“It was basically to bring creative people together to share what they’re doing so that one you are filled with hope because you see there are positive things going on,” said Weir. “And two, you’re also, in my opinion anyway, filled with hope because you know you’re not alone in the world.”
The World Hope Forum was launched in the spring of 2020, during Dutch Design Week by Lidewij Edelkoort and Philip Fimmano.
The platform’s main objective is to create a holistic global space for the exchange and expansion of knowledge and innovation.
Weir said her philosophy boils down to giving more value-add for local farmers.
Located at the Parry Sound Municipal Airport in Seguin Township, Wave Fibre Mill is a semi-worsted custom fibre mill that got its start last May after Weir learned sheep farmers left throwing away their annual shearing.
“Our mill is a little bigger than some. There are quite a few small woollen mills and mostly our on-farm sites throughout Ontario,” said Weir.
She said what makes Wave Fibre Mill unique is they will take raw fibre right through the processing and create a garment.
“A farmer can come and say I’d like to have my fleece processed and I’d like some blankets out of the fleece from my sheep. And we can do that.”
As well as providing services for mid-size fibre farms, the mill also supplies products and materials for artisans, crafters, and consumers.
“The fact that she’s leading, truly leading the world wool industry and taking us back to the quality of natural fibres it’s mind-boggling,” said MacDiarmid. “And it’s all happening at an airport hangar in Seguin.”
The variety of sauces made by the Saucy Muskokan in Bracebridge are 100% natural. They support as many local businesses and farms as possible when sourcing ingredients for their products.
Since becoming an IION client in Fall 2022 the Saucy Muskokan has expanded into several stores in Ontario, moved into their own commercial kitchen, hired several staff and attended the Royal Winter Fair as a vendor.
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Wild Muskoka Botanicals Wins $10,000 Founders Choice Award
Source: lakeofbays.on.ca
(LAKE OF BAYS, ON) Dwight-based business, Wild Muskoka Botanicals, was recently chosen as the winner of the 2022 Muskoka Founders Circle Award. On Thursday, November 10th, 2
022, at the Founders Choice Awards Presentation, the Lake of Bays business was selected out of five finalists as the first-prize winner, receiving a cheque for $10,000.
Wild Muskoka Botanicals
produces artisan wild food and cocktails made from locally sourced and sustainably foraged ingredients as well as offering educational workshops throughout Ontario. Laura Gilmour, Founder, Forager and self-proclaimed “Kitchen Witch,” has been teaching classes and leading foraging excursions for over 9 years.
Laura Gilmour says that “After the holiday rush we will come up with a strategic plan to use the funds as wisely as possible. It will include leveraging these funds to apply for some marketing grants, some equipment upgrades to make our processes more efficient, and looking how to expand our team. For now, with a full heart, I feel motivated to keep going and keep bringing our wild goodies to your tables that are delicious, healthy and show that business can thrive while caring for the land.”
The Township would like to congratulate Wild Muskoka Botanicals for its achievements. Their contribution to the area’s business ecology and culture demonstrates the unique, diverse, entrepreneurial-driven, forward-looking businesses that call Lake of Bays home.
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Miller Tech launches battery electric grader for underground mining
Source: Canadian Mining Journal
Miller Technology launched a new, battery electric low-profile grader for underground mining. The company claims that customer response and trials at the bauma trade show in Munich, Germany were positive.
Miller’s E-Grader was built by retrofitting a HBM-Novas 110-M low profile grader with Miller’s patented powered by Ionic drive system.
“This is another great day for Miller, for North Bay, for northern Ontario and for Canada as we continue to roll out more battery electric vehicles for mining,” said Dan Bachand, the CEO of Miller. “We also want to recognize and thank the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) for its funding support of the E-Grader.”
The launch of the E-Grader comes shortly after an announcement in the federal government’s fall economic statement, that introduces a refundable tax credit of 30% of the capital cost of investments in a number of clean technology items, including hydrogen or electric heavy-duty equipment used in construction and mining that are zero-emission or can be charged or refuelled remotely.
Mark Sherry wants to keep as many shopping dollars in the local community as he can. He believes One Red Maple can do that.
It’s an extension that works with Google Chrome, and while it’s in the beta stage right now, he believes it can help small independent retailers and franchises by steering shopping dollars away from big online retailers like Amazon.
“It’s a way to try to change the game,” Sherry says.
Online retailing is the gorilla in the market. Online sales were growing at an annual rate of about 15 per cent before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
But after small retailers were forced to close their doors at various times in the pandemic, online retail took a giant leap. In 2020, online sales jumped by about 40 per cent, at the expense of small businesses.
“Amazon’s strength is it has huge inventory,” Sherry says. But what One Red Maple does is when someone is shopping online, it will bring up similar or identical products available locally, “redirecting some of that traffic to local retailers.”
The idea was percolating for several months before the pandemic closed in, and Sherry recognized it as a “really big idea.”
The problem was, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to commit to it at the time because of the size of the undertaking.
But as the first wave of shutdowns took place, and “a place like Deegan’s had to close down while they were stuffing people into Walmart,” he decided it was an idea he had to pursue.
“The pandemic has been terribly hard on small business. This is a way to fight back against the centralization of retail. If we can do this, we can drive more people downtown” or to other retailers in the local area.
