This week’s round-up of regional business news includes the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas surpassing its economic impact target of $14 million, Peterborough bio-tech startup Noblegen securing $25 million in Series B financing, the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism announcing the nominees for its 2019 Awards of Excellence, the closure of ARIA in downtown Peterborough, and Gerti’s in downtown Peterborough officially reopening under new ownership.

Also featured this week are the Tora Bistro restaurant opening in downtown Peterborough, 7&46 Shop in Oakwood celebrating its fifth anniversary, Community Care Peterborough receiving its first FOCUS accreditation award, and ZimArt’s Rice Lake Gallery celebrating its 20th season.

New regional events added this week include Otonabee Conservation hosting its 60th anniversary celebration in Selwyn on June 6th, Peterborough DBIA’s next breakfast network with Stacey Brandon and Nicholas Brandon in Peterborough on June 19th, Kawartha Lakes Community Futures Development Corporation holding its annual general meeting in Lindsay on June 19th, and peer lending for women information sessions in Peterborough and Buckhorn on June 19th and 20th.

Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas surpasses its economic impact target of $14 million

At the Innovation Cluster’s annual general meeting, held last Thursday (May 30) at The Cube in downtown Peterborough, president and CEO John Gillis shared some highlights from the economic organization over the past year.

In his address, he noted the organization has surpassed all provincially set targeted goals by Ontario Centres of Excellence significantly, including companies built (91 companies supported against a target of five), startup jobs created (238 against a target of 10), and economic impact ($14.3 million against a target of $1 million).

Originally founded in 2004 as the DNA Cluster (focusing on DNA, forensics, and life sciences to help entrepreneurs develop their practical applications), the organization has expanded over the years to also support digital technology, agriculture technology, and clean technology.

Other speakers at the meeting included: Dr. Neil Emery. vice president of research and innovation at Trent University; Dr. Tom Phillips of Fleming College; Innovation Cluster board chair John Desbiens; and Grant Seabrooke, on behalf of the Peterborough Region Angel Network.

Innovation Cluster client Dylan Trepanier of Alexander Optical also spoke at the annual general meeting. Trepanier, who recently won the 2019 Bears’ Lair Entrepreneurial Competition along with Cheryl Gould of Electric Juice Factory, spoke about the benefits of being a client of the organization and the role it has played in supporting his startup.

Peterborough bio-tech startup Noblegen secures $25 million in Series B financing

Last Thursday (May 30), Peterborough bio-tech startup Noblegen announced that it has secured $25 million in private investment financing.

The Series B financing, led by Richardson Ventures Inc. and BDC’s Cleantech Practice, follows a successful Series A funding round in 2016 and brings Noblegen’s total funding to date to $42.5 million.

Noblegen makes nutritious and functional proteins, carbohydrates, and oils from a single microorganism called Euglena gracilis. The company’s proprietary fermentation technology enables it to produce these ingredients with minimal water and land use as well as a reduced carbon footprint compared to the manufacturing of traditional ingredients.

With this most recent round of financing, Noblegen plans to scale its production capabilities as well as to bring its ingredients to market in the U.S. in 2019.

Kawartha Chamber announces nominees for 2019 Awards of Excellence

The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism has announced the nominees for its 20th annual Awards of Excellence.

The Chamber received over 100 nominations, with several businesses and organizations receiving more than one nomination.

The nominees are:

