Do you know your local businesses?

By Shawn Lackie

This one might be a little out there but work with me, please. Quick question. How many local businesses are you aware of? And no, I don’t mean eateries like Jesters or Marwans. Even Haugens, who has been here for a looooong time. I have witnessed their menu firsthand since 1970. Still great. Yummy, but I digress. No, I am talking about those manufacturing places, Industrial or not.

We often hear there isn't enough manufacturing and such to offset taxes and create jobs. For years, Flamingo Pastries was a mainstay, providing jobs for many in the area. Not to mention the delicious aromas wafting from the plant on cold winter nights. Unforgettable. They now have the Schneiders plant providing similar aromas (but nowhere near as good). Their meat pies are awesome. But still providing work for locals.

Full disclosure. I worked for Flamingo as a student in the 70s. Many locals have a history with that company. The Jackson Family was a force and provided employment for at least two generations of people in the area. No, I am talking about places like the ones that sit out on the 6th Concession and streets like Easy Street. Is there a better name for an industrial street than that one?

Every once in a while, I take a drive out that way. The only reason I do so now is I like to see what companies are there. Most of these places don’t flaunt the fact they are here. They just quietly go about their business. Even though in some cases, they are world leaders and command global respect. Places like Adamson Systems Engineering. These people are world-renowned for their speakers and audio systems. Did YOU know they were in your own backyard?

Back to Easy Street, and there is an Attersley Tire Centre, Vaultra Storage, Carstar Collision, Canplex Profiles, and Scugog Equipment Rentals. That’s just a smattering of larger-than-normal businesses. Sure, you’re saying what does this have to do with real estate. Well, lots actually. Places like this drive sales and create jobs. Those jobs allow people to move to small towns like Port Perry and still provide for their families. This allows the cycle to continue.

Years ago, the only places around town were small retail shops provided some, but not many jobs for locals. Consequently, many people would live here but work in Oshawa, Whitby or even Toronto. And there was always the General Motors (GM) connection. Port Perry was one of many small communities that depended on GM for jobs, and as GM went, so did Port. That changed a few years ago, when Oshawa pretty much reinvented itself as a more multi-purpose city, with education as a big part of that. Those changes pretty much guaranteed some long-term consistency for jobs and such. But nothing beats living and working in the same area. I spent many years on the GO train and have to say I don’t miss it one bit. Neither do the people who are fortunate enough to both live AND work here. That’s a blessing. Just ask them.

Feel free to check out this story and more on my blog site at: https://slackie14.wixsite.com/buy-sell-and-more.