November 2013 - Biz Magazine

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November 2013
Muskoka’s Business Newspaper Since 1997
Ford dealership grows
Urban farming
Jenny Spring’s SPIN
farming business is
growing in Huntsville.
See p. 8
AUTOMOTIVE EXPANSION. Doug Sullivan of Bickley Ford takes a look at the
under construction Huntsville car dealership. The work will be finished soon and
Sullivan says business has been brisk in the meantime. See page 13.
New tenant checks in at mall
New home
The Gravenhurst
Chamber has moved
See p. 10
Canada Post Agreement #40025080
By Chris Occhiuzzi
One new store has been confirmed and negotiations continue
with two others to fill the
Huntsville Place Mall void left
when Zellers closed several months
ago.
A representative from the Effort
Trust Company, who did not wish
to be quoted, was able to verify on
the record that Sport Chek has been
confirmed as a tenant for Huntsville
Place Mall, while negotiations are
ongoing with Winners and Dollarama.
For months rumours around
Huntsville and Muskoka have
swirled regarding new tenants for
the mall, with ongoing construction
peaking public interest. Zellers
ceased operations at the end of
March.
Recently, the Effort Trust Company, which specializes in financial
services, real estate and asset management, listed on its website that
Metro, Winners, Sport Chek, Dollarama, Ricki’s/Bootlegger, Source,
Northern Reflections, Bluenotes
and Coles are the Huntsville Place
Mall’s “Anchor Tenants.”
Calls to Winners corporate office
were not returned by press time.
Mortgage
market
sizzling
By Chris Occhiuzzi
There seldom has been a better
time for buyers looking to get into
the real estate market.
An aggressive mortgage market is giving qualified buyers
great rates and a variety of businesses to choose from. There was
even a point in time where mortgage offers were getting close to
no money down and a five per
cent rate.
“The mortgage business is so
competitive now you can still get
into some places with five per cent
down,” says Dave Reid, president
of The Lakelands Association of
Realtors covering Muskoka, Haliburton and Orillia.
Reid says the mortage field is
quite competitive, and buyers
should shop around.
“Years ago you used to have to
have a whole bunch of money
down but now you have a lot more
options,” he says. “The banks do a
pretty good job of making sure you
qualify. Everything is on (debt to
income) ratios for the most part.”
Reid says mortgage rates are
also quite good right now in order
to get people into buying homes.
Many can get locked into a rate
very close to three per cent, he
says.
“Some will quote you under
that,” says Reid. “It’s been historic
lows in respect to mortgage rates,
so there’s been some great rates
available.”
The lower down payments and
See NEW - p. 10
Celebrating Small Business – see p. 6
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November 2013
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3
Farmer hops on board with unique crop
By Corey Wilkinson
Newholm is now the new
home to one of Ontario’s
fastest growing crops: hops.
Daniel Gould has started
the first hops farm in the
Muskoka region. Gould says
the area is ideal for growing
hops.
“Where we are located is a
great spot to grow,” says
Gould. “It’s the new specialty
crop in Ontario.”
Gould has planted 1.5 acres
of hops on his rural property,
making him the fourth largest
hops grower in Ontario, he
says. He hopes to expand his
hops growing to 6 acres in a
few years.
“I’m hoping next year for a
real good grow,” says Gould,
who has planted 1, 500 plants.
Hops are a vine that grow
up to 20 feet long. The actual
hop itself is the flower of the
plant and it is used as a natu-
ral preservative in beer for its
antibacterial properties. Hops
can also be used to flavour
beer and produce the bitterness found in beers. Each acre
of hops can produce 2,000 lbs
of hops.
Hops
taste
different
depending on what type they
are and where they are grown.
“My hops will be totally
different from another grower,” says Gould. There are
over 160 different types of
hops in the world.
Newholm Hops currently
has five types of hops growing: cascade, chinook, tea
maker, glacier and centennial.
They are a perennial plant and
grow back every year.
Gould is hoping to tap into
the growing craft beer market
by supplying smaller craft
brewers with his hops.
“Demand is so high right
now,” says Gould. “The
response I’ve had is tremendous.”
Before starting Newholm
Hops, Gould ran his own
business making custom
stairs for customers throughout Muskoka. He is hoping to
retire from the stair building
business in a couple of years
and continue working on his
hops farm.
“I always wanted to grow
something on my property,”
says Gould. “I find it quite
interesting being a woodworker. I’ve never farmed in
my life.”
In addition to beer, hops is
used in cosmetics, perfume,
animal feed and antibiotics. It
is also high in natural antioxidants.
Gould intends to run his
hop farm as organically as
possible. He doesn’t use any
pesticides and is using only
natural fertilizers.
HOP TO IT: Daniel Gould has planted over an acre of hops on his
property. He hopes to supply it to the growing craft beer market.
Lake of Bays Brewery doubles capacity (again)
BREWING BRIEF: Brewmaster Dan Unkerskov told the NHL alumni about making beer.
By Matt Driscoll
A lucrative alliance has
helped the Lake of Bays
Brewing Company expand
yet again.
In October the Baysville
brewery welcomed former
NHLers Jack Valiquette, Lou
Franschetti and Mark Napier
to get a closer look at the
brewing process of their latest lager.
“We’re really excited
about the whole process,”
says Dylan Wade, the manager of marketing and media
with the NHL Alumni Association, who was on hand
with the former players to
learn about the brewing
process and sample Top
Shelf.
The addition of the new
line of beers also means more
production for the Baysville
brewery. The brewery, which
doubled capacity this year, is
set to expand again.
To that end they’ve purchased additional property
adjacent to their current location and will double their current 4,500 square feet of production space again by summer of 2014.
A portion of the proceeds
from the sales of the new
Top Shelf lager will go
towards the NHL Alumni
Association.
“The association is all
about former players helping
former players,” says Wade.
“Some are very successful,
but others need some help
along the way. It could be
financial, it could be emotional. For many of these
guys career transition can be
a big thing.”
Wade says Lake of Bays
originally approached the
Association with the idea to
work together on a beer, but
the process has been very
much a collaborative effort.
“Lake of Bays has done a
great job of involving us,”
says Wade. “We felt that
working with a smaller craft
brewery would allow us to be
much more hands-on.”
Wade says the Association
will make sure the beer is on
hand for their events and will
work to find ways to crosspromote with Lake of Bays.
Darren Smith, the owner of
Lake of Bays Brewing Company, says the idea for Top
Shelf got started with two of
the beer company’s reps.
“They were on the road
and they started talking about
all the collaboration beers
that are coming out,” says
Smith. “They also both happen to be big hockey fans and
they thought a collaboration
would be a cool idea.”
From there, contacts were
made with the NHL Alumni
and the deal was signed within a couple of months.
“(The Alumni) have done
things like this before, but
primarily with wine,” says
Smith. “I think they saw craft
beer as a real opportunity.”
Smith says they opted for
an American style 4.5 per
cent alc./vol. lager, because it
felt like a good fit with the
typical hockey watching
crowd.
“It’s a light, crisp, refreshing beer. We wanted a beer
that a lot of people could get
behind,” says Smith.
