​Congrats to Bob and the team at Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory on being recognized by Great Places to Work Canada at number 32 in the country for employers with 100 to 1,000 employees. Founded in 2008, Gauvreau has grown to more than 200 employees with offices in Peterborough, Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Steinbach. While the team has grown, the goal of creating a business where people want to come to work every day remains unchanged. Want to join their team? Gauvreau is planning to hire a number of senior accountant s this spring.
 
Peterborough Humane Society’s 50/50 and Marlin Travel/Collette ‘Ruff’le are back, running until May 14. Get your tickets by April 17 and you will be entered into the early bird draw for $500. Last year’s two 50/50 winners received nearly $22,000. This year’s ‘Ruff’le is for a $5,000 voucher from Marlin Travel and Collette Travel which can take you anywhere in the world for your dream trip. Not only do you get a chance to win big, but you are supporting the important work of the Peterborough Humane Society. Visit phs5050.ca to see what the jackpot is at and to get your tickets.
 
The Business Advisory Centre and Community Futures Peterborough have launched a new Tariff Toolkit. It has been developed with the shared expertise of local economic development teams and trade experts, this toolkit was designed to support businesses navigating the complexities of tariffs and global trade. It includes things like a step-by-step guide to understanding tariffs and how they apply to your products, tariff classification tips to ensure accurate product categorization, an import/export cost calculator template to estimate duties and taxes, and much more. Visit communityfuturespeterborough.ca to download the kit.
 
We’re going to keep highlight local businesses making things right here in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. This week we’re showcasing Havelock Metal. They have been in the steel business locally for more than 30 years, specializing in steel roofing, siding, trim, and accessories. They were founded in Havelock in 1993 and moved to their current facility at 901 Major Bennett Drive in Peterborough in 2018. They have a beautiful showroom and allow the public to buy directly from their manufacturing facility.
 

​Restwell Upholstering is celebrating 80 years here in Peterborough, keeping our homes and businesses looking and feeling good. Restwell’s expert upholsterers, sewists and sales staff can help you with anything from a small repair to a cherished family heirloom, from commercial restaurant seats to refilling patio cushions and everything in between. They work with 25 fabric suppliers, many of which are Canadian. They can help you find the perfect fabric, vinyl, or leather for your project. Check them out at 494 The Parkway, Unit 5.
 
It's great to see local businesses working together. Summer Soul Yoga and Wellness worked with Le Boat last summer on some promotional material. Le Boat is an international boating vacation company that recently began service on the Trent-Severn Waterway based out of Peterborough County. Summer Soul owner Ashley Woollacott recently had her picture on one of Le Boat’s luxury vessels in the Globe promoting the Trent-Severn Trail Towns, a key local tourism program, to a national audience. Check out Le Boat for your Ontario staycation and you can find Summer Soul at 394 George Street North in downtown Peterborough.
 
The Chamber of Commerce is hosting a couple election events. There’s an all-candidates business issues debate on Tuesday, April 8 at Lakefield College School from 7 to 8:30pm with doors opening at 6:30pm. There will also be a Coffee with the Candidates event on Tuesday, April 15 at Holiday Inn Peterborough from 9 to 10am. These events are in partnership with The Kawarthas Home Builders Association, Central Lakes Association of Realtors, Peterborough and District Construction Association, and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area. Visit pkchamber.ca for more information.
 
We’re going to keep highlighting some amazing companies making products locally. This week it’s Peterboro Matboards. They’ve been in business locally since 1902. They make high-quality matboard for the art and framing industry. Their pulp and paper chemistry expert has helped design matboards that cut better, giving smooth bevels and a clean look. Their quality has earned the company both the Fine Art Trade Guild and new PPFA standards.  Peterboro Matboards are a major global player in the industry, shipping product around the world from their Peterborough facility. 

​The team at Mortlock Construction have long prioritized community, taking on projects that support and house those living on the margins. Now they’re trying something a little different. Upon learning that socks are the most needed clothing item in homeless shelters, they’ve launched Mortsocks. This social venture involved working with a local design company to develop Peterborough-themed dress socks that give back. Buy one pair of Mortsocks and Mortlock Construction will donate six pairs of socks to those in need through Brock Mission and the Peterborough Community Health Centre. You can order them online or pick up a pair at The Vine at 165 Sherbrooke Street in Peterborough. You can make a difference – one step at a time.
 
Spring is a good time to hire someone to do the dirty work of cleaning up after your dog with Doody Call, a new luxury pet waste removal service. They offer a premium, discreet, and eco-friendly solution to keep outdoor spaces clean, fresh, and waste-free. Doody Call offers white-glove customer service, flexible scheduling, and top-tier sanitation practices. Their services include single visits to weekly maintenance plans, providing tailored solutions that fit every pet owner’s lifestyle. Find out more at doodycall.ca.
 
AON’s Canterbury Gardens is presenting Listening for Spring, a magical evening of serenading sounds in support of the Canadian Council of the Blind Peterborough Chapter. The evening will feature the meaningful mental magic of Ian Crawford, the delightful Jazz of Carling Stephen and Rob Phillips, and a silent auction. It all happens May 2 starting at 6:30pm at Canterbury Gardens. Get more information at ccbpeterborough.com.
 
We’re going to keep profiling business that are making things right here in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. This week it’s Paluski Boats. They’ve been making boats since 1980, originally starting with recreational rowing shells. They have built a reputation for high-quality craftwork, design, and durability. Today, Paluski manufactures high-performance and extremely durable canoes, kayaks, and paddles that meet the needs and expectations of recreational boating enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. All their materials are 100% made in Canada with their production facility in Lakefield.