Local Restauranteur Announces New Chinese Buffet to Be Opened In Peterborough

Susan Tung, local restaurateur and owner/founder of Hanoi House, is bringing back a favourite in a Chinese buffet to Peterborough, announced on her social media on Tuesday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of Susan Tung.

“When Covid happened, a bunch of restaurants had to adapt and a bunch had to close down because they couldn't adapt to the situation,” explained Tung. “Now that all that's over, it's time for me to bring this concept back.”

Tung is documenting her journey on her YouTube channel from the initial lease to the grand opening of the restaurant.

She has already discovered a location from a previously closed-down restaurant. Tung signed a five-year lease on her video and mentioned that she had already purchased some restaurant equipment from the previous owner.

Tung is no stranger to Chinese cuisine and operating restaurants of that style since it is her heritage. Her family had previously owned the Golden Wheel Restaurant in the Springville area for several years. It was sold after Tung’s parents had retired.

She opened her first restaurant, Hanoi House, on Hunter Street in early 2020. A second location opened at Lansdowne Street on Dec. 9 of the same year but consolidated all operations to the latter due to increasing overhead expenses incurred from running two restaurants compared to one in July 2022.

Tung kept the property on Hunter Street and opened NAKA Japanese in February of 2023. She sold the business to Emily Tan in early November of last year, allowing the former to focus on Hanoi House and her growing family.

Earlier this year, Tung launched her new catering company, Electric City Catering, in the spring.

A timeline, name and location for the new Chinese buffet have not been disclosed at this time.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

PTBOSpotlight Template: Seductive Sounds

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

This week, we are featuring Seductive Sounds. It is owned by Stephen Fleming.

Seductive Sounds is an automotive electronics retailer providing sales and installation of automotive accessories from remote starters and backup cameras to radios, speakers and large custom stereo systems. They also offer vehicle security, tracking and immobilizers as part of their product offering.

“With vehicle theft on the rise, we’re happy to offer vehicle immobilizers from Autowatch and Compustar that not only prevent theft but can also save on premiums with some insurance companies,” said Fleming.

His love of cars started in 1994 when a family friend dropped by in a customized vehicle. He became hooked on this car culture even before he could drive and was able to add a small stereo system to the family car.

Over time, building car audio systems for friends and family grew into a passionate professional career. Over thirty years later, Fleming remains at the forefront of new products, innovations, installation integrations, techniques, and technologies.

“My passion has never been stronger and is shown in every install, large and small. I take pride in doing it right the first time and the smile on my customers face is the most rewarding part my his job.”

Seductive Sounds purchases all its products directly from manufacturers, which helps pass the savings on to the customer.

“It cuts out the costly middleman and ensuring we only sell quality merchandise,” said Fleming. “This provides our customers with the best warranty available. We install all products we sell, guaranteeing the installation for as long as it stays in the customer’s vehicle.”

While his products are purchased from other manufacturers, everything else is kept local for his business.

“We use local vendors for business needs – Tools, signs, stickers, apparel, business cards, advertising etc.,” explained Fleming. “We provide services to local dealerships and businesses at a reduced cost to them. We also offer a first responder discount. We have supported local non-profit organizations with monetary and product donations.”

To learn more about Seductive Sounds, find it online:

Website: www.seductivesounds.ca
Instagram: @_seductivesounds_
Facebook: Seductive Sounds

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Summer Soul, Skilled Technician, JA-NEO and TBX

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…

Summer Soul is partnering with Liftlock Cruises to offer Wellness on the Water.

This is your chance to cruise Little Lake on the Island Princess and join in an evening of Pilates and yoga. The 90-minute cruise includes drinks, community, and luxury self-care. The inaugural event will launch on Sept. 14, which happens to be Summer Soul’s second anniversary. They are planning to expand their Wellness on the Water offering to include fall leaves tours and a floating studio at next year’s Musicfest. Find out more about this unique experience at summersoul.ca.

