Peterborough Blogs
Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Trent University, Kawartha Manufacturers, Opus Tribute Group and Gardens Plus
/PTBOCanada is delighted to be running the Business Beat columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…
There’s a new micro credential program from Trent University that is designed for women moving into leadership positions in government, public administration, and non-profits.
The Women's Leadership in Governance program explains some of the challenges women leaders face in public service. Further, it engages strategies and behaviours to employ toward enabling women leaders to lead successfully. The course starts soon, so reach out to Trent University if you’re interested.
The Kawartha Manufacturers are hosting a Finance for Non-Finance People workshop at Savage Arms in Lakefield on May 14 from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
It’s aimed at manufacturing supply chain supervisors, managers, and technical or project managers without formal business or finance training. The workshop will provide useful concepts to help influence the financial position of your company. A tour of Savage Arms will follow. There is a non-member rate for the workshop, or you can sign up for a KMA membership.
Little Lake Cemetery Company, a longstanding leader in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, has rebranded as Opus Tribute Group.
The new name reflects a broader vision and renewed commitment to honouring life stories with compassion, dignity, and personalized care. The company goes back 175 years and now encompasses a growing network of cemetery, memorial, and funeral service providers, including Highland Park Funeral Centre, Little Lake Cemetery, Highland Park Cemetery, Mill Valley Funeral and Cremation Centre in Millbrook, Lakeland Funeral and Cremation Centre in Lindsay, and Trent Cremation Services.
This week we’re highlighting a locally grown business.
A big congratulations to Gardens Plus on winning the Canadian Choice Awards for Garden Centre in Peterborough. Gardens Plus is now in its 28th season. Not only is it the place to go as you start planting your gardens, but they are also selling gardening books with all proceeds going to the Survivors Abreast team for the month of May. They have a great selection of easy-care perennials like hostas, daylilies, coral bell, and coneflower. Check out Gardens Plus at 136 County Rd. 4 in Donwood.
We have a correction to a previous edition. While POI Peterborough is happy to help find solutions for your workplace, they do not sell pencils and paperclips.
If you want to have your business featured on the Business Beat or know of a business doing something new and interested, shoot an email to joel@pkchamber.ca.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring The Resilient Retailer, Cark Oake Rotary Swim, Lakefield Pantry and Fairlife
/PTBOCanada is delighted to be running the Business Beat columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…
Today’s economy is evolving and Peterborough County want to equip local retailers with the tools and strategies they need to remain profitable, adaptable, and competitive.
They’ve organized The Resilient Retailer, a dynamic one-day event on May 14 at the Cavan Monaghan Community Centre. The day will feature keynote speaker Barbara Crowhurst, CEO of Retail Makeover. An internationally recognized retail specialist, business coach, and speaker, Crowhurst brings decades of experience working with some of North America's largest retail corporations and thousands of independent business owners. Attendees will gain invaluable insights into best practices, customer engagement, merchandising and sustainable growth.
The 39th annual Cark Oake Rotary Swim beat their $50,000 goal, raising nearly $58,000.
Oake passed away in January and has left quite a legacy in our community. His swim has raised more than $1.4 million for Easter Seals, the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, and other Rotary causes. A big shout out to the Oake family and Century 21 United Realty for keeping this legacy going and raising more money for great local causes. This year’s title sponsors were Baker Tilly and Holiday Ford.
Jennie MacKenzie is retiring after 35 years running the Lakefield Pantry, a fixture in downtown Lakefield.
It’s a destination for wholesome food, bulk goods, natural products, and a sense of community. The store was started in 1980 by Cam and June Fraser as a way to give people choice about quantity, quality, and packaging associated with their food. New owners Lindsey and Andrew Irwin plan to keep stalking your favourite food while bringing in some new products. They’re undertaking some light renovations to bring in a frozen yogurt bar. Drop by 44 Queen St. to see what has made the Lakefield Pantry a local icon.
This week’s made in Peterborough producer is Fairlife. Located at 758 The Kingsway, Fairlife uses 100% Canadian dairy in its products.
