Latest news with #Collin
Hamilton Spectator
28-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Collin presents City growth pitch to business crowd
Thunder Bay City Manager John Collin presented details of the City's Smart Growth Action Plan to members of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce on Thursday during a luncheon at the DaVinci Centre. Collin pointed out that the key to growth is starting with growing the population, which will entice businesses to be here. 'If you take a look at the last two (five-year) census periods, Thunder Bay's population grew by 1.3 per cent, ' Collin said. 'That doesn't sound half bad until you take a look at the national average, which was 5.2 per cent — four times more or the Ontario average, which was 5.8 per cent, which is four and a half times more.' He says a business looking for a place to start up or expand will tend to lean toward a city that's thriving with growth. 'We have not grown as much as we should in terms of population. We are not receding, and we are not declining, but we haven't grown enough. It's led to a real challenge with our revenue base,' he said. The majority of the tax revenue to run the City comes through property taxes. 'In the last 10 years, our property tax revenue has increased by 7.8 per cent — that's cumulative. . . . That sounds OK, until you consider inflation,' he noted. 'Inflation in the same timeframe grew by approximately 32 per cent — four times faster than we did. So it's not a question of doing more. It's a question of how we manage to keep our head above water when we are falling behind inflation so dramatically?' He said that typically, the City will 'shave the ice cube,' by trimming services and programs, and raise property tax rates and user rates. Collins said this is why the City needed a smart growth action plan instead of another generic strategy that could be used for any city. 'I'm talking about concrete actions germane to the city. And who writes that plan? Not administration.' He explained how they formed a task force of 25 people from businesses, academia, the business improvement areas, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Community Economic Development Commission, which have been working for six months to come up with a growth plan. The first draft was presented to council last week. 'The city needs to have land available and ready for businesses to establish themselves on,' he said. 'We don't have that shovel-ready land. We have a commercial park, but we don't have an industrial park. Lack of shovel-ready land is a true limiter to attracting business.' Of our current property tax base, 84 per cent is residential. Only 16 per cent is industrial and commercial. 'That's the reality, that we don't have the industry and the commercial undertakings that we used to have in this city,' he said. 'Look at the vacant grain elevators, and that's a visible icon of that reality. It's truly ironic because we're still regarded as a blue-collar town. But we don't have a whole lot of blue collar left.' He added that the city has to make sure our housing remains affordable and we need to 'build, build, build.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Cision Canada
26-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Markel International appoints Collin Sim as first Casualty Underwriter in Singapore
SINGAPORE, June 25, 2025 /CNW/ -- Markel Insurance, the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL), today announced the appointment of Collin Sim as Casualty Underwriter, marking the establishment of the company's first dedicated casualty underwriting position in Singapore. In her new role, Sim will be responsible for developing Markel's Casualty presence in Southeast Asia and the broader Asian market. She will focus on building and maintaining strategic relationships with brokers and clients while managing a portfolio of risks in accordance with Markel's underwriting principles. Her appointment supports the company's strategic expansion of casualty underwriting capabilities across the Asia Pacific region. Sim brings over two decades of casualty underwriting expertise across Asia to Markel. She most recently served as Assistant Vice President of General Casualty at Allied World, where she was responsible for managing general casualty direct and facultative business across Southeast Asian markets. Prior to that, she spent 17 years at Gen Re, where she played an instrumental role in developing casualty facultative books across multiple Asian markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and China. Wanshi Lin, Head of Singapore, said: "We are delighted to welcome Collin to Markel. Her extensive experience and deep understanding of the Asian casualty market will be invaluable as we continue to expand our presence in the region. This strategic appointment demonstrates our commitment to building strong underwriting capabilities and delivering exceptional service to our clients and partners across Asia Pacific." Christian Stobbs, Managing Director - Asia Pacific, commented: "Collin's appointment represents a significant milestone in our regional growth strategy. Her proven track record in developing profitable casualty portfolios and her deep relationships across the Asian insurance market make her the ideal candidate to establish and grow our casualty practice in Singapore." About Markel Insurance We are Markel Insurance, a leading global specialty insurer with a truly people-first approach. As the insurance operations within the Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), we leverage a broad array of capabilities and expertise to create intelligent solutions for the most complex specialty insurance needs. However, it is our people – and the deep, valued relationships they develop with colleagues, brokers and clients – that differentiates us worldwide.
Indian Express
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
American vlogger couple explores Delhi, praises the city: ‘So green, absolutely beautiful'
Every year, thousands of foreigners visit India to experience its culture and rich heritage, diverse cuisine, and scenic landscapes. Among them are Collin and Meredith, an American couple who are also vloggers. In a recent Instagram video, they shared their experience of living in Delhi, offering a refreshing take on the capital city that counters typical online stereotypes. 'We just spent a week in Delhi, and we're happy to report we loved it,' says Collin at the beginning of the video. Meredith says, 'We were warned so much before we came about how crazy it is, and you get here, it's so green. I haven't sat in traffic once. Everywhere we've been has not been crowded. Absolutely beautiful.' She also says, 'I just feel everyone puts more insane things on the internet than what it actually is. This is super nice.' The video, shared on their Instagram handle @collinandmeredith, is captioned, 'Welcome to the non-viral side of Delhi.' In the caption, they also wrote: 'With 22 million people and a heavy reputation, we thought we would try and limit our time in the capital. Joke's on us—we loved it (although it was HOT when the heat wave came). Like all metropolitan cities, Delhi is full of good and bad areas, and has stunning streets, architecture, and culture. Not to mention a visible history that rivals just about anywhere in the world. The city has a heartbeat, and we are so lucky to have felt it. We might not recommend it as your first stop in India, as it is a bit wild at times, but once you're adjusted… well, you might love this misunderstood city as much as we do.' The video soon gained traction, racking up over 1.48 lakh views and 7,000 likes. instagram embed code The responses in the comment section were overwhelmingly positive. Many users praised the couple for showcasing a balanced and heartfelt view of Delhi. One comment read, 'True, Delhi is so vibrant, historically and culturally so rich. It has such a great and special atmosphere, food, people, of course!' Another user wrote, 'Thank you for doing this! Every place has its negatives… but to highlight only those is not fair.' A third commenter pointed out the negativity that often surrounds the portrayal of Indian cities: 'Hate sells, especially hate towards Indians. Even we ourselves are divided with that. Thank you for posting a real view of Delhi. There is much wrong with India but there is so much more good in India as well. Safe travels.' One Instagram user said, 'When you come to Delhi, decide what you want to do work or vacation? You wanna go to messy places, you will find them. You want beautiful places, you will find so much beauty!'
