On July 14 and 15, 2004, a storm dumped as much as much as 240 millimetres (9.5 inches) of rain on the City of Peterborough, with much of it falling within a five-hour period on the morning of July 15. Pictured is Charlotte St. in downtown Peterborough looking east to George St. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
Today is the 20th anniversary of Peterborough’s historic flood, when a one-in-100-year storm dumped an estimated 14 billion litres of rain on the city in a single day — the same amount of water that courses over Niagara Falls in about 40 minutes.
In 2004, as much as 240 millimetres (9.5 inches) of rain fell in the city from the evening of Wednesday, July 14th to the morning of Thursday, July 15th, most of it falling within a five-hour period on the morning of July 15.
A rainfall event of that magnitude is known as a one-in-100-year storm, meaning there’s a one per cent chance of such a storm occurring in a particular location in any given year.
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That one-in-100-year storm began with a weather system that affected Alberta three days before. On Sunday, July 11, 2004, the City of Edmonton experienced a small but spectacular storm that dumped more than 150 mm of rain in parts of the city in less than an hour.
Mud and water poured down streets and through windows. A record flash flood washed out roads, filled underpasses, flooded basements, turned streets into rivers and intersections into lakes. Enormous water pressure in the sewer system blew hundreds of manhole covers into the sky.
That same storm system slowly worked its way east across Canada, travelling 2,700 kilometres until it reached Peterborough. There, fed by cool air from the north and moist air from the south, the system produced intense rainstorms that began on Wednesday evening and continued for five hours during the early morning hours of Thursday.
King St. and George St. N. in downtown Peterborough on July 15, 2004. Water from Jackson Creek took over the downtown, flooding the streets and lower-level businesses and basements. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
The amount of rain that fell on Peterborough during the storm varied, from 100 mm (4 inches) recorded at the Peterborough Airport to 240 mm (9.5 inches) recorded at Trent University. Much of the rain fell in under five hours early Thursday morning, with 78.8 mm (3 inches) falling between 3:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. alone.
Peterborough’s drain and sewer system was unable to cope with that much storm water. Normally, the city’s sewage system deals with about 1.3 million gallons per day; during the storm, the sewage treatment plant measured a peak flow of seven million gallons of waste water.
At the time of the storm, over 80 per cent of the pipes in the city’s storm water system were undersized and didn’t meet modern standards (some had been built in the prior century), creating bottlenecks in moving the flood water.
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Downtown Peterborough, where the rainfall was concentrated, consists of largely impervious paved surfaces, including streets that are not well designed to convey flood water over land. Raging flood waters from Jackson Creek, which runs through the downtown, overwhelmed not only the roads but also some historical buildings.
Throughout the city, groundwater that seeped into cracked or misaligned sewer pipes created excess water in the system, leading to back-ups and basement flooding.
Peterborough’s Fire Department was inundated with calls from across the entire city, ranging from flooded basements to fire alarms. City utility and social services were overburdened with responding to the consequences of the flooding.
Hunter St. W and Aylmer St. N. in downtown Peterborough on July 15, 2004. Construction projects were halted across the city, with construction sites requiring significant cleanup after the flood. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
On Thursday morning, then-Mayor Sylvia Sutherland declared a state of emergency, which stayed in effect for two weeks. Many city staff worked 18- to 20-hour days until the state of emergency was lifted.
Here are some interesting facts about the impact of the flood:
171 long-term care residents were evacuated from Extendicare Nursing Home to the Evinrude Centre
500 homes and businesses had hydro meters pulled from flooded basements
Hundreds of flood-damaged water heaters required replacement
1,000 homes had gas lines disconnected
498 electrical systems were disconnected
There were 28 motor vehicle accidents
The city issued emergency clothing to more than 1,300 people and emergency food to more than 1,000 households
The Salvation Army served over 10,000 meals
Firefighters pumped out over 1,868 basements, garages, and backyards
25 people who were trapped in or on cars needed to be rescued
Cleaning up flood-related garbage and debris was a major undertaking. Around 12,500 tons of materials were placed in the landfill in the two weeks following the flood (four times the normal amount)
Both the Peterborough Public Library and the adjoining Peterborough Museum and Archives were flooded, with 10 per cent of documents, photographs, and negatives in the conservation area and storage vault under water for 24 hours.
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In the end, the flood resulted in $95 million in insured losses in Peterborough, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. Overtime and expenses for city staff responding to the flood amounted to $1.4 million.
Costs of repairs and restoration (including roads, bridges, culverts, buildings, and the Museum photo archives) equalled $21 million. In addition, the Province of Ontario provided $25 million for emergency repair and restoration costs for city infrastructure. The amount of revenue and productivity that businesses and residents lost because of the flood can only be estimated.
Making matters worse, the 2004 flood came only 25 months after another major flood in June 2002, when Peterborough suffered through a severe summer storm that generated more than 70 mm (3 inches) of rain in a 24-hour period. Many Peterborough residents and business owners had just recovered from damages caused by the 2002 flood when they were hit again by the 2004 flood.
Townsend St. and George St. N. in downtown Peterborough on July 15, 2004, showing the raging flood waters from Jackson Creek emptying into Little Lake. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
Shortly after the 2004 flood, the City of Peterborough hired UMA Engineering Ltd. (now known as AECOM Ltd.) to prepare a Flood Reduction Master Plan (FRMP). Since the completion of the plan in 2005, the city undertook a series of studies to assess vulnerability and to update stormwater management designs and infrastructure to protect the city from future flooding damage.
Following the flood, the city completed numerous projects, including studies recommended by the FRMP, diversion projects, storm sewer retrofits, and culvert replacements.
The highest-priority project to come out of all the flood reduction studies was the Central Area (Bethune Street) Flood Reduction project to install a massive storm sewer and upgraded sanitary sewers under Bethune Street between Jackson Creek and Townsend Street to carry high flows from the creek around the downtown core to Little Lake. One of the largest infrastructure projects in Peterborough’s history, construction began in 2019 and was largely completed by September 2023.
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The scope of the work included building an inlet for the storm sewer on Jackson Creek, the storm sewer outlet at Little Lake, rehabilitating the bridge under George Street at the outlet, the big dig and installation of the storm sewer under Bethune and Townsend streets, and upsizing the sanitary sewer.
While the underground work was the main component of the project, a secondary aspect was the streetscape design with the rebuilding of Bethune Street after the underground work to create a street with a greater emphasis on pedestrians and cycling but still maintaining access for vehicles.
The total cost of the project was $53.5 million, which included $7.97 million from the federal government and $7.97 million from the provincial government from the Small Communities Fund for climate adaptation projects.