They specialize in delicious, dairy-based products to give everyone the nutrition they need. They are on a mission to enrich lives by sustainably providing nourishment and vitality to the world. You can find made in Peterborough Fairlife products in stores across Canada.
If you want to have your business featured on the Business Beat or know of a business doing something new and interested, shoot an email to joel@pkchamber.ca.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Volunteer Peterborough, River of Yarn, Business Summit and Quickmill
/PTBOCanada is delighted to be running the Business Beat columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…
One of the best ways to get involved in your community and meet some great people is to volunteer.
If you would like to know more about what opportunities are available, head to Peterborough Square on May 7 for the Meet Your Match Volunteer Fair hosted by Volunteer Peterborough. It’s a perfect opportunity to discover meaningful ways to give back. Not-for-profit organizations are invited to set up booths in a tradeshow format in the lower level of Peterborough Square while the public are invited to browse and find a volunteer roles that are the perfect match. There will also be busloads of students looking for their volunteer hours.
Congratulations to Tracy Minnema, owner of River of Yarn, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
There are still a few days left to catch their anniversary sales for the month of April. River of Yarn provides luxury knitting and crochet yarns, tools, and accessories at affordable prices. They carry a variety of brands and sources of yarn, including alpaca, wool, cotton, flax, hemp and acrylics. You can find River of Yarn at 353 Kents Bay Rd. in Keene.
There are still a few tickets left for the Business Summit, hosted by Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce and Acorn30 on April 30 at Ashburnham Funeral Home and Reception Centre.
This is a half-day conference filled with inspiring speakers and informative workshops. You’ll hear directly from business leaders on what they’ve learned and what worked on topics like growing your business, building partnerships, and handling uncertain times. This year’s keynote is from Matt Holmes of Holmes Reisely.
This week we’re highlighting more made in Peterborough products with Quickmill.
I recently had the privilege of touring their facility at 760 Rye St. Quickmill has been in the computer-controlled machining business, known as CNC, since 1984. They ship turn-key machines around the world for industries that include heavy equipment, aerospace, and oil and gas. They continue to grow and innovate, finding custom solutions for their clients with world-class machines built right here in Peterborough.
If you want to have your business featured on the Business Beat or know of a business doing something new and interested, shoot an email to joel@pkchamber.ca.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Mac + Cheese Festival, New Canadians Centre, POI and Canadiana Cabinets
/PTBOCanada is delighted to be running the Business Beat columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…
The Mac and Cheese Festival is back in downtown Peterborough and it’s bigger, bolder and cheesier than before.
This month-long celebration of comfort food is underway now, with downtown restaurants putting their own creative spin on mac and cheese dishes for the public to try, rate, and enjoy. There are classics and some creative takes on the dish like mac and cheeseburger samosa and a mac and cheese poutine. The festivities wrap up with a Grand Finale Bash on Saturday at the Quaker Foods City Square. There will be a mac and cheese showdown with live judging for the Judge's Choice Award, a beer garden, live music, vendors and family-friendly fun. Visit theboro.ca for more details.
The New Canadian Centre has purchased its building from St. James United Church.
This historic building at 221 Romaine Street was built in 1917. The New Canadians Centre moved in back in 2012 and will continue sharing the space with St. James United Church and the St. James Players theatre group. The New Canadian Centre has been instrumental in welcoming thousands of newcomers and hosting numerous cultural celebrations, shared meals, and community events.
POI is celebrating it’s new Peterborough office at 418 George St. N. in downtown Peterborough.
POI has been led by three generations of the Scholl family for six decades, creating inspiring workspaces. Their goal is to create spaces that help businesses achieve their goals and create a place where people want to go. They offer everything from pencils and paper clips to desks and filing cabinets. They have solutions for home offices as well.
We’re profiling local business that make stuff right here in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. This week it’s Canadiana Cabinets.
Founded in 1995 by Bill Barker, they have been producing a versatile lineup of standard and custom cabinets ever since. Their high-quality cabinets are the result of merging traditional and hi-tech construction methods. Their cabinets are custom built-to-order and constructed on an efficient production line with the latest in industry technologies. Drop by and see their beautiful showroom at 2712 Brown Line and see what this local, family-owned business can do for you.
