businessNOW™ is the most comprehensive weekly round-up of business and organizational news and events from Peterborough and across the Kawarthas.
This week’s business and organizational news includes Lakefield’s Tragically Hipp purchasing their building at 60 Queen Street, Port Hope’s Dancing Bee Inc. receiving $65,000 through the Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario fund, and Leora Berman of The Land Between and Sherri Owen of Camp Kawartha receiving Canadian Wildlife Federation awards.
Also featured this week are local business and entrepreneurship being celebrated at VentureNorth in downtown Peterborough, the grand opening of Pedego Kawartha Lakes Lindsay, and the closure of Frank’s Pasta and Grill in Cobourg.
New regional business events added this week include Comfort Keepers Peterborough hosting its grand opening in Peterborough on August 22nd.
Lakefield’s Tragically Hipp now owns the building at 60 Queen Street
Boutique fashion shop Tragically Hipp Fashion Gallery has purchased its landmark building at 60 Queen Street in Lakefield.
Owner Evelyne Derkinderen made the announcement on Facebook on July 18th.
In the post, she explains that she learned four months ago the building was going to be sold and — with no lease or renewal option — Tragically Hipp would possibly lose the location and the business.
Derkindere goes on to say that, “with patience and persistence”, she and her partner Peter Osborne were able to secure financing and purchase the building.
To add icing to the cake, iconic Canadian singer-songwriter and musician Murray McLauchlan and his wife Denise Donlon (business executive, television producer, host, and member of the Order of Canada) dropped by Tragically Hipp last Friday (July 26).
Tragically Hipp, which offers affordable and everyday apparel and accessories for women who see themselves as unique and authentic, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday (closed on Sunday).
Port Hope’s Dancing Bee Inc. receives $65,000 through the Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario fund
Port Hope beekeeping equipment business Dancing Bee Inc. will receive $65,000 in funding through the Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario fund.
Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) and Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Kim Rudd made the announcement on Monday (July 29) at the company’s location at 3384 Loyalist Road.
In operation for nine years, Dancing Bee is the market leader for commercial and residential beekeeping equipment, medication, safety gear, and training.
The funding will support Dancing Bee’s purchase and installation of a new innovative extraction line, allowing the company to process a higher volume of honey more efficiently, and will create as many as four new full-time and two part-time jobs in Northumberland County.
“This expansion will be monumental in the next phase of Dancing Bee such as supporting the community with new jobs and attracting tourism to Port Hope, while delivering outstanding results that we can be proud of,” says Dancing bee founder, CEO, and master beekeeper Todd Kalisz.
“Expanding our business will allow increased opportunities to collaborate with and grow other small vendors within the community, along with our own business.”
For more information on Dancing Bee Inc., visit dancingbeeequipment.com.
Leora Berman of The Land Between and Sherri Owen of Camp Kawartha receive Canadian Wildlife Federation awards
The Land Between founder and Chief Operating Officer Leora Berman of Haliburton and Camp Kawartha outdoor educator Sherri Owen of Lakefield have each been honoured with awards from the Canadian Wildlife Federation.
Berman received the Roland Michener Conservation Award, named after Canada’s former Governor General, which is awarded to “any individual who has demonstrated a commitment to conservation through effective and responsible activities that promote, enhance and further the conservation of Canada’s natural resources”. Berman shared the award with the Marine Animal Rescue Service (MARS), a charity established to rescue beached marine mammals on the east coast.
Along with The Land Between, a grassroots environmental non-governmental organization focused on a 12,000-square-kilometre bioregion in central Ontario, Berman is the founder of Turtle Guardians, a collaborative program to advance citizen science and conservation of species at risk. She has also worked for Ducks Unlimited Canada, Wildlife Habitat Canada, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Sherri Owen of Lakefield received the Wild Educator of the Year Award, which is presented to an educator who uses the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s education programming “to provide innovative and meaningful experiences for youth that focus on wildlife and the building of a conservation ethic.
Owen has been an outdoor educator for more than 20 years, including as an instructor at Camp Kawartha. As a wilderness guide, she has taught thousands of students about the pleasures and responsibilities of loving the wild. A a facilitator in the federation’s Project Wild teacher training, she has also shared her passion and creativity with hundreds of Ontario educators.
