MILLION • 8 members of the Board of Directors of The Society of Notaries Public of BC; • 1 representative from the Attorney General’s office in Victoria; • 2 Directors-at-Large, appointed by the Attorney General; and • the Executive Officer. 24 MILLION The members from The Society are elected by the Directors of The Society from among their ranks, for a 3-year period. The Governors Susan Davis, Chair David Moore 18 MILLION Ken Sherk Leta Best John Eastwood Lisa Nakamura Akash Sablok Dalminder Virk
12 MILLION G. W. (Wayne) Braid, Executive Officer of the Notary Foundation, is responsible for the administration of the office and staff, and the diverse investment funds of the Foundation. The Board of Governors meets quarterly to consider applications for funding from various organizations and to set policy, review 6 MILLION the Foundation’s financial status, and provide direction for the administration of the Foundation. The Governors of the Foundation have the responsibility of guiding the Foundation in its mandate to disperse the funds generated by interest on Notaries’ Trust Accounts.
The funds are used for the following purposes. 1. Legal education 2. Legal research 3. Legal aid 4. Education and Continuing Education for BC Notaries and Funds earned from the Trust applicants who have enrolled to become BC Notaries Accounts of BC Notaries 5. Establishment, operation, and maintainance of law libraries in BC 6. Contributions to the special fund established As of June 30, 2011 under the Notaries Act of BC
58 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 LETTERS LETTERS LETTERS TLETTERShe MiXLETTERS LETTERS LETTERS LETTERS
Spring 2011 Volume 20 • Number 1 Summer 2011 Volume 20 • Number 2
Published Quarterly by The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia We receive The Scrivener Published Quarterly by The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia through my husband’s work at BC Assessment. Thank you for the Spring 2011 edition on Mentoring, to remind us teamwork is critical, not only
From left: BC Notary Student Cam Sherk, President of The Society of Notaries John Eastwood, and BC Notary Dan Boisvert INSIDE: Mentoring to enhance our lives but to support BC Notaries Mary-Ann Mustonen-Hinds and Susan Tong INSIDE: Travel
Publications Mail Agreement: 40010827 and learn from one another in Publications Mail Agreement: 40010827 a respectable relationship. Spring 2011, Volume 20, Number 1 I especially liked reading about Summer 2011, Volume 20, Number 2 Trevor Linden. He was a leader for When I read the Summer Scrivener the Canucks and Team Canada all Thank you so much for sending me online, I was reminded of what those years. It was awesome to hear of his mentoring experiences in real copies of The Scrivener magazine. a wonderful event the 2011 estate and business today. Leadership Without doubt, this is the most Installation Lunch for the new attributes are largely transferable; informative read I have had in a long BC Notaries was; I was glad to be the same values and work ethic apply time. Seniors especially would benefit from the material regarding Wills. there to present the award in my whether you’re on or off the ice. There is so much we can learn I have recommended the magazine father’s name. from one another’s experiences. We to several people. It was good to read yet more can gain tips, tricks, and suggestions Carole Amundsen tributes to him, too. They make me from mentors who already “know Surrey, BC laugh and bring tears to my eyes at the the ropes” and have succeeded and same time. failed in a variety of ways. Mentoring is an important aspect to anyone’s Thank you, life, whether we go out there and To Our Readers . . . Tessa (Hoeter) Marks find it on our own or we are matched up with a community leader through Do you wish to read The Scrivener [One of the two a mentoring program. online? We will be pleased to daughters of the late We certainly can’t achieve the notify you as each new issue is Bernard W. Hoeter, posted. Please visit www.notaries. longtime Secretary successes we do without the guidance and “real-world account” from bc.ca/scrivener, then click on of The Society “Email Subscription.” of Notaries Public of BC] someone who’s been down a similar path. The Scrivener magazine is a refreshing account of real people’s To receive the magazine quarterly I can not help saying how happy lives. I enjoy reading the variety via Canada Post, compliments of stories and articles you publish. of The Society of Notaries Public I was when I received The Scrivener. of BC, please go to We all have so much to contribute www.notaries.bc.ca/scrivener, When I started reading the to our families, our workplaces, and then click on “Subscription,” interesting articles, I saw many photos our communities as employees and or call 604 985‑9250. and names of people I feel close to. professionals—but most essential, as But most of all, it was Bernard who people. Thank you for providing insight Thank you, was again so close to me. I know how into the positive attributes of BC’s interested and proud he was of The hard-working professionals. The Scrivener Scrivener and his “second family,” the Sincerely, BC Notaries. Erin Vogt, BSW Thank you so much, take care, and Prince George, BC please say “hello” to We Love to Hear everybody. From You! Love, Send us your comments about The Scrivener. Erika Riedel, Erin and Bernard Hoeter’s Partner her husband [email protected] Ryan Vogt
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 59 History of British Columbia: part 12
Bob Reid
History of Vancouver
Please see Archives at www.notaries.bc.ca/scrivener. Part 1: Fall 2002 Vol. 11, No. 3 Part 5: Winter 2006 Vol. 15, No. 4 Part 8: Spring 2009 Vol. 18, No. 1 Part 2: Fall 2003 Vol. 12, No. 3 Part 6: Summer 2007 Vol. 16, No. 2 Part 9: Fall 2009 Vol. 18, No. 3 Part 3: Winter 2003 Vol. 12, No. 4 Part 7:1 Fall 2007 Vol. 16, No. 3 Part 10: Summer 2010 Vol. 19, No. 2 Part 4: Winter 2004 Vol. 13, No. 4 Part 7:2 Winter 2007 Vol. 16, No. 4 Part 11: Spring 2011 Vol. 20, No. 1 Part 4A: Spring 2005 Vol. 14, No. 1 Part 7:3 Spring 2008 Vol. 17, No. 1 Part 12: Fall 2011 Vol. 20, No. 3
©iStockphoto.com/sunygraphics n April 6, 2011, to accept his decision and continued Who then would have to lobby Ottawa to change it and keep Vancouver celebrated its envisaged a world-class city Victoria as the western terminus. O125th anniversary as an arising from the primeval This intergovernmental dispute incorporated city. forest? over the route of the CPR has been discussed in my previous articles. Today it ranks as one of the most In 1881 when the directors of the livable cities in the world. Canadians—believed the western newly chartered Canadian Pacific But 125 years ago, it was forest terminus of the original government- Railway confirmed Ottawa’s decision, and marsh. Who then would have sponsored Canadian Pacific Railway real estate sales in Port Moody at the envisaged a world-class city arising would be on Vancouver Island, at or head of Burrard Inlet soared. A town from the primeval forest? near Victoria. But the proposed route sprung up with hotels, general stores, to the Island—down Bute Inlet, then and other businesses. In 1884 ships Vancouver sprang into being across the fast-flowing tidal currents hired by the CPR arrived at Port because of a decision by the general at Seymour Narrows—although Moody, laden with supplies needed manager and vice possible to build was to complete the construction of the president of the CPR prohibitively expensive. railway. They were transported by rail (later its President) to the construction headquarters of the William Cornelius By 1877 the Liberal Van Horne, to move government of Prime the western terminus Minister Alexander of the Canadian Pacific Mackenzie decided to William adopt a route down the Railway from Port Alexander Moody to a location 12 Cornelius Fraser Valley. In 1879 Van Horne Mackenzie miles further west at the newly Coal Harbour. He also chose the name elected Conservative Vancouver for the new city. If anyone government of Sir John can be called the father of Vancouver, A. Macdonald agreed surely it should be Van Horne. with this decision and an order-in-council
When the Colony of British made Burrard Inlet the Special Collections, VPL 7181 Public Library, Vancouver Columbia agreed to join Confederation western terminus of the Sir John A. Port Moody, Pier and CPR depot on Burrard in 1871, everyone—Colonists and CPR. But Victoria refused Macdonald Inlet. The original station was built in 1882.