The beer will be available
in the LCBO within the
month, and also at select bars
and restaurants throughout
Ontario.
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4
OPINION PAGE
November 2013
www.NorthCountryBusinessNews.com
EDITOR’S NOTEPAD
The art of thinking creatively
See the potential
There comes a time in a business,
that we have outgrown the initial
burst of originality that it took to get
our venture up and running.
When this happens we need to
start looking for new marketing tactics, products and/or services that
will add on to and complement our
business.
The challenge here is that we are
already busy running the day-to-day
operation. Because of the pressure
of business we tend to do what we
have always done, in the hope that
we can find something new that will
give our business ‘a shot in the arm’,
we fall into uncreative thinking at a
time that we should be practicing
creative thinking.
In order that we begin to think
creatively there are a few principles
we need to become familiar with.
To start the process you need to
ask the right questions. What do we
want to achieve? Why do we need to
do this? Is there a better way? What
will happen if we don’t do anything?
Only by asking the right questions
will you arrive at the right answer.
Some may be concerned about the number of chain
stores moving into Muskoka but these same people
should celebrate the fact large successful corporations
think Muskoka is a good place to do business.
In July it was announced three new stores were building and opening next door to Home Depot and Walmart at the SmartCentre on Taylor Road in Bracebridge.
Bulk Barn, Dollar Tree and Pro Oil Change are now well
under construction.
Now, it appears Sport Chek will be joined by two other new tenants at the Huntsville Place Mall, both of
which are major Canadian franchises. Not too long ago,
people were worried the former Zellers location, once
vacated, would amount to little more than a white elephant in the heart of the mall. Such a major blow would
have put the entire mall in a precarious position, and a
largely vacant mall reflects poorly on the entire town.
If the people operating these well-known chains consider Muskoka a viable location to expand their business, then it stands to reason others may follow. It also
offers encouragement to those who’ve already invested
in Muskoka.
With any new business comes competition for some
existing businesses. While they likely won’t welcome
the news, it is an opportunity for those already in business to reassess exactly how they do things.
Does their storefront need a bit of sprucing up? Are
customers being offered the kind of service that brings
them back again and again? What can one do to raise
their profile in the community?
As the variety of shopping in Muskoka improves,
people are also less likely to leave the area to do their
shopping. Someone who heads south to Orillia or Barrie for a Saturday to visit a Winners or Sport Chek is
likely to make a few stops while there and perhaps grab
something to eat from an area restaurant.
While Huntsville residents might pop into the mall
for a single purchase, those from other Muskoka centres
like Gravenhurst and Bracebridge or from the north in
Parry Sound District are more likely to make a day of it.
Everyone benefits when business stays here.
Change can be a frightening prospect but the
Huntsville and Bracebridge business communities will
do well to see the opportunities here and not just the
challenges.
Positively
Speaking
By Brian Garvey
When searching for new ideas
you need to go on an expedition, to
explore new territory. Don’t be content in going to all the usual places.
Imagine you are a prospector and
you are searching for gold. You
wouldn’t spend your time in the old
worked out areas. You would go
where others have not been.
When starting to apply your energies to the discovery of new ideas
look at things in a new way, be bold,
artistic and don’t be afraid of overturning conventional approaches.
Creating new forms of old ideas
can lead you to unique concepts that
will give you a competitive edge.
Evaluating your new ideas can
present a challenge. We tend to
bring our personal bias’ into the
mix.
We now need to become the
Fishing and portage rights
Purchasers of land in Muskoka
situated on water are fully aware
that the public has the right to use
the water in front of their lands.
This legal right arises from a
reservation in the first deed. When
the Crown initially conveys land to
an original owner (the Crown
patent), the Crown usually reserves
certain rights.
One usual reservation is the public right to “the free use, passage
and enjoyment of in, over and upon
all navigable waters” situated
along the land conveyed.
The issue of navigability may
arise along a river when a canoeist
is faced with a natural obstruction
to passage because of rapids, or a
waterfall, or a fallen tree. The
courts have held that the public
right of passage on navigable
waters does not carry with it a public right of portage across a person’s lands to avoid the obstruction.
The public right permits passage
Lange
on Law
By Donald Lange
along the river to the extent that
passage is possible. If a natural
obstruction prevents passage, the
right of public passage remains
although it may not be exercisable.
Frustration over the ability to
pass along the river cannot give
rise to a separate and distinct right
to go onto the land of a private
landowner.
Another reservation in the
Crown patent, not as well known,
relates to fishing. The Crown
reserves “the right of access to the
shores of all rivers, streams and
lakes for all vessels, boats and persons together with the right to use
so much of the banks thereof, not
exceeding one chain in depth from
the water’s edge (66 feet), as may
North Country Business is published by Cottage
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judge, question your assumptions,
assuming a neutral position. Don’t
forget about the questions you
asked yourself earlier in the process,
do they apply? Now you need to ask
one more critical question, “What’s
wrong with this idea?”
Asking this question will allow
you to uncover some of the faults
that may be hidden from first view.
Once you have your new idea,
whether it’s a product, service or
marketing plan, you must now put it
into action. Be prepared for resistance and be willing to stand up for
your concept, be persistent.
There is no weapon in your arsenal as powerful as persistence.
If you would like to read more on
creative thinking Roger von Oech
has two books on the subject,
appropriately titled, A Whack On
The Side of The Head, and A Kick In
The Seat of The Pants.
You can watch Brian’s video “In
Conversation” at www.Positively
SpeakingbyBG.com. Leave a question or comment or purchase the
Positively Speaking book.
Angy Gliddon ext. 213
Ken Northey ext. 201
Susan Smith ext. 201
Copyright© 2013, Sun Media Corp.
All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material
published in North Country Business is strictly
prohibited without the written permission of the
publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility
for unsolicited material.
be necessary for fishery purposes.”
As a result of this reservation,
the public may enjoy fishing from
the shoreline in front of your lands.
However, the fishing reservation
does not give the public the right to
cross over your land to reach the
shore of the water. The only right
of access to the shoreline is from
the navigable waters.
A direct incursion on your land
may be caused by a portage route.
Section 65 (4) of the Public
Lands Act has codified the common law in this area. This section
provides that a portage route,
which existed prior to the sale of
the land by the Crown to the original owner, is protected and that any
person travelling on waters connected by the portage has the right
to pass over lands from one body
of water to another body of water.
The section reads: “Where public
lands over which a portage has
existed or exists have been heretoSee FISHING – p. 5
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5
Contact North unveils new learning opportunities
Technology
upgrades provide
learning
avenues
By Matt Driscoll
Those looking to upgrade
their skill set or even earn a
degree have a new set of
tools at Contact North.
Last month Contact
North officially unveiled a
newly upgraded online
learning centre at Nipissing’s Muskoka campus in
Bracebridge during an open
house. They now offer
improved web conferencing, video conferencing and
audio conferencing technology, which will provide
area residents with greater
access to thousands of
courses and programs available online from Ontario
colleges, universities and
other training providers.
“The audio, web and
video technology that we
offer here at the centre
make it possible for people
to complete their education
right here in Bracebridge,”
says Robin Brushey, the
centre co-ordinator for
Contact North. “They can
take online classes in real
time, or recorded and at a
time that works for them.
