Agriculture and Rural Affairs Newsletter
March 2019 | Volume 8, Issue 1
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In This Issue
- New curated marketplace offers local, handmade, sustainable products
- Slabtown Cider Co. set to open this spring in Uxbridge!
- Durham residents invited to provide input on strategy updates
- Regional Chair and CEO and Regional CAO tour north Durham Businesses
- Registration open for Navigating On-Farm Value-Added Workshop
- Grant opportunities now open for Digital Main Street Program
- Durham Farm Connections Open House 2019
- Celebrate the season at a local maple syrup festival!
- Envision Durham: Seeking Input on Agriculture/Rural Discussion Paper
- Durham Region releases broadband strategy
- Register today for the Urban Agriculture Symposium
- Funding opportunities for farmers, food processors and other businesses
- Semi-finalists for Brock Youth Centre's Business Pitch Competition
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New curated marketplace offers local, handmade and sustainable products in the heart of downtown Beaverton
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The Simcoe Street Market offers shoppers a contemporary selection of ceramics, glassware, textiles, art, jewelry and beauty products from local, independent producers. Located at 359 Simcoe Street in Beaverton, the indoor market offers visitors a chance to meet with local designers and buy or commission unique products on Old Main Street.
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Slabtown Cider Co. set to open this spring in Uxbridge!
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Founded in 2017, Slabtown Cider Co. is a family owned and operated cidery and orchard with a mission to preserve the history of Slabtown, Uxbridge. Developed with inspiration from the region, the craft cidery celebrates local, rural heritage and is set to open in the spring of 2019.
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Durham residents invited to provide input on Agriculture Strategy and Vibrant North Durham Plan
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The Region of Durham is updating both the Agricultural Strategy and Vibrant North Durham Plan for the next five years to reflect the current context and opportunities in the region. Each initiative will be available for public consultation.
The Agriculture Strategy provides the vision and principles required to support the vitality of the region’s agricultural industry.
The Vibrant North Durham Plan is a five-year plan developed in co-operation with the townships of Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge. It is designed to help implement economic development thinking, processes and projects in north Durham.
Public Consultation Session Dates:
Agricultural Strategy:
Thursday, March 21
- 1 to 3 p.m. at Region of Durham Headquarters - 605 Rossland Road East, Whitby - Room 5J
- 4 to 6 p.m. at the Blackstock Recreation Complex - 3440 Church Street, Blackstock - Main Hall
- 7 to 9 p.m. at the Blackstock Recreation Complex - 3440 Church Street, Blackstock - Main Hall
Vibrant North Durham Plan:
Tuesday, April 2
- 6 to 8 p.m. at 51 Toronto Street South, Uxbridge - Uxbridge Council Chambers
Thursday, April 4
- 6 to 8 p.m. - 181 Perry Street, Port Perry - Scugog Council Chambers
Monday, April 8
- 6 to 8 p.m. - 1 Cameron Street East, Cannington - Brock Council Chambers
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Regional Chair and CEO and Durham Region CAO tour north Durham businesses
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Durham Regional Chair and CEO John Henry and Durham Region CAO Elaine Baxter-Trahair recently toured north Durham to meet with agricultural and rural business owners in the townships of Scugog, Uxbridge and Brock.
Thank you to the businesses who welcomed them to their operation!
- Pheonix Poultry Farm
- Sunderland Co-Op.
- Claire Snoddon Farm Equipment
- Herrelea Farms
- Hans Steel
- Load Lifter
- Old Flame Brewery
- Greenwood Mushroom Farm
- HUB International
- Youngfield Farms
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Image caption: Owners of Youngfield Farms, Regional Chair and CEO John Henry, Regional Councillor Wilma Wotten, Durham Region CAO Elaine Baxter-Trahair and Regional staff Nancy Rutherford.
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Registration Open for Navigating On-Farm Value-Added Workshop
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Are you a farmer looking to explore new opportunities for your farm? A workshop will be held on March 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Nestleton Community Centre, where successful entrepreneurs and subject matter experts will share their experiences.
Advanced registration is required by March 12. Please contact Tracey Werry, Durham Farm Fresh Co-ordinator at
coordinator@durhamfarmfresh.ca
or 905-427-1512.
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Grant opportunities now open for Digital Main Street program
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Eligible businesses across Ontario can now apply for funding through the Digital Main Street Program. There are two grant streams; the Digital Transformation Grant and the Service Squad Grant program. Digital Main Street is supported by key features that assist main street businesses as they adopt digital tools, technologies and services
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Durham Farm Connections Open House 2019
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Durham Region residents are invited to attend the Farm Connections Open House on Wednesday, April 3 beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Luther Vipond Memorial Arena, located at 67 Winchester Road East in Brooklin.
