This work was conducted on behalf of the Gold River Economic Development Committee of Council in an attempt to rationalize Committee targets with Council objectives.

1. Village of Gold River November 2011 Business Scan
Patrick Nelson Marshall BES SURP | Economic Developer

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3. This Report illustrates the views of
the Resident Business Licensees,
Council and Committee Members
Fourth Quarter 2011
VIEWS AND ATTRIBUTES
OF THE RESPONDENTS

4. Stakeholder View of Regional Image
Stakeholder views of their own community and region may differ. It is
generally seen as a positive image with some reservation.

5. How Outsiders view the Region
Their experience with outsiders perception of the Region may also be
different. No perception means that there is work to be done creating a
perception.

6. Effective Economic Development
Some confusion. More jobs means expansion of existing, topped up with
new business in a blend.

7. Personal Lens on Subjects
Stakeholders should have different lenses and sensitivities so that there
is balance. The Village is an “Urban” context.

8. Expansion and Recruitment Targets
Each Sector exponentially effects the local economy from lowest at
Government to highest in the Manufacturing segment.

9. Gold River’s Three Greatest Strengths
Affordability, Proximity to Recreational Opportunities, Access to
Transportation

10. Gold River’s Biggest Challenges
Availability of well paid jobs, Citizen Attitude, Keeping Young Workers.

11. Top Three Economic Development Subjects
Supporting Existing Business, Recruitment of non Retail, and Growth of
Small Business combined with Revitalization of Commercial Area.

12. Local Government should spend
Opinions are consistent across the profile. Strong Opinions lean towards
More Employment Opportunities. These subject titles all fit into a
Sustainability Charter which acts as a Guide for Development.

13. Respondents Sectoral History
Where you are employed influences your view of the subjects before the
Stakeholders.

14. Respondents Length of Service
How long you have been operating in any given position may indicate an
ability to change or not.

15. Respondents Accountability at Work
The level accountability you are used to may be an indicator of how
much risk you are willing to take.

16. Respondents Gender
Gender Balance is sometime a factor in decision making style and
management.

17. Gold River Original v. Newcomers
Sometimes, the length of residency influences your ability to see the
Forest.

18. Respondents Origins
In other cases, bringing fresh eyes to a community can provide the
benefit of a new view on old issues and challenges.

19. Regionalism
Sometimes, the place where you were born shapes your view of the
world.

20. Respondents Business Class
While we do live in a classless society, sometimes, your root experience
is an influencer.

21. Respondents Achievement
Balancing experiences is important to stakeholder dynamics.

22. Respondents Skill Sets
Determining where you are weakest and backfilling skills is important to
the recruiting process.

23. Respondents Cohorts
Balancing experience and generational perspectives is important.

24. Respondents Financial Responsibility

25. Respondents Diversity
Speaking other languages is a helpful skill set when engaged in business
development.

26. THE TOP 10 LIST &
NEED FOR STRATEGIC FOCUS
This section is about what
the Respondents see as
Regional priorities in Q4

27. Ernst Young Top 10 Issues List
What the world sees as Top priorities are not necessarily a factor locally.

28. Our Region Needs Attention
Sometimes these graphs speak for themselves.

29. HOW DOES
NEW BUSINESS HAPPEN
This section is about what
the Respondents Experience

30. Where do you refer people to for information?
Cross promotion of products and services is critical to residents
understanding that every business is not a Corporate Giant, they are
people who invested in a job for themselves and their families.
Larry P
Municipal Office
Ourselves. We provide information on real estate listings for businesses and
residential properties.
Mayor and Council
I do not refer people
Municipal Hall
I give them the information I have/know and then put them to who else I think
might help them in the community.
Village Office
I would have no idea where to send them.
Village office
Reality office
Town office
Village office
have never referred

31. When did you move in and what was the experience
like?
No capital 5 year plan!
I am just in the process of purchasing a second residence in Gold River.
I live in Campbell River.
I lived here in 1983-84 as a teacher: town booming with the big industries at the wharf. I
returned recently in January 2008. Much different time.
I bought a business here. I did not move.
Grew up here and then moved back in 2004
2005. non-eventful
5 years ago - good
1985 as a young mother with a husband in a new job, my experience was positive.
2003, good experience
Also grew up here from 1968-1984
I moved to Gold River in 1959, and enjoyed growing up here and making this my home.
Mid 2005 Loved it. Took a few years to get our business going in town.
March 2011, positive.
1999 good
1996 I moved to Nootka, to gold river in 99. loved it

32. What web site did you use and was it helpful?
It was a very bad web site.
www.goldriverrealty.ca
www.goldriverbuzz.com
www.island.net/~record/
www.goldriver.ca
Is there such a website?
Village of GR
Gold River Buzz
www.goldriver.ca
The BUZZ.
gold river buzz
goldriver.ca
Google Gold River

33. Who was on your “Reception Team”?
No clue
Do we have one?
I do not know.
Whoever is around at the time, as far as I could tell. We need to have the
presence of our village advertised at trade shows, and promoted in a
much bigger way.
Municipal staff and........
Village Office
I have no idea.
??
Mayor?
I do not know - The Mayor?
I Have no idea