Peterborough’s leading trade associations are taking a bold step to keep skilled talent in the community and strengthen career pathways across the local economy with the newly launched Skilled Technician Leadership Training Program.

This is a collaboration between the Kawartha Manufacturers Association, Peterborough & The Kawarthas Home Builders Association, and the Peterborough and District Construction Association. The program will prepare emerging leaders in technology-based trades to advance into management roles, enabling them to take on progressive job opportunities in areas like manufacturing, construction, and home building. The eight-week course starts in late September. Get in touch with any of the partnering organizations for more information.

Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario is getting $600,000 in provincial funding to invest in the Skills Development Fund Training Stream to deliver the Empowerment of Youth in Skilled Trades project.

The initiative will promote careers in the skilled trades to 2,650 students through hands-on training, mentorship and paid placements for 40 students in high-demand sectors such as construction, manufacturing, motive power, and aviation. Youth interested in getting involved in the great programming at Junior Achievement can find out more at ja-neo.org.

Kick off September with some networking with your business peers at the Chamber’s TBX event at Riverview Park and Zoo on Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 4 to 6 pm.

This is your chance to meet, mingle, and make business happen in the unique setting of the zoo’s Rotary Club of Peterborough Education Centre. It’s also a great opportunity to meet the Chamber’s new President and CEO, Brenda Whitehead. Find out more at pkchamber.ca.

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.

PTBOCanada Editorial: Air Canada Strike Gave Passengers More Than What They Bargained For

With the Air Canada strike occurring since late last week, passengers — including myself — were hit with flight cancellations that left them stranded at their respective locations, leading to extra costs.

Air Canada’s lobby at Vancouver International Airport. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Why Was I In Vancouver?

I went on a personal trip with friends to Vancouver to compete in a prestigious Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game tournament for the weekend and had booked my Air Canada flight months in advance.

We were informed of a possible strike when we departed for our trip but were hopeful that we would be able to return home safely and in a timely manner.

A field of what a Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game field could look like. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Timeline of the Air Canada Strike

As of 12:58 a.m. on Saturday, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) representing 10,000 flight attendants had declared a strike. All Air Canada flights were cancelled as a result — at least 124 — affecting over 500,000 customers as of Monday, said the airline.

This included all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge operations but flights by Air Canada Express — operated by third-party airlines Jazz and PAL — were not.

“We regret the impact a disruption will have on our customers, our stakeholders and the communities we serve,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive of Air Canada. “However, the disappointing conduct of CUPE’s negotiators and the union’s stated intention to launch a strike puts us in a position where our only responsible course of action is to provide certainty by implementing an orderly suspension of Air Canada’s and Air Canada Rouge’s operations through a lockout. As we have seen elsewhere in our industry with other labour disruptions, unplanned or uncontrolled shutdowns, such as we are now at risk of through a strike, can create chaos for travellers that is far, far worse.”

Air Canada strongly advised affected customers not to go to the airport unless they have a confirmed ticket on another airline.

Patty Hajdu, the Federal Minister of Jobs and Families, instructed the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to use binding arbitration, as the board deemed CUPE’s strike unlawful and workers must return to work by Sunday at 2 p.m. EST.

“The Liberals have talked out of both sides of their mouths. They said the best place for this is at the bargaining table. They refused to correct this historic injustice through legislation,” said Wesley Lesosky, President of the Air Canada Component of CUPE. “Now, when we’re at the bargaining table with an obstinate employer, the Liberals are violating our Charter rights to take job action and give Air Canada exactly what they want — hours and hours of unpaid labour from underpaid flight attendants, while the company pulls in sky-high profits and extraordinary executive compensation.”

Despite the order, CUPE refused to go back to work and continued striking. The union was fighting for Air Canada to stop unpaid work, as flight attendants were only compensated for their time from the moment the flight doors closed until they opened. CUPE workers also sought fair cost-of-living wage increases.

“We will be challenging this blatantly unconstitutional order that violates the Charter rights of 10,000 flight attendants, 70 per cent of whom are women, and 100 per cent of whom are forced to do hours of unpaid work by their employer every time they come to work,” according to a public statement released by CUPE.