Chesterfield Ave. in Peterborough on July 15, 2004. Some residents found their entire yards fully submerged by the flood waters, causing significant property damage. The Insurance Bureau of Canada says the flood resulted in $95 million in insured losses in Peterborough. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
In addition to upgrading infrastructure, the city continues to offer financial incentives to encourage the disconnection of foundation drains from the sanitary sewer system, use of rain barrels, the installation of backwater valves in previously affected areas, and the creation of rain gardens.
For more information about the 2004 flood and the City of Peterborough’s response to it, visit the city’s website at peterborough.ca/2004flood.
For more information on how the City of Peterborough now prepares for flooding and mitigates the potential for flooding, visit the Emergency Services – Flooding and Water and Sewers – Flood Reduction pages on the city’s website, with the latter including information about the city’s Flood Reduction Subsidy Program and Flood Reduction Master Plan.
The highest-priority project to come out of all flood reduction studies following the 2004 flood was the Central Area (Bethune Street) Flood Reduction project, which was substantially completed in September 2023. One of the largest infrastructure projects in Peterborough’s history, it involved installing a massive storm sewer and upgraded sanitary sewers under Bethune Street between Jackson Creek and Townsend Street to carry high flows from the creek around the downtown core to Little Lake. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
Indie alt-rockers Metric (James Shaw, Emily Haines, Joules Scott Key, and Joshua Winstead) will perform a free-admission concert at Del Crary Park in Peterborough on July 17, 2024 as part of Peterborough Musicfest's 37th season. (Photo: Justin Broadbent)
If it seems the upcoming Peterborough Musicfest presentation of Metric has been a long time coming, there’s good reason — the free-admission concert on Wednesday, July 17th at Del Crary Park was announced on March 5, more than two months before most of the festival’s 2024 headliners were revealed.
Peterborough Musicfest presents Metric
When:Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 8 p.m. Where: Del Crary Park (100 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: Free admission
Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets (lawn chairs are available to rent). VIP seating available for sponsors. No smoking, alcohol, or pets permitted. There’s no public parking at Del Crary Park, but there’s neighbourhood street parking nearby and ample parking in downtown Peterborough.
Some things are well worth waiting for and, in securing Metric, the festival’s brain trust not only stirred up early interest in this year’s lineup but has also benefited from the buzz associated with bringing one of Canada’s most successful indie alternative-rock bands back to the city.
Metric traces its roots back to 1998 when India-born and Fenelon Falls-raised Emily Haines and England-born James Shaw, performing as Mainstream, released a five-track EP before changing their moniker to Metric — a nod to a sound that Shaw had programmed into his keyboard while working on a song.
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Upon hooking up with drummer Joules Scott-Key and bassist Jarrett Mason, Metric went into the studio to record what was to be its debut album, Grow Up and Blow Away. However, its release was delayed until 2007 due to a change in the band’s record label. When released, it was actually Metric’s third album.
So it was that 2003’s Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? became Metric’s de facto debut album, with Joshua Winstead now on bass. “Combat Baby” and “Dead Disco” were released as singles on the way to the album being certified gold in 2005.
That same year saw Metric break out in a big way, its second album Live It Out providing the springboard with its singles “Monster Hospital,” “Poster of a Girl,” and “Empty” contributing to the album eventually achieving double platinum status for Canadian sales in excess of 200,000.
VIDEO: “Monster Hospital” – Metric
Nominated for a 2006 Juno Award as Alternative Album of the Year, Live It Out didn’t earn Metric that coveted honour but 2009’s Fantasies did the trick, bringing Metric two 2010 Juno Awards for Group of the Year and Alternative Album of the Year. Assisted by the singles “Help, I’m Alive” and “Gold Guns Girls,” the record was also shortlisted for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize.
Meanwhile, Metric’s eclectic sound was catching the attention of a number of television and film producers. For example, “Front Row” was featured for an episode of ABC’s medical drama series Grey’s Anatomy while “Gold Guns Girls” formed part of the soundtrack for the 2009 horror comedy film Zombieland starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, and Emma Stone. In the 2010 action comedy film Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, “Black Sheep” was performed by Brie Larson (with Haines singing the actual vocals).
June 2012 brought forth Synthetica, Metric’s fifth studio album and the single “Youth Without Youth.” It too was a nominee for the Polaris Music Prize, albeit longlisted this time around. More impressive, it brought Metric five 2013 Juno Award nominations, with wins in the Producer of the Year (Shaw), Alternative Album of the Year, and Recording Package of the Year categories.
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Four albums — Pagans in Vegas (2015), Art of Doubt (2018), Formentera (2022), and Formentera II (2023) — have followed, with the latter earning a 2024 Juno Award nomination as Rock Album of the Year.
But for all its recording and touring success, Metric’s biggest achievement arguably lies in the fact that Haines, Shaw, Scott-Key, and Winstead are still together after all these years. That is a rarity of sorts in a world where band members change addresses more than they do socks.
Also a rarity is the fact that, while working on Fantasies in 2007, Metric turned down multi-million dollar deals from two record labels, opting instead to form their own company, Metric Music International, with Haines and Shaw as co-CEOs.
VIDEO: “Youth Without Youth” – Metric
A gutsy move, for sure, but as Haines explained in an October 2022 interview with Sage Holt of SLUG Magazine, a move that had to be made for creative control.
“There was never a massive marketing machine to sell us to anyone, you know?” Haines said. “The music speaks for itself, sure, but it’s a different longer path than having the machinery of a big global company behind you. But it’s led to a really beautiful thing that we really value.”
Haines added that creating music is “all we ever wanted to do. Our whole operation is just making music and connecting with people.”
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Even when on the road, the creative juices still flow, she said.
“We show up in a new town (where) there are people to meet and things to do. From trying new arrangements, to bringing on a new song, or exploring any place we can. There’s not a lot of time to think, like ‘Hey, what should I do with myself?’ Truthfully, I feel that way more when I’m off the road.”
Metric’s Musicfest appearance is its first in Peterborough since 2010 when it played the Memorial Centre. Like then, this visit will likely see a bit of a family reunion for Haines — her brother Tim owns and operates Bluestreak Records in downtown Peterborough. We’re guessing it’s a pretty good place to come across a Metric album or two.
VIDEO: “Days Of Oblivion” – Metric
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission concerts during its 37th season, each staged on Wednesday and Saturday nights until August 17th.
Overseen by executive director Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission remains “to provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”
For more information on this concert or the 2024 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest’s 2024 season.
Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory founder and CEO Robert Gauvreau (front middle) pictured during 2023's Gear Up for Good" campaign, which helps ensure local children in need have backpacks and other school essentials in the fall. The third annual campaign is collecting donations until August 16 and the supplies will be distributed to on August 23. (Photo: Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory / Facebook)
Peterborough residents can “gear up for good” by taking part in an initiative aimed at getting local kids ready for a new school year.
Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory of Peterborough is kicking off its third annual “Gear Up for Good” campaign, an initiative that provides under-served children in Peterborough with back-to-class essentials. This year, Gauvreau is striving to double its impact by increasing its target from 101 to 200 backpacks filled with school supplies.
The “best thing would be that every single participant in the (Kawartha Haliburton) Children’s Aid Society and Big Brothers and Sisters (of Peterborough) would be equipped to start the school year with success and a quick win — a haircut, a pizza dinner, and a fully stocked backpack,” Robert Gauvreau told kawarthaNOW.
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“Many of these kids, as we know, are coming from unfortunate situations and don’t necessarily have the means to get fit and ready for the school season, so to do that for them would be a huge win,” Gauvreau added.
He said the Peterborough community’s spirit of giving has driven the success of this initiative in past years.
“We are calling on everyone to come together once again to ensure these children have the tools they need to succeed,” a media release noted. “In addition to backpacks and supplies, we are also providing complimentary haircuts to boost students’ confidence as they start the school year.”
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This year, the donations will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Society, which are both organizations aimed at supporting and empowering local youth.
Ricart Branded Apparel and Promo donated water bottles for the kids, and Domino’s Pizza is offering a free pizza to each participating family.
“Their contributions exemplify the collective effort needed to empower our next generation,” the release noted.
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“Every child deserves the chance to excel in their education,” Gauvreau said.
“We are grateful for the incredible support from our community and partners, and we are determined to make this year’s Gear Up for Good campaign the most impactful yet.”
Residents and businesses can support the initiative by providing backpacks, supplies, and haircuts. Those who are interested in taking part can check out the Amazon “wishlist” at bit.ly/GearUpForGood2024 and drop off donations at 150 King St. W., Suite 100, by August 16.
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Backpacks will be distributed on August 23.
When asked why this initiative so important, Gauvreau said, “these kids have a clean canvas and an opportunity to have a very successful life and all we are trying to do is give them the tools they need to start the school year, in the right way.”
Robert Gauvreau is the founder and CEO of Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory, author of The Wealthy Entrepreneur, speaker, and business coach. The firm was established in 2008.
New to the 2024 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, Brenda Rudder is a wildlife artist who specializes in painting on natural wood, using acrylic on reframed wood scraps. Alongside fibre artists Judy Ranieri and Valerie Foster, her works will be on display and available for purchase at Studio E on Chandos Lake during the self-guided tour that runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 21 and 22. (Photo courtesy of Brenda Rudder)
For three decades, art enthusiasts — whether locals, cottagers, or visitors — have scheduled their trips to North Kawartha Township around the third weekend of September, so they can experience the annual Apsley Autumn Studio Tour in all its creative glory.
Now in its 31st year, the highly anticipated free self-guided tour is returning for 2024 on Saturday, September 21st and Sunday, September 22nd, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
With 30 local and visiting artists — including four artists who are joining this year’s tour for the first time — working in 11 cottage country studios, it’s a special artistic experience you can’t find anywhere else.
Mosaic artist Anja Hertle is a returning artist on the 2024 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, running September 21 and 22, 2024. She works with broken china, pottery, porcelain figurines, and tile to give them a second life. During the self-guided tour, Hertle will be at Studio J, located at 44 Woodland Road, sharing her studio with potter Melanie Edson Horner, and new artist, painter Andrew Gregg. (Photo courtesy of Anja Hertle)
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“Guests return year after year because of the beauty of Apsley,” says Susan Rankin, treasurer of the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour and a participating artist. “People have the leisure of leaving the cottage, driving around, seeing some great local art, and then going back to the dock to enjoy their treasures. It’s a real cottager’s weekend.”
For Rankin, that’s what makes it so unique compared to town tours: it’s not just an afternoon or day-long activity for most people.
“People will always invite their friends for girls’ weekends or cottage trips, so it’s never just one or two people in the studios,” she explains. “It’s always a carload of five or six people. Here, it’s a weekend-long event.”
Artisan wool artist Rachel Conlin working on a piece in the spring that she donated for a local fundraiser. A returning artist on the 2024 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, Conlin’s Studio O is at a new location this year on Finnegan’s Lake just outside of Coe Hill. She will be sharing her studio with guest artist Marci Swift, an Apsley beekeeper who is new to this year’s tour, which runs September 21 and 22. (Photo courtesy of Rachel Conlin)
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The tour offers 11 stops across North Kawartha Township (one is near Coe Hill, just across the border in Hastings County), with many located on scenic and art-inspiring lakes. Most of the studios have more than one artist sharing the space, with visiting artists coming from as far as Peterborough or Durham Region.
While a printed map with all tour stops is available online or can be picked up at local businesses, you can also browse the list of locations and read artists’ bios by using the free Toureka! app, created by local software developer Brad Carson, which you can download from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Within the app, you can find the artists you are most interested in visiting and curate your own route for the weekend.
“The beauty of the app is you don’t need cell service for it to work,” says Rankin. “Even if you’re in a dead zone in cottage country, you’ll know where to go.”
Jacques Deslauriers is a self-taught woodworker who uses wood from only dead or fallen trees to create his art, including these intricately designed functional wooden toys. Sharing the space with visual artist Carolyn Jongeward, Deslauriers will be opening up his Chandos Lake studio for visits during the 2024 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour. (Photo courtesy of Jacques Deslauriers)
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Artists and artisans include painters, woodworkers, jewellery makers, glass blowers, weavers, potters, textile artists, and more, leaving it up to visitors to make the tour exactly what they want it to be.
“It’s a big tour and a lot of people will split it up in rotations, doing half of the artists one year and half another,” Rankin says. “The artists aren’t always the same and they’re always creating new work, so it’s different each year. We’re also seeing younger and newer visitors coming out to see the studios each year, which is always great.”
Returning visitors to the tour will notice that four artists have been added for the 31st tour, including retired art teacher and painter Andrew Gregg, weaver Jillian Messervery, wildlife painter Brenda Rudder, and — bringing the work of nature’s busiest artisans to the tour — beekeeper Marci Swift.
