Business News Archives - City of Brockville

Participate in Welcoming Week September 8-17

Welcoming Week is taking place across the country from September 8-17, 2023 and is an opportunity to reflect our local community and welcome newcomers to the city who have made Brockville their home. Welcoming Week is an annual event across the country lead by Immigration and Citizenship Canada, and is an opportunity to bring together new and long time residents to build strong connections. It affirms the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity.

During Welcoming Week, we invite all Brockvillians to join this movement of communities, nationwide and worldwide, by renewing our commitment to our core values and taking action in the spirit of welcoming. By working together, we can achieve greater prosperity and make Brockville the kind of place where diverse people from around the world feel valued and want to put down roots. Regardless of where we are born or what we look like, we are all Brockvillians, united in our efforts to build a stronger Brockville. By recognizing the contributions that we all make to create a vibrant culture and growing economy, we make our community more prosperous and more inclusive to all who call it home.

Do you know any newcomers in your neighbourhood, community groups, or businesses you frequent? Take the opportunity this week to make them feel welcome and an that they are an integral part of our community.

Here are a few ideas to help you get started:

Share information about our community and local services
Introduce newcomers to others with common interests to help build networks
Check out these Recommended Reading lists from the Brockville Public Library: They have curated a recommended reading list for kids and a recommended reading list for adults to celebrate Welcoming Week
Explore the Brockville Museum’s award winning Travel Trunk exhibit: Unpack the role immigration has played in Brockville’s development and discover the stories of local newcomers all while exploring your own family’s journey to Brockville. This hands-on and interactive exhibit is geared towards families with children age 8-12.
Get to know some faces in our community through the “We Are Neighbours” campaign by the St. Lawrence Rideau Immigration Partnership. Over 30 different nationalities have participated in the campaign to date!
- Do you have a great story or know someone with a great story? The Immigration Partnership would love to share more local stories through their campaign
Host a potluck
Share a favourite Canadian pastime
Invite a newcomer to a local event
Download and print this “I am a Welcomer” poster and post it on your desk at work or in the window of your home from September 8-17

As part of Welcoming Week, it’s important to acknowledge that the history of Canada began far earlier than the European colonization and settlement, and to understand the history of the Indigenous Peoples that are living on this land and have been since time immemorial, long before immigrants came from all around the world.

Our Welcoming Week Partners:

Tourism Wayfinding Signs

You may have noticed that a number of new signs have been installed around the city in the last few weeks. These signs make a significant step towards beautifying our streets and will allow us to remove a number of individual attraction signs that are faded and outdated and that visually ‘clutter up’ our streets. These signs are from part of a set of approved designs that adhere to our Tourism Wayfinding Sign Policy and represent the highest priority items from our signage plan.

What is Wayfinding?

“Wayfinding” is a term used to describe the process of finding a destination in the build environment. Signs play an active role in this process by providing the primary form of communication.

Goals for our signage:

To create a cohesive sign family that is unique and recognizable, that will enhance the community, become a source of pride, and prompt visitors to stay awhile.
To highlight and promote key attractions.
To promote safe, enjoyable experiences.
To celebrate historic, natural, and cultural elements.
To provide clear safe navigation.
Focus on positive messaging.
Reduce the overuse of individual signs.
To maximize value of investment through standardized design, use of long-lasting materials, and careful consideration for fabrication, installation, maintenance, and life cycle.

Design Elements:

The signs make use of the official “Brockville City of the 1000 Islands” wordmark and tagline configuration throughout the wayfinding system.
Use of white text of a blue background ties our signs visually to the Provincial tourism wayfinding signs, creating a visual consistency that helps the user recognize these signs as being directional signs to area attractions.
Waves/water elements to signify the importance of the river (and signal to visitors stopping in off of the 401 that we are a waterfront community).
Balance of heritage with modern elements or colours. Signs within the waterfront area surrounding the downtown make use of a “heritage area” footer rather than the “City of the 1000 Islands” footer used throughout the rest of the City.
Use of a unique cut out shape other than a rectangle to easily identify and connect the signs.