60 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 CPR at Yale over the newly completed quantity of the Railway Belt lands section of the main line from Port were resolved. Soon afterward, Moody to Yale. the provincial government placed a government reserve on the Crown Then rumours began to spread lands west of Port Moody, preserving that the CPR planned to move its them from settlement. Pacific terminus westward to Coal Harbour or English Bay. And there was considerable Crown land available. Early settlement of the In August of 1884, Van Horne Lower Mainland had taken place along visited Port Moody but he would the Fraser River, first at Fort Langley, neither confirm nor deny the then at New Westminster. Early rumours. Van Horne had grave doubts settlers had expressed little interest Special Collections, VPL 19817 Public Library, Vancouver about Port Moody being able to in pre-empting lands in what would Corner of Hastings and Granville. 188–. Looking east from Granville Street. accommodate the vision he had for become the city of Vancouver. the future of the Pacific terminus government and the CPR for this of the CPR as a world-class seaport 12-mile extension, the CPR was to linking Great Britain to its Imperial On November 1, 1886, the complete the branch line by December possessions in Asia. first passenger train arrived 31, 1886, or surrender a bond for The harbour at Port Moody was at the new railway station $250,000. shallow and not favourable for deep- located at the western end The smaller parcel of land granted sea vessels. Moreover, the tidal to the CPR was the government rush through the Second Narrows in of Columbia Street reserve (District Lot 541), between Burrard Inlet made transit treacherous in the Royal City. Burrard and Carrall Streets (excluding for vessels travelling to Port Moody. the original Granville townsite) to False To accommodate the wharves, docks, Van Horne asked Premier William Creek. The second, and larger parcel and marshalling yards for the railway, Smithe for 11,000 acres, but privately (District Lot 526), included land south a lot of property was needed and land told him he would accept less. He of False Creek between Trafalgar and was limited at Port Moody. And most argued that the CPR Ontario Streets, and south to about important, much of the land available needed those lands to 57th Avenue. The branch line of the for development at Port Moody was in sell to private investors the hands of private investors and not to help defer the costs the CPR. Profit from land sales would for the extension not accrue to the railway. of the rail line and the On his 1884 visit, Van Horne construction of docks, travelled by boat to Coal Harbour William wharves, and other Smithe and English Bay to assess whether facilities. the area would satisfy the future But surely the CPR would have needs of the railway. He came to build docks, wharves, and other away impressed with its potential railway facilities at Port Moody and a determination to make it the anyway? In 1884, however, the CPR terminus. Thus the fate of Port Moody was starting to experience the serious was sealed. financial problems that came close to But Van Horne did not announce bankrupting the railway a year later immediately the decision to move and it needed all the financial help it the terminus. First he had to reach could garner. an agreement with the provincial The decision to move the terminus government over the right-of-way to was made official in 1885 and the the new terminus site and to negotiate hopes of property investors at Port with the provincial government for Moody who had speculated on that a large land grant in the area. town being the major city on Burrard Inlet were dashed. One problem was that the federal government had a claim to the lands On February 23, 1885, the west of Port Moody as potential provincial government granted 6458 Special Collections, VPL 30289 Public Library, Vancouver CPR Station at the foot of Granville Street, Railway Belt lands. It relinquished acres of Crown land in two separate with banners and flyers and a sign its claim in May 1884, however, parcels to the railway. And in the “God bless our King on whose empire when the issues of the location and agreement between the provincial the sun never sets.”
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 61 See Edmunds, [1886] 1 BCR 272 (II), Major, [1886] 1 BCR 287 (II). The CPR appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada and it reversed Begbie’s Portrait of Judge decision. See CPR Begbie, “The v. Major (1886), Hanging Judge”
13 S.C.R. 233, 241. Cover reproduced courtesy of James Lorimer & Co. The CPR completed the branch But why give the CPR any land line but not by the deadline, so the when it was fairly obvious the railway province sought forfeiture of the was going to extend the line to Coal bond. The CPR claimed the failure Harbour? Patricia Roy, in The History to complete the branch line was of Canadian Cities. Vancouver, An because of the injunction obtained Illustrated History, at page 14, writes by Port Moody investors who sought to overturn the decision to move the The most likely answer is that the terminus from Port Moody to Coal Crown hoped to make a quick profit Harbour. This dispute ended in court from auction sales of its remaining but this time the BC Supreme Court lands in the area. Individual found in favour of the railway. See members of the government Attorney-General of B.C. v. C.P.R. et also saw an opportunity for al., [1887] 1 B.C.R. 350 (II). private profit. John Robson, the Provincial Secretary, Minister of Finance and Agriculture, and The expectation of British Member of the Legislature for Columbians was then, as the New Westminster district, the in 1886, that the economy constituency that included the future Vancouver, personally hoped of the province would boom “to realize on my Vancouver lands.” with the arrival of the According to Robert Cail, Land, railway. Man and the Law. The disposal of Crown Lands in British Columbia, The CPR also received another 1871–1913, at page 144: Poster image: Canadian Pacific Railway Archives 200 acres from the private landowners …the gift of these 6,275 acres in the area, who gave it one third was indeed a liberal gesture… CPR poster from 1886 of their property holdings. (But) in all justice to Smithe and The provincial government his colleagues, however, it should railway included most of the waterfront of Premier William Smithe also agreed be explained that they had ample from Coal Harbour (Stanley Park) to to give the CPR a bonus of $75,000 precedent, and that these acres, the Second Narrows. and grant it a free right-of-way to build like all other lands in the province, Disappointed Port Moody investors a 9-mile branch line from the CPR not only had been reserved immediately sought an injunction to mainline track to New Westminster. from sale since 1878, but also block the grant of the right-of-way The branch line left the main track had been reserved specifically along Burrard Inlet from Port Moody to at Westminster Junction, today’s Port for railway purposes, and even Coal Harbour. Two investors claimed Coquitlam. tentatively had been transferred the extension was not sanctioned by to the Dominion to this end. On November 1, 1886, the first the special Act authorizing the railway passenger train arrived at the new Why insist that the name of the construction. railway station located at the western western terminus be Vancouver? Van At the BC Supreme Court, Chief end of Columbia Street in the Royal Horne believed that the name of the Justice Begbie found that the new City. Upon its arrival, New Westminster existing townsite, Granville, was construction into Vancouver was proclaimed itself the “Fresh Water unknown to people living in Eastern beyond the powers of the railway. Terminus” of the CPR. Canada and Great Britain, whereas the
62 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 name Vancouver But this event was overshadowed the Pacific and providing an “All Red was well known, to some degree by the fact that the Route” from Britain to the Imperial either from the first scheduled passenger train had colonies in Asia and the Pacific. explorations arrived at Port Moody to similar In July 1886, 2 weeks after of Captain fanfare and rejoicing the year before, the first transcontinental train had Vancouver or on July 4, 1886. left Ontario for Port Moody, Sir of Vancouver The train’s arrival John and Lady Agnes Macdonald Island. The name on May 23 fulfilled left Ottawa by private coach car on Granville did the promise made in a trip that would be experienced by Captain George not fit his vision Vancouver 1871 by Sir John A. millions of Canadians in the years of a major seaport Macdonald and George after—a transcontinental train trip. and commercial centre. It is doubtful Etienne Cartier to build At stops on the westward route that even Van Horne foresaw how great a transcontinental George to the Pacific, vast crowds came out his new city would become. railway to British Etienne to greet him. When his train crossed Cartier Columbia. The His decision upset Victorians into the North West Territories from expectation of British Columbians was who viewed it as another slap in their Manitoba, one can only speculate then, as in 1886, that the economy face. The name of their beloved island whether Sir John obeyed the of the province would boom with the was now the name of their new rival prohibition on whisky in the Territories. arrival of the railway. To some extent for dominance in the province. Their