In this week’s businessNOW™, our round-up of business and organizational news from Peterborough and across the greater Kawarthas region, we feature the opening of applications for the 2020 Pitch It! entrepreneurial competition for Trent University and Fleming College students.
Also included this week is the announcement of Duff Sprague as the new chief executive officer of the Peterborough Family Health Team, a Digital Services Squad launching in downtown Cobourg, the United Way Peterborough and District setting a three-year campaign goal to raise $5 million, the October 2nd deadline for applications for the Starter Company Plus Recovery Grant Program in Kawartha Lakes, and TVM Group breaking ground on East City Condos project in Peterborough.
There’s also the announcement of Katie Taylor as the inaugural CEO-in-residence at School of Business at Trent University, Walker Geale-Barker Law in Peterborough acquiring the practice of long-time lawyer Gordon H. Usher, Leslie Bradford-Scott launching a new podcast with her daughter Karly Bradford, the Bakery of Warkworth reopening as Pizza by The Bakery, and Tall Birches opening in Port Hope.
New events added this week include the Innovation Cluster’s Peterborough Youth Entrepreneurship Roundtable on September 30th and Trent University and the Innovation Cluster presenting An Evening with Edward Burtynsky on October 15th.
Applications now open for 2020 Pitch It! entrepreneurial competition for Trent University and Fleming College students
Applications are now open for the sixth annual Pitch It! entrepreneurial competition for Trent University and Fleming College students.
Presented by the Innovation Cluster and FastStart, students are invited to submit their innovative business ideas by Friday, October 9th for a panel of judges to review. Finalists will be announced the following Friday, and — in a change from the usual in-person pitch format — will submit a video of themselves by Monday, October 26th pitching their idea.
One finalist from Trent University and one from Fleming College who have the winning pitch will each receive a $150 cash prize, courtesy of the Peterborough Region Angel Network. The winners will be announced on Friday, October 30th.
For more information about Pitch It! and to apply, visit www.innovationcluster.ca/programs/pitch-it/.
Duff Sprague is the new chief executive officer of the Peterborough Family Health Team
Duff Sprague became the new chief executive officer (CEO) of the Peterborough Family Health Team last Monday (September 21).
Sprague, who was hired after the retirement of executive director Lori Richey, has more than 20 years’ experience in health care. He previously worked with the Community Health Centre of Northumberland, as well as being the first director of the Family Health Team Implementation Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Health and the first lead executive of the Prince Edward Family Health Team.
“I am very excited to start this new journey with the Peterborough Family Health Team and support the many family physicians, inter-professional healthcare providers, and most importantly the patients,” Sprague says.
As new CEO, Sprague will be implementing the organization’s newly developed strategic plan and work to strengthen services and collaborations to bridge local gaps in patient care.
Digital Services Squad launches in downtown Cobourg
A Digital Services Squad has launched in Cobourg to help downtown businesses create and enhance their online presence.
The Town of Cobourg, the Cobourg Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), and Northumberland County received an $18,000 grant from Digital Main Street Ontario to launch the Digital Service Squad, consisting of trained specialists who meet with small businesses at no cost.
The Digital Service Squad helps businesses develop a Google My Business profile, enhance their social media presence, and provide support for a basic website and e-commerce setup. The squad also helps qualified small businesses apply for a $2,500 digital transformation grant from Digital Main Street Ontario.
Digital Service Squad are already in place in other communities in the Kawarthas, including Peterborough, Port Hope, Trent Lakes, North Kawartha, Curve Lake First Nation, Douro-Dummer, Selwyn, and Asphodel-Norwood.
United Way Peterborough and District sets three-year campaign goal to raise $5 million
The decision to switch to a three-year goal comes as the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the organization’s annual workplace campaigns.
“Many workplaces are still working remotely, if at all, and the campaign had to tack to meet the challenges of these unprecedented times,” reads a media release. “A virtual tool kit has been developed along with videos from current donors, workplaces, and partner agencies. All will be shown throughout the coming months in a robust social media campaign.”
