Voice of Business: Navigating Economic Uncertainty: The Prudent Choice of Chamber Membership

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Guest Column by Olivia Farr, Communications Specialist, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

In times of economic uncertainty, businesses often find themselves at a crossroads, grappling with tough decisions to safeguard their interests and maintain stability.

One strategic move that stands out as a beacon of support and resilience is joining your local chamber of commerce. This age-old institution has proven to be a valuable ally for businesses during periods of economic turbulence. In this article, we will explore why Chamber membership makes profound sense in the face of uncertainty.

1. Collective Strength in Unity

Economic uncertainty tends to breed challenges that no single business can face alone. By joining a chamber, businesses become part of a unified front, collectively navigating the storm. Chambers of commerce serve as powerful advocates for their members, leveraging their collective influence to shape policies that favour local businesses and stimulate economic growth. This unity allows businesses to pool resources, share insights, and face challenges with a stronger, more resilient approach.

2. Access to Critical Resources and Information

In periods where the economy is shifting, information becomes a priceless asset. The Chamber plays a crucial role in publishing timely and relevant information to their members through formats much like this Voice of Business blog. From legislative changes and market trends to funding opportunities and industry insights posted on our Resource Hub, chambers keep their members informed, helping them make well-informed decisions. This access to critical resources empowers businesses to adapt swiftly to changing circumstances and stay ahead of the curve.

3. Networking Opportunities for Survival and Growth

In times of budgetary anxiety, the importance of networking cannot be overstated. Chambers provide a structured platform for businesses to connect, collaborate, and forge partnerships. The PK Chamber hosts a minimum of three monthly networking events and several annual events. These networking opportunities can be a lifeline for businesses looking to weather the storm.

Chamber networking enhances your job-related support in two key ways—facilitating both job seekers and employers. For those seeking employment, the network offers a valuable avenue to discover opportunities in the concealed job market before they become publicly available.

On the flip side, for employers seeking to fill positions, engaging with peers in similar roles through the chamber can contribute to crafting comprehensive job descriptions. This collaborative approach ensures a more robust hiring process, fostering a better fit for your organization. This interconnectedness exemplifies the crucial role of networking, a lifeline for businesses navigating economic uncertainty. Chambers of Commerce provide the structured platform needed to establish these vital connections, enabling businesses to share resources, explore new markets, and devise innovative solutions to shared challenges.

4. Advocacy and Representation in Government Affairs

Economic uncertainty often coincides with shifts in government policies and regulations. Navigating this complex landscape requires a united voice to advocate for the interests of businesses. Your chamber actively engages in government affairs, representing their members' concerns and advocating for policies

that promote economic stability and growth. Being part of a chamber ensures that your business has a seat at the table when crucial decisions are being made that could impact business operations.

5. Educational Programs for Adaptable Skill Sets

The ability to adapt to shifting economic positions is a key determinant of success. The Chamber frequently offers educational programs, workshops, and seminars to equip our members with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing business environment. From digital transformation to crisis management, these programs empower businesses with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate uncertainty and emerge stronger on the other side.

6. Cost-Effective Marketing and Visibility

Maintaining a visible presence in the market is challenging during economic downturns when marketing budgets are often under scrutiny. Chamber membership provides businesses with cost-effective marketing opportunities, such as sponsorship of events, inclusion in business directories, and access to promotional channels like our newsletter and social media platforms. This increased visibility can be a lifeline for businesses seeking to maintain and expand their customer base despite economic headwinds.

7. Collective Problem-Solving and Support

Uncertain times can be isolating, with businesses feeling the weight of their challenges alone. Chamber membership fosters a sense of community and support, creating a space for businesses to share their struggles and successes. Collective problem-solving becomes a hallmark of chamber membership, as businesses work together to find innovative solutions and offer support to those facing particularly challenging circumstances.

Conclusion:

In today's state of the economy, businesses are confronted with the imperative to adapt or risk stagnation. Chamber membership emerges as a strategic move, offering a lifeline of support, resources, and collaboration. The collective strength, access to critical information, networking opportunities, advocacy in government affairs, educational programs, cost-effective marketing, and a supportive community all make chamber membership a wise investment in times of economic uncertainty. As businesses navigate uncharted waters, the chamber of commerce stands as a steadfast partner, guiding them through the storm and towards a more resilient and prosperous future.

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

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City of Peterborough Hosting Free Family Skate Celebration On Sunday

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The City of Peterborough is hosting a free Family Skate Celebration at Quaker Foods City Square from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“Bundle up and enjoy the best the season has to offer at this free Family Skate,” said Councillor Lesley Parnell. “Shake off the January blahs in the fresh outdoor air having fun, getting exercise and connecting with our community.”

The celebration will feature music by DJ Lynz and free hot chocolate for attendees. A limited supply of free toques from Call2Recycle – a not-for-profit organization that provides battery recycling programs – will be handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Skate and helmet rental is available at Runner's Life at 174 Charlotte St. Rental rates and hours of operation can be found at Runner's Life.

