Award-winning author and bee expert Mark L. Winston is the keynote speaker at the Pollination Summit, presented by Peterorough Pollinators. He will be speaking at the Market Hall in Peterborough on May 5th and will also lead a dialogue session on May 6th. (Photo: Sarah Murray)
Award-winning author and bee expert Mark L. Winston will be the keynote speaker at the two-day Pollination Summit presented by Peterborough Pollinators, which takes place on Saturday, May 5th and Sunday, May 6th.
Winston, who has a PHd in Entomology and is the former Director for the Centre for Dialogues at Simon Fraser University, is one of the world’s leading experts on bees and pollination. His 2014 book Bee Time: Lessons from the Hive won both the Canadian Science Writers Book of the Year Award and the Governor General’s Literary Award for Nonfiction.
The Pollination Summit takes place May 5 and 6, 2018 in Peterborough. (Poster: Peterborough Pollinators)
With Canadian poet Renée Sarojini Saklikar, Winston has co-authored a new book Listening to the Bees, a compendium of his field notes and her poems which will be released at the end of April.
The Pollination Summit begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 5th at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough) with a “Honey Fair” featuring all things bees — honey, garden support, beekeeping, and related information with displays. Winston will also be available to sign copies of his new book.
Then, from 8 to 9 p.m., Winston will deliver his keynote address on the topic “If we could change our relationship with nature, what would the bees have to teach us?” The talk will be followed by a question-and-answer session, another book signing, and socializing, wrapping up at 10 p.m.
On Sunday, May 6th from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., three pollinator tours will be available, dependent on the weather: a tour of a private garden that supports native pollinators, a tour of an urban farm with a pollinator garden and some hives, and a tour of a community hive installation at a local school.
The tours will be followed by a visioning dialogue from noon to 3 p.m. at Lett Architects (138 Simcoe St, Peterborough), where Winston along with Ben Wolfe will lead a discussion on the topic of his keynote. The event will include refreshment break of local herbal teas sweetened with local honeys.
Mark Winston will be signing copies of his new book, “Listening to the Bees”, which he co-authored with Canadian poet Renée Sarojini Saklikar. The book is a compendium of his field notes and her poems and will be released at the end of April 2018.
While the pollinator tours are free, the May 5th event at the Market Hall costs $28 ($18 for students), with tickets available at the Market Hall or online at markethall.org.
The May 6th visioning dialogue costs $15 (plus a fee), with tickets available online at Eventbrite. Only 50 tickets are available, although an additional 20 seats will be available at no cost for youth and students.
Peterborough Pollinators is a citizen-led initiative committed to cultivating a resilient environment for local pollinators, including creating pollinator gardens throughout Peterborough.
Some of the PRHC Foundation Mombassadors with their babies. The group of 13 local professional women, whose children were born at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), are raising funds so the hospital can purchase a new electronic fetal monitor. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
Some local professional women whose children were born at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) have joined forces to raise funds for a new electronic fetal monitor at the hospital.
The 13 women — known as the PRHC Foundation Mombassadors — are co-chairs Erin Marshall (Isagenix International/ Full Tilt Cycle) and Sarah McDougall Perrin (Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry) and members Kate Ahrens (Flying Colours Corp), Jennifer Bissell (Beauty Bar), Marcy D’Alessandro (PVNCCDSB), Sarah Evans (RE/MAX), Nanzala Hopson (PVNCCDSB), Katie Johnston-Hawley (City of Peterborough), Missy Knott (Singer-songwriter), Jennifer Moher (Jennifer Moher Photography), Danielle Newall (Re-Newall Fitness), Grace Reynolds (Mortgage Agent), and Meaghan Roy (CHEX-TV).
The women formed the group to give thanks for the care they and their babies received at PRHC and to help improve care at the hospital for other new moms in the community.
VIDEO: Introducing the PRHC Foundation Mombassadors
When a woman comes to PRHC’s Labour & Delivery Unit to give birth, it’s critical for doctors and nurses to monitor the health of both the mother and her unborn baby. An electronic fetal monitor, which continually both records the heartbeat of the baby and the contractions of the mother’s uterus during labour, detects early signs of distress and how the baby is reacting to the contractions.
However, because the monitors are used so often — 1,572 babies were born last year at PRHC — and for prolonged periods, they eventually wear out and must be replaced. Each monitor costs many thousands of dollars and the government doesn’t provide funding to upgrade and acquire new technology.
For their first fundraising event, the PRHC Foundation Mombassadors are hosting “Girls Night Out”, a ladies-only evening of dancing, live and DJ entertainment, food, drinks, socializing, and more at ARIA (331 George St. N., Peterborough) on Thursday, May 10th — three days before Mother’s Day.
“By supporting the PRHC Foundation Mombassadors, you are doing more than just having a fun night out with the girls,” says PRHC Foundation President & CEO Lesley Heighway. “You are doing your part to help save the lives of women and babies in your community.”
PRHC Foundation President & CEO Lesley Heighway (left) with some of the 13 members of the PRHC Foundation Mombassadors. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
The age-of-majority event costs $50 for general admission (which includes a complimentary cocktail, hor d’oeuvres, and door prizes) or $100 for a VIP ticket (which also includes access to an exclusive VIP zone, a champagne toast, and additional food).
If you can’t make it to the event, you can also donate to the cause.
To purchase tickets or to make a donation, and for more information about the Mombassadors, visit www.prhcmombassadors.ca.
Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett signs the book of condolences for the Humboldt Broncos at City Hall. The book, along with a display honouring the memory of those who lost their lives, will be available at Peterborough City Hall until Friday, April 13th, and then at the Peterborough Memorial Centre until Sunday, April 22nd. (Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes)
The Peterborough Petes organization is inviting members of Peterborough and surrounding communities to express their condolences to the Humboldt Broncos and all those affected by Friday’s tragic accident.
With the help of Signarama Peterborough, a book of condolences is available to allow local residents to express their sympathies to the families and friends of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team, as well as the residents of the small Saskatchewan town.
The book is available to be signed at Peterborough City Hall (500 George St. N., Peterborough) until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 13th. Beginning on Monday, April 16th, the book will be available for signing in the north lobby at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (151 Lansdowne St., Peterborough).
Along with the book of condolences, a display honouring the memory of the 15 players, coaches, and staff who lost their lives on April 6, 2018. (Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes)
There is also a display that includes photos of the 15 players, coaches, and staff who lost their lives when the Humboldt Broncos team bus was involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer on April 6, 2018.
The display and book will also be set up throughout the weekend of April 21st and 22nd when the Petes host their 2018 Development Camp at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
The book will then be sent to the Humboldt Broncos team leadership.
The City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service in Lindsay. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)
An officer with the Kawartha Lakes Police Service has been charged following an investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) into the theft of police evidence.
In December 2017, Kawartha Lakes Police Chief Hagarty requested that the OPP conduct an investigation into allegations that drug exhibits had been unlawfully removed from the property and evidence storage area at the Kawartha Lakes Police Service.
The investigation has concluded and today (April 10) Detective Constable Jeff Burke has been charged with theft under $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000, and breach of trust.
Burke, who will have his first appearance in a Lindsay court on May 31, 2018, has been a member of the Kawartha Lakes Police Service for 13 years. He has been suspended from duty while these charges are before the courts.
An investigation into potential misconduct under the Police Services Act is continuing.
Local food and wine expert Shari Darling's upcoming "How to Make Fresh Homestead Cheeses" workshop on April 23rd will teach participants how to make cream cheese, ricotta, and mozzarella. (Photo: Shari Darling)
This month Eva Fisher spills the tea on the new Lock Stop Cafe in Buckhorn, tracks down the new location of the Peterborough Downtown Farmers’ Market, says cheese with local food and wine expert Shari Darling, and finds out what’s new from a farmers’ market that you can browse in your pajamas.
