Five Counties Children's Centre recreation therapist Caitlin Ivany and Peterborough Youth Basketball Association diversity coordinator Joseph Hays pose with one of this spring's JumpBall participants. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children's Centre)
Every month, Five Counties Children’s Centre provides a story about the work of the charitable organization. This month’s story is by Bill Eekhof, Communications Coordinator, Five Counties Children’s Centre.
Shouts, laughter, and sounds of bouncing basketballs and squeaky sneakers echo through the school gym, as a group of youth shoot, dribble, and pass.
March Madness is often associated with basketball, but in Peterborough — at least on this May day — a hoops version of ‘May mania’ is evident at James Strath Public School.
“You’re at this end, and you’re going to throw the ball here,” instructs Joseph Hays, of the Peterborough Youth Basketball Association (PYBA), as he directs participants in the JumpBall program on where to stand for a basketball passing drill.
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Launched two years ago, JumpBall is an introductory basketball and game experience for kids and youth with exceptionalities, including those with physical, intellectual, or developmental needs. Run in partnership between the PYBA and Five Counties Children’s Centre, the program is opening doors to a sport which many kids might not otherwise play.
“It just doesn’t get any better when, at the end of the JumpBall session, a player — red in the face from working hard — leaves with a smile and offers a volunteer a high five,” says Hays, the PYBA’s diversity coordinator.
JumpBall lets participants have fun, enjoy physical activity, make friends, and learn and practise basketball skills. Over the six-week program, JumpBall participants get to work with a volunteer ‘buddy’ to shoot hoops, enjoy free play, and take part in group skill-building sessions that focus on shooting, passing, and other aspects of the game.
A JumpBall participant takes his best shot at the basket during a shoot-around session held this spring. JumpBall is a partnership between the Peterborough Youth Basketball Association and Five Counties Children’s Centre and provides a basketball and game experience for kids with exceptionalities. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children’s Centre)
In early June, JumpBall wrapped up its second season, growing in popularity and participation.
“I enjoy playing at James Strath …I just love playing here, it’s so much fun,” says Elliott, one of roughly two dozen youth between the ages of seven and 17 who took part this spring.
Melissa, whose daughter took part in JumpBall for the first time, calls it “an amazing program” and “an awesome experience” for all involved.
“My daughter just loved it so much, meeting new friends (and) learning the love of the game,” says Melissa. “As a parent, it has been amazing to watch.”
According to Caitlin Ivany, a recreation therapist at Five Counties, the JumpBall partnership with the PYBA demonstrates how community groups can work together to break down barriers to sport.
“Everyone deserves the right to sport, especially kids with exceptionalities,” says Ivany. “So when we are able to provide these opportunities, it’s a really big part of their development.”
To boost access and accommodate youth with exceptionalities, some of the basketball rules and equipment have been modified for JumpBall participants. The length of the court can be shortened to break down physical barriers to players. User-friendly balls — softer and bouncier versions — may be used to help build player confidence so they feel more comfortable using a real basketball. For a participant using a wheelchair, a specialized sports chair was provided to boost mobility and make manoeuvring faster and easier.
The JumpBall program introduces kids with exceptionalities to basketball, helping them enjoy a sport they might not otherwise try. Here, participants take part in a group skill-building sessions in which they practise bounce passes to each other. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children’s Centre)
“It’s amazing to see the growth of kids over the six weeks,” says Ivany. “Participants who may have been shy and quiet at the beginning are much more open, comfortable, and engaged as the weeks go on.”
For his part, Hays is hopeful JumpBall and similar programs “send a positive message to all other sports organizations — whenever and wherever possible, include kids who are equally deserving of access to sports, but are too often not invited to participate.”
A net result that’s worth shooting for, especially if it gets more kids in the game!
A lifelong lover of nature and photography, Ennismore resident Linda Kassil is the creative eye behind Kawartha Kaptures Photography. From wildlife to waterscapes and landscapes, Kassil never stops aiming to capture the beauty of the Kawarthas. In addition to her own pieces, she offers services including product, rental property, and custom photo shoots. Pictured is Kassil's photograph "The Happy Place," which she took at Nogies Creek between Buckhorn and Bobcaygeon. (Photo: Linda Kassil / Kawartha Kaptures Photography)
Whether you want a keepsake of a trip to the region, want to document your favourite lookout spot, or need photos for your local business, Kawartha Kaptures Photography does exactly what its name suggests: captures the essence of the Kawarthas.
Through her business, Ennismore photographer Linda Kassil combines her three greatest passions: her camera, nature, and her home in the Kawarthas.
