Habitat for Humanity Northumberland CEO Cathy Borowec (far right) with members of the Molaski family (James, Jack, Elizbeth, Peter, and Sarah) during an event on November 13, 2025 to celebrate the completion of the single detached home for the multi-generational family. (Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Northumberland)
The Molaski family will soon have the keys to their own home in Cobourg, as Habitat for Humanity Northumberland unveiled the newly constructed dwelling for the multi-generational family of six on Thursday (November 13).
Habitat for Humanity Northumberland board members, volunteers, and staff joined the Molaskis, community members, neighbours, and local politicians to celebrate the completion of the single detached home.
The Molaski family is comprised of Elizabeth, four children, and Elizabeth’s father Peter.
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The dedication ceremony was a memorable experience for Cathy Borowec, Habitat for Humanity Northumberland’s CEO.
“It feels good,” Borowec told kawarthaNOW.
“It is Habitat’s intention to scale up where possible on the land that is available for building. In this particular neighbourhood, with the size of the home required to meet the needs of the future owners, it was a single family home that could fit. Nonetheless, a Habitat for Humanity home dedication is always a success as we help a family into homeownership from their often sub-standard, unaffordable rental home.”
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In 2023, Habitat Northumberland received the donation of the property from the Town of Cobourg. Construction began in March 2024, coinciding with Habitat’s seven-unit build in Baltimore.
At the beginning of 2025, the Habitat for Humanity Northumberland team set a goal to complete eight homes in one calendar year.
It was something “we have not set our sights on before,” Borowec noted. “That goal pushed us to work differently, to build smarter, and to engage even more volunteers and partners. The result is that more families, like Elizabeth’s, are gaining the stability and security of affordable homeownership right here in their own communities.”
The Government of Canada has committed $882,000 through the Affordable Housing Fund under the National Housing Strategy toward Habitat for Humanity Northumberland projects, including this Cobourg home.
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As new Habitat homeowners, the Molaski family, together with friends and extended family, has contributed more than 500 volunteer hours in the Habitat ReStore and at the build site.
After being approved into the Habitat homeownership program, the family patiently waited for a suitable project to become available that could accommodate their multi-generational household and meet their unique needs for a home.
“The support from our community to bring a Habitat home to completion and the number of individuals who contribute is cause for celebration,” Borowec said of Thursday’s dedication. “For these people to meet and hear from the future homeowners is part of the reward for their work.”
As for the Molaskis, Borowec said “The family is so excited as the move-in date approaches and that is lovely to experience.”
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Founded in 1998, Habitat for Humanity Northumberland is one of 44 local Habitats working in Canada and part of the not-for-profit network of Habitat active in more than 70 countries worldwide.
Families and individuals who are in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.
The Molaskis are the 78th family to partner with Habitat for Humanity Northumberland since 1998.
Rob Arkell of Wild Rock Outfitters takes a look at clothing brought in by a customer to the trade-in desk for the downtown Peterborough outdoor gear retailer's Wild Again program. Customers can trade in their lightly used premium gear for store credit, which can be used to purchase new or used products or donated to the company's ComPassion Project. The Wild Again program not only makes high-quality outdoor clothing and equipment more affordable for other customers, but diverts items from the landfill and reduces the demand for new production. (Photo: Jeff Faulds / Wild Rock Outfitters)
For the betterment of the planet and your wallet, Wild Rock Outfitters in downtown Peterborough has launched the ‘Wild Again’ program, inviting outdoor adventurers across the country to trade in lightly used premium apparel and equipment in exchange for store credit.
A popular retailer of specialty outdoor gear, clothing, and equipment rentals in downtown Peterborough, Wild Rock was founded by outdoor enthusiasts Scott Murison and Kieran Andrews in 1992 with a mission to get people to “Go Out and Play.”
That’s exactly what the Wild Again program aims to do, by making making premium outdoor gear more affordable for everyone. One of the few programs of its kind in Canada, Wild Again gives customers store credit for anything from a barely worn fleece hanging in the back of a closet to a tent purchased for a camping trip that hasn’t been pitched in years. Other Wild Rock customers can then purchase the traded-in items at a lower price point.
“If you spend a rainy day finding the stuff you no longer wear, we can get it into the hands of somebody who’s going to actually use it — and who maybe couldn’t afford it brand new,” says Murison. “It opens up a lot of these really good quality clothing items to a group that might not otherwise be able to afford it.”
