Rainmaker Worldwide Inc. To Strengthen Global Operations with Recent Key Resource Additions

Rainmaker Worldwide Inc. (RAKR), a global leader in water solutions, has announced the addition of key resources to its global operations team on Tuesday.

photo courtesy of rainmaker worldwide Inc.

Viva Industries, an investment company owned by entrepreneurs Michael Skinner, John Gillis and Ryan Moore, will acquire a controlling interest in the Canadian subsidiary of Rainmaker Worldwide Inc., and will re-name it Rainmaker Canada & Caribbean Inc. (“RCCI”). This acquisition will allow Rainmaker to focus on the growth of its global business while the Viva Industries team drives the growth of the Canadian and Caribbean markets.

As part of the transaction, Michael Skinner will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of RCCI, John Gillis will be the Chief Technical Officer and Ryan Moore will take on the role of Chief Strategy Officer & VP Business Development. Skinner and Gillis were early investors in Rainmaker, and their expertise will greatly enhance the Company's capacity to provide innovative solutions to the water crisis.

“I have always been impressed with the needs that Rainmaker's Technology fulfills on a global scale," said Michael Skinner. “With the addition of the Miranda Technology, I believe Rainmaker is strategically positioned to be a global leader in solving the issue of providing safe drinking water and dealing with wastewater.”

RCCI will continue to sell Rainmaker's Air-to-Water Technology as well as other products and services provided for in the Joint Development Agreement between Rainmaker and Miranda Environmental and Water Treatment Technologies, Energy, Natural Resources, Engineering, Consulting, Construction and Commerce Inc. (“Miranda”) which remains in force. The full suite of products for the combined group now includes distributed solutions using Reverse Osmosis, Wastewater Treatment and Water Filtration Technology.   

"We are excited to welcome Michael Skinner, John Gillis and Ryan Moore to the Rainmaker team. John Gillis, the 2020 Water Canada Business Person of the Year, will provide strategic engineering expertise to Rainmaker’s global operations. Their combined expertise and leadership will enable us to continue to provide innovative solutions for the water crisis and drive growth for the Company,” said Michael O'Connor, executive chairman of Rainmaker.

The transaction is expected to close by April 1. For more information, visit the website.

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‘Poutine Feast’ Coming to Downtown Peterborough Morrow Park This May

Canada’s largest touring poutine festival ‘Poutine Feast’ is making a stop at Morrow Park from May 4 to 7.

Photo courtesy of Poutine Feast, Facebook.

Photo courtesy of Poutine Feast, Facebook.

The festival is an assortment of Ontario's finest Poutine Vendors with a lineup of 20 communities on their tour, taking place across the province from the end of April to the end of September.

Peterborough’s Morrow Park is slated in as the festival’s second stop.

“Get ready to indulge in your favourite cheesy, gravy-covered dish at our upcoming events. We'll be bringing the best poutine vendors from across the province together in one place for an unforgettable culinary experience,” the event’s Facebook page reads.

More information on dates, locations, and participating vendors is set to be released soon.

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Mayor Jeff Leal Makes Statement Regarding Expected Drag Queen Story Time Protest at Peterborough Public Library

City of Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal and Peterborough Public Library board chair Dan Moloney have issued the following statements regarding protests at the Peterborough Public Library Drag Queen Story Time event on Feb. 25.

betty baker addressing fans outside the peterborough public library after drag queen story time on Jan. 14. photo by felicia massey.

“The City of Peterborough supports providing an inclusive, safe community for all residents. We strongly reject any act that incites hate in the community against any particular group. Thank you to the Peterborough Public Library for promoting an inclusive community, offering programming for all residents,” Mayor Jeff Leal stated.

The Drag Queen Story Time event will feature local drag queen Betty Baker sharing some of her favourite stories around the themes of diversity, inclusion and respect.

“The Library Board supports the Library in its endeavours to educate and support inclusivity. We are behind the Library staff and the offering of Drag Queen Story Time,” Library Board Chair Dan Moloney stated.

The City of Peterborough is a member of the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities. Member municipalities must advance initiatives to:

1. Improve their practices for social inclusion

2. Establish policies to eradicate racism and discrimination

3. Promote human rights and diversity 

The Peterborough Police Service provides an online reporting tool for reporting hate/bias incident.

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Peterborough Police Seeking Information After Glass Smashed At Eight Local Bus Shelters

Peterborough Police Service is asking anyone who may have seen anything suspicious or has video footage to come forward after the glass was smashed at eight bus shelters earlier in the week.

file photo.

On Tuesday, Peterborough Police received an online report stating the incidents happened between the night of Feb. 19, and the morning of Feb. 20. Damage is estimated at $8,000.  

