The Big Decision

The maker of one of Canada's hottest construction materials is on the brink of collapse. Synstone manufactures panels reinforced with fiber glass used on schools and office buildings nationwide. But demand is far exceeding supply. With orders piling up and a disorganized factory slowing them down, can Synstone impress Jim enough to land the most important investment of their lives? Meanwhile, on the shores of the marina town of Belle River, Ontario, a family-run hardware store needs help. Sauve's Home Centre has been in business for generations but competition from big box retailers is tearing the business and the family apart. If the Sauve family can rise to Jim's challenges and settle their grievances, he may invest and put Sauve's back on the right track.

Arlene Dickinson travels to St-Laurent, QC to visit a packaging company having difficulty thinking outside the box. For 25 years Pak Tek has emerged as a serious player in the corrugated box and display business. But a transfer of management from father to son has left Pak Tek in dire straits and a family at each other's throats. Next, Arlene sails down the white water rapids of the Ottawa River to arrive at Esprit in Davidson, QC. Once named the "Top Adventure Travel Company in the World," Esprit is anything but smooth sailing. Can the owners steer Esprit in the right direction and prove to Arlene that the business is worth saving?

In a region home to one of the worst unemployment rates in the country, Windsor-based software company Radix Controls has been devastated by the recession. Once an innovative industry leader they now desperately need Jim’s investment to keep their wheels spinning, before economic realities put the brakes on their business. Later, Jim pays a visit to St. Thomas, Ontario to see a piglet-birthing farm that was ravaged by a 2007 fire. A rebuild that took all the funds available to the owner, New Future Farms desperately needs more cash to get back up and running.

Faced with cutthroat competition, Scarborough, Ontario-based Redwood could see their „100% Made in Canada‟ clothing line shut down. With a history spanning three generations, owner Kathy Cheng will need Arlene to keep her family legacy alive. Across the country in Victoria, BC, a footwear company attempts to get a grip on their evolving product line. Once known strictly for their tough men's footwear, Viberg Boots has expanded to offer more fashionable products, leaving owners scrambling to keep up with demand. Will the owners reshape their business and rise to Arlene's challenge? Or will they be given the boot?

In Prince Rupert, BC, a chartered seaplane business is looking for a change in course. Formerly a resource-based business, Inland Air owner Bruce MacDonald would like to start piloting travel tours - a tough sell given the nosedive in tourism. Bruce is hoping that Jim will take him under his wing before the flying business crashes and burns. In Edmonton, Jim checks in on a sporting retailer that‟s come up short in its “Hail Mary” decision to open a second location. All Sports Replay is looking to convince him that current operations are worth investing, hoping they can one day hit a home run together.

Arlene visits two troubled Vancouver businesses seeking her support with community ties and a factory on the line. A one-stop restaurant and butcher in Vancouver‟s lower east side has been providing affordable meals to mixed-income residents for over 50 years. Facing mounting debts and a need for renovations, Save on Meat‟s owner Mark Brand is in desperate need of help. Arlene will need to see Mark trim the fat on his business or the community will lose this neighborhood icon. While in town, Arlene stops by a retail and custom flag manufacturer that is in serious trouble. With ownership issues and 12 locations nationwide, the company will have to wave the white flag unless they can convince her that they‟re new forward-thinking ideas are on the right track.