This week’s business news features the sale of the Christensen Fine Art building in downtown Peterborough, a makeover for downtown Peterborough business Dodrio, a new Peterborough facility for Kawartha Metals, an extension of the deadline for the Downtown Dreams contest in Kawartha Lakes, and nominations for the new Osprey Heritage Awards Program in Kawartha Lakes.
Upcoming regional business events include a “Growing Your Business” information session in Cobourg on April 4th, the Peterborough Chamber Breakfast Meeting with Lindsay Stroud on April 10th, FastStart E-Connect with Darryl Goodall and Reg Maranda on April 10th, “Celebrating the Entrepreneurial Woman – You Gotta Laugh” in Lindsay on April 13th, the Medical Officer of Health at the Peterborough DBIA Breakfast Network on April 18th, the Innovation Cluster Agriculture Tech Power Breakfast on April 27th, and the Bobcaygeon Chamber of Commerce Awards of Excellence and Trent Hills Chamber Business Excellence Awards Ceremony, both on April 28th.
We publish businessNOW every Monday. If you want your business news or even to appear in businessNOW, please email business@kawarthanow.com.
Christensen Fine Art selling George Street heritage building
Peer and Lori Christensen, owners of Christensen Fine Art, are selling their building at 432 George Street North in downtown Peterborough.
The designated heritage building will be listed with Bill Pyle of Century 21 United Realty Inc. on Monday, April 9th. The three-storey building is zoned for commercial on the first floor and residential on the second and third floor.
The Christensens bought the building in 2005 where they operate their gallery and and picture framing, art restoration, and fine art photography business. The gallery, restoration, and framing aspects of the business are on the main floor, with Peer’s studio on the second floor, and their living area on the third floor.
Previously from Victoria in British Columbia, the Christensens relocated to Peterborough in 1986, when they established the Williamson House Gallery, one of Peterborough’s first commercial galleries. Later, they combined two successful ventures, Hunter West Gallery and Starving Artist Frame Outlet, to create Christensen Fine Art.
They will continue to operate the art services portion of their business from their new home in East City where Peer, who is also an acclaimed artist, will focus on his artistic endeavours.
Dodrio in downtown Peterborough will be getting a retail makeover
Dodrio Bubble Tea, Anime Café & Game Lounge at 404 George Street North downtown Peterborough will be getting a retail makeover.
Owner Josh Johnston won a retail makeover from Barbara Crowhurst, North America’s leading retail business coach and trainer, who spoke at a March 27th event hosted by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area.
Besides selling 50 flavours of bubble tea (a Taiwanese tea-based drink with a layer of chewy tapioca balls at the bottom) and authentic Japanese snacks and drinks, Dondrio offers a variety of anime (Japanese animation) merchandise as well as virtual reality and board gaming.
Johnston has already had a consultation with Crowhurst and promises to post before and after shots on his business’s Facebook page.
Kawartha Metals expanding into new 112,000-square-foot building on Fisher Drive in Peterborough
Kawartha Metals will be expanding into a new home on Fisher Drive in the Major Bennett Industrial Park in Peterborough.
The 112,000-square-foot building will consolidate the company’s 30,000-square-foot Peterborough head office and 24,000-square-foot Port Hope operation.
Owner Tom Elliott established Kawartha Metals Corp. in 1994 as a small business operating out of his garage. Now with around 50 employees, the company (which calls itself the “Candy Store for Welders”) supplies custom steel, industrial, and decorative metals.
Steelworks Design — a full-service engineering firm specializing in mechanical, electrical, and structural design and analysis currently located in Cavan Monaghan — will also be moving into the new building and expanding its operations.
Deadline extended for Downtown Dreams contest in Kawartha Lakes
The deadline to participate in the City of Kawartha Lake’s Downtown Dreams contest has been extended to Friday, April 6th.
Downtown Dreams is a business and growth program designed to attract new or existing businesses to open, expand, or move into the downtowns of Coboconk or Norland, Fenelon Falls, Lindsay and Omemee.
Plans for the program will focus on business attraction, marketing and business training, and development. The total budget for the project is $124,300, with the city receiving up to $62,150 from the Rural Economic Development Fund administered by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
To apply for the program, visit downtowndreams.org.
Nominations open for City of Kawartha Lakes Heritage Awards Program
The Kawartha Lakes Municipal Heritage Committee is introducing The Osprey Heritage Awards Program to recognize outstanding contributions towards the creation, preservation, enhancement and promotion of heritage in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Awards will be offered in five categories: architectural, archeological, community, business leader, and vision.
Nominations can be submitted at www.kawarthalakes.ca/ospreyawards) until July 6, 2018.
Entries will be adjudicated by an independent panel of qualified judges and awards will be presented during a City Council meeting in the fall of 2018.
