Happy Thanksgiving, and welcome to this week’s edition of businessNOW.
Publishing on Thanksgiving Monday feels like the right time to say thank you. I hope you will join me in gratitude for communities that keep growing, with new businesses opening their doors, moving and expanding, and with Lakefield downtown rebuilding and showing the resilience that makes it such a special place.
I’m also grateful for how engaged our communities are heading into the municipal election. Whoever you’re supporting, thank you for asking questions, showing up, and caring about the future of Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
This edition is also full of milestones. The Venue Peterborough is marking five years of family ownership, Hard Winter Bakery is celebrating six years in East City, and Lakefield Rentals & Sales has reached 40 years in business. It’s a reminder that longevity in business is built on loyal customers, and every one of us who chooses to shop local plays a part in that.
Thank you for reading, and for supporting the local businesses you’ll meet below. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
La Copa by Imperial to bring Spanish and Mediterranean social bar to downtown Peterborough
The team behind two well-known Peterborough restaurants is preparing to add a new dining and social destination to downtown’s Hunter Street corridor.
La Copa by Imperial is expected to open in early November at 224 Hunter Street West, in the former Kettle Drums restaurant location. The new venture is from Imperial Group, the local hospitality team behind The Imperial Tandoor on Lansdowne Street and Agave by Imperial on George Street North.
The group is led by cousins and business partners Jim Grover and Manish Choudhry, who opened Imperial Tandoor in 2017 before expanding downtown with Agave by Imperial, a Mexican restaurant and bar.
The owners say the support they have received from customers since opening their first restaurant helped make the expansion possible.
“Every visit, recommendation, and celebration shared with us has helped make this next chapter possible,” they say. “With La Copa, we want to bring something fresh to Peterborough’s culinary scene, with Mediterranean and Spanish-inspired food, freshly prepared with the same care we put into our other two restaurants.”
Described as an upscale Spanish and Mediterranean social bar, La Copa will focus on food and drinks designed for sharing and lingering over. Early previews point to a menu featuring tapas and paella, mezze, fresh pastas, coastal seafood, artisan pizzas, fire-grilled meats, wine, and creative cocktails.
“Quality is at the heart of what we’re creating, from the food on your plate to the way you feel when you walk through the door,” the owners say.
The new restaurant is being positioned for both a glass of wine and a few small plates as well as longer dinners and evenings out with friends. The owners say they are creating a welcoming setting for birthdays, anniversaries, evenings with friends, and everyday occasions worth celebrating.
“Our hope is that La Copa becomes part of your memories, just as this community has become part of ours,” they say.
Imperial Group is currently recruiting its opening team, including bartenders, servers, cooks, pizza makers, prep cooks, and dishwashers. The owners say the new restaurant also represents their ongoing commitment to the community.
“We love Peterborough, and whenever we have the opportunity, we want to keep investing here,” they say. “We’re grateful to be opening another place where we can welcome you around the table.”
An exact opening date, hours, full menu, and reservation details have not yet been announced.
For more information on the opening, follow La Copa by Imperial on Instagram at @copabyimperial.
The Venue Peterborough celebrating five years of family ownership on October 14
Kevin and April Sendel will celebrate five years of family ownership of The Venue Peterborough with an afternoon reception on Wednesday (October 14).
The Sendels purchased the downtown event space in 2021 from Michael and Catia Skinner, bringing more than a decade of event-industry experience through their Personal Touch Catering and Personal Touch Banquet Hall businesses. They continue to operate both businesses alongside The Venue.
Over the past five years, The Venue has continued to host weddings, corporate events, fundraisers, community initiatives, and celebrations for clients across the region.
Community leaders, business partners, clients, and local organizations are invited to join the celebration from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at The Venue at 286 George Street North in downtown Peterborough.
The event will include welcome remarks, community highlights, guided venue tours, and light refreshments. RSVP by email to tiffany@venueptbo.ca.
For more information about The Venue, visit venueptbo.ca or call 705-876-0008.
Kawartha Apparel launches T-shirt of the Month Club on October 15
Erin Shannon-Hill owner of Kawartha Apparel is introducing a T-shirt of the Month Club, offering subscribers 12 exclusive T-shirts over 12 months, with a new design released each month.
The club launches on Thursday (October 15) with the brand’s Christmas drop. Subscribers can select their size but will not see designs in advance, adding an element of surprise to the subscription. Each club-only design will remain exclusive and will not be added to Kawartha Apparel’s regular collection.
