by VAN HANSEN

Scot Cameron bought his first skateboard 40 years ago at a garage sale. Being in California during one of his formative years he was inspired by surf culture, in the place where skateboarding first began.

Looking back to the early 1950's, surfers were installing roller skate wheels on makeshift boards, determined to find a way to surf the streets at times when the ocean swell was too gentle.

• Futuristic Hover Board with DeLorean ‘Time Machine’. Elliot Alder photo

The sport of skateboarding has been evolving ever since amidst a sometime rebellious counter culture while at the same time embedding itself into the collective psyche.

"The spark really ignited for me in the mid-eighties," Scot says. "It was in grade 7 or 8 when my friends and I kind of looked up to this group called the Bones Brigade with Tony Hawk being the most mainstream name. We all started skateboarding, and emulating what they were doing."

With no dedicated infrastructure available at the time, the boys were street skating, teaching themselves tricks on parking curbs or bombing a hill. "We were lucky we had a spot in Kitchener which was a vacant lot where they allowed us to set up some ramps," says Scot.

• Scot’s first skateboard atop the rack holding his personal rider collection

World of Wheels

In high school Scot found himself spending a lot of time in the shop classes, and he vividly remembers his teacher Thomas Schmidt, who passed away 5 years ago.

“Mr. Schmidt was always there at the right moment. He set me up with a job which led to my career, and later helped with the body work on my 1967 Ford Fairlane when I was getting it on the road”.

Scot went on to complete his apprenticeship, becoming a full-time automotive technician at Gord Kaster Automotive. He worked there for the next 3 decades after which he ultimately co-founded a start-up metal fabrication and repair shop specializing in hot-rods, street trucks, and classic cars.

CoMaCan Skateboards

As a creative outlet while he was in the industry, Scot also plied his craft as a freelance automotive journalist and photographer writing feature stories and columns, rounding them out with assignments shooting races, car shows, and automotive celebrities.

With print media in decline, Scot found the time to start a new project with the intent of increasing his engagement with the skateboarding community and in 2017 he partnered with fellow skater Will Mackie to found CoMaCan Skateboards.

"It's a skateboard brand which started out as the Colorado Massachusetts skateboard collective, or CoMa for short," Scot says. "Will had the opportunity to bring the company to Canada so we bought up the existing stock and accounts, and launched as CoMaCan Skateboards."

Skateboarding has experienced significant growth in recent years driven by the sport becoming more mainstream through its inclusion in the Olympic Games, social media coverage, and the increasing availability of skateparks.

• Olympic Games 2024 Skateboarding Mens Park Prelims. Stefan Scheepmaker photo

And with the proliferation of public skate parks the space is free, so cost of entry is essentially the equipment. As skaters progress, the boards become a consumable, eventually wearing out or breaking so CoMaCan’s philosophy is to supply top quality skateboard decks (and accessories) at low prices, to keep the sport fun and accessible.

“Local skate shops have always been the heart of skateboarding,” says Scot. So as well as offering their skateboards, apparel, and accessories for online ordering, CoMaCan has also become a trusted supplier to a growing roster of 15 skate shops across Ontario, 5 in Nova Scotia and one in BC.

Community Outreach

As well as sponsoring the Skate Jam at Waterdown’s Oh Canada Ribfest, you will find Scot & Will at the CoMaCan booth at various events in Hamilton, and Jackalope Festival Mississauga.

Scot has made CoMaCan Skateboards his full-time vocation, and it’s a labour of love.

“Skateboarding is a gift,” says Scot. “It doesn't mean everybody has to be a part of it. But I think everybody can see it as a physical benefit, a mental health benefit, a social benefit. It's a bit of everything”.

• Rainy Day at Waterdown Skatepark

CoMaCan Skateboards

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Love Your Neighbourhood

by VAN HANSEN

When Alex Moshtagh was a child, he couldn’t walk past an antique shop without wandering inside, captivated by the silent stories evoked by old wood, porcelain, and brass. His father was a collector, and when they moved to Canada, Alex’s parents would go and search for things that reminded them of back home.

