Ontario's long-term care minister Natalia Kusendova-Bashta and Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini participated in a ground-breaking event on July 25, 2025 for Presqu'ile Place, a new 256-bed long-term care home in the Municipality of Brighton. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of video by office of Minister Kusendova-Basht)
Construction is underway on a new 256-bed long-term care home in the Municipality of Brighton.
Omni Quality Living, provincial government ministers, Brighton’s mayor, and others gathered on Friday (July 25) for a ground-breaking event at the site of the future facility, located at 20 Georgina St.
Presqu’ile Place, which will be owned and operated by Omni Quality Living, is expected to welcome its first residents in 2027.
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The project received a “construction funding subsidy” top-up and is part of the provincial government’s plan to create jobs and ensure long-term care residents “get the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve,” a media release noted.
Municipality of Brighton Mayor Brian Ostrander said the Prequ’ile Place announcement is welcome news for Brighton.
“The current need for a new long-term care home in our community reflects the growing demand for accessible, high-quality care and support for our seniors and those in need of long-term services,” Ostrander told kawarthaNOW. “As our population ages, it becomes increasingly important that we have local facilities, that offer compassionate care without families having to travel distances.”
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“This new long-term care home will help meet these needs by offering a range of services to support residents’ health and well-being in a familiar and welcoming environment. It will also create local employment opportunities and strengthen our community’s health care infrastructure,” the mayor said.
Ostrander noted Municipality of Brighton council is committed to ensuring local residents continue to receive the services they most need.
“We are grateful to Omni and the province for this significant investment.”
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Presqu’ile Place home will feature eight resident home areas, which are designed to create a more intimate and familiar living space for residents. Each area features dining and activity areas, lounges, and bedrooms with balconies.
Omni Quality Living president and CEO Raheem Hirji said the home will feature a combination of basic and private rooms.
According to the release, the home’s amenities are designed to foster resident engagement and support overall quality of life. Features will include outdoor gardens and seating, a place of worship, multipurpose rooms, a bistro, and a hair salon and barber shop.
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“When construction is complete, 256 residents will have a modern, comfortable home where they can access the care they need,” said Ontario’s long-term care minister Natalia Kusendova-Bashta in a statement.
The project is part of the Ontario government’s commitment to build 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds across the province, as outlined in the 2025 Ontario budget. The plan to improve care for long-term care residents is built on four pillars: staffing and care, quality and enforcement, building modern, safe, and comfortable homes, and connecting seniors with faster and more convenient access to the services they need.
Following the ground-breaking event, Minister Kusendova-Bashta joined Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini for a tour of Golden Plough Lodge Courthouse Road in Cobourg, a 180-bed long term care home operated by Northumberland County that is under construction and co-located with the new Northumberland County Archives and Museum.
Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for the Kawarthas region starting Sunday (July 27).
The heat warning is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawarthas Lakes, Northumberland County, and Hastings Highlands.
A multi-day heat event begins on Sunday and will continue Tuesday, with the hottest conditions expected on Monday.
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Daytime highs of 30 to 34 degrees Celsius are expected, with humidex values of 38 to 42 degrees Celsius. Overnight temperatures will provide little relief from the heat, with lows of 19 to 23 degrees Celsius.
There is some uncertainty in the duration of the heat event for some regions. In central Ontario, the heat event may end Monday night. Over some areas, the heat event could persist into Wednesday.
To help deal with the heat and humidity, Environment Canada is providing the advice listed below.
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Take action to protect yourself and others, as extreme heat can affect everyone’s health. Determine if you or others around you are at greater risk of heat illness. Check on older adults, those living alone and other at-risk people in-person or on the phone multiple times a day.
Watch for the early signs of heat exhaustion in yourself and others. Signs may include headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, dark urine and intense fatigue. Stop your activity and drink water.
Heat stroke is a medical emergency! Call 9-1-1 or your emergency health provider if you, or someone around you, is showing signs of heat stroke which can include red and hot skin, dizziness, nausea, confusion and change in consciousness. While you wait for medical attention, try to cool the person by moving them to a cool place, removing extra clothing, applying cold water or ice packs around the body.
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Drink water often, and before you feel thirsty, to replace fluids.
Close blinds and shades to keep the sunlight out, and open windows if outside is cooler than inside.
