Peterborough Blogs
Peterborough-Based Health Food Startup Chimp Treats Just Landed Deal With Loblaws
/The cool Peterborough-based health food startup Chimp Treats will have its frozen fruit product “Nicecream” hit a wave of Loblaws locations across Ontario starting on September 5th.
Nicecream will hit shelves across select Loblaws stores including the GTA, Ottawa, London and Barrie, and the next wave of locations will be in Québec in Loblaws’ Provigo Le Marché stores. After that, Chimp Treats aims to continue adding new locations until they reach all Loblaws stores across Canada by May 2019.
The team behind Chimp Treats: (left to right) Whitney, Brooke and Jillian.
The announcement is the latest for a company that has had huge momentum since launching just one year ago on the market. They are one of the fastest growing natural food brands in Canada.
Founder and CEO, Brooke Hammer, 23, launched Nicecream in 2017 and has since expanded coast-to-coast with niche retailers such as Whole Foods Market and Healthy Planet.
While attending Trent University in Peterborough, Hammer developed an innovative manufacturing process that allowed her to create the fruit-only frozen dessert on a large-scale, commercial basis. Since entering the market, the entrepreneur has continued to reach new stores and locations along with growing her team.
“It is an incredible time for innovative, start-up companies in the Consumer Packaged Goods space,” says Hammer. “Companies like Loblaws are open to bringing in more innovative products by small brands to meet consumer demand.”
“Getting picked up by a national retailer like Loblaws is the ultimate milestone for any company in the consumer and packaged goods industry,” adds Rosalea Terry, Marketing Manager and Senior Innovation Specialist for the Innovation Cluster, where Chimp Treats is housed. “They are on their way to becoming a mainstream brand.”
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United Way Of Peterborough's 6th Annual Paint The Town Red Raises More Than $16,000
/On Wednesday, July 18th, hundreds of people dined out at 32 participating local restaurants for Paint The Town Red. They donated 25 percent of their daily sales to support the work of United Way Peterborough & District.
On Thursday (August 30th), the United Way announced a record breaking tally from the event, saying it raised over $16,000! This is a six percent increase from last year, bringing the grand total to more than $75,000 raised since the event was launched in 2013.
Left to right: Paint the Town Red ambassadors Ashley Vititoe and Laura Crann, DBIA Executive Director Terry Guiel, and 2018 United Way Campaign Chair Megan Murphy
There were some new participating locations this year and the event even featured a special charity ride from Full Tilt Cycle where riders were encouraged to Ride Then Dine. In addition, the infamous Red Spoon introduced last year toured the vicinity throughout the day and folks were clamouring for a spoon spotting, or even better, a spoon selfie!
“Our restaurants and food are second to none in the province," says 2018 Campaign Chair Megan Murphy. "Once again, we thank the entrepreneurial spirit of our restauranteurs and their commitment to building local economy while at the same time giving back to community.”
The Big Red Spoon was a hit again this year
The dollars raised from Paint The Town Red will be going right back into this community to support UW's partner agencies, innovation projects and neighbourhood grants in their work building a strong and healthy Peterborough & District for everyone.
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PTBO Regional Farmers Market Announces Winter Location In Peterborough Square
/The Peterborough Regional Farmers Market, which launched at the outdoor Citi Centre, has found a winter home within Peterborough Square. The community can follow their favourite local farmers and market vendors inside for the winter months, from November to April, as the space is transformed into a vibrant and abundant farmers’ market.
“The owners of the mall are totally committed to welcoming the Farmers’ Market to their building," says Cheryl McQueen, Peterborough Square Manager. "They see it as a return to the roots of the Farmers’ Market in Peterborough.” (The original Farmers’ Market in Peterborough was held onsite in the Market Hall.)
Photo courtesy DBIA
“The location is perfect for a market,” says Julie Fleming from Circle Organic Community Farm. “It’s central, accessible and familiar to everyone. I have taken my kids to movies at Galaxy Cinema and you use the same parking lot. Take the blue Galaxy Cinema doors upstairs from the parking garage, exit at the first level doors, and you’re right at the new Farmers’ Market."
“Parking is free on the weekends and because the parking lot is heated you can leave your winter coat in your car after you park to make your market experience even easier,” adds Fleming.
The Peterborough Regional Farmers Market will continue at its summer home at Citi Centre until the end of October and then move to Peterborough Square for its winter location.
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Fleming College Is Recognized Among The Best In North America For Sustainability Efforts
/Fleming College in Peterborough has been recognized as a top performer in the 2018 Sustainable Campus Index, among other North American college institutions in recognition of its sustainable achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
AASHE has recognized Fleming as fourth overall in the college category in its 2018 Sustainable Campus Index. The index highlights top-performing sustainable colleges and universities overall and in 17 sustainability impact areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS).
