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 Elmhirst’s Resort in Keene being selected as a finalist for the 2019 Tourism Industry Awards of Excellence, Peterborough’s Signarama expanding into the custom apparel and promotional products industry, Lucky Strike Bait Works in Peterborough celebrating its 90th anniversary, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada rebranding with a new look.
Also featured this week are Pinnguaq Association launching Lindsay Makerspace, Spark Photo Festival announcing new festival director Jennifer MacKenzie, and the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce winning the annual Canadian Chamber of Commerce competition.
New regional business events added this week include the Cobourg job fair employer registration deadline on September 30th, Venture13 presenting a cyber security tech talk in Cobourg on October 5th and an IBM Lunch and Learn seminar in Cobourg on October 15th, and Small Business Week in Kawartha Lakes from October 21st to 25th.
Elmhirst’s Resort in Keene a finalist for the 2019 Tourism Industry Awards of Excellence
Elmhirst’s Resort in Keene is a finalist in the 2019 Tourism Industry Awards of Excellence from the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO).
For the Tourism Employer of the Year, Elmhirst’s Resort is up against Ottawa Tourism and Escape Manor (with locations in Toronto, Cornwall, Ottawa, Regina Hamilton, Saskatoon, and Brisbane in Australia).
The Tourism Employer of the Year award recognizes an organization that has developed an admirable reputation as a great place to work, and that has established itself as an upstanding example of Ontario’s tourism industry.
Established in 1903, Elmhirst’s Resort on the shores of Rice Lake is an all-season cottage resort and conference facility. It offers a spa, dining, and a activities for the whole family. Managed by a fifth generation of the Elmhirst family, the 240-acre property includes a farm that produces livestock, fowl, and fruit and vegetables that are served to resort guests.
The award winners will be announced on Wednesday, October 30th at the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence gala evening at Blue Mountain Village Inn & Conference Centre in Collingwood, as part of the 2019 Ontario Tourism Summit.
Peterborough’s Signarama expands into custom apparel and promotional products industry
Signarama, a full-service sign, banner, and decal company in Peterborough, has now expanded into the custom apparel and promotional products industry.
Fully Promoted is a sister franchise to Signarama, and both businesses are now located in the same office 774 Rye Street Unit 10 to be able to offer more services and products to existing Signarama clients.
Signarama’s partnership with Fully Promoted, the world’s largest branded products franchise, means Signarama can now offer everything from storefront signage to uniforms to office pens and more.
The grand opening of Fully Promoted takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 24th. The free event will feature food and drink, prizes, giveaways, draws, and more.
Lucky Strike Bait Works in Peterborough celebrates its 90th anniversary
Lucky Strike Bait Works celebrated its 90th year in business on Saturday (September 21) at the Evinrude Centre in Peterborough.
One of North America’s oldest and largest tackle and landing net manufacturers, Lucky Strike was founded in Peterborough in 1929 by Frank “Rusty” Edgar.
With a love of fishing, Edgar turned his hobby into a booming business from his garage. He began to improve wooden plug baits that he had previously fashioned out of broom handles. The plugs were quite heavy and ran deep in the Otonabee River where he loved to fish. The interest of local anglers was quickly peaked, and Edgar began selling his lures from his tackle box.
In 1939, after expanding the business for a decade, Edgar established a new shop where he could now compete with major U.S. companies. After World War II, during which time the Peterborough plant was switched to the war production of search light parts and machine work for armoured cars, an addition was added to the plant expanding production once again.
The anniversary event at the Evinrude Centre included displays of historical antique tackle collections from the Canadian Antique Tackle Association.
“It means a great deal to see our business still growing after 90 years,” says Lucky Strike president Dustin Rhodes. “I am very proud of the lures and nets we build in Peterborough and want to thank all of the great people in our community that have helped us along our journey.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada rebrands with new look
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, a non-profit organization with a focus on mentoring programs for youth, has rebranded with a new modern look.
The 106-year-old organization has a new logo, with the three lines symbolizing the three players who help a young person forge a new path forward: the family, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the volunteer mentor (the “Big”).
