Community Rallies Around Kit Coffee After Trying Two Years

Kit Coffee, a locally owned coffee shop on Hunter Street, is reaching out to the community with a GoFundMe in hopes to keep the café open.

Kit Coffee is located at 144 Hunter Street. Photo by Luke Best.

Helen McCarthy started Kit Coffee in 2018 with a business partner. Initially, they operated out of the Peterborough Regional Farmers Market, and did pop-up shops at Hello Baby on Charlotte Street.

As the business grew the two were faced with the decision of opening a brick and mortar shop. After contemplating, it was decided that McCarthy would carry on with Kit Coffee alone, and she opened up shop on Hunter Street in July 2019.

“This had been something I wanted to do since I was 15,” said McCarthy. “This spot came available and it was already a coffee shop so it really was serendipitous that it was available then and I dove in.”

Since opening, Kit Coffee has faced many hurdles, while still providing downtown Peterborough with fresh coffee and handmade, baked goods.

In January 2020 McCarthy broke her ankle, which prohibited them from working in the shop, meaning she had to pay more employees.

Shortly after that the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Kit Coffee and the local business world took a great hit.

In July 2020 McCarthy broke both of her ankles, sidelining them from her own business yet again.

“It’s a combination of COVID and the fact that I was off work for the better part of two years. 2020 was a terrible year.”

@ptbo_canada hanging out at the lovely @KitCoffeePtbo today! Check out the gofundme in the comments to help the coffee shop with 🤌🏻 vibes out #localbusiness #CoffeeShop #LocalCafe #GoFundMe ♬ As It Was - Harry Styles

Facing lockdown after lockdown, then loosing product after the Derecho that caused power outages all over Peterborough, McCarthy says Kit Coffee is now struggling to stay afloat.

“With the price of things right now everyone is feeling scrunched and I totally get that.” she said. “That being said I have such amazing regulars.”

She launched a GoFundMe on Monday in hopes to gather support from the community.

“It’s so hard to ask for help and to ask for money to support your dream,” she said. “I don’t feel entitled for people to donate, I don’t expect people to donate but people have told me they would like the opportunity to help.”

Since its launch, the GoFundMe has raised over $3,000. McCarthy says the money will go to paying off debt that accumulated over the last two years, and to completing some much needed repairs.

“It hasn’t even just been money. People have offered their time, people have made a point to come in and buy a coffee, they’ve offered kind words, it’s been great.”

To donate to the GoFundMe click here.

Kit Coffee is a safe space for the queer and BIPOC communities of Peterborough. They host music during Peterborough’s ‘First Friday Art Crawl’. McCarthy says in the future they hope to be able to host more events to showcase local talent.

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Kinsmen Club Donates $25,000 Towards New Zoo Train; New Bell Purchased From Community Funding

The Riverview Park & Zoo is one step closer to getting a new train for next year as the Kinsmen Club Of Peterborough donated $25,000 on Wednesday morning.

The Kinsmen Club has been a partner in the Park and Zoo since the organization’s beginning. Photo By Luke Best.

“When we heard about their campaign to replace the train ride, we knew it was a great fit for our club to get on board,” said Barry Craft, Kinsmen Club president. “Our membership support was unanimous for this project as we feel that Riverview Park and Zoo brings tremendous value to our community.”

“The community support groups have come out in a big way,” Jim Moloney, zoo manager and curator. “We've already started to see a good groundswell of support from individual community members but we're really depending upon that to take us the rest of the way.”

The train will cost $350,000 and 60 per cent of funding has already been achieved through community donations and Kiwanis snack bar profits.

The original bell was stolen overnight and reported to the public on April 30. Photo by Luke Best.

The zoo acquired a new bell after a community member found one online from a store in North Bay last month. The zoo purchased the bell and took roughly two weeks for its arrival.

It will be on the current train after a mount has been built for it. The bell will hopefully be outfitted for the new train next year according to Maloney.

The original bell was reported stolen overnight and was publically announced that it was missing on the morning of April 30.

Roughly $5,100 was raised for the bell’s replacement but cost $2,600 according to Cathy Mitchell, zoo program supervisor. The surplus will go towards the funding of the new train.

The zoo is offering dedication plates set in each seat compartment of the new train ride to help fund the new train. The seat dedications are $2,500 each that includes a personalized plaque of your name or in honour of someone else.

To be a sponsor or dedicate a seat bench on the train, please contact Cathy Mitchell, Program Supervisor 705-748-9301 x 2304 or cmitchell@riverviewparkandzoo.ca.

Donations to the ‘All Aboard the Riverview Railway Train Campaign’ can be made online.

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Peterborough Folk Festival Makes First Line-up Announcement And Is Looking For Volunteers

The Peterborough Folk Festival will return for its 33rd edition at Nicholls Oval, Market Hall and various downtown venues over 5 days from August 17 to 21.