Berman and Owen, along with four other award recipients, are profiled in the July/August issue of Canadian Wildlife and Biosphère magazines available on newsstands and by subscription.
Local business and entrepreneurship celebrated at VentureNorth in downtown Peterborough
Local business and entrepreneurship was celebrated at an open house last Friday (July 26) at VentureNorth in downtown Peterborough.
The open house provided an opportunity for the public to explore the building at 270 George Street North, which is a business hub for economic development organizations including the Innovation Cluster, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, Community Futures Peterborough, and Junior Achievement for Peterborough, Lakeland, Muskoka.
“This event was a great opportunity for the public to get an idea of what goes on in the VentureNorth Building,” says Innovation Cluster president and CEO John Gillis.
“It’s important for the community to see the organizations and startups that work to make Peterborough and the Kawarthas a thriving place for business.”
Following the open house, a BBQ was held in the VentureNorth parking with live music provided by Peterborough band Paper Shakers.
Pedego Kawartha Lakes Lindsay held its grand opening on July 27
Lindsay electric bike business Pedego Kawartha Lakes hosted its grand openeing last Saturday (July 27).
Owned by Allen Hussey, Pedego Kawartha Lakes Lindsay (66 William St. N., Lindsay) is a franchise of the company originally founded in California in 2008 and in Canada two years later. Hussey also runs a Pedego location at 47 William Street in Bobcaygeon that he opened in 2018.
Attending the grand opening, which included a group ride, was a constable from Kawartha Lakes Police Service. Earlier this summer, Hussey donated a high-performance electric mountain bike to the police service to assist police in patrolling the community while reducing their carbon footprint.
For more information about Pedego Kawartha Lakes, visit pedegoelectricbikes.ca/dealers/pedego-lindsay/.
Frank’s Pasta and Grill in Cobourg has closed
After seven years, Frank’s Pasta and Grill in Cobourg has closed for good effective July 20th.
The popular family-owned restaurant located at 426 King Street East also featured live music every week.
The closure of Frank’s came one day after the closure of another popular Cobourg restaurant, The Cat & Fiddle.
Lindsay Chamber hosts breakfast networking meeting in Lindsay on July 31
The Lindsay & District Chamber Chamber of Commerce is hosting its next M2M Breakfast Meet Up from 8 to 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 31st at Smittys Family Restaurant (370 Kent St., Lindsay).
Bring your business cards and chat with other like-minded people while enjoying a breakfast you order from the Smitty’s menu.
No registration required and this is a free event (just pay for what you order).
Port Hope Chamber hosts Women in Business Breakfast Series in Port Hope on August 6
The Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce is hosting the next seminar in its Women in Business Breakfast Series from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Jack Burger Sports Complex (60 Highland Dr., Port Hope).
Local women in business are invited to attend the session, which will focus on the importance of self care and resources available locally.
The cost for the session is $5 per person, in advance or at the door.
For more information, email admin@porthopechamber.com.
Peterborough Chamber hosts Chamber AM breakfast meeting in Peterborough on August 13
The next Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Chamber AM breakfast meeting takes place from 7 to 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 13th at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
Networking begins at 7 a.m., with breakfast orders taken at The Edison at 7:30 a.m. At 7:45 a.m., you can make your best 30-second elevator speech to the room), followed by a mystery guest speaker at 8 a.m.
There is no cost for the event (order what you like and pay for what you order).
Rebound Child & Youth Services hosts Northumberland Chamber’s next networking event in Cobourg on August 13
The Northumberland Central Chamber Of Commerce’s next Meet and Greet event takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 13th at Rebound Child & Youth Services Northumberland (700 D’Arcy St. N., Unit 20).
The monthly business networking events are hosted by Chamber members on the second Tuesday of every month. This is an opportunity both for networking and to learn more about the services provided by the host Chamber member.
The event is free for Chamber members and $10 for non-members. Advance registration is requested at nccofc.ca/events/details/nccofc-meet-greet-rebound-child-youth-services-1605.
