Peterborough Is Getting Even Sweeter With New Candy Shop Tastely Box
/Tastely Box, a curated candy shop that got its start in Apsley and took off on TikTok, has opened a location in Peterborough.
Photo by Angela O’Grady.
Peterborough Blogs
Voice of Business: Cybercriminals Targeting Small and Medium Businesses
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Cybersecurity is one of those topics that affect the majority of businesses in some form but it’s something businesses are hesitant to talk about.
According to Mastercard, attacks on small businesses increased by 424 per cent in 2020 and the issue is only growing as many invest further in digital systems.
A report from Fundera indicates:
43% of cyber attacks target small businesses
Only 14% of small businesses rate their ability to mitigate cyber risks and attacks as highly effective
3 out of 4 small businesses say they don’t have the personnel to address IT security
54% of small businesses think they’re too small for a cyber attack
Human error and system failure account for 52% of data security breaches
Industry experts say a small business’s cyber security budget should be at least 3% of a company’s total spending
The business community is often reluctant to talk about it because as victims, there are feelings of shame and embarrassment as well as fears that their business might lose customers.
The truth is that business owners are required to be experts in everything from government legislation to marketing to construction projects and juggle all of those roles in any given day — yet they’re up against people who are dedicated to finding security breaches and exploiting them.
Typically, they’re after your data, whether to hold it for ransom or steal it. Businesses and organizations that deal with large amounts of customer data, specifically in the government, retail and tech sectors, deal with the vast majority of attacks.
Even at a personal level, Statistics Canada found that 42 per cent of Canadians experienced some type of cyber security incident in the first few months of the pandemic.
Cyber security is a fundamental business issue right now. We’ve come to appreciate just how vulnerable our supply chain network is. An outbreak in a factory, a war on another continent, or a protest at a border crossing are all capable of grinding business down to a crawl. When you look at the statistics of just how prevalent cyber security incidents are and see how many businesses and organizations are involved in moving the goods and providing the services we rely on, there’s little doubt that someone in that network is either dealing with a cyber security incident or struggling with the fallout from one.
We’re encouraged to see our governments investing in helping our businesses thrive online through programs like Digital Main Street and the Canada Digital Adoption Program. Those investments are needed to move our economy ahead. But as our businesses move into new, uncharted waters, they need confidence that they’re going to be reasonably safe.
Cyber Security has been a common theme for chamber advocacy, including the Canadian and Ontario chambers of commerce who have been working hard to put this on the agenda for budget allocations and election platforms.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce Cyber. Right. Now. campaign is asking the government of Canada to improve three key areas:
Growing Canada’s economy by accelerating the competitiveness of Canada’s cybersecurity industry.
Securing Canadian critical infrastructure, supply chains, and businesses of all sizes from cyber threats by investing in cybersecurity at levels comparable to Canada’s G7 peers.
Boosting Canada’s cybersecurity skill-set and career opportunities by making cybersecurity education, talent development, and retention a national priority and by investing in programs that diversify and expand the cyber workforce pipeline.
With businesses depending more and more on technology, it’s also going to require a shift in mindset. No matter how small your business, cyber security needs to be made a business priority. Business owners need to learn about their strengths and weaknesses and educate their staff. Like any significant asset, getting insurance is a good idea. Where your expertise has limits, it might be time to hire professionals.
According to the Cyber Readiness Institute, there are four core issues small businesses can start with:
Strong passwords – 63 per cent of data breaches result from weak or stolen passwords
Software updates – Your software is regularly updating to protect you, so make use of it and stay up-to-date
Phishing Awareness – 91 per cent of all cyber attacks start with a phishing email and they keep getting more clever
Proper USB use – 27 per cent of malware infections originate from infected USBs, so be cautious of shared or free USBs and make sure they’re encrypted
If you’re not sure how secure your business is or are looking to invest in your digital assets, we can help connect you with some local businesses that would be more than happy to help.
Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring White Water Pressure Wash, Century 21, Peterborough Chamber and Fleming College
/PTBOCanada is delighted to be running StoosNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…
Vanessa Brown is the proud new owner of White Water Pressure Wash, a 10-year-old pressure washing business here in Peterborough that services commercial fleets and heavy equipment companies.
Vanessa brings 20 years of business experience with her and is excited to have her own business, where she is now growing the residential side of the business. Whether you have a fleet, heavy equipment, farm machinery, siding, a pool liner or you just want your gutters cleaned out. Check our wwpressurewash.com.