The Trews Acoustic will headline Sunday at Nicholls Oval with an acoustic full band set. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Folk Festival.

The festival will kick off on August 17 at Market Hall with a screening of “We Can Do This”, a film created during the festival in 2021.

The first announcement of artists has been announced, with many more acts to be announced closer to the date.

Appearing on various stages are:

• Bahamas

• Kathleen Edwards

• The Trews Acoustic

• ODARIO

• AHI

• Kelly McMichael

• My Son The Hurricane

• Georgia Harmer

• Adria Kain

• Joyful Joyful

• Michael C Duguay

• Lauryn Macfarlane

• Kayla Mohammed

• Nathan Truax

" I’m proud to see the lineup come together the way it has so far and I have a feeling many attendees will discover they're next favorite artist at the festival this year,” said Artistic Director Ryan Kemp.

The Folk Festival is seeking individuals that are willing to volunteer this year.

"It seems that it is more difficult to recruit volunteers and we are reaching out to the greater community to ensure we are able to host the event in the same manner as the community has grown to appreciate,” said Board Chair Malcolm Byard. "If we are unable to recruit at least another 125 volunteers the Festival may not look like it has pre-pandemic.”

To to become a volunteer, donate, sponsor or become an artisan vendor visit peterboroughfolkfest.com.

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Random Acts of Green Encourages People To Participate in Plastic Free July

Random Acts of Green, a social enterprise, that began in Peterborough, is encouraging individuals and businesses alike to participate in Plastic Free July.

Stock Photo.

Random Acts of Green is an app that encourages people to participate in sustainable actions, like refusing single-use plastics.

Plastic Free July is a global movement that teaches people how to reduce and refuse single-use plastic items, like grocery bags, straws, and plastic bottles. The goal is to send a clear message to businesses and governments that there is a need to reduce global plastic pollution.

The Random Acts of Green App also includes 45 other different Green Acts, like composting and growing your own food, that users can log to earn Green Points. Green Points are awarded based on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that is reduced by each activity, and the app calculates a user’s impact. In addition, Green Points can then be redeemed at participating businesses.

“Plastic pollution is an environmental catastrophe. Not only does plastic require a large amount of fossil fuels to produce and transport, further contributing to climate change, but in addition, plastic bottles, straws, and plastic bags, are littering our streets, oceans, and bodies.” Says Jessica Correa, CEO with Random Acts of Green. “We need to come together to shift our reliance on plastic and our app encourages people to log the amount of plastic they refuse and reduce during Plastic Free July.”

The theme of this year’s Plastic Free July ‘Turn the Tide, one choice at a time’. The campaign celebrates the collective impact of millions across the world choosing to refuse plastics. To get involved with Random Acts of Green participants can pledge to Plastic Free July or download the app on their smartphone.

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Voice of Business: Let's Get Digital

Despite the pandemic and its restrictions on personal interactions largely behind us, there’s no sign that people’s habits are going to revert right back to 2019.

This is especially true when we talk about our online habits. The expectation to find what you want, book an appointment, order a product, or communicate with businesses online is expected to increase.

Additionally, businesses eager to move out of the pandemic are finding it tricky to hire enough staff to meet their goals. Digital automation is key to making do with less, including integrated inventory systems, team management software, and automatic lead generation. Any tool that cuts down on workload has become a valuable asset to maximize the effectiveness of the people they have.

To help local businesses make effective digital investments, the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce has re-launched our Digital Main Street program.

The Chamber has received a grant from the Digital Main Street program for a two-year Digital Service Squad (DSS) program, which provides small business owners with the tools, personalized technical support and access to funding needed to digitally transform their businesses. The role of the DSS is to empower small businesses across the region to navigate new tools to remain competitive.

The DSS is the cornerstone of Digital Main Street, with trained specialists who meet with brick-and-mortar small businesses, at no cost, to help them complete an online assessment and to introduce them to online training modules designed to build their digital knowledge and skills.

This one-on-one DSS assistance includes support for basic website setup, Google Business Profiles, 360⁰ photos, social media presence and much more. Squad members are also trained to help qualified small businesses with the development of their Digital Transformation Plan and then with the application process for a $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant.

To qualify for the Digital Transformation Grant, business owners must:

• Have a permanent brick-and-mortar location in Ontario

• Employ one to 50 employees

• Pay commercial property tax either directly or through commercial rent

• Be a registered business in Ontario and/or incorporated

Applications for the Digital Transformation Grant opened on June 21, with eligible brick-and-mortar small businesses able to apply for a $2,500 grant to adopt digital tools and techniques. The current intake period for applications will remain open until Oct. 31, 2022 (or until funds have been exhausted). For more information about how to apply to the DTG or to access digital tools and training to improve your business, visit https://digitalmainstreet.ca/ to register on Digital Main Street and begin your journey.

