Sharbot Lake Business Group summer BBQ

Jun 22, 2022

The Sharbot Lake Business Group has remained active behind the scenes over the last few years, not being able to hold any of its normal twice annual events for local business owners. In that time the group worked on the Sharbot Lake Community Improvement Plan and the Frontenac County Destination Development Plan.

Last week, with warm weather here and COVID concerns easing, the first summer BBQ in three years was an opportunity to introduce a number of new businesses to the local community.

Ken Fisher, the enthusiastic promoter for the group, said that “normally we introduce one or two new business owners to the group but today we have a lot more than that”

The list of new and newly purchased businesses was long: including Kick and Push Brewing Company, (which is opening its doors next week) the Local Brewer, Frenchies Chip Hut, Belong Sharbot Lake, Springwood Cottages, O’Reilly Lake Resort, Sharbot Lake Automotive, Sharbot Lake Farmers Market, Pharmasave, and the Cardinal Cafe.

After the introductions, Fisher invited Anne Prichard, the founding Chief Executive Officer of the 17 year old, federally funded Frontenac Business Services (formerly Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation).

Prichard talked a bit about the services her agency offers, including financial support, financing, coaching and help developing business plans and obtaining grants, but she also talked about how following up on seemingly random opportunities can have long term implications.

She said that one evening thirteen years ago she attended a cooking class at Loblaws. The instructor told her she should go to a food event the next night.

“There I met a young guy who was making salami in his garage. I told him about a butcher shop on Road 38 that was available. That guy was Mike McKenzie and the shop is now the headquarters of his company, Seed to Sausage, which has changed the landscape for food companies in Frontenac County. It just shows you what can happen when you step out and go to a cooking class. I could have stayed home that night.”

Frontenac Business Services has launched a Food and Beverage Frontenac website to promote food businesses in the County.

“A few years ago there were a handful of value added food businesses in Frontenac County, now there are dozens,” she said.

After Prichard spoke, Rob Moore, former owner (with his wife Nancy) of the Cardinal Café, stepped up to talk about the personal impact Prichard has had on his business.

“Whether it was financing, grants, or advice, Anne had a knack for knowing when to call me when she saw an opportunity for us. Whenever we needed a piece of equipment, not only was the CFDC there with financing, but Anne would find grants so we only had to pay part of the cost,” he said.

Finally, Mike McKenzie got up to speak, warning that he might get choked up as he spoke, which came to pass.

He said that the “support I received from the CFDC has been essential, and unwavering, but I also consider Anne as a friend, someone I have been able to confide in, someone who cares about the struggles we all go through. That is the most valuable thing for me. She has been everything for Seed to Sausage.”

The summer BBQ was hosted by the Robinson Group, in the courtyard behind the Simonett Building in Sharbot Lake. The food was sponsored by Seed to Sausage and Mike Dean's Local Grocer, and Sentinel Risk Insurance sponsored the bar, which included the new Lager from the Local Brewer.