Paul Backewich recently relocated to Hastings County and built a new house near Madoc. In this episode of the I Left The City Show, Paul describes why he left the big city and chose Hastings County as his new home. I Left The City Show · Paul Backewich – Architect – Episode 36 Want …
Zach Reid returned to Hastings County after living elsewhere and decided to open a new business, Align Coffee. In this episode of the I Left The City Show, Zach describes his business and how fast he notices Hastings County is growing due to a better cost of living. I Left The City Show · Zach …
Up to $100,000 in non-repayable contributions for incorporated tourism businesses and organizations!
The Planning and Development Department of Hastings County is pleased to announce its new Small Business Coordinator, Christine McLean.
Looking for a new venture? Want to leave the big city? Live and work on the same property where you run your own craft cider business! Just North of the Village of Stirling is Kings Mill Cider. The owners are looking to retire and are seeking a buyer for their property and venture. To learn …
Update… SOLD! Looking for a new venture? Want to leave the big city? Nestled in the village of Coe Hill is Tin House Wood Working. The owners are looking to retire and are seeking a buyer for their property. Included is a timber frame styled main building in its original state, meticulously maintained with a …
If you’re starting a business, or already operating one, figuring out what resources are available to help you hire new employees can be time consuming and sometimes maybe a bit confusing. Business owners are already busy with the regular day-to-day operations and may not have the time to figure out what’s available. Here at Hastings …
Resources available for businesses who are hiring, looking for grants and funding Read More »
Susan Lewis recently made the move to Hastings County from the big city and opened her new business, the Emerald Earring on September 16, 2021. In this episode of the I Left The City Show, Susan describes the authenticity of the people, and the friendly welcoming she has received, as just a couple of reasons …
The Great Taste of Ontario will help rebuild capacity in the food, tourism and hospitality sectors, while connecting Ontario residents with regions and experiences that are ready to safely receive them. Recovery Program to help Ontario’s culinary tourism and hospitality sectors build back better from the pandemic. Initiative involves +90 partners, including Destination Marketing Organizations …
An authentic Indian food restaurant recently opened its doors in the village of Tweed and the food is incredibly delicious! Given the timing, this new venture is an example of ‘smart risk-taking’ that not only benefits the community but adds to the cultural diversity of Hastings County. Tweed Desi is a welcome addition to Tweed …
Indian Food Meets Hastings County and it’s ‘Truly’ Authentic Read More »
“To market, to market, to buy a fat pig locally grown, Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.” Updating a nursery rhyme that dates back to the 16th century is no easy task – but going to the market still is – and there are lots to choose from in Hastings County. Farmers’ markets and farm stands …
In the unassuming village of Maynooth, there’s a corner store that has stood tall for over a century. Upon first glance, the average passerby might not think anything special of it, but this landmark is oozing with history and its walls have stories to tell. Days ago, we had the chance to chat with the shop’s owner for the past 35 years, Carla Van Balen Walter, who tells us of the store’s peculiar past.
Headquartered in Marmora & Lake, Janice Chrysler started Mindful Journey to assist others in awakening spirituality in all aspects of their life. Having grown up in Hastings County she could live anywhere else in the world, but describes why Hastings is a great place to live and run her business as a Spiritual Growth Facilitator. …
Wendy Mortimer officially opened the newly renovated Coe Hill Grocery Store this past week. Mortimer is a local organic farmer who settled in Coe Hill in 2017. The community now has a bigger store with a different focus, more selection and more organic produce.
Shari Pearce is President of the Chamber of Commerce that covers and supports the community of Madoc and Centre Hastings. Shari grew up in the local region and then left to spend the early part of her career in Kelowna, BC. Seven years ago she moved back and settled in Madoc where she runs her …
Shari Pearce – Madoc and District Chamber of Commerce Read More »
In the quaint community of Madoc lies a boutique bakery that cherishes carefully crafted, old-fashioned baking. Hastings County’s Hidden Goldmine Bakery is a family-owned business that has mastered traditional, preservative-free dessert recipes. Hidden Goldmine Bakery is run by the Freeman family, and they have successfully translated their family’s passion for baking into a rapidly growing …
Discover how to deliver memorable experiences that focus beyond what the visitor can see and do, by harnessing the unique assets of the community in its people, culture, and regional identity.