Jayne’s Luxury Rentals is pleased to announce it was ranked 242nd on the 2021 Report on Business ranking of Canada’s Top Growing Companies. Canada’s Top Growing Companies ranks Canadian companies on three-year revenue growth. Jayne’s Luxury Rentals earned its spot with three-year growth of 156%.
Jayne McCaw, CEO, thanks her employees, owners, guests and communities where we operate for the tremendous support given to the company since inception, now in it’s seventh year of operation. “One of the biggest reasons for our success is that we have become trusted partners for all of our stakeholders. Our owners trust us to rent their beautiful properties as they know we take the utmost care and responsibility throughout the process. Our Guests know they are getting a truly unparalleled level of service that delivers as promised.”
The company believes its higher than 70% repeat guest rate is a testament to the trust associated with the Jayne’s brand. Jayne’s Luxury Rentals has a solid track record of making owners a substantial income with low-risk rentals – which is why they sign on over 100 new owners every year.
Jayne McCaw was the recipient of RBC’s Female Entrepreneur of the Year, a Women of Influence award in 2019, which recognizes the country’s leading female entrepreneurs who have made impressive and substantial contributions to the local, Canadian or global economy.
Launched in 2019, the Canada’s Top Growing Companies editorial ranking aims to celebrate entrepreneurial achievement in Canada by identifying and amplifying the success of growth-minded, independent businesses in Canada. It is a voluntary program; companies had to complete an in-depth application process in order to qualify. In total, 448 companies earned a spot on this year’s ranking.
“As we look toward the future, Canada’s Top Growing Companies offer both inspiration and practical insights for other firms facing similar challenges,” says James Cowan, Editor of Report on Business magazine. “The entrepreneurs behind these companies are smart, tenacious and unwavering in their commitment to their goals.”
“Any business leader seeking inspiration should look no further than the 448 businesses on this year’s Report on Business ranking of Canada’s Top Growing Companies,” says Phillip Crawley, Publisher and CEO of The Globe and Mail. “Their growth helps to make Canada a better place, and we are proud to bring their stories to our readers.”
About Jayne’s Luxury Rentals
Jayne’s Luxury Rentals is a property rental and concierge company with a very personalized and exclusive approach to planning and hosting vacation getaways. The company hand-selects only the finest properties to feature for rentals on the JaynesCottages.com vacation-rental website. The company professionally plans and manages all aspects of the rental process, providing an unparalleled level of service, including extensive 5 star concierge offerings, to ensure a first class hosting and vacation experience.The company customize the vacation planning for guests including airport pick-ups, cottage tours by professional and uniformed staff, fresh flowers and toiletries, hotel-quality linens, regular housekeeping, private chefs, water trampolines or waterski instruction and 24/7 Concierge Manager access to handle any concerns. Growing from 25 cottages in 2015 to over 300 properties in 2021, the company is 100% self-funded and employs approximately 20 year-round employees and 75 employees in the summer, making Jayne’s one of the largest employers in the Muskoka region. For more information please visit: https://jaynescottages.com
North Bay company ready to deploy its mine rescue drone
SafeSight Exploration has developed a drone that works underground in mine rescue situation CBC News
The future of underground mine rescue comes in a tiny package, and one North Bay, Ont., company plans to be at the forefront of a technological revolution that could save lives.
SafeSight Exploration has developed a new drone specifically adapted to operate in underground mine rescue situations, where debris and smoke can obstruct rescuers.
“Our goal as a company is essentially to use technology to keep workers out of harm’s way,” said Mike Campigotto, SafeSight Exploration’s president.
“This protects the rescuer and in minutes they can assess location and access areas that would probably take hours or be inaccessible in the current situation so they can then create a well-crafted recovery or rescue plan.”
Over the last three years, Campigotto said, his company has invested millions of dollars into the drone underground environment. One challenge operating a drone underground is it cannot rely on the global positioning system (GPS), as is common for most consumer and commercial models.
Instead, SafeSight’s drones use photographic sensors and a laser to get their bearings and build a three-dimensional map of their surroundings. Campigotto said his company’s drones are ready to be deployed to mine sites around the world. But they continue to improve the technology.
A new technology for mine rescue
While operating mines have been using drones for several years to map out sites, for example, their use in mine rescue situations is much newer, said Ted Hanley, vice-president of Ontario Mine Rescue.
Hanley said a rescue scenario presents a more challenging environment in which to operate a drone, because there are many unknowns, and smoke, fire and debris can impede their sensors.
He said he is only aware of one situation so far, where a drone was used during an underground mine rescue operation. A Philadelphia-based company, Exyn Technologies, developed a drone that was used during a mine rescue in Ghana.
But Hanley said Mine Rescue Ontario is ready to deploy a drone, necessary for any future emergency in the province.
“It has not been used for those purposes in Ontario, somewhat thankfully,” he said. “We don’t wish for those circumstances to occur, but there are a few UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) providers that we’re in contact with.”
Hanley said drones are most useful as a tool to gather information. “So the UAV or any robotic technology that’s unmanned, being able to inspect an area during an emergency is potentially bringing us back that missing percentage of information that can allow us to make a safe decision on whether to send or not send rescuers into an area.”