Whitby jewellery artist Catharine Scott is a guest artist at the 2024 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, running September 21 and 22. She is a self-taught artisan who is inspired by the natural beauty of coloured gem stones. She will be set up at Studio H at 2229 Balmer Road, alongside Delores Hopps, Judy Sparkes, Kathy Robichaud, Mary Ellen Gerster, and Aubre Scott. (Photo courtesy of Catharine Scott)
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Though mediums and artists vary, Rankin assures that since it’s a juried process, visitors can be certain they’ll find high-calibre work available to browse and purchase at each of the studios.
“A lot of people don’t necessarily expect that,” she says. “We have people that come and are just blown away because they didn’t know there was such a community of professional and highly skilled artists in the region.”
During the two days, visitors will be step into working studios being used by the artists and even chat with them about their creative process.
A returning artist on the 2024 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, Carolyn Jongeward’s abstract paintings and handwoven tapestries embody geometric forms and numerical rhythms. Her work will be available to view and purchase at Studio L, located at 273 Warners Rd. during the self-guided tour the weekend of September 21 and 22, 2024. She is sharing the studio space with woodworking artist Jacques Deslauriers. (Photo courtesy of Carolyn Jongeward)
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“There aren’t many galleries that are showcasing work in the region anymore, and there’s not a lot of opportunity for people to see a diverse range of work except if they go to big craft shows,” Rankin notes. “The beauty of the studio tour is it’s not just about what an artist can fit in a 10-by-10 booth — it’s their own studio.”
At Rankin’s own studio — Studio F on the tour at 645 Jack Lake Road, which she shares with glass blower Brad Copping and painter David Smith — visitors will be able to explore the grounds, with metal sculptor Claire Scott-Taggart (Rusty Girl) and textile artist Jillian Messervey both on site with their displays set up outside.
“We have extensive gardens here, so it’s nice that we have artists using the space,” Rankin points out. “People like to just hang out and enjoy the nature around the property. Seeing the space and seeing the surroundings that are the inspiration for the artwork is a huge draw to the tour, and people really love talking with the artists.”
Artist Sue Rankin has been a member of the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour since 1995. She is a glass blower and the treasurer for the organization. During the 2024 studio tour on September 21 and 22, Rankin will be located at Studio F at 645 Jack Lake Road, alongside studio partner and visual artist Brad Copping, painter David Smith, Claire Scott-Taggart (Rusty Girl), and textile artist Jillian Messervey, who is new to this year’s tour. (Photo courtesy of Sue Rankin)
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Studio F is one of several tour locations that will have regular live demonstrations throughout the weekend to introduce visitors to the creative processes behind the art work.
“You don’t necessarily know what you’re looking at if you don’t take the time to strike up a conversation with the artist,” Rankin says. “All of the artists really look forward to welcoming people in and sharing their passion.”
For your convenience, below is an alphabetized list of the artists participating in the 2024 Apsley Studio Tour, complete with their disciplines and tour stop locations.
Raising sheep introduced Rachel Conlin to creating with wool from hand-spinning and dyeing their fibres to felting. Completely self-taught, Rachel makes unique and wearable accessories from nature’s materials and all wool creations are made from sustainable and renewable wool fibre. This year, Rachel can be found at her new studio location on Finnegan’s Lake, just outside Coe Hill.
Working from his home on the edge of the Canadian Shield, Brad Copping maintains a successful practice as both a sculptor and a functional glass blower, often traversing the line between. His work examines how we live with each other within physical spaces, and often references water in some form. He will be doing hot glass demonstrations for his 30th year on the tour.
Jacques Deslauriers is a self-taught woodworker who uses only wood from dead or fallen trees. Gnarls, insect holes, and spalted wood are his materials of choice. He is always ready for a creative challenge of any size.
Valerie Foster has been sewing for over 40 years starting with clothing for herself and her family, which eventually grew into a children’s clothing home business in Calgary. After moving to Saudi Arabia in 2000, she brought her seamstress skills into the practice of machine quilting. Valerie enjoys the mathematical aspects of quilting. She has grown to also love the practice of free motion quilting. Since 2005, Valarie and her husband Ted have spent the bulk of her summers at Chandos Lake in Apsley. Valarie and Ted repatriated to their log home on Chandos Lake in 2015.
Mary Ellen Gerster sees the world according to shape, value, and colour, immersing the viewer in her bright and glowing watercolour paintings. Through the layering of transparent colours she creates photo realism in her still life, fruit, flowers and waterscapes. She is inspired and challenged by subjects with strong lights, shadows, shapes, colours and is especially drawn to high contrast and bright colours.
Retired art teacher Andrew Gregg is new to the Apsley Studio Tour this year. Although he has made art since his childhood in rural Australia and has been featured in local exhibitions, he mostly paints for pleasure while spending the summers on Rathbun Lake in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park.
First introduced to oil painting as a child, David Grieve has been painting ever since and has developed a unique distinctive style. He uses a multi-layered technique, applying thick swaths of oil paint to create images inspired by the Ontario landscape.
Anja Hertle works with broken china, pottery, porcelain figurines, and tile to give these elements a second life in her whimsical mosaic art pieces. She also incorporates forks, beads, buttons, bottle caps, and typewriter keys.
Dolores Hopps’ work includes quilts, using imported fabrics from England and Japan, as well as wall hangings, runners, and smaller items. Many of her pieces have wool felting incorporated into the quilting, as well as beads, silk, and quite a number of other interesting embellishments.
A member of Kawartha Potters Guild and Spirit of the Hills Art Association, Melanie Edson Horner enjoys creating personalized pottery, particularly clocks. She also enjoys making one-off pieces and has been exploring raku and experimenting with horsehair and feathers.
Carolyn Jongeward’s artwork includes abstract paintings and handwoven tapestries that embodies geometric forms, numerical rhythms, or unexpected imagery that emerges at the loom without prior design. Her art has been exhibited in Canada, U.S.A., and England.
A new guest artist this year, Jillian Messervey is a Peterborough-based weaver who is inspired by colours and textures she sees in nature, and who uses natural fibres and traditional patterns to make hard-working and functional pieces that also decorate the home or wearer. Her blankets, scarved, and towels are woven by hand on her antique floor looms.
After a successful career both nationally and internationally in architecture, Barbara Miszkiel has returned to her original interest in fine arts, painting primarily in acrylics. Although Barbara has created new buildings most of her career, in painting she is drawn to old buildings, live subjects and landscapes.
The starting point for all of Molly Moldovan’s work is the pristine landscape that surrounds her: the lake, forest, and uninterrupted skyscape are the foundation of every piece she paints. A visual artist whose primary focus is abstraction, she works primarily in acrylic and mixed media.