Wild Rock is accepting clothing, footwear, tents, sleeping bags, cross country ski gear, and backpacks. In the future, they hope to accept bulkier items like bicycles, kayaks, and canoes, but are not accepting these items at the current time.
All traded items must be clean and in good condition, undamaged and unaltered, and from an acceptable quality brand. This includes select brands that aren’t typically sold by the retailer.
Arc’teryx and Patagonia are two of the in-demand premium outdoor clothing brands accepted by the Wild Again trade-in program at Wild Rock Outfitters in downtown Peterborough. Wild Again supports the circular economy by giving high-quality outdoor gear a second or third life, keeping it out of landfills and reducing the demand for new production, while also making the gear more affordable for those who want to “Go Out and Play.” (Photo: Jeff Faulds / Wild Rock Outfitters)
Along with making premium outdoor gear more affordable, the Wild Again program supports the circular economy by keeping items out of landfills and lowering the demand for new production.
“Every piece of clothing we give a second life is one less piece of clothing that would otherwise end up in the landfill, and one less new piece of clothing that has to be manufactured,” says Murison. “If we can keep this stuff being used in a circular way, then there’s less being produced, less going to the landfill, and more enjoyment coming out of the same amount of product.”
You can get an additional 20 per cent bonus credit on all items you trade in until Sunday, November 23.
For a list of brands and categories accepted, visit wildrock.net/pages/in-store-trade-ins, where you can also get a quick estimate of your gear’s eligibility and value.
Local customers can bring their items to the store during business hours for an assessment. Gear can also be traded in from anywhere across Canada using shipping materials provided by Wild Rock. Clothing that cannot be resold through Wild Again will be donated to an appropriate organization like a charity or sports club.
Credit from the trade-in can be used in store or online to purchase new or used gear, or can be donated to the ComPassion Project. The store’s non-profit initiative supports local partner organizations that are active in fighting for social justice and equity, or that strive to protect the outdoor spaces and recreational areas of Peterborough County. To learn more, visit wwwcompassionptbo.ca.
Located at 169 Charlotte Street in downtown Peterborough, Wild Rock Outfitters is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Shop The Boro is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in downtown Peterborough, created in partnership with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).
With a Boro gift card, supporting locally owned businesses in downtown Peterborough has never been easier. Buy a Boro gift card for your family, friends, or co-workers and let them choose their own adventure. Whether it’s a delicious meal and a night out, a one-of-a-kind find, or a day of relaxation, it’s truly the gift of possibility. You choose the value, they choose the gift.
With a Boro gift card, you are giving more than just a gift — you’re also supporting the people and places that make Peterborough/Nogojiwanong a truly special place to work, live, and play. Shop, dine, and explore the core with Boro gift cards, available online at theboro.ca/product/the-boro-gift-cards/.
At Centre & Main Chocolate Co. in Warkworth, award-winning chocolatier Angela Roest (second from right) and her team (Lisa Giraldi, Martin Albert, and Brenna Card) craft artisan chocolate bars, bonbons, and other treats using unique locally sourced products like kimchi, popcorn, and bee pollen. (Photo: Gary Mulcahey)
Popcorn, kimchi, bee pollen, and mustard are just a few of the many one-of-a-kind ingredients you’ll find in the artisan chocolate made at Centre & Main Chocolate Co. in Warkworth.
What’s more, all these unique ingredients are sourced locally.
With the innovation and artistry that comes from designing flavours like “The Sushi Bar” and “Toffee & Potato Chip,” you might not expect that chocolatier and owner Angela Roest came upon her passion for chocolate, as she says, “by accident.”
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After realizing being a professor was no longer what she wanted, despite working towards a career in academia, Roest first began making jewellery.
“I had always loved working with my hands, but it wasn’t something that I had really nurtured through the years because I was going to be an academic,” she says. “I always loved food, and I had always loved cooking and fashion.”
Since knitting wire for jewellery was hard on her hands, Roest began working at Naked Chocolate in Peterborough in the afternoons and, soon enough, the spare time she spent thinking about jewellery designs and patterns slowly morphed into time spent thinking about caramel recipes and chocolate designs.
VIDEO: “Meet the Makers of Kawarthas Northumberland: Centre & Main” (2021)
While taking intensive courses through the Chocolate Academy in Montréal, Roest studied under chocolatiers from France, Belgium, and elsewhere in Europe. After opening Centre & Main Chocolate Co. in 2017, she discovered a disconnect between how she was sourcing ingredients for her business and how she was sourcing ingredients for her family.
