CMHA to Welcome New CEO On Feb. 10 After Current CEO to Retire After 32-Year Tenure

Ellen Watkins has been appointed the newest CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge’s (CMHA HKPR’s) by their Board of Directors to be welcomed on Feb. 10, announced on Monday.

Watkins completed her Executive MBA at Queen’s University in 2021 and in October of 2023 completed the Advanced Leadership for Social Impact Fellowship at the Smith School of Business. Photo courtesy of CMHA HKPR.

Watkins steps into the role after Mark Graham’s retirement on Jan. 31 with the latter assisting in the transition through April 2024.

Graham announced his retirement in June after a 32-year tenure while the Board of Directors began the search for his successor. There were more than 100 initial conversations and applications during their nationwide search.

“I look forward to the opportunity to continue to grow and develop our team from the solid foundation built by Mark Graham over the past 32 years,” said Watkins. “I appreciate each member of our CMHA HKPR community, who demonstrate daily the capacity to think about our system in new ways, with the courage to shift to maximize our potential.”

Watkins has been with CMHA HKPR since April 2021 as Director of Corporate Services. She has been involved with the agency’s engagement with the Strategic Plan Art project, Restructuring the Crisis Program and launching 9-8-8, Reevaluating and Renewing the Finance Processes in the Agency.

Prior to CMHA HKPR, Watkins worked at PRHC in Quality and Process Improvement, designing and launching the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic and Assessment Centre and various other quality projects. Watkins has lots of experience in the private sector, working in managerial roles at Kraft Foods, PepsiCo, Frito Lay and Quaker, according to a press release.

“Ellen is a collaborative, empathetic, visionary leader who will utilize accountability, intentionality, and bravery every day in the CEO role,” said John Lyons, CMHA HKPR Board President.

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Capitol Taxi and Call-A-Cab To Merge Operations

After competing for over 60 years, the two local cab companies Capitol Taxi Ltd. and Call-A-Cab Ltd. are merging operations announced on Thursday morning.

Both cab companies have operated in Peterborough since the 1940s. Photo courtesy of Capital Taxi.

The driver and dispatch operations are being combined according to a press release. The dispatch centre is running out of the Capitol offices at 728 Rye St.

“At this time, in the interests of our customers, our employees and management we have decided to now join together the two taxi operations under the Capitol banner for better service and efficiency,” said Daryl Bennett, Capitol Taxi owner and former Peterborough mayor.

The phone lines remain the same (705 742-4242 and 705-745 2424) and are being answered as ‘Taxi Service.’

“The Donnellys, in exiting the daily taxi service, will continue their school van services and the public garage operations on Bensfort Rd.,” said Bennett.

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Voice of Business: Transitioning Medium- and Heavy-Duty to Net-Zero

Reaching our net zero emissions goals will require de-carbonizing as many areas of greenhouse gas emissions as possible – including vehicle fleets.

Transitioning medium and heavy-duty vehicles away from fossil fuels will be particularly challenging. There’s a new policy primer from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce titled Transitioning to Low-Carbon Fleets in Ontario, which provides some insights in what it will take to make the move.

According to the report, emissions from freight transportation in Canada have increased more than 250 per cent from 1990 to 2019.

Technology options include turning to electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to reduce tailpipe emissions. There is potential that hydrogen fuel cells could be used for emission-free long-haul deliveries. Another area of development is around clean fuels, including renewable natural gas and diesel.

The OCC breaks down its recommendations into four categories:

Clean energy supply

Going electric is going to require significant investments in clean baseload power. Right now, 75 per cent of power generation in Ontario comes from nuclear and hydroelectric and we will need more overall power output to meet growing demand.

Recommendations:

1. Prioritize procurement and financing of clean baseload electricity infrastructure projects.

2. Work towards a more flexible and streamlined regulatory framework for clean energy projects. For example, environmental and safety assessments approved by one level of government should be able to form the basis for approval by another government and for the expansion or continued operation of those sites.

3. Set supply targets and incentivize production of hydrogen, RNG, and renewable diesel, borrowing best practices from British Columbia’s Low-Carbon Fuel Standard.

Charging and refueling

Charging and refueling continue to be big barriers to clean tech adoption. While we have made significant progress in adding more charging stations, most of that is focused on consumer vehicles and are not suitable for medium and heavy-duty fleet operators.