• Baled Storage Solutions
• BALL Real Estate Inc., Brokerage
• Bartender & Co
• Beachwood Resort
• Bell’s Garage
• BEL Rotary Club
• Birch Bend Cottage Resort
• The Bridgenorth Deli
• Buckhorn Community Centre
• By the Bridge
• The Canadian Canoe Museum
• Camp Kawartha
• Central Smith Creamery
• The Chocolate Rabbit
• Christopher Z. Tworkowski Architect
• Clearview Cottage Resort
• Cottage Country Lifestyle Magazine
• Cottage Toys
• Coyle’s Tire and Auto
• The Cozy Home
• Craftworks at the Barn
• Crawford Building Consultants Inc.
• Cuddles for Cancer
• Curve Lake Cultural Centre
• Dsouza Farm Systems
• Emily Mae’s Cookies and Sweets
• Entomo Farms
• Free Flo Physiotherapy and Sports Injuries Clinic
• Gastles – Registered Patent Agents
• Giant Tiger Lakefield
• Griffin’s Greenhouses
• Hard Winter Bread Company
• Home Suite Home Transitions
• ISL Insurance Brokers
• Kawartha Buttertart Factory
• Kawartha Lakes Construction
• Kingdon Timber Mart
• La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant
• Lakefield Agricultural Society
• Lakefield Bakery on Queen
• Lakefield Farmers’ Market
• Lakefield Literary Festival
• Lakefield Village Lions Club
• The Land Canadian Adventures
• Lang Pioneer Village Museum
• Lock Stop Cafe
• Mallory Graham – Marketing Strategist
• Nateure’s Plate
• Netmechanics
• Nexicom
• Nightingale Nursing
• Niteowl Creative
• Old Bridge Inn
• Overstock Liquidation
• Paris Marine
• Peterborough Agricultural Society
• Peterborough Golf and Country Club
• Peterborough Humane Society
• PKA Softtouch Inc.
• Quirk’s Garage and Towing
• Rosey’s Trading Post
• Salon Sorella and Day Spa
• Scotsman Point Resort
• Steve’s Auto Repair
• Style Boutique
• Swanky Events
• Sweet Competition
• Treewell
• Vanier Plumbing
• The Village Inn
• Village Pet Food & Supply
• Voltage Tech Electrical Services
• Westwind Inn on the Lake
• Whelan’s Flooring Centre
• Whetung Ojibwe Center
• Windover Plumbing
• The Wine Connection
• Young’s Point Personal Training & Fitness

The Awards of Excellence will be presented on Thursday, October 10th in the Bryan Jones Theatre at Lakefield College School.

ARIA in downtown Peterborough has closed

The ARIA nightclub at 31 George Street North in downtown Peterborough closed its doors in May.

The venue, which opened in 2012, was frequented primarily by college and university students.

Owners Lang Freeman and Sammy Shehadeh of Sammy & Sons real estate management plan to renovate the space and open a new venue at the location later this year.

The pair, along with business partner Franz Roessi, also own The Social (previously 70h5 and Sin City) and 180 Hunter.

Gerti’s in downtown Peterborough officially reopens under new ownership

Gerti’s in downtown Peterborough held its official re-opening last Saturday (June 1) under new ownership.

Former owners Gerti and Alban Sina sold their business, located at 225 Hunter Street West, in April to Diana and Sean Hunter and Cole McCall.

The new owners have renovated the interior of the restaurant and have launched a new menu with more vegetarian options as well as new drinks.

Gerti’s is also now open for lunch. Regular hours are 11:30 a.m. to midnight seven days a week.

Tora Bistro opens in downtown Peterborough

Tora Bistro, a new Asian fusion restaurant in downtown Peterborough, is now open.

The restaurant, located at 172 Charlotte Street, specializes in Korean and Japanese cuisine.

It’s open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., seven days a week.

7&46 Shop in Oakwood celebrates its fifth anniversary

7&46 Shop, a popular eatery and giftware destination in Kawartha Lakes, is celebrating its fifth anniversary.

Located just west of Oakwood on Highway 7, 7&46 Shop first opened its doors in May 2014.

“From the beginning we wanted to create a special destination for people and families,” say co-founder Donna Corneil in a media release. “7&46 Shop is more than just a store. 7&46 Shop is a family-favourite destination, a place where families look forward to visiting on their way to and from the cottage.”

The shop features food, unique giftware, candles, collectibles, and other specialty items. It also has fairy gardens and games for children. New this year is “Twist on 46”, a new food truck experience.

As part of its fifth anniversary celebrations, 7&46 Shop will be bringing Chef Ted Reader to grill from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 14. Known as “Godfather of the Grill”, Reader is an award-winning chef, author, food and product innovation entertainer and a professor of Modern Culinary Applications Innovations at the Canadian Food and Wine Institute at Niagara College.