Kelly O’Neill is a multidisciplinary visual artist who enjoys the immediacy of dry materials in her drawing practice, and engages with found objects, natural materials, video, assemblage, and textile practices to create three-dimensional forms and installations. The Selwyn-based artist studied sculpture and installation at Toronto’s OCAD University and Her work has been shown in galleries in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.
Tom Parsons specializes in handcrafted solid wood furniture made from one-of-a-kind pieces. From coffee and end tables, charcuterie and cribbage boards, to sculptural works, he is inspired by the beauty of wood in its many forms.
Joeann Pearson has been making non-traditional stained glass mosaics for 25 years. Her style is to make mosaics that use deliberately shaped, hand-cut larger pieces that are sometimes hand painted which are usually only used in the making of windows. She has always sought out nature spots to indulge in present moment awareness, and feels nature guides her work. After decades of visiting the family cottage on Chandos, she now resides full time on a small rural homestead in Apsley.
After working for many years in the tech industry, Judy Ranieri retired and began to explore her creative passions. Many of Judy’s projects are inspired by nature and utilize natural fibres, fabric, colour, design, and textures to create one of a kind textile and fabric art pieces.
In her 30-year career as a glass artist, Susan Rankin has drawn inspiration from the landscape in which she lives. An avid gardener, she continues to explore the idea of garden through her vessel and sculptural works and is well known for her vibrant floral vessels.
New to the tour this year, Brenda Rudder is a wildlife artist who specializes in creating artworks on natural wood. Her pieces are rich in intricate details and vibrant colours, showcasing a deep connection and passion for the natural world. Having experimented with many media over the years, she now solely uses acrylics on reclaimed wood scraps from a local mill.
Kathy Robichaud has been a stained glass artist for over 25 years, using traditional techniques to produce stained glass art. Concentrating on the copper foil method, Kathy looks to nature for inspiration.
Aubre Scott (Piping Hot Pyro Studio) is an emerging artist based out of Whitby. She began working with pyrography (wood-burning) in 2021, gaining inspiration from the scenery, landscapes, and wildlife of the local area.
Catharine Scott is a self-taught artisan who is inspired by the natural beauty of coloured gem stones, the ability to form and create meaningful pieces of art through wire working, and her own creative style of stringing that can be worn at any time of the day with any style of fashion.
Clare Scott-Taggart aka Rusty Girl (Metal Sculpture, Studio F)
Clare Scott-Taggart (Rusty Girl) has worked in metal for the past 30 years. She maintains a small studio in Thousand Islands where she recently moved and continues to create birdbaths, climbers, and trellises.
David Smith is inspired to create new works in watercolour, acrylic, and oil by the surrounding landscape. Painting full time following a career in advertising, graphic design, and colour retouching, he applies this knowledge and skill into his paintings.
Obsessed with the relationship between great food and handmade pottery, Judy Sparkes believes eating from handmade pots elevates the dining experience. Her work is carefully hand crafted to be enjoyed as everyday art.
New to the tour this year, Marci Smith is the “queen bee” behind Swift Acres Apiary & Farm in Apsley, where she and her family offer raw unpasteurized honey products, beeswax candles, and natural body essentials like beeswax lip balm and goat’s milk soap.
Silver Timbers (Sterling Silver Jewellery, Studio M)
From the delicate to the dramatic, Silver Timbers’ jewellery designs are timeless treasures, which will serve as wearable art for years to come.
“I believe that jewellery is an essential element of attire,” the artist states. “Even when I am riding camels in the Moroccan desert, I wear my bracelets. My pieces are designed to be worn 24/7 wherever you are in the world.”
First launched in 1994, the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour creates public awareness of the arts by promoting and supporting artists in the community.
For more information on the 2024 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, visit apsleystudiotour.com. You can also follow the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour on Facebook and Instagram.
Find the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour on the Toureka! app or download the tour map and watch for the black-and-white studio tour signs that mark each studio location. (Photo courtesy of Apsley Autumn Studio Tour)
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Award-winning performer and playwright Rebecca Perry is the woman with the golden gun in a promotional photo for her show "Bond, James Bond: The Music of 007", which is coming to Bobcaygeon's Globus Theatre from July 17 to 21, 2024. In addition to singing all 25 theme songs of the James Bond film franchise, Perry will present entertaining facts about the songs and their singers, the actors who played Bond and the unforgettable Bond girls, as well as the legacy of the Bond franchise itself. (Photo: Sly Pereira)
For the past six decades, the music of the James Bond film franchise has woven itself into popular culture, with 25 theme songs performed by a who’s who of musical royalty producing 13 chart-topping hits including three songs that took home an Academy Award.
Award-winning performer and playwright Rebecca Perry is going to sing all of them when her show Bond, James Bond: The Music of 007 comes to Globus Theatre for five performances from Wednesday, July 17th to Sunday, July 21st at the Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon.
In addition to performing the music, Perry will present entertaining facts about the songs and their singers, the actors who played Bond and the unforgettable Bond girls, as well as the legacy of the Bond franchise itself.
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“We are so excited to bring Bond, James Bond: The Songs of 007 to Globus Theatre,” Perry says in a media release. “This show is chock-full of musical history — after all, with 60 years of theme songs, there is plenty here to suit any musical taste.”
That musical history includes the most iconic Bond song of all time, 1964’s “Goldfinger” by Shirley Bassey, to 1973’s “Live and Let Die” by Paul McCartney & Wings, 1977’s “Nobody Does It Better” by Carly Simon, 1981’s “For Your Eyes Only” by Sheena Easton, 1985’s “A View to a Kill” by Duran Duran, 1985’s “GoldenEye” by Tina Turner, 2002’s “Die Another Day” by Madonna, and the most recent Bond theme songs, each of which won the Academy Award for best original song: 2012’s “Skyfall” by Adele, 2015’s “Writing’s on the Wall” by Sam Smith, and 2021’s “No Time to Die” by Billie Eilish.
Perry’s show began touring with Smile Theatre in 2022 and had a mainstage performance with a full band at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts in 2023. For the Globus Theatre production, Perry will be joined onstage by a Toronto-based pianist, singer, composer, and writer David Kingsmill and Toronto-based musical director, composer, arranger, and educator Quinton Naughton.
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Bond, James Bond: The Music of 007 will be performed at 8 p.m. from July 17 to 20, closing with a 2 p.m. matinee performance on July 21. An optional dinner is available at 6 p.m. before the evening performances. Tickets are $50 for the show only, or $100 for dinner and the show.