Lock Stop Cafe in Buckhorn grand opening set for April 21st
The Lock Stop Cafe’s grand opening celebration takes place on April 21st from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Photo: Lei Lani Images / Krysta Read)
As of April 21st, coffee lovers will have a new Buckhorn pitstop. That’s When The Lock Stop Cafe opens its doors with a grand opening celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Owner Kelli Coon currently runs two successful businesses in Buckhorn: Coon’s Cottage Care and Ship Shape Service. She says that all of her businesses began with her identifying a need, and The Lock Stop Cafe is no exception.
“I see contractors walking around with trays full of Timmies, but Tim Horton’s is a half an hour away — the coffee’s cold. I don’t really want to compete with the neighbours because there are plenty of restaurants here. I wanted to provide something different.”
Kelli has a passion for coffee, perhaps honed in the role of multiple business owner.
“The coffee — that’s the fun part for me.”
Kelli Coon’s new cafe, shown here undergoing renovations during the winter, will feature pastry platters gifted from a friend’s wedding made with wood from Big Bald Lake. “I want people to come in and feel like they’ve just come to a friend’s house.” (Photo: Sofie Andreou)
The beans will be roasted by County Coffee, a Haliburton roaster. Lock Stop Cafe will offer a light roast, a dark roast, an organic option, and a decaf, with plans to install an espresso machine for a full range of hot beverages. There will also be loose leaf and bag tea.
Guests can also enjoy a variety of sandwiches on home-baked bread, soups, and for dessert an ever-changing assortment of croissants, petit fours, eclairs, and butter tarts.
Every Friday there will be a takeout mystery dinner: three courses prepared by the chef for pickup. Customers can sign up ahead of time and, when Friday comes, enjoy a fantastic meal in the comfort of their home or cottage.
The restaurant also contains a marketplace, where Kelli plans to showcase products from local producers, keeping it local in a community that she has thrived in “Buckhorn has been an amazing place to live and work.” It’s even better after a good cup of coffee.
The Peterborough Downtown Farmers’ Market becomes a pedestrian-friendly street market for the season
The Peterborough Downtown Farmers’ Market is moving down the street for the season. (Photo: Jillian Bishop)
The Peterborough Downtown Farmers’ Market is moving to Charlotte Street between Louis Street and George Street for the 2018 season.
Its previous location at the Louis Street Parking Lot has become a construction zone. The space is being transformed into an urban park, which will ultimately be home to the downtown farmers’ market as well as other community activities.
“Generally the idea that the market is an example of the many vibrant community activities that the city hopes will be held there,” explains market manager Jillian Bishop.
The Peterborough Downtown Farmers’ Market has been a key consideration in the park’s design plan.
“They (city staff) are working with us to ensure that there will be space for us, to incorporate surfaces that will allow for trucks to drive on, potential for tie-downs for tents, and more seating, shade from nice trees, and gathering spaces for our customers.”
The market will become a European-style, pedestrian-friendly street market while the Louis Street parking lot is transformed into a urban park. (Photos: Jillian Bishop)
While the park is being constructed, the market will return to its roots. It began as a street market just a block east of this summer’s location, between George Street and Water Street. Jillian welcomes its return.
“I think it is going to be really great to have a pedestrian-friendly on-the-street market — kind of a European vibe.”
The Peterborough Downtown Farmers’ Market is a producers-only market that has operated in Peterborough since 1997. It runs every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. from the first Wednesday in May until the last Wednesday in October. The market opens this year on Wednesday, May 2nd.
Make fresh homestead cheese with food and wine expert Shari Darling
You can learn to make fresh cheese with celebrated author, speaker, columnist, TV and radio host, wine judge and educator Shari Darling. (Photo: Shari Darling)
Local food and wine expert Shari Darling is offering a class on fresh cheesemaking on Monday, April 23rd from 6 to 8 p.m. “How to Make Fresh Homestead Cheeses” will teach participants to make cream cheese, ricotta, and mozzarella through a hands-on class involving lots of sampling.
Shari has been teaching this class since 2009. A celebrated author, speaker, columnist, TV and radio host, wine judge, and educator, she enjoys the chance to connect with local foodies.
“I just love food and wine and I like to share it with other people. There’s nothing better than being around other food and wine people.”
Participants in the class also learn how to flavour their cheese with herbs and other ingredients. Shari enjoys French thyme, rosemary and salt, or her own her blend “French Kiss”, which is designed to bridge wine with food, and which she gives to each participant as a parting gift.
Wine and cheese pairing is a passion of Shari’s. She says that the two are a natural pairing on many levels.
“When you have that many bridges to harmony, they just have a natural affinity.”
Because cheesemakers use salt to halt the souring of the milk, cheese is naturally salty, an important attribute when considering how it pairs with wine.
“The acidity of a crisp white wine offsets the saltiness and brings harmony to the palate, and salt actually softens the experience of tannin on the palate, so it works naturally with red wines as well.”
Fresh mozzarella with tomato, basil, and balsamic pearls. (Photo: Shari Darling)
Cheese also pairs well with fruit forward wines.
“Fruit and cheese go so well together because salt offsets the sweetness of fruit.”
Shari notes that the flavour profile of the cheese can bring out nuances in a wine.
“Some wines are fundamentally earthy with notes of mushrooms, things like that, and they work really well with aged cheeses that have earthy tones like a ripened brie.”
According to Shari, bold and flavourful cheeses often go particularly well with sweet wines.
“There’s nothing more — I don’t know what other word to use but orgasmic — than ripened blue cheese with ice wine or ripened blue cheese with tawny port.”
Shari explores this topic further in her book Canada’s Cheese and Wine Lovers’ Cookbook, which will be given to class participants on Kindle.
Locavorest home delivery brings a farmers’ market to your doorstep
Locavorest connects farmers and producers to people looking for a convenient way to shop locally. (Photo: Locavorest)
Can’t make it in person to a farmers’ market? Now you can purchase locally produced goods online from 30 different producers — and have them delivered to your doorstep.
Locavorest is a local business that allows you to shop online for market goods. They partner with about 30 different farms, bakeries, cheesemakers and even a vendor selling fresh pressed juice, all sourced within 75 kilometres of Peterborough.
Since it was founded in 2016, Locavorest has delivered goods to community drop-off points. On May 11th, they will take it one step further and offer home delivery by bicycle and car.
VIDEO: Introduction to Locavorest
Cofounder and Chief Creative Officer Megan Boyles says that Locavorest made the change after a customer survey revealed that people were looking for service to their doorstep.
“We asked if they wanted home delivery and so many of our customers said that they would like that.”
She notes that the change is in keeping with the tremendous growth of online shopping.
“You can pretty much order anything you could ever want online and have it delivered to your house.”
Locavorest founders Megan Boyles, Mark Kirton, and Vinay Viswanathan. (Photo: Locavorest)
Now, in the Kawarthas, that includes a wide variety of local foods.
Visit locavorest.com to shop for vegetables, fruit, meats including bison and duck, crickets, bread, honey, cheese, maple syrup, baked goods, and some prepared foods.
Their vendors include Stickling’s Bakery, Vegan Sweet Home, The Spice Co, Crosswind Farm, Chick-a-biddy Acres, Lane’s End, Shealand Farms, Healey Falls Bison and many more.
You never know what you'll find or who you'll meet at Peterborough Comic Con. Organized by Pop Culture Culture, the family-friendly convention returns to Peterborough for a second year on April 22, 2018. (Photo: Sam Tweedle)
On Sunday, April 22nd, local residents are invited to get a taste of comic convention culture when Pop Culture Canada returns to the Evinrude Centre to host the second Peterborough Comic Con.
