This week’s round-up of business news features Wild Rock Outfitters as a presenting sponsor of the Canadian Cyclocross Championships in Peterborough this November, Water Canada Magazine ranking Peterborough as the best place in Ontario for watertech startups, Random Acts of Green launching its new mobile app in October, the City of Peterborough converting 7,205 streetlights to smart technology LEDs, 100 Women Peterborough donating over $11,000 to The Warming Room, and the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce releasing its platform for the municipal election.
New business events added this week include Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre hosting a business fundamentals workshop in Peterborough on October 2nd, Scotia Wealth Management hosting a town hall informative session in Peterborough on October 2nd, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development hosting a New Venture Session in Peterborough on October 10th, and Community Futures Peterborough and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development hosting the Rural Business Summit 2018 in Fraserville on October 16th and in Burleigh Falls on October 17th.
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Wild Rock Outfitters a presenting sponsor of 2018 Canadian Cyclocross Championships this November
Peterborough outdoor adventure and bike shop Wild Rock Outfitters is a presenting sponsor of the 2018 Canadian Cyclocross National Championships, which take place from November 9th to 11th in Peterborough, along the Canadian branch of global bicycle manufacturer Trek Bicycles.
“Wild Rock views Cyclocross Nationals as an important marketing element to help elevate Wild Rock in the minds of cyclists, cyclocross in the minds of our community and Peterborough, and in the minds of active people nation-wide,” says co-owner Scott Murison. “We are investing money and energy in this event because we know it will pay dividends for both Wild Rock and our community.”
The venue for the event, Nicholls Oval in Peterborough, has its own cycling history, being a host venue in the early 20th century for criterium cycling races (consisting of several laps around a closed circuit). For the Peterborough Cyclocross National Championships, it will provide a challenging circuit for the nation’s best cyclocross racers. Using the steep natural banks of the Otonabee River, cyclists will race on a three-kilometre circuit featuring asphalt and grass, challenging slopes, and obstacles.
Cyclocross consists of many laps of a short course featuring pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills, and obstacles that require the rider to quickly dismount, carry the bike while navigating the obstruction, and remount.
It’s a highly entertaining spectator sport that has been very popular in Europe for years. The Peterborough event, which is free for spectators, is sure to draw crowds both locally and from across Ontario.
Shimano Canada, whose head office is located in Peterborough, is the title sponsor for the event.
“Shimano has always been about being at the front of the pack,” says David Blondel, Marketing Manager at Shimano Canada. “Cyclocross is exploding in popularity and we wanted to show our support for such an exciting event.”
Other local sponsors include Peterborough Volkswagen, Medallist Design, and the Peterborough Cycling Club.
The Canadian Cyclocross Championships were previously held in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Next year’s championships will also be held in Peterborough.
For more information about the Shimano Cyclocross National Championships, visit ptbocx.com.
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Kris Sieber (Communications Director, PTBO CX / 20187 Shimano Canadian Cyclocross Championships presented by Trek / Wild Rock) at kris.sieber@ptbocx.com.
Water Canada Magazine ranks Peterborough the best place in Ontario for watertech startups
The most recent issue of Water Canada Magazine has ranked Peterborough as the first place in Ontario for a water technology (“watertech”) startup to thrive, and the second in Canada after Sherbrooke, Quebec.
One of the reasons is the number of business and organizational resources available to support companies in the clean technology (“cleantech”) sector, including the Innovation Cluster, Peterborough Region Angel Network, VentureNorth, Trent University’s Trent Makerspace and coming Cleantech Commons, Fleming College’s Centre for Advancement of Water and Wastewater Technologies, and Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development.
“The Innovation Cluster staff and client companies have worked tirelessly to set our region apart as a watertech hub and is proud to compass a prominent role in providing cleantech support through company mentorship and acceleration,” says Michael Skinner, President & CEO of the Innovation Cluster. “We have helped push multiple startups to market success and are excited to see that Canada is beginning to take notice.”
The feature in Water Canada notes the previous cleantech companies that have thrived in the Peterborough area — including Aclarus, Noblegen, and Rainmaker Worldwide — and references the affordability of living in the area, a close-knit business community, and being surrounded by bodies of water as just a few of the factors that led to the decision.
Random Acts of Green launching mobile app in early October and annual Halloween challenge
Social enterprise Random Acts of Green plans to release its mobile app in early October, and is also launching its third annual “Hallowgreen” Challenge.
The business is encouraging citizens, school boards, classrooms, offices, and businesses to take the 31-day HallowGreen Challenge during the month of October to inspire more people to make behaviour changes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
CEO Jessica Correa says she was inspired by the popularity of Halloween throughout the years and thought the meaning could be extended to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Our HallowGreen Challenge is getting better every year,” says CEO Jessica Correa. “It encourages people to have fun while making lifestyle changes that positively impact our environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Our new app is making it easier for people to understand what they can do and rewards them for participating in more sustainable choices.”
