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 Central Smith Creamery raising $13,420.25 for Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough engineering company Lab Improvements partnering with Peterborough Regional Health Centre to develop an innovative laboratory device, Savage Arms (including the company’s Lakefield location) purchased by private investors, Graphic Packaging International of Cobourg receiving $50,000 in federal funding, and Min-Tech of Campbellford receiving $65,000 in federal funding.
Also featured this week are Play Cafe Peterborough celebrating its fourth anniversary, Cobourg’s Woodlawn Inn earning a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor, the New Canadians Centre seeking a new executive director, Vinnies opening its third location in Peterborough on August 24th, and the Kawartha and Peterborough Chambers announcing their respective award finalists this week.
New regional business events added this week include the Bobcaygeon Chamber of Commerce hosting its Chamber Cocktail Connection in Bobcaygeon on August 12th, the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce hosting The Breakfast Club in Dysart et al on September 10th, and the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism hosting Business After Hours in Apsley on September 19th.
Central Smith Creamery raises $13,420.25 for Peterborough Regional Health Centre
Central Smith Creamery, located at 739 Lindsay Road in Peterborough, held an “ice cream social” fundraiser for Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) on July 20th. Hundreds of people attended the family-friendly event, which featured an ice cream eating contest.
Last Thursday (August 1), it was announced the local dairy had raised $13,420.25 for the PRHC Foundation.
The funds raised by Central Smith Creamery will help fund essential equipment and technology at PRHC. While government funds around 85 per cent of the hospital’s operating costs, there is no ongoing commitment of government funding to upgrade and acquire new technology and capital equipment.
Central Smith Creamery owner Ian Scates and his family have a long history of volunteering and supporting the hospital, and decided to hold the fundraiser to show their thanks to the doctors and nurses at PRHC.
Peterborough engineering company Lab Improvements partners with Peterborough Regional Health Centre to develop innovative laboratory device
More than 1.8 million laboratory tests for patient diagnosis are performed at Peterborough Regional Health Centre every year, and laboratory staff spend six hours each day manually filing and sorting slides containing tissue and cell samples — a situation common in hospital labs around the world.
Now, Peterborough start-up Lab Improvements has partnered with PRHC’s laboratory manager Bernard Schaan and technologist Lori White to develop SlideTrack, an automated slide sorting and filing machine that is the first of its kind in the world.
The benchtop device allows PRHC’s laboratory team to find samples more quickly, ultimately leading to faster patient diagnosis. Staff now spend minutes filing slides, rather than hours, freeing them up to do more valuable work.
SlideTrack was designed and developed in a way that would work for PRHC and for other labs across Ontario. PRHC and Lab Improvements received a $25,000 development grant and a $15,000 procurement grant from MaRS (North America’s largest innovation hub) for the project.
VIDEO: SlideTrack poised to improve patient care at PRHC and around the world
“This brand-new device was developed in Peterborough, by a Peterborough lab and a Peterborough company,” says Alex Bushell, CEO and co-founder of Lab Improvements. “That makes it very unique. In terms of laboratory inventions, these things usually come from really high-level, multinational companies. Very rarely is something like this developed in a small Ontario city.”
Lab Improvements is a client of the Innovation Cluster, a not-for-profit organization that assists technology-based startups in the formation and growth of their companies. As a client of the Cluster, Lab Improvements was able to make essential connections in the community to enhance their product development.
Interest in the new device has begun to spread, and a number of other hospitals have already visited PRHC to see SlideTrack in action.
To recognize PRHC and the Peterborough community for their support, Lab Improvements has committed to donating $2,000 to the PRHC Foundation for each SlideTrack sold. These funds will support future investments into necessary equipment and technology for the PRHC laboratory.
Savage Arms, including Lakefield location, purchased by private investors
On July 9th, Vista Outdoor announced it completed the sale of its Savage Arms and Stevens Arms brands to a group of private investors headed by Savage Arms CEO and president Al Kasper.
Savage Arms operates plants in Lakefield and in Westfield, Massachusetts. The Lakefield plant was founded as Lakefield Arms in 1969 and was acquired by Savage Arms in 1994, which was subsequently acquired by ATK (Vista Outdoor’s predecessor) in 2013.
The total purchase price for the sale is $170 million, consisting of $158 million paid at closing and $12 million to be paid upon maturity of a five-year seller note.
“Divesting our Savage brand was a key aspect of our transformation plan,” says Vista Outdoor CEO Chris Metz. “While it was a difficult decision to sell such an iconic brand, I remain confident that this was the correct choice to help Vista Outdoor grow in those categories where we can have leadership positions.”
Having sold its firearm brands, Vista Outdoor intends to focus on ammunition, hunting and shooting accessories, hydration bottles and packs, outdoor cooking products, and cycling/ski helmets and accessories.
“Savage is a fantastic business, and it deserves to continue to evolve into other firearms categories,” Metz says. “At this time, however, we simply do not have the resources to transform Savage into the full-service firearms company that it deserves to be and, therefore, we determined the brand would be better off with a different owner. We’re excited to see Savage reach its full potential under new ownership.”
Savage Arms produces rifles and shotguns for hunters and target shooters. After the 2018 mass shooting in Parkland in Florida, Vista Outdoor was targeted by gun-control advocates for supporting the National Rifle Association and opposing restrictions on the purchase of long guns.
