Economic Development News

Meet the founders of Durham Region’s leading micro-manufacturing businesses

By Jennifer Foden

Durham Region is home to a diverse range of micro-manufacturing businesses. We sat down with the founders of two of them to learn more.

Up North Naturals

Seven years ago, Lisa Keizer, then raising funds for charitable and non-profit organizations, started making hair products at home after she saw her own hair thinning following years of using chemical straighteners. “I decided to embrace my curls,” says Lisa, now the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Up North Naturals. “And...

Location unveiled for future urban farm at corner of Harwood Avenue and Rossland Road in Ajax

Whitby, Ontario – Yesterday, Durham College in partnership with Durham Region’s Economic Development and Tourism Division (Invest Durham), unveiled the temporary location for the new Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture’s (Barrett Centre) urban farm at a groundbreaking ceremony in Ajax.  

John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer, joined Bob and Francine Barrett of The Barrett Family Foundation; Don Lovisa, President, Durham College; Kelly O’Brien,...

Meet the founders of Durham Region’s innovative farming businesses

By Jennifer Foden

These three farming businesses are not only contributing to the ongoing success of the agricultural industry in Durham Region, but they’re thinking outside the box while doing it.

Sunflower Farm Photo courtesy of Kailey Jane Photography

The Sunflower Farm

Ursula Kressibucher, owner and CEO of The Sunflower Farm, an agricultural tourism (agri-tourism) business located in the north end of Durham Region, was born and raised on a farm in Beaverton—the same one her Swiss grandmother...

Durham Region’s innovation community to meet with tech trailblazers at Collision Conference

Whitby, Ontario – One of the fastest growing technology conferences in North America—Collision Conference—is returning to Toronto this June. The Durham Region Economic Development and Tourism division (Invest Durham), along with partners, will be in attendance to showcase what makes Durham Region an ideal place to build, start or grow an innovative technology business.

From June 20 to 23 at the Enercare Centre in Toronto, Invest Durham; the region’s eight local-area municipal economic development...

Durham Region Supporting Ontario Shores' Mental Health Innovation Incubator

Whitby, Ontario – The Region of Durham, in partnership with all eight area municipalities, is pleased to announce funding to support Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores) in developing a business case to create Canada’s first-ever Mental Health Innovation Incubator.

The vision is that this living lab would connect clinical experts with private sector entrepreneurs; to co-design, co-develop and scientifically evaluate new technologies in the clinical setting. It would...