With many Co-op locations throughout Manitoba and Western Ontario, Red River Co-op has the bulk fuel, propane, and oils you need to keep your vehicles on the road. Check the selection of products and services in our convenience stores, such as:

• Gas Bar Convenience Stores
• Touchless Car Wash
• Bulk Fuel Delivery
• Cardlock
• Bulk & Consumer Oil
• Bulk Propane
• Tempo

Red River Co-op is a dynamic, Winnipeg-based cooperative owned and guided by its members, with petroleum as its core business and customer service as its competitive advantage. Red River Co-op employs high ethical standards; support for the communities where they do business; and in sharing profits and success with their members.

Since then, many changes have occurred but the plan has not changed. Recently we launched a small website that could give potential customers and investors a glimpse of what is on the horizon. Have a look at www.energlide.ca to see what the newest recreational activity at premier resorts around the world is going to be. Glass-bottom boat meets Jet Ski and not an ounce of fuel is used on the water. Outstanding!

As you can see we are excited at Oracast because our success is measured only by our clients success. This very small budget website had some very specific requirements and we think the final product looks, feels and works great.

Your web strategy must blend with your overall business strategy, and it must define how your business is going to leverage the Internet to improve your bottom line. This could be a web application that performs a specific business function, like a document repository or a centralized customer database, or simply an informational website that you use to market your business to the world. The key to defining your web strategy is to look at each of your business processes and examine how web technology will be used to service your customers and business. Ask yourself these questions before talking to your web company:

• Who are my ONLINE competitors?
• What do they do well online, and what are they missing that I can capitalize on?
• Who is my target market?
• What is my message to my customers?
• How can I leverage my offline marketing efforts to drive traffic to my website?
• Do I need traffic from Search Engines?

A website should compliment your business sales and marketing efforts, improve efficiency and effectiveness of business processes, provide customer support, and much more. It all starts with defining your web strategy and working with a web company that will help you through the process.

1. Learn About the Company’s History: While you don’t need a full history lesson here, it’s good to know how the business was started and what their goals today. If they aren’t talking about building relationships, customer service, or customer satisfaction, then be careful because you may be in for a rough ride. You need to make sure that you are dealing with a company who has the experience you are looking for and wants you to succeed as much as you do. A website company who is friendly, helpful, and always there to answer questions or provide advice. A good company knows that the two most important assets in their business is their customers and their employees. We feel that we meet and exceed all of those expectations, and we truly enjoy watching our clients succeed.
2. Review Some Samples: This goes without saying but be sure to review some of the work they have done in the past and be sure it is visible online. Look for the name of the company affiliated with that website or ask if they would mind if you contacted that client as a reference.
3. Talk to Their Clients: Very much like taking a walk in a neighbourhood that you are planning to move to and talking with the locals. It makes sense to have a quick chat with a few clients to get a feel for how they work. Chances are you would check the references of a person you were looking to hiring so it makes perfect sense to check some of the references for a website company that you are looking to market your business online.
4. Ask Off-Topic Questions: If you are talking to someone that will be your main point of contact for this new relationship then this is a person you are going to need to trust, communicate with, and resolve issues with. It’s a good idea to learn a little bit about your contact without being too invasive. “Did you watch the game last night?”. “How was your vacation?”. A couple of simple questions can easily spark some great friendly chit-chat where you can learn a little bit about who you will be working with. You don’t have to have everything in common with them, but you also don’t want to be talking to a robot with the interpersonal skills of the largest pothole on your street.
5. Sign A Contract: If you have it in writing then there is no debate regardless of how sour the relationship gets. While it would be nice if this never had to be done, the sad truth is that it’s beneficial to both parties. Website development is both creative and logical so it’s very easy to establish a difference of opinion. A well written contract can help mitigate issues that might arise during the course of the project.
6. Ask About Support: One of the biggest issues we have found is that website designers are here and then gone. We have seen many clients that have had friends develop their websites for “cheap” or have family members, friends, or part-timers build their website when they finished working for the day, only to find that when updates needed to be made, the support was not there. Changes happen fast in business and many times you can’t sit around waiting or hoping for things to get done. You need to feel confident that in two years time, the support for the website you had paid for will be there. If you need to, get it in writing but better yet, find a company that has been supporting the same clients for years.

