Michael Moring, Meg O'Sullivan, Robyn Smith, and Naomi Duvall in "Do It Yourself" which, along with "The Disgusting Old Man From Kartoon", are the first two theatrical performances of "A Certain Place: The Bernie Martin Festival". The plays run from November 3 to 5 at The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
Tonight (November 3) at The Theatre on King (TTOK), the much-anticipated Bernie Martin festival kicks off with a double header of plays written by Martin and presented by some of the Peterborough’s most respected talents.
Andrew Root directs Dan Smith in The Disgusting Old Man From Kartoon, and Amy Cummings brings together Naomi Duvall, Michael Moring, Robyn Smith, and Meg O’Sullivan in Do It Yourself. As TTOK’s artistic director Ryan Kerr points out in his introduction, it’s been as many as 30 years since these productions — dark but quirky with moments of humour — have seen the light of day.
Artist, poet, playwright, and musician, Bernie Martin acted as a mentor to Peterborough’s arts community during his very active artistic career of continuous output. Now, over 20 years after his death in 1995, Peterborough is finally celebrating his legacy with a month-long series of events put on by both those who knew him and by others who recognize the impact of his influence in Peterborough.
The first two performances at TTOK are a powerful jumping-off point to get the festival started.
In The Disgusting Old Man From Kartoon, Dan Smith plays a mortally wounded man spending his final moments battling death, flies, and his lustful memories of a younger woman. Fluctuating between comedy and tragedy, the piece is filled with passages that go from erotic to vile. The result produces a mix of strong emotions.
Dan Smith in “The Disgusting Old Man From Kartoon” by Bernie Martin (Photo: Andy Carroll)
As an actor who does both comedy and drama equally well, Smith is the ideal performer to bring this odd, yet surprisingly touching, short piece to life. Andrew Root and Dan Smith work well together, with Andrew providing the perfectly timed sound effects as Smith pits himself against the flies that buzz around him.
A strong collaboration between two great local performers, The Disgusting Old Man From Kartoon is a perfect start to discovering the disturbing mirth of Bernie Martin.
The second performance of the night, Do It Yourself, is a well-crafted thriller disguised as a comedy. Playing like a local version of the classic Japanese drama Rashomon, Bernie substitutes a drunk and a plumber for the samurai warriors with a downtown bar as their battleground.
Michael Moring and Naomi Duvall play two men in clown noses sitting at a bar. Michael watches as Naomi makes call after call, timed carefully in repeated intervals, to a mystery woman who never answers the phone. As the two men banter, the audience slowly discovers that all the characters present (and not present) are closer than they may think, and that not all that’s told is exactly how it really happened.
Meg O’Sullivan and Robyn Smith perform a series of supporting roles, from wives and lovers and bartenders, and fleshing in the parts beyond that of the two men in the bar. However, it’s when Robyn takes over near the end of the show — in which she reveals the disturbing reality behind what the audience has already watched — that turns the entire production on its head.
Naomi Duvall and Michael Moring in “Do It Yourself” by Bernie Martin (Photo: Andy Carroll)
Naomi Duvall is an odd and bold choice for her role in Do It Yourself. She is cast as a man who is leaving his wife for another woman, but does not play the role in a feminine or masculine way, resulting in a a sexually ambiguous performance. But Naomi’s flawless portrayal of a confused and pathetic man makes the audience forget, or perhaps not even care, what gender she is trying to portray. It just seems to work.
As the audience’s perception of her character continues to change with story revelations, Naomi’s performance becomes continuously more disturbing — but somehow she manages to maintain the audience’s sympathy for her character. It’s an interesting role for an actress who has quickly become one of my favourites in Peterborough.
Both funny and terrifying, Do It Yourself is a well-crafted production by Amy Cummings and her company of players. Do It Yourself is a great script that shouldn’t be lost in time — thank goodness this festival has given Amy the opportunity to bring it back to the Peterborough stage.
The Disgusting Old Man From Kartoon and Do It Yourself comprise the first of two sets of Bernie Martin plays at TTOK, and run from Thursday, November 3rd to Saturday, November 5th. The second set of plays — Meat and Potatoes directed by Sklyer Ough and Life Comes To Resemble Unimaginative Literature: Or, The Moment Of My Death featuring the talents of Brad Brackenridge and Kate Story — runs from Thursday, November 10th to Saturday, November 12th. All performances begin at 8 p.m., with admission $15 or pay what you can.
After falling into the dark mind of Bernie Martin while watching the first two shows, I’m truly looking forward to discovering more of his works in the weeks to come. The Bernie Martin festival is an amazing way to not only rediscover the life and work of one of Peterborough’s truly influential artists, but to come together to celebrate our collective artistic community through the memory of a cherished local performer. The Disgusting Old Man From Kartoon and Do It Yourself are your first stop into the world of Bernie Martin.
The Sadies perform at The Historic Red Dog Tavern in Peterborough on Saturday, November 5 (publicity photo)
Every Thursday, we publish live music and performance events at pubs and clubs in Peterborough and The Kawarthas based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, November 3 to Wednesday, November 9.
If you’re a pub or club owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our Nightlife Editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com.
