Kingan Home Hardware, downtown Peterborough's only hardware store, is making it easy to get holiday ready by launching a clearance sale on all Christmas items. Beginning November 25, 2024, customers can get discounts on decorations, ornaments, holiday décor, gift wrap, and more. It's also a great destination for Christmas gift shopping. (Photo courtesy of Kingan Home Hardware)
If there’s one thing Peterborough excels at, it’s offering the charm of a small town with the services of a big city. That balance is exemplified at downtown’s Kingan Home Hardware, where you can find everything you need on sale this holiday season.
After more than 170 years, Kingan Home Hardware still offers the nostalgia of old-timey hardware stores, and long-time customers might still recall the squeaky wooden floors and former owners.
The Simcoe Street store dates back to 1850 when it was established as Kingan Hardware by Robert Kingan. After being passed down through the family, it was purchased by Kirk Merrett in 1974 and was eventually renamed to Kingan Home Hardware. Today, the store and its name continues to uphold the founder’s legacy, even as it becomes a new family affair with Kirk’s son Drew Merrett taking over ownership.
Downtown Peterborough’s only hardware store, Kingan Home Hardware is your one-stop shop for the holidays, with Christmas markdowns beginning on Monday (November 25). Why limit decking your halls to just boughs of holly, when the store offers discounts on ornaments, tree skirts, wreaths, lights, and all other holiday décor?
Deals on wrapping papers and gift bags will ensure each present invites a smile before it’s even unwrapped, while festive mugs, dishes, candles, and wine glasses will help you celebrate the holiday season with family and friends.
Kingan Home Hardware at 167 Simcoe Street in Peterborough in 1976, when it was still known as Kingan Hardware. The hardware store was originally founded in 1850 by Robert Kingan before being passed down in his family, and was purchased by Kirk Merrett in 1974. Today, shopping at Kingan Home Hardware in downtown Peterborough continues to offers the same charm and nostalgia of the original store, while services have grown to include paint matching, knife sharpening, laminating, and more. (Photo courtesy of Trent Valley Archives)
While you’re in store stocking up festive decor, you can find some affordable gifts for everyone on your shopping list. For the fixer-uppers, a variety of high-quality home tool kits are currently on sale, while comfort lovers will be excited by the store’s selection of heated blankets. These and other items that make for great gifts, including toys and games for the kids, can also be found in the Christmas clearance section.
While it’s certainly a great place do your shopping for Christmas decorations and gifts, Kingan Home Hardware is also the destination for treating yourself this holiday season. Looking a specific paint colour you found in a design book for your kitchen reno? Perhaps a festive holiday green? Bring it into the store, and Kingan Home Hardware will match it for you. Paint match is one of many services offered in store, along with key-cutting, knife and scissors sharpening, screen repair, and lamination.
Located at 167 Simcoe Street, Kingan Home Hardware is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays. Customers can avoid the holiday crowds by shopping online at homehardware.ca and selecting Kingan Home Hardware as your store.
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/.
encoreNOW for November 25, 2024 features (from left to right, top and bottom) Peterborough Theatre Guild's "Dorothy in Wonderland - The Musical" from November 29 to December 8, Peterborough Singers' "Yuletide Cheer" on November 30, The Barra MacNeils East Coast Christmas in Lindsay on December 3, In From The Cold in Peterborough on December 6 and 7, Globus Theatre's "Aladdin" from December 6 to 15, and New Stages Theatre's "A Christmas Carol Comedy" from December 11 to 14. (kawarthaNOW collage)
encoreNOW is a bi-weekly column by Paul Rellinger where he features upcoming music, theatre, film, and performing arts events and news from across the Kawarthas.
This week, Paul highlights the Peterborough Theatre Guild staging of Dorothy in Wonderland – The Musical, “Yuletide Cheer” featuring the Peterborough Singers, The Barra MacNeil’s delivery of an East Coast Christmas gift to Lindsay, the 25th In From The Cold benefit concert for YES Shelter for Youth & Families, a new take on Aladdin from Bobcaygeon’s Globus Theatre, and New Stages Theatre’s A Christmas Carol Comedy that sees Peterborough’s Linda Kash get all Scrooge-like.