“There’s so much history,” Alex says, his voice carrying both nostalgia and quiet authority.  “Where did these things come from? What’s the story behind them? It was always interesting to me.”

That childhood curiosity turned into a passion during his teenage years, when Alex took an apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker.

Working with his hands, he embraced the artistry of finely crafted furniture, developing an instinct for recognizing quality and authenticity.

As he matured, Alex realized his interests stretched far beyond the craft of woodworking. Objects weren’t just things to build—they were artifacts with stories, each one a puzzle piece in a broader historical narrative. Alex and his family decided to transform their shared passion into a business.

“We chose to become antique dealers,” he says. “So we started the store, and almost 33 years later, I’m still doing it.”

The Moshtagh’s opened their first brick and mortar store in Toronto at Yonge & Steeles. More recently Alex relocated the business to Oakville, and then later to Burlington.  

Over the years, Alex has witnessed the antique market evolve dramatically. Trends come and go, tastes shift, and the internet has transformed how collectors and dealers connect.

Yet one thing remains unchanged for him: the allure of discovering an item’s past and helping others understand its worth—both sentimental and monetary.

“People often don’t realize what they have,” he says. “Sometimes it’s not about the dollar value—it’s about the history and connection.”

On the Road Again

Alex’s knowledge and approachable demeanor have made him a trusted resource in the community, and Jen & Van Hansen have engaged him regularly over the past couple of years to conduct Antique Road Shows in Burlington.

Whether offering advice to curious collectors from his shop or conducting estate appraisals, he approaches each encounter with the same wonder he felt as a boy exploring antique shops.

“Every piece has a story,” he says. “And that’s what makes it all worthwhile.”

Alex Moshtagh holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mathematics from York University, and he is the Owner of Treasure Antique & Appraisers.

Last Event was July 19, 2025—Antiques Road Show in Burlington

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Love Your Neighbourhood

by VAN HANSEN

Launching his coast-to-coast book tour in Burlington, Marc Garneau presented his autobiography to a full house. 

Garneau sat down with fellow engineer and author Terry Fallis for a captivating conversation in the sanctuary of Port Nelson United Church. 

It was last Fall, and no coincidence that the event was held on October 5th—the 40th anniversary of Garneau’s historic Space Shuttle mission when he become the first Canadian to fly to space.   

From the Sea

As a boy, Garneau harboured a long-standing fascination with the ocean and he joined the Navy at the age of 16. Four years later, in his final year at Royal Military College (RMC) he was given the opportunity to cross the Atlantic.

Garneau was part of a crew of 13 in a race from Newport, Rhode Island to Cork, Ireland on the Pickle, a 59-foot wooden yawl (2-masted sailboat).

“A few centuries before, stepping out on the ocean, you were taking your life into your hands,” said Garneau. “It was a voyage into the unknown. So that was a beautiful experience for me personally”.

The 20-day transit brought its share of rough seas and bad weather as they crossed nearly 5,000 kilometres of ocean. Sailing on to London, they were on the English Channel on the night of the first Moon landing.

Garneau was gazing at the moon and listening to the live broadcast on the radio as Neil Armstrong announced “The Eagle has landed”.

“I remember thinking to myself,” said Garneau. “Here I am in a sailboat, one of the oldest forms of transportation, and he and Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins had crossed 400,000 km of the vacuum of space and landed safely on the (Moon’s) Sea of Tranquility.”

The parallels were not lost on Garneau, and he believed that a seed was planted that night. 

After graduating from RMC with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics in 1970, Garneau furthered his education studying electrical engineering in the UK at Imperial College London, successfully defending his PhD thesis in 1973.

Returning to Canada, Garneau trained as a combat systems engineer which led to a posting on HMCS Algonquin, and as an instructor at the Canadian Forces Fleet School.

Other assignments included work at the Naval Engineering Unit in Halifax, qualifying as a diver, and postings to National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. After attending Canadian Forces College, Garneau was promoted to the rank of Commander in 1983.

