Leeds Grenville
Economic Development eNews | June 16, 2015
Business Profile


Top feature photo: Frontline workers at Thornbusch Landscaping are, from left, John Gardiner, David Norman and Kyla Doornbos. 

Above photo: Thornbusch owner Paul Doornbos looks over stone work, stairs and gardens his team recently completed at a riverfront home. Paul feels the 1000 Islands region offers a unique and challenging landscape in which to work. People care about their properties.
Lansdowne-area landscaping company focuses on quality work
Thornbusch Landscaping owner Paul Doornbos has a long, proud history in horticulture and a love of working in the great outdoors. His grandparents operated greenhouses so Paul grew up appreciating plants, gardens and landscaping.

His award-winning company, located just outside of Lansdowne on Edengrove Road, is in its 13th year of operation. It employs seven, including five full-time seasonal workers. Paul is a certified horticultural technician and certified landscape professional as well as a teacher. In 2014, he earned the Past President Award from Landscape Ontario. His company has achieved Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence for "Private Residential Maintenance" and in the "Landscape Installation $10,000-$25,000 Class" for Gananoque's Sleepy Hollow Bed and Breakfast front entrance.

"We are strategically located for unlimited potential for growth given we're in the 1000 Islands region," Paul said. "People believe in our abilities to create their dream. We've more than doubled what we did our first year (in business)."

Services include residential and commercial landscaping, complete maintenance and planting, interlocking stone, patios, paths, retaining walls, water features and landscape design. Learn more about the services this company provides by visiting Thornbusch's website.
News
Tourism Roundtable this Thursday

The Leeds Grenville Economic Development Office, in partnership with MP Gord Brown and MPP Steve Clark, will be hosting an evening focusing on tourism development. The special guest speaker is MP Blake Richards, Chair of the Parliamentary Tourism Caucus. Approximately 70 people have already registered.

 

Attendees will have the opportunity to identify the key issues for tourism development and discuss industry growth in Leeds Grenville. 

 

Join the conversation and let your views be known. The event is being held at the Quality Hotel Royal Brock Conference Centre. 

 

Networking begins at 6:30 p.m.

 

Register online today.

 


Guest Speaker
MP Blake Richards,
Chair of the Parliamentary Tourism Caucus
Above photos of Van Berlo Gardens at Maitland
Photo below is of Chillane Gardens, Mallorytown

1000 Islands and Rideau Canal Garden Trail hosts media events 

Open houses at the Van Berlo Gardens in Maitland and the Chillane Gardens near Mallorytown started the premiere season for the 1000 Islands and Rideau Canal Garden Trail earlier this month. 

Nine gardens are featured in this new tour, which officially open this Friday, June 19, and coincides with Canada's coast-to-coast Celebration of Gardens. Garden Days are from June 19-21 to provide Canadians with the opportunity to enjoy their own garden or visit their favourite garden experience. In Leeds Grenville, media events continue at each of the participating gardens until July 28. Gardens are open throughout the summer and into the fall.

Learn more about this new and unique regional Garden Trail by visiting the Leeds Grenville website. Brochures with maps are available at each garden site and at tourism information centres throughout the region. 

Record-breaking number of entrepreneurs in Summer Company

Young entrepreneurs from throughout Leeds Grenville are open for business and ready to offer their services through the Summer Company program and the Leeds and Grenville Small Business Entreprise Centre. This summer a record 20 students are participating and there is a wide array of businesses providing services from lawn maintenance, exercise, sports and science camps, to website services, guitar lessons, magic shows, aerial photography and food services.

The Summer Company program provides hands-on business training and mentoring. Students receive $3,000 to help start up and run their own summer business.

Learn more about these talented entrepreneurs and how to contact them for their services on our Leeds Grenville Community Releases webpage.
Workshops and Seminars
 Webinar on alcohol services at events and festivals

A webinar to address alcohol services at Ontario festivals and events is being hosted through a partnership between Festivals and Events Ontario and the Gaming Commission of Ontario. 

The webinar date is Wednesday, June 24, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

A panel with representatives from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, the Ontario Provincial Police and Smart Serve Ontario will address key issues, including: navigating the Special Occasion Permit process, understanding your obligations on event day and responsible server training. Panelists will then answer questions from webinar participants. To register for the webinar go to the Ontario Infrastructure and Technology Services webpage.
Economic Development Office
32 Wall Street, Suite 300, Brockville, ON Canada, K6V 4R9
TF. 1.800.770.2170  T. 613.342.3840  F. 613.342.3298
Leeds Grenville