Recommendations:

1. Expand and incentivize investments in charging and refueling station infrastructure for low-carbon commercial fleets across major supply chain and commercial transportation routes.

2. Expand electricity distribution infrastructure across the province to support the added charging infrastructure.

3. Implement an alternative electricity rate structure for commercial EV fleet operators to incentivize time-of-use behaviours and reduce cost barriers.

4. Work with industry and post-secondary institutions to ensure Ontario’s workforce has the skills needed to build and operate low-carbon transportation infrastructure.

Clean technologies for medium- and heavy-duty vehicle classes

The electric vehicle market is developing quickly, but alternatives that may be better suited for medium and heavy-duty vehicles need investment. These include hydrogen and renewable natural gas vehicles.

Recommendations:

1. Invest in low-carbon vehicle research and development programs at Ontario’s post-secondary institutions to support the advancement and commercialization of new technologies for medium- and heavy-duty vehicle classes.

2. Recognize RNG as a zero-emission technology solution.

3. Recognize the contribution of low-carbon intensity liquid fuels as part of the transition while low-carbon vehicle technologies advance.

Purchase incentives

The cost of purchasing low or zero-emissions fleet vehicles is a major barrier for businesses.

Recommendation:

Consider adopting a low-carbon vehicle incentive program for commercial fleets to complement the federal iMHZEV program and Green Freight Program, and match the incentives found in British Columbia and Quebec.

Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Stu Harrison

PTBOCanada is delighted to be running StoosNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…

About 22 years ago I started compiling local business news for a weekly feature called the Business Beat. It came from a deep appreciation for small business people and what they go through to start a business and what they contribute to our community and it gave me the chance to stay connected to the media, a life-long love of mine.

But one morning, just a few Wednesdays ago, I woke up with a feeling that it was time to pass it on. I say Wednesdays because every Wednesday for 22 years I've spent about four hours researching, compiling, writing, recording and posting The Business Beat. I usually cover four stories a week, about 48 columns a year and 22 years of that adds up to just over 1,000 Business Beats, 4,000 businesses and about 500 eight-hour days of volunteer time. And yes, this is a volunteer thing I do, I don't get paid and no, you don't have to pay to appear in the Business Beat – I just wanted to clear up a few misconceptions...

I want to say thanks, to my wife Signe for putting up with all those Wednesday evenings with me at my computer and to those thousands of businesses who took a run at their dream. Many reached out after they appeared in this column to tell me what a difference it made, proving the power of the medium.

I'm very glad to tell you that Joel Wiebe, Vice President Government Relations at Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce has agreed to take over The Business Beat so this little kick-start for local businesses will continue. Joel is a journalist and I know he'll continue to snoop out good stories every week. The next couple of Mondays are Christmas Day and New Years Day so Joel will fire up his version of The Business Beat the second week of January.

And That... is the Business Beat for this week… From my family to yours, Happy Holidays.

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Stu Harrison to Retire From 'Business Beat' Column; Chamber of Commerce's Joel Wiebe To Take Over

After retiring from the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce as CEO in November of last year, Stu Harrison is also turning the reins over to his weekly Business Beat column.

File Photo.

The Business Beat column is featured every Monday morning on PTBOCanada.

The Chamber’s Joel Wiebe is taking over the column beginning in the second week of January. Harrison’s upcoming column is his last Business Beat, as the following Mondays are Christmas and New Year's Day.

He assures that Wiebe is using the same format so little will change.

The recently-retired Harrison served as the Chamber’s CEO for 20 years since joining as a volunteer. He vows to continue his philanthropic work such as the annual Easter Seals Telethon, for which he has volunteered for the past 45 years.

Sarah Budd assumed the role of the Chamber’s president and CEO after Harrison announced his retirement. She formerly served as the CEO of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough.

“Thanks for all of you support over the years, helping to strengthen our local business community,” said Harrison in an e-mail.

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Voice of Business: Tax Ratio Increase a Hit to Local Manufacturing; Guest Column From Tim Barrie

Mayor Leal and Council,

In 2008, I was a part of a committee formed by the Kawartha Manufacturers Association and the Chamber of Commerce. We worked with the Council of the day to have them act on regulation 386/98 of the Municipal Act, 2001. The Provincial Government had brought in substantial changes to the municipal property taxes with current value assessment and revisions for tax fairness. It was found that municipalities overtaxed business properties relative to the services they received and that Industrial and Commercial rates should be at 85 per cent, and no more than 110 per cent of the residential rate.