“One of the things that I realized when I was shopping for the chocolate shop was that I’d be getting fruits — like passion fruit and guava and lychee — from all of these really wonderful faraway places and putting them in different caramels and ganaches,” she says. “But when I’d be shopping for my own family, I’d be going to farmers’ markets and getting things that are grown around here.”
“These two worlds just didn’t seem to mesh in any way. There wasn’t any crossover, and I couldn’t figure out why these two worlds were so far apart, flavour wise and ingredient wise.”
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That’s when Roest began thinking about ways to incorporate local ingredients in her chocolate.
“I’ve done what the Europeans did 150 years ago, by looking around here and putting things in chocolate that grow around us,” she says. “Farm to table is really popular in many areas of culinary arts, but not really in chocolate.”
Roest explains one reason for this is that much of the food grown locally is largely water-based, which can’t be put into the cocoa butter required in a chocolate bar because “it’s like mixing water and oil.” It would be straightforward to put them into bonbons, which she does have at the store, but chocolate bars have always been her main passion.
“Bonbons are wonderful and they’re delightful and they are gorgeous and beautiful, but from a day-to-day basis, I wanted something that I could put in my bag,” she says. “I could have a bit now as I’m driving, have a little bit more while I’m walking around. It’s something that you could snack on rather than just enjoying as one moment of pleasure.”
Through her products at Centre & Main Chocolate Co. like these caramel and ganache-filled bonbons, award-winning chocolatier Angela Roech aims to craft chocolates that are as visually appealing as they are delicious, saying “you eat first with your eyes.” (Photo courtesy of Centre & Main Chocolate Co.)
The very first thing she purchased when beginning Centre & Main Chocolate Co. was a freeze dryer, a machine that takes a food product’s temperature down to minus 40 degrees to remove all the moisture through the process of sublimation.
“If you put in a strawberry, it looks exactly like it did before. It has the colour and it has 97 per cent of the nutritional value, but it’s light as air because the water is out,” Roest says.
“It’s not a chemical approximation of what a strawberry tastes like. It’s the real strawberry, and it’s a local strawberry. And it’s a strawberry with 97 per cent of all the nutrients that you would get from eating a strawberry. Freeze-drying is a better nutritional preservation method than canning or freezing.”
The strawberries come from Brambleberry Farm, located in Wooler in Quinte West, and paired with local saffron from the now-closed True Saffron in Warkworth and rhubarb from Art Farm Produce in Brighton to create the Saffron Strawberry Rhubarb Bar, which won a silver medal in the International Chocolate Awards, 2018 Canadian Competition.
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While each chocolate bar is precisely crafted and artfully designed now, they haven’t all come out perfectly on the first try. Roest shares how she was determined to use the sourdough from My World Kitchen in Brighton, despite discovering that freeze drying didn’t work.
Eventually, Roest learned to slice it thinly, toast it deeply, and grind it into caramelized white chocolate. Paired with Darjeeling tea, it now makes up the Tea & Toast Bar, a silver medallist in the International Chocolate Awards, 2019 Canadian Competition, and a winner of the Innovation in Chocolate Award.
“I must have gone through six or seven different experiments of how to use her bread,” Roest says. “It’s one of our most popular bars. The texture is great, the flavour is amazing, and people are happy they have an excuse to have chocolate for breakfast.”
Located at 50 Centre Street in Warkworth, Centre & Main Chocolate Co. was founded in 2017 by Angela Roest, who says she came to be a chocolatier “by accident.” While designing jewellery, she worked part time at a chocolate shop in Peterborough which led her to take intensive courses through the Chocolate Academy in Montréal. (Photo courtesy of Centre & Main Chocolate Co.)
Roest is currently in the process of expanding her plant-based and vegan collections, which use rice milk, almond milk, oat milk, and hazelnut milk in place of dairy milk. This also took a lot of experimentation because the amount of fat differs in comparison to dairy milk.
“It’s a scientific and intuitive process to get the math right so that the proportions are in line with what you would expect for milk and white chocolate,” Roest says. “To have the flavours come through is another challenge, so it was really exciting to create that collection.”
Centre & Main Chocolate Co. now has more than 60 flavours across its “Great Wall of Chocolate,” but with special and seasonal collections, Roest guesses they have crafted more than 150 different chocolate bars.
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Located in a renovated Masonic lodge, the shop has high ceilings and a “gravitas” that Roest wanted to feature, making Centre & Main Chocolate Co. resemble more of a gallery than a retail shop. The space also lends itself to education with panels about the history of chocolate and encouraging people to think about how they engage with the products.
