This summer, Apsley real estate agent Tania Rightmyer set out to complete a self-imposed challenge to stand-up paddleboard along the entire perimeter of Chandos Lake, one of the largest lakes in the region, to see every cottage from the water's view. Over the course of eight days, 15 hours, and more than 70 kilometres, she met with many neighbours, saw wildlife, and raised awareness about how clean the lake is. (Photo via Tania Rightmyer / Facebook)
If you were on Chandos Lake this summer and noticed a woman dressed in pink paddleboarding by your cottage, you weren’t the only one. In fact, over the course of eight days and 15 hours this summer, Tania Rightmyer paddled past every property on the North Kawartha lake.
On Sunday (August 24), Rightmyer paddled to her own dock where her two daughters stood with champagne, and danced to music by P!nk to celebrate the completion of her self-imposed challenge to stand-up paddleboard the lake’s entire perimeter and every island with a cottage.
With many neighbours cheering her on along the way, she racked up a total 72.57 kilometres on the water to complete the challenge.
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“For me, it’s about the sense of community, but I also love to set a challenge for myself and make sure I get it done,” she says. “I’ve always been a water girl and I’ve done every water sport, but ever since paddleboarding came in, I just loved it as soon as I started doing it.”
Someone who loves to keep her “brain and body busy,” Rightmyer sets a New Year’s goal — not a resolution — for herself to complete every year, like doing the CN Tower Edge Walk or learning to speak Spanish. This year, her goal was to see every cottage on the lake from the water’s view.
“This (year’s goal) was big in the sense that it brought the community together,” she says. “A big part was I wanted to bring awareness to how incredibly clean our lake is and that everybody works hard at caring for it, and that’s very important to everybody that’s a cottager on Chandos.”
Tania Rightmyer used the Strava app to track her distance and time for the eight days and 15 hours over the summer when she travelled more than 70 kilometres around the shoreline of Chandos Lake on her stand-up paddleboard. She began her journey on June 8 and wrapped it up on August 24, 2025. (Graphics via Tania Rightmyer / Facebook)
A real estate agent with BALL Real Estate Inc. Brokerage in Apsley, Rightmyer was born and raised in Peterborough but has been been visiting the lake since she was seven years old and began visiting the cottage her parents built in 1977. Now, she resides at the property as much as she can from May through October.
Paddling early in the mornings, Rightmyer set out on her paddleboarding challenge for the first time on June 8, leaving her property on the south side of the narrows, heading southwest into West Bay.
She tracked her mileage and time through the Strava app and wore her favourite colour, pink, so she would be recognized by cottagers and seen by her two daughters who chauffeured her to each day’s starting and end points.
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“I didn’t want to rush because I would chat with people that I knew at their docks for a bit, so on the first day, I had to readjust my mindset that’s it’s not about how fast I go,” Rightmyer says.
“It’s about just being here and enjoying every minute of it and living in the moment of it. I get in a hypnotic state where I just get on a roll, and I get into the groove where life is pure bliss. I keep going and before I knew it, three hours were done.”
In stints of two to three hours each day that she paddled, Rightmyer achieved her goal of seeing all the roughly 1,200 cottages on the lake, which is one of the largest in the area.
According to Tanya Rightmyer, Chandos Lake is in her family’s blood as she has been going there since she was seven years old. She says one of the highlights of completing her self-imposed challenge to stand-up paddleboard around the North Kawartha lake was doing so with her adult daughters, who dropped her off and picked her up during each leg of the journey. (Photo via Tania Rightmyer / Facebook)
“I’d see little unique things on people’s properties, like signs that are special to them,” she says.
“(I saw) really cute original old cottages, which would be over 100 years old, to places that are now being rebuilt into modern cottages. It was just a really cool blend of the uniqueness of each property, and everybody has pride in the property they own — you can just see it. Everybody loves their spot on the lake.”
But the cottages weren’t the only things Rightmyer was excited to be seeing along the journey.
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“I saw lots of wildlife like loons, (great) blue herons, and turtles,” she says. “It was pretty sweet — almost brings tears to your eyes, just watching nature in its own element.”
Because she posted her challenge in regional Facebook groups and the story spread quickly around the community, she was being recognized and cheered on for doing the challenge, even when she wasn’t paddling but out in the community.
She even started a competition, urging viewers to post photos of her paddling for a chance to win a $50 Shantilly’s Place marina gift card.
Tanya Rightmyer jumps off her stand-up paddleboard on August 24, 2025 to celebrate completing her personal challenge of paddling along the entire shoreline and around each island with a cottage on it on Chandos Lake. It was an opportunity to chat with cottagers on the lake, see wildlife, and raise awareness about how clean the lake is. (Photo via Tania Rightmyer / Facebook)
“People would open up their windows and it’d be early morning, so you could tell they’re having breakfast, and they would yell because they were excited for me,” Rightmyer says. “Everybody was so lovely, and I wish I had been able to stop at everybody’s dock that offered a chat — but I would never have gotten it done.”
In addition to encouragement from her neighbours, Rightmyer says she couldn’t have done the challenge without the help from her two daughters, Taylor and Kennedy Daly.
“It’s nice as a mom to be a role model for your kids, even when they’re adult kids, so to see them cheering me on and smiling when I came in — that was the highlight,” she says. “I always say Chandos Lake is in our blood.”
Chimo Youth & Family Services in Lindsay is one of nine organizations in the City of Kawartha Lakes that received a grant from the Social Sustainability Fund of the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes (to be renamed the Kawartha Community Foundation). Chimo received a $6,000 grant for a city-wide youth engagement initiative with anti-bullying workshops, focus groups, and a teen wellness fair. (Photo courtesy of Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes)
With one grant from the Social Sustainability Fund, an organization was able to provide meals for people living rough in the City of Kawartha Lakes. With another grant, an agency delivered mobile workshops for isolated older adults in the City of Kawartha Lakes, focusing on fall prevention, nutrition, and mental health.
There are just two of nine initiatives made possible because of financial support organizations and agencies received through the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes’ Social Sustainability Fund (SSF).
The Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes is celebrating the success of its inaugural SSF granting program that helped fund locally driven efforts and services that promote well-being, equity, and belonging throughout the City of Kawartha Lakes.
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Launched in 2025 with seed funding from the City of Kawartha Lakes’ human services department, the fund received 18 applications totalling more than $160,000 in requests.
With $56,000 awarded, the SSF supported nine local initiatives addressing mental health, youth engagement, food access, newcomer inclusion, digital literacy, and child development. A volunteer assessment committee reviewed the applications to ensure the funds were allocated equitably and strategically.
The Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes’ Carissa Ferguson told kawarthaNOW the impact of the inaugural program has been significant.
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“One of the most meaningful outcomes from this year’s granting was seeing how quickly and creatively local organizations responded to urgent needs in our community,” Ferguson said.
“For example, through SSF support, A Place Called Home (Lindsay’s emergency homeless shelter) was able to launch a weekend food program for individuals living in Lindsay encampments, filling a critical gap and providing consistent access to nutritious meals where there previously were none,” she noted.
“What stands out most is how a relatively modest investment of $56,000 enabled nine organizations to make such tangible, immediate differences, from youth mental health supports and newcomer programs to enhanced food security and opportunities for vulnerable children. It’s a powerful reminder that when we invest directly in community-led solutions, the impact multiplies across the community,” Ferguson said.
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Below are the 2025 SSF recipients.
Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes: Mobile workshops for isolated older adults focused on fall prevention, nutrition, and mental health.
John Howard Society of the Kawarthas: Nutritious snacks and meals at the Community Integrated Care Hub to encourage wraparound support.
A Place Called Home: Weekend food program for people living in Lindsay encampments.
