Giorgos "George" Kallonakis and his father Manolis of Olympus Burger show their love for the Port Hope community when announcing the family is stepping away from management of the award-winning burger restaurant so they can "regain some of our life back" after operating the restaurant for 13 years. (Photo: Olympus Burger / Instagram)
After 13 years of operating Port Hope’s award-winning burger restaurant, the Kallonakis family is stepping away from Olympus Burger.
Giorgos “George” Kallonakis, who opened the 55 Mill Street South restaurant with his parents Manolis and Georgina, announced the family’s decision on Facebook and Instagram on Wednesday (January 28).
“We have made the difficult decision that it is time we take a step back from Olympus Burger, a restaurant we have loved and poured our hearts into, and regain some of our life back,” Kallonakis wrote. “We hope the new management will maintain and uphold the standards we set out and continue the Olympus Burger legacy for years to come.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Reflecting the popularity of Olympus Burger, whose fresh and homemade burgers are all named after gods and characters from Greek mythology, the Facebook post has over 1,000 reactions and 267 comments.
The Kallonakis family has a long history in the restaurant business, with Manolis and Georgina having purchased the former Cottage restaruant in Lindsay from their cousins, Chris and Cathe Karkabasis, who also owned Lindsay’s iconic Olympia Restaurant (now operated by their daughter and her husband Nicki and Costas Dedes, alongside their children Christina and Nikos).
Since opening Olympus Burger in 2013, the Kallonakis family’s restaurant has received continuous kudos.
Advertisement - content continues below
The Food Network’s television series “You Gotta Eat Here” featured the restaurant in fall 2016. In 2017, Canadian Living named Olympus Burger as the best burger restaurant in Canada. In 2020, the restaurant was named as one of the top 25 in Canada in the Heinz Ketchup For Hamburgers Contest.
Olympus Burger also has been featured at least twice on MSN’s list of the world’s best burgers and, in 2023, the Food Network ranked Top 10 list of Best Burgers across Canada for the third time in 10 years. In addition, in 2018, Olympus Burger became the first restaurant in Canada to be Carbonzero-certified by the Toronto-based organization that helps companies reduce and offset their carbon footprint.
The restaurant has also received local honours from the Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce, including when George Kallonakis was named the chamber’s inaugural Business Person of the Year in 2023.
Advertisement - content continues below
Kallonakis, who is currently chair of the Port Hope Police Services Board, says his family will continue to be actively involved in the local community even though they won’t be at the helm of Olympus Burger anymore.
“We will continue to be advocates for Port Hope and give back to this community that gave us so much in return, one way or another,” he wrote on social media.
There’s no word yet on when the Kallonakis family will be handing over the reins or who will be managing the restaurant.
Firefighters battle a blaze that broke out in the early morning hours of January 30, 2026 at Maple Court Apartments at 8 King Street West in Colborne. Around 20 residents at the seniors' apartment complex operated by Northumberland County Housing Corporation have been displaced, with one resident missing. (Photo: Northumberland County OPP)
One person is unaccounted for and around 20 people have been displaced after a fire broke out in an apartment building in Colborne early Friday morning (January 30).
Shortly after 4:10 a.m., the Township of Cramahe Fire Department, paramedics, and the Northumberland County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a structure fire at Maple Court Apartments at 8 King Street West.
Operated by Northumberland County Housing Corporation (NCHC), Maple Court offers one-bedroom apartments for seniors over 50.
Advertisement - content continues below
After arriving at the scene, first responders quickly evacuated the building and helped relocate residents to nearby safe locations while firefighters battled the fire. One resident remains missing.
According to Northumberland County, around 20 people have been displaced as a result of the fire. County officials have been on scene since the early hours, working alongside first responders to ensure tenant safety and provide immediate support.
“On behalf of the board of the Northumberland County Housing Corporation, I want to convey that our thoughts are with the family and friends of the individual yet unaccounted for as they wait for news of their loved one,” NCHC board chair Cathy Borowec said in a statement. “I also wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the many tenants who have lost their homes, and to all those affected by this tragic incident.”