As a result, they’re able to
take their classes and
achieve their education
goals, all while staying
close to home and continuing their work or family
responsibilities.”
Trying out the new technology, Nichole Gibbs of
Bracebridge says Contact
North has given her the
opportunity to live, work
and get an education without being forced to move to
a larger centre.
“This offers me a lot
more flexibility,” said
Gibbs, who is taking social
work at Northern College.
“It also allows me to live at
home, which is a lot cheaper.”
Gibbs says she previously attended post-secondary
school in a big city but
found it didn’t suit her the
same way Bracebridge
does.
“I think it can be difficult
for a lot of kids to move to
the city,” she says.
MPP Norm Miller attended the open house and took
the opportunity to try out
some of the equipment with
a video conference.
“Online learning opens
up opportunities for Ontarians who live in rural or
remote communities to
access the world-class education available in larger
centres,” says Miller. “This
kind of local access to education gives people greater
options for job training and
supports economic development in our area.”
ON SCREEN: MPP Norm Miller and Robin Brushey of Contact North try out the technology.
GORDON, GINGRICH, HARRIS & FLEMMING
C hartered Accountants
AUDITING & ACCOUNTING
SERVICES
CORPORATE, ESTATE &
PERSONAL TAX PLANNING
Fishing rights
apply
Continued from – p. 4
fore or are hereafter sold
or otherwise disposed of
under this or any other
Act, any person travelling
on waters connected by
the portage has the right to
pass over and along the
portage with the person’s
effects without the permission of or payment to the
owner of the lands, and
any person who obstructs,
hinders, delays or interferes with the exercise of
such right of passage is
guilty of an offence.”
That right carries with it
the right to maintain the
portage route if, for example, it is obstructed by a
fallen tree.
PR OM PT
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RAIL BALLAST • GOLF/SPORTSFIELD MIXES • BOOM TRUCK/EQUIPMENT SERVICES
Port Carling • Rosseau • Ullswater • Sprucedale
705-765-6447 • 866-478-2779
[email protected]
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152- 3 Manitoba Street
BRACEBRIDGE
7 William Street
PARRY SOUND
705-645-5255
705-746-5828
www.cggh.ca
HITTING THE BOOKS: Student Nichole
Gibbs is hard at work at Contact North.
PARTNERS
F. Glenn Gordon, C.P.A., C.A. Stephen Gingrich, C.P.A., C.A., C.F.P
Brandy Harris-Green, C.P.A., B.Acc., C.A., Howard Flemming, C.P.A., C.A.
6
CELEBRATING
November 2013
SMALL BUSINESS
www.NorthCountryBusinessNews.com
The many benefits of buying locally
Local shopping
helps create jobs
and growth
KEEP IT LOCAL: Shopping locally benefits
merchants and consumers alike.
Buying locally is a great
way for consumers to find
the products and services
they’re looking for and help
their local economy along
the way. The small businesses in your community
may be owned by your next
door neighbour, who relies
on his or her fellow townspeople to keep the business
going strong.
Buying locally is not only
beneficial for local business
owners, but buying locally
benefits consumers and
members of the community
in a number of ways.
* Buying locally creates
jobs. The number of unemployed men and women has
gradually declined in recent
years, but those figures are
still high in many communities, such as Muskoka.
Buying locally creates jobs
in your community, potentially creating a job for you
or a friend or family member.
* Buying locally helps
the environment. Buying
within your community
reduces the amount of fuel
you’re likely to use for a
weekend shopping trip
while also reducing pollution. In addition, many local
store owners use local
materials and ingredients,
reducing the amount of fuel
consumed to get products
into the store.
* Buying locally creates a
more closely knit community. Juggling a career and a
family can make it hard for
men and women to get to
know their neighbours and
other members of their
community.
Buying locally is an
opportunity to strengthen
that bond with your neighbours, creating a close knit
community in which residents may feel safer and
more comfortable.
* Buying locally is more
convenient.
Convenience is paramount to many consumers,
and buying locally saves
both time and money. Driving to a faraway mall or
shopping centre or paying
costly online shipping fees
is not nearly as quick or
convenient as shopping
within your community,
where you can purchase and
take home items on the
same day without using a
full tank of gas or paying
for shipping.
* Buying locally benefits
your local economy.
In 2004, the consultancy
Civic Economics was commissioned by Chicago’s
Andersonville Chamber of
Commerce to examine the
economic impact of 10
local businesses against that
of chain businesses. The
study found that of every
$100 spent at local businesses, $68 remained in the
local economy, while only
$43 of every $100 spent at
chain stores remained in the
local economy. That’s a significant boost to your local
economy, and all it requires
is shopping at local retailers.
* Buying locally can
increase your property value.
Homeowners might be
able to increase the value of
their homes by buying
locally. A joint study from
Independent We Stand and
Civic Economics found that
cities with a strong centralized small business district
had a 54 per cent greater
increase in property values
than communities that did
not have such a district. A
more thriving local community, including a thriving
shopping district, is no
doubt attractive to prospective home buyers.
The reasons for shopping
locally are many. In addition to helping local business owners, consumers
who shop locally are also
helping themselves.
Small business is Canada’s engine of job growth
Small and medium sized
businesses are the cornerstone of the Canadian economy.
They account for 99.8% of
all Canadian companies and
employ more than 60% of
private sector workers,
according to the Business
Development Bank of Canada (BDC).
BDC Small Business
Week activities provide an
opportunity to celebrate,
develop new skills, make
new contacts and plan for
new opportunities.
For 34 years, the Business
Development Bank of Canada has been organizing BDC
Small Business Week in
recognition of the contribu-
Do you have a plan for winter when
needs change and staying at home
may no longer be the best option?
tions and achievements of
Canada’s
entrepreneurs.
Events held during the week
bring entrepreneurs together
at conferences, luncheons
and trade fairs across the
country where they have the
opportunity to learn, network
and enjoy themselves in the
company of their peers.
BDC Small Business
Week 2013 takes place October 20 – 26 under the theme:
Success ahead! Map your
future growth.
Every business begins
with an idea and a vision. Yet
the road map to growth is
never simple. Canadian
entrepreneurs know that
long-term success requires
passion, commitment, hard
work, a great offering and a
solid plan.
Expanding your market ,
whether at home or abroad ,
demands determination and
adaptability, resources, an
appetite for greater risk and
even a little luck.
BDC Small Business
Week is a Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
trademark whose origins
date back to 1979 when
BDC business centros in
British Columbia’s Lower
Fraser Valley pooled their
resources to organize a week
of activities for entrepreneurs.
This first event and one
that followed in 1980 were
so successful that BDC officially launched Small Business Week across Canada in
1981.
The initiative was quickly
adopted by Canada’s business community.
In 2012, over 200 activities across Canada attracted
close to 10,000 business people to BDC Small Business
Week.
This BDC flagship event
celebrates entrepreneurship
at the local, provincial and
national levels.
For more information on
Small Business Week Activities visit www.bdc.ca.