Air Canada offered a deal that would have made their flight attendants the highest compensated in the country according to Rousseau.

“Our latest offer included a 38 per cent increase in total compensation over four years that would have made our flight attendants the best compensated in Canada, along with provisions for ground pay and other work-life balance, career and pension improvements,” he said. “At the same time, we asked for no concessions from the union. Given this, while we remain available for discussions with CUPE, we have requested government-directed arbitration as we now view it as the only certain avenue to bring closure to bargaining and mitigate the impact on travellers, business and the Canadian economy.”

As the strike continued into Monday, CUPE said they were willing to work out a deal but had to be at the table. There was ‘no limit’ to how far CUPE would take negotiations, said Mark Hancock, CUPE national president.

“If it means folks like me going to jail, then so be it. If it means our union being fined, then so be it. We’re looking for a solution here,” he said.

A mediated tentative agreement was reached on Monday morning. The first flights are scheduled for Tuesday evening, but full, regular service may require seven to 10 days as aircraft and crew are out of position. Air Canada had some flights cancelled until the schedule is stabilized.

“The suspension of our service is extremely difficult for our customers. We deeply regret and apologize for the impact on them of this labour disruption. Our priority now is to get them moving as quickly as possible,” said Rousseau. “Restarting a major carrier like Air Canada is a complex undertaking. Full restoration may require a week or more, so we ask for our customers’ patience and understanding over the coming days. I assure them that everyone at Air Canada is doing everything possible to enable them to travel soon.”

Outside Vancouver International Airport at the Air Canada Departures gate. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

What Did This Mean For Passengers?

Despite the return to flight service, stranded passengers had to pay for food, lodging, transportation and other expenditures during the strike. According to Mercer, Vancouver is the second-ranked City in Canada with the highest cost of living next to Toronto in 2024.

Splitting Airbnbs with friends still costs me hundreds of dollars over three to four days. Waiting at the airport was a budget option for some stranded travellers. Still, Air Canada was not doing much to help, according to a Peterborough residents who went on the same trip.

“It felt as if the Air Canada attendants who were not on strike did not want to help or offer solutions,” said an anonymous resident. “They handed out pamphlets and did not want to talk to anyone who was at the airport. (They) did not offer any voucher for hotel stays or meals outside of the $15 auto-generated meal voucher email.”

“Air Canada has proven itself utterly incapable of basic responsibility — no commitment, no care and no planning,” said Ian Shields. “They’ve completely dropped the ball, screwed over their customers and left me to fend for myself in a foreign place miles away from home without a shred of concern for my well-being.”

When flights had been cancelled on Sunday, Air Canada said they attempted to get customers rebooked on other flights. Under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), the airline is obligated to do so.

“We’re searching for rebooking options on more than 120 carriers for up to three days after your cancelled flight. This may take some time. If you don’t want to wait and you prefer to search options yourself or cancel your booking to receive a refund, please use the button below,” said Air Canada in an email.

However, none of my travelmates or out-of-town friends who attended the event were successful in rebooking their flights.

Air Canada had offered refund options for those affected that included non-refundable fares.

“When it came to rebooking flights, there were ‘none available’ but when given flight options that were available, the answer was ‘we aren’t partnered with them so we cannot book that flight.’” said the former Peterborough resident. “It left myself having to make a choice of spending upwards of $2,000 on a new flight, trying to book a hotel and staying for an extended period of time until they could rebook me or taking a long alternative route to stay cost-effective to be able to get home in a reasonable amount of time.”

I initially bit the bullet on Monday evening to book a non-refundable flight back to Detroit with a different airline on Thursday night to arrive on Friday morning. I had a chartered ride home from there. The flight had cost $600, which was considered a cheaper flight at the time.

Prices for other airlines from Monday to Wednesday had skyrocketed. I had friends travelling back to cities such as Ottawa or Montréal, which would cost upwards of $1,000. Thankfully, more flights had opened up and I was able to book a return flight with Air Canada at no additional cost for Thursday. I also called the booking agent for my flight and despite the ticket being initially non-refundable, I was able to get all my money back with a sigh of relief.

