Avant-Garden Shop Raises Over $2,000 For New Canadians Centre From Chocolate Bar Campaign; Anonymous Matching Donor Doubles Amount

After selling Peace By Chocolate products, Avant-Garden Shop has raised $2,133 for the New Canadians Centre (NCC), announced on Tuesday.

In addition to the original donation, the NCC had announced that an anonymous donor had matched the total, doubling the amount to $4,166.

(from left to right) Jeeniraj “JJ” Thevasagayam, NCC executive director; Brenda Ibey, Avant-Garden Shop owner and Asuka Ballantyne Ono, NCC fund development officer holding up several Peace by Chocolate products that had been sold in-store since May. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The garden and bird store started selling the chocolate in May with 711 products purchased. Each bar costs eight dollars, with three going to the NCC. Avant-Garden Shop owner Brenda Ibey could not be more pleased with the way the fundraiser went.

“It was fantastic,” she explained. “Our customers just loved these chocolate bars and as soon as I told them that three dollars for every bar was going to the New Canadians Centre, they would buy, one, two, three or more so they really supportive.”

The NCC said they were grateful for Brenda and her customers’ support throughout the campaign.

“Brenda’s generosity through Avant Garden and the Peace by Chocolate initiative is making a real difference for newcomer families in our community,” said Jeeniraj “JJ” Thevasagayam, NCC executive director. “Because of your support, NCC can continue delivering programs that create belonging, opportunity, and connection in Peterborough.”

Ibey heard of the chocolate company last Christmas and purchased a few bars for herself. She discovered that she could purchase them wholesale and Peace by Chocolate was based out of Antigonish, N.S.

The Avant-Garden owner is sponsoring a Syrian refugee, which coincidentally mirrors the backstory of Peace by Chocolate’s founder and CEO, Tareq Hadhad. The latter had his chocolate factory in his homeland bombed in 2012 which forced him and his family to flee to Lebanon before settling in Canada.

“I have a connection with a young Syrian fellow who we helped to sponsor to get to Canada and now we're working to get his family here as well and so they should be coming soon.”

Ibey thanked all of her customers who had supported the initiative throughout the months and continues to sell Peace by Chocolate products in her store. She may think of a new organization to support for the next wave of chocolate bars but says she was happy to be involved with the NCC.

“It's been a really amazing story, really amazing to get involved with to help these folks because they're in dire straits where they're living and we don't know how lucky we have it here in Canada,” she explained. “I just wanted to help in any way I could, and the New Canadians Centre is a great organization, and I thought this would be fantastic to do.”

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PTBOSpotlight: Avant-Garden Shop

Welcome to PTBOSpotlight! Every Friday, this segment showcases a business or organization in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. You will have the opportunity to learn more about the people behind the organization and the work they do for our community.

This week, we are featuring the Avant-Garden Shop. First opened in 2002 on George Street by Brenda Ibey and a business partner, the business relocated to Sherbrooke Street in 2006. Ibey assumed full ownership in 2007.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Located at 165 Sherbrooke St. in Peterborough, the shop specializes in gardening, birding and Canadian-made gifts.

“We sell gardening tools, outdoor wall décor as well as bird feeders, bird food and pole systems,” said Ibey. “Over the years, we have gathered a large collection of beautiful works from various local and Canadian artists. These items include quirky garden art, cards, wind chimes, soaps, coasters, pewter, concrete sculptures and a large selection of wall art.”

Ibey says she prides her shop on keeping a majority of items Canadian in her store.

“Products come from just about every province: Ontario, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta. In addition, some items come from the USA and others are fair trade,” she explained. “Canadian-made, fair trade and an eye to high quality are what make the Avant-Garden Shop a very popular gift shop in the region.”

Avant-Garden Shop has won several awards over the years including Wild Bird Store of the Year in 2021, Best Retail Business (non-chain) by the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards in 201 and Ibey was named Business Woman of the Year by the Chamber in 2022 to name a few.

Ibey credits her dedication to her customers from herself and her staff to ensure they get the best shopping experience possible.

“Customers are number one. We go out of our way to help customers. The store is set up to make it easy and comfortable to shop and browse the many items available,” she explained. “We feel it’s important to share the story of the artists. They work hard and deserve recognition”

Ibey is always seeking out new products for the store to keep the product line fresh for customers. Building a relationship with every one helps in connecting them with what their needs and wants could be.

“We have become very well acquainted with our customers. We have celebrated relationships, births, weddings and also mourned with customers after losses,” she said. “We have become friends with many of their customers and have developed lasting friendships. The Avant-Garden Shop aims to please and the customers can see and feel that.”

To learn more about Avant-Garden Shop, find it online:

Website: www.avantgardenshop.com
Instagram: @avantgardenshop
Facebook: Avant-Garden Shop

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