Scrivener

80 Pages·2015·7.34 MB·English

Spring 2015 Volume 24 • Number 1
Published Quarterly by The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia
CoVer Story:
INSIDE: Service you Can trust!
richmond Notary Nancy Schick Skinner
Publications Mail Agreement: 40010827
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Strata Corporations
Published by The socieTy of NoT aries Public of bc
as Sports Performance Entities 26
Ian Callaway
COVER STORY Service You Can Trust . . . or Can You? 30
Nancy Schick Skinner Lori McLeod
m
Service hy.co Insurance: Personal Economic Security
p
you Can hotogra oIarn a C Paellrafowramyance Flop? 32
p
n
trust 42 dma The Trust Factor for Mortgage Brokers in BC 35
wil
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w LAND SURVEYING
w
Trusting the Art of Land Surveying 38
Chuck Salmon
FeAtUreS:
The Future of ABCLS: New Commissions 39
Service you Can trust
Creating Trust through Communications 40
Mark Smiciklas, Karen Cook
thE CEo/SECREtARY of thE SoCIEtY
Do YOU Have A Will? 6
Wayne Braid
KEYNotE
Service Pointers 7
Val Wilson The Scrivener: What’s in a Name? 5
Services a BC Notary Can Provide 21
thE PRESIDENt of thE SoCIEtY
The Circle of Trust 8 A MEEtING of MINDS
Akash Sablok Canadian Contract Law Course ALS 610 48
Transparency Fights Corruption 10 Morrie Baillie
Nigel Atkin Communicating with Our Allied Professionals 49
Building Trust 12 Pat Wright
Frank Tony Spartano BC Notary Student Job Fair 49
When One Door Closes, Another Door Opens 13
PRofILE of A BC NotARY
Filip de Sagher Maureen Friesen, C.O.E.
It Was Never about the Grass 14 “The Swinging Notary” 50
Rhonda Latreille
WhERE ARE thEY NoW?
Do “Letters” Guarantee Service You Can Trust? 16 Melody Aubin, Living Now! 52
Douglas Janzen
BC Notaries Speak Your Language 56
The Most Important Part
of Customer Service is the Customer! 17
Greg Dixon
Build Your Reputation
for Fantastic Client Service 18
Andrea Potter
Turn Your Most Difficult Clients Building Better Communities, one grant at a time
into Your Best Advocates 20
The Board of Governors 55
Rachelle Lee
SPotLIGht oN thE NotARY foUNDAtIoN of BC
Service that Ensures Repeat Business 24
Meeting a Need for Legal Services Funding 56
Pat Wright
the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 24 Number 1 Spring 2015
4
The MiX
Editor’s 29
oRIGINAL RECIPE
Chicken Cashew Salad 57
Lisa Shaskin
Published by
tRAVEL
The Society of Notaries Public
Driving to the Top of the World 58
of British Columbia
Marilyn MacDonald
BUSINESS SENSE
Speak Your Purpose to Increase Engagement 60 Editor-in-Chief Val Wilson
Carla Rieger Legal Editors Wayne Braid, Ken Sherk
tAXES Administration Amber rooke
April 1: The End of the BC Transition Tax 61 Courier lightspeed Courier & logistics
Bill Rutledge Photography gary Wildman
StRAtAS
REIBC’s New Offering: Strata Governance Training 62 The Scrivener
Brenda Southam email: [email protected]
Business to Business 65 Website: www.notaries.bc.ca/scrivener
CoMMUNItY
How Concern Creates Change 66 the Society of Notaries Public of BC
Frances Litman
604 681-4516
tAXES
Foreign Properties: To Report or Not Report? Form T1135 68 To send photographs
Andrea Agnoloni to The Scrivener, please see the
Editor's column on page 29.
ALLIED PRofESSIoNALS
The Multiplier Effect of Teamwork 70
Dennis Kiffiak All rights reserved. Contents may not be
reprinted or reproduced without written
CAREGIVING
permission from the publisher.