10pm - All Night Hip Hop ft live performances from Psych Ward, Roch, Frostbitten, Wellz Popin, Last Breed, MC Century, Dem Chron ($10 per person, $15 for couples)
Monday, November 14
10pm - Peter Jackson "Married to Success" eastern Canada promo tour
Coming Soon
Saturday, November 26 10pm - Beats n' Booty S-Ka-Paid Album Release Party ($10, 19+)
ARIA
331 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 743-0333
Friday, November 4
10pm - Project Friday Baywatch Retro Beach Party
Saturday, November 5
10pm - Saturday Big Club Night
Arlington Pub
32990 Highway 62, Maynooth
(613) 338-2080
Friday, November 4
8pm - Open mic w/ Gina Horswood
Saturday, November 5
9pm - Anything Goes Cafe cabaret-style open mic
Coming Soon
Saturday, November 12 9pm - Melanie Peterson
Saturday, November 19 9pm - Tich Maredza Band
Saturday, November 25 9pm - Vertigo
Bancroft Eatery and Brew Pub
4 Bridge St., Bancroft
(613) 332-3450
Friday, November 4
9pm - Dave Byrski
Tuesdays
7:30pm - Trivia Tuesdays
Wednesdays
7pm - Jam Night in the York Room
Black Horse Pub
452 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-0633
Thursday, November 3
7:30pm - Jazz & Blues w/ Rob Philips & Marsala Lukianchuk
Friday, November 4
5-8pm - Rick & Gailie; 8:30pm - Dean James
Saturday, November 5
5-8pm - Brennon Wason; 8:30pm - House Brand
Sunday, November 6
3pm - Bluegrass Menagerie
Monday, November 7
7pm - Crash and Burn w/ Rick & Gailie
Tuesday, November 8
7pm - Open mic w/ Randy Hill
Wednesday, November 9
8pm - Student bands
Coming Soon
Thursday, November 10 7:30pm - Jazz & Blues w/ Rob Philips & Marsala Lukianchuk
Friday, November 11 5-8pm - Rick & Gailie; 8:30pm - Tami J. Wilde
Saturday, November 12 5-8pm - Rick & Gailie; 8:30pm - Union Band
Sunday, November 13 3pm - Christine Atrill Band
Canoe & Paddle
18 Bridge St., Lakefield
(705) 651-1111
Saturdays
8-11pm - Live music
Sundays (2nd/4th of month)
2-5pm - Live music
Tuesdays
7-10pm - Open jam
The Cat & The Fiddle Lindsay
49 William St. N., Lindsay
(705) 878-4312
Coming Soon
Saturday, November 12 8pm - 9th Anniversary Party ft The Bomb Retro '80s
Catalina's
131 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 874-5972
Friday, November 4
9pm - A Night of Honky-Tonk with Nudie and James McKenty ($10)
Saturday, November 5
9pm - Zuze: Afro Funk Music of Iran ($10 in advance, $15 at door)
Sunday, November 6
2pm - Red Room Quartet ($5)
Wednesday, November 9
7:30pm - Film: The Darjeeling Limited
The Ceilie (Trent University student pub)
1600 West Bank Dr., Peterborough
(705) 748-1011
Thursday, November 3
7-10pm - Trent Queer Collective (TQC) presents Beers4Queers + open mic (all ages)
Coming Soon
Thursday, November 10 2-6pm - Trent Student Psychology Society presents Meet the Professors
Chemong Lodge
764 Hunter St., Bridgenorth
(705) 292-8435
Thursdays
5-9pm - Pianist Barry McMullen (dining room)
Fridays
5-9pm - Pianist Barry McMullen (dining room)
The Church-key Pub & Grindhouse
26 Bridge St. W., Campbellford
(705) 653-0001
Thursday, November 3
9pm - Robert Atyeo w/ Ray on the Radio
Friday, November 4
9pm - Live music (TBA)
Saturday, November 5
9pm - Live music (TBA)
Mondays
Trivia Monday
Wednesdays
Whiskey Wednesday w/ Ken Tizzard
Coach & Horses Pub
16 York St. S., Lindsay
(705) 328-0006
Thursdays
10pm - Open Jam w/ Gerald Vanhalteren
Saturday, November 5
5:30-9pm - Newfoundland Night 2016 in support of A Place Called Home ft music by John Turner ($30, at http://www.apch.ca/events/nl)
Wednesdays
7-11pm - Live music
Dobro Restaurant & Bar
287-289 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 775-9645
Thursday, November 3
10pm - Live music (TBA)
Friday, November 4
10pm - Live music (TBA)
Saturday, November 5
10pm - High Waters Band
Wednesdays
Open stage
Coming Soon
Friday, November 11 10pm - Kevin Carley Band (no cover)
Saturday, November 12 10pm - Marty and The Mojos (no cover)
Friday, November 18 & Saturday, November 19 Monkey Junk "Time to Roll" CD Release ($20)
Dominion Hotel
113 Main St., Minden
(705) 286-6954
Friday, November 4
8:30pm - Open mic
Saturday, November 5
2pm - Kitchen Party Music Jam (free, musicians and fans welcome)
Coming Soon
Thursday, November 10 7:30-9:30pm - Trivia w/ Sue and Justin
Saturday, November 12 2pm - Kitchen Party Music Jam (free, musicians and fans welcome)
This year, the GreenUP Store sold 160 rain barrels, with $3,500 in subsidies for Peterborough Utilities Group customers. If you own a rain barrel, you can help protect your investment for years to come by preparing it for the cold weather now.
This year, the GreenUP Store sold 160 rain barrels with $3,500 of subsidies given out by the Peterborough Utilities Group. PUG customers received a $25 subsidy to help encourage re-use of rainwater and the reduction of municipal water for use for gardens and lawns.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Karen Halley, GreenUP Communications & Marketing Specialist.
Those of you who used a rain barrel this past summer sure did benefit!
With the drought we experienced over the summer months, it was a huge benefit to be able to store water for use during the extended dry periods.
While many people are choosing to install rain barrels as an effective way to gather rain for use when conditions are dry, rain barrels also help to slow the runoff from storm water, which can then be diverted to gardens and can help to reduce flooding in urban areas.
Unless you’re growing kale, chard, or hearty herbs, your gardening season is likely over and soon the rain will be changing to snow. While you’re making plans to put your garden beds to rest, don’t forget to winterize your rain barrel, too.
Rain is still in the weather forecast so you can continue empting your rain barrel over the next few weeks to prevent it from overflowing. If you’re done gardening for the season, you may not need the water, but emptying water onto any permeable surface around your home will allow it to slowly infiltrate the ground instead of running off onto driveways or into storm sewers.
Taking a few minutes to care for your rain barrel this fall will ensure that it lasts for many years. Follow these four recommended steps to properly store your rain barrel over the winter:
1. Drain all of the water out of the rain barrel and leave the spigot open
Step 1 – Drain all of the water out of the rain barrel and leave the spigot open
Any water that is left in the rain barrel can freeze over the winter and cause the plastic to crack.
Drain all of the water out of your barrel before freeze-up and leave the spigot in the open position. This will ensure that no moisture will remain in the spigot that could otherwise cause cracking or break the water seal.
If you like, give the barrel a rinse; some algae or debris may have made its way inside over the season.
2. Remove the lid and anything else that’s attached to the barrel
Step 2 – Remove the lid and anything else that’s attached to the barrel
Detach all the components from your barrel including the lid, overflow valve, and hoses.
All these should be drained of water and stored separately from the barrel.
3. Detach the barrel from the gutter or downspout
Step 3 – Detach the barrel from the gutter or downspout
Detach your barrel completely from the eavestroughs, downspout, or any flexible tubing that connects it to your home.
Don’t forget to re-attached the length of downspout that extends your eavestroughs to the ground — you would have removed this when you installed your rain barrel — but you will want it back in place during the January thaw, and in the early spring before you re-install the rain barrel for the growing season.
4. Store your barrel upside-down in a shed or garage, or a sheltered area outside
Step 4 – Store your barrel upside-down in a shed or garage, or a sheltered area outside
Storing your rain barrel inside a shed or garage will help extend its life.