Provincial Budget Review with MPP Lou Rinaldi in Port Hope on April 3
The Northumberland and Port Hope Chambers of Commerce are hosting a Northumberland-Quinte West MPP Lou Rinaldi at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3rd at the Port Hope Town Hall Council Chambers (56 Queen St., Port Hope).
Rinaldi will provide an overview of the Ontario Budget and respond to questions from the audience.
The event is free, but an RSVP is requested to the Port Hope Chamber at 905-885-5519 or admin@porthopechamber.com or the Northumberland Chamber at 905-372-5831 or chamber@nccofc.ca.
Peterborough Chamber PBX at the Mount Community Centre on April 3
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce’s next PBX (Peterborough Business Exchange) takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3th at The Mount Community Centre (1545 Monaghan Rd., Peterborough).
Purchased in 2013 by the Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network, the property was turned over to The Mount Community Centre after its incorporation as a non-profit charitable organization. The organization’s Board of Directors kick-started the project and began the property’s redevelopment in 2014 through community support and an innovative social finance plan.
Today, the organization offers apartment units at both affordable and market rate rents in the completed South Wing, office space for not-for-profit organizations and local businesses, as well as space for performing arts and other community gatherings.
The event is free and all are welcome to attend. Bring your business cards.
Growing Your Business information session in Cobourg on April 4
The Northumberland Manufacturers’ Association is hosting “Growing Your Business”, an information session featuring speakers from Export Development Canada and the Business Development Bank of Canada, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 4th at the Business and Entrepreneurship Centre (600 William St., Cobourg).
Nicolas Castonguay of Export Development Canada will speak about EDC as well as risk mitigation, transfer, and sharing, and knowledge solutions. Mathieu Dallaire from the Business Development Bank of Canada will speak about BDC Financing / Advisory 101.
The session is free, but advance registration is required.
Employment Standards Act and Bill 148 seminar in Lakefield on April 4
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is hosting an Employment Standards Act seminar with a special focus on recent changes to labour laws under the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 (Bill 148).
The seminar runs from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4th at the Lakefield Legion (10 Nicholls St, Lakefield).
The session will include a speaker from the Ministry of Labour, and discussions on minimum wage, hours of work, public holidays, leaves of absence, and more. A question and answer period will follow (participants are also email their questions in advance to generalmanager@kawarthachamber.ca).
Admission is free but please register. Contact the Chamber office at 705-652-6963 or email events@kawarthachamber.ca for more details.
Peterborough Chamber Breakfast Meeting with Lindsay Stroud on April 10
The next Chamber AM breakfast meeting takes place from 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10th at Carousel Restaurant & Tavern (116 Lansdowne St. E., Peterborough).
Lindsay Stroud, Manager of Transportation and Urban Design Programs at GreenUP, will speak on the annual Shifting Gears transportation challenge.
Networking begins at 7 a.m. with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. (where you can make your best 30-second elevator speech to the room) followed by the guest speaker at 8 a.m.
The event is free to attend (pay for what you order). To register, visit www.peterboroughchamber.ca.
Mental Health in the Workplace seminar in Haliburton on April 10
The Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast meeting takes place from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10th at Maple Avenue Tap & Grill (172 Highland St., Haliburton).
Jack Veitch, Health Promoter and Educator with the Canadian Mental Health Association, will speak about mental health issues in the workplace, including strategies, approach, and prevention.
The cost is $15 for Chamber members and $20 for non-members (includes taxes and gratuity).
Bancroft Chamber of Commerce 2018 Business Symposium on April 10
The Bancroft Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Business Symposium takes place from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10th at Bancroft Pentecostal Tabernacle (311 Hastings St. N., Bancfort).
The event includes a keynote from Hastings—Lennox and Addington MP Mike Bossio and three morning panels: “Show Me The Money” (where you get the capital to grow your business) with Michael Gatschene – BDC, Carolyn Barker-Brown – CFDC, and Jacques Pilon, Launch Labs; “Hidden Gems” (community-focused organizations that can help your business) with Loyalist College, Brad Labadie – ECOTB, Melanie Wright – CFDC, and Mark Hanley – Hastings County; and “Seeing through the Smoke” (what you need to know about marijuana in the workplace) with Joel Ribideau, Nancy Wiechenthal – NHFP, and Bancroft OPP.
The cost is $35 for Chamber members and $45 for non-members (includes breakfast). To register, call 613-334-1513 ext. 213 or register online at www.bancroftdistrict.com.
FastStart E-Connect with Darryl Goodall and Reg Maranda on April 10
The next FastStart E-Connect, “Spring into Entrepreneurship 2.0”, takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10th at The Venue (286 George St. N., Peterborough).
Featured speakers are Darryl Goodall, founder of Part Time CFO Services Inc., and Rejean “Reg” Maranda, co-founder of Reggie’s Hotgrill, El Caminos, McThirsty’s Pint, and Kettledrums Restaurant.
