businessNOW™ is our round-up of business and organizational news from Peterborough and across the greater Kawarthas region.
This week features Adam Brown and his brother Addison — owner of Dr. J’s BBQ & Brews in downtown Peterborough — buying Chemong Lodge in Bridgenorth from the Northey family, gourmet candy store Flossophy opening in Peterborough’s East City, Tragically Dipped Donuts coming to Water Street in downtown Peterborough, Herod Financial Services in Peterborough and Lakefield donating $20,000 to local Canadian Mental Health Association, Lakeshore Designs in Selwyn expanding with a new décor store and café in Buckhorn, and Peterborough cannabis grower Canveda Inc. bringing their product to the Ontario Cannabis Store.
We also cover Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development’s launch of the region’s second annual Business Count survey, the opening of applications open for the summer intake of Starter Company Plus in the City and County of Peterborough, the opening of nominations for the 2021 Peterborough Business Excellence Awards, and Workforce Development Board’s May 19th webinar on the results of the recent EmployerOne survey.
Dr. J’s BBQ & Brews owner buys Chemong Lodge in Bridgenorth
Chemong Lodge (765 Hunter St. Bridgenorth) is now under new ownership.
The Northey family, which purchased the lodge in 1962, has sold the restaurant and property to Adam Brown and his brother Addison, owner of Dr. J’s BBQ & Brews in downtown Peterborough.
Situated on three acres overlooking Chemong Lake, Chemong Lodge includes a 267-person licensed restaurant with bar, patio, and kitchen. It has been closed since last year due to the pandemic.
“There have been ups and downs over the years and lots of wonderful memories,” the Northeys write on the Chemong Lodge Facebook page. “We would like to truly thank each and every one of you for your business, friendship and support over these many years.”
“As well, we would like to thank all of our staff both past and present. We could not have done it without you. We wish everyone health and happiness. Please join us in welcoming Adam and the Brown family to Chemong Lodge.”
The Browns will be reopening Chemong Lodge on Friday (May 21) for the Victoria Day long weekend to serve takeout. For more information, visit www.chemonglodge.com.
Gourmet candy store Flossophy opening in Peterborough’s East City
Danielle McIver wants to be “the Willy Wonka of Peterborough” by opening a retail storefront in East City for her gourmet candy business Flossophy.
Flossophy will be located at 75 Hunter Street East, right beside the Tim Hortons, with an opening date planned in June.
The business is named after its featured product, the kind of cotton candy floss you’d buy at fairs and carnivals, which Flossophy offers in a wide range of unique flavours.
“We want to bring back this sweet sensation with a twist,” McIver writes on Floosphy’s Facebook page. “New ideas, new flavors, new #flossophy!”
McIver — who is the 2020/21 president of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough — launched her business last year and has been selling her goodies online.
Along with her modern take on cotton candy, McIver also plans to offer ice cream, candy, donuts, popcorn, and chocolate at the new store.
For more information and for online orders, visit www.flossophyptbo.com.
Tragically Dipped Donuts coming to Water Street in downtown Peterborough
Entrepreneur Mike Frampton will be opening a retail location on Water Street in downtown Peterborough for his business Tragically Dipped Donuts.
Frampton, who recently received a $5,000 microgrant through the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre’s Starter Company Plus program, originally planned to sell his fresh handmade donuts, all-day breakfast, and locally roasted coffee from his food truck.
However, after experiencing challenges finding a location for his food truck, he decided to switch gears. He is now is leasing a retail location at 386 Water Street, the former location of social enterprise Catering Plus, located across the street from Needles in the Hay.
“A diner has been a bucket list thing for me and I didn’t think it would happen,” Frampton writes on his Instagram. “This was a scary leap for me and I couldn’t be happier. Lots of work to do but I hope I’m able to turn what’s in my head into reality. Stay tuned! Also thank you to everyone who’s supported me and helped along my weird journey, can’t wait to make you donuts.”
Frampton is also working with Peterborough’s coffee roastery Rapids End on a Tragically Dipped “Donut Lovers Blend” that will be used exclusively in store after opening.
For updates on the store opening, follow Tragically Dipped Donuts on Instagram @tragicallydipped.
Herod Financial Services in Peterborough and Lakefield donates $20,000 to local Canadian Mental Health Association
Kevan and Roberta Herod, founders of Herod Financial Services in Peterborough and Lakefield, have donated $20,000 to the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge.
The donation will go toward the association’s ‘Journeying Together’ program, which provides education and support each year to around 250 caregivers and family members of individuals with a mental health concern.
“We know that the pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health in our community and individuals with a pre-existing mental health concern are particularly vulnerable during this time,” says Jack Veitch, the association’s manager of community engagement and education.
This is not the first time the Herods have supported the program.
