23 Local Businesses Chosen for 2026 Starter Company Plus Program After Nearly 90 Applications

By Scott Arnold

From New Zealand hand pies and a baseball invention to a spiritual boutique and a women-owned plumbing company, this year’s Starter Company Plus cohort reflects the wide range of ideas and businesses taking shape across Peterborough and Peterborough County.

The 2026 Starter Company Plus cohort gathers for a group photo after 23 local businesses were selected for the six-week program through Community Futures Peterborough’s Business Advisory Centre. Nearly 90 businesses applied for this year’s program. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

Twenty-three local businesses are getting the opportunity to take their next step after being selected for the 2026 Starter Company Plus program through Community Futures Peterborough’s Business Advisory Centre.

The new cohort was announced Wednesday, September 16th, with nearly 90 applications received for the highly competitive program.

For Rosalea Terry, manager of the Business Advisory Centre and Corporate Communications at Community Futures Peterborough, the number of applications was only part of what made this year’s group stand out.

“The quality of applications this year was exceptional,” Terry said. “There were so many strong businesses, great ideas, and incredible drive to grow.”

She said the diversity of the businesses and the passion behind them were particularly noticeable during the selection process.

And there is certainly plenty of variety.

The 2026 cohort includes a New Zealand-style hand pie company, a ballroom dance studio, a patented baseball product, an organic skincare company, pet care providers, a women-owned plumbing company, a café, a brewery and blending business, a travel mug company, a craft supply business, a cleaning company and several other ventures.

The businesses will spend the next six weeks taking part in in-person workshops, one-on-one advisory sessions, mentorship and networking opportunities designed to help them refine their strategies, strengthen their marketing and build the skills needed for sustainable growth.

Successful graduates can also access up to $5,000 in grant funding.

For the people behind the businesses, though, the program is about more than the financial support.

MPP Dave Smith told the new cohort that while Starter Company Plus may sound like it is designed for people just starting out, many of the businesses have already done the difficult part of getting their ideas off the ground.

“What this is about is helping you grow, helping you be successful and ensuring that you can be those job creators, that you can be the entrepreneur in the community,” Smith said.

He also encouraged the 23 participants to make use of one another, not just the program's mentors.

“You have 22 other people here who are in that same step as you,” he said. “They want to do more. They want to build their company. They want to build their community. They want to be successful.”

That mix of businesses means there is plenty of opportunity for those connections to happen, even when the businesses themselves have little in common on the surface.

Smith pointed to the range of businesses in the room, noting that whether someone is working with babies, cider products or plumbing, there are still connections to be made.

“The link is you have that desire to take an idea or a concept, commercialize it, build upon it, and turn it into something,” he said.

Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal also congratulated the 23 businesses, noting that being selected from nearly 90 applications was an accomplishment in itself.

“This year's cohort reflects a range of entrepreneurship we have right across Peterborough region, from food and professional services to manufacturing to professional care to recreation and skilled trades,” Leal said.

Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clark also spoke about the importance of entrepreneurship in rural communities, drawing from her own family's experience in business and agriculture.

Clark said her family started a small business focused on renovations and repairs 35 years ago, which has since been passed down to her son, while her family has also been involved in a five-generation family farm.

Her message to the new entrepreneurs was straightforward: setbacks are part of the process.

“You divert, detour, regroup, and start again,” Clark said. “Never give up. That's just an opportunity to rethink what you're doing and redirect.”

From a Homemade Baseball Seat to a Business

One of the more unusual products represented in this year's cohort belongs to Peterborough's Rick Johnston, whose company Fungo Rocker has developed an ergonomic seat designed specifically around the baseball bat.

The idea has actually been with Johnston for decades.

While coaching overseas in the late 1990s, Johnston found himself trying to figure out how to stay close to the action on a baseball field while still having somewhere to sit. His solution was decidedly homemade.

“I basically ended up cutting a hole in a piece of wood, shoving it down a bat, and that became my seat,” Johnston explained.

The idea stayed with him and gradually evolved. Over the past two-and-a-half years, Johnston has worked to turn that original concept into the Fungo Rocker.

The result is a five-piece seat that uses a baseball bat as its support. It includes a base, seat with foam pad, collar, back support and a back support rib.

