Agriculture & Rural Economic Development Newsletter
March 2020 | Volume 9, Issue 2
In This Issue:
  • Advanced manufacturing business, Matchtech, comes to Sunderland
  • Wheelbarrow Farm: committed to growing high-quality vegetables with minimal impact to the environment
  • Have your say on the Region's new Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWP)!
  • Durham Region Welcomes Manager of Agriculture and Rural Economic Development
  • Scugog seeking feedback on Waterfront Action Plan
  • Durham Food Policy Council Symposium takes place April 24 at Regional Headquarters
  • Durham business owners: Have your say on broadband access in the region
  • Maplebrough Holsteins named 2019 Master Breeder recipients
  • Durham Region wins big at the 2019 EDCO Awards of Excellence
  • Durham Region opens Access and Privacy Office
  • Support local agriculture this spring at a maple syrup festival!
Advanced Manufacturing business, Matchtech, comes to Sunderland
Matchtech Advanced Manufacturing has relocated to the Township of Brock! The commercial and industrial equipment supplier offers customers solutions for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) procurement needs, as well as thorough manufacturing design analysis.

For more information, visit matchtech.ca .  
Wheelbarrow Farm: committed to growing high-quality vegetables with minimal impact to the environment
Since opening in Sunderland in the spring of 2008, Wheelbarrow Farm has expanded operations by implementing environmentally friendly farming practices, such as cover cropping, paperpot transplanters, row seeders, and weeding tools. The family farm has also installed a solar array to power the farm and has invested in the first Canadian Solectrac electric tractor; growing eight acres of vegetables, fruit and nut trees and perennials. With a goal of training new farmers, Wheelbarrow Farm also offers an apprenticeship program. For more information, visit wheelbarrowfarm.com .
Have your say on the Region's new Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWP)!
Across the province, communities are developing Community Safety and Well-Being Plans (CSWP). The Police Services Act requires the CSWP to be developed in partnership with Durham Regional Police Service and in collaboration with local area municipalities, community partners and the public. To assist in the development of our CSWP, we need to hear from you! Please participate through our online survey at durham.ca/CSWP . The survey will be open until March 31.
An accessible print version of the survey will be available from the municipal office or at your local library.
Durham Region welcomes Manager of Agriculture and Rural Economic Development
The Region of Durham’s Planning and Economic Development Department has announced Stacey Jibb as the successful candidate for the Manager of Agriculture & Rural Economic Development.

Working closely with the teams at Uxbridge, Brock, and Scugog, Stacey will strive to attract, retain and expand businesses in north Durham. She will also lead the delivery of new strategies for agriculture and agri-food programming.

Contact Stacey: Stacey.Jibb@durham.ca.
Township of Scugog seeking feedback on Waterfront Action Plan
The Township of Scugog is requesting public feedback on the Port Perry Waterfront Action Plan , which will make recommendations for actions related to recreation, economic development and tourism on the waterfront, and heritage features. As part of the public consultation strategy, workshops and public meetings will be held for the public to provide input . A report titled, What We Heard Report #1 was released in December 2019 .

To provide comments or receive notice of any future public meetings, please contact Robin Prentice, Manager of Planning at the Township of Scugog, by calling 905-985-7346, ext. 100 or via email at waterfront@scugog.ca .
Durham Food Policy Council Symposium takes place April 24 at Regional Headquarters
Join the Durham Food Policy Council (DFPC) for the How Do You Measure a Food System? Symposium for a day of conversation on developing a report card for our local food system. The event will include a keynote address by food system scholar and practitioner Phil Mount, a presentation of DFPC's report card research findings, recommendations related to the Food System Report Card project, and breakout activities to brainstorm and collect feedback .
Durham business owners: Have your say on broadband access in the region
Durham Region recognizes the importance of broadband access as a necessity for every household and business. That’s why we have launched separate broadband surveys—targeted to Durham residents (with additional questions for farms) and businesses—to gather feedback and improve broadband access across the region.

To complete the survey, visit durham.ca/broadband by April 30, 2020. To receive a copy by mail, please send a request to broadband.survey@durham.ca .
Maplebrough Farm named 2019 Master Breeder recipients
Congratulations to Mike and Jamie Risebrough of Uxbridge’s Maplebrough Holsteins who have joined the ranks of Canada’s most elite breeders for 2019! They will be honoured at the National Holstein Convention Master Breeder Gala in April.
 
The Master Breeder program is the most prolific accolade awarded by Holstein Canada. Read the announcement on holstein.ca.
Durham Region wins big at the 2019 EDCO Awards of Excellence
The Region of Durham’s Planning and Economic Development and Tourism Department received the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) Award of Excellence for: Growing Resilience: Durham Region Agricultural Sector Climate Adaptation Strategy in the Sector or Project Specific Strategic Plan category at the 2019 EDCO Awards of Excellence banquet held in Toronto on February 6, 2020.
 
Honorable mention in the same category was given to: Connecting our Communities: Broadband Strategy for Durham Region . The department also received top honours for the Durham Region 2019 Ontario Parasport Games.
 
The awards recognize the efforts made to promote and market opportunities for investment attraction and tourism opportunities and is a well-established program that honours outstanding economic development initiatives and individuals in Ontario.
Durham Region opens Access and Privacy Office
Durham Region recently opened its Access and Privacy Office at Regional Headquarters in Whitby. The office provides residents and organizations access to information on Regional decisions and actions, while protecting the privacy of individuals and personal/sensitive information. Visit the Access to Information page on durham.ca for more information.
Support local agriculture this spring at a maple syrup festival!
The annual Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival and Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival will take place this spring where visitors can enjoy a fun, family friendly day out in north Durham. 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.

Pefferlaw Creek Farms’ Maple Syrup Festival runs weekends starting March 14 to April 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Uxbridge.
 
From March 19 to 22, Willowtree Farm in Port Perry will be hosting Maplefest . Try the maple sap or watch how authentic maple syrup is produced.
 
The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority will be celebrating Maple Syrup Day on March 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For one day only, bring your whole family and experience a MapleValley tour, Sugar Shack demos, live music and a pancake feast. Games, crafts, storytelling and face painting will also be available.
 
Don’t miss the delicious, maple-flavoured baked goods at Brooks Farm's 2020 Maple Sugar Festival . Check their website for event details.
Upcoming Events
East Central Farm Show
The 39 th annual East Central Farm Show will take place in the Commonwell Exhibition Building at the Lindsay, Ontario Fairgrounds. It's the only show of its kind between London and Ottawa. More info
Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) Workshop - Whitby
Producers are invited to attend a free two-day (March 17 and 24) EFP workshop to: assess your farm business; learn more about on-farm environmental best management practices; develop action plans; and learn more about cost-sharing opportunities . More info  
Brock Networking Group Meeting
This is a group of businesses that meet on the third Tuesday of every month at 8 a.m. Breakfast is provided with an attendance fee of $10. This is a great way to let other businesses get to know you, make connections, and update the group on what is happening with you. More info
Uxbridge Chamber of Commerce Breakfast
With top-notch speakers, tasty buffet breakfast and an enthusiastic crowd, The Uxbridge Chamber of Commerce Breakfast for March presents Holly Barkwell, President & CEO of Barkwell Holland Group Inc. More info
2020 Farmland Forum
Attend the 2020 Farmland Forum for a day of sharing, networking, and exploring policy and land-use planning innovation for the changing landscapes of farming and farmland protection in Ontario. More info
Contact Us
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