Longtime Peterborough businessman Ernie Ferguson with his beloved wife Mona, who passed away in 2022. Due to serious health issues, Ferguson chose to pursue medical assistance in dying and, on May 12, 2025, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family at the age of 97. (Photo courtesy of the Ferguson family)
Ernie Ferguson, the former owner of Ferguson Cleaners in Peterborough, has passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family at the age of 97.
Ferguson, who chose to pursue medical assistance in dying (MAiD) due to serious complications from heart issues, selected Monday (May 12) as the date of his passing — the 74th anniversary of his marriage to Mona (nee Peirson), who passed away in 2022 just days shy of her 91st birthday.
Married on May 12, 1951 at George Street United Church, the couple had two children early on: Heather Jane and Clarinda (Cindy) Catherine. In January 1970, the couple welcomed Marcus Charles, who they adopted and brought to Peterborough from Ottawa.
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Ferguson’s decades-long career in laundry and dry cleaning originates in 1941, when he was in Grade 8 at King George Public School.
“Dad delivered for Lansfields Cleaners on Louis Street,” Ferguson told kawarthaNOW in 2023. “One day, Ivan Lillico, who owned Lillico Motors where Dad bought his vehicles, said ‘You’re working for Lansfields and he is making all kinds of money but you’re doing all the work. You should start your own business.'”
After accepting Lillico’s offer of space at a building he owned on Water Street, Ferguson’s mother and father opened Ferguson Cleaners, a laundry and dry cleaning business. Young Ernie worked there along with his brother Wayne and sister Arlene, alongside a host of longtime loyal employees.
When Ferguson’s dad decided to incorporate the business in 1959, he brought Ernie and Wayne in as partners. When Twin Cleaners on Monaghan Road went up for sale, the brothers bought the business, which Wayne ran. With time, the laundry and dry cleaning ’empire’ grew with four buildings — the last being at 128 Hunter Street East, today home to Ashburnham Ale House.
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The last day of 1990 saw Ferguson sell the business, freeing up time for him and Mona to do what they did for years and still loved to do — volunteer.
“Mona started volunteering with her mother at the old Civic Hospital; she took a cart around and sold books and treats and stuff,” Ferguson said. “Next thing you know she’s volunteering with Community Care (Meals On Wheels) and then got into volunteering with the Food For Kids program. It’s something we loved to do together.”
At age 88, Mona marked 50 years as a Community Care volunteer. Her husband helped out for 29 years following his retirement.
In spring 2019, Community Care Peterborough featured Ernie and Mona Ferguson on the cover of the charity’s “The Thread” publication in recognition of their combined 80 years of volunteering for the organization, with Mona the longest-serving volunteer in Community Care Peterborough’s history.
Shortly before his beloved wife Mona passed away in 2022 and at the urging of his daughter, then 94-year-old Ferguson decided to write the story of his life.
That effort resulting in his 2023 memoir Thanks for the Memories, a 70-page collection of wide-ranging reminisces.
“I was unsure of a title, but one morning I woke up and to my mind came ‘Thanks for the Memories,'” Ferguson recalled, adding “That was my Mona communicating with me. She was thanking me for the memories.”
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According to his son Marcus, Ferguson decided to register with MAiD in February after experiencing serious complications from heart issues that would require a difficult surgery.
“For the past three months I have been celebrating my father’s life with my father,” Marcus wrote in a Facebook tribute to his dad. “To be clear I did not want him to go through with it. Knowing my father it’s pointless to try and change his mind. My only option was to love him, and support him.”
“He knows what he wants, he’s thought long and hard about it and never once was swayed. He is a happy person of sound mind. His mantra has been ‘I’m tired and I just want to go home and be with Mona.'”
A drop-in celebration of life for Ernie and Mona Ferguson will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday (May 14) at the Peterborough Legion at 1550 Lansdowne Street West.
Dr. Tosin Tifase is one of the new family physicians working in the City of Peterborough. Working on a fee-for-service model at Northcrest Pharmasave Pharmacy's medical clinic, Dr. Tifase has rostered 2,200 patients according to an update from the city's economic development director and physician recruitment coordinator on the physician recruitment pilot project presented to city council on May 12, 2025. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
Eleven new physicians have engaged with the City of Peterborough’s physician recruitment pilot project, with six having agreements or commitments to receive financial incentives.
The city’s economic development director Darryl Julott, along with the city’s physician recruitment coordinator Chantal Van Parys, presented an update on the pilot project to council meeting as general committee on Monday night (May 12).
In April 2024, council gave city staff direction for a new approach to physician recruitment in the City of Peterborough, which resulted in establishing a pilot project until the end of December 2025 with a budget of $580,000. The city hired a physician recruitment coordinator last fall, with responsibility for the pilot project moved under the city’s new economic development department.
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In a presentation to council, Julott noted the focus of the physician recruitment pilot project is both on recruiting and retaining family doctors, to reduce the number of unattached patients and to prevent patients from becoming unattached when existing physicians retire.
Julott said that, since April 2024, over 6,000 unattached patients have been seen by the Peterborough Family Health Team (PFHT) unattached patient clinic, which includes three new part-time physicians. The clinic, which received $6,000 from the pilot program for eye and ear examination equipment and security equipment, has saved an estimated $370,804 by diverting these patients from the emergency department at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).