Peterborough Theatre Guild’s holiday family musical presents a mish-mash of two classic stories
VIDEO: Pete Dalliday speaks with director Sarah Rogers
The recent Taylor Swift mayhem in Toronto reminds us that you can go one of two routes when it comes to treating the kids: you can go big or you can stay home.
Home, specifically, is The Guild Hall on Rogers Street in East City where, for a fraction of what Swifties shelled out, a wholly entertaining experience suitable all ages awaits in the form of Dorothy in Wonderland – The Musical.
The Peterborough Theatre Guild is staging Brian Taylor’s bringing together of the worlds of Oz and Wonderland as its annual holiday season production and it really couldn’t have made a better choice. Ditto for the selection of Sarah Rogers as director, who also directed last year’s pre-Christmas staging of The Enchanted Bookshop. Having had a career in education, she loves working with children, and Dorothy in Wonderland – The Musical checks that box with some 30-plus kids in the mix.
Those who love The Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland, or both, will be delighted to again meet the beloved central characters of both stories — Dorothy, The Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Alice, The White Rabbit, The Mad Hatter and all the rest — as Dorothy and Alice team up to face a dangerous foe in the form of the Queen of Hearts, who stands in the way of their ever returning to their respective homes of Kansas and London.
This is a story that Taylor was born to write. Raised in rural Oklahoma, he spent his childhood running through fields and developing a healthy fear of cows. His active imagination saw him create and act out stories about the land and the animals. Years later, after less than a week of business classes at the University of Denver, he followed his heart and subsequently changed the course of his future by majoring in theatre. Taylor has since written 30-plus plays, many of them refreshing new takes on popular children’s stories.
Sponsored in part by kawarthaNOW, performance dates for Dorothy in Wonderland – The Musical are November 29 and December 3 to 6, 7:30 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees November 30 and December 1 and 8. Tickets cost $15 and can be ordered online at www.peterboroughtheatreguild.com or by calling 705-745-4211.
Yuletide Cheer as only the Peterborough Singers can deliver it
VIDEO: Peterborough Singers rehearse for “Yuletide Cheer”
Back in February of this year, I did something I should have done long ago: I finally attended a concert by the Peterborough Singers. Billed as “The Music of Elton John,” the sold-out show was spectacular, with the soaring presentation of Elton’s and lyricist Bernie Taupin’s classic songs nothing short of uplifting and a joy to experience.
Formed originally in 1990 as the Peterborough Symphony Singers, the choral ensemble — under the direction of Syd Birrell — became a stand-alone entity as the Peterborough Singers in 1993. With more than 100 members, it has presented a full fall-to-spring slate of concerts since then, its current home being stately Emmanuel United Church at George and McDonnel streets.
Under Birrell’s leadership, the Peterborough Singers have truly become a cultural staple in this city. Birrell brings decades of experience to the role, as an organist and choirmaster at several local churches. His unabashed passion for what he does has never waned; his awareness of choral music’s ability to move us at the heart of the Peterborough Singers’ success.
On Saturday, November 30th at Emmanuel United Church, a seasonal tradition will continue when the Peterborough Singers present “Yuletide Cheer.” The 7 p.m. concert will see Toronto brass ensemble quintet Venabrass in the mix as the special guest, with Birrell joining in on the church’s Casavant organ.
Tickets cost $40 ($10 for students) and are available online at www.peterboroughsingers.com or by phone at 705-745-1820. Tickets are also available in Peterborough at Pammett’s Flower Shop and Ashburnham Foot & Ankle and in Lakefield at Happenstance.
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The Barra MacNeils are bringing an East Coast Christmas to Lindsay
VIDEO: The Barra MacNeils Christmas Show (2019)
A good friend, whose judgment I trust completely, can’t say enough about The Barra MacNeils. Each time the five MacNeil siblings — Lucy, Boyd, Stewart, Kyle, and Sheumas — have come to these parts, she has lit up with anticipation and made sure, come hell or high water, she’s in the audience.
I imagine that will be the case once again on Tuesday, December 3rd when The Barra MacNeils present “An East Coast Christmas” at Lindsay’s Academy Theatre.