FastStart Peterborough hosts “Goodbye Summer, Hello Entrepreneurship” seminar in Peterborough on August 13
The next FastStart E-Connect seminar, “Goodbye Summer, Hello Entrepreneurship!”, takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 13th at the Silver Bean Cafe in Millennium Park (1130 King St., Peterborough).
Donna Floyd, founder and CEO of Cottage Toys, and Jillian Scates, sales and operations analyst with Central Smith Creamery, will discuss family business and working in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
FastStart Peterborough is a partnership between Trent University, Fleming College, and the Innovation Cluster.
The event is free, but registration is requested at eventbrite.com/e/e-connect-goodbye-summer-hello-entrepreneurship-tickets-64432741063
Innovation Cluster hosts “Hands-ON: Maintaining Mindfulness as an Entrepreneur” workshops in Peterborough starting on August 14
On Wednesdays in August, the Innovation Cluster is hosting “Hands-ON: Maintaining Mindfulness as an Entrepreneur”, a three-part series emphasizing mindfulness for entrepreneurs.
“No Stress Zone: Pilates with the Healthy Sweet Potato” is a Pilates class at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough) on August 14th, followed by “Managing Stress and Burnout with Legendary Coaching” on August 21st, and “Pause for Paws – Therapy Dogs” on August 28th, when East Central Therapy Dogs will bring in volunteers to do an hour of de-stressing with their dogs.
All workshops will have a limited amount of space and registration is mandatory. Registration for the series will open in August, and businessNOW will have all the details when available.
Port Hope Young Professionals and Port Hope Chamber host a “house party” in Port Hope on August 16
Port Hope Young Professionals and the Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce are hosting a “house party” starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, August 16th at the Penryn Park at the Port Hope Golf & Country Club (82 Victoria St. S., Port Hope).
The event for the Port Hope business community will feature live music by the Brown Bag Tour Company, local food, a cash bar, and more.
More details will be available closer to the event date.
Venture13 hosts The Employer Event in Cobourg on August 20
The Community Employment Resource Partnership, Northumberland County, and the millennial team of Canada Summer Jobs students at the Community Training and Development Centre are presenting “The Employer Event” from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20th in the lecture hall at Venture13 (739 D’Arcy St., Cobourg).
The focus of the event is how to recruit, retain, and train millennials (employees aged 20 to 45) who, by 2025, will make up 75 per cent of the workforce. You will learn information from experts in recruitment, retention, and training, explore a variety of techniques and resource, and discover innovative ideas, insights, and strategies.
If you are an employer interested in the event, RSVP by August 9th by emailing theemployerevent2019@outlook.com.
Comfort Keepers Peterborough hosts its grand opening in Peterborough on August 22
Comfort Keepers Peterborough will be hosting a grand opening from 2 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 22nd at Peterborough Business Hub (398 McDonnel St., Peterborough).
Corey and Alyssa Rowe are the owners of the local franchise, which offers senior care, dementia/Alzheimer care, personal care and grooming, meal preparation, transportation services, palliative and end-of-life care, new mother services, brain injury support, post-surgery or car accident support, and more.
There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony and light refreshments will be available.
For more information on Comfort Keepers Peterborough, visit www.comfortkeepers.ca/peterborough/.
Bancroft Chamber hosting Mineral Collecting Tours now until August 31
The Bancroft & District Chamber of Commerce is hosting Mineral Collecting Tours now until Saturday, August 31st at various locations in Hastings County.
Registration is held at 9 a.m. at the Chamber office (51 Hastings St. N., Bancroft) on the day of each tour, with tours departing at 9:30 a.m. The tours take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with each tour lasting around five hours.
Participants are responsible for their own equipment (mandatory safety glasses and closed-in footwear and rockhounding equipment) and transportation. The cost is $17 for adults, $12 for youth aged 16 and under, or $50 for a family of up to five people. Additional fees are required for specific sites.
For a tour schedule and more information, visit www.bancroftdistrict.com/bancroft-nature-discovery-tours/.
For more business-related events in the Kawarthas, check out our Business Events column.
