For the second year in a row, Five Counties Children's Centre is offering an accessible trick-or-treating experience called "All-o-wwen" for clients and their families in Cobourg, Lindsay, and Peterborough. The children's treatment centre is also offering tips for community members who want to offer an inclusive Halloween experience at their own homes. (Photo: Five Counties Children's Centre)
With Halloween around the corner, Five Counties Children’s Centre is bringing back its accessible “All-o-ween” events for a second year in Cobourg, Lindsay, and Peterborough.
Along with an accessible and sensory-friendly trick-or-treating experience, the events include food, kids’ crafts, and a storyteller sharing a fall festive tale. Kids coming to All-o-ween can dress up in costume, wear orange and black, or come just as they are.
The event is open to clients of Five Counties and their families — both those currently receiving treatment through the centre and those on a wait list for services.
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“We’re all in for All-o-ween to make the scariest night of the year an enjoyable evening for kids of all ages and abilities,” Hayley Hodges, Five Counties’ client and family experience lead, said in a media release.
She noted Five Counties received many positive comments from parents and families of the 250 children who attended the inaugural All-o-ween events last year in Peterborough, Lindsay and Cobourg.
“We want to build on that momentum and feedback to make All-o-ween in 2025 an even better night of fun for participants,” Hodges said
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All-o-ween events run from 4 to 7 p.m. at each of the centre’s main sites, including Tuesday, October 28 at 872 Dutton Road in Peterborough, Wednesday, October 29 at 800 Division Street in Cobourg, and Thursday, October 30 at Five Counties at 9 Russell Street East in Lindsay.
To attend All-o-ween, advance registration is required. Families can book a spot for each event at www.fivecounties.on.ca/alloween or by calling the centre at 1-888-779-9916, ext. 215. Siblings of Five Counties kids are welcome to join the fun as well.
Hodges said All-o-ween fits nicely into the work done by Five Counties staff in supporting children and youth with physical, developmental, and communications needs.
“As a kid, Halloween is one of the best days of the year, so giving every child the opportunity to take part in an event like All-o-ween means fun for everyone.”
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To make Halloween inclusive and accessible for all children in the community, including those with special needs, Five Counties spokesperson Bill Eekhof shared a few tips with kawarthaNOW.
Set up a trick-or-treating station that is accessible and barrier-free for every child to enjoy
For homes with stairs, consider setting up an accessible treat station on the front lawn, driveway, or garage. If all else fails, be creative and use a vehicle’s trunk as a candy stop.
Clear the path for trick-or-treaters
Remove potential obstacles and ensure access to the treat station is wide open and well lit, especially for trick-or-treaters with mobility challenges. Consider parking vehicles on the street or in the garage to create even more space.
Decorate for Halloween with care
While scary and spooky decorations are appealing, they can be frightening for some trick-or-treaters. Bright flashing lights and loud or frightening noises can cause problems for children with sensory processing issues, autism, or epilepsy. Be thoughtful and tactful about decorating so more children can take part in trick-or-treating.
Communication counts
Some children may say “trick or treat” differently. Some may use sign language, assistive technology, speak slowly, or be non-verbal. Be respectful whatever the circumstances. A smile and wave can say so much.
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Seeing blue? That’s OK.
Blue pumpkins have been informally adopted by some families as a way to indicate children have unique ways of behaving and communicating. Adjust interactions as appropriate if a trick-or-treater is carrying a blue pumpkin.
Use some “show and tell” techniques to hand out treats
To accommodate children with visual or hearing problems, describe or hold up the treat before placing it in the bag so they are aware of what they are receiving.
Offer non-candy options
Consider having non-food treats on hand so all kids can enjoy the holiday.
A sign of the times
Those who want to make an even stronger statement can place a sign on their front lawn indicating the home is an accessible and inclusive trick-or-treating stop.
Treat Accessibility is a Toronto-based grassroots organization that offers additional tips to make trick-or-treating more accessible. It also offers people a trick-or-treating sign that can be printed out and posted on Halloween to indicate to kids and families that the home is accessible. For more information, visit www.treataccessibly.com.
Peterborough city councillor Alex Bierk displays an "intake clinic hazard map," from a 2017 Unifor report detailing the toxic chemical exposures at the General Electric site between 1945 and 2000, during a general committee meeting on October 6, 2025 when council considered a notice of demolition of a large number of vacant buildings at the historic factory complex at 107 Park Street North. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of City of Peterborough video)
Despite environmental concerns, Peterborough city council will allow GEPR Energy Canada Inc. to demolish a large number of vacant buildings at the historic General Electric factory complex at 107 Park Street North in downtown Peterborough, with the exception of several buildings that a consultant hired by the company has identified as having heritage value.
Meeting as general committee on Monday evening (October 6), council considered a report from the city’s commissioner of infrastructure, planning, and growth management Blair Nelson that recommended hiring a consultant to conduct a peer review of a 154-page heritage impact assessment (HIA) report prepared by ERA Architects Inc. on behalf of GEPR Energy Canada Inc. — a report that was completed since the property is listed on the city’s heritage register, although it has not been designated.
GEPR Energy Canada Inc. is a subsidiary of GE Vernova, an energy equipment manufacturing and services company that was formed from the merger and subsequent spin-off of General Electric’s energy businesses in 2024.
After a discussion that lasted almost two hours, council ultimately decided against the staff recommendation to hire a consultant to conduct a peer review of the HIA report. Instead, council decided to accept the recommendations made in the HIA report for which buildings should receive heritage designation.
The General Electric factory complex began operations in 1891 as the Canadian Works of the Thomas Edison Company and later continued under General Electric. The site includes a complex of 33 buildings built between 1891 and 1981 and used for industrial manufacturing and ancillary purposes.
In 2018, General Electric ceased its manufacturing activities on the site, with most of the buildings now decomissioned with machinery and equipment removed. GE Vernova has maintained office space for 60 employees in the site’s east block and leases several buildings in the west block to BWXT, which was originally part of GE Vernova’s nuclear energy division but became an independent company in 2016 and now specializes in nuclear components and services for government and commercial clients.
GE Vernova is proposing demolishing and removing the buildings in the complex’s centre block that haven’t been used since 2018, which represent around 84,500 square metres (910,000 square feet) of the 104,000 square metre (1.1 million square feet) site. The buildings proposed for removal are identified as 6, 6B, 6D, 8, 8D, 8E, 8I, 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 12, 12ext, 13, 13A, 14, 14A, 16, 16A, 18, 20, 20A, 22, 22C, and 34.
The buildings that would be retained because they are currently in use or have heritage value include those occupied by BWXT (buildings 21, 24A, 26, and 28) and GE Vernova (buildings 2 and 2A), as well as two unoccupied buildings (8A and 30) that will be retained and mothballed pending potential future uses.
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Much of the discussion at general committee revolved around the contamination of the industrial site with hazardous substances over the past 125 years and the impact of a demolition on the safety of the surrounding residential neighbourhoods.
“Did anybody ask the representative from General Electric what they’re going to do about remediation of the property?” councillor Keith Riel asked commissioner Nelson. “Because historically, and if you look across Ontario, the brownfields that we have, the corporation removed the buildings, put a fence around it, and there it sits, and we’re going to inherit another huge brownfield in the city.”
A “brownfield” is a former industrial or commercial site where future use is affected by real or perceived environmental contamination. Many contaminated post-industrial brownfield sites sit unused because the costs to remove contamination may be more than the land is worth after redevelopment.
Nelson said GE Vernova’s interest in demolishing the buildings is for “mitigating the property and maintaining the property from the perspective of risk management and cost management,” with the city’s director of planning, development and urban design Brad Appleby adding that site plan amendment plans indicate the buildings will be demolished to a “cement pad state” followed by landscaping and stormwater management to avoid off-site impacts.
