The Modern Earth Web Design Blog

There's More to Ice Sports than Hockey

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:59:33 PM

Team sports are a great way to get out and be active, no matter your age. Winter sports like ringette are growing in popularity as alternatives to the more well-known sports. Like hockey, Ringette is played on ice rinks - and uses the same markings. The differences lie in the straight sticks used to play the game, and its signature hollow blue ring rather than a puck. These two changes create a great rink game that requires a different set of skills to skate – shoot – score! The Manitoba Ringette Association aims to bring more Manitobans into the Ringette circle, by promoting events and raising awareness of the sport in the province. Their new website is a valuable source of information about the sport for players, coaches, and officials as well as fans of the sport. The Association publicizes tournament and championship dates, news from teams and local associations - and even covers games by way of social media tools like Twitter. Even if you don’t want to play – you can always become a fan and come out to cheer on your favourite team. Check out the new Manitoba Ringette Association website and learn more about this exciting, fast-paced sport today! The Manitoba Ringette Association website features a custom web design by Modern Earth, and was built using our Point & Edit website editing software.

Awaken to Your Inner Peace

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:07:28 PM

We don’t always get to choose how we feel about things - but, with help, we can choose how we react to feelings that don’t help us make progress in our lives. Brian Theriault, the voice behind Luminous Awakenings, helps people find peace within challenge. Brian uses a specialized form of counselling called “nondual-transpersonal therapy”, which integrates Western psychology with contemplative wisdom and self-study. This form of therapy helps the patient recognize cues for change in behaviour or perspective. Brian works with patients to find opportunities to live better and appreciate their circumstances they otherwise may not have had. The website also provides some perspective on the nondual thought process through Brian’s blog posts, and a set of resources in the form of published articles available for download. Learn more about Brian Theriault at Luminous Awakenings today! Luminous Awakenings features a custom web site design by Modern Earth, and was constructed using our Winnipeg SEO best practices.

Find the Right Community for Your Family

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:31:00 PM

Choosing where to make your long term home is about so much more than the size of the lot, or the floor plan of the house or condo you’re looking at calling home. You’re making a decision about the kind of community you want to live in. What will your neighbors be like? Which conveniences are nearby? Are there are kid-friendly parks, or schools easily accessible? David Unruh has been helping Winnipeg families find great homes for nearly twenty years - and his son, Chris Unruh, has done the same for the last five. As members of the Century 21 Bachman & Associates group, the Unruhs help people across the city sell their homes, or find the perfect new home in a community that matches their needs. Check out the new Unruh Real Estate website today, and see their Currently for Sale listings. The Unruh Real Estate website features a custom web site design by Modern Earth, using our Point & Edit website editing system. The site was also constructed using our Winnipeg SEO best practices.

Show Off Your Smile!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:26:00 AM

Taking care of your smile has more benefits than most of us realize. Oral hygiene and preventative dental care are a big part of maintaining your overall health. As any of us who have had to deal with “big deal” procedures like root canals know, working with a dentist you trust to keep the process as pain-free as possible makes all the difference. Archibald Dental Centre has been keeping Winnipeg’s smiles bright with a pain-free dentistry approach for more than 20 years. No matter what your teeth need, Archibald Dental can help. As a full service dental clinic, they offer everything from cleanings and regular check-ups to root canals and cosmetic dentistry. The clinic’s staff will be happy to work with you to keep on top of your oral health, whether it’s filling a cavity on short notice, or building an ongoing relationship with you based on preventative care. Check out the new Archibald Dental website today! Archibald Dental Centre’s new site features a custom web site design and is constructed using Modern Earth’s Winnipeg SEO best practices.

Keeping Manitobans Naturally Healthy

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:43:45 AM

Our health, just like every other part of our lives, needs unique attention. Whether it’s because of chronic illness, spiritual concerns, or personal preference - many people seek out holistic or alternative forms of treatment, or ways to maintain their health other than the allopathic western medical system. Practitioners of eastern healing techniques, massage therapy, acupuncture and other disciplines can address concerns in significantly different ways than medical doctors can. For more than fifty years, the Manitoba Naturopathic Association has worked to raise awareness of alternative medicines in Manitoba. The MNA acts as a regulatory body for naturopathic doctors in the province, seeking to maintain and deliver the highest standards for personal care possible using natural systems of illness and injury treatment. Association member clinics can be found in Winnipeg and throughout Manitoba - reaching as far north as The Pas. Check out the new Manitoba Naturopathic Association to find a member clinic near you today! The Manitoba Naturopathic Association website features a custom programmed blog system, and custom web site design by Modern Earth.

