Today’s economy is evolving and Peterborough County want to equip local retailers with the tools and strategies they need to remain profitable, adaptable, and competitive. They’ve organized The Resilient Retailer, a dynamic one-day event on May 14 at the Cavan Monaghan Community Centre. The day will feature keynote speaker Barbara Crowhurst, CEO of Retail Makeover. An internationally recognized retail specialist, business coach, and speaker, Crowhurst brings decades of experience working with some of North America's largest retail corporations and thousands of independent business owners. Attendees will gain invaluable insights into best practices, customer engagement, merchandising, and sustainable growth.
 
The 39th annual Cark Oake Rotary Swim beat their $50,000 goal, raising nearly $58,000. Carl passed away in January and has left quite a legacy in our community. His swim has raised more than $1.4 million for Easter Seals, the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, and other Rotary causes. A big shout out to the Oake family and Century 21 United Realty for keeping this legacy going and raising more money for great local causes. This year’s title sponsors were Baker Tilly and Holiday Ford.
 
Jennie MacKenzie is retiring after 35 years running the Lakefield Pantry, a fixture in downtown Lakefield. It’s a destination for wholesome food, bulk goods, natural products, and a sense of community. The store was started in 1980 by Cam and June Fraser as a way to give people choice about quantity, quality, and packaging associated with their food. New owners Lindsey and Andrew Irwin plan to keep stalking your favourite food while bringing in some new products. They’re undertaking some light renovations to bring in a frozen yogurt bar. Drop by 44 Queen Street to see what has made the Lakefield Pantry a local icon.
 
This week’s made in Peterborough producer is Fairlife. Located at 758 The Kingsway, Fairlife uses 100% Canadian dairy in its products. They specialize in delicious, dairy-based products to give everyone the nutrition they need. They are on a mission to enrich lives by sustainably providing nourishment and vitality to the world. You can find made in Peterborough Fairlife products in stores across Canada.

​One of the best ways to get involved in your community and meet some great people is to volunteer. If you would like to know more about what opportunities are available, head to Peterborough Square on May 7 for the Meet Your Match Volunteer Fair hosted by Volunteer Peterborough. It’s a perfect opportunity to discover meaningful ways to give back. Not-for-profit organizations are invited to set up booths in a tradeshow format in the lower level of Peterborough Square while the public are invited to browse and find a volunteer roles that are the perfect match. There will also be busloads of students looking for their volunteer hours. 

Congratulations to Tracy Minnema, owner of River of Yarn, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. There are still a few days left to catch their anniversary sales for the month of April. River of Yarn provides luxury knitting and crochet yarns, tools, and accessories at affordable prices. They carry a variety of brands and sources of yarn, including alpaca, wool, cotton, flax, hemp and acrylics. You can find River of Yarn at 353 Kents Bay Road in Keene.

There are still a few tickets left for the Business Summit, hosted by Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce and Acorn30 on April 30 at Ashburnham Funeral Home and Reception Centre. This is a half-day conference filled with inspiring speakers and informative workshops. You’ll hear directly from business leaders on what they’ve learned and what worked on topics like growing your business, building partnerships, and handling uncertain times. This year’s keynote is from Matt Holmes of Holmes Reisely. 

This week we’re highlighting more made in Peterborough products with Quickmill. I recently had the privilege of touring their facility at 760 Rye Street. Quickmill has been in the computer-controlled machining business, known as CNC, since 1984. They ship turn-key machines around the world for industries that include heavy equipment, aerospace, and oil and gas. They continue to grow and innovate, finding custom solutions for their clients with world-class machines built right here in Peterborough.