Economic Development eNews

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COVID-19 Business Support

Special Webpage - www.investleedsgrenville/covid19

The Economic Development Office of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville has dedicated a special webpage for information on business programs and resources as they become available. It is important to subscribe to the page to ensure you receive updates as they are posted. The subscription button is found at the bottom of the page.

Information currently on the webpage is from the Government of Canada, Government of Ontario, FedDev Ontario, BDC, Canadian and Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Industry Association of Ontario plus several other reliable resources. Any industry or regional business surveys will also be posted to this site. Please provide your input when they are posted.

Businesses are encouraged to ensure their contact information is up to date in the Counties Business Directory - www.investleedsgrenville.com/directory.

"We have some companies that are working at maximum capacity to provide much-needed supplies and transportation of goods, while other companies are being dramatically affected by the state of emergency," says Ann Weir, Leeds Grenville Economic Development Manager.

Companies who can assist with supplies to combat COVID-19, please connect with the Government of Canada website.

"Counties Economic Development is working collaboratively with all municipalities in the region and business support agencies to ensure the flow of information, and programs are being developed to support businesses at both ends of the spectrum for today and tomorrow."

Counties Economic Development Staff are continuing to be connected digitally and we will provide updates through our webpage and eNewsletter. If you have any questions, please email or call 613-342-3840, ext. 5365

The Government of Ontario Essential Services list is at: www.investleedsgrenville.com/covid19

Economic Development eNews | March 24, 2020

Business Profile

Top feature photo: Quabbin Hill Maple owners Greg and Lynda Halladay by their sugar house. Below with their grandson Braydon.

Quabbin Hill Maple owners keeping it sweet for 25 years

MALLORYTOWN - Lynda and Greg Halladay say creating a life, home and family together included another must-have - a sugar bush!

"We bought this farm because there was a sugar bush on it," says Lynda of the property purchased more than 30 years ago. "It was a priority from the start."

The couple created Quabbin Hill Maple and have been producing syrup and developing maple products ever since, including syrup, maple candy and butter, their signature blueberry-infused syrup and most recently a maple almond facial scrub.

They are passionate about creating quality products for their customers and for their own enjoyment. There is nothing better than watching their two-year-old grandson eat pancakes slathered in syrup from their farm.

For Greg, it is a lifelong passion spanning 50 years. He grew up in nearby Delta, home of the famous annual Delta Maple Syrup Festival. His father worked in a commercial syrup business there for many years. When Greg was just 10, his grandfather, a tinsmith, made him a pan to boil syrup. Greg's dad built him an arch, aka a hearth or fire box, and he was ready to start a childhood business. For many years Greg tapped 20 trees around the family home until he married Lynda and moved to Quabbin Hill.

"I've been around syrup all of my life," says Greg. "When I found my forever place, I knew it had to have a sugar bush on it. We love it and pancakes. My grandson brings his syrup bottle back and says 'Poppa more'."

When they started the Quabbin Hill operation they initially used the garage to boil and bottle syrup. In those days they had about 60 taps and sold to a smaller group of customers. By 2012, they expanded and built their new sugar house. Production has since gone up to 350 taps on a pipeline with a vacuum system.

Quabbin Hill Maple welcomes special orders and creates gift baskets. Small maple leaf-shaped bottles are popular as wedding table gifts and can be shipped around the world.The couple is also very active in supporting their local community with donations of products to the legion and local churches.

During normal operating conditions, Greg and Lynda welcome group visits by appointment. However, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, special circumstances now apply, including social distancing. Call ahead for information.

Learn more about Quabbin Hill Maple by visiting their Facebook page, send them an email or call 613-246-3887. Their address is 156 Quabbin Hill Road, Mallorytown, (3 kilometres west of the village) in the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands.

Celebrating Business

Lifetime Achievement, Leadership Awards presented to local women

Businesswoman Suzanne Guild is this year's recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award presented at the International Women's Day event earlier this month.

Suzanne was honoured at the event "Building a World of Gender Equality" held at the Brockville Country Club on March 10. The annual celebration of women entrepreneurs was hosted by the Leeds Grenville Small Business Enterprise Centre and Brockville Women in Business (BWB). The event was sold out.

Suzanne is a long-time community and Downtown Brockville Business Improvement Area supporter. She operated her business, Isis Dress for Special Occasions, for years. She closed the popular store at the end of 2019 to spend more time with her family.

"I have been blessed my whole life by having incredible, smart, strong and bold women who encouraged, supported, directed and mentored me throughout the years," Suzanne said. She raised four children, worked in municipal government and the social service sector before following her dream in 2007 to own her own shop. She juggled full-time employment and the shop until she could work exclusively in her business in 2013.

The BWB Sue MacLaurin Leadership Memorial Award was presented to Christina Covey-Shannon.

"This is so exciting," Christina said, adding her work as a RBC Certified Financial Planner and Investment Advisor means she can do what she likes to do - help people reach their investment goals.

Christina is also active in the community, including Brockville Relay for Life, Brockville Minor Hockey, and her family has been a host family for Canadian Aid for Chernobyl.

The local International Women's Day celebration welcomes Kemptville Women in Business, Brockville Women in Business and female entrepreneurs from across the Leeds Grenville region.

Suzanne Guild and her husband Bruce Kipping .

Christina Covey-Shannon and her daughter Mara at the event.

Webinar

How to Cope with the Impacts of COVID-19 on your Business

Pierre Cléroux, Business Development Bank of Canada's Vice-president Research and Chief Economist

WHEN: Wednesday, March 25, 12 noon.

COST: Free

To Register

Learn more about upcoming events or cancellations on our Workshops and Seminars page.

Leeds Grenville eNews Deadlines for submitting information:

If you have an upcoming workshop, seminar, or business-related event, please email it to us in advance.

Submissions for the April 7th edition should be received by Monday, March 30th.
Submissions for the April 21st edition should be received by Tuesday, April 14th.