Modern Earth spins off R&D Department as Neovation Corporation

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:38:31 PM

January 1, 2012 brought a major change at Modern Earth Web Design that was to us the natural next step in growing our business capacity as a forward thinking customer focused company – we underwent a kind of mitosis. Dan Belhassen, founder and owner, promoted Philip Giles to President of Modern Earth. Philip, who as Vice President has been responsible for Modern Earth operations since 2011, will expand his role and take on full day-to-day management responsibilities. Dan will remain as Founder & CEO. A new company was formed, Neovation Corporation (@neovationcorp on Twitter) which will be the development and commercialization company for R&D projects which were previously under the Modern Earth umbrella. In addition to Dan, moving over from Modern Earth to Neovation are a number of former Earthlings, including: Chad Norris – Support & Development Alexandra Richards – Digital Design Kathy Murray – Account Manager, SmarterU.com Susan Hurrell – Marketing & Communications All the “neovites” are committed to the creation, sales, support and promotion of great online applications for the global market. Current products already on the market are SmarterU.com (online training and learning management system) and BinaryCanary.com (website uptime monitoring). The newest product to graduate from R&D beta is Conference Sensation – a mobile conference application that mobilizes your event, putting event details into the palm of your hand. Conference Sensation launched in December at the 2011 LERN conference in New Orleans to enthusiastic reviews from conference attendees. Neovation has offices in the Modern Earth Business Centre, 449 Provencher Blvd, and team members can be reached at 204-885-2469. There are positions opening in web development and sales/account management – interested persons can send resumes to careers@neovation.com.

Great Tasting Healthy Drinks Now in Manitoba

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:00:34 PM

As part of a well balanced diet, fruits and vegetables have some excellent benefits to your health. But the common choices - such as citrus fruits, berries, and legumes - aren’t the only healthy plants. Edible flowers, especially some of those common in Africa, provide some of the most exciting health benefits in any single food - and what’s more, they taste great! Yomm Beverages brings the great taste and health benefits of African Hibiscus teas to Manitoba. With their variety of flavoured hibiscus flower drinks, loose teas, and individually packaged hibiscus tea bags, it’s easy to make sure you have a refreshing drink right at hand. Whether you like hot tea, or a cold drink, you’ll enjoy Yomm’s hibiscus teas. Check out the new Yomm Beverages website today! The Yomm Beverages website features a design updated by Modern Earth to match the company’s product packaging, as well as a jQuery powered banner on the home page, and a custom programmed contact form.

Congratulations to Alan Sideen on a Great Article

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:12:11 AM

Being able to help people discover or develop their passion is one of the many rewards of teaching. As Modern Earth client Alan Sideen says in the excellent profile article published in in The Lance in December; "You catch them in that ‘ah’ moment. ‘Ah, now I know what you mean,’ and ‘OK, now I got it’." Alan teaches a popular series of night classes with the Louis Riel School Division, and provides private in-home tutoring for individuals. Alan’s “Learn to Draw Books” series also acts as a great tool to get started on the basics of drawing no matter your age - there are 4 booklet packages available on Alan’s website, each designed to match the skills and learning styles of different age groups. Read the full article on The Lance website - “Helping Others Discover Their Passion” Congratulations once again to Alan Sideen for recognizing his passion, and encouraging others to do the same!

Get Out and Do Something Different This Summer!

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:14:18 AM

Camping is a great way to make friends, learn new skills, and spend some time doing something fun and different. For kids, it’s an exotic escape from routine. For parents and other adults, getting involved in a camp - either attending or acting as a coordinator or counselor - can be a highly rewarding experience. No matter your age, a summer camping experience can build memories and friendships that can last a lifetime. Since 1937, the Manitoba Camping Association has helped make summers memorable by organizing children’s and family camps. The Association’s broad range of camps include retreats, bible camps, even day camps both within Winnipeg and throughout Manitoba - adhering to an accreditation process to make sure these special events are safe and fun for all those involved. Check out the camps available this summer on the new Manitoba Camping Association website today! The new custom designed Manitoba Camping Association website features a custom programmed blog system.