He did love his wee dram. enmity was softened by the fact that that expectation was fulfilled in the many of them had purchased property period after the arrival of the first During the transit through the in Vancouver and expected to be passenger train. Kicking Horse Pass, Lady Macdonald amply rewarded for their speculation. caused a sensation when, to better enjoy the scenery, she rode the buffer There was also the problem of the …Lady Macdonald caused bar platform above the cowcatcher on fact that Fort Vancouver already a sensation when, to better the front of the engine. She enjoyed it existed on the Columbia River in enjoy the scenery, she rode so much, she travelled on the platform Washington Territory. But Van Horne all the way to Port Moody. She even ignored all the critics. the buffer bar platform persuaded Sir John to join her on her When the branch line to Vancouver above the cowcatcher perch for part of the trip. was completed, the first transcontinental on the front of the engine. Macdonald and his party arrived passenger train arrived on May 23, in Port Moody on Saturday, July 24, 1887, at the new CPR station at the Sir John A. Macdonald was not 1886. As the branch line to Vancouver foot of Granville Street in Vancouver. Its among the dignitaries at Port Moody was not yet completed, he could have locomotive, Engine 374, is housed today on that historic day in 1886. He had travelled by water transport to the in its own pavillion at the Roundhouse been detained in Ottawa. Even though newly incorporated City of Vancouver. Community Centre in Yaletown. Macdonald had been elected as the But a devastating fire on June 13, According to the Daily News member from Victoria in the 1878 1886, had destroyed what limited Advertiser, federal election, he had not previously accommodation there had been there. visited British Columbia. Now nothing Instead, he and his party sailed to The buildings along the principal could stop him from travelling on Victoria to stay at the more civilized streets were decorated with his first and only trip to British charms of Driad House. evergreens, flags, bunting, Columbia to witness the realization etc., while from every flag And, while on Vancouver Island, of his dream—a transcontinental Macdonald did drive with a silver mast in the city a flag of some railway linking Eastern Canada with nationality was flying out before hammer the last spike, a gold one, in the breeze. Horses and vehicles the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway were decorated with small flags. on August 13 at Shawnigan Lake, Bright coloured ribbons and marking the fulfillment of another evergreens…All the ships in the federal promise to British Columbia— harbour were decked out…At to build an Island railway. the station, the arch across the Macdonald’s visit to Victoria track was arranged in a very tasty marked the passage of a time when manner; on the side facing the Victoria ruled the economic and roadway was the legend “Labor political life of the province. The Omnia Vincit” and over the track newly incorporated city on Burrard “Orient Greets Occident” and Sir John A. and Lady Agnes Macdonald Inlet would eventually come to “Confederation Accomplished.” travelling to British Columbia dominate the commercial and later
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 63 the political life of the province. Galiano and Cayetano Valdes y Flores gold miners seeking their fortunes in Vancouver’s time had arrived. off Point Grey near today’s Spanish the Cariboo. Banks, named to commemorate their In 1859 George Henry Richards, The history of Vancouver is closely meeting. Those Spanish explorers captain of HMS Plumper, for whom tied to the decision of the directors are remembered in the names Richards Street is named in present of the CPR to have its Pacific terminus of Vancouver streets—Cordova, downtown at a deep sea port at Coal Harbour, Cardero, Valdez, and Narvaez. adjacent to the Granville townsite, Vancouver, was where sailing ships could unload their assigned the task cargos from Asia: Tea, silk, spices. Burrard Inlet also provided of surveying the Up until 1885, the area that became access to an ice-free waters between the United States and Vancouver had not played a major role harbour, should the Fraser in the history of British Columbia. British Territory River freeze during the after the Oregon If Victoria had become the western Winter months as it was George Richards Treaty of 1846. terminus, as was the expectation of the colonists in 1871, that city prone to do in those days. In mapping Burrard Inlet, he no doubt would have retained its discovered a coal seam that could have dominance of the province. been valuable for the steamships of the Although Captain George British Navy, and named the area Coal If that had happened, Vancouver Vancouver returned to the Pacific Harbour. The coal seam although would not exist. A city or town, like Northwest, he experienced problems of good quality was too small to support Granville, may have gained some when he returned to Britain after this a successful mining operation. Richards importance because of the natural voyage. Apparently he had offended also named False Creek. resources surrounding Burrard several well-connected persons who Also in 1859, Colonel Moody Inlet. In fact, several cities or towns used their influence and power to ruin had a plank road built from New might exist in the area of today’s his naval career. In 1798, 3 years Westminster to Burrard Inlet at Port city of Vancouver. New Westminster after his last voyage of exploration and Moody. It is known today as North would in all probability still be the discovery, he died in obscurity at the Road and the boundary between commercial centre on the Mainland age of 40. Today he lies in a modest Burnaby and Coquitlam. The road of British Columbia. grave in a churchyard in Petersham in southern England. His name, though, followed an existing First Nations’ trail. Traditionally, Vancouver had been lives on in the great city named for him. In case of an American invasion, New inhabited by First Nations peoples. Westminster could be supplied through Vancouver was bypassed by the The Musqueam, Squamish, and this back door. early events affecting the settlement Burrard bands all hunted, fished, of the Lower Mainland of British Burrard Inlet also provided access and gathered food in the environs Columbia. The Hudson’s Bay to an ice-free harbour, should the of the now-great city. Estimates of the Company established Fort Langley, Fraser River freeze during the Winter population of the first inhabitants on the Fraser River, as a trading months as it was prone to do in those of the area vary because European post in 1827. After the Mainland days. In fact, the Fraser did freeze diseases, especially smallpox, had of British Columbia became a British in the Winter of 1861–1862 and decimated the population of First colony in 1858, North Road was used to haul freight Nations peoples in the region. Colonel Richard from ice-free Burrard Inlet to New The first Europeans to visit the Moody arrived Westminster. Vancouver area were Spanish. In 1791 the next year with Another road, the False Creek Captain José Maria Narvaez in the a detachment Trail—now Kingsway—built in 1860, Santa Saturnia was the first European of Royal Engineers. from New Westminster to False to visit the future site of Vancouver. On his advice, Creek, was also to provide relief to The first British visit came the next a new capital was New Westminster if the latter were year when Captain George Vancouver built on the north threatened. Again the trail followed an and his two ships, the Discovery side of the Fraser old aboriginal trail. and the Chatham, explored the local River. The earlier The first trail was abandoned waters. He named several of the Richard Moody site at Derby, next local sites after friends and naval but in 1872 was re-opened when it to Fort Langley on the south side connected New Westminster with personages: Point Grey, Howe Sound, of the Fraser, was too exposed to Point Atkinson, and Burrard Inlet. the newly surveyed Granville townsite invasion from the United States. New via the first bridge over False Creek. On June 22, 1792, Captain Westminster became the major city Vancouver was surprised when he in the Lower Mainland and was the Trail or road construction in those met the Spanish Captains Dionisio gateway on the lower Fraser River for early days was a difficult and expensive