In addition, six new Family Health Organization physicians have been added, preventing 8,000 patients from going on the unattached list. Three new physicians have also been added to the Community Health Centre in Peterborough Square, with one of those to join the centre in August, with a goal of rostering 6,500 new patients.
Julott also said a new family physician operating at Northcrest Pharmasave Pharmacy’s medical clinic has rostered 2,200 patients.
The pilot project’s financial incentive program, which offered $15,000 over three years to eligible new family physicians, focused on helping doctors with start-up costs when establishing a new practice in Peterborough. Julott said all the incentive funds available in the pilot project have been expended.
The pilot project also features a “Whole of Village” incentive program to encourage family doctors to locate in Peterborough by providing additional supports such as working with community partners to address spousal employment and child care needs.
That program offered three additional financial incentives: a patient roster bonus to encourage physicians to receive as many patients as possible, an ambassador bonus to encourage physicians to recruit other physicians, and a “hometown proud” bonus to encourage healthcare professionals to stay in Peterborough. Julott said all these incentive funds have also been expended.
The City of Peterborough’s physician recruitment coordinator Chantal Van Parys speaks to city council at a general committee meeting on May 12, 2025. Also pictured is Daryl Julott, director of the city’s economic development department which is responsible for the physician recruitment pilot project. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of City of Peterborough video)
According to an email from physician recruitment coordinator Chantal Van Parys that kawarthaNOW received following Monday night’s meeting, six of the new physicians mentioned in the presentation have agreements or commitments of financial incentives within the pilot project.
They do not include the three new physicians at the Community Health Centre, which are salaried positions that do not qualify for incentives. One physician who came out of retirement to go back to practice also doesn’t qualify for incentives, and an additional physician who joined her family member’s practice didn’t engage with the pilot project for incentives.
“This is not a net number (of new physicians in Peterborough and Peterborough County), but ones that relate to the pilot, the city funding under the pilot, or who have engaged with me as recruitment coordinator,” Van Parys noted.
In addition to incentives, the pilot project’s other activities included working with the Peterborough Family Doctors’ Think Tank on recommendations for physician recruitment and retention, and joining the Eastern Ontario Physicians Recruitment Alliance (EOPRA) to obtain access to software for job postings and candidate tracking.
Representing Peterborough, Van Parys will be joining other physician recruiters from across Ontario at a job fair hosted by the Ontario Physicians Recruitment Alliance in Birmingham, U.K. on May 31, with the intention of attracting general practitioners in the U.K. who want to relocate to Ontario.
Julott said that, in response to the Ontario government’s new $1.8 billion primary care action plan to connect two million more people to a publicly funded family doctor or primary care team within four years, the Peterborough Ontario Health Team has submitted three proposals for provincial funding, which is being allocated based on postal codes with the highest number of unattached patients.
VON’s Keene Health Centre and the Trent Hills Family Health Team have submitted a proposal for four additional nurse practitioners, 3.5 independent health care practitioners, and five additional staff with a target of 3,500 net new attached patients by March 2027.
The Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic has submitted a proposal for additional staffing to serve the marginalized population, including a patient system navigator, with a target of 800 net new attached patients by March 2027.
The Peterborough Family Health Team has submitted a “high budget” proposal to maintain its current operations with around 31 additional staff, with a target of serving 8,300 net new attached patients by March 2027.
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For the remaining eight months of the pilot project, Julott said work will focus on supporting physician recruitment outside of financial incentives, including “warm welcome” approach and resources for prospective physicians, continuing to work with the Ontario Health Team and County of Peterborough on primary care strategy and report for the region, using social media for advocacy instead of recruitment, and continuing planning work to increase childcare capacity.
With the pilot project ending in December, Julott also said they are looking ahead to the next 10 years, recommending that healthcare recruitment continue to be incorporated in the city’s economic development strategy, including having a physician recruitment coordinator continue as a single point of contact.
Long-term plans would focus less on individual financial incentives and more on expanding infrastructure and environment to attract for new physicians, nurse practitioners, and other health professionals to the community, and to explore opportunities with Trent University, Fleming College, and Queen’s University’s Primary Care Teaching Clinic.
In response to a question from councillor Don Vassiliadis about the impact of the financial incentives, Van Parys said “Lots of communities are offering (financial) incentives, so we’re never going to be the highest, but they definitely helped.”
However, she noted that physicians also look at other factors when deciding to relocate, including whether they can practice their full scope of practice in the community, which may include hospital work.
In response to a question from Vassiliadis about recruiting internationally trained physicians, Van Parys said they have been focusing on Canadian physicians living in the U.S. who want to return to Canada and international physicians living in the U.K., Ireland, and Australia, which are countries whose physicians don’t have to obtain additional credentials to practise in Canada.
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Van Parys also said the Peterborough will be pursuing the potential of applying for some of the $300 million in funding from the Ontario government to build up to 17 new and expanded community-based primary care teaching clinics in communities with high rates of unattachment to primary care.
“Peterborough’s really well set up to get that started, because (the province) want to focus on interdisciplinary care — nurse practitioners and pharmacists and dietitians — as part of the care team that then refers up to the family physician who will be the specialist.”
