Great Summer Kick-off Meet & Greet

Thanks to the Prince Edward Yacht Club for hosting this year's Summer Kick-off Meet & Greet at their beautiful Location on Picton harbour.

We enjoyed a record number of members as well as new and potential members with lively discussions and presentations of new businesses and business opportunities in Prince Edward County.

Thanks everybody for making this a great success!

Dan Aykroyd's Ideal Route Starts In Prince Edward County!

Today's, June 13th issue of the Toronto Star features the article "On the road with Dan Aykroyd" in the Travel section. Aykroyd shares his dream wine route and says that he would start in Prince Edward County! Aykroyd says he would begin his trip in mid October with about a dozen friends driving some Harley Davidsons and a couple of vintage cars. They would stop for lunch on the patio of Lake on the Mountain Resort. He says, " They have a wonderful kitchen and serve a great tourtiere with homemade chili relish." Aykroyd then says they would push on through Picton which is filled with great restaurants. Aykroyd's wine route takes him on to Toronto and the Niagara region.

Our Summer Help is in!

We are thrilled to have Elyse Platt return this summer.
Joining her this year is Jarrod Keogh. Jarrod is completing grade 11.
Please stop in and introduce yourselves.

E-Newsletter June 2009 available now

The E-Newsletter for May and June 2009 is available online on the Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism and Commerce website now (HTML and PDF Format)

www.pecchamber.com

Customer Service and County Awarness Training

The first round of the PECCTAC sponsored Customer Service and County Awareness Training was successfully completed on May 6, 2009.

It's purpose was:

Why buy-in to exceptional service?
+ Ho-Hum Service
+ Improving Mediocrity Customer Service
+ Evaluating Customer Service
+ How does the County rate?
+ Company Policies
+ First Impressions
+ Acknowledging the Customer
+ Improving Your Skills
+ Communication Basics
+ Telephone Skills
+ Angry Customers

Knowing Your Product:
+ Employer Expectations
+ Tools for Knowing The County

Part 2 - County Awareness Training
Group discussions and presentations using “The County Driving Tour”, which is comprised of 3 different tours and detailed descriptions of various points of interest along the route.

Reviews:

"I don't know why every business in the County doesn't have at least one person attending this session!"

Kemp Stewart, Hillier Creek Estate Vineyard and Winery

"Reminded me of the importance of customer service and that I'm selling the County and Tourism every time I give someone directions."

Julia Latendorf, Loyalist Lofts

PECCTAC received AWARD

The Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism and Commerce received the prestigious ADVOCACY AWARD during the Annual General Meeting of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce in recognition of 20 years of Advocacy for the local and regional businesses.

Meet & Greet April 21, 2009

The first Meet & Greet in 2009 was well attended by PECCTAC members and potential members.
A big THANK YOU to Kathy and Kym from Mindful Movements Studio for being such wonderful hosts and showing everybody their great business setup.

For more pictures please click on the Slideshow Spring Meet&Greet 2009 at right.

The next Meet&Greet will be on June 9th, 2009 - the summer kick-off BBQ at the Picton Yacht Club.

Annual General Meeting 2009

A successful Annual General Meeting of the Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism and Commerce wrapped up a busy year 2008.
Well attended at the Waring House Hall, the members elected the new Board of Directors:

Lynne McMullan - Samlyn Enterprises, Geoff Church - Royal LePage Pro Alliance Realty, Adam Holgate - RBC Financial Planner, Ross Lindsay - Browns Manor B&B, Ian Scrimshaw - Open Season Charters & Lodge, Rick Caruso - Caruso's-on-King B&B, Peter Birtwistle - Pierce Martin House B&B, Andrew Smith - Scotia Bank, Dave Ashton - Sunrise Cottage Resort, Sandra Farquhar - Wellington on the Lake Golf Course, Courtney Gough - Independent, Brian Munro - Four Winds Cottage Resort.

Thanks to the Waring House for a great Dinner and Thanks to our Special Guest Speaker, Elizabeth Pulker for her Presentation of Happiness, inclduing her special Happiness Cake.

Survey Results

The Results for the last Survey on Destination Marketing Fee (DMF) were as follows:

6% would agree to charge/pay the additional fee
94% opposes the fee

Destination Marketing Fee Survey (see at right)

The Ministry of Tourism is proposing to legislate a Destination Marketing Fee (DMF) where all Tourism accommodation businesses will be required to charge a levy.
If you need more information before taking a vote on the survey on the right, please read the information document following this link: http://www.tourismstudy.ca/index.html

QHC needs to remember the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital is a Community Hospital

Prince Edward County, Ontario – The Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism & Commerce in partnership with its neighbour – Quinte West Chamber of Commerce submits the following statement to address the options presented to the community by Quinte Health Care (QHC). These options include the reduction of services at the Picton, Trenton, and Bancroft Hospitals in an effort by the organization to balance the hospital’s budget by the end of the 2009/10 fiscal year as directed by the South East Local Health Integration Network (SE LHIN).

