Celebrating Small Business Week October 20-26 | |
Economic Development eNews | October 15, 2024 | |
Dave Brown Honoured with 2024 Warden's Award | |
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ELGIN - Dave Brown humbly accepts the Bill Thake Memorial Economic Development Leadership Award.
Dave has been an influential figure in Leeds Grenville, contributing to economic development and heritage preservation for over forty years. A passionate advocate for community building, he has played a pivotal role in revitalizing Chaffeys Lock, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. His work includes preserving the village's heritage through initiatives such as leading the fundraising effort to save the Chaffeys Lock Community Hall, raising $70,000 to restore the building. This space has become a hub for events and festivals, which are vital to the village’s economic and social vitality. In promotion of the area, he administers the Chaffeys Locks Rocks! Facebook group.
His depth of knowledge regarding the region has grown out of love for its rich history; his long-time experience with the Chaffeys Lock and Area Heritage Society has widened his appreciation. “It’s about the committees and the volunteers,” he added, giving recognition to those who had helped him along the way. “It’s not about needing a pat on the back, it’s about knowing you are working towards a better community,” he said, humbly.
Dave has a history of seeking answers to problems and creating effective solutions. Opportunity abounds in his mind as this early adopter of new tech navigates the way forward. In addition to his community work, Dave has dedicated his efforts to youth skills development, particularly in the marine industry. He introduced a marine technician component in the Transportation Technology program while teaching at Rideau District High School, as well as teaching a night course at St Lawrence College titled "Introduction to Marine Technician Fundamentals" He has further contributed to setting curriculum and training standards for boat motor mechanics through his work with the Ontario College of Trades (now called Skilled Trades Ontario). His expertise in the boating industry earned him the 2023 "Gord Blake Visionary Award" from Boating Ontario, recognizing his innovative leadership.
His business Brown's Marina, lies in the Heart of the Rideau Canal Waterways, a community hub that offers essential visitor amenities and services that sustain the village’s tourist economy. It includes a general store and is authorized Evinrude, Mercury, and Princecraft dealership that sells new and pre-owned watercraft including deck boats, pontoons, and outboards. Services include financing, parts and service, dockage, storage and rentals. Friendly and knowledgeable staff ensure an outstanding experience from first inquiry through customization and maintenance. The Marina values opportunities to build long-term relationships and does so by providing the best customer service.
When asked about his advice to small business, Dave afforded, "Networking is one of the most effective tools in growing business awareness." With the amount of networking he has done and through the many groups he has touched, the decisions he has made along the way have always involved financial spinoff components for either business or the community. "Everything in business should be about economic development." he added.
Small business is innately close to Dave’s heart. He trusts his decisions and can foresee trends and avoid downturns, as he does by visiting annual boat shows. "It's key to survival, as they say, ’a rising tide lifts all boats’; making the industry better as a whole makes us all better.”
Dave’s contributions to tourism, education, and heritage preservation have made a lasting impact on the economic health and cultural richness of Chaffeys Lock and the surrounding region.
The Township of Rideau Lakes Council supported the award nomination, “The personal volunteer efforts of Dave Brown over four decades has provided a positive economic impact to the Township of Rideau Lakes, and we are pleased to have him recognized at the regional level for these efforts,” says Mayor Arie Hoogenboom.
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Photos: top, Dave Brown in his favourite section - the merchandise area of the General Store; right, top: arriving at the General Store just inside the village, open 7 days a week; one of the marina's 15 boat slips; Chaffey's Locks Community Hall ready to host and event; a new Pinecraft pontoon boat awaiting it's new home; the ever-familiar Brown's Marina boathouse at beautiful Chaffey's Lock. | |
Photo: Joined by Evonik Maitland staff are Site Manager Greg LeBlanc, President of Evonik Canada Douglas Woods, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands & Rideau Lakes Steve Clark and Township of Augusta Mayor Jeff Shaver. | Evonik Invests $8.9M in Maitland Site with Support from Province | |
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MAITLAND - The Ontario government is supporting an investment of more than $8.9 million by Evonik Canada Inc. to boost local manufacturing and create five new jobs, while retaining 29 other good-paying jobs in Augusta Township. The company’s investment was announced at Evonik’s Maitland facility on Thursday by Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes and Douglas Woods, President of Evonik Canada.