Firefighters battle a blaze that broke out in the early morning hours of January 30, 2026 at Maple Court Apartments at 8 King Street West in Colborne. Around 20 residents at the seniors’ apartment complex operated by Northumberland County Housing Corporation have been displaced, with one resident missing. (Photo: Northumberland County OPP)
Multiple fire departments from across the county responded to assist in controlling the blaze. King Street East was closed between Church Street West and Division Street while firefighters worked to contain the fire. Percy Street remained open to allow traffic to move through the area.
Paramedics have transported four people to hospital with non-life-threatening concerns, including three firefighters and one tenant.
The Keeler Centre at 80 Division Street is serving as an evacuation centre, and the Red Cross and the Ontario Community Emergency Assistance Program (OCEAP) will be providing coordination support for the centre.
Advertisement - content continues below
Around 15 displaced residents are using the centre, along with seven pet dogs and cats. Social services caseworkers are on-site providing direct support to displaced tenants, including assistance with immediate needs and next steps.
As many residents were forced to leave their belongings behind, this includes coordinating access to phones so residents can notify family and friends of their safety.
Northumberland Paramedics community paramedicine service is onsite providing non-emergency health supports. Northumberland County staff have been transporting residents to the centre and purchasing immediate supplies, including hygiene items, food, clothing, and pet necessities.
Firefighters battle a blaze that broke out in the early morning hours of January 30, 2026 at Maple Court Apartments at 8 King Street West in Colborne. Around 20 residents at the seniors’ apartment complex operated by Northumberland County Housing Corporation have been displaced, with one resident missing. (Photo: Northumberland County OPP)
“Our sincere thanks to community members who have been asking about providing donations and support, or who have visited the Keeler Centre with donations,” a media release from Northumberland County reads.
“Your caring response makes a difference. At this time, immediate needs at the evacuation centre have been addressed, and we are asking the community to pause on donations until any further needs are identified. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept financial donations at this time.”
Northumberland County warden Bob Crate has issued a statement thanking police, fire, and paramedic services “who responded rapidly, ensured the building was evacuated, and continue to battle extreme cold conditions to fight the fire and keep tenants and the community safe.”
Advertisement - content continues below
The warden also thanked Donna Rusaw Black Dress Catering, Downey’s Pharmacy, and the Colborne Food Bank, “who quickly coordinated this morning to provide food for first responders and evacuees,” as well as Red Cross and OCEAP partners, and county and Cramahe Township staff across multiple departments.
“On behalf of county deputy warden Mandy Martin, mayor of Cramahe Township, along with all members of county council, I want to share our deepest sympathies with all those affected by this terrible fire,” Crate said. ” During this incredibly difficult time, please know that your community stands with you in solidarity.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Ontario Fire Marshal has been notified and will be attending the scene to assist with the ongoing investigation, with police officers also remaining at the location.
The annual PolarFest winter family festival takes place in Selwyn Township from January 30 to February 1, 2026 with activities all weekend long, including ice sculptures in Lakefield and Bridgenorth. Pictured is Tom Chalmers with his ice sculpture. (Photo: Frontyard Carver Canada / Facebook)
If you’re heading out to the aptly named PolarFest winter family festival in Selwyn Township this weekend, be sure to bundle up.
Environment Canada has issued another “yellow” cold warning for frigid temperatures and wind chills Friday night (January 30) into early Saturday morning.
The cold warning is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.
Advertisement - content continues below
Overnight temperatures will be a few degrees warmer than those that prompted Thursday’s cold warning, ranging from -20°C in the south to -22°C in the north, with wind chill values of -25°C to -30°C.
Similar cold temperatures are expected to return Saturday night into Sunday morning, before returning to near-seasonal norms later Sunday and overnight on Sunday.
