Eclectic New Shop Millbrook Mercantile Opens In Downtown Millbrook

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A unique new shop called Millbrook Mercantile recently opened in Millbrook’s beautiful downtown, the location of many film productions.

Store owner Bernadette MacNeil focuses on the sale of locally sourced, artisanal, small batch and hard to find items from the community and around the planet. It has a little bit of everything, from a full deli with 80+ cheeses and numerous cured meats, to locally sourced organic chicken, bison, pork and beef.

Millbrook Mercantile also provides fresh bread from the Hard Winter Bread Co. of Lakefield, local honey from Millbrook and Indian River, maple syrup from Bethany, organic produce from Puddle Duck Farm in Ponty Pool, apple cider from Millbrook, and salts and jams from South Pond Farms in Bethany.

In addition, it offers homemade prepared foods, daily soups, sandwiches and salads, gourmet pizzas from the Vintage Pizza Pie Co. in Cobourg, delicious shortbread cookies from Port Perry, and chocolates from Lakefield.

“My wife Bernadette and I have lived in Millbrook for the past 10 years and she has always wanted to open a store in our village that showcases the amazing local products available in our community,” explains Lance Nachoff.

“She would describe it as a year round farmer's market, with a focus on reducing the carbon footprint by offering many things in one location,” he adds.

Bernadette & Lance

The store also showcases local art from painter Paul Nabuurs, stone sculpture and metal works from Zimart Rice Lake Gallery, as well as hand crafted charcuterie boards from Millbrook and Port Hope.

There are both local and international hand crafted jewelry and fashions, home decor and design, health and wellness, and body and beauty products. Gift baskets and catering are also available.

The store has stayed true to its historical roots with the original shelving from the 1880s, and a classic Parisian boutique exterior look.

Take a drive out to Millbrook soon and check out the shop at 28 King St E.

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The McLean Family Selected As 2019 Farm Family Of The Year

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The Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture and the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce have announced the McLean family, of 2191 16th Line, Lakefield as the 2019 Farm Family of the Year.

In January 1991, Sam and Jane McLean purchased the farm and moved in with their two small children, Ben and Erin. In 2010, with Ben and Erin’s increasing involvement, the McLeans purchased a second berry farm, Buckhorn Berry Farm, one concession north of the McLeans’ home farm. 

The McLean Family

They now work both farms, harvesting strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, snap peas, beans, asparagus, tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, pumpkins, peppers, currants, rhubarb, squash and zucchini; they also produce maple syrup, jam, pickles, and preserves.

Aerial view of farm

At McLean Berry Farm, the main store offers produce from the farm as well as other local farms. Each spring, the McLeans welcome families from all over to their sugarbush and sugar shack for their annual Maplefest. 

The sugar shack

At Buckhorn Berry Farm, the family offers two on-farm stores, pick your own strawberries and raspberries, and other fruits and vegetables. 

The family also hosts the annual Pumpkinfest, attracting 13,000 visitors in 2019. Each farm also sells to local grocery stores and attends various farmers’ markets throughout the region.

The family uses a number of growing techniques including trickle irrigation, day neutral strawberries, fall raspberries and high tunnels in order to extend and improve their growing season and provide fresh fruits and vegetables each season.

The McLean family is actively involved in volunteering in the farming community, including service on the Haliburton Kawartha Maple Syrup Producers Association, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, Farmers’ Market Ontario, and the Lakefield Farmers’ Market.

In 2017, McLean Berry Farm was awarded the Tourism/Hospitality Award and Erin McLean received the Young Professional of the Year Award from the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism. 

The award will be presented at the Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture Annual Banquet on Friday, November 22nd, at the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building at Lang Pioneer Village Museum.

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Electric City Works Opens In Old GoodLife Fitness Location In Downtown Peterborough

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Chalk Therapy owners Tara and Adam Genge announced the Grand Opening of their newest business venture, Electric City Works, on Friday, November 15th.