“The Herods continue to be leaders in supporting caregiver mental health in our community and have championed our Journeying Together program since 2014,” Veitch says. “”They have been instrumental in the success of the program and have shown a passion for assisting caregivers. Without the support from the Herods, our Journeying Together program would simply not be possible.”
For more information about Herod Financial Services, visit herodfinancial.com.
Lakeshore Designs in Selwyn expanding with new décor store and café in Buckhorn
Angela Jones, owner of home design company Lakeshow Designs (2968 Lakefield Road, Selwyn Township), is expanding with a second location in Buckhorn.
The Boathouse Boutique décor store will be located at 1929 Lakehurst Road at Lock 31 in Buckhorn and will also include the Bikini Beans Café, managed by Samantha Pillon.
They are currently looking to fill two full-time positions: a retail associate for Boathouse Boutique and a barista for Bikini Beans Café,
For more information, visit www.lakeshorehd.ca.
Canveda Inc.’s cannabis, homegrown in Peterborough, coming to Ontario Cannabis Store
Peterborough’s Canveda Inc., a producer of medical cannabis licensed by Health Canada, will be supplying the Ontario Cannabis Store with a recreational cannabis brand called ‘Strain Rec’ in May.
The cannabis is locally grown and hand curated at Canveda’s facility at 760 Technology Drive in Peterborough.
“Customers can be assured of the highest quality, pesticide, and chemical free products,” reads a media release. “Each batch is tested by a Health Canada certified laboratory providing accurate THC, CBD, and terpene profiles.”
Canveda employs 25 people locally and has worked with Fleming College to develop an internship program with the college’s business school.
Canveda also plans to offer its products at local licensed cannabis stores.
For more information, visit canveda.ca/
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development launch region’s second annual Business Count survey
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development is launching the region’s second annual Business Count in May.
The voluntary survey collects information about the local economy, providing critical insight for employers, workforce development, and municipal planners. The survey will run from May through the end of August.
The Business Count team has already reached out to businesses in North Kawartha, with the remaining schedule including Trent Lakes (May 17 to 28), Douro-Dummer (May 31 to June 4), Asphodel-Norwood (June 7 to 11), Cavan Monaghan (June 14 to 25), Havelock-Belmont-Methuen (June 28 to July 9), Otonabee-South Monaghan (July 12 to 23), Selwyn (July 26 to August 6), and the City of Peterborough (August 9 to September 3).
Businesses that want to complete the survey in advance of being contacted can do so at surveymonkey.com/r/BusinessCount2021. For more information about the 2021 Business Count, visit peterboroughed.ca/real-results/business-count/.
Applications open for summer intake of Starter Company Plus in City and County of Peterborough
Applications are now open for the summer intake of Starter Company Plus in the City and County of Peterborough, a provincially funded entrepreneurial program administered by the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre. The program is designed to provide aspiring to experienced entrepreneurs with business training to help them launch or expand their small business.
The program will accept 12 applicants who will receive five weeks of virtual training and support to help them develop their business plans and business pitches. At the end of the program, the 12 participants will pitch their business to a panel of community judges, and the top six participants will be awarded microgrants of $5,000 each.
Applications for the summer intake close on Sunday, June 13th. For more information and to apply, visit peterboroughed.ca/starter.
For entrepreneurs not yet ready to apply, the program will also return in the fall, with applications opening September 1st and closing September 26th.
Nominations open for 2021 Peterborough Business Excellence Awards
Nominations are now open for the annual Peterborough Business Excellence Awards.
Categories include 4 Under 40 Profiles, Business Citizen of the Year, Businesswomen of the Year (Entrepreneur and Organization), Commercial Development or Renovation, Customer First, Employer of the Year, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Farm Family of the Year, Green Initiatives, Health and Wellness, Hospitality, Innovation / Research and Development, Local Focus, Marketing and Promotion, Micro Business, New Canadian Entrepreneur, Not-For-Profit, Professional Services, Retail, Skilled Trades, and Tourism.
The nomination deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 23rd. If you submit nominations by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 9th, you could win a $100 gift card for the Chamber member business of your choice.
For more information and nomination forms, visit www.excellencepeterborough.ca.
Workforce Development Board hosting webinar of results of EmployerOne survey on May 19
The Workforce Development Board is hosting a free webinar from 10 to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 19th to share the results of its 2021 EmployerOne Survey.
The recent survey of local businesses by workforce development boards across Ontario was conducted to better understand labour market demand in each region of the province. The webinar will provide a high level overview of how local businesses responded to the survey and what workforce challenges have been identified for Northumberland, Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton.
For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.ca/e/153712527307. If you can’t attend, stay tuned to kawarthaNOW. We will be publishing a story on the results of the survey.
For business-related events in the Kawarthas, check out our Business Events column.
