AquaTemp, located in Warman, Saskatchewan, isn’t your average Heating, Cooling, Electrical & Plumbing company. Owners Tim and Neysa Wall have grown this business from the ground up, every step of the way focusing on the one-of-a-kind service they deliver to their customers and the trusted relationships they build. Since inception in 2009, Tim and Neysa have focused on developing their company’s core values of gratitude, stewardship, teamwork, life-long learning, communication, quality and service. These values have helped them stand out as service leaders in their industry.

Before starting AquaTemp in 2009, Tim had spent over a decade as a journeyman in the industry, honing his skills and sharing his knowledge as an instructor at SIAST (now known as Sask Polytech). This experience not only equipped him with technical expertise but also ignited a passion to create something more, something that wasn't just about getting the job done, but about shaping exceptional tradespeople who would uphold the values of integrity, service, and respect.

Tim and Neysa's decision to start their own business was driven by a shared vision of fostering excellence and elevating customer experiences. The couple's dedication and the quality of their work quickly gained recognition. As the demand for their services grew, so did their team, united by a common goal – to serve their customers with unmatched skill and genuine care.

At the heart of their company is the recognition that technical skills and knowledge aren’t the only factors crucial to delivering great service. AquaTemp invests in comprehensive training, both in technical and soft skill development. Through discussions and coaching sessions, the team not only learns how to troubleshoot HVAC systems but also how to effectively connect with clients, listen to their concerns, and offer tailored solutions. The AquaTemp team’s wealth of experience and knowledge is the wellspring for peer mentorship, new ideas and growth for the entire staff.

"We know that communication and service are the keys to our success," Tim emphasizes, a testament to the philosophy that sets AquaTemp apart. Neysa's dedication to maintaining efficient and effective administration allows the entire team to concentrate on their core mission – solving their customers problems while delivering exceptional service and building lasting relationships. It even led to the company’s "Inspect What We Expect" service, where every major installation is reviewed upon completion. This unwavering quality standard resonates with their clients, who regularly refer other customers. A five-star google review rating illustrates just how pleased their clients are!

But AquaTemp isn’t just a business; it’s a family affair. Their son Kaelan, a decade-long member of the team, is the company’s Lead Technician. Their daughter-in-law, Lana, is the Marketing Coordinator, and their daughter, Kasja, also served on the AquaTemp team for about three years before pursuing other interests.

A significant turning point for the entire AquaTemp team arrived two years ago when the decision was made to relocate from Hepburn to Warman, Saskatchewan. The move coincided with a major shift in focus from their commercial market to servicing more residential clients. This strategic move not only broadened their market reach but also allowed them to touch the lives of more homeowners in their region. Their success isn’t just measured by profits, but by the number of customers who experience warmth, comfort, and reliability through their exceptional products and services.

Providing this innovative, exceptional level of service takes dedication and commitment to life-long learning and growth. That’s how Tim and Neysa discovered the Destination Creation course offered by Community Futures Mid-Sask. Participating in the Destination Creation course helped them generate new ideas, evaluate a variety of marketing strategies and most importantly discuss business concepts with other entrepreneurs. “Even though the other business owners came from different industries than ours, it was great to share experiences and provide perspective to our common business challenges. It was an excellent investment of our time to attend the Destination Creation course,” comments Tim.

With their eyes set on the future, Tim and Neysa envision continued business growth, expanding their market and providing opportunities for their staff to explore and develop. Their mission, vision, and values remain steadfast, serving as a guiding light in every decision they make. Their story isn't just about heating, cooling, electrical, and plumbing – it's about the profound impact of a family's commitment to their company, their community, and the customer relationships they forge along the way.

Find out more about AquaTemp on their website: https://aquatempsk.ca/
Follow AquaTemp on FB: @AquaTemp or Instagram: aquatempsk
Visit their Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AquaTempMarketingTeam

[Outlook, Saskatchewan, September 19, 2023] – Community Futures Mid-Sask is thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated Destination Business Program has received approval for the Rural Opportunity Fund (ROF) 2.0 funding and will be delivering courses as soon as October 2023. This innovative program is poised to transform small businesses into thriving destinations, helping entrepreneurs discover their company’s unique qualities and enabling them to stand out in the marketplace.

The Destination Business Program is set to roll out over the next two years in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Its primary objective is to empower small business owners by providing them with the tools and knowledge necessary to position themselves as compelling destinations within their respective industries and regions.