Turn on air conditioning, use a fan, or move to a cooler area of your living space. If your living space is hot, move to a cool public space such as a cooling centre, community centre, library, or shaded park.
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Follow the advice of your region’s public health authority.
Plan and schedule outdoor activities during the coolest parts of the day.
Limit direct exposure to the sun and heat. Wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing and a wide-brimmed hat.
Never leave people, especially children, or pets inside a parked vehicle. Check the vehicle before locking to make sure no one is left behind.
A work by visual artist Paul Nabuurs in his home studio, a recently renovated church building at 1580 English Line North in Douro-Dummer north of Warsaw. Nabuurs' studio is Tour Stop 34 of the 41st annual Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour presented by the Art Gallery of Peterborough and taking place across Peterborough and the Kawarthas on September 27 and 28, 2025. (Photo: Zach Ward)
One of Canada’s longest-running studio tours, the Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour (KAST) is returning for its 41st year this fall to once again celebrate the talents of artists from across Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
Presented annually by the Art Gallery of Peterborough as the fall colours reach their peak, this year’s free self-guided tour takes place on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28. Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., 39 studios featuring 50 artists will be open and inviting visitors to browse and purchase original artwork, watch live demonstrations, and learn about the process and inspiration of each of the artists.
There’s also a preview exhibition on now at the Art Gallery of Peterborough featuring selections from the artists participating in the tour.
Jewellery designer and maker Valerie Davidson will be opening her studio and doing live demonstrations throughout the weekend of the 41st annual Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour on September 27 and 28, 2025. Davidson will be sharing a studio space with Paul Chester and Corina Kiefert Chester at Tour Stop 25. (Photo: Zach Ward)
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“The Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour is an opportunity for community engagement and helps people to understand that art is all around them,” says Andrew Ihamaki, Education Programming Coordinator at the Art Gallery of Peterborough. “There’s always a bit of a surprise when people see that there are so many artists living in their communities — and the tour is really just a small sample of the number of incredible artists that are working here.”
Last year’s 40th anniversary studio tour, which coincided with the Art Gallery of Peterborough’s 50th anniversary, saw a record number of 8,300 visitors over the weekend and was one of the top years for art sales at participating studios.
“People are so amazed when they come to this area and see the inspiring landscapes we have that many of the artists are capturing in their work,” says Ihamaki. “It’s incredible, innovative, and mind-blowing work these artists are creating.”
Paul Chester is an oil painter and sculptor inspired by the horizons, waterscapes, and rolling hills that surround his studio in Keene. Visitors will have the chance to see inside his studio space and converse with him at Tour Stop 25 of the 41st annual Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour on September 27 and 28, 2025. (Photo: Zach Ward)
Participating studios in this year’s KAST are located in the City of Peterborough, the village of Lakefield, and throughout Peterborough County from Millbrook in the south to Stoney Lake in the north. More information about the studio locations and participating arts is available at kast.agp.on.ca/artists/.
Visit the Art Gallery of Peterborough at 250 Crescent Street in downtown Peterborough to pick up a printed KAST map brochure, which marks all stops, making note of which artists are new, which artists are hosting regular demonstrations, and which studios are physically accessible.
Using the Toureka! app, you can not only browse through artists’ bios and view samples of their work, but create a customized route for the studios you want to visit throughout the weekend. The app is still usable even if you’re in a rural area with spotty cell service.
You can download the free Toureka! app for your mobile device to browse through artists’ bios, view samples of their work, and create a customized route for the studios you want to visit during the 41st annual Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour on September 27 and 28, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Art Gallery of Peterborough)
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Whether you want to add to your art collection or just want to take a behind-the-scenes look at artists at work, Ihamaki says KAST makes art accessible.
“There’s nothing stopping you — it’s a free tour and the doors are open,” he explains.
“There’s no obligation to buy anything — although it’s always wonderful if you find a piece that really speaks to you, and you know that money is going directly back into our community. KAST is an amazing way to support artists and our community, but it’s also just an opportunity to go in, look around, see what an artist’s studio is like, and take a little bit of that mysteriousness away.”
“Spring Gardens” by Cydnee Hosker (watercolour on paper, 2024), a Peterborough watercolour painter and mixed media artist new to the Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour on September 27 and 28, 2025. Hosker’s studio, located at Watson & Lou in downtown Peterborough, is Tour Stop 6. (Photo courtesy of Art Gallery of Peterborough)
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On the studio tour, visitors will find a vast range of art styles and media, with artists working with papier mâché, ceramics, paint, jewellery, metals, wood, textiles, stone, and more.