Community Care Peterborough receives its first FOCUS accreditation award

Community Care Peterborough has received a its first accreditation award from FOCUS, a non-profit accreditation agency for community service organizations in Ontario.

Through its volunteers and staff, Community Care Peterborough supports the health and well-being of individuals, caregivers, and communities through a network of eight offices throughout the city and county of Peterborough.

FOCUS accreditation looks at all aspects of how an organization provides services, from how people are supported to the effectiveness of the operations. They sent a team to Community Care Peterborough for four days in April to observe how services were provided, to review data, and collect input from various people with a stake in the services being provided.

In particular, the FOCUS validators noted the instrumental role played by volunteers at Community Care Peterborough. More than 800 volunteers donate a total of 100,000 hours each year, equivalent to 58 full-time staff.

“We are most proud of getting this designation,” says Community Care Peterborough executive director Danielle Belair. “We achieved 98.85 per cent of all standards, an outstanding achievement for our first attempt. This was truly a team effort. We are proud of our staff and the dedication and commitment they have demonstrated in providing the best possible care to our clients.”

The FOCUS accreditation remains in effect for four years, until May 2023.

ZimArt’s Rice Lake Gallery celebrates its 20th season

ZimArt’s Rice Lake Gallery is celebrating its 20th season of being Canada’s only permanent outdoor gallery of hand-carved Zimbabwean sculpture.

The gallery, which was founded in 2000, opened for the 2019 season last Saturday (June 1).

Owner and curator Fran Fearnley, who has travelled to Zimbabwe 18 times over the past two decades, selects the work directly from the more than 50 artists she represents.

Each year, Fearnley has invited an artist from Zimbabwe for the season. This year’s artist-in-residence is Wimbai Ngoma, who will be leading beginner and advanced stone sculpting workshops at the gallery.

Ngoma has taught in Germany for the past seven years but this is his first time in North America. His body of his work will be featured in the August exhibition.

For more information about ZimArt’s Rice Lake Gallery and upcoming events, visit zimart.ca.

Applications open for new Peterborough Environmental Advisory Committee positions

Applications are open for residents of the City of Peterborough who would like to serve on the city’s new Peterborough Environmental Advisory Committee.

The purpose of the committee is to consider environmental matters related to larger city projects and initiatives identified by city council or staff. The committee will also work to encourage activities in environmental matters, sustainability and climate change.

Participation on the committee is open to anyone 16 years of age or older. Mayor Diane Therrien is encouraging both young people and indigenous people to become involved. The committee will meet at City Hall monthly or as needed.

The application deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 14th. Applications are available from the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall (500 George St. N., Peterborough) or online at www.peterborough.ca/en/city-hall/committees.aspx.

Applicants may be required to participate in an interview.

Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre presents Business Plan Builder Workshop Series in Lindsay from June 4 to 25

Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre is presenting its Business Plan Builder Workshop Series every week from Tuesday, June 4th to Tuesday, June 24th at the Lindsay branch of the Kawartha Lakes Public Library (190 Kent St. W., Lindsay).

The four-part workshop series is designed to help new and existing small business owners gain an understanding of the key components of an effective business plan, as well as provide insights into what is needed to grow and succeed.

The June 4th workshop will cover business planning, the June 11th workshop will cover marketing and sales, the June 18th workshop will cover financial and operations, and the June 25th workshop will cover building a marketing and sales plans.

Each workshop, which runs from 1 to 5 p.m., will be facilitated by Sandy Greenberg, a serial entrepreneur, established business coach, and former business advisor at Centennial College Centre of Entrepreneurship. Wi-fi access will be available, but you need to bring your own laptop.

The cost of the series is $40, and you can register at www.eventbrite.ca/e/klsbec-business-plan-builder-workshop-series-tickets-62371603144

Peterborough Chamber PBX at Habitat For Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region in Peterborough on June 4

The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is holding its next Peterborough Business Exchange (PBX) from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4th at Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (300 Milroy Dr., Peterborough).