After the huge success of their first event in Peterborough last September, Pop Culture Canada is bringing more comics, more vendors, and some seriously big-name talent to the Kawarthas — including comic legend James O’Barr and film actress Bai Ling.
Based out of Oshawa, Dave Wyldstar and his team at Pop Culture Canada organize 30 small comic conventions throughout Ontario each year (in addition to the Peterborough show on April 22nd, there’s also one in Cobourg on April 15th). Taking elements from the larger conventions, such as Toronto’s Fan Expo, Dave repackages the comic con experience into a smaller family-friendly event and brings it to smaller communities so a more diverse audience can experience comic con culture.
“Everybody has that little bit of curiosity,” Dave says. “Everyone has heard the term ‘comic con.’ The fact that it’s happening down the street and it’s only five bucks means everyone can go and see what it’s all about.”
“It’s the hometown comic con. In our advertisements that appear in comics, we actually use the tag line ‘Your town next.’ We’d love to have a comic con in every town. I don’t care if only a hundred people come out. I don’t care about making millions of dollars and having millions of people come out. I want to get all the fans to come together, have some fun, do some shopping, take some pictures, and make some memories.”
Harry Potter meets The Nun: cosplayers at last year’s Peterborough Comic Con. (Photo: Amy Van Purr)
With over a decade in the business, Dave began organizing wrestling events in the 1990s. However, with the world of wrestling and fan culture being so closely linked, Dave soon began organizing small-scale comic conventions, which led to the creation of Pop Culture Canada three years ago. But, as Dave explains, his experience of going to comic events goes far back to a time when comic book collecting and fan culture barely existed.
“I remember going to small comic cons in Toronto in the 1970s,” Dave says. “There would be these little shows every six months where comics would be just stacked on the tables about two feet high, and you could buy four comics for a dollar. I remember going to a comic show at a hotel in Toronto and I was buying comics and this guy says to me ‘Do you want a copy of Action Comics #1? It’s the first appearance of Superman.’ I looked at the book and I said ‘I’m not really a Superman fan. How much do you want for it?’
“It was just raw, with no bag and board. Well, the guy says ‘I’d like to get a hundred bucks for it.’ So I gave the guy the comic back and said ‘Why the hell would I pay a hundred bucks for a Superman comic, when newer ones are four for a dollar and I can buy a pile of them?’ But that’s how the industry has evolved. There was no price guide back then. You just sold comics for whatever you wanted, and a quarter was a great deal.”
As Dave points out, the industry has changed a lot over the decades and, now more than ever, comic books and superheroes are more ingrained into mainstream media.
“You turn on the TV and everyday there is at least one superhero TV show on,” Dave points out. “You can’t go anywhere without being exposed to superheroes and comic book media. So superheroes are here to stay, and it’s become a part of our vocabulary and our culture.”
Vendors and fans at the first Peterborough Comic Con last September. (Photo: Dan Collins)
Last September, I took part in the first Peterborough Comic Con as part of The Hey Kids Comics Radio Show podcast in which I participate alongside my colleagues Marin Boruta, Dan Collins, and Chris Gilpin. Set up at the back of the hall, I was astounded by the success of the first Peterborough Comic Con.
More than a thousand Peterborough residents attended the event, which featured both local and out-of-town independent comic professionals, cosplayers, comic book dealers. and specialty item booths containing jewellry, original clothing, crafts, and writers promoting their original novels.
Filled with a positive energy and a ton of excitement, I connected with old friends and met new ones. I learned that day that it’s not the size of a convention that matters, but the quality of the community that comes out for it. The quality of the Peterborough community wasn’t only just apparent to me, but was noticed by Dave as well.
“Considering that comic conventions have been around for the better part of twenty years, I think Peterborough has been ignored,” Dave says. “Peterborough is a pretty big city, but Peterborough had never had a big comic event there. That’s why I think our first event was such a huge success. It was one of our biggest shows of 2017.”
Deadpool reminds you to bring your canned goods to Peterborough Comic Con, which Pop Culture Culture will donate to the local food bank. (Photo: David Wyldstar)
A major part of Pop Culture Canada’s operations is to collect food for local food banks and, as Dave points out, the Peterborough Comic Con last September saw their biggest food haul ever, with 1,115 pounds of food collected.
“Last year Peterborough was our number one show for raising the most food over one day,” he says. “We raised over a thousand pounds of food for one day. That was huge. It usually takes us a full year to collect that much food, so that was incredible. Peterborough was off the wall.”
“The Crow” creator James O’Barr at the East Coast Comicon in 2016. He will be attending the Peterborough Comic Con on April 22, 2018. (Photo: Luigi Novi / Wikimedia Commons)
It was because of the success of last September’s event that Dave chose Peterborough to bring two high-profile guests. Appearing via Pop Culture Canada for only two events, writer James O’Barr and actress Bai Ling are two of the most famous guests Pop Culture Canada has ever hosted.
James O’Barr began his career in comic books in the early 1980s, and his comic series The Crow is one of the most important and influential independent comics of all time. Making its debut in 1989, The Crow not only inspired an entire generation of creators, but the character and comic book series became a hallmark of goth culture.
During an era where films based on comic books were still a rarity, the film version of The Crow became one of the biggest cult films of the era when it was released in 1994, partially due to the tragic death of lead actor Brandon Lee (the only son of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee) during the filming of the movie.
Although O’Barr took a break from The Crow in 2002 to create other comic series, he returned to the character in 2013 for a revival via IDW Publishing. Throughout the Peterborough event, James will be offering free autographs for fans of The Crow.
Chinese actress Bai Ling has appeared in several movies and television shows, including the film adaptation of “The Crow”. She will be attending the Peterborough Comic Con on April 22, 2018. (Photo: Bai Ling)
Chinese actress Bai Ling also has a strong connection to The Crow, with it being her American motion picture debut in which she played the lover of the film’s villain Top Gear. A notable name in both Asian and Hollywood cinema, Ling also appeared in film such as Red Corner, The Wild Wild West, and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, as well as television appearances on Lost, Angel, and Entourage.
Making People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People list in 1998, Ling also appeared in Playboy Magazine in 2005. Currently, Bai Ling has nine films in post-production that will be available to audiences in 2018.
Also meeting fans in Peterborough will be Montreal-based actress Noelle Hannibal, who is best known for her appearance in the film Star Trek: First Contact, as well as appearances on the television series Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Meanwhile, Ottawa-based filmmaker Brendan Mertans will be returning to his hometown to promote his documentary Ghostheads, about Ghost Busters fan culture, and his latest feature, Mike Stand, about the career of recently deceased comedian Mike McDonald.
Noelle Hannibal is a Montreal-based actress who has appeared in a Star Trek film and TV series as well as Buffy The Vampire Slayer. She will be attending the Peterborough Comic Con on April 22, 2018. (Graphic: Noelle Hannibal / Facebook)
Although the Peterborough Comic Con is small when compared to the behemoth conventions held in San Diego, New York, and Toronto, Pop Culture Canada’s shows are well run, stress free, and suitable for the whole family. They give local residents who may not be able to travel to the bigger conventions a little taste of the comic con experience in their own back yard — without the long lines, high cost, and crushing crowds that often goes along with the bigger conventions.
“We don’t do panels, screenings, or Q&As,” Dave says. “But that’s not what our events are about. They’re about giving fans a fun and no-stress event in their own town. These are shows that you come to because you are going to find stuff that you’re not going to find elsewhere, and you are going to meet people in your own community and have some fun.”
Peterborough Comic Con will be held on Sunday, April 22nd at the Evinrude Centre (911 Monaghan Rd., Peterborough) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the event is $5 (children under the age of 10 old get in for free when accompanied by an adult). The organizers would like attendees to bring food bank donations, with each donated canned item traded for raffle tickets for an assortment of special door prizes. More information on the prizes will be available on the day of the event.