64 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 business because of the streams and demise of the area as a permanent Barman, Jean The West Beyond the marshy land to be traversed through the settlement. All that remains today is West: A History of British Columbia, forest of what later became the Greater New Brighton Park at the north end University of Toronto Press, 1991. Vancouver area. Plus the interminable of Windermere Street. Berton, Pierre, The Last Spike. The rains made them impassable at certain In 1968 a plaque was erected at Great Railway, 1881–1885, McClelland times of the year; some people would the park site stating and Stewart Ltd., Toronto, 1971. claim that today, nothing has changed. Back then, the primary mode of travel Here Vancouver began. All was Cail, Robert E., Land, Man and the throughout the region was by water forest towering to the skies. Law. The disposal of Crown Lands in transport. British Royal Engineers surveyed British Columbia, 1871–1913, University it into lots, 1863, and named the of British Columbia Press, 1974. Another legacy of Colonel Moody area Hastings Townsite. Everything to the future Vancouver was the Davis, Chuck and Mooney, Shirley, began at Hastings. The first post establishment of government reserves Vancouver, An Illustrated Chronology, office, customs, road, bridge, for they delayed the disposition and Windsor Publications, Burlington, hotel, stable, telegraph, dock, use of the land until the arrival of the Ontario, 1986. ferry, playing field, museum, CPR railway years later. One reserve, laid Gordon, Katherine, Made To Measure. Office. It was the most fashionable out at the strategic peninsula guarding A History of Land Surveying in British watering place in British Columbia. the entrance to Burrard Inlet, became Columbia, Sonoris Press, Winlaw, BC, Stanley Park. Another reserve at the 2006. tip of Point Grey became the later site The purchaser of that first Harris, Douglas C., “A Railway, a City, of the University of British Columbia. real estate was George and the Public Regulation of Private There was a naval reserve around Property: CPR v. City of Vancouver,” what became Jerry’s Cove (Jericho Black, a Scottish butcher http://www.law.ualberta.ca/plpr/2011/ Beach). And other reserves became who bought Lot 26 at public Harris_Constructive_Taking_2011.pdf the townsites auction for $50… Hayes, Derek, Historical Atlas of Granville, (named of Vancouver and the Lower Fraser for Lord Granville, the Valley, Douglas & McIntyre, Vancouver, Colonial Secretary), An article in the magazine, 2005. and Hastings, (named ARCADE Architecture and Design in Ormsby, Margaret A., British Columbia: for Rear Admiral the Northwest, “Site Report: New A History, The Macmillan Company Hastings, commander Brighton Park, East Vancouver,” added of Canada, Vancouver, 1958. of the Royal Navy’s “to this inaugural mythos an additional Lord Granville Pacific Fleet). fact: The site also comprised the Roy, Patricia, The History of Canadian The largest of the reserves became first real estate transaction in what Cities. Vancouver, An Illustrated History, the Hastings townsite. On a modern was to become [Vancouver]. From James Lorimer & Co., Toronto, 1980. its inception, New Brighton has map, its boundaries would extend south Waite, Donald E., Vancouver Exposed, to 29th Avenue between Nanaimo remained emblematic of colonial economies: Primary industry, leisure, A History in Photographs, Waite Photos Street and Boundary Road. In 1911 it Inc., 2010. merged with the City of Vancouver. and real estate find here their passive monument.” Waite, P. B., Macdonald, His Life and The Hastings townsite was World, McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd., colloquially known as New Brighton, The purchaser of that first real Toronto, 1975. which was the name of the settlement estate was George Black, a Scottish located at the Burrard Inlet end butcher who bought Lot 26 at public Watters, Reginald Eyre, editor-in- of North Road. It was named for its auction for $50—$25 down, the chief, British Columbia: A Centennial English counterpart, which provided rest later. Lot 26 had been the site Anthology, McClelland and Stewart a similar holiday resort for Britain’s of a First Nations’ clam beach—how Limited, Vancouver, 1858. capital. New Brighton provided relief symbolic of what befell First Nations’ for New Westminster residents who sites and settlements in Vancouver See also Wikipedia, the free s travelled there by stagecoach to escape and British Columbia. encyclopedia, at http://en.wikipedia.org. from the swarms of mosquitoes that To be continued . . . Robert S. Reid is an Associate Professor plagued them in the Summer months. Emeritus of Law. He retired from the UBC In 1865, with the completion of North REFERENCES Faculty of Law in June 2003. Bob is also Road, the first hotel was built. ARCADE Architecture and Design in the Northwest, “Site Report: New a retired member of the Notaries’ Board A settlement quickly grew up at Brighton Park, East Vancouver,” of Examiners, having taught Property the site, but the arrival of the CPR at 2004, www.arcadejournal.com/public/ Law to BC Notary students for almost its terminus at Coal Harbour spelt the IssueArticle.aspx?Volume=20 20 years.
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 65 Real Estate Institute of BC
Brenda Southam
REIBC’s Annual Recognition Dinner
ith more than 100 podium, the audience rose to give him guests attending, a standing ovation. First United believes the annual These kinds of events showcase it is possible to make a difference W the high level of membership of REIBC. in the lives of those who are Recognition Dinner, held To view more information about homeless in the Downtown June 16, was a huge success. John D’Eathe, please click on this link. Eastside—and in doing so, everyone will be enriched. We were treated to the sweet http://www.reibc.org/page/2011%20 jazz sounds of “Swing 2 Beat,” the award%20of%20excellence.aspx Please help us by making group formed by our former President New Officers on the a donation or leaving a gift Jacques Khouri, RI, with his son Sean. REIBC Board of Governors in your Will. To find out how, visit Peter Bretherton, RI, emceed the us at firstunited.ca. evening and guests were entertained President: Nathan Worbets, RI by the brilliant comic skits and President-Elect: André Gravelle, RI For more information comments of Roman Danylo. please contact Don Evans. Vice President: Mandy Hansen, RI Philip White Secretary/Treasurer: Dave Graham, RI 604 505-5921 received the 50- Past President: Peter Bretherton, RI [email protected] Year Recognition Award. He has REIBC would like to thank played a key role the British Columbia Real Estate in the Institute’s Association for sponsoring the 2011 history. Recognition Dinner. s
Philip White Cal Ross, RI, the winner of our prestigious Award Together of Excellence in 2010, introduced this year’s recipient, Nathan André Mandy we are enriched. Worbets Gravelle Hansen Cal Ross with a detailed bio Together of the recipient’s achievements we recognize in the industry, participation in the vulnerable the community at large, and ability to inner-child balance family life. in each of us. As John D’Eathe, RI, Dave Peter John D’Eathe made his way to the Graham Bretherton
66 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 Wills & Estates
Trevor Todd
Judith Milliken, QC
Financial Abuse
n our estate litigation can easily gain access to the elder’s Abusers seem to have a sixth home, person, and financial assets. sense at picking out vulnerable victims practice, we frequently The abuser may well have all the and there are indeed predators who encounter estates depleted freedom of a “fox in a henhouse” to deliberately seek out vulnerable seniors I re-arrange the victim’s affairs for his with the intent of exploiting them. by financial abuse. or her own benefit. Like pedophiles who profess their Elders are by no means the only love of children, such predators will victims of this abuse. Less commonly Many seniors do not realize profess love for the elderly and seek we see the financial abuse of children their wealth, especially employment as personal care attendants or disabled adults—the beneficiaries to gain household access. For a good of trust funds—usually by a trustee in long-term homeowners example, see Mikita v. Lick at www. a conflict of interest. whose homes have greatly disinherited.com. Especially vulnerable With our aging population, appreciated in value. Too to these predators are recent widowers, lost without their spouse, who are sitting however, the potential for elder often, they do not recognize financial abuse is increasing greatly. ducks when a little sex is thrown in. This should be no surprise, given that their own vulnerability Family members, however, the elderly—often savers rather than to financial abuse. appear to make up the largest spenders—apparently control over group of financial abusers. Whether 70 percent of the nation’s wealth. The Perpetrators of Financial Abuse children, grandchildren, or spouses, Canadians are becoming these folks often have a huge sense The perpetrators of financial abuse increasingly aware of the financial of entitlement. They often feel justified fall largely into three general abuse of elders. It seems many of us in taking what they believe is, or categories. know first or second hand of cases should be, rightfully theirs. where someone has improperly • Predators looking to financially Particularly if they have benefitted from the estate of an benefit from an elder (for addiction or financial problems, they elderly person. example, escorts "specializing in will rationalize their actions. Left seniors") Many seniors do not realize unsupervised, they may well deplete their wealth, especially long-term • Unscrupulous business the estate before the elder dies. Once homeowners whose homes have professionals looking to sell the horse is out of the barn, often little greatly appreciated in value. Too unnecessary services to an elder. can be done to recoup the losses. often, they do not recognize their own (Does Uncle Harry really want or The financial abuse of elders vulnerability to financial abuse. need that marble mausoleum all is seemingly an ideal crime; there for himself?) Elderly persons with disabilities can be a huge potential for gain and are especially vulnerable if living • Family members with a huge little downside. There is little, if any, alone and in need of care. A would-be sense of entitlement (the majority chance of successful prosecution so abuser, masquerading as a caregiver, of abusers) this is a relatively risk-free crime.
