What The Quaker Plant Means To Peterborough

Photo by Evan Holt

With the recent announcements that the Kellogg's plant in London, Ont. and Heinz plant in Leamington, Ont., will be closing, some wonder how safe the Pepsi-QTG plant—more commonly known as the Quaker plant—is here in Peterborough. About 500 full-time jobs will be lost in London and 740 in Leamington, a huge loss to those communities.

No doubt the implications if the Quaker Plant closed here would be enormous: Hundreds of jobs would be lost, so many families impacted, not to mention the trickle down effect on the local economy. And then, of course, there would be the psychological impact of losing an iconic plant in the heart of the city. The plant is an institution in Peterborough, a vital part of the fabric of the community. The plant was first established on the shores of the Otonabee in 1902 (it was rebuilt after the devestating fire of 1916). Imagine if that plant just became empty? With no employees and no wonderful smells of food, of production, coming out of it.

So is Pepsi QTG vulnerable to the same market pressures as Heinz and Kellogg's as corporate restructuring happens? Absolutely. But the belief is everything that can be done is being done to keep it here. "It's disconcerting to see what's happening in Leamington and London, but at the same time Pepsi QTG has made significant investments in the Peterborough plant," says Peterborough Chamber CEO Stu Harrison.

We asked Mayor Bennett if he's concerned in light of Heinz and Kellogg's plant closures and what the city can do to help prevent it from happening here. "Those are corporate decisions not necessarily influenced by local conditions," he says. "The USA has been encouraging their corporations to rebase in North America and primarily in the USA. The Heinz and Kellogg decision are in part the results. Quaker continues to be a responsible corporate citizen in our region. The plant is well managed and responsive to its consumers demands. People change and we will deal with that as we can."

The truth is one knows exactly what is going to happen to the plant that's such a huge part of the city—and symbolic of so many things Peterborough. But as Stu Harrison reminds us all, every local purchase counts in large amounts: "If you have cereal on your grocery list, make sure it's made here in Peterborough."

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DBIA Featured Post: The Spill

If you’re a live music fan in Peterborough, chances are that you know The Spill. For those who have yet to experience perhaps one of the city’s most unique intimate live music atmospheres, there is no better time than the present to take in a show!

Located at 414 George St N and owned by the ever charismatic Dave Tobey, The Spill has been a launching pad for many artists from local to international noise makers of various kinds for 10 years now. The term “noise makers” seems to fit because Dave says they’ve had everything from rock bands and pop acts to 17 piece blues orchestras and poets grace the renowned stage.

Dave says if you can fit your equipment through the doors, then you can put on any kind of show there! In owning The Spill, it is Dave’s desire to be a platform for art and culture to collide. The atmosphere is laid back and features artwork from far and wide, including quite a bit from the local community! With the only real unwritten rule being that you must be there for a good time and not to stir things up, Dave says that anything and everything can happen depending on the night of the week.

With such a wide range of talent able to take the stage almost at will, the experiences its patrons receive rarely duplicates. While being an events venue first, The Spill does offer some great food and beverage options for its customers who pack it on a regular basis. The Spill offers a fully stocked bar, featuring many local beers, homemade sweet tea, and what can be considered the best “dripbrew” coffee in the area.

They also specialize with an epic homemade salsa, hummus and pita which is to die for and incredibly simple but delicious hotpressed sandwiches. Dave and his staff absolutely love the history of Peterborough and the downtown core that they operate within. This can be seen immediately with the old High Tops sign that they proudly display on their wall. The Spill has become more than just a workplace for him, taking on a homey feeling that he is very proud of. His goal is to continue to be a place for anyone from Juno Award Winners to first time performers to be able to use at their will to play their music to the masses.

Over the years, The Spill has taken part in various community causes and is usually the backdrop for benefit shows. Habitat for Humanity has hosted benefit concerts there, and they also recently held a show for StopABully.ca. More recently, it has also been the backdrop for the local Focus Fair which showcases local artists. It can also be considered the unofficial home of the Peterborough Poetry Slam as well.