While this is not a complete list of items to look for, it’s a good start. Regardless of who you choose to design, build, or maintain your website, we only hope that you develop a solid, long term relationship that is mutually beneficial. If you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Oracast’s IT Consulting role enabled Bow River Troutfitters to have the project completed quickly and with a very modest budget. Finding the shop is easy with our integration of the lastest version Google Maps API which allows visitors to click on links that show walking directions from the closest CTrain station and an adjacent parkade. An integrated photo gallery using jQuery’s Javascript framework provides visitors with an easy to use slide-show showcasing guiding trips and other great photos.

We are extremely delighted that our new client is happy with the work done and we will be there to support them as their business grows!

The Business Block engaged Oracast to create a custom website that is extremely simple to use, that would provide their customers with the necessary information about their services, while incorporating the design with their corporate identity. After working closely with The Business Block, we are proud to say that Oracast delivered, and we look forward to a lasting relationship.

Are you looking for an affordable web site in the Calgary area? Oracast has your solution.

Oracast is a web-based technology company that has created web solutions for companies of all sizes. From starter to custom web sites, and large-scale web applications that can make your business more efficient, we have the skills and experience to deliver outstanding results, as promised, every time.

Our customers range from start-ups to major corporations, charities, and government institutions. Geographically, most of our customers are in central Alberta such as Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Olds, and stretch into British Columbia, Manitoba and some parts of the United States.

Do you have a project in mind? Contact us today and find out how we can help.

Come take a look at www.snowvalley.ca to see all of the changes and get a first look at what’s new at Snow Valley Ski Club. Here is just a quick list of the changes:

• Events Calendar tied into Google Calendars allowing exports to visitors own calendaring software
• Google Map and Google Directions for visitors or tourists that have never been there
• Rotating banner ads allowing promotions and future ad space for additional revenue
• Current and future weather pulled dynamically so no more reading and updating the weather manually every hour
• Lightbox dynamic view of photos in the gallery for a better user experience and simpler maintenance
• Much, much more!

www.nowlaidoff.com

Now what??? You’ve got options…

Calgary based entrepreneur Diana Liptak was laid off 3 times in her mere 8 years working in the “Traditional” job market; got frustrated… started her own company… got tired of listening to others getting laid off and no one giving them any viable options… then started a second company… nowlaidoff.com

“Third times a charm, and I knew I was never going to be laid off again. But, I didn’t know where to start or what my options were… After hours of internet research, sifting through all of the advertised laden websites, reading book after book on starting your own company, becoming a consultant, what’s it like to own a franchise, the power of network marketing etc. etc. I came up with the idea of Pro Presentations and used my background of an honours degree in Communications and Television, coupled with my experience working in the Entertainment Public Relations arena in Beverly Hills CA, to become a Branding Specialist. After a year of continuous learning and countless business mistakes I can now call myself a successful businesswomen and entrepreneur.

But, looking back I could have been a lot more successful and a lot less stressed had I just had the right people to talk to in the first place… and click, nowlaidoff.com was born. When you click onto nowlaidoff.com you’re introduced to 6 options, with 6 specialists; alive, real and waiting to help make the right career decision with you, behind each link.

I have hand picked each specialist myself and stand behind their expertise, business ethics and most importantly their passion to help guide any individual looking for a change.