We hope that our visitors find them effective and that our locals like the style and character that they bring to our streets.

Community Survey: Brockville Resident Recruitment Campaign

The City of Brockville in collaboration with Brockville General Hospital are developing a Recruitment Campaign to attract working-aged people, particularly healthcare related workers (nurses, doctors, and others) and their families to settle in Brockville. We want the best for our residents and want to make sure that you have access to the health care providers that you need.

We need you! As a member of the community, we would like your help in responding to the following questionnaire, to help us better understand your perception of Brockville’s unique offerings. The collected responses will help us tailor our marketing initiatives to find people who are a match for what we have to offer.

Your answers will be kept confidential and only be used for the purposes of this project.

Please click here to take part in the survey.

Canteen Operator Opportunity

The City of Brockville invites entrepreneurs to submit a business plan to operate one or two of the City’s canteens: at St. Lawrence Park and the P&G Pavilion at Rotary Park (by the splash pad).

Each location is available from Victoria Day to Labour Day weekend (maximum 15 weeks)

Submit your proposal, including what you’re willing to pay for one or both locations (minimum $150+HST per week, per location), to Chad Davis on or before Wednesday May 31. Selection criteria will include your proposed hours of operation, menu options, and proposed weekly rental fee.

Important dates:

Friday, May 26 between 12 noon and 2:00 pm: Viewing of the canteen spaces
Wednesday, May 31: Proposal submission date
Wednesday, June 7: Date of decision

Additional information:

Applicants will be invited to view the two spaces on May 26^th between 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm
City will not provide renovations to available spaces or equipment for canteens
120V Power and Water are available at each location
Natural Gas/Propane will not be available either location
No Fryers will be permitted in the space during operations
Selection will take page on June 7^th and the successful candidates(s) will be notified by email
Selection Criteria includes:
- Hours of Operation
- Menu Options
- Proposed weekly rental fee
At least two weeks prior to opening, selected canteen operator(s) must provide the City with:
- Acceptable proof of insurance coverage
- Current certification for all public health and food handling requirements

St. Lawrence Corridor, City of Brockville Welcome Leclerc

Leading Canadian food manufacturer Leclerc has announced the purchase of the former Procter & Gamble (P&G) factory at 1475 California Avenue in Brockville, an expansion of its North American operations that will see $100 million invested locally along with the creation of over 200 new jobs.

Leclerc, a Quebec City-based family-owned company established in 1905, plans to move the production of many of its nationally known products to Brockville. The City of the 1000 Islands and the greater St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Development Commission (SLCEDC) region will soon become home to famous treats like the Celebration Cookie, as well as 100 new jobs in year one, scaling up to a steady state of over 200 new jobs in year two and beyond.

“We have developed an excellent business relationship with the St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Development Commission and we are proud to benefit from their competence and expertise,” said Denis Leclerc, President of Leclerc Foods. “We are confident that this partnership will continue to be an asset that will facilitate our arrival in Brockville and ensure the success of our project.”

Leclerc is also investing an estimated $100 million in their new facility at the former P&G building in Brockville. This includes investing in capital equipment to make the new location a technological innovator in food production. The Government of Ontario is also supporting the Leclerc move to Brockville through the Eastern Ontario Development Fund. A total of $1.5 million will be provided to the company to assist with the creation of new jobs and technologies.

The arrival of Leclerc in the region will also have significant additional benefits. Burnbrae Farms, headquartered just north of Brockville in fellow SLCEDC municipality the Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley, will be Leclerc’s egg supplier. This will allow Burnbrae to deliver its goods to the new Leclerc plant in a matter of minutes. The end result will be a strengthened local economy, with businesses supporting each other.

“Attracting good jobs and good industries like Leclerc to our region is exactly what our goal has been all along with the Corridor, so this is a great day for all of our member municipalities,” said Corridor board chairman Shelley Bacon, of Northern Cables. “Adding this number of new jobs will boost the economy across the entire area, providing a great shot in the arm for all of our municipalities, from Front of Yonge in the west straight through to Edwardsburgh-Cardinal in the east.”