To the Stars

On returning home from HQ one evening in June that year, Garneau was reading the Ottawa Citizen (newspaper), when he stumbled on an advertisement from the National Research Council. Canada was looking for astronauts!

This was in response to NASA’s request for 2 Canadian astronauts to fly on the Space Shuttle as thanks for designing and building Canadarm, the Shuttle’s robotic arm.

Garneau was one of 4,300 applicants. Proving throughout the gruelling selection process that had the right stuff, he was selected as one of six who would become Canada’s first Astronaut Corps.

Sixteen months after that he was on launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center, the Payload Specialist on Space Shuttle Challenger, seated on the starboard mid-deck.

“I remember just being focused on my training,” said Garneau. “And then suddenly I was strapped in, the shuttle side hatch door was closed, and I thought this is not a simulation. We’re going today”. What followed was the longest two and a half hours of his life.

When the countdown finally reached zero as the solid rocket boosters roared to life, there was lots of vibration for the first couple of minutes until the boosters separated and the main engines fired, accelerating the Shuttle with Garneau feeling heavier in his seat, for the last part of the ascent sustaining a force of 3 g (gravitational force equivalent). 

It was eight and a half minutes from 0 to 28,000 km/h which is orbital velocity, when the main engine cutoff happens. Suddenly there was silence.

“And you realize you’re floating. It is a moment of euphoria. You can hardly wait to take off your seat belt and float over to look out the window”.

On that mission they were on an unusual high-inclination orbit flying over the Canadian provinces every 90 minutes.

They launched a satellite and conducted several experiments including a package of Canadian experiments (CANEX).

Garneau was promoted to Captain (Navy) in 1986, leaving the Canadian Forces in 1989.

Garneau flew on 2 more Space Shuttle missions in 1996 as Mission Specialist on the Endeavour, and in 2000 as Flight Engineer. On his 3rd mission, Garneau used the Canadarm on Endeavour to install one of the four solar arrays on the International Space Station.

Following his career as an astronaut, Garneau was appointed President of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in 2001.

For the Common Good

Garneau was elected to Parliament and served as an MP for over 14 years in the House of Commons, including as Foreign Affairs Minister, and Transport Minister.

“Everything had to be, what makes the most sense? As opposed to doing things for, shall I say, political reasons,” said Garneau.

“I've never been drawn to making decisions for political reasons. I wanted it to be the best policy possible for Canadians”.

After a lifetime of public service, the Honourable Marc Garneau, PC, CC, CD retired in 2023, and set to work writing his memoirs. He dedicated A Most Extraordinary Ride, Space, Politics, and the Pursuit of a Canadian Dream “To my children, as I promised”.

Penguin Random House 

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Love Your Neighbourhood

Say hello… move forward with more™

Jen & Van Hansen

On June 4th, Marc Garneau passed away peacefully after a short illness, surrounded by his family, his wife, Pam Garneau said in a statement.

“Marc faced his final days with the same strength, clarity and grace that defined his life”.

Photo Gallery

by VAN HANSEN

Jean Clinton, MD is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University, and a Specialist in Child Psychiatry.

Dr. Clinton is also a renowned keynote speaker and knowledge translator, aptly moving research findings from the lab or journal into practical use. This Spring she gave a talk for an attentive group of parents and educators in the auditorium of Westdale Secondary School in Hamilton...  

Opening warmly, Dr. Clinton reflects on her personal connection to Westdale. “It’s great to be in these hallowed halls. Four of my children went here.”

Drawing from both personal and academic insight, she emphasizes that adolescence is a critical time of brain development, shaped by neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to be molded by experience.

A key point is that the adolescent brain is “under construction.” Dr. Clinton explains that during this stage the brain prioritizes emotional and social development over executive functioning such as planning and impulse control.

The limbic system, which governs emotions and rewards matures earlier than the prefrontal cortex, responsible for reasoning and decision-making. This neurological imbalance partly explains risk-taking behaviours, impulsivity, and the strong pull toward peer relationships.