Nearly half of the artists of the tour will be holding demonstrations, inviting guests in to watch their process as it takes place within the artist’s very own space.
“It peels back some of those layers and makes art a lot less intimidating,” Ihamaki says. “You can ask any questions, and the artists love to share. Some of them might already post about their artistic process on their social accounts, but the connection and understanding gained during live demonstrations are something you’re not going to get through a screen.”
Nick Leniuk is a Peterborough stone carver and sculptor who pays homage to the forest by transforming trees into inspirational stone sculptures. Leniuk will be giving live demonstrations out of his Peterborough studio, which is Tour Stop 7 of the 41st annual Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour on September 27 and 28, 2025. (Photo: Zach Ward)
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This year, there are nine new artists on the tour, including two artists working out of Peterborough’s Watson & Lou’s upper studio apartments: Em Farquhar-Barrie and Cydnee Hosker, who are both painters and mixed-media artists.
“Bringing on new artists allows visitors to see lots of art forms that you might not necessarily see every day, or art that uses materials in different way,” Ihamaki says.
Other new artists featured on this year’s tour include Karyne McKnight, Lynda Cunningham, Cathy Stalkie, Todd Ulrich, Tricia vanOostveen, Cathy Ogrodnik, and Lynda Cunningham. They will be joining seasoned artists who have been a part of KAST for years, including Anne Cavanagh, Christy Haldane, Jeffrey Macklin, Lucy Manley, Paul Chester, Valerie Davidson, and many more.
“It’s always amazing to see their names come through for the application because they’re so well-known and popular in the community,” says Ihamaki. “People get excited to see them and I know how excited the artists get to be able to welcome people to their studios as well.”
A 2024 watercolour portrait on paper by artist Janet Lutz who, along with painter and photographer Elizabeth Popham, will be featured at the Community Artist Hub at the Peterborough Public Library in downtown Peterborough during the Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour on September 27 and 28, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Art Gallery of Peterborough)
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Reconstructing a showcase introduced during the 40th anniversary tour, a Community Artist Hub will be hosted at the Peterborough Public Library throughout the weekend, where artists Janet Lutz and Elizabeth Popham will be displaying their work and connecting with visitors.
“The hub provides an opportunity for artists who may not have a studio space that’s conducive to hosting the public to have that access during the tour,” Ihamaki says.
“It allows people to see and connect with artists they wouldn’t necessarily see otherwise, and it’s a great way to expand the tour and get more people involved — both the artists and community members looking to connect with the artists.”
“Fancybird” (2024, hand-painted porcelain bowl) and “Garden” (2024, hand-painted porcelain plate) are two works by Thomas Aitken and Kate Hyde, collaborative ceramicists who work out of their studio in Warsaw. Aitken and Hyde will be hosting visitors at Tour Stop 22 of the 41st annual Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour on September 27 and 28, 2025. (Photos courtesy of Art Gallery of Peterborough)
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Returning for its second year is the KAST Passport, available at the Art Gallery of Peterborough and participating studios during the tour weekend. Visit 10 passport stops and you can be entered into a draw for a prize from the Gallery Shop valued at over $100. The most stops you visit, the more chances you have to win.
To get a preview of the studio tour weekend, visit the 41st Annual KAST Selections Exhibition, on now at the Art Gallery of Peterborough. The exhibit features one work from each artist on the tour, which can help you decide which studios you want to visit. If you miss the tour, you can still visit the exhibit until Sunday, October 5.
“It’s hard to go and see every single studio, so this is a great way to see a little bit of everything,” Ihamaki says. “Maybe you can’t get out to every studio or maybe you’ve got plans that weekend, but you can support each artist by seeing their work in the exhibition. Many of the artists are also on social media and their social media handles are included on the brochure, so giving them a follow is another way you can really support the artists.”
Multidisciplinary new media artist Kim Beavis Sanderson will be doing demonstrations in her studio at the Commerce Building in downtown Peterborough, which is Tour Stop 22 of the 41st annual Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour on September 27 and 28, 2025. (Photo: Zach Ward)
With visitors coming from as far away as Montreal and the United States for the weekend, which has an economic impact upwards of $650,000, KAST offers artists a chance for their work to be seen by a wide audience and for the artists to connect directly with the community that supports them.
