AREA 81 May Day 2025

TL;DR

• Seventeen entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders from both rural Grey Bruce and nearby cities gathered for the first-ever AREA 81 May Day, mixing Farm-to-Fork food, innovation demos, and open conversation.

• The goal: Test what’s possible when you bring diverse rural and urban talent together to shape the future of entrepreneurship in the region.

• What worked: 100% attendance, strong peer connections, candid feedback, and the seeds of new ideas and collaborations.

• What could improve: Clearer introductions, more structure, and a more defined AREA 81 mission and next steps.

• What’s next: This isn’t top-down—everyone’s input will shape the path forward. If you want to join or participate in shaping the future, now’s the time.

Inside the Experiment: What We Learned, What Comes Next, and How You Can Join

This was an experiment in every sense. From putting a true Farm-to-Fork meal to the test, to gathering seventeen diverse entrepreneurs—seasoned business owners, innovators, newcomers, and industry changemakers—our aim was to see what happens when you bring this kind of rural talent and ambition together, face to face.

The result? Honest conversations, fresh perspectives, and lessons we’re sharing openly here, so everyone can help shape what’s next for AREA 81.

The Entrepreneurs Behind the Experiment

On May 30th, 2025, seventeen entrepreneurs, builders, food innovators, and ecosystem champions came together for the first-ever AREA 81 May Day event.

The gathering wasn’t just a who’s-who of rural business—attendees included a third-generation family business owner, a real estate developer who’s transformed local real estate, an angel investor duo, a pioneer in local telecom, creative makers, and emerging women founders, alongside those who’ve sold companies and are now investing back into the community.

Hosted at a local home and lab in Tiverton, this group represented a rare blend: old and new, rural roots and new arrivals, practical problem-solvers and bold experimenters.

The ambition? To spark honest conversations, build deeper trust, test what “local” really means—from food to innovation—and explore how Grey Bruce could become a model for rural entrepreneurship and ventured development across Canada.

This is the story of what happened, what we learned, and how you can help shape what comes next.

What We Planned

Every attendee received a detailed Info Kit outlining an ambitious vision:

• Purpose: Gather rural entrepreneurs and changemakers to shape the next era of innovation in Grey Bruce.

• Agenda highlights:

  • Farm-to-Fork meal prepared with local ingredients (where possible), putting local food systems to the test

  • Demos in 3D printing, advanced manufacturing, and hands-on rural innovation

  • Open “barcamp” style breakouts on real rural issues: manufacturing, food, AI, youth entrepreneurship, infrastructure

  • Group visioning: “What would it take for Grey Bruce to become Canada’s most admired rural innovation region?”

  • Outcome: Identify concrete projects to pilot over the next year

“If Grey Bruce became Canada’s most admired rural innovation region… what would we have done right?”— Opening Prompt from the Info Kit

What Actually Happened

Attendance was 100%. Seventeen entrepreneurs and leaders—representing a remarkable mix of rural and urban perspectives—made the trip, some from hours away, demonstrating the strength and trust already taking root in this emerging community.

The Farm-to-Fork meal was both a highlight and a lesson. Led by AREA 81 members Chris Herbert and Roxann Richie, founder of the GAF Cooking School, the meal celebrated local talent and creativity, but also exposed the real-world barriers to “truly local” sourcing—even in a region surrounded by farms.

Innovation was everywhere. The group explored 3D printed prototypes, hands-on “lab” tours, and conversation breakouts. New relationships were formed. Tangible ideas—ranging from youth entrepreneurship pilots to additive manufacturing and a new AI platform for the agricultural sector —began to take shape.

But here’s the honest reality:

• The agenda quickly gave way to organic, unstructured conversation.

• While the openness was energizing, several participants wished for clearer structure, formal introductions, and a more defined AREA 81 mission and plan—especially for newcomers.

• Most left inspired, but more than a few expressed a desire for clearer next steps and a concrete picture of how to “plug in.”