Johnston's extensive baseball background has given him plenty of first-hand experience with the problem he is trying to solve. He played in Peterborough before moving to Toronto, attending school in the United States on a scholarship and eventually playing for Team Canada for approximately six years, including the 1988 Olympic Games and Pan American Games.

He later coached with Team Canada and overseas.

That experience helped him see the need for something more comfortable than the traditional five-gallon bucket often used by coaches.

“It's turning into the Fungo Rocker now as it is,” Johnston said.

The product is designed to allow coaches to sit at a more natural 90-degree angle while still being able to move and rotate as they coach. Johnston also sees uses beyond the baseball diamond, including around fire pits and in backyards.

His immediate goal through the Starter Company Plus program is to move from prototypes toward production.

Johnston has several prototypes completed and is waiting for samples that he plans to test before sending feedback back to the factory.

“We'll be beating them up a little bit, if you will,” he said.

From there, he hopes to place the first order and get the product onto the market.

Bringing a Taste of New Zealand to Peterborough

For Lauren Cameron, the idea behind Kia Ora Pie Co. came from a food she discovered while living in New Zealand.

Cameron makes savoury New Zealand-style hand pies, something she became familiar with while travelling, working and, in her own words, eating plenty of pies.

“I thought we should bring them to Canada,” she said.

The business didn't begin immediately after her time in New Zealand, however.

It was several years before Cameron started making the pies again, initially for herself, friends and family. As a Red Seal chef, she already had the culinary background to develop the idea, but the business really began to take shape during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After being temporarily laid off from her job, Cameron returned to making the pies and eventually turned that into a business.

Kia Ora Pie Co. has now been operating for almost six years.

Customers can find the pies through curbside pickup, festivals and markets, as well as at One Fine Foods and Nanaberry's.

At Wednesday's announcement, Cameron brought along two of the company's popular varieties: steak and cheese, along with chicken, brie and cranberry.

The eight-ounce pies are designed to be hearty, with meat, rich sauces and cheese at the centre rather than the vegetable-heavy filling associated with a traditional pot pie.

For Cameron, being selected for Starter Company Plus is an opportunity to figure out what comes next for a business that has already established itself locally.

“It was a bit nerve-wracking,” she said of the application process. “So definitely kept myself lucky to be one of the select 23.”

She's now looking forward to seeing what can come from the mentorship and support offered through the program.

Building a Community Around Lavender Moon

Bethany Telford is taking a different approach with Lavender Moon, her downtown metaphysical and spiritual boutique.

Telford says the business is intended to be more than a place where people purchase spiritual products.

“We don't just sell you a product, but we actually teach you how to utilize that product to your best advantage,” she said.

Lavender Moon offers workshops, classes and events, including a monthly gathering called Tea and Talk, where people can discuss spiritual and metaphysical topics.

Telford said the idea for the business grew from her own experience and a desire to create a stronger sense of community for spiritually minded people.

She opened Lavender Moon in 2021 with a business partner after moving back to her hometown from Kingston.

The timing was significant.

Coming out of the pandemic, Telford said she saw a need for people to reconnect and find a sense of community.

“So many people feel isolated,” she said. “They feel alone. They feel like they're going through everything by themselves.”

That sense of community is something she wants to build into the future of Lavender Moon.

Through Starter Company Plus, Telford hopes to expand the business by bringing in more practitioners and creating what she describes as a one-stop spiritual shop, with services ranging from tarot and Reiki to mediumship, astrology and general guidance for people exploring their own spiritual interests.

At the announcement, she brought along a large amethyst crystal, which she said represented the kind of community she hopes to create.

“If there's a fracture in the circle, if there's a little bit of a break, it's not as strong,” Telford said. “But when all together, super strong.”

Meet the 2026 Starter Company Plus Cohort

The 23 businesses selected for this year's program are:

City of Peterborough

• Lauren Cameron, Kia Ora Pie Co.

• Courtney Carter, PTBO Ballroom

• Jason Christopher Rose, Pneuma Systems Inc.