The theme of the three-year campaign is “unignorable”, referring to critical social issues for communities including homelessness, partner violence, poverty, mental health, and unemployment.
“Our work on the campaign trail this year is to ensure people understand the ongoing need and challenges that these unignorable social issues present,” says United Way CEO Jim Russell. “COVID-19 offers an opportunity to deepen in our sense of community, and we are here to once again thank the community for rising to the challenge of making sure that a recovery from COVID-19 is a recovery for all.”
To donate to the United Way Peterborough and District, visit uwpeterborough.ca.
Applications for Starter Company Plus Recovery Grant Program in Kawartha Lakes due October 2
Applications are due by Friday (October 2) for the Sarter Company Plus Recovery Grant Program, offered to local businesses through the Kawartha Lakes Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre (KLSBEC).
Grants of up to $4,000 are available for eligible applicants to help offset costs required to maintain operations and grow throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The program supports newer small businesses that have been in operation for one to five years and find themselves with unexpected costs associated with required changes due to COVID-19, such as expenses related to physical changes or business model changes.
KLSBEC will also offer mentorship, connect business owners with advisors or training, and will help guide people to other tools.
The program begins on Thursday, October 8th and runs until Thursday, October 29th. Applications close on Friday, October 2nd. For more information and to apply, visit kawarthalakes.ca/en/business-growth/starting-a-business.aspx
TVM Group breaks ground on East City Condos project in Peterborough
Developer TVM Group held an official groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday (September 29) for its East City Condos project in Peterborough.
The condominium project is located within the former St. Joseph’s Hospital site, at the northeast corner of the original hospital campus. TVM Group purchased the former hospital site in 2009, which it is converting into luxury apartments in several phases with the support of the City of Peterborough.
The nine-storey 93-unit East City Condos is the only new building in the complex. More than 60 per cent of the available units have already been sold, with an expected occpancy date in late fall 2022.
Katie Taylor is inaugural CEO-in-residence at School of Business at Trent University
The School of Business at Trent University has announced Dr. Katie Taylor as its first CEO-in-residence, a new program giving students at both the Peterborough and Durham access to global business leaders.
Taylor is the chair of the board of the Royal Bank of Canada, the former president and chief executive officer of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the former chair of the Sick Kids Foundation, and trustee of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, the vice-chair of the Adecco Group in Zurich, and a director of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Air Canada.
During her time with Trent, Taylor will engage with students both remotely and in-person through lectures, events, Ted Talks, panel discussions, and residency periods split between both campuses.
Taylor’s involvement with Trent began when she received an honorary doctorate degree at the Trent Durham GTA campus’s inaugural convocation in 2016. She is currently the honorary chair of the campaign for Trent Durham GTA.
Her role as CEO-in-residence will also support business students by connecting them with experts, resources, and tools.
Walker Geale-Barker Law in Peterborough acquires practice of long-time lawyer Gordon H. Usher
Peterborough law firm Walker Geale-Barker Law has acquired the law practice of Gordon H. Usher, who recently retired after more than 50 years.
Walker Geale-Barker Law is a three-lawyer firm — Seabourne Geale-Barker, John Mesec, and Douglas Walker — that offers services in the areas of real estate, municipal law, estate planning and administration, and corporate law.
All past clients of Usher are encouraged to contact Tricia Brillinger at tricia.brillinger@cogeco.net for further information.
Leslie Bradford-Scott launches a new podcast with her daughter Karly Bradford
Leslie Bradford-Scott, the award-winning founder of the Walton Wood Farm, recently launched a new podcast with her daughter Karly Bradford called “15 Minute Wisdom”.
“Leslie Bradford-Scott, a high-school drop-out with learning disabilities, built her multi-million dollar brand by reading books and listening to long-drawn-out podcasts from the world’s greatest thinkers,” reads the description of the podcast. “She’s distilling the essence of these learnings down to her ADD daughter, Karly Bradford, into bite-sized pieces and inviting you into their circle. Skip the boring bits in podcasts and books, and get down to the sweet truth as you discover your next life-improvement tool in 15 minutes or less.”