Cover up when going outside, as frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with wind chill. Watch for colour changes on fingers and toes, pain, numbness, a tingling sensation, or swelling — if present, move indoors and begin warming.
Remember: if it’s too cold for you to stay outside, it’s too cold for your pet to stay outside.
Peterborough Police Service headquarters on Water Street in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Pat Trudeau)
Police have arrested and charged a 70-year-old Peterborough man with manslaughter and multiple drug offences in connection with the overdose death of a 53-year-old Peterborough man almost two years ago.
On March 10, 2024, Peterborough police officers attended a residence in the Talwood Drive and Goodfellow Road area after a man was found without vital signs.
The man’s death was determined to be the result of a drug overdose.
Advertisement - content continues below
“The Peterborough Police Service thoroughly investigates all sudden deaths to help the families and ensure public safety in our community,” read a police media release. “In this case, a criminal investigation was launched.”
On Wednesday (January 28), police located and arrested 70-year-old Donald Wayne Golloher of Peterborough. During a search of the accused man after he was arrested, officers seized hydromorphone pills and Canadian currency.
Golloher has been charged with manslaughter, trafficking in a Schedule I substance (fentanyl), trafficking in a Schedule I substance (cocaine), possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking (hydromorphone), and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000.
Advertisement - content continues below
The accused man is being held in custody for a court appearance on Thursday (January 29).
“Every overdose death that occurs in our community is investigated by our officers to assess whether there is any evidence of criminality,” Peterborough police chief Stuart Betts said in the media release.”
“When sufficient grounds exist to believe an individual is culpable in an overdose death, our investigators will seek justice for the victim and their families by bringing those we believe responsible before the courts.”
Peterborough band Rocky Islander brings Newfoundland kitchen party energy and a mix of traditional and modern Irish/Newfoundland music to the Black Horse Pub on Sunday afternoon. (Photo: Rocky Islander / Facebook)
Every Thursday, kawarthaNOW publishes live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that musicians provide directly or that venues post on their websites or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, January 29 to Wednesday, February 4.
If you’re a musician or venue owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, email our nightlifeNOW editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com. For concerts and live music events at other venues, check out our Concerts & Live Music page.
With the exception of karaoke, we only list events with performing musicians. Venues may also host other events during the week (e.g., dancing, DJs, comedy shows).
Environment Canada has issued a “yellow” cold warning for the entire Kawarthas region for frigid temperatures and wind chills Thursday night (January 29) into early Friday morning.
The cold warning is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.
Overnight temperatures will range from -26°C in the south to -29°C in the north, with wind chill values of -33°C to -38°C.
Advertisement - content continues below
Cover up when going outside, as frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with wind chill. Watch for colour changes on fingers and toes, pain, numbness, a tingling sensation, or swelling — if present, move indoors and begin warming.
Remember: if it’s too cold for you to stay outside, it’s too cold for your pet to stay outside.
Frigid temperatures will continue on Friday and Saturday, with overnight temperatures remaining in the low 20s before rising to -7°C during the day on Sunday.
GreenUP energy advisor Bryn Magee points to an electrical outlet on an exterior wall in the GreenUP office. In many older buildings, electrical outlets are sources of air leakage. Foam gaskets and plug protectors can help to staunch the flow of cold air. (Photo: Clara Blakelock / GreenUP)
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s column is by Clara Blakelock, Energy Program Manager, GreenUP.
This is the time of year when heating bills may begin to look a little frightening. Major upgrades such as adding insulation or switching out a heating system can help lower expenses, but they also come with high up-front costs.
A more accessible start may be to work on improving airtightness in the home.
Air leakage and insulation are often confused by homeowners. Insulation, typically measured with an R-value (or RSI in the metric system), slows down heat transfer between the inside of a building and the outside in winter. It can be considered as a home’s “warm winter coat.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Now, consider the difference between wearing a winter coat with the zipper wide-open versus fully closed. This is how a home’s performance can be impacted by its airtightness.