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 67 This isolation or control of access Financial abuse of the elderly Isolating the victim is key to to the victim is most often telltale is an unfortunate fact of life. Such gaining control of his or her of abuse. Family or friends should be abuse offers the possibility of easy very suspicious if this occurs. money with little downside to the financial affairs. An abuser Not unlike other victims of crime perpetrator—minimal civil risk and who becomes the victim’s who develop Stockholm Syndrome, almost no criminal risk. Given that window to the outside world an elderly person dependent on the close family members are often abuser will begin to identify and responsible, public officials may be has great influence over the reluctant to get involved. victim’s affairs. sympathize with the abuser, seeing the world from the abuser’s perspective. Reducing the Risk of Financial Abuse The elder will perceive as “bad guys” The key to reducing financial abuse Achieving Control of the Elder’s Affairs those who try to curtail the power is to plan appropriately to avoid it. It Some elders unfortunately sign an of the abuser. is crucial to begin this planning while enduring Power of Attorney to another Victims will often react strongly the elder person is still competent. person without understanding the against intervention attempts by It is essential to engage the advice possibility that it may be used to concerned relatives or friends. Often of a legal professional with an abuse them financially. Specifically, with the urging of the trusted abuser, expertise in that area. such a POA will continue in force with they perceive the third party as Although there is no foolproof no outside supervision or oversight, wrongly interfering in their affairs. method of avoiding financial abuse, even after the elder becomes mentally here are a few simple strategies that incompetent. Who is Most at Risk? may reduce the risk. These are in Seniors who are socially and Thus, people should be very addition to frequent contact and visits physically isolated are the most careful about signing such with the elder. vulnerable to abuse. By the very a document. That can truly allow the 1. Engage a legal professional with fox into the henhouse because the nature of their disability, those in need of care are more likely to be expertise in estate planning and appointed attorney can deal fully with in minimizing elder abuse. the elder’s assets. The attorney is not isolated physically, socially, and required to seek court approval of the emotionally. 2. Help simplify the vulnerable financial transactions purportedly Even aside from any issues person’s finances. Set up undertaken on behalf of the elder. with dementia, seniors suffer from automatic deposits and bill significant depression and loneliness, payments to reduce the need for In terms of achieving a position bank visits or Powers of Attorney. of influence over the elder’s assets, it especially when widowed. With is crucial to gain the elder’s trust. With loved ones often living far away, they 3. Be very cautious in granting one foot in the door, it is truly amazing are easy prey for any unscrupulous unlimited enduring Powers how quickly a predator can become individual who pays attention to them. of Attorney to others. the elder’s new best friend and trusted They are vulnerable to exploitation 4. Do a full inventory of the adviser, to the exclusion of long-term by phone canvassers, door-to-door vulnerable person’s household family and friends. salesmen, or ne’er-do-well children belongings and property; a video who are suddenly willing to move back Isolating the victim is key to record and photos will assist. home to take care of them. gaining control of his or her financial Make multiple copies and keep affairs. An abuser who becomes the Many parents are unfortunately one copy outside the home. victim’s window to the outside world naïve about their children. For 5. Whenever possible, hire has great influence over the victim’s example, a common scenario is the a caregiver through a reputable affairs. Long-term family or friends will transfer of a major asset into joint agency. be restricted or denied contact with tenancy with one of several children. 6. Conduct a thorough background the elder. Meanwhile the abuser will Presumably the parent believes he or check; insist on having and tell the elder that no one cares or they she is effecting the transfer to avoid checking multiple references. would have been in touch. probate fees and that this one child A successful abuser will soon will share the asset with siblings. succeed in alienating the elder’s Unfortunately, this posthumous sharing The key to reducing support network. This will involve the rarely takes place. financial abuse is to plan increasing separation of the elder from No one ever admits to conducting appropriately to avoid it. family, friends, and professionals and financial abuse. When an abuser the introduction of new friends by the is confronted with the abuse, the It is crucial to begin this abuser. The abuser typically invents typical response is to obfuscate and planning while the elder seemingly rational pretexts to justify indignantly and vociferously maintain person is still competent. those changes. unselfish altruism.
68 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 7. Before any caregiver is engaged— 11. The contract should provide for 16. Last, if all else fails, to report friend, family, or stranger— mandatory weekly respite care for financial abuse in British agree in writing on the terms the caregiver and annual respite Columbia, visit the Website of the of engagement. care of at least 2 weeks. Respite Public Guardian and Trustee. care is crucial for the mental www.trustee.bc.ca s 8. The terms should be fair to both health of the caregiver, to ensure sides. Thus, any caregiver should independent input into the care be properly recompensed, whether of the elder and to ensure there Judith Milliken, QC, has practised law family or stranger. can be no complete isolation for 33 years in the areas of commercial of the vulnerable person. law, criminal law, and most recently 9. An appropriate termination estate litigation. She practises estate period should be included so 12. The agreement should provide litigation together with her husband for impromptu visits with no that upon the death of the elder, Trevor Todd. for example, the caregiver is not notice. left homeless and unemployed. 13. Keep banking and financial Trevor Todd restricts his practice A provision for 3 months further records off the premises. pay and lodging may well alleviate to Wills, estates, and estate litigation. He has practised law for 34 years and his or her fears and ensure the 14. Provide for the semi-annual caregiver is fully focused on review of accounts by designated is a past chair of the Wills and Trusts the elder until the end of the parties. (Vancouver) Subsection, BC Branch contract. of the Canadian Bar Association, and 15. Designate “gatekeepers” that a past president of the Trial Lawyers 10. The caregiver should may include neighbours, banking Association of BC. Trevor frequently acknowledge in writing his staff, family physicians, and legal lectures to the Trial Lawyers, CLE, or her understanding of the professionals. Make them aware vulnerability of the elder and of the arrangements and give and the BC Notaries and also agree not to accept anything them contact numbers for the teaches estate law to new Notaries. more than a token gift from his family and the Public Guardian His Website includes 30 articles on or her charge. and Trustee. various topics of estate law.
