Lost Aviator Coffee is full of beans. The best kind though. They feature some fantastic high quality, certified Fair Trade Organic coffee. They import their beans from Fair Trade and Organic Certified farms which are low density and grown under native plants, including local food producing crops.
The Chambers Plan is the simple, stable, smart choice for business; combining accessibility, flexibility and the stability of pooled benefits. Firms choose the Chambers Plan year after year because it offers unsurpassed value and customer service. The Chambers Plan – it’s for your benefit.
charities, and not-for-profits; find fun familyfriendly winter activities to enjoy; learn how you can make a difference in someone’s life this holiday season; and indulge in our ultra-local gift guides for all of the loved ones in your life, featuring our top holiday picks from Chamber members.
As we head into the holiday season, I hope you can find some time to relax and unwind after another turbulent year. As I start my holiday shopping, I’m pleased to be finding so many amazing gifts from local shops, retailers, and service providers in our community.
While scrolling few the next pages of our magazine, hopefully with a warm (and maybe even boozy) drink in your hand, be prepared to be inspired by the stories of local businesses,
There is so much to take advantage of this holiday season in our community, and I hope you choose to shop and support local whenever you can.
From the Guelph Chamber to you, happy holidays.
- Shakiba Shayani
President & CEO, Guelph Chamber of Commerce
Click to find out more or to register for any of these events.
Holiday Open House
Network, mingle and jingle at the Guelph Chamber’s Holiday Open House.
January 25 Business After 5 Network with business professionals and get to know hosts: Original Home Furniture
Our annual Mayor’s address where he outlines the year ahead.
HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON, happy holidays.
We’ve found our wingmen for a good cup of coffee! Grab your passports and meet the sustainably-minded pilots behind the brand.
Connecting families in need of support, with generous donors in our community. It’s what the holiday season is all about. Find out how you can help.
From Curated to Corporate tours, Taste Detours offer a deliciously captivating way to story-tell about our region.
Shop local this season! Explore our holiday picks from some of your favourite Guelph
Read Cookie’s story; one of many happily-ever-after tales/tails from the Guelph Humane Society.
PIN’s Snow Angels program is a great way to get involved and make someone’s day brighter. Find out more about this amazing local initiative.
At the Chamber, we appreciate two things. Good coffee, and good company. Having the opportunity to meet with co-founders of Lost Aviator Coffee Company, Adam Wright and Steve Zago, and tour the newly opened coffee bar and roastery filled our cup.
When the pair of longtime friends and career airline pilots hit some industry turbulence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they imagined – and successfully started - an ethically sourced and sustainably farmed coffee company.
Starting small in the basement of With the Grain Bakery and transforming their business to a full online shop and brick-andmortar experience in the ward, Lost Aviator Coffee is on a mission to provide good quality coffee roasted in-house while lowering their carbon footprint, and of course, paying homage to their roots: aviation.
Walking into Lost Aviator Coffee, not only are you greeted by the enticing aromatics of coffee beans being roasted in-house, but the unique aviation theme is recognizable, even for the nonaviation buff. Branding is an essential component to the business Adam and Steve have built, with their branding inspiration
stemming from aviation history, specifically from the 1930s to 1950s. With real aircraft aluminum cladding the face of the coffee bar, to the vintage pilot equipment, and photographs of unique airplanes, Lost Aviator Coffee takes you on a journey. Their logo, featuring the iconic DC-3 plane, which tops the list of Adam and Steve’s favourite planes, represents the nostalgia of aviation during this time. Their coffees are named after popular aviation lingo (Mile High, Red Eye to Rome) and key aviation navigation methods (North Star).
It’s clear that Adam and Steve don’t only love being pilots, but also love serving our community with good quality, sustainable coffee. With coffee beans sourced from Peru, Ethiopia, and Brazil, Lost Aviator Coffee is obsessed with quality. Using an in-house fluid bed roaster, one of the cleanest ways environmentally to roast beans, the raw coffee beans levitate on a bed of hot air to roast. With less than five percent of coffee roasters using this method, it’s a mix of both art and science. The dried skin surrounding the coffee beans that falls off when exposed to the high temperatures of the roaster, material called the chaff, is donated to a local neighbourhood garden for reuse. Naturally high in nitrogen and great for soil, composting, and growing food, Lost Aviator Coffee is happy to contribute to the local circular economy.