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CELEBRATE: Canada’s Small Business Week
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www.NorthCountryBusinessNews.com
CELEBRATING SMALL BUSINESS
November 2013
7
Developing a budget
Budgeting is important for
businesses big and small. But
while corporations or larger
organizations might be able to
stretch their budgets when
necessary, small businesses
often don’t have the luxury of
such leeway.
Because small businesses
are often less financially flexible than their larger competitors and counterparts, small
business owners tend to agonize over their budgets when
starting out. Part of that struggle may stem from small
business owners who specialize in their trade but have little experience at running a
business. But determining a
small business budget is
essential to a business’ success, as it helps owners determine if they have enough
money to fund the business
and its potential expansion
while also providing owners
with a steady income.
Each industry is different,
and budgets that work for one
business will not necessarily
work for another. But the following tips can help business
owners develop an effective
budget for their businesses
regardless of their industries.
* Understand your industry. Understanding your
industry and knowing your
product are two different
things. When establishing a
budget for a new business,
small business owners should
familiarize themselves with
the industry they will be joining. Calculate the cost of
machinery and materials. The
prices of materials can fluctuate depending on supply and
demand, but small business
owners developing a budget
can research how such costs
fluctuated in the past or speak
with current business owners
to determine how much of
their initial cash supply and
future revenue will need to be
allocated to production costs.
THE MILLER LAW GROUP
BUDGET BASICS: Developing a budget can
be a challenge for businesses big and small.
Another thing to learn
about the industry is if there
are certain trends that may
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For example, a surf shop likely won’t bring in as much revenue in the winter as it will in
the summertime. Such trends
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8
November 2013
www.NorthCountryBusinessNews.com
Urban farming taking off in Huntsville
By Chris Occhiuzzi
The idea behind Jenny
Spring’s The Spring Farm is
certainly gaining steam in
Huntsville.
After an article appeared in
the Sept. 18 edition of What’s
Up Muskoka about her new
venture, which features
small-scale urban farming in
the community, Spring has
received offers for 35 plots
from people wanting her services. While she’s excited
about the prospects, for now
Spring is sticking to the five
backyards totalling around
half an acre in size.
“In the future, when I have
more help, I’m hoping to
expand,” says Spring, noting
she’s kept everyone’s contact
information. “Right now I’m
preparing beds and will be
selling produce in the spring.”
Through some great support from local fresh food
producers, Spring is excited
about the possibilities of providing delicious, organic
foods to the community.
Big Ass Garlic has helped
Spring get 80-pounds of garlic for a good price, which she
plans on planting this fall to
be ready for next year.
As well, Annie Bliss of
Bliss Farms has provided
manure and John Baker of
Rowanwood Farms is helping
with the garlic seed farming.
Spring says Lucy’s Cafe
and Gluten Free Bakery are
on board to provide compost,
while she’s been in talks with
several other food and beverage businesses hoping to set
up the same deals where
Spring picks up their compost
weekly to be used in the gardens. Spring mentions coffee
grounds as being especially
beneficial to gardening.
“I’ve been very lucky to
have such support from farmers and businesses in town,”
she says.
Spring also wants to help
educate others on how to do
their own backyard farming
so her clients can do it themselves after a couple of years.
Plus, she’s planning on hosting some courses for the public on how to grow one’s own
produce right at home.
“I’m doing two-to-three
year contracts in order to set
up the urban gardens,” she
says. “When I’m done the
homeowners will be ready to
take it on themselves.”
To help steer her community into the future with locally
grown food, Spring utilizes a
technique known as Small
BUSINESS GROWTH: Jenny Spring gets set
to plant the garlic crop in anticipation of 2014.
Plot Intensive, or SPIN gardening.
“The idea is you grow a lot
of vegetables within a small
space,” says Spring. “A lot of
SPIN farmers lease land with-
in their town.”
She says there are many
benefits of growing food in
urban locations, including the
heat island effect, which
offers a longer growing sea-
son than one would see rurally. Basically, the heat island
effect occurs in areas with
higher population density and
development, where materials
are used which retain heat. As
well, waste heat generated by
energy use contributes to the
effect. This causes the average temperature to be higher
in urban settings compared to
rural areas.
There’s the opportunity to
make money off of urban
farming because there’s a fast
turnaround. Spring plans to
bring her homegrown produce to farmers markets, local
restaurants and even will set
up weekly pick-ups with
interested families.
“My plan in the long term,
it would be amazing if all the
restaurants were supplied
with local produce and this is
very local,” she says. “It’s
grown right here, it’s very
close to markets and restaurants. Why would they need
to purchase something from
California or Mexico?”
Spring started growing her
own food because of food
allergies she believes were
caused by the processing of
food. Organic foods in grocery stores can be quite
expensive, and she decided it
was time to do it herself.
The deal Spring has made
with a couple of in-town land
owners, and is hoping to
make with several others, is to
lease some space to create
and tend to large a backyard
garden growing food in return
for a portion of the food
grown.
“I started growing my own
food, it tastes so much better,” she says. “I went out to
northern British Columbia
and did an internship on a
farm, it just felt like such real
living. We grew all our own
food, we milked the cows
every morning. We made our
own cheese, we made our
own butter. We had chickens.
I felt so connected and felt
like there was a purpose for
living.”
While getting The Spring
Farm up and running across
Huntsville is tops on
Spring’s priority list, she
plans on doing workshops in
the near future for those
interested.
“By being urban, people
can stop by and see how we
do it,” says Spring. “I can
teach them what they need to
know and hopefully they’ll go
home and grow their own
food.”
Grant writing workshop coming to north Muskoka
Not-for-profits of all sizes
are being encouraged to
attend a grant writing workshop later this month in
Huntsville.
Grants from institutional
sources – government agencies, foundations, service
clubs, associations and the
like – are a major revenue
source for charities and nonprofit groups striving to
jumpstart new programs or
strengthen
existing
services.
Yet the process of
researching granting sources
and developing compelling
INTERN ARRIVES: Jennifer Clute recently took over the position
of tourism and marketing co-ordinator with the Muskoka Lakes
Chamber of Commerce as part of a one year FedNor internship.
proposals can be a mysterious and frustrating quest for
many charities. All too frequently applicant organizations become discouraged
by complex and voluminous
procedures,
heightened
competition for the same
pool of funds and the excruciating wait for what they
hope is a positive response
from the decision-makers.
Equally frustrating are the
overwhelming accountability and reporting procedures,
the seemingly repetitive
questions posed in each
application, and the arduous
search for granting sources
that fund operating expenses.
As challenging as it initially appears, writing and
developing effective and
results-oriented grant proposals is a skill that nonprofit staff members and
volunteers can attain proficiency.
By engaging in a series of
interactive exercises, workshop participants will learn
how to identify high-percentage granting opportunities and construct fluid and
persuasive cases for support.
Building a rapport with
the point people from granting agencies and understanding the motivations of
decision-makers are crucial
subjects that will be covered
in this presentation. Most
importantly, participants
will experience a greater
sense of confidence and
become firmly acquainted
with methods to procure the
funds and resources that will
enable their respective
organizations to make significant progress towards
achieving their missions.
Among the lessons that
participants will learn
through this interactive session:
- How to construct a compelling, concise case for
support that will serve as the
template for most institutional grant proposals;
- How to communicate
effectively with the point
people
from
granting
sources.
