Lakefield entrepreneur Tanya Bailey, owner of The Cheesy Fromage, has been recognized by Ontario’s Ministry of Rural Affairs with the inaugural Rural Entrepreneur award.
Rural Affairs Minister Lisa Thompson presented Bailey with the award on Monday (January 19) as part of the first Rural Inspiration Awards event at the Rural Ontario Municipalities Association (ROMA) conference in Toronto.
Bailey was recognized for her efforts in delivering sustainable, local, and healthy home-made meal options to assist residents with meal planning and nutrition.
“Rural small businesses like Cheesy Fromage are what keeps rural Ontario moving,” said Thompson in a media release. “It is so important to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit found each and every day in rural Ontario.”
Bailey first opened The Cheesy Fromage in 2022, offering a selection of Ontario cheeses with sit-down dining and take-out along with custom charcuterie boards.
In 2025, she purchased the historic building at 14 Queen Street where Lakefield’s first general store was located and renamed the business The Cheesy Fromage General Store, preserving the store’s original history and including a gallery space.
Bailey said she was honoured to receive the Rural Entrepreneur 2026 award.
“I am very blessed to have a small business in a rural community which allows me to connect farming and the production of Ontario cheeses with an amazing community like Lakefield in the heart of the Kawarthas,” she said.
“I hope that in some small way I can continue to raise awareness of the hard work of Ontario cheese makers and how they stand shoulder to shoulder with the best cheese producers in the world.”
Bailey was also recognized for revitalizing the Peterborough Agricultural Society by helping steer the 180-year-old organization back from the brink of permanent closure in early 2025.
“Tanya has proven that her dedication to the county’s agricultural community extends far beyond the walls of her Queen Street business,” said Greg Bartlett, vice chair of the Peterborough Agricultural Society.
Bartlett also recognized Bailey’s “strong voice” in local recovery efforts after the October 2025 fire in downtown Lakefield.
Peterborough–Kawartha MPP Dave Smith praised Bailey’s contributions to the region, crediting her with strengthening connections between farmers and consumers.
“By revitalizing the Peterborough Agricultural Society and championing sustainable food through The Cheesy Fromage, Tanya has created a blueprint for rural innovation,” Smith said. “Her tenacity — especially in the face of this past year’s challenges — is a driving force for Peterborough–Kawartha.”
The Cheesy Fromage General Store will be participating in Selwyn Township’s PolarFest winter festival by hosting “The Great Cheese Melt” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, February 1. Guests can indulge in melted cheeses while exploring the Lakefield Winters Past exhibit at the Lakefield Historical Society Gallery located inside the store.