Living Without Limitations

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:32:37 PM

Most of us have experienced periods of illness that keep us from doing what we want to do. Whether it’s a cold keeping us bedridden for a week, or an injury that limits our mobility, we all know how frustrating it can be, feeling trapped in our homes by a condition. For some people, however, conditions such as incontinence aren’t temporary. These kinds of conditions mean changing one’s lifestyle and limiting one’s activities - sometimes severely - for much longer period of time. It can be difficult to keep a sense of pride and purpose, managing a chronic condition. For more than twenty years, Quality Life Services has been helping those dealing with incontinence maintain their dignity and live without limitations due to their condition. From locations in Winnipeg and Ottawa, Quality Life Services supplies hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions with a selection of leading disposable briefs including Tranquility and Tena products. Beyond acting solely as an institutional supplier, QLS also provides products and guidance for individuals managing their condition on their own. Products available for the general public can be found at the company’s QLS Medical website. Visit the new Quality Life Services website today! The Quality Life Services website was built on Modern Earth’s Winnipeg SEO best practices, and features a custom programmed secure log-in area for the company’s customers to access detailed information.

Raising the Bar on Management Consulting

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 02:35:00 PM

Improving on business practices is a tough job, requiring attention to detail and a willingness to work with people in many situations. Everything from accounting practices, to sales and business development, marketing, and human resources practices can affect a business’s bottom line – and it can take years of experience for an individual to learn how to balance all of these considerations in today’s business environment. Even the most experienced managers often need help gaining the momentum needed to improve their work. Certified Management Consultants help businesses move forward. Whether it’s by helping develop new standards to prepare for growth, or finding ways to curb existing problems, a CMC brings their expertise to the table in all kinds of situations. Earning the CMC designation requires a long term of executive experience, and a wide breadth of knowledge in management practices. Maintaining the designation of Certified Management Consultant requires keeping on top of emerging business practices, and following a professional development program administered by the Association. These requirements among others mean CMCs are well qualified to help any business grow – including yours. Check out the newly redesigned CMC Canada website today! The newly updated CMC Canada website was custom programmed by Modern Earth, featuring a dynamic menu, our Point & Edit website editing system, and an easy to use member directory.

Le Bon Temps Rouler at LERN 2011

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:24:14 AM

Once again, Modern Earth participated in the LERN annual conference, held in the amazing city of New Orleans this year. It was possibly the best attended LERN annual conference ever, and it was great to reconnect with so many familiar LERN-ers as well as meet so many new members of LERN who were attending the conference for the first time. Keynote speaker Bill Thompson, gave a passionate speech to the packed general session on how mobile is reshaping our culture, and how the web is an ongoing and ever changing part of our world. We no longer can live without it. What did we take away from this year’s conference? That there is a renewed enthusiasm to master online marketing amongst those people involved in continuing education and associations (and everyone we met, actually). We had opportunity to discuss the entire spectrum of online marketing – from effective web design to search engine optimization to email marketing & social media with so many people! We also got to demo an inside peek at the new greatBIGnews interface – launching in early 2012! It was great to get people’s reaction to its streamlined web-based interface! We can’t wait to show YOU! Email info@greatbignews.com to be amongst the first to get a demo of our new and improved email marketing solution ... when it’s ready! This conference was also the debut of CONFERENCE SENSATION – our new mobile conference application. It worked flawlessly under pressure, with over 70% of the participants who used it giving it a big “thumbs up”. Watch for more on CONFERENCE SENSATION in the future – but if you are planning a conference or event with multiple days of programming (like a festival, seminar series, workshop, or symposium) – give us a call and we’ll be thrilled to show off our newest product even in advance of its big public launch in Jan 2012. Thanks to our friends at LERN.org for throwing such a great party – I mean, hosting such a great conference. We are honoured to be involved with such a great organization!

Mo-Dern Earth's Movember Success!

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:48:00 PM

This November, we set out to raise some awareness for Men’s Health, as part of the international Movember movement - and we’re pleased to report it was a success! Our team captain, Rob “The Lion” Rodgers, set an initial goal of $200 in donations. This goal was swiftly beaten - a few times over! Here are the final tallies: Mo-Dern Earth had 26 official members 19 earthlings (13 bros, 6 sistas) 1 from Selkirk (bro) 3 from London Ont (2 bros 1 sista) 2 designers from another company (bros) 1 wife $1,095 raised ($38,484,214 raised in Canada, which raised the most worldwide) Top Mo-Dern Earth team member was Tim (and the Home Hardware team in Selkirk) with $520 raised Captain Rob took photos of each participating Mo Bro and Mo Sista throughout the month - here are some of the resulting Mo’s which were grown! Well done, to all participants! We’ll be back next year for Mo action and Mo fundraising!