“It invites people to think about chocolate in a different way — as something that can be savoured and enjoyed, rather than just to be eaten haphazardly without any care to the ingredients, how it was made, or where it came from,” Roest says.
“You eat first with your eyes. If something is beautiful and interesting to look at, it’s already intriguing and draws you in. I apply that thinking to the creation of my chocolate. I make it beautiful so that you can enjoy it visually before all the other senses.”
For more information about Centre & Main Chocolate Co. and to purchase products, visit centreandmainchocolate.com.
Centre & Main Chocolate Co. in Warkworth resembles a gallery more than a chocolate shop, as all products are on display and there is educational information provided. The shop has more than 60 flavours on the Great Wall of Chocolate, though it has created over 150 unique chocolate bars including seasonal and special collections. (Photo courtesy of Centre & Main Chocolate Co.)
The Salvation Army Peterborough has launched its "Hope for All Seasons" fundraising campaign, which includes a mail-out appeal and the Christmas kettle program. The funds raised from the campaign support the charity's year-round programs, including the breakfast program and food bank. (Photo courtesy of Salvation Army Peterborough)
When The Salvation Army Peterborough recently opened its phone lines for its annual Christmas assistance program, workers received more than 500 voicemails from people in need.
The charity is once again seeing a record demand as its launches its annual “Hope For All Seasons” fundraising campaign. The 2025 Christmas appeal calls on the community to help ensure Peterborough residents stay fed, warm, and cared for over the holidays.
The Salvation Army Peterborough is hoping for a similar response from community members as it received last year through its holiday letter appeal and Christmas kettle campaign.
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In 2024, total donations exceeded the campaign goals, allowing The Salvation Army to reach more families and individuals than ever before. However, with growing line-ups outside the charity’s food bank and breakfast programs at 219 Simcoe Street in Peterborough, the need continues to rise.
Naomi Dalley, the Salvation Army officer who oversees the services of the Peterborough community ministries department, told kawarthaNOW the organization’s goal this year is to raise $675,000 through the Hope for all Seasons and kettle fundraising campaigns.
“The underlying reason we do what we do is to help people realize that there is a hope beyond their current circumstances,” Dalley said. “Our greatest satisfaction comes when we get to see the joy of giving experienced by each donor and the impact of the gifts on families in our community.”
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Dally added that people who want to help can also register as a volunteer with the Christmas kettle campaign at salvationarmy.ca/kettle-application/
The need in Peterborough has been growing steadily for several years. In 2023 alone, the Salvation Army’s food bank saw a 74 per cent increase in clients. Numbers rose again in 2024 and have continued to trend upward through 2025.
“We are so grateful for the support of the Peterborough community,” said JoAnne Leach, Christmas support worker for The Salvation Army Peterborough, in a statement. “We’re hoping to see that same community spirit continue this season. There are new faces here every day, people just looking for a bit of help to get them through the month.”
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Leach said the donations received at Christmas account for the majority of The Salvation Army Peterborough’s annual budget.
While the focus of the Hope For All Seasons and Christmas kettle campaigns is on helping those in need during the holidays, donations support programs throughout the year including supplying clothing and furniture, emergency assistance, trustee services, criminal justice supports, youth camps, the food bank, and daily breakfast programs.
As well as donating money, people also donate toys, hand-knit hats, mitts and socks, non-perishable food, or their own time as volunteers.
Another opportunity to support the Salvation Army campaign is during the Peterborough Petes’ annual Teddy Bear Toss game, scheduled for Thursday, December 11 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre when the Petes face off against the Windsor Spitfires. New stuffed toys thrown on the ice during the game will be donated to the Salvation Army.
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“There are so many fun ways for people to get involved,” Leach said. “Every year we see schools, churches, families, and businesses come up with creative ways to help.”
Some donors are people who once received help themselves from the Salvation Army.
“You can’t always tell who’s struggling,” Leach said. “It might even be someone living next door.”
Peterborough psychotherapist Spring Berriman (back, second from left) has rebranded her practice to Rhapsody Psychotherapy & Counselling to represent that therapy is often raw, honest, and human. In-person in Peterborough and online across Ontario, Spring and her team offer therapy services for men and women, children and teens, couples and families, and the LGBTQIA2S+ community using a holistic approach and a range of modalities. (Photo courtesy of Rhapsody Psychotherapy & Counselling)
A new name is the only change you’ll find at the Peterborough psychotherapy clinic directed by Spring Berriman. Now called Rhapsody Psychotherapy & Counselling, the clinic continues to offer clients its holistic approach to therapy with a focus on connection and accessibility.
