In much of Eastern Ontario this year, the summer solstice was aptly followed by a few relatively hot days.  To beat the heat, but also to join it, I went out on my road bike, exploring the side roads and villages surrounding the City of Kingston. 

Eastern Ontario is becoming known for its burgeoning Creative Food Economy, which has the potential to be not only a viable economic development and tourism strategy, but also a means to contribute to sustainable development and better community health.  There are several shining examples in the region of how local food has been successfully ‘cultivated’ for economic development, including the impressive, integrated strategy adopted in Prince Edward County. 

Creative Communities is pleased to offer an article by guest blogger Petra Cooper, founder and owner of Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Co. in Prince Edward County.

On December 18th, 2009, the Financial Times of London published "Britain is Now the Big Cheese in Europe," an article celebrating the revival of cheese making in the UK.  It told a surprising tale.

It was standing room only on January 25th at a Monieson Centre seminar on The Creative Economy given by Dr. Betsy Donald, Queen’s Geography.  With about 60 attendees, plus two remote sites linked in by videoconference, it was abundantly clear this is an enduringly hot topic.  In fact, the subject proved attractive not only to professors and grad students from planning, business and geography, but also to municipal economic developers, consultants, provincial and federal government officials, CFDCs and sustainability activists.