From roasts to realty: The Hogeterps

By Kaitlyn Clark

The Haldimand Press

CAYUGA—When Peter Hogeterp’s parents came to Canada in 1952 they had “absolutely nothing”, said Peter. Less than a generation later, Peter is one of the most well-known businessmen in Haldimand, having just won the Mayor’s Award of Distinction at the Haldimand County Business Excellence Awards on April 10, 2019.

A butcher by trade, his father opened a shop in Cayuga in the 1960s. Peter, the third youngest of eight children, was born and raised in the industry. He purchased his father’s shop with his wife, Joanne, in the 1980s. They ran the business for 18 years before selling it in 2002 to Larry Hanson, who continues to operate it to this day.

“Now I didn’t know what to do,” said Peter of leaving the industry he had grown up in. Inspired by a sign to start a new career in real estate, he made the plunge. However, it wasn’t an easy start.

“One of the things that was really a challenge was a thing called a computer. I  didn’t know how to operate a computer,” said Peter. However, he was determined. “My dad’s favourite quote was always on our fridge, Winston Churchill’s most famous speech that was just three words: Never give up!”