Comments:

“I’m thrilled to announce our government’s contribution of $1.5 million from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund to help Biscuit Leclerc Ltd. locate in Brockville. Local investments in world-class companies will grow the economy, create solid, stable jobs, and demonstrate strength for our local communities in the pandemic recovery.” MPP Steve Clark (Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes), Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

“Through the Regional Development Program, our government is making targeted investments in the province’s manufacturing sector to help create good, local jobs. We thank Biscuits Leclerc for investing in our province’s vibrant food manufacturing sector. This project is making a significant impact on the St. Lawrence Corridor regional economy by investing in Ontario’s talented workforce and creating the conditions for long-term economic growth.” MPP Victor Fedeli (Nipissing) Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade

“The City of Brockville is very excited and proud to welcome Leclerc to our community. The economic investment and employment surge that will be created by Leclerc will bring a major boost to our economy. The city would like to express its thanks to Leclerc for choosing Brockville. We look forward to continuing to work with Leclerc as they set up and build their business here. The city would also like to thank the St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Development Commission for its hard work at bringing this major opportunity to Brockville. This truly shows the success of our regional partnership approach to economic development which will benefit our entire region.” Mayor Mike Kalivas, City of Brockville

“As a founding member of the St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Development Commission and as someone who worked with our team on this exciting project, I am thrilled to welcome Leclerc to our communities. Being able to attract such an iconic, family-owned Canadian company shows the importance of working jointly. We succeed when we work together. This is a testament to what the Corridor is doing—with the strong support of the provincial government—to boost our entire regional economy. And when we bring in a major employer like this, all of our member municipalities along the St. Lawrence River are winners.” Mayor Brett Todd, Town of Prescott/SLCEDC Board Member

“Attracting good jobs and good industries like Leclerc to our region is exactly what our goal has been all along with the Corridor. This is a great day for all six of our member municipalities.” David Beatty, CEO Canarm/SLCEDC Board Vice-Chairman/Brockville City Councillor

“We are so happy to see job creation in Eastern Ontario and Brockville, and to be able to support a company with deep roots in Canada. Across the entire country, we are seeing strong demand accelerate industrial asset values and rental rates upwards. It is extremely tight and challenging in Ontario and Quebec to find large format, immediately available opportunities. So we are very excited for Groupe Leclerc for securing this location to expand their Canadian operations, and we look forward to future collaborations with the St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Development Commission.” Kyle Hanna, Vice-Chairman, CBRE Limited

“This is great news for our entire region. We are replacing P&G with a fourth-generation, family-owned Canadian cookie and snack leader in Leclerc. A multinational food processing giant has recognized our price advantage, our location advantage, and most importantly, our people advantage. Here in the Corridor, we are competing and we are winning.” Charlie Mignault, Commissioner, St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Development Commission

For more information, contact:
Charlie Mignault
SLCEDC Commissioner
charlie@slcedc.com
613-893-2327

About Leclerc

Leclerc is a Quebec City-based, privately owned fifth-generation company that was established in 1905 and is currently expanding rapidly in the US and Canada. Currently under the direction of Denis Leclerc, the company has sales in excess of $750MM, putting them squarely in the top 1% in Canada in terms of privately held corporate revenue generation. Their largest customers include Costco, Loblaws, Aldi Grocery Stores, Kroger, and HEB.

About the SLCEDC

The St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Commission (The Corridor) consists of the six municipalities of the City of Brockville and the Town of Prescott, and the Townships of Augusta, Edwardsburgh-Cardinal, Elizabethtown-Kitley, and Front of Yonge. Formed in 2017, the Corridor focuses on the attraction of new industrial and commercial employers to the region, increasing the quantity and quality of job opportunities for our residents, along with assisting our existing business to expand.

Brockville employers invited to upcoming job fair in Smiths Falls

Brockville employers are invited to register for the upcoming Smiths Falls Job Fair. This job fair is open for everyone to attend, and is part of the efforts to keep those who recently lost their positions at Canopy Growth employed locally. This event is being heavily marketed to those employees and is a great opportunity for local businesses to fill their open positions.

Event Details:

Wednesday, March 22
2pm-7pm
Settlers Ridge Centre
275 Brockville Street, Smiths Falls

Employer Registration:

Spots are expected to fill quickly, please register by Friday, March 10.

Employers, register through Joanne Watson | jwatson@getontrac.ca | 613-283-6978

This Job Fair is being hosted in partnership with ontrac Employment Resource Services, the Town of Smiths Falls, the Smiths Falls & District Chamber of Commerce, Valley Heartland CFDC Innovation Centre, the Small Business Advisory Centre, and the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.

Change of Use Building Permits

If you are planning to change the way you use all or part of an existing building, you may need a Change of Use Building Permit, even if you are not planning any construction.

10(1) of the Building Code Act states:

“Even though no construction is proposed, no person shall change the use of a building or part of building or permit the use to be changed if the change would result in an increase in hazard, as determined in accordance with the building code, unless a permit has been issued by the chief building official.”

Why is a Change of Use Building Permit required?

When the use of a building is changed, it may represent an increase in hazard to the occupants of the building. In a new building constructed and inspected in accordance with current building codes, the occupants of the building and the building itself are protected from the anticipated levels of hazard by compensating construction. Consequently, when the use of an existing building is changed and the hazard level is increased as determined by Part 10 of Division B of the Ontario Building Code, measures may have to be taken to mitigate those additional hazards by upgrading of one or more of the following areas:

structural systems
demising walls & fire separations
exits & door hardware
provision of washroom facilities and plumbing fixtures
HVAC system (ventilation)
exit signs and emergency lighting
fire alarm system may be required

Please contact our Building Department to learn more.

36-46 King Street West Agreement of Purchase and Sale

The City of Brockville and Caber Group are pleased to announce that they have reached an Agreement of Purchase and Sale for 36-46 King Street West, the former Woolworth’s building.

The Woolworth’s property is one of the most prominent sites in Brockville’s downtown, close to the main intersection of King Street and Courthouse Avenue. Constructed in the late 1950’s the existing building was for many years a Woolworth’s department store. This store closed in 1993 and the property went through several subsequent owners and uses. In 2004 the last tenant of the building left the property, and it has sat vacant since that time.

In 2019 Council set several goals for their term, which included an objective to “spur on development and consider a P3 approach to the Woolworth’s property”. Through 2019 and into 2020 the City held discussions with the then owners of the property. The City acquired the property in December 2020 with the intention of seeing this property redeveloped to come back into economic use and to support the growth and development of the downtown.

Early in 2021 Council directed staff to undertake a Request for Proposals for the property, with the RFP being issued in April 2021. The RFP generated interest from the development community but at the close of the RFP no formal bids were submitted. Staff continued to work with several developers and in November 2021 three developers were invited to submit Expressions of Interest for the property. In January 2022, two of these developers presented their proposals. Following these presentations, the City entered into an exclusive negotiating period with Caber Group. Throughout the spring of 2022 Caber and its design partners, IDEA Inc. – Integrated Design | Engineering & Architecture and Linebox Studios, undertook preliminary design work, environmental and structural investigations, and financial modelling of their re-development concepts.

Negotiations continued throughout the summer and earlier this month Council agreed to enter into an Agreement for Purchase and Sale of the property. The Agreement gives Caber Group up to a year to complete a Site Plan Agreement, at which time the deal will close; and following this the developer will have up to another year to commence construction.

“City Council are very pleased to make this announcement, the Woolworth’s site has been a priority for this Council and this agreement takes us one step closer to a major redevelopment of this site. The proposal Council has seen from Caber is exciting and will bring much needed residential and commercial space to our downtown.” – Mayor Kalivas

“Caber Group and our design partners at IDEA and Linebox Studios are thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of the re-animation of Brockville’s Historic District. The Woolworth’s site provides unique potential to bring contemporary living and commercial space to downtown, while paying homage to King Street’s historical significance to the city and the Thousand Islands Region”. – Josh Gibson, Caber Group

For additional information and interview requests, please contact:

Rob Nolan
Director Economic and Development Services
City of Brockville
613-342-8772 x4445

Josh Gibson
Managing Partner
Caber Group
613-795-4473

Home Occupations (home based businesses)

Excerpts can be found below from the City of Brockville Zoning Bylaw 050-2014, as amended, to assist you with establishing a home occupation (more commonly referred to as a home based business).

Part 1.0: Interpretation, Administration, and Enforcement, Subsection 1.10 Certificate of Occupancy

No person shall change the use of any lot covered by this Bylaw, or of any building or structure on any such lot or of any part of such lot, building or structure without having applied for and received a Certificate of Occupancy under the Planning Act, issued by the Corporation or its appointed agent. Issuance of such Certificate of Occupancy by the Corporation will imply that the proposed use is in compliance with this Bylaw. Applications for Certificate of Occupancy shall be made on the prescribed forms and shall be known as Certificate of Zoning Compliance.

Part 2.0: Definitions, Subsection 125

“Home Occupation” means a business or professional activity conducted as a secondary use to the residential use within any dwelling unit which is the primary residence of the person or persons conducting the business or professional activity.

Explanatory Note: The definition explains what constitutes a Home Occupation, that is, the business must be secondary to the primary residential use and be carried on in a person’s primary residence by those person(s) living in that residence.

Part 3.0: General Provisions, Subsection 3.21

a) General

A home occupation is permitted in any residential dwelling unit in any zones except the Rural (RU) Zone, where a home occupation shall not be permitted.

b) Provisions

Where a home occupation is permitted by this Bylaw, a home occupation shall not:

Occupy more than 25.0 percent of the gross floor area of the dwelling unit or 28.0 square metres, whichever is lesser. Where more than one (1) home occupation operates from a dwelling unit, no more than 25.0 percent of the gross floor area shall be occupied for such purposes.
- Explanatory Note: The maximum floor area which may be used in a home occupation is limited to the lesser of 25.0 percent of the gross floor area of the dwelling or 28.0 square metres.
Permit non-resident employees to be engaged in a home occupation;
- Explanatory Note: Persons working for the home occupation must live in the home.
Alter the exterior of the dwelling unit by virtue of the operation of a home occupation;
- Explanatory Note: The home occupation is expected to be unobtrusive and not change the character of the dwelling or neighbourhood.
Include the open storage of goods, materials or equipment or display of goods visible from outside the dwelling unit;
- Explanatory Note: Any and all storage and finished goods must be kept interior to a building.
Use an accessory building for the home occupation, except for the storage of goods, materials or equipment required for the home occupation, provided that, should a garage area be used for said storage, the required parking for the dwelling unit shall be maintained;
- Explanatory Note: An accessory building such as a garage or storage building cannot be used by the home occupation except for storage. Use of the garage for storage does not relieve the owner from providing the required parking for the dwelling unit.
Become offensive or obnoxious or create a nuisance to adjoining properties by reason of increased vehicular traffic or parking, or delivery of goods, materials or equipment, or electrical interference, or emission of odour, dust, smoke, noise, gas, fumes, light, vibration, radiation, or refuse;
- Explanatory Note: The home occupation is expected to be unobtrusive and not change the character of the dwelling or neighbourhood.
Include the sale of any goods on the site other than those goods constituting the finished product of the home occupation;
- Explanatory Note: Home occupations can sell only those goods and services produced or provided on site. The retail sale of goods not produced on site is prohibited.
Include more than two (2) clients, students or customers of the home occupation to be on the premises at any one time;
- Explanatory Note: No more than two persons (clients, students or customers) are to be at the home occupation at one time. The purpose is to ensure that parking and other concerns do not result by the existence of the home occupation. This limit on clients does not extend to a private home day care.
Use advertising media which draws attention to the fact that a dwelling unit is used for a home occupation;
- Explanatory Note: This does not prohibit advertising a telephone number, a post office box, or an email address on business cards and other forms of advertising. The use of a street address in advertising is not permitted.
Operate without first obtaining a Certificate of Zoning Compliance under Subsection 1.10; and
- Explanatory Note: All changes in use require a Certificate of Zoning Compliance. There is no charge for obtaining said Certificate.
Provide or require additional parking spaces for a home occupation.
- Explanatory Note: No additional parking is required for a home occupation.