“It’s become a destination for people to see the amazing work happening here,” says Ihamaki. “As we continue into our 41st year, I can’t help but wonder where we’ll be by our 81st, as the tour continues to grow and keeps getting better each year.”
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Art Gallery of Peterborough. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Wyatt Lamoureux, Alison Beckwith, and Jean Parker performing in Dave Carley's short play "Like A Blueberry Goldfish" during the 10-Minute Play Series at the 2024 Port Hope Arts Festival. Carley's play "Carpool" and Lamoureux's play "Small Talk" are among the 12 plays that will be staged at six outdoor locations during the 10-Minute Play Series at the Port Hope Arts Festival on August 9, 2025 and also the following day during 10-Minute Sunday, which will feature 10 plays staged at the Peterborough Theatre Guild at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Photo: Ken Solilo Photography)
Two festivals in the Kawarthas region are spreading the love of stories and theatre by staging a series of 10-minute plays on two consecutive days in August.
“It’s becoming a very popular genre and (for some theatre companies), the 10-minute plays are more popular than the rest of the season from what I’ve heard,” says playwright D’Arcy Jenish. “We’re a little bit behind in Peterborough because they’re (already being) done in a number of different places in Canada.”
That’s why Jenish is producing the first 10-Minute Sunday festival at the Peterborough Theatre Guild on Sunday, August 10. For $10, ticket holders will experience everything from heartfelt dramas to witty comedy during the staging of 10 plays, each 10 minutes long, written by established and emerging playwrights. There will be two shows at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
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Jenish got the inspiration to bring the series to Peterborough after being involved with the 10-Minute Play Series held at the Port Hope Arts Festival over the past three summers. Hosted by the Municipality of Port Hope and returning on Saturday, August 9 this year, the free festival has been holding the play series since 2021.
Now in its 22nd season, the Port Hope Arts Festival’s 10-Minute Play Series will see 12 unique 10-minute plays staged across six outdoor locations in downtown Port Hope, from parking lots to courtyards.
“It’s a really cool way to both engage actors and playwrights and to celebrate what live theatre is and what it can bring to an audience,” says Jeannie Maidens, the Municipality of Port Hope’s supervisor of events and community engagement.
“It really is offering surprise and delight for folks who may not consider themselves theatre-goers — but then they witness live theatre through the 10-minute plays,” she says. “It really moves them or they find it really funny or they’re inspired by what they’ve seen, and they’re slowly encouraged to explore other forms of live performance.”
Returning for its 22nd year on August 9, 2025, the Port Hope Arts Festival will be hosting the fifth annual 10-Minute Play Series at outdoor locations across downtown Port Hope. The event has inspired the founding of 10-Minute Sunday, the first festival of its kind to come to Peterborough, for two showings on August 10, 2025. (Photo: Ken Solilo Photography)
While the series features work from professional local and Canadian playwrights like Marcia Johnson and Dave Carley, who first introduced the 10-minute series to the Port Hope Arts Festival, it is also supports emerging talents. One play, titled Cher-lock and the Roommate Ruse, was written by Port Hope High School student Abigail Byers in collaboration with the school’s drama club.
While it’s possible to see all dozen of the plays being staged throughout the day, the Port Hope Arts Festival is, according to Maidens, a “choose-your-own-adventure program” with a lot of opportunity to engage with various artforms throughout the day.
The town will be transformed into a community art gallery with pieces by local artists decorating many of the businesses, S.O.N.G. bringing live music to the Memorial Park Bandshell, and the Capitol Theatre hosting an intimate concert and sharing behind-the-scenes of the new musical Rez Gas written by musician Cale Crow of Alderville First Nation and Genevieve Adam. The day will also include an artisan market of over 50 vendors, wagon rides, food vendors, and a range of other free family-friendly events and surprises.
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“Our festival is one way that we’re able to celebrate and showcase Port Hope’s creative community and brings folks together for a shared experience,” says Maidens. “It also offer the chance to learn new things, drives home the importance of personal expression, and gives the opportunity to engage with the self and art forms and one another.”
For a full list of events during Port Hope Arts Festival, including a description of the plays in the 10-Minute Play Series, visit www.porthope.ca/arts-festival.