- The differences between
traditional granting sources
including foundations, government agencies and corporate philanthropy programs;
- Formulating realistic
project and operating budgets that meet the needs of
applicant organizations and
satisfy the expectations of
granting sources;
- Understanding the
importance of setting realistic benchmarks and “indicators of success”.
The workshop takes place
Oct. 29 at the Tulip Inn on
Arrowhead Park Road
between 10 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.
The presenter will be
Mike Paquet, the principal
of People First Resource
Development.
During his 20-year career
in fund development, Paquet
has helped several community-based and grassroots
non-profit groups throughout southern Ontario to
implement long-term sustainable fundraising and
resource development programs.
The cost is $120 with
lunch, coffee, tea and
refreshments included.
Call to reserve space at
(905) 318-6130 or email to
the attention of Mike Paquet
at [email protected]
November 2013
www.NorthCountryBusinessNews.com
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2004 Chevrolet Silverado Reg Cab
2010 F-150 4X4
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2005 F-250 SC
1999 GMC SAFARI CARGO VAN
2009 F-150 CREW
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1 Bickley Country Drive • bickleyford2005.ca
Financial Services
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Sales/Leasing
Sales/Leasing
Sales/Leasing
705-789-5524
9
10
November 2013
www.NorthCountryBusinessNews.com
Chamber makes a move
An Upbeat and Positive Book by local
author Brian Garvey (A.K.A. – BG)
To Order Your Copy
www.PositivelySpeakingbyBG.com
(Secure Pay with Pay Pal)
Download as an ebook from Amazon.ca
705-645-1353
Donald J. Lange, LL.B., Ph.D.
Barrister-at-Law
Civil Litigation - Ontario Superior Court
20 years Toronto experience
Defending or launching lawsuits
• Property disputes • Road access • Sale/Purchase problems
• Family Cottage issues • Estate litigation • Legal opinions
Phone: 705-489-4974
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.donaldlange.com
Office Location:
69 Main St., Minden
(by appointment only)
PAHAPILL and ASSOCIATES
Chartered Accountants
Professional Corporation
With Offices in Huntsville, Burk’s Falls and Parry Sound
Carl W. Pahapill, CPA, CA, LPA
Partner
Head Office
6 Main St. W.
Huntsville, ON P1H 2E1
Huntsville: 705-788-0500
Cell: 705-774-0574
Email: [email protected]
Helping entrepreneurs
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Business Financing available
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Investments may be considered
Call Tyler Lockhart, Investment
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Business Financing for
start-up, reorganization or expansion.
www.muskokafutures.ca
(705) 646-9511 x250 1-800-414-6570
By Corey Wilkinson
The Gravenhurst Chamber
of Commerce has opened the
doors to their new location in
the historic Terence Haight
Carnegie Centre in downtown
Gravenhurst.
“We’re really happy with
the space,” says Danielle Millar, manager of the Gravenhurst Chamber of Commerce.
“The Chamber is right in the
heart of Gravenhurst.”
The Chamber office officially opened on Oct. 15.
They share the space with
Service Ontario in the heritage building located next to
the Gravenhurst Opera
House.
“Now we are truly surrounded by businesses,” says
Millar.
The Chamber has over 300
members and welcomed
more than 85 new members
this year.
“The Chamber itself is
going through a tremendous
growth period,” says Millar.
The
Terence
Haight
Carnegie Centre was for
many years the home
of the Gravenhurst
Library.
“We truly wanted to
keep as much of the
heritage feel as possible,” says Millar.
Before moving in,
the building was renovated by the Town of Gravenhurst. The building was mostly unused after the library
moved from the location over
DOORS OPEN: Tara Doyle and Danielle Millar at the new location.
10 years ago.
The building is fully accessible and is compliant with
the new regulations for accessibility coming into effect in
almost 20 years in their previous location on Muskoka
Road North, near the intersection with Winewood Avenue.
Their new home is almost
expand the services and programs we offer,” says Millar.
The new location will also
mark the first time Gravenhurst has had a year-round
tourist
information
centre.
After moving in, the
Chamber will be busy
settling in before they
plan on announcing
new programs and
services in January
2014.
You can visit the Gravenhurst Chamber of Commerce
at their new location at 275
Muskoka Road South.
“We truly wanted to keep as much of the
heritage feel as possible.”
2014. “We are going to be
ahead or over the requirements,” says Millar.
The Chamber moved after
twice the size of the old location and will allow the Chamber to add a board room.
“It’s going to allow us to
New real estate options abound
Continued from FRONT
mortgage rates have certainly helped create more movement on the market. Reid
says he often finds people
doing an upgrade in homes
or cottages while getting in
at a lower rate than they
have or had on their existing
property.
“They find they could
upgrade and keep a similar
price yet get more because
the interest rates have
dropped,” he says. “Somebody in a small home, or a
family gets bigger, it’s kind
of nice to be able to move up
and their mortgage coming
up and they’re getting a bigger home with a cheaper
rate. That’s been kind of nice
for people.”
These options are suitable
for those who qualify for a
mortgage but there are many
out there who are still a few
years away from having a
debt to income ratio appealing to a bank or other form
DAVE REID
of lender.
For these individuals and
families, another option has
been popping up across
North America and more
recently in Muskoka. With
some research of real estate
adds online, North Country
Business has found both
agents and private sellers
offering a rent-to-own or
lease-to-own option on a
home they’re looking to sell.
The basic idea is rather
than just renting a house,
those renting will enter a
lease agreement for a predetermined number of years
with the option to buy at the
end of the lease.
With a deposit lower than
most down payments and a
portion of the
rent
going
towards buying
the home, this
allows families
who are a few
years
away
from
being
mortgage eligible or having a
full down payment to work
towards owning. For the
seller, it’s a
consistent
income with
low risk.
Reid says that option is
not something The Lakelands Association of Realtors keeps track of.
He says it’s usually a pret-
ty specific arrangement
between the homeowner and
the person they enter a rentto-own or lease-to-own
agreement with. Reid says
he’s heard of sellers doing a
deal like a rent-to-own or
lease-to-own
over the years
but it’s typically a unique situation.
And while at
the end of the
agreement the
buyer and seller could still
use a real estate
agent to help
broker the final
sale, Reid says
these arrangements are positive on a more
personal level than financial.
“It’s always good for
someone to switch from a
rental into an ownership,” he
says. “It’s just good for
everything.”
“They find
they could
upgrade
and keep a
similar
price.”
November 2013
www.NorthCountryBusinessNews.com
11
Muskoka painter wins international award
By Corey Wilkinson
Professional
painter
Daniel Gallant from Bracebridge recently won the
prestigious National Guild
of Professional Paperhangers’ (NGPP) Winning Walls
with Wallcovering Award in
the Specialty category for
2013.
The NGPP is an international organization of wallcovering
installers
with members from
Canada, the United
States, the United
Kingdom and Ireland.
Gallant won the
award for a project he
completed in August
2012 using Bradbury
& Bradbury’s Art Wallpaper.
The wallpaper made by
Bradbury & Bradbury is
handprinted and based off of
historic patterns from the
19th and early 20th centuries.