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Peterborough Influencer Gets Lifetime Moment With An NFL Football Off Buffalo Bills Touchdown

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Running and coaching influencer Brendan Carpenter got a taste of NFL history as he got to hold the ball thrown into the stands fresh off a touchdown at the Buffalo Bills playoff game at Highmark Stadium on Monday night.

Carpenter has over 21,600 followers on his Instagram account. He posts running/coaching content on his account. Photo courtesy of Brendan Carpenter.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen rushed for a 52-yard touchdown against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers then eventually threw the ball into the stands to a raucous Buffalo crowd as part of his celebration.

The Peterborough influencer did not initially catch the ball Allen threw. The lucky fan who did snag it allowed Carpenter to borrow it for a picture to create a lifelong memory.

“The ball got hit out of our hands by the guy beside us and landed in the lap of the guy in front of us,” he explained. “It was right in our grasp and the other guy made a lunge. It's still a cool story to have the ball for a second and glad the guy that got it was a lifelong Bills fan and let us snap a picture with it after the fact.”

The influencer got tickets to see the game after his collaboration with NFL Canada.

“We were blessed enough with tickets from my partnership with the NFL Canada that we established last year so we were already winning either way if we got the ball or not and was just happy to see the Bills up 21-0 at that point.”

The game was initially scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. but was moved to Monday at 4:30 p.m. New York Governor Kathy Hochul decided to postpone the game for safety reasons with a weather emergency, including heavy snowfall.

The team asked 200 snow shovellers to help clean the stadium at midnight Sunday since it was overflowing with snow. Even with the help, there was still lots of snow piled in the stadium but that added to the atmosphere said Carpenter.

“Being at the game was insane. No one does it like Bills Mafia,” he explained.” It didn't matter if the seats were cleared because no one ever sits down at a Bills game so standing in piles of snow after everyone tried to shovel the stadium just added to the folklore of Bills Fans.”

‘Bills Mafia’ is a term coined for Buffalo fans known for their crazy antics (among other things) during and before the game. A recent tradition is fans jumping through tables, emulating WWE wrestlers.

During the game, every time the Bills scored a touchdown, Bills Mafia was throwing snow into the air, celebrating their team’s score.

“It was crazy, though, with the snowball celebrations and everyone throwing them; I had never been so happy to be pelted with snow,” laughed Carpenter. “We are a different breed of fans and I wouldn't have it any other way. This year, I was in the stands for a 30+ degree and sun game, a 0 degree and rain game, and now a -20 and snow game and the fanbase never changes; we just show up, go through tables and enjoy the hell out of Bills football.”

The Bills defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-17 and advanced to the Divisional Round. They will host the defending Super Bowl Champion, the Kansas City Chiefs, this Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Highmark Stadium.

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David Tuan Bui


Community Futures Peterborough To Give $50,000 To Peterborough and County Projects In New Funding Program Launch

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Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) has launched a new funding program called the Community Advancement Program (CAP) to distribute $50,000 to projects driving economic stability, job growth and job creation which was announced at the Venture North Building on Tuesday morning.

(From left to right) Charlina Westbye, CFP board chair; Devon Girard, CFP executive director; Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County warden and Jeff Leal, Peterborough mayor. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The program provides a maximum of up to $5,000 (non-repayable funding) to each successful applicant for their project. It is open to all businesses, not-for-profits and individuals in the City and County of Peterborough.

“The creation of this program demonstrates the commitment our organization has to advancing our local community forward,” said Devon Girard, CFP executive director. “The distribution of $50,000 in our economy should make a real difference to drive various economic development initiatives.”

CFP seeks projects that boost community business attraction, investment, retention and employment. Applications are being accepted until March 8, when a committee will oversee the applicant process following the deadline.

“The Community Advancement Program will boost economic development in our region by helping businesses, non-profits and individuals in the City and County of Peterborough to invest in their community,” said Jeff Leal, Peterborough mayor. 

“Community Futures Peterborough, with the support of FedDev Ontario, continues to help our business community reach its full potential,” said Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden. “The CAP program will help businesses to adapt, innovate, and grow to serve our communities including those in rural Peterborough County.”

The federal government funds the money through FedDev Ontario.

CFP will notify selected applicants in April, according to Girard. Applications are available online at CFP’s website.

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Peterborough Man Arrested and Charged With Possessing A Stolen License Plate

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A 25-year-old Peterborough man is facing charges of possessing stolen property after an incident early Tuesday morning. 

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At approximately 1 a.m., an officer noticed a suspicious vehicle in the Wolf Street and Park Street area. An Automatic License Plate Reader in the police cruiser showed the license plate had been reported stolen. The officer conducted a traffic stop in the McDonnel and Stewart Streets area. 

The man was arrested and charged with:

  • Possession of stolen property under $5000 (license plate)

  • Fail to Apply for Permit on Becoming Owner (Highway Traffic Act)

  • Use plate not authorized for vehicle (Highway Traffic Act)

The accused was released on an appearance notice and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 6.

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Fleming Phoenix Roundup: Jan. 15

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The Fleming Phoenix basketball and volleyball teams could not see much success but did salvage one victory over the past weekend.