Come together with other operators to celebrate the unique skills, talents and abilities of each individual, each organization, and work with your tourism industry allies to achieve extraordinary things that no one can compete with.
Margaret and Kees own and operate Kings Mill Cider in Stirling-Rawdon. After working and living around the world, they made the decision to settle permanently in Hastings County. Learn more about them and their business in the latest episode of the I Left The City Show Podcast. I Left The City Show · Kings Mill …
“What I’m building here feels like a calling. What I’m building is my dream, but it’s also a dream I want to share with people,” she said. “I think everyone is a creator, so it really is open to anyone who wants to think creatively.”
Joyce recently moved with her family to Hastings County, settling on a waterfront home in Marmora and Lake. She owns and operates Cedars Wellness Clinic and enjoys the quality time she’s able to spend with her family that just wasn’t possible back in the big city. Learn more about Joyce in the latest episode of …
Natasha and her family wanted to live full-time in a rural community like Hastings County. So they left the big city where she works remotely as a technical curriculum developer, presenter and entrepreneur owning and operating For the Halibut Fish & Chips with her husband in Bancroft. Learn more about Natasha in the latest episode …
Natasha Kasmaii Alves – Technical Curriculum Developer, Presenter & Entrepreneur Read More »
Kelly Beaulieu couldn’t wait for the two months each year she’d spend away from the city at her cottage. So she eventually decided to make Hastings County her home full-time. Learn more about Kelly and her business The Good Daughter in the latest episode of the I Left The City Show. I Left The City …
The joy and spirit of Christmas is alive and well in Tweed at a new holiday vendor market just opened for the season. Frost House, located on Jamieson Street in the village, welcomes customers with a vintage, old-fashioned Christmas vibe, with holiday music playing on a retro record player, antiques from Christmases of the past, and a vast array of local, handmade items.
Christine McLean wanted to immerse herself in a better quality of life and be close to nature. Learn more about Christine and her business Creative Minds Retreat in the latest episode of the I Left The City Show. I Left The City Show · Christine McLean Episode 27 Want to leave the city as …
A fourth-generation farming business, Enright Cattle Co. sits on a 95-acre parcel of land, where Kara, Darold and their children, Corben and Evelyn, take great pride in operating an environmentally-friendly operation where the well-being of the land and the animals that inhabit it is the priority.
In this episode of the I Left The City Show Podcast, Andrew Redden chats with Emily O’Donnell-MacKinnon, owner and operator of Mack Attack Outdoors in Bancroft. Listen to why Emily chose Hastings as the place to live and become the home base for her business.
Print, Radio and TV were once the only options for advertisers. Each required a significant upfront budget that was out of reach for many small businesses. With the dawn of digital marketing – a whole new world of affordable possibilities has since opened up to small businesses to reach potential customers. But just because you can, doesn’t always mean you should…
Since the start of this pandemic, it has become clear how important having a digital presence is for small businesses. But that doesn’t mean it needs to be expensive or complicated. Join Andrew & Katrina of Kasama Marketing in this FREE interactive webinar as they simply and clearly walk through some digital marketing tools and strategies that you can immediately apply to your business.
Thinking about expanding your businesses to go virtual, but aren’t sure where to start? Be prepared to enter the e-commerce world during the pandemic. This FREE eCommerce 101 workshop is designed to help you start selling online and different offerings you could consider for your customers that ensures a safe and positive purchasing experience.
You had to pivot and re-invent yourself and your business for the “new normal” but what else can you do to stay afloat and even grow your business at this point?
Crafting a successful marketing and consulting business in a rural village has proven itself to be incredibly rewarding. After busy careers in the city, both Andrew and Katrina looked for a place to relocate where they could enjoy work-at-home careers and spend quality time with their children.
Off the beaten path in Tweed is a quiet vineyard, where rows and rows of sweet, dark grapes glisten in the autumn sun, ready for picking. Potter Settlement Winery, just north of the village, boasts 13 acres and 13 different varieties of grapes, all hand-grown and hand-cultivated by Sandor Johnson and his small team of staff, including his partner Erin Reitav.
Making the move from the city to a rural community has meant a change in scenery, but also a shift in clientele. Lucas says shoppers who pop into the store love that the product isn’t something to be found in a box store.