The announcement was
made at the NGPPs National
Convention held in Reno,
Nevada on Friday, September 13.
“I can’t believe it,” says
Gallant, “I was speechless. I
guess Friday the 13th is my
lucky day.”
This is Gallant’s first
award, after joining the
NGPP a year ago. He has
been a professional painting
contractor and wallcovering
hanger since 1986.
Originally from Granby,
Quebec, Gallant spent years
working in the Waterloo
is so nice it was hard to go
back to the city.”
The entries were judged
by a panel of industry
experts, designers, technical
representatives
and
installers. Awards were given out in four categories:
commercial,
residential,
specialty and small spaces.
Gallant submitted an
extensive project he has
“My clients have completely renovated
their historical century home.”
region before moving to
Muskoka with his wife last
year.
“Muskoka always felt like
home. It’s just beautiful,”
says Gallant. “It’s a dream
we always had.”
Gallant worked for clients
from Waterloo in Muskoka
but once up here he found
that he didn’t want to leave.
“We love the outdoors,”
says Gallant. “Summer time
been involved with for many
years. It is an historic building in the Waterloo region
that was undergoing a renovation.
“My clients have completely renovated their historical century home, and I
have been part of this project from the beginning,
doing several rooms with art
wallpaper, as well as other
specialty wallpapers and
Say... “I DO”
to this targeted advertising opportunity
2013
PAINTING PRO: Daniel Gallant is earning
international attention for his work.
Reaching couples planning their wedding
and those who influence their purchasing
decisions.
Muskoka Weddings is the magazine for planning a
couple’s perfect day in the unique beauty of cottage
country.
Muskoka Weddings embraces the best Muskoka has
to offer. Editorial features provide professional advice
from experts in wedding planning, fashion, floral
design, catering, photography and anything else that
is needed to help a bride and groom celebrate their
special day.
From the engagement to the honeymoon, Muskoka
Weddings makes the difference in ensuring every
walk down the aisle is a memorable journey.
WATER’S EDGE
Weddings
Winter wonde
rland celebratio
ns • Muskoka-ma
de jewelry • Pro
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rs ease
faux finishes,” says Gallant.
Gallant’s complex vintage
design pleased the judges
with its extensive and complicated borders using a Persian motif. For his winning
room Gallant hand-cut 13
different papers, borders,
friezes and medallions.
The project was made
even more difficult by the
room’s complex shape and a
number of sloping
walls. It took him two
and a half weeks to
complete.
“Hanging this type
of paper is relatively
straight-forward, it’s
the planning that
requires the time and
effort,” says Gallant. “The
unusual T-shape of this
room combined with its
sloping and angled walls
made for a tricky installation.”
Gallant works on his own
and primarily does residential jobs throughout the
Muskoka area.
“I love working on small
jobs. Everyday is different,”
says Gallant.
To book your ad space please
call 705-646-1314
stress
Advertising Deadline: November 29, 2013
Release Date: December 27, 2013
12
November 2013
ADVERTISING FEATURE
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iRefurbish and Repair
has smartphone fixes
Your foundation coating &
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Call now for your free consultation
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Split screen? Soggy smartphone? Tarnished tablet?
Then make iRefurbish &
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iRefurbish & Repair can
repair any brand smartphone
or tablet. iRefurbish &
Repair has been serving the
Muskoka and Barrie area for
two years providing the best
customer service using original or OEM parts.
“Many places use
cheap low quality aftermarket parts to make
their repairs cost less
and essentially you get
what you pay for,” says
Bryan Plested, founder
of iRefurbish & Repair.
Sending a phone away to
be repaired takes weeks, if
not months, and can be
expensive, says.
“We fix your phone the
same day you drop it off, for
a fraction of the price you
would pay getting it repaired
through
your
service
provider or manufacturer,”
says Plested.
Plested does all the work
himself to ensure it is done
properly. He has been repairing all types of phones and
tablets for the past two years.
He repairs up to 100 different devices in a month.
“It’s been really busy,”
says Plested.
For the most common of
smartphones and tablets
most repairs can be done the
same day in about an hour
because iRefurbish & Repair
has in stock many of the
most commonly needed
parts.
“Anything Apple I have
on hand always,” says Plested, adding that they are the
most common device he
sees. iRefurbish & Repair
can also order parts for rarer
or less common phone
makes.
“We fix your phone
the same day you
drop it off”
iRefurbish & Repair can
fix your cracked screen with
a new replacement screen for
all makes of cell phones and
tablets including, iPhone,
HTC, iPad, LG, iPod Touch,
Samsung, Motorola, Nokia,
Blackberry and Sony.
Plested got into the repair
business after dropping his
own phone. He found that he
could repair it himself and
that he really enjoyed the
challenge of getting it not
only looking new again but
also saving a lot of money
versus buying a new phone.
iRefurbish & Repair can
also repair or replace faulty
components batteries, USB
charging ports, headphone
jacks, vibrator buttons, volume buttons, power buttons,
home buttons, loudspeakers,
microphones, earpieces and
cameras.
“We can fix any problem
you have,” says Plested.
“They’re all a little different
but a lot have similar hardware.”
Dropped your device in
water? Before chucking the
device call iRefurbish &
Repair . Phones dropped in
water that no longer power
on, can typically be
brought back to life in
working
order
for
around $60 depending
on the model. What
have you got to lose?
Other than personal
data, contacts and photos.
“Water damage is tricky,”
says Plested. “There’s no
guarantee that it will work
but if it doesn’t it’s free.”
Plested does all the repairs
for a large local organization
whenever they have a broken
device.
iRefurbish & Repair will
buy used, damaged and nonfunctional smartphones and
tablets. They also sell used
and refurbished phones and
tablets.
For repairs and estimates
contact iRefurbish & Repair
at (705) 645-0263 by call or
text or by email at
[email protected].
Please include a description
of the problem as well as the
type of device and model for
an accurate quote.
Tell Muskoka
residents
who you are
and what you
offer!
Spotlight your business in
this advertising
feature - includes both
advertising and
editorial content.
Call your Sales Rep. Today
705-646-1314
November 2013
www.NorthCountryBusinessNews.com
13
Bickley Ford major renos near completion
Business employs
26 full-time staff
By Matt Driscoll
At Bickley Ford in
Huntsville the work out front
is a sign of good things happening inside.
Since June, the new and
pre-owned automotive dealership has been undergoing
extensive renovations.
“The building was 27
years old so it was time to
freshen it up a bit,” says
Doug Sullivan, a partner in
Bickley Ford. “It’s a full
showroom and parts and
service area. We didn’t
change the footprint much,
we just brought it up to Ford
facility upgrades and made it
wheelchair accessible and all
up to code.”
The parking lot at Bickley
is also getting the full
makeover treatment.
“It needs refurbishing so
we’ll be ripping it all up and
making some room for
expansion,” says Sullivan.
“We’ve had to create a second lot to accommodate the
amounts of new and used
product we have. Now we
can be a little more aggressive in stocking more vehi-
cles when the new showroom re-opens.”
Inside, the new parts and
service counter is one of the
main additions. Sullivan says
the entire parts and service
area is expanding and more
employees are being added.
