Podcast produced for www.BuildANewLife.ca, a website developed by Prince Edward County’s Economic Development Office (Internship)

Brian Beiles moved to The County for the “retirement stage” of his life and hasn’t slowed down since.

After the firm he was working for in Toronto shut down, Brian decided to move his mobile consulting business in The County.

Thanks to the Internet and the short-drive to Toronto, Brian and his wife are mixing quality of life with business.

Brian says since moving to The County, he and his wife have found that they’ve been involved in various initiatives in The County on a volunteer basis.

He has been on the committee for the successful county Jazz Festival for the past three years, has done pro-bono consulting work for Taste the County and some organizational and development work for Public Works.

He currently sits on the Prince Edward County Arts Council as vice-chair.

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Podcast produced for www.BuildANewLife.ca, a website developed by Prince Edward County’s Economic Development Office (Internship)

John and Geri Della Bosca had two choices when they retired: buy a condominium and walk down to the Yacht club every day, or live in the city. Five years later, they find themselves running Stone House Farm, a successful organic farm located on County Road 15 in Picton.

Stone House Farm offers a range of produce, including 14 different lettuces, which they call their “healthy mix,” watercress, seven different varieties of potatoes, and their county-renown eggs and tomatoes.

John is also secretary for the Prince Edward County chapter of Canadian Organic Growers, one of 15 chapters throughout Canada.

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Podcast produced for www.BuildANewLife.ca, a website developed by Prince Edward County’s Economic Development Office (Internship)

“If you want a formula for a successful retirement – you have to avoid three things; bridge, golf and sailing,” says Alan Gratias, investor, creator and inventor.

The 61-year-old businessman/retiree hasn’t slowed down since he retired at age 49, after working two decades as a trade negotiator with Agriculture Canada.

As a retiree, Alan says that when he wakes up, it’s important for him to have something to do.

Alan is the inventor of Gravitas the Game – The little box of big questions, which is in its second printing, and he’s currently in negotiations for a lifestyle/reality show based on the game.

He is also owner of Arts on Main Gallery in downtown Picton.

At the moment (May 2008), Alan and his partner, Joanie Hilborn are involved in The Merrion Square Un-model project in Ottawa. The Un-model project has Alan and Joanie (a designer), creating their own “model-home,” the way they would do it.

Currently, Alan and Joanie are working on developing their Crumbling House wine “Deo Gratias” at Cressy House, located on the eastern edge of Prince Edward County.

An accomplished renovator – Cressy House, is a 200-year-old Loyalist farmhouse, one of the many “crumbling houses” Alan has saved throughout the years.

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Podcast produced for www.BuildANewLife.ca, a website developed by Prince Edward County’s Economic Development Office (Internship)

Katie Misener and Rick Willing’s business runs by one motto: “TV Sucks – Ride your bike.”

In 1989, both Katie and Rick, who are married and affectionately refer to each other as emperor and empress-for-life, opened up the Bloomfield Bicycle Company in Bloomfield.

Katie says being, “smack-dab in the middle of the island,” is one of many reasons they were able to have a bike shop in Bloomfield.

Bloomfield Bicycle Company isn’t your standard bike shop, they offer a wide variety of services, including; club rides, repairs, bike rentals and guided tours around the rolling hills in Prince Edward County.

Official website: Bloomfield Bicycle Company

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