Each month, Initiatives Prince George distributes a newsletter called ‘On the Move’ that connects people with news about economic activity in Prince George and the surrounding region, as well as with information about events and services that are of value to local and regional business owners. During 2014, a 'New Business of the Month' will be highlighted in each newsletter through an article and a video. If you have an idea for an upcoming newsletter, please submit it to info@initiativespg.com for consideration.

Mojegan Sadeghian's love of cooking Persian food led her to open Zaffron Cuisine in 2013. Discover why Zaffron Cuisine is a unique addition to the restaurant scene in Prince George.

Prince George may be touted as the service and supply hub of Northern BC, but the city also features a wealth of cultural and lifestyle amenities. Among these is a strong culinary scene, including a diverse array of high-quality restaurants. One of the newest additions to the restaurant scene is Zaffron Cuisine, a Persian cafe and catering service owned by Mojegan Sadeghian.

The current location, nestled on the corner of Vancouver Street and 11th Avenue, opened in August 2013. For three years prior to its opening, Zaffron Cuisine had been a purely home-based catering service. As Mojegan recalls, “at first not that many people knew about it, but then business increased and people started asking where they could come on a regular basis to eat or pick-up food. People enjoyed it because it was homemade and made from scratch. That is how the business started.”
Persian food, she says, is not spicy but “wholesome and tasty.”

She explains that each dish has its own unique taste, and that the visual appeal of the food is also very important. “It looks good, is colourful, warm and delicious […] after all, Persian food has a long history behind it,” she notes.  She mentions happily that her food is both fresh and healthy: “You don’t have to feel guilty after eating it.”

Mojegan’s made-from-scratch Persian fare played a strong role in her choice of a location for her restaurant and catering service. “This place is a house, and built up the idea of homemade food. It is very unique; I did not want to be in a big commercial location,” she says. The food is presented buffet-style, yet served neatly by Mojegan behind the counter. She explains, “It is ready to go and ready to be eaten. People can see the food beforehand and they like it. However, we serve it so that there is none of the messiness of a buffet.” 

Catering is an increasingly important part of Mojegan’s business, and one which she would like to grow further. Every second Tuesday, she attends the University Farmers’ Market at the University of Northern British Columbia and often ends up serving food to 150 customers. She also provides food for a variety of events through her catering service, from office meetings to family events to large occasions with up to 200 people.

Mojegan is grateful to Prince George community members for their support. “I’m happy and people are happy; I have received many positive comments. These have made me feel like I am doing something nice in the community,” she notes. In Prince George, she explains, “owning a cafe is very rewarding because people know you, and you get to know people.” As Prince George continues to grow and develop, it is the hope that more entrepreneurs like Mojegan will continue to add diversity and freshness to the city’s already vibrant restaurant scene.

Visit the Zaffron Cuisine website for more information.

Initiatives Prince George's monthly 'Economic Update' reports provide a brief summary of economic performance in the City of Prince George. Each report also features an article about a specific issue related to the Prince George economy.

Are you struggling to find qualified and experienced employees?  Does your work involve marketing and promoting Prince George? 

Initiatives Prince George (IPG) will unveil a study designed to support the recruitment and marketing efforts of the local business community during a luncheon on April 10, 2014. An in depth review of the study will be provided during the event by Rob Malatest of R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd., which is the research organization commissioned to complete the report.

The study includes the following information:

• An analysis of the existing workforce in Prince George and the identification of occupations in Prince George that are in the highest demand;
• Profiles of the cities and regions that have historically been the most important sources of in-migration for Prince George;
• Detailed recommendations that IPG and local employers can use to address recruitment and marketing challenges; and
• The results of a general population survey that assesses how Canadians perceive Prince George, what factors influence their decisions to relocate, and what messages and media play the biggest role in influencing their perceptions and relocation decisions.

During the event, IPG will present its plan to use the report to inform the creation of a city wide recruitment strategy for use by local businesses and organizations and gather input on this plan from attendees.

IPG was awarded $45,000 by the Province of British Columbia in 2013 to commission this research study. This study is made possible through the Province of British Columbia’s Partnership and Innovation Fund.

To register for the event, visit https://workforceintelligencestudy.eventbrite.ca.