The construction hasn’t
slowed down sales, says Sullivan. In fact, business has
been booming since the work
began.
“We went into construction on June 1 and we’ve
been busier than we’ve ever
been,” he says.
While the struggles of the
automotive industry over the
past decade are no secret,
Sullivan says Ford, and
Bickley Ford in particular,
have done quite well. They
now employ 26 full-time
staff.
“Everyone talks about the
money that was lent to the
folks at Chrysler and GM,
and Ford didn’t need to do
that. We still have people
coming in to say I’m dealing
with you because of that,”
says Sullivan, who purchased Bickley Ford in April
of 2005. “Our busiest year
was actually 2010, just after
the G8. I think that got a lot
of good things going on
around town.”
In Huntsville, the biggest
sellers are pick-up trucks,
which make up between 65
game parks to Right To Play.
Right To Play is an
organization whose mission
is to improve the lives of
children in the most disadvantaged areas of the world
by using the power of sport
and play for development,
health and peace.
Treetop Trekking has locations in Barrie, Brampton,
Huntsville and the Ganaraska
Forest between Port Hope
and Peterborough. During
each three hour tour climbers
explore the forest canopy on
AUTOMOTIVE GROWTH: Doug Sullivan uses a lift to views the changes at Bickley Ford.
and 70 per cent of all sales.
“The new Escape is huge
and we’ve got some Fiesta
and Focus fuel conscious
cars with great technology,”
says Sullivan. “The resale
value is excellent.”
The team at Bickley Ford
plan to celebrate their new
additions with an open house
after the construction is completed.
Huntsville Treetop trekkers Climb for a Cause
This past weekend patrons
were climbing through the
trees of north Muskoka for a
good cause.
On Oct. 20, Treetop
Trekking donated 50 per cent
of sales from visits to its four
Ontario zip line and aerial
zip lines, wooden bridges,
balance logs, Tarzan swings
and other aerial games leading from tree to tree.
Each October, Treetop
Trekking donates 50 per cent
of sales on a particular day to
a charity that focuses on
bringing happiness to children in need. In 2012, Treetop Trekking raised almost
$4,000 for Make-A-Wish
Canada.
“Putting smiles on people’s faces is a fundamental
goal behind what Treetop
Trekking does. Being able to
support charities like Right
To Play that have this same
objective allows us to bring
happiness to many more children than just those that visit
our parks” says Mike Stiell,
marketing manager for Treetop Trekking.
Founded in 2000, Right To
Play is the leading international humanitarian and
development organization
using the transformative
power of sport and play to
build essential skills in chil-
dren and thereby drive social
change in communities
affected by war, poverty and
disease.
Treetop Trekking opened
its first Ontario zip line and
aerial game park in 2006 in
Barrie. It now operates four
parks in Ontario located at
Horseshoe Resort in Barrie,
Heart Lake Conservation
Area in Brampton, at the
Ganaraska Forest between
Port Hope and Peterborough,
and at Deerhurst Resort in
Huntsville.
“From Muskoka... Working for Muskoka”
Since 1990
MUSKOKA
Specializing in:
• ROCK DRILLING & BLASTING
• FREE ESTIMATES
• FULLY INSURED
DRILLING & BLASTING
CLIMB FOR A CAUSE: Treetop Trekking locations from Ontario,
including Huntsville, donated money to Make a Wish Canada.
Bracebridge
705-645-4098
DIVISION OF 878193 ONTARIO INC.
BILL TINGEY
www.muskokadrillingandblasting.ca
14
November 2013
MUSKOKA’S CHAMBERS
OF
COMMERCE
www.NorthCountryBusinessNews.com
Masquerades, girlfriends and more
Proudly supporting the Chambers of Commerce
www.rlpmuskoka.com
YOUR COTTAGE
COUNTRY BUILDING
SUPPLY STORE
Bala • Bracebridge • Dorset
Gravenhurst • MacTier
By the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber
of Commerce
These are exciting and busy times at your
Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce.
Starting off with our community’s largest
black-tie event of the year – the 30th Annual
President’s Ball will take place on Saturday,
Nov. 2 at Deerhurst Resort. This year’s theme
is a Black & White Masquerade. Sponsored
generously by RBC Royal Bank & RBC
Wealth Management Dominion Securities the
evening will be one not to miss. An evening of
Magic & Mystery will feature painted on or
wearable masks on-site and will be highlighted with an award winning MegaMagic show
by Mike D’Urzo. A silent auction filled with
hundreds of incredible items donated entirely
by the chamber membership will surely give
you a boost to your Christmas shopping. Bring
your friends, staff and relatives – everyone is
welcome to enjoy this evening filled with
gourmet food, entertainment and dancing.
With several signature events on tap through
the fall and winter, the chamber is working
diligently to bring visitors to town in the shoulder season.
Having just completed the inaugural Running Scared-Huntsville 5 km Zombie Run,
which went quite well, we’re now looking
ahead to the seventh annual Girlfriends Getaway Weekend taking place from Nov. 8 to 10.
This year’s presenting sponsor is Dr. Drew
Markham Dentistry. From Nov. 8 to 10, events
will take place across Huntsville, including a
fabulous evening of fashion, dining and Dr.
Drew’s Huntsville Makeover Big Reveal on
Friday night and Pat Benatar’s concert on Saturday. This amazing weekend also offers VIP
dinners, red carpet hair blow-outs, beauty
services and incredible retail discounts and of
course not forgetting the luxurious Soapstones
Soap and Skincare free hand and neck massage all day Saturday.
The Friday night fashion show returns and
features local retailers taking the stage. All
three events will be held at the Canada Summit
Centre.
Girlfriends Getaway Weekend continues
GREAT TIMES: Girlfriends Getaway Weekend is one of the
Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce signature events.
showing steady growth and last year the event
attracted over 1800 visitors to Huntsville and
accounted for almost $300,000 in total visitor
expenditures to the local economy.
This event has been amazing for both the
chamber and the community at large. Having a
shoulder season event which brings in almost
2,000 visitors is a great boost the economy at a
time when it’s quite needed.
Signature event weekends like Girlfriends
Getaway don’t happen without the great support of our members and the community as a
whole. From businesses selling packages or
hosting events to our wonderfully growing list
of volunteers coming through the chamber’s
volunteer programming, these signature
events are only successful and beneficial to the
community when everyone comes together in
support.
Looking ahead to the new year, the Comedy
on the Rocks festival is back with more laughs
and we hope to soon announce our headliners
for the weekend of Jan. 31 to Feb. 2. Also
coming back to Huntsville, Lake of Bays and
Muskoka as a whole are the Ontario Winter
Games which start in late February, yet another great time to showcase what we have to
offer to visitors from across the province.
Apart from the amazing signature events
we’ve been working on, the Huntsville/Lake
of Bays Chamber of Commerce has partnered
with the Town of Huntsville and other local
organizations to find a way to better market the
myriad of cultural tourism opportunities.
After months of efforts, consultant Steven
Thorne will present a new cultural tourism
strategy for the community on Oct. 31 from
1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Partners Hall.