The bus shelters damaged were:

1. Dobbin Road and Lansdowne Street

2. Brealey Drive and Lansdowne Street

3. Clonsilla Avenue and Lansdowne Street

4. Monaghan Road and Lansdowne Street

5. Chemong Road and Milroy Drive

6. Chemong Road and Simons Avenue

7. Water Street and Edinburgh

8. George Street and Princess Street

Anyone with information is asked to call the Peterborough Police Crime Line at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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One Roof Community Centre Extends Service Hours Feb. 23 to 25 Due to Weather Forecast

One Roof Community Centre is extending its hours of service to 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. beginning Thursday until Saturday, Feb. 25 due to cold temperatures and a winter storm in the forecast for the area.

file photo.

One Roof Community Centre, which provides warming room services on behalf of the City and County of Peterborough, is located at 99 Brock St. A meal is provided between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. A full description of meals and other services that One Roof provides is online.

Information about how to protect yourself from extreme cold is available on the Peterborough Public Health website.

Emergency shelters are open and available to people experiencing homelessness who require emergency overnight shelter. If shelter capacity is full, temporary alternative accommodations for overnight stays may be made available. Please contact the shelters first for space:

• YES Shelter for Youth and Families (705-748-3851), 196 Brock St.

• Brock Mission Men’s Shelter (705-748-4766), 217 Murray St.

• Cameron House Women’s Shelter (705-748-4766) – 738 Chemong Rd.

• Overflow Shelter at 210 Wolfe St. (705-748-4766 – press 0 for Overflow Shelter)

Emergency After Hours Services related to emergency shelter are available through the Social Services by calling 705-926-0096. The Peterborough Social Services website has full details.

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Haliburton School of Art and Design Launches Summer Course Calendar

Discover a new passion and embrace creativity this summer with 55 new classes and workshops at the Fleming College Haliburton School of Art + Design (HSAD).

photo courtesy of fleming college haliburton school of art + design, facebook.

The new Summer 2023 course calendar for HSAD is out and features new courses, plus the return of some of HSAD’s most popular programs. Featuring 55 new classes and workshops, programs cover everything from Art as Activism, Contemporary Rug Hooking to Forging-Damascus Steel Construction.  

HSAD says they are also excited to welcome more than two dozen new teachers to the campus this upcoming summer to both inspire and teach students. Juno Award winning artist Susan Aglukark is hosting two four-day workshops in August, and other instructors include Julie Moon, Naomi Smith, Daniel Scott Tysdale and Lisa Barry, part of the team behind Homestead Pottery. Barry will be teaching an evening class on Wheel Throwing and Hand Building in the spring.  

There are day camps for children and teens and week-long workshops for adults yearning for an artistic getaway in the Haliburton Highlands.  

Join HSAD as they open the doors to the community through lectures, live music and a chance to get a first-hand look at what’s going on at the Haliburton Campus this summer.  

Art Talks run Wednesdays from July 5 to Aug. 9 in the Great Hall, featuring discussions on topics ranging from Mad Comics to the Story of Seedbeads. All are welcome to attend a Walk About at the campus Thursday afternoons, and there will also be free live music in the Great Hall Thursday evenings from July 6 to Aug. 10.

Summer program registration begins on March 1. Find the full catalogue by contacting the College by phone (ext. 4) or email to order a 2023 summer program.  

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Voice of Business: Five Key Areas the Federal Budget Needs To Target

The Government of Canada is expected to release its 2023 budget in the coming weeks.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has put together its submission aimed at breaking down barriers and improving the competitiveness of Canadian businesses.

In his letter to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) President and CEO Perrin Beatty writes:

“The Canadian Chamber urges the government to focus its budget on the imperative for growth driven by the private sector: we cannot borrow our way to prosperity. The government’s role must be to ensure an environment that encourages private sector investment, and to foster the conditions for economic growth. Many of the measures included in our submission, including regulatory reform and dismantling internal barriers, will cost little or nothing now but will generate future wealth for our society.

In the aftermath of the pandemic, our international competitors continue to outpace us. In the areas where it must use tax dollars, the government must distinguish between spending and genuine investment: the bar must be whether an initiative will generate economic growth and create a higher standard of living for Canadians. Decisions we make in 2023 will determine whether future generations will enjoy the opportunities and prosperity we have been so fortunate to inherit. Our ability to respond to today’s health crisis or tomorrow’s climate emergency will be determined by whether we have built good jobs and robust growth across our economy.”

The proposals in the CCC’s submission fall under five categories:

• Building Trade-enhancing Infrastructure

As geopolitical tensions continue to disrupt global supply chains, Canada faces both an opportunity and an obligation to export our abundant natural resources. However, our inadequate trade-enabling infrastructure impedes our ability to get goods like food, fuel, fertilizer, and critical minerals to our domestic manufacturers, ports of export, and international partners.

• Easing the Burden of Doing Business

Developing a closer partnership with business need not cost the government anything, but it will help draw much-needed investment to Canada. Similarly, we must modernize the tax system to make it simpler, more efficient, and fairer. Our submission includes a series of low- and no-cost measures that can promote economic growth.