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Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 69 LAND SURVEYING IN BC
Jeff Beddoes
The Subdivision of Land
Photo by Bronwyn Denton. n the Fall 2010 edition The use of land and the ability Local governments guide overall to subdivide it is largely determined development and land use within of The Scrivener, I described by the local government—the their jurisdictions through creation how unsurveyed provincial municipality or regional district within and maintenance of tools such as an I which the land lies. In addition, Official Community Plan. Crown land is first surveyed and section 75 of the Land Title Act Use of land, including minimum how the Crown conveys primary provides essential access requirements parcel size, is defined through local that all subdivision plans must meet. parcels of land. government zoning and subdivision bylaws. • One original Crown grant is The use of land and the ability • If an owner of a parcel wishes to submitted to the Land Title Office. to subdivide it is largely subdivide, he must approach the Upon receipt, a new Certificate appropriate government approving of Title is created by the LTO. determined by the local officer. Now I would like to describe how government—the municipality • If the parcel is within a a parcel of land may be subdivided or regional district within municipality or regional district, once an indefeasible title has been which the land lies. the relevant local government created. must be approached.
70 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 • If the parcel is outside a local I present the following fable. in the ALR, the development company government jurisdiction, he ABC Developments Company would have had to make an application must approach the Provincial has acquired a parcel of land in to the Agricultural Land Commission Approving Officer of the a municipality in the Fraser Valley. The to remove the land from the Reserve. Ministry of Transportation and parcel is 2 hectares in size, abuts the ABC Developments wishes to Infrastructure and the Regional Trans-Canada Highway, and is currently create a 15-lot subdivision. The District to make an application to zoned for light industrial use with first hurdle to overcome is to ensure subdivide and pay requisite fees. a 0.5 hectare minimum parcel size. the zoning of the parcel allows the Sections within Division 3 of Part Fortunately for ABC company’s intended use. In this case, 7 of the Land Title Act require that Developments, the municipality has it does not. ABC Developments makes local governments, First Nations, recently adopted a revised Official an application to the municipality the Province, and other jurisdictions Community Plan that shows the use to rezone the parcel to allow the appoint approving officers. Division of the subject parcel and surrounding company’s desired use and the 4 of Part 7 requires that subdivision area as residential. proposed density. plans be tendered to the appropriate The rezoning process is outlined approving officer and it outlines some through the Community Charter of the duties of the approving officer. The practice of development, that requires public notification, Section 91 of the Land Title Act a public hearing, and consideration states a subdivision plan cannot be of seeking approval, and by the municipality’s Zoning and registered in the Land Title Office subdividing land, however, Development Committee or equivalent, without approval unless exemption is can be very complex, costly, and ultimately consideration by the granted elsewhere in the Land Title municipal council. ABC Developments Act. Section 85 of the Land Title Act and time-consuming. follows this process and achieves provides guidance to the approving support for its rezoning application. officer on matters to be considered This support has been given when a subdivision plan is submitted Also fortunate for ABC for approval. The local government or only after a number of changes to Developments, the subject parcel the initial proposal and is subject regional district subdivision bylaw will was removed from the Agricultural provide additional guidance. to several conditions. Through the Land Reserve (ALR) several years public consultation process, it was This is all fairly straightforward ago because the population in the determined that the proposed density and easy to understand. The practice municipality was quickly increasing, of 15 new parcels was higher than the of development, of seeking approval, which also incidentally was the local government could support. and subdividing land, however, can impetus for the updated Official be very complex, costly, and time- Community Plan. Had the parcel been Additionally, the rezoning was consuming. subject to the specific placement and shape of the new parcels within the original 2-hectare parcel. Nevertheless, the parcel is now zoned to support a subdivision that would result in 10 new parcels, if all conditions of the rezoning are met and subdivision approval is ultimately obtained. The municipal approving officer, in consultation with the planning department and the engineering department, considers an application by ABC Developments to create 10 new lots. Additionally, the subdivision proposal may be referred to as many as 20 outside agencies for comment, potentially including the Ministry of Health and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Because the parcel is now appropriately zoned, it is determined that 10 parcels can be created—but there are a few more conditions.
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 71 These requirements include 1. creating a subdivision as shown on the final revision to the subdivision design plan; 2. arranging installation of utilities and road, curbs, and sidewalks to appropriate engineering standards as outlined above; 3. paying any approval fees; and 4. placing covenants to restrict building on certain portions of the new parcels due to some ground instability. A land surveyor conducts a field survey to first define the extent of the parcel being subdivided and second, to place survey monuments at the corners of all the new parcels, road dedications, the park, and the areas of each parcel affected by the covenant. A subdivision plan and • Public park dedication is required. As a condition of providing a reference plan defining the covenant provincial approval for the subdivision, area are drafted. • ABC Developments must the Provincial Approving Officer seeks pay $10,000 per lot as the dedication for road of a 10-metre- Engineers design all the utilities— a Development Cost Charge wide strip along the length of the the water and sewer lines, the power (DCC). The $100,000 DCC will property, adjacent to and contiguous distribution system, and the road. be placed into the municipality’s with the edge of the highway. Construction contractors are bank account for infrastructure employed to install the utilities and improvements at a later date in So, after a number of revisions to construct the road. another part of the municipality. the proposed development plan and the subdivision plan, and the payment Because the development work of various fees, the municipality issues • ABC Developments must dedicate is completed in November, the a letter of preliminary or conditional land as road to widen First landscapers cannot complete the approval for the subdivision. Avenue, the municipal road in requisite landscape work up and front of the development that down First Avenue as required by the will be used to access the new Because the developers municipality as a condition of approval. parcels. are paying interest on Because the developers are • The company will pay to construct a $2 million loan, they are paying interest on a $2 million loan, a new road to access the new quite anxious to have they are quite anxious to have the parcels and pay to construct subdivision plan completed and sewer and water infrastructure the subdivision plan registered in the Land Title Office. and other utility services. As well, completed and registered ABC Developments approaches the company will be responsible in the Land Title Office. the municipality and reaches an for all costs to construct sidewalks agreement whereby the landscaping and provide landscaping in front will be completed in the Spring. This letter of the development and for 100 To ensure the landscaping is done metres up and down First Avenue • includes details on the required or that funds are available, should beyond the development. infrastructure improvements and the company not do the work, the DCCs; and municipality requires that security Because the 2-hectare parcel is be posted in the form of a letter adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway • contains a list of all the of credit, bond, or cash, to which ABC —a controlled-access highway, ABC requirements that must be met Developments agrees. Developments must also approach the before the Provincial Approving Provincial Approving Officer who has Officer is able to give final Municipal inspectors have visited jurisdiction over the highway. approval to the subdivision plan. the site throughout construction of the
72 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 development; they confirm to the City the transmission of the plans and Engineer, the planning department, The BC Notary acting for documents. s and the approving officer that other ABC Developments prepares than the requisite landscaping, all Jeff Beddoes, BCLS, CLS, is Senior conditions of the preliminary approval the covenant documents. Deputy Surveyor General, Surveyor have been met. The conditions include General Division, of the Land Title and utilities that have been properly referred to the plan in this fable as Survey Authority of British Columbia. constructed and sidewalks and roads a physical thing. The LTSA’s Electronic Voice: 250 387-5680 that have been properly completed. Filing System (EFS) accommodates Fax: 250 387-1830 The BC Notary acting for ABC and in fact simplifies the gathering [email protected] Developments prepares the covenant of consents and approvals and www.ltsa.ca documents. The land surveyor gives the subdivision and reference plan to the Notary, who obtains the signatures of all the owners, the lending institution, and the charge holders whose interests are affected by the subdivision on the subdivision plan. The subdivision plan and covenant documents are submitted to the municipal approving officer for approval. Once the officer approves and signs the subdivision plan, it is returned to the Notary. The plan is then submitted to the Provincial Approving Officer for final approval. He signs his approval on the plan, which is then returned to the Notary. By this time, all owners, the financial institution, the charge holders, and both the Provincial Approving Officer and the municipal approving officers have provided their consent on the subdivision plan. The Notary then submits for registration the subdivision plan, the reference plan that defines the covenant areas, and all the appropriate documents to the New Westminster Land Title Office where the staff carefully review the plans, existing title records, and all the new documents. Once all is determined to be in order, the Land Title Office accepts the plans and documents for registration and creates new certificates of title for each of the 10 new parcels. ABC Developments is now in a position to convey the new parcels. Note: Although electronic documents and legal plans are the norm for many BC Notaries, land surveyors, and lawyers, for ease of explanation I have