The first shirt is expected to ship at the end of January, making the new subscription a locally inspired holiday-gift option for Kawartha apparel fans.
To join the club, visit www.kawarthaapparel.com on October 15.
One year after the fire, Kawartha Home Hardware prepares to rebuild in downtown Lakefield
It was one year on October 9 since a fire destroyed the historic Kawartha Home Hardware building at 24 Queen Street in downtown Lakefield, and the business says its rebuild is about to begin. In a video posted at the vacant site, general manager Garnet Hinds thanked the community for its support over the past year and said the business is “inches away from digging our new hole.”
Since December, Kawartha Home Hardware has operated from a temporary store across the street at 25 Queen Street. The owners have been clear from the start that they intend to rebuild at the original location and stay in Lakefield. The fire also affected neighbouring businesses and displaced the residents of the apartments above the store, and the community rallied around all of them.
Congratulations to the team on reaching this milestone, and here’s to watching a new building rise on that corner.
Lakefield Rentals & Sales marks 40 years as a Lakefield mainstay
Lakefield Rentals & Sales is celebrating 40 years in business, marking four decades as a trusted local resource for equipment rentals and sales.
Owner-operator Dave Garrett and his wife Sue were recently joined by Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark and Selwyn Township mayor Sherry Senis to mark the milestone.
Operating from 94 Queen Street in downtown Lakefield, the family-run business offers a broad range of equipment, including Bobcats, mini excavators, chainsaws, floor sanders, scaffolds, concrete mixers, portable generators, air compressors, and power tools.
For 40 years, Lakefield Rentals & Sales has been an important part of the Lakefield business community, helping customers tackle projects while building the lasting relationships that underpin a strong local economy.
For more information, call 705-652-3160.
Hard Winter Bakery celebrates six years in Peterborough’s East City
Hard Winter Bakery is celebrating six years in Peterborough’s East City.
Located at 133 Hunter Street East, the bakery thanked customers for making it part of their daily routines and special meals.
Owners Graham Thoem and Jessica Arsenault originally launched Hard Winter Bread Company in Lakefield in 2014. The couple, who have been married since 2006 and have two young sons, had no storefront location and were selling their products at local farmers’ markets and selected restaurants and specialty food shops.
That all changed when they opened their bakery in East City, just across the street from the Liftlock Foodland, on the Thanksgiving weekend in 2020. Since then, Hard Winter Bakery has been a popular destination for locals.
For more information, visit www.hardwinterbakery.com or call 705-775-7473.
Foundry Pizza brings Detroit-style pan pizzas to downtown Peterborough
Foundry Pizza has opened at 379 Water Street in downtown Peterborough, specializing in Detroit-style pan pizzas and stuffed sandwiches.
The new venture comes from the local family behind the former Revelstoke Café and Bar 379 in the same location. Revelstoke Café began as a plant-based café in 2019, while Bar 379 opened in the Water Street space in 2024, making Foundry Pizza the group’s newest addition to Peterborough’s food scene.
Foundry Pizza’s deep-pan pizzas and stuffed sandwiches are made fresh daily. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., with pickup orders available at 705-741-2222 and delivery through Uber Eats.
For more information and regular updates, follow Foundry Pizza on Instagram at @thefoundrypizza.
Downtown Peterborough welcomes a wave of new businesses
Foundry Pizza is just one of a number of new businesses that have opened or are opening in downtown Peterborough and East City, according to a recent roundup from the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).
Other new businesses include Curate & Co. by KDI at 386 Water Street, Malabar Kitchen at 221 Hunter Street, Oogeema Ganoo at 410 Chambers Street, Chowk at 343 George Street, and Desi Dugout at 197 Hunter Street.
Two more businesses are also on the way: Copa by Imperial in the former Kettle Drums location at 224 Hunter Street West (see our story above) and Living Local Marketplace in East City in the former location of Take Cover Books, which recently moved across the Hunter Street bridge to 391 Water Street in downtown Peterborough (covered in a previous edition of businessNOW).
Together, the additions expand the city’s growing mix of retail and food and drink offerings.
Lift Lock Therapy moves to 260 Milroy Drive
Lift Lock Therapy, a family psychotherapy practice serving Peterborough and offering online appointments across Ontario, has moved to a new location at 260 Milroy Drive after four years at 398 McDonnel Street.
The larger space will allow the practice to expand its services and welcome more families at a time when many are struggling to access mental health care locally.
