Peterborough Startup Chimp Treats Creates New Jobs Through Partnership With Community Living

Peterborough's Brooke Hammer, founder and CEO of Chimp Treats, has taken the drive and passion of her two startup businesses to hold a job fair through a partnership with Community Living—providing three employment opportunities for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The 22-year-old entrepreneur began her entrepreneurial journey after founding Take Flight, a business inspired when her brother with Down Syndrome faced community barriers trying to find meaningful work. Hammer started the organization to help those with developmental disabilities find independence, social interaction, purpose, and meaningful employment through day programs and services.

“I wanted my brother to be able to experience the joy, satisfaction and pride that comes with meaningful work and belonging to a community,” says Hammer.

Brooke Hammer Founded Taking Flight

Now working at the rapidly-growing Chimp Treats, an innovative health food company selling the popular “Nicecream” frozen dessert made entirely from fruit, Hammer is supporting a healthy lifestyle in her second startup.

Starting out the business solo, Hammer has now added two full-time employees to her business. Still needing to hire more, Hammer saw an opportunity to take her passion from her previous business and hold a job fair through the Community Living partnership.

Hammer and her Chimp Treats team are growing

“During my first meeting, I could barely contain my enthusiasm learning about this locally owned company Chimp Treats,” says Jen Edwards at Community Living Peterborough. “Normally companies aren’t knocking on Community Living’s door asking for people to come work for them with the offer of meaningful work that is competitively paid. After touring the factory and visiting their office at the Innovation Cluster, it is very apparent this company is offering a rewarding job.”

The job fair will be held at the Innovation Cluster, where Chimp Treats is based, on July 20th, offering a full-time inclusive employment opportunity to work with the Chimp Treats team. The three chosen hires will be trained personally by the CEO Hammer herself at their manufacturing location, and get to be part of the startup team promoting healthy lifestyles.

“I’m pleased to see communities becoming more aware of employment gaps, underemployment, and the need for inclusive opportunities for individuals with special needs,” says Hammer. “No person is the exact same, but the opportunities available to us should be.”

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Peterborough's Epic Street Festival Pulse Takes Place This Saturday

The 3rd Annual community event Peterborough Pulse takes place on Saturday, July 15th. It's an awesome day where the streets are closed to motorized vehicles (between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.) and filled with cyclists, roller-skaters, families pushing strollers, art, music, free activities and great conservations.

Bring your pets, your family and your friends as Peterborough Pulse invites the whole city to walk, bike, dance, play and socialize in spaces typically used by cars.

Peterborough Pulse wants to inspire Peterborough to become the healthiest and happiest city it can be. By opening the streets to people, Pulse promotes healthy communities, active transportation, local business, and neighborhood pride.

This year’s route will run along George Street from McDonnel Street to Sherbrooke and follow along the Trans Canada Trail through Millennium and Del Crary parks and run the length of Crescent Street.

The route will also include the bustling commercial district on Charlotte Street between George and Louis streets, making it the longest Pulse route yet!

"I am looking forward to watching how Pulse, with its car-free streets filled with people walking and biking, transforms the streets of Peterborough again this year," says Susan Sauvé, Transportation Demand Management Planner for the City of Peterborough.

"Pulse is taking the lead as an example of the direction large events should be taking in downtowns,” adds Terry Guiel, DBIA's Executive Director. “It is all-encompassing and all-inclusive to every sector. It successfully brings local community groups and local businesses together while being welcoming and engaging to everyone who attends.”

For more info and a route map, visit their website.

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Newcomers To Peterborough Community Try Curling For The First Time

The Peterborough Curling Club generously donated its ice on Saturday (March 11th) for a Curling Day so newcomers could try their hand at this Canadian winter sport. About 40 newcomers participated in the event, which was a collaboration between the New Canadians Centre and Peterborough Curling Club.

About 10 volunteers from Peterborough Curling Club provided curling instructions and equipment for the new curling learners.

Photo via New Canadians Centre Facebook page

“The objective is to welcome newcomers to the community and introduce them to a very popular Canadian winter sport,” says Ken Featherstone of Peterborough Curling Club. “Newcomers can meet and socialize with other newcomers while learning a part of Canadian sports culture.”