Jenish, who wrote the full-length historical play The Tilco Strike staged at 4th Line Theatre in 2023, has had a couple of 10-minute plays staged during the Port Hope Arts Festival in the past. This year, his play Let’s Play Pickleball, directed by Bea Quarrie, is about a retired couple divided on wanting to play pickleball. As well as being staged during the Port Hope Arts Festival, it will be featured during 10-Minute Sunday at the Peterborough Theatre Guild.
“It’s been great for me to try something different,” says Jenish, who is also a journalist and author. “In a 10-minute format you’re compelled to be concise, you have to establish immediately what the story is, what the issue is, and it has to be a complete story with an ending as well.”
D’Arcy Jenish is a journalist, author, playwright, and now the founder and producer of 10-Minute Sunday, a new festival in Peterborough that will see 10 original 10-minute plays staged back-to-back at the Peterborough Theatre Guild on August 10, 2025, including his play “Let’s Play Pickleball,” which will also be staged the day before during the 10-Minute Play Series at the Port Hope Arts Festival. (Photo courtesy of D’Arcy Jenish)
The plays staged during 10-Minute Sunday at the Peterborough Theatre Guild will include some of those performed at the Port Hope Arts Festival and others unique to the Peterborough stage.
In addition to Jenish’s pickleball play, they include a romantic tribute to Anthony Bourdain, commuters inadvertently driving into a Beckett play, a playwright getting a dressing down from a historian, sisters making a shocking discovery when they sort through their late mother’s belongings, a couple who ended their relationship decades before getting paired up by a blind date algorithm, a trivia host who gets an unfortunate phone call, a woman whose husband is running for mayor again, a single man attempting to meet his true love in person, and two frenemies facing off in a mock western comedy.
“We have a wonderful group of professional actors and seasoned amateurs with tons of theatre experience,” Jenish says. “The audiences for the show will be blown away by the quality of the talent on stage.”
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Jenish adds that the format is a great vehicle for people who are new to theatre or are interested in getting more involved. Similar to staged readings, the actors “get on stage and it’s pure performance,” without sets, props, and sounds to rely on.
“What I’d really like to do is cultivate some local talent and get some local young people that have aspirations to write to these plays,” he says. “It’s a great opportunity for writers, actors, and directors who want to get their feet wet in theatre.”
With tickets priced at $10 ($1 per play), Jenish adds, audiences can’t go wrong.
“That’s the cheapest ticket in town. You’re not going to find anything less expensive than that, so it’s going to be a good value for the money.”
For tickets, visit www.peterboroughtheatreguild.com or call the box office at 705-745-4211 (leave a message if the box office is closed).
Work is underway to the install the infrastructure needed for faster internet connectivity in the Municipality of Brighton. (Photo: Natalie Hamilton / kawarthaNOW)
With shovels in the ground and a spool of thick orange cable being wheeled along the Municipality of Brighton’s main street, work towards giving Northumberland County residents the option to connect to high-speed internet is moving ahead.
The current construction project brings to Northumberland County a new broadband network. Work to install the fibre optic cable underground began in Brighton’s downtown the week of July 21.
“We expect this broadband rollout, which will connect 11,000 homes and businesses, will be completed by the end of this year,” Northumberland County Warden and Municipality of Brighton Mayor Brian Ostrander recently told kawarthaNOW.
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Axle Telecom — part of a family of Canadian-owned telecommunications companies owned by Windsor Private Capital’s WPC Infrastructure Fund that also includes EH!tel Networks, Bruce Telecom, and GBTel — is constructing the network.
“As the fibre is installed, each neighbourhood will be contacted by Axle Telecom to find out if they want to sign up for fibre-to-the-home connections,” Ostrander said.
Earlier this month, the Municipality of Port Hope said the broadband project represents a major improvement for some Port Hope residents. Of the 11,000 homes and businesses eligible to gain access to high-speed internet, there are about 1,000 locations in Port Hope.
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“Community response to the project has been overwhelmingly positive,” a media release from the municipality noted.
“Consent rates from Port Hope residents agreeing to have their home or business connected to access the network have far exceeded expectations, with more than 65 per cent of qualifying addresses in Port Hope already opting in — well above the typical 20 per cent seen at this stage in similar projects.”
“Reliable internet access is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity,” Municipality of Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky said.