ACH50 stands for Air Changes Per Hour at 50 Pascals, and it is a measure of how leaky the house is. It’s a key indicator of how efficient and comfortable a home will be. A home with a high ACH50 will have high heating bills, dry air in winter, and may suffer from pests — even if it has great insulation.
The good news is that improving a home’s airtightness can often be a do-it-yourself job that has great payback. The support of an energy coach can make the job even easier.
Basements are often treasure troves of hidden air leakage. Capped off venting and unused chimneys can allow cold air to enter the home. In an unfinished basement, addressing air leaks can be as simple as using spray foam, caulking, or concrete to fill in gaps. (Photo: Bryn Magee / GreenUP)
“Usually, a door or window is the first culprit blamed for drafts by homeowners,” says GreenUP energy advisor Bryn Magee. Magee has been through many leaky Peterborough-area homes, and often finds other leaks that homeowners were not aware of, some much more significant than windows and doors.
“The air leakages are in blind spots or areas never considered before,” explains Magee. “For example, ceiling pot lights or missing interior air sealing around rim board penetrations for plumbing may be contributing to a homeowner’s discomfort.”
Once identified, he can then provide advice for sealing the leaks, resulting in significant improvements in home comfort and lower energy bills.
Advertisement - content continues below
Some air leaks can be identified by a homeowner on a careful tour of the house. Wherever daylight is showing through to the interior — under a door or around a dryer vent for example — that is a clear indicator of a leak.
Other common areas of leakage include around attic and side attic hatches, along basement headers (especially around penetrations for venting or wiring), and from electrical outlets on exterior walls.
Each leak will require different techniques for sealing, but usually can be done with materials found at a hardware store, such as weatherstripping or caulking.
GreenUP energy advisor Bryn Magee demonstrates the setup of a blower door at the GreenUP offices. The fan is normally installed in an exterior door, where it depressurizes the home, accentuating any air leaks present in the home. Depending on how leaky the home is, an energy advisor will set up a fan using different ring sizes during a blower door test. A more airtight home will use smaller rings, while a leakier home requires more fan power and a larger ring size. (Photo: Clara Blakelock / GreenUP)
Blower door testing is the most effective way to measure the airtightness of a home and identify where all the less obvious leaks are occurring.
During a blower door test, an energy advisor installs a large fan in an exterior doorway. The house is then depressurized, so that air is drawn into the house through the home’s leaks, making them easy to identify. When Magee performs a blower door test, he conducts the homeowner on a tour of the home’s air leaks and provides them with advice on how to address them.
Better Homes Peterborough, the City of Peterborough’s financing and rebate program for home energy upgrades, has launched an air sealing challenge. In partnership with GreenUP, a limited number of city homeowners will be offered a free, in-depth air leakage identification evaluation with Magee, including a blower door test and customized advice on how to address air leaks in their homes.
Advertisement - content continues below
Participants in the Better Homes Peterborough air sealing challenge will have until the end of April to gather supplies and address the issues identified during the air leakage evaluation. Magee will then return to do a follow-up test to measure the improvement. Homeowners who achieve the best improvement in airtightness will be awarded prizes.
As part of the challenge, Better Homes Peterborough will also be offering workshops and tips on improving airtightness, so that more homeowners can follow along.
While larger renovation projects may be on hold until the weather warms up, there’s no need to wait on air sealing. Taking action now can lead to immediate results.
Ash Street, a Michi Saagiig artist of Nogojiwanong/Peterborough and Hiawatha First Nation, created the initial piece for "The Red Dress: A Community Art Installation" in April 2025 at the Peterborough Public Library and invited community members to fill in open spaces on the dress with donated textiles and materials on hand. The exhibit is now installed in the main foyer of Peterborough City Hall. (Photos: Peterborough Public Library)
A community art project that began at the Peterborough Public Library has led to an international opportunity for Ash Street, a Michi Saagiig artist of Nogojiwanong/Peterborough and Hiawatha First Nation.