“We are a local practice, but more importantly, we are a part of this community,” said Evan Coghlan, registered psychotherapist and clinical director, in a media release.
To celebrate the move, the practice hosted a free family skate on Thanksgiving Monday at the Miskin Community Complex, where therapists were on hand to chat with families.
Lift Lock Therapy supports children, teens, and parents with challenges related to growing up, parenting, relationships, school, and work. Learn more at liftlocktherapy.com.
People on the Move
Nancy Wiskel joins Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region as project manager
Nancy Wiskel, owner of DJC Modern Apparel, has joined Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region as a project manager.
The new role brings Wiskel back to the construction industry, where she will support the planning and delivery of affordable housing projects across the Kawarthas.
“I’ll continue operating my clothing store, DJC Modern Apparel, while taking on this new professional opportunity,” Wiskel wrote on LinkedIn. “I’m grateful for the support of everyone who has helped me along the way and excited for what’s ahead.”
Former Peterborough mayor Diane Therrien-Hale joins Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness
Former Peterborough mayor Diane Therrien-Hale has begun a new role as municipal government relations specialist with the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness.
In announcing the position on LinkedIn, Therrien-Hale said it brings together her experience in government, the non-profit sector, and community activism, while aligning closely with her own values. She will support the national organization’s work toward ending homelessness in Canada.
After serving as Peterborough mayor from 2018 to 2022, Therrien-Hale was senior reearch officer at the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) since February 2023.
Nic Gagliardi of Rise + Run Co. becomes newest tenant at downtown Peterborough’s Commerce Building
Nic (Nicole) Gagliardi, owner of Rise + Run Co., is the newest tenant at Ashburnham Realty’s Commerce Building in downtown Peterborough.
Gagliardi was previously co-executive director of the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, joining as a program coordinator in 2014 and taking on increasingly senior leadership roles at the organization until she was appointed as a member of the foundation’s executive team in 2019.
In 2021, she left the foundation to focus on Rise + Run Co., a social enterprise she co-founded with her partner Jason Stabler that supports nonprofits across Canada with strategy, governance, and human resources solutions. The consultancy takes a values-driven, equity-focused approach to helping organizations create systems that are practical, effective, fair, sustainable, and human-centred.
Laken Macfarlane accepts development services coordinator role with City of Peterborough
Laken Macfarlane has accepted the position of development services coordinator with the City of Peterborough’s Planning, Development & Urban Design team.
Macfarlane said the past year with the team has brought new challenges, responsibilities, and valuable learning opportunities. In her permanent role, she looks forward to continuing to support planning processes, improve services, and learn from colleagues across the department.
Earlier this year, Macfarlane received United Way Peterborough & District’s Spirit of the Community Award in recognition of her leadership of the City of Peterborough’s workplace campaign. She has returned to the United Way Cabinet for the current campaign.
Upcoming Events – October 13 to 27, 2026
Tuesday, October 13 – October Chamber AM with T-Elle Boutique
Host: Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce
Time: 8 to 9 a.m.
Location: T-Elle Boutique by VSL, 131 Charlotte Street, Peterborough
Monthly morning networking for local entrepreneurs and business professionals, hosted by downtown retailer T-Elle Boutique.
Details and registration: https://www.pkchamber.ca/
Thursday, October 15 – Thinking of Starting Your Own Business? County Tour – Havelock-Belmont-Methuen
Host: Community Futures Peterborough and Peterborough County Economic Development
Time: 8:30 a.m. to noon
Location: Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Township Office, 1 Ottawa Street East, Havelock
Cost: Free
An introductory entrepreneurship session followed by networking and access to financing and advisory resources.
Details and registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/cc/thinking-of-starting-a-business-county-tour-4863570
Thursday, October 15 – Entrepreneurship 101: Money Map – Cash Flow Forecasting
Host: Community Futures Peterborough and Scotiabank
Time: 1 to 2 p.m.
Location: Venture North, 270 George Street North, Peterborough
Cost: Free
Braden Clark presents a practical workshop on cash-flow planning and financial forecasting.
Details and registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1998754695098
Monday, October 19 – From Startup to Succession
Host: Kawartha Financial Services
Time: 4 to 6 p.m.
Location: Canadian Canoe Museum, 2077 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough
John Kehoe discusses business financial planning from launch and growth to ownership succession.
Details and registration: https://www.kawarthacu.com/events
Monday, October 19 – Kawartha Lakes Small Business Week Kick-Off
Host: Kawartha Lakes Small Business Centre
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Bobcaygeon; venue to be confirmed
Small Business Week programming in Bobcaygeon.