Dave and his staff invite you to come out for a night and check what many locals already have. It’s an experience you won’t soon forget!

For more on The Spill (414 George St N), go to:

Facebook: The Spill
Twitter: @TheSpillBar
Phone: 705.748.6167

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

Cherished Events Is Closing In Peterborough Square

Maternity & Baby Boutique Cherished Events is closing at Peterborough Square. Currently, items are up to 50% off.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Charlotte's Web Is Having A Retirement Sale

Children's clothing store Charlotte's Web (at 180 Charlotte Street) is having a Retirement Sale. Owner Monique Cantin is retiring after 20 years, and she says there is no current buyer for the store.

More on the store in this recent feature article we did on them.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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New Pizza Pizza on Lansdowne Now Open

Pizza Pizza (who currently have retail locations at 91 George Street North, and 871 Chemong Road) have now opened a third location at Lansdowne West in Peterborough. Previously, the location was the Reid's/Quickert's Dairy at the Consumers Plaza at 1080-1096 Lansdowne St. West.

You can follow Pizza Pizza on Twitter.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Peterborough Chamber Announces 2014 Changes

At the Peterborough Chamber Business After Hours & YPG Christmas Social last night (December 3rd), Manager of Membership Services Karen August announced upcoming changes to the Business After Hours meetings. The regular Business After Hour meetings will be transformed into the Peterborough Business Exchange (PBX). Each month, a different local group or organization will take part in the meetings and everyone will have a chance to collaborate and exchange ideas. The first PBX event will take place January 7th, and the guest group will be the Peterborough DBIA.

The hashtag #LoveLocalPTBO was also unveiled, which can be used to tie together great Peterborough experiences.

Welcome to #lovelocalptbo from the Peterborough Chamber. Please follow, and use #lovelocalptbo whenever you find a great local experience.

— lovelocalptbo (@lovelocalptbo) December 3, 2013

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Peterborough Start-Up Redpath Hosts Launch Party At Market Hall December 12th

Next Thursday (December 12th) at Market Hall, Peterborough-based startup Redpath will be introducing their social network for mental health and addiction, along with the premiere of its Redpath YouTube video by local video company Whitebulb. The redpath model has been used offline for many years in communities to treat those in need. Now, bringing it online, this social platform will use technology to deliver real-time access to those in need. Redpath is about connecting the disconnected. You can follow redpath on Twitter @redpath_, and on Facebook at TheRedPath. Email info@redpath.io to RSVP or call 705-874-3048. See poster invite below...

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DBIA Featured Post: Joie De Vie

With a shop name translating to mean “Joy of Life”, you can probably guess the type of person you’re going to get when you meet owner Cherlyn Greig. The contagiously happy owner has been bringing downtown Peterborough unique and indie driven female style for 9 years now to her store located at 386 George St N.

The great thing about Joie De Vie is that you never know what you’re going to find when you walk into the store. To keep things fresh, and because the shop is smaller, Cherlyn only buys in small quantities. This means that it is an always evolving shop with new products and vendors being featured consistently.

While the shop focuses on accessories, clothing, jewellery, and bath and body products for women, it is constantly changing. Cherlyn is always looking for new product lines and distinct items that she hand selects to bring her customers something they won’t find anywhere else in town.

Joie De Vie is as far from a cookie cutterwomen’s store because Cherlyn doesn’t bring in products from massive companies. When she visits trade shows, she says she is always drawn to smaller, funky and unique indie companies. These unique items allow for her customers to create or accessorize a distinct style rather than wearing something bland and boring.

Cherlyn is always aiming to carry as many Canadian made products as possible, with a focus on locally made lines. You’ll find beaded accessories, cloth bags, folk dolls, and even Christmas socks in the shop now that come from our area.