Admission is free, but registration is required.
FastStart is a partnership between Trent University, Fleming College, and the Innovation Cluster.
Celebrating the Entrepreneurial Woman – You Gotta Laugh in Lindsay on April 13
The Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre (KLSBEC) in partnership with Women in Networking Kawartha Lakes (WiN) are hosting their sixth annual women’s event at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 13th at Olympia Restaurant (106 Kent St. W., Lindsay).
“Celebrating the Entrepreneurial Woman – You Gotta Laugh” features guest speaker Susan Stewart, a comedian, professional speaker, and author of Reaching the Laugh Resort, Your New Lenses are Ready for Pick Up: A Guide to Seeing the Lighter Side of Life and You Gotta Laugh: Wit and Wisdom About Not Taking Life (Or Yourself) Too Seriously. She has spent the last ten years entertaining and inspiring people to see the lighter side of life.
The cost is $45+HST for members of KSLBEC, WiN, and the Lindsay, Fenelon Falls, and Coboconk, Norland and Area Chambers of Commerce or $55+HST for non-members. The price includes a complimentary copy of Stewart’s book You Gotta Laugh.
Tickets for the event are available at www.cklwomen.eventbrite.ca or by calling 705-324-9411 ext. 1362.
Medical Officer of Health at Peterborough DBIA Breakfast Network on April 18
Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health with Peterborough Public Health, will be the guest speaker at the next Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) Breakfast Network on Wednesday, April 18th.
The DBIA Breakfast Network meets on the third Wednesday of the month at Empress Gardens at 131 Charlotte Street and is open to everyone.
Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. with Dr. Salvaterra speaking at 8 a.m. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Application deadline for Slingshot incubation program for young entrepreneurs is April 20
The application deadline for Slingshot, the Innovation Cluster and FastStart Peterborough’s summer incubation program for young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 29, is midnight on Monday, April 20th.
Successful applicants will receive coworking space in the downtown Cube along with tools, resources, and funding opportunities to grow their business — a value of $5,000 for four months.
Participants in the inaugural Slingshot program in 2017 included businesses related to social media, drones, hockey, influencer marketing, podcasting, and digital solutions. (Photo: Innovation Cluster)
Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 29, planning to start their company in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, and have an idea for a company or have been operational for under one year. Applicants outside of the region are encouraged to apply if they intend on making the move to Peterborough.
At the end of the summer, the most successful company will receive a $1,000 cash prize along with other prizes. Last year’s winner was Vetterview, a social media influencer marketplace created by founder and Slingshot participant Alex Gastle. He is now in London, England growing the company.
Successful applicants will move into the Cube to begin working on their company on May 1st. For more information or to apply, visit www.innovationcluster.ca/slingshot/.
Innovation Cluster Agriculture Tech Power Breakfast on April 27
The Innovation Cluster’s next quarterly Power Breakfast is on the topic of growth and innovation in agriculture technology and takes place on Friday, April 27th at the Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront (150 George St., Peterborough).
Presented by Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation, guest speakers are Jeal Leal (Peterborough MPP, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Minister Responsible for Small Business), Thien Quoc Nguyen and Suresh Narine of the Trent Centre for Biomaterials Research at Trent University, and Darren Goldin (Co-Founder and VP of Operations for Entomo Farms).
The breakfast event takes place from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and features a buffet breakfast of eggs benedict, fresh baked muffins, seasonal fruit yougurt parfaits, smoothies, and pan-friend potatoes.
The Power Breakfast is free, but registration is required.
Bobcaygeon Chamber of Commerce Awards of Excellence on April 28
The Bobcaygeon Chamber of Commerce’s annual Awards of Excellence takes place from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 28th at the Lakeview Arts Barn (2300 Pigeon Lake Rd., Bobcaygeon).
Awards will be presented in the following categories: Employee Achievement, Not for Profit Achievement, Business Achievement, Citizen of the Year, New Business Achievement, Tourism Achievement, Hospitality, and Creative Arts Achievement.
For more information, visit www.bobcaygeon.org.
Trent Hills Chamber Business Excellence Awards Ceremony on April 28
The Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony for the 2018 Celebration of Business Excellence takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 28th at Island Park Retirement Residence (18 Trent Drive, Campbellford).
Awards will be presented in the following categories: Emerging Entrepreneur Award, Customer Experience Award (Service-Based), Customer Experience Award (Product-Based), Pride And Progress Award, Ignite 2018 – Business, Ignite 2018 – Non-Profit Organization, Excellence In Business, Community Impact Award, Inclusive Community Employer Award, and Chair’s Award.
A cocktail reception begins at 7 p.m. followed by the awards ceremony at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $35+HST, available at trenthillschamber.ca/business-awards/.