One option is not better than the other, but there is one that might be right for you and at least now, you have the option of where to click to find out.”
Diana Liptak – Owner nowlaidoff.com

Concern for our environment and our health has us all thinking green but we should also be thinking
clean. Our water supply is our most precious resources, and used by all living organisms to sustain life. It
is constantly put in jeopardy! We take this precious commodity for granted and, too often, it can lead to
dire consequences. Many researchers feel the chemicals added to make water safe are actually
contributing to our health problems.

Country water wells are exempt from the protocols of urban water systems—this could be a blessing in
disguise, as the rural water sources have not been treated with chlorine. It also could be a serious
determent to our health. The concern is to provide a safe drinking source for both humans and animals.
Rural wells require regular testing and regular treatment to eliminate harmful bacteria and pathogens.
Almost all wells have some degree of contamination as many of these microorganisms occur naturally in
the aquifer. Others may be introduced by surface water flooding or seepage into the well or aquifer.

Water well quality can be categorized into the following topics; bacteria and pathogens, biofilm,
quantity and flow, and mineral content. Mineral content denotes the elements found in the water.
Consumers are usually aware of the calcium (hardness) of the water resulting in possible white scale.
Taste and odour can be affected by excess iron. Filter systems can typically deal with most mineral
issues successfully. Quantity, flow rate and mineral content are aquifer dependant. What users can
control are the bacteria, pathogens, and biofilm.

Bacteria commonly found in rural water wells includes iron bacteria, identified by a red/brown tinge and
an unpleasant taste and odour. Sulphur reducing bacteria is easily recognized by the rotten egg smell.
Slime bacteria can increase to such extremes that pumps and lines can be compromised. The coliform
content is tracked and analyzed because these are your most harmful bacteria, such as E.Coli,
Salmonella and Legionella. All of these microorganisms (bacteria) attach themselves to a water-surface
interface and immediately start to colonize with multiple other bacteria species resulting in a living
organism called biofilm—a gel-like substance that feeds, houses, and protects the bacteria. Biofilm is
best visualized as the slime on the rocks in a stream, but can form on any submerged surface. Biofilm is
very difficult to eliminate because of its protective gel-like properties. High concentrations of chemicals
generally have little or no effect on Biofilm and are often not used because they render the water unfit
for short term consumption.

The quality of well water usually deteriorates over time even with regular conventional treatments
because the Biofilm repopulates bacteria into the water/well, which in turn develops more biofilm
downstream in pipes, tanks filters and screens. Water quality and flow rates can be reduced by biofilm.
Methods of treating these well systems have been limited and mostly ineffectual until now.

Enter Ivo Wachter and Denis Kennedy of Biostel Water Services; a new Rural Alberta service, based out
of Innisfail. They have imported technology from Europe and developed a rural water well treatment
system that attacks the Biofilm, as well as the harmful bacteria.

Biostel Water Services uses patented technology from Switzerland involving a multi-step process that is
safe, environmentally friendly, bio-degradable, and non-corrosive. It does not create hazardous
components or waste. “This process is currently being used throughout Europe as the main sterilent in
food processing and bottling plants–reducing hazardous waste, costly chemicals and high energy costs.”
said Kennedy.

“The average well can be treated within two hours, leaving no strong odours or taste residues and
enabling immediate safe human and animal consumption. No more livestock going off water for hours
or days” says Wachter.

Kennedy notes that “we have worked with numerous agencies including Ag Canada Lethbridge Research
Centre and Alberta Agriculture Airdrie facility to test the basic efficacy of the product. We are now in a
position to offer this sanitization process to people who rely on their own rural water supply.”

Wachter goes on to say that “many people ask if this new treatment will affect other water treatment
systems such as filters, reverse osmoses, water softeners etc. The answer is that this tool fits into the
overall water treatment process very well and supports existing tools to improve the water quality. It
controls the bacteria in the water source thus preventing the buildup of Biofilm which stresses and
restricts the other systems.”

For more information on the Biostel water treatment contact Ivo Wachter 403-227-2757 or email at
ivo.wachter@biostel.ca

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