Hailing from Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, the MacNeil clan began performing in 1980 when teenagers and younger. The release of their third album Timeframe in 1990 brought a 1991 Juno Award for Album of the Year. Juno Award lightning struck again in 2001 in the form of Group of the Year honours. In total, The Barra MacNeils have released 15 albums, with 1993’s Closer to Paradise attaining gold record status.
For the Lindsay show, The Barra MacNeils will unleash their full arsenal of instruments, including accordion, guitar, piano, bodhran, mandolin, banjo, Celtic harp, tin whistles, bouzouki and flute, with bass accompaniment by Jamie Gatti. The result will be a potpourri of MacNeil family favourites “gleaned from Christmas ceilidhs, midnight masses, and the general festive frolic that accompanies each Christmas season.”
In the end, their audience will be no doubt be provided full evidence of why the Halifax Daily News praises The Barra MacNeils as “a treasure of the East Coast” — something my friend has been saying for years.
In From The Cold concert at Peterborough’s Market Hall has its audience saying “YES” for a 25th year
VIDEO: “In From the Cold” – A Film By Rodney Fuentes (2017)
The lead-up to Christmas brings us yet another beloved seasonal music tradition in the form of the 25th annual In From The Cold concert, with two performances on Friday, December 6th and Saturday, December 7th at Market Hall in downtown Peterborough.
A fundraiser for YES Shelter for Youth and Families since day one, with more than $200,000 has been raised since the inaugural concert in 2000, the big draw remains the performance of seasonal music rarely heard on radio or in the mall.
To that end, co-founder John Hoffman et al work year-round at finding relatively unknown music selections with origins beyond our borders to perform.
Featuring the talents of Hoffman and In From The Cold co-founders Susan Newman, Rob Fortin, and Curtis Driedger, the concert has also perennially featured guitarist Michael Ketemer, harpist Tanah Haney, and the Convivio Chorus under the direction of Newman.
As for the “feel” of the annual Christmas concert, Driedger recently told kawarthaNOW that In From The Cold harkens back “to the old days when you’d meet in a church or the community hall. You know everybody. It’s kind of a community thing.”
While the dollars raised have been huge for YES, the awareness raised around the plight of those who are homeless has proven equally vital in the collective empathy and movement to action of countless in the community.
With kawarthaNOW returning once again as a media sponsor of the concert, tickets for either 8 p.m. performance cost $29 ($34 for reserved cabaret seating) and are available at markethall.org.. If you can’t make it to the show during what is a busy time of year, Trent Radio will broadcast a recording of the concert throughout Christmas Day at 92.7 FM as well as online at trentradio.ca.
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Holiday panto fun abounds as Bobcaygeon’s Globus Theatre keeps the British tradition alive
Toronto-based actor Katherine Cappellacci as Snow White with Globus Theatre co-founder and artistic producer James Barrett as the Dame in Globus Theatre’s 2017 traditional British panto “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Barrett will take on the Dame role for the 17th time in Globus Theatre’s panto “Aladdin” from December 6 to 15, 2024 at the Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon. (Photo: Sarah Quick)
Originating in Britain, a panto (short for pantomime) is holiday theatrical entertainment for the entire family that involves music, topical jokes, and slapstick comedy and is based on a fairy tale, nursery story, or other well-known tale.
Unlike pantos in North America that include both a “nice” version of the show for children and a “naughty” one for adults, traditional British pantos instead cleverly incorporate adult-oriented humour in a way that goes over the head of the children in the audience. Children enjoy the action, songs, and audience participation, with adults loving the local references and innuendos. British pantos also feature the “Dame” — a traditional female role that is often portrayed by a male actor in drag.
It’s no surprise then that Globus Theatre’s artistic director Sarah Quick, who is originally from England, pens her annual pantos in traditional British fashion, and this year’s is no exception. Aladdin runs from December 6 to 15 at the Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon.
Aladdin is a comic take on the classic Middle-Eastern folk tale “Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp,” with the title character encountering many wonderful characters during his thrilling adventure. Besides Princess So Shi, the object of Aladdin’s affections, evil Abanazar, and clumsy Genie-of-the-Ring are also among the cast of adult actors that includes Kevin Sepaul, Rebecca Anne Bloom, Maya Doherty, and more than 40 local youths — with Globus Theatre artistic producer James Barrett once again taking on the Dame role as Aladdin’s mother, the Widow Twankey.