The new look and brand reflect months of research and consultation with over 3,500 volunteer mentors, young people, parents and guardians, mentoring leaders, and members of the general public from coast to coast.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada worked with Bain & Co. (which has supported Big Brothers Big Sisters as a long-term pro bono project) and Barkley on the research and brand transformation.
VIDEO: Big Brothers Big Sisters: Empowering Youth and Igniting Potential
“Mentoring is an essential service, impacting childhood brain development and creating positive cognitive, education, employment, and health outcomes,” says W. Matthew Chater, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.
“Our modernization is meant to engage a new wave of volunteers and donors and give them an opportunity to make a true difference in this world, to change two lives: their own and the life of a young person.”
There are three charter agencies of Big Brothers Big Sisters in the Kawarthas: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kawartha Lakes-Haliburton, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northumberland. All three have now rebranded with the new logo.
Pinnguaq Association launches Lindsay Makerspace
Pinnguaq Association is opening Lindsay Makerspace, a gathering place for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together to share, learn, create, experiment, and play with digital technology in a safe and fun environment.
Founded in Nunavut (“pinnguaq” means “play” in Inuktitut) and with offices in Nunuvat, Ontario, and British Columbia, the not-for-profit social enterprise organization incorporates STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) into unique learning applications that promote storytelling, health, wellness and growth with rural and remote communities.
Pinnguaq Kawartha Lakes will host an open house and grand opening of Lindsay Makerspace (87 Angeline St. N., Lindsay) from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 3rd. Everyone is welcome to attend to get an inside look on the services and programming the Makerspace has to offer.
Fall programming will begin on Tuesday, October 8th and will includes Tech Xploration, Ask An Expert, and Repair Cafe Drop-Ins, along with programs for registered participants to learn and experiment with specific skills including Create Comix, 3D Print A Piece, and Community Applied Workshop.
For more information, including the Makerspace schedule and program registration, visit pinnguaq.com/makerspace/ and follow Pinnguaq Kawartha Lakes on Facebook.
Spark Photo Festival announces new festival director Jennifer MacKenzie
The board of directors of the Spark Photo Festival has announced the appointment of Jennifer MacKenzie as the organization’s new festival director.
The former co-owner of Nuttshell Next Door Café in Lakefield, MacKenzie is a cookbook author and food writer who has run her own consulting business since 1999 and is an experienced special events coordinator. She brings her administrative, marketing, and organizational skills to her role at Spark, as well as a personal passion for photography.
“I’m excited to be part of the effort to nurture the ever-growing roster of participating photographers, to expand the array of venues across the region, and to keep increasing audiences for our exhibits,” MacKenzie says.
MacKenzie replaces Spark co-founder Robert Boudreau, who departed as festival director after six years in the role. Boudreau will remain involved in the Festival as a board member in an advisory role and special exhibits curator, while working on personal projects.
The 2020 Spark Photo Festival runs from April 1st to 30th, with ehibit registration opening in October. For more information, visit www.sparkphotofestival.org.
Peterborough Chamber of Commerce wins annual Canadian Chamber of Commerce competition for “Power Hour”
At the annual general meeting of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Saint John, New Brunswick on Saturday (September 21), the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce won the annual Canadian Chamber of Commerce competition.
The Peterborough Chamber was awarded first place by around 300 delegates from across Canada for its annual “Power Hour” event. First launched in 2016, the Power Hour brings together Peterborough’s elected officials for a discussion with the business community.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the staff and volunteers of the Chamber,” says Chamber president and CEO Stu Harrison. “To have the opportunity to not only showcase our Chamber at the national level, but to be judged the best, is truly an honour.”
Community Futures Peterborough hosts financial workshop in Peterborough on September 24
Community Futures Peterborough is hosting “Financial Foundations”, a workshop from 8:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 24th in the boardroom at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
At this workshop, entrepreneurs and those interested in starting a business will learn about federal and provincial funding, local resources available, and how to enter the Company Startup Plus program. Keynote speaker Marie Dietrich, partner at Grant Thorton, will discuss the top five common mistakes young companies make.
The workshop is free, but registration is requested at www.facebook.com/events/1643251439138969/.
Diversity and inclusion in the workplace information session in Lindsay on September 26
The Workforce Development Board/Local Employment Planning Council, in partnership with the Lindsay DBIA and the Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce, is hosting an information session on diversity and inclusion in the workplace from 8 to 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 26th at Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lindsay (134 Angeline St. S., Lindsay).