Pinnguaq Foundation: Inclusive weekend science, technology, engineering, art, math (STEAM) programming for youth, promoting mental wellness and digital literacy.
New Canadians Centre Peterborough: Expansion of newcomer integration and well-being programs into Kawartha Lakes.
Coboconk & Area Food Bank: Upgrades to food-prep and bulk-purchase capacity.
Chimo Youth & Family Services: City-wide youth engagement with anti-bullying workshops, focus groups, and a teen wellness fair.
Fenelon Falls Salvation Army Community and Family Services: Weekly “Hub & Grub” program offering meals, social connection, and referrals.
Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation: Access to extracurricular activities for vulnerable children and youth.
“When you think of how far $56,000 can go and the impact it will have, it’s truly rewarding,” said Cheryl Faber, director of human services for the City of Kawartha Lakes, in a media release. “This fund captures the collective impact of what’s possible when we work together to support community well-being.”
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According to the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes, in 2026, the SFF will “continue supporting inclusive, resilient, and community-led solutions that make Kawartha Lakes a place where everyone belongs.”
“Next year’s cycle will feature a larger pool of funding to disburse and, for the first time, will expand eligibility to include both registered charities and non-profit organizations.”
The expansion is aimed at ensuring even more community groups can access the fund and bring forward innovative solutions.
While the SSF’s first year was shaped by the City of Kawartha Lakes’ Community Safety and Well-being Report, future cycles will increasingly draw upon the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes’s Vital Signs research project, which measures community well-being across 11 key indicators of health.
According to the release, doing so will “ensure granting decisions are both evidence-based and deeply responsive, targeting areas where investment can make the most lasting and meaningful impact.”
Meanwhile, the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes is in the final stages of a brand refresh that will include an updated logo and the shortening of the organization’s operating name to Kawartha Community Foundation.
Boshkung Brewing in Minden is one of two businesses in the greater Kawarthas region that have been nominated for Ontario Made Awards, an initiative of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters. (Photo: Boshkung Brewing website)
Two businesses in the greater Kawarthas region have been nominated for the fifth annual Ontario Made Awards, an initiative of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME).
K2 Mart Bailieboro and Boshkung Brewing in Minden are two of 10 Ontario businesses nominated for a Retailer Spotlight Award.
According to CME, the awards recognize Ontario manufacturers and retailers that help consumers make informed decisions to increase the sales and awareness of Ontario-made products.
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K2 Mart Bailieboro, located at 200 County Road in the former location of the Bailieboro Grocery Store, is a convenience store franchise that opened in May. Boshkung Brewing, located at 20 Water Street in downtown Minden, is a craft brewery owned by Mathew Renda and Deb Banks.
In addition to the 10 businesses nominated for a Retailer Spotlight Award, 10 Ontario businesses have been nominated for a Manufacturer Spotlight Award and 10 Ontario businesses have been nominated for a Consumer Awareness Award.
CME is encouraging Ontarians to vote for their favourite manufacturer and retailer in each category by visiting ontariomade.awardsplatform.com.
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Voting is open until October 5, and the top-voted companies in each category will move on to the final round of judging.
Each person can vote 10 times per day, with each vote giving participants a chance to win one of five $250 gift cards to a registered Ontario Made manufacturer of their choice.
A non-profit business association that represents over 2,500 leading manufacturers across Canada, CME operates the Ontario Made program at supportontariomade.ca to celebrate Ontario manufacturing and bring awareness to locally manufactured products. The program is a free branding opportunity to help consumers identify and support the purchase of Ontario-made products.
A rendering of TVM Group's proposed 17-storey residential-commercial building at 90 Hunter Street East beside Mark Street United Church in Peterborough's East City, which includes a four-storey parking garage. (Graphic: RAW Design Inc.)
After a five-hour public meeting, Peterborough city council voted to approve a zoning by-law amendment to allow a 17-storey mixed-use development to be built in Peterborough’s East City.
A report from Blair Nelson, the city’s commissioner of infrastructure, planning and growth management, was presented at a public meeting under the Planning Act during city council’s general committee meeting Monday night (August 25), with the report recommending that the zoning by-law amendment be approved.
The proposed development, which would be built at 90 Hunter Street East just west of the Mark Street United Church on a site of around 3,350 square metres (less than one acre), would be the tallest building ever constructed in Peterborough. It would have 205 market-rent apartments with 201 parking spaces.
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Toronto-based developer TVM Group acquired the property where the building would be constructed from the board of trustees of Mark Street United Church is exchange for four rental condominium units in TVM Group’s nearby East City Condos development valued at $2 million, as well as the construction of a new hall on the north side of the church building at no cost to Mark Street United Church.
Originally, TVM Group was proposing a 10-storey mixed-use building at the location and, in June 2024, a consultant hired by TVM Group held an open house about that proposal. No other open house was held prior to or after TVM Group submitted a proposal to the city for a 17-storey building.
Following a presentation from city land use planner Nolan Drumm, council heard from 16 public delegations, including residents of Ashburnham Ward who expressed a variety of concerns about the proposed building, including its height, shadow, impact on the character of East City, and traffic and congestion issues, as well as a lack of community consultation.
Council also heard from Daryl Bennett on behalf of the board of trustees for Mark Street United Church, EcoVue Consulting Services Inc. principal Kent Randall (representing the applicant), and The TVM Group CEO Amit Sofer, all of whom spoke in support of the zoning by-law amendment.
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Given the late hour, city council decided to defer all items on the agenda, except for the remainder of the public meeting and a time-sensitive item on development charges, to a special general committee meeting at a future date.
After voting 7-4 against a motion by Ashburnham Ward councillor Keith Riel to defer the zoning by-law amendment (with Riel and fellow Ashburnham Ward councillor Gary Baldwin and Town Ward councillors Joy Lachica and Alex Bierk voting in favour of the deferral), councillors then debated the main motion.
After councillor Kevin Duguay put forward a motion that the question be put, ending further debate, councillors voted 7-4 in support of the zoning by-law amendment, with Mayor Jeff Leal and councillors Duguay, Lesley Parnell, Matt Crowley, Don Vassiliadis, Andrew Beamer, and Dave Haacke voting in favour and Riel, Baldwin, Lachica, and Bierk voting against.
Items endorsed by general committee will be considered for final approval at the council meeting on Tuesday, September 2 after the Labour Day weekend.
A charming village in the Township of Cavan Monaghan, Millbrook is a popular film location and is home to the greatest number of historically designated buildings per capita in Canada. From quaint shops and restaurants to expansive hiking trails and outdoor theatre, it's one of the many locations you can enjoy when road tripping through the Township of Cavan Monaghan. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
Whether you’re seeking adrenaline-pumping thrills or looking for a space of reflection in The Kawarthas, you can find it all in the Township of Cavan Monaghan, a destination nestled in the rolling hills and expansive landscapes of southwestern Peterborough County.
From car and harness racing to heartwarming outdoor theatrical performances, the township offers entertainment in all forms. But Cavan Monaghan is also celebrated for its rich agricultural roots and scenic countryside, where you can find plenty of locally grown food and sweet treats as well as places to reflect and reconnect, whether hiking on a trail or meditating in the garden of a Buddhist temple.
“One of the things that makes Cavan Monaghan so unique and special is its deep and rich agricultural history,” says Cavan Monaghan Mayor Matthew Graham. “What is now the township was first surveyed in 1817 — 50 years before Confederation — and it’s steeped in that hardworking agricultural history. There are still several buildings in the village of Millbrook and historic farmhouses throughout the municipality that date back into the mid-1800s, so it’s got a lot to offer in that historical regard, but there’s also a lot to get out and do in the township as well.”