• Madhu Gahalot, Melange Organics

• Rick Johnston, Fungo Rocker

• Bee Pratt, Owl Fix It Plumbing

• Melinda Szilagyi, My Time Studio

• Daniel Taro, PuzPuz Media

• Bethany Telford, Lavender Moon

• Angie White, B&B Craft Supplies

• Holly Wilkinson, Begin with Baby

• Brittany Zarobiak, Birch + Bloom Consignment Boutique

Peterborough County

• Lisa Cantelon, Studio Eighteen (18), Selwyn

• Carolyn Carr, Serenity Lane Café, Asphodel-Norwood

• Dan Ellis, Ferm Farm Brewing & Blending Ltd., Otonabee-South Monaghan

• Riley Gillespie-Friesen, Millbrook Pet Care, Cavan Monaghan

• Cullen Groome, Rescue Sector Innovations, Douro-Dummer

• David Manning, Cozy Days Travel Mug, Inc., Trent Lakes

• Lois O'Neill Jackson, The Pantry Cupboard, Trent Lakes

• Karen Parker, Parker Frames, Otonabee-South Monaghan

• Jeannine Thumiah, Quantum Innerstanding, Otonabee-South Monaghan

• Amanda Willett, The Ritual Cart, Cavan Monaghan

Curve Lake First Nation

• Melissa Gray, Reliable Home Cleaners

This is the third year Community Futures Peterborough has run the Starter Company Plus program.

As the newest cohort begins its six-week program, the 23 businesses now join the growing network of entrepreneurs who have gone through the program and are continuing to build their businesses in the region.

For Rose Terry, the diversity of this year's group is exactly what makes the cohort so exciting.

“We are so proud to be a part of their journey and help them to take those ideas to the next level,” she said.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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The Man Behind the Petes Souvenir Store: Mark Million Looks to Build on an Award-Winning Year

By Scott Arnold

As the Peterborough Petes prepare to open another season at the Memorial Centre, the man behind the Petes Souvenir Store is ready with new gear, new ideas and the same focus on giving fans a reason to keep coming back.

Mark Million, Director of Merchandise for the Peterborough Petes, stands with Petes staff members Dylan Hilton (left) and Brody Wright (right) inside the Petes Souvenir Store at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

When the Peterborough Petes take the ice for their 2026-27 home opener on Thursday, September 17th, there will be plenty happening inside the Memorial Centre.

The Petes will officially begin their 70th season of hockey in Peterborough, fans will get their first look at this year’s team on home ice and, just inside the building, Mark Million will be doing what he has been doing for the past four years: making sure Petes fans have plenty to choose from when it comes to showing their team pride.

Million is the Director of Merchandise for the Petes and runs the Petes Souvenir Store, a role that has brought together two things he has enjoyed for most of his life: sports and retail.

It is also a role that has some significant history behind it.

The Petes Souvenir Store dates back to 1979, when the Parnell and Rowe families were instrumental in getting it started. That was the same year the Petes won the OHL championship and captured the Memorial Cup, giving Peterborough hockey fans plenty to celebrate.

More than four decades later, the store remains a fixture inside the Memorial Centre.

“I think just in a Peterborough way, we kind of took it one step further as a group,” Million said of the store's beginnings. “We had won the year before. We’d won the OHL championship in 1979, of course. And so I think we just kept it going and turned it into something that, 45, 46 years later, is now the hallmark of the league and we’re very fortunate for the support.”

Million celebrated his fourth anniversary with the Petes this year, taking over the merchandise operation from longtime Petes employee Don Sharp, who had spent 16 years in the role.

His first day on the job was anything but quiet.

The Petes had just won the OHL championship and Sharp had already placed hundreds of orders for championship hats and T-shirts. When Million arrived, a shipment from CCM had come in late and the new Director of Merchandise found himself spending his first days helping bag and organize orders.

“We had an entire section in the back full of bags,” Million recalled.

Taking over something that had been built over decades meant Million knew there was no need to reinvent everything.

Instead, he started by talking to the people who mattered most: the customers.

“Is there something that you’d want to see? Is there something that we can do differently? What do you like about what Don has built here?” Million said.

That approach has remained a big part of how he operates the store.

“There’s no magic formula. It’s still at the end of the day, it’s still people, it’s still person to person,” he said.

For Million, that interaction is one of the best parts of the job.

His interest in retail actually goes back to Grade 10 at St. Peter’s Secondary School, where a teacher named Elio Cozzarini introduced him to entrepreneurship.

As part of the class, students also operated the school’s tuck shop, selling everything from gum to drinks, snacks and chocolate bars.

It was an early introduction to the combination of business, sales and dealing with customers that would eventually become Million’s career.

