Brant Economic Development

10/14/2026

Next week is Small Business Week! Which events will you be attending?

October 19 to 25 is BDC Small Business Week, and there are events taking place throughout the County of Brant and the City of Brantford that are available to local small businesses!

Explore funding and digital tools, meet local businesses, hear practical advice, build connections, and rethink workplace well-being. Join us for a week-long celebration of small businesses across Canada!

For more information on local events, visit https://www.brantfordbrantbizweek.ca/

Check out each of our partners' events! Enterprise Brant o/b Brant Community Futures Development Corporation, Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant, The County of Brant Chamber of Commerce, Brantford-Brant Business Resource Enterprise Centre, Ladies Who Lead

10/05/2026

October 19 to 25 is BDC Small Business Week, and there are events taking place throughout the County of Brant and the City of Brantford that are available to local small businesses!

Explore funding and digital tools, meet local businesses, hear practical advice, build connections, and rethink workplace well-being. Join us for a week-long celebration of small businesses across Canada!

For more information on local events, visit https://www.brantfordbrantbizweek.ca/

Check out each of our partners' events! Enterprise Brant o/b Brant Community Futures Development Corporation, Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant, The County of Brant Chamber of Commerce, Brantford-Brant Business Resource Enterprise Centre, Ladies Who Lead

09/26/2026

The County of Brant’s business community came together last night to connect, celebrate and recognize local success at the 2026 Salute to Brant event.

The annual event brings together local business owners, community leaders and elected officials for an evening of networking, hearing from a keynote speaker, enjoying local food and drink, and ending with the presentation of the Salute to Brant Awards.

“Salute to Brant is one of my favourite events of the year,” said Mayor David Bailey. “Our local businesses contribute so much to the strength and character of the County of Brant, and I am proud to have an evening to bring us together to celebrate their many accomplishments.”

Held at the TF Warren Group Cainsville Community Centre, this year’s event once again included Jan Vilaca – also known as Spicy Jan - as the Master of Ceremonies and special guest speaker Ken Edgar. Ken, a seventh-generation farmer, shared his family’s journey of opening and operating The Paris B**r Company, highlighting the importance of perseverance and facing entrepreneurial challenges head-on.

“Salute to Brant is an opportunity to champion our local business community and show our appreciation for the businesses that call the County of Brant home”, said Zach Gable, Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the County of Brant. “Their continued resiliency, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit help strengthen our local economy and make Brant a vibrant place to live, work and invest.”

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2026 Salute to Brant Awards, recognizing the outstanding achievements of businesses across five categories: Accessible Brant Award, Brant Farms For All Agriculture Award, Brant Works Innovation Award, Good Times in Brant Award and the Our Future Brant Sustainability Award. Each award recipient received an award statuette as well as certificates from MP Dan Muys and MPP Will Bouma.

2026 award recipients are:

• Accessible Brant Award – STG Health and Wellness
• Brant Farms For All Agriculture Award – Browndale Farm
• Brant Works Innovation Award – Active Metal Recyclers
• Good Times in Brant Award (Tie) – St. George Apple Fest and The Arlington Hotel & River’s Edge
• Our Future Brant Sustainability Award – 1200 Degrees Ontario

Nominations for the 2026 awards opened to the public in February, providing community members with an opportunity to recognize outstanding local businesses. Recipients were selected by a committee of industry experts.

“Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate a County of Brant business,” said Mayor Bailey. “Recognizing and supporting the businesses in our community is an important way to celebrate the people behind them and the contributions they make to Brant every day.”

To view the 2026 award recipient videos and learn more about Salute to Brant, visit www.brant.ca/Salute

To stay up to date on upcoming event details and announcements, follow Brant Economic Development on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to the bi-monthly newsletter at www.brant.ca/EcDevSubscribe

09/16/2026

Salute to Brant is next Thursday, September 24. Do you have your tickets yet? 🎟️

Join us for this exciting, annual business event that brings together leaders within the local business community, elected officials, community influencers, and various industry experts.

Enjoy delicious food and inspiring insights as we celebrate the progress and achievements of businesses in the County of Brant.