“They want to put the expertise of the family physician at the head of those teams, with all of the people (in the team) practising up to their scope of their practice, and Peterborough is really well-suited to have a teaching clinic that covers all those professions.”
Councillor Keith Riel compared Peterborough’s physician recruitment efforts with the City of Belleville’s, which has recruited 15 new physicians in the past two years.
Julott noted that Belleville has higher financial incentives, and Van Parys added that those numbers are not always net new physicians, but also include the replacement of retiring physicians.
Speaking to financial incentives, Mayor Jeff Leal suggested “We may want to bust the myth about these incentives,” noting that a lot of communities that provide five-year incentives to physicians see those physicians depart the community after five years.
“The physician will sign an agreement saying they promise to practise for the length of the contract, usually three to five years,” Van Parys said in response to the mayor’s comment. “In the case of Belleville, they’ve used the return of service agreements frequently, but then they have a large number of physicians leave at the same time.”
“We really want to try to get physicians who are here for the long term, because it’s almost harder to have someone come short term and then leave,” she added, giving the example of a local physician who had rostered 2,000 patients and then left for another community that offered a larger financial incentive.
Mayor Leal noted there is a group of Ontario mayors pressing the province to get rid of financial incentives because they believe they are inconsistent with the anti-bonusing provisions of the Municipal Act.
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Councillor Gary Baldwin asked Van Parys about the large number of patients being served by the physician at Northcrest Pharmasave Pharmacy’s medical clinic. She said that he is working on a fee-for-service basis, rather than being paid for the number of rostered patients in the family health team model, which means he can see a higher number of patients.
In the family health team model, she explained, part-time physicians would roster 650 to 1,200 patients, with full-time physicians in practice for five years rostering around 1,800 patients. Some veteran family physicians whose practice has grown over the years can roster 2,000 to 2,200 patients, she added.
After the presentation, councillor Alex Bierk moved an amendment to the report of the presentation that would direct city staff to investigate the current trend of U.S. physicians relocating to Canada because of the political climate under the Trump administration, assess the feasibility of developing a local strategy to attract U.S. trained physicians to Peterborough, and to report back to council with findings and recommendations for potential actions.
Although some councillors questioned the necessity of including the amendment and whether this should be be a federal or provincial initiative, councillors voted 7-4 to support the amendment, with Crowley, Vassiliadis, Duguay, and Baldwin voting against it. Council then voted unanimously to accept the update report with Bierk’s amendment.
Four Counties Addiction Services Team (Fourcast) is hiring a variety of staff members to support its 24/7 men's residential treatment program in the recently renovated Paddock Wood property off Armour Road in Peterborough. (Photo: Mortlock Construction / Instagram)
Four Counties Addiction Services Team (Fourcast) is embarking on its next step towards ultimately helping men with addictions by offering live-in treatment services in Peterborough.
Fourcast has launched a recruitment campaign to hire key staff for its new bed-based treatment program serving Peterborough and area.
Having recently completed the renovation of the historic Paddock Wood residence, Fourcast is preparing for the new services that will be housed at the site, which is located in the northeast end of Peterborough.
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This stage is a key step forward towards the next phase of addictions treatment for both Fourcast and residents in need of support.
“Any progress on this project is exciting as it gets us closer to opening our programs for admissions,” Donna Rogers, Fourcast’s executive director, told kawarthaNOW.
“The renovation phase has been fairly complex as it involves all of the behind-the-scenes pieces like zoning, drawings, permitting, inspections, securing capital and health ministry permissions, et cetera. We now have a building that is safe and purpose-renovated for our clients and staff. Finishing this phase allows us to move to more program-related activities,” Rogers said.
Fourcast’s detox and treatment centre for men will be located in the newly renovated building at 24 Paddock Wood in Peterborough, formerly used by the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge. (Photo: Mortlock Construction / Instagram)
Fourcast is recruiting staff members for a six-unit withdrawal management program and a six-bed residential treatment program. It’s hard to predict when those programs will open, but Fourcast is feeling positive the agency will attract the people it needs to run a 24/7 program, Rogers said.
“We are hoping to generate a lot of interest through our media partners to increase our recruitment reach. Following this recruitment phase, we will be in a better position to understand our staffing status. We are optimistic that we will have a great response to our postings.”
Fourcast will be recruiting a full complement of staff to run the “highly anticipated” residential programs, which include a 35-day residential addiction treatment program and the withdrawal management program. Developed over the past two years, the programs will align with current best practices for addiction treatment and withdrawal management and will allow Fourcast to add “this vital new service to our existing program options,” according to a press release.
“We are committed to having the right people in the right roles so we can ensure that we are offering the highest quality programming and meeting the highest standards of care to those receiving our services. Fourcast’s new programs will require a team of highly trained professionals to operate services that will see male-identifying participants residing on-site 24 hours a day.”
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The agency is hiring people for a wide range of roles, including full-time and part-time staff for day and night shifts in different capacities from addictions and withdrawal management workers to food services and overnight care workers.
“Just as we do for our community-based treatment programs, we place the utmost importance on employing qualified, experienced, and compassionate professionals who will uphold our values in every interaction with our residential clients,” Rogers said.