Though an avid hiker and adventurer who picked up photography from a young age, Kassil had no intention of turning the hobby into a professional business until she retired and moved to Chemong Lake. There, with more time on her hands and more time spent in nature, she was encouraged by friends to sell her photos.
Today, Kawartha Kaptures Photography offers a collection of services to help customers preserve their own memories of the Kawarthas. Available as canvas prints, framed photos, and greeting cards, Kassil’s photos explore nature through waterscapes, landscapes, wildlife, plant life, and more.
Have a special spot in the Kawarthas or want to capture the exact view from your cottage dock? Kassil can be booked for custom photo shoots to give customers a one-of-a-kind memory of their favourite places.
“Family Love” by Linda Kassil of Kawartha Kaptures Photography is one of her best-selling photos and her own personal favourite. Kassil’s work will be available to view and purchase at Lakefield’s The Nutty Bean Café from July 2 to 31, 2024. (Photo: Linda Kassil / Kawartha Kaptures Photography)
Kassil also offers product photography services for small local businesses such as garden centres, and can be booked for photo shoots for rental properties across the Kawarthas.
“Photos are the first thing that people look at when they want to book a rental property and if they don’t like what they see, they’re going to move on,” Kassil says. “You want photos that really show off the beauty of the property.”
Photo shoots can be booked by the hour, or can be done in exchange for a night spent in the accommodation. The latter will give Kassil the chance to capture the property at all times of the day, optimizing the lighting and maybe even capturing the local wildlife. As part of the service, Kassil will post the photos and a review of her favourite aspects of the rental to her social media channels, which will help the listing reach a larger audience.
From July 2 to 31 at The Nutty Bean Café in Lakefield, you can browse and buy a range of Kawartha Kaptures Photography’s summer-themed canvas and framed photos.
Know Your Locals™ is a branded editorial feature about locally owned independent businesses and locally operated organizations, and supported by them. If your business or organization is interested in being featured in a future “Know Your Locals” branded editorial, contact Jeannine Taylor at 705-742-6404 or jt@kawarthanow.com or visit our Advertise with kawarthaNOW page.
Peterborough Public Health is advising residents to make sure they are up to date with immunizations after multiple cases of pertussis have been reported to the health unit over the past week.
Commonly called whooping cough, pertussis is a bacterial respiratory infection spread through contact with droplets produced by an infected person’s sneeze or cough.
Some of the pertussis cases in the community have been lined to local schools, according to the health unit.
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“The school setting is a pathogen’s dream, as there are many people gathering in close proximity who may not be vaccinated or up to date on their pertussis vaccine,” says medical officer of health Dr. Thomas Piggott in a media release.
Dr. Piggott is advising residents to get vaccinated and not let “your summer get spoiled,” as coughing can last for one to two months.
Early symptoms include mild cold symptoms such as runny nose, mild fever, and a cough. After one or two weeks, a persistent cough may be accompanied by a “whooping” sound when breathing in. People may also experience difficulty breathing and even vomiting due to the extreme cough.
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Anyone experiencing these symptoms should isolate themselves immediately and reach out to their health care provider for guidance on seeking treatment. People at greatest risk of severe illness include infants under the age of one and pregnant women.
The best way to prevent getting sick with pertussis is to be immunized against it. Peterborough Public Health is advising residents to review their immunization records with their health care provider or online if available and receive a pertussis vaccine if overdue.
Booster doses for pertussis should occur at age 14 to 16, once as an adult, and during each pregnancy. Contact your health care provider to receive a pertussis immunization. Those without a health care provider can the health unit’s routine immunization clinic at 705-743-1000 est. 331 to book an appointment.
Fronted by the veteran Canadian musician, Ken Tizzard and Music for Goats performs at Capers Tap House in Campbellford on Saturday night. (Photo via Ken Tizzard website)
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, June 20 to Wednesday, June 26.
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).
Tuesday, July 2 8pm - Tuned Up Tuesdays ft Boogie Time Ramblers ($10 cover show only, $49 for BBQ & show, $25 for children 3-12, reservations required)
A rendering of improvements that will result from the reconstruction of Walton Street in downtown Port Hope. The municipality is redirecting 75 per cent of the ticket revenue collected through parking enforcement between May 1 and November 1 to the Heritage Business Improvement Area to support downtown aesthetic projects and events during the ongoing reconstruction. (Rendering: Municipality of Port Hope)
The Municipality of Port Hope is investing the bulk of money generated from parking tickets into efforts that beautify the downtown and support upcoming events in the downtown core.
Port Hope recently announced that 75 per cent of the ticket revenue collected from parking enforcement between May 1 and November 1 in the municipality will be reallocated to the Heritage Business Improvement Area (HBIA). The initiative aims to support downtown aesthetic projects and events during the ongoing reconstruction of Walton Street.