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 73 Seven common types of plans are registered Because it is critically important that the Province or filed into the Land Title Office registry. maintain a quality cadastral (legal survey) fabric, reference plans are preferred. Explanatory plans are Subdivision plans, reference plans, explanatory plans, permitted only in limited circumstances where, for right of way plans, posting plans, and airspace plans are example, there exists a recent survey and the area to prepared, pursuant to the Land Title Act. Strata plans be defined is parallel and contiguous to a surveyed are prepared pursuant to the Strata Property Act. boundary, or the shape of the land to be defined by the Subdivision Plans plan is very simple. Subdivision plans, as the name implies, are plans Right-of-Way Plans that create two or more new parcels, and may also Most right-of-way plans are prepared to define a portion create roads and parks. For the plan to be accepted of land over which a right-of-way charge will have for registration, the consent of all owners and affected effect. For example, a right-of-way plan might define interest-holders must be given and the plan must be a 10-metre-wide corridor centred upon a power line. approved by the appropriate local government approving authority or authorities. Posting Plans Reference Plans Posting plans must be filed in the Land Title Office whenever an angle or corner of a titled parcel of land is Reference plans are produced by a land surveyor who defined or redefined by a land surveyor unless another conducts a field survey and finds and/or sets monuments type of plan is used. at the corners of the land being defined. A number of sections of the Land Title Act and Strata Property Act Because posting plans do not require the approval require or permit a reference plan to be used to redefine of an approving authority or the consent of the property part or all of a titled parcel for various reasons: owner or charge holders, they are the simplest type • To define the portion of a parcel over which of plan to file in the Land Title Office. Typically, a land a covenant or an easement is to have effect; surveyor prepares and files a posting plan when a property owner simply wishes parcel corners to be • to dedicate a road or park over a portion (or all) re‑established. of a titled parcel; Airspace Plans • to return certain areas of titled land to the Crown; Airspace plans are special subdivision plans that create • to define the portion of a titled parcel or a portion volumetric parcels of an existing titled parcel; those of a building to be leased; special plans include the air above, soil beneath, or • to redefine a titled parcel or consolidate two or a combination of the two. They often are prepared as more parcels, in some cases to consolidate lawful part of complex multiple-use commercial/residential accretion with a titled parcel; and developments. • to subdivide, but only where a single parcel is being It is common for more than one airspace parcel to created. be created over the same site and for some of the airspace parcels to be further subdivided into individual In some instances, a reference plan will require the strata units by strata plans, prepared pursuant to the consent of owners and charge owners; the plan may need Strata Property Act. to be approved by the appropriate approving authority or authorities. Strata Plans Explanatory Plans Strata plans subdivide all or a portion of a titled parcel Explanatory plans can be used for many of the same of land or airspace parcel. Strata lots can consist purposes as reference plans. An explanatory plan is of portions of physical land, for example, a bare-land created by relying upon plans already registered in the strata plan, or portions of a building, for example, Land Title Office. Thus, no survey evidence is found or a high-rise condominium. set. In other words, a reference plan represents a field Under the Land Title Act, the requirements for approval survey, whereas an explanatory plan is a compilation to divide land or air space with a strata plan are of data from existing registered plans. different than those for a subdivision, depending on The decision to accept an explanatory plan rather than the type of strata plan—a building strata plan, a bare- a reference plan is generally at the discretion of the land strata plan, or phased strata plans. The approval Registrar of Land Titles. requirements are found in the Strata Property Act.
74 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 WELL-BEING
Catherine D’Aoust Exercise
at the Office Over 15 years’ expertise in legal accounting and ESILAW and PCLaw legal ere are some great 5. Neck Side-Bending/Rotation Stretch accounting software exercises you can do at In a standing or seated position, place the right hand on top of your • Training services the workplace for upper head and let the left arm rest at to firms and BC Notaries on H your side. Gently pull your head trapezius pain. toward the right shoulder with the how to be proficient legal right hand. Rotate the head down bookkeepers, following the and look at your right hip. (You Public Trust Accounting Rules should feel the stretch on the left ©iStockphoto.com/red frog side of the neck/shoulder area.) • Reliable and efficient Repeat on the other side. vacation coverage within BC. 6. Pectoral Stretch Helen can step into the Stand about 12 inches from the job after a brief overview wall. Face wall and lift right elbow of the inner workings to the side, wrist above elbow and of your business. palm facing forward. Turn slowly to the left until you feel slight stretch • Consulting services in the right pectoral muscles. with respect to your financial Repeat with the other arm. Sitting with upright posture, perform accounting setup and If your shoulders tend to round 15 to 20 reps of the following administration to ensure forward, you can improve this exercises every hour when you are the provision of accurate condition by doing the scapular pinch at your desk. and informative financial and a pectoral stretch. statements. 1. Scapular Pinches For help in strengthening your Roll the shoulders back and pinch upper trapezius and related muscles, the shoulder blades together. at the gym, seek the guidance of a 2. Shoulder Shrugs qualified, certified personal trainer in partnership with Raise the shoulders up toward the or a physiotherapist. Rowing machines, ears, then lower them back down. if used with correct form, can also help improve the endurance and Time, Billing, Accounting & Practice Management Software 3. Neck Side-Bending strength of these muscle groups. Tilt one ear toward the shoulder I recommend “Stretching at Your and hold briefly. Repeat on the Computer or Desk” by Bob Anderson. other side. http://www.shelterpub.com/_fitness/_ Tel: 250.479.4622 4. Neck Rotation desk_stretches/stretches_graphic.html s Cel: 250.889.5920 Look over one shoulder and pause Fax: 250.479.4623 briefly. Repeat on the other side. Catherine D’Aoust is a Kinesiologist and Certified Personal Trainer at [email protected] If you feel tight or sore in the upper GAIA Adventures. For group and private www.hrgraham.com trapezius after the above movement- activities, see www.gaiaadventures.com. oriented exercises, perform 1 to 3 6–2828 Shelbourne Street reps of the following static stretch, Voice: 604 329-1257 Victoria, BC V8R 4M4 holding each rep for 30 seconds. [email protected]
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 75 TECHNOLOGY
Akash Sablok
Fall Tech
SWANN DVR8-2600 The app to view the video is Camera Security System available as a free download on most If your home is your castle, your office 3G-enabled Smartphones including is your castle-away-from-home. iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Android, Windows Mobile 6, Symbian, and more. Most small offices contain many important documents, products, and Continuous recording from up to personal items that would be hard to eight cameras will fill up the 500 GB replace. An alarm system is a basic hard drive in 60 days, more than need, but you can upgrade your enough if you’re planning to take some security with surveillance cameras holidays. You can also enable motion and a recorder. detection, meaning the camera will only record when it senses movement 2012 Mercedes SLK 350 The Swann DVR8-2600 is in its frame. While it is not uncommon to have a simple solution. The unit comes a car appear in a tech column these ready to handle up to eight cameras days, the 2012 Mercedes Benz SLK and has a built-in 500 GB hard drive. …it’s what the roof 350 Roadster has earned its right to You can view video in 1 of 3 ways: can do that gets the tech be here. • on a dedicated monitor, geek in me all drooly. I’ll get to the car part in a bit. First, I want to talk about the • through your PC, or roof. Yes, it’s a convertible—with And if you figure out how to take • on your Smartphone. a roof of folding steel, glass, plastic, holidays for 60 days, please tell me how! and fabric—but it’s what the roof can The Smartphone option means If you do have an unfortunate do that gets the tech geek in me all you can check-in on your cameras event and need to preserve the video, drooly. from almost anywhere in the world. you can easily export any portion of the While others are secretly sending Apple calls its iPhone 4 magical; video (from any one of the cameras) text messages in a meeting, you can Mercedes calls its new auto-dimming onto an USB drive. actually be doing some work . . . roof Magic Sky. One second you have The exported video is checking-in on the office. a clear view of Mother Nature’s blue playable on most PCs work of art; the next, a dark, tinted without any additional screen blocks bright rays from getting software. in. The new SLK is the first car in the One user assisted world to incorporate this technology. his neighbour by What was once a nice cruising making video available convertible has evolved into an of someone stealing automobile for the serious driver. the neighbour’s car across the street. Along with the aggressive new design, the new 3.5 litre V6 302 www.swann.com horsepower gets you to 100 K in MSRP: $599 less than 6 seconds—and in style.
