Category Archives: Business

Celebrate Unity 2014 planning underway

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Do you know somebody who makes Unity a better place, or a business celebrating a milestone anniversary? The honouree list for Celebrate Unity 2014 is being finalized so if you have a suggestion or nomination, please contact  committee chair, Gerald Hauta at 306-228-2688 or, by email, Gerald.hauta@unitycu.ca. You can also use the comment form on the chamber webpage: http://unitystories.com/chamber-of-commerce/.

Some individuals will be honoured for exemplary service, new businesses and those celebrating special anniversaries will be congratulated and committees who have hosted provincial events will be recognized.

Celebrate Unity 2014The gala evening, put on by the Unity and District Chamber of Commerce, will include a catered supper, the recognition/celebration program, a service auction and entertainment.

Hoja, the three-man cappella group who performed to rave reviews at Celebrate Unity last year, is returning for the 2014 event which will be held at the Unity Community Centre March 3. Hoja sings virtually every style of music, as well as vocalizing instrument sounds and other noise effects.

Last year’s Celebrate Unity audience was captivated by the talent of this Calgary, Alta., group. As the chamber-sponsored celebratory evening is open for any and all community members to attend, Celebrate Unity 2014 event is your chance to hear Hoja’s amazing talents live and in person if you missed out last year – or to enjoy them again if you were lucky enough to be in the audience last year.

Businesses and individuals willing to donate time and talent for this year’s service auction are asked to contact Geraldine Barrett at 306-228-2808 or, by email, sunrisewellnessspa@sasktel.net. Service items auctioned off last year included a half day of housecleaning, holiday decorating, cakes made to order and an afternoon of yardwork.

Celebrate Unity is your chance to come and celebrate the successes of your friends and neighbours, hear talented visiting musicians and bid on unique auction items.

Tickets for Celebrate Unity 2014 will soon be available – watch for ads and posters. In the meantime, mark March 3 in your calendar!

Monday’s paper

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The second last edition of 2013, articles and photos in the Monday, December 16 issue of the Press-Herald include:

  • a heart-warming story on a local boy awarded a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation;
  • a story on Unity’s long-standing Secret Santa program;
  • story and photos from the busy downtown activities at Unity’s Winter Wonderland event Dec. 5;
  • a look at this winter’s weather; and
  • the UCHS drama nights, the Miners’ report and more.
  • Displaying ww spa.jpg

The Singing Grandpas: Peter Sieben of Kerrobert, Ben Schneider of Tramping Lake and Gabe Kohlman of Major provided cheerful background music for the pleasure of Sunrise Wellness Spa visitors and shoppers during Winter Wonderland events in Unity Dec. 5.

Heitts Plumbing and Heating

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“In 1961, Uncle Ben Knorr started a plumbing and heating business in a small shop”, said Glen Heitt. Although long since outgrown, that building is still used today by Heitts Plumbing and Heating, for cold storage.

Brothers Glen and Larry took over the business in 1981, and today have 12 employees, including themselves. Stan Weber, a journeyman plumber, is the longest serving employee and a shareholder in the company.Heitts Plumbing and Heating

Glen’s and Larry’s wives, Wanda and Sheila can be found at the front counter, looking after customers and the books.

Glen and Wanda are avid curlers, competing each year in events that could lead them to provincial competition. Wanda has even competed nationally in senior women’s curling. Glen is president of the Unity Curling Club.

Larry and Sheila are also curlers but prefer the more recreational role.

The business offers residential and commercial plumbing, as well as all kinds of heating – forced air, boiler heaters, floor heating, radiant garage heating, unity heating and propane and natural gas heating. They also do residential and commercial air conditioning. They deal with farm well septic pumps and constant pressure pumps, water conditioning systems, whole house RO septic and have a complete line of service equipment for drain cleanings with a roto-rooter.

Heitts Plumbing and HeatingA variety of barbecues and accessories can be found in the showroom. They carry many “do it yourself” products to help out the handy man. They also carry, or can access, a full line of plumbing fixtures, taps, showers, tubs and steam showers.

One of their greatest strengths is personal contact with customers. They pride themselves on jobs well-done and seeing satisfaction from the people they work for.

They’ve been commended for the promptness of service calls – no matter the hour or day – when a furnace quits or a water heater stops working. Customers remark on the minimal impact their work has on a household, as Heitts’ staff are dedicated to ensuring as little disruption as possible.