Street has been accepted into the Atelier Artist in Residence program, a two-week international residency running from February 2 to 16 at Chateau de Cerisay just south of Normandy in France, based on her work “The Red Dress: A Community Art Installation.”
Street created the installation in April 2025 in recognition of Red Dress Day, held annually on May 5 as a national day of remembrance and activism honouring the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirited people (MMIWG2S+). First commemorated in 2010, the day was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black-Morsette’s REDress Project installation, wherein she hung empty red dresses in representation of MMIWG2S+.
Advertisement - content continues below
Working in partnership with Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle and the Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre, Street created the initial piece that was installed in the Downie Wenjack Legacy Space at the Peterborough Public Library. Street invited community members to fill in open spaces on the dress with donated textiles and materials on hand.
The exhibit is now installed in the main foyer of Peterborough City Hall at 500 George Street North.
According to a media release from the City of Peterborough, in reviewing Street’s application, the Atelier Artist in Residence program expressed strong interest in both the artistic merit of Street’s work and the broader community conversations it has generated, particularly around what MMIWG2S+ means to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences.
Advertisement - content continues below
“Inviting people to share in the process and engage in conversation has been at the heart of this work,” Street said in the media release. “That collective experience is what carried this project forward and ultimately opened the door to sharing these stories on an international stage.”
Street expressed gratitude to the City of Peterborough and the Peterborough Public Library for providing space and support for the installation and acknowledged the influence of Black-Morsette.
Mayor Jeff Leal said the installation underscores the importance of continued reflection and action.
Advertisement - content continues below
“The Red Dress installation is a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to honour the lives of (MMIWG2S+) and to continue the work of listening, learning and acting,” the mayor said, adding the city is proud to see the local community-based project reach an international audience.
Melissa Redden, director of the Peterborough Public Library, said the library is “incredibly proud” to have supported Street’s work from its early stages and to see “this important work continue to resonate beyond our community.”
“What began as a local community-based installation at the library has grown into a work that is now being recognized internationally,” Redden said.
Château de Cerisay is a 12th-century castle located just south of Normandy in France. (Photo: Yves Bechet)
Atelier Artist in Residence is a curated arts residency program that is held at different destinations “to create an exceptional experience for artists,” according to the program’s website.
Each two-week session brings together 10 to 12 artists from a range of disciplines — including visual arts, music, writing, textiles, photography, and digital media — and at different stages of their careers, creating a multidisciplinary and multicultural cohort.
Tuition for the Château de Cérisay residency is $2,800 USD and does not cover round-trip transportation. Artists accepted into the program typically seek arts grants or other funding to support their participation.
At the 22nd annual Empty Bowls fundraiser on February 27, 2026 at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough, attendees can select a bowl handcrafted by Kawartha Potters Guild and sample food from 10 local restaurants. This year's fundraiser will support One City Peterborough's daily meal program at Trinity Community Centre. (Photo: One City Peterborough)
The annual Empty Bowls fundraiser is returning for its 22nd year in February, and this year all the proceeds will support One City Peterborough’s daily meal program at Trinity Community Centre.
This year’s fundraiser dedicated to addressing hunger in the community takes place from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Friday, February 27 at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough.
“Our kitchen serves over 250 meals each day, and last year alone provided over 93,000 meals to members of our community,” reads a statement from One City Peterborough. “The need continues to grow, and this event plays a meaningful role in helping us meet it.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Empty Bowls, a grassroots movement by artists and crafts people in cities around the world to care for and feed the hungry in their communities, first came to Peterborough in 2003 when Karen Hjort-Jensen, then director of housing of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, brought forward the concept and began the partnership with the Kawartha Potters Guild.
Over two decades, the event has helped raise more than $210,000 for YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s Nourish Project, developed out of the Peterborough Community Food Network when its members decided there was a need to address the gaps in food access, production, consumption, and knowledge in the city and county of Peterborough.
However, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton was forced to end the community food initiative on March 31, 2025 due to inadequate funding. As a result, proceeds from last year’s Empty Bowls fundraiser were used to support food insecurity programs at One City Peterborough and Kawartha Food Share — a decision the YWCA made after consulting with the Kawartha Potters Guild, which has donated bowls every year to the fundraiser.
Advertisement - content continues below
This year, One City Peterborough will partner with Kawartha Potters Guild to present the event for the first time, with Cornerstone Family Dentistry returning once again as presenting sponsor.
As with the previous fundraisers, purchasing a ticket means you will be able to select a handmade artisanal bowl of your choice from a wide selection made by members of the Kawartha Potters Guild, while also sampling a wide range of food donated by local restaurants.
This year’s participating restaurants are Hanoi House, St. Veronus, The Vine, La Mesita Restaurante, Hard Winter Bakery, By the Bridge, The Food Shop, Sam’s Place, Love You Mean It, and Ashburnham Ale House.
Advertisement - content continues below
Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction featuring a selection of special bowls.
A VIP early entry ticket is available for $75 for those who want first choice of a bowl and first access to the food selection, with entry one hour before the event opens at 12:30 p.m. for those with general admission tickets, which cost $60.
"Spring" (2025, resin cast) by Angela Burdon was one of the sculptures chosen to be displayed in planters in downtown Fenelon Falls as part of the 2025 Downtown Sculpture Exhibition led by the Fenelon Arts Committee and the City of Kawartha Lakes. Submissions for the 2026 seasonal public art exhibition are now open to artists across Canada until March 20, 2026. (Photo: Fenelon Arts Committee / Facebook)
The Fenelon Arts Committee (FAC) is calling on sculptors across Canada to submit their one-of-a-kind artworks for a public art project that will beautify downtown Fenelon Falls.
Held in partnership with the City of Kawartha Lakes, the Downtown Sculpture Exhibition will see six juried works of art mounted on limestone rocks located in garden planters on Colborne Street from May to October 2026. Whether you work with metal, stone, clay, wood, or any other medium, it could help make art more accessible in a rural community.
“Having access to multiple avenues (of artwork) really enriches the whole experience. Obviously, our art gallery in town can’t be open 24 hours per day, but the public art is up on the street all the time,” says Darcie Kennedy, the Chair of FAC. “It really adds something to the main street.”
Advertisement - content continues below
FAC was founded in 2018 as part of the Kawartha Works Community Co-operative (KWCC), a volunteer community group whose goal is to improve social infrastructure in Kawartha Lakes. In 2021, FAC introduced the first public artworks to be installed under the City of Kawartha Lakes’ arts policy, with Portage by James C. Smith and River Grove by Susan Rankin being permanently erected in the Rain Garden.
Since 2024, the committee has held the Downtown Sculpture Exhibition, inviting artists from across Canada to submit their innovative creations.
“It was really just thinking about what does Fenelon have to offer already — it’s already a popular tourist town so we wanted to add elements to the public realm that peak people’s interest and are maybe a little different than other things that would be more obvious, like water recreation,” Kennedy says. “You see a lot of public art in more urban areas, but it (this project) brings that to a rural area as well.”
The six sculptures selected by a jury of artists and business owners from submissions to the 2026 Downtown Sculpture Exhibition will be mounted on limestone rocks located in garden planters along Colborne Street in downtown Fenelon Falls. The planters are maintained by the Fenelon Falls Horticultural Society. (Photo: Fenelon Arts Committee / Facebook)
Submissions to the 2026 Downtown Sculpture Exhibition are now open until 5 p.m. on Friday, March 20. Submitted sculptures must be 35″ to 56″ with a maximum width and depth of 30″ each. The sculpture can only use materials that can withstand the weather and cannot pose a risk to the public with hazardous sharp points or edges.
