This week’s round-up of regional business news includes the federal government’s announcement of $200,000 in funding for Random Acts of Green in Peterborough, Maar’s Music relocating from downtown Peterborough to Brookdale Plaza this summer, and Sweet Bottoms Coffee in Fenelon Falls closing in May.
Also featured this week is the Town of Cobourg announcing implementation of the 2019 Downtown Cobourg Vitalization Community Improvement Plan, the Carousel restaurant in Peterborough closing in June, Pie Eyed Monk Brewery in Lindsay hosting an official ribbon-cutting in May, regional tourism organization RT08 seeking volunteers for its board of directors, and Cobourg Home Hardware Building Centre receiving a national award.
New regional events added this week include the Canadian Canoe Museum’s annual general meeting on April 24th in Peterborough, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development’s annual general meeting on April 25th in Peterborough, the Community Futures Peterborough’s ignite100 competition semi-final live pitch night on May 2nd in Peterborough, the Kawartha Chamber’s B.O.S.S. seminar on cyber security on May 15th in Lakefield, and a celebration of Venture13’s one-year anniversary on May 21st in Cobourg.
Federal government provides $200,000 in funding for Random Acts of Green in Peterborough
Jessica Correa, founder and CEO of Peterborough-based environmental social enterprise Random Acts of Green, is receiving $200,000 in federal funding for her business’s mobile app that motivates Canadians to change their behaviour when it comes to climate change.
The funding was announced last Thursday (April 18) at Victoria Park in Peterborough by Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef on behalf of federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna. The funding comes from the federal government’s $3-million Climate Action Fund.
Random Acts of Green’s mobile app encourages Canadians to act daily to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions production by choosing to adopt one or more of 40 low-carbon choices (“Green Acts”). The federal funding will support the implementation, launch and promotion, measurement, evaluation, and reporting on the success of the app.
Random Acts of Green plans to host an official app launch party — celebrating its many volunteers, local business partners, and supporters — on Tuesday, May 28th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. A national kick-off tour to promote the mobile app will follow later this fall.
Maar’s Music is relocating from downtown Peterborough to Brookdale Plaza this summer
Maar’s Music will be moving from its downtown Peterborough location at 360 George Street North (under the clock tower) to a new space in Brookdale Plaza this summer.
The new location is a larger space at Brookdale Plaza on Chemong Road, in the unit between Healthy Planet and the Bulk Barn.
Owned and operated by Markus and Nicole Maar, Maar’s Music is the oldest locally owned music store in Peterborough. It opened in 1993.
Details of the move, including exact dates, will be announced soon.
Sweet Bottoms Coffee in Fenelon Falls is closing in May
Sweet Bottoms Coffee, located at 19 Colborne Street in Fenelon Falls, is closing at the beginning of May.
Owners Diane Reesor and Wayne Jolly have announced they are retiring.
The popular casual café and community hub offered mainly vegetarian lunch options, fresh-baked bread daily, organic coffees and teas, and treats including butter tarts.
Sweet Bottoms Coffee will be open until noon on Monday, May 6th.
Town of Cobourg announces implementation of 2019 Downtown Cobourg Vitalization Community Improvement Plan
The Town of Cobourg’s planning and development division has announced the implementation of the 2019 Downtown Cobourg Vitalization Community Improvement Plan (CIP).
In the 2019 budget, Cobourg council has approved $75,000 for the 2019 Downtown Cobourg Vitalization CIP.
The plan includes eight funding opportunities designed to encourage private sector investment, rehabilitation and adaptive reuse redevelopment, and construction activity in Downtown Cobourg. The incentives contained within the CIP include grants and interest-free loans for work proposed under these eight program areas.
Applications are due by July 5, 2019. For more details along with the application form, visit www.cobourg.ca/cip.
The Carousel restaurant in Peterborough is closing in June
George and Sophie Spiridis have announced they are closing the Carousel family restaurant after 50 years of operation.
One of Peterborough’s longest-standing restaurants, the Carousel was purchased in 1969 by George’s father, Alex Spiridis, after he immigrated to Canada from Greece.
The Spiridises are retiring and have sold the property, which will house another restaurant.
The Carousel’s final day of business will be Sunday, June 2nd. Any gift cards should be redeemed before then.
Pie Eyed Monk Brewery in Lindsay hosts official ribbon-cutting in May
The Pie Eyed Monk Brewery (8 Cambridge St. N., Lindsay) is hosting an official ribbon-cutting event from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21st.
Established by Jennifer Boksman and Aaron Young in the historic C.L Baker building (across from the Lindsay fire hall), the Pie Eyed Monk Brewery first opened for business in August 2019.