If you must store it outside, choose a location that is away from direct sunlight and where it won’t be carried away by the wind. Be sure to store it upside-down to prevent water or snow from collecting inside.
VIDEO: Winterizing your rain barrel with GreenUP
It is also recommended to clean and maintain your eavestroughs and downspouts by removing leaves and debris that can clog up gutters and rain barrels. This will leave an open pathway for rain to flow through during winter thaws and will make for quick and efficient rain barrel setup come springtime.
If you use a rain barrel, you likely understand how far storing water goes when it comes to keeping down your overall metered water usage. Each barrel holds between 190 and 220 litres.
If all of the rain barrels sold at the GreenUP Store in 2016 were filled and drained only once this season, then together we diverted between 30,000 and 35,000 litres, or approximately 7,000 gallons of rainwater; that is the equivalent of over 330 bathtubs full!
If you feel that the volume of one barrel is not enough, or that you’d like to save more water, consider adding a second, or third barrel next year. Successive rain barrels can be hooked up to one another via the overflow valve and hose to save even more water each time it rains.
The GreenUP Store will be carrying the same locally recycled, food grade barrels with brass fittings, overflow valve and hose, and top netting again next year. Check out greenup.on.ca in spring 2017 for more information and for updates on Peterborough Utilities Group rain barrel subsidy.
Photos and video courtesy of Peterborough GreenUP.
"Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red" was a work of installation art placed in the moat of the Tower of London in England, between July and November 2014, to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of World War I. It consisted of 888,246 ceramic red poppies, each intended to represent one British or Commonwealth serviceman killed in the War. The work's title was taken from the first line of a poem by an unknown World War I soldier. (Photo: Wikipedia)
In 2014, on the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I, Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red opened at the Tower of London. Flowing out of the thick Tower walls and filling the moat were 888,246 hand-made, ceramic, blood-red poppies, one for each military fatality from Britain and the Commonwealth. While “The Last Post” rang through the warm evening air, this tide of red as far as one could see was harrowing.
I remember well the first time I heard “The Last Post”. It was 1954, and I was at a Remembrance Day ceremony in our southern Ontario village. I was ten. As a snow-laden wind blew through my thin Brownie uniform, the mournful sound of that bugle burrowed its way past my worries about how long I’d have to stand there in the cold, and planted the first grains of what real loss might mean.
VIDEO: The Last Post
Like big and small communities all across the country, we had a parade every November 11th. People gathered at the bandstand: town officials, band members, and of course veterans. Leading the parade were the flag bearers carrying both the Union Jack and, in those days, the Red Ensign. Then came veterans from the army, navy, and air force all in uniform — some very young, some my father’s age, and some, to me, very old. All men.
Following the veterans were the band, the officials, and then we Brownies and Guides, Cubs and Scouts. Some veterans were able to march in formation, but some could only struggle along on canes or leaning on another’s steady arm. I remember how they held their heads high, their chests proud with medals.
It was a short distance to the cenotaph, a simple concrete column about 10 feet tall, with the names of local men who had died in World War I on one side and World War II on another. I walked by that cenotaph four times a day every day for seven years, but I paid it little attention except on those November days when I was ten, eleven and twelve. I didn’t know that the word cenotaph meant an empty tomb, but I knew it was different from the cemetery gravestones where the bodies lay deep in the cold earth below. I knew that the dead remembered here lay in battlefields and cemeteries and ocean depths very far away.
Peterborough writer Mary J. Breen owns one of the 888,246 ceramic poppies, each representing a soldier who died in World War I, from the 2014 “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red” installation at the Tower of London in England (photo: Mary J. Breen)
Many townspeople stood waiting in a straggling half-circle, all in dark clothes, the men in fedoras, the women in plain hats. The ceremony began with “Oh God, Our Help in Ages Past”. Then the minister read from the Bible and thanked God for helping us be victorious over evil, and for giving us the men and women who had suffered to defend our country-both those who returned and those who had made “the ultimate sacrifice.” The names of each of the dead were read aloud.
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
– John McCrae
Then came the recitation of “In Flanders Fields” which everyone, young and old, knew by heart as we’d all memorized it in school. I wish I’d known then that it was a very famous poem read in ceremonies like this all across the country, and I wish I had known it had been written by a Canadian doctor, Lieutenant Col. John McCrae, who came from a town only 30 miles away.
Then the wreaths — modest little circles of felt poppies on wire stands — were laid by families, members of the Legion, the village council, and the IODE.
There was always one lone woman among them, a mother, guided forward on the arm of a serviceman, carrying a small wreath and walking as if to her doom. Everyone stood very still while she placed her wreath, and then touched it one last time.
Just before the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the heart-breaking bugle began “The Last Post”, and many eyes, including mine, would fill with tears. The sense of sadness and loss was overwhelming. After the two minutes of silence, the bugler played “Reveille”, and the band played “God Save the Queen”, and then it was over.
I remember little clusters of women huddled together afterwards — the widows, the mothers, the sisters — propping each other up under the heavy sky like all those images of women at gravesides. Some were crying, and some were looking off into the distance, far, far away.
I knew so little. I didn’t know Canadians had fought for four long years during the First War, and five more in the Second. I didn’t know that in the First, almost one tenth of Canada’s population of only eight million enlisted, and over 66,000 didn’t return. I didn’t know that almost three times this number were wounded, many forever broken, physically and emotionally.
I didn’t understand that trench warfare meant that men lived in muddy trenches for weeks on end, and I didn’t know that the mud in the battlefields wasn’t like the mud down near the river, but a kind that could swallow men and horses whole. I didn’t know about the hunger and the cold and the fatigue and the terror and the barbed wire and the craters and the rats and the lice and the snipers and the deafening, relentless noise and the awful smell of cordite, rotting carcasses, and poison gas.
I didn’t know that every day men saw friends blown up and others terribly disfigured, and I didn’t know about shell-shock and how it broke both soldiers and medics, rendering people mad, sometimes forever after. I didn’t know that in the First War, deserters, often just shell-shocked boys, could be shot at dawn by their own men, right there on the battlefield.
Even though this village of ours had been settled by German immigrants and many people there still spoke German, our teachers and parents made it clear who had been the bad guys and who the good. I was too young to understand how conflicted some people must have felt knowing their sons might have been fighting their own cousins on the battlefields, but I never heard it mentioned.
What we heard about were the losses: the millions of soldiers and civilians who’d died “so we could be free”; however, numbers like these are unfathomable for anyone, let alone for children. I also don’t remember being frightened by their tales, so they must have kept us from the terrible reality that in wars great harm doesn’t merely fall on soldiers.
