With change, some things remain the same
Don Jewitt gets a little ribbing from his customers these days when he answers the phone saying, “Elmira Feed and Supply.”
The business has been Sharpe Farm Supplies for over a week, but a habit of 14 years is hard to break.
Jewitt sold Elmira Feed and Supply to Sharpe on Dec. 1, but he’s staying on as manager of the Elmira store. It speaks to the smoothness of the transition that the hardest part has been adjusting his phone greeting. …Read more
Students today, skilled workers tomorrow
The Bingemans conference centre in Kitchener was buzzing Wednesday with the sound of hundreds of students – students in hard hats and welding …Read more
Venture brings rare air to Elmira
Nine years ago, David Reimer embarked on a dramatic career change: from commercial diver and underwater welder to health professional. The common …Read more
Lots sit empty as projects remain idle
The Canadian Tire store that developers hoped to open in time for last Christmas won’t be ready this yuletide season either. Nor for the foreseeable future, as the property adjacent to the Foodland grocery store apparently remains in limbo.
And it’s not the only project behind schedule in Elmira. Blame it on the economy, the planning process or the cosmos, but you can add the EDPRO propane centre and an expanded downtown gas bar and convenience store to the list. …Read more
Kids to learn about handling their finances
Math is on every student’s course list from Grade 1 right through high school, but it seems they’re more fluent with fractions and factors than their own finances.
A working group co-chaired by Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Leeanna Pendergast is looking at ways to incorporate personal finance into the Ontario school curriculum for Grades 4 through 12 …Read more
Grants available to help rural businesses
Rural businesses and non-profits looking to ride out the recession can get a valuable helping hand from the Wellington-Waterloo Community Futures Development Corporation.
Wellington-Waterloo is one of 61 CFDCs in Ontario charged with distributing funds from the federal government’s Southern Ontario Development Program. In total, $100 million has been …Read more
Stimulus money to bankroll upgrades
The Region of Waterloo International Airport is the latest beneficiary of infrastructure funds, as the senior levels of government this week announced funding totaling more than $4.7 million.
The money will allow the airport to build a new 2,600-square-metre facility that will bring fleet maintenance, the fire hall and operations maintenance under one roof …Read more
New act takes aim at spread of diseases
A provincial animal health act will hopefully prevent the spread of disease and at the same time, minimize the economic fallout to farmers in the case of an outbreak, say industry supporters.
The proposed Animal Health Act was introduced Oct. 5 and given a second reading at Queen’s Park this week.
“We’ve been pushing for this act for some time in order for both industry and government to be in a better position …Read more
Safety-Kleen seeking expansion in Breslau
Breslau’s Safety-Kleen is looking to develop land immediately to the west of its oil re-refinery, tackling underground contaminants in the mix.
The company is looking for an official plan amendment and zone change to acquire 15 acres of land from the abutting Forwell gravel pit. It plans to build a warehouse on the site and consolidate its truck repair …Read more
A caring approach to servicing cars
Some people have called Corey Shantz a brave man.
First Shantz went into business with his mother Rebecca, opening Shantz Country Treasures. Now he’s started a second business with his mother-in-law, Carmen Ferber.
“In all reality, it’s very easy,” Shantz laughed …Read more