The brewery houses a seven-barrel brew house and carries seven craft beers, brewed in house by classically trained brew masters Sandra Chadwick and Keanan Schiedel-Webb. It is the area’s first restaurant with an authentic Italian wood-fired pizza oven, and has a full-service kitchen that features freshly made pastas, salads, and more.
Everyone is welcome to attend the ribbon cutting. If you plan to attend, RSVP by email to events@pieeyedmonkbrewery.com.
Regional tourism organization RT08 seeking volunteers for its board of directors
Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RT08) is seeking volunteers to sit on its board of directors.
Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, RT08 promotes tourism activity in the area branded as Kawarthas Northumberland (City of Kawartha Lakes, City and County of Peterborough, and County of Northumberland) by working with existing tourism offices in the region.
To be eligible, volunteers should have a commitment to region tourism efforts, a knowledge of and passion for the tourism industry, and an interest in becoming an active participant in RTO8 matters. Two positions are available for Kawartha Lakes (a two-year term and a three-year term), one position is available in each of the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County (each is a three-year term), and one position is in Northumberland County (a three-year term).
The commitment includes attending five meetings per year in Peterborough (held in April, June, September, November, and January).
Nomination forms are available from the RT08 website in Word and PDF formats. Details about duties, expectations, and availability are listed in the form.
All expressions of interest for nominations must be received by Friday, May 10th. Completed and signed forms are to be sent to “RTO8 Board of Directors, Regional Tourism Organization 8, 175 George Street North, Peterborough, ON K9J 3G6”. In addition to the signed form, a scanned copy may be emailed to brendawood@rto8.com.
Elections will be held at RT08’s 2019 Annual General Meeting from 1 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18th at Elmhirst’s Resort (1045 Settlers Line, Keene).
Cobourg Home Hardware Building Centre receives national award
Cobourg Home Hardware Building Centre (650 Division St., Cobourg) has received a national “Proud of My Home Award” from Home Hardware Stores Limited.
The Cobourg location was voted the best Home Hardware Building Centre over 15,000 square feet in Canada, out of almost 1,100 stores across Canada.
The award was presented to Cobourg dealer-owners Brad O’Neill and Joel Curtis at the Home Hardware Spring Market held at the corporate headquarters in St. Jacobs from April 7th to 9th.
To receive the Proud of My Home Award, recipients must provide superior excellence in: customer service and staff performance; staff training; participation in dealer network initiatives; interior presentation, including merchandise presentation and displays, tidiness, and clear signage; and exterior presentation, including cleanliness and attractive window displays.
Port Hope Chamber hosts breakfast meeting on Ontario budget with MPP David Piccini on April 24 in Port Hope
The Port Hope Chamber of Commerce is hosting a breakfast meeting with Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 24th at Railside Restaurant (112 Peter St., Port Hope).
Piccini will discuss the Ontario budget that was announced on April 11th and answer questions.
The event costs $20, which includes a hot breakfast, coffee, and juice.
To register, visit porthopechamber.chambermaster.com/events/details/budget-breakfast-with-david-piccini-376.
Kawartha Chamber hosts Business After Hours on April 24 in Young’s Point
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is hosting its next Business After Hours event from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24th in Young’s Point.
The “Young’s Point Hop” will visit several businesses in the area: Clearview Cottage Resort (462 S. Beach Rd.), Lockside Trading Company (2805 River Ave.), Kinetic Therapeutics (2108 Nathaway Dr.), Young’s Point Personal Training Services (2108 Nathaway Dr.), and Old Bridge Inn (2057 Old Highway 28). The group will be walking between some of the stops.
Admission is free for Chamber members. Non-members can attend once for free and then $25 for any following Business After Hours event if they do not join the Chamber.
To register, visit business.kawarthachamber.ca/events/details/business-after-hours-young-s-point-hop-10420
Bancroft Chamber hosts Biz after Biz networking event on April 24 in Bancroft
The Bancroft Chamber of Commerce is hosting a “Biz after Biz” member networking event from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24th upstairs at Canadian Tire (341 Hastings St. N., Bancroft).
The spring-themed Biz after Biz will be hosted by Ron Landry of Canadian Tire Bancroft and will feature guest speakers and special treats.
The event is free for Chamber members, who are welcome to bring a guest (guests pay $15 at the door). Register at events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07eg8d9y50cefabcf0.
Canadian Canoe Museum hosts annual general meeting on April 24 in Peterborough
The Canadian Canoe Museum is hosting its annual general meeting beginning at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24th at The Canadian Canoe Museum (910 Monaghan Rd., Peterborough).