The move reflects the municipality’s commitment to maintain a vibrant and welcoming downtown area, a media release noted. The HBIA will use the money to further enhance the appeal of streetscapes and to organize community events that attract visitors and support local businesses.
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“The decision to allocate a portion of parking ticket revenue to the HBIA is a strategic step to help our downtown thrive during the construction period,” said Municipality of Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky.
“The goal is to balance the community’s needs with regulations to keep the downtown area active. By investing in beautification and events, we are not only supporting our local businesses but also enhancing the overall experience for residents and visitors. This initiative reflects our commitment to maintaining a lively and inviting downtown Port Hope.”
The historic downtown in the west Northumberland community is in the midst of an overhaul with the Walton Street reconstruction project, which involves making improvements to old water mains and sanitary sewers and expanding capacity for storm sewers that have become inadequate over time.
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The first phase of the reconstruction, completed in 2023, involved the section of Walton Street stretching from Pine Street to Church Street. The second phase of the work encompasses the portion of Walton Street from Cavan Street to Queen Street.
Earlier this spring, the municipality officially kicked off the project with a groundbreaking ceremony downtown, which brought together residents, business owners, and municipal officials to mark the formal start of the major infrastructure improvements.
The construction began in April and continues through to November.
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During this time, the municipality asks residents and visitors who drive downtown to consider parking at designated lots outside of the immediate downtown area and to use the temporarily free transit services to navigate around the downtown area.
Port Hope hopes that approach will help alleviate the challenge of finding parking during the reconstruction and peak tourism times.
In regards to parking fines, the municipality said the enforcement “is essential to maintaining the flow of traffic and ensuring that parking spaces remain available for those shopping or supporting downtown businesses,” the release noted.
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“Converting designated paid parking to free parking throughout the downtown would result in prolonged occupation of parking spots,” the municipality explained. “Maintaining normal/existing paid parking encourages the movement of cars throughout the day, increasing parking availability and convenience for patrons. This approach is backed by past experience, similar main street redevelopment projects in other communities, and ongoing support from the HBIA.”
Free parking remains available in the Cavan Street lot, Town Hall lot, and Elias Street lot. No free parking spaces have been eliminated as part of the Walton Street reconstruction project, the municipality noted.
For more parking information and/or to learn more about the Walton Street project, visit porthope.ca/walton.
For the 11th year, the not-for-profit Kawartha Potters' Guild is hosting "Clay & Play" week-long summer day camps for children ages 7 to 12 years of all skill levels. The camps will run every week from early July until the second week of August, featuring hours of clay work, outdoor exploration, and games and activities. There will also be two higher-intensity camps for teens during the summer. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Potters' Guild)
For parents, grandparents, and guardians searching for a creative outlet for their little ones this summer, the Kawartha Potters’ Guild has just the thing, and spots are filling up fast.
Exactly as it sounds, the Clay & Play summer day camps invite kids aged seven to 12 to spend a full week immersing themselves in the world of clay while interacting with other creatives, learning from knowledgeable leaders, and engaging in other activities and outdoor play.
With the first week of July and August reserved for teens aged 12 to 17, the day camps run independently each week from July 15 until the second week of August at the Kawartha Potters’ Guild in Peterborough (993 Talwood Drive at the Kingswood Life Centre). The camps run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, with extended hours available.
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“It’s one thing to watch a YouTube video or a television show, but it’s another thing to do it yourself,” says Karina Bates, chair of the Kawartha Potters’ Guild. “It’s nice to do it in a way where you’ve got someone to help you through the rough spots and give you tips about how to do it properly.”
Founded in 1993, the Kawartha Potters’ Guild is a not-for-profit organization promoting the art and craft of ceramics through presentations, membership, workshops, exhibitions, and a pottery shop that is currently filled with work from over 40 local potters and artisans.
Running for the 11th year, this summer’s camps are led by two experienced Guild members, Mackenzie Barker (Mack’s Mugs Pottery) and Katie Brazeau.
As members of the Kawartha Potters’ Guild, a not-for-profit supporting the art and craft of ceramics, Mackenzie Barker of Mack’s Mugs Pottery and Katie Brazeau will be the counsellors leading the week-long summer day camps running from July until the second week of August in 2024. (Photos courtesy of Kawartha Potters’ Guild)
“The two of them are both enthusiastic and have great ideas,” says Bates. “And we’re very fortunate that one of our more senior members in terms of experience, Darlene Malcolm-Moran, is going to be working with the counsellors to develop some new projects and activities for the kids to do.”
With a limit of eight participants in each camp to ensure one-on-one guidance from counsellors, the first three days in each week are the most “clay-intensive” as all projects must be prepared for the kiln by Wednesday night.
