Trail This holiday season, Pike's Building Centre in Burin, Newfoundland embarked on a project to bring holiday cheer to local families in need. “Smiles for Christmas” is a charity initiative organized by Pike's team members Jennifer Matthews and Kayla Coady with the goal of granting Christmas wishes to families that may not have the means to do so themselves.
Jennifer had previously experienced a similar initiative while working at Scotiabank in Alberta and saw the positive effect it had on families in the area who had their wishes granted. Knowing there was a need, Jen wanted to bring the same Christmas cheer to the community where Pike's does business. Kayla, being heavily involved in local charity and community efforts in Burin, was a perfect partner to help organize and get the initiative off the ground. The two teamed up to organize the first-ever Smiles for Christmas at Pike's.
The first step was reaching out to local food banks in the area to connect with families who use their services and gather lists of the top items they were in need of or wishing for this Christmas. There was an outpouring of families in need, and a list of families with children ranging from newborn to Grade 12 was compiled to receive donations. In hopes of fulfilling as many wishes as possible, Pike's reached out to both the local community and the industry community of vendors, contractors, and Sexton to help these local families have a wonderful Christmas.
There were many options available to help, such as adopting a family who had submitted their wish list to act as their personal wish granters, or making financial or item donations to help fill any backlog for the many families in need.
Inspired by the cause, many from the Burin community, as well as those in the industry, stepped up to help. Some of the donors even having a special connection to the cause, being members of the community who had used food bank services in the past, now in a position to give back and help others in similar circumstances. The collective efforts made the event a huge success, with a total of 69 families and 132 children receiving Christmas wish items they would have otherwise not had this holiday season. Pike's managed to raise $8,600 in financial donations, which went toward purchasing items for the families, as well as an additional estimated $12,000 worth of physical items donated by suppliers, contractors, and the local community.
Some of the affected families have since reached out to Pike's or the Burin foodbank to express their excitement and gratitude over the initiative, many in disbelief that them and their children's Christmas wishes were made true.
The initiative not only touched the recipients involved but many of the donors as well. Jen and Kayla are already getting questions about doing it all again next year.
Thank you to Pike's Building Centre and all of those who came together to make this possible! We look forward to seeing this be an even bigger success next year.
Effective Goal Setting: How to ensure you don’t lose sight of your business goals in 2025
Setting effective goals is essential for personal growth and success in both professional and personal endeavors. To ensure that goals are achievable and motivating, they should adhere to the SMART framework: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Specific: Goals should be clear and concise, leaving no ambiguity about what needs to be achieved. For example, rather than saying, "I wan't to improve safety” you should say “I want to improve safety by reduce workplace accidents by 20% over the next six months by implementing weekly safety training and increasing the frequency of equipment inspections."
Measurable: Quantifying goals allows you to track progress. Using metrics, such as increasing sales by 20% or reducing response time by 10%, makes it easier to evaluate success – without measuring in this manner, you can't be sure of your progress.
Achievable: While goals should be challenging, they must be realistic. Setting unattainable goals can lead to frustration, and even a downturn in performance. Assess available resources and constraints before setting goals to ensure they are within reach. If they are not, assess the timeline you are allowing for the goal or the target your are setting and adjust accordingly.
Relevant: Goals must align with your larger objectives and values. For instance, if your goal is to grow your business and open a second location, your goals should be related to functions that ultimately lead to those results. Ensuring relevance keeps motivation high and your focus sharp.
Time-bound: Setting a deadline for your goals adds urgency and helps prioritize tasks. A goal without a timeframe may lead to procrastination. For example, "I will complete the yard additions by the end of the quarter " creates a sense of accountability.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Cement-free concrete block construction demonstrated
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ALIGN COMPOSITE CLADDING – THERE'S NOTHING ELSE LIKE IT
The architectural beauty of real wood, but with easier installation and better overall value. ALIGN Composite Cladding delivers the high-end aesthetics customers want and the lower total installed cost businesses need.
We are a Coast to Coast National Steel Stud Manufacturer serviced by two divisions with branch offices across Canada. Our key employees in sales, production, and management, have experience that ranges from 15 to 40 years in the light steel framing and the construction industry.
We are a registered member fabricator of the Canadian Sheet Steel Building Institute (CSSBI). Our products are manufactured in Canada, with distribution nation wide.
We provide fully engineered & tested systems, design assistance and cost savings options, with over 1000 installed projects completed in a variety of building types.
The average tax burden on a newly constructed home in Ontario has jumped to almost 36 per cent of the purchase price, up from 31 per cent just three years ago, a Notes from the federal fall economic statement
In all the furor over Chrystia Freeland resigning, it was possible to miss the fact there was actually a fall economic statement tabled in the House of Commons on Dec. 16. Here are some highlights relevant to our sector.
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B.C. home-flipping tax goes into effect
B.C. has introduced the Residential Property (Short-term Holding) Profit Tax Act, commonly referred to as the B.C. home-flipping tax. The government says the legislation is meant to discourage investors from buying housing only to turn a quick profit. Income from residential property resold within two years is subject to the tax.
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Ontario regional authorities removed from municipal planning processes
The Ontario regions of Waterloo and Durham became “upper-tier municipalities without planning responsibilities” on Jan. 1. The regulatory change means the municipalities in those regions can seek ministerial approval of amendments to their official plans without involving the broader regional authority.
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