Morning: Take flight with sweets and treats
Not just another chocolate shop, Millbrook Valley Chocolates is a socially responsible business that supports sustainable and ethical farming practices by only using the finest ingredients that support cocoa farmers. Along with chocolates, you’ll find gourmet cake, cookie platters, peanut butter cups, and lots of ice cream. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
Start your day in Cavan Monaghan with a first-class breakfast courtesy of The Good Baker YPQ. This newest location of the beloved local bakery at the Peterborough Regional Airport serves up full breakfasts as well as freshly made gluten-free baked goods, which you can enjoy while watching the planes take to the sky or the classes in session at the Seneca Polytechnic School of Aviation.
When you’re all fuelled up for your day of exploration, head south on Peterborough County Road 28 to Millbrook. After just a few minutes spent exploring the well-preserved historic downtown, you’ll understand why it has been the backdrop to many acclaimed television shows and films including, among others, Reacher, Anne with an E, and Murdoch Mysteries.
“A lot of the downtown Millbrook is more than a century old and we’re doing a lot of work in maintaining that heritage in the village,” says Mayor Graham. “You have the Needler’s Mill right next door that has different iterations dating back to 1820 with the original mill. There was a fire just at the turn of the century so different iterations have been rebuilt, but parts are still from the early 1800s, which is really unique. You can really feel that history in the downtown.”
Fairweather is one of the many historic and architecturally significant buildings in Millbrook. Built in 1876 for merchant Thomas Baxter Collins and originally called Glenhaven, the impressive family home is said to have been modelled on an Irish castle. Famous guests include Canada’s first prime minister John A. Macdonald in the 19th century and Canadian novelist and journalist Robertson Davies in the 20th century. (Photo courtesy of Millbrook and Cavan Historical Society)
For a sweet treat, head to King Street East to Millbrook Valley Chocolates where you’ll find gourmet cake, cookie platters, peanut butter cups, and lots of ice cream. If you’ve ever wanted to make your own chocolates, call ahead to book a private class and learn to make anything from chocolate bars and truffles to a smooth ganache!
Right next door, you’ll find The Village Apothecary, your Cavan Monaghan haven for health and wellness with on-site naturopathic doctors and dietitians. Stock up on high-quality supplements and wholesome health foods, curate the ultimate gift basket, or reduce your use of single-use plastics by buying from the refillery.
For a taste of what’s growing in The Kawarthas, drop by the Millbrook Farmers’ Market on Sundays. With farm-fresh produce as well as a variety of local vendors, makers and artisans, and entertainment, this weekly farmers’ market is just another way to immerse yourself in Cavan Monaghan’s rich agricultural roots.
Located immediately south of Millbrook in Cavan Monaghan, the Millbrook Valley Trails network includes over 13 kilometres of trails that follow the shoreline of Baxter Creek, a cold-water stream that originates on the Oak Ridges Moraine and is a tributary of the Otonabee River that provides habitat for a variety of species. The trails wind through valleys, forests, wetlands, and meadows providing scenic views and a connection to the Ganaraska Forest. (Photo courtesy of Township of Cavan Monaghan
Spend some time in nature by enjoying a trail walk along one of the nearby Millbrook Valley Trails. Winding through valleys, forests, wetlands, and meads, the network includes over 13 kilometres of trails that follow the shoreline of Baxter Creek, a cold-water stream that’s a tributary of the Otonabee River and provides habitat for a variety of species.
“The Millbrook Valley Trails take you around the hidden, wooded area of undeveloped natural beauty throughout the township,” says Mayor Graham.
“It can bring you right through into the village of Millbrook and take you all the way out to the Ganaraska Forest. Depending how much of a hike you’re into and where you’d like to get, it’s a really interesting way to see the natural beauty of the township.”
Millbrook Mercantile is a one-stop shop and deli where you can browse curated home décor, fashion, wellness products, 100 cheeses from around the world, and more than 20 cured meats. When road tripping through Cavan Monaghan, enjoy a decadent meal with wine on the patio or pack a deli lunch to take on the road. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
Prefer a more urban landscape as you walk? Learn all about the architectural and historical significance of some of the properties that contribute to Millbrook being home to the greatest number of historically designated buildings per capita in Canada.
On a self-guided tour with Millbrook’s interactive Walking Tour Map, you can step into the town’s past by exploring everything from Victorian farmhouses to gothic churches.
Don’t forget to visit The Millbrook Mercantile, a one-stop shop and deli where you can browse curated home décor, fashion, and wellness products, as well as 100 cheeses from around the world and more than 20 cured meats. Dine on homemade soups, salads, and boutique wines on a streetside patio, or order a charcuterie board to-go to create your own picnic on your afternoon adventure.
Afternoon: Speed, sightseeing, and so much more
When construction is complete, the Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Cavan Monaghan will be the largest single Buddhist complex outside of China. On 535 acres, the sacred grounds offer a myriad of massive sculptures, multiple shrines, a man-made lake, a tea shop, an art gallery, and walking trails. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
After you’ve explored Millbrook, head north on Peterborough County Road 28 to the Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden, a unique destination in The Kawarthas. Residing on 535 acres of land, this sacred site, when complete, will be the largest single Buddhist complex based outside of China. Spend some time exploring all the grounds have to offer from massive structures and multiple shrines to a man-made lake, a tea shop, an art gallery, and walking trails.
Just north on the Trans Canada Highway, you’ll find even more entertainment at the Peterborough Speedway, Canada’s fastest 1/3-mile paved oval and one of the busiest racing venues in Canada. Did you know you can even get behind the wheel with the Peterborough Speedway Driving Experience? That’s sure to get your heart pounding!
To add more racing to your itinerary, follow County Road 28 to Kawartha Downs. The lively entertainment venue is the home of weekly free-admission harness racing, offering fun for the whole family with the option to enjoy it all while dining buffet-style at the Grandstand Dining Room.
Located in Cavan Monaghan, the Peterborough Speedway is Canada’s fastest 1/3-mile paved oval and one of the busiest racing venues in Canada. Adrenaline seekers taking a road trip through the township can book an experience that gets them behind the wheel and on the track. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Speedway)
For a special agritourism experience in The Kawarthas, head south to Hunnabees Honey & Co., a 200-colony apiary run by third-generation beekeepers. Sign up to be a beekeeper for a day, learn about the honey extraction process through scheduled workshops, or drop in to browse the farm store and purchase a range of honeys, beeswax food wraps, pollen, and more.
The Kawarthas draws golfers from near and far, and there are plenty of opportunities to hit the links in Cavan Monaghan. Tee off at Baxter Creek Golf Club, an award-winning champion course in Fraserville that boasts a unique 19th island green bonus hole.
You can also head to the fairways at Keystone Links Golf & Country Club or Heron Landing Golf Club, both located just outside the City of Peterborough.
Evening: Settle in for the night in Cavan Monaghan
Every summer, renowned outdoor theatre company 4th Line Theatre stages two original productions focused on regional history at its barnyard stage at the Winslow Farm just outside Millbrook. (Photo: Wayne Eardley / Brookside Studio)
End your road trip in Cavan Monaghan by heading back to downtown Millbrook for dinner and a locally roasted organic-bean coffee at The Peddler, a community staple whose location in a heritage building illuminates Millbrook’s unique history. From pierogis and scallops to ribs and fondant, there’s something for everyone on the dinner menu.
Make sure you leave in time to get to 4th Line Theatre just outside the village. Every July and August, the renowned outdoor theatre company stages two original productions focused on regional history at its barnyard stage at the Winslow Farm. Performances run from Tuesdays to Saturdays at 6 p.m. and, if you don’t have time for a sit-down dinner in Millbrook before the show, you can pre-order a charcuterie snack box to enjoy at the Winslow Farm.