Thursdays are typically more craft-focused with activities and games, while Friday is dedicated to finishing touches on the ceramics, where participants can paint and decorate the pieces that come out of the kiln. There will also be intermittent walks to the local park behind the Guild to “inspire creativity and encourage fun.”
“How the day is structured is entirely up to the counsellors because we recognize that the dynamic for each group of kids is different,” says Bates, noting that given the age range, sometimes a week will end up with a predominantly younger or older group. “Sometimes you get a total mix and that can radically change the actual dynamic of how the kids are working together, what their energy levels are, or whether they need to burn off some steam. So, the counsellors plan their days accordingly.”
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For the short week after the Civic holiday, from Tuesday, August 6th to Friday, August 9th, the Kawartha Potters’ Guild is hosting a summer day camp specifically for teens aged 12 to 17. Running only half the day from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the teen camp is more “high intensity” with a focus only on clay rather than other crafts and games.
“It’s for those teens who are really interested in just learning more, and digging down,” says Bates. “The teens are fascinating because I find that while our counsellors try and provide more projects or more complex projects, the teens spend an awful lot of time working on the details of their pieces, trying to make it as perfect as they want it to be.”
With only one spot left in the August teen camp as of the publication date of this story, the Guild is now offering a second week for teens from Monday, July 8th to Thursday, July 11th, replacing one of the kids’ camps originally scheduled for that week.
The Clay & Play summer day camps held at the Kawartha Potters’ Guild are limited to just eight campers each, to ensure children are given plenty of one-on-one learning time with the knowledgeable counsellors. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Potters’ Guild)
All camps are beginner-friendly and inclusive to all experience levels, though oftentimes the teen camps include those who have aged out of the kids’ camps. The camps are inclusive to kids with developmental and physical challenges, and guardians are encouraged to reach out to the Guild to specify needs of accommodations.
“There is no requirement for any previous clay or frankly any art experience at all,” says Bates. “We are looking to teach kids that are interested in the arts, and we are quite willing to work with them and whatever their skill levels are.”
Bates suggests that pottery, though not as common as other art activities for children, is a great art form for kids because of the hands-on engagement it requires.
“Clay is much more physical, three-dimensional expression of art than most others, and I find that a lot of children really like working with their hands,” she explains. “Many like getting their hands dirty and they like playing in the mud, so there is an opportunity for clay to become a real expression for them.”
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Bates notes that one particular pinch pot clay project is always a favourite.
“We’ve had kids who have really gravitated to that project again and again and again because they can do so many different things and they get an awful lot out of just being able to express themselves that way,” she says.
Despite the engagement the Guild sees from the campers (“There’s a lot of laughter,” Bates says), many children don’t have the access to ceramics outside of opportunities like these camps.
The Clay & Play summer day camps held at the Kawartha Potters’ Guild expose children to an expressive art form that may not be available to them at school, allowing them to work with their hands to create original artwork while having fun. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Potters’ Guild
“Many schools have gotten rid of their equipment, and they deal mostly with standard forms of art like painting and drawing,” says Bates. “This is an opportunity for kids who have not been exposed to a completely different art form than they might find in their local schools.”
For adults looking to spend some time with clay between their fingers, the Kawartha Potters’ Guild is still hosting their flex clay classes in the evenings throughout the summer so as not to interfere with the summer camps. Regular class sessions will pick up again in September.
Kerrie Magnus and Janie Kelly of the Teachers for Kids Foundation with a cheque for $10,000, surrounded by members of the 100 Women Peterborough collective philanthropy group, who selected the charity to receive member donations at the group's meeting on June 18, 2024 at Ashburnham Funeral Home & Reception Centre in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of 100 Women Peterborough)
At its second meeting of 2024, 100 Women Peterborough has chosen the Teachers For Kids Foundation to receive a donation of $10,000 that will support the charity dedicated to addressing the needs of students facing financial hardship.
The collective philanthropy group, which has now grown to 114 members, met on Tuesday (June 19) at Ashburnham Funeral Home & Reception Centre in Peterborough.
At each of its quarterly meetings, 100 Women Peterborough hears presentations from three non-profit organizations randomly drawn from a larger list of organizations nominated by the group’s members. Each member commits to donating $100, and the organization that gets the most member votes receives the collective donations.
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The three organizations that presented to 100 Women Peterborough at June’s meeting were Teachers For Kids, One City Peterborough, and Public Energy Performing Arts, with Teachers For Kids chosen by majority vote to receive member donations.