There is currently no residential addiction treatment program available in the region of Peterborough, causing many people to travel to Oshawa, Kingston, or Barrie to get the help they need. Fourcast said adding local bed-based services will allow the agency to complete the continuum of services from early-access and harm-reduction services to full residential care.
“As we heard from many community service agencies, government partners, and health care partners during the early stages of approving this initiative, Peterborough and its surrounding counties have a critical need for this program as part of the continuum of substance use services,” Rogers said. “By providing 12 new units of bed-based addiction services to the community, we will be able to get people into this intensive level of treatment much more quickly and much closer to home.”
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The new programs will be housed in the 160-year-old building, located at 24 Paddock Wood off Armour Road, which was formerly used by the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge.
When asked what would be the best possible outcome for Paddock Wood, Rogers shared, “In a perfect world, we successfully launch the six-unit withdrawal management program and the six-bed residential treatment program and get experience providing these services, and we find future opportunities to expand the program for more beds and create women-specific programs. We plan to dream big for growth.”
Fourcast is posting job opportunities on its website at www.fourcast.ca/about-us/careers and intends to share the news about its need for staff with community partners and on social media.
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Fourcast is a community-based addiction treatment provider that has been operating in Peterborough, Northumberland, Haliburton and the City of Kawartha Lakes since 1983. Staff members provide support for people with alcohol, drug, or gambling-related problems through a range of programming options. Fourcast works with its clients with the goal of developing a treatment path that is right for their unique needs.
In addition to individual and group counselling, Fourcast also works in collaboration with community service partners to support people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
“Our focus is on encouraging positive change, and our goal is to support our clients by empowering them to make their own choices in an open, non-judgmental atmosphere,” Fourcast notes in the release.
Located in the Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan in Peterborough County, Rolling Grape Vineyard was founded with the goal of bringing the picturesque experience of wine country to the Kawarthas. Offering a grape-to-table experience, the family farm makes all wine on site using Ontario-grown grapes. The winery includes a restaurant with ingredients sourced from local suppliers and regularly hosts events in support of local makers and small businesses. (Photo courtesy of Rolling Grape Vineyard)
Did you know you can experience the charm of wine country right here in Peterborough County?
Founder and winemaker Jonathan Drew established Rolling Grape Vineyard at his family farm in 2018 to do exactly that — produce local, high-quality wines while also offering visitors winery tours and tasting experiences. On his 150-acre farm in Bailieboro in the Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan, one of eight townships in Peterborough County, Drew operates a 12-acre vineyard and winery, along with an event venue and restaurant.
Whether you’re buying a bottle of Rolling Grape merlot for your next dinner party, sipping a glass of sauvignon blanc on the patio while listening to live music, or tasting a chardonnay during a wine tour, you can be certain you are consuming wine that has been made on-site using grapes that are 100 per cent Ontario-grown.
With new wines expected to launch at Rolling Grape over the coming months (including a much-anticipated rosé), the winery’s products can also be found on the menu at Peterborough’s Boardwalk Board Game Lounge. Le Boat Peterborough also offers the locally made wines to its houseboat guests, providing visitors to Peterborough County with a taste of The Kawarthas.
Visitors to Rolling Grape can enjoy a true grape-to-table experience by partaking in the wines while dining at the on-site restaurant, where all charcuteries, tacos, and wood-fired pizzas are made with ingredients sourced locally where possible — a perfect example of how agritourism is flourishing in Peterborough County.
That includes meats from Traynor Farms in the Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan and Creel & Gambrel located just outside Kingston, as well as microgreens from Littleleaf Farms in the Township of Cavan Monaghan. The restaurant’s desserts come from Bowmanville’s Rustwood Bakery and honey is sourced from Northumberland County small business Little Bear Honey Co., some of which is harvested from Little Bear Honey bees hosted on Rolling Grape’s property.
Jonathan Drew established Rolling Grape Vineyard in 2018 to bring the wine country to The Kawarthas. The destination experience located in the Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan in Peterborough County features an event space, winery, and restaurant on a 150-acre family farm. (Photo courtesy of Rolling Grape Vineyard)
From holiday high teas to Sunday brunch, Rolling Grape regularly hosts events intended to bring friends and family together with the picturesque vineyard backdrop, including live music from local musicians on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons and workshops led by local artisans and instructors.
To further show love for local small businesses, Rolling Grape Vineyard seasonally hosts Sip & Shop markets for more than 150 small businesses who are invited free of charge to sell their goods. Through these markets, Rolling Grape has maintained strong relationships with several local small businesses, including Old Jar Candle Co., Arrowmatic Food, By the Dock, and Sable + Sage Co.
Given its stunning backdrop and Rolling Grape’s unwavering support for the local community, the venue is frequently booked for non-profit events and fundraisers, including upcoming events for Hospice Peterborough and Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
With the LCBO having pulled American wines from its shelves due to the ongoing trade dispute with the U.S., Drew sees an opportunity for wine connoisseurs to branch out of their comfort zone to explore products that are locally made at Rolling Grape.
“It really allows people to stop focusing on only California wines if that’s all they’ve ever known,” says Drew. “There’s a huge opportunity to try something Canadian.”
Located at 260 County Road 2 in Bailieboro, just 20 minutes south of Peterborough, Rolling Grape Vineyard is open from 4 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. For more information visit rollinggrape.com or follow Rolling Grape Vineyard on Facebook and Instagram.
The Local Advantage in Peterborough County is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in Peterborough County, created in partnership with Peterborough County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.
As part of its response to the impact of U.S. tariffs, Peterborough County is showcasing the many unique businesses located in the county, both by sharing their stories of success and how they support both residents and other businesses in their communities.
Whether by shopping at local businesses, dining at local restaurants, staying at local accommodation, or enjoying local experiences, residents and visitors can enhance the economic resilience of Peterborough County during these challenging times and help establish a sustainable foundation for the future.
For more information about economic development and tourism in Peterborough County, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev and The Kawarthas Tourism at thekawarthas.ca.
Lock 31 (Buckhorn) on the Trent-Severn Waterway. (Photo: Parks Canada)
The Victoria Day long weekend is almost here, and that means the Trent-Severn Waterway is about to open for its 105th navigation season.
Starting Friday (May 16), lockstations will be open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for the entire long weekend, including Victoria Day on Monday.
After May 19 and until June 19, they will be open from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday to Sunday.
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From June 20 until September 1, lockstations will be open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday to Sunday as well as on Canada Day (July 1), the Civic Holiday (August 4), and Labour Day (September 1).
From September 2 to October 13, hours are 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday as well as on Thanksgiving (October 13).
Spanning 386 kilometres from Trenton to Port Severn, the Trent-Severn Waterway is a National Historic Site that first opened in 1922 to connect Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay.
Today, Parks Canada maintains and operates the historic lock system as a perennial destination for recreational boaters and paddlers, and a home to the many people who live, work, and play along its length.
This past January, the Trent-Severn Waterway was featured by the New York Times as one of its 52 Places to Go in 2025.
As the navigation season opens, Parks Canada is cautioning boaters, paddlers, and swimmers that certain areas along the waterway continue to have higher-than-average flows. Floating debris may be present, and aids to navigation may be off-station as Parks Canada continues to monitor the navigation channels.
Boaters are also advised to watch their wake and wash near shorelines to avoid damage to docks, boats, and property.
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For those wanting to explore the Trent-Severn Waterway on their screens, Parks Canada has created a virtual tour on Google Earth at t2m.one/TrentSevernWaterWayWeb.
You can virtually travel the 386-kilometre length of the waterway and visit each of the 44 different locks, viewing historical photos and a description of each lock.
For more information about the Trent-Severn Waterway, including lockage and mooring fees, visit the Parks Canada website.
Flanked by Peterborough Century 21 Lakers board member Len Powers (left) and player Dylan Hutchison (right), Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway dons a Peterborough Century 21 Lakers jersey at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on May 12, 2025 for an announcement of a partnership between the Lakers and the PRHC Foundation to support the $60 million Campaign for PRHC. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Century 21 Lakers)
Lacrosse fans in Peterborough will have the chance to support world-class healthcare close to home this season.
In advance of their May 22 home opener, the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers has announced a partnership with the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation for the $60 million Campaign for PRHC.
The Lakers made the announcement at a media conference on Monday (May 12) at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
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The Lakers are the latest campaign ambassadors for the largest fundraising effort in the history of both the PRHC Foundation and the regional hospital — a campaign that has already raised $52.9 million to support world-class healthcare close to home, attract top healthcare professionals, and address urgent hospital needs.
“The Lakers are all about community, and there’s nothing more ‘community’ than supporting our regional hospital,” says Lakers board member Len Powers in a media release. “PRHC is the heartbeat of the Peterborough region. It’s where our families turn in moments of greatest need.”
The team’s partnership with the PRHC Foundation will see foundation representatives present at Lakers home games through the 2025 season, which runs from May through July with playoffs beginning in August, sharing stories and encouraging fans to get involved with the Campaign for PRHC.
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Limited edition Lakers merchandise will also be sold at the home games, with proceeds supporting the campaign. More details will be announced later.
The Lakers will also be hosting a special PRHC Family Night on Thursday, June 26 when they face off against the Cobourg Kodiaks, with PRHC staff and volunteers receiving a promo code for discounted tickets.
During the game, the Lakers will wear Canadian-themed jerseys in honour of Canada Day, which will be auctioned off after the game with all proceeds benefiting the campaign.
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“We’re excited to team up with a championship organization like the Lakers,” says PRHC Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway. “They represent dedication, heart, and excellence, just like our hospital. We know how strongly this region rallies around the Lakers and PRHC. Together, we can help reimagine healthcare.”
The Peterborough Lakers are a Senior “A” box lacrosse team playing in the Major Series Lacrosse league. In their first home game of the season, the 18-time Mann Cup champions will take on the Six Nations Chiefs at 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 22 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
Single-game tickets go on sale on Thursday (May 15). For more information about the 2025 season and for tickets, visit www.peterboroughlakers.ca.
First held in 1990, the Great Gilmour Street Garage Sale takes place on the Saturday following the Victoria Day weekend, with residents along the entire length of Gilmour Street as well as neighbouring streets participating in the popular event. (Photo: Linda McIlwain)
The Great Gilmour Street Garage Sale in Peterborough is back for another year on Saturday, May 24 — although without two of the annual sale’s longtime participants.