Adrenaline junkies can extend their time at Kawartha Downs into the evening at Shorelines Slots, or by booking tickets to a live music, comedy, or line dancing event at the entertainment venue.
Sweet Hills Farm Bunkie is a private, hilltop, Amish-built pine bunkie that offers spectacular mile-long views and lookouts. During your stay, you can enjoy the amenities, campfire, and private hiking trails, and purchase seasonal produce, maple syrup, and honey. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
Need more time to explore Cavan Monaghan? Turn your day adventure into an overnight one by staying at Sweet Hills Farm Bunkie. This private hilltop Amish-built pine bunkie offers spectacular mile-long views and lookouts, and provides access to a campfire and private hiking trails, with seasonal produce, maple syrup, and honey available for purchase.
You can also spend the night at Field Day Art and B&B, an 1874 Gothic building that has been turned into a gallery setting where owner Kate Field displays her vivid Canadiana paintings. Open year-round, the accommodation is on a two-acre property that offers a spa-like experience with a swimming pool, children’s activities, and is within walking distance of downtown Millbrook.
For a night or more on the water, rent a houseboat at Le Boat for up to 10 days. No license or experience is required for these rentals, which you can us to explore the Otonabee River. Part of the Trent-Severn Waterway and running throughout The Kawarthas, the river is one of Mayor Graham’s must-see destinations in Cavan Monaghan.
Part of the Trent-Severn Waterway and running throughout The Kawarthas, the Otonabee River is one of Mayor Matthew Graham’s must-see destinations in Cavan Monaghan. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
Cavan Monaghan Mayor Matthew Graham’s Must Do’s
Tour the many historic buildings in downtown Millbrook and nearby Needler’s Mill.
Hike the Millbrook Valley Trails.
Rent a houseboat and explore the Otonabee River.
“I think a lot of people underappreciate the natural beauty of the Otonabee River,” Mayor Graham says.
“It’s a really cool experience and it also saves you from any weather or wind that can make lake access a bit more dangerous sometimes. The river is a nice place that’s tranquil and calmer.”
Red Mill Maple Syrup is one of the sugar shacks open year-round in Cavan Monaghan. With owners who come from a long line of maple syrup producers, Red Mill hosts tours of the sugar bush, sells a range of maple products, and offers sweet tastings. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
No matter the season, there’s always a reason to return to Cavan Monaghan.
Plan a visit back to the township during the Millbrook Fair, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2026. Held by the Millbrook Agricultural Society, the fair takes place every June, bringing the community together for a wide range of events, competitions, activities, and displays that focus on the importance of agriculture. Expect to find parades, live entertainment, and classic fair treats at this small-town fair.
On your next trip, take a self-guided tour through the Cavan Monaghan Barn Quilt Trail by car or on foot to view the region’s history through dozens of hand-painted quilt blocks that transform barns and public buildings. This educational, interactive, and fun art installation is accessible year-round, inviting you to pause and connect with the history, culture, and community of the region.
Come to Cavan Monaghan in the spring for Maple Weekend, an annual province-wide celebration held on the first weekend of April by the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association, with producers across Ontario taking part, including Staples Maple Syrup near Cavan and Red Mill Maple near Millbrook. You can also visit Staples and Red Mill year round to take a tour of the sugar bush, learn about the sugaring process, partake in a maple syrup tasting, and stock up on locally made syrup until your next trip to The Kawarthas.
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.
Monarch Teacher Network of Canada instructor Laurel Merriam, Friends of Presqu'ile Park member Don Davis, and "Monarch Butterfly Crusader" Carol Pasternak releasing tagged monarch butterflies at Presqu'ile Provincial Park in 2023. The Friends of Presqu'ile Park, a charitable organization devoted to preserving and protecting the natural heritage of Presqu'ile Provincial Park, invites the public to join park staff and volunteers on August 30 and 31, 2025 for the annual "Monarchs and Migrants Weekend" at the park in the Municipality of Brighton. (Photo: Jaime Rojo / National Geographic)
From bird-banding demonstrations to tagging monarch butterflies, community members are invited to watch and learn about the fall migration of birds, butterflies, and insects by attending an educational event in Northumberland County on the Labour Day weekend.
The Friends of Presqu’ile Park, a charitable organization devoted to preserving and protecting the natural heritage of Presqu’ile Provincial Park, is inviting the public to join park staff and volunteers on Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31 for “Monarchs and Migrants Weekend” at the Presqu’ile Provincial Park, which is located at 328 Presqu’ile Parkway in the Municipality of Brighton.
Visitors will learn why birds are banded and can join Don Davis, guest field naturalist, to watch live monarch butterfly tagging and learn more about the insects’ annual migration.
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Monarchs and Migrants Weekend is an important educational and environmental event, according to Beverlie Cook, communications committee chair for The Friends of Presqu’ile Park.
“We want to build awareness about the many species that inhabit the park and to cultivate an understanding of the need to protect them for generations to come,” Cook told kawarthaNOW.
She said that goal drives the programs presented at the park all summer long through the Ontario Parks’ “Discovery Program.” The “Discovery” team, alongside the Friends of Presqu’ile Park, offers four special event weekends each year highlighting some of the natural and cultural features of Presqu’ile.
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“The goal of these special Discovery Programs is always to provide opportunities for visitors to learn more about the lives of the inhabitants of Presqu’ile Provincial Park,” Cook noted.
“There will be guided bird walks to allow visitors to see the many species of shorebirds fuelling up before beginning their long fall migration to their winter homes. There are 25 species of shorebirds regularly seen at Presqu’ile. They often stay well into late fall if the weather remains warm enough.”
Cook said the best outcome for the weekend would encompass favourable weather, several visitors enjoying the many habitats of the beautiful park, and plenty of birds and monarchs to observe.
“Presqu’ile can be a great spot to see migrating monarch butterflies during the first two weeks of September,” Cook noted. “A highlight is always the monarch butterfly tagging.”
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This will be the 41st year that monarchs will be tagged at the park. Presqu’ile attracts so many monarchs because of its abundant supply of nectar sources and milkweed – the monarch butterfly’s main food sources.
“The monarchs need to fuel up before their long migration to Mexico,” Cook said.
Another feature of the Monarchs and Migrants Weekend is a children’s program at the Nature Centre. The Nature Centre, Lighthouse Interpretive Centre, and Friends of Presqu’ile Gift Shop will all be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will also be the final Friends of Presqu’ile Park’s fundraising barbecue for the season at the amphitheatre on Saturday between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
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Program details for the Monarchs and Migrants weekend are still being finalized, but park staff and volunteers will have a full slate of activities for visitors, Cook said. Programs are open to campers and day visitors alike, and are free with park admission.
A detailed schedule of events and demonstrations will be posted on social media and around the park. Check out The Friends of Presqu’ile Park’s website at www.friendsofpresquile.on.ca for more information, including links to the group’s social media accounts.
The Friends of Presqu’ile Park works to enhance the educational opportunities for park visitors, to provide volunteer assistance for park activities, and to provide funding for selected educational and environmental projects.
encoreNOW for August 25, 2025 features (from left to right, top and bottom) Martin Julien performing "Magic Lies: An Evening with W.O. Mitchell" for New Stages Theatre, Mimi O'Bonsawin, Russell deCarle, Julian Taylor and Logan Staats, Creekside Music Festival, and the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra's Musical Nature Walk at Tecasy Ranch. (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 Magic Lies: An Evening with W.O. Mitchell at the Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre in Peterborough, Mimi O’Bonsawin in concert at Port Hope Memorial Park, Russell deCarle’s appearance at the Minden’s historic Dominion Hotel, Grove Theatre’s welcoming of singer-songwriters Julian Taylor and Logan Staats to Fenelon Falls, the 6th annual Creekside Music Festival in Apsley, and the fusion of classical music and nature at Tecasy Ranch in Trent Hills.