What Business Owners Are Saying

Hannah Hannah, the owner of The High Maintenance Hippie in Warman, Saskatchewan, shared her experience with the program, saying, "One of the main things that I learned while taking this course was positioning my business as a destination, with a bonus that I got to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs – I loved collaborating with them in an intimate network."

Lilah McIvor, the General Manager of Community Futures (CF) Mid-Sask, emphasized the significance of this program for entrepreneurs in rural regions, stating, "Entrepreneurs know about Community Futures because of the great lending program and advisory services we provide to rural businesses. This Destination Business Program is one of those important services we're now making available to entrepreneurs in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba, due to the support received from the Rural Opportunity Fund. We’ve heard from business owners and know that inflation, debt-load and changes beyond their control have been huge worries. By participating in the Destination Business Program, entrepreneurs can take back some control, learn how to expand their company's market beyond the local region and boost their bottom line. Becoming a destination business can make a big impact on a small business."

Join the Destination Business Program
The Destination Business Program offers a comprehensive approach to help businesses become sought-after destinations. Participants will:
● Learn the Fundamentals: By enrolling in the Destination Creation Course to understand the core principles of becoming a destination business.
● Deep Dive into Game-Changing Business Topics: By attending monthly Connector Series sessions to explore transformative and trending business issues.
● Access One-on-One Guidance: By meeting with a Destination Coach to receive personalized assistance and insights, after completing the course.
● Build a Powerful Network: By collaborating with other like-minded destination business owners that have also taken part in the Destination Business Program.

This Program promises to equip business owners with the knowledge and resources needed to showcase their company's uniqueness and stand out in the crowded marketplace. Entrepreneurs in Saskatchewan and Manitoba are encouraged to find out more about this innovative learning opportunity. For more information and to register for the Destination Business Program, please visit https://destinationbusiness.ca

About Community Futures

Community Futures (CF) offices can be found across rural Canada. CFs assist rural businesses to start and grow their operations. Services include business financing, business coaching and advisory services. They also work within their communities to provide community economic development support and strategic planning assistance.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Lilah McIvor, General Manager
Community Futures Mid-Sask, Outlook SK
gm@midsask.ca
306-962-7419
https://cfsask.ca/mid-sask
###

To many visitors and seasonal residents of Douglas Provincial Park on Lake Diefenbaker, The Store by the Shore is a memorable part of summertime fun.  The business has changed names and ownership throughout the years, and under the current owners Anne and Wayne Willner, it has found its sweet spot.  Anne and Wayne bought the building and equipment 14 years ago, realizing that owning this type of venture could be a great fit for their family.  “I worked casually in the store for a year before deciding to pursue this opportunity, and we involved our whole family in the decision. I remember having a roundtable discussion about it . . . would this be a good idea to invest in and have our kids work at during the summers? The answer was a definite YES!” remarks Anne. 

Anne’s enthusiasm, the store’s welcoming vibe and the mouth-watering menu make this a destination for seasonal residents and visitors alike.  Not only that, but The Store by The Shore is conveniently located near a primary highway, making it so easy to find.  Located near Elbow, Saskatchewan, visitors take a leisurely drive down highway #19, turn into the Douglas Provincial Park, and meander to the lakefront where they’ll find this surprising gem.  You know you’ve arrived if you spot the one-of-a-kind landmark . . . a 40-foot cedar plank boat which has been beached and open to customers for viewing and dining. “We couldn’t resist when we found this 1929 tour boat available for sale. We knew it would get our customers talking and be something novel to experience.  So, it found its way to us, from the St. Lawrence River to its new home overlooking Lake Diefenbaker!” says Anne.

The restored tour boat isn’t the only attraction that makes The Store by The Shore memorable. “There’s so much to experience when visitors come to our store. I like to call it our ‘mini mall’ because we line our shelves with the products our customers need for a stress-free and enjoyable stay at the Provincial Park. We have everything from groceries, frozen food and baking to fishing tackle and household supplies.  Our restaurant offers over 80 menu items with fan favorites being our homemade bacon-mozza burger and our large variety of hard and soft-serve ice cream.  For the kids, there’s a wide selection of candy and beach toys to choose from. We love when the kids come in. Our staff always make them feel welcome and we’re happy to assist with their purchase – for many it’s their first time buying something on their own!” Anne comments.