“It doesn’t have to, but it may consider the context and history of Fenelon Falls and the surrounding area,” says Kennedy. “Things like the Indigenous connections and use of the area, historical development, natural heritage of the region, and the contemporary uses of Fenelon today.”
Six works will be chosen by a jury comprised of local artists and representatives of FAC and the City of Kawartha Lakes.
“There are also some of the people that own and work in the businesses in downtown Fenelon as well, because they are often engaged with the community and visitors,” adds Kennedy. “We really want to make it so there’s a wide variety of people seeing the work, so we have a variety of viewpoints to consider.”
Advertisement - content continues below
The winners will receive a $750 artist fee and accommodation, if required, on Thursday, May 7 when the works are to be installed. They will be erected alongside a post with a QR code that leads to artist statements on the FAC website.
“The (Fenelon Falls) Horticultural Society looks after the planters and they have beautiful flowers and different plants,” says Kennedy. “When the sculptures get added, it just really adds a lot of colour and interest and it’s just really exciting.”
Following the installation, there will be a public launch and walking tour beginning at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 8 at the Colborne Street Gallery. Community members and visitors will get to hear the artists speak about their work before going on a walking tour to look at each sculpture.
Lynne Sproule speaks about her sculpture “The Little Lady” (2025, winterstone) during the public launch of the 2025 Downtown Sculpture Exhibition led by the Fenelon Arts Committee. After selections are made for the 2026 public art exhibition, there will be a public launch and walking tour held at 11 a.m. on May 8, 2026 at the Colborne Street Gallery. (Photo: Fenelon Arts Committee / Facebook)
“People like to get that inside scoop. It gives that little bit of an extra connection which is great especially because some of the artists are local,” says Kennedy. “It gives perspective that this is right in their backyard. They can bring friends when they come into town, go out to lunch, walk around a couple of blocks to do a little bit of shopping, and see the cool artwork. Everything is really accessible and in the summer it’s just so great.”
Kennedy hopes the project will be attractive to local young artists and give them a chance to see art as a career in their own town — especially since the works are for sale. The sale is made independent of FAC, ensuring the artist keeps all proceeds.
“There’s a lot of creative people in the Kawarthas,” says Kennedy. “It gives them an opportunity to show in their own community which is great. It’s really important to be able to have those opportunities where they live and work and where their friends and family are.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Since launching the seasonal exhibitions in 2024, Kennedy says FAC has received a lot of positive feedback from community members. She notes that local high schools have even taken students on a walking tour to study the artwork and learn more about the artists.
“You don’t have to go down to Toronto to see that really high-calibre work,” she says.
“It really gave kids that are thinking about creative careers a little bit of ‘Wow, maybe that is possible’ or ‘I never really thought about that.’ Maybe they’re interested in welding, but never thought about it being in a sculpture. There’s all these different avenues for people and I thinking it’s important to try and showcase that.”
“Embrace” (2018, clay, patina, acrylic sealer) by Rosalinde Baumgartner was one of the sculptures chosen for the 2025 Downtown Sculpture Exhibition held by the Fenelon Arts Committee and City of Kawartha Lakes. Submissions are now open for the 2026 public art exhibition which will be on display in planters in downtown Fenelon Falls between May and October 2026. (Photo: Fenelon Arts Committee / Facebook)
Local businesses can support the project by signing up as a sponsor for the artwork. Those funds will be going towards the signage fees, the artists fees, and the accommodation costs for those coming from out of town for the installation. To be a sponsor, email fenelonarts@gmail.com.
“It is really nice to know that local businesses in the area believe in the project,” says Kennedy.
For more information or to submit to the Downtown Sculpture Exhibition, visit www.fenelonarts.com.
The original version of this story has been updated to reflect that the artist fee has increased from $500 to $750.
kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.
Submit your event for FREE!
Use our event submission form to post your event on our website — for free.
To submit editorial content or ideas, please contact us.