Pop Culture Canada staff relax after collecting 1,115 pounds of donated food for the local food bank at Peterborough Comic Con in September 2017. (Photo: David Wyldstar)
Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef was at St. Joseph’s at Fleming in Peterborough earlier today (April 9), where she announced a total of $357,364 in federal funding for 11 projects to improve accessibility for people with disabilities in the Peterborough area.
Monsef made the announcement of the funding, which comes from the federal government’s Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF), on behalf of Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities.
“At each of the community town halls I have hosted over the past two and a half years, and particularly at my Accessibility and Inclusion Town Hall, I have heard from individuals about the access barriers to employment, transportation, education, and housing that exist,” Monsef said. “This funding is an important step for our communities to move forward and meet the needs highlighted by Peterborough-Kawartha residents.”
The EAF funds projects that fall under one of two streams, community or workplace accessibility, and includes renovations, retrofits, construction, and the provision of accessible information and communication technologies.
The 11 organizations and projects receiving funding are:
Alternatives Community Program Services – The Braidwood Neighbourhood Project – $30,849
Peterborough Communication Support Systems – Improving safety for Deaf staff – $2,481
City of Peterborough – Assistive Listening Device Kits – $33,559
YWCA Peterborough Haliburton – Renovation of Accessibility Ramp – $31,236
CCRC (Community Counselling & Resource Centre) – George Street Accessibility Project – $21,380
Peterborough Communication Support Systems – Automatic Door Opener – $3,413
St. Joseph’s at Fleming – Installation of Automatic Door Openers and Doorway Renovations – $49,868
Offices That Work! – Common Area Accessibility Upgrades – $45,000
Five Counties Children’s Centre – Enabling Accessibility Fund; Community Accessibility Stream – improving accessibility of client/reception area – $39,078
Lakefield Baptist Church – Renovation Project – installation of automatic doors, ramp and lift, accessible washroom – $50,000
The City of Peterborough – City of Peterborough Park Upgrades (playground surfaces, park walkways & benches) – $50,000.
Since the creation of the EAF in 2007, the Government of Canada has funded over 3,000 projects to improve accessibility to community programs, services, and workplaces.
Eligible organizations can submit funding applications through an annual EAF call for proposals. The Government of Canada is currently accepting applications to EAF for mid-sized projects until May 24, 2018. Interested organizations can apply at canada.ca.
McColl Turner LLP, located at 372 Queen Street in downtown Peterborough, has joined Grant Thornton, a national business services firm with more than 60 offices in communities across Canada. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
This week’s business news includes McColl Turner joining Grant Thornton, new funding for three companies in the Kawarthas, provincial funding for green energy initiatives at Fleming College, an expansion of natural gas services in Kawartha Lakes, a food services RFP for YMCA in Peterborough, nominations for the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce 2018 Business Excellence Awards, changes to the board of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, and the awarding of the contract for the new outdoor adult gym at Beavermead Park.
New upcoming regional business events this week include an innovation and technology showcase at Fleming College on April 12th, the final pitch event for the 2018 Bears’ Lair Entrepreneurial Competition Final Pitch in Peterborough on April 18th, and a seminar on mental health in the workplace in Lakefield on May 9th.
We publish businessNOW every Monday. If you want your business news or events to appear in businessNOW, please email business@kawarthanow.com.
McColl Turner in Peterborough joins national accounting firm Grant Thornton
McColl Turner LLP, one of the leading professional services firms in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, has joined national firm Grant Thornton LLP Canada. The announcement of the union was made in March.
Headquartered in Toronto with more than 60 offices in communities across Canada, Grant Thornton provides assurance, tax, and advisory services to privately held businesses, public interest entities, and public sector entities. The union allows Grant Thornton to provide enhanced services and resources for clients in eastern Ontario.
“This joining marks a new chapter for Grant Thornton as we continue to inspire and engage with dynamic businesses across Ontario,” says Kevin Moshal, Managing Partner in Southern Ontario for Grant Thornton LLP. “We understand that private businesses power our communities and we are dedicated to ensuring they are healthy and supported. Clients can expect the same high level of personal attention the team at McColl Turner has always delivered, in the over 70 years they’ve been serving the region.”
The McColl Turner team will remain in their current location at 362 Queen Street in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
The McColl Turner team will remain in their current location at 362 Queen Street in downtown Peterborough.
“This is an exciting time for the firm, as Peterborough’s economy continues to grow, bringing new opportunities to the region,” says Bill Blair, Managing Partner at McColl Turner LLP. “Grant Thornton is known as a strong, client-focused firm with values that closely align with our own. Joining Grant Thornton will be invaluable to our clients as we expand our services and strive to have a meaningful impact on the community.”
kawarthaNOW.com is pleased to announce that Grant Thornton is the sponsor of this week’s businessNOW column. If you are interested in sponsoring businessNOW, or for other sponsorship and advertising opportunities, visit our advertisers page.
Eastern Ontario Development Fund supports industry in the Kawarthas, including new Canada Candy Company facility in Cobourg
Canada Candy Company has opened a new factory in Cobourg that produces a range of gummy candy. The company received $1,292,400 in funding under the Province’s Eastern Ontario Development Fund, supporting an investment of $9,477,175 by the company. (Photo: Canada Candy Company)
Three businesses in the Kawarthas have received funding from the Province of Ontario’s Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODP) to support their expansion plans, which will create a total of 76 new jobs. The EODP funding supplements a substantial investment by each company.
Canada Candy Company, a leading consumer-packaged goods company that manufactures sugar candy confectionary for retail sale, re-packing, and private label, has just opened a new facility at 740 Division Street in the Northam Industrial Park in Cobourg. The facility is now producing gummy candies with more product lines on the way. The company is receiving $1,292,400 in EODP funding, supporting an investment of $9,477,175 by the company. The project will create 29 new jobs, and is expected to be completed by February 2021.
Armada Toolworks in Lindsay is one of the few auto component manufacturers in eastern Ontario, specializing in door handle and interior systems including vents and speakers, and decorative trim components. The company will install a new assembly line and increase press capabilities of up to 1,000 tons so it can make higher-value large components, including glove boxes and door handles. The company is receiving $652,500 in EODP funding, supporting an investment of $6,362,500 by the company. The project will create 29 new jobs, help to retain 257 existing positions, and is expected to be completed by December 2020.
Mariposa Dairy in Lindsay, which produces award-winning cheese using 100 per cent Ontario-sourced goat and sheep milk, has received more than $1 million in EODP funding, supporting an investment of $15,285,618 by the company. (Photo: Mariposa Dairy)
Mariposa Dairy in Lindsay produces high-quality cheese using 100 per cent Ontario-sourced goat and sheep milk. The company, which is the second largest goat cheese manufacturer in Canada and produces over 20 cheese products, is investing in new automated equipment to increase the current processing capabilities by more than 60 per cent. With new production lines for hard and soft cheese products, the company will take advantage of new opportunities in the specialty cheese market and food service sector. The company is receiving $1,079,402 in EODP funding, supporting an investment of $15,285,618 by the company. The project will create 18 new jobs, help to retain 85 existing positions, and is expected to be completed by December 2021.
Fleming College receives $12 million in provincial funding for green energy initiatives
Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal announced close to $13 million in infrastructure and research funding during a visit to Fleming College on April 4, 2018. (Photo: Fleming College)
Fleming College will receive $12,147,000 in provincial funding for green energy intiatives to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Jeff Leal, MPP for Peterborough, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Minister Responsible for Small Business, made the announcement last Wednesday (April 4). The funding comes from the Province’s Greenhouse Gas Campus Retrofits Program.
