This week’s business news features four attractions in the Kawarthas that are finalists in the 2018 Ontario’s Choice Awards, one last season for Milltown Mini Golf in Peterborough, Random Acts of Green looking for input on its new mobile app, seven youth entrepreneurs elected for the Innovation Cluster’s Slingshot program, and construction begins on the new Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Peterborough.
New business events include: Scott Adams of Birchbark Media speaking on May 8th and leading a video interview techniques workshop on May 16th; Peterborough-Kawartha all-candidates meetings on May 16th, 17th and 23rd; the Junior Achievement Business Hall for Fame induction ceremony and dinner on May 24th; and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area Annual General Meeting on June 27th.
Four attractions in the Kawarthas are among 2018 Ontario’s Choice Awards finalists
Four attractions in the Kawarthas are finalists in the 2018 Ontario’s Choice Awards, presented by the non-profit Attractions Ontario association.
Both Kawartha Settlers’ Village in Bobcaygeon and Lang Pioneer Village in Keene are finalists in the “Top Small Museum/Art Galleries/Historic Site” category.
Ganaraska Treetop Treeking in Campbellcroft is a finalist for “Top Outdoor Attraction” and Westben Theatre in Campbellford is a finalist for “Top Performing Arts Attraction”.
Voting is now open for the third annual awards in eight categories until September 30, 2018. Vote for your favourite attraction at attractionsontario.ca/ontarioschoice/.
Winners of each category will be announced on October 1, 2018, along with the three attractions that receive the most votes overall.
The attraction that receives the most votes across all categories will be declared the Attraction of the Year. This winner will be announced and awarded at the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario Tourism Summit in October 2018.
Both Treetop Trekking and Lang Pioneer Village were winners of their respective categories in the 2017 awards, and were also among the top three vote-getters.
Milltown Mini Golf in Peterborough is open for one final year
One of Peterborough’s favourite family attractions, Milltown Mini Golf (933 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough), is staying open for one more year.
Last summer, owners Barry and Lynda Cross announced they would be closing in the fall of 2017 after 33 years in business when their landlord sold the two-acre property to a local developer. However, the developer’s application for redevelopment has been delayed, allowing Milltown Mini Golf to operate for one more season.
VIDEO: Milltown Mini Golf Commercial (2015)
Milltown Mini Golf, which calls itself a “family fun centre”, doesn’t just offer mini golf. They also have batting cages, rock wall climbing, treasure hunts, and more. It’s also been a popular location for wedding proposals and receptions, birthday parties, family gatherings, and more. The business has 12 employees.
A grand re-opening celebration will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 10th, with City of Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett and Councillor Lesley Parnell in attendance. Barry and Lynda Cross are inviting all customers, area residents, and friends to join us in the celebration, which will include a free game of mini golf for all who attend.
The Crosses, who have sponsored many community fundraising efforts in the past, will also be donating $250 to the Brock Mission rebuild project.
For more information about Milltown Mini Golf, visit www.milltownminigolf.com.
Random Acts of Green is building a new mobile app and wants your input
Jessica Correa (front), founder of social enterprise Random Acts of Green, with her team. Random Acts of Green is developing a new mobile app to encourage people to choose greener behaviours. A free community discussion on the new app will take place on May 10, 2018 at Lett Architects in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Random Acts of Green)
Jessica Correa’s social enterprise Random Acts of Green, which encourages and motivates people to modify their behaviour by making environmentally sustainable choices, is developing a new mobile app.
The new app will reward people for participating in “acts of green”. The app will provide people with different behaviour-based approaches that reduce greenhouse gases — including waste, transportation, energy, food, and water — and will quantify the amount of greenhouse gas reduced by each act.
Every act will be assigned a “green point” value and Random Acts of Green will partner with sponsors who will provide products and services that can be cashed in for accumulated green points.
Random Acts of Green is seeking feedback on their app development plans by hosting “Green Chats About the App”, a free community discussion on Thursday, May 10th at Lett Architects (138 Simcoe St., Peterborough). There will be three different sessions to choose from: 5 to 5:45 p.m., 6:15 to 7 p.m., and 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.
To register for a session, visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/green-chats-about-the-random-acts-of-green-app-tickets-45562886821.
For more information about Random Acts of Green, visit raog.ca.
Seven youth entrepreneurs chosen for Innovation Cluster’s second annual Slingshot Program
Seven entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 29 have been chosen for the Innovation Cluster’s second annual Slingshot Program.
The program will support the young entrepreneurs to launch and grow their businesses over the next four months. Each company will have a dedicated desk space within The Cube — the Innovation Cluseter’s business incubator — and will have access to all of its workshops, resources, innovation specialists, and tools.
The selected entrepreneurs and their businesses are:
- Dylan Trepanier – Peterborough mobile eye exam clinic to reduce wait-time and be inclusive to customers.
- Vismantas Kuznecovas – System to measure vibration of industrial machinery to provide maintenance solutions.
- Lucas Graham – Building a mobile application to make networking events more efficient.