“They don’t have a redevelopment plan in place right now for the land that is, for the lack of a better term, being freed up,” Appleby said. “They are looking to contain what they have … There’s nothing that they are doing right now that would trigger the city’s ability to ask them to clean up, in terms of requiring records of site condition or anything like that, because they are not proposing a change in land use at this point in time.”
Councillor Riel, who spent over 38 years working at General Electric, referred to a past clinic that found that the site had the most chemicals and resulted in the most diseases in Canada.
“This is a huge problem. It’s built on a swamp and every chemical known to mankind is sitting there, and unless it’s remediated by General Electric, we’re going to have this cesspool in this piece of property in the centre of the city.”
Councillor Matt Crowley put forward an amendment to require GE Vernova, as a condition of the city approving demolition, to confirm that a phase two environmental site assessment has been completed, that any required remediation plans are in place, and that the company guarantees it will comply with provincial environmental legislation.
A copy of the “intake clinic hazard map” from a 2017 Unifor report detailing the toxic chemical exposures at the General Electric site between 1945 and 2000, showing locations within the site where hazardous materials including arsenic, asbestos, chromium, and uranium were used or stored. (Source: 2017 Unifor report)
Councillor Alex Bierk referred to a 2017 Unifor report, prepared by occupational disease researchers with members of the GE Retirees Advisory Committee, that details the toxic chemical exposures at the General Electric site between 1945 and 2000. The report found worker were exposed to over 3,000 toxic chemicals, including at least 40 known or suspected human carcinogens.
“We have families and residents that are living on the fence line of this potential demolition,” Bierk said. “If you were living on the fence line of General Electric, would you have concerns if you heard, that after 100 years, they were contemplating the demolition of these buildings? I think we have to look into it … This is very different from me wanting to demolish a residential building on my property.”
Nelson noted that the company would be responsible for complying with provincial legislation and requirements when it comes to hazardous substances, and that it is not within the city’s authority or purview to require a clean up.
Mayor Jeff Leal referred to the city’s experience with the demolition of buildings at the former Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) property, which was contaminated with carcinogenic degreasing fluids, and confirmed with Nelson that the provincial government would oversee the identification of hazardous substances and abatement plans.
In reference to councillor Crowley’s amendment to the motion, councillor Kevin Duguay noted that provincial legislation does not allow the municipality to require a phase one or a phase two environmental site assessment unless a change in land use is being contemplated.
“Commissioner Nelson has reminded us that, if a demolition were to proceed, it is subject to provincial oversight and very, very strict regulation abatement programs,” Duguay said. “If there are materials that have contamination, the manner in which they have to be treated, how they’re removed and to what extent, and what landfill sites they go to, that’s all provincially regulated. That is not our responsibility. Our responsibility this evening is decide if we wish to proceed with the designation of our property, and it includes the demolition of buildings.”
Councillor Crowley’s motion lost 5-6, with councillors Crowley, Bierk, Riel, Joy Lachica, and Mayor Leal voting in favour and councillors Don Vassiliadis, Dave Haacke, Andrew Beamer, Lesley Parnell, Kevin Duguay, and Gary Baldwin voting against it.
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Councillor Parnell requested that the three parts of the original motion be separated out, and that council support that it has received a notice of intention for demolition but not support hiring a consultant to conduct a peer review of the HIA report completed by ERA Architects Inc. for GE Vernova. Parnell also requested that council not support the third part of the motion, that refers to staff consulting with the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (PACAC) after receiving the peer review report. She said she would introduce two new amendments if councillors voted against the two parts of the original motion.
Parnell argued that there was no need to spend $35,000 to conduct a peer review of “something that has been so professionally done” and that GE Vernova has identified the buildings it would accept for heritage designation. She proposed amendments that would indicate to GE Vernova that council has no interest in pursuing heritage designation except for the buildings identified in the HIA report, and that council direct staff to consult with PACAC on the specified buildings being considered for designation.
Councillor Lachica noted that a peer review of the HIA report would ensure the matter is being considered “in a fair and objective way.”
“Checks and balances are important for a site of such significance that we need to take our time and care — to not insist on that is not doing our due diligence,” Lachica said, adding that PACAC has the right to look at the entire site that it listed on the heritage register.
After further discussion, councillor Parnell called the question (a procedural tactic to end debate), which carried 7-4 with councillors Lachica, Bierk, Crowley, and Riel voting against.
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Council then voted on the three parts of the original motion.
Council voted 9-2 in favour of acknowledging receipt of the notice of intention for demolition, with councillors Lachica and Riel voting against. Council voted 4-7 against directing staff to complete a sole source procurement for a peer review of the HIA report, with councillors Lachica, Bierk, Baldwin, and Riel voting in favour. Council voted 5-6 against directing staff to consult with PACAC after receiving a peer review report, with councillors Lachica, Bierk, Crowley, Baldwin, and Riel voting in favour.
Following additional debate on Parnell’s first amendment to the original motion, councillors voted 8-3 in favour of indicating to GE Vernova that council has no interest in pursuing heritage designation of 107 Park Street North with the exception of buildings 2, 2A, 8A, 21, 24A, 26, 28, and 30, with councillors Lachica, Baldwin, and Riel voting against the amendment.
After more debate on Parnell’s second amendment to the original motion, councillors voted 10-1 in favour of directing staff to consult with PACAC on the buildings recommended for heritage designation, with only councillor Riel voting against the amendment.
Items endorsed by general committee will be considered for final approval at the city council meeting on Tuesday (October 14) following Thanksgiving Monday.
Clean Up Peterborough's inaugural RE:Connect circular economy event at the Morrow Building in Peterborough on October 29, 2025 will give participants the chance to learn practical and innovating ways to reduce waste, repair things they own, and repurpose things they no longer need. The event will also include more than 25 local organizations and changemakers offering practical solutions for recycling, repurposing, and diverting waste from the landfill, including (left to right, top and bottom) Clean Up Peterborough (which organizes collections of hard-to-recycle items), B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop, Repair Café Peterborough, and Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region's tool library. (kawarthaNOW collage)
Clean Up Peterborough founder Steve Paul might always be coming up with new initiatives that promote environmental stewardship, but his latest effort is focused on reusing and repurposing the old.
From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 29 at the Morrow Building, Clean Up Peterborough will be hosting RE:Connect, Peterborough’s inaugural circular economy event, during Circular Economy Month.
Presented with support from the City of Peterborough, Volunteer Peterborough, and kawarthaNOW, the free family-friendly event will give participants the chance to learn practical and innovating ways to reduce waste, repair things they own, and repurpose things they no longer need.
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“With only ten years (of capacity) left in our landfills, we have to make some dramatic changes,” says Steve. “So, a lot of what I’m focusing on right now is immediate diversion.”
Though it takes inspiration from Toronto’s REmarket, a community event to promote the remarketing of usable post-consumer goods that can be reused, repaired, and recycled, Steve says RE:Connect is a bit different because it’s more community-driven and focused on initiatives that are already being done locally to divert waste from the landfills.
“I wanted to bring circular economy together with community so that we could educate and celebrate doing more for our environment,” he says. “I came up with a tagline ‘where community and circularity meet’ and I think it’s perfect because it allows us to do both simultaneously and learn from each other, because there’s a lot more we could do in this area. I’ve continued to learn and grow and, as Clean Up Peterborough’s grown over the last 19 months, one thing I pride myself on doing is being able to take what I learn and share it with others.”