A portion of the funding will be used to install a new geothermal heating and cooling system at Sutherland Campus. A closed loop vertical borehole geothermal system and upgrades to the Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre will include rooftop solar and wind energy, as well as the implementation of new technologies such as an Internet of Things lab.
The remaining funding will be used for additional initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the creation of a low carbon demonstration site to support the skills development of students. The project is expected to be completed by the spring of 2019.
In addition to the $12 million in funding, Leal also announced a $500,000 research grant to Fleming’s Centre for Sustainable Municipalities, for a portfolio of projects designed to accelerate the development of advanced asset management technologies.
City of Kawartha Lakes to expand natural gas services in Fenelon Falls, Cambray, and Cameron
The City of Kawartha Lakes has received more than $12.3 million from the Ontario government to expand natural gas services in Fenelon Falls, Cambray, and Cameron.
Part of the 2017 Natural Gas Grant Program, the funding will be used to construct a reinforcement and distribution pipeline to connect homes and businesses, including one large industrial customer, in Fenelon Falls.
The work will be completed by Enbridge Gas Distribution and is expected to begin this spring, with communities fully serviced with natural gas by spring 2019. Upon the project’s completion, more than 2,000 additional homes and businesses will be connected to natural gas in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Fenelon Falls, Cambray, and Cameron residents and businesses that are interested in getting connected to natural gas can call Enbridge Gas at 1-888-427-8888 or email connecttogas@enbridge.com.
YMCA Balsillie Family Branch seeking food services vendor
The Balsillie Family Branch of the YMCA of Central East Ontario has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the operation of food services at the Balsillie Family Branch, located at 123 Aylmer Street South in Peterborough.
The branch is seeking to enter into a two-year contract with the possibility of an extension. The successful proponent will be responsible for all aspects of the day to day operation of the cafe such as staffing, purchasing, food preparation, service, equipment, and cleaning of the area.
Nominations now open for Peterborough Chamber of Commerce 2018 Business Excellence Awards
Nominations are open for the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce’s 15th Annual Peterborough Business Excellence Awards. The awards ceremony on October 17th will take place again this year at Showplace Performance Centre. (Photo: Peterborough Chamber of Commerce)
Nominations are now open for the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce’s 15th Annual Peterborough Business Excellence Awards, which publicly recognize and honour local businesses who have demonstrated a passion for excellence.
Awards will be handed out in the following categories: Business Citizen of the Year, Local Focus, Micro Business, Marketing & Promotion, Not-for-Profit, Retail, Innovation/Research & Development, Environmental Practices, Skilled Trades, 4-under-40 Profiles, Business Student Leadership Prizes, Employer of the Year, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Hospitality, Health & Wellness, Retail Chain/Franchise, Commercial Development or Renovation, Customer First, Supply Chain, Tourism, and Newcomer Entrepreneur of the Year.
VIDEO: 2018 Business Excellence Awards
In addition, the Chamber has added a new category for the 2018 awards, Professional Services, to recognize businesses showing excellence in the provision of services that require a formal certification by a professional body, such as legal, medical, financial, real estate, and more.
Nominations are open at excellencepeterborough.ca until 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23rd. Early bird nominations received by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9th will be entered into a draw for two tickets to the awards ceremony and a $100 gift card to a Chamber member restaurant of the winner’s choice.
The Chamber will announce three finalists in each category on August 9th, with the award recipients revealed at an awards ceremony on October 17th at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough.
Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area reduces size of its board
Paul Bennett, co-owner of Ashburnham Realty, with Terry Guiel, executive director of the Peterborough DBIA. Bennett will be interim chair of the DBIA’s board after Dave Madrill stepped down from the position in response to a new City of Peterborough by-law restricting the size of Business Improvement Area boards. (Photo: Terry Gueil)
The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is reducing the size of its board in accordance with a new City of Peterborough by-law.
Last September, Peterborough City Council passed a new by-law governing the city’s Business Improvement Areas (the Peterborough DBIA and the Village Business Improvement Area in East City). The by-law came a year after the Peterborough DBIA challenged the city at an Ontario Municipal Board hearing over the rezoning for the new casino.
In part, the by-law sets the maximum size of a Business Improvement Area board to nine directors. The Peterborough DBIA currently has 13 members.
As a result of the by-law, Dave Madill and Alvin Schieck will resign from the DBIA’s board, resulting in 10 remaining members. Madill has served on the board for 12 years (and as chair since 2011) and Schieck has been on the board for eight years (and as vice-chair since 2014).
The board has selected Paul Bennett, co-owner of Ashburnham Realty, to serve as interim chair until the next Peterborough DBIA Annual General Meeting (AGM), at which time the DBIA membership will elect a new board.
The DBIA AGM is scheduled for June 27th at Showplace Performance Centre at 6 p.m. The meeting is open to everyone, but only DBIA members are eligible to vote and to serve on the board. Any member looking to join the board can contact the DBIA office to make arrangements or announce their intentions at the meeting.
New World Park Solutions Inc. to build new Rotary adult outdoor gym in Beavermead Park
Announced in June 2017, the Rotary adult outdoor gym at Beavermead Park was originally scheduled to open in the fall of 2017. Work on the project will now begin in May 2018. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
The City of Peterborough has awarded Brantford-based company New World Park Solutions Inc. with the contract to build Peterborough’s first adult outdoor gym.
The gym will be located in Beavermead Park adjacent to the volleyball courts and near the children’s playground. It will feature a variety of exercise machines, including some that are accessible for persons with disabilities.
First announced in June 2017, the project will be funded with contributions of $25,000 from each of the Rotary Club of Peterborough-Kawartha and the Rotary Club of Peterborough and $40,000 from the City of Peterborough.
New World Park Solutions Inc. was the successful vendor to the City of Peterborough’s Request for Proposals for the layout design and supply and installation of outdoor exercise equipment at Beavermead Park.
Work will begin on the project in May 2018, with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony when the project is completed.
Peterborough Chamber Breakfast Meeting with Lindsay Stroud on April 10
Lindsay Stroud, Manager of Transportation and Urban Design Programs at GreenUP, will speak at the April 10th Chamber AM breakfast meeting. (Photo: GreenUP)
The next Chamber AM breakfast meeting takes place from 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10th at Carousel Restaurant & Tavern (116 Lansdowne St. E., Peterborough).
Lindsay Stroud, Manager of Transportation and Urban Design Programs at GreenUP, will speak on the annual Shifting Gears transportation challenge.
Networking begins at 7 a.m. with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. (where you can make your best 30-second elevator speech to the room) followed by the guest speaker at 8 a.m.
Mental Health in the Workplace seminar in Haliburton on April 10
The Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast meeting takes place from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10th at Maple Avenue Tap & Grill (172 Highland St., Haliburton).
Jack Veitch, Health Promoter and Educator with the Canadian Mental Health Association, will speak about mental health issues in the workplace, including strategies, approach, and prevention.
The cost is $15 for Chamber members and $20 for non-members (includes taxes and gratuity).
Bancroft Chamber of Commerce 2018 Business Symposium on April 10
The Bancroft Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Business Symposium takes place from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10th at Bancroft Pentecostal Tabernacle (311 Hastings St. N., Bancfort).
The event includes a keynote from Hastings—Lennox and Addington MP Mike Bossio and three morning panels: “Show Me The Money” (where you get the capital to grow your business) with Michael Gatschene – BDC, Carolyn Barker-Brown – CFDC, and Jacques Pilon, Launch Labs; “Hidden Gems” (community-focused organizations that can help your business) with Loyalist College, Brad Labadie – ECOTB, Melanie Wright – CFDC, and Mark Hanley – Hastings County; and “Seeing through the Smoke” (what you need to know about marijuana in the workplace) with Joel Ribideau, Nancy Wiechenthal – NHFP, and Bancroft OPP.