W.O. Mitchell’s storytelling magic returns to Peterborough
Barbara and Orm Mitchell wrote “Magic Lies: An Evening with W.O. Mitchell” in memory of Orm’s father, the iconic Canadian writer best known for his 1947 novel “Who Has Seen the Wind” that portrays life on the Canadian Prairies in the 1930s from the point of view of a small boy. (Supplied photo)
What began in early June is winding down towards its conclusion at the lovely Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre in the courtyard at Trent University’s Catharine Parr Traill College off Dublin Street in Peterborough.
This year’s edition of the William and Nona Heaslip Foundation Summer Festival has seen 10 musical and theatrical performances staged at the venue on Thursday nights during the summer, leading to the season closer on August 28.
Presented in partnership with Peterborough’s New Stages Theatre, Magic Lies: An Evening with W.O. Mitchell is a staged reading that celebrates the storytelling of the late famed Canadian writer William Ormond Mitchell.
Co-written by his son, Trent University professor emeritus Orm Mitchell, and Orm’s wife Barbara, it was first presented by New Stages back in February. Reprising his role as W.O. Mitchell is Canadian stage veteran Martin Julien, with accompanying music by Peterborough-based pianist Rob Phillips.
That this is being staged at Traill College is not without significance. The Saskatchewan-born W.O. Mitchell frequently gave readings and led writing workshops at Trent, and is the holder of an honourary degree from the university.
Mitchell remains best known for his 1947 coming-of-age novel Who Has Seen The Wind. Portraying life on the Prairies from the point of view of a small boy, it sold close to a million copies in Canada. In addition, as a broadcaster, his CBC Radio series Jake And The Kid, also about Prairie life, aired from 1950 to 1956. For his cumulative work of novels, short stories and plays, Mitchell was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1973.
Magic Lies: An Evening with W.O. Mitchell premiered in September 2023 at the Rosebud Theatre near Calgary, breathing new life into Mitchell’s wit, wisdom and belief in the power of storytelling.
The Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre staging begins at 7 p.m. While admission is free, seating is limited, so plan to get there early or bring some lawn chairs.
Port Hope’s Road To Cultivate wraps up with Mimi O’Bonsawin
VIDEO: “Here’s to the Women” – Mimi O’Bonsawin
Yet another summer-long outdoor music series wraps up August 28 at Memorial Park in Port Hope.
Road To Cultivate has seen free-admission concerts staged Thursday evenings since July 3. Now the concert series, a prelude to the September 26 to 28 Cultivate Festival event featuring live music and food at the Haute Goat Farm near Port Hope, comes to an end with a performance by contemporary roots singer-songwriter Mimi O’Bonsawin.
A member of Odanak First Nation, O’Bonsawin is a prolific songwriter with her two albums to her credit, Willow and Boréale, which were both released in 2023. Weaving rhythm, storytelling, and spirit into her songs, she immerses her audience into a soulful journey.
Cultivate is a charitable organization that advances arts education and public appreciation for music, performance and creativity. The upcoming fall festival is billed as “a big picnic, a music festival, a block party, a playground for all ages, and an arts experience” that leaves attendees feeling “fully connected to the things that matter most.”
More information and updates on the festival can be found at cultivatefestival.ca.
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Minden’s historic Dominion Hotel welcomes Russell deCarle
VIDEO: “So Crazy About You” – Russell deCarle
Take a historic venue in Minden and add a top-tier Canadian musician, and you’ve got a can’t-miss recipe for a terrific night out.
On Saturday (August 30) at the Dominion Hotel Pub, former Prairie Oyster frontman Russell deCarle fronts his trio, running through material from four solo albums recorded since 2012, the latest being The End of the Road.
The singer-songwriter remains yet another great example of a musician who has fashioned a very active and successful solo career after enjoying years of success with a band.
It was just more than 50 years ago that the singer and then bass player hooked up with guitarists Keith Glass and Dennis Delorme to form Prairie Oyster, a union that lasted four years before each went their separate ways.
Reunited in 1982 with the addition of fiddler John Allen, keyboardist Joan Besen, and drummer Bruce Moffat, Prairie Oyster subsequently hit its stride commercially, recording eight albums that spawned 10 hit singles, and collecting six Juno Awards and 11 Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs) on its way to its 2008 induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.
During a November 2024 interview prior to an appearance at Peterborough’s Gordon Best Theatre, deCarle told kawarthaNOW that he remains thrilled to now be “telling his own story.” He added he’s “singing better, playing better, writing better songs” than he ever has, “and having more fun than I ever had.” No doubt his Dominion Hotel show will provide full evidence of that.
The Russell deCarle Trio takes to the stage at 7:30 p.m. The venue is located at 113 Main Street in the heart of Minden — right where it has been since opening in 1865. Tickets are $35, available in advance online at dominionhotel.gpr.globalpaymentsinc.ca.
Fenelon Falls’ Grove Theatre scores a terrific musical duo
VIDEO: “Seeds” – Julian Taylor
If the Grove Theatre was able to secure just one of Julian Taylor or Logan Staats for a concert, that would have been a treat. To secure a show featuring both together, that’s quite something.
On Wednesday, September 3, the duo will bring their “Songs and Stories” tour to the outdoor amphitheatre in Fenelon Falls, bringing with them their respective huge catalogues of music.
Of Caribbean and Mohawk ancestry, Toronto-raised Taylor began his music career as a co-founder and member of the alt-rock band Staggered Crossing in the late 1990s before establishing himself as a solo artist. Come 2020, with five albums under his belt, The Ridge proved to be his breakthrough album. It earned two Juno Award nominations, a Polaris Prize nomination, and, for its creator, a Canadian Folk Music Award as Solo Artist of the Year.
Taylor’s 2022 follow-up, Beyond The Reservoir, received equal critical acclaim, bringing him another Juno Award nomination, and Roots Artist of the Year honours from the Country Music Association of Ontario. Two more albums have followed, and with them, continued acclaim.
VIDEO: “Deadman” – Logan Staats
Staats, meanwhile, has two studio albums to his credit, 2015’s Goodbye Goldia and 2023’s A Light In The Attic.
Raised in Brantford of Mohawk descent (he was born on Six Nations of the Grand River Territory), Staats really his stride in 2018, winning the first season of CTV’s reality TV music competition The Launch. His performance of “The Lucky Ones” sealed the deal, that song going on to hit number one on the Canadian iTunes chart and winning a 2019 Indigenous Music Award as Best Radio Single.
Tickets to the duo’s Grove Theatre show are $68.50 including fees and are available online at www.grovetheatre.ca.
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Apsley’s Creekside Music Festival returns for its sixth year
VIDEO: “Steady The Wheel” – The Redhill Valleys
What began as one-off in 2018 has evolved into a highly anticipated multi-act outdoor musical festival in North Kawartha Township that returns for its sixth year from Friday, September 5 to Sunday, September 7.
Held on an Eels Creek-hugging property just off Highway 28 in Apsley, the Creekside Music Festival will see multiple music acts take to the stage, with event proceeds benefiting a select organization or cause. Past beneficiaries have included JumpStart, Apsley minor hockey and, last year, Roter’s Reach Mental Health Awareness.
This year’s stage lineup is as varied as it is long: Tommy Youngsteen, The Redhill Valleys, Epic Eagles, Melissa Payne’s Super Band, Mudmen, Russell deCarle, VANCAMP, David Celia, Caitlin O’Connor’s Detention Club, Gordie Tentrees, Montana Sky, KYRA, Alycia Hebert, Mason Moxley, Georgia Rose, Ebonie Kauffeldt, Alex McMann, Still Picking Country Band, Nephton Ridge Runners, and The Ross Singers.