“I am thrilled to share the lengths that this donation would bring about for girls in the community and would enhance their lives in the Peterborough-area KPR schools by letting these budding minds participate in life-changing STEM programs, helping them break free from the cycle of poverty and financial constraints,” said Kerrie Magnus of Teachers For Kids in a media release from 100 Women Peterborough.
Founded in 1986, the Teachers for Kids Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to addressing the needs of students facing financial hardship. The foundation provides crucial support for various necessities, including sports club registrations, sports equipment, meals to support academic progress and medical and personal needs.
Members of 100 Women Peterborough at the collective philanthropy group’s meeting on June 18, 2024 at Ashburnham Funeral Home & Reception Centre in Peterborough. Since its formation in 2018, 100 Women Peterborough has collectively donated over $200,000 to 24 local charitable organizations. Following a restructuring of the group in 2024, 100 Women Peterborough has increased the number of members to 114. (Photo courtesy of 100 Women Peterborough)
According to the release, Teachers for Kids plans to use the donated funds to support dozens of female students, “enabling them to pursue their dreams and meet essential needs. This substantial contribution will make a significant impact on the lives of these students, fostering a supportive environment for their academic and personal growth.”
“The donation will surely make a significant difference, opening doors to college, university, and careers and fostering a brighter future for these young girls and women,” added Janie Kelly of Teachers for Kids. “Together we can help shape a better tomorrow and we are extremely happy to receive a gracious donation from the women of our community.”
Since its formation in 2018, 100 Women Peterborough has collectively donated over $200,000 to 24 local organizations: YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, Vinnies Peterborough, Hospice Peterborough, Peterborough Youth Unlimited, One Roof Warming Room, New Canadians Centre, Cameron House, Five Counties Children’s Centre, Casa De Angelae, Lakefield Animal Welfare Society, Community Care Peterborough, Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, Community Counselling and Resource Centre, Peterborough Pregnancy Support Services, Heads Up for Inclusion, Kawartha Youth Orchestra, Peterborough GreenUP, Bridges Peterborough, YMCA Strong Communities, Homeward Bound Peterborough, Good Neighbours Care Centre and Food Bank, PARN – Your Community AIDS Resource Network, Camp Kawartha, and the Teachers For Kids Foundation.
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“Together, our dedicated giving group is supporting a local charity uplifting students in our community, proving that collective generosity can transform futures and create lasting change,” said Wendy Hill, a founding member of 100 Women Peterborough.
100 Women Peterborough is part of a growing collective philanthropy movement that began in the United States in November 2006, when Karen Dunigan of Michigan formed the “100 Women Who Care” group. After their first meeting, those women raised over $10,000 for the purchase of 300 new baby cribs for a local organization. The movement has grown over the past 18 years to include groups of men, women, youth, and children around the world, with hundreds of chapters in Canada alone.
For more information about 100 Women Peterborough, visit www.100womenptbo.ca.
Peterborough GreenUP's Summer Ride Club is a self-directed program that encourages families to cycle together with a series of challenges each week during the summer, and offers a grand prize for those who participate. (Photo: Jessica Todd / GreenUP)
School is almost out for summer and parents everywhere are looking for activities to keep their kids active and engaged.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Ashley Burnie, Program Coordinator, GreenUP.
For those families, GreenUP has some exciting news: our family-friendly Summer Ride Club program is returning for its second year! After an amazing response from kids and families in 2023, we are looking forward to another summer of fun, sun, and biking adventures.
Summer Ride Club is a self-directed program that invites participants to complete nine unique club challenges throughout the summer and offers a grand prize for those who participate. Families and kids are invited to embark on a new challenge for each week of summer, explore new places, and document their experiences in the Summer Ride Club passport.
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The passport features destination ideas, bike safety tips, and space to record your biking journey and the distance travelled, like a journal. The challenges are designed to be open ended and inclusive, allowing people of all ages and skill levels to participate, in any area of Peterborough.
Challenges include “Pedal to a Playground”, “Bike to a Beach”, or “Bike to a Buddy”, and our passport features a safety tip or information along with each challenge to help families have a successful ride.
Summer Ride Club participants who submit their passports to GreenUP before August 27 will be entered into a grand prize draw for a $750 gift card for a bike shop of their choice: B!KE, Fontaine Source for Sport, or Wild Rock Outfitters.
“Bike to a beach” is one of the Summer Ride Club challenges. The featured beach is at Beavermead Park, located off the Trans Canada trail. The beach’s water is tested for E. Coli every business day by Peterborough Public Health and the beach features city lifeguards and nearby public restrooms. (Photo: Natalie Stephenson / GreenUP)
The Sport and Fitness Industry Association reports that, over the last 10 years, the number of kids from ages 6 to 17 who rode a bike at least 25 times a year fell by one million. Some reasons cited for this decline included parents’ fear of kids riding alone and a lack of protected bike riding lanes or trails.