RE:Connect organizer Steve Paul, founder of Clean Up Peterborough, is using the tagline “where community and circularity meet” to describe Peterborough’s inaugural circular economy event, which takes place at the Morrow Building in Peterborough on October 29, 2025 during Circular Economy Month. (Graphic: Clean Up Peterborough)
Throughout his work for Clean Up Peterborough, Steve has realized that a lot of people are still learning about recycling and what it even means to have a circular economy.
“It makes sense to have a celebration where we can have people bring in items for collection, but at the same time, come in and learn about the various businesses and programs that we have in Peterborough that focus on reusing items or materials for repurpose, so one entity’s waste becomes another one’s resource,” Steve says. “It’s going to be a great opportunity for people to learn all of it under one roof.”
At the event, visitors can drop off a number of items that Clean Up Peterborough collects such as writing instruments, eyeglasses, milk bags and tags, ink cartridges, and batteries. Some of these items will be recycled through TerraCycle while others will be given to community groups to be repurposed. Clean Up Peterborough has also taken over the TerraCycle collections at the Peterborough Public Library to now collect toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes, razors, and other personal care products.
Clean Up Peterborough will also be educating participants on some of the other free recycling programs TerraCycle offers for hard-to-recycle items, such as Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop popcorn bags, Babybel cheese packaging, Burt’s Bees products, and Royal Canin and Open Farm pet food packaging. A full list of items RE:Connect will be collecting will be announced closer to the event date, alongside other resources on brands that divert from the landfill and where these items can be dropped off locally.
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“We’re going to educate people that there are amazing organizations like Open Farm,” says Steve, referring to the Toronto-based pet food company that is the first to introduce a nationwide recycling program with TerraCycle for their pet food bags. In addition, some of Open Farm’s pet food bags are also recyclable at curbside.
Over 95 per cent of all pet food bags are considered unrecyclable because they are made up of multiple layers of paper, plastic, and foil that cannot be easily separated by recycling collectors.
“There are companies that care and try to take the time to make their products more recyclable,” says Steve. “What I’ve learned over the last ten months since I’ve been doing the recycling and circular economy initiatives is that we all live in silos, so we don’t tend to have an opportunity to see everything. It’s good to have everything in one area so that we can open everyone’s eyes.”
Organized by Clean Up Peterborough with support from the City of Peterborough, Volunteer Peterborough, and kawarthaNOW, the inaugural RE:Connect circular economy event takes place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on October 29, 2025 at the Morrow Building. Clean Up Peterborough founder Steve Paul was inspired by Toronto’s REmarket, a community event to promote the remarketing of usable post-consumer goods that can be reused, repaired, and recycled. (Poster: Clean Up Peterborough)
More than 25 local organizations, services, and changemakers will be in attendance at RE:Connect to showcase practical and creative solutions for reducing waste. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the membership at B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop which provides guidance on bike repairs, as well as Repair Café Peterborough, OPIRG Peterborough’s FreeMarkets, Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawarthas Region’s tool library, Lend-it.ca, and many more initiatives.
The event will also feature vintage makers and artisans who will be selling products that have been crafted from repurposed items and materials.
“It’s going to allow everyone to learn from various organizations about what’s happening locally,” Steve says. “The big thing I really want to come out of this is to showcase all of the people that are circular economy champions and to give the organizations and businesses a platform, showing they are viable and open to everyone.”
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Though this is only the first event of its kind, Steve is hopeful RE:Connect will become an annual or semi-annual event and continue to grow as he learns about even more opportunities and solutions to give Peterborough a more sustainable future.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to make more dramatic changes and organically grow and offer even more, because I think there are even more programs out there (like) TerraCycle that we could find,” he says. “I’m excited to find out what more there is out there and bring all of it to Peterborough.”
encoreNOW for October 6, 2025 features (from left to right, top and bottom) The Comic Strippers at Port Hope's Capitol Theatre, Beth McMaster's Showplace ode to Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, Sloan in concert at Lindsay's Academy Theatre, the 32nd Vintage Film Festival in Port Hope, The Rocky Horror Show at Bancroft's Village Playhouse, and a tribute to Johnny Cash and June Carter at Bobcaygeon's Globus Theatre. (kawarthaNOW collage)
encoreNOW is a bi-weekly column by Paul Rellinger where he features upcoming music, theatre, film, and performing arts events and news from across the Kawarthas.
This week, Paul highlights The Comic Strippers at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre, Beth McMaster’s Showplace ode to Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, Sloan in concert at Lindsay’s Academy Theatre, the 32nd Vintage Film Festival in Port Hope, The Rocky Horror Show at Bancroft’s Village Playhouse, and a tribute to Johnny Cash and June Carter at Bobcaygeon’s Globus Theatre.
No “full monty” to see here … just hilariously funny improv at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre
VIDEO: “The Comic Strippers” teaser
Those behind the 1997 British film The Full Monty could never guessed how wildly popular the black comedy would prove to be.
Made from a paltry budget of $3.5 million, the film grossed a remarkable $257 million on its way to becoming a major commercial success that was Academy award-nominated for Best Picture and won an Oscar for Best Original Score. Until Titanic, it was the highest-grossing film ever in the United Kingdom.
Clearly the story centred around six jobless men who decide to form a male striptease act to make money and opt to go “the full monty” — strip all the way — resonated with those curious to see if they would follow through.
The Comic Strippers — Roman Danylo, Ken Lawson, Chris Casillan, and Pearce Visser — is a fictitious male stripper troupe comprised of some of Canada’s best improv comedy performers. They sing, they dance, they banter, but they keep their pants on. There’s no “full monty” on stage, but there’s more than enough to grab, and keep, their audience’s attention.
For one night only on Wednesday, October 15 at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre, the Canadian Comedy Award winning-troupe for Best Live Production will do their thing, semi-undressed and completely unscripted.
For the faint of heart (and perhaps a disappointment for some), there’s no extreme nudity, but there is non-stop hilarity, making The Comic Strippers’ parody of male strippers a delight for both male and female ticket holders. As the act’s website bio reads, the quartet “tries to be sexy … it just comes out funny.”
Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. performance cost $70.75 at capitoltheatre.com. And yes, as Tom Jones advises, you can leave your hat on.
Peterborough’s Beth McMaster brings us yet another Showplace fundraiser
VIDEO: “Evergreen” from “A Star Is Born” (1976)
Beth McMaster is forever creating, and thousands of theatregoers are grateful she has seen fit to do just that over the years.
Instrumental in the 1996 founding of Peterborough’s Showplace Performance Centre, McMaster is still very much active with the venue, her support for Showplace worn well beyond her sleeve.
To that end, McMaster has a written a new musical biography that tells the stories of American icons Barbra Streisand and the late Kris Kristofferson (he passed away last September at the age of 88) as they navigate a rocky road on their way to becoming legends via their singing and acting.
Presented as yet another instalment of Showplace’s Legendary Icon Series, the three-performance show set for Wednesday, October 15 and Thursday, October 16 will serve as a fundraiser for the non-profit venue.
Titled “Barbara Streisand and Kristofferson … Ageless and Evergreen,” the music-laden show will take its audience back to the time before, during, and after the duo’s memorable collaboration for the 1976 film A Star Is Born.
A huge box office success, the romantic drama featured Kristofferson as an established rock star and Streisand as an up-and-comer who fall in love. Things, however, get complicated when the Streisand’s character sees her star rise while the character played by Kristofferson sees his popularity decline.
At the 49th Academy Awards, the film’s theme song “Evergreen” captured the Oscar for Best Original Song, becoming Streisand’s second number-one single and spending three weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and six weeks atop the easy listening chart.
