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PAGE 10, WIH1TY FR.EE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MARC 21,1990 Nestie preparrng for move.tô Whitby By Mike lowaleki Nestle of Canada officiais may know this spring when they can begin operating out of the former Whitby Cadbury plant. How soon this occurs will depend on what may be con- tained in engineering reports now beingprepared on the Champlain ad actory. "Our engineering staff is look- ing at the intricacies of the Cad- bury plant," said Stewart Dryer vice-president' of plannn and communications for Nestie s con- fectionery division. «Once we get a clearer picture of what's in there then we can get working on ItL The move is stili onL but the timing is Up in the air.» When Rowntree Canad a subsidiary company of Nestle's, purchased the plant early 1ast year, it was anticipated that te company would begin phasing in operations by the end of this year. Dryer said that aithougli Nes- tie cannot be held te an exact timetable there is no doubt of the comrpany's intentions. "I don't want toq ive you a date other than te say itfs still active.» Scattered across the 'province, in their basement or backyard, bundreds of people-are puttering away trying te, invent tbe proverbial botter mousetrap. Often they noticed a problem at work or around the bouse and think tbey've found a solution. But by the time they've actuaily got the idea sketched out, and sometimes even built a few prototypes, they're so in love witb tbeir invention that they've iost any trace of objectivity about its real merits and chances of success in the rnarketplace. That's wbere a few government initiatives corne in handy. "We've seen tbern ail. From computers and electronic gadgets Dryer hopes that Nestie offi- ciais will «have a clearer picture .in five or six weeks.» The former Cadbury plant was closed in 1987, putting 420 people out of work, after being urchased by William Neilson Rowntree Canada .purchased the plant from Neilson, with the intent of relocating one of its Toronto factories to Whitby. However, employees, worried about losing jobs because of the move, went on strike for six weeks last summer to gain job te, retailing ideas and practice putting devices," says Donna Hewitt, a senior marketing analyst at the federally-sponsored Canadian Industries Innovation Centre, in Waterloo. "Most corne from private inventers, but we aiso get ideas from small companies and universi*ties." The centre offers a two-stage assessrnent. First, the invention is studied for its basic merits. Does it work? Will it seli? What's tbe chance for legal or patent protection? Seventy per cent of inventors are advised at this point "don't proceed.' The rernaining 30 per cent go on te a more advanced evaluation stage. 'Since its inception ýin 1976, the "Emily! My invention just took off!" security provisions. The cornpany agreed to help pay relocation and commuting costs for those moving te the Whitby plant and severance pay for those not wishing to move. The new contract also recog- nized the Canadian Auto Wor- kers as bargaining agent for the Whitby workers, alleviatingfears that t he company was trying te, break the union. Since purchasing the Cadbury plant from Neison, Rowntree Canada has been bought outright by Nestie. Ienkarn, Soetens at chamber meeting The. Whitby Chamber of Com- merce will hold a dinnér meeting on Tuesday, March' 27, at the Rtegal Bloomi, Centennial Build- mpecial guests will be MP Don Blenikarn, chairman of the stand- ing committe. on finance, and Ontario riding MP Rene Soeýtens. Topic for the evening will be the goods and service tai (GST). Cost is $25 for members, $30 for non-members. Cocktails at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. MLASSAGE therapist Bd Bunker demonstrates the tech- nique used in massage. Bunker and other local therap- ists have formed the Durham -Massage T'herapists Association to promote their business. Massage teait form oreganiz ation BMie Kowaloki Ed Bunker and Leeson, Cliftoin let their fingers do their talking for them. Owners of a local massag_ therapy practice, Bunker anid Clifton joined forces with other therapists recently te form 'the Durhamn Massage Therapists Association. 1 Basically, what we're trying «to do is promote massage, expiained Bunker. "Each therap)- ist has bis/lier own' focus. By offering a central phone'number a peson can be referred te, the poetheaps. Bunkr and bis group consider themselves te be <«treatment- oriented» therapists, providing relief for whiplasb bheadacbes, back problems -anJ post-opera- tive conditions. "We get a lot of referrals from docters and cbir'opractors. We provide their patients a service the can't.» 'Ye most* common, problerns therapiats deal' with 'are stress- reiated, accordihg te Bunker. "From headaobes te tension in the back and,"sboulders a large percentagé of, tbe probfems are muscle-relat4d. «We can relieve stress and teson p areful muscle mani- The secqid most commonpro- blem is'lower back. alments, "the afflictibn pf tbe '90's," said Bun- ker. "As our recreation time in- creases we re not working as bard as i the past, so we, tend te put on 'more weigbt. This puts stress. on the back when we enggein sometbing physical.» àie in general is also a cause of rnany problerns for which peopie must seek relief frorn Bunker and his colleagues. "Life is getting more stressful, thereessno doubt about it,» said Bunker. "Because we're ini a goal-orien- ted, rnaterialistic society, it means more stress at the work level te achieve wbat we want. "If there is no outletý, tension builds up and reflects itself in, the body. If you're tense aIl tbe time ithen your body is not get- ting ýthe »proper benefît from nutrition.» In addition te, massage therapy in tbe office, members of Bun- ker's, group are available for treating.bospital patients, tbose in n;inm ones and private residences. "We also provide speakers te any club or organization inter*~ ested in finding out more about massiage,» said Bunker. «But I guess- tbe main thing we want! to do is dispel the rnyth of the '70's, that getting a massage means going te a body rub par- lor. «As a male I can help te change this. Female therapists often Iget crank cails because of the public's misconception.» iÀcenced 4y tbe Ontario Minis- try offHealth, massage therapists are registered with the Board of Directors of Masseurs of Ontario. Although not'yet icovered by medicare, many insurance com- panies will pay for massage therapy said Bunker. Yet4 even if a person does not havee appropriate insurance coverè ge,you sbould not let that step you from enjoying the bene- fits of massage, said Bunker., «The price at first niay seem prohibitive, but when you con- sider that you're getting an hour's worth of treatment and you'll . leave here feeling better, it's well worth it. To reach the Durham Massage Therapists Association caîl 666- 5781. Canadian Industrial Innovation Centre has iooked at more than 4,5000 inventions.,"It's neyer dul here, inventors are a great buncb of people te, work witb, even if it takes a lot of patience sometirnes," says Hewitt.. After the invention stage, the decision te, go into production is often when the work really begins, particularly when it cornes to raising funds for product development and deciding on rnanufacturing. Other areas te, be investigated are the relative merits of applying for a copyright on something written, a trademark on a brand naine, a patent on something that is a novel physical design, or registering the appearance of a prodiict as an industrial design. Aise, inventers tend te, have a strong teclinical background and many are good at marketing their product because they beliqve in it se strongly, but few have the necessary business and mangement skills te deveiop a viable enterprise. This is where the Ministry of Industry, Trade and ecig' 13 smnai business self-help centres across Ontario enter the picture. Each centre represents a joint initiative of the provincial governmrent and the municipality in which it is located. A consultant is on site te provide entrepreneurs with advice on start-up financing and the preparatio of a business plan. Guide boks, computer support and a quiet work area are ase among the resources available te, belp turn good ideas into seund- business ventures. For more t information, call the tell-1'ree r Small Business Hotline at 1-800-387-6142. flh b hus iw ss I o/ntion I 11\ natin.d program i t ce, r.gc it ig and telulitvcrilig [YOUR BUSINESS 1