Held on the Saturday following the Victoria Day weekend, the Great Gilmour Street Garage Sale sees residents along the entire length of Gilmour Street, from Park Street to Monaghan Road, participating in the sale, along with residents on neighbouring streets.
The sale begins at 9 a.m. (although some people have been known to show up early) and runs until 1 p.m. While the weather for the sale has traditionally been excellent, there’s always a chance it will be rained out. The rain date is Sunday, May 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Along with residents selling regular and unique items at bargain prices, many non-profit organizations also set up shop during the sale to raise funds, and there’s often some live entertainment as well.
First held in 1990, the Great Gilmour Street Garage Sale is one of the biggest events of its kind in Peterborough and very popular. 2025 marks the 33rd year of the sale, which was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
This will be the first year of the sale without Vivian and Bill Heinmiller, two of the event’s founders and longtime participants who regularly hosted a plant sale in support of local charities — although the couple hadn’t been involved with the sale in recent years due to illness.
Vivian Heinmiller, along with her husband Bill, was one of the founders and longtime organizers of the Great Gilmour Street Garage Sale and regularly hosted a plant sale in support of local charities including Parkinson Canada. Bill, who was diagnosed with Parkison’s in 1996, passed away in January 2024 and Vivian, who was also diagnosed with the disease, passed away in October 2024 after being approved for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). (Photo: Heinmiller family)
Both former teachers at Peterborough Collegiate Vocational School, Vivian and Bill used their front lawn to raise funds for the Peterborough chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women, the Mother of Twins Club, and then Parkinson Canada after Bill was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1996. Vivian was also president of the Peterborough chapter of Parkinson Canada and organized their annual SuperWalk fundraiser for many years.
Vivian cared for Bill as his Parkinson’s progressed, even though she herself was later diagnosed with the disease, and Bill passed away on January 12, 2024 at the age of 81. After the progression of Vivian’s own Parkinson’s affected her ability to walk, cook, garden, and do the things she loved, she applied for and was approved for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID).
She passed away peacefully with her family by her side on October 14, 2024 at the age of 83.
"With extreme weather events becoming more frequent and severe, it's more important than ever to be prepared" for an emergency, says Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service Chief Terry Jones. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)
From the recent ice storm in April to the severe windstorm of May 2022, the weather is getting wilder in the Kawarthas and now’s the time to plan ahead for the unexpected, officials say as Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) in Canada comes to a close.
EP Week is a national awareness initiative that encourages people to take action to ensure they’re prepared to protect themselves, their families, and their community during an emergency. Kawartha Lakes marked EP Week, which ran from May 4 to 10, by sharing tips for staying safe and being prepared.
“With extreme weather events becoming more frequent and severe, it’s more important than ever to be prepared,” Terry Jones, Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service chief, told kawarthaNOW.
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“The recent ice storm showed how quickly conditions can change. Having a plan and an emergency kit helps protect your family and supports first responders during critical times,” the chief added.
Kawartha Lakes encourages residents to prepare themselves and their families by recognizing the risks, developing an emergency kit, and planning according.
“By implementing straightforward measures, you can reinforce your preparedness for a variety of situations, regardless of when or where they may occur,” a media release noted.
The key actions shared by the municipality are listed below.
Understand the risk
Knowing the specific risks relevant to the Kawartha Lakes community is crucial for effective preparation. Whether it is extreme weather events or power outages, being aware of potential hazards enables better responsiveness. Additionally, readiness for less probable occurrences is equally important.
Creating and regularly practising an emergency plan allows families to respond effectively when faced with an emergency. This includes making and practising a home escape plan.
Prepare a 72-hour emergency kit
Be ready in the event of an emergency by preparing a 72-hour emergency kit stocked with essential supplies for each family member, including pets, for at least three days during any kind of emergency that may occur.
Kawarthas Lakes resident can stay connected with the municipality for the latest updates during an emergency.
“We do our best to communicate to residents in as many ways as possible,” the municipality noted.
To receive emergency management updates as they are sent, subscribe to receive municipal news via email by visiting the City of Kawartha Lakes website at www.kawarthalakes.ca.
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Kawartha Lakes also posts its news and updates on social media.
During an emergency event, if internet or cell phone data is not accessible, community members can tune into local radio stations Bounce Radio 91.9 or Pure Country 105 for municipal news and updates.
Introduced in 1996, EP Week is held annually during the first full week of May. It’s intended to help motivate Canadians “to take practical steps towards fortifying their readiness to protect their families in case of emergencies.”
After 13 years working in clinical settings, Dr. Jessica Gonzalez has launched MVS Kawartha Lakes to provide pet care direct to clients in their homes. Offering in-home vaccinations, wellness checks, end-of-life care, and more for both cats and dogs, Dr. Jessica offers a less stressful experience for both pets and their owners while meeting a need for accessible and travelling pet care in the Kawarthas. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Jessica Gonzalez)
Why bring your pet to the vet when you can bring the vet to them?
After 13 years of clinical practice, including nine years spent at Bobcaygeon’s Three Islands Veterinary Services, Dr. Jessica Gonzalez has launched MVS Kawartha Lakes to meet a growing demand in the community: at-home pet care that provides a more comfortable and relaxed experience for both owners and their furry companions.
