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

Turtle Guardians, a project of The Land Between charity, has designed, installed, and tested all-new ecopassages at four locations in Haliburton County and Peterborough County to mitigate turtle road mortality. (Photo courtesy of The Land Between)

The Land Between aims to protect Ontario’s at-risk turtle species with groundbreaking ecopassage designs

Designed to steer turtles and other wildlife away from roadways, the durable passage have been installed at four locations in Haliburton County and Peterborough County

Megan Gallant - March 1, 2026

Through free, flexible, and goal-focused learning, Fleming College's Academic Upgrading program helps students develop the skills they need to enter college, apprenticeships, or the job market. With access to financial support and community resources, students can set their own pace and schedules and begin anytime online or in-person in Peterborough, Cobourg, Lindsay, and Haliburton. (Photo courtesy of Fleming College)

Fleming College’s free and flexible Academic Upgrading program provides tailored support to help learners meet their goals

Peterborough-area artists of Peterborough will have a new art supply store to access premium art supplies as Artspace turns its Gallery II into a satellite operation for Art Factory, an arts centre based in Renfrew, with sales to begin in early March. The partnership with Art Factory means Artspace will receive 25 per cent commission on all sales, helping to reduce the gap between operational costs and government funding. (kawarthaNOW collage of Art Factory video)

Artspace home to a new art supply store in partnership with Renfrew’s Art Factory

Raymond Beshro, Alto's director of urban interaction, speaks with an attendee during an open house on the proposed high-speed rail network between Toronto and Quebec City held at the McDonnel Street Activity Centre in Peterborough on February 26, 2026. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)

Over 800 people attend Alto open house on proposed high-speed rail corridor through Peterborough

Peterborough AIDS Resource Network (PARN) executive director Dane Record (left) and manager of education Achint picking up a Dodge Caravan from Kawartha Chrysler, one of two vehicles that will replace the decommissioned ambulance that organization has been using for nine years to provide mobile harm reduction services. With support from the City of Peterborough, PARN purchased the two vehicles with emergency funding provided under Health Canada's Substance Use and Addictions Program. (Photo courtesy of PARN)

Peterborough AIDS Resource Network putting not one but two new mobile outreach vehicles on the road

Decommissioned ambulance will be retired after nine years of providing mobile harm reduction services in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton

Paul Rellinger - February 27, 2026

A scene from New Stages Peterborough's restaging of "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" in December 2025. New Stages is one of six arts organizations recommended to receive the maximum $15,000 grant under the City of Peterborough's 2026 community investment grant program. (Photo: Dahlia Katz)

Peterborough city council asked to endorse $225,035 in community grants to 47 local organizations

Toronto reggae band Reggaddiction will be performing a tribute to Bob Marley at the Gordon Best Theatre in downtown Peterborough on Friday night. (Photo via reggaddiction.com)

nightlifeNOW – February 26 to March 4

Peterborough Musicfest, Port Hope Candlelight Festival, the Art Gallery of Peterborough's Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour, and Hike Haliburton are four of the nine festivals in the Kawarthas region that made Festivals and Events Ontario's 2026 Top 100 Festivals & Events in Ontario. Although the Peterborough Folk Festival isn't on the Top 100 list, it was honoured with an FEO Sustainability Award. (kawarthaNOW screenshots of Festivals and Events Ontario videos)

Ten festivals in the Kawarthas region recognized with awards from Festivals and Events Ontario

Also known as vermicomposting, worm composting transforms food waste into "black gold," a rich natural fertilizer that helps improve soil structure, increase water retention, and provide slow-release nutrients to optimize plant growth. (Photo: Callie Downer / Our Little Wormery)

Worms can turn food waste into ‘black gold’ and help fight climate change

Callie Downer of Our Little Wormery in Peterborough explains how vermicomposting improves soil health and reduces greenhouse gas emissions

GreenUP - February 26, 2026

A member of the Peterborough Police Service at a booth during Family Literacy Day at Peterborough Square on January 24, 2026 sharing information with the community about the refreshed N0H8 ("No Hate") public education and awareness campaign. The campaign aims to bring awareness to hate and bias incidents and to provide resources on how such incidents can be reported. (Photo: Peterborough Police Service)