Initiatives Prince George staff connected with about 200 students looking for employment options during the NorthWorks Career Fair at the College of New Caledonia and the University of Northern British Columbia on March 4 and 5, 2014. Staff chatted with students about the career options available to them in Prince George after graduation and directed them to the IPG careers page at www.workprincegeorge.ca, which lists local businesses that are actively hiring. Local businesses that are looking for skilled employees should email info@initiativespg.com to get their careers page added to this website.

Discover the more than 50 programs in health sciences, trades and technologies, social services, business and university studies offered at the College of New Caledonia

A job fair is being held in the District of Houston on April 9, 2014 to connect the skilled people who lost their jobs due to the closure of West Fraser’s Houston mill with employers in the region. The Houston Job Fair will provide a venue for employers to meet tradespeople, heavy equipment operators, Class 1 drivers, health and safety workers, and general labourers.

The job fair is being held at the Houston Community Hall, which has capacity for 18 exhibitor tables. There is no cost for employers to have a booth at the job fair. To confirm attendance, contact Andrea Newell at 250.845.1157 or newedge2000@hotmail.com.

The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is offering a leadership training workshop for manufacturing businesses in Prince George on April 1 and 2, 2014. The ‘Leading Organizations for Company Owners and Managers’ workshop is part of the Manufacturing Leadership Series developed by BCIT in partnership with Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) British Columbia. This program is part of CME British Columbia’s overall strategy to assist in developing the skills of employees in manufacturing companies across the province.

“BCIT is thrilled to be working with CME and local partners to bring the specialized training that we have developed for the manufacturing sector to Prince George in support of the workforce development that we have all been concerned about,” said Veronica Madore, Manager, Corporate & Industry Training, BCIT School of Business.

This two day workshop is designed to provide business owners and managers with the tools they need to develop leadership skills that are vital to business success. During the workshop, participants will learn how to create a personal model of leadership, hone interpersonal skills, and develop skills needed to lead a team and an organization. It will be the first time the workshop is offered outside of Metro Vancouver.

“We are excited to partner with BCIT, CME and Northern Development Initiative Trust in bringing the ‘Leading Organizations for Company Owners and Managers’ workshop to Prince George,” says Heather Oland, Chief Executive Officer of Initiatives Prince George. “We know that the majority of economic growth stems from businesses that are already invested in a community, so we are keen to provide business owners with access to tools that can be used to drive their firm’s success.”

The workshop will be held at the Northern Development office on 5th Avenue from 8:30am to 4:30pm on April 1 and 2. Lunch will be provided both days. Call Initiatives Prince George at 250.564.0282 for more information or register at www.leadershipseriespg.eventbrite.ca.

The first in a series of workshops designed to assist businesses in engaging with and preparing for the 2015 Canada Winter Games was attended by over 100 people from Prince George and the region on March 25, 2014, demonstrating the building excitement about the 2015 Games. During the workshop, 2015 Games CEO Stu Ballantyne gave a presentation about how to provide supplies and services to the 2015 Games. The information provided by Ballantyne along with a list of supply and service opportunities can be found on the IPG website.

During the workshop, IPG unveiled the Business Readiness Program developed as part of IPG’s role as the Official Business Engagement Partner for the 2015 Games. 5T Sports has been contracted to develop the program in consultation with IPG and its community partners. Workshop leaders will work directly with IPG in planning and delivering four additional workshops during 2014 that are targeted at business managers and cover topics including understanding business opportunities, leveraging the 2015 Games for business, staffing and inventory planning, and delivering service and customer experience under pressure. World Host Training will be provided through Tourism Prince George and Northern BC Tourism several times during 2014. For more information about the 2015 Games, visit the IPG website.

Watch this video to learn about the benefits of becoming an Official Community Partner of the 2015 Canada Winter Games then visit http://www.canadagames2015.ca/ to find out how to get involved.

Exhibitor space is still available at the second annual LNG in BC Conference being held in Vancouver from May 2-13, 2014. The tradeshow will feature companies in the LNG industry and related service sectors and will include government partners, educational institutions and an interactive career experience.

General Exhibitor Packages and BC Exhibitor Packages are available to businesses interested in being involved in the conference. More details about the conference and LNG activity in BC can be found at www.LNGinBC.ca. Questions about the tradeshow at the conference should be emailed to the event management company at LNGinBC@inventaworld.com.

Discover everything you need to know about living, working and investing in Prince George through the new Initiatives Prince George website. Visit www.initiativespg.com to check out the website’s new streamlined look and enhanced user friendliness. The website is mobile technology friendly so that you can browse it from your smartphone or tablet.