The free session will feature guest speaker Lindsay Kretschmer, executive director of the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council. Her areas of expertise include Indigenous social justice issues and well being, provincial and federal negotiations, program and training development, research and evaluation, policy and advocacy, and capacity and partnership building.
A webinar will be available for those unavailable to attend in person (details will be provided upon registration).
To register, visit eventbrite.ca/e/employer-education-series-diversity-inclusion-information-session-tickets-68623537849.
FLEX Fitness and AW Media Consulting host fall refresh women’s networking event in Lindsay on September 26
Cathy Steffler of FLEX Fitness and Ashley Webster of AW Media Consulting are hosting a fall refresh women’s networking event from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 26th at FLEX Fitness (66 William St. N., Lindsay).
The event features networking and conversation with like-minded business women along with wine and chocolate. Ashley Webster owner of AW Media Consulting will provide a 45-minute hands-on social media workshop focused on Instagram and Facebook, covering social media best practices, handling negative comments and reviews, social media advertising, building your brand online, and technical tips.
FLEX Fitness is a child-friendly space with a play area, so children are welcome.
The cost is $40 and includes one glass of wine, chocolate treats, and the social media workshop. To register, visit eventbrite.ca/e/fall-refresh-womens-networking-event-tickets-69820132897.
Ontario Chamber of Commerce presents “Scaling Up Small Business” in Peterborough on September 27
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is presenting “Scaling Up Small Business”, a regional panel discussion and report launch event, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, September 27th at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
The event will bring together private and public sector stakeholders to discuss the opportunities and challenges related to growing a business in Ontario. Ontario Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction Prabmeet Sarkaria will make remarks, followed by a keynote presentation by Diane Richard, Director of Product Development, Charlotte Products. A panel discussion moderated by Derek Newton (Assistant Vice President, Innovation Partnerships and Entrepreneurship, University of Toronto) will feature Rhonda Keenan (President and CEO, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development), Dylan Trepanier ( CEO, Alexander Optical), and John Porter (President and CEO, BarterPay).
The event is free. Register at eventbrite.ca/e/scaling-up-small-businesses-registration-68296656137.
Cobourg job fair employer registration deadline on September 30
Watton Employment Services is presenting a free job fair from 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9th at Cobourg Lions Community Centre (157 Elgin St. E., Cobourg).
Interested employers must commit to attending for the full duration of the event, and will be supplied with and table and chairs (wi-fi will be available).
There is no charge for employers to participate. The deadline to register is Monday, September 30th.
For more information and to register, visit nccofc.ca/events/details/job-fair-employer-registration-1621.
Local business organizations host members-only all-candidates debate on economic growth and development in Peterborough on September 30
Local business organizations are hosting a members-only all-candidates debate on economic growth and development from 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Monday, September 30th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough).
This event is hosted by the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Association of Realtors, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Homebuilders Association, Kawartha Manufacturers’ Association, Women’s Business Network of Peterborough, and the Peterborough and District Construction Association.
For more information and to register, visit www.peterboroughchamber.ca.
Venture13 hosts TechXpo Cybersecurity Challenge in Cobourg on October 5
The TechXpo Cybersecurity Challenge takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, October 5th at Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre (739 D’Arcy St., Cobourg).
This event is part of the global CyberLympics, sponsored by SiberX, Durham College AI-Hub, and Venture13. The purpose of the event is to encourage developers to bring forward innovative ideas for cybersecurity applications that are technically feasible and commercially viable.
Teams will have one day to advance their concepts and pitch them to a panel of experts. Mentors and advisors will be available to help teams rapidly iterate their concepts and prepare a pitch presentation to the judges. The winner of the TechXpo Cybersecurity Challenge and the $1,000 cash team prize will be announced at the Cyberlympics finale at Durham College on October 26th, 2019.
TechXpo is sponsored by Venture13 VentureZone Members Eagle Aerospace and ConnexHealth Inc. and the Cobourg Police Service.
For more information and to register, visit www.cobourg.ca/en/venture-13/techxpo.aspx.