Whether you’re looking to stop into a local coffee shop for a warm pick-me-up during this chilly season, wanting to support local and buy ethically sourced coffee, or simply learn something new about aviation, be sure to check out Lost Aviator Coffee. Their Google reviews speak for themselves – the staff are friendly and welcoming, and the coffee is great (our favourite is the Constellation, medium roast coffee).
They take you soaring through the sky, and take you soaring through the clouds with their delicious coffee. q
There’s no doubt that the pandemic has affected more than we could have ever imagined. With multiple lockdowns, job insecurity, economic instability, supply chain issues, and inflation – more families are in need now than ever before. Local charities and not-for-profits have seen a higher demand for their services lately, and the demand is projected to continue to grow.
I sat down with Emma Rogers, CEO of the Children’s Foundation of Guelph & Wellington to chat about their upcoming holiday programming, and she presented some staggering numbers. In 2019, pre-pandemic, 1 in 5 children were food insecure. Flashforward to today, 1 in 3 children are food insecure. She also shared that demand for mental health support has increased by over 146%. The ripple effects of this crisis are apparent and local not-forprofits and charities are kicking it into high gear
to ensure the community can be supported.
At the Children’s Foundation’s core, they bring the community together through their programming and events to build brighter futures to allow every child and youth the opportunity to participate, learn, grow, and reach their full potential.
The concept of the Adopt-A-Family is simple, but the impact is monumental. Open to families of all backgrounds and traditions, the Adopt-A-Family program connects families who need support during the holiday season with donors who give joy and hope by shopping for wish gifts and gift cards for their individual family’s needs. “Bringing joy and wonderment to children is essential to being a child” says Emma, when speaking about the importance of the program. “It’s about inclusivity and creating equity for children. Whether that means being able to have a coat and boots like your peers for the winter season,
or simply having a toy or game to play with other children, we want to help create positive experiences for families and children in need.”
While discussing the impact of the program, Emma tells me about the time they supported a family where the mother was just diagnosed with a terminal illness. The day after the family celebrated Christmas, she passed away. Had it not been for the program, the three children and their father wouldn’t have been able to experience their last Christmas with their mom just the day before. This is just one of many impactful stories that has come from the Adopt-AFamily program.
With more families in need every year, the Children’s Foundation couldn’t successfully run this program without the generous support of the donors in our community. With individuals, workplaces, families, and friend groups coming together to sponsor families, every family that has applied to the program has been matched in Emma’s time at the organization. Donors express the experience as being a beautiful, feel-good moment that helps provide a magical holiday experience. When donors get thank yous from the families, it’s clear that the small act of kindness is life-changing for the families. Plus, with donors often looking to supporting and shopping local first, this program also fuels the local economy.
Interested in adopting a family this year? Click here to learn more.
Can’t adopt a family but want to support the program? Click here to learn more about donating a toy or gift card. q
CONNECT @childrensfdngw www.childrensfoundation.org
Not even a pandemic can slow Lynn Broughton of Taste Detours down.
When the pandemic changed tourism *everywhere*, Lynn looked to pivot her business. We were all told we needed to pivot to survive in any business during the pandemic. But Lynn did so, again, and again.
Taste Detours is now in its seventh year, so at the time of the pandemic, it was a well-established food tourism business offering food and drink tours with a heritage twist. The tours can take you all over Guelph and Wellington County, featuring independent restaurants and food and drink makers. While you eat and drink the best of Guelph and Wellington County, Lynn shares stories of our regional heritage. Having been on some tours myself, I can attest that it’s always deliciously captivating.
But when the pandemic hit the culinary and tourism industry hard and fast in 2020, Lynn had to think quickly. “I was shut right down completely, and so were my food friends and partners. So, the cookbook was my immediate instinct.” Lynn collaborated with local artist Jenna Kessler to create a virtual cookbook titled Tastes from Isolation. It’s a wonderful way for food lovers to make some of their favourite dishes from some of their favourite local restaurants, food businesses, and farmers in while staying home safely during the coronavirus pandemic.