To read the full Press Release please CLICK HERE

PECCTAC Member receives the International CLEAN WORLD AWARD

Our PECCTAC member the "Prince Edward Round Table on Environment and Economy" , best known for organizing the annual TRASH BASH event, received the prestigious International CLEAN WORLD AWARD from the Governor General of Canada.

To read more about this achievement CLICK HERE.

Self-guided Driving Tours through Prince Edward County

A self-guided Driving Tour is available for you at the Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism and Commerce websiter: http://www.pecchamber.com/

You can review 3 tours online or download a PDF and MS Word version of the Driving Tours.

You can also access these tours through the PECCTAC website:

TheCounty.travel

PECCTAC joined Facebook

The Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism and Commerce is now available as well on the most popular social network Facebook.

We will continuously update our web presence and guarantee the most useful information on Business and Tourism in Prince Edward County.

CLICK HERE to join PECCTAC on Facebook.

PECCTAC donated $1,000.00 to CAS Christmas Angel Tree

The Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism and Commerce donated the proceeds from the Christmas Auction today to the CAS Organisation Prince Edward County.

Handing over the cheque is Vice President Dave Ashton, General Manager Lawrie Ackerman and Office Assistant Jan DeMille.
Thanks to all who donated time and money at the Meet & Greet Auction on December 9, 2008.

Meet and Greet December 09, 2008

Thanks to a great End of the Year - Christmas Auction - Meet and Greet at "The Victory" on Main Street in Picton.

This event raised over $1000.00 for the CAS organization in Prince Edward County.

Thanks to our hosts and thanks to all PECCTAC Members and Guests.

Merry Christmas.

Message from the President

2008 Quinte Business Achievement Awards

A wonderful evening took place Friday October 24th when the outstanding businesses in the Quinte area celebrated.

Congratulations to Huff Estates Inn & Winery who took home the "Business Excellence" award!

Sandra Karaz owner of Hadherway Equestrian Centre accepted the “New Business” award!

Congratulations to Batawa Development for getting the “Community Spirit” Award.
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Congratulations to all the Prince Edward County members & non-members for their 2008 Quinte Business Achievement Award nominations:
Allan Graphics
Arts on Main Gallery
Books & Co.
Buddha Dog
Copper Kettle Chocolate Company
Duck & Loon B&B
Exterior Essentials
Indulgence Spa & Salon
IPG Financial
Mill Creek Farm
Picton Fabric World
Picton Home Hardware
Red Barn Floral Design

Mark your Calendar for December 9th, 2008

Don’t miss the Christmas “Meet & Greet” to be held at The Victory, Main St., Picton.

Bring a small wrapped gift – under $15.00 to be auctioned off. The proceeds will go to the Children’s Aid Society Christmas Angel Campaign.

Last year PECCTAC members raised $700.00. This year the goal is to raise $1000.00! If you cannot attend but want to participate in the fundraising, drop off a wrapped present to be auctioned off. Please RSVP by calling 613.476.2421.

Dates to Remember!

Meet & Greet - December 9th, 2008:

The Victory Archives & Collections
205 Main Street, Picton

2009 Annual General Meeting:

Thursday March 26th 2009

Welcome New Members!

Happiness Haven/ Elizabeth Pulker
Reynolds & Murray
Ron’s Reusables
Steven Draper Photography & Sendroma Farm Estate
The Primitive Star
Waring House Gourmet

Thank you for your support!

New municipal-provincial agreement represents significant progress

Toronto: The agreement announced today between the municipalities of Ontario and the provincial government is a significant step in the right direction, according to Ontario’s Business Advocate, and particularly noteworthy considering the current pressures on provincial revenues.

“The ten year plan announced today to upload 1.5 billion in social assistance benefits and court security costs from the municipalities will go a long way to easing the burden on the property tax base, and addressing the long held concerns of our members,” explains Len Crispino, President & CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “Today’s progress is even more significant because it represents a major step forward despite the challenges presented by today’s economic climate.”

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce will continue to work with the government to address any outstanding property tax issues so as to continue to build a stronger province and municipal-provincial framework.