Dr. Clinton used an anecdote about her own child leaping into unknown waters, showing that even knowing the risks, adolescents prioritize thrill and peer approval.

Bell Times

Adolescents stay up later because their melatonin is changing, effectively delaying their signal to feel sleepy by several hours. At the same time they need 9 hours, making sleep deprivation a big issue.

“There is very good evidence that later start times for adolescents in school makes a big difference,” Dr. Clinton says. “Even starting at 8:30 compared to 8:00”.

From Anxious to Z

Throughout the talk, Dr. Clinton weaved in research, citing sources like Jonathan Haidt’s “The Anxious Generation” and studies on stress, social media, and brain development. They emphasize that adolescents’ heightened sensitivity to rewards (dopamine response) makes them more prone to seek novelty and excitement, which has evolutionary roots driving them away from the family nest to explore their world.

But how does modern technology disrupt the trajectory of this natural development? In particular, the rise of smartphones and social media, Dr. Clinton argues, is creating an anxious generation.

Children now grow up with a portal in their pocket that pulls them away from face-to-face interactions—an unnatural and potentially harmful shift for a species wired for social connection.

Data shows a decline in time spent with friends and an increase in loneliness, anxiety, depression, and self-harm since the early 2010s, particularly among adolescent girls.

Dr. Clinton shares that today’s overprotection in the physical world, along with underprotection in the virtual world, leaves children less prepared for real life. She highlights a cultural shift toward “safetyism” with shrinking zones of independent exploration across generations.

While free, unsupervised play has diminished, kids are being denied opportunities to develop resilience and problem-solving skills.

Dr. Clinton calls for a balance between protecting children and fostering independence. She advocates for delayed access to smartphones and social media, recommending no smartphones before high school and no social media before age 16.

She encourages “phone-free schools” and collective action among parents to set shared boundaries, reducing the social pressure kids feel when “everyone else has one.”

It Takes a Village

Beyond technology, Dr. Clinton stresses the importance of focusing on the whole child. Drawing from Indigenous teachings and the medicine wheel, she posits that education must nurture physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being—not just cognitive skills.

“Mohawk Elder Tom Porter told me that in their Mohawk tradition, children are the sacred ones. They are the heart of the nation and it is the sacred responsibility of the community to raise them up”, says Dr. Clinton.

Belonging, engagement, and meaningful relationships are vital for academic success and healthy brain development. Dr. Clinton warns against a narrow focus on curriculum content, comparing it to “stuffing the duck” rather than fostering genuine learning and inquiry.

Dr. Clinton underscored that “relationships are nutrients for the (developing) brain”. She promoted the mantra of “connect before you correct,” encouraging parents and educators to prioritize empathy and emotional connection before addressing behaviour. This approach activates brain pathways that support reflection and learning, rather than triggering defensive or reactive responses.

Stress and its neurological impact form another crucial theme. Dr. Clinton explained how chronic stress floods the brain with cortisol and adrenaline, which impairs memory, focus, and learning. And many behavioural issues attributed to disorders like ADHD may actually stem from toxic stress or environmental factors. Positive early experiences and supportive relationships can buffer against adversity, highlighting the protective power of connection.

Dr. Clinton closed with actionable strategies for parents, namely practicing gratitude daily, fostering joy and laughter, asking reflective questions that center a child’s needs and strengths, and modeling calmness. She cited neuroscience research showing that gratitude can biologically shift the brain toward a healthier mindset.

Ultimately, Dr. Clinton encourages a cultural shift in how we raise and educate adolescents. By respecting their developmental needs, fostering strong relationships, limiting harmful technological influences, and nurturing their whole being, we can support adolescents in building healthy brains—and fulfilling lives.

Dr. Clinton left the audience inspired to reflect, connect, and act with intention for the benefit of their children’s growth.

Dr. Jean Clinton’s talk was presented by the Westdale, Dundas Valley, and Ancaster School Councils

Dr. Jean Clinton’s latest book is “Love Builds Brains”.