Open to in-person sessions at 129 Murray Street in Peterborough and virtual sessions to clients across Ontario, Rhapsody’s new name exemplifies what the therapy experience at the clinic is like: raw, honest, and human.
“The word rhapsody really highlights the human experience of living day-to-day, but also of doing therapy,” says Spring. “Therapy is free flowing, it’s effervescent, it can be very spontaneous — and that’s what rhapsody means.”
With services available for men and women, children and teens, couples and families, and the LGBTQIA2S+ community, Rhapsody works with those struggling with anxiety, depression, and other emotional wellness needs, as well as neurodivergence, trauma, relationships, self-esteem, and beyond.
Setting Rhapsody apart from other clinics is that each of the psychotherapists uses a range of modalities and takes an holistic approach that’s tailored to meet each client’s unique needs and preferences.
No matter the method used, Rhapsody makes building connections and trust with their clients a priority, along with providing a compassionate space for them to heal. To ensure the appointment is as comfortable as it can be, clients are even encouraged to bring their well-behaved dogs — after all, Spring says, “a wagging tail can say a lot more than words ever can some days.”
Building connections and trust with clients is a priority at Peterborough’s Rhapsody Psychology & Counselling, along with providing a compassionate space for them to heal. To ensure the appointment is as comfortable as it can be, clients are even encouraged to bring their well-behaved dogs. To make therapy accessible to everyone, the clinic offers free 30-minute consultations, sliding-scale pricing, and the Financially Accessible Therapy program. (Photo courtesy of Rhapsody Psychotherapy & Counselling)
“One of the things we really foster in the clinic is connection, not just with our clients but with each other as therapists,” Spring says. “We’re a pretty tight-knit group of therapists and we all really love working together and being in the office together and having a really nice, safe space to work.”
Joining Spring in the practice are associates Sarah Beardy, Veronica Lai, Shylo Heayn, David Kraft, Sarah Walton, Kelly O’Hearn, Joel Routliff, Kalyssa Matheson, Stephanie Kennedy, and Kristen Williams, along with client and admin support person Castin Marlow. Rhapsody can also support Toronto clients in person, with David working out of two offices close to Bloor and Spadina.
To make therapy more accessible to anybody who needs it, Rhapsody offers sliding-scale pricing for individual, couple, and family psychotherapy based on client needs.
The clinic also offers Financially Accessible Therapy, a low-cost service provided by student therapists and intern-associates. These interns are only available to work with adults and cannot support severe symptoms, major trauma, or crisis. The service is available to those with little or no benefits, those on a limited income, and those who otherwise would not be able to access therapy.
The clinic offers direct billing to most major insurance providers, and some smaller ones too. Free 30 minute consultations are also offered and encouraged to interested clients. To learn more about Rhapsody Psychotherapy & Counselling, visit ontariotherapists.com or call 647-296-9235.
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.
Northumberland Paramedics is selling a 2026 calendar featuring images of its therapy dog, golden retriever Ivy Joules. All proceeds from sales of the calendar will be donated to Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre and the Northumberland Humane Society. (Photo: Northumberland County)
Ivy Joules, the Northumberland Paramedics therapy dog, regularly spreads joy to the paramedics and patients she meets, and now all community members can bring some of that puppy love into their own homes.
Northumberland Paramedics is once again offering a calendar featuring photos of Ivy in a fundraiser aimed at spreading smiles and boosting community spirit.
According to a media release, the 2026 calendar features “adorable, festive, and playful photos” of the golden retriever, with all proceeds from sales donated to Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre and the Northumberland Humane Society.
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“This initiative follows the success of our inaugural therapy dog calendar fundraiser in 2024, which enabled us to purchase 50 holiday meals for seniors and community members in need this winter,” stated Northumberland Paramedics Chief Susan Brown.
“We are excited to announce that all proceeds from this year’s new and enhanced calendar will go to Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre and the Northumberland Humane Society. The calendar will feature beautiful professional photography, generously provided by Sit and Paws Studio in Cobourg, including adorable images of Ivy showcasing her festive spirit and vibrant personality.”
Ivy’s role with Northumberland Paramedics is to foster wellness and connection by offering comfort to paramedics after challenging 911 calls, visits with community paramedicine clients in their homes, and bringing cheer to both employees of Northumberland County and members of the community.