Quick assures her version of Aladdin is “funny, irreverent, topical, and so much fun.” With 17 pantos under her belt, I think we can believe her.
Performance dates are December 6, 7 p.m., and December 7, 13 and 14, 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinee stagings December 7 and 8 and 14 and 15. An optional Christmas dinner is available at 6 p.m. prior to the evening performances.
Tickets are $35 ($22.50 for children 12 and under) for the show only, or $85 ($42.50 for children 10 and under) for the show and dinner. For tickets, visit www.globustheatre.com or phone 705-738-2037.
Linda Kash is Scrooge reimagined in New Stages Theatre’s comedic take on another classic tale
After a successful holiday show last December, Peterborough’s New Stages Theatre is staging another twist on a favourite festive tale from December 11 to 15, 2024 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. Katie Leamen’s “A Christmas Carol Comedy” transforms the classic tale by Charles Dickens into a hilarious two-person production, with Linda Kash as the Christmas-hating Scrooge and Kerry Griffin as every other character. Directed by Mark Wallace, the actors are joined by local legend Beau Dixon as musical director, who will lead a holiday sing-along ahead of each performance and will also provide musical accompaniment for the play. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
Peterborough’s New Stages Theatre is bringing us yet another new take on a classic tale in the form of A Christmas Carol Comedy from December 11 to 14 at the Market Hall.
Written by Canadian playwright Katie Leaman and based on Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella A Christmas Carol, it will see one actor play Ebenezer Scrooge and another actor perform all the other roles. That require two performers with considerable acting chops, and director Mark Wallace (New Stages’ artistic director) is leaning heavily on the huge talents of Linda Kash as Scrooge and Canadian Comedy Award winner Kerry Griffin as everyone else.
Suitable for all ages, the play combines shades of Monty Python humour with Dickens’ Ghosts of Past, Present and Future — the result being lots of improv, laughter, and a stocking full of holiday spirit.
No Porpoise Productions debuted A Christmas Carol Comedy in 2014 in Waterford, Ontario, and it has since been restaged across Ontario and south of the border. As for Dickens’ classic story, there have been more than 100 stage and screen adaptations since the early 1900s.
A huge bonus is the involvement of local musician, playwright, director and actor Beau Dixon as the production’s musical director. Prior to each staging, he’ll lead a holiday music sing-along before providing musical accompaniment for the stage antics of the very talented Kash and Griffin.
Performances are at 7 p.m. from December 11 to 14, with 2 p.m. matinees December 14 and 15. Tickets cost $40 ($20 for children, arts workers, students and the under waged) and are available at tickets.markethall.org.
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Encore
The artwork featured in ReFrame’s 2025 posters, tickets, website, and merchandise was produced through a commissioned collaboration between artists Alice Olsen Williams, an Indigenous quilt maker, and Gillian Turnham, a practitioner of traditional Islamic geometric art, with the resulting artwork digitally rendered by Michael Morritt. (Graphic: ReFrame Film Festival)
A huge shout-out to longtime Peterborough music superfan Les Manley who put together the Musicians’ Appreciation Party held November 14 at The Social in downtown Peterborough. A packed club was wholly entertained by a number of area musicians, each of whom were treated like royalty as a nod to their years of entertaining. I was on hand for the first bit of the party and it was a great time, enhanced by sharing a table with Rick and Gailie Young and their bandmate Paul Clark. Manley said his motivation for putting on the event, which saw donated admissions pay for a gift for each musician, was seeing too many near-empty musician tip jars at shows he has been to. As such, he stepped up to say two very simple but all too often left unsaid words: thank you.
Looking beyond the Christmas hubbub are local film buffs, whose sights are set on the 21st edition of Peterborough’s ReFrame Film Festival. It was recently announced it will be held January 23 to 26 with screenings at Market Hall and Showplace, while the festival’s virtual on-demand program will be available across Canada from January 27 to February 2. In total, more than 50 acclaimed films focused on social and environmental issues will be screened. Watch for more details early in the new year at reframefilmfestival.ca.