It was such a success that this online cookbook was requested in print over and over again. And of course, being the local champion that Lynn is, she committed to donating $5 from each copy to The Seed, a local non-profit that supports food sustainability and food security in Guelph. Lynn was proud to hand them a cheque for $1,500 from the cookbook sales.
And that was only the first
pivot. Lynn also cleverly revised her tours from taking patrons to different spaces, to - collecting and curating the tour into a picnic basket. From this, Carefully Curated Picnics was born. Keeping things hyper-local, Lynn made tablecloths from Maria Pezzano fabrics and everything within the basket was sustainable- either recyclable or washable, and always local.
Then of course, the tourism industry-changed again. By the summer of 2022, more people wanted to travel. People weren’t staycationing and picnicking anymore, and they wanted to go all the places they haven’t been for the last two years. “Local tourism was quite low. I think people went to line up at Pearson”, Lynn joked.
Lynn’s tour requests (yes, she takes requests!) are still changing to this date. She’s now seeing less strangers in a group, and more requests for both corporate and private tours. It makes sense, as we’ve all grown accustomed to the comfort of our chosen ‘pods’ during the pandemic.
Restaurants and food purveyors of all kinds and cultures love to partner with Lynn on these Tours. She’s one of their best customers because she tells them exactly when she’s arriving with her tour group, what they need to eat, and when she’s leaving, making it as easy as possible for a still recovering industry.
Even though Lynn offers tours all over Guelph and Wellington County, she continues to highlight the best tastes of Southwestern Ontario. A natural story-teller, Lynn weaves in local lore alongside
We are well seasoned Canadians, so we offer tours year-round!Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - HOLIDAY issue
architectural and cultural highlights. It’s no wonder that Taste Detours maintains itself as top-shelf tourism that locals enjoy just as much as out-of-towners.
When asked about food tourism in Guelph, Lynn says “the very idea of this town, this planned town was built on the idea of food. We had a market from the start, and we’re surrounded by agriculture. It was John Galt’s idea to make this an agricultural hub and it was planned as such. Our farmer’s market is as old as our town.” This is something to be celebrated. “The Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance calls Guelph the Taste of Place. So, you really get a sense of the people and where the people like to go, what they like to eat, and what they’re making. You get a sense of that place. Food tourism is a beautiful vehicle to show off a town.”
There is something a little magical about eating together, mixed with storytelling. It’s as if somehow, you’re able to make a deeper connection with not only the people around the table, but also, with the food, and the town or city. We’ve all heard the expression Neurons that fire together, wire together; but perhaps also: People that share together, care together. It’s a unifying experience.
Taste Detours is a wonderful option for your corporate holiday party, staff retreat, or even a client appreciation tour. A great way to unwind from a conference or convention, while still connecting with your team. These year-round tours are a unique opportunity to connect with others through storytelling and food.q
Taste Detours maintains itself as top-shelf tourism that locals enjoy just as much as out-of-towners.
Whether you need your holiday catered for one or twenty-one, these top-shelf caterers offer it all. With so many things on your to-do list, catering your next party may be the best option to fully enjoy your holiday season.
Photo credit: Fergie’s Fine Foods, Bingemans
Fergies Fine Foods offers both in-house baking and delicious dinners and are a great alternative to cooking for one, or more than one. They provide catering to both small and large groups with a variety of options.
Bingemans has the ability to create small intimate events at our customer’s homes, all the way to largescale events anywhere throughout Ontario and beyond. Their event and culinary teams help you create, plan and execute your next event or activation.
Platters Catering & Events has exceptional experience with top-notch holiday catering services, and we will do everything possible to make your next social event with family, friends or colleagues the most enjoyable one yet.
Choose from one of Victoria Park East’s popular Banquet dinner or luncheon selections: featured dinner and luncheon entrées; pasta courses and cold-plate choices; hors d’oeuvres and finger food packages; and more!
Show your clients how much you appreciate their time, skills and referrals with a customized gift. Whether its a gift basket of goodies, a flower subscription or tickets, Guelph has got your client gifts covered.
Something sparkly for her ears, and something bubbly (like a six-pack of beers). Tailored shirts, spa treatments and home decor- could you ask for anything more? Chances are, you’ll find it in Guelph.
the season to stuff your stockings full of the best of Guelph. Do you have a coffee lover, bath bomber, artist and reader in your life? A budding artist or a cocktail maker. Or give the gift of local support with Downtown Dollars.
