kawarthaNOW | News, events, and community information for residents, visitors, and cottagers in Peterborough and The Kawarthas

For one night only on November 18, 2025, Public Energy Performing Arts is presenting "Bijuriya," a solo drag show by award-winning Montréal composer, experimental vocalist, and interdisciplinary performer Gabriel Dharmoo at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. Moving fluidly between singing, lip-syncing, sound experimentation, and theatrical vignettes, the show features original songs, imaginative vocal effects, and both costume and character transformations. (Photo: Jonathan Goulet)

Public Energy presents a thunderbolt of queer South Asian creativity at Peterborough’s Market Hall

Gabriel Dharmoo's acclaimed solo drag spectacle 'Bijuriya' on November 18 combines original songs, experimental sound design, and theatrical vignettes

Megan Gallant - November 12, 2025

Trent University French studies professor Sylvie Bérard and partner and long-time collaborator Suzanne Grenier won the 2025 Governor General's Literary Award for their translation of American-born Canadian author and literary critic Larissa Lai;s 2018 novel "The Tiger Flu." (Photo courtesy of Trent University)

Trent University professor wins Governor General’s Literary Award for ‘captivating translation’ of dystopian novel

Cobourg resident Richard Pope (right), a lifelong naturalist, birder, and author, received the Environmental Award from Mayor Lucas Cleveland at the 2024 civic awards. Nominations for the 2025 civic awards are open until February 27, 2026 to provide more time for residents to submit nominations. (Photo: Town of Cobourg)

Nominations are open for Cobourg’s 23rd annual civic awards recognizing residents who foster community well-being

The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) Holiday Shopping Passport is an annual customer incentive program that rewards people for supporting downtown Peterborough's independent businesses during the holiday season. For every $10 you spend at over 200 participating businesses, you earn a passport stamp. Each completed passport of 20 stamps will be entered into three early bird draws for a $500 Boro gift card during December and a grand prize draw for a $1,500 Boro gift card in January. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)

This year’s Holiday Shopping Passport program includes East City as well as downtown Peterborough

Peterborough City Hall is located at 500 George Street in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)

Peterborough’s projected 2026 rate increase rises to 7.92 per cent ahead of budget deliberations

Council's recent decision to award a low-barrier shelter contract to One City adds $1.12 million to draft budget

Bruce Head - November 11, 2025

Located at 12 Nicholls Street in Lakefield, the Lakefield Curling Club is a member-owned and managed club with a four-sheet curling facility that welcomes curlers from across the Kawarthas region. (Photo: Lakefield Curling Club / Facebook)

Lakefield Curling Club fundraiser brings in over $15,000 for people affected by Kawartha Home Hardware fire

The investment in a second MRI machine supports the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) in performing an additional 5,000 procedures each year with faster, high-resolution imagery. The upgrade is one of several lifesaving investments in the hospital that have been made because of donations to the PRHC Foundation's $70 million Campaign for PRHC. On National Philanthropy Day on November 15, 2025, the PRHC Foundation is celebrating having reached 84 per cent of the campaign goal. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)

Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation celebrates donors to Campaign for PRHC ahead of National Philanthropy Day

The main branch of the Peterborough Public Library is located at 345 Aylmer Street North in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Peterborough Public Library)

Melissa Redden appointed new CEO/director of Peterborough Public Library

Kawartha Home Hardware Group of Stores general manager Frank Geerlinks (front, far left) with employees of Kawartha Home Hardware during happier times, before a fire destroyed the historic building at the corner of Queen and Burnham streets in downtown Lakefield on October 9, 2025. Geerlinks says Kawartha Home Hardware will be opening a pop-up store at 25 Queen Street, just across the street, before Christmas. (Photo: Kawartha Home Hardware / Facebook)

Kawartha Home Hardware to open pop-up store in downtown Lakefield before Christmas

General manager Frank Geerlinks confirms location as former Cheesy Fromage location on Queen Street, while reaffirming commitment to build a new Lakefield store

Paul Rellinger - November 10, 2025

Representives from the eight restaurants in the city and county of Peterborough that are participating in the United Way Peterborough & District’s inaugural Ultimate Burger Battle stand behind the eight "burger ambassadors" during the October 30, 2025 launch of the community fundraiser. Paul Rellinger, Laura Montague, Dan O'Toole, Neil Morton, Nour Mazloum, Pete Dalliday, Jason Wilkins, and Tiffany Arcari) who will be promoting the November event. Along with awards for the Ultimate Burger of the Year and Most Burgers Sold, the fundraiser will include the People’s Choice Awards, whose winners will be selected by community members voting online for their favourite burger. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)

Meet the local ‘burger ambassadors’ taking on United Way Peterborough’s Ultimate Burger Battle