“We are committed to ensuring that every Port Hope home and business has the tools needed to thrive in an increasingly connected world. We also appreciate the federal and provincial commitments to see every home provided access to broadband and stand by this important goal.”
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The project partners have acknowledged that approximately 390 locations in Port Hope will not be connected in this initial rollout. They said planning is already underway for a second phase of this initiative, with Northumberland County “actively engaged in discussions with the province to expand connectivity to additional households in Port Hope and across Northumberland.”
Historically, Northumberland’s varied landscape has been noted as making access to reliable high-speed internet a challenge.
But now with agreements in place between Northumberland County, the federal and provincial governments, and Windsor Private Capital, the project is anticipated to “close the digital divide in our community,” the release stated.
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The county said crews are steadily installing fibre optic lines and completing the first property connections.
Originally announced in 2022 with a $26.6 million investment from the province and an $18.4 million from the federal government through the Universal Broadband Fund, the provincial contribution has since increased to $45.8 million, bringing the combined federal and provincial contribution to $64.2 million.
Northumberland County has also committed $700,000 towards the initiative.
Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith at the Ennismore Community Centre on July 25, 2025 where he announced an investment of $931,750 from the Ontario government to help the Township of Selwyn replace the arena's aging floor as well as refrigeration piping and the ice rink chiller. He later also announced a $1-million investment for a similar project at the Douro-Dummer Community Centre. (Photo: Office of MPP Smith / Facebook)
Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith has announced a total of over $1.9 million in provincial funding to replace the floors and other upgrades at two arenas in Peterborough County.
MPP Smith made the announcement at two separate events on Friday (July 25), first at the Ennismore Community Centre and then at the Douro-Dummer Community Centre.
The funding is part of the Ontario government’s $200 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF), a province-wide initiative intended to help communities revitalize local facilities, grow the economy, and promote active and healthy living.
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The province will invest $931,750 for the project at the Ennismore Community Centre, which will see the arena’s 54-year-old 80-by-180 foot concrete floor replaced as well as refrigeration piping and the ice rink chiller.
“It’s more than just replacing a 54-year-old ice surface — it’s about securing the future of a vital community hub,” MPP Smith said in a media release. “This funding ensures that local sports teams, recreational skaters, and community groups will continue to have a modern, safe, and accessible facility for decades to come.”
Selwyn Township mayor Sherry Senis thanked the Ontario government for recognizing the importance of the project, saying the Ennismore Community Centre is “more than just an arena.”
“It’s a gathering place for residents of all ages,” she said. “This funding will help preserve and modernize an essential facility that supports health, wellness, and community connection.”
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For the Douro-Dummer Community Centre, the province will invest $1 million to replace the arena’s aging ice surface with one that is more energy-efficient, as well as to install in-floor heating to enable year-round use of the arena, reducing operational costs and environmental impacts.
“This critical upgrade will significantly reduce operational costs and create a vibrant, accessible space that will serve as the heart of our community for generations to come,” MPP Smith said.
Douro-Dummer Township mayor Heather Watson also thanked the Ontario government, adding the province’s investment in the arena is the “largest commitment to its future since the day it was built” 45 years ago.
“This funding will allow us to preserve and enhance a place that brings our community together,” she said.
According to the province, CSRIF is an application-based program providing a $200 million investment over two years for municipalities, Indigenous communities, and non-profit organizations that are repairing and rehabilitating existing sport and recreation facilities and spaces or building new or transformative sport and recreation infrastructure.
Every Friday during swimming season, we post The Beach Report™ — our weekly report of the results of water quality testing at beaches in the greater Kawarthas region — and update it throughout the week as conditions change.
As of Thursday, July 31 at 12 p.m., the following beaches are unsafe for swimming:
Jones Beach in Bridgenorth
Lakefield Park in Lakefield
Rotary Head Lake Beach in Dysart et al (Haliburton County)
Caldwell Street Beach in Port Hope
In addition, as of July 3, Peterborough Public Health has received multiple reports of residents experiencing swimmer’s itch, a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to infection with certain parasites of birds and mammals, after swimming at White’s Beach in Trent Lakes. For more information and precautions, visit the Swimmer’s Itch page on the health unit’s website.
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Below are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in the City and County of Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, Northumberland County, and Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White’s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.
As of 2025, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health provides weekly testing results for only six designated public beaches in Hastings County and Prince Edward County. It no longer regularly samples another 13 beaches due to historically low occurrence of high bacteria levels.