Aside from what is offered inside, Cherlyn believes that what she can offer is a personalized service that you might not find at larger retailers. She is always at the shop and stands behind the products she has personally brought in to sell.

She absolutely loves the downtown and the strong sense of community that she feels, especially with so many females owners. She says that the connection they share is unlike any other. If she doesn’t have what someone is looking for or knows of another store that could help compliment what a customer is buying, she’ll refer them to another store.

Along with the strong sense of community Cherlyn feels, she is also happy to get involved where she lives. She happily supports and sells Red Pashmina’s, supports the Peterborough Singers, worked with last year’s YWCA Chair for Charity event, and had a Black Friday Food Drive this year.

If you’re in the market for something fresh and entirely unique to our area, or are looking to get that special lady in your life an unmatched and impossible to duplicate gift for this holiday season, we suggest you visit Joie De Vie!

For more on Joie De Vie (386 George St N.), go to:

Website: Joiedevie.net
Twitter: @joiedevie_shop
Facebook: Joie De Vie

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

PTBOCanada Featured Post: Nationwide Lacrosse

The names Self and Evans are synonymous with sports in our great city that is known for producing some of the greatest athletes to ever step foot or skate inside of an arena. As current Senior Peterborough Lakers, both Brad Self and Shawn Evans are the epitome of what it is to be tremendous athletes both on and off of the floor.

Between the two of them, they have won almost too many medals and honours to count. Both Brad and Shawn are multiple time MLS Mann Cup Champions with the Senior Lakers. They have also both won National Lacrosse League Championships with their respective teams at different times. Individual awards abound as well with MVPs, Scoring Championships, Rookie of the Years, and Transition Player of the Years between them. Lacrosse aside, both Brad and Shawn were excellent hockey players with Brad suiting up in the OHL for the hometown Peterborough Petes as well as having the honour of being drafted to the NHL and playing pro hockey in Europe for years.

Shawn Evans instructing kids

In October of 2012, the two came together with the idea of providing the opportunity that both were afforded as youngsters in teaching kids the game they both love. This is when Nationwide Lacrosse was born. With the straightforward goal of introducing and growing our country’s national sport to kids in and around our sports mad community, they set off and haven’t looked back.

Happy campers at Nationwide Lacrosse

Over the past year, the two have done some extraordinary work. Along with a few volunteers when necessary, they have been able to bring the game of lacrosse to over 35 schools in and around our region. They have also created day camps of various lengths that have run in Cobourg, Curve Lake, at Trent University and at the Spiplex to name a few.

In school settings, Brad and Shawn have been bringing grassroots lacrosse to boys and girls of various ages and skill sets. Teaching up to 6 classes a day, they focus on fundamentals and always aim to bring a fun learning environment that all participate in regardless of skill. From trapping and scooping to passing and shooting, they emphasize on honing skills necessary to learn in order to grow and play. Using sticks and balls provided to the students by Under Armour, they always finish with a controlled scrimmage to allow the kids to try techniques in a game setting.

Brad and Shawn at one of their school visits

In their camps, the setting is the same but in a longer format that allows for more specific skills to be practiced in groups that are split up to have kids playing with others of the same skill level. As the days are longer, they are split up with time to focus on lacrosse but also other time set aside to play other games, swim if possible and also use the rock wall and row when at Trent University.

The guys want to make a difference to the kids they teach. On the floor, Shawn plays offense, while Brad plays defense and transition so between the two of them they cover pretty much everything there is to know. As current professionals, they know that teaching kids hands on at a younger age can be invaluable in building their love for the game and succeeding in the sport down the line.

Brad and Shawn are extremely dedicated to their Nationwide Lacrosse venture and aim to continue growing the business and run it year-round. They know that as lacrosse is only played in certain seasons, they can help prepare and keep players sharp during the downtimes and lead them into seasons being as fresh as possible.

Brad instructing at a course

They are looking to expand their school visits across the region, open up more camp opportunities—which are already filling up fast—with repeat camps happening, and bring more kids and associations in to learn about the game.

