RESILIENCE CONTENTS Greetings from Grey
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SEPTEMBER 2020 RESILIENCE CONTENTS Greetings from Grey...................... 2 GREETINGS Connect Rehabilitation.................. 4 Avenue A / Sign Street.................. 5 Blue Mountain Village................... 6 FROM GREY Heartwood Home.......................... 7 Ice River Springs........................... 8 PAUL MCQUEEN, 2020 GREY COUNTY WARDEN The Giddy Goblin.......................... 9 Rocklynn Inn Bed & Breakfast...... 10 Have1.com.................................... 11 PERSEVERANCE. E & R’s Bulk Bin............................ 12 Grey County Real Estate.............. 13 RESILIENCY. Gemini Canada............................. 14 Harmony Centre............................ 15 It’s been nine months since we last Holstein General Store.................. 16 checked in - and wow, a lot has Axed Throwing Club...................... 17 changed since last December. The Hanover Raceway......................... 18 COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Georgian Bay Phoenix every aspect of our daily lives, Gymnastics and Acro.................... 19 Grey County Outdoors.................. 20 including the ways we work, socialize Rediscover Grey............................ 22 and shop. We have seen the effects Local Immigration Partnership...... 23 on these changes on our local Osmow’s........................................ 24 economy and especially on our small Chatsworth Orchard & Cidery....... 25 businesses. As we start to settle into Starter Company Plus Recovery.. 26 what will become our new normal, it’s clear now more than ever Indigenous Culinary Experience 28 of the importance of supporting our neighbours and communities. The best way to do so is by supporting locally- On the Cover: New pick up window at owned businesses. the Leeky Canoe, Meaford This issue of Made in Grey Magazine highlights stories of perseverance and resiliency from small businesses across all nine of our municipalities. As we collected these stories, we saw SEPTEMBER 2020 the struggles of businesses during this unprecedented situation. We are in awe of their flexibility as they rapidly adapt to the demands of our current reality, and we admire their determination to find a way forward while keeping themselves, their clients, and their communities safe and healthy. RESILIENCE Sugar Dust Baking, Owen Sound COUNTY OF GREY Economic Development 595 9th Avenue East Owen Sound ON N4K 3E3 877 • 733 • 4739 [email protected] Madeingrey.ca If you require this document in another format, please contact [email protected] 2 SEPTEMBER 2020 | Grey County Economic Development | Made in Grey | MadeInGrey.ca The Rocking Horse, Owen Sound The businesses in this magazine tell stories that are exciting and inspiring, emotional and heartfelt. Their stories are specific to their circumstances, but they are honest, true, and reflective of what many businesses across our County are facing. Their stories confirm something we already know: the people of Grey are resilient and strong, and we continue to be encouraged by the way our community has come together to support each other during this challenging time. Businesses are continuing to open back up with new safety procedures in place. Now is the time to rediscover and safely explore the many offerings of our communities. We have so many exceptional places to eat, shop and play, and we encourage you to continue supporting local. When you shop local, your money stays in our communities and helps build a stronger economy. You also get the added bonus of knowing exactly where your fresh food and products come from. Choosing to check locally-owned options first for your regular shopping or recommending your favourite local businesses to family or friends doesn’t just feel great, it helps our businesses survive and thrive. We know the coming months will bring both challenges and opportunities for businesses. We look forward to continuing to work with you to grow and strengthen our partnerships and our community. Johnny K Sports, Hanover Grey County Economic Development | Made in Grey | MadeInGrey.ca | SEPTEMBER 2020 3 CONNECT REHABILITATION In May 2019, Stephanie Sollazzo and Clare CONNECT was also able to mitigate some demand Donaldson opened CONNECT Rehabilitation Yoga on the local healthcare system by helping clients Fitness with the goal of breaking down the barriers alleviate pain that may have otherwise resulted in a between rehabilitation, fitness and wellness. After visit to a doctor’s office or emergency room. less than a year in business in Owen Sound, they were forced to temporarily close their doors when After making modifications to their workplace and the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded. processes, CONNECT reopened its doors on June 1. Keeping clients and new