Looking for some special treats for your furry friend? There’s a new local line of treats for dogs and cats called Bentley Bits from Bentley and Co. They’re not only tasty, but healthy too. They are made with all natural ingredients, like grass-fed beef tallow, coconut oil, and parsley. It’s good for their coat, skin, and digestion. Tracey Townsend started making treats as her cherished dog Bentley was getting older and could no longer eat hard treats. You can find them at Starfra Feeds at 152 Douro 9th Line with more locations coming. You can also buy direct by connecting on Facebook with Bentley and Co.
 
There’s a lot going on at Escape Maze these days. Just 20 minutes south of Peterborough on a beautiful rural property, they offer elaborate escape rooms, party packages, tactical laser tag, corporate team bonding events, outdoor adventure gamers, and even weddings. They are renovating an old favourite room into a brand new adventure coming later this year. In the meantime, try their Wizards and Dragons room where magic, wonder and adventure come to life. Book your next outing at escapemaze.ca.
 
Susan Tung, founder of Hanoi House, is opening a new business — Electric City Catering. The new catering business will launch this spring. It offers seamless service and show-stopping culinary creations, serving a wide audience and diverse range of special occasions, including weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations. Electric City Catering takes pride in providing the wow factor with stunning food displays. Find out more at electriccitycatering.ca.
 
I’m going to take a moment to honour a true local business and community leader. Carl Oake passed away recently and leaves behind a huge legacy. Carl embraced the Rotary club’s motto of Service Above Self. He built a successful business with Carl Oake Century 21 United Realty. Despite the busy life of an entrepreneur, Carl invested much of his time and resources in building a stronger community through charitable work. He raised more than $1.4 million over 38 years through his annual swimathon, raising funds for Easter Seals and rotary community projects. Carl served on numerous boards, fundraised for many charitable causes, and was recognized for his work with quite a few awards, including the Chamber’s Business Citizen of the Year back in 2002. There’s far too much to list here in the Business Beat, but there’s no doubt he has left our community a better place.

​Dietrich Homes have finished the first net zero ready home in Peterborough and the Kawarthas at 303 Mullighan Gardens. Dietrich Homes are dedicated to energy efficiency, sustainability, and innovation in home building. A Net Zero Ready Home is built to exceed today’s building standards and is capable of generating as much energy as it consumes when paired with renewable energy sources. It involves superior insulation, high-performance windows, advanced HVAC systems, and airtight construction.
 
The Lakefield Literary Festival is now a federally approved charity, offering tax receipts for donations of more than $100. The Literary Festival is a volunteer-run organization that stated in 1995. It is a nationally renowned Festival that brings important Canadian authors to Lakefield every July and hosts a respected Young Writers Contest for secondary school students. It relies on generous donations from people and businesses for half of its annual revenue. Find out more and donate at lakefieldliteraryfestival.com.
 
There’s still time to win big when you support local businesses. Shop downtown with your Holiday Shopping Passport and you could win a $1,500 downtown shopping spree in Boro Gift Cards courtesy of the Downtown Business Improvement Area. Pick up your passport at participating downtown locations, get it stamped as you spend money, and drop it off at a participating location when it’s full. Parking is free downtown until the end of December. While you’re downtown, check out the lit up tree at Quaker Foods City Square and skate on the outdoor rink.
 
Looking for a private office to rent? The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce have vacancies at the Business Centre at 175 George Street North in the beautiful and historic train station. It is fully accessible with shared kitchen space, boardroom, and reception. Offices are available for daily and yearly leased rentals. The Business Centre offers ample free parking and secure access when you want it. Contact the Chamber at pkchamber.ca for more information.
 
*All photos are submitted by the businesses and organizations in the Business Beat
**Lakefield Literary Festival photos are courtesy of the Lakefield Herald

The Alzheimer Society is launching a Dining for Dementia campaign though January. Dine out at a participating local restaurant and a portion of every meal’s cost will be donated to the Alzheimer Society. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy some delicious food, support local businesses, and raise money for a good cause. Each participating restaurant will be offered free training and resources for their staff on enhancing customer service and accessibility for patrons living with dementia. Reach out to the Alzheimer Society for more details and a list of locations.
 
The holiday season is a critical fundraising time for local charities and non-profits. Many of them depend heavily on donations through the holiday season to provide community programming for the rest of the year. They would normally be sending you reminders in the mail. Consider this your reminder to donate. Give online, over the phone, or drop by their offices.
 
After many years selling sustainable products, GreenUp is closing its downtown retail store. The mission when it opened was to give people sustainable options. Since then, local retailers now stock a lot more sustainable and environmentally friendly products. The store will be open until December 21 with all remaining stock going on clearance from January 7 to 17. You can find everything from household and hygiene products to gifts and gardening items. All proceeds from store sales will continue to support GreenUP's charitable work in the community.
 
I’ve had a couple questions about where you can get Peterborough branded clothing. There are some new unique clothing and accessory options available from Ptbo Northern Originals. You can find them at Flavour Fashion at 383 George Street North in downtown Peterborough or online at ptbonorthernoriginals.com. Peterborough branded items include hats, crewnecks, hoodies, long sleeves, t-shirts, tank tops, and kids items.
 
Looking for support for your small business? Get the free Small Business Toolkit from Community Futures. It’s packed with information and designed for local entrepreneurs. It includes support for things like payroll, registering a business, and crafting a business plan. You can find the Small Business Toolkit and other helpful support at communityfuturespeterborough.ca.