The meeting will include the receipt of audited financial statements for 2018, appointment of auditors, approval of revised bylaws, election of directors, and other business as identified.
Following the formal business, there will be a presentation updating members on the successes of 2018.
Everyone is welcome to attend, but advance registration is requested at canoemuseum.ca/annual-general-meeting/.
Venture13 Funding Forum on April 25 in Cobourg
Venture13, the Business Development Bank of Canada, and the Northumberland Manufacturing Association are presenting the Venture13 Funding Forum from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday, April 25th at Venture13 (739 D’Arcy St., Cobourg).
Meet with various funding organizations, including the Northumberland CFDC, FedDev, OMAFRA, and more, to learn about the funding programs and services they have to offer.
The event is free. Reserve your spot at www.eventbrite.com/e/venture13-funding-forum-tickets-55978753960.
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development hosts annual general meeting on April 25 in Peterborough
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) is hosting its annual general meeting from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday, April 25th in the Nexicom Studio at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough).
The meeting offers an opportunity to learn more about PKED’s role in the community, highlights from 2018, and a look forward at the year ahead. Formal business will include reports, the election/reappointment of board members, bylaw amendments, and update from PKED president and CEO Rhonda Keenan, and volunteer and board member recognition.
This year’s event will also feature a keynote presentation at 11 a.m. by Eric Canada, an industry thought-leader who will speak on the topic of “Economic Development: A Team Sport”.
Doors open at 9:30 a.m., and light refreshments will be served.
Innovation Cluster hosts breakfast meeting on clean energy and technology on April 26 in Peterborough
The Innovation Cluster’s next “power breakfast” event takes place from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Friday, April 26th at Best Western Plus Otonabee Inn (84 Lansdowne St. E., Peterborough)
The topic will be “Clean Energy and Technology” and will feature organizations working in the clean tech industry: Marcelo Sarkis of Prima IP and Jason Wight, director of engineering at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station (Ontario Power Generation).
The free event includes a hot breakfast buffet.
To register, visit eventbrite.com/e/power-breakfast-clean-energy-and-technology-tickets-59001518129.
Trent Hills Chamber hosts Celebration of Business Excellence Awards Ceremony on April 27 in Hastings
The Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its Celebration of Business Excellence Awards Ceremony from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 27th at The Grand Maple (19 Albert St. E., Hastings).
Awards will be presented in the following categories: Excellence In Business (Retail-Based Business), Excellence In Business (Service-Based Business), Pride And Progress, Customer Experience Award (Service Business), Customer Experience Award (Retail Business), Community Impact, Non-Profit Organization, and the Chair’s Award.
A reception takes place at 6:30 p.m. followed by the awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 for Chamber members and $60 for non-members and are available at business.trenthillschamber.ca/events/details/celebration-of-business-excellence-awards-ceremony-3316.
Bobcaygeon & Area Chamber of Commerce Awards of Excellence on April 27 in Bobcaygeon
The Bobcaygeon & Area Chamber of Commerce presents its 2019 Awards of Excellence dinner and awards ceremony from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 27th at Lakeview Arts Barn (2300 Pigeon Lake Rd., Bobcaygeon).
The event includes a cocktail reception, a sit-down three-course meal, and the awards presentation.
Tickets are $55 per person (table purchases of eight or 10 tickets also available). For more information and for tickets, visit www.bobcaygeon.org/AOE2019.
Bears’ Lair Entrepreneurial Competition hosts final pitch event on April 30 in Peterborough
The Bears’ Lair Entrepreneurial Competition is hosting its final pitch event from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30th at The Venue (268 George St. N., Peterborough).
Six finalists in two categories (Transit One, AVROD, and Alexander Optical in the Innovation category: Electric Juice Factory, Emily Mae’s Cookies & Sweets, and PedalBoro in the Goods and Services category) will pitch their businesses to a penal of judges.
One winner from each category will be announced at the end of the event.
Appetizers will be available, along with a cash bar. Tickets are available for $10 at www.eventbrite.ca/e/bears-lair-finale-event-tickets-60062306977, with the proceeds to be split equally between the two winners in each category.
Deadline for nominations for Kawartha Chamber 2019 Business Awards of Excellence is April 30
The deadline for nominations for the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism’s 20th annual Business Awards of Excellence is Tuesday, April 30th. The nomination period for this year’s awards has moved from the fall to the spring.
Any business, individual, or organization within Peterborough County or the City of Peterborough can be nominated in one of 10 categories: Citizen of the Year, Young Professional, Outstanding Business Achievement, Commercial Development or Renovation, Customer Service Excellence, Entrepreneur Innovation, Not-For-Profit Excellence, Retailer of the Year, Service Sector Excellence, and Tourism/Hospitality. The awards will be presented at a gala event on October 10, 2019.