Industry in Peterborough was paying 260 per cent of the residential rate in 2008 and Council committed to a 10-year journey to reach a 1.5 multiple milestone, with the intention to eventually get to parity with residential. Industrial tax rates reached that milestone two years ago.

The previous four Councils worked hard towards tax fairness in Peterborough. This Council is going backwards.

My company, Merit Precision, is a contract manufacturer of plastic, steel, and zirconium parts to a wide variety of industries over much of North America and Europe. We employ about 80 people in Peterborough.

Last year Merit paid $123,395 in property tax, or the profit on its first $2.47M in revenues.

Unlike Government, Merit is unable to raise prices to offset increased costs as pricing is set on the world stage. Unlike Government, Merit will have to reduce costs to maintain a realistic margin or go out of business.

The City of Peterborough does not have a tax revenue problem. It has a cost problem. I see nowhere in your deliberations that you have attempted to reduce your costs in any meaningful way. It is certainly appropriate to raise taxes to pay for capital improvements, but a 10 per cent increase for operations is outlandish.

If you do opt for the easy way out, please never again lament the lack of manufacturing jobs in this community.

Respectfully,

Tim Barrie

President, Merit Precision Ltd.

The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce has issued a letter to City Council and a media advisory regarding the tax ratio increase.

Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

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Winner of First Holiday Shopping Passport Early Bird Draw Announced

Tony Jeffery has won a $500 Boro gift card from the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) first Holiday Shopping Passport early bird draw, announced on Monday.

Holiday Shopping Passport Early Bird winner Tony Jeffery (left) celebrating his win at Gentry Apparel with store owner Andrew Damiany (right). Photo courtesy of the Peterborough DBIA.

Jeffery’s winning passport was drawn at the Peterborough DBIA office on Wednesday.

“I’ve been filling out holiday shopping passports for a long time as I lived and worked downtown for many years. It feels so nice to win after being a long-term stamp collector,” said Jeffery. “Our downtown is so dynamic. It has always had so many unique shops, restaurants, and cafes with new places to discover all the time – not to mention it’s the perfect size for getting around. I’m so excited to win and treat my wife to a nice dinner and cross some more items off my shopping checklist.” 

During the Holiday Passport season, shoppers receive a stamp for every $10 spent participating downtown business. After 20 stamps, passport holders can complete the contact form on it and drop it off at participating businesses to be entered into the draw.

They are available at over 140 participating shops, boutiques, salons, restaurants, and cafes downtown for free. Each completed Holiday Shopping Passport entered them into a ballot to win $1,500 in Boro gift cards.  

The following early bird draw for a $500 Boro gift card occurs on Wednesday.

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Proswing Golf Simulators, Kawartha Golf and Country Club, Premier’s Awards and The Boro

PTBOCanada is delighted to be running StoosNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…

Dylan Purves recently opened a new business called Proswing Golf Simulators. Located at 401 McDonnel St. in Peterborough.

Purves describes it as a state-of-the-art facility boasting Trackman technology, allowing you to virtually play several world-renowned golf courses including Pebble Beach and Augusta. You can book an hour to come in to improve your game, pull together a foursome and play a round, or host a birthday party or event. For details visit proswing.ca.

Lots of changes coming to Kawartha Golf and Country Club.

Blake Ulrich was recently named as the new Head Professional. Blake was born and raised in Peterborough and was a junior member at Kawartha for 10 years. He replaces Mark Ahrens. Meanwhile, the Clubhouse will be torn down this winter to be replaced with a new 6,000-square-foot clubhouse, opening in Spring 2025. The new building will feature an expanded outdoor terrace, change facilities and lockers, a lounge, dining room, kitchen, a meeting room and administrative offices.

The annual Premier’s Awards recognize exceptionally talented Colleges Grads.

This year there are six Fleming College nominees, including Dylan Trepanier in Business, Heather George in Community Services, Rochelle Byrne, in Creative Arts and Design, Vanessa Raaymakers for Health Sciences, Naman Khandelwal, a recent graduate in Global Business Management and Evan Hall, in Technology.

As you go about your Holiday Shopping this year, remember to check out all of the wonderful local shops and services here in the Kawarthas.