You can purchase tickets online at globustheatre.com or by calling the box office at 705-738-2037 (toll free at 1-800-304-7897).
Here’s the complete list of all James Bond films, their theme songs, and who originally performed them.
Dr. No (1962) – James Bond Theme by Monty Norman performed by John Barry & Orchestra
From Russia with Love (1963) – “From Russia with Love” by Matt Monro
Goldfinger (1964) – “Goldfinger” by Shirley Bassey
Thunderball (1965) – “Thunderball” by Tom Jones
You Only Live Twice (1967) – “You Only Live Twice” by Nancy Sinatra
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) – “We Have All the Time in the World” by Louis Armstrong
Diamonds Are Forever (1971) – “Diamonds Are Forever” by Shirley Bassey
Live and Let Die (1973) – “Live and Let Die” by Paul McCartney & Wings
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) – “The Man with the Golden Gun” by Lulu
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) – “Nobody Does It Better” by Carly Simon
Moonraker (1979) – “Moonraker” by Shirley Bassey
For Your Eyes Only (1981) – “For Your Eyes Only” by Sheena Easton
Octopussy (1983) – “All Time High” by Rita Coolidge
A View to a Kill (1985) – “A View to a Kill” by Duran Duran
The Living Daylights (1987) – “The Living Daylights” by A-ha
Licence to Kill (1989) – “Licence to Kill” by Gladys Knight
GoldenEye (1995) – “GoldenEye” by Tina Turner
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) – “Tomorrow Never Dies” by Sheryl Crow
The World Is Not Enough (1999) – “The World Is Not Enough” by Garbage
Die Another Day (2002) – “Die Another Day” by Madonna
Casino Royale (2006) – “You Know My Name” by Chris Cornell
Quantum of Solace (2008) – “Another Way to Die” by Jack White and Alicia Keys
Skyfall (2012) – “Skyfall” by Adele
Spectre (2015) – “Writing’s on the Wall” by Sam Smith
No Time to Die (2021) – “No Time to Die” by Billie Eilish
Renovations to create a commercial kitchen at Trinity Community Centre in Peterborough are underway as One City Peterborough recently reached its $204,000 fundraising goal thanks to community support. (Photo: One City Peterborough)
“Hope is good infrastructure” indeed when it comes to being able to create a commercial kitchen to feed those in need of a hot meal in Peterborough.
One City Peterborough has announced renovations for its existing kitchen at the Trinity Community Centre on Reid Street are underway, as a result of achieving its $204,000 fundraising goal. One City Peterborough expects the renovations will be finished by the end of the summer.
With the theme of the fundraiser being “Hope is good infrastructure,” One City’s fundraising coordinator Mackenzie Clark told kawarthaNOW, “our community has truly demonstrated that it is in fact, true. Each and every individual, group and business has given us so much hope.”
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Trinity Community Centre offers year-round drop-in and winter overnight services for people who are marginalized and/or unsheltered, along with other supports and programs.
Trinity has been, with its partners including Kawartha Food Share and All Saints Church, providing 150-plus meals per day for the community. However, the lack of a commercially certified kitchen at the centre means One City has been limited with how it can prepare food in the space.
“We are so grateful for all of the churches, groups, and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to help us cook and prepare meals in off-site commercial kitchens over the last seven months,” Clark noted.
One City Peterborough launched the public portion of its kitchen renovation fundraiser in June 2024 and achieved the $204,000 goal in under two months. (Graphic: One City Peterborough)
Being able to renovate the kitchen will enable Trinity to prepare hot and nutritious meals right on site, Clark said.
“We recognize how challenging it has been to cook and prepare 150 to 200 meals each day without having a commercial kitchen on site at Trinity. Having a renovated commercial kitchen will allow us to cook meals on site and bring in volunteers to prepare and serve meals like they once did at One Roof when the meal program was hosted there.”
“It will be such a relief for all of our staff, volunteers, and guests.”
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Clark said One City Peterborough is “thrilled” to have already reached its financial goal.
“We didn’t expect to reach it so quickly, since we only began the fundraiser in June. It benefited us to have a significant amount of the funds already raised to begin with before making the fundraiser public, but we are blown away by the support that our community has given us to reach the goal in just under two months.”
“Capital campaigns are often daunting when the number to achieve is so high, but our community stepped up in huge ways to make it happen in such a short period of time.”
With the money raised, Trinity can now embark on larger and more challenging projects, such as having work completed on the HVAC, electrical, and plumbing components of the renovation. During this time, Trinity kitchen staff can still prepare food for the community under current guidelines, but with limited space due to the renovations.
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One City Peterborough is a non-profit charitable organization that operates on the belief “that everyone belongs and it is together that we flourish.” The Trinity Community Centre is a collaboration between the City of Peterborough, One City Peterborough, the United Way Peterborough and District, and the Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network (PPRN).
PPRN bought the Trinity United Church property in 2022 after the church congregation, experiencing low attendance numbers and facing severe repair costs for the building, voted to disband. While the property wasn’t publicly listed for sale, PPRN learned of its availability and entered negotiations to purchase it.
The United Way provided One City with $200,000 in federal homelessness funding for renovations to the building. One City Peterborough also received $50,000 from the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough for the renovations, which included new washrooms and showers as well as a new HVAC system, with beds donated by Peterborough Regional Health Centre. The City of Peterborough is providing One City with $900,000 each year for three years to operate the winter overnight drop-in space and the year-round daytime drop-in centre.
The beach at Sandy Lake in Trent Lakes. (Photo: Michael Hurcomb)
Every Friday during swimming season, we post The Beach Report™ — our weekly report of the results of water quality testing at beaches in the greater Kawarthas region — and update it throughout the week as conditions change.
As of Thursday, July 18, the following beaches are unsafe for swimming:
Beavermead Park – City of Peterborough
Rogers Cove – City of Peterborough – beach closed due to suspected blue-green algae bloom
Lime Kiln Park – Curve Lake
Lions Park – Coboconk
Harwood Waterfront & Dock – Hamilton Township
Hastings Waterfront North – Trent Hills
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Below are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in the City and County of Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, Northumberland County, and Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White’s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.
As of 2024, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health provides weekly testing results for only five designated public beaches in Hastings County and Prince Edward County. It no longer regularly samples another 13 beaches due to historically low occurrence of high bacteria levels.
During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E. coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like the beach at Roger’s Cove in Peterborough’s East City, are tested every business day while most other beaches are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Important note
The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.
You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.