Along with running their service-oriented business, the Heitts are known for sponsoring many community events and activities.

199 2nd Avenue East, Unity, Saskatchewan – 306-228-2441

Heitts Plumbing & Heating

Gilbert Agencies – insurance, SGI licences and more

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Scott at Gilbert Agencies in Unity says it’s been “Our family taking care of other families for nearly 40 years in this community.”

Located downtown on 2nd Avenue West in Unity, Gilbert Agencies was birthed in 1976, by Scott Gilbert’s uncle, Alex. After being employed by his uncle, Scott went to a partnership share before purchasing the business outright in 2001.

Gilbert Agencies employs three people full-time with a staff combined years of service of 45. Now that’s experience you can count on!

Gilbert Agencies is a general insurance brokerage as well as an SGI motor licence issuer. Scott is a notary public and a sub-broker for Desjardins Financial Investments. He has his CAIB (Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker) designation.

Gilbert Agencies is committed to helping people solve and complete their insurance needs. Their goal is satisfied customers and that requires providing top-notch service, price and product variety, which they do.

Gilbert Agencies, Unity

Scott loves to meet different people and embraces the different personalities he’s encountered through business, recreation and volunteerism.

One thing he loves about living in and doing business in Unity is the “I’ve got your back” philosophy. This is the same way insurance agencies want their customers to feel. It’s easy to relay that to customers in a community that regularly exhibits these qualities in efforts to help friends and neighbours.

Scott was born and raised in Unity. He’s proud of the community and proud to be part of it. He was happy to return home to start his career and raise his family.

You can always find Scott volunteering somewhere as he believes in hands-on involvement in the community he serves. He wants to be not only visible, but involved. You can find Scott anywhere, from coaching a hockey team to the UPS School Community Council. He serves, and has served, on a number of boards within Unity and provincially.

Gilbert Agencies is a proud sponsor of a number of community functions. It is their sense of community pride that prompts them to sponsor community events, groups and functions.

Fun facts about Scott? He raced bobsleds competitively in the Alberta Cup series for two years while taking his schooling in Calgary and he was a Celebrity Bull Rider at Unity Western Days!

Scott Gilbert

Delta Co-op – happy to be part of the community

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Delta Co-operative Ltd.

Come on in! Welcome to our story, which is your story too. We live where you live, work where you work and we are helping grow the local economy. We are your neighbours and we invest in the communities we serve.

We say “we” but really … it’s you. Delta Co-op is really yours, because you own it. If you’re a member, you’re an owner. If you’re not a member, we invite you to become one. Delta Co-op membership offers you a lifetime of rewards, including high quality products and services at competitive prices. Our profits are your profits, returned by way of dividends paid out at year-end.

Understand when we say “we”, we’re actually saying you AND us – working, shopping, profiting, decision-making, helping out our communities – together.

Delta Co-op works together to provide goods and services to the community in the most up-to-date manner. We can be found online at our website, http://deltacoop.ca/, on Facebook and even on your phone! Look for “co-op CRS” at your app store and download it, free, for weekly coupons, flyers, locations, hours and much more.

Delta Co-op is proud to support the communities we serve, and neighbouring communities, with sponsorships, donations, advertising and by hosting fundraising barbecues.

We’ve been part of the local community for over 80 years. Delta Co-op is a multi-branch, multi-department retail co-operative.

co-op c-store2

With branches in Unity, Luseland, Senlac, Wilkie and Macklin, Delta has deli, bakery, produce, meat and grocery departments, building supply and hardware stores, an agro-centre with seed and feed supplies, cardlocks, a C-store and gas bars. See our special page at wilkiestories.com for details on what services we provide in each of our home communities: http://unitystories.com/delta-co-op/. Phone numbers for all locations are at http://unitystories.com/delta-co-op/locations/.

This corner of the province is our home. We promise to stay local, committed to community and to a business model that shares profits with all members. It’s only $10 to become a shareholder in Delta Co-op, making you a part owner in each and every one of our locations.

Remember, at Delta Co-op, co-op red sheild

Unity’s Chamber of Commerce

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OpportUNITY … it’s waiting for you.