On top of housing savings, you won’t have to sit in traffic commuting to an office, dropping your kids off at school, or trying to get to a meeting on time. When you do need to run out for an errand, there isn’t traffic or rush hour to contend with. You simply don’t waste time in city congestion anymore.
In this episode of the I Left The City Show Podcast, Andrew Redden chats with Dionne Baker, founder and owner of Shop Boss Secrets. Listen to why Dionne chose Hastings as the place to live and become the home base for her business. I Left The City Show · Dionne Baker Episode 25
The sweet smell of old-fashioned candy lingers in the air at the Stirling General Mercantile. It’s a place you can’t help but feel nostalgic as you browse through dozens of different treats that bring back memories of childhood.
In this episode of the I Left The City Show Podcast, Andrew Redden chats with Laura Reavie, founder and owner of Skootamatta Environmental Consulting Inc. Listen to why Laura chose Hastings as the place to live and become the home base for her consulting business. I Left The City Show · I Left The City …
Laura Reavie – Skootamatta Environmental Consulting Inc. Read More »
When you live in Hastings County, it’s easier to spend time together as a family in nature. You don’t have to schedule a weekend away and book an Airbnb or hotel. You can simply step outside and spend an hour with your kids snowshoeing, swimming, biking or hiking, depending on the season.
Limerick Lake is a unique body of water. Although it has 75 miles of shoreline, the entire lake has less than 160 cottages, many of which have been passed down through family generations since the 1920s and 1930s. The lake is quiet, pristine and mostly untouched, with no new builds since 1980. The reason? Limerick Lake is only accessible by boat.
“I love it. Honestly, it was always my dream to own retail,” she said, “And here I get to create the culture and environment of the business.”
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Visitors often ask about the building and it’s name, Quinn’s of Tweed. In fact, tradition dictates that we keep, with honour, the name Quinn’s of Tweed, the original name of the store and building. The Quinn’s of Tweed building is one of the town’s oldest and most beautiful historic stone structures, dating back to the 1880s. The twelve foot walls allow us to hang paintings in the traditional French salon style. You’ll marvel at the craftmanship of the ash and maple staircase, the old bookeeper’s office, and the stained glass that brings one back to an era when a handshake and promise were as good as gold – today, we still believe in those principles.
Charles Frederick McGowan sold the lot in 1907 to William James Lawrence for $600.00. Shortly thereafter Mr. Lawrence erected the building which still stands there today. He conducted a furniture business until 1912, when he sold the property to the Traders’ Bank of Canada, which within the year, was taken over by the Royal Bank of Canada. It operated out of the building until 1942, when the war forced consolidations and closures due to a lack of tellers (men). The property changed hands a couple more times before local Tweed family, Gaylord Forest Products secured the property in 2003. Since then, they have evolved every inch of the interior into an experience. Each room throughout the building is a real life ‘showroom’ from top to bottom; you simply have to see it to believe it. The stairwell in particular holds a lot of history!
Experience the charm of our 1906 mansion, nestled in the village of Marmora, Ontario, an historic town celebrating 200 years in 2021. The large and stately home was built by Ed Shannon for lumber baron Henry Reginald Pearce (known as “Reginald”) and his family, who purchased the lot for $200. It remained a private family dwelling for many decades and eventually was converted to a Bed and Breakfast by Chris and Lilly Boldly.
It now operates as Marmora And Lake Inn B&B and boasts beautiful, spacious bedrooms with quaint old-world craftsmanship for a luxurious stay. Onsite amenities include an exceptional indoor swimming pool, bubbler tub, infrared sauna, large screen SMART TV’s in each room, wireless internet access throughout, and generous sized gathering rooms. And being a small town, the pool is open to the community and friends for a nominal fee (pre-booking is required).
Our guests enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast including locally baked breads and pastries, yogurt and fresh fruit, an extensive beverage and tea/coffee bar featuring a wide variety of flavours and blends. Great outdoor patio area for fair-weather relaxation and large private events.
Whether planning a romantic weekend for two, a small wedding, a family reunion or a week-long visit to bask in the natural beauty of the region, the Marmora And Lake Inn B&B will help make it a time to remember. (Please note that all bedrooms are on the upper levels and we don’t yet have accessibility assist.)