Construction Industry costs to rise

If you are an independent operator in the construction business, you may be impacted by new legislation introduced by the Provincial Government. Bill 119, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Amendment Act proposes to extend mandatory workers compensation coverage to independent operators, sole proprietors, partners in a partnership and executive officers of corporations in the construction industry.
Independent operators who are currently exempt from paying WSIB premiums will now be required to pay. The Bill does exempt home renovators.
The government has given minimal time for a full public review on this important issue. The OCC has urged the government to responsibly delay the legislation to ensure that it does not create a financial burden on small business operators in the construction industry.
The government has stated that mandatory WSIB coverage across the construction industry will combat the “underground economy”. The OCC has questioned whether this legislation will accomplish such an objective.
Currently, there are many small construction employers who hold insurance through private companies for themselves and their employees. Bill 119 will not permit private insurance as coverage.
The OCC does not support a legislated monopoly for WSIB on workplace insurance, but encourages competition in the marketplace and the ability of employers to choose from a wide range of options to achieve these results. The OCC has recommended that further study be undertaken to determine how much this proposed legislation will cost employers to ensure there will be no financial hardship incurred by small business operators.

For more information on this topic see the Burlington Post article at:
http://www.burlingtonpost.com/news/business/article/219556

We need your input!

The Ontario Government passed legislation in 2005 that will affect every person and organization in Ontario, be they in the public or private sectors.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is aimed at making Ontario THE most accessible province by 2025, and will dictate regulations that will affect how you hire, train and accommodate employees; how customers should be accommodated and treated; how your business electronically or otherwise communicates publicly; how transportation infrastructure should be modified; how new buildings should be constructed, or how existing buildings must be renovated or retrofitted, to name a few.

In order to ensure that the views of stakeholders are represented the government struck various committees to help develop standards (which will be turned into regulations) for the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

The OCC is an active participant on two of the province’s accessibility standards development committees: Built Environment and Employment.

The OCC is seeking volunteers from across the province with experience and interest in Employment and Built Environment (building code etc) issues. The OCC will use those volunteers as two virtual task forces to review the two draft standards, in order to provide specific direction and feedback. We encourage as many volunteers as possible to be engaged in this very important issue. We need the business community’s voice heard on these important issues.

For more Information please read the November-December PECCTAC Newsletter or Click Here

Another successful Meet & Greet November 2008

David Bergeron, owner of Bergeron Estate Winery, gives an overview of their expansion plans. PECCTAC members enjoy the wine tasting and social gathering.

Remembrance Day 2008

The sun shone briefly at the Cenotaph in Picton on Tuesday November 11th. In full regalia a representative from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police laid a wreath.

Rick Caruso, President and Lawrie Ackerman, General Manager laid a wreath on behalf of the PECCTAC members.

Winter is coming - protect your Laptop!!

Laptops have been designed to work within a safe temperature range - normally 50 to 95 degrees F (10 - 35 degrees C). This range refers both to optimal usage temperature of the outside environment and the temperature the laptop should be warmed to before using. Protecting your laptop from cold weather is important and you should know how to protect your laptop from cold weather. Protect yourself and your laptop from the damage cold weather can cause.

1. Careful Storage. Never leave a laptop, even in a well-padded and insulated laptop case in the trunk of vehicle in cold weather. The laptop could freeze and you lose all data contained in it.
2. Let It Warm Up. Once you bring a laptop in from the cold - allow it to warm up to room temperature before booting. The same is true when you go outdoors - allow the laptop to acclimatize to the outside temperature before booting up.
3. Incorrect Warming Methods. Do not use devices such as mug warmers or pocket warmers to heat or keep a laptop warm. They are not designed for this purpose and can create problems as they will not heat or keep a laptop warm in the right way. They could heat the wrong parts of a laptop or cause it to generate too much heat and melt internal components.
4. Laptop Warmers. There are laptop warmers designed specifically for the purpose of keeping a laptop warm and these are what you should use. Laptop warmers have been tested to ensure they will safely protect your laptop and are a wise investment.
5. Excessive Heat Build-Up. Do not use your laptop while it is still inside a laptop bag. There is no room for air to circulate and you will get heat build-up. You can create your own "box" for your laptop which will allow air to circulate and provide an enclosed area for you to use your laptop. Having the laptop on a raised platform for your laptop within the box will aid in airflow. This laptop box will help keep the laptop warmer as cold air is blocked and the heat generated from the laptop is kept in the box.
6. Protecting Your Display. Don't use heating pads or other external sources of heat to warm up or thaw a laptop display. Allow the display to warm on its own and do not boot up a laptop if you suspect the display is frozen.
7. Stay Out of the Cold. Whenever possible stay out of direct exposure to cold weather conditions by staying in a vehicle, inside a building or other type of shelter. Protecting your laptop from excessive dampness or wet from snow will keep your keyboard from freezing and other problems from developing.
8. Change Power Settings. By changing the power settings from power save mode will help keep the laptop warm as it continues to run. Instead of having the hard drive shut down, keep it spinning. The longer the laptop can be kept left running, the warmer it will stay as it generates its own heat.

