Economic Development News

Meet the founders of some of the best trendy eateries in Durham Region

By Jennifer Foden

We chatted with the owners of a gourmet doughnut shop, a Mexican restaurant and an Indian gastro bar about what it’s like operating a food business in Durham Region.

Crave Doughnuts

Nicole Morais, founder and co-owner of Crave Doughnuts, a gourmet—you guessed it—doughnut shop close to downtown Whitby, started her business due to her undying love for the popular sweet treat. “I’ve always really, really loved doughnuts,” she says. “Like, kind of obsessed.” So, in 2017, Nicole and...

Meet the founders of these Durham Region Creative Industries businesses

By Jennifer Foden

These two businesses may be quite different from one another—a post-production sound studio and an event venue—but what they do have in common, is work that involves tons of creativity.

Footsteps images courtesy Jeremy Benning.

Footsteps Post-Production Sound Inc.

Andy Malcolm, owner of the Uxbridge-based Footsteps Post-Production Sound Inc., has been making noise for almost 50 years. As a foley (sound effect reproduction) artist, he records everyday sounds heard in films,...

Meet the founders of Durham Region’s top food processing and manufacturing companies

By Jennifer Foden

Durham Region is home to a diverse group of food processing and manufacturing companies. We chatted with three founders—who make shortbread, sprinkles and hot sauce—to learn more.

Eat My Shortbread

Eat My Shortbread, a wholesale and retail bakery located on Boundary Road in Oshawa, started in a small century home in Markham almost 30 years ago. Trisha Bower, the business’ Chief Baking Officer, takes pride in that every shortbread treat (bites, cookies, butter tarts, etc.) and...

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,...