​Handmade Heaven is offering free Santa Claus photos every Saturday from 12 to 2 pm along with free face painting from 11 am to 5 pm until Christmas. The shop is home to more than 150 local artisans and makers. It’s a great place to shop local this holiday season with 100% of the profits going back to the vendors renting space at the location. They recently moved to Portage Place Plaza, between the LCBO and Fabricland. The new space is almost three times bigger, providing more space to find unique items from local makers and artisans.
 
Speaking of shopping local this holiday season, head downtown Peterborough and get two hours free parking until December 31. Any funds put in the parking meters during this time will go to Kawartha Food Share and their support of 14,000 people monthly and 17,000 children at local schools. A big thanks to Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers for sponsoring the free parking. Check out some great local shops, get some hot chocolate, and grab something to eat in downtown Peterborough.
 
A shout out to Kevin Duguay, who is celebrating 20 years with his business KMD Planning. He offers a range of professional community planning and development services to both the public and private sectors. KMD specializes in accessibility planning, which offers comprehensive design, planning, strategic, and creative solutions towards universal accessibility. Kevin is a former senior planner with the City of Peterborough, working there for 16 years before going out on his own. He’s currently a City Councillor and his company is focused on projects outside the city.
 
What do you want to be when you grow up? Junior Achievement have launched their When I Grow Up campaign to inspire and empower youth by providing them with the tools and knowledge needed to explore and pursue their future careers. The campaign focuses on promoting financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship among young people, helping them to envision and achieve their full potential. Additionally, donate to Junior Achievement and your contribution will be tripled up to $40,000 thanks to generous donations from Alf Curtis Home Improvements, Peterborough Truss and Floor, and Peterborough and District Construction Association.

Rhonda Stillman has opened a new business, Tidy Pawz Pet Parlour, a pet grooming business that began serving clients on October 1. It’s located at 1434 Chemong Road in Unit 6 in Peterborough. Rhonda has been grooming pets for more than 25 years. Tidy Pawz comes highly recommended, providing a stress-free experience for pets and their owners. Rhonda's attention to detail ensures that every pet receives personalized care. Check out Tidy Pawz if you want to have your pet looking and feeling their best.
 
Summer Soul Yoga and Wellness is launching Athletic Reformer Pilates to their lineup starting in January. Reformer Pilates is highly regarded for its ability to build core strength, flexibility, and muscle tone while minimizing joint stress. When using a reformer machine – which includes a sliding carriage, springs, and adjustable straps – participants can perform a wide range of exercises that target specific muscle groups with precision. The machine's resistance allows users to control and adjust their workouts according to their fitness level, making it suitable for beginners and seasoned athletes alike. Find out more and book your appointment at summersoul.ca.
 
NAKA Japanese Restaurant is under new ownership. Founder Susan Tung has sold it to Emily Tan. Susan founded the restaurant at 213 Hunter Street West in downtown Peterborough with vision of bringing Japanese comfort foods, like ramen, to Peterborough. She will shift her focus back to Hanoi House, her first restaurant, which she opened back in 2020. NAKA will continue its regular hours with the same thoughtfully curated menu that combines traditional Japanese flavors with a modern touch, creating a unique dining experience.
 
Eleven 14 Guidance and Care has a new office at 680 The Parkway in Peterborough. Their new office enables them to offer Red Cross first aid of all levels, including emergency, standard, BLS, EFR and EMR from a new and convenient location. Their experienced instructors are Canadian Red Cross certified and committed to teaching everyone first aid skills. They offer instructions for various needs, including firefighters, businesses, social groups, and people just wanting to develop lifesaving skills. They can travel to convenient locations and are set up to teach large groups.

We’re celebrating some big milestones today!
 
Brenda Ibey at The Avant-Garden Shop is celebrating 22 years in business! She opened the store back in 2002 and has spent most of those years at her 165 Sherbrooke Street location in downtown Peterborough. The Avant-Garden Shop is the place to go for all your bird feeding needs, beautiful gifts, and many items made by Canadian artisans. Winner of four Chamber of Commerce awards, The Avant-Garden Shop has proven itself to be one of the best retail shops in the region. Drop by Thursday, November 21 from 9:30 am to 7 pm to celebrate with some refreshments, door prizes, and special sales all day.
 
Marg Botosh is celebrating 32 years in business with Just Like New Boutique. Just Like New specializes in gently used women's clothing and highly curated consignment clothing and accessories. It’s the type of place where you’re going to find some truly unique outfits and accessories at affordable prices. Drop by 377 Queen Street in downtown Peterborough to check out their anniversary deals with 10 percent of sales between now and Black Friday going to support Right To Heal.
 
This year marks 55 years for Peterborough Volkswagen. 1969 was a big a year, from the Apollo 11 moon landing to Woodstock to Peter and Rita Eatson opening Peterborough Volkswagen at the corner of Reid and McDonnel Streets in Downtown Peterborough. They created a business that now spans three generations and has served thousands of happy local customers in their car shopping and service needs with great customer service. They’ve been busy with some renovations as their business keeps growing. Drop by 500 Towerhill Road and see what’s happening at Peterborough Volkswagen.
 
And we have a brand-new business. Karri Dalton-Hull has launched a new virtual events agency. Vvents Kawartha produces local virtual events to give small businesses new ways to connect online with other entrepreneurs, consumers and the community. They are a membership-based model and with support for Big Brothers Big Sisters Peterborough. Their upcoming events include Kawartha Virtual Expo, a seven-day virtual tradeshow, and Kawartha Virtual Business Network, a networking group to meet and connect with other entrepreneurs. Find out more at vvents.ca.