Located near Crowley Line and Rosa Landing Road in Otonabee-South Monaghan Township and managed by Otonabee Conservation, the Mikinaak Conservation Area is a former gravel pit that has naturally regenerated since aggregate extraction stopped in the late 1990s, including functional wetlands that provide homes to a variety of flora and fauna, especially nesting turtles. Otonabee Conservation worked with Hiawatha First Nation to choose the name for the new conservation area, with "mikinaak" meaning turtle in the Mississauga Ojibwe language. The site will be open to the public for recreational uses in the future. (Photo: Otonabee Conservation)
A new conservation area in Otonabee-South Monaghan Township has been named the Mikinaak Conservation Area in recognition of the area’s Indigenous peoples, with plans to open the conservation area to the public for recreational use.
Located near Crowley Line and Rosa Landing Road, the Mikinaak Conservation Area was once a licensed gravel pit that Otonabee Conservation originally acquired in 1977, with the intent of conserving a section of wetland shoreline on the Otonabee River and developing a conservation area after the aggregate was depleted.
After aggregate extraction stopped in the late 1990s, the area naturally regenerated with many features including functional wetlands that provide homes to a variety of flora and fauna. In January 2023, the Ministry of Natural Resources surrendered the gravel pit license and Otonabee Conservation announced its plan to manage the property as a conservation area.
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“We look forward to protecting the natural habitats, diverse species, and surrounding sensitive ecological features of this property,” said Otonabee Conservation manager of conservation lands Jessie James at the time.
The Ministry of Natural Resources determined the property in its current state provides ecological value for the adjacent Otonabee Midriver Complex provincially significant wetland and as species at risk habitat — in particular for nesting turtles.
Through a collaborative effort between Otonabee Conservation and Hiawatha First Nation, the new conservation area has been named the Mikinaak Conservation Area, with “mikinaak” meaning turtle in the Mississauga Ojibwe language.
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“The renaming of this conservation area is a meaningful step in recognizing the deep historical connection that the Michi Saagiig Anishinaabe people have to this land,” said Otonabee Conservation board chair Michael Metcalf. “This partnership with Hiawatha First Nation is an example of our shared commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of the land we protect.”
Tom Cowie of Hiawatha First Nation’s core consultation and land resource development worked with Otonabee Conservation staff on the renaming process, noting that Indigenous place names are typically descriptive to reflect both the land’s features and what exists there.
“It has been a positive experience sharing Michi Saagiig knowledge with this project,” Cowie said. “Having it named in Michi Saagiig dialect acknowledges our historical footprint on these lands.”
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Because most of the area of the property that was previously used as a gravel pit has naturally regenerated over time, further rehabilitation work is not necessary on the property.
As well as managing the site for conservation purposes, Otonabee Conservation intends to open the property up for recreational pursuits such as hiking and birdwatching.
Otonabee Conservation says more information about plans to open the site to visitors will be available in the coming months.
While The Avant-Garden Shop in downtown Peterborough is known for its garden and birding supplies, owner Brenda Ibey also offers functional and decorative home décor. The shop is stocked with high-quality and eco-friendly products, including many Canadian-made products such as these beautiful mugs featuring hand-carved and painted birds from Peterborough-based potter Cathy Allen — the perfect gift for the bird-lovers in your life. (Photo courtesy of The Avant-Garden Shop)
Selling everything from hats and weeders to mailboxes, garden art, and fresh bird food, The Avant-Garden Shop has been serving Peterborough’s gardeners and backyard birders for more than 20 years.
Given the wide selection of quality-made treasures to be found in store and online, you might be surprised to know that many of the products are Canadian-made and support local small businesses.
The Avant-Garden Shop was co-founded by Brenda Ibey, a long-time gardener with an educational background in horticulture, in 2002. When the shop moved from its original location on George Street to its current home at 165 Sherbrooke Street, Ibey became the sole owner and expanded the products found in store.
Today, while customers can find a wide selection of functional and decorative outdoor pieces, The Avant-Garden Shop is also full of unique interior decor and home products, including tea towels and aprons, pottery sets, wall art, and tablecloths, as well as tote bags, socks, puzzles, and books.
Ibey is intentional about filling the store with only eco-friendly and built-to-last items, focusing on Canadian-made items as much as possible. A few of the product lines from outside of Canada are certified Fair Trade.
“It’s getting more and more difficult for small businesses to compete with big online stores, so we want to help make more of these businesses accessible,” Ibey says.
