Tired of clichés? Here's 5 real reasons to start a business in Almaguin

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Tired of clichés? Here's 5 real reasons to start a business in Almaguin

August 16th, 2024 by Sarah Cooke

Why start a business in Almaguin?

There's a whole vibe up here that is incomparable. It's a network of passionate entrepreneurs making their dreams come true and supporting one another in the process. It crosses municipal borders; it creates community and stimulates sustainable growth and development in Almaguin.

The Community, The Dream

"This is the community, this is the dream up here," said Sherri Norman, who opened Green Apple Cannabis, located in Burk's Falls in 2021. "It is exactly everything you would imagine ... like every small town movie. Everybody works together."

The passion of mayors, councillors - those running the multiple communities that make up Almaguin, is abundant according to Norman.

"They're all doing it for the love and growth of the area, all areas of Almaguin working together for the bigger picture," she said. "It's a beautiful thing to see and I think that's what's special about a small town."

Collaborative B2B opportunities

According Dev Trivedi, who runs Perry Mart in lovely Emsdale, being able to give other local entrepreneurs a space to showcase their talent, product, is what it's all about.

"(I'm) always excited to see new things," said Trivedi. "For example, opening up vendor booths for other people, where little kids can grow and learn how to understand business and how they can provide (for) the community and themselves."

In Emsdale, Perry Mart has opened its doors for other businesses to showcase product in store and currently hosts Tast Italy, a food truck serving delicious wood oven pizza and other goodies, on its property. But there are many more examples of businesses holding pop-up spots for other Almaguin entrepreneurs.

Business Community Vibes

Double business owner Margaret MacDonald told ACED that she finds the support system in Almaguin to be above par.

"I will say Almaguin has just a superior support system for small businesses," said MacDonald, who operates 89 Main, a cute boutique store, and Double Decker, the infamously delicious burger joint, both in Sunny Sundridge.

"I love everything I do and I'm my own boss which is something I've always wanted to be."

For Bill Hubbert, from Hubbert's Maple Products, the camaraderie between the business community is a positive support.

"When we interact with other businesses around this community, it's always a family atmosphere when you get together and there's an element of trust," Hubbert explained.

Superb (if we say so ourselves) Support Services

As far as superior support services, as MacDonald noted, Almaguin has a chamber of commerce as well as a regional economic development organization.

The Almaguin Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Almaguin Community Economic Development work closely together to determine current needs within local ecosystem.

"We've had a lot of wins in terms of projects," said Dave Gray, Director of Economic Development for ACED. "We caught provincial recognition with our 2016 business retention and expansion study that was led by the Almaguin Highlands Chamber of Commerce."

"We've produced a number of beneficial initiatives using the findings from that study," he added. "... We continue to build capacity within our services using information from that and other studies."

Connection - It's not just for WiFi

The connection doesn't stop within the business community, in Almaguin, it's a mycellium-esque network of the people who live here, the community organizations, the municipalities, the businesses who work symbiotically to support the propersparity of the region, not just fiscally but overall well-being.

James Toth, who co-operates Crystal Cave in the rugged beauty of South River, said he enjoys the relationship building with visitors to the property.

"One of the greatest aspects of this job are the familiar faces that come through our door," said Toth. "We have people that come twice, three times a year. Sometimes we have people coming here every week to pop by ..."

"We are very appreciative of the community support we've had from South River, Sundridge," he said. "From Almaguin, in general."

Copperhead Distillery owner Sheron Ferchat said one of the beautiful aspects of Almaguin is the familiarity.

"In a bigger city, you just get lost — you just become a number and here ... everybody knows your name," Ferchat explained. "It's like a song but everybody knows you, everybody wants to be a part."