Peterborough & the Kawarthas has no shortage of experiences for those visiting the region — all thanks to entrepreneurs who had an idea for a business that would draw visitors and locals alike to relax, enjoy, and have some fun in the region.
Kelly Convery is one of six local entrepreneurs who recently received support from Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development to bring their innovative tourism business ideas to market.
After 14 years as a paramedic, Convery decided to change her career path by becoming a flower farmer and opening Sanctuary Flower Fields. At the 60-acre Ennismore farm, guests can explore fields of cut flowers, pick their own, and engage in experiences that help them unwind and rejuvenate through a connection to nature.
“Over the past few years, I’ve experienced a lot of grief and a lot of loss, and I needed something to recharge myself and find healing,” she explains. “That, for me, was flowers. It’s been a moment to pause and slow down in this crazy busy life and really mindfully choose how I want to live.”
Though growing fields of flowers began as a way to find healing, Convery has since expanded Sanctuary Flower Fields to offer experiences beyond pick-your-own flowers by creating connections with other small businesses. Throughout the summer, Sanctuary Flower Fields is hosting evenings of relaxation with a reiki and reflexology practitioner, yoga sessions amongst the flowers, and group photography sessions led by local professionals.
“The goal is to have a more focused gathering space and to offer holistic wellness through nature to everyone here,” says Convery. “It’s not just a place to come look at flowers or pick flowers, but a place to pause and ground yourself and connect yourself to what matters most.”
The growth of Sanctuary Flower Fields was made possible through the “Spark” Mentorships & Grants Program, led by the Tourism Innovation Lab in collaboration with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism, a division of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development.
The program provides seed grants and mentorship to foster and support new tourism ideas, experiences, and partnerships that enhance current offerings, motivate travel to the region, and increase year-round tourism.
Sanctuary Flower Fields is not the only flower business blooming in the region with the help of the “Spark” program. Artist Claudia MacDonald, owner of Norwood’s Heritage Blooms UPick, invites visitors to pick their own flowers from the 12 flower beds on her 96-acre property. This past spring, MacDonald’s business hosted its first workshop, where participants learned all about growing dahlias.
Through the “Spark” program, entrepreneurs like Convery and MacDonald were not only able to expand their own offerings through a seed grant, but also formed valuable relationships with industry mentors across Ontario, as well as with other local businesses as a step to fostering tourism collaborations in the future.
Those connections are one of the main reasons Lovesick Kayaking owner Alex Grant wanted to take part in the “Spark” program.
“There’s lots of great resorts, hotels, and restaurants, and I want to build more linkages and more relationships in the tourism sector of the Kawarthas region,” says Grant. “These connections really help get the message out of what a wonderful region this is, and how beautiful it is with the natural environment.”
At Lovesick Kayaking, Grant aims to share with tourists and locals his own passion for Peterborough & the Kawarthas and, specifically, the Burleigh Falls lake for which his business is named.
“It’s such a beautiful lake,” Grant says. “It’s a transitional zone between the granite of the Canadian Shield and the limestone of the St. Lawrence Lowlands, where you get all this amazing flora and fauna. Now I want to introduce people to the environment that I fell in love with.”
Lovesick Kayaking’s expert guides take kayaking enthusiasts on high-quality tours with introductory lessons, while showing them around the lake and introducing them to the frogs, beavers, minks, and ospreys that all live on the lake.
Initially, Grant’s business was focused only on providing Paddle Canada instruction certification to guide the talents of the future tour guides of the region. After consulting with the Business Advisory Centre at Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (now operated by Community Futures Peterborough), he decided to expand his business to incorporate experiential tourism and applied for the “Spark” program.
“Kayaking is a mix of wonderful natural environment, physical exercise, and it’s quite meditative in a way,” Grant says, noting that it is also something that is inclusive to all ages and fitness levels. “Especially in the Kawarthas region and along the Trent-Severn Waterway, there are so many people into paddling, and now we’ve got the reopened Canadian Canoe Museum, which is a real boost for paddle sports in the region.”
Further expanding and highlighting of experiences in the Kawarthas is the goal of Nikki Nelson of N2Adventures, who also received support from the “Spark” program. Her Keene tourism company offers unique accommodation in an off-grid cabin, powered by solar panels, with views of the Indian River. N2Adventures also offers special packages and experiences in partnership with local businesses, and supports local food producers and farmers by providing outdoor culinary experiences.
With the dog-friendly tourism market estimated to be worth $50 billion by 2030 according to a recent U.K. study, another “Spark” participant is doing her part to make Peterborough & the Kawarthas a destination for dog owners.
Meaghan Kynock runs muttmixx, a Havelock-based business that offers homemade organic, all-natural, vegan treats, food toppers, and special occasion (“paw-ccasion”) treats to keep dogs healthy and happy. Named “Business of the Year” by the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Township in 2023, muttmix is organizing a “Puppy Picnic” on July 20 in Havelock, offering doggy burgers, doggy ice cream, doggy photos, doggy pinatas, a doggy raffle, and more.
While five of the entrepreneurs who received support from the “Spark” program elevated and expanded their existing business, one entrepreneur established something entirely new. Miriam Davidson, owner of Rice Lake Arts, has taken over the Bailieboro property that used to be the home of ZimArt’s Rice Lake Gallery, Canada’s only outdoor gallery of hand-carved Zimbabwean stone sculpture.
Before it closed in 2023, the cultural attraction was a popular destination for art collectors and artists who participated in stone-carving workshops there. Davidson has leveraged that popularity by transforming it into a creative learning space that celebrates nature and art by offering workshops in paper arts, fibre arts, and stone and wood carving, all led by local and regional artists.
To draw even more visitors to the five-acre property, Rice Lake Arts is also hosting live concerts throughout the summer, with performances by local musicians including the Rice Lake Arts Jazz Quintet, The Weber Brothers, the Al Lerman Trio, and The Receivers.
“Our tagline is Where Art and Nature Meet, so we really aim to keep our workshops connected to the environment and to the landscape,” says Davidson, noting that it’s what she hopes will appeal to both visiting participants and those leading the workshops. “Those who come to the area for a cottage trip have a reason to stop in for a workshop or for a concert.”
As the six winning “Spark” finalists make big steps in their businesses, thanks to the support they received from the Tourism Innovation Lab and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, they continue to build connections with other tourism-related businesses in the region while inviting both locals and visitors to share in the experience of what makes Peterborough & the Kawarthas a tourism destination that welcomes over three million visitors each year who spend more than $300 million in the local economy.
“We’re so lucky to live where we do, and we have so many beautiful places and spaces,” says Convery. “For our locals as well as tourists, I think it’s important to highlight the region and share information about all the amazing things we have going on in our communities.”
These six businesses are part of the final intake of the “Spark” program offered by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development as the organization prepares to wind down operations. Over the coming months, tourism business operators will continue to receive support and mentorship bring their products to market.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