A long-time gardener, Brenda Ibey co-founded The Avant-Garden Shop on George Street in downtown Peterborough in 2002. She became the sole owner when the shop moved to its current location at 165 Sherbrooke Street a few years later, and has since expanded the business to offer backyard birding products as well as interior and exterior home décor. Ibey gives advice, shows off new products, and shares tips through her “Garden Gate” video series on The Avant-Garden Shop’s YouTube channel. (Photo courtesy of The Avant-Garden Shop)
While The Avant-Garden Shop also offers an online store with worldwide shipping, shopping in store is a special experience. In addition to being stocked with items that cannot be found elsewhere, the store gives shoppers the chance to chat with knowledgeable and friendly staff who have the answers to all your questions about the best food for birds, how to attract certain birds, and how to make your garden the envy of your neighbours.
Beginner birders can also get more expert insights by watching the Garden Gate videos on The Avant-Garden Shop’s YouTube channel. The educational series was launched 12 years ago and there are more than 300 episodes where Ibey spotlights new products and answers common questions.
For those looking for gifts for the garden lovers on their lists, there are all-new items in store that Ibey is confident will be flying off the shelves this holiday season. These include Ontario-made fused-glass ornaments that reasonably priced and, for a hyperlocal gift, new pottery from Peterborough artist Cathy Allen.
The Avant-Garden Shop is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and Saturdays from 9:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.avantgardenshop.com to shop online and follow The Avant-Garden Shop on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
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/.
Environment Canada has updated its special weather statement to a freezing rain warning for Monday night (November 25) into Tuesday morning for much of the northern Kawarthas region.
The freezing rain warning is in effect for northern Peterborough County, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.
Freezing rain is likely, beginning Monday night as a low pressure system approaches the lower Great Lakes. The freezing rain may be heavy at times over a few areas overnight, with a transition to rain Tuesday morning or late Tuesday morning.
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Some ice accretion is possible on surfaces, possibly 1 to 4 millimetres of ice accretion depending on the area.
A few areas east of Georgian Bay and across Algonquin may see about 5 centimetres of snow accumulation late overnight into Tuesday morning.
Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery. Take extra care when walking or driving in affected areas.
Environment Canada issues freezing rain warnings when rain falling in sub-zero temperatures creates ice build-up and icy surfaces.
The original version of this story has been updated with the latest forecast information from Environment Canada
It's pickleball for all at Five Counties Children's Centre, as Peterborough pro pickleball player, coach, and consultant Jennie Davis (front right) has been assisting Five Counties recreation therapy staff like Caitlin Ivany (rear left) give children of all abilities a chance to try out the sport. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children's Centre)
Don’t ever tell Jennie Davis that pickleball is only for seniors and the young at heart. The Peterborough pro pickleball player, coach, and consultant says young people are also getting into the swing of North America’s fastest-growing sport.
Every month, Five Counties Children’s Centre provides a story about the work of the charitable organization. This month’s story is by Caitlin Ivany, Recreation Therapist, Five Counties Children’s Centre.
“Pickleball has grown by over 200 per cent in the last three years, and the biggest growth in pickleball is actually in the under-24 age group,” says Jennie. “Pickleball is very accessible to kids and to seniors, and that’s of course why they play so much.”
Pickleball — or what Jennie terms “this silly-named sport” — is unique in that it combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong.
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The size of a pickleball court (approximately one third the size of a tennis court) and the nature of the game make it perfect for kids of all ages and abilities, including those at Five Counties Children’s Centre.
We’re extremely grateful to Jennie for partnering with us on our “Pickleball For All” program.
On multiple occasions since spring 2023, Jennie has assisted Five Counties staff in offering this program to our Therapeutic Recreation kids/clients who have exceptionalities and disabilities but love the opportunity to try out the sport.
Balls were swapped out with balloons during the Pickleball for All program at Five Counties Children’s Centre in November to give participants the chance to build confidence in using and hitting with a pickleball racquet. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children’s Centre)
“Pickleball is a very special sport in that it is accessible for kids of all ages and abilities, and so I just find it super meaningful to be here,” says Jennie, who first took up pickleball while attending Trent University in 2016.