34. What role do you play in recruiting people and business
to the Village of Gold River?
None
None
Fielding inquiries from the public with regard to real estate listings for
businesses
NA
None
None
Minimal
We leave an impression of what quality business can be in our
community.
No idea.
None
Very little unless linked to our Business
None

35. What web site did you use and was it helpful?
It was a very bad web site.
www.goldriverrealty.ca
www.goldriverbuzz.com
www.island.net/~record/
www.goldriver.ca
Is there such a website?
Village of GR
Gold River Buzz
www.goldriver.ca
The BUZZ.
gold river buzz
goldriver.ca
Google Gold River

36. Web Promotion
Cross promotion of products and services is critical to residents
understanding that every business is not a Corporate Giant, they are
people who invested in a job for themselves and their families..

37. Retention and Expansion
These are the two basic functions of economic development. Would you be
surprised to know that everyone over the age of 13 has a responsibility to
contribute to success, hence the phrase, “it takes a village”.

38. RESIDENT
BUSINESS ACTIVITY Q4
This section is about
the Resident Business Activity

39. Your Peers Product Mix Change
This illustrates innovation and market dynamics.

40. Your Peers Product Mix Change >18 Months
In the next 18 months, a couple of businesses are introducing new
products which is a positive sign.

41. Your Peers Special Niche
There is not a high incidence of specialization amongst the group.

42. Your Peers Business Sales Turnover
This indicates an average group of businesses.

43. Your Peers Business Trade Area
Indicates a slight diversity in your peer group. Surprised to see global in
the group.

44. Your Peers Customer Frequency
This is a poor sample so no real information derived from this question.

45. Your Peer Business Sales Q4
Indicates a sense of strong change and decreasing. May be seasonal.

46. Your Peer Average Sales
The perception is that sales are on average, stable, with one indication of
increases.

47. Your Peer Type of Customer
Dominance of one-to-one sales is higher risk of rapid change. Lack of
dependence on Government sales is a positive attribute.

48. Your Peer Customer Age Cohorts
Not enough data to give a clear picture. If there was, there are clear gaps
that would indicate lack of balance in perspectives.

49. Your Peer Estimated Incomes
Not enough data to give a clear indication.

50. Your Peer Marketing Sales Tools
Not a lot of diversity of tools here which is useful when planning for the
Sun Coast Wood Campaign.

51. Your Peer Expansion Plans
Not enough responses to determine a strong pattern here.

52. Peer New Location Plans
No movement here.

53. STAKEHOLDER VIEWS ON
REGIONAL WORKFORCE Q4
This section is about
the views of the Workforce

54. Quality of Workforce
Views are moderate and non committal on this subject.

55. Head of Household
There are a variety of perceptions on this subject.

56. Workforce Demand
Contrary to public perception.

57. Unfilled Employment Positions
Not a big enough indication to warrant specific recruiting.

58. Imported Workforce
Not a big enough indication to warrant detailed study and response.

59. Change in Workforce
Would have expected a stronger indication of awareness of change due
to issues around succession and ageing workforce.

60. Provision of Benefits
Interesting spread of experience on this subject.

61. Provision of Benefits
Another interesting indicator of experience with benefits.

62. Workforce Training Provisions
Strong diversity of experience here.

63. Investment in Training
Not a strong indication for this subject.

64. Workforce Initiatives
Diversity of experience indicated here.

65. REGIONAL CHANGE
This section focuses on
expectations of change Q4

66. Are Changes Expected
Somewhat conflicting view of the near term.

67. Attitude towards doing business
No change here.

68. Are there Businesses needed in the Region?
Not so much.

69. Regulatory Barriers
Some indications identified, but not a major issue amongst the group.

70. Regulatory Reprieve
None anticipated here.

71. TECHNOLOGY TALK
This section is about the
Influence of technology
on the peer group.

72. Emerging Technology
None anticipated. Some would think of the passing of social media and
the beginning of the mobility era.

73. Opportunities with Technology
Not a strong enough indicator to warrant detailed study.

74. Use of Technology
Very diverse use of technology within the peer group.

75. Regional Technology Infrastructure
Adequate.

76. MANAGEMENT TEAM DYNAMICS
This section is about the
Peer groups business
management team in Q4

77. <18 Months Change in Leadership
Not a strong indication of change.

78. Ownership Involvement
Not a strong enough response for analysis.

79. Top Performers
Not strong enough to indicate a pattern.

80. Advertising Budget
It would be difficult to ask this group to contribute to the Sun Coast
Wood Campaign.

81. Community Engagement
There is a likelihood that this group would contribute to the Sun Coast
Wood Campaign.

82. Collaboration
Tends to indicate that the group does not necessarily play well with
others.

83. Supplier Relationships
Not much opportunity to introduce new ideas as the relationships, while
stable, are not introducing new players who might be more inclined to
participate in a community driven campaign.

84. YOUR VIEW OF
SERVICES AND UTILITIES
End of Survey Results
Fourth Quarter 2011

85. Quality of Service

86. Utilities