If you want to have your business featured on the Business Beat or know of a business doing something new and interested, shoot an email to joel@pkchamber.ca.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Gauvreau Accounting, Peterborough Humane Society, Community Futures Peterborough and Havelock Metal
/PTBOCanada is delighted to be running the Business Beat columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…
Congrats to Bob and the team at Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory for being recognized by Great Places to Work Canada as number 32 in the country for employers with 100 to 1,000 employees.
Founded in 2008, Gauvreau has grown to more than 200 employees with offices in Peterborough, Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Steinbach. While the team has grown, the goal of creating a business where people want to come to work every day remains unchanged. Want to join their team? Gauvreau is planning to hire a number of senior accountants this spring.
Peterborough Humane Society’s 50/50 and Marlin Travel/Collette ‘Ruff’le are back, running until May 14.
Get your tickets by April 17 and you will be entered into the early bird draw for $500. Last year’s two 50/50 winners received nearly $22,000. This year’s ‘Ruff’le is for a $5,000 voucher from Marlin Travel and Collette Travel which can take you anywhere in the world for your dream trip. Not only do you get a chance to win big, but you are supporting the important work of the Peterborough Humane Society. Visit phs5050.ca to see what the jackpot is at and to get your tickets.
The Business Advisory Centre and Community Futures Peterborough have launched a new Tariff Toolkit.
It has been developed with the shared expertise of local economic development teams and trade experts, this toolkit was designed to support businesses navigating the complexities of tariffs and global trade. It includes things like a step-by-step guide to understanding tariffs and how they apply to your products, tariff classification tips to ensure accurate product categorization, an import/export cost calculator template to estimate duties and taxes, and much more. Visit communityfuturespeterborough.ca to download the kit.
We’re going to keep highlight local businesses making things right here in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
This week we’re showcasing Havelock Metal. They have been in the steel business locally for more than 30 years, specializing in steel roofing, siding, trim, and accessories. They were founded in Havelock in 1993 and moved to their current facility at 901 Major Bennett Drive in Peterborough in 2018. They have a beautiful showroom and allow the public to buy directly from their manufacturing facility.
If you want to have your business featured on the Business Beat or know of a business doing something new and interested, shoot an email to joel@pkchamber.ca.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Restwell Upholstering, Le Boat, Summer Soul Yoga and Peterborough Matboards
/PTBOCanada is delighted to be running the Business Beat columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…
Restwell Upholstering is celebrating 80 years here in Peterborough, keeping our homes and businesses looking and feeling good.
Restwell’s expert upholsterers, sewists and sales staff can help you with anything from a small repair to a cherished family heirloom, from commercial restaurant seats to refilling patio cushions and everything in between. They work with 25 fabric suppliers, many of which are Canadian. They can help you find the perfect fabric, vinyl, or leather for your project. Check them out at 494 The Parkway, Unit 5.
It's great to see local businesses working together. Summer Soul Yoga and Wellness worked with Le Boat last summer on some promotional material.
Le Boat is an international boating vacation company that recently began service on the Trent-Severn Waterway based out of Peterborough County. Summer Soul owner Ashley Woollacott recently had her picture on one of Le Boat’s luxury vessels in the Globe promoting the Trent-Severn Trail Towns, a key local tourism program, to a national audience. Check out Le Boat for your Ontario staycation and you can find Summer Soul at 394 George Street North in downtown Peterborough.
The Chamber of Commerce is hosting a couple election events.
There’s an all-candidates business issues debate on Tuesday, April 8 at Lakefield College School from 7 to 8:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. There will also be a Coffee with the Candidates event on Tuesday, April 15 at Holiday Inn Peterborough from 9 to 10 a.m. These events are in partnership with The Kawarthas Home Builders Association, Central Lakes Association of Realtors, Peterborough and District Construction Association, and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area. Visit pkchamber.ca for more information.
We’re going to keep highlighting some amazing companies making products locally. This week it’s Peterboro Matboards.