Peterborough Police Service aims to increase reporting of hate and bias incidents through N0H8 public education and awareness campaign

Community Care Northumberland's first-ever Casino Royale fundraiser at Port Hope's Capitol Theatre on February 12, 2026 raised $39,886 for local care programs and services across Northumberland County. (Photo: Karen Truter)

Port Hope community goes all in at Casino Royale fundraiser, raising nearly $40,000 for Community Care Northumberland

Ontario NDP MPP and education critic Chandra Pasma addresses the audience at an "education emergency townhall" about the Ontario government's Bill 33, Supporting Children and Students Act (2025) on February 23, 2026 at the Peterborough Lions Community Centre. (Photo: Bethan Bates / kawarthaNOW)

Ontario NDP education critic warns Bill 33 is an attack on democracy during Peterborough townhall

The Land Between aims to protect Ontario’s at-risk turtle species with groundbreaking ecopassage designs

Megan Gallant - March 1, 2026

Designed to steer turtles and other wildlife away from roadways, the durable passage have been installed at four locations in Haliburton County and Peterborough County.

Fleming College’s free and flexible Academic Upgrading program provides tailored support to help learners meet their goals

February 28, 2026

Over 800 people attend Alto open house on proposed high-speed rail corridor through Peterborough

February 27, 2026

Peterborough AIDS Resource Network putting not one but two new mobile outreach vehicles on the road

February 27, 2026

Ten festivals in the Kawarthas region recognized with awards from Festivals and Events Ontario

February 26, 2026

The Local Advantage with Peterborough County: Staples Maple Syrup taps into local economic development initiatives

Megan Gallant - February 24, 2026

Cavan Monaghan producer strengthens local network through Kawartha Choice FarmFresh and Kawartha Local Food Wholesale projects.

Dave Kranenburg is the founder of Graze & Gather, which originally launched as a virtual farmers' market during the pandemic and now functions as the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program's Green Circle Food Hub. Supporting expanded production and procurement within Peterborough County, the City of Peterborough, and the City of Kawartha Lakes, the Green Circle Food Hub is seeking participation from local food producers and buyers interested in showcasing local ingredients. (Photo: Graze & Gather)

The Local Advantage with Peterborough County: Graze & Gather makes it easy for local food producers to connect with buyers

February 17, 2026

Burleigh Falls Inn is one of 18 local businesses participating in the Lakefield Village Lions Club's sixth annual Lakefield Chocolate Creations Festival, serving up a Chocolate Love Bomb made with rich chocolate brownie, raspberry coulis, freeze dried raspberries, and pistachio. Running until February 17, 2026, the festival invites community members and visitors to tour participating businesses in the village to try specialty chocolate creations and vote on their favourites. The success of the event has inspired the Millbrook & District Lions Club to launch the inaugural Roar for Chocolate Event across Millbrook until February 21, 2026. (Photo: Lakefield Village Lions Club)

Know Your Locals: Lakefield Chocolate Creations Festival inspires Millbrook to ‘Roar for Chocolate’

February 12, 2026

Located in Selwyn Township, McLean Berry Farm is one of more than 800 farms operating on more than 180,000 acres of farmland across Peterborough County. To support the farms that significantly contribute to the region's economic prosperity, Peterborough County Economic Development is supporting and promotes initiatives like the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program, which makes it easy for food buyers to purchase wholesale from local producers. (Photo: Peterborough County Economic Development)

Growing local: Peterborough County is strengthening the farm economy

February 9, 2026

Jena Trimble founded Zen Home and Cottage Cleaning Services in 2020 to support clients across The Kawarthas. Now taking on more residential clients, the company and its dedicated team offers deep cleans and regular maintenance as well as additional services including wash-and-fold laundry services with free pickup and delivery. Jena's team of full-time and part-time cleaning professionals uses an original all-natural and all-purpose cleaner that's also available for purchase and refills. (Photo: Zen Home and Cottage Cleaning Services)

Know Your Locals: Zen Home and Cottage Cleaning Services will clean your space and clear your mind

February 8, 2026

Artspace home to a new art supply store in partnership with Renfrew’s Art Factory

Megan Gallant - February 28, 2026

Peterborough's artist-run centre will also be building movable walls to invite creative exhibition displays in the main gallery.