Air Canada is offering reimbursement assistance for those affected by the labour action according to their website.

Passengers must fill out a form with flight details and a reason to be eligible.

The form can only be filled if it was booked directly with the airline, completed part of their flight with Air Canada and/or needs reimbursement for an alternative mode of transportation.

Passengers are asked not to fill out the form if they have booked through Aeroplan, a travel agent, an online travel agency or another airline.

According to their website, reimbursement can be up to $12,500 under the convention if the individual can prove losses or damage.

What’s Next For the Flight Attendants?

The 10,000 flight attendants will vote next week on the tentative agreement to raise wages and establish a pay structure for time worked when aircraft are on the ground.

All members will receive a three per cent raise next year, with a 2.5 per cent raise in 2027 and a 2.75 per cent raise in 2028.

The deal must be ratified by the flight attendants, with the vote taking place from Aug. 27 to Sept. 6.

Air Canada Boeing plane minutes away from landing in Toronto. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Glad to Be Home

With a slow return of full flights to Air Canada, I can say I finally reached home safely at the publication of this editorial. Lessons were learned but regardless of the outcome, I am happy to be in one piece back in Peterborough and come home to my wife and daughter.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Minute Maid to Eliminate 38 Jobs By End of Year Says Union

Employment issues continue in Peterborough as Coca-Cola has informed the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Union Local 175 that 38 jobs will be axed at the Minute Maid production facility by the year’s end.

Google Maples Screenshot.

The announcement comes roughly a month after Coca-Cola said it would discontinue its frozen products and production would cease in the first quarter of next year. At that time, job losses were not disclosed but layoffs would be coming.

A week prior, Lufthansa InTouch announced they were shutting down its Peterborough facility in May next year. One month before that, Siemens had announced its consolidation operations in Concord on June 25, relocating approximately 160 manufacturing positions over the next two years.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Voice of Business: Why Culture Matters in Peterborough

Recently, the arts and culture sector has been heating up.

Just last week, the City of Peterborough released a survey to hear from artists and organizations about the current state of the arts and culture sector in Ontario. Last year, your local Chamber submitted a letter to Peterborough City Council urging them to reconsider cutting funding for the arts and culture sector in our city. In that letter, we highlighted the importance of this sector to Peterborough’s identity, economy, and livability. We recognize the sector's significance in many ways, including how it drives community spending and brings visitors to our region. We appreciate the city recognizing the value of the arts and culture sector and the clear link between a thriving cultural community and economic benefits.

First, let’s break down what we mean when we refer to "culture." In this context, culture is used as a broad term that encompasses Peterborough’s unique social, physical, and historical makeup. It includes natural and cultural heritage, creative cultural industries, and community cultural organizations. Peterborough is widely known for its cultural attractions compared to neighbouring cities. For example, as of 2023, Peterborough has 115 heritage designations far more than cities like Barrie, which has 16 despite a population of over 100,000, and Thunder Bay, which has 60.

We have a lot to celebrate in Peterborough. Notable events and institutions include Musicfest, which just wrapped up; First Nations Pow Wows; the famous Canadian Canoe Museum, recently named one of the “Top 52 Places to Go in 2025” by the New York Times; the Peterborough Museum and Archives; and the Art Gallery of Peterborough. Peterborough stands out as a hub of culture, with a broad offering that spans heritage, festivals, natural attractions, creative industries, and more. It’s important to take a moment to reflect on just how much this sector contributes.

So, why is the arts and culture sector important to Peterborough? While there isn’t a single figure that captures the total local economic impact, we do have compelling examples. For instance, the Peterborough Musicfest, which runs from June 28 to August 16, brings a $4.3 million annual boost to the local economy and attracts more than 118,000 visitors. Like Musicfest, many other events across the region contribute significantly to economic activity by drawing thousands of attendees and millions of dollars each year.