Salute to Brant features:
✔ Salute to Brant Business Awards
✔ Keynote Speaker Ken Edgar, co‑founder of The Paris B**r Co
✔ Master of Ceremonies: Jan Vilaca, founder of Tasty Road Trips Food Tours
✔ Catering by Devlins Country Bistro and cash bar

🎟️ Don't miss out! Purchase your tickets now at brant.ca/salute

09/10/2026

🎤 Emcee Spotlight: Spicy Jan

We’re excited to welcome back Spicy Jan from Tasty Road Trips as Emcee for the 2026 Salute to Brant! Known for her energy, passion for local communities and love of culinary tourism, Jan will help guide an unforgettable evening.

Join us for 2026 Salute to Brant on Thursday, September 24, from 5:30 to 9:30 pm at the TF Warren Group Cainsville Community Centre.

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now!

Enjoy an evening of celebrating the local business community with networking, locally catered food and beverages, an inspiring keynote and the presentation of the 2026 Salute to Brant Awards.

🎟️ Reserve your tickets today at brant.ca/salute

09/08/2026

🎤 Keynote Speaker Spotlight: Meet Ken Edgar!

We’re excited to welcome Ken Edgar as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Salute to Brant!

Ken is a seventh-generation farmer, co-founder of The Paris B**r Co., and a familiar face in Brant’s agricultural and business communities.

With family farming roots in the Paris and Brant area dating back to the early 1900s, Ken has spent his life immersed in agriculture and crop management. He has also helped diversify his family’s business interests across manufacturing, wholesale, retail and, most recently, the b**r and restaurant industry.

Today, Ken helps manage production at The Paris B**r Co. and the family farm, where they grow hops, wheat, rye and soybeans.

🌾Hear from Ken at the 2026 Salute to Brant on Thursday, September 24, from 5:30 to 9:30 pm at the TF Warren Group Cainsville Community Centre.

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now!

Join us for an evening of celebrating our business community with networking, enjoying locally catered food and beverages, an inspiring keynote and the presentation of the 2026 Salute to Brant Awards.

Reserve your spot today at brant.ca/salute

09/01/2026

Salute to Brant 2026 is THIS MONTH! Join us on Thursday, September 24 at 5:30 pm at the Cainsville Community Centre.

This annual evening of celebration will feature Master of Ceremonies Spicy Jan Cooks and keynote speaker Ken Edgar of Paris B**r Co.

Registration can be completed at www.brant.ca/Salute

08/27/2026

Congratulations to FreshCo. on their grand opening in the County of Brant! The store, located at 10 Markel Drive also presented a donation to the Salvation Army for $2,500.

08/26/2026

Congratulations to Shoppers Drug Mart on their Grand Opening last week at 10 Markel Drive!

08/11/2026

The County of Brant is inviting residents and visitors to experience local agriculture during Farm Crawl Brant, taking place on Saturday, September 12, 2026. 🚜🐮

This one-day, self-guided, ticketed driving tour, running from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, will provide participants with the opportunity to visit five local farms, meet the farmers behind the products, learn about agriculture in Brant and support local businesses.

This year's event is presented in partnership with our friends at Farm Crawl Hamilton and is supported by RTO3 - Hamilton Halton Brant through the 2026/2027 Partnership Fund Program.

Visitors to Farm Crawl Brant will enjoy behind-the-scenes experiences while exploring a variety of participating farms throughout the County. Each stop will offer a unique opportunity to discover how local food and agricultural products are grown, raised and produced.

"Brant's agricultural community plays an important role in our local economy and helps shape the character of our rural communities," said Zach Gable, Director of Economic Development and Tourism. "Farm Crawl Brant provides a unique opportunity for residents and visitors to connect directly with local farmers, learn about agriculture and experience everything our farming community has to offer."

Participating farms in 2026 Farm Crawl Brant include:
📍Glenridge Hazelnuts located in Glen Morris
📍Moore Farms Ayr located just outside of Paris
📍Brantview Apples and C***r located in St. George
📍Browndale Farm located in Paris
📍Blue Gables Acres Inc located in Paris

“Thank you to the participating farms,” said Gable. “We are incredibly fortunate to have a farming community that is eager to share its passion and expertise with others. By opening their farms to residents and visitors, they are helping foster a greater appreciation for local agriculture and the important contributions farming makes to the County of Brant.”

Tickets are required to participate in the event and are now available for purchase on the website. As tickets are limited, we encourage you to purchase yours early to avoid disappointment.

We look forward to celebrating Farm Crawl Brant with the community and visitors this September!

To learn more about Farm Crawl Brant and stay up to date, visit brant.ca/FarmCrawl