What the adults really wanted us to see was that these wars had touched everyone, and the losses were still felt in homes and hearts in every single community across the land. They wanted us to understand about sacrifice, to understand what so many people gave for us, and to understand that this enormous debt could never be repaid.
The flat, artificial poppies we wore then were the same size and shape as the ones still sold every November, although then they were flatter and made of duller red felt. I’d never seen a poppy in real life, and I had no idea why poppies were the flowers chosen to make us remember.
I didn’t know they are deeply associated with battlefields, that they grow easily on disturbed soil, and after land battles in the Napoleonic wars, people described those battlefields the next spring blooming with blood-red poppies. I didn’t know that these wild poppies in places like Flanders were often the only plants still growing “between the crosses, row on row.”
I decided to take the option of buying one of those Tower of London poppies to be delivered when the display was taken down. Although they weren’t designated, I do wonder whose poppy I got. I know I’m being both fanciful and self-important to think I have any connection at all to this person who gave his or her life so long ago, but still I wonder what they, the dead, would have thought of this lovely, red poppy that was made as an act of remembrance, and now sits in the warmth and sunny comfort of our upstairs hall.
Originally published as “The Cenotaph” in Maple Tree Literary Supplement (August 2016)
Millbrook's Serena Ryder is featured in a video called "The Many Sides Of Keji" (photo: Parks Canada / Twitter)
Millbrook’s native daughter, musician Serena Ryder, is featured in a recent video promoting Kejimkujik National Park in Nova Scotia.
The video, called “The Many Sides Of Keji”, was produced for Parks Canada by Far and Wide, a Canadian travel website operated by Much.
“If you call the park Kejimkujik, it means you’re not from Nova Scotia,” Serena says in the video. “Here, it’s simply known as Keji.”
VIDEO: Serena Ryder in “The Many Sides Of Keji” – Far and Wide
In the five-minute video filmed during the summer, Serena explores the cultural history of the park with her friend Gemma Capone (who was Serena’s stylist on her latest video “Got Your Number”).
You can see Serena paddling in a canoe and singing and playing her travel guitar, visiting the petroglyphs, playing a Mi’kmaq community drum in a traditional wigwam, crabbing at the seaside, taking a ghost walk at the Fort Anne National Historic Site, and playing the harmonica and singing around a campfire.
“This trip meant a lot to me,” Serena says in the video. “I got to know Gemma and I was able to experience a new part of Canada I’ve never been to before, but hope to visit again. Keji will always have a piece of my heart.”
A Certain Place: The Bernie Martin Festival celebrates the late playwright, actor, and songwriter Bernie Martin (graphic: Fleshy Thud)
A new arts festival celebrating the legacy of the late Bernie Martin takes place in downtown Peterborough this month.
Organized by Kate Story and Ryan Kerr of Fleshy Thud, A Certain Place: The Bernie Martin Festival celebrates both the legacy of Martin as well as new work, and is organized by discipline: visual arts, spoken word, music, film, and theatre.
The festival features 75 local artists and performers, including Lester Alfonso, Ziy von B, Brad Brackenridge, amy m. cummings, Su Ditta, Jon Lockyer, Brian Mitolo, Victoria Mohr-Blakeney, Janette Platana, Andrew Root, Wes Ryan, Brian Sanderson, David Tough, Victoria Ward, and the Peterborough Poetry Slam Collective.
Many people may not have heard of Bernie Martin, who was a much-respected and influential playwright, actor, and songwriter in the Peterborough arts scene during the early 1990s. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1994 and passed away in 1995, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of music, painting, writing, film, and theatre.
Bernie Martin died in 1995 (supplied photo)
“Today, he is barely known outside of a select few in and around the Peterborough region,” Story says. “As an artist living and working here, it makes you wonder about who gets to assign cultural significance, and why.”
The desire to acknowledge Martin’s contribution to the arts community in Peterborough (and beyond) led Story and Kerr to approach Bill Kimball of local arts presenter Public Energy to organize a festival. The festival is also supported by the Peterborough Theatre Users Group, the City of Peterborough, The Ontario Arts Council, and Theatre Trent.
“The festival is a celebration — not only of Bernie, but also of this place,” Story explains. “How and why do we make art here? That’s the heart of the festival.”
Besides being a prolific multi-disciplinary artist, Martin demonstrated a strong spirit of mentorship throughout his career, encouraging other artists to produce their own work.
“We’ve also reached out to youth and emerging artists,” Kerr says. “Bernie was a significant mentor of younger artists, and we wanted to honour that.”
Throughout the festival, Story and Kerr, along with musician Benj Rowland, are mentoring four youth in theatre direction, theatre tech, and music.
The festival takes place in downtown Peterborough November primarily at The Theatre on King, with two events at the Spill Café and Evans Contemporary Gallery. The festival is supported by the Peterborough THeatre Users Group, the City of Peterborough, The Ontario Arts Council, and Theatre Trent.