• Transitioning to Net-Zero

For Canada to become a global leader in producing and exporting sustainably produced energy, carbon dioxide-removal technologies, clean fuels, critical minerals, and sustainable goods, the government must implement and sustain investment and production tax credits alongside a trade corridors strategy that addresses supply chain concerns. Our goals of “friendshoring” ring hollow if we cannot demonstrate that Canada is a reliable business partner to our friends and allies.

• Attracting and Retaining Talent

With one million job vacancies, Canada needs a coherent plan to attract and retain a Twenty-first Century workforce, including through targeted supports for traditionally underrepresented workers. This plan must link our broader immigration targets to the skilled talent employers need right now, as well as to how we attract, retain, and provide international students with pathways to work and permanent residency.

• Enabling an Innovative Economy

To maintain a competitive edge that stimulates growth in emerging sectors, the government should capitalize on our innovative advantages in Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, digital health, clean tech, and clean fuels by modernizing research and development processes, and by stimulating product development and commercialization.

Check out the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Pre-Budget Submission for the list of recommendations.

We are heading into 2023 with record low confidence in our economy. Inflation is slowing along with the overall economy. How our governments invest in areas like climate change, innovation, workforce development, trade, and taxation will set the course for our economy and the resiliency of our local business community for years to come.

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

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Peterborough’s Got Talent Event in Support of Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada

Kawartha Home and Health Care Services announces Peterborough’s Got Talent event in support of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada on April 21.

photo courtesy of Kawartha Home and Health Care Services.

The talent competition begins at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. at the Erben Bar and Eatery (379 George Street N). Tiffany Arcari will be the local guest emcee alongside a panel of three judges from the community.

The talent competition is divided into two categories; a youth competition for contestants 18 and younger, and the adult competition for participants 19 and older.

Participants will have an approximately 15 minutes to showcase their talent. Musicians, performers, comedians and local talented individuals are all invited to join the competition and create an amazing community event supporting MS Canada. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 finalists in the youth and adult categories.

Patti Clancy, owner of Kawartha Home & Health Care Services discusses the inspiration for the event, “Our organization is always searching for ways we can better enrich the community that we’re a part of, and we are looking forward to working more closely with MS Canada on this new and exciting event. Drawing more attention to a wonderful cause and very much hoping we can make Peterborough’s Got Talent an annual celebration.”

Kawartha Home & Health Care Services is requesting the door cover be a monetary donation or “pay what you can”, and the event will include a 50/50 draw and door prizes with all proceeds going to support the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.

Kawartha Home & Health Care Services is currently seeking applicants for the talent showcase in both the youth and adult categories. Registration forms can be requested online or by contacting the Kawartha Home & Health Care Services office by phone or in person at 320 Water St., Unit #72 between office hours (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

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Kawartha Downs Announces New General Manager and Future Event Details

The ownership and management of Kawartha Downs has introduced the new full-time general manager of Kawartha Downs Daniel D’Ercole at a press conference on Tuesday.

new general manager Daniel D’Ercole. Photo by Felicia Massey.

A Southern Ontario native, D’Ercole brings a strong education in Human Resources, Sports, Entertainment and Marketing that is bolstered by an MBA from Schulich School of Business. Over the last six years, D’Ercole has honed his skills in finance consulting, brand development, customer satisfaction and marketing strategy in a variety of roles.

He has a particular love of sports, notably hockey, and had an impressive career in the Ontario Junior Hockey League before shifting his focus to the business of entertainment.

This summer, Kawartha Downs Events plans to surpass expectations set by last year’s groundbreaking season as a premier event and entertainment centre. On May 20, Kawartha Downs will host its annual opening day celebration. The Lions Club classic car show will begin in the morning of opening day, kids activities in the afternoon and multiple bands will perform before harness racing post time of 7 p.m. The monster truck show June 3-4 will be the largest in the area.

“2022 was a record-breaker for Kawartha Downs and the surrounding community, and we are very proud of our last summer’s events,” said Richard Weldon, president of Kawartha Downs. “We got straight to work planning an evening bigger, more exciting season in 2023.”

The Country Music Festival on Canada Day Weekend has been highly anticipated by locals, and the entire artist lineup will be announced in the near future.

Recently details for the first ever Kawartha County Fair have been solidified. The fair will be a multiple day event consisting of your classic midway experience, a huge tractor pull, demolition derby and a concert featuring at least four local bands and a headliner. Kawartha Downs’ signature fireworks show will be put on every night of the fair.

“It is evident how tight-knit the surrounding community is with Kawartha Downs, and I plan on strengthening that relationship,” says D’Ercole. “As general manger, my priority is to implement strategic initiatives that will create a connection with people and businesses, and a connection to this community.”

“I know this venue has the potential to host some of Ontario’s largest events, and it is my goal to make Kawartha Downs one of the most successful destinations for entertainment in Ontario,” he continued.

For more information visit the website.

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