Even more telling are the provincial numbers. Ontario’s arts and culture sector contributes $26 billion to GDP. Additionally, the sector provides jobs locally and thousands province-wide. As of October 2024, the cultural sector employed 273,478 people directly.

Investing in arts and culture also generates strong returns. Research from the City of Toronto found that for every dollar invested in cultural initiatives, $17.75 is generated in

return, including $5.15 from other levels of government, $5.48 from the private sector, and $7.12 from earned revenues such as ticket sales, program fees, venue rentals, and other spending. While the total impact of our cultural sector hasn’t been fully quantified, this data shows that the arts and culture sector doesn’t just provide social and community value; it drives significant economic activity as well.

As our city continues to grow and work to attract new residents and visitors, building a resilient arts and culture sector is essential. Research by the Ontario Arts Council found that 65% of Ontario business leaders say that a thriving arts and culture scene is something that would make it easier to attract top talent to their community. This highlights just how important it is to strengthen our cultural base and ensure its sustainability. A vibrant arts and culture sector supports both population growth and deeper community engagement.

Additionally, with more Canadians choosing domestic travel over trips to the U.S., our local arts and culture sector is in a prime position to benefit. Peterborough already offers a diverse range of cultural attractions that drive local tourism. We are at a pivotal moment to grow this audience and welcome more visitors. However, to meet the future demand, our cultural organizations must have the resources they need to remain operational and welcoming.

This past year has been particularly challenging for the cultural sector, as it faced threats of budget cuts and limited funding. Running a cultural organization is already difficult; many rely on sponsorships and government support to stay afloat. These investments are essential to the sustainability of the sector. As our VP, Joel Wiebe, said in our letter to council in late 2024:

“Those who are paid are typically compensated at far lower rates than the public sector, and they work well beyond the hours they are compensated for. Cuts to our community organizations will severely impact their servicing capabilities on top of their ongoing selfless efforts to serve our community.”

The arts and culture sector supports our community in selfless and profound ways, and it depends on government funding to continue doing so. This underscores just how critical that support is.

Finally, all of this combined makes the arts and culture sector the fabric of our community. Cultural planning and long-term investment in sustainability are essential to Peterborough’s economic development. If we want to attract new residents, draw in visitors, and retain talent, we must ensure our cultural organizations are sustainably

funded. Culture is not just an accessory; it is a core part of what makes a thriving, growing, and attractive community.

If you would like to have your say on shaping the cultural environment in the City of Peterborough, please click here. Responses are due August 25th, 2025.

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

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 Community Futures Peterborough, Canopy Support Services, Hello Blush and Classy Chassis

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…

Community Futures Peterborough is celebrating this year’s Summer Company cohort of our next generation of local entrepreneurs.

The Summer Company Program is an opportunity for eligible youth to receive up to $3,000 in grants to start a business locally. The program provides youth with grant dollars, business skills development, training, advice, and mentoring. This year’s cohort are:

• Lauren Connolly – Connolly Swim Academy

• Haydon Meade – Scrub Window Cleaning

• Neha Mervin – Sparks of Bollywood

• Bisma Razaque – Shirt Spark

• Spencer Toth – Farm Hands

• Teaghan Hartnett – West End Property Care

Congratulations to all of you and we look forward to watching your entrepreneurial journey.

Canopy Support Services are hosting their third annual Canopy Cares Inclusivity Carnival at Dixon Park in Peterborough on Sept.13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This is an opportunity to celebrate community, connection, and inclusion. There will be performances from Betty Baker, Sarah Cee, dancers and circus performers, a Lions barbecue, face painting, raffles and more. New this year are a dunk tank, touch a race car, tie dye, henna, and a glitter glam bar. Canopy Support Services are celebrating 50 years this year, helping people build skills, navigate challenges, and overcome barrier to achieve their best quality of life.

Nicole Lemke has launched a new business, Hello Blush, where her goal is to help women get their colour back when they just don't feel like themselves anymore.