They’ve been in business locally since 1902. They make high-quality matboard for the art and framing industry. Their pulp and paper chemistry expert has helped design matboards that cut better, giving smooth bevels and a clean look. Their quality has earned the company both the Fine Art Trade Guild and new PPFA standards. Peterboro Matboards are a major global player in the industry, shipping product around the world from their Peterborough facility.
If you want to have your business featured on the Business Beat or know of a business doing something new and interested, shoot an email to joel@pkchamber.ca.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Mortsocks, Doody Call, Listening For Spring and Paluski Boats
/PTBOCanada is delighted to be running the Business Beat columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…
The team at Mortlock Construction have long prioritized community, taking on projects that support and house those living on the margins.
Now they’re trying something a little different. Upon learning that socks are the most needed clothing item in homeless shelters, they’ve launched Mortsocks. This social venture involved working with a local design company to develop Peterborough-themed dress socks that give back. Buy one pair of Mortsocks and Mortlock Construction will donate six pairs of socks to those in need through Brock Mission and the Peterborough Community Health Centre. You can order them online or pick up a pair at The Vine at 165 Sherbrooke St. in Peterborough. You can make a difference – one step at a time.
Spring is a good time to hire someone to do the dirty work of cleaning up after your dog with Doody Call, a new luxury pet waste removal service.
They offer a premium, discreet, and eco-friendly solution to keep outdoor spaces clean, fresh, and waste-free. Doody Call offers white-glove customer service, flexible scheduling, and top-tier sanitation practices. Their services include single visits to weekly maintenance plans, providing tailored solutions that fit every pet owner’s lifestyle. Find out more at doodycall.ca.
AON’s Canterbury Gardens is presenting Listening for Spring, a magical evening of serenading sounds in support of the Canadian Council of the Blind Peterborough Chapter.
The evening will feature the meaningful mental magic of Ian Crawford, the delightful Jazz of Carling Stephen and Rob Phillips, and a silent auction. It all happens May 2 starting at 6:30 p.m. at Canterbury Gardens. Get more information at ccbpeterborough.com.
We’re going to keep profiling business that are making things right here in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. This week it’s Paluski Boats.
They’ve been making boats since 1980, originally starting with recreational rowing shells. They have built a reputation for high-quality craftwork, design, and durability. Today, Paluski manufactures high-performance and extremely durable canoes, kayaks, and paddles that meet the needs and expectations of recreational boating enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. All their materials are 100% made in Canada with their production facility in Lakefield.
If you want to have your business featured on the Business Beat or know of a business doing something new and interested, shoot an email to joel@pkchamber.ca.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Just Spray It, JA-NEO, Charlotte Products and CAM Containers
/PTBOCanada is delighted to be running the Business Beat columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…
Just Spray It is expanding their insulation services to include blow-in fiberglass insulation in addition to their spray foam insulation service.
Spray foam works great for basements, walls, and hard-to-reach areas while blow-in fiberglass is a great option for attics. They have helped hundreds of homeowners and local businesses save on heating and cooling costs. Founders Rob and Mitch met in college and saw an opportunity to open their business. They are licenced, insured, and ready to insulate your home, garage, or shipping container. You can reach them online at justsprayit.ca.
Celebrate local business leaders by getting an early bird ticket before April 13 for the 2025 Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes Business Hall of Fame on May 29 at 5 p.m.
Now in its 10th year, this annual celebration is put on by Junior Achievement Northern and Eastern Ontario and the event is presented by Drain Bros, Alf Curtis Home Improvements, and Peterborough Truss and Floor LTD. Inductees are selected for their lasting contributions to economic development locally. They embody a legacy of excellence, displaying unwavering commitment, leadership, and innovation throughout their illustrious careers. Get your tickets at ja-neo.org.
The team at Charlotte Products and Swish Maintenance have been busy celebrating some big milestones.
Here’s a shout out to:
Peter McMurray who just marked 45 years there as a research and development technician
Ken Fisher, a production mixer who has been with them for 35 years
Jennifer Toms, the friendly face and voice of Swish as a receptionist of 35 years
Production stager Carey Laroche who just celebrated 30 years
