Emily Core is nothing if not adaptable. The 26-year-old took the bold step of quitting university to become a baker and then when the bakery she was working at closed, she decided to open her own. Now she delightedly owns and operates Petrolia Street Bakery on Petrolia Line. Her bakery opened in 2019. “I always baked when I was younger,” Emily says. “I went to McMaster University in Hamilton, but I didn’t really enjoy it. I decided then that I really needed to work with my hands, so I dropped out of school and signed up for pastry school. Now I have my own bakery.”

Emily worked at a bakery in Sarnia and when it closed, she was left at a crossroads. “I was either going to move to London or Hamilton or I was going to go home and open a bakery because there weren’t any bakeries in Petrolia,” Emily says. “I figured I would get in on it before somebody else did. It was definitely a little scary at the start. I didn’t have any business experience, so I was kind of going into it blind. That said, I had a lot of support around me; people who were able to guide me.”

Emily says leaving university and going to pastry school was life-altering. “It was remarkable to be at pastry school,” Emily says. “I didn’t realize I needed to build something of my own to actually appreciate it. When you work on a paper at school, you write it once and then throw it away. With baking, you are able to share it which is really nice. They get to enjoy it. It is a nice thing to share.”

Petrolia Street Bakery is open Tuesday to Saturday and features breads and desserts including brownies, lemon squares, and butter tarts. “I also take custom orders for things like cakes and pies,” Emily says. “I am just starting to get into catering weddings which is the direction I want my business to go in.” Emily says she is very thankful for the help she received from Lambton County Developmental Services (LCDS). “When I first started I was in a small space in Petrolia and it had been offered to me by the LCDS,” Emily says. “They were huge supporters and they are the reason I am here. I did a Facebook page and one of my aunts shared it and it took right off. I couldn’t believe it.”

Like so many businesses, Petrolia Street Bakery was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was scary to begin with because I didn’t know if I should stay open or close down,” Emily says. “Do I do orders? Technically I am an essential business because I sell bread, so I was able to stay open. It turns out COVID was actually kind to my business. The whole community supported me.” Emily is also very thankful for the support she receives from her parents, Beth and Larry Core, and her aunt Susan Clifford who all pitch in to help.

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