Vanilla & Spice

We are BDC, the Business Development Bank of Canada and the financial institution devoted to Canadian entrepreneurs.

Whether you are looking to apply online for a small business loan, or need additional financing for a larger project, our financing solutions are designed to protect cash flow and help grow your business.

You can also access our network of experienced business consultants, who can provide you with practical advice to help you accelerate your company’s growth.

We also encourage you to check out our articles and tools section, where you can find Business articles and advice, including an entrepreneur’s toolkit filled with free tools such as eBooks and guides, templates, calculators, webinars, online courses and much more ! Our most popular tools are our free business plan template kit, our free business loan calculator and our free marketing plan template. 

Visit us at BDC.ca to learn how to make the most of today’s opportunities and maximize the potential of your business.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1962 which continues to be a collaborative community, equipping and enabling independent, franchised and specialty grocers for sustainable success. We act as a strong and united voice for over 6900 independent grocery retailers, across Canada, providing programs for operational excellence and fostering solid relationships among retailers and suppliers.

Communitech helps tech-driven companies start, grow and succeed.

Grape Growers in Ontario are a dedicated bunch. They have to be, because growing grapes takes time – sometimes generations! We are Grape Growers of Ontario, representing all of the province’s Grape Growers and wineries since 1947. Back then, growers and wineries alike were still recovering from the Great Depression. The Farm Products Marketing Act opened a way for farmers to form a united, legislated, group to restore some stability with one voice for all growers. An overwhelming 90% of Grape Growers voted in favour of forming what is today called Grape Growers of Ontario. More than 70 years and still going strong, we are your neighbours – local families that Grow the Wines You Love!

Without grapes, there would be no wine. Without passionate and skilled growers, there would be no grapes. Behind every glass of VQA (100% Ontario wine) is a team of 500 avid grape enthusiasts who meticulously cultivate more than 17,000 acres of vineyards across Ontario.

There are countless reasons to choose local wines! Interested in supporting local growers? Want to grow the Ontario economy? How about buying local for the environment? Or maybe you are simply a fan of quality wines made with 100% Ontario-grown grapes?

Look for VQA or Product of Canada on the label to know that you are choosing wine made from 100% locally-grown grapes. Find local Ontario VQA and 100% Ontario wines here Localgrapes.ca

Locally beef that has been recognized around the world for its high quality and taste. 

The Ontario Corn Fed Beef program is managed by the Ontario Cattle Feeders' Association (OCFA). OCFA members are farmers who produce over half of the beef cattle in the province.

The mandate of OCFA is to enhance and maintain a sustainable beef industry in Ontario. Many of our member farms have been passed down through the generations. We believe in the future of the family farm and the contribution it can make to rural communities and food production in Ontario. The priority our farmers assign to on farm best practices and environmental sustainability led to the launch of the Ontario Corn Fed Beef program in 2001. This program was built on market research which indicated that Ontarians wanted the opportunity to purchase locally produced products. Since then the program has continued to grow, as consumers across the province and around the world purchase our beef products because of their quality and consistency.

We are proud to partner with Loblaws Companies Ltd to offer locally raised beef in outlets all across Ontario including Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, Zehr's, Valu Mart and YIG.

The Simcoe County Economic Development Office (EDO) works with Simcoe County's sixteen municipalities, the Cities of Barrie and Orillia, and with regional service providers to help businesses thrive and grow.  The EDO is responsible for the attraction, retention and expansion of businesses and business opportunities within the region.

In Simcoe County, experts in healthcare, technology, food processing, aerospace, automotive and more, work hard to design, refine and innovate solutions that impact lives well beyond our borders. Manufacturing is a thriving industry, employing thousands of talented people who are proud to put their stamp on the products and services they create. To learn more about Simcoe County manufacturing, visit Made in Simcoe County.

Wine Growers Ontario is working to ensure the entire Ontario wine industry is robust, sustainable and profitable today, tomorrow and for many years to come.

We are generations of winemakers as well as new entrepreneurs. We are farmers, vintners, manufacturers, marketers and tourism operators. Together, we are proud of our international acclaim for award winning wines produced from the beautiful, rich and diverse Wine Country of Ontario.

Most of all, we are passionate about the grape and wine industry and truly committed to its continued success at home, in Canada and around the globe.

Our members are the largest producers of VQA in Ontario, committed to offering wine drinkers a wide range of quality wines to enjoy at any occasion. Our award-winning wines span the taste preference and value appreciated by our customers.

Our members represent more than 80% of all Ontario wines that are produced and sold in Ontario, including the majority of wine made from 100% Ontario grapes. We are all farmers but our members also purchase the vast majority of grapes grown by independent Grape Growers in the Province.

We are proud to be leading the growth and evolution of the Ontario wine industry into a world class wine region.