“I always loved the thrill of the chase as a sales aspect and kind of finding a way to source the product, sell it, merchandise it, all that sort of thing,” he said.

Sports were another constant.

Million knew early on that playing professionally probably wasn’t in the cards after discovering he couldn’t hit a “garden variety fastball” at 13 years old, but working in sporting goods gave him another way to stay connected to something he loved.

A job at Sport Chek led to work at National Sports, where Million credits Bruce MacDonald, Garrett Fitzgerald and Johnny Armstrong with helping him find his strengths.

“I wasn’t great on the technical aspect, but I love talking to people,” he said.

Since then, Million has worked a variety of sales jobs, including two stints as a realtor and time with SVP Sports. Now, after four years with the Petes, that experience has translated into an operation that recently received some major recognition.

Million was named the Ontario Hockey League’s Retailer of the Year for 2026.

He is quick to point out that the award belongs to more than just him.

“There are 19 other men and women in the OHL that are doing a terrific, terrific job,” Million said. “So I’m the holder of the award for this year.”

He also knows the award comes with a challenge to keep improving.

“It does mean that I will try everything in my power to continue to grow the brand,” he said.

That includes bringing the Petes into more places around the community.

Million teased upcoming third-party retail activations that will see Petes merchandise sold in local stores, something he sees as a natural extension of what the team is all about.

“We’re a community-based club. We should be out in the community doing these things,” he said.

There is plenty coming to the Petes Souvenir Store this season as well.

Fans attending Thursday’s home opener will find brand new merchandise, including products from Bardown and a selection of hats from ’47 Canada. But Million says fans shouldn’t expect to see everything at once.

The store will continue rolling out new products throughout the season, giving fans something different to discover as the year goes along.

And if you miss something on opening night, Million and the store will be keeping fans informed through the store’s Instagram account with their “Friday what you missed out on Thursday night” updates.

Million has also embraced the fact that the store has become about more than simply buying a shirt or a hat.

He describes it, jokingly, as being a little bit like Cheers, where regulars come through the door, talk Petes hockey, check out the latest merchandise and sometimes just talk sports.

“They’re walking in off the street,” Million said. “They want to talk Petes hockey, they want to talk about the new gear, they want to see what’s good, they want to talk Blue Jays baseball, and I’m here for it. I love that.”

That connection with fans is also why Million continues to welcome suggestions about what the store should carry.

“If you’ve got something to sell me, show it to me,” he said. “If you’ve got an idea of something that we could sell, let’s have a chat.”

For someone who started developing an interest in entrepreneurship while running a high school tuck shop, it is a pretty fitting place to find himself more than 30 years later.

And on Thursday, September 17th, Million’s OHL Retailer of the Year award will have a place of honour at the Memorial Centre as the Petes begin their 70th season.

The award, which Million jokingly refers to as “Roy,” will be on display in the Hall of Fame for fans to see during the home opener.

But Million has already made it clear he does not want to stop there.

“I’m going to hold the award for this year, but I do want to repeat,” he said. “I want to be the first person to repeat. And if I repeat, then that means that we’ve done a great job.”

For Million, though, that work is bigger than one person or one award.

“Dylan Hilton’s here. He’s done a great job. Our business staff has continued to do a great job on sellouts and activations and creating community partnerships,” he said. “I’m just a small cog in that wheel and I’m very fortunate that people continue to support Petes hockey and find value in the things that we’re trying to sell.”

With a new Petes season about to begin, there will be plenty of hockey to talk about.

And, if you stop by the Petes Souvenir Store, probably a few things worth talking about before the puck even drops.

The Petes will open their season at home against the Kingston Frontenacs on Thursday, September 17th, at 7pm at the Memorial Centre.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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From a Small Used Car Lot to National Recognition: Del Mastro Recreation’s Remarkable Peterborough Success Story

By Scott Arnold

What began as a modest used-car business built in memory of a father’s dream has grown into one of Peterborough’s most successful family-run companies, earning three national sales awards in the past year and proving that big achievements can happen right here at home.

Dean Del Mastro sits aboard a pontoon boat with three national sales awards earned by Del Mastro Recreation over the past year, including Top Canadian Dealer for South Bay Pontoon and Forest River Marine, Bentley Pontoon’s Rookie of the Year Award and a Gold Sales Award recognizing the Peterborough-based company as one of the top sellers in Canada. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

For Dean Del Mastro, the recent recognition earned by Del Mastro Recreation is about much more than sales numbers.