The new space is located in downtown Peterborough at 200 Charlotte Street in the old Goodlife Fitness building and offers a fully licensed 5,000-square-foot marketspace to browse one of a kind products. Electric City Works will be the new home to Chalk Therapy, along with a selection of other local makers and artists, creating a one of a kind marketspace.

Photo courtesy Electric City Works

Electric City Works will act as a potential incubator for small businesses to build their brands by providing makers and artists space to display, create, and sell their products while utilizing workshop space to teach others their techniques.

Chalk Therapy will continue to provide the same great products and service you’ve come to expect, including refinishing, redesigning and upcycling old, vintage, and antique furniture.

Photo courtesy Electric City Works

This unique space will provide an opportunity for the public to watch artists and makers at work, and attend workshops to learn the techniques directly from the artists. It is also available to rent for special events and functions.

Photo courtesy Electric City Works

Electric City Works welcomes customers to check out the new location during regular store hours Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For the month of December, Electric City Works will be open 7 days a week, open Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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PTBOCANADA


StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat Featuring Cardinal Plumbing & Electrical, Rawscoe’s Sport Collectables & More!

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

Cardinal Plumbing and Electrical recently launched in Peterborough. Owners Matt Woudwyk and Dave Latiak-Kulesza offer a full suite of electrical and plumbing services from pipes to fixtures to renovations. Installations, upgrades, repairs or replacements, Matt and Dave bring a strong and diverse background to their new company. Covering Peterborough and the Kawarthas, visit cardinalhome.ca for more info.

Goodies on George has new owners. Abdul and Zahra Niazi offer over 50 spices, tea, Latin American, Nigerian, African, Persian, Middle Eastern and Indian groceries, cookware, and more. While Goodies has been around since 2009, Abdul and Zahra just took over last month. They are food lovers and pride themselves in helping you travel anywhere in the world through food. You’ll find Goodies on George at 429 George Street North.

Just up the street, you’ll find the Fab Factory, Caleb Carlyle Sutton’s new hair studio. Offering everything hair from colour to cuts to styles to waxing. Caleb says inner fabulousness is up to you, they do the rest! Located at 458 George Street, Caleb covers everything from cuts to perms, up dos to braids and curls, full colour to foils. Check out fabfactory.ca for more.

Ross Elson’s new business is called Rawscoe’s Sport Collectables. Recently opened at 182 ½ Charlotte street, Ross has been a collector since he was a kid. Rawscoe’s offers autographed memorabilia, jerseys, collectible sports cards, and the experience and knowledge to help you find what you are looking for.

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60 New Canadians Laced Up Skates For Very First Time Before Peterborough Petes Game Last Night

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The Peterborough Petes won in OT 6-5 over the Niagara IceDogs on Thursday night, moving them into first place in the Ontario Hockey League.

But it was what happened on the Memorial Centre ice before the game that made the night extra special.

Photo courtesy Peterborough Petes

The Petes teamed up with Rebound Skates and Golf to bring 60 new Canadians to the Peterborough Memorial Centre to try hockey.

For many, it was their first time on skates—a local girls team helped them learn—and their first time taking in a live hockey game.

Photo courtesy Peterborough petes

The night was a collaboration between the Peterborough Petes organization and New Canadians Centre in Peterborough. The skaters ranged in age from 6 to 60, with the bulk of them being tweens and teens.

It was a truly special night that these newcomers will never forget as hockey once again brought the community together.

Watch video from their pre-game skate here…

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LLF Lawyers Pledges $25,000 To Peterborough Humane Society Our Pet Project Campaign

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Our Pet Project, the Peterborough Humane Society’s campaign to build its first-of-its-kind Animal Care Centre, has received a $25,000 pledge towards the new Centre from Peterborough-based LLF Lawyers.

“We are so excited to be a part of Our Pet Project to build the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre,” says Joe Grant, Associate at LLF, who adopted a dog there five years ago. “We are all animal lovers and have been supporters of the Humane Society for many years. Anyone who has been to the current facility can attest to the great work being done as the largest animal shelter in Peterborough County and the only open admission facility.”

