Economic Development eNews | July 19, 2016

Business Profile

New Westport winery a destination

WESTPORT - Allison and Francois Scheuermann are achieving what some thought would be impossible this far north in Ontario - turning acres of south-facing hillside into a successful vineyard and a place to stop for awhile.

It's taken over five years, but Scheuermann Vineyard and Winery is making positive headway after opening last summer and introducing their Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay. This spring they added Vidal, Romatique, a blend they created, and Sparkling Apple Cider.

"It's been an amazing first year and we're honoured with the amount of support from the village locals and from folks travelling from distances such as Ottawa that have either read about us in a local paper or saw us on social media," says Allison Scheuermann. They wanted to create a tourism destination and it appears to be working.

Overlooking Sand Lake on a shelf of limestone nicknamed "Slabtown" by villagers, the family winery is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday from May until mid October. You can stop by and enjoy selections from their menu while sipping one of their wines. There is a large open tent with communal table seating with a tranquil view of the lake. Francois is a Swiss-trained chef and is known for his famous Chef Francois' Classic Seasoning Spice, sold online and at retailers.

Allison and Francois planted their first vines in 2011 and opened their doors for wine sales in August 2015. Norman Hardie, of Norman Hardie Winery in Prince Edward County, has been their mentor since the beginning. Today their wines have received positive reviews and the Hardie and Scheuermann families have become close friends.

The couple describes their business this way: "Where the Canadian Shield and limestone meet is where our cherished vines thrive. Small batch ferments aged in French oak barrels enhance the purity and the expression of the land in our handcrafted wines."

Learn more about Scheuermann Vineyard and Winery on their website or on their Facebook page. The Winery is located at 82 Bedford Street, Westport. You can call them at 613-449-6548 or send them an email.

It is a true family business where the couple's 5 children pitch in and help. They are from left: Chayse, Francois, Heidi, Allison, Asha, Tristan and Jazmine.

Top feature photo: Allison and Francois Scheuermann walk hand-in-hand with their dogs in their vineyard bursting with bright green grape vines.

Wine is available for purchase at the vineyard.

Allison with customer Melanie Mainville, a visitor from Ottawa who stopped in for a glass of wine and lunch. Learn more about their menu on their Facebook page.

Allison does shoot tucking in the vineyard for maximum sun exposure.

News

Above photo: Joan Simpson tries out one of the treetop adventure courses. Below photo: Pam Staples gives the Heron course a try following the official opening ceremonies.

Lofty adventures at new Skywood

BROWN'S BAY - Ontario's largest aerial and zip-line experience opened with great fanfare earlier this month with promises for further expansion.

"This is a remarkable day for us," said Darren Dalgleish, GM and CEO of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission which operates the new attraction in the heart of the 1000 Islands region. Part of the former provincial campground with a tall canopy of trees has been transformed into Skywood Eco Adventure Park by Treetop Trekking. Planned expansion in the next year will make the park the largest of its kind in North America.

"Welcome to our playground," Front of Yonge Township Mayor Roger Haley said at the official opening on July 7th. The launch was also attended by MP Gord Brown, MPP Steve Clark, Leeds Grenville Warden David Gordon, Township councillors and 1000 Islands Community Development Corporation representatives. 1000 Islands CDC provided an $80,000 grant in support of the park's development.

Skywood is made up of several different areas offering a wide range of activities for all skill levels. There is the Big Zip, a guided interpretive journey through 8 zip lines and bridges around the forest and through trees along a ridgeline near the Jones Creek wetland.

There are 5 aerial Adventure Courses, all offering climbing through a series of unique games and obstacles with bridges, swings, nets and zip lines. You can choose beginner, intermediate and advanced courses. Opening later this summer is a Treewalk Village for youngsters aged 3 and up. It will have a network of tree houses connected by fully-enclosed ramps, nets and slides with no need of specialized safety equipment.

Age and height restrictions apply for park experiences so check the website for details. Watch the video on the website to see more about the courses. You can book online and reservations are recommended. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 613-923-5120.

St. Lawrence Parks Commission chairman Ian Wilson, centre, cuts the Skywood ribbon by zip lining through it with help from the Commission's GM and CEO Darren Dalgleish, far left, and Township of Front of Yonge Mayor Roger Haley, right.

Augusta Business Centre doors open

RIVERVIEW HEIGHTS - This could be the next home for your small business.

The newly-opened Augusta Business Centre & Storage is being promoted as "easy as ABC," the acronym for the name. This is a new concept to the area where businesses can locate and have access to multiple services in a barrier-free, accessible building. Services include a conference room, kitchenette, separate washrooms, secure high-speed wired Internet, high-tech 24/7 access locks, WiFi, heat and hydro at an all-inclusive fee.

"We have a little bit of everything - this is a very unique business opportunity," says centre co-owner Chris McCorkell There are eight commerical offices (118 to 300-square-feet, price range $275 to $599), three 1,100-1,350-square-foot commercial units with bay doors and nine unserviced storage bays.

It is located on County Road 2 just west of Prescott.The building, a former restaurant, had been empty for more than a decade and has been totally gutted for this new operation. Chris' business partners are Rob Thompson and Andre Descoeurs. Visit their website, email Chris or call 613-213-3639 for more information on this new business opportunity location.

Augusta Township Mayor Doug Malanka, second from left, and Leeds-Grenville MPP Steve Clark, second from right, join business partners Rob Thompson, left, and Chris McCorkell, right, to cut the ribbon for the new centre on July 14th.

Photos above: Centre's front lobby, boardroom and the 145-square-foot storage units.

Funding Opportunities

Funding Applications for Ontario 150 programs open

Canada is celebrating its 150th anniversary in July 2017. Ontario, as a founding province, has launched three new one-time, application-based programs to engage Ontarians to commemorate this significant event throughout 2017.

Community Capital Program: A $25-million fund to renovate, repair and retrofit existing community and cultural infrastructure to increase access, improve safety and maximize community use. The application process opens July 18th and closes September 14, 2016.

Partnership Program: A $5-million program to support new partnerships and collaborations that engage, enable and empower youth as the next generation of Ontario leaders. The application period opened July 6th and closes September 30, 2016.

Community Celebration Program: A $7-million fund to help communities celebrate this historic year. The application period opened July 6th and closes September 2, 2016.

For more information on how to apply to these programs visit the Ontario 150 website.