Community Business Survey 2025 | Township of Bonfield

Economic Development Initiatives

Business Survey Interview Details

Each Business Survey Interview will last approximately One (1) hour of your time.

To ensure meaningful feedback, the project proposes Two (2) trained interviewees meet with each participating business to listen, understand, and record the issues, constraints, and opportunities you might be experiencing.

The interviews will preferably take place at your designated place of work where access to Wi-Fi can be guaranteed.

If you are unable to meet at your place of work, or you cannot provide access to Wi-Fi - the following options are also possible:

Meet at the Township’s Municipal Offices, located at 365 Highway 531, Bonfield ON P0H 1E0. A private meeting room can be arranged with advance notice.
Meet over Zoom / Microsoft Teams. Our designated interviewers can send the link(s) ahead of time, and you can meet online.
Meet at your workplace and complete a hard copy of the survey. This would be less efficient, but your participation is important to us.

In completing your registration to be part of the program, please confirm your preferred means for an interview, so our program coordinator can ensure appropriate arrangements are put in place.

Don’t forget: By inviting our trained volunteers to your place of work, they will gain a more balanced perspective of the issues, challenges and/or opportunities your business might be facing; and potentially offer valued-added advice to guide you on your future business journey.

Follow this link to register your business today:

Neither council members, nor Township staff, will engage directly with businesses during the initial interview process; however, staff will lead the coordination of the initiative, and will engage with the interviewers to analyze the results, and report on the projects’ findings.

All survey responses will remain confidential. Business Survey Interview Registration

Council’s role will primarily be to support community outreach on the initiative, by endorsing communications, sharing contacts, promoting the upcoming forums, and participating in broader awareness efforts.

Meet our Interview Team

Ministry of Northern Economic Development & Growth

Dominique Marleau, Northern Development Advisor

Dominique has been with the Ministry of Northern Economic Development & Growth for over 20 years delivering many of the province’s economic development programs in the region. She has been involved with a few BR+E projects and has worked closely with businesses in the region in accessing funding through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC).

NECO Community Futures Development Corporation

Patti Carr, Executive Director

Patti Carr is the Executive Director of NECO Community Futures Development Corporation for the past 5 years. Patti supports small and medium sized businesses in the Nipissing East and East Parry Sound regions through Community Futures. Patti's previous experience was 32+ years with the North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce. Patti has been a volunteer on numerous boards and committees throughout her career. Her current appointments on boards include: Nipissing University Board of Governors and Chair of the MNPST Grant Review Team for Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The Business Centre Nipissing Parry Sound

Jennifer Nickerson, Manager

Jennifer Nickerson is the current Executive Director of The Business Centre Nipissing Parry Sound, a provincially funded, not for profit organization that provides programs, training, connections and resources to entrepreneurs, start up and expanding businesses. She has been with the centre for 10 years and also sat as a director on the Small Business Centre’s of Ontario Association, providing a voice for the North.

The Labour Market Group

Stacie Fiddler, Executive Director

Stacie Fiddler has led the Labour Market Group as Executive Director since the spring of 2003. With over 20 years of demonstrated leadership in labour market planning and workforce development, Stacie has worked with communities, organizations and all levels of government throughout Northeastern Ontario. Her career path has spanned employment in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, giving her a solid understanding of the roles each play in creating strong and vibrant communities and competitive local economies.

Ministry of Rural Affairs

Pierrette Desrochers, Economic and Business Advisor

Pierrette Desrochers is a Rural Economic Development Advisor with the Ministry of Rural Affairs; and is responsible for providing program and project-based support to regional communities and businesses throughout Northeastern Ontario.

Pierrette has extensive prior experience working with rural communities, including innovative start-ups, and long established farming enterprises, plus other agriculture and rural development-oriented businesses.

Pierette is enthusiastic to support Bonfield based agri-food businesses as they continue to modernize and face head-on meet the issues, challenges, and opportunities facing the agri-food sector here in Northern Ontario. She is fluently bilingual, and based within the community of Verner.