Welcome back readers, and a happy new year to you!
As you may have noticed, I’m a bit of a sucker for holidays. The next few weeks are looking exceptionally red in my books. We end January with Chinese New Year — this year being the year of the Ox. Friends excited to celebrate have told me that the Ox stands for stability and dependability, responding to adverse situations with hard work and determination. For our wallets this means saving, not spending. I would say that is probably close in line with what everyone has in mind for the coming year.
Followed by this dependable Ox, we have Valentine’s Day; perhaps, a less predictable beast. I’m a big fan of Valentine’s Day; 90% of my affection being toward cinnamon hearts, of course. I never understood why a candy so tasty only gets to celebrate once a year!
As you enjoy the candy treats and good company, we hope you will also find this issue useful for the start of 2009. John Zarwan begins the issue with “10 tips for surviving a recession.” His insightful and practical tips are bound to get you into the “working ox” mind-frame. My favourite of the 10 is Cash is King — advice that I’ve been given more than once, in a time where financing is hard to come by.
Zarwan’s advice is followed by a look to a further future – the future of our industry in terms of skills training and employment. Marie Eveline, executive director of the Canadian Printing Industries Sector Council, examines the outlook of talent to come. Along with the statistical outlook of our industry, we include some practical places where professionals can go to buff up on skills. A quick review of online, professionally sponsored, and university-based education options are summed up in a chart for you to quickly check out.
Continuing on the theme of schooling, I remind everyone that the annual Graphic Communications Management job fair at Ryerson is fast approaching (March 5, 2009). What better time to hire an intern and infuse your company with energy and new ideas?
Students have an incredible ability to finding “glass half-full opportunities.” This past month, I attended the PAC Envirochic event, hosted by OCAD and the PAC Student Chapter. The event included a panel of speakers from the LCBO, Tetra Pak and CanFirst Innovative Packaging. It highlighted creative innovations for alternative packaging options. It is incredible when we’re able to create products that not only save money, but are earth-friendly – something we begin to think about more and more as we wait for spring.
So, as you prepare your love sonnets and jewelry boxes (she hopes) enjoy the issue and remember to contact Taras for the details of the job fair at tkarpiuk@ryerson.ca.
Natalia Gilewicz
natalia@graphicartsmag.com