Port Perry is fortunate to have many enterpriserswho have a vision and the ability to bring it to fruition. Their attitude is reflected in the businesses we have, and the long-term successes enjoyed by many. One of our newcomers to the fold is Jack Doak, owner and brainchild behind the Old Flame Brewery.

Having recently moved to Port Perry, Jack and his wife Sherri have embraced the town, and are now an integral part of it.

Born in Newmarket into a family of go getters, Jack’s dad, an accountant by trade, was mayor of the city at the age of thirty. His grandfather, Alex, opened the first real estate office in Newmarket. It is no wonder that Jack and his four siblings inherited some of the family entrepreneurial genes.

A keen hockey player and a forward for the Newmarket Flyers, Jack won a scholarship to the University of New York at Plattsburgh. He realized his hockey future had limitations, so he concentrated on his education in the health and wellness field. He taught health education in Central Michigan, with a goal to becoming a corporate health consultant. In the summer months Jack moved back to Ontario, and worked as a director of hockey development at Eagle Lake.

When the Junior A founded the Newmarket 87’s Jack was asked to join the coaching staff, a position which utilized his talents, and also introduced him to Frank Stronach, founder of Magna. Jack joined Magna in Human Resources, but wanted to get back to his love of health management. He created a business plan to start his own fitness club, and presented to several banks and venture capitalists. He was awarded enough funding to open Newmarket Nautilus Fitness.

A large wellness centre in Newmarket was experiencing difficulties, and Jack made a successful offer to take over the premises. His small, 3,500 square foot club was now 17,000 square feet in size, and in four short years, grew to 1,100 members. One of those members was a girl named Sherri who lived in Newfoundland, and was spending the summer in Newmarket. “It was love at first sight,” Jack explained, still showing a gleam in his eye. The couple were married six months later.

They sold the club and opened a weight management business. Sherri’s degree in physical education and her expertise as a Pilate’s instructor, was a perfect fit for Jack’s innovative skills. The business was named ‘Fit to be Free’, and is similar to today’s ‘Curves’ clubs.

When Jack discovered the new owners of his former club, Nautilus, were experiencing difficulties, he bought it back, remodelled it and branded it as Fit City. Sherri and Jack had the club for nearly 17 years, and had also opened Fit City West, a club dedicated to women; all while raising three boys.

At the same time, Jack worked as an industry consultant. He was hired by Timberlane Country Club to turn the business around, as it was nearly bankrupt. Jack worked diligently, redesigning the establishment as an Athletic club and added 1,700 members. This offered the owners many more years of business, which allowed them to sell in a much more lucrative real estate market.

Jack and Sherri purchased a century home in downtown Newmarket and opened Coco Spa, which became very successful and well known in the area. It was so popular that they were approached by Sanctuary International Day Spas, who made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.

In 2008 Fit City West was sold, and Jack opened UTC, the Ultimate Training Centre, in Newmarket’s prestigious Magna Centre. Retaining Fit City East, the couple were extremely busy, and one wonders how Jack could possibly take on anything else.

Later that year, largely due to his hockey background, Jack designed and developed the Original Hockey Lace Belt. He took it to Dragon’s Den and appeared on the show, partnering with the 101 year old Textile Manufacturing Company in Toronto, which continues to manufacture the sought after belts. If you are wondering how Jack made out in Dragons Den, you can see for yourself, by visiting the CBC website: http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/pitches/the-original-hockey-lace-belt.

Sherri studied holistic nutrition, and Jack wondered what his next venture would be. The Doak’s travelled through Port Perry often, on their way to the family cottage. “I have always loved this town,” Jack explains. “And thought that someday I would want to live here.”

The idea of a craft brewery had been in Jack’s mind for a long time, and he put an offer in to buy Newmarket’s old fire hall. He registered the name ‘Old Flame’, but was disappointed when he learned the building was too old to support a business. “It was Sherri who told me to look in Port Perry, and I did.”

The LCBO was the first building Jack found for sale, and after realizing the historic significance of the structure, knew there would be no alternative. Old Flame Beer would be tapped in Port Perry.

It took 8 months to extensively renovate the old Swan Building and bring it back to its former glory, when it housed the Ontario Carriage Works and later a shoe factory, which ironically started in Jack’s home town of Newmarket. The history explains why a horseless carriage is part of the décor.

Shawn La Rue, a lifelong friend of Jack’s, was recently appointed as Vice President of the company. “Shawn is extremely dedicated and never stops working,” Jack explains. “We call him McIver, because there is no problem that he can’t fix.”

The Old Flame is burning brightly, and owners Jack and Sherri have moved to Port Perry. Their Redbrand won a gold medal from the Canadian Brewers Association. The Brunette and the Ginger Beer were not left behind by picking up silver medals. Recently the Red won silver, as well.

By the time this article is published, there will be two new brewery vats to supply the 27 LCBO outlets and more than 120 venues, which serve Port Perry’s own Old Flame Beer.

Jonathan van Bilsen is a photographer, author, columnist and key note speaker. Follow his adventures at photosNtravel.com