And the Winner Is...

A big thanks to everyone who participated in The Rostie Group's First Annual Academy Awards Contest. We received a lot of great entries, and even had a tie for third place.

Congratulations to the following winners...

First Place: Ben Jennings (BigHand) - Night at the Movies for Two with Popcorn & Drinks

Second Place: Cam Seagram (XtronX) - Blockbuster Gift Card

Third Place (tie): Pauline Cornick (Lumira Capital) - Cineplex Movie Pass

Third Place (tie): Dinesh Krishnan (Zafin Labs) - Cineplex Movie Pass

Stay tuned for more contests!

Oscar Contest

Just a reminder to tenants of our 20 Bay Street and 2810 Matheson Road business centres, that you have until Friday, February 20th at 5:00pm to enter The Rostie Group's First Annual Academy Awards Contest. Simply predict the winners for each Oscar category, and return your ballot to reception. Ballots can be picked up at any Rostie Group reception desk and in the Rostie lunchrooms. This contest is open to all Rostie Group tenants, as well as their employees.

Prizes Include…

1st Prize: A Night at the Movies for Two, with Popcorn and Drinks
2nd Prize: Two Cineplex Odeon Movies Passes
3rd Prize: A Blockbuster Video Gift Card

HURRAY FOR HOLLYWOOD!

Update: Downtown Toronto Power Outage.

According to the latest reports the Power Outage affecting the Downtown Toronto Bay Street Financial District will be lasting, at least, several more hours.

The Rostie Group's 20 Bay Street business currently has full power, and be can used as temporary office space until your power is restored. We can answer your forwarded calls, set-up a videoconference, and provide computers with high speed internet. For more information call Kim Popkey at 416-214-1840.

We are located within five minutes of the affected areas, and can provide immediate assistance.

Power Outage in Toronto Financial District

High winds have caused numerous power outages throughout the Greater Toronto Area today, most notably in the Downtown Toronto Bay Street financial district. According to the latest details, RBC Centre, First Canadian Place, and The Toronto Stock Exchange are amongst the major corporate sites being affected. Unplanned disruptions like these can have very negative consquences for your business, especially when you consider the long-term ramifications of lost productivity and disabled communication with key associates and clientele. Next time a power outage or other unpredictable incident occurs, be prepared by having an appropriate emergency backup plan. Have your business up and running again in minutes, rather than hours or days!

When disaster strikes, The Rostie Group can provide temporary office space and business support services that will allow your company to make a speedy and seamless recovery. Our expert administrative and technical support staff are trained to help businesses deal with unexpected disruptions. Whether you need short-term or long-term office space during disaster recovery, or an IP Phone System that will allow all your employees to work off-site, The Rostie Group can implement timely solutions which will minimize downtime during costly disruptions. Our state-of-the-art facilities offer videoconferencing technology, hot desk terminals, easy access to public transportation, high-speed internet connections, mail forwarding, telephone answering, full-service catering and host of other services to help your company recover from unplanned and potentially debilitating emergencies.

Office Space for a New Age

The Financial Post recently published a fascinating article about the trend towards workspaces which better encourage creativity and employee collaboration. According to the article…

“"The idea of the corner office is the last thing the new generation of urban workers wants or cares for. They want opportunities to make eye contact and start spontaneous conversations, enjoy natural light, and work in a cheerful environment."

At the Rostie Group, we are constantly adapting our offices, team rooms, and meeting spaces to better meet the business needs of an ever-changing workforce. All of our meeting spaces and boardrooms are aesthetically and structurally designed to encourage effective communication and positive collaboration. However, we are always be on the lookout for new ways to make our workspaces as pleasant and productive as possible. If you have any suggestions, feel free to email them to dnoble@rostiegroup.com

To read the complete Financial Post article, please click on the link below.

Office Space for a New Age (Financial Post)


Free Rostie Tech Hour

Rostie Tech Rescue will be hosting its first ever Lunchtime Tech Support Hour on February 5th at 12:00pm. The Tech Support Hour will be held in the 11th floor kitchen of our 20 Bay Street location (WaterPark Place). This event is completely free, and open to all Rostie Group and WaterPark Place tenants. Our team of skilled techs will be available for the whole hour to help answer all of your computer or electronics-related questions.

Office Business Centres a Smart Alternative

The New York Times recently published a very interesting article that discussed the potential cost-saving benefits of utilizing office business centre services during difficult economic times. According to this article...

“Industry officials and observers say business centers — which vary widely in terms of furnishings, services provided and rents charged — are ideal for displaced or downsized businesses or start-up companies seeking space without long-term leases.”

Kathy Donohue, President of PowerSpace and Services echoes this sentiment, claiming that renting an executive suite from an office business center is a “very, very easy way to do business if you need only one or two offices…You don’t have to lay out capital; the infrastructure is set up; you can lock the door and not worry.”

Cynthia Rostie, President of The Rostie Group, and Chair of OBCA-CAN (Office Business Centre Association Canada) agrees that office business centres serve as an excellent option for money conscious businesses,

"With all the negative economic news as of late; I have noticed a signifigant increase in the number of small-to-medium sized businesses seriously considering the cost-saving benefits 0f making the transition to a fully-serviced office business centre. Leasing your own office space and hiring support staff is often a needless strain on company resources, especially when you consider the comparative value and simplicity of an office business centre alternative."

To read the complete New York Times article, visit the link below.

For Tight Times, Office Space on Flexible Terms (New York Times Article)