When the new app is available, you will be able to log your HallowGreen acts.
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.
If you sign up at raog.ca/app to be one of the first 1,000 users on the app, you can get an extra 250 green points.
For more information about the HallowGreen Challenge, visit raog.ca/hallowgreen2018.
City of Peterborough to convert 7,205 street lights to LED
The City of Peterborough will begin converting 7,205 street lights to smart technology Light Emitting Diode (LED) street light fixtures this month.
The city estimates the conversion to smart technology LED fixtures will reduce annual electricity costs by 54 per cent ($650,000), reduce maintenance costs by 80 per cent ($187,000), and reduce the city’s annual electricity consumption for street lights by 70 per cent (3.6 million kilowatt hours).
“That’s a substantial savings in terms of costs and energy use,” says Bruno Bianco, Infrastructure Planning Manager with the City of Peterborough.
LED street light fixtures are energy efficient, virtually maintenance-free, environmentally friendly, and last up to four times longer than traditional High Pressure Sodium street lights.
LED lighting is also able to be targeted in a more precise manner than traditional street lighting, reducing glare and lighting only targeted areas. The improved lighting quality enhances safety for both vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
In addition, the Smart technology being added to the lights will automatically inform the city when a light is out or malfunctioning to allow a crew to be dispatched to repair the fixture.
The city expects the LED street light conversion project to be completed by the end of December 2018.
100 Women Peterborough donates over $11,000 to The Warming Room
At its meeting last Tuesday (September 18), the 100 Women Peterborough group raised over $11,000 in under one hour for The Warming Room/One Roof.
100 Women Peterborough consists of 157 members who contribute to different organizations, selected by the membership, on a quarterly basis. Members commit to donate one hundred dollars at each of the four events hosted throughout the year.
The aim is to help women learn about the multitude of different causes in the community, help people in need, and join other like-minded women to empower and multiply the impact of their contributions.
“It was incredible to see how quickly we were able to impact The Warming Room with even more members than the last meeting,” says Rose Terry, one of the founding members of 100 Women Peterborough. “We are so grateful for the people in our community that continue to spread the word.”
Warming Room Community Ministries is an organization that works to challenge homelessness, food insecurity, and social exclusion through four main programs: the Warming Room Emergency Winter Shelter, which provides shelter for an average of 30 individuals who suffer from homelessness; One Roof Community Centre, which serves over 8,500 meals a month; the HOME program, which provides supportive housing for those suffering from chronic homelessness; and One City Peterborough, a partnership with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area that provides outreach to the downtown core as well as jobs for those with traditional barriers to employment.
Youth Unlimited received $12,500 from 100 Women Peterborough its June meeting, allowing Youth Unlimited to renovate it Brock Street location including a brand new kitchen, garage door, and other updates to the space.
Women who are interested in joining the group are encouraged visit www.100womenptbo.ca
Peterborough Chamber of Commerce releases business platform ahead of municipal election
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce has released “Building a Community Outside the Ordinary”, its platform for the upcoming municipal election. The platform includes 10 recommended actions the Chamber says are needed to support the development of opportunities for everyone in the City and County of Peterborough.
The platform was developed through consultation with Chamber member businesses, who identified several factors that are limiting opportunities for Peterborough’s competitiveness, economic growth, and job creation.
Some of the recommendations include developing official plans with the most flexible zoning possible, investing in areas of economic growth, building resilient infrastructure, increasing housing stock, developing long-term strategies for addressing mental illness, addiction, and crime, and more.
“We are asking all candidates for City and County Councils to endorse our ‘Building a Community Outside the Ordinary’ platform,” says Stuart Harrison, President & CEO of the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce.
“We believe that by adopting the pillars of strengthening Peterborough’s competitiveness, economic growth and job creation, building whole communities, and improving government accountability, our next Councils can build a community outside the ordinary for everyone.”
You can read the complete platform at www.peterboroughchamber.ca/uploads/4/2/5/0/42505955/building_a_community_outside_the_ordinary.pdf.
Workshops on new regulations under Safe Food for Canadians Act in Peterborough on September 25
Diatom Consulting is offering two workshops to help local businesses prepare for new regulations under the federal Safe Food for Canadians Act that come into effect in January 2018.
The new regulations will result in potential changes for local food manufacturers to record keeping, facility licenses, and oversight from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
The two workshops, entitled “Safe Food for Canadian Regulations – What You Need to Know” and “Safe Food for Canadian Regulations – Building a Compliant PCP Process”, take place from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, September 25th at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough). Each workshop costs $199 or $269 for both.
For more information and to register, visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/safe-food-for-canadians-regulations-training-sfcr-tickets-49537672512.
New Venture Workshop in Buckhorn on September 26
Peterborough & The Kawarthas Economic Development is hosting a workshop for entrepreneurs from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 26th at St. Matthew – St. Aidans Church (1946 Lakehurst Rd., Buckhorn).