Details: https://www.kawarthalakes.ca/business-development/small-business-centre-sbc/small-business-week/
Tuesday, October 20 – AI for Retail: Work Smarter, Market Better & Get Holiday Ready
Host: Town of Cobourg Economic Development Department
Time: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Venture13, 739 D’Arcy Street, Cobourg
Sofie Andreou leads hands-on AI training for retailers preparing holiday marketing and promotions.
Details and registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1999397624116
Tuesday, October 20 – Planning Your Exit with Succession Ontario
Host: Succession Ontario
Time: 11 a.m. to noon
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Sarah Gobeil explains succession planning and business ownership-transfer options.
Details and registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002576802123
Tuesday, October 20 – The Modern Entrepreneur Experience
Host: Community Futures Peterborough and the Business Advisory Centre
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: The Roy, 380 George Street North, Peterborough
Cost: Free
Small Business Week event featuring workshops on storytelling, e-commerce, local advantage and entrepreneurship, plus networking and lunch.
Details and registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/2000604201020
Tuesday, October 20 – Record Keeping Essentials: Keeping Your Business on Track
Host: Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland
Time: 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Location: Online via Zoom
Carey McMaster covers practical record-keeping, tax documentation and financial organization for small businesses.
Details and registration: https://becn.ca/seminars-workshops-and-conferences/
Tuesday, October 20 – Your Business Is Making Money… So Where Is the Cash?
Host: Port Hope & District Chamber of Commerce
Time: 1 to 2 p.m.
Location: Hampton Inn Port Hope, 80 Henderson Street, Port Hope
Cost: Free
Shaelene McInnis explains how owners can track and improve business cash flow.
Details and registration: https://business.porthopechamber.com/events/details/your-business-is-making-money-so-where-is-the-cash-1017
Wednesday, October 21 – How to Build a More Resilient Business
Host: Innovation Cluster – Peterborough and the Kawarthas
Time: Noon to 1 p.m.
Location: Online
Cost: Free
A webinar on adapting customer relationships and business strategy as AI changes purchasing decisions.
Details and registration: https://luma.com/dtfo2cif
Wednesday, October 21 – Coboconk, Norland and Area Chamber of Commerce AGM
Host: Coboconk, Norland and Area Chamber of Commerce
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Venue to be confirmed
The annual general meeting of the Coboconk, Norland and Area Chamber of Commerce.
Details and registration: https://www.kawarthalakes.ca/business-development/small-business-centre-sbc/
Thursday, October 22 – BECN Peer-to-Peer Connect
Host: Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland
Time: 9:30 to 11 a.m.
Location: BECN Boardroom, 600 William Street, Cobourg
Cost: Free
Facilitated networking and a cash-flow discussion with Shaelene McInnis.
Details and registration: https://94ayp5mo.paperform.co/
Thursday, October 22 – Peterborough and the Kawarthas Business Excellence Awards Gala
Host: Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce
Time: 5:30 p.m. reception; 6:30 p.m. dinner
Location: Kawartha Downs, 1382 County Road 28, Fraserville
Cost: Ticketed (SOLD OUT)
Annual awards recognizing regional businesses, entrepreneurs and organizations.
Details and registration: https://pkcc.awardify.io/ (sold out)
Thursday, October 22 – Bobcaygeon & Area Chamber of Commerce AGM
Host: Bobcaygeon & Area Chamber of Commerce
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Bobcaygeon; venue to be confirmed
The annual general meeting of the Bobcaygeon & Area Chamber of Commerce takes place during Small Business Week.
Details: https://www.kawarthalakes.ca/business-development/small-business-centre-sbc/small-business-week/
Thursday, October 22 – Fenelon Chamber Cocktails and Conversations
Host: Fenelon Falls & District Chamber of Commerce
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Fenelon Falls; venue to be confirmed
Informal business networking during Small Business Week.
Details: https://www.kawarthalakes.ca/business-development/small-business-centre-sbc/
Tuesday, October 27 – Women in Business Networking Event
Host: Community Futures Development Corporation of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin
Time: 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Location: Community Futures, 26 Chemaushgon Road, Bancroft
Cost: Free
Networking and discussion on promoting businesses and products for the holiday season, with guest speakers Sofie Andreou and Carolyn Barker Brown.
Details and registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/2002142592390
To submit your business news and events for businessNOW, email Jeannine at business@kawarthanow.com.