Chronic Stress Impacts Family Caregivers 71
Barb Kirby This journal is a forum for discussion,
not a medium of official pronouncement.
WILLS AND EStAtES
The Society does not, in any sense, endorse
Greed in Sibling Estate Disputes 72
or accept responsibility for opinions
Trevor Todd
expressed by contributors.
tRAVEL
A Marvellous Party in the Land of the Midnight Sun! 74
Gillian Campbell
tEChNoLoGY
Spring is in the Gas Pedal 76
Akash Sablok
CANAdA PoSt: PUBliCAtioNS mAil
EVENtS & hoNoURS
People. Where in the World Has The Scrivener Been? 78 AgreemeNt No. 40010827
Postage Paid at Vancouver, BC
retUrN UNdeliVerABle CANAdiAN
The Scrivener: What’s in a Name?
AddreSSeS to CirCUlAtioN dePt.:
“A professional penman, a copyist, a scribe . . . a Notary.” Thus the Oxford
THE SOCIETY OF NOTARIES
English Dictionary describes a Scrivener, the craftsman charged with ensuring
PUBLIC OF BC
that the written affairs of others flow smoothly, seamlessly, and accurately. Where
SUITE 700 – 625 HOWE STREET
a Scrivener must record the files accurately, it’s the Notary whose Seal is bond.
BOx 44
We chose The Scrivener as the name of our magazine to celebrate the Notary’s
VANCOUVER, BC V6C 2T6
role in drafting, communicating, authenticating, and getting the facts straight. We strive
to publish articles about points of law and the Notary profession for the education and [email protected]
enjoyment of our members, our allied professionals in business, and the public.
Volume 24 Number 1 Spring 2015 The Scrivener
5
The CeO/
SeCReTARY
OF The SOCI eTY
Wayne Braid
m
o
do yoU Have A Will? hy.c
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A t a recent gathering A Simple Will?
Now is the time—today!
of professional people, Often, we Notaries hear, “I just need
Don’t put it off. a simple Will.”
i asked this question . . .
• T here is no such thing as
Do you have a Will? a simple Will.
• f or the handling of their financial
and personal affairs, in the event • E very single person has a unique
It entails visiting your BC Notary
of a disability or health issue that set of circumstances, assets,
or lawyer to have your wishes recorded
may prevent them from taking family issues, and varying
in a legal document that will form an
care of things. obligations.
integral part of your estate papers.
1 in 5 will have a heart-related
• Y our BC Notary or lawyer will
I was quite amazed to see that event.
spend some time with you
less than 30 percent of the people in 1 in 9 will have a stroke. to obtain your information.
the room indicated they had done so!
2 in 5 will have cancer.
“Think of Personal Planning as
A few years ago here at Many of our Scrivener readers Travel Insurance,” said Notary Laurie
BC Notaries, we conducted a public are business and professional people. Salvador in an article she wrote for the
survey on that question. I want to make sure this article serves Winter 2013 issue of this magazine.
as a reminder to you!
• T he survey had a significant So before you go,
Now is the time—today! Don’t put
number of participants. have these four plans in place.
it off. Call your husband, wife, partner,
• I t was province-wide. son, or daughter and start the process. • Will
• I t was not gender-based. Here are a few reasons • R epresentation Agreement
• T he survey results indicated that for getting your Will done. • Advance Directive or Health Care
Directive.
by far, the majority of the adult • I t will avoid uncertainty about who
population in British Columbia is to benefit from your estate when • P ower of Attorney
have no Will and Last Testament. you die.
BC Notaries are well trained
The survey went on to ask • I t will make things easier for your in the area of personal planning
if they had a Power of Attorney loved ones. documents—Wills, Powers of
or a Representation Agreement. • I t will avoid conflict between and Attorney, Health Care Directives,
among family members. (A neutral and Representation Agreements.
Few had them.
executor can help.)
I encourage you to consider
Most of the Adult population in
• I t will avoid or lessen the making a plan. If your situation is
British Columbia have no personal
possibility of having your estate complicated and nontraditional, it is
planning documents in place and have
challenged. even more important that you consult
not allowed
• I t will give you peace of mind, a professional to make sure your
• f or the handling of their estate knowing that things will be taken assets and your loved ones are well
in the event of their death, or care of when you are not here. protected.