“Out in this area, I think there is a need for a mobile vet,” Dr. Jessica says. “Bobcaygeon itself does have quite a (large) senior population and a lot of people have trouble getting to the clinic, and animals are nervous or don’t do well in the clinic setting. I’ve always thought there was a need for mobile vets, and I’ve been surprised there are so few I’ve come across.”
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Offering care to cats and dogs in Kawartha Lakes as well as Peterborough, Ennismore, Lakefield, and areas in between (as well as some euthanasia appointments outside the region), MVS Kawartha Lakes offers a range of services including preventative care and wellness checks, disease management and assessments, behaviour consultations, and end-of-life care.
By treating a pet in the comfort of their own home, Dr. Jessica says, she’s able to build a more “personal relationship” with both people and their furry companions and reduce some of the stress involved with bringing pets to a clinic.
“When you are in a clinic setting and walk into the room, the dog is already anxious, nervous, and barking at you, or they’re cowering behind their owners or trying to get under these small little chairs,” she says.
“To get a physical exam done and build a relationship with them is very difficult, and almost impossible in some scenarios. Some dogs do come around, I find, but the majority of them tend to stay nervous and that can even get worse throughout every visit.”
Dr. Jessica Gonzalez joined the team at Three Islands Veterinary Services in Bobcaygeon in 2017 after previously working at VCA Canada Northumberland Animal Hospital in Colborne. While she runs her mobile vet clinic MVS Kawartha Lakes, Dr. Jessica will continue to perform dental surgery out of the Bobcaygeon clinic once or twice a week. (Photo courtesy of Three Islands Veterinary Services)
While she’s only just launched MVS Kawartha Lakes and hasn’t had many repeat clients yet, Dr. Jessica already sees a clear difference in how pets respond when they are being treated in the comfort of their own home.
“Some of them are still nervous but I don’t think it’s nearly as bad as they would have in the clinic setting,” she says. “I get a lot further with the exams than I can in the clinic setting and they certainly seem much more comfortable.”
“By the time I’m done the exam, I give them a few more treats and we’re friends again and as soon as I leave, they carry on with their day — they’re not nervous anymore and (the appointment) didn’t traumatize them.”
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When it comes to end-of-life care, Dr. Jessica says offering euthanasia services in an owner’s own home makes a “huge” difference, for both the owner and pet, in comparison to having it done in the clinic.
“It’s stressful for the owners, especially if it’s a large breed dog,” she says of a clinic appointment. “I’ve done quite a few where an elderly owner would have struggled to get their dog in the vehicle. That would have been stressful for the owner and pet. It’s also just not a nice moment.”
In contrast, the appointments she has done at a pet’s own home have been “incredibly peaceful” and without stress for both the pet and the owners. While saying goodbye to a beloved pet is still emotionally taxing both for the owner and Dr. Gonzales, at least the procedure is being done in a familiar and comfortable setting.
“You go into these homes and they’re filled with their pet pictures and you see this is a huge member of their family that they’re really going to miss,” Gonzalez says. “This way I get to stay with the owners and chat and most people want to talk about their pet, and they want to talk about how important they are. It gives us the opportunity to sit there while the dog or cat is getting sedated and just talk about them and how this makes them feel. You definitely develop a bit more of a bond with the client that way.”
Dr. Jessica Gonzalez has volunteered with Veterinarians Without Borders Canada, including in Meru, Kenya where she and four other veterinarians from Canada spent three weeks working with rural dairy producers, training the farmers on animal health, disease prevention, and treatment with the goals of improving milk production for the farmers, providing the Meru Dairy with more milk to market, and improving overall animal health and welfare. (Photo: Veterinarians Without Borders Canada)
Clients of Three Islands Veterinary Services can still expect to see Dr. Jessica doing dental surgery out of the clinic once or twice a week.
“I’ve always had a passion for dentistry, so I didn’t want to give it up,” she says. “I love my surgical skills, and I love doing dental work.”
“Unfortunately these days, a lot of our pets do have dental issues like periodontal disease, and a lot of them do need referrals for these services. It makes that process a little bit easier for them, too, that I can provide that service to my clients.”
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Doing the mobile clinic reminds Dr. Jessica of her time volunteering in Africa with Veterinarians Without Borders Canada while studying at the Ontario Veterinary College and shortly after graduation.
Over three different trips, she worked in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi, mostly responding to house calls for larger animals used for husbandry. While there, she also spent a month training and spreading knowledge to people in the community.
“We trained them on dosing and assessing weights and things so that, when we were gone, at least there was someone in the community that could continue to advise people on husbandry and basic antiparasitics,” she says. “It was a great experience, and it was the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
While she has worked in clinic settings since then, including at VCA Canada Northumberland Animal Hospital in Colborne before joining Bobcaygeon’s Three Islands Veterinary Services, entrepreneurship was always the goal for Dr. Jessica.
“I’ve always had great bosses and work for people that have let me practise how I want to practise but it’s just that extra feeling that I can do the things I want to do,” she says. “I just always thought graduating from school that I would want to own my own business and have that aspect beyond just the medicine.”