Graphic Packaging International of Cobourg receives $50,000 in federal funding
Last Thursday (August 1), Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Kim Rudd and officials of Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) announced an investment of $50,000 in Graphic Packaging International in Cobourg.
The funding comes from the Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario (RIIEO), a project funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
Graphic Packaging International, which designs and manufactures packaging for commercial food service products, will use the funding to support advanced manufacturing innovation in recyclable and compostable paperboard packaging as well as business expansion.
The funding is expected to result in the creation of up to 11 new full time jobs in Northumberland County.
Min-Tech of Campbellford receives $65,000 in federal funding
Last Friday (August 2), Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Kim Rudd and officials of Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) announced an investment of $65,000 in Min-Tech in Campbellford.
The funding comes from the Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario (RIIEO), a project funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
Min-Tech, which turns post-industrial plastic waste into new products, will use the funding towards the purchase of state-of-the-art production technology to develop a new plywood alternative made from recycled plastic.
The funding is expected to result in the creation of up to 50 new full-time jobs in Northumberland County.
Play Cafe Peterborough celebrates its fourth anniversary
Play Cafe in Peterborough is celebrating its fourth anniversary.
Located at 809 Chemong Road, the family activity and play studio offers a daily drop-in play space, classes, workshops, events, and parties.
“The first time I had the idea for a parent and child cafe was over 12 years ago,” writes owner and operator Sarah Susnar on Facebook. “I was still living in Toronto and was going to ‘strollercise’ classes with my first baby. After class all the moms would head to a coffee shop/cafe on the Danforth. We could sit and drink our coffee but there was nowhere to put our babies down to play.”
Six years later, she moved to Peterborough and, after having two more children, going back to school to get her Early Childhood Educator Diploma, and working in child care, she finally realized her dream.
To celebrate her fourth year in business, Susnar is holding a celebration and open hour from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, August 17th. Play Cafe will be showcasing its fall programs as well as having free play, prizes, and cupcakes.
Cobourg’s Woodlawn Inn earns TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence
The Woodlawn Inn in Cobourg has received a Certificate of Excellence from travel site TripAdvisor.
TripAdvisor gives a Certificate of Excellence to accommodations, attractions, and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers.
Woodlawn Inn is rated #1 of 62 restaurants in Cobourg, and #1 of 7 beds and breakfasts and inns in Cobourg.
For more information on Woodlawn Inn, visit www.woodlawninn.com
New Canadians Centre seeking new executive director
The New Canadians Centre in Peterborough is seeking a new executive director.
Hajni Hõs, the organization’s previous executive director, resigned in July to take over the reins as executive director of Hospice Peterborough.
New Canadians Centre is a non-profit charitable organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. It is dedicated to supporting immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers in the Peterborough and Northumberland regions.
The full-time executive director position has a salary range between $74,962 and $81,028 with a start date in the fall of 2019.
For the complete job posting and description, visit nccpeterborough.ca/posting-executive-director/. The closing date to apply is Friday, August 23rd.
Questions about the position can be directed to recruitment@nccpeterborough.ca.
Vinnies third location in Peterborough to open August 24
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Peterborough will open its third Vinnies thrift store location at 539 George Street North in downtown Peterborough at 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 24th.
The lay Catholic organization opened its first thrift store in Peterborough in the late 1960s and eventually moved the store to its current location at 799 Erskine Avenue in Peterborough under the name Vinnies.
A second Vinnies location, at 144 Queen Street in Lakefield, opened in January 2019.
All funds raised through the Vinnies thrift stores goes back into the Peterborough community to help the less fortunate.
VIDEO: Vinnies/Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Peterborough
Kawartha and Peterborough Chambers to announce award finalists this week
Both the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism and the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce will be announcing their award finalists this week.
The Kawartha Chamber will announce the finalists for its 20th annual Awards of Excellence on Wednesday (August 7) and the Peterborough Chamber will announce the finalists for its 2019 Business Excellence Awards on Thursday (August 8).
businessNOW will list all the finalists in next week’s column.
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/.
Bobcaygeon Chamber hosts Chamber Cocktail Connection in Bobcaygeon on August 12
The Bobcaygeon and Area Chamber of Commerce, which normally hosts morning networking meetings, is hosting its first “Chamber Cocktail Connection” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, August 12th at Kawartha Coffee Company (58 Bolton St., Bobcaygeon).
There will be a cash bar, and the chamber will provide snacks.
While the event is for Chamber members, non-members are also welcome.
Registration at www.bobcaygeon.org/event-3501040 is appreciated, but not required.
Haliburton Highlands Chamber hosts The Breakfast Club in Dysart et al on September 10
The Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce is hosting The Breakfast Club from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 10th at Abbey Retreat Centre (1150 Garden Gate Dr., Dysart et al).
The guest speaker is John Purkis, senior associate with The Natural Step Canada, who will speak on the topic “Incorporating Environmental Sustainability Into Your Organization”. Purkis is a sustainability expert, facilitator, and systems change specialist who works with municipal governments and other organizations in Canada and around the world to implement sustainability into their operations and planning.
The cost is $20 for Chamber members and $25 for non-members. Register at events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=lu6q9flab&oeidk=a07eghi9i7db8ca279d.
Kawartha Chamber hosts Business After Hours in Apsley on September 19
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is hosting its next Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 19th in Apsley.
More details will be provided closer to the event date.
For more business-related events in the Kawarthas, check out our Business Events column.