To address these barriers, Summer Ride Club encourages families and kids to ride together, and older kids to ride with trusted friends.
The program also helps introduce kids and families to the many places to explore in the Peterborough area this summer that are accessible by bike. Our suggested destinations are along or nearby dedicated bikeways and separated multi-use trails.
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Planning the safest route with a trusted adult or biking buddy is encouraged and helps support young riders to develop spatial orientation, gain confidence, and become safer and more competent cyclists. Cycling is not only a fun, inexpensive, and energizing summer activity, but it also helps set kids up for a healthier lifestyle as they grow into adults.
Club participants can complete their Summer Ride Club rides in any order and at their own pace. There are options for everyone to ride, whether cruising through familiar neighbourhood spaces or pedalling to new places. Participants are invited to use the QR codes in the passport to specifically highlight cycling infrastructure or to select the “biking” layer on Google Maps.
Don’t live in Peterborough? You can still participate and make the challenges and destinations your own. Choose local, parks, beaches, and bridges that you can start a few kilometres away from, and bike a portion of the way to your destination.
“Bike to a playground” is one of the Summer Ride Club challenges. The featured playground destination is the naturalized playscape at Ecology Park just beside Beavermead Park. (Photo: Jessica Todd / GreenUP)
The Summer Ride Club program’s official kick-off is at the New Canadians Centre’s 45th Anniversary Block Party (part of the Canadian Multicultural Festival) on Friday, June 28th from 2 to 6 p.m. and you are invited. Attendees can register for the club and take a spin in the bike playground.
Join the club and feel excited and supported to ride bikes all summer long. Passports will be available at the GreenUP Store and Resource Centre, Ecology Park’s Native Plant and Tree Nursery, and B!KE.
Musician Calvin Bakelaar (left) was named as the Peterborough Folk Festival's 2024 Emerging Artist at an event at Nicholls Oval Park on June 19, 2024. Also pictured, from left to right, are artist Brooklin Stormie with her festival poster design, festival board chair Rob Davis, board secretary Rebecca Schillemat, and board treasurer Krissy Edwards. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
Being in very good company is never a bad thing.
That’s exactly where Peterborough singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Calvin Bakelaar found himself Wednesday afternoon (June 19) when he was announced as the Peterborough Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist of the Year.
First presented in 2001 to Serena Ryder, the distinction that recognizes emerging local talent has since been presented to the likes of James McKenty, Beau Dixon, Melissa Payne, Dylan Ireland and, last year, co-recipients Amelia “Irish Millie” Shadgett and Nicholas Campbell.
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The Emerging Artist reveal was one of several festival-related announcements made at Nicholls Oval Park where, in less than two months, the 35th edition of the festival will again bring live music fans and families out for the free-admission festival weekend of August 17 and 18.
Bakelaar, who goes by the stage name of VanCamp, performed his original song “This Old Town” at the event. He earlier told kawarthaNOW that to be among those honoured with the distinction is special.
“You look at that list (of past recipients) and you see the names and you’re like ‘Yeah, I really look up to these people.’ It’s really cool to be on that list … one of those career moments where you just can kind of sit and reflect and say ‘This is really neat.'”
VIDEO: “This Old Town” by Calvin Bakelaar aka Vancamp
“Peterborough is a really special city in that we have a massive amount of musical talent but we also have these free concerts we get to attend,” Bakelaar said. “Folk Fest brings out this high-quality lineup every year, but it also fosters this really great sense of community.”
As this year’s Emerging Artist, Bakelaar will perform as VanCamp at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on Thursday, August 15th, when he will open for festival kick-off act Wild Rivers. In addition, he’ll join festival organizers at the 2024 Folk Music Ontario Conference October 3 to 6 in Mississauga.
Originally a drummer, the Listowel native — he moved to Peterborough in 2015 — learned to play guitar and write songs in 2020. As VanCamp, he subsequently released two EPs: 523 in 2022 and Camper Van in 2023.
In September 2021, Bakelaar was judged the winner of the third edition of the Don Skuce Memorial Music Collective songwriting competition on the strength of his submitted original song “November,” which was subsequently mixed and mastered by Peterborough native and Grammy Award-winning producer Greg Wells in his Los Angeles studio.
According to festival chair Rob Davis, the festival received and considered “about a dozen really strong submissions” before settling on Bakelaar.
“He’s going to resonate very well (with festival attendees), opening for Wild Rivers and here at the festival as well,” said Davis. “He’s so well spoken and assured. He’s at a point in his career where he understands and appreciates what this award can do to help support him.”