Peterborough city council asked to endorse $225,035 in community grants to 47 local organizations

February 26, 2026

nightlifeNOW – February 26 to March 4

February 26, 2026

encoreNOW for February 23, 2026 features (from left to right, top and bottom) the Highly Likely festival at Take Cover Books in Peterborough, "Midnight Madness" at the Peterborough Theatre Guild, "Tom Thomson's Wake" at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope, Craig Cardiff at the Market Hall in Peterborough, Séan McCann at the Bancroft Village Playhouse, and the documentary "We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes" at Bancroft Village Playhouse. (kawarthaNOW collage)

Local women tell the silenced stories of female villains in Peterborough photographer Heather Doughty’s new exhibit

February 22, 2026

Ask the energy experts: Free open house in Peterborough on February 18 targets small business savings

GreenUP - February 12, 2026

Informal 'ask my anything' breakfast session hosted by Peterborough DBIA and GreenUP will cover heat pumps, solar energy, general efficiency upgrades, and more.

Organizers, sponsors, and some of the 60 nominees for the second annual Luminary Awards for Women in Business during a nominee announcement at the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce offices on February 11, 2026. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography)

60 women nominated for second annual Luminary Awards for Women in Business

February 11, 2026

Community Futures Peterborough has announced a nine-part Entrepreneurship 101 workshop series for spring 2026, including two new workshops on SEO and e-commerce and employer obligations. (Photo: Community Futures Peterborough)

Community Futures Peterborough expands Entrepreneurship 101 series for spring

February 10, 2026

Brody Klages is the Electrical Team Lead at Peterborough's Quickmill, which has grown into one of the world's leading manufacturers of large-scale machining centers over the past 40 years. With the U.S. currently its most important export market, Quickmill is pursuing a diversified growth strategy and has been invited by the federal government to join a select group of Canadian export-ready companies for the Team Canada Trade Mission to Mexico from February 15 to 20, 2026. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography)

Peterborough manufacturer Quickmill is pursuing a diversified growth strategy amid shifting trade winds

February 9, 2026

The City of Kawartha Lakes unveiled a sign on November 18, 2025 to mark the site of the new $50-million Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Headquarters at 230 Angeline Street South in Lindsay. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)

Trade contractors invited to apply for new $50-million Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Headquarters in Lindsay

February 6, 2026

Worms can turn food waste into ‘black gold’ and help fight climate change

GreenUP - February 26, 2026

Callie Downer of Our Little Wormery in Peterborough explains how vermicomposting improves soil health and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Artist Pat Calvert poses in front of a section of her mural at Five Counties Children's Centre in Peterborough, with Silly the Goldfish in the frame. Silly is a character that shows up around 500 times in various different situations and poses on the expansive, water-themed mural that has graced the walls and hallways of Five Counties for nearly 25 years. (Photo: Five Counties Children's Centre)

A legacy in paint: How Pat Calvert’s imagination transformed the halls of Five Counties Children’s Centre

February 18, 2026

A red wooden heart on a dark background. (Stock photo)

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Electric City Sex & Wellness Expo hosted by PARN

February 10, 2026

The Haliburton Highlands detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is located at 12598 Highway 35 in Minden. (Photo: OPP)

Haliburton County high school students can learn about a career in policing at upcoming youth in policing academy

February 9, 2026

The City of Peterborough is presenting the annual Snofest family-friendly winter festival on the Family Day long weekend from February 13 to 16, 2026. This year, free indoor skating will run on Family Day Monday on both ice pads at the Miskin Law Community Complex. Other Snofest events take place at McDonnel Street Community Centre, Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, Quaker Foods City Square, the Peterborough Public Library, and the Art Gallery of Peterborough. (Photo: City of Peterborough)

Peterborough’s Snofest returns for the Family Day long weekend with four days of free winter fun

February 7, 2026

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