Adaptive Clothing for Diverse Needs

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:36:00 PM

We take a lot of things for granted - even simple things like the ease with which we can get dressed to go to work. For those who have mobility issues or health care challenges, something as simple as choosing a stylish shirt, or pair of pants, becomes a much less comfortable or even possible task. Choice becomes limited, and safety can become an issue. Thankfully, there are businesses who dedicate themselves to providing a range of options to address these kinds of challenges. Adaptive clothing allows individuals with limited mobility or motor control, or the family members or health care workers who care for them, to get themselves or their clients dressed more easily. Adaptive clothing can significantly reduce the stress and time needed to prepare for the day. Winnipeg’s own Golden Wear Clothing has provided back-open clothing for seniors and others who need care for more than 30 years. Their extensive lines of adaptive clothing - including underclothing, sleepwear and even specialized footwear - make it easier in many cases for individuals to get dressed easily in stylish clothing, and for health care providers to do their work more easily as well. Stop by the new Golden Wear Clothing website today! The Golden Wear Clothing website features a custom programmed ecommerce system, and was build using Modern Earth’s Winnipeg SEO best practices. The site also uses out integrated Point & Edit system for easy upkeep and website editing.

Victorian Charm in the Yukon

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:04:00 AM

Despite the remote location, there has always been places in the Yukon that have provided a warm and welcoming place for the weary traveller, looking for a warm bed, a cold beer and a hot time. Once such place was Bombay Peggy’s – a quaint 9 room inn and pub, with a bright red light that welcomed locals and passersby to enjoy its particular “charm” as a friendly haven in Dawson City. Now beautifully restored to its Gold Rush Glory, minus the presence of ladies of rentable affection, Bombay Peggy’s has become a highly rated and well regarded destination location for visitors to Dawson City who want to soak up an historic experience in this former brothel – especially if you rent one of the rooms with a claw foot soaker tub! The pub still pours a cold beer, but try a Bloomer Remover – or any of their other aptly named martini offerings. There may be music – dancing – but no end of memory building for a once in a life-time vacation accommodation. Rest your weary head in one of the 9 beautifully redecorated rooms – The Lipstick Room with its bordello ambiance, The Purple Room where passion reigns supreme, the Attic – a honeymooner’s hideaway – every room is thoughtfully appointed with modern conveniences, luxurious linens, and antique furniture that we know would have some tantalizing stories to tell if only they could talk! Bombay Peggy’s demonstrates their commitment to their community much differently than their namesake did in the Gold Rush era, sponsoring many local non-profit organizations that contribute to the cultural, social and economic life of Dawson City. Their support of local musicians, artists, festivals and events brings both locals and visitors together to create a true Yukon hospitality experience. Reserve your time with Bombay Peggy – she’s one of the most popular gals up in Dawson City. You’ll be talking about your visit with her for years. Bombay Peggy's new custom designed website was constructed using Modern Earth's search engine optimization best practices.

Investing in the Development of the North

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:13:54 AM

In order to grow, communities need many different kinds of support. Whether it’s expanding communications capabilities, or building new homes for a growing population, meeting the needs of a community is important. Being able to do so using resources from within the community isn’t always possible - but when those resources are also part of the community’s growth, so much the better! Operating in the Yukon, the Dakwakada Development Corporation helps build northern communities. By investing in a number of vital service firms such as contractors and wireless service providers, Dakwakada is helping improve the north for its share-holders, the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations in Haines Junction, Yukon. They’re working hard to ensure the particular needs of their share-holders are met as comprehensively as possible, by locally-owned and operated companies. Check out the new Dakwakada Development Corporation website today! The new Dakwakada Development Corporation website features an integrated Modern Earth blog system, a custom programmed home page image slider, and was constructed using Modern Earth’s search engine optimization best practices.

A Unique Winnipeg Dining Experience

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 04:01:00 PM

Dining should be an experience. More than simply good food, or a good location, the best dining experiences leave you with a story to tell to your friends and family. Better still, they give you a reason to come back - for the atmosphere, for the food, and for more stories to share. The unique atmosphere at Pop Soda’s Coffee House and Gallery is definitely worth talking about. Between the modern counter-service cafe, and the eclectic assortment of chairs, couches, lounges - even hammocks - spread out in the gallery, there’s space for any sort of gathering. The Blue Gallery itself is features exclusive, locally-created art, offering a feast for the eyes to match the Coffee House’s fare. Not only is the venue itself fantastic, the food is likely to leave almost anyone speechless. Whether it’s panini or perogies you’re craving, Pop Soda’s classic Italian menu will have your mouth watering. Stop by the new Pop Soda’s Coffee House & Gallery website to see the menu, and see the space for yourself today! The new Pop Soda’s website was custom designed by Modern Earth, and features our Point & Edit website editing system.