The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 24 Number 1 Spring 2015
6 TABLE OF CONTENTS
KeYNOTe
Val Wilson
Editor-in-Chief
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hotogra
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Service Pointers man
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Trustworthy service includes When You Have Occasion to Complain
care and attention to many aspects
Seeing the need for people 1. K now what you would like
of business.
to protect their interests and their to see happen and what will rectify
families’ interests by having a Will, Up-Front-and-Personal Touches or assuage the situation for you.
the Provincial Government issued
• Y our company name and basic 2. A t the start, ask the customer
a Royal Proclamation for an annual
contact information, clearly visible service person for help.
“Make-A-Will Week.” This year,
from the street
it is April 6 to April 12.
3. S how kindness, respect,
• A clean, tidy, comfortable,
and courtesy, even if things get
Last year, BC Notaries partnered
and welcoming office,
testy. Rise above the urge to
with the BC Ministry of Justice to
tastefully decorated
“let ‘em have it!”
promote Make-A-Will Week. Many
• Appropriately dressed and
of our Notaries presented at workshops
4. I f the dialogue reaches an
courteous staff
and community seminars and sessions
impasse, thank the person for his
to help make people aware of the • P ositive attitudes and a genuine or her time, then ask to speak to
issues around drafting a Will. willingness to assist a supervisor about the matter.
BC Notaries support the Province • R espect for people and punctuality
It is in our families of origin
of BC to encourage residents who • Excellent product knowledge where we first understand people
don’t have a Will to create one—to
sometimes become agitated.
ensure their final wishes are clear and Behind the Scenes Training
A man I know tries to quit the
carried out after their death.
• W ritten policies that train your conversation when women present
staff about the way you want him with a problem. Why? Raised by
In many cases, that requires the
situations handled/managed his mother, 2 sisters, and 4 widowed
creation of a new Will. For others, it
in your business aunts, he learned long ago he
means updating an existing Will and
couldn’t win! But there is hope
making sure it reflects their current • C ontinuing education for you
for him . . . through courage and
circumstances and instructions. and your staff
counselling!
Creating a Will and a Health Care • Time-management training,
Directive takes less time than most including how to prioritize Please enjoy the articles! s
people think. The documents can
usually be completed in 1 or 2 short
Why do We Say “BC Notaries”?
meetings.
A good way to start the process
People who move to BC are surprised to learn that a Notary in BC can
is to identify a legal professional in
assist with myriad noncontentious legal processes . . . a lot more than
your community—someone you trust
simply witnessing documents. Please see page 21 for the list of services
who can assist you to prepare a proper
a BC Notary can provide.
and legal Will.
Thus, to set our Notaries apart from other Notaries in Canada, we specify
I sincerely hope you will take the BC Notaries. So now you know!
time to do it! s
Volume 24 Number 1 Spring 2015 The Scrivener
TABLE OF CONTENTS 7
The PReSIDeNT
OF The SOCI eTY
Akash Sablok
the Circle of trust orne
h
T
n
dit: Jasly
oto cre
h
P
“trust is the glue of life. Service is defined as “a valuable
Trained professionals, action, deed, or effort performed to
it’s the most essential
BC Notaries provide excellent satisfy a need or fulfill a demand.”
ingredient in effective
service in the types of Trained professionals, BC Notaries
communication. it’s the provide excellent service in the types
noncontentious legal matters
of noncontentious legal matters in
foundational principle that
in which they are trained.
which they are trained. Many go
holds all relationships.”
beyond the level of basic service,
Stephen Covey treat others as we expect to be treated providing additional services . . .
little extras . . . value-added service.
and that is the way we should behave
Trust takes time. It is built over I know Notaries who will meet with
as adults.
a long period and confirmed by their clients early in the morning, late
actions. If someone has consistently Respect people you know.