The cost is $35 for Chamber members and $45 for non-members (includes breakfast). To register, call 613-334-1513 ext. 213 or register online at www.bancroftdistrict.com.
FastStart E-Connect with Darryl Goodall and Reg Maranda on April 10
The next FastStart E-Connect, “Spring into Entrepreneurship 2.0”, takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10th at The Venue (286 George St. N., Peterborough).
Featured speakers are Darryl Goodall, founder of Part Time CFO Services Inc., and Rejean “Reg” Maranda, co-founder of Reggie’s Hotgrill, El Caminos, McThirsty’s Pint, and Kettledrums Restaurant.
FastStart is a partnership between Trent University, Fleming College, and the Innovation Cluster.
Innovation and Technology Showcase at Fleming College on April 12
A total of 61 innovative student projects will be on display during the Innovation and Technology Showcase at Fleming College on April 12th, where award-winning award-winning video producer Bryan Bolan will also deliver a keynote presentation. (Photo courtesy of Bryan Bolan)
Student innovation and hands-on learning will be on display at the Fleming College Innovation and Technology Showcase on Thursday, April 12th.
Over the winter, students from the School of Business and School of Trades and Technology worked with sponsors from industry and non-profit sectors to find innovative solutions to a business- or technology-related problem.
The 61 student projects that will be on display during the showcase include: a smart water sprinkler that measures soil moisture and air temperature to determine whether lawn watering is needed; turning everyday objects such as posters or t-shirts into FM radio transmitters; identification of international markets for sustainable materials used in the manufacture of surfboards; creating a plan to attract new business, relocate businesses, and repatriate locals in City of Kawartha Lakes; and a smart doorbell that can identify a visitor and notify the homeowner using a smartphone app.
Projects will be judged with prizes awarded at the conclusion of the showcase.
Members of the public are invited to attend the event and view the projects, which will be on display from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre (599 Brealey Dr., Peterborough).
In addition to the project displays, award-winning video producer Bryan Bolan will deliver a keynote presentation at 2 p.m.. The keynote will be followed by a reception at 3 p.m. with the awards presentation at 3:30 p.m.
Celebrating the Entrepreneurial Woman – You Gotta Laugh in Lindsay on April 13
Comedian, author and professional speaker Susan Stewart will offer advice on reducing stress on April 13, 2018 in Lindsay. (Publicity photo)
The Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre (KLSBEC) in partnership with Women in Networking Kawartha Lakes (WiN) are hosting their sixth annual women’s event at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 13th at Olympia Restaurant (106 Kent St. W., Lindsay).
“Celebrating the Entrepreneurial Woman – You Gotta Laugh” features guest speaker Susan Stewart, a comedian, professional speaker, and author of Reaching the Laugh Resort, Your New Lenses are Ready for Pick Up: A Guide to Seeing the Lighter Side of Life and You Gotta Laugh: Wit and Wisdom About Not Taking Life (Or Yourself) Too Seriously. She has spent the last ten years entertaining and inspiring people to see the lighter side of life.
The cost is $45+HST for members of KSLBEC, WiN, and the Lindsay, Fenelon Falls, and Coboconk, Norland and Area Chambers of Commerce or $55+HST for non-members. The price includes a complimentary copy of Stewart’s book You Gotta Laugh.
Medical Officer of Health at Peterborough DBIA Breakfast Network on April 18
Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health with Peterborough Public Health, will speak at the Peterborough DBIA Breakfast Network on April 18. (Photo: Peterborough Public Health)
Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health with Peterborough Public Health, will be the guest speaker at the next Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) Breakfast Network on Wednesday, April 18th.
The DBIA Breakfast Network meets on the third Wednesday of the month at Empress Gardens at 131 Charlotte Street and is open to everyone.
Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. with Dr. Salvaterra speaking at 8 a.m. Tickets are $5 at the door.
2018 Bears’ Lair Entrepreneurial Competition Final Pitch on April 18
The six finalists in the 2018 Bears’ Lair Entrepreneurial Competition will be pitching their businesses to a panel of judges on Wednesday, April 18th at The Venue (286 George St. N., Peterborough).
The finalist in the innovation stream are ViSmart, Transit One, and Kavtek, and the finalists in the goods and services stream are Full Tilt Cycle, Percheron Plastic Inc. and Indigo Green.
Doors open at 6 p.m. with the event beginning at 6:30 p.m. A panel of judges — Nicole Verkindt, founder and CEO of Canadian technology company OMX; Rhonda Barnet, President and COO at Steelworks Design Inc. and Chair of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Board of Directors; and Geordie Konrad, co-founder of digital innovation company Konrad Group — will score the finalists’ presentations based on innovation, commercialization, diversification, business plan quality, and the benefit to the local economy.
The two winners (one for the innovation stream and one for the goods and services stream) will be announced at 8:45 p.m.
Application deadline for Slingshot incubation program for young entrepreneurs is April 20
Participants in the inaugural Slingshot program in 2017 included businesses related to social media, drones, hockey, influencer marketing, podcasting, and digital solutions. (Photo: Innovation Cluster)
The application deadline for Slingshot, the Innovation Cluster and FastStart Peterborough’s summer incubation program for young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 29, is midnight on Monday, April 20th.
Successful applicants will receive coworking space in the downtown Cube along with tools, resources, and funding opportunities to grow their business — a value of $5,000 for four months.
Participants in the inaugural Slingshot program in 2017 included businesses related to social media, drones, hockey, influencer marketing, podcasting, and digital solutions. (Photo: Innovation Cluster)
Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 29, planning to start their company in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, and have an idea for a company or have been operational for under one year. Applicants outside of the region are encouraged to apply if they intend on making the move to Peterborough.
At the end of the summer, the most successful company will receive a $1,000 cash prize along with other prizes. Last year’s winner was Vetterview, a social media influencer marketplace created by founder and Slingshot participant Alex Gastle. He is now in London, England growing the company.
Successful applicants will move into the Cube to begin working on their company on May 1st. For more information or to apply, visit www.innovationcluster.ca/slingshot/.
Innovation Cluster Agriculture Tech Power Breakfast on April 27
The Innovation Cluster’s next quarterly Power Breakfast is on the topic of growth and innovation in agriculture technology and takes place on Friday, April 27th at the Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront (150 George St., Peterborough).
Presented by Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation, guest speakers are Jeal Leal (Peterborough MPP, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Minister Responsible for Small Business), Thien Quoc Nguyen and Suresh Narine of the Trent Centre for Biomaterials Research at Trent University, and Darren Goldin (Co-Founder and VP of Operations for Entomo Farms).
The breakfast event takes place from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and features a buffet breakfast of eggs benedict, fresh baked muffins, seasonal fruit yougurt parfaits, smoothies, and pan-friend potatoes.
Bobcaygeon Chamber of Commerce Awards of Excellence on April 28
The Bobcaygeon Chamber of Commerce’s annual Awards of Excellence takes place from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 28th at the Lakeview Arts Barn (2300 Pigeon Lake Rd., Bobcaygeon).
Awards will be presented in the following categories: Employee Achievement, Not for Profit Achievement, Business Achievement, Citizen of the Year, New Business Achievement, Tourism Achievement, Hospitality, and Creative Arts Achievement.
Trent Hills Chamber Business Excellence Awards Ceremony on April 28
The Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony for the 2018 Celebration of Business Excellence takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 28th at Island Park Retirement Residence (18 Trent Drive, Campbellford).
Awards will be presented in the following categories: Emerging Entrepreneur Award, Customer Experience Award (Service-Based), Customer Experience Award (Product-Based), Pride And Progress Award, Ignite 2018 – Business, Ignite 2018 – Non-Profit Organization, Excellence In Business, Community Impact Award, Inclusive Community Employer Award, and Chair’s Award.