Watch how Dixon’s Trickle Down
Maple Whisky, does double the entertaining for you- serving it both hot and cold - this holiday season.
q In a shaker add 1.5 oz Trickle Down Maple Whisky, 2 oz hot chocolate, and pinch of cinnamon (or for an extra kick, 1 tbsp of Dixon’s Cinnamon Liqueur) – shake well
q Add whipcream
q Garnish with cinnamon sticks
DIXON’S DISTILLED SPIRITS TRICKLE DOWN MAPLE WHISKY
q In a shaker add 1.5 oz Trickle Down Maple Whisky, 1 oz lemon juice, 1 tbsp Dixon’s Whisky Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup and pinch of cinnamon (or for an extra kick, 1 tbsp of Dixon’s Cinnamon Liqueur) – shake well
q Add ice to a lowball glass, pour in shaker contents
q Garnish with orange peel
Looking for things to do in Guelph in winter?
Here’s our ice-bucket list to the season’s best events, activities and entertainment.
Skate FREE and under the stars! A great way to connect with friends and family downtown. Helmets are recommended and parental supervision is required for the young skaters. There is no skate rental available.
Open daily 10 PM - 10 PM (weather permitting)
Located at the Farmers’ Market, this market is full of both regular and holiday vendors. Open every Thursday night in December until Christmas, expect to holiday shop-till-you-drop.
Dec 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd from 3 PM - 8 PM
Featuring lights and live music, attendees at this year’s tree lighting ceremony are asked consider supporting United Way while at the event.
Saturday December 3rd, Market Square, Guelph City Hall, 1 Carden Street
Music at 5:45 PM and tree lighting at 6:15 PM
2.6-km loop trail generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of one hour to complete. This trail is great for birding and hiking, and lovely to visit in the winter. Self-guided and open at all times.
Watch the trees in Riverside Park light up each evening until New Year’s Eve (finishing with fireworks on December 31st). Drive or walk through this winter wonderland. No admission required but the Rotary Club of Guelph appreciates donations.
Nightly from December 17th - December 31st 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM Taste Detours Taste Detours are food and drink tours with a heritage twist. These flavourful tours will introduce you to Guelph’s local, independent food people and places. All while highlighting history, architecture, and culture — step bite step. Connect to book your Taste Detour today!
However, if Cookie were to survive the first few days after surgery, then her chances at life would increase significantly. The team at Guelph Humane Society was hoping for her to make a full recovery, and thankfully, she did.
Cookie is one of GHS’s many success stories. For years the GHS has been providing animal sheltering, surrender, and adoption services, veterinary care, pet identification, a progressive spay/neuter program, and lost pet returns. They also provide care and assistance with sick, orphaned, and injured wildlife.
After a few days of rest and recovery, Cookie was discharged to the shelter where the staff fell in love with her right away. Cookie is a bright dog that is easily excitable with lots of energy (not unlike many puppies), so she needed the right type of owner to take her on as a forever family member.
While at the shelter, Cookie’s profile was posted on both GHS’s adoption web page and Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine
Instagram. Within just two days of being on the website she was put on hold and was officially adopted by March.
The Guelph Humane Society tries to have very transparent, open conversations during the process of adoption, discussing topics like animal personalities and whether they think it would be a good fit for the animal and the family. The first step in the adoption process is a phone meeting with the adoption coordinator. “We will ask things like if there are children or other pets in the home. If there are other pets in the home (for example mixing dogs), we would require a meet n’ greet, to make sure it’s a good fit for the animals.”
When Cookie’s current owners, Lindsay and her partner, saw Cookie on the GHS’s Instagram page, they applied immediately to adopt her. Having a Bernese Mountain Dog growing up, Lindsay already had experience and knowledge of the breed. “It’s a lovable breed. They never really learn how big they are,” Lindsay says affectionately. Once she had received an email back, she went through the interview process and an outdoor meet n greet’ to shake paws and get familiar with each other. She was struck by how friendly and happy Cookie was and how much energy she had.