Venture13 presents cyber security tech talk in Cobourg on October 5
Venture13 is presenting a tech talk called “I to Eye : Thinking Like A Hacker” from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 5th at Venture13 (739 D’Arcy St., Cobourg).
Keynote speaker Mahdi Raza, co-founder of SiberX, will be speaking on cyber security. SiberX is a roaming customized platform for training, events, and skills development in the cyber security field.
To register for this free event, visit eventbrite.com/e/tech-talk-i-to-eye-thinking-like-a-hacker-tickets-71790032921.
Venture13 presents Fireside Chat on Technology Adaptation and Healthcare in Cobourg on October 7
Venture13 is presenting its next Fireside Chat, on the topic “Technology Adaptation and Healthcare”, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, October 7th in the Innovation Commons at Venture13 (739 D’Arcy St., Cobourg)
Sponsored by ConnexHealth, the free event features a keynote by Dr. Mukesh Bhargava (Chief of Staff, Northumberland Hills Hospital) and a panel discussion with Dr. Bhargava, Ryan Doherty (President and Founder, Empower Health), and Medha Saraiya (Founder and CEO, ConnexHealth), moderated by Rhonda Cunningham (Director, Northumberland CFDC and Executive Director, Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation).
To register, visit eventbrite.com/e/fireside-chat-technology-adaptation-and-healthcare-tickets-71555332927.
Business & Entrepreneurship Conference Northumberland in Cobourg on October 10
The second annual Business & Entrepreneurship Conference Northumberland takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 10th at the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre (930 Burnham St., Cobourg).
Presented by Northumberland County, Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland, Destination Ontario, and Kawarthas Northumberland, the one-day high-level business growth conference is designed to educate, motivate, and promote collaboration.
Keynote speakers include Ron Tsang on the topic “Influential Communication for Entrepreneurs” and Andrew Patrico on the topic “How to Cost and Price Your Products and Services Profitably”.
The cost is $45+HST, which includes breakfast and lunch.
For the full agenda and to register, visit www.becn.ca/conference/.
Kawartha Chamber hosts Awards of Excellence and Social Gala in Lakefield on October 10
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is hosting its 20th Annual Awards of Excellence and Social Gala from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, October 10th at Lakefield College School (4391 County Rd. 29, Lakefield).
There will be a silent and live auction, light hor d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and a social hour for networking in Upper Hadden Hall before the presentation of the awards in the Bryan Jones Theatre.
Tickets are available for $50 per person at business.kawarthachamber.ca/events/details/awards-of-excellence-social-gala-10424.
IBM Lunch and Learn seminar in Cobourg on October 15
Venture13 is presenting Lunch and Learn session with Sarmad Ibrahim, Tech Evangelist at IBB, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15th at Venture13 (739 D’Arcy St., Cobourg).
Find out about the IBM I3 program, discover IBM’s artificial intelligence, internet of things, and blockchain opportunities, network with entrepreneurs and innovators, and more.
The free seminar is by invitation only.
For more information and to request an invitation, visit calendar.cobourg.ca/venture13/Detail/2019-10-15-1000-OCE-IBM-I3-program-Lunch-and-Learn.
Peterborough Chamber hosts 2019 Business Excellence Awards in Peterborough on October 16
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 2019 Business Excellence Awards at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16th at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough).
Awards will be presented in 20 categories, including Business Citizen of the Year.
The event begins with a reception at 6:30 p.m. on the Nexicom Studio followed by the awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. in the Erica Cherney Theatre.
Tickets are $50+HST, available at excellencepeterborough.ca/tickets. Your tickets includes one complimentary beverage and light hors d’oeuvres catered by The Imperial Tandoor.
Small Business Week in Kawartha Lakes from October 21 to 25
Kawartha Lakes Small Business Week takes place the week of Monday, October 21st, culminating with the presentation of the Kawartha Lakes Small Business Innovation Awards beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 25th at the Lindsay Golf & Country Club (292 Lindsay st. S. Lindsay).
Nominations are now open for the awards, which feature a first prize of $750, a second prize of $500, and a third prize of $250.
For a list of all the events during Kawartha Lakes Small Business Week and to submit a nomination for the Kawartha Lakes Small Business Innovation Awards, visit www.smallbizweek.net.
For more business-related events in the Kawarthas, check out our Business Events column.