As the Peterborough Folk Festival’s 2024 Emerging Artist, Calvin Bakelaar, who goes by the stage name of VanCamp, will perform at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on August 15, 2024, when he will open for festival kick-off act Wild Rivers. (Photo: Justin Carriere)
While the Emerging Artist announcement was a major focus of Wednesday’s media event, Davis had plenty more to share, confirming a number of artists.
Jumping off the list is 2024 Canadian Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee and Blue Rodeo co-singer Greg Keelor, who will close out the festival on Sunday, August 18th. He’ll be joined on the Miskin Law main stage by Melissa Payne and Brooks & Bowskill (St. Catherine’s Brittany Brooks and Bailieboro’s Jimmy Bowskill, who are now both living in Cobourg).
Other artists scheduled to perform at varying times on the festival’s three stages — besides the Miskin Law main stage, there’s the Cameron’s Pavilion Stage and the Generation Solar Stage — are listed below.
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Winnipeg’s Boy Golden (folk/bluegrass/American/pop)
Southern Italian electronic/folk band Kalascima joined by multiple Canadian Folk Music Award nominee Andrea Ramolo
Jadea Kelly, who’s described by CBC’s Tom Powers as ‘one of the shining jewels in the crown of Canadian songwriters’
Meredith Moon, who combines folk-punk influences with a traditional Appalachian sound
Juno Award-nominated children’s music artists Sonshine and Broccoli
Storyteller and hip-hop ‘junkie’ Odario Williams, the host of CBC Radio’s Afterdark
Three-time Canadian Folk Music Award nominee Polky, who blends traditional Polish music with world sounds
Newfoundland American folk-pop duo Quote The Raven
Mississaugas of the Credit member Mr. Sauga performing ‘hip-hop stylings from an Indigenous perspective’
Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg scholar, writer, and artist Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, who ‘breaks open the intersections between politics, story and song’
Brooks & Bowskill
Sharon and Randi leading a Sharon, Lois, and Bram sing-along to open the festival on Saturday, August 17th.
The Peterborough Folk Festival’s 35th anniversary poster was designed by artist Brooklin Stormie. The 2024 festival kicks off with ticketed concerts on August 15 and 16, followed the free-admission festival at Nicholls Oval Park on August 17 and 18. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
If this isn’t enough music for you, another wave of performers will be announced on July 22 — including the headliner for the main stage on August 17 and festival-connected acts that will perform at downtown Peterborough venues on August 16.
Davis said securing local musicians for the festival remains a priority, noting 12 of last year’s 30 acts were local.
“We’re really proud of that,” he said, adding “It provides them a chance to perform here at the festival before some of the biggest audiences they’ll get to perform for all year.”
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Noting “It’s not a free festival to put on, it’s a free festival to attend,” Davis says it costs $200,000 to stage the festival — more than half of that amount for artist fees.
He acknowledged the financial support of all three levels of government and businesses, noting the behind-the-scenes efforts of a number of volunteers, including board members like Rebecca Schillemat and Krissy Edwards who were also at the June 19th reveal, are huge.
“Leading up to the festival, we meet every two weeks and then come away with a ton of action items to make sure that everything lands as it should,” said Davis of the festival board. “We started preparing for this festival about two weeks after last year’s festival in terms of organizing the money and that sort of stuff.”
The audience at Nicholls Oval Park for a performance by Dan Mangan during the 2023 Peterborough Folk Festival. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Folk Festival)
“Now we’re down to two months and it’s starting to get real in terms of making all the last arrangements, signing the last contracts, and making a million phone calls to make sure everything actually gets here to the park and where it needs to be,” Davis added. “It’s an exciting time.”
In the meantime, the festival is still seeking volunteers. For information on how to volunteer, as well as how to get involved as an artist, vendor, donor or supporter, visit www.peterboroughfolkfest.com.
The full lineup when announced, with dates and performances, will be available there as well.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a sustaining partner of the Peterborough Folk Festival.
Located south of Bobcaygeon on Pigeon Lake, Gamiing Nature Centre invites visitors to learn from, explore, and connect with nature through events, camps, workshops, and up to seven kilometre of trails across forests and wetlands. The not-for-profit charity is hosting the Summer Solstice Festival for their 25th anniversary on June 22, 2024, complete with games, vendors, a silent auction, and live entertainment. (Photo courtesy of Gamiing Nature Centre)
It’s easy to hear the excitement in Mieke Schipper’s voice when she talks about the past 25 years she has spent nurturing the Gamiing Nature Centre into the bountiful and biologically diverse environmental education centre that it is today.
“There are so many wonderful moments,” she says. “It’s hard to think of the best.”