Along with McMaster, the show features the considerable talents of a bevy of local performers, with Kate Suhr, Rob Phillips, Megan Murphy, Bob Trennum, Wayne Robinson, Lisa Devan, and Tom Keeton are all in the mix. Better still, it’s being staged in the venue’s intimate Cogeco Studio, making for up-close-and-personal audience experience.
Curtain is 2 and 7 p.m. on October 15, and 2 p.m. on October 16. Tickets cost $30 at www.showplace.org or drop by the box office.
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Sloan’s near 35-year legacy continues at Linday’s Academy Theatre
VIDEO: “If It Feels Good, Do It” – Sloan (2014)
This past summer saw Sloan’s near 35-year journey as one of Canada’s most-loved rock bands continue at Peterborough’s Del Crary Park in the form of a Musicfest-headlining gig.
There’s much to love. Since coming together in Halifax in 1991, Jay Ferguson, Max Murphy, Patrick Pentland, and Andrew Scott have released 14 albums and received nine Juno Award nominations, winning Best Alternative Album in 1997 for One Chord To Another.
Even more impressive is the quartet remains intact after all these years, the only deviation being the touring contributions of Greg MacDonald. That, in itself, is a rarity in the music business where the only thing more likely than change is change itself.
Sloan’s Musicfest appearance on July 16 was one the concert series best-attended shows of the summer. Clearly, the band’s grunge-rock sound still strikes a chord with longtime fans and those new to the table.
On Friday, October 17, Sloan will perform at Lindsay’s Academy Theatre — a tour stop presented as part of their cross-Canada promotion of their newest album, Based On The Best Seller. Those who weren’t able to catch the summer Musicfest show have a second chance to see the band; those who did can relive the experience.
Port Hope’s Vintage Film Festival returns to Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre
VIDEO: “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” trailer (1967)
If you’re a fan of vintage films, Port Hope is where you want to be from Friday, October 17 to Sunday, October 19.
Over that weekend, the 32nd Vintage Film Festival will be held at the Capitol Theatre, again with the support of the Marie Dressler Foundation. This year’s festival theme is “Family Dynamics,” with the screen offerings and associated activities reflecting just that.
Among the films to be screened are perennial favourites The Graduate, Meet Me In St. Louis, Mary Poppins, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, and Bell, Book and Candle. Full lineup details and ticket information, including all-access weekend festival passes for $99 and single-movie tickets for $12.50, are available at www.vintagefilmfestival.ca.
Added perks are live piano accompaniment for screenings of silent films, a Sunday lunchtime film talk with an optional lunch, a silent auction and, of course, free popcorn.
If it seems I write here about yet another reason to visit pretty Port Hope, it’s because there always seems to be another reason to do just that. That these films are being screened at the historic Capitol — built and opened in 1930 at the dawn of the sound film era — just adds to the atmosphere of this festival.
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“Let’s do the Time Warp again” at Bancroft’s Village Playhouse
Patricia Quinn as Magenta, Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-furter, and Richard O’Brien as Riff Raff from the original cast of the 1973 production of “The Rocky Horror Show” in London, U.K. (Photo: Alamy)
There are cult classic films, and then there’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
If I had a dollar for every screening of the musical I attended as a teen at Toronto’s Roxy Theatre, I wouldn’t be the starving journalist I am today. I stopped short of dressing in costume but, yeah, I danced to “Time Warp” with the best of them as I had way too much fun with all my pals. It was an experience, not just another night at the movies.
From Wednesday, October 22 to Sunday, October 26 at the Bancroft Village Playhouse, Tweed and Company Theatre is presenting The Rocky Horror Show, the 1973 London stage musical that made actor Tim Curry — who reprised his stage role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the 1975 film version — a household name for many.
VIDEO: “Time Warp” from the 1973 original London cast of “The Rocky Horror Show”
Featuring music and lyrics by Richard O’Brien (who played Riff Raff in the original London production and the film), the story centres around sweethearts Brad and Janet who, due to a flat tire incurred during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of one Dr. Frank-N-Furter. They subsequently meet a number of very odd household characters, including the good doctor’s newest creation in the form of a muscular man named Rocky. That’s when things really get interesting.
With its sexual themes and innuendos and explicit language, this staging is recommended for those aged 14 and up. When I was 14, suffice to say the film served as a real education that entertained to the max.
Directed by James King and Rebecca Ballarin, the Tweed and Company Theatre production runs at 7 p.m. from October 23 to 25, with 2 p.m. stagings on October 22 and 23 and 25 and 26. Tickets are $39.50 for adults, $35.50 for seniors, and $25.50 for students, youths, and art workers, and are available at www.villageplayhouse.ca .
“Johnny & June” walking the line at Bobcaygeon’s Globus Theare
VIDEO: “Jackson” – Johnny Cash and June Carter on The Johnny Cash Show (1969-1971)
One of my favourite bio-pics, by far, remains 2005’s Walk The Line, which featured outstanding performances by Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, who portrayed country music legends Johnny Cash and June Carter.
The story chronicling Cash’s early life, his stormy romance with Carter, his country music ascension, and his painful drug addiction was clearly the favourite of many as the film grossed $187 million — a nice return on its $28 million budget. The film also brought Witherspoon an Academy Award as Best Actress, with Phoenix nominated for a Best Actor statue.
Cognizant of the story’s appeal and the still-popular sound of Cash’s and Carter’s music, Bobcaygeon’s Globus Theatre is staging “Johnny & June” from Thursday, October 23 to Saturday, October 25 at its Pigeon Lake Road venue.
Created by Chris McHarge and Colin Stewart and billed as a tribute to country music’s golden age, the production features a live band performing the duo’s iconic hits, from “Walk The Line” to “Ring of Fire” to “A Boy Named Sue.” The story itself follows Cash’s turbulent journey journey from his famed Folsom Prison concert to the historic Grand Ole Opry stage, with glimpses into the love story that inspired the pair’s music.
Curtain is 8 p.m. from October 23 to 25, with an optional pre-show dinner available, and 2 p.m. performances on October 23 and 25. Tickets are $50 for the show only, or $100 for dinner and the show, available at www.globustheatre.com.
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Encore
Friday night (October 10) will see the H.O.P.E. Learning Centre host the Art of Recovery Talent Showcase in Peterborough at Murray Street Baptist Church from 5 to 8 p.m. The event serves to highlight the artistic expression and talent of individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges. A similar event will be held the following Friday night in Lindsay at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, also from 5 to 8 p.m. The free events will feature music and spoken word performances as well as visual art displays. As the Canadian Mental Health Association puts it, “Each performance is a powerful reminder that people are more than a diagnosis. They are artists, storytellers and creators.” That’s a poignant reminder at any time of the year. Needless to say, but I’ll say it anyway, public support of the participants will go a long way to reinforcing that message.
It doesn’t keep me awake at night, but I have wondered from time to time just how Peterborough musician Rick Fines is doing. The beloved singer-songwriter moved to Germany a while back with his family, promising at the time the move was temporary. I sure hope, along with others, that’s still the case. In the meantime, it’s just been announced that Fines will return to the city early next year to perform a Market Hall concert called, appropriately enough, “A Quick Stop Home.” More on that in due course, but tickets are now on sale at www.markethall.org. Just a heads up but it’s pretty much a certainty they’ll sell out quickly.
Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway (third from left) accepts a cheque for $400,104.01 from Peterborough's Dragon Boat Festival representing the proceeds raised at the 24th edition of the festival held on June 14, 2025 at Del Crary Park. The record-breaking donation exceeded the 2025 fundraising goal of $260,018.01 by over $140,000, bringing the total amount raised since 2001 to $4.9 million for cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment in the Peterborough region. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough's Dragon Boat Festival)
For the fourth year in a row, Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival has surpassed its fundraising goal — donating a record-breaking $400,104.01 for breast and other cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).