What Members and Guests Said

“I wasn’t sure what to expect…but I was glad that it worked out well. Based on what we’ve done already…I can far better see my value role. If there’s something that didn’t hit the mark, it was maybe following the agenda. I didn’t see that there was value there, however, diversion for it also had its value. We need to collectively convey the value of working in the AREA 81 methodology and use that to springboard our vision. Micro-focusing our efforts seems to be a theme, but maybe that’s a short-term theme.”— R.G.

“Good to meet with local entrepreneurs. Good things happening! I’m not sure what AREA 81 is going to be or what the [cofounding members] want it to be. Knowing that might have made me a bit more quiet. The AREA 81 [leadership] needs to try and clarify that going forward…Transforming Grey Bruce is a long-term task. If there is a way to foster that change, it’s to build something that has staying power and a continuous commitment to fostering support for entrepreneurship & innovation—a club or group that can influence others over time.”— P.A.

“New connections are always a good thing and the diversity of attendees was positive. A bit more detail on the actual A81 platform and goals would be useful to any attendees not already in the know. Perhaps a few introductory words from the co-founding members. I would like to see us develop a series of specific goal-oriented events/meetings designed to engage new members as well as educate existing entrepreneurs.”— A.H.

“The conversations were inspiring. It gave me the opportunity to not only meet more people but also pause to think about how I (and my business) fit into the greater community. Having an opportunity to hear from each individual about what they do and getting a greater understanding of the goals and plans for AREA 81 would have made the day better. Help entrepreneurs with the execution of starting or building their business in a way that is more efficient than existing alternatives. Expand on the idea of helping young people determine whether business ownership is right for them.”— J.C.

“This group is solution-focused…A couple of conversations will lead to business from the day also. A brief moment for everyone to introduce themselves and the asset they bring to the group, and an established mission for AREA 81, would have made it even better. AREA 81 is a resource, a seedbed…it’s a place to put the puzzle pieces together for all aspects of business and connections. What has been created here has passion and optimism.”— T.H.

Key Learnings

What Worked:

• Strong turnout and authentic peer-to-peer trust: Everyone showed up—some from hours away—which speaks volumes about the commitment and relationships being built.

• Candid, deep discussions: Honest conversations, open sharing, and a willingness to help one another led directly to new ideas and even business opportunities.

• Real-time lessons about “local” realities: The Farm-to-Fork experiment and hands-on innovation demos made visible both the potential and the gaps in local food systems, farming and manufacturing.

What Didn’t:

• Missed opportunity for structured introductions: Not everyone got a chance to share who they were and what they brought to the table—an easy fix for next time.

• Lack of explicit mission/vision and next steps: Some newcomers struggled to see where AREA 81 was headed and how to get involved.

• Unstructured format limited actionable outcomes: Free-form conversation was energizing, but a bit more structure and a summary of “who will do what next” would help convert energy into action.

What Comes Next? Let’s Decide Together

The strongest outcome from May Day 2025 is this: the future of AREA 81 will be shaped by those who show up, share openly, and choose to build together along with the cofounding members.

This is not a top-down vision; it’s a collaborative, evolving journey—and we want your input.

Here’s what you can expect:

• This event debrief is public, so everyone can see the feedback, process, and opportunities ahead.

• We’ll host follow-up sessions—open to May Day participants, broader AREA 81 members, and anyone new who wants to get involved—to collectively decide on projects, pilots, and next steps.

• Your ideas, voices, and energy will shape where AREA 81 goes from here.

Call to Action: Get Involved with AREA 81

Whether you’re already part of the AREA 81 community or just discovering us, your voice and action matter.

Help us shape the future of rural entrepreneurship and innovation in Grey Bruce and beyond.

• Current Members: Continue your journey with us—participate in follow-up sessions, propose new projects, share your feedback, and help co-create our next chapter. Head over to our online community hub to connect both online and offline.

• Interested in Joining? Apply now to become part of an action-oriented network of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and changemakers.

Whether you're a rural entrepreneur, an urban founder targeting rural markets, or someone who wants to support rural entrepreneurs and their ventures - AREA 81 is your home base.