As of the date of this story, four episodes are available. You can find out more and listen at 15minutewisdom.com.
The Bakery of Warkworth reopens as Pizza by The Bakery
The Bakery of Warkworth has reopened as Pizza by The Bakery.
Earlier this summer, owners Jessica Root and Jason Butler announced they would be closing the bakery at 2 Mill Street in Warkworth due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A crowd-funding campaign was launched to save the business and local residents raised more than $26,000 in a few days in July.
As the name suggests, Pizza by The Bakery serves pizza in addition to the breads, butter tarts, croissants, and other desserts available in the past.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/PizzabyTheBakery.
Tall Birches opens in Port Hope
Tall Birches in Port Hope held an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, September 18th.
Owned by Autumn-Leeh Saunders, the shop offers artisanal wood products including oasters, charcuterie boards, and garden boxes that are hand-made on Tall Birches Farm, It also sells domestically sourced handmade self-care items and vintage clothing hand-picked by Saunders.
Tall Birches is located at 54 Walton Street in Port Hope. For more information, visit facebook.com/tallbirches
Innovation Cluster hosts Peterborough Youth Entrepreneurship Roundtable on September 30
The Innovation Cluster is hosting the Peterborough Youth Entrepreneurship Roundtable from 12 to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30th.
The online roundtable, whcih will provide information about the resources available for young entrepreneurs in the Peterborough region, features a panel of representatives from the Innovation Cluster, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, Trent Business Student Association, Trent Youth Entrepreneurship Society, Trent Marketing Association, and Enactus Fleming College.
This free event takes place on the Zoom video-conferencing platform.
For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com/e/peterborough-youth-entrepreneurship-roundtable-tickets-117775265991
Port Hope Chamber hosts Business Excellence Awards in Cobourg on October 1
The Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 23rd Annual Business Excellence Awards from 7 to 10:15 p.m. on Thursday, October 1st at the Port Hope Drive In Theatre (2141 Theatre Rd. S., Cobourg).
Billed as “a night under the stars”, the awards will celebrate the best in Port Hope business while practising physical distancing. A one-of-a-kind premiere movie is being made and shown to announce the 2019 nominees and winners of the Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. This family-focused celebration will follow COVID-19 safety guidelines.
The cost is $25 plus HST per carload.
Tickets can be purchased at porthopechamber.com/events/details/23rd-annual-business-excellence-awards-under-the-stars-446.
Trent University and Innovation Cluster present An Evening with Edward Burtynsky on October 15
The David Sheperd Family Lecture at Trent University and the Innovation Cluster are presenting “Electric City Talks – An Evening with Edward Burtynsky” from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 15th.
During this online event, world-renowned photographer and TED Prize winner Edward Burtynsky will speak about the global water crisis. The immersive talk, featuring Burtynsky’s photographs, will tell the story of water: where it comes from, and how we use it, distribute it, and waste it. Burtynsky will explore the infrastructure of water management, including gigantic hydroelectric dams and terraced rice fields in the heart of China, vast irrigation systems of America’s bread basket, and the use of aquaculture.
This free event takes place on the Zoom video-conferencing platform. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com/e/the-sheperd-family-presents-ec-talks-an-evening-with-edward-burtynsky-tickets-109006996862.
Tri-Association Manufacturing Conference goes virtual on October 22
The Northumberland Manufacturers Association, Quinte Manufacturers Association, and Kawartha Manufacturers Association are presenting the Tri-Association Virtual Manufacturing Conference from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 22nd.
The theme of the virtual conference is resilience: how Canadian manufacturers innovate, create, and overcome disruption. The virtual conference features keynote speaker Liane Davey on building resilient teams, plant tours with Harco Enterprises and Research Castings International, a panel discussion, four workshops (Create a Team of Problem Solvers, A Mobile Workforce – Infrastructure & Security, Building A Resilient Health & Safety Culture, Supply Chain Disruption), and a virtual trade show with 20 exhibitors.
The cost is $100 for members and $125 for non-members. For more information and for tickets, visit themanufacturingconference.ca.
For more business-related events in the Kawarthas, check out our Business Events column.