“Fleming College’s feature in this report demonstrates our commitment to ensure sustainability is interwoven into every aspect of the College, from operations and community engagement to curriculum delivery,” says Trish O’Connor, Director of Sustainability.
With more than 800 participants in 30 countries, AASHE’s STARS program is the most widely recognized framework in the world for publically reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in five overall areas: academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership.
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Here Are Updates On Peterborough Earth Dams
/Parks Canada has been rehabilitating the earth dams along the Trent-Severn Waterway in Peterborough. Earth dams are vital for flood mitigation and therefore the safety of visitors, residents and property. These investments will further reduce the risk of flood damage along the canal corridor.
After beginning work in the fall of 2015, it has reached the active heavy construction phase this past spring. Below are updates for specific areas.
Work continues along the Earth Dam south of Parkhilll road in Peterborough
THE EARTH DAM AT THOMPSONS BAY IN NORTH PETERBOROUGH
This was the first to reach the construction phase and is now nearing the final stages of work. At this location, all vegetation has been removed, the dam strengthened, and the new earthen material compacted into place. The water facing side of the dam has also been repaired and armoured with rock. The final stages of work will see additional top soil added to the berm followed by a re-greening of the surface using a specially developed seed mix of tall grasses. The work is slated to completed by mid- to late-September.
THE HURDONS EARTH DAM & CURTIS CREEK EARTH DAMS
At these locations along the western shoreline north of Parkhill Road and the eastern and western shorelines south of Parkhill Road, the contractor continues to remove vegetation—particularly tree roots—which posed a threat to the long term reliability of the earth dams. Work along the dry surfaces will continue late into the fall with the in water work occurring after the close of the Trent-Severn Waterway’s navigation season.
PETERBOROUGH EARTH DAMS
Large sections of Trent-Severn Waterway shoreline within the City of Peterborough are engineered structures designed to keep water inside the canal and out of adjoining neighbourhoods. In 2015, Parks Canada announced a project to rehabilitate more than 2 km of these earth dams.
The major repairs to the Earth dams throughout Peterborough began in November 2015 and are estimated to continue until Summer 2019. In order to rehabilitate and strengthen these dams, washouts will be repaired, dam height will be increased where necessary and vegetation will be removed.
HOW THE PUBLIC CAN ENJOY THE EARTH DAMS WHEN COMPLETE
Following the completion of repairs, the dams will be green-scaped with beneficial plants like milkweed, wildflowers and tall grasses. Recognizing the part the earth dams play as public green spaces, Parks Canada will be formalizing the walking trails at these sites at the end of the project so that they can be better enjoyed by members of the community.
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Construction Of Urban Park Expected To Begin Early Next Spring
/Construction on the urban park in the former Louis Street parking lot was originally slated for Fall 2018 but has been bumped to Spring 2019 after requirements from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks are met for the change in the use of the property.
The City decided to explore a public-private partnership on a section of the property that could result in a private sector partner building a public washroom, office and storage space in exchange for acquiring property for potential commercial and residential space next to the urban park. Residential uses on the property would be a change of use, leading to additional requirements from the Ministry of the Environment. Soil testing is currently underway.
Urban Park Conceptual Plan
“Encouraging the construction of new residential units next to the urban park would increase the activity in the park and help create new units in our housing market,” says Jeffrey Humble, Director of Planning and Development Services for the City. “As part of the agreement, the private sector partner would provide public facilities—washroom and storage space, for example—to support the operation of the park.”
A request for proposals will be issued to seek submissions from parties interested in a public-private partnership that adds a residential development next to the urban park.
Urban Park rendering
Converting the former surface parking lot into an urban park with space for community activities, an outdoor skating rink in the winter and water features in the summer is expected to stimulate new private sector investment in residential and commercial development in proximity to the urban park.
Urban Park rendering
Urban Park rendering
PTBOCanada Featured Video Post: The Impact Of Dohjo Muay Thai & Fitness
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Sponsored video post by Dohjo Muay Thai & Fitness
Read MoreAmusé Coffee Co. Launches Second Location The Edison In VentureNorth Building
/After pursuing her entrepreneurship dreams opening an authentic Paris themed café Amusé Coffee Co. in 2015 on George St., Lindsay Brock is celebrating her third anniversary in operation on August 23rd by opening a permanent second location called The Edison (Powered by Amusé).
The espresso and pastry bar is housed the lobby of the VentureNorth building at 270 George St. North. In a sense, it's like coming home for Lindsay, as The Edison is located in the building where various economic development establishments reside that helped her originally start her business.
Entrepreneur Lindsay Brock at The Edison, located in VentureNorth Building in downtown Peterborough