For more information and to submit a nomination, visit kawarthachamber.ca/nominations.
Community Futures Peterborough hosts ignite100 competition semi-final live pitch night on May 2 in Peterborough
Community Futures Peterborough is hosting the ignite100 competition semi-final live pitch night from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 2nd at the Fleming College Trade & Technology Building (599 Brealey Dr., Peterborough).
ignite100 is an innovation challenge where existing business in the Peterborough region compete for significant funding opportunities that support business expansion and growth.
Eight semi-finalists will pitch their business idea to a panel in front of a live audience. Each semi-finalist will have five minutes to present their idea, followed by a five to 10 minute Q&A. By the end of the evening, three finalists will be selected by the panel.
The semi-finalists are Iron Equipment Ltd., Cottage Toys, Cambium Inc., Percheron Plastic Inc., ATL Distributing, Treewell Limited, Goodwin Metal Products Limited, and Keene Trucks.
The event is free to attend but registration is required at www.eventbrite.ca/e/ignite100-live-pitch-competition-tickets-60145269119.
Established in 2018 by Community Futures Peterborough, ignite100 is an Innovation Challenge open to all existing business in the Peterborough region to compete for significant funding opportunities that support business expansion and growth.
Sold out – Inclusive Advisory hosts “Conscious Shift” workshops on May 10 in Peterborough
Inclusive Advisory, a multidisciplinary firm practising accounting, law, and wealth management with offices in Peterborough and Port Perry, is hosting a series of workshops called “Conscious Shift” from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 10th at The Mount Community Centre (1545 Monaghan Rd., Peterborough).
With the tagline “leadership and management uncensored”, the workshops will feature four speakers sharing their experiences on leadership. Each speaker will give an original 20-minute presentation followed by a 20-minute question-and-answer session.
The speakers are: Paul Bennett, owner of Ashburnham Realty; Mike Skinner, president and CEO of the Innovation Cluster; Chief Kelly LaRocca of the Mississaugas of Scucog Island First Nation; and Sacha Lai-Svirk, director of digital health at Outpost379.
The workshops, which promise to “challenge the participants to step outside of their comfort zone” by introducing them “to alternative insights that challenge the status quo in management”, are designed for business owners, executives, managers, and community leaders.
Tickets are $200 each, with $150 from each ticket donated to The Mount Community Centre, Peterborough’s sustainable and inclusive urban village (charitable receipts will be provided).
For tickets, email Montana Scott at Inclusive Advisory at mscott@inclusiveadvisory.ca.
Note: This event is now sold out.
Kawarthas Northumberland hosting regional ambassador training on May 13 in Peterborough
Kawarthas Northumberland (Regional Tourism Organization 8) is hosting a training session for regional ambassadors from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, May 13th in the boardroom at the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce (175 George St. N., Peterborough).
The half-day course is free to attend and open to all Kawarthas Northumberland tourism operators and tourism businesses.
Space is limited. Register by Wednesday, May 1st by contacting Julie at partner@rto8.com or 705-874-8505 ext. 102.
Kawartha Chamber presents B.O.S.S. cyber security seminar on May 15 in Lakefield
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism is hosting its next Business Owners Sharing Solutions (B.O.S.S.) seminar from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 15th at Beachwood Resort (3043 Beachwood Dr., Lakefield).
The discussion on cyber security and how businesses can protect themselves against cyber crime will include panellists Brendan Quigley of acorn30 and Graeme Barrie of Netmechanics.
Tickets are $15+HST for Chamber members and $25+HST for non-members. Register at business.kawarthachamber.ca/events/details/b-o-s-s-cyber-security-10421.
Venture13 celebrates one-year anniversary on May 21 in Cobourg
Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre is celebrating its one-year anniversary from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21st at Venture13 (739 D’Arcy St., Cobourg).
The agenda will include a review of the past year’s accomplishments, the economic impact to date, and Venture13’s future strategy, as well as announcements regarding funding, community partnerships, and innovation in action.
Tech expert and entrepreneur Takara Small will deliver a keynote address about creating and encouraging rural and urban linkages, driving innovation and growth, and creating the exchange and flow of people, investment, and resources.
Following the keynote address, there will be a self-guided tour of the VentureZone where booths and demos will be set up to showcase Venture13’s entrepreneurs and community partners. A community BBQ hosted by the Cobourg Police Service will be taking place just outside of the building, with all proceeds going towards Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre and Rebound Child & Youth Services Northumberland. P
For more business-related events in the Kawarthas, check out our Business Events column.