Additionally, the federal government is launching the Canada Digital Adoption Program though the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, offering a grant of up to $2,400 toward adopting e-commerce solutions. The program also comes with a network of e-commerce advisors and our DSS can assist businesses in their e-commerce plan. For more details, visit https://www.peterboroughchamber.ca/canadian-digital-adoption-plan.html

To book a free consultation with a Digital Service Squad Team Member, contact Jacie Condon-Houghton at 705-201-1663 or Jacie@acorn30.com.

Investing in digital is key for all local businesses. We have experts available and grants to help make it happen. There’s no better time for local businesses to step up their digital game.

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

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Peterborough City Council Endorses The Reduction Of Single Use Plastics In The City

Peterborough City Council has endorsed recommendations on ways to reduce the use of single-use plastics items, including municipal government activities, sharing information, a public awareness campaign, and a 24-month contract position to coordinate the implementation of the single-use plastics reduction strategy.

File Photo.

Under the recommended strategy, the City would:

• implement a single-use plastics reduction strategy at a select number of City-owned locations including City Hall and the Waste Water Treatment Plant;

• start the creation of a City of Peterborough - Zero Waste Event Planning Guide;

• develop and implement an enhanced public awareness campaign including updated promotional and educational signage for public spaces including parks, recreational facilities and City-owned locations; and

• create a temporary 24-month contract position to assist with the design and implementation of the single-use plastics reduction strategy recommendations.

The total cost of the proposed contract is estimated to be $100,000, which would be funded through the Waste Management Reserve.

Single-use plastics are a significant contributor to the global plastic pollution problem. Although considered convenient for short term use, many of these items including plastic straws, utensils, stir sticks, cups, water bottles, plates, bowls, take out containers are not easily recyclable and ultimately end up in landfill, according to a City press release.

City Council adopted the following resolution on February 25, 2019: That staff report on existing waste diversion practices and the potential for an awareness-building program focused on encouraging the reduction of hard to recycle single-use plastics.

A Single-Use Plastics Reduction Working Group, chaired by Councillor Gary Baldwin, that included eight volunteers from diverse sectors of the community met six times to consider information and contribute to recommendations.

In September 2021, the City hired Exp. Services, a third-party professional Ontario based consulting firm, to undertake the review and update of the existing Peterborough Waste Management Master Plan (WMMP), which was last updated in 2012.

This initiative will be undertaken through 2022, including a review of industry proven diversion opportunities, public consultation, and culminating in an updated WMMP to optimize diversion opportunities. All recommendations made by the Single-Use Plastics Reduction Working Group will be included in the assessment for consideration for inclusion in the updated plan recommendations.

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Grand Opening of Pet Spa For Local Couple In Downtown Peterborough

Local couple and co-owners Janeine Sali and Ryan Brown had their grand opening of Peterborough’s newest animal paradise, Roman & Co. Pet Spa on Tuesday.

Co-owner Janeine Sali, grooming cockapoo Ellie, the business’s first-ever client in their grand opening on Tuesday. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The pet spa offers grooming (nail trimming, de-shedding, etc.), cleaning and bathing for dogs only. Cat services are available in the future at an undisclosed date according to the couple.

Roman and Co. highlighted the importance of supporting local as they collaborated with several small businesses.

They sell products from Pip & Penny Co., a small business that makes pet bandanas. Pip also sells bowties and scrunchies for dogs and quilts and catnip pouches for cats online.

The spa sells gourmet dog cookies from Douro-based business HappyNess Cookies.

Sali had the business idea during the height of the pandemic but put plans into motion roughly two months ago.

The new entrepreneur said she could have made a career in several different paths with her love of animals but decided a pet spa was the best option.

“I really love the satisfying feeling of making a dog look good but making them feel comfortable," said Sali. “You really get to know them as an individual when they keep coming back. They become like one of your own.”

@ptbo_canada Meet Peterborough’s newest pet spa, @RomanCoPetSpa! Locally owned by couple Janeine Sali and Ryan Brown! Bring in your dog or cat for some grooming and/or a wash! #ptbo #ptbocanada #pet #pets #petlover #petsoftiktok #dog #dogsoftiktok #cat #catsoftiktok #smallbusiness #petspa #downtown #peterborough #supportlocal ♬ Hound Dog - Elvis Presley

The business took over the previous Mr. Brock Barber Shop located on 221 Brock St. The building has been a barbershop since the 1820s according to Sali. The spa is honouring the building’s history since its transformation such as keeping several relics and trademark items on display.

“I really want to keep a lot of the history alive,” said Sali. “We wanted to keep a lot of the things the same, keep all the antique stuff that was left here and a tribute month for all the people who were in here in past. It's an honour to be in this building.”

Sali had named the business after her German Shepard, Roman. The spa is open five days a week by appointment only and is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

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