She is a Nurse Psychotherapist who understands issues women face through her own journeys with mental health, fertility, pregnancy loss, body image, and burnout. Aside from being a nurse, she’s a mom, entrepreneur, content creator, and social media manager. Her work with Hello Blush is all about helping you be yourself again, fill your own cup, and get your colour back. Find out more at helloblush.ca.

Classy Chassis are hosting their 12th annual Ride with the Roc to Classy Chassis event on Saturday.

Riders will meet at Sir Monty’s Brewing Company in Durham at 11 a.m. and take a scenic ride to Classy Chassis near Lakefield. The event will feature a 50/50 raffle for SickKids, delicious food from Two Fat Greeks, cold beer, a Harley stunt show, and lots of prizes. Find out more at usedhd.ca.

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.

PTBOSpotlight: Berc's Steakhouse

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

This week, we are featuring Berc’s Steakhouse. It is owned by Cathy Zhang and Bob Xia.

Established in 2007, Berc’s is a fine dining steak house with a multi-level, multi-sectioned restaurant that will seat up to 150 guests. It is open six days a week for dinner and five days for lunch.

Berc’s came to fruition after Zhang and Xia wanted to open a restaurant from repeated trips to Peterborough. They loved the city so much that they decided it was the perfect spot to raise their two sons. Berc's is named as an acronym for the names of the family: Bob, Eric, Richard and Cathy.

Located at 186 Lansdowne St. E., the restaurant employs 20 long-term, local employees who helped get it voted the number one steakhouse in town for over a decade.

“We are very proud of our staff and the many awards we have won year after year, including best steakhouse for over 15 years, best restaurant atmosphere, best fine dining, best chef and best server multiple times,” said Mary MacCallum of Berc’s Steakhouse.

Berc's offers an array of entrées including steaks, seafood, lamb, chicken and pasta. They provide a separate lunch menu with a house-made soup and a chef's feature daily.

“We have a large number of repeat or regular guests,” explained MacCallum Our employees are on a first-name basis with many of our diners and know what day and time they come in, what table they like, what they like to drink, their favourite entrees and desserts.”

Berc’s also features a private dining room, holding up to 30 guests, which is equipped with an 85" smart board. It is ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, celebrations of life, weddings, or corporate functions—customized special menus are also available for any event.

“Our close-knit staff are a culmination of knowledge and capability. Many have worked in the industry for 20 plus years and bring with them a wealth of experience from many different types of restaurants.”

To learn more about Berc’s Steakhouse, find them online:

Website: www.bercs.ca
Instagram: @bercssteakhouse
Facebook: Berc’s Steakhouse

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Community Futures Peterborough Celebrates 2025 Summer Company Program Student Graduates

The Business Advisory Centre (BAC) at Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) celebrated the achievements of six aspiring young entrepreneurs who graduated from the Government of Ontario’s Summer Company program at the Venture North Building on Wednesday afternoon.

(From left to right) Neha Mervin, 15, Sparks of Bollywood; Bisma Razaque, 17, Shirt Spark; Spencer Toth, 16, Farm Hands and Lauren Connolly, 18, Connolly Swim Academy after reciving their certificates of recognition from MPP Dave Smith. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The program lets students aged 15 to 29 take a business idea and bring it to life. Graduates receive $3,000 in grant funding and they have also received expert training and ongoing mentorship from CFP staff during their entrepreneurship. Along the way, these young entrepreneurs gained skills in problem-solving, financial management, customer service, and resilience – skills that extend far beyond the summer months.

“We know our economy — regionally, provincially and nationally — is made on small businesses,” said Devon Girard, CFP executive director. “That is the future we are going in. It is important for all of us to recognize the importance of the idea of entrepreneurship through programs like this and the investment of the province but also to be at the high schools, that they're learning about these career options.”

“The Summer Company Program is igniting fresh ideas and building tomorrow’s businesses right here in Peterborough,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough–Kawartha MPP. “With our government’s support and expert advice from the Community Futures Peterborough team, these young entrepreneurs get the funding, mentorship, and skills they need to hit the ground running—and their success fuels a stronger, more dynamic local economy.”