kawarthaNOW has all the events listed on our website, and they are also listed on The Theatre on King’s website at ttok.ca/a-certain-place/. But here a summary for your convenience:
“Do It Yourself” and “The Disgusting Old Man from Kartoon”
When: Thursday, November 3 – Saturday, November 5 at 8 p.m. What: Two one-act plays by Bernie Martin, interpreted by amy m. cummings (“Do It Yourself”) and Andrew Root “The Disgusting Old Man from Kartoon” Where: The Theatre on King (159 King St., Suite 120, Peterborough) How much: $15 or pay what you can
Songwriting in the Round
When: Wednesday, November 9 at 8 p.m. What: A songwriting workshop featuring Benj Rowland, Jill Staveley, Cris Cuddy, Winona Wild, and Ali McCormick, as they discuss their craft and play some tunes. Where: The Theatre on King (159 King St., Suite 120, Peterborough) How much: $10 or pay what you can
“Meat and Potatoes” and “Life Comes To Resemble Unimaginative Literature: Or, The Moment Of My Death”
When: Thursday, November 10 – Saturday, November 12 at 8 p.m. What: Two one-act plays by Bernie Martin directed by Skylar Ough (“Meat and Potatoes”) and an adaptation of a Bernie short story by Brad Brackenridge and Kate Story (“Life Comes To Resemble…”) Where: The Theatre on King (159 King St., Suite 120, Peterborough) How much: $15 or pay what you can
Words on Fire! Spoken Word for Youth presentation
When: Monday, November 14 at 8 p.m. What: Spoken word artist Ziysah von Bieberstein has been working with youth through the festival, teaching spoken word techniques. Come see the results! In partnership with New Canadians Centre, Niijkiwendidaa Anishinaabe Kwewag Services Circle, Rainbow Youth Program at PARN, and others. Where: The Theatre on King (159 King St., Suite 120, Peterborough) How much: $15 or pay what you can
“Bernie Martin” and “Faltan Mas”
When: Wednesday, November 16 at 8 p.m. What: The world premiere of “Bernie Martin”, an original documentary by local filmmaker Brian Mitolo, and a screening of Bernie Martin performing “Faltan Mas”, his evocative monologue about violence and justice inspired by his visit to Guatemala in 1993. Where: The Theatre on King (159 King St., Suite 120, Peterborough) How much: $10 or pay what you can
Regional Artmaking: Myth and Reality
When: Thursday, November 17 at 8 p.m. What: A critical panel discusses the mobilization of the concept of “regional” in artistic practice and production. Arts funders love the word. But what do artists who live there think? With panelists amy m. cummings, Dave Tough, Kate Story, Victoria Ward. Moderated by Su Ditta. Where: The Theatre on King (159 King St., Suite 120, Peterborough) How much: Free
Opening reception: Bernie Martin – Of Another Place
When: Friday, November 18 from 6-10 p.m. What: Opening reception of an exhibition of Bernie Martin’s visual artworks, with a talk at 8 p.m. by curators Jon Lockyer and Victoria Mohr-Blakeney contextualizing Bernie’s work as a regional artist. Charcuterie, wine and refreshments will be served. Show runs through to December 17. Where: Evans Contemporary (129 1/2 Hunter St. W., 3rd Floor) How much: Free
Weekend at Bernie Martin’s
When: Friday, November 18 at 8 p.m. What: Interpretations of Bernie Martin’s songs featuring Benj Rowland, Jay Swinnerton, emerging musician Ben Bruns, and friends, with an appearance by Words on Fire. An all-ages event. Where: The Spill (414 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: $10 or pay what you can
Wordplay Cabaret: Bernie Remixed
When: Saturday, November 19 at 8 p.m. What: The Peterborough Poetry Slam Collective will interpret some of Bernie Martin’s poetry and feature original and exciting works of spoken word reflecting on the themes in Bernie’s poetry. Where: The Theatre on King (159 King St., Suite 120, Peterborough) How much: $10 or pay what you can
Spoken Word: Transforming Trauma to Resilience through Narrative
When: Monday, November 21 at 8 p.m. What: Spoken word artist Wes Ryan has been working with members of the group Healing from Within at the John Howard Society, as part of the festival, offering tools for creating original spoken word. Come see the results in this public performance. Where: The Theatre on King (159 King St., Suite 120, Peterborough) How much: $10 or pay what you can
Film Workshops Showcase
When: Tuesday, November 22 at 8 p.m. What: Filmmakers Lester Alfonso and Brian Mitolo have been leading two separate filmmaking workshops through the festival: Lester has been working with senior citizens on Creative Nonfiction filmmaking (in association with ReFrame Film Festival); Brian has been working with local performing artists to create Cinematic Stories. Come see the works in progress and meet Peterborough’s newest emerging filmmakers in this casual showcase. Where: The Theatre on King (159 King St., Suite 120, Peterborough) How much: $10 or pay what you can
Dark Passage
When:Friday, November 25 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, November 26 at 2 p.m. What: Juno Award winning musician Brian Sanderson presents his interpretation of one of Bernie’s most difficult and engaging works. Where: The Theatre on King (159 King St., Suite 120, Peterborough) How much: $15 or pay what you can
Remembering Bernie
When: Sunday, November 27 at 8 p.m. What: Open to all friends and admirers of Bernie Martin. Come share a story, a memory, a reflection, a song, a poem, a wish. Refreshments provided. Featuring Pat Walsh and his guitar. Where: The Theatre on King (159 King St., Suite 120, Peterborough) How much: Free
Myrmidon
When: Wednesday, November 30 to Saturday, December 3 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 4 at 2 p.m. What: Presented by Public Energy, this remount of last year’s wildly successful presentation of Bernie’s poetic play “Myrmidon” features performers Kate Story and Curtis Driedger. Directed by Ryan Kerr, designed by Martha Cockshutt. Where: The Theatre on King (159 King St., Suite 120, Peterborough) How much: $15 (or pay what you can on opening night only)
John Martin, owner of John Roberts Clothiers in downtown Peterborough, shows how to achieve an office-appropriate look with this Au Noir shirt. No tie is required, as the collar looks great unbuttoned. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
The new men’s dress shirt doesn’t need a tie. These shirts have incredible detailing, soft fabrics, and look equally great with dress pants or a pair of jeans.
John Martin, owner of John Roberts Clothiers in downtown Peterborough, believes that clothing should be worn frequently to earn a spot in your closet.
“The shirt that you wear with a tie just hangs in your closet,” he says, “and that’s not what we want.”
Companies like Robert Graham, Au Noir, Stenströms, and Sand are making shirts than can be worn for almost any occasion.
Dressed up
John wears an Au Noir shirt with Alberto Ceramica pants and a Hugo Boss belt. It’s easy to make it casual for the evening: “When I go home I’ll throw on a pair of jeans, untuck it and go out.” (Photo: Eva Fisher)
To dress these shirts up you probably won’t need a tie. Au Noir shirts feature contrast detailing at the collar, and by adding a tie you’d lose that great detail.
Above, John demonstrates a work look by tucking his Au Noir shirt in and belting it. With grey dress pants and coordinating brown belt and shoes, this look is office appropriate — but it only takes about 10 seconds to make it casual for the evening.
“When I go home I’ll throw on a pair of jeans, untuck it and go out,” he explains.
This Au Noir shirt is dressed up with Albert Ceramica pants and a Hugo Boss belt. Note the contrast at the collar and cuffs. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
Above, we’ve also featured a white Au Noir shirt with black and red detailing.
John says that the variety of shirts being made means that “you can buy a shirt for your personality.”
Incredibly versatile, this shirt could be worn untucked with jeans or with a three-piece suit.
Dressed down
This impeccably detailed Robert Graham shirt is styled with jeans by 34 Heritage for an easy casual look. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
Above, we feature a shirt by Robert Graham. Styled with jeans, it’s a fashion-forward casual look for men.
For this shirt, John doesn’t recommend wearing a tie. He points out how the pattern of the shirt joins perfectly across the placket.
“Why buy such a nice shirt and not show it off?”
The right mix
This Sand shirt coordinates perfectly with a Hugo Boss blazer. The look is finished with jeans by DL 1961. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
If you want to stand out, a blazer in a contrasting print is a great look. Above, we have featured a Sand shirt with a blazer by Hugo Boss.
“With men’s clothing now, everything looks better when it doesn’t match,” John explains.
However, he recommends avoiding the same type of print when you’re mixing prints.