That focus on satisfying their customer is what sets The Store by The Shore apart. At the heart of all that Anne and her team do is her focus on building community, connecting with people and providing quality products and services. Anne has always believed in supporting the lake community, from sourcing supplies locally in the region to mentoring the young employees that work for The Store by The Shore. She believes that you get back even more than you give. “With the kids that have worked here over the years, I’m so glad to help them get ready for their future careers and learn a lot of practical skills about dealing with customers and solving problems that arise.” 

And what’s up next for The Store by The Shore? A newly built 18-hole mini golf that opens on July 1, 2023. The mini golf is described as a “lay of the land” course by Anne and Wayne. “We wanted to keep the natural landscape intact, so it is somewhat challenging and a thrill to play.  Nine of the holes are sports-themed, which we know will appeal to our sports enthusiast customers,” enthuses Anne. “I come up with the designs and plans, then Wayne follows through with the construction and fixing. We make a great team!” 

“And we have some other excellent ideas in the works to grow our business. A number of these ideas started by taking a course offered by Community Futures (CF) Mid-Sask.  I really enjoyed their Destination Creation course and the connection I had with other entrepreneurs through those learning sessions.  I can’t recommend CF Mid-Sask enough to other business owners.  Get in touch with them and find out about their services to small business!” comments Anne.

Find out more about The Store by The Shore.  Drop out for a visit or follow Facebook:

Address:  #14 Douglas Park Provincial Park, Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan

Facebook: @storebytheshore

Phone:  306-854-4630  |  306-567-7857 (off season)

How one Saskatchewan woman followed her passion 

If you had asked Susan, in the early ’80s, if she would ever have imagined doing what she does now, it wouldn’t even be thought of as a career choice. But here she is on the verge of the launch of her ‘built from the ground up’ pottery studio as an ecotourism destination venue.

Susan Robertson was raised in Ontario and moved to Saskatchewan in the early ’80s with her husband, and a 17-day-old baby. The move was due to the purchase of a motel in Outlook. “Back when we first came to Saskatchewan, my husband suggested I get out into the community a little bit more;” shared Robertson. “He saw a pottery class offered by Panorama Pottery, and he suggested that I sign up. I fell in love with it and I have never looked back.”

In the late ’80s there was a downturn in the economy, and business was tight for the Robertson family, which led Susan to take a job at the Saskatchewan Crafts Council. As Marketing Coordinator, Robertson met some fantastic artists, whose work inspired her to pursue her passion. Robertson then branched out and studied higher education in the arts. She obtained her Applied Fine Arts- Ceramics diploma from SIAST. There Susan refined her style; and where she learned what she wanted to create. Robertson, pairing her background in business and marketing with her passion, turned her hobby in a business. 

In 2021, construction started of a new home and, more importantly, a new studio space in Broderick, 10 km East of Outlook, Saskatchewan. “Broderick is quiet. I look out my studio window and see a potato barn out one window and a carrot barn out the other. We are on the outskirts of town, yet two blocks from downtown. It’s perfect.”

Currently, Susan Robertson Pottery sells products in over 250 stores across Canada. She has two full-time staff, and the operation is still growing. “We have products in high tourist locations, like Banff and Canmore, but we’re also in pharmacies and niche gift stores like hardware stores or stores that carry home décor. We can tailor our products to meet unique demands. In Canmore, we sell three sisters mugs which are really popular, and here in Saskatchewan, we have prairie lily pieces. I love making a variety of designs.” Susan recently acknowledged her almost 400 years of French Canadian Heritage and her life in Saskatchewan in a new design, Fleur de Wheat.   

Robertson has worked with Community Futures Mid Sask in the past. She enrolled in some of their workshops and other networking events that they have held. Robertson shared that she is a lifelong learner, “if I get one thing out of a course, I take that it is something to help me grow, it is worth it, and this Destination Creation Course definitely did that. After all, Susan Robertson Pottery IS the only hand production studio in Saskatchewan,” she added with a smile. “That’s my unique positioning statement, something we learned in the class.”

Susan Robertson Pottery will hold a launch of her studio as part of the Economusee network later this spring. The date will be announced soon!
“Eco-tourism is a driving force in our smaller communities. We belong to the ÉCONOMUSÉE® Network Society, which supports eco-tourism and provides support to artisan entrepreneurs. They’ll be here to help celebrate too! It’ll be a great day.”

How one Saskatchewan woman followed her passtion 

If you had asked Susan, in the early ’80s, if she would ever have imagined doing what she does now, it wouldn’t even be thought of as a career choice. But here she is on the verge of the launch of her ‘built from the ground up’ pottery studio as an ecotourism destination venue.

