Good Morning!

We invite you to read our 2015-16 Annual Report! This report is being circulated in preparation for our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, February 15th. 

Below you will see a mobile-responsive version of the report that can be viewed easily on any device.

If you would like to view a pdf version of this report for print, click here

We hope you can join us at our AGM on Wednesday evening. The meeting is taking place at The Village Inn in Lakefield from 5:30-6:30 pm. Networking and refreshments will begin at 5 pm. Click here to register for the AGM.
ANNUAL REPORT 2015-16
Proudly Serving Curve Lake, Douro-Dummer, North Kawartha, Selwyn and Trent Lakes
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Fellow Chamber Members,

Another year has flown by and February leads us to the Annual General Meeting for the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism and to the end of my term as President.

Partnerships in Growth & Adventure is what we are all about and I would like to take this time to thank our members, staff, Board Members and committees for their dedication and commitment to our Chamber. 
"Partnerships in Growth & Adventure is what we are all about"
A key activity we focused on this year was to review our 3 year strategic plan developed for 2013–2016. We reflected on our accomplishments within that period and our report card showed solid performance in many areas for which we can be very proud.

We also see there is opportunity to learn and grow from the broad range of feedback we received. In response to this we established new priorities to support the evolving needs of the membership for the next 3 years noting there is capacity within our leadership team at the board and staff level to move this plan forward.

I am confident that the experienced and talented individuals I leave behind will accomplish the task ahead. Partnerships have been deepened over the past year and we have collaborated with the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce on key policy issues that affect all businesses and these issues have been escalated to the Ontario Chamber on behalf of our members. In addition we work together with other area associations like the Buckhorn District Tourist Association and RT08 where a Board Member has been involved directly in each of these associations throughout the year. 
We have a solid membership base, and our events continue to be well attended. This speaks to a strong staff and a creative Marketing & Programs Committee who dedicate their efforts to provide value to our membership. Based on feedback from our surveys we will place further emphasis on professional development opportunities in 2017 and this is formally added to our strategic priorities.

Sponsorships also play a key role in our success and there are many local businesses that provide ongoing support and keep us strong. I extend my personal thanks to Gerry Herron of Blue Diamond Window Cleaning for being our Networking Event Sponsor for the past year and also for being a strong supporter of the Chamber and our work.

Our BAH events are still a clear winner as they create opportunity for networking face-to-face, and what could be better than that? Here you meet other members, business owners and can find out more about our community in general. These are a personal favourite for me and I thank all of those business owners who have hosted us throughout the year.

If you can’t attend these events you can still benefit from Chamber membership virtually. Our website redesign is working well for members, visitors and stakeholders with a more responsive and interactive site now up and running well. Analytics are in place and staff is well positioned to use this data to further benefit our members and the communities we serve.

In closing, I am proud to have served as your president for two terms and I am grateful for all of the energy and support that I have received from the Board, staff and committees during that time. Please consider becoming a volunteer or committee member to make us even stronger.

Sincerely,

Kris Keller,
President 
A MEMBERSHIP TO VALUE
Membership & Programs
  • Cindy Windover, Windover Plumbing, Chair
  • Emily Ferguson, Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region
  • Lynn Woodcroft, Sales Representative, Royal LePage Frank Real Estate
  • Tom LaBranche, Village Pet Food & Supply
  • Tracy Logan, Logan Tree Experts
13 Chamber Events & 600 Attendees
In 2016, the Chamber hosted various seminars in addition to our regular Business After Hours events. Two Digital Marketing Seminars, and a Succession Planning Seminar were held. These informative events provide added value to our membership. Our Strategic Plan Survey showed that our members are interested in more professional development initiatives, so watch for these opportunities in 2017.

A round table event was held as part of the Small Business Too Big To Ignore initiative where Chamber Members discussed barriers they face as small business owners.