“You don’t want to do plaid on plaid or stripe on stripe.”
Sand shirts are great for pattern matching because the prints are subtle.
The right fit
Companies like Robert Graham, Au Noir, Stenströms, and Sand are making shirts than can be worn for almost any occasion. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
The pieces that we wear the most often are usually the ones that fit us best.
According to John, you will wear the right shirt “as much as you can.”
And it could even mean more freedom from the tie.
John Roberts Clothiers is located at 321 George Street North in Peterborough, Ontario. You can call them at 705-748-5212, visit them online at www.johnroberts.ca or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
Virtuouso guitarist Philip Sayce, who's recorded and performed with Jeff Healey and Melissa Etheridge, comes to Peterborough's Market Hall on Thursday, November 17 (publicity photo)
There’s always a lot of great music happening in the Kawarthas and this month is no exception, with a wealth of performances at the two big venues in downtown Peterborough (Showplace and Market Hall). Collabro, Fred Eaglesmith, Philip Sayce, De Temps Antan, The Stampeders, and Séan McCann are some of the big names appearing in Peterborough in November. And don’t forget about the smaller venues in the area, where bands like The Sadies, The Wooden Sky, Rick Fines Trio, and Tasseomancy are performing.
New rehearsal and recording studio in downtown Peterborough
This isn’t a concert obviously, but I wanted to let local musicians know about a new rehearsal and recording studio downtown Peterborough. The fully equipped Guerrilla Studios (140 Simcoe St., Peterborough) is based on the share economy model, with a focus on community and learning.
The stage room can accommodate a five-piece band. It’s a do-it-yourself space, but they’ve got a sound engineer available (Don Mawbey), who’ll be providing some workshops on recording basics.
Five three-hour sessions are available per day from 9 a.m. to midnight. Cost is $25 per hour for full use of the facility and equipment for video/audio recording and rehearsal. There’s also a membership option available that discounts the rate to $20 an hour.
The stage room at Guerrilla Studios, a new rehearsal and recording studio in downtown Peterborough (photo: Guerrilla Studios / Facebook)
The Sadies at the Red Dog, Nick Ferrio’s new band at The Pig’s Ear, and The Wooden Sky at the Gordon Best in Peterborough on November 5
Three great shows a couple of blocks away from each other on the same night? This is definitely nothing new for Peterborough — amazing music at several venues on the same night.
On Saturday, November 5th, The Sadies roll into The Historic Red Dog Tavern (189 Hunter St. W, Peterborough, 705-750-1710). They’re one of Canada’s best bands, playing a potent mix of surf, rock and roll, and spaghetti western (Iggy Pop just hailed them!). Dylan Ireland will be opening. Doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.
Only a slapshot away at the Pig’s Ear Tavern (144 Brock St., Peterborough, 705-745-7255) will be Nick Ferrio‘s new-ish rock trio featuring Sean Conway, Brandon Munro, and Gratia Leitch, along with folk duo Hurtin’ for Certain featuring Julia Fenn and Megan Kendrick. The music begins at 10 p.m. with a $3 cover.
And a block away it’s Canadian indie/folk rockers The Wooden Sky at Gordon Best Theatre (216 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-876-8884). They’ll be playing some tunes from their upcoming release, as well as songs from their previous four albums. Doors open at 7 p.m. for this all-ages licensed show, with tickets $20 plus fees.
Does anyone else think it might be time for a one-price multi-show pass? Having great music at different venues on the same night is great — when they get packed with people. I worry there’s only so much money to go around. Perhaps nights like this one would be even better with an option to see a few shows (or parts of them) for a slightly reduced price.
VIDEO: “Lay Down Your Arms – Translucent Sparrow – Another Year Again” – The Sadies
Rick Fines Trio at the Cobourg Legion Auditorium on November 5
An alternative for the night of Saturday, November 5th is to head to the Cobourg Legion Auditorium (136 Orr St., Cobourg) to see the Rick Fines Trio.
The band will be performing songs from the iconic roots/blues guitarist’s latest album, Driving Home, as well as other favourites. The show begins at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $25, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Northumberland Humane Society. Tickets are available at Zap Records at 45 King Street in Cobourg and and My Sister’s Closet at 41 John Street in Port Hope, or contact Bryan Marjoram at bryan.marjoram.23@gmail.com.
VIDEO: “Ridin’ The Rails” – Rick Fines
Collabro at Showplace Performance Centre in Peterborough on November 6
Back in 2014, a group of working class lads from England formed an acapella band named Collabro and, only a month later, won Britain’s Got Talent.
Billed as a “musical theatre boy band”, Collabro has since gone on to appear on TV, perform for the Royal Family, and tour internationally, selling out venues like The Royal Albert Hall. Their debut album Stars debuted at number one in the UK.
You have a rare chance to see Collabro perform live on Sunday, November 6th at 8 p.m. at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-7469).
Tickets are $45.40 and are available at the Showplace Box Office or online at www.showplace.org.
VIDEO: “Stars” from Les Misérables performed by Collabro
Tas Cru in the Nexicom Studio at Showplace Performance Centre in Peterborough on November 10
Showplace continues its excellent Elite Blues Series this fall with bluesman Tas Cru performing at 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 10th in the Nexicom Studio at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-7469).
Living Blues Magazine says “the vivacity and sheer joy with which Cru plays is intoxicating”. Cru is releasing his latest record Simmered & Stewed — a return to his “acoustic-ish” blues roots — the day after his Peterborough show.
Tickets are $32 and are available at the Showplace Box Office or online at www.showplace.org. Showplace is offering a special 10% discount if you buy tickets for the Tas Cru show and the Elite Blues Series presentation of Peterborough’s own Rezonator and Al Black on December 17th.
VIDEO: “Black Cat Bone” – Tas Cru & The Tortured Souls
The Lenni Stewart Jazz Quartet at The Loft in Cobourg on November 11
Celebrate Remembrance Day with a nostalgic musical revue, “1945 – The Songs That Won The War”, featuring The Lenni Stewart Jazz Quartet at The Loft (201 Division St., Cobourg).
On Friday, November 11th at 7:30 p.m., jazz vocalist Lenni Stewart along with Howard Baer, Michael Monis, and Rob Phillips, will perform the music of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Louis Jordan, Vera Lynn, Peggy Lee, Jo Stafford, Dinah Shore, Marlene Dietrich, Edith Piaf, Gracie Fields, Deanna Durbin, Dinah Shore, The Andrews Sisters, and more. Lenni’s voice has been described as “beautiful, sensual and vibrant.
Tickets are $20 and are available in advance at the Victoria Hall Box Office (905-372-2210).