Schipper and the team at Gamiing Nature Centre, which is located east of Lindsay and south of Bobcaygeon, will be reflecting on some of these wonderful moments when the not-for-profit charity organization hosts the Summer Solstice Festival in honour of the 25-year anniversary.
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From 1 to 9 p.m. on Saturday (June 22), the Pigeon Lake property will be transformed into a celebration with vendors, games, food trucks, a silent auction, and a wide range of entertainment. Admission is by donation.
“We wanted to do something that would appeal to everyone — kids, adults, and everyone in between,” says Schipper.
Supported by donations, Gamiing Nature Centre — whose name means “at the shore” in the Ojibwe language (Anishinaabemowin) — offers 100 acres of wetlands, forests, and shoreline available for visitors to walk seven kilometres of recreational trails and learn from nature and art-based workshops. The property is also home to the Discovery Shack which offers hands-on, interactive learning opportunities, and an event venue called the “The Hayloft.”
As of 2017, Gamiing is protected in perpetuity by the Kawartha Land Trust, an organization that Schipper herself helped found.
Musical duo Eileen and Robert Blake were the first to perform in The Hayloft reception venue at Gamiing Nature Centre. Despite now living in the United Kingdom, the duo will be performing via video format for Gamiing’s 25th anniversary Summer Solstice Festival taking place on June 22, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Gamiing Nature Centre)
At this year’s festival, Gamiing is honouring those who have made it what it is today by inviting guests who have entertained visitors on the property over the last two and a half decades. The entertainment is kicking off at 3 p.m. with an outdoor performance by Glen Caradus and his Paddling Puppeteers.
“About 24 years ago, he and (Phil Stephenson) came in birch bark canoes and did the whole wonderful Paddling Puppeteers skit … it was fabulous,” Schipper recalls. “A couple of years later, he came again and wowed the audience. Young and old, they all loved it, so we’re happy he’s coming back.”
The Raging Grannies, a group of creative senior political activists who Schipper describes as “utterly, utterly hilarious,” will be returning to the indoor Hayloft singing tongue-and-cheek songs, while Lindsay singer-songwriter Sean Jamieson will perform as part of a duo, before the event comes to an end with a performance by Ken Campbell and Friends.
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The afternoon will also include the screening of a video from Eileen and Robert Blake, who brought their acoustic music to the property on several occasions before moving to the United Kingdom last year.
“They have been here since time immemorial — since the beginning — and were the first to play in the Hayloft,” Schipper says, noting that they sent her a video clip of the couple playing her favourite songs. “I just love when she sings. I so enjoy it and it’s really amazing, so we knew we had to show that video clip.”
The Summer Solstice Festival will also include reflections on the past 25 years, as well as a silent auction, which will be held throughout the day and features a range of artwork, paintings and frames, angora scarves, and other one-of-a-kind vintage items.
Vendors for the afternoon include local farmers and artisans such as John Wager, a longtime workshop host for Gamiing, who will offer utensils and other handmade woodwork. Food trucks will be onsite to provide snacks, lunch, and ice cream throughout the afternoon.
Woodcarver John Wager leading a workshop at Gamiing Nature Centre. Wager is one of the artisan vendors who will be at the Gamiing Nature Centre’s Summer Solstice Festival, selling his handcarved spoons and other woodenware, on June 22, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Gamiing Nature Centre)
Donations from the festival, which can be made in cash or by debit or credit card through the tiptap app, will be going towards the programs and workshops held at Gamiing, including the upcoming summer camps that invite children to spend five days exploring and learning from nature.
“The summer camps are always a highlight,” says Schipper. “I know that kids just love it, so we want to keep it not overly expensive — we haven’t raised the price for many years, and we don’t want to.”
While running the summer camps is certainly at the top of the list on Schipper’s top moments over 25 years, as well as seeing an American bittern — a secretive marsh bird — on the property, it’s mostly the range of people who pass through the Gamiing that leave her with the fondest memories.
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“When the community comes just to walk their dogs and walk the trails, that is always great,” she says. “It’s funny that we were never as busy as during COVID with people just walking, because it was and still is so important. That was pretty amazing just for the opportunity to connect to the community.”
Gamiing Nature Centre is open at 1884 Pigeon Lake Road seven days per week from sunup to sundown. Visit www.gamiing.org for more information on the Summer Solstice Festival, summer camps, and other offerings.
You can also follow Gamiing Nature Centre on Facebook and Instagram.
Funds raised through Gamiing Nature Centre’s Summer Solstice Festival on June 22, 2024 whill support the programs and workshops held at the environmental education centre, which is supported by donations. This includes keeping the pricing the same for the nature-based day camps that will again be held on the 100-acre property this summer. (Photo courtesy of Gamiing Nature Centre)
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