A finalist in the Boots and Hearts Music Festival Emerging Artist competition this August, Nashville-based Canadian country music singer-songwriter Alexa Goldie performs at Rolling Grape Vineyard in Bailieboro on Sunday afternoon. (Photo via alexagoldie.com)
Every Thursday, kawarthaNOW publishes live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that musicians provide directly or that venues post on their websites or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, July 11 to Wednesday, July 17.
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).
Saturday, July 27 8pm - Punk Show w/ Dirty Bird, Antixx, Liquor Pigs, Bilious, James Miranda ($20 in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/938666696357, $25 at door)
Beamish House Pub
27 John St., Port Hope
905-885-8702
Thursday, July 11
8:30pm - Road to Cultivate Concert Series After Party ft Blue Hazel
Sunday, July 14
4-7pm - Live music TBA
Belly's Lakeside Bar + Restaurant
17 Fire Route 82B, Buckhorn
705- 931-4455
Friday, July 12
6-8pm - Lizeh Basciano
Saturday, July 13
6-8pm - Accolades
Black Horse Pub
452 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-0633
Thursday, July 11
7-10pm - Jazz & Blues Night ft. Rob Phillips
Friday, July 12
5-8pm - Courtney Kane; 9pm - The Bombshell Deluxe
Saturday, July 13
5-8pm - The Colton Sisters; 9pm - Misfits In Action
6-10pm - #MindYourMind CMHA benefit ft Townhouse 37, Tripsonix, and more
Coming Soon
Saturday, July 20 1-4pm - PMBA Deluxe Live ft The Vortexans ($10 donation suggested)
Sticks Sports Pub
500 George St. S., Peterborough
(705) 775-7845
Friday, July 12
6-9pm - High Waters Acoustic
Tap & Tonic Pub & Bistro
18-22 Bridge St. W., Campbellford
(705) 947-2333
Thursday, July 11
7-10pm - Matt Eugene
The Thirsty Goose
63 Walton St., Port Hope
Friday, July 12
8pm-12am - Jordan Thomas
Saturday, July 13
8pm-12am - Chris Collins
Wild Blue Yonder Pub at Elmhirst's Resort
1045 Settlers Line, Keene
(705) 295-4591
Tuesday, July 16
8pm - Tuned Up Tuesdays ft Al Black and The Steady Band ($10 cover show only, $49 for BBQ & show, $25 for children 3-12, reservations required)
Coming Soon
Tuesday, July 23 8pm - Tuned Up Tuesdays ft Emily Burgess & Marcus Browne ($10 cover show only, $49 for BBQ & show, $25 for children 3-12, reservations required)
Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) in Cobourg recognized 23 active and past members of its auxiliary who passed away in 2023-24 by flying the Canadian flag at half-mast on July 10, 2024. (Photo: NHH)
Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) flew its Canadian flag at half-mast Wednesday (July 10) to pay tribute to members of the hospital’s auxiliary who passed away during 2023-24, including one woman who volunteered for 48 years.
The west Northumberland hospital, located in Cobourg, lowered the flag outside the facility’s main entrance to recognize the men and women — both active and past volunteers of the NHH Auxiliary — who died over the past year.
The hospital co-ordinated the initiative to coincide with NHH Auxiliary’s annual meeting, which was also held on July 10. The annual tradition recognizes the “exceptional commitment” of auxiliary volunteers throughout the hospital, NHH noted in a media release.
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At NHH, auxiliary volunteers help in various capacities, such as greeting patients as they enter the building, helping them find their way to their destination, and delivering water to patient rooms. They also offer a comforting voice in the emergency department, provide a listening ear in NHH’s palliative, dialysis, cancer and supportive care areas and help patients occupy their time through the Hospital Elder Life Program, NHH said.
The hospital’s auxiliary also operates two retail operations — the Little Treasure Shop, located inside the main entrance of NHH, and Petticoat Lane (the Lane), a thrift shop on Munroe Street in Cobourg — which raise funds to support the hospital’s capital equipment needs.
“As a volunteer partner with over 100 years of service to this community, it’s important to honour the many dedicated individuals, both past and present, whose volunteerism has supported our hospital teams in delivering quality, compassionate care,” said Susan Walsh, NHH president and CEO, in a statement.
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“The auxiliary’s commitment to NHH and generosity of spirit seems to grow stronger by the year. Your role is critical to our shared purpose of being a people-first organization. On behalf of everyone at NHH, thank you for all you do for NHH and the patients and families we serve.”
NHH joined the auxiliary in remembering 23 individuals with “gratitude for their service to this community.”
These are the NHH Auxiliary members who passed away in 2023-2024:
Grace More, who passed away on September 28, 2023, served from 2009 to 2023.
Dianne Grace Crutchley, who served from 2005 to 2023, passed away on January 10.
Margaret “Marg” Godawa served from 2011 to 2023. She passed away on February 25.
Elaine Churchill served on the auxiliary from 2018 to 2023. She passed away on June 7.
Ronald “Ron” Brealey Sargent passed away on November 4, 2023 and served from 2009 to 2021.
Marian F. Brawley volunteered from 1966 to 2014. She passed away on November 18, 2023.
James “Jim” Vilda Russell Manning served from 2008 to 2012. He passed away on November 19, 2023.
Linda Diane Graham volunteered from 2003 to 2013. She passed away on November 24, 2023.
Robert Donald Shaw served from 2017 to 2020. He passed away on November 25, 2023.
Doreen Elizabeth Jenkin volunteered from 2003 to 2020. She passed away on December 21, 2023.
Blair McFadden served from 2008 to 2023 and passed away on February 4.
Rayna Breton volunteered between 2004 and 2010 and passed away on February 29.
Katherine “Kathy” Lynne Upper served on the auxiliary from 2000 to 2012. She passed away on March 27.
Charles Frederick Lester Northeast volunteered from 2008 to 2020 and passed away on March 30.
Margaret Elizabeth Harnden served from 2009 to 2013. She passed away on April 6.
Audrey Lewella Bowman passed away on April 9. She volunteered from 1981 to 2010.
Harry Oumke Knapper served on the auxiliary from 2015 to 2017 and passed away on April 20.
Wellington “Rae” Waring volunteered from 2015 to 2023 and passed away on May 10.
Margaret Francesca Fullerton passed away on May 14. She served on the auxiliary from 1990 to 2011.
Helga Linde Witt served from 2005 to 2011 and passed away on May 15.
Catherine Patricia Patty Crosbie volunteered from 2005 to 2010 and passed away on May 30.
Beryl May Bridge served from 1992 to 2012. She passed away June 5.
Ross Clifford Adams passed away on June 22. He volunteered from 2001 to 2011.