Joe Grant, Associate at LLF, and his dog, Molly, who he adopted from PHS 5 years ago

The Peterborough Humane Society (PHS) was established in 1941, and the current shelter was built in 1956 and designed initially as a pound. While the current site has served the community well for the last 60-plus years, PHS has outgrown the space and is caring for more animals than ever before.

In the new, purpose-built facility, animals will have more room and will experience less noise and stress, thereby reducing anxiety and setting them up for a greater opportunity to meet their perfect family.

“In addition to what this Centre will do for our four-legged friends, we’re looking forward to the impact it will have on our local and regional economy,” says Bill Lockington, LLF Founding Partner. “By bringing 20 full-time equivalent positions, and impacting 50 jobs in the design and construction, this local project will create needed, meaningful employment and help attract and retain top veterinary talent to Peterborough and the Kawarthas.”

Joe Grant also has a rescue cat, Steve

Designed by Peterborough-based Lett Architects, the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre will sit on 20 acres of land on Technology Drive and will be home to the Humane Society’s new Adoption and Education Centre that will serve as a community hub, while allowing for expansion of the Humane Society’s outreach, education and advocacy programs.

“We are very excited that LLF has made Our Pet Project their pet project too,” says Shawn Morey, Executive Director at the Peterborough Humane Society. “Our vision is to lead the way in animal welfare in Canada, and this donation takes us another step closer to achieving this goal.”

Fundraising for the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre is now well over the halfway mark, with several families and businesses pledging their contributions in the last couple of months.

[Related: 5 Things You May Not Know About PHS; How The New PHS Will Be Gamechanger For Animal Welfare]

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Get Your Holiday Shopping Passport For Chance To Win Up To $3,000 In Downtown Money

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There are nearly 150 places downtown this holiday season where you can shop with your Holiday Shopping Passport and collect stamps for your chance to win big.

Bring your passport downtown when you shop, dine, and pamper yourself. Get your passport stamped when you buy tickets at the box office at Showplace Performance Centre and Market Hall in downtown Peterborough. Collect a free stamp when you use the Peterborough Public Library or get a complimentary one when you drop by the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Visitor Centre at 270 George Street North (limit one stamp per person).

Left to right: Wendy Gillis, DBIA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Terry Guiel and Malissa Almond hold up a giant Holiday Shopping Passport as they celebrate the kick-off of the annual downtown shopping program at Save Our Soles (Photo courtesy DBIA)

The passports feature three early bird prizes of $500 in downtown money to be drawn December 4th, 11th and 18th, with the grand prize of $1,500 in downtown money to be drawn January 8th.

The Holiday Shopping Passports program rewards people for supporting local businesses by shopping, dining and enjoying downtown. Last year’s program saw shoppers stamp more than $2 million worth of Holiday Shopping Passports.

HOW IT WORKS

-> Every time you spend $10 at a participating business, a box on your passport will be stamped.
-> When your passport is filled (20 stamps), complete the form and drop it off at a ballot box at one of the participating businesses.
-> Each completed passport is a ballot for a draw to win downtown money.  

Bring your Holiday Shopping Passport downtown on November 29th for Black Friday as more than 100 downtown businesses put on some of the biggest sales of the year. Keep in mind that parking is free for two hours in downtown Peterborough on Fridays in November, and seven days a week in December, courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Check out downtownptbo.ca for the full list of participating passport locations.

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The Ontario SPCA & Peterborough Humane Society Kicks Off iAdopt For Holidays Adoption Campaign

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The Ontario SPCA and Peterborough Humane Society is asking you to add a special someone to your holiday list—and family. Give an animal the gift of a loving home during iAdopt for the Holidays, a national adoption campaign to find homes for as many animals as possible during a time of year when families are together and can help their new pet settle in.

iAdopt for the Holidays is a program of the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society that runs until December 31 at participating SPCAs, Humane Societies and rescue groups across Canada. Last year, more than 3,600 animals from across Canada found their forever homes during the iAdopt for the Holidays campaign. 