Weekend and day passes are available now, but don’t delay as the audience will be limited to around 600 people. Weekend passes are $145 ($115 for seniors or students), with day passes $65 for Friday and $95 for Saturday, available at www.creeksidemusicfestival.ca. Performances on Sunday are open to the public by donation.
Gates open at 4 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday. Artisans and food vendors will be on site. On-site parking is available only to bands and campers (all campsites are sold out); all others must park at the North Kawartha Community Centre where a shuttle bus will be running every 10 minutes to the festival site.
Classical music meets nature at Tecasy Ranch
For the second year in a row, the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra is partnering with the Peterborough Field Naturalists to combine music and nature at Tecasy Ranch in Trent Hills in Peterborough County. On September 6, 2025, field guides will walk participants through an easy forested trail walk that will be interspersed with ensembles of music performances. Pictured are Jaye Marsh on flute and Jennifer Burford on violin during the inaugural event in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra)
From the Something Different File, let me serve up the Musical Nature Walk set for Saturday, September 6 at Tecasy Ranch off Bolton’s Road in Trent Hills.
Last year, a collaboration between the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra (PSO) and the Peterborough Field Naturalists saw the inaugural event held. Guests were divided into small groups, assigned a guide and naturalists team, and led on a hike along walking trails where, at four stops, small orchestra ensembles performed.
It proved immensely popular, hence the decision to not only bring it back, but to expand it with more musicians and two walking tour sessions, one at 12:30 p.m. and another at 4 p.m.
Attendees will be organized into small groups who will be guided by a Tecasy Ranch staff member and a field naturalist along the trail, with stops along the way to rest and listen to musicians performing classical ensemble compositions of their choice.
PSO solo harpist Liane James will welcome guests at the pavilion as they begin the walk that features six different musical stations along the trail: Bryan Allen will perform on solo marimba, Victoria Yeh will perform on the violin with PSO principal bassist Fil Stasiak, PSO principal violinist Jennifer Burford will perform with principal cellist Zuzanna Chomicka-Newnham, PSO principal violist Adriana Arcila Tascón will perform with oboist Nancy Vanderslice, and PSO maestro Michael Newnham will perform trombone duets with David Archer.
Tickets are $70 for adults and $16.50 for children 12 and under (the walk is not recommended for children under six) and are available at thepso.org, where information about the PSO’s upcoming 2025-26 season is also available. Note that dogs are not permitted and the event rain date is September 7.
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Encore
Let me add myself to the many who are congratulating longtime local musicians Rick and Gaile Young on their achievement of a remarkable milestone, namely their having performed for 20 years at the Black Horse Pub in downtown Peterborough. In a word, wow. It was back in 2005 that former pub owner Ray Kapoor brought the pair on for a regular gig. Subsequent owners Desmond Vandenberg and Sajen Ganeshalingam kept Rick and Gailie on, with their Monday night Crash & Burn event since bringing countless local performers, new and old, to the stage. On Monday (August 25), a celebration of the milestone was held at the pub; an event that, as always, had community at its centre. Here’s to many more years for what is nothing short of a unique-to-Peterborough live music tradition.
The Electric City Culture Council (EC3), Peterborough’s arms-length not-for-profit municipal arts council, has brought on a new programming director. An artist with a strong background in arts administration and research, Alexandra Box most recently worked at the Art Gallery of Peterborough. Originally from London, Ontario, she has called Peterborough home for more than two years now. Her new role will see her support EC3’s programs, research and operations, strengthening the creative ecology of the city and the surrounding area.
Peterborough resident Noella Koshul, a grief counsellor and end-of-life doula, crafts sparkling, colourful, and unique birdbaths made from second-hand serving platters, bowls, and other dishware that she finds at thrift stores and yard sales. Though originally a hobby to help her relax and de-stress from work, she now sells them through Facebook and Kijiji. (Photos courtesy of Noella Koshul)
It’s been proven that watching birds can be beneficial to both mind and body and, according to Peterborough resident Noella Koshul, so is the process of making a bath for them.
She knows this firsthand because, for the last year and a half, she has been collecting second-hand pieces of dishware to piece together into colourful birdbaths that sparkle in the sun and provide water to birds and other garden-dwelling creatures — and also help her de-stress from work.
“I just really like the idea of making something rather than buying something,” Koshul says. “Not that there’s not beautiful stuff out there, but it’s just that much more meaningful when it’s something you’ve created. It pleases my inner magpie — they’re shiny and sparkly outside and they are an absolute delight to do. I’m completely out of my head when I’m doing them, which is the biggest benefit.”
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As someone who runs a grief counselling and end-of-life doula private practice in Peterborough and is an instructor in psychology in the nursing program at Loyalist College, Koshul realized she wasn’t listening to the advice she was dishing out.
“To my clients and stressed-out students, I’m always extolling the virtues of working with your hands as a way to de-stress and reset, and I thought ‘I always say that, but I never do it,'” she says, adding that she made it her New Year’s resolution in 2024. “It was just to try new things and to try making things that I’ve never tried before. I love to bake and I’m trying to teach myself watercolours, and I thought this is one I can actually feel good about.”
She can feel good about it because instead of purchasing brand new products to create her birdbaths, Koshul began her new hands-on project by repurposing older items that she had inherited from her family. When she ran out of her own dishware to transform, she began digging around at yard sales and local thrift shops like the Habitat for Humanity ReStores and Vinnie’s.
With no formal art training, Noella Koshul goes to thrift stores and yard sales to find dishware that is unique, colourful, and in interesting shapes to create one-of-a-kind bird baths. The birdbaths not only supply water to birds but also squirrels, chipmunks, and other garden critters who quickly become accustomed to the water source. (Photos courtesy of Noella Koshul)
“They can’t sell it all and ultimately a lot does end up in landfills, so I thought this is just a fun way for me to use it,” Koshul says. “It’s a low-cost hobby, it’s relaxing, and I end up with something beautiful at the end of it. Honestly, it’s really addictive and I find myself getting excited about it.”
When she’s in the thrift store she says she’s on the hunt for vases, bowls, platters, and other dishes that are “unusual, colourful pieces, in interesting shapes” and, when she finds colours that look nice together, she just “plays.”
“Because I have zero training in art at all, I’m really just putting things together,” she admits. “It’s not a science of colours or shapes or anything, it’s just things that I find really visually pleasing and then I just cross my fingers that other people will like them. You just have to want to play with shapes and colours, and that’s it.”
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“I’m creating these visual pieces of what I think are art for my backyard and for friends, and that’s the beauty of it,” Koshul says. “I’m not an artist and I don’t have to be an artist, but I still end up with these really beautiful structures.”
Koshul is humble in labelling herself as not being an artist considering her creativity shines not only through the birdbaths themselves, but the stories she gives them when she lists them for sale on Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji, alongside recommendations on the flowers and plants they would look best beside.
From a birdbath reminiscent of the King’s Vegas jumpsuits that brings out a touch of ’70s flair to one that pays homage to the Chrysler Building with an art deco design, there’s no limit to Koshul’s playful imagination.
“I love writing. I write seriously for myself and that’s another way just of processing life and it’s a pleasure for me. It seemed fun to introduce them to people online as though they had a personality.”
Noella Koshul often posts whimsical stories about her one-of-a-kind birdbaths when she posts them for sale on Facebook and Kijiji. With an “Art Deco” feel about the piece on the left, she notes it’s a homage to the Chrysler Building. (Photos courtesy of Noella Koshul)
Koshul adds that, since many of the pieces are second-hand and often from estate sales, she enjoys imagining the homes they came from and the past lives they’ve lived.
