Kawartha Lakes Honours Entrepreneurial Achievements

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: Fifteen local entrepreneurs are being celebrated for successfully completing the Starter Company PLUS Program, a provincially funded initiative which helps aspiring and existing business owners launch and grow their ventures.

This year’s graduates represent a diverse and innovative group of individuals, who have demonstrated resilience, creativity and dedication while turning their ideas into thriving businesses. Participants in the Starter Company PLUS Program received business training, mentorship, and a grant of up to $5,000, to support their ventures, helping to strengthen the local economy.

“This program gave me the confidence to turn my passion into a business,” said Holli Wilson, owner of The Loaded Spud Potato Bar, a customizable loaded baked potato restaurant, in Lindsay, focused on fresh toppings and community engagement. “The guidance I received helped me refine my menu and connect with local customers in a whole new way.”

Fiona Baird, who launched KBS Group, to provide professional bookkeeping services for individuals and businesses in Kawartha Lakes and beyond, echoed the sentiment. “Having access to expert mentorship and resources made a huge difference,” she said. “It allowed me to structure my business properly and feel prepared to grow sustainably.”

Other graduates include: Autumn Donnelly, of Autumn Wood Creations, who crafts one-of-a-kind hand-burned wood art; Ryan Kindree, of Kindree Field Service, offering mobile heavy equipment repair and diagnostics; and Brittany Goodfellow, known as Brittany the Doula, providing compassionate perinatal care and support.

The program also supported trades and service businesses: such as, 13 Contracting, specializing in composite deck installations and interior renovations; Cross Creek Contracting which handles decks, framing, siding, windows, and renovations; and Harper Homes, focused on exterior siding, soffit, and fascia installations; Broken Dreams Motorcycle Garage, offering Harley-Davidson parts and repairs, and GL Accounts which provides tax, bookkeeping and payroll services.

Other graduates are: Claudia Gaboury, of Salvaged and Seamed, transforming pre-loved fabrics into sustainable fashion; Judy Briglio, of Judy Briglio Respite Care, providing in-home senior care; Emily Hopkins, of Nourish Your Soul, offering trauma-informed somatic and energetic healing; Jessani Jewell, of Half Baked Cookies, creating gourmet cookies with unique flavours; and Brian Clelland, operating Kawartha Lakes Massage Therapy Clinic, a downtown Lindsay wellness centre offering evidence-based massage services.

Graduates were formally recognized at a ceremony, during the City Council meeting, on January 27th, at City Hall, when Mayor Doug Elmslie presented each participant with a certificate of completion on behalf of the City.

“We are so excited to see these businesses grow,” said Sandy Greenberg, of the Kawartha Lakes Small Business Centre. “We are proud of the accomplishments of these graduates and look forward to seeing their businesses continue to thrive in Kawartha Lakes. This program continues to inspire new business owners from all sectors.”

The next Starter Company PLUS cohort will launch in the Spring of 2026. For more information, visit the Starter Company PLUS page or email Sandy Greenberg, at sgreenberg@kawarthalakes.ca. The Kawartha Lakes Small Business Centre offers no-cost, confidential, and customized advisory services, for anyone looking to launch or grow a business. More information is available on their website or by contacting Christine McLean, at cmclean@kawarthalakes.ca.