at night, and even on weekends. Some
been there for you, for professional or Respect those you have just met and make house calls, hospital calls, care
personal reasons, you will trust that they will become people you know. home calls, even airport calls, for
person to be there for you in the future.
example, regarding a Will for a client
Our clients visit our Notary offices, who is about to leave on vacation!
trusting us to handle one of the most T R U ST RE
important events in their life—a real S BC Notaries care about their
P
estate purchase or sale. Buying or E E clients’ needs. Small personal touches
R
C
selling a house is a major milestone. A help build trust. Trust, respect, care,
T
Whether it’s a first-time purchase C respect, trust: A full circle.
or the fifth, people want to work C We say that a Notary’s
with someone they trust and who T A
word is golden and that a
have their best interests in mind C R
commitment or promise made
and at heart. E E
by 1 Notary is equal to that
P
Trust can be transferred T of 2 ordinary witnesses:
S
from one person to another. E UR Unus notaries equipellet
First-time home buyers ask their
R S duobus testibus.
family and friends to recommend T
the BC Notary who helped them T I never forget that I am in my
with their home purchase. A word- S R office every day because of my
U E
ocfo-mmfoourtth d urerfinergr aal sgtirveesss fau sl epnesreio dof. RT ERAC T C E P S mcel ibeunstsy,. aTnhde yw ien sopfitreen m laeu, gthh etyo gkeetehpe r!
Respect is an important partner I trust that I add special value
with trust. We teach our children to to their lives as they do to mine. s
The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 24 Number 1 Spring 2015
8 TABLE OF CONTENTS
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SeRVICe
YOU CAN TRUST
Nigel Atkin
transparency
Fights Corruption
Watching the playoff in government, in the management evaluated, managed, and accessed
of charities and foundations, in as required through organizational
games leading up
academia, and in all levels of business. policy or law. That both reinforces
to the American Super accountability and creates factual
The first lesson is that
Bowl, i‘ve been increasingly transparency fights corruption. material for public information.
The second is that transparency needs An individual who works with any
impressed with the transparency
to be communicated openly. institution is a prime representative
of play afforded by advancing of that institution to his or her family,
friends, community, and the general
technology each year. When leadership
public.
demonstrates committed
Every play is scrutinized by From the initial engagement with
numerous cameras, some “tethered” transparency through the organization, from pre-hiring
drones, to see if a knee touched the practice, the institution can activities through hiring, orientation,
ground before a fumble, if both feet
evolve into a culture and ongoing staff development, the
were clearly planted in bounds during
reinforcement of service, transparency,
a spectacular catch near the sidelines, of open communication.
and accountability must be paramount
or if indeed a part of the ball crossed
to all parties.
the plane for a goal before the whistle.
Building Trust
To build public trust, organizations
The brain follows the eye. In
Making institutions trust-worthier should post all jobs, job qualifications,
repetitive multiple views, consumer trust
requires leadership, at all levels, hiring processes, and terms of
in the game builds. An esoteric and
to repeatedly voice leadership’s references—even a wide variety
evolving rulebook is often cited and the
intention to create an open and of sample interview questions.
images confirm the rules were followed.
transparent institution, fully That is part of basic public information.
The multiple perspectives give
accountable to all stakeholders— It builds clarity of purpose in applicants
officials, players, coaches, and many
shareholders, employees, community, and educates the wider public who
millions of viewers confidence in the
the environment, and all forms of continue to consume an organization’s
game, in the entertainment, and in
customers. products and services.
the gaming industries. Viewers rely
on the pictures, well communicated When leadership demonstrates One Lie?
on television and on massive screens committed transparency through
Another tactic for building a culture
for fans in the stands. The technology practice, the institution can evolve into
of communication where transparency
helps ensure there is no apparent a culture of open communication.
fights corruption and builds trust is
corruption in the sport.
To further this practice, personal to hold meetings where organizational
There are analogous lessons here and departmental reporting builds members have only one rule—
for many other aspects of society . . . records that can be monitored, “to speak the truth.”
The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia Volume 24 Number 1 Spring 2015
10 TABLE OF CONTENTS