@ptbo_canada The Business Advisory Centre at Community Futures Peterborough celebrated the achievements of six aspiring young entrepreneurs who graduated from the Government of Ontario’s Summer Company program.#ptbocanada #ptbo #peterborough #journalism #journalist #news #fyp ♬ Suns - Official Sound Studio

The 2025 Summer Company entrepreneurs are:

• Spencer Toth, Farm Hands – Cavan-Monaghan

• Neha Mervin, Sparks of Bollywood – Otonabee-South Monaghan

• Haydon Meade, Scrub Window Cleaning – City of Peterborough

• Bisma Razaque, Shirt Spark – City of Peterborough

• Lauren Connolly, Connolly Swim Academy – City of Peterborough

• Teaghan Hartnett, West End Property Care – City of Peterborough

The young entrepreneurs learned how to manage budgets, attract customers, deliver high-quality products and services and adapt to unexpected challenges. This typically is the first time they have been solely responsible for the success of a business.

“Youth entrepreneurship matters because it builds the next generation of leaders, problem-solvers, and innovators,” said Allison Adam, BAC entrepreneurship officer. “When young people are given the chance to start a business, they learn first-hand how to take initiative, adapt to challenges, and create value in their community. Those lessons will serve them for the rest of their lives, whether they choose to continue as entrepreneurs or bring their skills into other careers.”

“Entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting a business; for young entrepreneurs, it’s about building skills, resilience, and confidence that last a lifetime while giving them the awareness of entrepreneurship as a career path,” said Rose Terry, BAC manager. “Through our first-ever Summer Company Program delivered by Community Futures Peterborough, we’ve watched each student grow in remarkable ways, turning their ideas into fully functioning businesses.”

Whether these young entrepreneurs keep up with their businesses or pursue new ventures, going through the program has developed vital life skills, said Girard.

“I hope one of their key takeaways is that financial literacy is important regardless of whether you're managing a budget for your family or a business,” she explained. “Areas of how you interact with others and how you present yourself through marketing and how you develop a brand and image. Those are all life skills that are critical to any facet of where they decide to grow.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Janice Simmonds, The Academy of Dance, Jigsaw Organizing Solutions and the Peterborough Chamber

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…

This August, Janice Simmonds is celebrating 30 years as a Registered Massage Therapist.

During her 30 years, she has also completed the Dr. Vodder Lymphedema Course as a certified Lymphedema Therapist. In addition, she is a Reflexology Practitioner, an Acupuncturist, and a Therapeutic Touch Practitioner. Janice continues to follow the health procedures set down during the pandemic, in order to keep her patients safe and healthy. She welcomes new patients by appointment at 705-876-8561. Congratulations Janice on 30 years in business!

The Academy of Dance is coming back to Peterborough.

Director Erin Livings has created a curriculum focused on safely building strong, young dancers. She offers many different styles of dance for children aged 14 and under. Her mission is to bring back Mrs. Agar's dedication to dance education and instill confidence in her students. Registration is open for a variety of classes, including ballet, jazz, tap, acro and lyrical. Find out more at academyofdanceptbo.com.

Jigsaw Organizing Solutions is celebrating 10 years in business.

As a way to give back, owner Adeilah Dahlke has lined up three winners to receive 10 free hours of organizing in August as part of her Jigsaw Jumpstart initiative. Adeilah is a Trained Professional Organizer with a lifelong passion for helping find solutions for everyday struggles with organizing and she does so with a mind for eco-friendly solutions. She’s an expert at helping with downsizing and helping people free themselves of items hold them back. She brings an efficient way to cut through clutter that leaves you in control of what gets accomplished, where things end up, and the pace of each session. You can find her at jigsaworgsolutions.com.

The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce have hired Brenda Whitehead as their new president and CEO.

Whitehead has spent the last seven years running the Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce and prior to that she served as the director of economic and community development with the Township of Cavan Monaghan. Welcome to Peterborough, Brenda!

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.