Art is the expression of creative skill and imagination in a visual form, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power — at least according to the Oxford Dictionary.
To Jenni Johnston, the new Executive Director of the Art School of Peterborough, art has a different definition for everyone … and it’s more than just what hangs on a gallery wall.
Now I’m going to admit it: I don’t know much about dance. I’ve never studied it, and I can’t do it. Dance is, more or less, something I watch from the sidelines.
However, I do know a thing or two about mental illness, which is the subject of “Erasing the Stigma”, presented by Art for Awareness and the Peterborough Dance Collective.
It’s been a tough year for Peterborough MP Dean Del Mastro and, over the course of the last week or so, things have gone from bad to worse.
If for some reason you hadn’t heard, MP Del Mastro has been charged with four counts under the Canada Elections Act.
It was an ironic shift in energy as he spoke at a breakfast meeting on September 26 (whose audience included fellow MPs) which Del Mastro was hosting for a retreat.
Canadian band Lee Harvey Osmond (stylized as LeE HARVeY OsMOND) has been selling out across Canada during August and September.
Peterborough will have a rare chance to catch the band on November 14th at the Market Hall. Local duo Dylan Ireland and Melissa Payne will be opening the concert, which is presented by KawarthaNow.com.
Lee Harvey Osmond features Tom Wilson (of Junkhouse and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings fame) along with several stellar Canadian musicians — a posse that Tom refers to as his “fellow folk sinners”.
Although the band is Tom’s brain child and he’s front and centre on guitar and vocals, he insists that it’s not a solo act.
Getting back into the swing of things now that summer is behind us, I’m thinking about turning off the grill and turning on the oven.
The problem I find with comfort foods is that generally they are high in calories and low in fibre, so I’ve figured out a twist on some of the foods that families love and are easy make-ahead meals.
As a working mom, I find that putting some time in on the weekend getting ready for the week makes for a less stressful weekday.
And I actually get some time to enjoy my children — rather then just shuffling off to the nearest activity and drive-thru.
Here are a couple of ideas that I’d like to share with you. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
P.S. If you don’t tell them what’s in it, they’ll never know.
Never talk to strangers. Especially agitated ones who approach you in a park.
This old piece of advice handed down by our mothers is reinforced in The Zoo Story, the first of two one-act plays by American playwright Edward Albee being presented under the title “Double Talk” at the Peterborough Theatre Guild from September 20th to October 5th.
Musician Bobby Watson has been a Kawarthas icon for decades, merging great guitar playing with being a great man and community member.
There’s something funny going on in Peterborough and you’re invited.
The city’s comedy scene continues to blossom and that’s great news for those who love a good laugh.
It was in Bobcaygeon, where I saw the constellations
Reveal themselves one star at a time.
— “Bobcaygeon”, The Tragically Hip
When The Tragically Hip released Phantom Power I was 2,000 kilometers from my hometown, working and living in northwestern Ontario in a town similar to the one I grew up in.
“Bobcaygeon” was THE summer anthem of 1999.
Proudly, I was the only one who could name all the constellations in cottage country’s favourite village.
Kawartha Settlers’ Village, tucked away on 10 picturesque acres at 85 Dunn Street in Bobcaygeon, is best known for its dedication to preserving the heritage of the region’s agricultural roots.
The collection of 22 pioneer-era building and many artifacts — all donated and painstakingly restored — take visitors back to a simpler time in history.
Settlers’, as it’s called by locals, also hosts nearly a dozen popular community events, including Settlers’ Day, Haunted Village, Harvest Festival, Pioneer Summer Day Camp, and the stunning Festival of Trees.
Home to the Kawartha Region Arts and Heritage Society, Settlers’ is a natural meeting place for many local arts groups. Depending on the day you explore Settlers’, you may find the Quilters’ Guild, the Caygeon Carvers, the Writers’ Guild, or even the Clogging Grandmothers — all perfecting their craft with rustic log homes as an inspirational backdrop. 
Kawartha Settlers’ Village is also the ideal setting for brides and grooms seeking a unique venue to celebrate their wedding.
While the beautiful buildings and native flower gardens are the primary reasons couples book their ceremony and reception at Settlers’, it’s also the flexibility of being able to bring in their own caterers and decorators that makes Settlers’ a sought-after wedding location.
Most couples say “I do” in an intimate ceremony at Fairbairn Church, a lovely white chapel built in 1865.
But Settlers’ has also hosted weddings for 200 guests, with the restored hayloft in Murphy Barn perfect for guests to kick up their heels in country-chic surroundings.
As a not-for-profit organization, Kawartha Settlers’ Village credits its success to the generosity of its volunteers and the area’s many businesses, residents, and visitors who provide financial donations.
The City of Kawartha Lake’s Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Fund has also funded new flooring in the Kimble House (where all the youth programs are operated) and the Kawartha Lakes Heritage Sports Exhibit (displayed in the Muir House).
Event fees from weddings and other event rentals are all reinvested into improving and operating Settlers’.
Kawartha Settlers’ Village welcomes all arts groups, classroom teachers and — of course — brides-to-be, to contact them for more information about observing the past and creating new history at this fascinating destination.
All photos courtesy of Kawartha Settlers’ Village.
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