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
‘Absolutely beautiful': Kyrgyzstan couple's Delhi vlog challenges stereotypes, wins internet
Social media is flooded with videos portraying India as chaotic, overcrowded, and overwhelming, especially its cities. While this perspective draws attention and clicks, it rarely captures the complete picture. But now, a Kyrgyz couple travelling across India is changing that narrative with their recent video on Delhi, where they spent a week exploring the capital's quieter, more vibrant side. 'We just spent a week in Delhi and we are happy to report we loved it,' Collin said at the beginning of their video. 'We were warned so much before we came to Delhi about how crazy it is, and you get here, it's so green. I haven't sat in traffic once. Everywhere we've been has not been crowded. Absolutely beautiful,' Mere continued, adding, 'I just feel everyone puts more insane things on the internet than it actually is. This is super nice.' Also read: 'Bana liya content? Mil gye views?': Woman slammed for reel on 'empty' Air India flight day after Ahmedabad crash In the caption accompanying the video, the couple wrote, 'Welcome to the non-viral side of Delhi. With 22 million people and a heavy reputation, we thought we'd try and limit our time in the capital. Joke's on us. We loved it. (Although it was HOT when the heatwave came).' They praised the city for its architectural charm, diverse neighbourhoods, and its layered history. 'Like all metropolitan cuties, Delhi is, of good and bad areas, and has stunning streets, architecture, and culture. Not to mention a visible history that rivals just about anywhere in the world. The city has a heartbeat, and we are so lucky to have felt it,' they added. Though they didn't recommend Delhi as the ideal first stop for someone unfamiliar with India, they believe it deserves a fair chance. 'You might love this misunderstood city as much as we do,' they noted. Many took to the comment section and appreciated the couple's honest and heartwarming portrayal of Delhi. A user wrote, 'Hate sells . Delhi has got best public infra & public transport in India apart from monument & heritage. Pls don't make perception based on internet' Also read: 'Sone de bhai, garmi ho rahi hai': Elderly man sleeping in Delhi Metro triggers wave of empathy One user added, 'Thank you for showing the beautiful side of Delhi! Loved the positivity and the vibe you captured.' Another commented, 'Thenk you so much for showing the e heart of Delhi!! Delhi is an amalgamation of cultures blending beautifully.' Another added, 'Many vloggers avoid showing the positive aspects of India because those don't attract views. Thank you for going against that trend.' One user noted, 'There are still a lot of problems with Delhi but which city doesn't have problems? But the internet has painted a stereotypical picture of Delhi. This stereotype died long back from Delhi and it's not what it was 20 years ago.'
NDTV
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Kyrgyzstan Couple's Video Showing "Non-Viral" Side Of Delhi Goes Viral
India has become a popular destination for foreign vloggers, who visit the country to explore its vibrant culture, rich heritage, and diverse landscapes. These travel vloggers document their experiences and unique encounters, offering global audiences a glimpse into the beauty and complexity of India. One such content creator is a Kyrgyzstan couple who are currently touring India. In a recent video shared on Instagram, they expressed their admiration for Delhi with their followers. They revealed that they spent a week in the national capital, exploring the vibrant and diverse experiences Delhi has to offer. "We just spent a week in Delhi, and we are happy to report we loved it," Collin said at the beginning of the video. "We were warned so much before we came to Delhi about how crazy it is, and you get here, it's so green. I haven't sat in traffic once. Everywhere we've been has not been crowded. Absolutely beautiful," Mere continued, adding, "I just feel everyone puts more insane things on the internet than it actually is. This is super nice." In the caption, the couple wrote, "Welcome to the non-viral side of Delhi. With 22 million people and a heavy reputation, we thought we'd try and limit our time in the capital. Joke's on us. We loved it. (Although it was HOT when the heatwave came)." "Like all metropolitan cities, Delhi is full of good and bad areas, and has stunning streets, architecture, and culture. Not to mention a visible history that rivals just about anywhere in the world. The city has a heartbeat, and we are so lucky to have felt it," they added. The couple didn't suggest Delhi as a first stop for travellers unfamiliar with India, but they said that once you adjust, "you might love this misunderstood city as much as we do." Since being shared, the video has amassed more than 7,000 views and several likes and comments. Reacting to the clip, one user wrote, "Thank you for showing the beautiful side of Delhi! Loved the positivity and the vibe you captured." "Thank you so much for showing the heart of Delhi!! Delhi is an amalgamation of cultures blending beautifully," commented another. "Hate sells, especially hate towards Indians. Even we ourselves fall for that. Thank you for posting a real view of Delhi. There is much wrong with India but there is so much more good in India as well. Safe Travels," said a third user. "Many vloggers avoid showing the positive aspects of India because those don't attract views. Thank you for going against that trend," one of the users said. "Delhi is hands down the food and historical capital of India," expressed another.