Since then, she has excelled at the sport, competing (and winning) at professional pickleball competitions across North America, while travelling the continent as a top-flight pickleball coach and consultant.
At Five Counties, Jennie’s skill and passion for pickleball — and her patience with kids — were on full display during our most recent Pickleball for All program held in November.
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Jennie initially substituted balloons for balls to give participants a chance to build confidence in hitting with a racquet. Kids were also able to improve their accuracy tossing a ball at ‘Ernie’ or taking aim at a bulls-eye.
These types of fun and engaging skill development drills and games used by Jennie were inclusive, accessible, and geared to each child’s ability and skill level.
That meant participants had a meaningful experience to try, learn, and enjoy the excitement of this growing sport.
Pro pickleball player Jennie Davis gets assistance from her homemade friend Ernie to help participants in the Pickleball for All program at Five Counties Children’s Centre in November improve their accuracy with the ball. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children’s Centre)
“It’s always amazing to see young people out, off their devices, and gaining confidence, playing a sport that’s easy for everyone to play,” notes Jennie.
She is equally excited that para-pickleball is also growing in popularity as an inclusive adaption of the sport that makes it easier for players in wheelchairs or with other disabilities to play.
Five Counties is fortunate to work with many different community partners like Jennie who see the value in breaking down barriers to sports and recreation activities. And with pickleball, it’s perfectly served — not just with the ball, but on the smiles of kids all ages and abilities who can at last get in the game.
The teams of Rebound Child and Youth Services and Cobourg Home Depot kicking off the Holiday 2024 Orange Door Project campaign, an initiative of the Home Depot Canada Foundation to help prevent youth homelessness across the country. Until December 22, 2024, Northumberland County residents donate to the campaign during checkout at the Cobourg Home Depot or online. According to Rebound, more and more youth in the community are experiencing unstable housing. (Photo: Rebound Child and Youth Services)
From being unsafe in the family home to having parents or caregivers who’ve forbidden their return, youth are not immune to becoming part of the country’s growing population of people without housing.
That’s why Cobourg’s Rebound Child and Youth Services (Rebound) offers programs and continues to develop new resources to prevent youth homelessness in Northumberland.
The not-for-profit agency that supports children, youth, and families has announced it’s a local beneficiary of the Home Depot Canada Foundation’s “Holiday Orange Door Project Campaign” combatting homelessness, which runs until December 22 at the Cobourg Home Depot and online.
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“We know that youth experiencing unstable housing is growing in our community,” Rebound’s executive director Sam Rockbrune told kawarthaNOW.
“Funds raised through this campaign will help us provide supports, such as mental health services and our family wellness hub, to take preventative steps for youth homelessness. Rebound is already working on prevention for youth homelessness with our current programs and rolling out exciting new programs in the new year.”
Rebound services offer a private and confidential process that can assist children, youth, and their families with options and resources for programming. The organization believes that the most effective services are those that are provided in a responsive and respectful manner and in a partnership with families. The agency serves more than 1,800 young people each year.
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In 2018, Rebound partnered with Northumberland County Community & Social Services to deliver the trusteeship program for youth aged 16 to 17 receiving Ontario Works (OW).
“At the time, I was the trusteeship caseworker, and the case load was 13 individuals,” recalled Krystyne Gillespie, Rebound’s outreach and fund development manager, adding the case load has since quadrupled.
“We see approximately 50 to 60 individuals per year, with around 40 to 45 of those (youth) continuing to need support through the program,” she said. “The trusteeship is not just about receiving financial support through OW. Our goal is for the youth to stay in school, graduate and go on to post-secondary education or into the workforce.”
Rebound provides clients with emotional health supports, access to food and clothing items, and strives to serve as a bridge to other resources, as necessary.
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The agency saw, on average, two unsheltered youth per year in the first few years of the program.
“So far in 2024, we currently have seven youth who are experiencing homelessness,” Gillespie noted.
She said Rebound is aware of a large number of youths who are living with grandparents or other family members to provide space between them and their parents, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Youth homelessness is often unseen, as youth are resilient and will find places to stay or couch-surf,” she said. “I would encourage parents to ask questions if their child is having a friend sleep over more often or throughout the week.”