Not only does Dr. Jessica Gonzalez’s mobile vet clinic MVS Kawartha Lakes offer a more comfortable and accessible veterinary experience for pets and their owners, it gives Dr. Jessica a more flexible scheduled to spend time with her husband Chason and their six-year-old daughter Mackenzie. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Jessica Gonzalez)
As a young mother, Dr. Jessica also appreciates the flexibility in her schedule she gets from the mobile clinic so she can care for her six-year-old daughter Mackenzie. That includes making time to introduce Mackenzie to her mother’s favourite movie, Free Willy — the movie that inspired her own career with animals.
“She didn’t want to watch it (because) she thought it was going to be sad,” Dr. Jessica recalls. “I said ‘This is the movie that really changed my life.'”
“I remember being young and watching this movie about animals and their well-being and the bond that you have with animals, and feeling like that really steered me in that direction,” she adds, noting she still cried when she rewatched the movie with her daughter. “She got pretty sad too, but she was so happy at the end, and she immediately started talking about how bad it is to cage animals and that animals should be free. I do see some similarity to me.”
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Since launching MVS Kawartha Lakes, Dr. Jessica has received hundreds of messages from people saying they are grateful to have a mobile vet service in the community.
“The support from the community has been phenomenal,” she says. “I was really touched by that and was really happy to see. It solidified there’s a huge need for this and it’s a great way to service the community and get to know people. It’s a different part of my career that I’m really going to enjoy.”
For more information about MVS Kawartha Lakes and to request an appointment, visit www.mvskawarthalakes.ca.
Northumberland Hills Hospital in Cobourg recently celebrated its many volunteers with a luncheon at the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre on May 1, 2025 during National Volunteer Week. (Photo: Northumberland Hills Hospital)
With more than 170 guests in attendance, appreciation and gratitude were on the menu recently when Northumberland County’s west-end hospital hosted a volunteer luncheon in Cobourg.
Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) held its annual volunteer appreciation luncheon on May 1 at the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre. The event was tied into NHH’s recognition of National Volunteer Week in Canada, which ran from April 27 to May 3.
There was a diverse representation of volunteers from NHH’s board of directors, the NHH Foundation, spiritual care, patient and family advisory council (PFAC), and the NHH Auxiliary, who enjoyed food, presentations, and more.
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“A key highlight of the event was the guest speaker, Cheryl Athersych from the Ontario Age-Friendly Communities Outreach Program, who was very well received,” said Jennifer Gillard, vice-president of patient experience, public affairs and strategic partnerships.
“Many attendees noted the speaker’s message as both inspiring and relatable,” she told kawarthaNOW.
“Another highlight was the huge attendance and, through that, the opportunity to see in one room the many faces of generous volunteers who, for many reasons, support the hospital and by extension the community we exist to serve,” Gillard shared. “It was moving and very inspiring. We are so fortunate in Northumberland.”
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Gillard served as the event’s master of ceremonies and also shared highlights from the hospital’s inaugural volunteer experience survey, conducted at the end of 2024.
“While NHH has long surveyed staff, physicians, midwives and, of course, patients on the quality of their experience, we had never, until this past year, surveyed volunteers to see why they choose to bring their time and talents to NHH,” explained Gillard in a media release.
Key findings from the volunteer survey, which was recently highlighted by the Ontario Hospital Association, showed that 94 per cent of NHH volunteers “agreed or strongly agreed” that they felt valued for their contributions to NHH.
Additionally, 98 per cent “agreed or strongly agreed” that they would recommend NHH as a place to volunteer, a sentiment reflected in volunteer teams’ positive recruitment efforts over the past year, Gillard noted.
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During the event, NHH shared each volunteer team’s unique contributions to the hospital. The biggest group is the NHH Auxiliary.
When combined, inclusive of its two retail operations, NHH Auxiliary volunteers contributed more than 30,000 hours of volunteer service during the past year.
“Auxiliary volunteers are everywhere,” said Gillard. “Their presence contributes to a positive experience for patients and caregivers as well as the hospital team.”
The auxiliary runs a community thrift shop and the hospital’s gift shop, which generate more than $200,000 annually. In addition, they greet people and help them find their way when they walk into the hospital or enter the doors to access NHH’s cancer and supportive care or women’s health services.
These volunteers also support triage and communication to patients and families within the emergency department and support the post-acute care program’s hospital elder life program.
NHH also recognized the NHH Foundation for its contributions and support to the hospital. The foundation currently has more than 75 active volunteers.
Back in September 2024, the NHH Foundation celebrated the successful conclusion of the largest fundraising campaign in Northumberland County’s history. Through the “Exceptional Community, Exceptional Care” campaign, led by campaign chair Hank Vandermeer and a dedicated volunteer cabinet, it raised $26.3 million.
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NHH also recognized its volunteer board of directors. The board, and its community committee volunteers, dedicate hundreds of hours of service to the governance of the organization each year, monitoring strategic priorities, quality, and fiscal health.
PFAC also received a special shout-out for the council’s contributions to many operational tables and working groups throughout NHH.
“PFAC plays a critical role in bringing the lived experience of patients and their caregivers into the hospital’s service planning and process improvement,” Gillard noted.
In the last 12 months, they contributed more than 800 hours of volunteer service.
Finally, NHH also acknowledged its student volunteers, volunteers with NHH’s growing network of spiritual care volunteers, and its volunteers with the local St. John Ambulance therapy dog program who visit NHH weekly with their pets.
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