“Our government is creating the conditions for a stronger, growing economy by supporting key investments,” said MPP Clark. “Evonik Canada’s investment provides a significant boost to our local manufacturing sector, as we continue to create good-paying jobs for workers and families.” Evonik Canada’s investment will allow expansion to the site to manufacture new grades of hydrogen peroxide.
“Our government is proud to support local manufacturers across the province as they grow and expand their operations,” said the Honourable Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “We thank Evonik Canada for their investment and for contributing to our province’s dynamic, growing manufacturing sector.” In support of Evonik Canada’s investment, the Government of Ontario is providing Evonik Canada with $1,249,853 in funding through the Eastern Ontario Development Fund for their project.
“Evonik is very appreciative of the Ontario government’s support of our efforts at the Maitland
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site,” said Douglas Woods, President of Evonik Canada. “This investment will springboard additional growth for the company and the region,” Site Manager Greg LeBlanc said, "This site is poised for growth; it's a pivotal moment." He explained that the project is a response to the increasing demand for higher-quality hydrogen peroxide products from specialty and electronics industries. He expressed confidence in the high-caliber product output from the Maitland facility, attributing it to the skill level of Evonik employees. The corporate goal, he added, is to achieve a zero-carbon footprint, and the site's team is committed to delivering pure products with minimal impact.
“The manufacturing sector is critical to our regional economy. The investment by Evonik and the Province demonstrates future growth opportunities in Maitland and the region while sustaining our strong workforce and its well-paying jobs,” said Nancy Peckford, Warden, United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.
“It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome this capital investment by Evonik Canada and the Government of Ontario,” said Jeff Shaver, Mayor, Augusta Township. “Investing in local manufacturing and jobs leads to new residents coming to our township and area communities. Augusta prides itself on having an ‘easy-to-do-business approach’ and applauds Evonik as a great corporate partner in the township.”
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Economic Development Summit | |
Join us for a day focused on Economic Development and Leadership and the presentation of the Bill Thake Award (Warden's Award). The Honourable Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Electrification will give the keynote address at the Summit. | Learn more and register your seat by visiting the Counties Summit webpage. | |
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WHEN: Friday, November 22, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
WHERE: North Grenville Municipal Centre, Kemptville
COST: $55 (Advanced Registration Required)
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Leeds Grenville to Receive $2.1M to Train Skilled Workers at Local Businesses | |
Brockville's Casual Living has found a new home. Owners Ann and James Bak along with son Michael have opened a beautiful new store on the waterfront at 6 Broad Street. Find the perfect piece for your home whether it's dining, bedroom, outdoor patio, office, rugs, lighting & home accessories. They also carry gourmet food products. Hours of operation are Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from noon-4 p.m. Reach them at 613-345-5270.
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National Recognition for Economic Development Video | | |
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The Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC), has named Rideau Lakes as winner of the Video Marketing Award. As part of their investment attraction campaign, the Rideau Lakes Economic Development Committee listened to the business community to gain insight and ideas about what makes it a great place to operate in. “The Rideau Lakes Advantage” video showcases the Township’s stunning outdoor spaces and dynamic businesspeople. It reveals a powerful message that work-life balance is a reality in Rideau Lakes. | |
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Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (RAISE)
RAISE is a grant program that provides access to business development training, culturally responsive and tailored business coaching, networking opportunities, and a grant of $10,000 for Black, Indigenous and other racialized entrepreneurs.
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Indigenous Economic Development Fund (IEDF)
IEDF provides grants and financing to Indigenous entrepreneurs, businesses, communities and organizations. The fund helps promote economic development and improve employment opportunities for Indigenous people.