Their motto with Nationwide Lacrosse: Dream. Believe. Achieve.

Here is a list of their exciting upcoming camps—and winter league which is new this year:
WinterCamp: Trent University, Peterborough Jan 2nd-4th
WinterLeague: Trent University, Peterborough Jan 9th-Mar 6th
MarchBreak: Spiplex, Peterborough Mar 10th-14th
SummerCamp: Cobourg July 7th-10th
SummerCamp: Six Nations July 21st-24th
SummerCamp: Trent University, Peterborough Aug 5th-8th
SummerCamp: Trent University, Peterborough Aug 11th-14th
SummerCamp: Sundridge, Aug 24th-30th

Nationwide Co-Founders Brad Self (far left) and Shawn Evans (far right)

If you’re interested in signing up your boy or girl for any of these camps or the winter league, don’t hesitate to contact Brad and Shawn for more details!

For more info on Nationwide Lacrosse, go to:

Website: Nationwidelacrosse.ca
Facebook page: Nationwide Lacrosse
Twitter: @NationWideLax
YouTube channel
Email: nationwidelacrosse@gmail.com
Phone: Brad Self – 705-868-1811; Shawn Evans – 705-768-8828

For more info on PTBOCanada Featured Posts, email here.

DBIA Featured Post: Cottage Toys

Known as one of Canada’s top retailers of water sports and surf apparel, Cottage Toys has been delivering top of the line product in and around our city now for 24 years. With its main store located at 180 Charlotte St., owner Donna Rork and her staff live by their slogan that they are “Serious About Fun!”

The store offers exactly what is in its name: cottage toys. From wakeboards and stand up paddle boards to water trampolines and tubes, you’ll find just about everything possible to use to play on the water with. What most people will also know as soon as they walk in the store is that Cottage Toys has an absolutely amazing clothing retail section that carries many of today’s top brand names. Billabong, Quicksilver, Roxy, Gues, and Element are just a few of the brands you will find lining the walls from floor to ceiling.

As the seasons change, you will find so many different clothing options in the shop—from winter coats and toques in the winter to shorts, T-shirts, pants, and dresses in the summer. They also carry many great accessories like watches and sunglasses year round, to go with their incredible swimwear selection that is also always available. The bargain basement is always a big hit, housing lots of out of season product at discounted prices.

Cottage Toys has always been expanding: They first opened in Lakefield in 1989, next in Peterborough the following year and more recently opening 3 years ago in Bancroft and this past summer a shop opened up right on Stoney Lake! Having been in the business for 24 years now has allowed Donna to gain valuable experience and with four locations, she is able to specialize at each of them. One of her goals is to sell what makes sense at each location. So each shop is customized for where it's situated.

Even though many other stores carry the same brands, Donna is able to offer unique products you won’t find in many other places as she orders specific items unlike box stores who order the status quo that you’ll find at every store. She is always looking to get the best value out of her products and stands behind what she sells.

At Cottage Toys, customer service is a top priority and this can be felt as soon as you walk into the stores. Staff is trained to have vision to help customers buy the best product and treat the customer with absolute respect. Donna wants everyone to enjoy coming into the shop and keep coming back!

Cottage Toys has always been happy to be apart of the downtown community in Peterborough and does quite a bit for the city. They have sponsored local sports teams, and donated to the PRHC, James Fund and Hospice Peterborough to name just a few.

They are happy to be taking part in the DBIA Black Friday event and invite you to come in and see what they have to offer. They promise you won’t be disappointed!

For more on Cottage Toys (180 Charlotte St.), go here:
Web: CottageToys.ca
Twitter: @cottaget
Facebook: Facebook.com/cottagetoys‎
Phone:

Peterborough location: (705) 741-2150
Lakefield location: (705) 652-6852
Bancroft location: (613) 332-5013
Stoney Lake location: (705) 652-3000

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott