MARCH 2019
Grey County Economic Development | Made in Grey | MadeInGrey.ca
CONTENTS Greetings from Grey.................. 2 Rural Land Matchmaking.......... 3 Business Enterprise Centre...... 4 Launch Pad............................... 6 Hanover..................................... 8 Bluewater Wood Alliance.......... 10 The Blue Mountains.................. 11 West Grey.................................. 12 New to Grey............................... 13 Grey County Tourism................. 14 Owen Sound.............................. 16 Meaford..................................... 18 Regional Job Fair...................... 22
On the Cover:
2019 Regional Job Fair
MARCH 2019
Grey County
Economic Developm
ent | Made in Grey
| MadeInGrey.ca
COUNTY OF GREY
Economic Development 595 9th Avenue East Owen Sound ON N4K 3E3 877 • 733 • 4739 ecdev@grey.ca Madeingrey.ca
GREETINGS FROM GREY! LET’S WELCOME OUR NEW NEIGHBOURS. Grey County is a great place to live, work and raise a family. If we’ve said that phrase once, we’ve said it a thousand times and it rings true now more than ever. As we’ve learned over the past few months, Grey County is full of opportunities. Those opportunities were on full display on March 21 as around 1�������������������������� ty Centre for largest job fair in Grey County history. More than 1,000 jobs were up for grabs which was great news for anyone looking to upgrade their career, and even better news for individuals and families looking to relocate and call Grey County home. With one of the lowest unemployment rates in the Province, Grey County is full of opportunities. Situated only an hour north of the GTA (we’re looking at you, Dundalk), Grey County offers beauty and affordability you can’t get in the city. Our communities are safe; our air is clean; and, despite what naysayers might claim, there is always something going on. Grey County is a great place to call home and word is slow but surely starting to get out. Throughout this edition of Made in Grey you will hear some of the ways Grey County and your municipalities are making our communities more attractive to newcomers, and how we’re working with �������������������������������� row. Flip through the pages and learn about our exciting new rural land matchmaking initiative; see how LaunchPad in Hanover is cultivating more participation in skilled trades; discover all there is to do in Owen Sound after dark; and, read the stories of newcomers who are making Grey County and Canada home. We have a pretty great backyard. Let’s open our arms and share it with our new neighbours.
If you require this document in another format, please contact communications@grey.ca
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RURAL LAND MATCHMAKING community in Ontario. They are looking for both land and mentorship to help them get started in farming in a new environment.
On February 21, Grey County hosted a landowner and land seeker matchmaking event in partnership with the Regional Job Fair. Sixty people gathered at the sold out event to network and learn about the specifics of negotiating land leasing agreements. The session was facilitated by Anahita Belanger from FarmLINK, a national organization that brokers linkages between existing farms and prospective farmers. FarmLINK helps new farmers find access to land, helps existing farmers find staff, and assists farmers looking to purchase an existing farm operation to be mentored through succession. The event attracted 25 land owners in Grey offering anywhere from one to 150 acres, which included at least three working farms looking for people to partner in the business or take over aspects of the existing farm operation. Some invited young farmers to bring new elements to their existing farms (ie: animals on a market garden). Other land owners were simply looking to have fallow land planted in crops or used for pasture. The 25 land seekers were looking for a variety of things, from a small plot on which to start permaculture plantings or locate greenhouses, to pasture land, to large acreages on which to grow cash crops and livestock forage. The remainder of the attendees represented organizations that support agriculture and land use: conservation authorities, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, real estate agents, and land use planners.
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The land matchmaking event attempted to address some of those pressures by introducing land seekers who currently lack capital and/or mentorship to people who might help them incubate their farm businesses on rental land until they are ready to commit and invest. The event also encouraged people to think about the philosophical elements related to the way they farm, and to consider personal goals and ideals in any negotiation they might undertake. The event was lively, with many animated conversations happening between attendees during the networking opportunities. While it is too soon to say with certainty that successful matches were made, at the end of the event, at least one land seeker was driving to visit the farm of one land owner to see if they could strike a deal! Grey County and FarmLINK will continue to communicate with attendees to offer mentorship and measure successes throughout the year.
Eleven of the attendees joined the event through a partnership with the Newcomer Center of Peel’s Rural Employment Initiative. The 11 new Canadians from Syria, Jamaica and elsewhere have varied backgrounds and experience in agriculture. These new Canadians are looking to bring their skills and passion to a rural
Grey County Economic Development
A number of trends combine to make it difficult for some new farm entrants to gain access to the land they need to start their businesses. These trends were identified by Grey County through the 2016 Census of Agriculture, the 2018 regional Agri-Food Business Retention and Expansion survey, and anecdotally. These include large farm consolidation, smaller farms being bought by ex-urbanites and subsequent lands being taking out of production, the rapid rise of land prices and on-farm capital investments, and lack of hands-on mentorship for those who did not grow up farming.
For more information or to see resources shared at the event, contact Philly Markowitz at philly.markowitz@grey.ca.
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MARCH WORKSHOPS MAR
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HOW TO BRAND YOUR BUSINESS FOR SUCCESS 6:00pm to 8:00pm Grey County Administration Building, Owen Sound
In this session you’ll learn the marketing and communication methods required to distinguish your company, product(s) or service(s) from competitors. During this 2 hour session we will cover; • Brand identity • Brand communication (such as by logos and trademarks) • Brand awareness • Promoting brand loyalty Key brand management strategies
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SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
(Facebook, Instagram and Google) 6:00pm to 8:00pm Grey County Administration Building, Owen Sound And 6:00pm to 8:00pm West Grey Municipal Office, Durham In this exciting 2 hour workshop learn you will learn about; • Who is your Online Target Audience? • Smart tactics to research your OTA - Where do they hang out? • Building an audience online and how to use it • Influencer marketing • How to find influencers and connect with them and how much to pay them • How to capitalize on your OTA • Why the sales process doesn’t stop after you get your OTA to purchase online
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Arlene Dickinson inspires young entrepreneurs... Community Founda�on Grey Bruce kicks off its 25th anniversary year with an impac�ul evening featuring a Canadian thought leader. Arlene Dickinson will speak about entrepreneurship, inspiring youth in a changing workplace, women in business and her commitment to community philanthropy. Arlene Dickinson is one of Canada’s most renowned independent marke�ng communica�ons entrepreneurs. As CEO of Venture Communica�ons, her crea�ve and strategic approach has turned the company into a powerhouse with a blue-chip client list. She is also a general partner in District Ventures Capital, a fund inves�ng in Canadian companies in the food and health sectors. Dickinson is best known to Canadians as one of the venture capitalists on the award-winning series Dragons’ Den and her new CBC prime�me show called Under New Management. She is the author of two bestselling books—Persuasion, and her most recent bestselling release, All In.
Join Us!
Friday, April 12, 2019, 7 p.m. East Ridge Community School, Owen Sound Tickets: $40 per adult, $10 for youth Book online at:
communityfounda�ongreybruce.com
Watch for our Vital Focus on Youth Report to be released online on April 12! This event is generously sponsored by:
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GREY BRUCE
With Community Partners:
We’re here for good. Grey County Economic Development
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NEW WOODSHOP AT LAUNCH PAD
“Our welding programs were at maximum capacity,” explains Emily Morrison, Executive Director at Launch Pad. “It showed us that youth in our community want to learn more about the trades and adding woodworking to our curriculum at Launch Pad is a natural fit.” Launch Pad had to add a second wood shop class in its first term with registrations filling up in just three days!
start up a social enterprise, creating and selling products that are made in the wood shop by youth. Picnic tables, benches, Adirondack chairs, and canoe paddles are all items that are currently being explored. The intent is to offer employment and on the job training for youth in local communities as they explore a career in wood working. Operating a social enterprise out of the wood shop will also allow Launch Pad to teach youth about entrepreneurship and business principles including inventory management, cost of goods sold, marketing and customer service. Funds raised from the sale of the products would be reinvested back into the program to offer greater opportunities.
A big THANK YOU to Community Foundation GreyBruce and Gay Lea Foods Foundation for contributions to the renovations and equipment purchases!
A formal Open House celebration will occur in April. Check out yatc.ca for Spring and Summer program schedules.
Over the Christmas Holiday, staff and volunteers at Launch Pad Youth Activity and Technology Centre worked tirelessly to transform a storage shed into a wood shop to offer youth the opportunity to learn skills in the woodworking trade in 2019.
Once programs get underway, Launch Pad intends to
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The Town of Hanover is a community rich in heritage and culture.......well connected & open for business!
Discover more, hanover.ca/edc
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CALLING THE CREATIVE CLASS: THE TOWN OF HANOVER IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS Hanover is already known as a Gig Community thanks to its commitment to providing the latest Internet connectivity technology, but did you know it’s a cultural hub as well? In 2019, Hanover is placing emphasis on its cultural footprint and taking measures to craft an all-new Cultural Plan that it hopes will earn it an even brighter spotlight on the map for the creative class. “We’re building culture into more of our conversations,” said Economic Development Manager April Marshall. “Our new Cultural Plan is being framed to allow us to understand the cultural gems that we have including dedicated heritage and arts groups, as well as identify any gaps.” As the town works to put the final pieces of the plan in place, Marshall says the town is poised to generate a buzz as more and more city-dwellers look to explore rural roots in an increasingly digital, e-based economy. “People have a growing interest in rural communities as a more digital workforce allows the freedom to unplug from urban cities,” Marshall said. “Businesses outside of our area can now consider Hanover an incredible opportunity that fits their ideal work-life balance.” It’s all part of a community vision, says Marshall, to spotlight the growing number of resources and perks Hanover has to offer those looking to relocate, grow a
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business or move into a charming rural town without giving up conveniences. Home to a celebrated craft brewery, Hanover is steadily and continually reinforcing the framework to provide an environment that supports a thriving economy and an enhanced quality of life. Hanover has already invested in a regional youth skill development centre called Launch Pad, a not-for-profit offering skill development for youth ages 12 to 18. It’s also home to a state-of-theart recreational facility, hospital, airport and theatre, as well as one of the last remaining classic Drive-In theatres in the province. Just last year, Hanover’s casino and racetrack announced an $18 million investment into upgrades at Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, and that includes creating up to 70 new jobs for the region. As a livable community, Hanover is situated under an hour’s drive from the sandy shores of both the Georgian Bay and Lake Huron to the north. Its geographic location has made it a hub community, connecting numerous rural villages and townships to important services. Learn more: hanover.ca This content was created by Content Works, Post Media’s commercial content division, on behalf of the Town of Hanover.
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TOWN OF HANOVER SELECTED AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER OF NEW RURAL ONTARIO INSTITUTE PROJECT April Marshall. “We will utilize the youth intern to develop youth engagement plans to further strategic priorities as they relate to youth, find innovative ways to share stories on youth doing cool things in our community and further engage youth on current community activities and initiatives, as well as assist us in our political engagement efforts.”
The Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) is partnering with 10 different communities and community organizations from across Ontario on a new initiative: Municipal Internship: Youth Engagement Strategies. These communities were selected following a rigorous evaluation process from staff and selection committees. Submissions from the project were reviewed by their own respective committee using the criteria outlined in the Expression of Interest.
ROI will be working with these communities as their projects unfold to gather information and help share their experiences. The intent is to share these stories in a way that other communities might find helpful and inspire ideas for their own well-being projects. Final reports and a final webinar will be shared publicly following the completion of this project.
These ten partners are: Timmins Youth Wellness Hub, Perth County, Northern Wellington (collaborative), Town of Hanover, South Huron, Wellington Big Brothers Big Sisters, Brock Youth Centre, The Municipality of South Dundas, Recreation Outreach Centre – Picton, and the City of Brockville.
ROI gratefully recognizes the support of the Ontario government which has enabled them to undertake this initiative for the benefit of rural municipal stakeholders. ROI acknowledges that the Province bears no responsibility for any errors and omissions in their work nor does it imply any endorsement of the information, findings or conclusions of any related reports which are solely the responsibility of ROI.
Each partner has developed their own unique approach to youth engagement, tailored to address needs in their local community. Interns will be tasked with implementing local workplans. ROI will be working alongside the partner communities to provide a collaborative environment for the interns, including an in-person orientation session and an online platform for knowledge sharing. “The workplans we reviewed from all 35 communities who submitted Expressions of Interest have been quite impressive,” says Project Lead, Ryan Deska. “Communities are looking at youth engagement from a number of different angles, from workforce development, to inclusivity, to health and well-being. It’s encouraging to see this kind of energy focused on better engaging youth in the future of their rural communities.”
ROI is a non-profit organization committed to developing leaders, initiating dialogue, supporting collaboration and promoting action on issues and opportunities facing rural and northern Ontario. The 4-month youth internship will begin in May. Interested candidates between the ages of 15 to 29 are encouraged to contact April Marshall at 519-364-2780 x 1253 or email amarshall@hanover.ca to learn more.
Final reports from this project will be shared publicly following its completion, outlining promising practices and lessons learned. “We are thrilled to collaborate on this initiative,” says Town of Hanover Economic Development Manager,
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BWA MEMBERS MOVIN’ FULL STEAM TO LEAN On January 24th, 2019 the Bluewater Wood Alliance (BWA) hosted its Lean Road Map Training Event at Kitchener’s premier business hub Catalyst 137. It was only last December that the BWA presented its Lean Training to a packed room of manufacturers. By popular demand, the event was brought back to train an even deeper reach of manufacturing staff in all areas of their business. Lean thinking focuses on driving down waste in all areas of manufacturing: the seen and unseen waste cannot hide with Lean implementation. Throughout the event, Lean Trainers Brad Cairnes (Center of Lean Learning) and Sepp Gmeiner (Lignum Consulting) showcased an interactive presentation on the fundamentals of Lean and provided examples of how it benefits their businesses. Brad Cairnes also brought video footage of top performing wood manufacturing facilities showcasing the power of Lean thinking. “This is awesome, bad @ss, whatever you want to call it!” – Staff member introduced to Lean.
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What areas of your business have you not yet considered that have waste? What areas could you tap into to drive down waste? What do you consider waste? Be ready for the next Lean Training announcements and do not miss the next opportunity. Stay up to date by subscribing to our mailing list. For those who want to continue the learning experience and focus deeper on their shops, the BWA has worked with Brad, Lynn & Sepp to offer additional training. Many companies are moving forward with the next steps of the BWA Lean Program. To learn more about the BWA Lean Program and more details about this event, please contact Ryan Tabone at ryantabone@bluewaterwoodalliance.com. Top: BWA Lean Road Map Training Event packed the room with manufacturers eager to learn. Inset: BWA members during the full day Lean Road Map Training Event held at EDC – Catalyst 137, Kitchener.
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PROGRESS TOWARDS ATTAINABLE HOUSING With an average home price over $500,000 and overall housing supply remaining near record lows, the need for attainable housing has reached a critical point within the Town of The Blue Mountains and resulted in workforce development issues. In early 2019, The Blue Mountains Attainable Housing Corporation (TBMAHC) committed to action. Led by a new Chair, Councillor Rob Sampson, TBMAHC renewed its focus and launched a request for a proposal to retain a Housing Development Consultant. The objective of the proposal is to retain an individual or company with the right skills and expertise to work directly with the Board and create a business model and formal business plan. This plan will set out a clear organizational approach, key objectives and deliverables, timelines and a budget to create and maintain more affordable rental and ownership opportunities in a variety of housing types for singles, families and seniors in the Blue Mountains. The development of the business model/formal business plan will further TBMAHC’s objective to partner with the private sector and facilitate the continual creation of attainable housing. The initial focus will be on various forms of attainable rental housing to support local workforce needs. It is also anticipated that the plan will include a review of planning policy, approvals process, zoning, building code, development charges and other policy related items that can cause systemic lack of housing supply. Action items may require public sector incentive supports and private sector partnerships. To learn more about The Blue Mountains Attainable Housing Corporation, please visit thebluemountainshousing.ca.
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CELEBRATING 120 YEARS STANDING STRONG … LOCALLY Standing along the banks of the Saugeen River in heart of West Grey is the internationally-renowned Durham Furniture plant. Durham Furniture is proudly local, and quietly humble about its reputation as of one of North America’s premiere manufacturers of high-quality solid wood furniture – a reputation that dates back to 1899. From the first shipment of unfinished chairs sent to England to becoming a steady supplier for the T. Eaton’s catalogue, the company – and its reputation for quality – continue to grow. Durham Furniture’s reputation even resulted in a royal assignment: creating a commissioned piece as a gift for Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh for the ‘Canadian Room’ in Clarence House in London. To this day, Prince Phillip continues to use the solid Canadian maple desk now located in Buckingham Palace. Their conviction is simple…fine furniture starts with fine wood. They take pride in creating 100% solid wood lifestyle pieces from sustainably harvested cherry, maple and ash. The brick and mortar may have changed with time, but the process of using old-world techniques and exceptional craftsmanship in each magnificent piece has not. This time-honored artistry has been successfully passed down from generation to generation thanks to
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the lifetime commitment and loyalty of the employees that have worked for the Durham Furniture family. In its 120-year history, Durham Furniture has had the privilege of being the recipient of many prestigious industry awards and has seen many changes in the economy and the landscape of furniture manufacturing in North America. Surviving a devastating fire, the Great Depression, and even receivership, Durham Furniture’s resilience as a corporation is as strong as the furniture they make. Thanks to its 200 employees today, the company still stands tall where it was originally founded and is well positioned for…perhaps a few more centuries?
YEAR HIGHLIGHTS 1899 Durham Furniture Company Limited opens 1905 Fire destroys most of plant 1930 Survives Great Depression 1954 Purchased by Kroehler, 1979 Purchased by Strathearn House Group 1992 Strathearn enters receivership 1992 Purchased by management, local towns people 2019 A local success story Like the wood they use… Durham Furniture is solid with deep running roots.
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Waleed and family From urban to rural – Waleed and his family moved from Hamilton to Grey County in April 2018 for a job opportunity. o Completed his graduate degree in Hamilton o Sought out job opportunities in the region o Job search was exciting yet could have been better if there were more housing resources available. o They found Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace the most helpful when searching for a house o The relocation to Grey County could have been easier if they had found a house earlier If you could design a program for newcomers, what would it look like? Waleed: “The program would be a mentor system, where a local resident would be paired up with a prospective newcomer. The local resident would then serve as a community guide and local connection”
Khaled Born in Syria, Khaled immigrated to Canada in February 2016 through the Private Sponsored Refugee Program. He was joined afterwards by his parents, three sisters and one brother. Khaled’s family owned a large clothing store in Syria before war broke out. Khaled is a self-starter – he accessed English language school and got his driver’s license as soon as he could, so he could gain his independence in Canada. On his arrival, he knew only a few words in English – but two years later, he has mastered advanced English and is employed at Shopper’s Drug Mart. If Khaled could design a program for newcomers, it would involve connecting them with someone that speaks their own language and placing them with a Canadian family for their first few weeks.
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GREY COUNTY TALKS TOURISM More than 70 local tourism industry representatives braved the winter storm on January 30 to attend the first Let’s Talk Tourism seminar of 2019, hosted by Grey County tourism staff. The first quarterly event brought together tourism professionals to learn about the county’s tourism initiatives, discuss challenges and opportunities facing the industry and hear from keynote speaker Erin Bury, Managing Director of the Toronto-based marketing agency Eighty-Eight. The seminar opened with an update and 2018 wrap up from Grey County tourism staff. Grey County actively works to increase sustainable tourism revenues by supporting local tourism businesses and marketing the area as a four-season tourism destination. These activities are guided by the Grey County Destination Development Action Plan. Attendees learned about the progress made in 2018 on the plan’s four key pillars: stakeholder engagement, destination management, market research and tracking and resource allocation. Staff also provided an outlook for 2019 which will see the development of a new marketing strategy, seasonal campaigns, a website overhaul and more.
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The day’s keynote presentation was given by Erin Bury, an experienced marketer who was named one of Marketing Magazine’s Top 30 under 30. Bury spoke to attendees about simple and cost-effective business strategies to attract more millennial travelers and offered valuable tips about how to attract and retain millennial talent in today’s rapidly changing digital landscape. Bury’s expertise was timely and well-received as employee attraction and retention continues to be a challenge facing our regional workforce. Let’s Talk Tourism events are hosted quarterly by Grey County. Events are open to all tourism businesses and partners, but advance registration is required. Anyone interested in attending future Let’s Talk Tourism events can sign up for the Grey County Tourism industry newsletter through www. VisitGrey.ca or by contacting Alison Theodore at alison.theodore@visitgrey.ca.
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OS AFTER DARK Everyone close their eyes for a second. Imagine, in your minds’ eye, one of your friends, a cousin, your sibling home from school, or a city-slicker who’s visiting the Scenic City. Take a deep breath in, and try to stay calm as you hear them mutter everyone’s favourite outdated saying… “There’s nothing to do here.” Yeah, OK there, bud. 21,000 people choose to live and play in the largest city-center on the entirety of Georgian Bay because we share a cultural affinity for apathy. You smacked that nail on the head, let’s call ‘er a day. That saying should say: “there’s nothing to do here because I couldn’t get tickets to the thousands of events, festivals, concerts, and cultural happenings in town quick enough,” or “there’s nothing to do here because I couldn’t get a reservation at one of the mind-blowingly good restaurants here.” It’s the second part of that saying that people all too often neglect. I live here - and my schedule is booked, man - so what are you doing differently? Besides not looking, asking around, or trying overall, I mean. There’s loads to do here - so I’m going to spill a few local - and not so local - secrets so we can lay that saying to rest once and for all. You may know the ins and outs of the daylight hours here, but what about when the sun goes down and the happy hour regulars depart the watering holes? Cue downtown. The Owen Sound Roxy Theatre has reinvented itself as of late, shedding the skin of an old school rural theatre and embracing a surge of youthful energy and inventiveness. There’s everything from film festivals and screenings, to musicals courtesy of Owen Sound Little Theatre, to concerts, speaker series, stand up comedy, and workshops. This place is a true local gem equipped
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Nelson Phillips with a world-class production crew, a dedicated crew of supporters, donors, and volunteers, and an old school theatre vibe that’s unique to OS. Fun fact: Owen Sound sits on and is surrounded by rock - a Silurian age geological formation and UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve site comprised of ancient dolomitic limestone if you want to get technical - and you must have been living underneath some of those rocks if you haven’t heard about the Heartwood Concert Hall. Proprietors Greg and Joanna Bottrell have made the downtown space a top-tier regional cultural institution offering a variety of unique programming and events every weekend including world-class musical acts, festivals, open mic nights, the battle of the beer brands, karaoke, workshops, arts and crafts shows, and much more. Looking for a spot to dust a cold pint and catch the Jays game? Shorty’s Bar & Grill hosts one of the largest draft rails in the area. Fancy a Crystal? Head to Jason’s Pub for a bottle of some of the rarest publicly available and most celebrated suds in Grey Bruce. Newbie spot Mudtown Station on the east shore of the harbour is home to a revolving door of local craft beer creations made in-house courtesy of owner/brewmaster Morag Kloeze, and Casero Kitchen Table is busy serving up incredible, authentic Mexican fare crafted with local ingredients, mezcal flights, and even hosts the occasional (and wildly popular) Trivia Night event. Jazzmyn’s is an Owen Sound classic, boasting an old school pub vibe with some seldom seen pints being offered up, alongside a great late-night tapas menu, live music, and a killer outdoor patio. Relative newcomer Sizzlin’ occupies the old Avalon, or Chaise Lounge location (depending on how long you’ve been here) and
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features the only roof-top patio in the region complete with live music, and a great kitchen offering mouthwatering late-night grub. The City is no slouch itself, offering a Canada Day fireworks celebration on the waterfront that’s second to none, and an outdoor movie night program that runs all season in various locations throughout town, including Harrison Park. They also host the coveted Harbour Nights Concert Series at The Visitors Center every Sunday eve, and are eagerly welcoming the return of Harbourfest for 2019 with musical performances, a beer garden, food, and all the extra expected summer accouterment. The Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival is a staple of summertime in Owen Sound, residing at the unique Georgian Bay amphitheater at Kelso Beach Park. Their Friday and Saturday night headliners - and the leading acts at the legendary Down By the Bay tent can be heard all over town and draw attendees from all over North America. In the past few years, some big names to grace the stage include Bahamas, Joel Plaskett, Buffy St. Marie, Whitehorse, Serena Ryder, and Sarah Harmer.
ARE YOU MOST?
Last, and certainly not least - the allegorical and mythicized “Fish Tent.” The annual Salmon Spectacular Fishing Derby championed by the Sydenham Sportsmen Association is a beautifully brash, down-home representation of summertime on the Great Lakes. The fish are running, the anglers are telling stories, there’s music, fish fry’s, more music, cold beer and good cheer, prizes, games, and more. Hear, hear.
The City of Owen Sound’s Are You Most? marketing recruitment initiative took home top honours in the Innovative Community Award category at the 2018 Economic Developers Council of Ontario Awards in January.
What this article doesn’t include are the regular weekly pop-up opportunities to attend a concert, a community event, a fundraiser, a golf tournament, or whatever else. So listen - when I hear people mention there’s nothing to do here, it really grinds my gears. If you believe that jazz, maybe it’s time to open your eyes and remove the fingers that have been so firmly planted in your ears.
The Are You Most? initiative was designed as a unique marketing campaign targeted to young entrepreneurs from the Greater Toronto Area and Southwestern Ontario. The campaign urged people to think outside the box and challenged conventional municipal marketing recruitment boundaries.
Locals don’t live here because they’re overly apathetic. And tourists don’t come here in droves because they enjoy being bored - if anything, we’ve got more to do than we have time for. So join us, and contribute to the new culture of this place - one of good cheer community, togetherness, and fellowship.
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The City wishes to extend a thank-you to BC Hughes Marketing for their ongoing collaboration with the Are You Most? initiative.
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MEAFORD DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION It was not that long ago that about one in five storefronts were empty in downtown Meaford. Many of the buildings were in need of repair and the selection of shops, restaurants and services did not entice the thousands of people who travel through urban Meaford every day to stop and shop. That is beginning to change. Something special is happening in downtown Meaford that will help shape the commercial district for a number of years. The Municipality of Meaford, over the last couple of years, been able to implement policies and programs to improve appearances, protect heritage features and encourage new investment in our core. The Municipality of Meaford has begun to replace derelict benches and outdated garbage and recycling containers with new modern amenities. New flower boxes were installed in 2018 and an outdoor patio policy was created to allow restaurants to expand their seating capacity utilizing public outdoor spaces. Businesses continue to have access to grants and loans through the Community
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Improvement Plan to improve the appearance of their storefronts, repair or replace bricks, doors or windows, improve energy efficiency and perhaps most importantly improve signage. Downtown Meaford is an official Heritage District. This designation is in place to protect the heritage look and feel in the urban core and will ensure the district respects the history of Meaford and provides guidance to those making smart investments in Meaford.
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urban core, to choose from one of the variety of restaurants for a great sit down meal, a quick bite to eat or a recharge with a coffee. Meaford has a wonderful assortment of unique places to eat. This will give you the energy to continue shopping downtown.
Large scale private investments are still expected to proceed and will respect the heritage district guidelines. In anticipation of some of these new developments, the Municipality of Meaford recently purchased the former Smith Tire at 28 Nelson Street to have land available when a new parking lot is needed. Currently, a large private parking lot is leased by the Municipality for a nominal fee. This lot has been approved for a threestory condo project, linked with underground parking to a five-story condo and ground floor commercial project on another piece of property. When this developer is prepared to move forward with their project, Meaford would then face a shortage of parking spaces. This proactive purchase on Nelson Street by the Municipality will help solve the future parking shortage in the urban core.
This summer will see two major construction projects downtown that will help attract more interest in the core. The Meaford Public Library will be renovating the former Foodland Grocery store site, creating a new modern, highly visible and accessible library. Nearby, the main bridge on Sykes Street will be replaced, helping to create a more attractive gateway to the urban core while at the same time updating aging infrastructure.
Near these developments is Meaford Hall, the anchor for downtown Meaford. Meaford Hall sees thousands of guests through its doors each year to enjoy live theatre, a concert, a comedian, the Meaford International film festival, a conference, or to marvel at the art gallery. The visitor centre has become a popular destination within the hall as it’s paired with perhaps the best accessible public washrooms in all Grey County. Only a block from the downtown is Meaford’s waterfront which had significant capital improvements in 2018 to the public washrooms along the waterfront parks. The nearby Meaford Museum is a real gem. Whether it’s the surprising history and stories you’ll find here (for example: the Museum is home to the bag Louis Riel gave his hangman prior to his death) or the many local products and souvenirs you can purchase, you’ll leave happy you checked it out. Once you’ve had a chance to check out Meaford Hall and the waterfront, the next stop should be back to the
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The Meaford Business Improvement Association will continue to enhance, beautify and promote their area. This hardworking group of downtown business owners works to bring people downtown through special events and activities. Something new however is the introduction of the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA)’s Digital Main Street project. The OBIAA recognizes that the majority of small businesses do not have a digital presence and these businesses are not only falling behind in their marketing, but also losing sales. The aim of this project is to utilize university students to assist business owners by establishing their online presence through a website or a social media account to help businesses reach their customers and find new customers. While change can sometimes be slow, the Municipality of Meaford has been able to put into place many new policies and programs to stimulate growth, renewal and at the same time protect its heritage for future generations. Be a part of our change and check out downtown Meaford this year.
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GREY HIGHLANDS INTRODUCES THE MUNICIPALITY’S FIRST COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN Just seven months ago, the Municipality of Grey Highlands adopted its first economic development strategy. The strategy recommended a coordinated approach to the promotion of sustainable, long-term economic growth for the Municipality and opportunities for the Municipality and its community partners to build a strong, vibrant and sustainable rural economy. One of the first significant items to be addressed in the strategy was a Community Improvement Plan (CIP). A CIP is a tool that allows municipal planners and economic developers to work hand in hand to develop policies and provide incentives targeting specific types of growth and investment. A Municipality of Grey Highlands CIP will promote and enable prioritized development across the Municipality and support and complement Grey County’s Official Plan. A CIP for the Municipality of Grey Highlands will serve as a long-term strategy to revitalize the community, improve the quality of life of the community’s residents, better utilize under-developed properties and promote private investment in land and buildings.
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The Grey Highlands CIP was guided by a template, provided by Grey County to all lower tier municipalities, and created to support priorities identified by both the County and Grey Highlands. A draft version of the plan was presented and approved in principle at the first meeting of the new Council on December 5th, 2018. The Plan was circulated to Grey County Planning and Economic Development staff and to the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for comment and feedback. The Municipality also solicited feedback on the draft plan from stakeholders through a variety of online channels, as well at meetings with community stakeholders and a January 24th, 2019 public meeting. The final plan, incorporating stakeholder feedback, will be presented to Council for final approval on March 6th, 2019. Highlights of the Grey Highlands Community Improvement Plan: •
Who is eligible? The entire Municipality of Grey Highlands has been named a designated CIP project area. As such, business and property
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owners throughout the entire Municipality are eligible to receive funding through the CIP program. •
•
•
How much funding is available? Council will establish an annual overall budget for financial incentive programs. Along with the support of Grey County and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs, Grey Highlands will have approximately $100,000 available in 2019 to support the incentives offered in the CIP. Additional funding available for a limited time: To further support the launch of Grey Highlands CIP program, the Municipality is utilizing $46,000 in funding received through the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs’ Main Street Revitalization initiative to enhance the funding available through the Municipality’s CIP program. This funding is a one-time allocation from the province and is only available until March 31st, 2020.
2. Property, Landscaping & Parking Area Improvement Grant 3. Accessibility Improvement Grant 4. Planning & Building Permit Fee Grant 5. Secondary Suite Development Charge Grant 6. Tax Increment Equivalent Grant 7. Environmental Study Grant Considered to be a foundational pillar in a toolkit of programs that will spur revitalization, the Grey Highlands CIP will launch in the spring of 2019. Municipal staff will be offering workshops to introduce the plan and provide guidance to business and property owners on how they can apply to be part of this exciting new program in Grey Highlands.
SAVE THE DATES | UPCOMING EVENTS:
What incentives are available? 1. Façade, Building & Signage Improvement Grant
•
Grey Highlands 2019 Home Show Saturday, May 4th, 2019
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Grey Highlands Annual Business Forum Monday, June 17th, 2019
For further information please contact: Michele Harris | Director Economic & Community Development | harrism@greyhighlands.ca
SaugeenConnects.com
Contact saugeenconnects@sbdc.ca for a coupon code.
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REGION’S LARGEST JOB FAIR KEEPS ON GROWING Our region is full of jobs. That fact was abundantly clear as more than 110 employers packed the Bayshore Community Centre on February 21 for the largest ever Regional Job Fair. These employers, large and small, represented anywhere from one to 50+ available positions. For the estimated 1,000 job seekers who attended the job fair, the chance of leaving with a promising lead or even a secured job was favourable. The jobs on display represented virtually every field you could expect, plus some that might surprise you. Some fields included construction, hospitality, healthcare, education, manufacturing, general labour, information technology, skilled trades, engineering, public service, long-term care and retirement, administration, food and beverage, digital production, human resources, finance, and countless more. Many of the major players from all over the county were there, including Chapman’s Ice Cream, Exceldor Foods, MacLean’s Engineering, municipalities, fast food retailers, and Blue Mountain Resort. Bruce Power was also in attendance along with many nuclear industry suppliers who are setting up and growing their businesses in our region as part of the 50-year life extension project at the Bruce. To put it simply, opportunities were plentiful. While open jobs are great news for job seekers looking to enter the workforce or improve their career, the sheer number of open positions available reiterates something we already know. Our local labour force is being
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stretched thin and employers are challenged to find the skilled workers to fit into their workplace. Fortunately, the Regional Job Fair created an environment where employers could meet face-to-face with dozens of prospective employees. One employer praised the high quality of candidates they were seeing at this year’s fair saying, “It’s quality over quantity,” when hiring. This sentiment was echoed by many of the businesses in attendance. Throughout the day, organizers and volunteers worked diligently to connect employers with job seekers offering the skills they needed. Grey County had another trick up our sleeve this year to help employers recruit for those tough-to-fill, highly skilled positions. Working in partnership with the Newcomer Centre of Peel, a non-profit organization in the GTA, Grey County hosted a day-long bus tour of the region for newcomers to Canada who are interested in settling in a rural community. More than 40 individuals participated in the tour which left from Mississauga and made multiple stops around Grey County on the way to the fair. Most participants were well educated and skilled with several years of work experience. This was a great opportunity to show our guests that Grey County is a welcoming community and a great place to live, work and raise a family. In 2019 a job fair may seem like a somewhat primitive
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approach to recruitment and employment; however, the tactic still holds up. Many employers embrace the opportunity to meet a candidate face-to-face and learn more about the individual behind the resume. Do they have a personality that fits with their business culture? Are they friendly and personable? Are there any red flags? Likewise, job seekers get to learn a little bit about the workplace, culture they may want to commit years of their life to. Even after all the introductions, handshakes, and tours, having the right skills is key to long-term sustainable employment. If we want to have a meaningful workforce for our local businesses, it’s critical to have training and education available locally for the types of jobs available in our communities. Through partnerships with Georgian College, the Four County Labour Market Planning Board and local school boards, Grey County is working to create more opportunities for our residents. The development of a skills training, trades and innovation centre at the former Sydenham school in Owen Sound is a big part of the strategy. Work is well underway at the centre and we expect to have more detailed information to share later in the year. There are other opportunities already available for job seekers to hone their skills and find employment that fits their abilities. YMCA Employment is an important partner in the regional job fair and they offer a range of services for both job seekers and employers. These services are available year-round by contact the YMCA at 519 371 9222 or visiting their website ymcaowensound.on.ca. For more information about the 2019 Regional Job Fair contact Jacinda Rudolph at jacinda.rudolph@grey.ca.
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PART-TIME STUDIES & TRAINING BREW ACADEMY OF CF WI : HANOVER
April 8 - 12, 2019 $195.00 + TAX PER MODULE Offered as a one-week intensive program or individual courses; Canada’s first Teaching Brewery delivers extensive hands-on training in the town of Hanover. Module 1: Day in the Brewery Join our team of brewing experts, as you step foot inside the amazing brewing facilities at CFWI. You will spend a day within the brewery and experience the role of a brewmaster first hand. As a team, you will be guided through a specific style of beer, and follow the process through from start to finish. The course will cover topics such as: • • •
Brewery operations Process of brewing How to choose yeast and hop varieties
Module 2: Brew Production In this course, our brew experts will highlight all the elements involved in producing a wonderful product. This course will create an in-depth discussion regarding the following topics:
• • •
Yeasts and yeast types Fermentation process Maturation
• •
Filtration Finishing
Module 3: Discover Brew Ingredients Join our brew experts as they showcase a variety of beer ingredients such as Barley/Malts, HOPS, Yeasts, Fruits & Spices. The course will also encompass the overall brewing process from start to finish, with an element of brew sensory. This portion of the course will guide the taster through: • •
Basic tastes of sour, sweet, salty and bitter Overall taste, aroma, mouthfeel, and appearance
Module 4: Brew Packaging Join our brew experts as they deliver some great insight into beer packaging as well as packaging line techniques. This course will discuss the following topics: • • •
Intro to bottles, cans and kegs Packaging options and considerations Packaging line layouts / equipment involved
• • •
Quality concerns and cleaning Start up and shut down procedures Considerations on maintenance and shelf life
Module 5: Brewery Trends, Operations & Health and Safety Join our Brewery Experts in this half day session which will lead you through top trends in the brew industry. The course will cover Health & Safety components, as well as, how to reduce operating costs for breweries. • • •
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Leading industry trends Intro to total quality management HACCP
• • •
Food safety programs SGS Canada BRC (brewing perspective) Green brewing initiatives
General Inquiries
Visit Us
expertedge@niagaracollege.ca canadianfoodandwineinstitute.ca / classes
135 Taylor Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
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The Kilian Family Immigrated from South Africa to rural Ontario in April 2017 Dr. Rochagne Kilian – Family & Emergency Medicine Abrie Kilian – Attorney-at-Law, Martial Artist + 2 young children Rochagne was recruited by CANAM Physicians Recruiting Inc. after she obtained both her specialist qualifications while working in BC in 2014. In 2017 she was hired as a physician at Grey Bruce Health Services. 6 months later, her sister followed with her husband and 3 children
HIGHLIGHTS:
o o o o
Small enough town to raise kids & have a 3 min commute to work Large enough to have a great rec facility and enough shopping options Beautiful outdoor amenities The community has become a safe haven for their family
“At present we need no encouragement to stay in this community. We truly enjoy living here. We are the type of people that not only want to reside in a town, but more importantly want to make an impact in the community. We want to make a positive contribution to the wellness of OUR town, and thus ensuring that we leave a legacy that our children can be proud of, and also build upon”
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MADE IN GREY CONTACTS GREY COUNTY | 595 9th Avenue East Owen Sound ON N4K 3E3 | www.madeingrey.ca SAVANNA MYERS Manager of Economic Development savanna.myers@grey.ca 519-372-0219 x 1261
STEVE FURNESS Senior Economic Development Officer steve.furness@grey.ca 519-372-0219 x 1255
PHILLY MARKOWITZ Economic Development Officer – Local Food philly.markowitz@grey.ca 519-372-0219 x 6125
OWEN SOUND
HANOVER
THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
BRENT FISHER Manager of Community Development & Marketing 808 2nd Avenue East Owen Sound, ON N4K 2H4 bfisher@owensound.ca 519-376-4440 x. 1254 www.owensound.ca
APRIL MARSHALL Economic Development Manager 341 10th St.reet Hanover, ON N4N 1P5 amarshall@hanover.ca t 519.364.2780 x 1253 www.hanover.ca
TIM HENDRY Communications & Economic Development Coordinator 32 Mill St., Box 310 Thornbury, ON N0H 2P0 thendry@thebluemountains.ca 519-599-3131 ext 282 www.thebluemountains.ca
MEAFORD
CHATSWORTH
GEORGIAN BLUFFS
STEPHEN MURRAY Economic Development Officer 21 Trowbridge Street West, Meaford, ON N4L 1A1 smurray@meaford.ca 519-538-1060 ext 1110 www.meaford.ca
PATTY SINNAMON CAO Clerk 316837 Highway 6, RR1 Chatsworth, ON N0H 1G0 psinnamon@chatsworth.ca 519-794-3232, Ext. 124 www.chatsworth.ca
RICK WINTERS Acting CAO 177964 Grey Road 18 R.R. #3 Owen Sound, ON N4K 5N5 office@georgianbluffs.on.ca 519-376-2729 www.georgianbluffs.on.ca
SOUTHGATE
WEST GREY
GREY HIGHLANDS
GLENN WALKER Economic Development Officer 80 Proton St. N., Dundalk, ON N0C 1B0 gwalker@southgate.ca 519-377-5057 www.southgate.ca
CATHY SWEENEY Economic Development Officer 402813 Grey Rd 4, RR 2, Durham, ON N0G 1R0 csweeney@westgrey.com 519-369-2200 www.westgrey.com TOBERMORY
MICHELE HARRIS Director of Economic Development & Tourism 206 Toronto St., Unit 1 Markdale, ON N0C 1H0 harrism@greyhighlands.ca 519-986-1216 ext. 221 www.greyhighlands.ca
THE BLUE MOUNTAINS 26
OWEN SOUND
SAUBLE BEACH
400
6
KINCARDINE
BARRIE
10
HANOVER 410 KITCHENER
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