Volunteers from the 2025 festival’s organizing committee and the Survivors Abreast Dragon Boat Team presented a cheque to PRHC Foundation representatives on Monday (October 6) at the hospital’s cafeteria, representing the proceeds from the 24th edition of the festival held on June 14 at Del Crary Park.
With last year’s festival exceeding its fundraising goal of $251,825.18 by $60,200 to raise a then-record-breaking $312,025.18 for the PRHC Foundation, festival organizers increased this year’s goal to $260,018.01 — with the numbers representing the two in five Canadians who will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, the original $60 million fundraising goal for the Campaign for PRHC (now $70 million), the one in eight women who will develop breast cancer, and .01 per cent of men who will also develop breast cancer.
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This year’s festival saw 73 teams and over 1,400 paddlers generating more than 3,725 donations that pushed the total funds raised to $400,104.01 — $140,086 over this year’s fundraising goal and the largest amount the festival has ever raised.
“I am in awe of the community’s enthusiasm, generosity and desire to make such a big difference for our hospital, our community and the people we love,” said festival chair Michelle Thornton as she addressed paddlers, volunteers, sponsors, donors, and other attendees. “Over 3,725 donations were made by individuals this year, ranging from $5 to $5,000, and every single one of them helped us smash our goal.”
“Some of you are here for your first time, witnessing the results of our collective efforts. I hope you realize just how much of an impact your contribution, big or small has made. Because of you and our combined efforts, someone’s cancer will be caught early and receive the best possible outcome. Because of you someone won’t have to travel for their treatments and they won’t incur those additional expenses. Because of you, someone will be able to stay close to their friends and family, during one of their most challenging times. You make a real difference, whether you know it or not and the value of that is immeasurable.”
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Hosted by the Survivors Abreast Dragon Boat Team, Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival was first launched in June 2001 as Liberty Mutual’s “Day on the Water”, becoming Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival the following year. Over the past 24 years, it has raised more than $4.9 million for cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment in the Peterborough region.
“Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival continues to break records and show what’s possible when a community comes together for a cause that touches us all,” said PRHC Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway as she accepted the largest gift to the foundation in the history of the festival.
“The money raised through this incredible event will help bring cutting-edge technology like digital pathology to PRHC for the first time. With cancer diagnoses on the rise, this state-of-the-art advancement will mean PRHC’s care teams can provide faster, more accurate diagnoses and begin treatment sooner. This outstanding fundraiser is possible because of the passion, dedication, and generosity of everyone involved, from the paddlers to the donors, sponsors, volunteers, the Survivors Abreast dragon boat team and Festival organizers. Thank you for making such an extraordinary impact on cancer care in our region.”
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One hundred per cent of all pledges to the festival are able to be donated to the PRHC Foundation thanks to the sponsors who cover the costs of hosting the event, including Kawartha Credit Union, which has been the festival’s presenting sponsor every year since 2001.
“Cancer touches so many lives in our community, including those of our employees and members,” said Kawartha Credit Union president and CEO Norah McCarthy. “The generosity and spirit shown by everyone involved in Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival is truly inspiring. At Kawartha, we believe in the power of community to create real, lasting impact — and this year’s festival’s success is a perfect example of that.”
Planning for the 25th anniversary edition of the Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival on June 13, 2026 will begin soon and take place over the next several months. Anyone wishing to volunteer their time and skills can email Thornton at michellethornton.365@gmail.com.
With its acres of rolling forests, 10 sparkling lakes, and two significant winding rivers, the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen is a gateway to Peterborough County. From a unique lakeside brewery and artisan shopping to an immersive animal sanctuary and vibrant community events, the township boasts year-round adventures and friendly tradition in every nook and corner. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
Acres of rolling forests, 10 sparkling lakes, and two significant winding rivers make up the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, where residents and visitors are drawn to the natural landscapes and quaint small-town charm.
A gateway to Peterborough County, the township is centrally located between Peterborough and Belleville and between Ottawa and Toronto — but it’s more than a place to pass through. In all corners, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen is shaped by a rich history, from the Canadian Pacific Railroad forming the village of Havelock to the gold mining boom in Cordova Mines during the first half of the 20th century. Today, the township is a pristine cottage country community where visitors come to fish, hunt, explore, and experience the natural beauty of the land.
From a unique lakeside brewery and artisan shopping to an immersive animal sanctuary and vibrant community events, the township boasts year-round adventures and friendly tradition in every nook and corner.
“Here in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, we’re proud of the spirit that brings our community together — from the Fire & Ice Festival in February and the Celebrate Havelock Showcase in May, to live music at Rotary Park, the Fall Pumpkin Parade, and the amazing trails at our Mathison property,” says Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Mayor Jim Martin.
Morning in Havelock
A must-see stop on a road trip through the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, The Cottage in the village of Havelock is stocked with high-quality clothing from outdoor brands, as well as cottage décor and water toys. The Cottage also offers a café serving award-winning donuts and a mini golf course with cottage-themed obstacles. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
Start your day with a hearty breakfast courtesy of The Ranch, a Highway 7 roadside diner that’s known for serving generous portions of country-style, home-cooked meals. This local favourite eatery is always buzzing with residents offering visitors a friendly smile and a warm welcome to Havelock-Belmont-Methuen.
Driving east on Highway 7 will bring you to the High Spring Trading Post. When you reach this shopping destination, you’ll think you’ve stepped into the past because of its resemblance to an original frontier town in the early 1800s. The exterior offers an Instagram-worthy photo op complete with a saloon, barbershop, mercantile, and jailhouse, while the interior has just as much to explore with an extensive variety of Canadian-made leather goods. Shop for wallets, jewellery, moccasins, custom leather products, and unique gifts or bring in your own genuine leather for repair.
Next, travel west to enter the village of Havelock where The Cottage awaits to be explored. For more than 10 years, this shop has been a staple in the cottage community, delivering high-quality products and clothing from top outdoor brands like Tentree, Billabong, and Oakley, as well as cottage décor, floaties, and water toys. You’ll also find a café on site serving coffee, ice cream, candy, and fresh donuts from the award-winning Dooher’s Bakery. As if that’s not enough reason to stop, The Cottage also features a mini golf course where each hole offers a unique cottage-themed obstacle that will pose a challenge whether you’re a mini golf pro or just looking for a special place to spend some time with friends and family.
Located in the village of Havelock, Wildflower Bakery handcrafts organic sourdough loaves in a variety of styles including plain, raisin, and walnut. The bakery also stocks European-style pastries, like a signature pain au chocolat, and features a gallery of locally made artwork and pottery. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
Just around the corner on George Street, Stemz N Gemz is an eclectic shop filled with unique gifts that have been hand-crafted by local artisans, as well as stunning floral creations and fresh-cut flower bouquets bursting with colour and life. While you’re there, pamper yourself by booking a mani-pedi with Joy Esthetics, a salon located in the same storefront.
Wrap up your morning with a stop at Wildflower Bakery for European-style pastries including the local favourite pain au chocolat, where chocolate sticks are nestled inside fresh croissants. Whether you prefer sesame, raisin, walnut, or good ol’ fashioned plain, Wildflower Bakery has an organic, hand-crafted sourdough loaf with your name on it! Before you grab a sandwich and an authentic French hot chocolate to enjoy inside, on the patio, or on the road, be sure to browse the display of art and pottery made by local artists.