Love Builds Brains

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Love Your Neighbourhood

Say hello… move forward with more™

Jen & Van Hansen

by VAN HANSEN

Antrim Glen is the Adult Lifestyle Land Lease Community ensconced in the rolling hills of Freelton, ON.

There are 289 detached bungalows in this idyllic country setting surrounded by conservation areas and farmland. And pride of ownership is obvious as soon as you enter the community as the homes are lovingly maintained, with manicured lawns & gardens.

“When I first drove through the entrance here I felt like I was at home, and I loved it,” says resident A. Adams.

One advantage of buying at Antrim Glen is that the homes are typically more affordable than those outside the community, making it popular with downsizing seniors.

“I have moved many times in my life, and there’s nothing better as far as I’m concerned,” Adams says. “Value for dollar you can’t beat being in this community”.

Featured Listing

Types of Home Ownership

In Canada there are several types of home ownership. For Freeholds, the house and the land are owned by the resident.

With Condominiums, the resident owns their unit, owns the common areas jointly with others, and pays a monthly fee to the condo corporation.

Other types of home ownership include Co-operative housing (co-op), Life Lease, Leasehold, and Land Lease.

With Land Lease the home is owned by the resident who in turn pays a monthly fee to the land owner for leasing the land.

The Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) applies in Ontario when a house on leased land is purchased. At Antrim Glen, new residents are approved by the landlord, and they sign a new lease prior to closing.

In Antrim Glen, the landlord is Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities Inc., the leading operator, developer and owner of more than 55 residential, and 35 recreational resort communities across Canada.

The monthly fees include land lease, maintenance, and property tax. Parkbridge maintains the common elements such as the clubhouse, pool, community well, lighting, roads, and snow clearance on the roads, while homeowners are responsible for maintaining their individual homes.

The Glen

At the hub of the vibrant, friendly social scene is The Glen, the 12,000 square foot community Recreation Centre. It features a meeting hall, lounge, library, billiards room, workshop, gym, sauna, and outdoor saltwater pool.

There are many organized activities and events such as BBQ’s, bus trips, card games, clubs, exercise groups, dances, and seasonal parties.

“This is an active lifestyle community, if you wish to be active. You can garden if you are a gardener”, says Adams. “You can play cards, go bowling or golfing with a group, there are just so many activities!

Antrim Glen is located halfway between Cambridge and Hamilton, with access to the 401 and 403.

The History of Antrim Glen

The 200 acres of Antrim Glen and adjacent Beverly Hills Estates were formerly farmland producing alfalfa, corn, grain, hay, and red clover, along with livestock including pigs, chickens, and Holstein cattle supplying milk to Silverwood’s Dairy.

William Russell Waller purchased the land in the late 1800s, and farmed it until the 1930s, with operations continuing up to 1968.

Gerry Maguire was one of the original partners in the Antrim Glen development after he emigrated to Canada from Northern Ireland, and the community owes its name to the Glens of Antrim. The Glens are in County Antrim, one of six counties in Northern Ireland’s province of Ulster.

The Glens of Antrim

There are nine glens: Glenarm, Glencloy, Glenariff, Glenballyeamon, Glenaan, Glencorp, Glendun, Glenshesk, and Glentaisie.

The Antrim Coast & Glens are an excellent example of the magnificent scenery of Northern Ireland, and in 1988 they were designated as an Area of Natural Beauty (AONB), the intent being to conserve and enhance the landscape. This area includes Rathlin Island, the coastal area between Larne and Ballycastle, and the Glens of Antrim.