Golden retriever Ivy Joules, therapy dog for the Northumberland Paramedics, during a photo shoot for the 2026 fundraising calendar. (Photo: Jill Clark / Sit and Paws Studio)
The pup was named Ivy Joules to reflect tools used in emergency care: “Ivy” for IV therapy and “Joules” for the unit of energy used in defibrillation.
She came to Northumberland Paramedics in 2023 as a puppy, when she was under a year old.
Brown told kawarthaNOW the pup has received a warm reception from paramedics, staff, community members, and others from the onset of joining the team.
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The chief said the idea of having a therapy dog on staff crossed her mind before the COVID-19 pandemic. Brown went ahead and bought a dog, Baxter, but with the restrictions of the pandemic, there wasn’t access to the necessary training. He became her pet instead.
“When we came out of COVID, we thought, what could be a better time,” Brown said. “I think we all came out of COVID all a little bit more stressed.”
Then in 2024, as a way to further spread joy, Northumberland Paramedics launched the first calendar fundraiser.
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The 2026 calendars are $20 each and can be ordered online for a limited time.
Toronto's Labyrinth Ensemble with Ross Daly and Kelly Thomas performs the melodic modal traditions of Asia and the Mediterranean, using a wide range of instruments from santur to gayageum to lyra, at The John at Sadleir House in downtown Peterborough on Friday night. (Photo: Labyrinth Ensemble)
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, November 13 to Wednesday, November 19.
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).
Cobourg police chief Paul VandeGraaf providing an update to the police service board in July 2024. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of Cobourg Police Service video)
As Cobourg police chief Paul VandeGraaf defends a proposed 20.5 per cent increase to the police service’s 2026 budget, he is continuing to advocate for bail reform.
On Wednesday (November 12), the police service released a summary of bail statistics for the year to date. According to the summary, of 142 cases reviewed, 54 people were released on bail 73 times, including 14 people who were released multiple times, while 69 people were remanded in custody.
Police say the charges included breaking probation or release conditions, property crimes, weapons offences, drug trafficking (cocaine and opioids), and violent crimes like threats and assault.
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“The current bail system presents real challenges, especially when individuals facing serious charges, such as weapons offences and drug trafficking, are released and re-offend,” Chief VandeGraaf said in a statement. “Each case impacts not only our police service but also the courts and the community at large.”
Frequent bail releases “increase the workload for officers, strain the courts, and raise public safety concerns,” the media release states, adding that “managing bail compliance and monitoring re-offenders diverts resources from other priorities.”
According to the police service, court administration costs account for 11.5 per cent of the police budget, including all legislated court functions except for court security, with administration of the bail system representing 3.75 per cent of the budget.
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The Cobourg Police Service “supports meaningful bail reform that prioritizes public safety, protects victims and first responders, and holds repeat and violent offenders accountable,” reads the release.
“Stronger bail provisions, tougher sentencing, clear and enforceable conditions, advanced investigative tools, and close collaboration with justice partners are critical to breaking the cycle of re-offending and restoring public confidence.”
In its crime-reporting media releases, the police service recently began including notes about the number of arrests and charges in the last year for an individual facing new charges, including the nature of the past charges as well as the number of police interactions with the individual.
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“Our officers work tirelessly to protect Cobourg, but the cycle of release and re-offending strains resources and puts victims and residents at risk,” Chief VandeGraaf said. “We are committed to working with our justice partners to ensure that bail decisions reflect the seriousness of the charges and the risk to our community.”
As for the proposed 2026 police budget, the police board recently approved a request for a 20.5 per cent increase, which is over five times the four per cent budget target set in July by Cobourg mayor Lucas Cleveland using his strong mayor powers and almost four times the 5.5 per increase in the 2025 budget. The increase would see the police budget increase by $1.7 million to $9.5 million, with $1.6 million of the increase funded by taxypayers.
Chief VandeGraaf has repeatedly defended the requested increase as being required to meet the legislative obligations and requirements under the province’s new Community Safety and Policing Act, stating there is no discretionary spending in the budget.
Inside Charlotte Products' Peterborough facility, staff oversee the packaging of environmentally responsible cleaning products. The company uses a supply chain that emphasizes Ontario-based materials and partnerships to minimize emissions and cost. (Photo courtesy of Charlotte Products)
For manufacturers committed to environmental sustainability, focusing solely on the impact of the final product is no longer enough. A significant next step in corporate responsibility lies in greening the supply chain and reducing the emissions associated with transporting raw materials.