The Chamber continued to support community events in 2016, with sponsorship and/or planning and implementation assistance. Local events make the communities we live in vibrant and unique.
Chamber Event Hosts
  • Kawartha Lakes Construction
  • Stony Lake Furniture Co.
  • The Village Inn
  • Beachwood Resort & Frederick's Restaurant
  • Selwyn Outreach Centre
  • Six Foot Bay
  • Griffin's Greenhouses
  • Jewel Just Fine Wines and Crosswind Farm
  • Burleigh Falls Inn
  • Elmhirst's Resort
Community Events Supported
  • PolarFest
  • All-Ways Apsley Motorcycle Rendezvous
  • Lakefield Fairy & Dragon Festival
  • Kawartha Outdoor Adventure Weekend
  • Canada Day in Lakefield
  • Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival
  • Lakefield Sidewalk Sale
  • Rock the Locks
  • Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour
  • Remembrance Day Services in Apsley, Buckhorn, Bridgenorth, Lakefield and Warsaw
  • Christmas in the Village
  • Holiday House Tour
2016-17 Networking Event Sponsor:
Chamber Events
17th Annual Awards of Excellence Gala
  • Cindy Windover, Chair, Windover Plumbing
  • Emily St. Pierre, Community Volunteer
  • Jennifer Rosborough, Rosborough Accounting
  • Rita O'Brien, RBC
  • Sue Swanky, Swanky Events
  • Tammy Underwood, Hendren Funeral Homes
  • Tom LaBranche, Village Pet Food & Supply
Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Award Sponsors
  • Ennismore Automotive
  • BDC
  • Darling Insurance
  • Nexicom
  • Peterborough Economic Development
  • Community Futures Peterborough
  • Eastview Property Management
  • County of Peterborough
  • RBC

Networking Sponsors:

  • Curve Lake First Nations
  • Township of Douro-Dummer
  • North Kawartha Township
  • Selwyn Township
  • Municipality of Trent Lakes
Wine Sponsors
  • R&J Machine
  • Savage Arms
  • Kawartha Country Wines
Photography
  • Hazlewood Images
Auctioneer
  • Keith Monk Auction Service
Table Decor
  • Swanky Events
Congratulations Award Recipients!

Citizen of the Year: Karl Moher 
Finalists not announced.

Young Professional: Adam Noble, Noblegen
Finalists not announced.

Commercial Development or Renovation: Blue Pigeon Resort
Finalists: Lakefield College School, Sunblockers

Customer Service Excellence: Clearview Cottage Resort
Finalists: Accurate Accounting & Tax Services, Griffin's Greenhouses Greenhouses, Logan Tree Experts, Sunblockers, the chocolate rabbit

Entrepreneur Innovation: Cottage Country Connection
Finalists: Hard Winter Bread Company, Indian River Reptile Zoo

Not-For-Profit Excellence: Camp Kawartha
Finalists: Apsley & District Lions Club, Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region, Lakefield Animal Welfare Society, Morton Community Healthcare Centre

Retailer of the Year: Sunblockers
Celtic Connection, Classy Chassis & Cycles, Discovery Dream Homes, Lakefield Pantry

Tourism/Hospitality: Elmhirst’s Resort
Beachwood Resort & Frederick's Restaurant, Clearview Cottage Resort, Stoney Lake Market & Grill
Welcome New Members (December 2015-November 2016)
39 New Members!
  • Air Bounce Adventures and Party Rentals
  • Aplsey Backroads
  • Apsley Home Hardware & Building Centre
  • Balsam Waterfront Estates
  • Braaap Shack Powersports
  • Buckhorn Canoe Company
  • Bulldog Construction
  • C.I.B.C.
  • Camp Fisherman Resort
  • Canadian Cottage Complete Property Care
  • Classy Chassis & Cycles
  • Craig Electrical & Plumbing Inc.
  • Elmhirst's Resort
  • Emmatt Digital Solutions Inc.
  • First Call Property & Equipment Services
  • Hazlewood Images
  • Hopper Stone Mason
  • Jack's Lake Lodge Cottage Rentals
  • kawarthaNOW.com
  • Kim Letto, Sales Representative, Century 21


  • Lakefield Herald
  • Lakeflower Family Dental
  • Lakeshore Designs
  • MAX Communication
  • New Wolf Industries
  • Peterborough Native Learning Program
  • Reiki at the Lake
  • Shoreline Furniture Co.
  • Stonehouse Holistics
  • STREXER
  • Style Your Nest
  • Sunspace of Lakefield
  • Telesave Telecom Ltd.
  • The Bee's Knees Encaustics
  • The Cozy Home
  • TresBello
  • Wee Butt 'N' Ben
  • Woodview General Store
  • Workforce Development Board

Public Policy

LOCAL

LDSS Closure
After much dedicated work in the previous year, the LDISS School Closure came to a disappointing conclusion in 2016. On March 29th, the Kawartha Pine Ridge Board of Trustees passed a motion to close Lakefield District Secondary School. LDSS consolidated with Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School at the TAS site in September 2016.