Even with her knowledge and experience of the breed, Lindsay and her partner diligently took Cookie to a trainer and are still working through things (like all of us dog owners). They remain careful with her so that she is not able to get into things that she could swallow. They are delighted with how far she’s come in such a short timetraining works!
Her new owners delight in her every day and are so grateful to the Guelph Humane Society
for giving Cookie a second chance. Cookie’s adoption process illustrates the care that the Guelph Humane Society provides for all of their animals.
There are ongoing adoption drives year-round with a HOME for the HOLIDAYS adoption event happening as soon as the end of November. If you are considering adopting an animal, you can always talk to the GHS intake team – they’re happy to find an animal suitable for your needs.
If you’re considering adding a furry friend to your family this holiday season, check out their website to see all of the loving animals who are in need of a good home. Can’t adopt this season but want to give back to our furry friends in need? A non-profit organization, the GHS doesn’t receive any government funding. That means your donations matter. Whether it’s cash, food, or blankets, or participation in the corporate giving initiatives such as sponsorship, fundraising, or kennel adoption programs, the GHS appreciates the community’s support.
Give the GHS a follow on social media. You never know when it will be love at first swipe.
Volunteering is a great way to help and feel connected to your community. I sat down with PIN’s (The People and Information Network) Executive Director, Kim Cusimano, and Emily Vincent, Program Coordinator, to chat about the Snow Angels program and the impact it has on our community.
Q: What is PIN’s role in our community?
Kim: We have a 20+ year history of being the local hub for volunteerism in our community. We inspire individuals to consider how they can contribute to our community, and we assist not-for-profits and charities who are seeking volunteers while helping them with best practices and capacity-building to meet their volunteer needs.
Q: Can you tell me a bit about the Snow Angels program?
Emily: The program was initially launched in 2009 as a pilot project but due to its success, we have been operating the program ever since.
The program is designed for residents in the city of Guelph who are in greatest need. This program is a volunteer snow removal service. It provides support for seniors and people with disabilities who may be unable to afford to pay for snow removal, or don’t have the support to do the task themselves. We match volunteer snow shovelers with residents and during a significant snow event, volunteers visit their residents to clear their driveways.
Q: Can you explain why the Snow Angels program is so important?
Emily: Although having someone coming to shovel your driveway appears to be a luxury, this is an essential service for the residents who use this program. Without it, they’re not able to be connected to the community, they’re not able to get out and go to medical appointments, and it may hinder them from taking part in everyday tasks such as getting groceries or doing their banking. A lot of our program users also depend on services coming into their homes such as homecare, medical supports, and meal deliveries, all of which are needed for them to stay safe and healthy. Without someone coming to shovel their driveway, they would be very isolated, and health and safety issues could become a significant issue for them.
Q: How does the program impact the lives of those who use it?
Emily: For many of the residents that we support, it allows them to live in their homes longer. Without the support of something as simple as snow clearing, it wouldn’t be safe for them and they may not be able to get the supports or care they require. It makes a significant impact on their overall health and
well-being to be in a home that they’re familiar with and is home to them. This program allows them to keep that.
Residents are also so appreciative of the program and the volunteers. Although it’s such a simple act of kindness, it truly means so much to people. We often hear from residents how much the volunteers have made an impact on their lives on the days they come to shovel.
Kim: One of the nice components of the program is the social connection it creates. Residents know that someone from the community is coming to help them and it provides peace of mind. It creates contact within the community and makes both the resident and volunteer feel involved. As volunteers are regular with their residents, it also allows volunteers to provide a “check-in” on the resident to ensure they’re well, especially if something looks out of the ordinary.
Q: The program relies heavily on volunteers. How has the program impacted the lives of the volunteers?
Emily: Most of the volunteers want to give back to the community. A lot of our volunteers recognize that the residents can often be isolated, and they want to curb that. Some of our volunteers just enjoy being healthy and getting outside to do an activity. We’re lucky to see so many families volunteering together, too. And of course, some of our volunteers just simply enjoy shoveling snow.
Q: How was the program impacted by the pandemic?
Kim: During the lockdowns, a lot of volunteer opportunities were lost. However, Snow Angels remained open and available. We saw an
Last year, 73
Snow Angels contributed 949 hours of snow shoveling service. In total, 184 residents were helped during the winter season.
increase in volunteers to support the program as it was safe to do outside and was a bubble activity. It allowed for some social connection while being physically distanced.