Green Economy Peterborough member and local manufacturer Charlotte Products Ltd. exemplifies how successful this approach can be when driven by local collaboration.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Jackie Donaldson, Green Economy Peterborough Hub Coordinator, GreenUP, with Jennifer Meek, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Charlotte Products Ltd.
Founded in 1986, Charlotte Products has long been recognized for its commitment to producing environmentally responsible cleaning liquids. Based in Peterborough, the company’s vertically integrated manufacturing model — which includes developing, blending, packaging, and distributing its own product lines — is rooted in supporting the local economy through sourcing and partnerships primarily within Ontario.
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“We see our dedication to local sources as the central pillar of our sustainability commitment,” says Charlotte Products CEO Matt Strano. “This deliberate focus on local products and services reflects our core belief that strong communities build strong businesses, and vice versa.”
The manufacturer, for example, sources ethanol — a key ingredient in hand sanitizer — from Kawartha Ethanol in Havelock. By creating a local supply loop, Charlotte Products was able to quickly pivot to produce this solution in large quantities during the pandemic, when it was particularly essential.
In addition to sourcing raw materials locally, Charlotte Products collaborates with nearby businesses to produce components used in its manufacturing lines.
Partnering with local businesses builds relationships, cuts transportation costs, and enables quick and meaningful response time. Here, Charlotte Products and Merit Precision Moulding collaborate on their latest project. (Photo courtesy of Charlotte Products)
Merit Precision has been a close partner. Together, the two companies own CAM Containers Ltd., which manufactures essential product bottles. The benefits of this partnership are clear: the plant that produces the containers is located a mere 500 metres from the plant that fills them, notably reducing transportation costs and the carbon footprint.
“This is a strategic success story in localized manufacturing,” says Lucas Barrie, general manager of CAM Containers. “We eliminate significant logistical waste and greatly reduce the environmental impact associated with long-distance transport.”
Charlotte Products’ commitment to local collaboration doesn’t stop there. Product labels are printed in Peterborough, boxes and corrugated packaging are manufactured by Ontario-based suppliers, and liquid dispensing pumps come from Beamsville.
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Collaboration also extends to internal services. Charlotte Products works closely with local and Ontario-based companies for everything from logistics to equipment maintenance and graphic design. From a business efficiency standpoint, these meaningful local relationships help streamline communication and delivery times.
Through sustained efforts in supply chain decisions and service partnerships, Charlotte Products demonstrates how manufacturers can achieve great success while remaining deeply committed to environmental sustainability and the local economy.
So, how can a business work towards greening its supply chain? It begins with asking questions.
Charlotte Products CEO Matt Strano leads GreenUP and Charlotte Products staff on a tour of the company’s Peterborough facility, highlighting how local sourcing and collaboration drive the manufacturer’s sustainability success. (Photo: Jackie Donaldson / GreenUP)
Some to consider include:
Where are products, services and raw materials coming from?
Can they, especially heavy materials or those associated expensive freight or travel costs, be sourced locally?
Do potential new vendors prioritize community well-being and environmental stewardship?
Is there a local business with experience to learn from?
The Peterborough region’s business community is close-knit, vibrant, and supportive. In times of economic uncertainty, leveraging local experience may be just the right approach — and could open new, innovative opportunities for collaboration, shared sustainability goals, product or service synergies, and cost savings.
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By working with business peers, companies like Charlotte Products not only help protect the environment and strengthen the local economy, but also save money, build resilience, and develop local partnerships.
Charlotte Products is a Green Economy Peterborough lead member and has won numerous accolades for sustainability efforts and innovation, including recognition at the local Leadership in Sustainability Awards (held every spring) and at national and international events. Lead members work with GreenUP to measure, set goals, and reduce their environmental impact.
For one night only on November 18, 2025, Public Energy Performing Arts is presenting "Bijuriya," a solo drag show by award-winning Montréal composer, experimental vocalist, and interdisciplinary performer Gabriel Dharmoo at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. Moving fluidly between singing, lip-syncing, sound experimentation, and theatrical vignettes, the show features original songs, imaginative vocal effects, and both costume and character transformations. (Photo: Jonathan Goulet)
An artful and unique blend of drag, music, and theatre will take over the stage at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough on Tuesday (November 18) when Public Energy Performing Arts presents Bijuriya by award-winning Montréal composer, experimental vocalist, and interdisciplinary performer Gabriel Dharmoo.
