​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.

​Lois Tuffin received some well-deserved recognition for her work in creating Volunteer Peterborough. Lois won Charity Village’s Most Outstanding Individual Impact — Volunteer award for her tireless work leading a non-profit match-making service. The award celebrates the outstanding impact made by a volunteer at a nonprofit or charity. Since launching in July 2023, VolunteerPeterborough.ca has signed up 1,524 individuals who are seeking volunteer roles and 162 organizations who rely on volunteers. It welcomes posts from non-profits and the roles they have open so volunteers can find this information in one handy location.
 
Looking to dine out? Get more than $1,000 in discounts with the 2025 Peterborough Musicfest Diner’s Book. This year’s edition includes 80 incredible restaurants, cafés, pubs, bakeries, candy shops, and more across Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Coupons are valid from January 1 to November 30. Proceeds go to support Peterborough Musicfest and their work putting on Canada’s longest running free concert series, bringing in premier artists to perform in Peterborough. The Diner’s Books are a great gift for foodies or the hard-to-buy-for person on your holiday list. Get them at Lansdowne Place or online at ptbomusicfest.ca.
 
Peterborough-based Canopy Support Services is celebrating its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization has grown since 1974 to support over 6,500 individuals annually across 13 programs. Canopy provides case management, skill-building, caregiver training, mental health counseling, and more. They provide a welcoming, safe, and accessible environment for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder to have access to individualized supports, resources, and specialized clinical services.
 
Looking for a holiday party with local businesses? The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce is hosting Christmas in the County, a holiday social in partnership with Peterborough and the Kawarthas Home Builders Association and Kawartha Lakes Construction. Join us on Thursday, December 12 from 5 to 7 pm at Kawartha Lakes Construction at 3359 Lakefield Road in Lakefield. There will be food, drinks, games, and networking. Register at pkchamber.ca.