Vanessa Oake Hogan and the team at Century 21 United Realty recently completed an extensive renovation of their building at 387 George St.
The project was triggered by a serious plumbing malfunction that flooded all three floors of the building and resulted in a reconfiguration of the space including the creation of drop-in private workspaces, multiple board rooms, client and agent lounge areas, and a fully accessible main floor. A coffee bar, renovated kitchen and bathrooms, a new floor, paint, lighting, and art completed the work. Check it out at the Open House this Thursday (May 19) from 2 p.m. – 4. p.m.
The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce annual Business Excellence Awards nomination deadline is fast approaching.
The newly merged Chamber theme this year is “Excellence is all around us” and there are over 20 categories to choose from, including agriculture, four under 40, new Canadian entrepreneurs, hospitality and the business citizen of the year.
Nominating your favourite business is as easy as entering their name on the Express Nomination Form and Self-nominations are encouraged and are a great way to recognize your team. The deadline is May 25th at 4:30 p.m. details at pkexcellence.ca.
If your business or organization has an innovative opportunity or project you want to take on but just don’t have the resources to do it, have a look at the Applied Projects program at Fleming College.
The projects should engage senior business and technology students, who will work in teams of three or four, guided by seasoned faculty and mentors, to develop and implement innovative solutions. Sample applied projects include business strategy, marketing, social media, process improvement, sensory networks, virtualization and cloud solutions and web presence and optimization.
For more information, please contact AppliedProjects@flemingcollege.ca or tiffany.mcdavid@flemingcollege.ca.
Voice of Business: Hiring Persons with Disabilities
/With employers across the country facing significant barriers to finding the skilled labour they need to thrive and expand, there’s one solution that we need to do better on — hiring persons with disabilities.
In a time when accommodating the health and safety of employees has risen to new priority levels and technology that has made it easier than ever to adapt and accommodate, there’s little excuse for not expanding our mindset on what the physical requirements of the job are.
According to the Discover Ability Network (DAN), 6.2 million Canadians have disabilities and it’s a group that anyone can be a part of, whether temporarily or permanently. More than 75 per cent of people with disabilities acquire them as adults.
Hiring persons with disabilities typically leads to cost reductions related to turnover, absenteeism, safety and improvements in productivity. In addition to finding a new talent pool, companies that hire persons with disabilities find that bringing people with different perspectives and experiences improves their products and services.
The DAN also has found that there is typically no or low cost to provide accommodations.
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Discover Ability Network to help provide employers with the tools and resources they need to expand their workforce in a more inclusive manner. When it comes to hiring people with disabilities, the business opportunity is irrefutable.
The Discover Ability Network provides tools and supports through in-person workshops, webinars and online resources to help businesses understand the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, why and how to become a more inclusive employer, and how to hire and retain talent from the persons with disabilities labour pool.
Local chambers of commerce and boards of trade, industry associations, not-for-profit organizations, and businesses can request in-person and online training on a variety of topics related to accessibility, inclusion and hiring from the persons with disabilities talent pool. Training is also available to staff of organizations that support job seekers with disabilities, such as post-secondary institutions and employment service providers, as well as training targeted to persons with disabilities to help them become more confident job seekers. Find out more here: https://occ.ca/discoverability/
The DAN highlights proven advantages to employing people with disabilities:
Increasing the size of its skilled labour pool
Reduced costs associated with turnover, training and safety
Improving the engagement of all your employees
Harnessing the value of innovative processes and new perspectives
Attracting an underserved consumer market worth $55 billion per year in Canada
If you’re an employer interested in learning more, join the virtual Discover Ability Network ROI Conference on May 25 and 26 from 9 a.m. to noon. This free conference will discuss the value of hiring inclusively, the tools and resources to support building disability-confident organizations, and the importance of inclusive hiring to workforce development and future economic prosperity.
Get your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/diversity-in-business-roi-conference-tickets-310056205457
Find out more about hiring persons with disabilities and what resources chambers of commerce have to offer on the OCC discoverability page: https://occ.ca/discoverability/
Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.
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Dan Joyce Clothing Opens Second Location In Apsley
/Dan Joyce Clothing, a shop that has been located in Peterborough for 43 years, has opened a second location, in Apsley.