customers informed of CONNECT offers a suite of life-improving services the changes has been key to ensuring everyone for clients experiencing pain or injury, so quickly feels comfortable and safe. Most services have now adapting services was crucial to the wellbeing of returned in-person, but many continue to be offered their clients. Within a week of the closure, virtually for the convenience of clients. CONNECT pivoted to offer online services. Physio and chiropractic appointments were offered virtually, To learn more about CONNECT Rehabilitation Yoga and yoga and fitness classes were hosted online and Fitness, visit connectrehab.com or call through Facebook Groups, YouTube and Zoom. Not 519-372-2121. only were clients thankful to be receiving services, 4 SEPTEMBER 2020 | Grey County Economic Development | Made in Grey | MadeInGrey.ca AVENUE A / SIGN STREET While COVID-19 has slowed many businesses down, updates and helping them conform with new Avenue A and Sign Street have had little time to rest. regulations. For the first seven weeks, owner Deb and Located in Springmount, the full-service advertising her team had little time to rest. Revenues were down, agency and affiliated sign and graphic shop serve an expenses were up, but their clients needed them, and array of local clients. When the pandemic hit, co- they were there for them. owner Deb Shaw and her team understood that the survival of their businesses was directly linked to the On the other side of the shared building, Sign Street small local businesses they serve. had its own challenges. What was on track to be a record-setting spring season came to a screeching Under normal circumstances, Avenue A has weeks or halt with the provincial shut down and Sign Street was even months to carefully and strategically develop abruptly faced with the difficult decision to lay off staff. campaigns and products. The sudden onset of Fortunately, the layoff was short lived. As essential COVID-19 quickly changed their clients’ needs. businesses were permitted to continue to operate, Suddenly, well-planned campaigns needed to be Sign Street’s production was able to continue in heavily adjusted or scrapped entirely. Client support of those clients. In time, the list of essential marketing, a significant part of Avenue A’s revenue, businesses grew, and so did the demand for Sign needed to be drastically scaled down. The websites Street’s products - which now included new items like and business listings they manage for clients needed sneeze guard barriers, physical distancing decals, to be updated continuously to communicate ongoing safety signage and much more. changes to services. Online sales platforms needed to be quickly created for clients moving to digital sales. As summer approached, workload somewhat Deb’s team even found themselves in somewhat of a stabilized at both Avenue A and Sign Street, but they consulting role, helping clients stay informed of remain busy and dedicated to their clients. To learn government and public health’s latest COVID-19 more about the businesses, visit their websites at avenuea.ca and signstreet.ca. Deb dan ENIO IAN BRENDA Jennifer Admin, Sales and Business Signage and Construction Radio and Writing Radio, Video and Social Accounts and Billing Creative Assistant BRAD summer amanda andrew scott Digital and Search Engine Graphic and Websites Print and Signage Signage and Construction Print and Signage Grey County Economic Development | Made in Grey | MadeInGrey.ca | SEPTEMBER 2020 5 BLUE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE Blue Mountain is Ontario’s premier four-season destination. This year, the Village expected a busy March Break week as always, but within days, everything changed. When the province announced the closure of non-essential businesses, the ski operations, attractions, hotels, retail shops, and food and beverage facilities went quiet at Blue Mountain. Andrew Siegwart, President of the Blue Mountain Village Association (BMVA), recounted the days after the pandemic declaration. “Early operations issues were to safely close down and secure all our assets in the village and work with Blue Mountain Resort as they closed down the hill. A lot of food was Mountain’s ‘open door’ approach to visitors. New donated, and one shop owner made all inventory maximum capacities were put in place for the available to staff on a first-come first serve basis. village, mountain and other resort areas. The village The immediate concern was for staff. While most created teams of ambassadors to inform guests and were laid off and able to access government manage visitor behavior, and launched a reservation assistance programs, we also became aware of our system to manage the sales of tickets and passes. agricultural community needing workers, so we Collaboration amongst resort partners inspired new partnered with