Paul-Ryan Molay (15) defending a St. Lawrence player driving the net mid-air. Photo courtesy of Adam Smith and Fleming College.

The Phoenix men’s basketball team lost a nail-biter in overtime, 98-97, against the St. Lawrence Surge in Kingston on Saturday.

Fleming had led for three of four quarters but could not close it out. High scorers for the Phoenix were Shawn Blackwood with 39 points, Lystra White with 20 points and Paul-Ryan Molay with 19 points. 

The Phoenix men’s basketball team is back in action on Friday at home against the George Brown Huskies. The game, which takes place at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre (PSWC), is also being used by the Phoenix to highlight the importance of mental health through the promotion and awareness of Bell Let’s Talk Day. The tip-off is 7 pm. 

Both the men's and women’s Phoenix volleyball teams played games at home this weekend as they hosted the Georgian Grizzlies to the PSWC on Saturday and the Canadore Panthers on Sunday.

It was close but no cigar for the men’s team as they lost all three sets to the Grizzlies on Saturday, 25-21, 30-28, and 26-24. 

They rebounded on Sunday’s game, taking three of the five sets from the Panthers, with Canadore winning two sets 25-14 and 25-23 while the Phoenix took two sets 25-19, 25-20 and then the deciding set 15-8. 

The women’s volleyball team took the first set against the Grizzlies, 25-22 but then lost the next three sets, 25-23, 25-14 and 25-15 on Saturday.

They saw the same result against the Canadore Panthers on Sunday. The Phoenix won the first set 25-17 and then dropped the next three sets, 25-10, 25-19 and 25-20. 

The next action for the men's and women’s Phoenix volleyball teams is on Wednesday when they travel to Seneca College to take on the Sting.

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City of Peterborough's X Account Hacked; Username Has Been Reaquired

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The City of Peterborough's X account — formerly Twitter —was hacked and taken over by another account, reported on Sunday.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

After being hacked, the account was renamed @JupiterExhanqe.

No personal information shared during that time. The City assures that any posts from @JupiterExchanqe are not from them.

The account name @CityPtbo on X was reacquired after the hacker changed the account name and work is underway to make it accessible to the public.

The City of Peterborough has contacted X to request that the account's followers be restored to @CityPtbo.

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Peterborough Jr. A Lakers Draft Five Players In Ontario Junior Lacrosse League Including Three Top-Five Picks

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The Peterborough Merit Precision Jr. A Lakers drafted five players, including three top-five picks, in the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL) Entry Draft on Saturday.

Established in 1933, the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL) consists of 11 teams across Ontario and is the top feeder league for the National Lacrosse League (NLL), with 16 OJLL alum being selected first overall since the inaugural NLL draft in 1996. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Jr. A Lakers.

The Lakers held the following picks in the draft:

  • First round - Second overall

  • First round - Third overall

  • First round - Fifth overall

  • Second round - 12th overall

  • Second Round - 16th overall

With the second overall pick, the Lakers chose goaltender Waukiigan Shognosh from the Wallaceburg Griffins. Last summer, he helped lead Team Ontario to a gold medal at the Canadian U17 boys box lacrosse championship in Regina.

Peterborough went back on the clock after their first pick, taking offensive standout Zachary McLean from the Gloucester Griffins third overall. He had 71 points in 23 games last year.

The Lakers then traded with the Six Nations Arrows, acquiring the fifth and 16th picks in exchange for their 13th pick and a first-round selection in 2025. They used their fifth overall pick to select Mason Cree from the Akwesasne Storm. He was also a part of Team Ontario's U17 gold victory in Saskatchewan.

With the 12th overall pick in the second round, the Lakers took Matthew Ford from the Milton Mavericks. The offensive force scored 88 points in 27 games last season.

With their final draft pick at 16th overall, the Lakers chose Adam Trumble of the Orillia Kings. He excelled in three varsity sports, hockey, football and lacrosse at Culver Military Academy last year. He is the third Trumble brother to play for the Jr. A Lakers; his oldest brother, Ben, played last season while his middle brother, Sam, is the face-off specialist for the team.

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Peterborough Man Charged With Careless Driving From Saturday's Highway 7 and North Monaghan Parkway Collision

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A 31-year-old Peterborough man has been charged with careless driving under the Highway Traffic Act after a collision Saturday evening.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At approximately 7:50 p.m., officers received calls to Highway 7 and North Monaghan Parkway for a two-vehicle collision. 

Everyone involved was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre for treatment. One person was later transported to a Toronto hospital.

The area was closed for about an hour before being reopened.

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Selwyn Lifts Significant Weather Event From Friday

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After reviewing Environment Canada weather reports and current conditions, the Township of Selwyn’s Significant Weather Event has been lifted, announced on Monday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The Significant Weather Event was declared on Friday due to the impending winter storm.

The Township says that the weather has subsided enough that it can meet their required maintenance objective timelines.

Drivers and pedestrians are reminded to use caution while navigating in winter weather conditions. Selwyn assures that their Public Works crew are continuing with regular winter maintenance activities.

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