The Word on the Street

Closer to home, Antrim Glen’s street names in Freelton were also inspired by places in Ireland’s County Antrim…

• Armoy is a small village on the River Bush. In recent years Armoy has been host to a road race known as the “Race of Legends”

• Ballycastle, Town of the Castle

• Bushmill(s), watermill on the River Bush, famous for the Old Bushmills Distillery, founded in 1784 and still in operation

• Crumlin, (Croimglhlinn or) Crooked Glen sits at the head of the Camlin River

• Dunadry is a small village previously known as Dunedergel

• Eden is a settlement on the edge of Carrickfergus, birthplace of international footballer William John Irvine

• Emerald for Isle (aka Ireland)

• Garron (Tower) is a cliff-top Victorian castle

• Glenariff, is the largest of the Glens

• Glenarm is named after the (southernmost) Glen in which it lies. Glenarm Castle is the ancestral home of the Earls of Antrim

• Gracehill (Village) was founded in 1765

• Kells, (Na Cealla) is a village near Ballymena

• Kilroot, the town of the same name is on the mouth of Belfast Lock

• Portrush – favourite holiday destination, on a mile-long peninsula extending into the Atlantic

__

Jen & I have experience brokering many sales of homes on land lease property including at Antrim Glen in Freelton, Martin Grove Village in Waterloo, and Cherry Hill at Vineland. And we have both earned our Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) designation.

So if you are interested in finding out more please contact us and we will be happy to talk about your wants and needs and how we can help you.

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Jen & Van Hansen

by VAN HANSEN

On a tree-lined street in the heart of the Victorian Village of Waterdown stands a Georgian style former church building, built circa 1838. These days it’s the home of Birmingham Consulting Inc. (BCI). While this may not be where you might expect to find a high tech information security firm, there is a certain synergy in the striking juxtaposition of old and new.

Jen and I were there to interview Scott Birmingham, BCI’s Principal Consultant, and he shared some valuable tips on how to avoid a cyber attack and protect your information online.

Scott founded BCI in 2009. The goal was to deliver information technology (IT) services using the engineering principles he applied while working in high-value manufacturing industries.

At the same time, BCI was an early adopter in delivering cyber security. And today they provide dedicated information security (InfoSec) services focussed on risk reduction for businesses.   

Inside the renovated office space, Scott ushered us into a meeting room where we sat down across a custom black walnut conference table made from wood salvaged from a tree on their property.

All Around the World

Van: Does the risk of cyber attacks vary regionally, or is it more or less uniform because these are global threats?

Scott: So let's start with the bigger picture. Statistically, Canada is the third most attacked country or has the third highest number of cyber attacks targeted at it in the world after the US and UK.

And so it definitely varies on a national or global level. Regionally now I always just say follow the money. Well where's the money? It's where the people are.

So where you've got a higher density of people and businesses you're going to have a higher number of attacks occurring. If you've got some little town out in the middle of the prairies, they're less likely to have major attacks happen compared to somebody in Vancouver or Toronto where big businesses are and there are lots of people.

How to Protect Yourself

Van: From the consumers point of view what can be done to protect their information and their devices?

I know there is some controversy as to whether Mac requires anti-virus software for example. And VPN’s (Virtual Personal Networks) are popular…

Scott: So there's a whole list, almost an endless list of recommendations you can make and it's where you're going to get the most bang for your buck.

You mentioned Apple. Well, we get do get monthly notifications about actively exploited vulnerabilities on Apple. There's more on Windows but it still happens. But how secure are they? Ultimately nobody is fully secure, including Apple.

That said, of the steps you mentioned, antivirus is kind of the old term now. Now you have an endpoint protection or an endpoint detection and response. There was a next-gen antivirus or NGAV, but yeah, more in the business world, you want to look at more than just antivirus.

And you know there's a big technical difference between regular antivirus and something that's actually looking at not just the antivirus part, but what kind of weird behaviour might be happening, and let's shut it down, right?
Yeah those are both very important those two things you mentioned, antivirus, (catch-all term), and a VPN.

But probably the number one thing, and as InfoSec professionals we harp on it, is to make sure your devices are up to date. I don't care whether it's Apple, Windows, iOS, Android, doesn't matter.

Make sure they're up to date, including the operating system. So there's a lot Apple's out there that are older (than 5-6 years) running that are not compatible with an upgrade.

So get a new Mac. Right? Otherwise you've got vulnerabilities on there that aren't being fixed.