"The Little Balls Falls Christmas Fete (ality!)", Globus Theatre's festive murder mystery dinner theatre experience running for six performances from November 13 to 22, 2025 in Bobcaygeon, stars (left to right, top and bottom) Sandy Jobin Bevans, Kylee Evans, Chris Gibbs, Barb Scheffler, and Kerry Griffin. (kawarthaNOW collage)

Tickets selling fast for Globus Theatre’s festive murder mystery dinner experience

Families with young children are invited to take part this month in the EarlyON "Discovery Passport" program, which involves visiting EarlyON locations in Northumberland County to learn more about their activities and programs while playing games and collecting stamps to win prizes. (Photos: Northumberland County)

EarlyON Northumberland’s ‘Discovery Passport’ contest invites families to explore, play, and win together in the county

Trent University professor wins Governor General’s Literary Award for ‘captivating translation’ of dystopian novel

Bruce Head - November 12, 2025

Peterborough's Sylvie Bérard and collaborator Suzanne Grenier honoured for French translation of Larissa Lai's 2018 biopunk thriller 'The Tiger Flu'.

Nominations are open for Cobourg’s 23rd annual civic awards recognizing residents who foster community well-being

November 12, 2025

Peterborough’s projected 2026 rate increase rises to 7.92 per cent ahead of budget deliberations

November 11, 2025

Lakefield Curling Club fundraiser brings in over $15,000 for people affected by Kawartha Home Hardware fire

November 11, 2025

Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation celebrates donors to Campaign for PRHC ahead of National Philanthropy Day

November 11, 2025

This year’s Holiday Shopping Passport program includes East City as well as downtown Peterborough

kawarthaNOW - November 12, 2025

Also new this year are Double Stamp Fridays, with three early bird draws for $500 Boro gift card in December and a $1,500 grand prize draw in January.

YWCA Peterborough Haliburton is seeking to raise $200,000 by December 31, 2025 to support for the non-profit organization's Journey of Care, a wrap-around model that supports women and children recovering from domestic abuse, from the very first phone call seeking safety until they have achieved independence in their new life. Community donations will be matched up to $60,000 by Olivia and Gord James. (Graphic courtesy of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton)

Know Your Locals: Double your impact when donating to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton this holiday season

November 3, 2025

Located in southwestern Peterborough County and bordered by the historic Trent-Severn Waterway, Selwyn Township brings nature and community together with its scenic countryside and lakes, outdoor adventures, charming and hospitable small towns including Lakefield, Bridgenorth, Ennismore, and Young's Point, and lively year-round festivals offering activities for the whole family. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)

Road Tripping in The Kawarthas: See it all in Selwyn Township

October 28, 2025

Based in the Township of Cavan Monaghan, Cherkam is a Canadian leader in industrial automation, including robotics integration. The company works across a range of industries including automotive, food and beverage, mining, and more. Alongside many international projects, the company has done work for local and regional companies and sources from Canadian distributors. (Photo courtesy of Cherkam)

The Local Advantage in Peterborough County: Cherkam in Cavan Monaghan is a leader in industrial automation

October 28, 2025

There is still time to participate in the Peterborough Public Library's "One Book, One Ptbo" community read ahead of the grand finale event, an evening with "To Speak for the Trees" author Diana Beresford-Kroeger on November 4, 2025 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre. Combining memoir, science, and Celtic wisdom, the book explores the Irish botanist and visionary's background and insights about the importance of trees and why they are the achievable solution to climate change. The book is still available in various formats through the library and will be for sale from Take Cover Books at the grand finale event. (Photos: Penguin Random House / Shelby Lisk)

Know Your Locals: Author Diana Beresford-Kroeger to speak at ‘One Book, One Ptbo’ grand finale event on November 4

October 18, 2025

Public Energy presents a thunderbolt of queer South Asian creativity at Peterborough’s Market Hall

Megan Gallant - November 12, 2025

Gabriel Dharmoo's acclaimed solo drag spectacle 'Bijuriya' on November 18 combines original songs, experimental sound design, and theatrical vignettes.

Tickets selling fast for Globus Theatre’s festive murder mystery dinner experience

November 10, 2025

Michelle Yu and Amir Haidar during a rehearsal for "Hansel & Gretel - The Sticky and Sweet Panto" at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope. The two actors, who have each performed in several past productions at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope and shared the Capitol stage for the first time in 2023, are taking on the lead roles in the holiday musical comedy written and directed by Capitol Theatre artistic director Rob Kempson. Running for 45 performances from November 21 to December 28, 2025 at the historic downtown venue, the panto includes both "naughty" versions for adults and family-friendly "nice" versions. (Photo: Sam Moffatt)

Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre welcomes back familiar faces for ‘Hansel & Gretel – The Sticky and Sweet Panto’

