Leeds Grenville
Economic Development eNews | May 24, 2016
Business Profile


Above photo: Hubbard & Co.'s storefront at 15 Spencer Street in Spencerville.


The top feature and above photo of the Battle of the Windmill Parks Canada historic site show restoration work. Photos are by Helen Mott. 




A heritage home renovated by Hubbard and Co.

Hubbard & Co. Heritage Restoration 
has far reach outside of Spencerville 
SPENCERVILLE - Brad Hubbard was just 22 and fresh out of college when he started his own business. It's been a great ride ever since.

After 35 years, Brad has built a thriving, multi-faceted enterprise that has evolved over the decades while remaining a business true to his love of antiques, carpentry, building, architecture and heritage restoration.

"That's the passion part of what I do - antiques, home restoration and hands-on construction. I've built a business that weaves all of these things together," says Brad. He and wife Brenda Ball operate the business out of a neatly restored and repurposed building in the village of Spencerville, a community where Brad's parents once ran an antique shop.

Hubbard & Co. employs 22 dedicated and talented staff. The 4,000-sq.-ft. showroom is filled with fine furniture, arts and more. The motto is "We Build, Restore, Furnish & Maintain Fine Homes." The company provides in-house design services and works with a number of outside professional firms. Hubbard & Co. acts as a general contractor and executes masonry, carpentry, painting and finishing. It has a fully-equipped workshop in Spencerville where they make furniture and millwork.

Since opening in 1981, Brad says he has completed close to 50 whole-home restorations and has worked on 100s of other houses. His company has built 6 early-Ontario replica homes. A recent  restoration project is the 1838 Battle of the Windmill Parks Canada historic site in Johnstown. The $373,000 upgrade includes repairs to masonry, windows and doors to curtail water infiltration as well as improvements to the picnic area, grounds and trail to the river. The reopening is set for July 1st.

Some of Brad's clients include the National Capital Commission, the St. Lawrence Parks Commission and the Ontario Heritage Trust.

Brad has worked hard to build a business with a solid foundation. He has twin boys, Kirk and Neil, who are both studying in the field and working at the company. Brad hopes to see them enjoy the next chapter of the business.

Learn more about this unique Leeds Grenville business by visiting their Facebook page and their websiteYou can call them at 613-658-2100 or send them an email.



Below photo: Brad and Brenda are shown in their showroom. 
News



TIAO is calling all tourism businesses to complete a labour shortage survey
The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) is conducting a Labour Study Survey to assess evidence of labour shortages in Ontario's tourism sector.

Representatives of tourism-related businesses are being asked to complete a survey.

Deadline: Tuesday, May 31st.

To learn more background on Ontario's tourism labour shortages and to complete the survey go to the TIAO 
link here. A final report will be released this fall.
Garden Trail

Kay and John Love's garden A Labour of Love is a new destination to the 1000 Islands and Rideau Canal Garden Trail.
Five new and unique destinations 
added for 2016 Garden Trail season
The 1000 Islands and Rideau Canal Garden Trail is introducing five new gardens to explore this season throughout the Leeds Grenville region.

"The gardens are simply beautiful, unique, well designed and educational," Garden Trail Co-chair Dave Cybulski told the crowd gathered May10th at the Rideau Woodland Ramble, one of 14 host gardens on the trail and the 2015 recipient of the Garden Centre Destination of the Year Award.

"I can tell you I talk about this trail a lot," said guest speaker Michel Gauthier, Executive Director of the Canadian Garden Council and Ontario Garden Tourism Coalition board member. "You've come together and taken it to a whole new level," he said to organizers and host gardeners of the Trail's highly successful inaugural year in 2015.

Joining the tour this second season are the Diane and Keith Haskins Garden in Portland; the Norgaard Garden in Kemptville; A Labour of Love Garden in Oxford Station; the Ivy Lea Club in Ivy Lea; and Wilstead Manor Gardens near Gananoque. 

The nine gardens who opened their doors and backyards to hundreds of guests from around the world are returning this season as well. Laurie and Ed Wight, creators of Chillane Gardens near Mallorytown, called the first Trail season a "wonderful experience."

"I learned so much from the people who came through our garden and we made many friends," Laurie said, adding they had visitors from as far away as Australia and Poland.

Dave Dunn, of Rideau Woodland Ramble, and Mary Ann Van Berlo, of Van Berlo Gardens, outlined how the inaugural Trail had an immediate economic impact with increased visitation and expenditure on overnight stays, shopping, dining and garden centre products. 

The Trail gardens each attracted between 300 to 650 visitors, including a growing number of groups arriving by bus. Several bus tours have booked for 2016, including a Quebec group bringing a travel writer and staying four nights and five days.

Hours vary from garden to garden. Learn more about the gardens on the 1000 Islands and Rideau Canal Garden Trail by visiting our Leeds Grenville website. Brochures are available at all gardens and regional tourism centres.



Jean Pilutti, of Wilstead Manor Gardens near Gananoque, is a new host this season. Below photo shows a walkway through the Ivy Lea Club Garden on the shore of the St. Lawrence River.


Celebrating Business

To apply or to learn more about this award visit the Ontario Export Awards website.
Workshops and Seminars



Launch Lab - Free Business Counselling
Sessions for business counselling with partner Launch Lab are held monthly at 197 Water Street, Suite 405, Prescott. The next session is on Thursday, May 26.

Contact Rod Wallace at 613-925-4275, ext. 22 or via email at  [email protected].    Learn more about Launch Lab on their Facebook page. 

Learn more about this and other sessions on our Workshops and Seminars webpage.