- Alex Hopkins – Gambling platform for online video game currency.
- Cole MacGregor – Reusable clothing that strives to promote gender-neutral fashion.
- Rhode Thomas – Initiative to support Indigenous learners’ post secondary experience in Ontario.
- Raman Vauchetski – Building a platform to connect employers with potential employees.
The seven entrepreneurs will have a chance to win $1,000 for their work by the end of the program.
“The Slingshot program showed such success from all participants last year, that over half of the startups applied to stay at the incubator past the end of the summer,” says Rosalea Terry, Marketing Manager and Senior Innovation Specialist at the Innovation Cluster. “This program shows to be a great opportunity for those who are just starting out in the business world and are learning how to adapt into being an entrepreneur.”
Last year’s winner of the Slingshot program was Alex Gastle of Vetterview. Vetterview is a platform that connects social media influencers and micro-influencers directly with brands looking to leverage influencer marketing through paid collaborations.
Gastle was able to push his business forward throughout the summer, and proved in his pitch Vetterview would have exponential growth in the future due to partnerships that span as far as London, England, thus winning $1,000.
“Working in The Cube was a lot better than working from home,” says Gastle. “I was motivated to come in every day and enjoyed hearing about the success other incubated startups were having.”
At the end of the program, all participants also must pitch their business and the progress they’ve made throughout Slingshot to a panel of judges from various business backgrounds, to determine who wins the $1,000 grand prize.
Construction begins on Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Peterborough
Last Thursday (May 3), Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett took part in the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Peterborough, being built at 1400 Crawford Dr. in Peterborough.
“We are very excited to bring this modern Hilton branded hotel to the City of Peterborough,” said Nashrin Struk with development company Roshan Holdings.
The six-story hotel, which is expected to open in May 2019, will include 100 guest suites, an indoor salt water pool, a fitness centre, laundry facilities, complimentary breakfast for guests, free wifi, a business centre, and 800 square feet of meeting facilities.
The new hotel is part of the casino development and will be adjacent to Shorelines Casino Peterborough, which is expected to open in late summer or early fall of this year.
FastStart E-Connect with Scott Adams of Birchbark Media on May 8
FastStart — a partnership between Trent University, Fleming College, and the Innovation Cluster — is hosting its next E-Connect seminar from 6 to 8 pm. on Tuesday, May 8th at The Venue (286 George St. N., Peterborough).
Scott Adams, founder of video production and content marketing agency Birchbark Media, is the featured speaker.
The event is free, but seating is limited so you must register in advance at www.eventbrite.com/e/e-connect-may-the-entrepreneurship-be-with-you-tickets-45682831579.
Business Owners Sharing Solutions (BOSS) – Mental Health in the Workplace on May 9
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism’s next Business Owners Sharing Solutions (BOSS) seminar takes place from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 9th at the Lakefield Legion (10 Nicholls St., Lakefield).
The session will focus on coping strategies and techniques to encourage mental wellness in your workplace, with panelists Jack Veitch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Dave Pogue of Team 55, and Ashley Challinor of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
The cost is $15 for Chamber members and $25 for non-members. Registration is requested.
Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area Breakfast Network with Michael Gallant of Lett Architects on May 16
The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is hosting Michael Gallant as the guest speaker at its next Breakfast Network meeting on Wednesday, May 16th at at Empress Gardens (131 Charlotte St., Peterborough).
Gallant, a partner with Lett Architects and a member of the DBIA board, will be speaking about the downtown vibrancy visionary project.
Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. with Gallant speaking at 8 a.m.
Tickets are $5 at the door and everyone is welcome to attend.
Video interview techniques workshop with Birchbark Media on May 16
The Innovation Cluster’s next “Hands-ON” workshop will be on video interview techniques from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16th at the Innovation Cluster (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
Scott Adams, founder of video production and content marketing agency Birchbark Media, will explain how to properly stage and shoot an interview. Topics covered will include lighting, backdrops, camera techniques, framing and composition, and audio setups.
Participants are welcome to bring their cameras but Adams will be providing all necessary gear.
The event is free, but seating is limited. Advance registration is required at www.eventbrite.com/e/hands-on-video-interview-techniques-with-birchbark-media-tickets-45801656989.
Peterborough-Kawartha all-candidates meeting on housing and small business on May 16
Peterborough and the Kawarthas Association of Realtors (PKAR) and the Peterborough & The Kawarthas Home Builders Association are hosting a meeting of Peterborough-Kawartha candidates for the upcoming Ontario election.
The meeting takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16th at the Peterborough Lions Community Centre (347 Burnham St. Peterborough).
Liberal incumbent Jeff Leal along with PC candidate Dave Smith, NDP candidate Sean Conway, and Green Party candidate Gianne Broughton will present their views on housing and home ownership as well as their support of small business.
The panel discussion wil be moderated by 2018 PKAR president Kristi Doyle.
The event is free, and doors open at 6:30 p.m.