Over 5600 hours were collectively contributed to the cause.

A group of concerned citizens, including Chamber staff, Directors and members came together to form
the "LDISS is Open!" Committee. In nine months they contributed over 5600 hours collectively to the cause. Thank you to all Chamber members who participated in some manner.
Small Business Too Big To Ignore
The Kawartha Chamber and the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, launched Small Business Too Big To Ignore. This campaign highlighted the important contributions of small businesses to our communities and investigated the top barriers to small business growth. 

A round table discussion was held where Chamber members spoke to the barriers they face as small business owners. A survey was also circulated. Results were compiled and taken to the Ontario Government, by the OCC.
PROVINCIAL

Ontario Chamber of Commerce - Represents Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade in over 135
communities across Ontario. Supporting economic growth in Ontario by defending business priorities at Queen’s Park on behalf of 60,000 diverse members.

In partnership with the OCC, the Kawartha Chamber released the following reports in 2016:
  • Emerging Stronger 2016
  • Small Business Too Big To Ignore
  • Push Broadband Strategy into High Speed
  • Keep Ontario Working
  • Closing the Tourism Gap
FEDERAL

Canadian Chamber of Commerce - Over 450 Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade, representing 200,000 businesses of all sizes, sectors and regions, making the CCC the primary and vital connection between business and the federal government.

The Kawartha Chamber circulates the CCC's bi-weekly publication, 5 Minutes for Business, and various surveys with membership keeping them informed on federal issues.
A DESTINATION WITH APPEAL

Marketing

  • Tonya Kraan, STREXER, Chair
  • Chris Wilson, Let's Get Digital
  • Eva Fisher, kawarthaNOW.com
  • Jhane Brasier, MAX Communication
  • Karen Copson, Camp Kawartha
  • Michael Gatschene, BDC
  • Michelle O'Neill, MAX Communication
Over 10,000 Unique Visitors (July-November)
By joining the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, you get members-only perks including exclusive advertising and online promotion giving you a whole lot of exposure for yourself and your business or organization.

There are many reasons for joining a Chamber, we suspect that the majority of you are members to increase your credibility and visibility – especially online. That is why in 2016, we focused almost all of our attention on a brand new MOBILE RESPONSIVE WEBSITE.

It was quite an undertaking for Chamber staff who ensured we stayed on time and budget. The Committee established a number of priorities for what the new website should include and achieved each and every one of them. In addition to being mobile-responsive, the main focus of the new site was to appeal to the customers and clients of our members.

We’ve enhanced our ability to report on website visitors. Since the launch in late June, we have had over 10,000 unique visitors - a lot of potential customers and clients for our members!

A high percentage of website visitors are from outside of our service area - tourists, day trippers, or seasonal residents looking for information on businesses and events in our area. 

WEBSITE CONTEST - To celebrate the launch of the new site, the Chamber held a scavenger-hunt style contest with a grand prize of a $1000 Chamber gift certificate! Peter Gallow was the contest winner and chose Lakeshore Designs for his $1000 prize.
SOCIAL - If you haven’t seen our SOCIAL page, you have to check it out: www.kawarthachamber.ca/social. It pulls photos and content from our Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Over 2,300 Social Media Followers
Our committee has adopted a new Communication Strategy for 2017. Marketing continues to evolve and change, providing exciting new opportunities to deliver member value.

These are a few of the priorities the Marketing Committee will focus on in 2017:

GUEST BLOGGING - We’ve decided to add even more online exposure to Standard and Select members by giving “Guest Blogger” status to those who want to write content that would appeal to a wide audience. Watch for details on this opportunity or if you are a Standard or Select member and interested in Guest Blogging, contact Chamber staff.