Q: What can someone expect when they sign up to be a Snow Angel?
Emily: A volunteer would typically be assigned a resident to support for the whole winter season, in an area of Guelph that works best for them. Some volunteers like to take on multiple residents to support, which we’re grateful for. If a volunteer wants to participate but may not be able to commit to a resident for the whole season, they can sign up on an “as needed” basis to provide backup support for someone else. Volunteers are deployed based on the City of Guelph’s snow plowing strategy, when plows are sent to residential streets. We do have some volunteers who choose to go out more regularly during a snow event to make the job easier, but we do regularly communicate with our volunteers to keep them informed about updates.
Q: Are there any messages you want to get out to our community about volunteering?
Kim: The surveys that have been completed locally and provincially for the community benefit sector indicate a 62% loss of volunteers. With COVID, programs had to close and organizations had to adjust their logistics. There is a decline of volunteerism, and many charities and not-for-profits are facing capacity issues. There are so many benefits to volunteerism. When we come together and volunteer, the community thrives and becomes more resilient, and people feel more connected to each other and their community. I encourage those in our community to look up local volunteering opportunities and get involved if you can this holiday season and beyond. q Whether you’re looking to meet your 40-hour community service requirement, enjoy some more time being active outdoors, or simply be a better neighbour, PIN’s Snow Angels program is a great way to get involved and make someone’s day brighter. To get involved in the Snow Angels program, click here. To learn more about PIN or to learn about how you can get more involved in the community in a way that’s meaningful to you, click here.
Trees for Tots is a tree collection fundraising service organized every year by the Children’s Foundation of Guelph & Wellington. If you live in Guelph, Puslinch, or Rockwood and have a real tree in your home during the holiday season, you can register for your tree to be collected by a volunteer for a suggested minimum donation of $15. A sustainable fundraising initiative that sees the funds going to their core programming, including mental health initiatives, food security for children, youth tutoring, and recreational activities, all trees that are collected are chipped and returned to nature through walking trails and other community projects. If you’ve ever participated in the program, as a donor or a volunteer, you’ve witnessed firsthand how this energizing event not only brings
the community together, but also gives back to the community through supporting a charity, encouraging volunteerism, and supporting environmental sustainability.
In 2022, Trees for Tots raised over $97,000 to support local children and youth! Tree registration opens on December 5th, 2022 with tree collection happening on January 7th, 2023. Click here to register your tree or to volunteer.
Consider these locations for your staff holiday party or team-building experience/appreciation night. Let the good times virtually roll.
Delta Guelph
@deltahotelsguelph
Book the largest meeting venue in Guelph, or the 13,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and event services. Need more? Their crafted Bar Mason offerings are open for indoor and take-out dining every evening.
@exitusescaperoom
Our uniquely designed escape rooms offer adaptable difficulty levels appropriate for all ages and abilities. Your teams will enjoy it as a corporate event and we even offer catering through Platters Catering. Whether the intent is to support morale or strengthen your team, Exitus Escape Rooms is happy to host.
Italian Canadian Club
@iccguelph
Whether you are looking for a simple dinner or an elaborate served meal, our menu has many different selections for you. If you prefer, allow our professionals to customize a menu just for
you. Our experienced banquet coordinators will ensure that your event is handled flawlessly from start to finish.
The Simple Knot
@thesimpleknotinc
We provide both venue and full planning services for our clients. Offering Holiday Packages for smaller companies hoping to throw a party. Our 1500 square foot venue offers all inclusive, intimate, and stress-free packages under one price.
The Grand Guelph @thegrandguelph
Located in Guelph, The Grand Guelph is an elegant venue to host awards, banquets and special events for larger gatherings. Let our experienced staff treat your guests to a grand evening they won’t forget.
Victoria Park East Golf Club
@victoriaparkgolfclub
The Banquet Hall at Victoria Park East is a wonderful place to celebrate a special event. Our halls accommodate from 50-200 people for dinner & dancing, and offer a Cocktail Reception area for your guests to enjoy. Did we mention the golf simulator? Add that to any party and it’ll be in full swing in no time.