Afternoon Adventuring
The Havelock Farmer and Artisan Market is the only afternoon farmers’ market in The Kawarthas. Held on Fridays throughout the summer, the market features local farmers, bakers, food vendors, and artisans. (Photo: Havelock Farmer and Artisan Market)
To kick start your afternoon adventure in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, head to the northern point of the Havelock for a stroll through the Mathison Conservation Area, accessible from behind the community centre by foot or by bike. A local favourite for bird watchers, the area offers 10 moderate and accessible trails, each under a kilometre, that feature meadows, ponds, dams, and a lookout. Every November 1, this system of trails is also home to the Havelock Pumpkin Parade where hundreds of Halloween jack-o-lanterns donated by community members will light up the trails for a fun community celebration.
On Fridays throughout the summer, stop in at the only afternoon market in The Kawarthas. The Havelock Farmer & Artisan Market, held on the south side of Highway 7 in the village of Havelock, brings together local farmers, bakers, artisans, and food vendors to celebrate the bounty of the region.
The Pearly Acre is a non-profit organization in the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen that is a sanctuary for rescued and adopted Pot Belly pigs and an educational agritourism destination. Book an appointment to get an immersive guided tour where you can pet the pigs and learn all about life at the sanctuary. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
Once you’ve stocked up on fresh produce and gifts, head north on Peterborough County Road 46 to The Pearly Acre where Pot Belly pigs, a llama, and an alpaca wait to greet you. A sanctuary for rescued and adopted Pot Belly pigs, this non-profit organization doubles as an educational agritourism destination.
Get an immersive guided tour where you can touch, rub, and cuddle the pigs while learning about them and the sanctuary. You are sure to create a bond and appreciation you won’t soon forget! Tours are scheduled by appointment only.
On the shores of one of the 10 lakes in the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, Belmont Lake Brewery is a favourite among locals for brewing English beer with a Canadian twist. Each ale comes with a unique local name and story which can be enjoyed alongside breathtaking views. (Photo: J.J. Hudson)
Wet your whistle at the end of the afternoon by heading east to the shores of Belmont Lake, where you’ll find the Belmont Lake Brewery, a year-round local hangout that’s accessible by car, boat, and even snowmobile.
Owned by a passionate English couple who brew English beer with a Canadian twist, Belmont Lake Brewery celebrates The Kawarthas by naming its stouts, session ales, pale ales, and other brews after local stories and destinations. Combined with a stunning natural backdrop and welcoming staff — including a couple of irresistibly friendly shop dogs — this brewery is a must-stop during your road trip through The Kawarthas.
Settle in for a peaceful evening in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen
The Trace on Oak Lake is a lakeside wellness resort with rustic suites and renovated cabins. The year-round accommodation offers many amenities including dock yoga, saunas, cold plunges, and bonfires to provide a relaxing and rejuvenating getaway. (Photo: The Trace on Oak Lake)
To round out the day of local adventure, head back to Havelock for a cozy dinner at The Station Restaurant, where history and heritage are celebrated. Originally built in 1929 and designated a Heritage Railway Station in 1991, the building holds significant place as the first divisional point east of Toronto on the Ontario-Quebec Railway. Now the architecturally unique restaurant serves a menu that boasts of seasonal, locally sourced produce taking inspiration from Greek, Canadian, and American cuisine.
Not ready for the fun to end? Extend your stay in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen with the comforts of The Trace on Oak Lake. On a five-acre peninsula, this year-round and pet-friendly resort is “The Jewel of The Kawarthas,” curating nothing short of a relaxing and rejuvenating getaway in anything from a simple and rustic suite to a luxurious, lakeside cabin. Either way, your day will be filled with serene sunrise mornings of lakeside yoga, afternoons of cold plunges, saunas, and pontoon boat rides, and evenings spent around the bonfire listening to the not-so-distant loon calls. This picturesque wellness destination will encourage you to leave your worries at the door and focus only on yourself.
“Surrounded by beautiful lakes like Belmont, Cordova, Kasshabog, Round, and Oak, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen is a place where every season offers something unique to enjoy,” says Mayor Jim Martin. “Whether you’re visiting for a festival, a hike, or just a quiet moment by the water, we can’t wait to share the pride we have in our township with you.”
Planning your return trip to Havelock-Belmont-Methuen?
The Havelock Fire & Ice Festival is a family-friendly annual event that takes place every February in the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen. Events include ice carving competitions, public skating, trail treks, circus performances, food and craft vendors, and more. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Mayor Jim Martin’s Must Do’s
Enjoy the accessible trails at Mathison Conservation Area
Have some winter at fun the family-friendly Havelock Fire & Ice Festival in February
Attend the Celebrate Havelock Showcase & Tradeshow in May
As a four-seasons destination, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen offers plenty of reasons to come back again and again. One of the township’s most anticipated annual events is the Havelock Fire & Ice Festival, a winter adventure that offers a variety of excitement to visitors of all ages. During this February festival, you can watch ice carvers chisel away or warm up by the fire pits with marshmallows while enjoying live performances. Ice hockey skills clinics, public skating, outdoor games, trail treks, food and craft vendors, and magical ice lantern walks are just the tip of the iceberg for the fun that can be found at this beloved family event.
You can also plan your next trip around the Celebrate Havelock Showcase & Tradeshow. Held in May at the Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Community Centre, this annual celebration is a showcase of the township through food, music, and a whole lot of fun. With more than 80 vendors, a classic car show, a beer garden, a kids’ zone, a petting zoo, live music, and an Arts in the Park showcase featuring more than a dozen local artists, this festival is bursting with fun for the whole family.
Road Tripping in The Kawarthas is a partnership between kawarthaNOW and the Peterborough County Tourism and Communications Division, created to showcase the unique and distinct townships of The Kawarthas.
This series supports the regional Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) campaign by inviting locals and nearby neighbours to rediscover the places, people, and businesses that make this region unforgettable. Every visit to The Kawarthas supports our local economy — and adds another chapter to your Kawarthas story.
Peterborough Athletic Concussion Awareness (PACA) and the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) have announced the panellists for the inaugural Peterborough Concussion Summit on October 28, 2025 at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough. From left to right, top and bottom: Andie Hickling, Janice Runza, Paul Hunter, Scott Cockburn, Connor Massimo, Dr. Shannon Scratch, Judy Gargaro, and Mercedes Watson. Local family physician Dr. Steph Dallaire (not pictured) will moderate all panel sessions. (kawarthaNOW collage of supplied photos)
A clinician scientist, a physiotherapist, and a soccer coach are among those on the roster of panellists for Peterborough’s inaugural concussion summit.
Peterborough Athletic Concussion Awareness (PACA) and the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) are hosting the Peterborough Concussion Summit from noon to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28 at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough.
Presented by Gowland, Boriss Injury Lawyers with financial support from the Ontario Brain Institute, the event features an array of speakers who will be sharing their knowledge about concussions. Helping kids who experience a concussion to recover safely is a key purpose behind the summit.
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“We’re thrilled to bring together such an outstanding group of concussion experts representing every sector that supports a student or athlete after an injury,” PACA project manager Ryan Sutton told kawarthaNOW.
“Each panel features professionals who can speak directly to the key issues within their area of expertise. Together, these perspectives will create dynamic discussions that are not only informative, but also thought-provoking and complementary across the day.”
The event is designed to bring together educators, healthcare professionals, coaches, parents, athletes, and students for meaningful conversations and practical learning around concussion management and recovery.
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All panel sessions will be moderated by Dr. Steph Dallaire. A local family doctor with the Peterborough Family Health Team and the longest-standing member the PACA panel, Dallaire is one of the most knowledgeable people locally on the topic of concussions, organizers noted in a media release.
“Dr. Dallaire brings unique insights and thoughtful questions that will make each discussion even more valuable,” Sutton added.