“I know that these pieces were valuable, not just in terms of dollars … I’m sure these pieces meant a lot to the people who had them originally,” she says.
“Kind of a nice thing to think about is where these used to live before I got my hands on them, and then introducing them to a different bowl or a different vase that they didn’t live with all their life in somebody’s china cabinet. They get a new life and then get sent out to the world.”
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Beyond being personally good for her mental health, Koshul recognizes that making bird baths is good for the planet and the creatures living in her garden.
“It’s such a relaxing, beautiful thing to sit and watch the birds in your backyard,” she says, noting the lack of rain this summer. “We’ve even got chipmunks now using them in our backyard because there aren’t other water sources really anywhere except these birdbaths. I’m really conscious about filling them twice a day now just to make sure that those little critters have something to drink.”
She says the birds and squirrels have picked up on her daily routine of cleaning and refilling the birdbaths in the morning, and they often wait on her fence for her to fill them up before they have their morning drink.
“They really do get used to it. Just like with food, water is an absolute essential for them, so they learn where it is, where they can get it, and quickly alter their routines to match yours. I see them probably more now that I’ve got the birdbaths out there than I ever did before.”
Pictured in 2019, Noella Koshul is a Peterborough-based grief counsellor and end-of-life doula and instructor at Loyalist College. Realizing she was not taking her own advice when telling her students and clients to work with their hands to “de-stress and reset,” in made a New Year’s resolution in 2024 to do just that. What began as a fun project turning second-hand dishware into bird baths has turned into a side business where she sells the baths on Facebook and Kijiji. (Photo via Porchlight Support website)
Having given away and sold upwards of 25 baths, Koshul adds that she gets the same feedback from others who have her birdbaths bringing life to their own gardens.
“People send me little notes and say they saw robins or chickadees or finches in the baths and I get little reports about how well-received they are in the avian community,” she says.
“I’ve had repeats customers purchase more than one from me and say that they’re really happy, and that it’s nice to sit out and watch birds flit about something pretty. That is an absolute thrill for me to hear.”
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Koshul says she is “shocked” anyone was interested in purchasing her birdbaths, considering it was intended to be just a relaxing activity for her — which it has been proven to be.
“It’s such a complete 180 from what I do for my work that it really gives my brain a chance to just shut off,” she says. “I love my work as a grief support worker and end-of-life support, and I love teaching, but those things can wear you down. They’re meaningful, but without some way to step away from that (so) your brain can completely turn off, you can end up burned out.”
“This has been fantastic. I actually feel so energized when I do it. It’s so much fun to play.”
Helping kids who experience a concussion to recover safely and “stay supported every step of the way” is one aim of an upcoming educational event in Peterborough for parents, teachers, coaches, and healthcare professionals.
Peterborough Athletic Concussion Awareness (PACA) and the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) are hosting the first-ever 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 is an important one for the Peterborough community, according to PACA project manager Ryan Sutton.
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“When a concussion happens, families are often left feeling uncertain and overwhelmed,” Sutton told kawarthaNOW. “Parents wonder what to do or how long their child should stay home, athletes feel frustrated by being sidelined, and teachers and coaches struggle with how to support recovery.”
“The Peterborough Concussion Summit is about giving our community clarity and confidence, with the tools to recognize, manage, and prevent concussions while helping young people return to school, sport, and daily life safely.”
Described in a media release as a dynamic half-day educational event, the summit 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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The summit includes expert-led presentations, aimed at helping participants gain access to the latest research, treatment strategies, and real-world approaches for supporting students and athletes through concussion recovery, whether symptoms are new or persistent, organizers noted.
“The Peterborough Concussion Summit is about practical, evidence-informed tools that schools and sport can use the very next day, so kids recover safer and stay supported every step of the way,” Sutton said.
“We are bringing teachers, coaches, parents, and healthcare providers into the same room to move concussion care from confusion to coordination.”
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The summit will feature a keynote address, followed by three panel discussions. The first panel will focus on the “Return-To-Learn” protocol. The second panel will zero in on the “Return-To-Play” protocol, and the third panel will focus on fostering stronger connections between classrooms, sports and health care.
Each panel will be moderated by Peterborough family physician Dr. Steph Dallaire. Along with working with concussion patients, Dallaire’s perspective as both a coach and parent to children active in sports will help connect all the topics of focus for the day, according to the release.
Registration for the summit is $24 for adults and $14 for students (includes venue fees), with lunch and snacks are included as part of registration. Doors open at 11 a.m.
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All proceeds from the event will be directed to the GPHSF Concussion Fund and used to support further concussion education and awareness opportunities. GPHSF, a non-profit foundation, is the primary funder of the PACA program and has been backing concussion-related programming for health care providers and the public in the Peterborough area for more than 15 years.
PACA was formed in April 2019 with the goal of increasing awareness while taking a community approach, “setting a new standard for communities who aim to tackle concussions.” The community-led team aims to increase concussion awareness by working under its four pillars: recognize, remove, manage, prevent.
As part of its eight-play 2025-26 season, New Stages Theatre will be restaging "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre from December 10 to 14, 2025. Pictured is the cast from the original 2023 production (Megan Murphy, Brad Brackenridge, Kerry Griffin, M. John Kennedy, Ordena Stephens-Thompson, and musical director Gabriel Vaillant), all of whom will be reprising their roles, as will director Mark Wallace. (Photo: Dahlia Katz)
Single tickets are now on sale for New Stages Theatre’s 2025-26 season of contemporary professional theatre, featuring eight plays from comedy to music to drama — including the return of an acclaimed family-friendly holiday show — all staged at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough from September to June.
“Putting together a season that has a mix of contemporary pieces is one of our main focuses,” says artistic director Mark Wallace. “We will always look for a holiday show that we can do, and we want to have a good mix of playwrights of different genders, and diverse experiences and perspectives.”
“We want to make sure we cover a lot of different themes and issues through the year, and not just end up with one kind of season. There’s a lot of mixing and matching to find the right mix of comedies, dramas, and a little bit of music.”
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In curating this season’s line-up, New Stages has responded to a subscriber survey that found audiences were interested in seeing more comedic productions. While three of the plays this season are indeed comedies, Wallace assures they are still multi-faceted, offering light-hearted moments while also addressing serious topics.
“We need to make people laugh and we need to have lighter stuff, but we can’t avoid that there are some tougher, challenging things going on in the world and we want to confront those as well, and our audience tends to really appreciate that about us,” he says.
“We want to make you laugh and we want to make you think. What our subscribers are really passionate about is that we bring these award-winning contemporary plays that are being talked about that otherwise wouldn’t get programmed here. And, of course, we bring in professional actors from out of town to do it, along with some of our own best professional actors.”
Kicking off New Stages Theatre’s 2025-26 season, Jonathan Wilson will present a staged reading of his deeply personal solo show “A Public Display of Affection,” about being a queer youth in Toronto. The production is being presented at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in partnership with Ptbo-Nogo Pride on September 20, 2025 during Pride Week. (Photo: Dahlia Katz)
This mix of comedy and reflection is present right from the start of the season with a staged reading of A Public Display of Affection, written and performed by Jonathan Wilson. Presented at 7 p.m. on Saturday, September 20 during Peterborough-Nogojiwanong Pride Week, this deeply personal solo show excavates the lives, loves, and landmarks of Wilson’s queer youth on the streets of Toronto.
Wallace says the story — which mixes history, comedy, and poignant reflection in equal measure — is “a love letter to the LGBTQ+ community” that explores the AIDS crisis and how things have changed over time.