The “New Venture Session” is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs or startups looking for support in the business community. The session will provide an overview of the foundations of starting and running a business, resources and programs that are available for entrepreneurs in Peterborough & the Kawarthas, the business model canvas exercise, how to access support from the Business Advisory Centre, and getting started on the “Startup Checklist”.
Presented in partnership with Selwyn Township, Trent Lakes, and Curve Lake First Nation, the workshop is free and you can register at www.eventbrite.ca/e/new-venture-workshop-tickets-48692197674.
Leaders Lunch Series on Strategic Planning in Peterborough on September 27
The third event of the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce’s Leaders Lunch Series for 2018 takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 27th at Personal Touch Banquet Hall (1135 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough).
Ali Lajevardi, Director of BDC Advisory Services, will deliver a keynote address on “The Benefits of Strategic Planning” followed by a question-and-answer session featuring panelists Rhonda Barnet, Jonathan Bennett, and Matt Tanguay.
The cost is $20 and includes networking and lunch. For more information and to register, visit peterboroughchamber.ca.
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre hosts business fundamentals workshop in Peterborough on October 2
The Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre is hosting “Business Fundamentals: Business Planning” from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 2nd at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
Part of the organization’s Business Fundamentals Workshop series, this session is designed to give you a strong foundation in business planning, and the importance of a comprehensive business plan. Tools will be available for creating a business plan and its top tips for creating a plan ready to share with banks and funding agencies to secure financing.
You will leave the section with a completed Business Model Canvas covering customer segments, value proposition, channels to market, customer relationships, revenue streams, key activities + resources, key partnerships, and cost structures.
The workshop is free. Advance registration is preferred at www.eventbrite.ca/e/business-fundamentals-business-planning-tickets-50542776806.
Next Kawartha Chamber B.O.S.S. session takes place on October 2
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism’s next B.O.S.S. (Business Owners Sharing Solutions) session is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 2nd at Camp Kawartha (1010 Birchview Rd., Douro-Dummer).
The session will explore team building programs, practices, and activities, and discuss the importance of establishing trust, setting goals, and honouring the goals of others. Refreshments will be provided.
Register at kawarthachamber.ca.
Scotia Wealth Management Town Hall in Peterborough on October 2
Scotia Wealth Management is hosting a town hall informative session from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, October 2nd at the McDonnel Street Activity Centre (577 McDonnel St., Peterborough).
The company hopes the evening will provide unique insights and benefits to business owners and members of the community. This is the first event of its kind hosted by Scotia Wealth Management and ScotiaMcLeod, and will feature its internal partners and advisors sharing the stage to talk about their specialities and to take questions from the audience.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and refreshments will be served.
To RSVP, contact Tammy Sargeant at 705-876-3713 or tamara.sargeant@scotiawealth.com.
Love Local Ptbo Business Expo on October 3
The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce’s Love Local Business Expo will take place this year from noon to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 3rd.
The region’s largest business showcase, in previous years the Expo took place at the Morrow Building during September. While spacious, the location was also somewhat uncomfortable during the heat of late summer and required a lot of carpets to cover up the concrete floor.
This year’s Expo is taking place at the Envinrude Centre, which features air conditioning and hardwood floors.
You can register for a booth at peterboroughchamber.ca.
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development hosts New Venture Session in Peterborough on October 10
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development is hosting New Venture Session from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 10th at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
The New Venture Session is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs or startups looking for support in the business community. The session will provide an overview of the foundations of starting and running a business, resources and programs that are available for entrepreneurs in Peterborough & the Kawarthas, the business model canvas exercise, how to access support from the Business Advisory Centre, and getting started on the “Startup Checklist”.
The session is free, but advance registration is preferred at www.eventbrite.ca/e/new-venture-session-tickets-50612760128
Rural Business Summit 2018 in Fraserville on October 16 and in Burleigh Falls on October 17
Community Futures Peterborough and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development are hosting a Rural Business Summit in two locations this October.
The Rural Business Summit is for entrepreneurs, leaders, and movers and shakers who have big aspirations for their small communities in Peterborough & the Kawarthas. It will include “Marketing your Small Town Business” with WorkCabin.ca Founder Gregg McLachlan, and a Succession Planning Panel Discussion with local experts Darryl Wade from Farm Life Financial, Matthew Savino from Savino HR Professionals, and Nicole Truman of Fox Law.
The summit will also feature the opportunity for round table discussion with other rural business leaders from Peterborough & the Kawarthas, to explore challenges being faced by rural businesses, followed by a discussion of opportunities and objectives moving forward.
The Rural Business Summit in Fraseville takes place from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 16th at Baxter Creek Golf Club (1702 Cedar Valley Rd, Fraserville), and in Burleigh Falls from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 17th at the Burleigh Falls Inn (4791 Ontario 28, Lakefield).
Both events are free and include lunch, but seating is limited. Register in advance on Eventbrite (Fraserville or Burleigh Falls).