Susan Robertson was raised in Ontario and moved to Saskatchewan in the early ’80s with her husband, and a 17-day-old baby. The move was due to the purchase of a motel in Outlook. “Back when we first came to Saskatchewan, my husband suggested I get out into the community a little bit more;” shared Robertson. “He saw a pottery class offered by Panorama Pottery, and he suggested that I sign up. I fell in love with it and I have never looked back.”

In the late ’80s there was a downturn in the economy, and business was tight for the Robertson family, which led Susan to take a job at the Saskatchewan Crafts Council. As Marketing Coordinator, Robertson met some fantastic artists, whose work inspired her to pursue her passion. Robertson then branched out and studied higher education in the arts. She obtained her Applied Fine Arts- Ceramics diploma from SIAST. There Susan refined her style; and where she learned what she wanted to create. Robertson, pairing her background in business and marketing with her passion, turned her hobby in a business. 

In 2021, construction started of a new home and, more importantly, a new studio space in Broderick, 10 km East of Outlook, Saskatchewan. “Broderick is quiet. I look out my studio window and see a potato barn out one window and a carrot barn out the other. We are on the outskirts of town, yet two blocks from downtown. It’s perfect.”

Currently, Susan Robertson Pottery sells products in over 250 stores across Canada. She has two full-time staff, and the operation is still growing. “We have products in high tourist locations, like Banff and Canmore, but we’re also in pharmacies and niche gift stores like hardware stores or stores that carry home décor. We can tailor our products to meet unique demands. In Canmore, we sell three sisters mugs which are really popular, and here in Saskatchewan, we have prairie lily pieces. I love making a variety of designs.” Susan recently acknowledged her almost 400 years of French Canadian Heritage and her life in Saskatchewan in a new design, Fleur de Wheat. 

Robertson has worked with Community Futures Mid Sask in the past. She enrolled in some of their workshops and other networking events that they have held. Robertson shared that she is a lifelong learner, “if I get one thing out of a course, I take that it is something to help me grow, it is worth it, and this Destination Creation Course definitely did that. After all, Susan Robertson Pottery IS the only hand production studio in Saskatchewan,” she added with a smile. “That’s my unique positioning statement, something we learned in the class.”

Susan Robertson Pottery will hold a launch of her studio as part of the Economusee network later this spring. The date will be announced soon!
“Eco-tourism is a driving force in our smaller communities. We belong to the ÉCONOMUSÉE® Network Society, which supports eco-tourism and provides support to artisan entrepreneurs. They’ll be here to help celebrate too! It’ll be a great day.”

Community Futures (CF) Sunrise’s contribution to community economic development in Saskatchewan was recognized at the 2022 Provincial Summit held at Dakota Dunes Resort on September 27 & 28, 2022. CF Sunrise’s Destination Business Program received the 2022-23 Award for Excellence in Innovation for its work to develop destination businesses in the southeast Saskatchewan region. The win showcases CF Sunrise’s ongoing support of community economic development initiatives, business development assistance and its focus on promoting economic diversification in the region.

“This award is great recognition for the efforts put forth by so many stakeholders in southeast Saskatchewan. I’m proud of the team that helped to make this program happen! It’s amazing to realize that more than 100 businesses in the southeast Saskatchewan area have learned how to become destinations and are now working together to promote the region as a tourism hub,” comments Christina Birch, Regional Economic Development Coordinator for CF Sunrise.

Over the past year that CF Sunrise has offered the Destination Creation course, more than 100 businesses have taken the program and benefitted from its innovative teachings, networking opportunities and focused business promotional campaigns. “The program has received excellent reviews from its participants. The course itself helps our businesses uncover their uniqueness, concentrate on what makes them distinctive, and market their one-of-a-kind features to gain new customers. This benefits their business, their communities and the entire region,” says Birch.

Business owners are big fans of this award-winning program, noting the benefits of being connected to ongoing learning, support and new collaborations. “I loved being a part of the Destination Creation course. I gained knowledge of trends, unique aspects of my business that seemed simply common to me, and the power of collaboration and making connections with some amazing entrepreneurs. I would recommend this course to any business owner looking for practical, inexpensive ways to design your business to become a destination,” said Deb Andrew of Living Skies Lodge in Carlyle, Saskatchewan.

This award-winning program is now open for new registrations, with the next course starting on November 3, 2022. The registration fee is only $50 and space is limited, so interested business owners are encouraged to contact the CF Sunrise office or visit their registration website to reserve a seat: www.cfsunrise.eventbrite.com.