During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E. coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like the beach at Roger’s Cove in Peterborough’s East City, are tested every business day while most other beaches are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Important note
The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.
You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.
Cobourg real estate agent Tony Pulla, a longtime signature sponsor of Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation's "Wine & Ale in the Park" fundraiser in Cobourg and supporter of the foundation for more than 20 years, was presented with a white "Doctor of Philanthropy" jacket during the event on June 26, 2025 at Cobourg's Victoria Park, which raised a record $42,000 for the foundation. (Photo: Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation / Facebook)
Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) Foundation is toasting the record-breaking success of a recent wine and ale fundraising event for the hospital that serves the west end of Northumberland County.
The foundation is sharing the results of Wine & Ale in the Park, held in late June in Cobourg’s Victoria Park, which raised $42,000 — the highest total in the event’s history.
“The success of this event is a true reflection of the generosity and spirit of our community,” said NHH Foundation events specialist Courtney Ker in a media release. “We’re deeply grateful for the incredible partnerships that make this possible, from our sponsors and vendors to every person who showed up to support.
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Held on June 26, the fundraiser saw guests gather to sample food and drinks from 11 local vendors, both returning supporters and new additions to the event.
This year, the NHH Foundation recognized Cobourg real estate agent Tony Pulla with a “Doctor of Philanthropy” award in celebration of his commitment as the signature sponsor for a decade and his “unwavering support for more than 20 years,” according to NHH Foundation CEO Rhonda Cunningham.
“We’re so proud to be part of a community that continually shows up for our hospital,” Cunningham said.
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Funds raised through Wine & Ale in the Park will help NHH continue to care for the growing Northumberland community by funding medical equipment and technology.
Cunningham told kawarthaNOW the NHH Foundation’s goal is to raise almost $6 million this year.
“Proceeds raised from Wine & Ale will be directed in support of this larger objective,” she said.
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The NHH Foundation is also expressing its appreciation for the Lions Club of Cobourg, which provided at no charge the use of their tent for the event.
“Beyond offering their tent, the Lions went above and beyond, volunteering their time throughout the evening to help with set-up, clean-up, and even serving as our beverage team,” Ker said.
“We’re incredibly grateful for their continued support and community spirit.”
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In addition to Pulla, Sydney Fairman and Trenholm Parker of the Sydney Fairman Group returned as the exclusive beverage sponsor for the evening.
Elliott Insurance Services, Quantrill Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac, Nikolovsky Wealth Management – BMO Private Wealth, Assante Wealth Management, LeBlanc Enterprises, Stadtke Plumbing and Heating, Milner Financial supported the event’s success as station sponsors and Defined Design joined as the mocktail sponsor.
For upcoming events and additional ways to support NHH, visit the foundation’s website at nhhfoundation.ca.
Veteran Toronto-based indie rock band By Divine Right, led by guitarist and vocalist José Miguel Contreras and whose former members include Broken Social Scene's Brendan Canning and Feist, is performing at The John at Sadleir House in Peterborough on Friday night with openers Valleyspeak and Jenina MacGillivray. (Photo: Bob Cliofi)
Every Thursday, kawarthaNOW publishes live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that musicians provide directly or that venues post on their websites or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, July 24 to Wednesday, July 30.
If you’re a musician or venue owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, email our nightlifeNOW editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com. For concerts and live music events at other venues, check out our Concerts & Live Music page.
With the exception of karaoke, we only list events with performing musicians. Venues may also host other events during the week (e.g., dancing, DJs, comedy shows).
A thunderstorm over Bobcaygeon in Kawartha Lakes in May 2022. (Photo: Jay Callaghan / CalTek Design)
Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for most of the Kawarthas region for Thursday evening (July 24).
The severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, Northumberland County, and Hastings Highlands.
Conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing damaging wind gusts up to 110 km/h, torrential rainfall with amounts possibly in excess of 50 mm, and nickel-sized hail.
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Significant damage to property, buildings, and trees is possible, along with power outages.
Be prepared for severe weather. If threatening weather approaches, take cover in a basement or interior room. If outside, protect yourself from flying debris and hail.
Heavy rain can cause flash flooding and significant reductions to visibility. Strong wind gusts can damage trees, buildings and overturn vehicles.
This story has been updated with the latest forecast from Environment Canada.
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.
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