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NHH prides itself for having one of the most active hospital auxiliaries in the province. The auxiliary’s mission is to provide effective and compassionate assistance to visitors, staff and patients, in an environment that promotes the dignity and well-being of all. The auxiliary also raises funds for the hospital, including a recent donation of $207,000 to support the purchase of four new fetal warmers for the hospital’s maternal child care unit.
With 250 active members of all ages, the NHH Auxiliary is growing, contributing thousands of hours of service to the hospital each year. Overall, the auxiliary has been active in helping provide health care in west Northumberland for more than a century.
Canadian hard rockers I Mother Earth, featuring brothers Jagori and Christian Tanna (who went to high school in Peterborough) and original lead singer Edwin, will perform a free-admission concert at Peterborough Musicfest on July 13, 2024. (Supplied photo)
More than one Canadian rock band has attempted to recapture the magic of its glory years, and more than one, for whatever reason, has come up short of the mark.
Peterborough Musicfest presents I Mother Earth
When:Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 8 p.m. Where: Del Crary Park (100 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: Free admission
Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets (lawn chairs are available to rent). VIP seating available for sponsors. No smoking, alcohol, or pets permitted. There’s no public parking at Del Crary Park, but there’s neighbourhood street parking nearby and ample parking in downtown Peterborough.
But there have been success stories of bands that re-formed after a lengthy hiatus, subsequently discovering there remains an undiminished appetite for their original music and stage presence.
On Saturday, July 13th, Peterborough Musicfest brings I Mother Earth back to Del Crary Park, eight years after brothers Christian (drums) and Jagori Tanna (guitar) — both of whom went to high school in Peterborough after their family moved from Hamilton — reunited with original lead singer Edwin and performed at Musicfest on July 2, 2016.
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The timing of that reunion was right, as the stars aligned perfectly with 2016 marking the 20th anniversary of Scenery and Fish, I Mother Earth’s Juno Award-nominated double platinum album. While the band hasn’t released any new music since reuniting, its continued popularity proves you can turn back the clock and effectively recapture the magic of what was a pretty special time.
That clock goes back to 1990 when the Tanna brothers shared a rehearsal space with Edwin (born Edwin Ghazal), who ultimately ask the siblings to form a band with him. Come 1992, the trio found itself in Los Angeles to record its debut album, 1993’s Dig.
As far as debut albums go, it proved very successful, spawning the singles “Rain Will Fall,” “Sonic,” “Levitate,” and “So Gently We Go” on its way to a 1994 Juno Award for Best Hard Rock Album. Certified gold early on based on sales, Dig has since been elevated to platinum status.
VIDEO: “One More Astronaut” – I Mother Earth
Four years passed before I Mother Earth — now a quartet with bassist Bruce Gordon onside — released its much-anticipated second album. The aforementioned Fish and Scenery didn’t disappoint.
Still the band’s most commercially successful album, largely due to the success of the singles “One More Astronaut” and “Another Sunday,” the album earned I Mother Earth two 1997 Juno Award nominations for Group of the Year and Rock Album of Year. Both honours were won by The Tragically Hip, which was winning most everything a Canadian band could win at that time.
All was good, and promising to get much better, when Edwin announced he was leaving I Mother Earth in April 1997. Creative differences were widely mentioned as the culprit, with the Tanna brothers agreeing it was best to part ways with Edwin before pledging to find a new front man.
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Enter Newfoundland native Brian Byrne and new music from I Mother Earth in 1999 in the form of Blue Green Orange, the band’s third studio album. It too was certified gold in Canada, propped up by the singles “Summertime in the Void,” “All Awake,” and “When Did You Get Back From Mars?,” with Rush’s Geddy Lee playing bass on “Good for Sule.”
Come 2002, I Mother Earth was back in the studio, the result this time around being 2003’s The Quicksilver Meat Dream. Billed as a concept album, with a heavier and more progressive sound than earlier work, the album didn’t match the commercial success of the band’s three prior albums, its lead single “Like The Sun” not enough to increase sales. In November 2003, a live show in Barrie was thought to be I Mother Earth’s swan song.
With Byrne off on a solo career and Gordon doing his thing with Blue Man Group, Jagori Tanna founded a new studio, record label, and production company, while Christian Tanna organized concerts in the Toronto area and managed The Venue in downtown Peterborough (both Tanna brothers and Byrne were living in Peterborough at the time).
VIDEO: “Another Sunday” – I Mother Earth
There things sat until early 2012, when the quartet made plans to again come together and revive I Mother Earth. That they did, although Gordon left later that same year, citing professional and personal commitments. With Chuck Dailey now in as bassist, I Mother Earth went back on the road and released two new singles in 2015: “The Devil’s Engine” and “Blossom.”
That was it for this iteration of the band, with Byrne leaving in early 2016. Not wanting to call it quits, the Tanna brothers reached out to Edwin and here we are with the original trio returning for Musicfest.
In an August 2016 interview with Jim Barber of Music Life Magazine, Jagori Tanna reflected on what was a key benchmark in I Mother Earth’s continuity — the reunion with Edwin.
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“The idea wasn’t something that we were pursuing on either side,” Jagori admitted, adding “It was more of an opportunity thing.”
“It was literally within a day that Brian (Byrne) said he was going to try and join another band. We had a whole bunch of touring planned. Instead, things got cancelled. But I said that I couldn’t just sit on the sofa and do nothing. It (2016) is a really special year for us, for me and my brother especially.”
“We had a mutual friend between us and Ed, and his name popped up and it was just at the right time in our lives where it was like, ‘OK enough of the bullshit. We just want to play.’ I think Ed was feeling the same way. Someone said give him a call. Initially I thought of involving him in the little documentary I was working on for the anniversary (of Scenery and Fish). The idea of doing shows wasn’t really on the radar.”
VIDEO: “Like the Sun” – I Mother Earth
With a mutual friend of Jagori and Edwin acting as the go-between, the idea of a reunion was broached.
“This person put us in contact to see if he would be up to talking about doing this documentary. It had nothing to do with shows, it had nothing to do with music or anything. I called and he said ‘Yes’ within about five minutes. We set up a meeting for the next day. That’s how it started.”
While I Mother Earth has indicated it has enough material together for a new album, nothing firm has been announced as of yet. But if history has taught fans of the band anything, the unexpected is just around the corner.
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Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission concerts during its 37th season, each staged on Wednesday and Saturday nights until August 17th.
Overseen by executive director Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission remains “to provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”
For more information on this concert or the 2024 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest’s 2024 season.
kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.
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