VIDEO: Lenni Stewart Sings Billie Holiday
Fred Eaglesmith and Tif Ginn at Showplace Performance Centre in Peterborough on November 12
North America’s hardest-working troubadour returns to Peterborough for the first time in several years to play Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-7469) on Saturday, November 12th at 8 p.m..
If you haven’t heard Fred Eaglesmith before, it’s definitely time. Heartbreakingly good tunes, knee-slapping stories, and great songwriting.
I could go on and on about Fred, but here are some brief facts. He’s released 22 studio albums. He has a big number of devoted fans called “Fredheads”. He’s been touring for 42 years. He’s owned 11 buses. His songs have been covered by Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, and Todd Snider. That’s barely scratching the surface. Look for a full interview with Fred on kawarthaNOW.com soon.
Opening the show and joining Fred will be his talented and beautiful wife Tif Ginn.
This is alt-country songwriting at its finest folks. Tickets are $31, available at the Showplace Box Office or online at www.showplace.org.
VIDEO: “Trucker’s Speed” by Fred Eaglesmith
Philip Sayce at the Market Hall in Peterborough on November 17
Attention all guitar heads! Welsh-born Philip Sayce, described as “the most underheralded guitar hero on the circuit,” performs at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146) on Thursday, November 17th at 8 p.m.
The Toronto-based guitarist’s style is heavily influenced by his guitar heros including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Jeff Healey, and Mark Knopfler. At the age of 16, Sayce started playing at blues jam nights at Grossman’s Tavern in downtown Toronto, where legendary guitarist Jeff Healey heard him and invited him to join his band. He later went on to record and perform live with Melissa Etheridge. In 2013, he performed at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival at New York’s Madison Square Garden. In 2015, Sayce released Influence, his major label album debut, and scored a top 20 hit at rock radio in Canada with his rendition of Ten Years After’s “I’d Love To Change the World”.
Tickets are $25 plus fees and are available the Market Hall Box Office or online at www.markethall.org. Tickets are also available (cash only) at Moondance (425 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-9425).
As a bonus, when you order a ticket for this show, you get a digital download of his forthcoming album, Scorched Earth: Volume 1.
VIDEO: “I’d Love To Change The World” by Ten Years After performed by Philip Sayce
De Temps Antan at the Market Hall in Peterborough on November 18
Quebec’s long and storied musical tradition comes to Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146) on Friday, November 18th.
De Temps Antan will blow your mind as part of Folk Under the Clock’s continuing 30th season. Eric Beaudry, Andre Brunet, and Pierre-Luc Dupois are all former members of the world-famous Quebec band La Bottine Souriante. They perform high-energy tunes featuring fiddle, accordion, harmonica, guitar and more with a distinct Quebecois feel.
Dancing shoes highly recommended!
Assigned seating tickets are $35 plus fees ($25 for students) and available at the Market Hall Box Office or online at www.markethall.org. Tickets for Row C and Tables 8 & 9 are available (cash only) at Moondance (425 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-9425).
VIDEO: De Temps Antan promo
Tasseomancy at The Garnet in Peterborough on November 21
The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107) has consistently been a venue for excellent music of all genres.
On Monday, November 21st, the experimental music of creepy and beautiful twin sisters Romy Lightman and Sari Lightman will fill The Garnet as Tasseomancy performs.
The Toronto-based duo combines the lyrical and vocal traditions of folk music with the experimental approaches of psychedelia, new wave, and new age music.
VIDEO: “Missoula” – Tasseomancy
The Stampeders at Showplace in Peterborough on November 24
Fans of Canadian classic rock will love the fact that The Stampeders are coming back to Peterborough on Thursday, November 24th at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-7469)
Their hits, including “Sweet City Woman”, “Wild Eyes” and “Carry Me”, will be ringing through town. You have to applaud a band that is still rocking after breaking onto the scene in the 1970s.
Tickets are $55, available at the Showplace Box Office or online at www.showplace.org
VIDEO: “Wild Eyes” – The Stampeders
Séan McCann at the Market Hall in Peterborough on November 26
Former Great Big Sea frontman Séan McCann makes a special appearance at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146) on Saturday, November 26th at 8 p.m.
Presented by Market Hall and the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge as “an evening of song and story”, McCann’s appearance is the final stop in his 2016 Road to Recovery tour.
Since leaving the highly successful Great Big Sea in 2013, McCann has been reaching out to a whole new audience by speaking out and singing about mental health and his struggles with addiction. He talks about how his alcoholism was a way to deal with the trauma of childhood sexual abuse by his parish priest while he was growing up in Newfoundland (the same priest also introduced him to alcohol).
“I lived with a secret for 32 years and it almost killed me,” he says. “I know firsthand the value of talking about your problems and facing them, and not keeping them inside.”
Tickets are $35 ($43 for cabaret-style seating) and are available at the Market Hall Box Office or online at www.markethall.org. Tickets are also available (cash only) at Moondance (425 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-9425).
Rhonda Barnet, VP Finance at Steelworks Design Inc., was recently selected as the first-ever female chair of the national board of directors of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (photo: Steelworks Design Inc.)
Rhonda Barnet
Congratulations to Rhonda Barnet on becoming the new Chair of the Board of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), their first female chair in history.
She has served as a director on CME’s board since 2013 and is currently the VP of Finance at Steelworks Design Inc. in Peterborough.
Complete Retail Solutions Inc.
Complete Retail Solutions Inc. accepting a best of show award at the Grocery Innovations Canada trade show (supplied photo)
Pan-Oston is the driving force behind a collaborative initiative that brings together four local Peterborough companies under a collective sales initiative called Complete Retail Solutions Inc. (CRS).
The companies are: Optifi, which measures brand impressions in high traffic venues; Woodarts, whose millwork can be found everywhere from the LCBO to the National Library; TechnLite, which provides LED large screen signage; and Pan-Oston, a leader in manufacturing checkouts and commercial display fixtures. The Complete Retail Solutions alliance has attracted Southern CaseArts, a US-based specialty manufacturer of refrigerated and hot food display ceases.
The CRS initiative was introduced at the Grocery Innovations Canada trade show where they met with instant success, receiving a Best of Show award and attracting a lot of attention. Congratulations to everyone on this fantastic local collaboration.
Lakefield Foodland
Ross Bletsoe of Lakefield Foodland (photo: Cayuga Displays / YouTube)
That same show saw Lakefield Foodland awarded the Top Independent Grocer of the Year Award in the small surface category.
Congratulations to Ross and Carol and Ian and Sarah Bletsoe of Lakefield Foodland.