As part of the 2015 electoral redistribution, the Peterborough provincial electoral district was renamed Peterborough-Kawartha. The new district no longer includes the Townships of Otonabee-South Monaghan and Asphodel-Norwood and the Hiawatha First Nation (all which are now part of the new Northumberland-Peterborough South riding), but now includes the townships of Trent Lakes and North Kawartha.
Peterborough-Kawartha all-candidates debate on business issues on May 17
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is also hosting an a meeting of Peterborough-Kawartha candidates from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 17th at the Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront (150 George St. N., Peterborough).
Liberal incumbent Jeff Leal, PC candidate Dave Smith, NDP candidate Sean Conway, and Green Party candidate Gianne Broughton will all be attending.
The debate will focus on issues affecting the business community.
Send any questions to Sandra Dueck at the Chamber at sandra@peterboroughchamber.ca.
Peterborough-Kawartha all-candidates meeting on May 23
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is also hosting a mmeeting of Peterborough-Kawartha candidates for the upcoming Ontario election from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23rd at the Lakefield Legion (10 Nicholls St., Lakefield0.
Liberal incumbent Jeff Leal, PC candidate Dave Smith, NDP candidate Sean Conway, and Green Party candidate Gianne Broughton will all be attending.
The meeting will feature a question-and-answer session moderated by David Goyette.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and everyone is welcome to attend.
Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner on May 24
Hosted by Junior Achievement of Peterborough, Lakeland, Muskoka, the 2018 Business Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thusday, May 24th at The Venue (286 George St. N., Peterborough).
The event honours people whose exemplary accomplishments of vision, leadership, and commitment to excellence have strengthened the local economy and community. Eleven people will be inducted this year: Sally Harding, Monika Carmichael, Alf and June Curtis, Paul Bennett, Carl Oake, Robert Gauvreau, Paschal McCloskey, and (posthumously) John A. McColl and James H. Turner and JJ (Jack) Stewart.
The event also features a culinary showcase where guests can sample food from different vendors as they mingle with the local business community.
The Pin will serve meringue nests with lemon curd and fresh berries. BE Catering will serve mini local organic shawarma with lemony hummus (vegan alternative is chickpea and mint fritter), lightly pickled vegetables and local sprouts, on their handmade grilled pita triangles. La Mesita Restaurante will serve Cochinita Pibil (Mayan Pulled Pork). Coffee will be courtesy of Amuse Coffee Co., who will serve organic fair trade brewed coffee (including decaf) and premium loose tea. Curry Village will be providing a cauliflower dish as well as an onion patty. For vegan guests, Fresh Dreams will server lentil stew.
Other particpating food and beverage vendors include The Imperial Tandoor, Little Sweets, Sweet Spirits, and Publican House Brewery.
Tickets for the ceremony and dinner are $100 per person, available now at www.eventbrite.ca/e/2018-ja-business-hall-of-fame-induction-ceremony-tickets-42952720744.
Innovation Cluster Peterborough and The Kawarthas hosts its annual general meeting on May 31
The Innovation Cluster Peterborough and The Kawarthas is hosting its annual general meeting from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 31st at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
Beginning at 2 p.m., the public can tour The Cube, the Innovation Cluster’s 10,000-square-foot business incubator, and meet some of the region’s most promising start-ups.
The annual general meeting, which is open to the public, takes place at 3 p.m. and will include highlights from 2017.
The event is free to attend, but registration is requested at www.eventbrite.com/e/the-innovation-cluster-annual-general-meeting-tickets-45475696031.
Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area Annual General Meeting on June 27
The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is hosting its annual general meeting on Wednesday, June 27th in the Nexicom Studio at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough).
Networking starts at 5:30 p.m. with business at 6 p.m. The meeting will include updates on what’s happening in downtown Peterborough, as well as a general election of the board.
Everyone is welcome to attend, although only DBIA members can vote.
For more information on joining the board, contact Joel Wiebe at the DBIA at 705-748-4774 or joelwiebe@peterboroughbia.com.
Kawarthas Northumberland annual tourism partner meeting on June 20
Todd Lucier, co-founder of Northern Edge Algonquin Retreat Centre, a retreat designer and IGNITE facilitator will be the guest speaker at the Kawarthas Northumberland annual tourism partner meeting. (Photo: Northern Edge Algonquin Retreat Centre)
RTO8’s Kawarthas Northumberland is inviting tourism operators from within the Kawarthas Northumberland region (City of Kawartha Lakes, City and County of Peterborough, and Northumberland County) to its annual partners meeting (annual general meeting) from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20th at Iron Horse Ranch (804 Ontario 7A RR1, Bethany).
The meeting will provide tourism operators with the opportunity to meet Kawarthas Northumberland board members and staff, along with representatives and advisors from the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and to network with other tourism operators.
The guest speaker at the session will be Todd Lucier, co-founder of Northern Edge Algonquin Retreat Centre, a retreat designer and IGNITE facilitator. Lucier will speak on how tourism operators can leverage their own resources to build new and exciting visitor experiences, with an appreciation for the importance of community collaboration.
The event is free, but advance registration is required by 5 p.m. on Friday, June 8th. Register at Eventbrite.