“The holidays are actually a great time to welcome a new furry companion into your life,” says Daryl Vaillancourt, Chief, Humane Programs & Community Outreach, Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. “Together as a family, you can spend time with your new pet and help them settle into their new home. Our focus is finding the right home for every adoptable animal to help ensure the matches we make are lifetime matches.”

Potential adopters take part in the science-based Meet Your Match® program, which matches their personality and lifestyle with the animals awaiting adoption. The adoption process, which is used at all 12 Ontario SPCA and Humane Society animal centres across Ontario including Peterborough, helps ensure adopters are going home with their most compatible match. 

All cats and dogs available through the Ontario SPCA are spayed or neutered, microchipped, up-to-date on vaccinations and come with a gift of one month of pet insurance.

Animals adopted from the Ontario SPCA or the Peterborough Humane Society during the iAdopt for the Holidays campaign will be entered in a draw for a chance to win free pet food for a year from Royal Canin. 

To change an animal’s life during iAdopt for Holidays, visit iadopt.ca.

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Fur A Walk, Electric City Works & More!

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

When Cheryl Downer said she was “taking the dog fur a walk...” little did she know that she had just named her new business. Fur A Walk offers dog walking, puppy, kitty, and senior pet visits, and pet chauffeur services if you just need to get your pet to the vet or the groomers. Plus they have pet sitting and boarding as well. Available within Peterborough City and surrounding area, they are open seven days a week. Check out furawalk.ca for more info.

Electric City Works is the exciting next chapter for Chalk Therapy owners Tara Lee and Adam Genge. Finalists in the 2017 Win This Space Competition, they opened their first location on Erskine Avenue. Continuous growth and multiple connections with other local artisans triggered the creation of Electric City Works, a maker’s space and market space for over 20 local makers and artists. Buy a special gift, watch it being made, or learn how to make it—it’s all at Electric City Works. Located at 200 Charlotte Street, the Grand Opening celebration is Friday, November 15th from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Sweat Happy Wellness owners Kent and Becky Sheehey recently expanded their Lindsay-based Reformer Pilates business into Peterborough. Reformer Pilates is a machine based system insuring correct posture and alignment. With small classes of 6, they offer lots of personal attention. Located at 87 Adelaide Street in Lindsay, the new Peterborough facility is at Pulse Physio at 866 Chemong road. Visit sweathappywellness.com for more info.

PTBOStrong was formed earlier this year due to the opioid and homelessness crisis facing Peterborough. PTBOStrong aims to raise awareness, education and funds, which will go toward a safe consumption site, local support, and eventually a healing lodge. Fundraising efforts have included concerts, merchandise, and now a new restaurant coupon book featuring 51 local restaurants with Buy one, Get One Free and other offers. A $1000 value for $30! Pick them up at the Chamber of Commerce, Hiawatha First Nation, PJ’s Diner on Sherbrooke, Reggie’s Hot Grill, Aviemore and more. For details, visit peterboroughstrong.com.


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Fleming College Teams Up With Trent University To Cleanup Shoreline At Del Crary Park

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Fleming College teamed up with Trent University and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada’s Living Planet @ Campus to host the 3rd Annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup at Del Crary Park on Saturday, November 2nd.

Together, with 61 volunteers including Fleming students, staff and members of the community, the initiative made the following impact:

  • Cleaned up over 161.5 lbs. of trash

  • Picked up 2,960 cigarette butts

  • Picked up 278 pieces of plastic

  • Picked up 249 food wrappers

  • Picked up 187 pieces of paper

Photo courtesy Fleming College

“Pollution is a growing concern, and when it collects in our local parks and directly affects our wildlife populations, we all have an obligation to make a difference,” says Fleming College President Maureen Adamson. “We are very proud of this initiative, and of our staff and students, and all who participated and made their contribution to our community.”

The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is an initiative that encourages the community to take action towards keeping shorelines clean, increasing awareness around proper waste diversion and the ways it affects water and aquatic habitats.

To learn more about Fleming’s sustainability initiatives, click here.

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