A cocktail reception begins at 7 p.m. followed by the awards ceremony at 8 p.m.
Business Owners Sharing Solutions (BOSS) – Mental Health in the Workplace on May 9
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism’s next Business Owners Sharing Solutions (BOSS) seminar takes place from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 9th at the Lakefield Legion (10 Nicholls St., Lakefield).
The session will focus on coping strategies and techniques to encourage mental wellness in your workplace, with panelists Jack Veitch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Dave Pogue of Team 55, and Ashley Challinor of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
The cost is $15 for Chamber members and $25 for non-members.
These young singers, dancers, and actors are having non-stop fun thanks to Alexis Wilson (bottom left) and her Summer Company venture, The Tiny Talents Arts Company in Fenelon Falls. The Government of Ontario's flagship youth entrepreneurship program, Summer Company is delivered locally through the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development Business Advisory Centre and the Kawartha Lakes Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre. The deadline for students ages 15 to 29 to apply for this year's program is May 19, 2018. (Photo courtesy of Alexis Wilson / Tiny Talents Arts Company)
If you’ve got a great business idea and you’re between the ages of 15 and 29, you should definitely consider going after one of the local grants now available through the Summer Company program. Nine grants are available through Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development and seven are up for grabs through the Kawartha Lakes Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre.
How to apply
To apply for the 2018 Summer Company program, follow these steps:
Summer Company is the Government of Ontario’s flagship youth entrepreneurship program that connects students ages 15 to 29 with training, mentorship, and the funding needed to start a summer business.
And according to past Summer Company participant, Brigh Findlay-Shields, it’s is a low risk way to start and grow a successful business.
Findlay-Shields was only 16 when she applied to the program. She was young, competitive and she had started to take an interest in equestrian jewelry that allows riders to personalize their tack.
“I saw bridle charms out there,” Findlay-Shields says. “And I thought I could do it better, so I started Darling Equine.”
Young entrepreneur Brigh Findlay-Shields used her competitive spirit to launch her Summer Company online business, Darling Equine, in 2015 when she was only 16 years old. The business started selling bridle charms and has now expanded to selling apparel and accessories through Shopify and Etsy. (Photo courtesy of Brigh Findlay-Shields)
A rider from a young age, she sensed there was an opportunity to sell the small charms that can be attached to bridles, or used in other ways, like zipper-pulls. Once enrolled in the Summer Company program, she got to work building a website at darlingequine.ca to launch her online business.
One of the bridle charms offered through young entrepreneur Brigh Findlay-Shields’ online business Darling Equine. Findlay-Shields launched her company launched in 2015 with a grant and business support from the Summer Company program. The Ontario government program is delivered locally through the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development Business Advisory Centre and the Kawartha Lakes Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre. (Photo courtesy of Brigh Findlay-Shields / Darling Equine)
And while the program’s start-up funds helped with ordering stock and with web development, it was the workshops and mentoring that made the biggest impact on the new entrepreneur.
“I learned that it’s not as simple as just setting up a website,” Findlay-Shields laughs. “I was like, where are all the people?”
Marketing workshops helped, especially when it came to social media marketing. Findlay-Shields says she really appreciated learning how to build and develop a community through social media, how to share resources with her fans and followers, and how to convert that community support into actual sales.
Now, a few of years later, the business is still running. Findlay-Shields is studying at the University of Toronto and she runs Darling Equine in her free time. The company has grown to include a clothing line and she sells on both Etsy and Shopify. She’s continued to grow her community and she says that learning by doing was a great experience.
“People in this program were always listening and understanding,” she says. “They understood that young entrepreneurs are the future.”
Alexis Wilson agrees. She completed the Summer Company program last summer and her arts-based business, The Tiny Talents Arts Company in Fenelon Falls (73 Lindsay Street, Fenelon Falls), continues to thrive.
Wilson says she thought the program was just for students looking to develop a trade, but her mom encouraged her to pitch her own arts-based idea. Wilson wanted to launch a triple-threat program for kids that would teach music, dance, and acting. Wilson’s mom was right and the Tiny Talents Arts Company was launched.
Alexis Wilson, owner of arts-based business The Tiny Talents Arts Company in Fenelon Falls, with some of her students during a musical theatre camp. She launched her business to address a lack of local theatre and arts programs and was accepted into the Summer Company program last year. (Photo courtesy of Alexis Wilson / The Tiny Talents Arts Company)
Although stage fright is not an issue for Wilson, who has been acting and dancing for as long as she can remember, she was definitely scared to start a business at such a young age but looking back, she says it was worth facing her fears.
“I went to the meetings and workshops and I loved the social media lessons and learning how to market,” Wilson says. “I started the program in church basements and I opened a studio space by the end of the program.”
Wilson used some of her start-up funds to purchase art supplies and everything else she needed to get her kids’ program off the ground. She jumped into marketing and promotion and started signing kids up. The young entrepreneur ran two weeks of summer camp in July and another two weeks last August. At the end of the summer she had a musical production of “Aladdin” ready to go and everyone gave a great performance.
“There were eight kids in the show, all under 10 years,” Wilson says. “They were all off-script and even the youngest one, a six-year-old, did not forget anything.”
Wilson says she loves what she’s doing and it always feels good when the kids she has worked with see her in town, and say they can’t wait to come back again. Parents are happy too, filling her Facebook page with warm compliments and enthusiastic encouragement.
Wilson is planning on a future path that involves teaching and performing. While she works to complete her final studies at Fenlon Falls Secondary School, she’s still running her studio and offering afterschool, weekend, and holiday programming and she’s got big plans for this summer with more camps and shows at her studio.
“This was stressful,” Wilson admits. “But the fun outweighed that. I’d never done anything like this before but I’m so happy I did. I learned so many things — like organization.”
Wilson says she’s trying to work on a plan now to help manage growth, to teach more kids, and to keep her approach as individual as she can.
Students in the 2017 Summer Company program run through the Kawartha Lakes Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre built their businesses and their confidence through the dynamic student entrepreneur program, which is running again this summer. Nine grants are available through Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development and seven are available through the Kawartha Lakes Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre. The deadline to apply is May 19, 2018. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Lakes Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre)
Both Summer Company participants say they are grateful for the support, learning, mentorship and success that they found through the program. The young women believe that the unique experiences that they had will help shape their lives for years to come and they both appreciated being able to build a business with so little risk and so much support. These are all reasons why they are both encouraging others to apply to the Summer Company.
Both the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre and the Kawartha Lakes Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre deliver the Summer Company program, which helps students navigate the business plan writing process and financial management. Throughout the summer, students will have the opportunity to take part in the same workshops that Wilson and Findlay-Shields raved about.
“This will be our seventeenth year delivering the Summer Company program, an amazing program for developing career skills and experiential learning for our region’s youth.” explains Economic Development Officer Madeleine Hurrell, “Through the program, students receive training, mentorship and funding of up to $3,000.”
Students in the 2017 Summer Company program run through the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development Business Advisory Centre at a celebration at the Market Hall in Peterborough in August 2017. A total of 11 student entrepreneurs received $33,000 in grants to support their businesses. The deadline to apply for the 2018 Summer Company program is May 19, 2018. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
Diane Steven is manager of the Kawartha Lakes Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre. She says she is always amazed to see the transformation that each of the Summer Company participants goes through over the summer months.
“They begin the summer so shy and unsure of themselves but by the end of summer they become true entrepreneurs,” Steven says.
“Their determination and knowledge of what they are doing and why is truly evident. They have confidence when speaking about their business to customers, take pride in the quality of the work they are doing and understand how the business needs to operate to be successful. What more can you ask for when measuring success?”
The deadline for applications is May 19, 2018. This highly sought-after program fills up quickly so applicants are encouraged to apply online. For more information and application instructions, visit www.ontario.ca/summercompany.