The event takes place at Habitat’s new ReStore location, which also now houses Habitat’s administrative offices.

All are invited to attend the free networking event.

For more information, visit www.peterboroughchamber.ca.

Otonabee Conservation hosts 60th anniversary celebration in Selwyn on June 6

The Otonabee Region Conservation Authority is celebrating its 60th anniversary of providing environmental services to area municipalities and residents since 1959.

Members of the community are invited to attend the 60th anniversary celebration from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 6th in the reception venue at Northview Gardens (994 County Road 19, Selwyn).

Naturalist and writer Drew Monkman will deliver the keynote address, and special excellence Awards will be presented to Camp Kawartha executive director Jacob Rodenburg, The Friends of Hope Mill. and the Otonabee Region Conservation Foundation.

There will also be a silent auction featuring unique items that reflect the individual municipalities that form the watershed region of Otonabee Conservation. The funds raised will help establish a new education grant intended to support the environmental aspirations of youth pursuing post-secondary education.

Light refreshments and musical entertainment will be provided. For more information, call Otonabee Conservation at 705-745-5791.

Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce hosts Evening of Excellence Awards Celebration in Bobcaygeon on June 7

The Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce is hosting its Evening of Excellence Awards Celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, June 7th at Lakeview Arts Barn (2300 Pigeon Lake Rd., Bobcaygeon).

The evening will feature networking, a silent auction, a gourmet dinner, and award presentations. Gourmet catering will be provided by Lakeview Arts Barn with photography by Laura Elizabeth Photography.

The cost is $120 per person, or $800 for a table of eight. Tickets are available at lindsaydistrictchamberofcommerce.wildapricot.org/event-3300025.

Trent Hills Chamber presents sales workshop in Campbellford on June 10

Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce is presenting a sales workshop from 1 to 4 p.m. on Monday, June 10th at the Campbellford Community Resource Centre (65 Bridge St. E., Campbellford).

Led by David Cohen, the workshop will detail the sales process and how to approach each step from customer attraction and lead generation to closing the sale. Each participant will take away steps to access a more effective way to sell and work with a prospective client in a way that is easy to manage.

The workshop is $10 for Chamber members and $15 for non-members. Advance registration is required at business.trenthillschamber.ca/events/details/sales-workshop-with-david-cohen-3257

Peterborough Chamber hosts Chamber AM breakfast meeting in Peterborough on June 11

The next Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Chamber AM breakfast meeting takes place from 7 to 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 11th at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).

The guest speaker has yet to be announced.

Networking begins at 7 a.m., with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. (when you can make your best 30-second elevator speech to the room), followed by the speaker at 8 a.m.

There is no cost for the event (order what you like and pay for what you order).

Business Advisory Centre presents new venture session in Peterborough on June 11

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development’s Business Advisory Centre is presenting “New Venture Session” from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11th in the lower-level boardroom at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).

The session will cover the foundations of starting and running a business, resources and programs available to entrepreneurs in Peterborough & the Kawarthas, how to work with the Business Advisory Centre, building a plan of action for your business, and completing the start-up checklist.

To register for the free workshop, visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/business-fundamentals-business-planning-tickets-61309857434?.

Kawarthas Northumberland Tourism hosts annual partner meeting in Keene on June 18

Kawarthas Northumberland Tourism is hosting its annual partner meeting from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18th at Elmhirst’s Resort (1045 Settlers Line, Keene).

Open to active Kawarthas Northumberland Tourism partners whose tourism businesses reside within the region, the meeting provides the opportunity to meet board members, staff, ministry representatives and advisors, and to network with other tourism operators.

Dr. Nancy Arsenault, co-founder of the Tourism Cafe in British Columbia and an expert on experiential travel, will be the guest speaker.

The event is free, but registration is required at eventbrite.com/e/kawarthas-northumberland-annual-partner-meeting-2019-tickets-60306103178. Registration closes at 12 p.m. on Friday, June 14th.

Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre holds annual general meeting in Cobourg on June 18

Northumberland’s Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre is holding its annual general meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18th in the Rotary Room at Cobourg Public Library (200 Ontario St., Cobourg).

Among other business, Dr. Mavis Morton of the University of Guelph will be presenting a final report on prevention best practices that she can her fourth-year Violence and Society class have prepared for Cornerstone.

Refreshments are at 6 p.m. followed by the meeting at 6:30 p.m.

If you plan on attending, please RSVP by emailing ghuth@cornerstonenorthumberland.ca by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11th.

Artspace holds its annual general meeting in Peterborough on June 18

Artspace is holding its annual general meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18th in the main gallery at Artspace (378 Aylmer St. N., Peterborough).

The agenda will include a review of the previous year’s operations, including highlights from exhibitions and programming, as well as a presentation of the centre’s audited financial statements.

Artspace will also seek nominations for new members for its board of directors. While Artspace encourages all members of the public to attend, only members in good standing are eligible to participate in voting and run for a position on the board.

To become a member or renew your membership, visit artspace-arc.org/product/artspace-membership/ online please click here.

The meeting will be held in a physically accessible space.

Peterborough DBIA breakfast network with Stacey Brandon and Nicholas Brandon in Peterborough on June 19

The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is hosting its next breakfast network meeting from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 19th at Empress Gardens (131 Charlotte St., Peterborough).

Guest speakers Stacey Brandon and Nicholas Brandon of RBC will talk about succession planning for small businesses.

Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. with the guest speakers at 8 a.m.

The event is open to everyone. Tickets are $5 at the door.

Kawartha Lakes Community Futures Development Corporation holds its annual general meeting in Lindsay on June 19

Kawartha Lakes Community Futures Development Corporation will hold its annual general meeting on Wednesday, June 19th.

The meeting takes place at 4 p.m. in the Victoria Room at City of Kawartha Lakes City Hall (26 Francis St., Lindsay).

Peer lending for women information sessions in Peterborough and Buckhorn on June 19 and 20

Paro Centre For Women’s Enterprise, a not-for-profit social enterprise, is hosting two information sessions in June on its peer lending circles, a micro-finance program for women.

Peer lending circles are small groups of like-minded women who meet regularly to share their experiences, offer advice to each other, and expand their individual and shared contact networks. Members also provide peer loans between $500 and $1,000.

The sessions take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19th at Tiny Greens (431 George St. N., Peterborough) and from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Lock Stop Cafe (1919 Lakehurst Rd., Buckhorn).

For more information, contact Pat at Community Futures Peterborough at pat@cfpeterborough.ca or 705-745-5434.

Kawartha Chamber hosts a Stoney Lake boat cruise on June 20

The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism’s next Business After Hours event features boat cruise on Stoney Lake from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 22nd at Stoney Lake Cruises (610 Mount Julian – Viamede Rd., Woodview).

Participants will board at 4:30 p.m. and the cruise will happen from 5 to 7 p.m. (rain or shine).

Appetizers will be provided by Burleigh Falls Inn (email info@kawarthachamber.ca if you have any dietary restrictions).

Tickets are $20 for Chamber members and $30 for non-members. Register at business.kawarthachamber.ca/events/details/stoney-lake-boat-cruise-with-the-kawartha-chamber-10422.

United Way Peterborough holds annual general meeting in Peterborough on June 24

The United Way Peterborough is holding its annual general meeting from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 24th at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough).

The meeting will showcase the recipients of the 2019 Neighbourhood Fund, which provides small one-time grants to support informal groups of people who are working together to improve their neighbourhood or demographic community within the city and county of Peterborough.

To RSVP, call 705-742-8839 x21 or email sdeveaux@uwpeterborough.ca.

Peterborough DBIA holds its 2019 annual general meeting in Peterborough on June 26

The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is holding its 2019 annual general meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26th in the Nexicom Studio at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough).

Networking begins at 5:30 p.m. with the meeting beginning at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting, although only DBIA members can vote.

For more business-related events in the Kawarthas, check out our Business Events column.