6 great places to live (in Ontario)

By Peter Muggeride.

Picton: Picton has undergone a great change over the past decade, much of it spurred on by the arrival of big-city refuges, all seeking to set up shop or home in this friendly city.
Many new Picton residents style themselves as artists and artisans, giving the community an eclectic flair.
Each year, the city puts on a host of cultural events, led by the Prince Edward County Authors Festival, Art in the County, the Jazz Festival and the Regent Theatre Summer Festival with six different live productions.The burgeoning local wine industry has brought with it numerous fine dining establishments, many of which feature local wine, cider or beer.
The city is beautifully situated, with fine architecture and a strong Loyalist tradition. Built on the shores of Picton Bay, the harbour and marina form a picturesque setting. The city is ideal for walking, and the surrounding area is attractive to hikers and cyclists.
A 20-minute drive from town is Sandbanks Provincial Park, with its three expansive, sandy beaches. Winters are perfect for cross-country skiers or snowmobile enthusiasts.

Also mentioned in Ontario: Cobourg, Collingwood, Elliott Lake, London, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Copyright CARP Magazine and 50Plus.com

Meet & Greet November 2008

Thanks to Bergeron Estate Winery on Loyalist Parkway for a great Meet & Greet with Wine Tasting of the new (and older) wine!

A growing Estate in our Wine Growing Region!

Thanks Dave!

Remembrance Day 2008

Remembrance Day Ceremony 2008 in front of the Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism and Commerce Office in Picton. Well attended at the newly renovated Cenotaph.

Laying the reef for PECCTAC is General Manager Lawrie Ackerman.

Quinte Business Achievement Award 2008

The annual QUINTE BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Gala in Belleville saw two Prince Edward County Businesses being awarded with the prestigious Quinte Business Achivement Award:

1. Best New Business of the year:
Hadherway Equestrian Centre, Hillier, with Owner Sandra Karaz accepting the award

2. The highest award: Business Excellence went to Huff Estate, Bloomfield, accepted by owner Lanny Huff.

Congratulations to both Businesses!

COUNTY MERCHANT SHOWCASE

The COUNTY MERCHANT SHOWCASE will be open on Saturday September 27, 2008.

Location: Picton Fairgrounds, Curling Club.

Time: Doors open at 11 am - FREE ADMISSION - Doorprizes and Live Entertainment!

Don't miss a show of your local businesses!

Meet & Greet September 2008

Thanks to Kathy from Kathy's Collection for a wonderful Meet & Greet - outdoors in her beautiful garden on Main Street in Picton.

The fashion show was terrific and we enjoyed great hospitality.

Thank you!

Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Fast Across the Line

The Dragon Boat Races held Saturday, August 9th was hosted by the Wellington & District Lion's Club and welcomed more than 175 paddlers to the Wellington Harbour waters.

Eight teams, five eligable for the County Cup, and a couple close races.

In the end, the Bayshore Dragons of the Belleville Dragon Boat Club defeated the team from Wellington Rotary in the Championship game and earned their title of "A" team.

The County Cup was turned over to the Beefeaters from the Cattleman's Association, who defeated the Misfits, the Lions Dragon Boat team.

Overall, a fun and successful day in which the Wellington and District Lions' raised almost $6,000 for activities they support throughout the County.

Great job and thank you to all those who participated and helped out during this event!

All you need is cheese

PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

A Podcast about cheese and wine in the County. To listen (or read) click the link below.

August 2008
In this episode, Ian steps onto “the taste trail” to discover a region many foodies consider the culinary destination in Ontario right now. He visits a cheese-making company with over 100 years of history. He loads up his picnic basket at some of the best little shops in the region. And he takes a trip to a local vineyard to find that perfect bottle.

http://www.allyouneedischeese.ca/passionates/audionewsletter/microsite/

Wall Street Journal review of Prince Edward County

Read what the Wall Street Journal says about the County!

http://www.wsj.com/article/SB121607161329152189.html