This interactive event provides attendees with an opportunity to learn about agriculture through various stations, including meeting with farmers and livestock; as well as learning about dairy, beef, poultry, sheep, maple syrup, land stewardship, vegetables, apples and crops.
Admission is free, but donations of a non-perishable food item will be gratefully accepted on behalf of the local food bank.
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Celebrate the season at a local maple syrup festival!
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Each spring, residents and visitors travel to north Durham to attend the annual
Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival
and
Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival
. Visitors can enjoy a fun, event-filled weekend, all while supporting local agriculture. The Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival will take place throughout March, and the Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival will be held the first weekend of April.
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Envision Durham: Seeking input on Agriculture/Rural System Discussion Paper
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In February, The Regional Municipality of Durham’s Planning Division launched Envision Durham, the Municipal Comprehensive Review of the Durham Regional Official Plan. Over the next four years, the Region is reaching out to area municipalities, conservation authorities, the public, businesses and other stakeholders, including the agricultural community, to gather their views and opinions on a range of topics.
As part of Envision Durham, an Agriculture/Rural System Discussion Paper will be available for public input beginning on March 5. Further consultation will be taking place in conjunction with the update of the Region’s Agricultural Strategy.
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Durham Region releases broadband strategy
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Recognizing the importance of adequate broadband infrastructure for the well-being and economic competitiveness of the region’s residents, businesses and institutions, Durham Regional Council has approved Connecting our Communities: A Broadband Strategy for Durham Region.
The 10 actions contained within the strategy focus on the Region’s efforts around collaboration, addressing service gaps, and supporting improved affordability.
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Register today for the Urban Agriculture Symposium taking place March 30
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Resilient Communities, Regenerative Landscapes: An Urban Agriculture Symposium will be held on March 30 in Whitby to bring together participants for panel discussions, informative speaker sessions, networking and Durham College greenhouse tours. The symposium will celebrate existing and new projects, while raising awareness of urban agriculture projects in the region. Registration is required to attend.
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Funding opportunities for farmers, food processors and other businesses
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The provincial and the federal governments recently announced that farmers and other businesses can apply for support under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership for projects to boost innovation, economic development, environmental stewardship and food safety. The intake will take place between March 22 and May 6, 2019.
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Semi-finalists for Brock Youth Centre's Business Pitch Competition announced!
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Congratulations to the following students for making it to the semi-finalists in the Brock Youth Centre’s 2019 Business Pitch Competition:
- Owen Kennedy of Kennedy Custom Cabinets and Furniture and Kara Steffensmeier of Society (Uxbridge Secondary School).
- Melody Cannon of Mind at Ease and Lukas Malhotra and Luca Edwards of Medicine Cabinet to Go (Port Perry High School).
- Demitri Torres of Demitri’s Woodworking (Brock High School).
Stay tuned for an announcement on the date and location of the finals competition.
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Data Methods event
The Durham Workforce Authority (DWA) invites you to attend a free community presentation on community-based research methods, tools and refinements to the Durham Data Portal, and other data information systems.
More Info
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Navigating On-Farm Value-Added
Durham Farm Fresh, along with The Regional Municipality of Durham and OMAFRA, is proud to offer Navigating On-Farm Value-Added, an information session about incorporating value-added opportunities into your farm business.
More Info
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Data Walk & Kitchen Table Conversation Lunch
Durham Workforce Authority invites community stakeholders, residents, researchers, program administrators, local government officials, service providers, and job seekers to engage in dialogue around research findings about our community.
More Info
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Durham Farm Connections Open House
Bring the whole family to this interactive hands-on event, and learn about agriculture in Durham Region.
More Info
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Teeny Tiny Summit 2019
Taking place in Orono in the Municipality of Clarington; this years theme is Big Ideas for Small Places.
More Info
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Contact Us
Toll-free: 1-800-706-9857
As a contact of the Region of Durham's Planning and Economic Development Department, you have been added to our mailing list. If you wish to be removed from the mailing list, please use the unsubscribe link located at the bottom of this e-newsletter.
If this information is required in an accessible format, please contact the Planning and Economic Development Department at 905-668-7711 ext. 2615 (toll-free at 1-800-706-9857).
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Region of Durham Economic Development
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