Opera singer Measha Brueggergosman, accompanied by her band and the Powerhouse Fellowship Soul Choir, will sing a selection of her "Songs of Freedom" African-American spirituals at Showplace Performance Centre on Saturday, April 28, 2018. The event includes an optional VIP reception hosted by Peterborough Symphony Orchestra Music Director and Conductor Michael Newnham. (Photo: Rhombus Media)
Canadian opera singer Measha Brueggergosman has been hailed as one of the great sopranos of the 21st century. She’s given solo recitals on the great stages of the world, including New York City’s Carnegie Hall, Washington’s Kennedy Center, London’s Wigmore Hall, and the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
Measha Brueggergosman
When: Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 7 p.m. Where: Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: $60 ($115 for VIP tickets)
Soprano Measha Brueggergosman, accompanied by the Powerhouse Fellowship Soul Choir, will perform a selection of African-American spirituals from Songs of Freedom. Optional VIP reception with Measha hosted by the PSO’s Michael Newnham will include complimentary hors d’oeuvres and sparkling wine. Tickets are available in person at the Showplace box office or by phone at 705-742-7469 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday) or online anytime at www.showplace.org.
She’s shared the stage with Bill Gates and former U.S. President Bill Clinton and given performances for Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, and Queen Elizabeth II. She sang to more than three billion viewers at the opening of the 2010 Olympic Games. She’s won a Juno and been nominated for a Grammy.
So it might be surprising to learn that she won’t actually be singing opera at her April 28th performance at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough).
Instead, Measha will be performing a powerful selection of African-American spiritual songs, including “Amazing Grace”, “Swing Low Sweet Chariot”, “Go Tell it on the Mountain”, “Go Down Moses”, “Deep River”, “This Little Light of Mine”, and many more.
Along with her band, she will be joined by the Powerhouse Fellowship Soul Choir, a Toronto-based group of talented teens and young adults directed by Shawn Cotterell.
VIDEO: “This Little Light of Mine” performed by Measha Brueggergosman and the Nova Scotia Mass Choir
The songs Measha will perform are some of the same ones heard in the 2015 documentary Songs of Freedom, directed by Rhombus Media’s Barbara Willis Sweete.
The film, which was nominated for four Canadian Screen Awards, also documents Measha’s personal journey and connection to her faith, her family history, and traditional African-American spirituals.
“My exploration of traditional spirituals is a way for me to challenge my classically trained mind,” Measha explains. “It has helped me to become a better musician. It’s dear to my heart. My ancestors were stolen from Africa and sold into slavery in the United States before finding freedom in New Brunswick.
“The spirituals were born out of a time when my people were oppressed and needed to find a way not only to communicate with each other, but also to express themselves. The reason the songs survived so long is because of their immediacy. They have the universality of a mournful yet hopeful existence. They have strength.”
The film includes Measha’s discovery of her family’s roots in the central African country of Cameroon, her ancestors’ enslavement and forced transport to America in the 18th century, and their subsequent escape and arrival in Canada, where they have lived for eight generations.
The name of Measha Brueggergosman’s great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, John Gosman, appears in The Book of Negroes. a recorded list of all of Black Loyalists who gained their freedom in Canada by fighting with the British military during the American War of Independence. (Photo: Rhombus Media)Measha visited the central African county of Cameroon, the land of her ancestors, where she was welcomed into the Bassa tribe. She collaborated with local artists while learning about modern Cameroonian culture and the past atrocities that took her ancestors from the land. Here she speaks with Bassa spiritual leader Mbombog Mbengang Nkaïnjé. (Photo: Rhombus Media)
“I found the Gosman name in an entry of the Book of Negroes, a recorded list of all of the enslaved blacks (known as Black Loyalists) who gained their freedom in Canada by fighting with the British military during the American War of Independence in the late 1700s,” Measha writes on the Songs of Freedom website.
“In 1779 John Gosman became a Black Loyalist when he ran away from his Colonial enslaver, Daniel Lathem of New London, New England, to join the British troops. The Book of Negroes is the first recorded evidence of John Gosman, my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather.”
Measha Gosman was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick in 1977. She began singing as a child in the choir of her local Baptist church, and at the age of seven began to study both voice and classical piano.
As a teen, she continued to study voice and she met her future husband, Markus Bruegger, who was an European exchange student (when they later married in 1999, they merged their last names into Brueggergosman, pronounced broo-ger-goz-man). She attended the University of Toronto, where she earned a Bachelor of Music, then went on to earn a Master of Music from Robert Schumann Hochschule, a college for music studies at the university level located in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Measha Brueggergosman’s powerful and dynamic performances has earned her international recognition and acclaim. (Photo: Lok Ng)
Since then, Measha’s powerful and dynamic performances has earned her international recognition and acclaim. She has appeared with the Berlin Philharmonic in concert performances of Porgy and Bess, Angels In America with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and a program of Barber and Duparc with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, among many others.
Her 2005 performance in Songs of Innocence and of Experience by William Bolcom garnered four Grammy Awards including Best Classical Album. Her other awards include Montreal International Musical Competition, the International Music Competition in Munich, and the Queen Sonja International Music Competition in Oslo. She has two Juno nominations, winning in 2008 for Classical Album of the Year.
VIDEO: “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” performed by Measha Brueggergosma
Now 40 years old and a mother of two sons, Measha published her memoir Something Is Always On Fire: My Life So Far in 2017. The book describes her struggles before and during her musical career, including being molested as a child, obesity, the death of her twins during pregnancy, infidelity and a year-long separation from her husband, and a 2009 brush with death at the age of 31 from a dissected aorta that required open heart surgery.
Measha has performed in Peterborough before. In fact, as she relates in a recent interview with Michael Bell of The Wire Megazine, she even writes about Peterborough in her memoir.
“There’s a moment in my career that really did hinge on Peterborough,” she says. “I’m really not sure whether I named Peterborough by name, but anybody who was there would know what concert I’m talking about. I go into great detail in my book about it. It was the very first time I sang Verdi’s Requiem and that’s all I’m going to say.”
VIDEO: “Blessed Assurance” performed by Measha Brueggergosman and her band
Measha’s April 28th Showplace concert will be a very different experience for audience members accustomed to her classical performances. Her powerful voice will still be centre stage of course, but this concert will also encourage some audience participation.
A common feature of African-American spirituals is the call-and-response format, where a leader sings a verse and others respond with a chorus. A tradition of African agriculture, during American slavery the work gangs would use these songs to regulate their pace and as a way to pass on stories orally.
“I like that I’m bringing the Songs of Freedom program because it requires a bit of audience participation,” Measha tells The Wire. “It’s also songs that people generally know and really love and have been a part of their lives. It’s a program that invites people in and I love singing it. It’s a lot of fun.”
Even though opera isn’t on the program for Measha’s Showplace concert, there is still a connection to classical music: the event will benefit the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra (PSO) as well as the non-profit Showplace Performance Centre.
Along with the concert, there will be a VIP reception with Measha hosted by PSO Music Director and Conductor Michael Newnham. The reception includes complimentary hors d’oeuvres and sparkling wine as Measha and Michael discuss her rise to fame, her passion for music, and her current projects.
VIDEO: “Go Tell It On The Mountain” performed by Measha Brueggergosma
The event begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 28th. Tickets are $60 plus fees for the concert only, or $115 plus fees for the concert and VIP reception.
Tickets are available in person at the Showplace box office or by phone at 705-742-7469 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday) or online anytime at www.showplace.org.
For more information about Songs of Freedom, including 360-degree videos and a mobile application, visit www.songsoffreedom.ca. Measha also released an album of the same name last year, which is available on iTunes and Spotify.
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