#TeamPTBO Announce Series of Workshops to be Available For Businesses to Receive Support During COVID-19 - 2020-03-19
The #TeamPTBO business support team including Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, Community Futures Peterborough and Innovation Cluster – Peterborough & the Kawarthas have developed a virtual workshop series for businesses in the region.
COVID-19 is already impacting and shifting how consumers and businesses behave. Many businesses in the region have encouraged remote working in both tech and non-tech companies alike.
To address the many concerns surrounding how this will impact businesses in our region, the business support organizations in Peterborough and the Kawarthas have created a free workshop series that will be available over Zoom Conferencing for up to 100 participants. Based on the Hands-ON workshop series model that the Innovation Cluster delivers on a regular basis, they will now bring their Innovation Partner experts forward that are relevant to the current crisis. All businesses in Peterborough will have access to the workshops in the series.
“This workshop series will ensure that businesses have the information they need to make educated decisions during these times,” says President of the Innovation Cluster, John Gillis. “Many of the shifts will create long-term disruption that will shape our local businesses for years to come.”
The workshops that will be offered are (with more to be announced):
Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 12pm: Financing and Funding, Dawn Hennessey of BDC, Gail Moorehouse of Community Futures Peterborough and Vince Killen of Kawartha Lakes Community Futures
Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 12pm: Hands-ON: Navigating Human Resources during COVID-19 with Savino HR
Wednesday April 1 at 1:00 pm-2:30 pm: Branding and Marketing for Your Small Business, Madeleine Hurrell (PKED)
Monday April 6 at 10:00 am-11:30 am: Business Planning and Utilizing the Business Model Canvas, Madeleine Hurrell (PKED)
Workshops will cover topics that are often delivered by the #TeamPTBO group, like intellectual property, marketing and cash flow, but will also include workshops specifically focused on how businesses operate around the current COVID-19 situation.
These online workshops serve as one of the multiple ways #TeamPTBO is continuing their support to businesses during this difficult time.
Updates and a full list of workshops, as well as information on COVID-19 can be found at: http://www.innovationcluster.ca/whats-happening/covid-19/
Peterborough Based Startup Pilates on Demand Offers Workouts for Free Online To Support People Self Isolating During COVID-19 - 2020-03-18
In light of the COVID-19 situation, local Peterborough entrepreneur Jessica Dalliday is helping people stay healthy while stuck at home. Her business, Pilates on Demand (POD), is currently offering free video exercises for two weeks, the same amount of time many people are self-isolating for.
With Ontario declaring a State of Emergency, multiple gyms and group fitness activities have closed as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, many of which are local.
“We have had to close both of our reformer pilates studios due to COVID-19,” says Becky Sheehey of Sweat Happy Wellness in Lindsay and Peterborough, and instructor for POD. “This not only means our family’s business will be inoperable for an unknown amount of time, but we are leaving over 300 members without therapeutic exercise.”
With this new offering, members are able to continue the exercise they need.
“Pilates on Demand is great during this time because our members can continue their practice at home with many of our teachers,” says Sheehey.
New members are encouraged to join the Facebook group “Pilates on Demand Community”, that serves as a support system and also provides live exercise classes including a stretch class, barre classes, pilates classes and more. Becky will be providing a livestream class in the group at 7:30 EST tonight.
“We know that staying healthy and active is more important than ever right now,” says Dalliday. “Social distancing can have huge impacts on our well-being both physically and mentally, and we want to help.“
This two week free membership includes unlimited access to all of their online pilates classes, nutritional information, downloadable health and wellness guides, a community of support and more! Anyone is able to access the classes as long as they have access to the internet.
“I had been wanting to try pilates for a while and Jess’ generous offer was too good to turn down, especially during this time of having to stay put at home,” says Maria Lopez of HappyBeet in Cobourg.
Those interested can visit www.pilatesondemand.ca/
Dragon’s Den Judge Manjit Minhas Headlines Electric City Talks in Celebration of International Women’s Day - 2020-03-11
The Innovation Cluster and partner Fleming College were excited to bring Peterborough the third installment of Electric City Talks: An Evening With Manjit Minhas, which brought over 400 attendees to Showplace Performance Centre on the evening of March 10, 2020.
In celebration of the recent International Women’s Day, Manjit spoke about Empowering Women: Achieving Business Success in Male-Dominated industries.
Many female founders and supporters attended the event, including FemSteamPtbo, a group that works on improving the awareness and resources to young females in the Greater Peterborough region regarding education & career options in STEAM and Skill Trades.
Prior to the event, Manjit Minhas toured the Innovation Cluster’s Peterborough incubator and spoke with some of the regions most high-potential startups in the agtech, cleantech, digital and healthcare sectors.
The Dragon’s Den judge, along with other global disruptors have headlined the series to allow Peterborough to expand their knowledge and network with the best in tech and innovation.
The end of the show announced the next headliner of the EC Talks series to be Craig Kielburger, Co-Founder of WE Charity, We Day, Me to We and Free the Children, and is a Human Rights Activist and Social Entrepreneur. The event will take place on May 26, 2020, and those interested in attending can purchase tickets HERE.