Photo via New Canadians Centre Facebook page

Photo via New Canadians Centre Facebook page

“Some newcomers, especially if they do not speak English, can feel isolated,” says Anne Elliott, Community Coordinator at the New Canadians Centre. “The New Canadians Centre offers different opportunities and services to connect newcomers to the community and feel welcomed and at home. The curling day is ideal because it is Canadian, active and fun.”

Photo via New Canadians Centre Facebook page

To learn more about the New Canadians Centre, visit their website.

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Peterborough County Cattlemen Give Back Bigtime To The Community

Peterborough County Cattlemen presented a $3,760 cheque to the Peterborough County Agricultural Raise the Barn: Heritage Building at Lang Century Village and $1,320 to the Millbrook Cavan Firefighters Association.

The funds were raised at the Cattlemen's 35th Annual Beef BBQ that was held at the Robson Family farm in Cavan Monaghan Township this past summer. The event was made possible through the volunteer work of Peterborough County Cattlemen and their families, 4-H youth and Millbrook Cavan firefighters.

Cheque presentation of $1320 to the Millbrook Cavan Firefighters Association. Left to right: Firefighter Keith Shultz; Mike Telford, Cattlemen's BBQ Fundraising Chair; Adam Goyne, President of the Millbrook Cavan Firefighters Association; Larry Jinkerson, Peterborough County Cattlemen President; Steve Branscombe, Millbrook Cavan Firefighters Association Treasurer; Firefighter Matt Woodward, Firefighter Doug Wilson.

Under the leadership of BBQ Fundraising Chair Mike Telford, the Cattlemen have raised over $25,000 for worthy causes over the last five years. This year, approximately 100 community businesses contributed to the auction.

Each year, part of the proceeds of the fundraiser go the fire-fighter associations in the township in which the BBQ is held. “As a firefighter, I know that local fire departments do not always have the important extras they need to do their job and to support the community,” says Mike Telford. Cavan Monaghan Fire Services Association President Adam Goyne adds: “We were surprised and grateful to receive this money from the Cattlemen.”

Cheque presentation of $3760 for the Peterborough County Agricultural Raising the Barn: Heritage Building. Left to right: Peterborough County Warden, J. Murray Jones; Mike Telford, Cattlemen's BBQ Fundraising Chair; and Larry Jinkerson, Peterborough County Cattlemen President

Peterborough Cattlemen President Larry Jinkerson and BBQ Fundraising Chair Mike Telford presented a cheque for $3,760 to Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones on November 10th at Lang Century Village. The Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building, which will open in 2017, will celebrate the history of agriculture in this region.

The building itself will be built to honour the traditions established 200 years ago. “Peterborough Cattlemen are pleased to support the Raise the Barn initiative which will showcase the agricultural history of Peterborough County," says Larry Jinkerson. "Cattle have been a major part of the local agricultural scene since this area was first settled.”

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The Peterborough Petes Organization Is Hosting First Ever Town Hall Event

On Thursday, September 15th at 7:05 p.m.—more on the 7:05 start time below—the Peterborough Petes Board of Directors will host season ticket holders in the first ever Petes Town Hall event at Market Hall.

The purpose of the event is to hold an open forum for questions about the Petes organization—particularly as it pertains to team governance, operations, and community relations.

PTBOCanada file photo

Season Ticket Holders will receive an exclusive invite to the Town Hall event inside their 2016/17 season ticket booklets. The booklets can be picked up from the PMC Collins Barrow Box Office starting at noon on Thursday, August 25th.
 
The free Town Hall event will be catered by downtown Peterborough-based blackhoney.

PTBOCanada historical file photo

“The Town Hall event is a way for the Petes and the Board of Directors to refresh our relationships with key local stakeholders,” says Petes President Dave Pogue. “We will be opening up the floor for higher-level questions about the operations of the team that we get asked consistently by many fans.”
 
Space is limited at this exclusive event, but if there is capacity remaining after the season ticket RSVP window closes, members of the general public will definitely be invited to attend as well, the Petes tell PTBOCanada.

PTBOCanada file photo

Now, as to the 7:05 p.m. start time: The format of the Town Hall will be similar to a Thursday night hockey game (which start at 7:05). First, second, and third period segments will be used to focus on team history, governance, community relations, hockey operations and business operations, with specific presentations and question periods scheduled for each topic.

This is a great idea by the Petes organization—a storied franchise—to host the Town Hall and we hope to see the Market Hall packed.

 
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