The Peterborough-based company has received three national sales awards within the past 12 months from three different pontoon boat manufacturers, an accomplishment Del Mastro believes is highly unusual in the industry.

Among the honours are Top Canadian Dealer for South Bay Pontoon and Forest River Marine, Bentley Pontoon’s Rookie of the Year Award and a Gold Sales Award recognizing the company as a top seller in Canada.

“I’m incredibly proud,” said Del Mastro. “I can’t remember any time that a business in Peterborough has received three national awards in the same year from three different companies, all with competing products.”

While the awards recognize strong sales performance, Del Mastro credits the achievement to the people behind the business, from staff members to customers who continue to place their trust in the company.

A Leap of Faith That Paid Off

One of the biggest success stories has been the company’s partnership with Bentley Pontoon.

Del Mastro admitted bringing on the brand was initially a leap of faith. The company already had strong relationships with established manufacturers Avalon and South Bay when the opportunity arose.

Part of what caught his attention was an unexpected personal connection.

His beloved bulldog, whom he describes as “the best dog we’ll ever own,” was named Bentley.

“When they came and said they wanted to talk about taking on Bentley Pontoon, I said, ‘What name did you say?’” he recalled with a laugh.

But beyond the name, it was the people behind the company that convinced him.

A self-described relationship-driven person, Del Mastro said meeting the Marcotte family and the Bentley team left him confident the partnership would work.

That confidence proved well founded.

Following a strong showing at the Toronto Boat Show in January, demand for the boats quickly took off, helping Del Mastro Recreation earn both Rookie of the Year and top sales honours.

Building Trust Through Service

Del Mastro believes success in the recreation industry comes down to three key factors: people, product and service.

With many boats now carrying price tags of $50,000 and beyond, customers want reassurance that they will be supported long after the purchase is complete.

“People expect that when they make that kind of decision, they’re going to be able to count on the company manufacturing the boat and the place selling it to them,” he said.

That commitment to customer service has helped the company build a loyal customer base over more than three decades in business.

A Family Business Rooted in Peterborough

The Del Mastro name has been connected to Peterborough for generations.

Dean’s mother grew up in Douro, and his parents returned to Peterborough shortly before he was born. When his father passed away, the family decided to pursue a dream he never had the chance to realize: starting his own business.

The company began in December 1992 as a small used-car lot operating across from what was then the Trentwinds International Centre.

The first year exceeded expectations, with roughly 300 vehicles sold.

A few years later, the family took a major risk by purchasing the property at 48 Lansdowne Street East, which remains the company’s home today.

“It was a huge undertaking for us,” Del Mastro said. “We didn’t have a lot of money, but we found a way to make it work.”

The family pooled resources, took on significant risk and relied on hard work, determination and strong community relationships to keep moving forward.

More than 34 years later, those efforts continue to pay off.

Growth Through Adversity

After spending more than a decade away from the business, Del Mastro returned during the COVID-19 pandemic and began investing heavily in its future.

Since then, he said the company has quadrupled its sales.

The business has also expanded beyond vehicle sales into powersports, marine products and other recreational industries.

But Del Mastro insists growth does not happen by accident.

“It takes good staff, good planning, good marketing and everything else that goes into running a business,” he said. “You can’t be half in. You’re either all in or you won’t make it.”

Family Still at the Heart of Everything

While the company has grown significantly, it remains a true family operation.

His brother Jason now plays a major leadership role within the business, while their wives help manage financial operations. Even the next generation is involved, with Del Mastro’s daughter Charlotte helping out at the company’s car wash and Jason’s daughters contributing over the years as well.

The family atmosphere extends beyond relatives to employees.

Del Mastro said one of the biggest lessons he has learned in recent years is that younger workers are every bit as motivated as previous generations.

“They want to succeed. They want to contribute. They want to do well in life,” he said. “They’re really just looking for a path.”

That realization has strengthened his commitment to mentoring staff and sharing the lessons he has learned through decades in business.

Why Peterborough Still Matters

Despite opportunities to expand elsewhere, Del Mastro says Peterborough remains the heart of everything the company does.

