Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Providing Integrated Solutions ...for 40 Years! One Company... 270 Bruce St., Sault Ste. Marie•705.759.8999•www.atsbell.com With over 40 years of experience, ATS is a pioneering and top-ranking provider of security and communication products and services in Northern Ontario. ATS’ Business Telephone Division services customers’ needs with such current technologies as voice mail, networking, and voice over IP. Its Bell World Division provides award-winning customer sales and service of cellular, internet, and satellite television. ATS’ Security Division is recognized as one of the areas largest and most trusted suppliers of complete security solutions, meeting the needs of residential, business, and governmental customers with alarms, camera systems, and automated access controls using a team of certified trained technicians that are available 24/7 to help keep the area’s homes and businesses safe and secure. ATS’ commitment to Sault Ste Marie has been awarded by the Sault Ste Marie Police services Crime Stoppers program and by the local Chamber of Commerce as well as being recognized by the Sault Star readership as “Best of the Sault” many times over. The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce awarded its Business of the Year Award to ATS recognizing it as a business that suc- cessfully demonstrates a progressive attitude towards employee relations, a positive public image, a reputation for excellence in customer service, and contributions to the community. ATS’ mission from the onset of its creation was developed with one goal in mind: to offer a professional and convenient “One Stop Communications Shop” for its customers, where quality products and services, as well as outstanding customer service, are always a top priority. www.atsbell.com SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO Business View Magazine recently discussed this ambitious border city’s growth strategy and vision for the future with Tom Vair, Deputy CAO of Sault Ste. Marie Community Development, and Dan Hollingsworth, Executive Director of Busi- ness Development for the Sault Ste. Marie Eco- nomic Development Corporation. The following is an edited transcript of that conversation. BVM: How is Sault Ste. Marie currently address- ing economic development? Vair: “City Hall did a restructuring in 2016 and created a Community Development and Enter- prise Services department. I’m Deputy CAO of that group and we work closely with the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation (SSMEDC) and the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre. The City Planning Dept. and Building Dept. are now within our scope. That was done strategically to improve the way we interface with the business world and streamline services and delivery. “We’ve just gone through an 18-month pro- cess with our Community Adjustment Committee to create a new strategy for diversification and development.We took a hard look at the com- munity and noted areas needing improvement. That resulted in recommendations now being implemented in a project called Future SSM. The core principle of that project centers around community investment across four pillars: eco- nomic diversity, cultural vitality, social equity, and environmental sustainability. “We’re just kicking off a 3-year, $4 million proj- ect and hiring the dedicated resources to work with our community partners to deliver on the strategy. Attributes that stood out as we talked to businesses and residents are: we have really