The same applies to Windows and with Windows end of life in October, there's a lot of hardware that is going to become obsolete unless you pay to have support extended.

And that really leads to making sure your device can be on a supported operating system and it's fully patched. We just had an occurrence with a business client, but it was their personal phone. It was an iPhone 6. Let that sink in for a minute. What's that, 10 years old?

And we said we don't want to touch this because for all we know it's already infected. It's already compromised and we don't want to be held responsible for anything on here. You need to get rid of that phone.

And if they were doing banking on there or online purchases and that phone's compromised because it hasn't been capable of receiving updates for the last 10 years? You may not even know until the bank calls and says, hey, what's going on?

So that's the big, big thing. There are more security features on newer devices than on old ones. So even if it works perfectly well, I wouldn’t recommend using it.

All you have to do is find out if that's still supported. If the iOS 15.8 is still getting security patches released for it then you're okay for a bit, but you don't want to leave it too long.

Van: How do InfoSec requirements compare from a small business through to a large corporation?

Scott: I'll preface it by saying the financial risk is proportional. You know, if there's a hundred thousand dollar loss due to an incident, well a big company is not even going to notice that. But for an entrepreneur, that's a big deal.

So invest accordingly. When you've got millions or billions at risk as a big company, you're going to invest more in security than an entrepreneur might need to. The overall investment will vary, but the principles to follow are the same.

First is to conduct regular risk assessments at least annually. And of course act on the findings as well. I mean that kind of goes without saying.

The other one is to look at security as a continuous process, not just a project. And the short form of this is threats are ever evolving, so security needs to evolve to match.

And then create a culture of security, not just in your company, but in your personal life, with your family.

I think Christine might have mentioned the concept of safe words, which apply not just to families but to businesses as well. So by safe word, think of it as a code word.

If you get a phone call from somebody that's claiming to be your daughter or granddaughter or grandson or whatever saying I'm in trouble I need help I need money and the voice is an exact match because AI made it an exact match, you can say okay what's our safe word.

And AI is not going to know it. The criminal is not going to know it. They're not going to know it and right away you know this isn't real and move on.

The same as in business because you can have somebody try to impersonate an executive and say I want you to transfer money to XYZ. And In business there are also electronic ways to verify.

But if you don't have that culture of security you're not going to think to do that so keep it on your mind. It's not if, it's when. So be prepared and practice your preparedness to make sure that it's actually effective.

Cyber Insurance 

And have adequate cyber insurance on the business side. If you go to our website there is a business cyber liability calculator on there so if you're wondering how much cyber insurance you should have that will give you an idea. We don't sell cyber insurance so it's just an education thing and then you can now have an informed conversation with your insurance broker because a lot of them don't understand all the risks.

On the personal side be sure that you've got some kind of identity theft protection insurance.

These are key fundamentals, whether you're a sole proprietor or you're a billion dollar enterprise. They apply either way, it's just the scale.

Something New

Van: What do you love about your work?

Scott: We've collected a lot of knowledge over the years here at BCI. And I love sharing that knowledge, whether it be with business owners, whether it be with large corporate executives, whether it be paid or unpaid, and just in the community, sharing what we've learned and making sure that somebody takes one extra step to protect themselves.

So it's always something new that we’re learning, and there's always something new to share. That's why we're doing that presentation with the Hamilton police on fraud in March.

__
Scott is a Certified Engineering Technologist (CET), with a CIM designation from the Canadian Institute of Management. He works with his wife Christine, who is BCI’s Operations Manager, and their team.

Their cat Kahn was named after Dr. Robert Elliot, a visionary engineer and one of the fathers of the internet, having co-invented the transmission control & internet protocols (TCIP/ IP), the fundamental communication protocols underpinning the internet. 

Birmingham Consulting is hosting the hybrid event Weathering Cyber Storms in 2025 at the Uptown Business Club and online on March 26th, 2025 from 12 – 1 pm EDT, with guest speaker Constable Ryan Clarke, Hamilton Police Service

Birmingham Consulting Inc.

Jen & Van Hansen