Photo courtesy of Nancy Wiskel
Opened on May 3 at 126A Burleigh Street in downtown Apsley, owner Nancy Wiskel says this location will offer a more relaxed style.
“The collection can be described as leisure wear for the smart dressed woman; fun but still stylish,” she said.
The 1,000 square foot space spread across two floors, is made to remind visitors of a cottage, says Wiskel.
Online ordering is available on the website for both the Peterborough and Apsley Collections, each clearly identified.
Currently, the new location is open as a seasonal shop from May through October. Store hours are Tuesday–Saturday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. After May 21 hours expand to Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Grand opening weekend is May 21 and 22 with special goodie bags and draws for clothing.
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Cottage Toys Opens New Location In Lakefield Just In Time For Summer
/The new Cottage Toys location in Lakefield is officially open for business and is ready to outfit cottage goers and outdoor enthusiasts for the summer.
Photo by Angela O’Grady.
Owner Donna Rork says this new location has been a long time coming.
“I feel like the building is exactly the way I envisioned it 15 years ago when I bought this property,” she said. “So to have this dream of mine actually come true it’s like, pinch me.”
Since she purchased the property, Cottage Toys has been hosting pop up shops on location on long weekends in the summer.
Now, with a permanent location, Rork says she will be able to serve her community even better, with air conditioning being an added bonus.
Rork opened the new location on Saturday, and says the community welcomed her with open arms.
“When we opened the doors on Saturday people flooded in. I got all kinds of presents like wine, plants and flowers - everyone was so excited to see the new building.”
She notes that this addition to Lakefield should help other businesses in the area by drawing shoppers from communities near and far.
“I think it’s a great step for Lakefield,” she said. “Not only will we be hiring more people from the area but we’ll also be creating this destination for shopping that will have really positive spinoffs for businesses in the area. People travel from hours away, Kingston, Ottawa, Toronto, people will come from all over because there’s nothing else like this.”
Rork says they will remain open in the winter, and shift to selling different outdoor gear then.
An official grand opening ceremony will be taking place on Thursday.
StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Three Acres, SmartSmiles, Cottage Toys and Providence
/PTBOCanada is delighted to be running StoosNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…
Brendan Quigley’s business is called Three Acres.
Quigley is a Shopify expert, helping local businesses get set up with an eCommerce site. Brendan provides store setup, Shopify Point of Sale setup, email marketing and custom development. By being connected to the Shopify Network, Quigley can scale up to handle app development, theme development and much more. Check out threeacres.ca for details.
SmartSmiles is a new mobile dental hygiene service recently launched by Dr. Jeremy Wageman.
Jeremy and his wife Wendy Thomas, along with Hygienists Mackenzie and Alina, are excited to be able to make dental care easier and more convenient for busy people. SmartSmiles is housed in a Mercedes Van, and they roll right up to your door. Business or residential, check it out at smartsmiles.me or on Facebook and Instagram.
Congratulations to Donna and Andrew Rork of Cottage Toys as they open their spectacular new building in Lakefield.
Located at the corner of Queen and Concession Street in Lakefield, the new building provides 3,000 square feet of indoor space, plus an outdoor pergola covered display area, lots of parking and high visibility for their watersport equipment like kayaks and paddle boards, as well as their multiple clothing and swimwear lines.
The original store at 180 Charlotte St. is still open and fully stocked for Spring and Summer as well. Stop in or visit cottagetoys.ca.
Speaking of the outdoors, Providence in downtown Peterborough has a new patio out back.
Looking a lot like your back deck, owner Mike Watt is grateful to the guys from Lumbermen Carpentry for their creative approach. Celebrating four years in business Mike is always coming up with new stuff, like using off-cuts from Jesse Bateson at Solid Leather to create new products for Providence. Providenceptbo on Instagram.
Voice of Business: Further Investment In Barriers to Business Needed
/The Government of Ontario’s budget is out, addressing some pressing issues for local businesses while falling short on others.
A budget released days before an election writ drops carries a bit more politics than it might in another year, but poll projections hint that there’s a reasonable chance our current government could be re-elected and implement this budget later this year.
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce's response to the Ontario budget highlights some welcome news:
Measures to address Ontario’s current labour shortages and future workforce needs
We welcome commitments to reduce barriers to foreign credentials and new investments in the skilled trades strategy.
Commitments to support business predictability
Ontario’s Plan to Stay Open focuses on improving pandemic preparedness and addressing key challenges such as labour shortages in the healthcare sector.