Those who attend the summit can expect evidence-based sessions on managing concussions in both school and sport settings. There will be networking opportunities for students, coaches, clinics, and practitioners.
Attendees can expect cross-sector collaboration among teachers, clinicians, and sport leaders, and acquire tools for supporting persistent symptoms and navigating complex recoveries.
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The “Return to Learn” panel will cover topics including how schools can support students with academic accommodations, what teachers and staff should look for as symptoms linger, and how healthcare providers and educators can work together to ease students back into learning.
The panellists are Andie Hickling (research manager and occupational therapist at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital), and Janice Runza (registered nurse and health and wellbeing advisor at Lakefield College School), with one additional panelist to be announced.
The “Return to Play” panel brings together clinicians, coaches, and sport leaders to share step-by-step return-to-play protocols, warning signs that can’t be ignored, and practical guidance for parents and athletes.
The panellists are Paul Hunter (CEO of Wheelchair Rugby Canada, Rowan’s Law advisory committee member, and Rowan’s Law working group member), Scott Cockburn (coach and president of the East Central Ontario Soccer Association), and Connor Massimo (physiotherapist, FCAMPT, and co-founder of Pulse Physiotherapy).
The “Fostering Stronger Connections Between Classrooms, Sports, and Healthcare” panel will explore how healthcare providers and sport leaders can better coordinate concussion management, why stronger links to the school environment are critical for student recovery, and practical strategies to build more consistent communication and support across sectors.
The panellists are Judy Gargaro (director at the Neurotrauma Care Pathways Initiative), Dr. Shannon Scratch (senior clinician scientist with Bloorview Research Institute, clinical neuropsychologist with the Brain Injury Rehab Team at Holland Family Professorship, associate professor with the department of pediatrics and associate professor with the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute at the at University of Toronto, and Mercedes Watson (director at the Coaching Association of Ontario).
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A list of all panellists, as well as the keynote speaker for the event, will be announced before the event.
Registration for the summit is $24 for adults and $14 for students (includes venue fees), with lunch and snacks included as part of registration. All money raised through the summit will be directed towards future concussion awareness and education events through the GPHSF Concussion Fund.
Pictured with her cat Gigi and border collie Sam, Caolaidhe Keelor is a wildlife educator, conservationist, and content creator of "Birder She Wrote" with more than 37,000 Instagram followers and nearly half a million likes on TikTok. Ever since she was introduced to a great horned owl in a classroom when she was five years old, she has had a passion for birds of prey and animals of all species. From curating a line of dog clothing and training in falconry to working as an animal handler in TV film and forming a life-changing friendship with a wild crow, Caolaidhe has built a life around working with animals and changing the stigma around the species who are plagued with the worst reputations. (Photo: Andrew Knapp)
Throughout a lifetime spent working with and loving animals, Caolaidhe Keelor has built relationships with some of the most unlikely of creatures — from vultures and rats to turtles and crows.
Living in Kendal near the Ganaraska Forest, Caolaidhe (pronounced Cailey) is a wildlife educator, conservationist, artist, and content creator with more than 37,000 Instagram followers and close to half a million TikTok likes.
She’s the kind of person who talks about birds at a party, who stops to admire and photograph moths, and who spends her free time cleaning turtle enclosures. It’s clear that Caolaidhe’s passion for animals of all kinds, from the largest birds to the tiniest insects, runs deep in her veins and she doesn’t take for granted the pleasure of having built a life around them.
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“I never in my wildest dreams imagined growing up that I would now be an adult who gets to work with animals,” she says. “Little Caolaidhe is quite proud of big Caolaidhe for getting to work with animals.”
Caolaidhe was just five years old, growing up in Alberta, when a nature centre brought a great horned owl into her classroom and incited her lifelong love of birds and, especially, birds of prey.
“It’s a big bird to begin with, but when I was five, that was a gigantic bird and it just had these giant yellow eyes that really took me in,” she says. “It was just so fascinating, and I just thought this little creature was so cute, even though it was an apex predator.”
Caolaidhe Keelor with Goose, a harris hawk, at a landfill when she worked in falconry and used birds of prey to scare away gulls and other creatures. Working in landfills opened her mind to how much waste we produce and how it affects the animal kingdom, inspiring her to work towards conservation initiatives. (Photo courtesy of Caolaidhe Keelor)
Though from the young age, Caolaidhe thought she wanted to be a veterinarian, the “traumatizing” death of a goldfish put a quick end to that dream. But she did follow her passion and her first professional job with animals was managing a dog clothing store in Vancouver.
Already always dressing up her Pekingese Scotty in clothes — before Paris Hilton made it cool, she says — she launched her own tongue-in-cheek dog clothing line. The collection even made it to the small screen, being admired by the women in an episode of The Real Housewives of Vancouver.
“My pets are like my children, and I enjoy dressing them up,” she says. “Even to this day, my border collie and I wear matching outfits, and we’ll have a little photo shoot.”
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In 2017, Caolaidhe took the falconry program at Pacific Northwest Raptors which she says definitely changed her life and put her on the trajectory of working with animals and doing conservation work. She would go to airports to fly the raptors and scare ducks and geese off the runways or fly them at landfills and deter the gulls.
“These birds have possibly saved lives,” she says. “They have very important jobs, so that was an amazing experience for me. Also, when you’re working one-on-one with a bird, the relationship you form with that animal is like no other.”
Spending so much time in landfills had her thinking more about the roles animals play in environmental conservation and how the environment affects them in return.
Caolaidhe Keelor has always dressed up her pets, including her cat Gigi and border collie Sam, in matching outfits, because she says her pets are like her children. They are often in matching outfits when she films her “Birder She Wrote” show, where she shares recipes for making dog treats and instructions to DIY household products. The show and other content about the animals in her life has earned her more than 37,000 Instagram followers and nearly half a million likes on TikTok. (Photo courtesy of Caolaidhe Keelor)
“I would see how much garbage (was thrown away) and what people throw out and what people don’t recycle,” Caolaidhe says. “I think when people throw out garbage, they don’t realize that it actually goes somewhere else — it doesn’t just disappear — so that was very eye-opening for me to see that there can be change made to the environment. And working with animals who are so closely involved with the environment really goes hand in hand.”
At the falconry, she also hosted flying demonstrations which she loved because not only were people so “in awe” of the birds, but she says, “the more you know about a species, the more you want to protect it.”
Not only did she open eyes to the magnificence of the birds of prey, but she offered people practical ways they could protect them. Caolaidhe particularly liked changing the stigma around vultures, one of her favourite species, that often gets a bad reputation.
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To explain how important the species is to the ecosystem, Caolaidhe likes to share the story about the decline in vultures in India.
More than 20 years ago, vultures were dying at high rates because of a drug being used to treat sick cows that the vultures would then feast on. This decline led to an increase in human rabies cases and deaths because of the spread of the disease and bacteria that the scavenger birds would have otherwise removed from the environment.
“They realized that when the vultures would eat carrion that has rabies, because the acidity in the vulture’s stomach is equivalent to that of battery acid, it would kill the pathogens,” Caolaidhe explains. “Vultures are just super important to the environment, so I wish they wouldn’t get such a bad rep. And I think they’re adorable — their little bald heads are so beautiful.”
Caolaidhe Keelor says Hercules the bald eagle was the “matchmaker” between her and Blue Rodeo musician Greg Keelor. After meeting through a mutual friend, she invited him to watch her do a birds of prey demonstration on Grouse Mountain in British Columbia and the rest is history. Now married, the couple live together on a farm in Kendal, near the Ganaraska Forest. (Photo courtesy of Caolaidhe Keelor)
Caolaidhe says she definitely thinks the more she shared stories like this about the birds, the more she felt she was connecting with people.