“It’s heart-wrenching at times, but it is very much a special piece — a confessional, a true testimony,” says Wallace. “I think everyone in this community will appreciate it, especially because we know that Toronto scene as well, living so close.”
The production is being staged in partnership with Ptbo Nogo Pride. The show is restricted to audiences aged 16 and up, as it contains strong language, including homophobic slurs, and discussion of mature and violent themes.
“This was a big hit in Toronto, sold out show after show, and he’s going to come up here and just do the show for one night,” says Wallace, who anticipates the Peterborough show will be a sell-out as well. “We’re thrilled to have that happen.”
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At 7 p.m. on Sunday, November 9, New Stages will present Footnote to Freedom, written and performed by Peterborough’s own Beau Dixon with his brother Lance Dixon. The show is a new musical about the life of their grandfather, George Dixon, who served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion — Canada’s first and only segregated Black battalion in World War I.
The musical is a workshop presentation of the Brand New Stages Festival, which New Stages first presented in February 2023 as a week-long showcase of new, emerging, and re-emerging theatre. This year, New Stages is spreading the productions throughout the season, although most of festival will still take place in Feburary.
“We wanted to keep this idea (of Brand New Stages) during the season, but it doesn’t have to be only one week — especially since subscribers might miss it if they’re away for the week,” says Wallace.
“We want to keep that idea of development and having new plays come to life and having opportunities to interact with audiences, without it being limited to one week. We’ll keep that festival vibe in February, but the spirit of it will start to be seen throughout the year.”
New Stages Theatre is presenting a Brand New Stages Festival workshop production of “Footnote to Freedom” on November 9, 2025. Written and performed by Peterborough’s own Beau Dixon with his brother Lance Dixon, the show is a musical about the life of their grandfather George Dixon (front, second from left), who served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion — Canada’s first and only segregated Black battalion in World War I. (Photo courtesy of Mary Beth Sunderland)
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By popular demand, New Stages will be bringing back their 2023 holiday hit It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, adapted from the film by Joe Landry, from Wednesday, December 10 to Sunday, December 14, with four evening performances at 7 p.m. from Wednesday to Saturday and two matinee performances at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Directed once again by Wallace, the show will see the return of the original cast from the 2023 production, including Megan Murphy, Brad Brackenridge, Kerry Griffin, M. John Kennedy, Ordena Stephens-Thompson, and music director Gabriel Vaillant.
“We heard so many positive things and we decided to bring it back,” Wallace says. “Because it was our first year doing a holiday show, it wasn’t as well attended as A Christmas Carol Comedy.”
Brad Brackenridge and Kerry Griffin are among the original cast who will be returning to the Market Hall stage for New Stages Theatre’s restaging of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” from December 10 to 14, 2025. Megan Murphy, M. John Kennedy, Ordena Stephens-Thompson, and musical director Gabriel Vaillant will also be reprising their roles, with . New Stages artistic director Mark Wallace also returning as director. (Photo: Dahlia Katz)
That irreverent take on Charles Dickens’ classic tale, presented last December, starred Linda Kash as Scrooge and Kerry Griffin as every other character. It featured an audience holiday sing-along before the show and the Market Hall lobby was turned into a Christmas market.
Wallace notes that many audience members have said they appreciate the “lift in the season” from a holiday show, and restaging It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play so more people can see it is a way to do that.
“It’s going to be so fun to revisit this piece,” Wallace says. “What we try to do with these holiday shows is bring joy. It’s not just for people who celebrate Christmas. It brings the feeling of generosity and joy that is so needed in the world.”
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New Stages will kick off the new year at 7 p.m. on Saturday, January 24 with a staged reading of Women of the Fur Trade, a comedy by Frances Koncan that shows an alternative side to the typically male-centred history of the Canadian fur trade and historical figures like Louis Riel.
Set in “18 hundred and something-something,” the satirical story is told from the perspective of three women: an Ojibwe, a Métis, and a British settler. The twist is that they all speak in 21st-century slang.
February and March will see two Brand New Stages Festival events, with the first set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 26 when New Stages presents a staged reading of The Cull, written by Michele Riml and Michael St. John Smith and directed by Peter Pasyk.
First produced by Vancouver’s Arts Club Theatre, the powerful drama is now entering a new stage of development. It follows a group of old friends who gather at a luxurious home to celebrate one couple’s 25th wedding anniversary as wildfires burn in the B.C. mountains. After a business offer uncovers a secret, the friendships of the tight-knit group are tested.
Actor and playwright Steve Ross, whose acclaimed semi-autobiographical comedic drama “12 Dinners” will be presented as a staged reading by New Stages Theatre on March 1, 2026, with New Stages founder and former artistic director Randy Read directing. (Photo: Trish Lindstrom)
The second Brand New Stages Festival event will see New Stages founder and former artistic director Randy Read direct a staged reading of 12 Dinners by Stratford Festival actor and playwright Steve Ross at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 1.
Previously produced at Stratford’s Here for Now Festival and this season with Talk is Free Theatre in Toronto and Barrie, the acclaimed semi-autobiographical comedic drama is about a series of meals Ross shares with his parents over a period of several months.
Other events of the Brand New Stages Festival will be announced leading up to February, though they will not be included within subscriber packages.
After a break in April, the New Stages season continues on Saturday, May 2 and Sunday May 3 with a staged reading of Paul and Linda Plan a Threesome by Jane Cooper Ford.
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Wallace promises the play to be as entertaining as it sounds — especially with Peterborough’s own Linda Kash among the confirmed cast.
“It’s about a successful, serious couple living in a fancy neighbourhood,” he says. “Their marriage is stale so they try and spice it up by having a threesome — but they advertise for it on Kijiji and things don’t go as planned.”
A sold-out and held-over hit at Stratford’s Here for Now Festival in 2024, there will be an evening performance at 7 p.m. on Saturday and a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Sunday. The play is both very funny and very inappropriate for younger audiences with its strong and explicit language and mature themes.
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New Stages will wrap up its 2025-26 season at 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 14 with a staged reading of Clyde’s by Lynn Nottage, the Pulitzer-winning playwright of Sweat (which New Stages presented as a staged reading in 2023). Though Nottage is known for dramas, Clyde’s is a new comedy about a truck-stop sandwich joint that employs people who are just out of incarceration.
“We hear about their lives as they’re re-assimilating and trying to get out of the system, but they also get inspired by the pursuit of making a perfect sandwich,” says Wallace. “It’s quite funny and it’s a very diverse cast, so I’m excited to bring that show here.”
For the 2025-26 season, all shows at the Market Hall will have reserved seating, where subscribers and individual ticket holders can select their preferred seating. Wallace notes that very few subscription packages are still available and individual tickets are already selling fast.
“I know that some people in Peterborough leave their ticket-buying decisions to the last minute, and it may not be wise to do that this year with some of these shows,” says Wallace.
New Stages Theatre’s artistic director Mark Wallace announced the 2025-26 season to a packed house at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on June 14, 2025 after the final production of the 2024-25 season. Based on feedback from a subscriber survey, the new season includes more comedic productions. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
New Stages offers a premium subscription package which includes priority access to all eight shows for $210 including taxes and venue fees, or a flex pack with the choice of six shows for $175 all-in. In addition to the cost savings, subscriber benefits include being able to transfer tickets to others if you are unable to make it to a show.
Single ticket prices range from $25 to $40 depending on the show, with a lower-priced “welcome rate” available at each show for those who need it. New Stages is also offering a higher-priced “pay it forward” option, for those who can afford it, to help cover the cost of the welcome rate.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be media sponsor of New Stages Theatre Company’s 2025-26 season.
The story has been updated to reflect that the full original cast from the 2023 production of “It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” will be returning for the 2025 remount.
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