NEWSLETTER - Our newsletter subscribers are mostly businesses. We currently have almost 700 subscribers. The marketing committee will explore the possibility of creating a newsletter to appeal to permanent residents/summer residents/day trippers/tourists.

WEALTH OF CHOICE BROCHURE - This is by far, the most requested item at the Chamber office and by many of our retail/tourism members. We’re refreshing the map that was printed two years ago. It will be ready in the spring – call the office to request copies.

SERVICE-BASED BUSINESS PROMOTION - While a high percentage of our member businesses have a direct or indirect connection to tourism we also have a sizable number of service-based businesses with minimal or no connection to area visitors. The Marketing Committee will explore opportunities to promote non-tourism members beyond our website.

From building & launching a brand new website, to adopting a 2017 communications strategy, the staff and volunteer support over the past year has been incredible. Without the Committee members, we would not be able to fulfill our mission: “to strengthen business, regional recognition and pride of place, by serving our members and communities”.

On behalf of all Chamber members who are benefiting from the increased visibility & credibility as a result of being a member, this is a special thank you to all committee members. The Chair is grateful for your contributions.
AN ORGANIZATION WITH CAPACITY

Human Resources

  • Lorri Rork, Community Care, Chair
  • Roberta Herod, Herod Financial Services
  • Tonya Kraan, STREXER
  • Kathy Newton, Past Chair
Human resources, infrastructure, and physical resources are in place to support a successful, growing organization.

2016 Achievements
  • Completed Committee Terms of Reference
  • Updated General Manager Position Description
  • Updated Board Member Position Descriptions: President, Past President, Committee Chair and Committee Member
  • Reviewed staff salary rate and developed staff recognition program

2017 Goals

  • Update Employee & Volunteer Handbooks
  • Review HR Policies & Procedures
  • Update Compensation Structure
  • Develop Process to Manage Workplace Conflicts
  • Develop Volunteer Management Strategy & Lead (To include recruitment, orientation, and involvement.)

Staff Update
  • Jasmine Sager returned from Maternity Leave to resume her role as Membership Coordinator.
  • Erica Milne moved to the role of Events Coordinator. In addition to this position, Erica joined the ServiceOntario office.
  • During the summer months, the Chamber welcomed two students, Rebecca Hubble and Tom Robertson, to provide information to tourists, help with Community Events, and assist with social media and various tasks in the Chamber Business Office.

2016-17 Board of Directors

President: Kris Keller, RBC
First Vice President: Cindy Windover, Windover Plumbing
Second Vice President: Tonya Kraan, STREXER
Treasurer: Kevan Herod, Herod Financial Services
Directors at Large:
Brian Harrington, Clearview Cottage Resort
Bryan Kingdon, ISL Insurance
Chris Wilson, Let's Get Digital
Diane Caldwell, Young's Point Personal Training Services
Garry Douglas, Kawartha Lakes Construction, North Kawartha Design
John Penny, JC Penny Accounting & Tax Services
Kathy Newton, Eastview Property Management
Tom LaBranche, Village Pet Food & Supply
Tom Podd, Ennismore Automotive Repair
Tracy Logan, Logan Tree Experts

Staff

General Manager: Sherry Boyce Found
generalmanager@kawarthachamber.ca
Membership Coordinator: Jasmine Sager
membership@kawarthachamber.ca
Engagement Coordinator: Stacey Sullivan
info@kawarthachamber.ca
Events Coordinator: Erica Milne
events@kawarthachamber.ca
ServiceOntario Supervisor: Deb Lowcock
serviceontario@kawarthachamber.ca
ServiceOntario Assistant Supervisor: Krista Laidley
ServiceOntario Clerks: Carla Hunt, Deb Yandt, Erica Milne, Jenn Kidd

Business Office
12 Queen Street, P.O. Box 537
Lakefield, ON  K0L 2H0
Phone: 705-652-6963
Fax: 705-652-9140

ServiceOntario Office
133 Water Street
Lakefield, ON  K0L 2H0
Phone: 705-652-3141
Fax: 705-652-0134