c) Exception

A private home day care or babysitting service may be established as a home occupation, and shall not be restricted by subclauses 3.21 b) 1) and 7).

d) Prohibited Uses

Without limiting the generality or applicability of the provisions for home occupations under clause 3.21 a), the following uses shall not be considered home occupations:

kennel;
veterinary clinic or office;
automobile repairs or automotive trade use;
painting of vehicles, trailers or boats;
medical clinic or office;
multiple chair hairdresser or barber;
welding shop;
service and repair shop for large appliances or commercial and industrial equipment; and
arcade.

For more information, and to register your Home Occupation, please contact the Planning Department.

Brockville ranks among the best communities in Canada for great health care

Brockville can add another 7th place finish to its bragging rights with the recent rankings from MacLean’s for “Best communities in Canada for great health care 2019”. The rankings award points for communities that spend the least amount of time on waiting lists, as well as how many family doctors, specialists, and doctor’s offices are available per capita, and finally if there is an emergency room within an hour’s drive.

This recent ranking is a testament to the quality of care offered by all of Brockville’s local health care providers, from primary care to emergent care.

“I was unfortunate enough to break my wrist this past winter, but it did give me a chance to experience the emergency room at Brockville General Hospital (BGH) first hand and I was pleasantly surprised to find virtually no wait time to be triaged and taken in to X-ray. Of course nobody enjoys a trip to the emergency room, but knowing you will receive top care when you need it really gives you peace of mind.” Said Kendra Lorimer, local patient and Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Brockville.

“Good healthcare requires a system approach,” shares Nick Vlacholias, President and Chief Executive Officer of BGH. “Our hospital is one part of a strong and vibrant local health system which puts our patients and family members at the centre. We have made great strides to be recognized as the seventh best in Canada, but we know there is so much more that we could do, together, to deliver the best healthcare experience. We are committed to working with our staff, physicians, volunteers and partners to continue to meet the unique needs of our community.”

With nearly a dozen primary care teams across the Leeds Grenville area, the largest is the Upper Canada Family Health Team. The Health Team is comprised of a group of health care professionals including two Family Health Organizations, the Brockville Family Health Organization and the Thousand Island Family Health Organization. These teams provide integrated primary care at ten locations across the community.

The approach of Upper Canada Family Health Team allows the physicians in their network to work collaboratively to provide comprehensive and accessible health care to their patients and families. Their Coordinated Care Planning Program has become an integral part of their care model and spans almost all of their programs. The Coordinated Care Planning program assists with closing any gaps when a patient moves from one provider to another, allows for faster follow-up, and helps reduce the likelihood of readmission to hospital. As the population continues to age in Brockville and across Canada, this coordinated approach is integral to delivering continued improvements to the patient experience and reducing wait times.

The hospital is also preparing for future health care needs of the area’s growing and aging population.

“As the health care needs of our community evolves and expands, we must also grow to meet those needs,” says Vlacholias. “Our Redevelopment Project will bring all hospital services under one roof while making key renovations to our current site. Furthermore, the tower will add an additional 22 beds, bringing our overall bed count to over 160. Our Redevelopment Project will position us well to continue to serve our Leeds Grenville community well into the future.”

Brockville General Hospital’s Phase II Redevelopment Project will bring all inpatient programs and services, including those offered at the Garden Street site, on to one campus at the Charles Street site. This includes the Palliative Care, Restorative and Rehabilitation Services, Complex Continuing Care, and Inpatient Mental Health programs. Patient occupancy is expected in late spring 2020.

This project, which includes the addition of a five-storey patient tower, builds on the Hospital’s commitment to healthcare, and may even contribute to Brockville moving up a few pegs in the rankings.

This health care ranking is hot on the heels of last year’s similar seventh place finish on Expedia’s Most Active Cities in Canada. When taken together, the two rankings indicate the high quality of life that Brockville residents appreciate and the commitment by community members to enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle. Recreation and health care are two primary considerations when someone is considering a new community to move to and Brockville residents should be proud of this latest recognition.

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