Marianne Beacon
Marianne Beacon is the owner of Elderberry Herbals and the Elderberry Clinic in Peterborough (photo: Elderberry Herbals)
Congratulations to Marianne Beacon of Elderberry Clinic, who was recently named President of the Ontario Herbalist Association.
Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Business Summit
Peter Lawler of the Business Development Bank of Canada will deliver the breakfast keynote at the Peterborough Chamber Business Summit (photo: Camilla Pucholt)
The Chamber of Commerce Business Summit takes place next Thursday (November 10th).
The theme is “scaling up” and attendees can choose from four workshops and enjoy two keynote speakers. There’s also a new feature called speed consulting where attendees can get 10 minutes of one-on-one with a local business expert.
Political activist, author, and policy critic Maude Barlow (photo: Wolfgang Schmidt)
Maude Barlow, Chair of the Council of Canadians, will be speaking on Canada’s water crisis tomorrow (November 1st) from 7 to 10 p.m. at Adam Scott Collegiate in Peterborough.
For more information, call Roy Brady at 705-745-2446.
Electric City Hacks
More than 350 students are expected to attend Trent University’s first-ever hackathon, Electric City Hacks, from November 4th to 6th (logo: Ana Djurkovic)
The Innovation Cluster and Blackberry present Electric City Hacks this weekend (November 4th to 6th) at Trent University.
At Trent University’s first-ever hackathon, 350 student thinkers from across Canada will demonstrate their skills and innovations.
Dr. Roger Firestein of the International Center for Studies in Creativity will give a keynote on innovation and collaboration at the Tri-Association Manufacturing Conference (publicity photo)
The annual Tri-Association Manufacturing Conference takes place next Tuesday (November 8) at the Cobourg Best Western.
The conference provides local manufacturers with a day of professional development.
Excellence in customer service is even more important in the age of social media. Kathleen Seymour is owner and operator of the Kawartha Coffee Co. in downtown Bobcaygeon, which received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2015 because of consistently great reviews from customers. Business owners and employees can take a free online course in customer service excellence thanks to regional tourism organization RTO8. (Photo courtesy of RTO8)
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou
Whether you agree with Maya Angelou’s oft-quoted take on the end result of positive human interaction, evidence shows it takes as little as seven seconds to make a first impression. And when it comes to customer service in the age of social media, first impressions can have immediate and lasting benefits (or consequences) for your business.
Brenda Wood knows full well the huge role a positive first impression — and what follows — makes in ensuring a memorable experience for both residents and visitors. Brenda is executive director of Peterborough-based Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8), a not-for-profit entity funded by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Sport whose purpose is to support a competitive and sustainable tourism industry, attract visitors, generate economic activity, and create jobs within the region that encompasses Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough and the Kawarthas, and Northumberland County.
As such, she’s urging her organization’s tourism partners to take full advantage of a free online customer service training program offered through the Ontario Tourism Education Corporation (OTEC) in partnership with Peterborough and the Kawarthas Tourism, Explore Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland Tourism, and the Province of Ontario.
“Customer service is key in helping us secure more visitors to our region,” Brenda explains. “We’re competing for visitor dollars with every other area in Ontario and across Canada.”
The interactive online course, called Service Excellence Dynamics, is customized for the Kawarthas Northumberland region and only takes 30 to 60 minutes to complete. The course is available 24/7, and you can return where you left off if you get pulled away for any reason. Once you complete the course, you’ll receive a certificate you can proudly display in your business.
“Everyone coming into your establishment is basically a media contact,” Brenda says. “If they have a great experience, they’re going to get on their social media account and let people know about it. If we can increase our customer service skills, then we’re going to be more competitive. If a customer receives superior service, it’s the foundation of everything they experience.”
The online Service Excellence Dynamics course is free, available 24/7, and takes as little as 30 minutes to complete. Brenda Wood, executive director of RTO8, says anyone who works with the general public will benefit from taking the course. (Graphic: RTO8)
With 600 certificates to be awarded, the Service Excellence Dynamics course has been available at rto8.com/opportunities/education/ since May and will continue to be available until the end of March 2017. It focuses on the “three Ps” of effective customer service — Professional, Proficient, and Proactive — under five headings: The Moment of Truth (initial interaction), Behaviour Guidelines, Communicating Effectively, Service Process, and Overcoming Servicing Challenges.
Excellent customer service is vital to the success of any business, be it tourism-related or otherwise. Customer service can have a huge impact on your bottom line, can make or break your reputation, and is critical to competing effectively. As well, numerous studies have shown that customers are willing to pay more for a better customer experience. With great service assured, they will come back.
Happy customers are more likely to recommend businesses to family and friends using social media and online travel review websites like TripAdvisor. One family that booked rooms at Saucy Willow Inn in Coboconk for their parents’ 50th wedding anniversary commented “Chris and Cathy were very friendly and fun hosts. They serve the most amazing breakfasts!… we will definitely return.” (Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor)
Catharine Kersteman, who owns and operates Saucy Willow Inn in Coboconk with her husband Chris, certainly knows all this. Back in May, when the course first became available, Catharine jumped on the opportunity.
“Customer service is at the core of my business,” she says. “We get comments on TripAdvisor like ‘Catharine and Chris were great’ or ‘Catharine and Chris were there when we needed them’. That’s important for any business. When I’m the customer, if I don’t get good customer service, I’m not going back.”
Catharine says the training was “very easy … a piece of cake” to complete. She adds that, while she has no employees, if she did she would make sure all took the course.
“Owners and managers know about customer service, but are their employees carrying through?” she asks.
In her effort to spread word of the course’s availability, Brenda has reached out to Fleming College’s tourism and hospitality and culinary arts programs as well as the Labour Employment Development Council and local chambers of commerce and Business Improvement Areas (BIAs). Then there’s her organizations own database of some 1,300 operators.
Manager Cameron Hughes with satsified customers at The Waddell, a boutique hotel in Port Hope (photo courtesy of RTO8)
“It’s not just tourism and hospitality professionals who can benefit,” Brenda points out. “It’s the people at gas stations, restaurants, attractions, accommodations, and retail stores as well — anyone who’s working with the general public.”
Brenda adds that, even if business owners and employees have already taken customer training, they would benefit from a 30-minute refresher course. Or they may have hired new staff who don’t understand customer service is a priority, and the online course is something they can complete easily and quickly.
“If you haven’t focused on customer service, this is a little tool with a big impact,” she says. “Refresh yourself, introduce new staff to it, and have them complete it so everyone is on the same page — offering top-level customer service.”
The Service Excellence Dynamics course is available now at rto8.com/opportunities/education/. Registration is easy and free, and it takes as little as 30 minutes to complete.
For more information about Regional Tourism Organization 8, and its objectives and services, visit rto8.com.
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.