It provides three funding streams, two of which are currently accepting applications:
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Indigenous Community Capital Grants Program
The Indigenous Community Capital Grants Program (ICCGP) funds the development of community capital projects that contribute to a sustainable social base and support economic participation in Indigenous communities, both on and off reserve.
The program has funding for three project stages in the capital project process:
- Feasibility study completion
- Design completion
- Construction/renovation
For further information, email IndigenousEconomicDevelopmentFund@Ontario.ca
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Deadline November 14 at 5 p.m. | |
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When: November 5, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Where: MERC Hall, 120 E. McLean, Maitland ON
Cost: Free
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Diversity Day 2024
St. Lawrence-Rideau Immigration Partnership Diversity Day is just around the corner. This year's focus is Putting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Into Practice. This free event features five amazing local speakers giving information, insights and ideas on how to improve equity, diversity, and inclusion on personal and organizational levels. Included is a networking lunch, and Q&A with speakers. For more
information email lauren@eecentre.com. Space is limited so register today!
| Speakers l-r: Siggy Leslie-Casselman, Manny Dizwani, Hillary Geneau, Nancy Cassie and Nicole Croteau | |
Workshops, Seminars and Webinar Library | |
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Payroll 101
Learn about Ontario based payroll legislation, compliance, and best practices. Obtain guidance through payroll processes, including:
Onboarding Staff
- Tax forms, self-employment, location
Getting Payroll Set-up
- Pay periods, deductions, vacation/holiday pay, and overtime, wages, pay stubs, and T4 slips
WSIB and EHT
Host: Small Business Advisory Centre
Presenter: Kristine Gray, Brightly Bookkeeping Inc.
When: October 28, 9:30-11 a.m.
Where: Online
Cost: Free
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Introduction to Sustainable & Regenerative Tourism
Learn how your business, and the planet, can benefit from assessing your business’ sustainability performance. Improve your knowledge on sustainability and build an understanding of common terms, definitions; hear about industry trends and global market demand; Learn about best practices for sharing your sustainability story; leverage low or no-cost sustainability initiatives to drive revenue, provide cost savings, and attract and retain talent.
Host: Regional Tourism Organization 9
Presenter: GreenStep
When: October 29, 1-2:30 p.m.
Where: Online
Cost: Free
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Integrating AI Into Your Business
Learn about the software and platforms available to use in your business and how these interfaces can be harnessed to assist you in automating some aspects of your daily operations - relieving yourself of manual, mundane tasks so that you can focus more on your business. Hear how AI can assist with content/idea creation for websites or social media captions, craft strong prompts for platforms like ChatGPT and to optimize your workflow and automate some processes for your business.
Host: Regional Tourism Organization 9
Presenter: Cristian Urroz
When: October 30, 10-11 a.m.
Where: Online
Cost: Free
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Mastering Ecommerce with Mailchimp
Effective marketing is essential for driving sales, fostering customer loyalty, and building a thriving online business. Mailchimp offers a comprehensive suite of tools specifically designed to help ecommerce businesses attract, engage, and retain customers. This webinar is crafted to empower participants with the knowledge and skills needed to leverage Mailchimp's ecommerce features to their fullest potential.
Host: Regional Tourism Organization 9
Presenter: Jennifer Baker Consulting
When: November 7, 10-11 a.m.
Where: Online
Cost: Free
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Cultivating Local Workshop Series
OFA’s Seizing Opportunities to Grow Ontario’s Local Agri-Products Sector project will host nine online workshops to provide key experts and resources for producers and prospective producers to learn more about the opportunities to sell in-demand products direct to consumer in Ontario.
Host: Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Where: Online
Cost: Free
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Leeds Grenville eNews deadlines for submitting information:
If you have an upcoming workshop, seminar, or business-related event, please email it to us in advance.
- Submissions for the October 29th edition should be received by October 21st.
- Submissions for the November 12th edition should be received by November 4th.
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United Counties of Leeds Grenville Economic Development Office | | | | |