Described as “part drag spectacle, part sonic experiment, all radiant presence,” the interdisciplinary 80-minute solo drag show will begin at 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets are available at a sliding scale pricing between $14 to $54, with a recommended price of $34, at markethall.org
Dharmoo’s drag manifesto, “to shock, ignite, empower, and delight; make art, connect, engage, and reflect,” doubles as both recurring lyrics of an original song featured in the show and a promise of the energetic effect it will have on audiences.
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Having premiered in March 2022 at Montréal, arts interculturels (MAI), Bijuriya is a hybrid of musical and theatrical performance that combines singing and lip-syncing with musical styles that range from original pop songs to experimental soundscapes and Bollywood soundtracks.
With imaginative vocal effects, costume changes, character transformations, and autobiographical lyrics, the show offers an examination of the intersection between queerness and brownness that explores different relationships between the voice and body.
“If you’re not familiar with the drag community, you’ll see how a segment of the audience is, and will get it,” says Dharmoo in a media release from Public Energy. “If you’re not South Asian, you’ll witness how the South Asian community will get parts of the show.”
VIDEO: “Bijuriya” trailer
“I think that’s a good metaphor for life,” Dharmoo adds. “I don’t like when people think there’s only one way of understanding or presenting things. By offering different windows into cultures and identities, people will come out of the piece with different experiences.”
A composer, experimental vocalist, interdisciplinary performer, and researcher, Dharmoo is half Québécois and half Trinidadian from the Desi diaspora. As a composer, his music has been presented across Canada, the United Stares, Europe, Asia, and Australia. His compositions have been honoured with many awards, including the Canada Council’s Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music and multiple SOCAN and composition awards.
Bijuriya, which means “thunderbolt” in Hindi, is named for Dharmoo’s satirical drag persona created in 2018 and known for her pride and quirkiness. The persona blends Dharmoo’s South Asian, Trinidadian, and Québécois heritages, often highlighting Bollywood and “teetering between tribute, parody, and critical thinking.”
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This is seen in the song “Geeta,” which will be featured in the show, where Bijuriya’s hair is adorned with jasmine flowers reminiscent of 1950s Bollywood.
The song is written from the perspective of Geeta Dutt, an Indian classical and playback singer from the 1950s and 1960s, and is about the famous affair that her husband, actor and producer Guru Dutt, had with actress Waheeda Rehman. Guru would be acting on screen with Waheeda, but her voice was replaced by Geeta as the playback singer.
“By channeling the memory, artistry and life of Geeta in my song, I try to revive the agency and meaning of her voice, through my own voice and body,” wrote Dharmoo about his drag persona on Post45 in 2022.
VIDEO: “Geeta” by Bijuriya (Gabriel Dharmoo)
Other musical elements of Bijuriya includes Dharmoo’s sound design, which incorporates some of the past musical compositions he has written for solo instruments, chamber, or orchestra.
“I take pride in how my journey as a musician and composer has shaped my drag artistry,” Dharmoo wrote on Post45. “It is a large part of how I have curated Bijuriya, her choices, and the formats of her artistic output.”
The show follows Dharmoo’s first interdisciplinary solo performance, Anthropologies imaginaires, which toured internationally and was awarded at the Amsterdam Fringe Festival in 2015 and the SummerWorks Performance Festival in 2016.
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The evening after Dharmoo’s Market Hall performance, Public Energy will be hosting a workshop for queer youth 25 and under at The Theatre on King titled “Finding your Drag Identity with Gabriel Dharmoo.”
Held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday (November 19), the workshop celebrates how multifaceted and diverse drag can be. Dharmoo will explore how lip-syncs, fashion, makeup, music, dance, comedy, and other facets of drag artistry can all be tools for creativity, confidence, and storytelling.
Participants will be encouraged to brainstorm and share ideas about their drag identities.
Meaning “thunderbolt” in Hindi, “Bijuriya” is the satirical drag persona of award-winning Montréal composer, experimental vocalist, and interdisciplinary performer Gabriel Dharmoo. The persona blends his South Asian, Trinidadian, and Québécois heritage and offers song and performance that often hovers between tribute and parody of Bollywood and other elements of Desi culture. The evening after his November 18, 2025 performance at the Market Hall, Dharmoo will lead a workshop at The Theatre on King focused on helping queer youth aged 25 and under find and celebrate their drag identity. (Photo: Chris Randle)
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