Cambridge Farm and Forest School

When it comes to learning, Cambridge Farm and Forest School’s approach to alternative learning and programming is based on teaching the ‘whole child’. Staff at Cambridge Farm and Forest School teach children about agriculture literacy and environmental stewardship to promote healthy active lifestyles to youth, including better mental health. Their programs supplement public school and are centred on a mission of providing local children with opportunities to advance their education by exploring a natural space, caring for animals, identifying and navigating risk, and gaining transferable life skills so they can contribute to their community in a positive way.

CamoIT Solutions

CamoIT Solutions was created with passion and determination to ensure small to mid-sized businesses can operate at their optimum best. Providing them with the widest selection of operating systems, networks and databases, makes these companies operate more efficiently which in turn is a boost to the whole community. The goal at camoIT Solutions is provide an experience that is tailored to each company’s needs, regardless of budget. This dedication to service makes this company a great corporate citizen which is what every community needs to succeed.

Cedar Signs Inc.

Giving back is important at Cedar Signs Inc. which has been a valuable employer in this community for nearly 53 years. Besides close ties with many service clubs, including the Rotary and Kinsman clubs, Cedar Signs’ Peter Rivers has served on the board of director and acted as President at Argus Residence for Young People for nearly 12 years. He continues to donate his time and talent and resources to many causes, both in Galt and now in Clyde. Some of the organizations who have benefitted include The Bridges, Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Township of North Dumfries, the Salvation Army, Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank, and the Village of Clyde Canada Day Fireworks – to name just a few.

Energy+ Inc.

For more than 100 years, Energy+ has been a valuable source of support to the residents and businesses in this community. Besides providing a reliable source of energy and maintaining vital infrastructure, it has also provided much-need financial support in 2020 to many not-for-profit organizations that serve those in need. In fact, the utility surpassed all corporate giving targets and distributed more than $95,000 in corporate and employee donations and community sponsorships this past year. From the United Way Waterloo Region Communities to the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank, and Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Energy+ Inc. has been here to help others. That giving continued when it provided three educational awards in partnership with Conestoga College and the University of Waterloo to support post-secondary students who are pursuing studies in energy-related programs. These donations clearly show the needs of today and tomorrow are things Energy+ takes very seriously.

Farm Mutual Re

Focusing on local charities is very important at Farm Mutual Re. Besides helping such worthy causes as the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank, oneROOF and Wyndam House, local humane societies and hospitals are also on their list. In fact, Farm Mutual Re employees are allotted $200 a year to a charity of their choice. Besides sponsoring several events this past year for the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce that benefited local businesses, Farm Mutual Re also showed its support for children in need by participating in Orange Shirt Day in honour of Indigenous Children and Dress Purple Day for Children Abuse Awareness with FACS. It also is sponsoring The Umbrella Project Youth Leadership Conference in the fall of 2021. As well, the company’s ‘Green Team’ has spearheaded many initiatives to give back to the community and environment, including creating a community garden to help food bank clients and cleaning up trash at the side of the road via its Adopt-a-Road program.

Foodland Ayr

Helping their neighbours is something that Foodland Ayr takes very seriously. The store’s mission has always been to support local producers as much as they can, which in turn builds strong community ties. This is clearly the case in Ayr. The store, owned by Todd and Celina Bender, has been a very valuable supporter of the It Takes A Village Ayr, a grassroots group that provides residents in need with much needed food donations once a month and operates from the garage of a local volunteer, since its inception last year. That kind of help is what Foodland is all about – neighbour helping neighbour.

Oakridge Acres Country Meat Store

Making our community a more prosperous place is exactly what Oakridge Acres Country Meat Store does best. Founded on a 175-acre farm near Ayr by the Gerber family in 2008, Oakridge Acres has been a steady cheerleader in the buy local movement by providing not only their own quality products in their store but have developed extensive partnerships with local farms to sell their items. This certified organic farm – courtesy of Ecocert Canada – believes in preserving the environment and has collaborated with the Grand River Conservation Authority to plant trees and with Ontario Soils and Crop agency. Their commitment to serving the community hasn’t been dampened by the pandemic as they continue to offer the best of what our local farms offer via their e-commerce site.

Rio Nectar

The power of healthy food is what drove Shane Gray, paramedic and self-studied nutritionist, to open his first Rio Nectar two years ago. He believes a community reflects what it eats, and by providing tasty and nutritious alternatives will benefit his hometown of Cambridge. Healthier residents and a healthier community. By offering a casual dining experience, which includes adhering to all pandemic safety protocols, Shane believes that Rio Nectar has the potential to become a longstanding staple in Cambridge’s business landscape.