Pro-growth policies
The proposed modernization of capital markets and venture capital investments will enable small businesses and entrepreneurs to access growth financing. Additionally, the Building Ontario Business Initiative seeks to level the playing field for Ontario businesses competing for government contracts.
Initiatives to bolster our health care system.
Expanding medical training and investing in health care infrastructure and capacity are critical. Plans also focus on Ontario’s aging population through the dementia strategy, seniors care at home tax credit and investments in long-term care.
Continued action on critical transportation infrastructure
Rail, roads, and public transit will help businesses connect with workers and markets more efficiently.
On the what’s lacking side of things are four key issues we’ve been advocating for: immigration, supply chain, interprovincial trade and climate change.
Immigration starts at the federal level, but our provinces play a large role in where people settle, what skills we recognize, and how they are supported. The government has made significant strides in addressing labour market issues through immigration, but one missing aspect has been the where.
Approximately 35 per cent of all immigrants moving to Canada locate to Toronto. Though Toronto is going through labour force challenges of its own, its concentration of new immigrants can be problematic for other communities facing low or even negative population growth. We would like to see our provincial government provide more support to encourage immigration to rural and northern communities.
Chambers of commerce from across Ontario are calling on our provincial government to create a task force in partnership with private sector leaders to take a holistic approach to address our supply chain challenges and vulnerabilities. It’s a critical component of our economic recovery.
Businesses are struggling to get raw materials, retail inventory and ingredients in a timely, consistent manner. The costs have gone up while service has declined. We need investments in physical infrastructure as well as cyber security to protect our supply chain and get our goods moving in a timely and efficient manner.
Participating in the Regulatory Reconciliation and Cooperation Table is helpful but we need to do more when it comes to interprovincial trade and making labour more mobile. We want to see our government take on a lead role in unlocking internal markets for local businesses. We would like to see Ontario sign a mutual recognition agreement with other provinces and territories.
Climate change is a business issue. It’s going to cost us money to address it, but the status quo is already costing us significantly and will cost more yet down the road. We’re encouraged to see more investments in electric vehicle supply chains, but the budget lacks a more comprehensive approach to climate change, including a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across sectors, industries and communities.
Our role as a chamber is to be non-partisan advocates for our business community. Regardless of what political party leads this province moving forward, our economic recovery is going to take investments that enable our private sector to do what they do best and create prosperity.
Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring WOW Pit Crew, Kings Cross, Fitness and Chris Magwood
/PTBOCanada is delighted to be running StoosNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…
Gareth Wells recently launched his new business - WOW Pit Crew!
The WOW represents Gareth’s three main automotive services, wash, oil and wheels. A fully mobile service, Gareth and his team will wash your vehicle, change the oil and swap out the tires, all using biodegradable and environmentally safe products.
Fully mobile, Gareth brings everything he needs right to your doorstep. For details visit wowpitcrew.com.
Kings Cross British Bakery and Shop recently celebrated their Grand Opening at Fowlers Corners.
Owners John Perks, Rhonda Saunderson and Sarah-Beth Radovini want to connect with local lovers of British goodies and treats, you’ll find meat pies, pastries and breads, tarts and cakes and traditional Cornish pasties.
You’ll also find British chocolate, crisps, tea and more. Stop in, to Fowlers Corners, North-West of Peterborough or online at kingscrossshops.com.
A new beautiful studio is opening up at 370 Burnham Street in East City, created by three entrepreneurs: Irenì Stamou, Vicky Paradisis and Kristen Young.
Specializing in the art of dance, yoga, fitness and movement, these three women have come together to create a space for a community of healthy individuals where acceptance, inclusiveness and support are the foundation for their unique fitness, yoga and dance styles.
Opening May 16, they’ll be keeping their classes small, safe, clean and eco/friendly. kristenyoungfitness.com poledancingptbo.com irenistamou.com
Chris Magwood is a well-known local energy-advocate, the Manager of Carbon-Free Buildings at RMI, Director of Builders for Climate Action, and now a published author!
Chris and his co-author Bruce King have just published Build Beyond Zero – New Ideas for Carbon-Smart Architecture. Bruce and Chris believe that net-zero isn’t enough, that buildings represent our most practical and affordable climate solutions – that buildings can act as CO2 filters and net carbon storage. You’ll find build Beyond Zero at islandpress.org.