“This is where I’m from,” he said. “This is where my family and friends are.”

He acknowledged that future expansion may take the company beyond Peterborough’s borders, but he is adamant that the city will always remain its home base.

His pride in the community remains as strong as ever.

“I’ve always fought for this town,” he said.

Today, that fight comes through entrepreneurship, job creation and continued investment in a business that employs local people and serves customers across the region.

Chasing Bigger Goals

For Del Mastro, the recent awards are not a finish line.

If anything, they are motivation to aim even higher.

He studies successful businesses across North America and believes companies operating in communities the size of Peterborough are capable of achieving far more than many people realize.

“Often we limit ourselves by believing what we think is possible,” he said.

That mindset continues to drive the company forward.

Whether it is expanding operations, growing sales or setting new industry benchmarks, Del Mastro says the goal is not simply to be good at what they do.

“We expect not to be good,” he said. “We expect to be great.”

And after turning a small family business into a nationally recognized operation, few would bet against them.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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From a House Party Mishap to a Peterborough Success Story

By Scott Arnold

What started as a teenager trying to erase the evidence of a house party has turned into one of Peterborough’s longest-running local businesses.

Terry Munro’s journey into business started with a rented carpet cleaner after a teenage house party. Thirty-seven years later, Kawartha Carpet Cleaning has become a familiar name across Peterborough and the Kawarthas (Photo by Scott Arnold)

When Terry Munro was 17 years old, he found himself in a situation many teenagers would rather forget.

He had hosted a house party and needed to clean the carpets before anyone found out.

So he rented a steam cleaner, got to work and discovered something unexpected: he was actually good at it.

“The rest is pretty much history,” Munro said with a laugh.

Thirty-seven years later, that one cleaning job has grown into Kawartha Carpet Cleaning, a company that has become a familiar name in homes, businesses and institutions across Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

It is a story that could only happen in a community like this one.

Unlike many teenagers who were working part-time jobs after school, Munro was already thinking differently. He had his own vehicle and saw an opportunity in a service that virtually everyone could use at some point.

Before long, he had launched a business and rented his first office on Erskine Avenue, above Better Carpet. The company later moved to The Queensway, where it spent many years beside the Queensway Restaurant, before settling into its current Rye Street location in 2011.

Over nearly four decades, the business has seen Peterborough grow and change around it.

While carpet cleaning remains at the heart of the operation, the company’s work extends far beyond living rooms and hallways. Kawartha Carpet Cleaning services residential and commercial properties, cleans furniture, works on boats and vehicles, and handles specialty jobs throughout the region.

Its crews regularly work with hotels, businesses, marinas and municipal facilities, making the company a familiar presence in countless corners of the community.

Like many local businesses, Kawartha Carpet Cleaning faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Long-standing routines had to be adjusted, staffing structures changed and operations adapted to new restrictions.

But the company endured.

For Munro, that resilience comes down to two things: loyal customers and dedicated employees.

He credits generations of repeat clients and referrals for helping the business thrive for nearly four decades. At the same time, he is quick to point out that the company’s success has always been driven by its staff.

“This whole thing’s been staff driven the whole time,” he said.

That commitment to people may be one of the most meaningful parts of the story.

Over 37 years, Munro estimates he has employed thousands of people. Many were young workers getting their start in the workforce, and he still runs into former employees throughout the community.

In some cases, they remind him that Kawartha Carpet Cleaning was their very first job.

Even his mechanic.

For a lifelong Peterborough resident who has spent decades building a business here, those connections matter.

Munro played hockey in the city, built relationships throughout the community and has watched generations of workers and customers come through his doors. While he now lives in Havelock after spending years in Ennismore and Bridgenorth, Peterborough remains home in many ways.

Looking back on nearly four decades in business, his answer to what he is most proud of is surprisingly simple.

“I’m still here.”

In an era when small businesses face constant challenges and competition, there is something refreshing about that response.

No grand speech. No elaborate explanation.

Just a local business owner who started with a rented steam cleaner, worked hard, built a loyal customer base and kept showing up year after year.

And if Munro has his way, the story is far from over.

His goal remains the same as it has been for years: when people in the Kawarthas think about carpet cleaning, he wants them to think of Kawartha Carpet Cleaning.

Considering how the company got its start, that is a remarkable journey from one unforgettable house party.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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