The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce have their annual Hometown Holiday directory, with gift ideas and a new daily deal in their online advent calendar. Pkchamber.ca. Downtown Peterborough has theBoro.ca, and the many towns and villages in the Kawarthas have wonderful locally-owned shops to explore. Remember, you can keep your town in business by keeping your business in town.

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'Quest It' Mobile App Creator Takes Grand Prize In Innovation Cluster's 'Cubs' Lair' Entrepreneurial Competition

Hadi Jakmora’s mobile app ‘Quest It’ took home first place at the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas’s ‘Cubs' Lair’ entrepreneurial competition held at Erben on Thursday.

Winner Hadi Jakmora (middle left) with his grand prize after winning the Cubs’ Lair competition. Photo courtesy of Innovation Cluster Peterborough.

Jakmore took home the grand prize of $3,000, for his app, designed for everyday task assistance, facilitating local services from snow removal to meal preparation.

Matt Anderson clinched second place and a $1,500 award for Chemong City Greens, an enterprise cultivating organic microgreens. Its nutrient-rich produce enhances meals year-round, enriching Peterborough's local food network.

Nicholas Landon secured third place and a $500 prize for Course Sync Inc., an innovative platform revolutionizing student academic management.

Other participants included:

• Zachary McCue of REPWR

• Ashley Bonner of Community Pin

• Yash Ramnani of Nectar

• Jayden Smith of Cub Storage Inc

Judges for the event were Marcelo Sarkis of Prima IP, Jade Calver of Calver Immigration Consulting Inc. and Jason Fiorotto, a seasoned B2B marketing strategist.

“The Innovation Cluster extends heartfelt congratulations to all Cubs' Lair 2023 participants for their remarkable creativity and dedication,” according to a press release statement. “We eagerly anticipate the future success of these entrepreneurs in Peterborough and beyond as they continue to shape the landscape of innovation.”

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Voice of Business: Supporting Stronger Indigenous Economic Outcomes

We need to do better when it comes to economic reconciliation.

Economic reconciliation is so much more than a moral imperative — the cost of inaction is holding us back culturally and economically.

There’s a new policy paper from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) called Sharing Prosperity: An Introduction to Building Relationships for Economic Reconciliation in Ontario. It’s an introductory resource as part of the Economic Reconciliation Initiative, a partnership between both organizations aimed at advancing economic reconciliation by building business capacity to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 92.

It's key to appreciate that reports like this are a starting place. It provides some of the resources to build relationships and move us in the right direction. To get there, it helps give historical context, provides insights on Indigenous rights, highlights challenges facing Indigenous businesses, and provides meaningful opportunities for engagement.

The report describes an Indigenous economy that is both strong and growing with Indigenous businesses contributing nearly $50 billion annual to Canada’s GDP. There are more than 75,000 Indigenous-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in Canada.

Some of the key actions that businesses can take include:

• Advancing Indigenous cultural awareness and education by sharing territorial acknowledgements, distributing educational reconciliation resources to staff, providing Indigenous cultural competency training, and attending/participating in Indigenous events.

• Promoting equitable Indigenous employment and business opportunities by providing reduced rates/complimentary access to events, memberships, and training for Indigenous businesses/individuals, implementing inclusive Human Resource strategies to recruit and retain Indigenous candidates, auditing workplace policies and procedures to promote reconciliation, linking executive compensation to economic reconciliation performance metrics, and convening an Indigenous Advisory Committee.

• Engaging with Indigenous communities and supporting economic development by making Indigenous community investments, developing Indigenous partnership-building and engagement strategies, implementing Indigenous procurement policies, obtaining certification/accreditation in Indigenous relations, developing a Reconciliation Action Plan, and entering into revenue- or equity-sharing agreements with Indigenous businesses and/or communities.

Diversity, equity and inclusion as well as environmental, social and governance goals are becoming a bigger priority for many businesses and organizations. While connected to both of those approaches, economic reconciliation puts a focus on efforts to recognize the unique, inherent, ancestral, and customary responsibilities of Indigenous Peoples.

Reports like Sharing Prosperity help outline what businesses and organizations of all sizes can do to support stronger Indigenous economic outcomes.

As stated by the OCC Board of Directors: “It is critical to underscore that reconciliation is not about ‘checking a box’ but rather committing to a continual process of learning and action.”

Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

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