This is a really important strategy and we
urge our members to attend the presentation in
order to better understand how this strategy
may be utilized in strengthening our cultural
tourism business opportunities.
For more information about upcoming
events, what the chamber can do for you or to
become a member, call 705-789-4771, email:
[email protected] or visit:
www.huntsvillelakeofbays.on.ca
www.timbrmart.ca
Contact your local Chamber of Commerce today
BRACEBRIDGE
HUNTSVILLE/LAKE OF BAYS
PORT SYDNEY/UTTERSON AND AREA
1-1 Manitoba St.
705-645-5231, Fax: 645-7592
[email protected]
www.bracebridgechamber.com
8 West St. N., Huntsville
705-789-4771, Fax: 789-6191
[email protected]
www.huntsvillelakeofbays.on.ca
15 South Mary Lake Road, Unit 4, Port Sydney
705-385-1117, Fax: 385-9753
[email protected]
www.portsydneycoc.com
GRAVENHURST
MUSKOKA LAKES
SOUTHEAST GEORGIAN BAY
685-2 Muskoka Rd. N.,
705-687-4432, Fax: 687-4382
[email protected]
www.gravenhurstchamber.com
3181 Muskoka Rd. 169, Bala
705-762-5663, Fax: 762-5664
[email protected]
www.muskokalakeschamber.com
45 Lone Pine Road, Port Severn
Phone and Fax: 705-756-4863
[email protected]
www.segbay.ca
HELP SUPPORT
YOUR CHAMBER
15 Robert Dollar Dr.,
Bracebridge
Phone 705-645-3057
Toll Free 1-800-461-5495
www.muskokawindowanddoor.ca
Small business owners & local decision makers rely upon
North Country Business news, sales leads and networking
opportunities to grow their businesses.
To advertise, call 705-646-1314
Call 705-646-1314
to advertise
[email protected]
northcountrybusinessnews.com
MUSKOKA’S CHAMBERS
www.NorthCountryBusinessNews.com
OF
COMMERCE
November 2013
15
Welcome to our new chamber members
HUNTSVILLE
Algonquin Natural Stone Ltd. 705-224-8699
Career Discovery! 705-646-0787
MuskokaWay 705-789-4377
Oxtongue Lake Gem 519-245-5218
Sei Bella Hand and Foot Spa
705-789-7388
Smart Joe Construction 705-380-1868
SML Contracting 705-788-4747
Vanessa’s Kitchen 705-787-6655
PORT SYDNEY/UTTERSON AND AREA
MTS Environmental - Muskoka
705-783-0430
Mary Lake Retirement Residence
705-405-0284
Ultrafast Wireless 1-888-599-5557
Events listing
Oct. 24
The Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of
Commerce invites members and their
guests to a Business After Hours networking event from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at
the New Bickley Ford, co-hosted by Seven
Main Cafe and The Rotary Club of
Huntsville. To find out more, call 705-7894771 or send an email to [email protected].
Oct. 29
Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce members and their guests are invited to our
monthly Business After Hours Networking
Meeting. Our host this month is Muskoka
Pewter, 72 Manitoba St., Bracebridge.The
event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
This is an excellent opportunity to make
business connections. Don’t forget to bring
your business cards. The Bracebridge
Chamber facilitates 10 Business After
Hours events each year. To RSVP to the
event, call 705-645-5231, or send an email
to: [email protected].
Oct. 30
The Southeast Georgian Bay Chamber of
Commerce members, and their families
and guests, are invited to our Meet and
Greet at Jag's Travel Centre, 35 Lone Pine
Road, in Port Severn. This event is spon-
P romotional P roducts
Advertising Specialties
PENS • LABELS • DECALS
CALENDARS • GLASSWARE
(705) 765-5352
BRACEBRIDGE
Farm Business Consulting 705-725-8893
Travel Counsellors Ltd. 705-644-4548
Chuck McNair Electric 705-646-0900
Muskoka MediSpa Weight Loss 705-646-0999
Nipissing University Residence and
Conference Services 705-645-6999
MUSKOKA LAKES
Solid Concrete Construction 705-641-0130
Muskoka Board & Heritage Centre
705-687-2115
SOUTHEAST GEORGIAN BAY
Season’s Change Landscaping and
Contracting 705-330-1691
D&C Paving 705-549-2190
sored by The Beacon Food Emporium, and
it runs from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. This is
an excellent networking opportunity! To
RSVP to the event, call 705-756-4863, or
email [email protected].
Nov. 2
The Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of
Commerce is hosting the 30th annual President’s Ball at Deerhurst Resort. Tickets
are $100 per person, which includes cocktail party, gourmet dinner, silent auction
and dancing. Tickets can be purchased at
705-789-4771 or send an email to [email protected].
Nov. 13
The 20th annual Outstanding Business
Achievement Awards Luncheon is being
presented by the Bracebridge Chamber of
Commerce at The Rotary Centre for Youth
(131 Wellington St.) from noon to 2 p.m.
Join us as we celebrate excellence in our
business community. Contact 705-6455231, [email protected]
or visit: www.bracebridgechamber.com
/pdfs/Nomination_Ballot_distributed.pdf
Nov. 14
The November Business at Lunch Time
will take place at The Mill on Main located at 50 Main St. East in Huntsville. The
event will be co-hosted by Water’s Edge
Vacation Rentals. Come network with fellow chamber members. Light lunch and
Jacqui Semkow
Muskoka Mortgage
Specialist
Muskoka and Parry Sound
705-646-4238
Box 201 • Port Carling • ON P0B 1J0
Fax: 705-646-1810
Pager: 1-866-767-5446
Est. 1956
[email protected]
Small Business
Financing
•••••
Community Development
Grants
www.muskokafutures.ca
(705) 646-9511
1-800-414-6570
111 Manitoba Street
Bracebridge, P1L 2B6
Proudly sponsored by
refreshments will be served. Please RSVP
your attendance to the chamber by calling
705-789-4771 or sending an email to:
[email protected]
Nov. 20
The Port Sydney, Utterson and Area
Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Business After Hours event from 6 p.m. to 8
p.m. Check out the Chamber website at
www.portsydneycoc.com for more details
or call the office at 705-385-1117.
Nov. 26
Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce members and their guests are invited to our
monthly Business After Hours Networking
Meeting hosted by James Street Place, 148
James St., Bracebridge from 5:30 p.m. to
7:30 p.m. RSVP at 705-645-5231, or
[email protected], or
visit: www.bracebridgechamber.com
Dependable
service of office
equipment by
certified technicians
705-787-0517
www.nearnorthbusiness.com
Dec. 10
The Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce
61st Annual General Meeting takes place
at Riverwalk Upstairs (1 Manitoba St.)
from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Copies of the
2012/2013 financial statements will be
available at the meeting or, upon request, 2
weeks in advance of the meeting. We will
also be voting for the 2013-14 board of
directors and review the 2012 AGM minutes. RSVP at 705-645-5231, or email:
[email protected]
Muskoka’s Largest
Sleep Galleries
67 Silverwood Drive
Huntsville
705-789-5589
6 Robert Dollar Drive
Bracebridge
705-645-2279
16
November 2013
www.NorthCountryBusinessNews.com