76 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The seven-speed G-Tronic automatic transmission with shift paddles allows you to row your own, or let the computer shift for you. The fuel rating is 8.8 L/100 K (32 mpg) combined (city/highway). iTwin USB • You’re in your office. My test car was the limited You have all your files. Edition 1, with matte-finish paint, a very • Now you’re out of your office. popular paint choice for aftermarket You don’t have all your files. tuners. The Edition 1 will ensure your • Solution, the iTwin USB device. SLK looks different than all the others at the country club, especially since you’re About the size of a USB key paying a premium of about $10,000 (AKA jump drive), the iTwin is a two- over the $66,500 base list price. piece marvel of electronics that “links” two computers, regardless of where Now for the car part. The SLK they are in the world. Looking converts itself from a hardtop coupe You start by plugging the device into open-air motoring in 20 seconds into the USB port of your PC or for that with the push of one button and no Mac computer. Once you have set perfect gift? annoying latches. up folders and passwords, you can Trunk space does suffer because remove half the unit to take with you. This is it! the metal roof must be folded When you are away, simply plug somewhere, but have no fear; your that half into the USB port of any woods and irons will fit comfortably. computer. As long as you have Internet Stuart McLean – access, you will be able to access the In the cockpit, the SLK 350 files on your office computer. comes standard with power heated Vinyl Cafe: The Two-Factor Authentication seats, power mirrors/windows/locks, (hardware device + password) ensures Christmas Tour 2011 and climate control. that no one but you can access your Orpheum Theatre • Vancouver, BC Tick off a few items on the options data. Note: No data is actually stored Wednesday, December 14, 2011 list and you’ll enjoy the Airscarf, on the device; it is only a “key.” If you 7:30 pm a system designed to keep you warm lose the half piece, you can remotely from the neck down on those days when disable it. you just have to have the top down. You can also SPECIAL For those who like long drives, • copy files onto your remote Mercedes has included Attention computer, Get a Gift Pack for a Assist. The system observes the • edit them, and $200 donation to Lift The Children driver’s behaviour and, at the start • copy them back to your desktop. (see LiftTheChildren.org). of every trip, produces an individual Editing files is possible even driver profile that is continuously without copying. Gift Pack Proceeds go to Lift The Children’s compared with current sensor data. The iTwin device is Windows and 51 African Orphanages and Humanitarian Through monitoring driver-input, the Mac OS X compatible. Mission Trip, November 15 to December 7, 2011. system shakes the steering wheel if Gift Packs courtesy of Stuart McLean/Vinyl Cafe. MSRP: $99 drowsiness is detected and provides Each Gift Pack contains . . . s an audible warning. Wakey-wakey. www.itwin.com 2 Regular Admissions (@ $63.50) $127.00 2012 Mercedes SLK350 Vancouver Notary Akash Sablok, 2-CD Collection: “Planet Boy” $29.99 MSRP: $66,500 AJAC (Automobile Journalists Association Book: Secrets from the Vinyl Cafe $34.00 Value: $190.99 www.mercedes-benz.ca of Canada), practises with his father Partial tax receipt will be supplied. Tarlok Sablok. Akash writes regular Only 5 Gift Packs available technology and automotive columns for Contact Brent Lang several publications across Canada and 604 789-3700 appears as a guest technology reviewer on [email protected] TV programs, including CityTV’s Breakfast Single Tickets available via Ticketmaster Television (BT Vancouver); Omni Television (BC); TELUS TV – MyTelus: Vancouver Stuart McLean’s Bio Edition; and Shaw TV’s Urban Rush. http://www.cbc.ca/vinylcafe/about.php [email protected]
Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 The Scrivener 77 Honours & Events PEOPLE
According to Wikipedia, an Ironman 70.3 (Half Ironman) is one of a series of middle- distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). The “70.3” refers to the total distance in miles (113.0 km) covered in the race, consisting of a 1.2-mile “What better place to catch a Notary than (1.9 km) swim, a 56‑mile at a dinner gathering at Chong’s restaurant? (90 km) bike ride, and Joe Quan created this regular soirée well over a 13.1-mile (21.1 km) run. 20 years ago; the same group still faithfully Here is BC Notary Jimmy Chong comes together to laugh, chat, and remind completing the race—tired but ourselves we have a special bond—as triumphant! BC Notaries and as friends.” Mary-Ann Mustonen-Hinds Where in the World has The Scrivener Been?
Dianne and Dave Rowan
Richmond Notary Stephen Chong saw After getting mosqued-out in Istanbul, Iguazu Falls and Rio de Janeiro while retired BC Notary Dave Rowan, his wife visiting Argentina and Brazil in June 2011. Jean, Fran, Dave, Dianne Dianne—along with Jeanne Stevens from Fedewich and Witt Notaries and her husband Fran—visited Pigeon Valley, Cappadocia, Turkey Then they headed to Greece and made a quick trip to Meteora. After visiting the Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Dave and Dianne took time out to read the latest Scrivener.
Sara Neely at Paradise Point Resort in (sunny?) San Diego Notary Esther Chiu in France, visiting Mont St. Michel, a monastery Be in the Magazine! that overlooks the sea, right at the border between Brittany and Normandy. Take The Scrivener on your next It was built at the top of a rocky islet trip and send us a photo. that rises out of the sands. BC Notary Mary-Ann Mustonen-Hinds at Gibraltar [email protected] There is a village at the foot of the rock.
78 The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 20 Number 3 Fall 2011 UBC Real Estate Division Professional Development Courses www.realestate.ubc.ca
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THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA STG_ScrivenerFP_02_11_STG 2/10/11 11:09 AM Page 1
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