November 8, 2025

Veteran blues guitarist and storyteller Doc MacLean, a longtime friend of and collaborator with Juno and Grammy award winner Colin Linden, performs at The Black Horse in downtown Peterborough on Sunday afternoon. (Photo: Stefan Hurter)

nightlifeNOW – November 6 to 12

November 6, 2025

In "who will save the night sky?" on November 9, 2025 at Trent University's Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space, Métis-Jewish performer Philip Geller's Trickster-like character invites the audience to a "starry boardroom" where celestial beings debate the fate of Earth and its two-legged inhabitants. With many thousands of satellites in orbit, Geller uses humour and subversion to inspire reflection on the modern forces that obscure humanity's ancient relationship with the stars. (Photo: Kate Dalton)

Métis-Jewish performer Philip Geller’s solo show on November 9 asks audiences to look up and remember what we’ve forgotten

November 4, 2025

Cormor and 3DCP Muskoka create unique 3D printed home decor products for Stony Lake Furniture Co. in Lakefield

Megan Gallant - November 7, 2025

Peterborough and Bracebridge companies use cutting-edge 3D printing technology to manufacture stylish planters, side tables, coffee tables, and more.

Allison Adam, entrepreneurship officer at Community Futures Peterborough (CFP), will deliver a free ideation and business planning workshop in Havelock on January 21, 2026 as part of the CFP Business Advisory Centre's "Entrepreneurship 101: County Edition" series. The three-part series also includes a marketing and branding workshop on February 4 in Millbrook, and a funding and cash flow workshop on February 18 in Lakefield. (Photo courtesy of CFP)

Community Futures Peterborough expands popular ‘Entrepreneurship 101’ workshop series to Peterborough County

October 24, 2025

A panel discussion on agritourism during the inaugural Regional Tourism Summit hosted by Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope on October 21, 2025. With a keynote address, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, the event saw tourism operators and partners from across the Kawartha Northumberland region gather for a day learning about the challenges and opportunities that exist in the industry regionally, with a focus on strengthening partnerships and collaborations. (Photo courtesy of RTO8)

Collaboration was the focus of the inaugural RTO8 Regional Tourism Summit

October 24, 2025

Cambium Consulting & Engineering staff show off their recycled plastic concrete molds. By turning their previously discarded plastic molds into reusable ones, the Peterborough firm is proving how businesses can lead the way in building a circular economy. From left to right: facilities and environmental health and safety manager Jeff Hoskin, technologist and green team representative Hillary Bradshaw, group manager for construction testing and inspection Brian Graham, and coordinator and green team representative Becky Yarnell. (Photo: Connor Evans / Cambium)

How a Peterborough engineering and environmental firm embraced the circular economy by turning waste into worth

October 23, 2025

In March 2025, Northumberland County announced a 33-member coalition called Prosper in Northumberland to promote and bolster the local economy in response to U.S. trade tariffs, which included the launch of a "Buy Local" campaign over the summer as well as a survey of local residents and businesses. (Photo: Northumberland County)

Northumberland County celebrates Small Business Week by sharing results of recent ‘buy local’ survey

October 22, 2025

EarlyON Northumberland’s ‘Discovery Passport’ contest invites families to explore, play, and win together in the county

Natalie Hamilton, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter - November 10, 2025

Challenge offers chance for parents and kids to discover free play-based programs offered through EarlyON Northumberland,

Within a one square metre block of a Little Forest, plants can be arranged randomly to mimic a natural forest setting. St. John Catholic Elementary School students are shown here placing marker flags for each tree, with the flag noting the tree species and the name of the planter. This will help students put a name to the face of the 30 different species that are planted at their school. (Photo: Laura Keresztesi / GreenUP)

‘Little Forests’ at Peterborough schools are growing the new generation of environmental stewards

November 6, 2025

Lakefield resident Guy Hanchet proudly displays his newly installed solar panels. Despite not having an ideal rooftop for solar, he expects to power about half of his annual electricity use from the system. (Photo: Clara Blakelock / GreenUP)

Home battery backup systems gaining ground as solar installations grow in Peterborough

October 30, 2025

Founded by three local residents and veteran Camino pilgrims, the new Peterborough Chapter of the Canadian Company of Pilgrims is making it easy for adventure-seekers to learn more about the Camino de Santiago, an extensive network of trails leading to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The non-denominational volunteer-run group provides mentorship and resources to help local travellers plan the lodging, packing or other guidelines for their adventures, whether they are going for religious, spiritual, sport, or other purposes. (Photo: Canadian Company of Pilgrims - Peterborough Chapter / Facebook)

Get prepared to walk the Camino de Santiago with help from the new Peterborough chapter of the Canadian Company of Pilgrims

October 29, 2025

Take a stroll through the graveyard if you dare while visiting Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene for Spooky All Hallows' Eve from 6 to 9 p.m. on October 24 and 25, 2025. The family-friendly event offers a wide range of fun activities along with stories about the origin of modern-day Halloween traditions. (Photo: Heather Doughty Photography / Lang Pioneer Village Museum)

History meets Halloween during Spooky All Hallows’ Eve at Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene

October 22, 2025

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