With this great slogan, a partnership began between the Unity and District Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Unity.Unity, Saskatchewan

  • Billboards
  • Radio ads
  • A video blog
  • Newspaper ads
  • Online advertising
  • Appearances at trade shows

They all worked together to raise the profile of Unity throughout the province. In 2011, the campaign resulted in former Rider Scott Schultz coming to our community for his video blog, Global TV showcasing our town on provincial television and an award from the Saskatchewan Economic Development Association.

There is still opportUNITY in Unity as witnessed by the Chamber officially welcoming new businesses to the business community on a regular basis. New businesses receive their first year’s membership to the Unity and District Chamber of Commerce free of charge and are featured in a newspaper writeup.

New businesses and existing businesses in growth mode need employees. There is plenty of job opportUNITY in Unity, and the Chamber also welcomes new residents with a “welcome wagon” type bag. Newcomers feel appreciated at the same time as local businesses are promoted by information and/or samples being included in the gift bags.

Business and commUNITY — celebrating together

Unity & District Agricultural Society

Irene Lacoursiere, Joan Sperle and Elaine Sperle represented the Unity & District Agricultural Society at Celebrate Unity 2013. The society was recognized for 102 years of hosting events such as the annual fall fair and trade show.

The Unity Chamber of Commerce further recognizes the opportUNITY each year at its Celebrate Unity event which acknowledges new businesses, celebrates business milestone anniversaries, recognizes commUNITY initiatives such as hosting of provincial sporting events, introduces new owners and managers to the community and congratulates individuals who have provided exemplary business or public service. The celebratory evening includes a catered supper and unique entertainment each year, such as the a capella singing group Hoja in 2013.

Clark Ubell, Jaron Bearing

Kelly McLellan, left, congratulates Clark Ubell of Jaron Bearing and Hydraulic (1998) Ltd. on being recognized for the exemplary service he provides to customers. In his nomination letter, Kelly said, “So, for the farmer who has gotten his grain in the bins before the frost. For the trucker who has his truck safely on the road again. For the grader operator who keeps our streets and roads clear. For the mechanic who fixes the school buses our children ride in every day. For the town foreman who keeps things running without a hitch. And for the welder who needs to keep his business running smoothly to support his family. … Thank you.”

Stay tuned for details on Celebrate Unity 2014. And if you know of a business celebrating a special anniversary or of someone who provides business or community service “above and beyond,” please let us know! (You can comment below or talk to any member of the executive.)

For more on what the Chamber does, including sponsoring and organizing Santa Day, lobbying local and provincial government, promoting member businesses, life and disability insurance, training opportunities, Canada Day activities and the Western Days downtown barbecue, see http://unitystories.com/chamber-of-commerce/. For Chamber contact information, visit http://unitystories.com/chamber-of-commerce/contact-the-chamber/.

Selling your old gold

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Ever wonder how buyers of old jewelry and coins decide what to pay you? Me too!

So when I saw Ursa Major Gold Silver & Coin was at the New Horizons Hall in the Town of Unity last May, I stopped in with an old men’s wedding band.

The first thing Barry Dick of Ursa Major did was pull out a magnet. Gold and silver are not magnetic so using the magnet is a quick way to eliminate costume jewelry from consideration.

gold buyerNext Barry used a magnifying glass to look for a hallmark. The wedding band had one indicating it was 14 karat gold, i.e., 14 parts gold and 10 parts some other metal.

Then the ring was put on a scale to be weighed. Weights and Measures Canada – the same agency that inspects gas pumps to make sure they are recording the proper amount of fuel being pumped – certifies scales used in businesses that buy and sell goods by weight.

The weight of the ring, and the fact it was 14 karat gold, was put into a spreadsheet on Barry’s laptop computer, which then calculated the price. The spreadsheet is tied to the world market prices of gold and silver.

Barry emphasized he is only buying the gold or silver in a piece of jewelry, not the jewelry itself, regardless of any craftmanship that might be involved.

When it comes to coins, however, he does pay a premium if the coin is rare, collectible and in good shape. Paper money can also be collectible — see the article about Barry Dick on page 13 of the October 21, 2013 issue of the Press-Herald for serial numbers valued by collectors.

Whether you seriously want to sell some old coins and/or jewelry or are just curious about what it might be worth on the metals market, keep an eye out. Ursa Major Gold Silver & Coin comes to Unity about once a year.