Congratulations to Humber College - 2012 LERN Award Winners for Marketing

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 03:20:00 PM

Every business sector has its own unique challenges, and continuing education is no different. Tight budgets and strong ties to the direction of the broader economy (in good times and bad) make getting the word out about the benefits of ongoing education a test of perseverance and innovative thinking. Every year, LERN recognizes members excelling in a variety of categories including programming, marketing, and management practices. This year's winner for Marketing is Humber College. Humber College uses our greatBIGnews eNewsletter software to communicate with their faculty, clients and other interested parties. Email marketing is part of Humber's strong marketing practice - as listed here, on the full nomination for the award: Continuing Education units are faced with doing more with less. In addition, CE must provide a reasonable contribution to the overall College’s financial overhead. Revenue generation remains a key component to being a viable CE unit. The following submission follows a step-by-step process used to market a new CE website as well as promote project management courses/program. Tools such as Google Analytics, Google Adwords, Great Big News eNewsletter, and Microsoft MapPoint were used concomitantly to provide metrics and measure the return on investment. The final result is a 22% increase in enrolment and a 30 fold increase in Revenue from one Google Ad campaign. Awards will be presented to the winners in New Orleans at the LERN Annual Conference. Modern Earth’s own Dan Belhassen and Susan Hurrell will be attending the conference, and look forward to congratulating our friends from Humber. Once again, congratulations to Humber College and all the winners of the 2012 LERN International Awards - keep up the good work!

Tipping The Scales Against Cancer. Sell Your Old Unwanted Gold For A Good Cause.

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:24:00 PM

You’re invited to the biggest gold party Winnipeg has ever seen, in support of cancer research and the Canadian Cancer Society. On Friday, November 18th and Saturday, November 19th, KMG Gold Recycling will be hosting the biggest gold party ever held in Winnipeg, to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. This very special fundraising/open house event will be held at KMG Gold’s new processing facility in Winnipeg Manitoba. Everyone recycling old, unwanted gold jewellery, gold or silver coins, or other precious metal will have the opportunity to donate all or a portion of the appraised value of their items to the Canadian Cancer Society. Tax receipts will be issued by the Canadian Cancer Society for donations in excess of $15. Bring in all your unwanted gold, silver, platinum jewellery and KMG will appraise it on the spot for free. If it’s not gold or silver, KMG will donate all costume jewellery and other non-precious items to Canadian Goodwill Industries. In addition to supporting Canadian Cancer Society and Canadian Goodwill Industries, everyone will qualify for lots of great prizes contributed by many of Winnipeg’s leading companies. Such as Atomic Hair Studio, Acci-Care Accident Recovery Experts, Winnipeg Gold Buyer, and Roger Watson Jewellers. “It’s an honour to have the opportunity to work with the Canadian Cancer Society and Canadian Goodwill Industries. This is a great opportunity to raise funds for cancer research and help the community”. Says Michael Gupton, President and co-founder of KMG Gold Recycling. “My family has been directly affected by cancer, and Canadian Goodwill Industries helped me start KMG Gold”. Says Gupton. As winner of the prestigious Better Business Bureau Torch Award, two years in a row, recognizing integrity, ethics and honesty in the marketplace, KMG Gold has established themselves as the leading precious metal recycler in the country. Independent third party surveys, including CBC News, confirm that KMG gold pays the highest price for recycled precious metals. Customers outside Winnipeg who cannot make it to the gold party, visit http://www.kmggold.com and order your Secureship™ Envelope with complete instructions on how you can participate in this special event right from your own home. KMG Gold is pleased to host this event and support Canadian Cancer Society and Canadian Goodwill Industries. Posted on behalf of our client KMG Gold.

Building a Social Media Foundation at MHBA

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 12:00:00 AM

The need to understand social media has touched every industry sector – because our customers are online and connecting to business in ways that we could not imagine even a few years ago. Social media has moved from fad to trend to business staple for some businesses – others are still exploring how to make this communication method work best for them. I had the opportunity to speak at the Manitoba Home Builder’s Association Conference this week about both Social Media and Google Analytics. Even though the purchase of a custom build home may be a once in a lifetime purchase for a consumer, the need to nurture trusted relationships between a business and their potential client exists as much for this industry as every other. No potential sale is too big or too small to be influenced by well done social media. There are always questions about how much time does a business have to devote to this new marketing strategy, and the answer is as individual as the marketing plan of the business itself. While access to the various platforms like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn is free – the time it takes each day/week/month is the price we pay to engage, educate or entertain our customers. Having a strategic approach is essential to manage the time required. We can help you shape that strategy to fit your business, and work with you on an editorial calendar to achieve your online media goals. Call us for a no-obligation consultation!