“Vultures are a hard one for people to appreciate but I do think the more stories that we share, the more appreciation there is,” she says. “I think slowly there is hope for them to get the love they deserve.”
Birds of prey even helped Caolaidhe in her personal life and made an impression on her now-husband Greg Keelor of the Canadian roots-rock band Blue Rodeo. The first time they met through mutual friends, she invited Greg to a flying demonstration she was doing on Grouse Mountain the following day. There, she introduced him to her co-worker Hercules the Bald Eagle who she says was the “matchmaker,” and the rest is history.
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Upon moving with Greg to Kendal, where they now reside on a farm, Caolaidhe began working with animals in a different capacity — this time for TV films. In addition to landing some roles as a background extra — and even giving her cat, Gigi, a cameo in the CBC TV series Murdoch Mysteries — she got to interact with and develop even more appreciation for creatures who are often overlooked, like a 16-foot python, cockroaches, and rats.
“(Rats) are actually extremely smart and affectionate and they’re very easy to train,” she says. “They want affection, and they want the reward they get for doing something good. That’s always fun to tell people because they’re another species that get a very bad rep, but they’re very sweet.”
To share her love of nature and animals, she began “Birder She Wrote,” a website, social media following, and community where she shares stories and photos of her work with the birds of prey, the animals she worked with in films, and all the different beings she connects with throughout her life.
Part of the content involves filming the “Birder She Wrote” show where she and her sous-chefs, cat Gigi and dog Sam, team up to make pet treats and household products — often in matching outfits.
“It’s just been so fun,” Caolaidhe says. “Playing with animals is just the most fun anyone can ever have.”
“Raise a Little Shell” at the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC) on September 4, 2025 was emceed by OTCC volunteer Caolaidhe Keelor, who helped organize the event over the summer with the aim of raising awareness of the plight of Ontario’s eight native turtle species and the work of the OTCC. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNOW)
Her affection for the animal kingdom is not only limited to birds and mammals either. For the past year, Caolaidhe has been volunteering with the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre in Peterborough, cleaning out their enclosures while doing her part to raise awareness for Ontario’s at-risk turtle species — including organizing a conservation awareness event at the centre in September that saw her musician friends Melissa Payne and Terra Lightfoot perform along with her husband Greg.
“I love my afternoons going in and cleaning and it’s such a great opportunity to get closer to turtles,” she says. “Volunteer work is such a rewarding job and working with animals is such a rewarding job. I love putting them back in their fresh water and seeing them swim about. It’s very meditative, just me and the turtle.”
Though she has worked with a wide range of animals and has had her own pets throughout her life, one of the most special relationships she holds dearest to her heart was the lifechanging friendship she developed with a crow named Darling.
VIDEO: “The crow that lived like no other”
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After Caolaidhe moved the crow’s nest to safety when it was just a fledgling, Darling formed an unbreakable bond with Caolaidhe as well as her dog Sam and cat Gigi.
“She would tap on our windows every morning to wake us up and we would go for walks with her. In all my lifetime, I don’t think there’ll ever be a moment that is greater than my time I shared with Darling. Being friends with a crow is really being introduced to a different dimension. Even working with animals so long, I can’t explain it, because the interspecies connectedness that my dog, my cat, and my crow had was incredible.”
Unfortunately, in November 2022, a few years after they built their friendship, Darling didn’t show up one morning and they never saw her again. Caolaidhe, who believes she was killed by a bird of prey, is hoping to “honour” Darling by one day writing a children’s book about their friendship as a story of acceptance.
Though she has spent her life living and working with animals, Caolaidhe Keelor says the friendship she formed with Darling, a wild crow on her farm, was one of the most special she’s ever had. Caolaidhe says crows are much smarter than people give them credit for, as Darling would knock on the window to wake Caolaidhe to go for a walk, and even formed a bond with her border collie Sam and cat Gigi. (Photo courtesy of Caolaidhe Keelor)
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“Crows are much smarter than we could ever give them credit for,” Caolaidhe says. “It was the most remarkable experience of my life and when she died, it was the most tragic experience of my life as well, but it was also very life changing. My life will never be the same after befriending Darling.”
“Something she made me realize is the impermanence of all things, and you just never know when it’s going to end. Her friendship made me realize to be grateful for the moment and living in the moment, because you can never take it for granted.”
Delivered by Northumberland County with funding from the Ontario government, the Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland (BECN) supports small business through workshops, free consultations, and special events like the BECN Connect Peer-to-Peer session in Campbellford in July 2025 that provided expert advice on small business accounting and tax filing. (Photo: BECN)
With an upcoming conference, free consultations, and funding programs, the Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland (BECN) is aiming this fall to arm local businesses with the tools they need to succeed.
The BECN is a service delivered by Northumberland County in partnership with the Province of Ontario. The BECN offers micro grants, free consultations, training, information and resources, and workshops and seminars for community members thinking of starting or expanding a small business in the county.
On the heels of a successful September workshop with internationally recognized keynote speaker Daniel Lewis, co-founder of the award-winning loose-leaf tea company T by Daniel, and the “She Owns It” conference around the corner, BECN business development coordinator Kailyn Coupland spoke to kawarthaNOW about the overall role of the organization in Northumberland County.
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“(We) want to remind the community that the BECN is the single door to entrepreneurship support in our region,” Coupland said.
“Whether you’re exploring entrepreneurship for the first time, launching a start-up, or running an established business, our team is here with the tools, resources, and one-on-one support to help you succeed. From business planning and training programs to mentoring and workshops like She Owns It, BECN is committed to walking alongside entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.”
Meanwhile, the BECN invites women to join together on Thursday, November 6 at the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre for the third annual “She Owns It” entrepreneurship conference. Already almost sold out, the conference features inspiring speakers, real stories and strategies from local women in business, and hands-on workshops.
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Along with special events like She Owns It, the BECN strives to provide the necessary support whether entrepreneurs are launching a new idea or expanding an existing venture, including by offering free one-on-one consultations tailored to a person’s individual business goals.
Through consultations, the BECN can help clarify an entrepreneur’s business plan, offer guidance on navigating permits, regulations, and funding opportunities, and provide strategies to improve the marketing, operations, and financial management of business ownership.
“Every business journey comes with challenges, but you don’t have to face them on your own. Our expert advisors are here to offer guidance, support, and practical solutions designed to match your current stage and future vision,” the BECN stated.
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The BECN is also gearing up for the next instalment of its Starter Company Growth program, designed for entrepreneurs in Northumberland County who have been operating for six months or more.
Participants will get access to expert training, business development support and mentorship, plus eligible approved applicants can receive a micro-grant of up to $3,500. Mandatory training is required to qualify for grant funding. All interested entrepreneurs are welcome to participate in the training, regardless of grant eligibility.
Two people died in a serious collision on Highway 118 in Haliburton County late Sunday morning (October 5).
At around 11:40 a.m., officers with the Haliburton Highlands Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a collision between a motorcycle and a transport truck on Highway 118 north of Carnarvon.
The impact caused the truck to catch fire, which was extinguished by fire services at the scene.
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The driver and passenger of the motorcycle, a 64-year-old woman and a 79-year-old man, were pronounced deceased at the scene.
Highway 118 between Tulip Road and 25th Line will be closed while police investigate and document the scene. In a media release issued at 5 p.m. on Sunday, police are advising the public to avoid the area and plan alternate routes “as the closure is expected to be lengthy.”
Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage from the area at the time of the incident and has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact the Haliburton Highlands OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.khcrimestoppers.com/
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