The climate emergency continues to be an intense topic for discussion, but many Waterloo Region businesses and institutions are taking action that moves beyond words, encouraging the community to preserve the environment.
According to Statistics Canada, nearly 17,000 new businesses opened in December. For three consecutive months, this figure has remained stronger than pre-COVID levels. Between 2015 and 2019, the monthly average was 15,725 new businesses created.
“I thought COVID would negatively impact my business but surprisingly it was the complete opposite! When COVID hit, my revenue started to increase at a steadier rate than it had in the past,” said local business owner Taylor Bell.
Soup company now in four cities and also sells at local markets and chains.
Behind Kathy Hanshaw’s vibrant personality and crown of crimson flowers is the never-stop grit of an entrepreneur.
According to Statistics Canada, while the number of jobs in northern and southwestern Ontario have both shrunk by about 20,000 in the last decade, growth in the GTA has been steady during that same time. While provincial reports may reflect developments and improvements in Ontario, this is far from the whole story.
With the help of sponsors such as Best Buy and Mountain Warehouse, the event raised about $300 for the Toronto hospital.
BY NICOLE CLARK Conestoga College Council members were shown tentative floor plans and other details connected with an upcoming expansion of the Waterloo campus at a council meeting on Nov. 22. The Conestoga North Campus Expansion Project is expected to increase the number of full-time students at the Waterloo campus from just over 900 to more than 3,000 and will be open by September 2018. “I know the growth will … Continued
BY JAMES WELLS Three festivals down, plenty more to go. Cambridge’s annual International Festival, held on Sept. 24, came together in a celebration of cultural diversity. The event, which has been held every year at Cambridge’s Riverside Park, featured many different cultures that shared their country’s love of music, food and apparel as well as words of global unity. “We’re hoping to keep going and going. I mean, we’ve gotten … Continued
BY CHRISTEL ALLISON Deciding to start your own business might not be so difficult if you have the right team to work with you. Angie Fairbanks, an international speaker and chief operating officer of ActionCOACH, led a seminar on steps to building a winning business on March 10 at the Holiday Inn on Fairway Road in Kitchener. ActionCOACH is a business consulting firm that has branches in 61 countries and … Continued
BY ETHAN KOMPF In the current political discourse, we are usually offered a false dichotomy between the environment and the economy. Politicians give impassioned speeches about the importance of jobs and job creation, which, according to them, would suffer if we chose to focus on the environment. This is a compelling argument that people buy into because it leads them to react with fear, the ultimate motivator. Logic shows that … Continued
By ALEX RIESE After a well-publicized purchase from the City of Kitchener and extensive renovations, the Boathouse in Victoria Park is open for business once again. The popular music hub and Kitchener staple was closed in September 2013 due to the need for a complete update of the venue’s facilities. It was purchased from the City of Kitchener by Bill MacTavish, owner of Imbibe Food’n’Drink, and his investor Mark Forwell. … Continued
BY NICOLE NEMETH Back in May 2011 Megan Campbell bought herself a button maker, but what started as a hobby has now turned into a full-fledged business. Bayleaf Buttons sells a variety of pin-back buttons, magnets, key chains, pocket mirrors and bottle openers. The buttons come in three different sizes: one inch, 1.5 inches and 2.25 inches. The company is a one-woman act, keeping Campbell busy as its sole employee. … Continued
BY AARON CRECES Do you have a great business idea that you want to get off the ground, but don’t really know where to begin? If that’s the case, the Summer Company program may be just what you need. Operated by the Ontario government since 2001, Summer Company offers up to $3,000 in grants, as well as advice from prominent local business leaders, so students can get their dream business … Continued
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