“Ultimately, Rebound hopes to prevent youth homelessness by helping families creating stronger bonds, building their skills around communication and conflict management, for example. Families that learn together, grow together, (and) hopefully stay together.”
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As for the Holiday Orange Door Project Campaign, customers can donate during checkout at the Cobourg Home Depot or by visiting orangedoorproject.ca and selecting Cobourg as the location for their donation.
All local donations will help Rebound provide counselling and therapy, youth justice diversion, youth homelessness prevention programs, along with family and parenting support services.
Since 2022, the Cobourg Home Depot has raised over $25,000 for Rebound through the Orange Door Project fundraising campaign, an initiative of the Home Depot Canada Foundation.
The foundation is a Canadian registered charity supporting 127 organizations across the country that are committed to preventing and ending youth homelessness. To create new paths for youth experiencing homelessness or at risk of doing so, the foundation will invest $125 million by 2030.
A passionate knitter herself, Deanna Guttman has owned Needles in the Hay at 385 Water Street in downtown Peterborough since 2016. The shop sells only top-quality, all-natural yarns in a myriad of colours and offers a place for fibre enthusiasts to connect in the educational space above the shop called The Hayloft. From November 29 to December 2, 2024, Needles in the Hay is running their annual Black Friday Sale, providing savings on top-selling brands and clearance items, and giving out two times the points on all purchases to Needle Point members. (Photo courtesy of Needles in the Hay)
Nothing shows your love more than a hand-knit gift for the holidays, and the annual Black Friday sale at Needles in the Hay at 385 Water Street in downtown Peterborough means you can stock up on all the yarn, needles, patterns, and inspiration you’ll need for each unique project.
Aptly named, Needles in the Hay is truly a needle in a haystack — a unique shop where you will find high-quality natural fibre yarns and where you can connect with other fibre enthusiasts in the community.
Founded in 2010, Needles in the Hay is one of the longest-running shops in Peterborough’s downtown. Owner Deanna Guttman, a passionate knitter herself, has been at the helm of the business since 2016.
Alongside accessories and inspirations for knitting and other fibre arts, Needles in the Hay also stocks a curated selection of natural fibre yarns in a myriad of colours. From merino and alpaca wools to cashmere, cotton, linen, and more, all yarns come from responsible brands and in a variety of price points.
Needles in the Hay not only offers all the supplies you need to start your next project, but also helps you turn what is often a solitary activity into a community one.
Located above the Water Street shop, The Hayloft is an educational space designed to support fibre lovers, whether you’re a beginner trying something new or are already skilled and looking to brush up on a technique or overcome a challenge. Needles in the Hay offers regularly scheduled classes in The Hayloft for a variety of skill levels and artistic pursuits, as well as free weekly drop-ins from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays.
One of downtown Peterborough’s longest-running shops, Needles in the Hay is not only a place where you can find high-quality yarns made with all-natural fibres, but it also the home of The Hayloft, an educational space where both beginner and experienced knitters can engage in classes and workshops, connect with one another, and work on their projects during free weekly social gatherings. (Photo courtesy of Needles in the Hay)
Whether you’re buying for yourself or the knitter on your holiday shopping list, you’ll find great deals during Needles in the Hay’s largest sale of the year.
From Friday, November 29 to Monday, December 2, the online-only sale will offer big savings, including 15 per cent off The Fibre Co. and Brooklyn Tweed, two of the shop’s most popular brands. Purchases must total more than $100 before tax, and the sale does not include discounted dye lots. Clearance yarns will also have major savings up to 50 per cent off.
What’s more, from Monday, November 25 to Monday, December 2, customers who collect loyalty points as a Needle Point member will receive twice the points when making purchases. That means shoppers can get savings when shopping now and at a later date too. A deal like that is truly a needle in a haystack.
To browse the collection at Needles in the Hay or to sign up as a Needle Point member, visit needlesinthehay.ca. Shop in store at 385 Water Street in downtown Peterborough from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and 12 p.m. 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/.
The Sharing Tree, an initiative to connect the community with Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) during the holiday season in support of the PRHC Foundation's $60-million Campaign for PRHC to reimagine healthcare at the regional hospital, was launched on November 23, 2024 at Couture Candy PTBO in downtown Peterborough. Pictured from left to right are PRHC Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway and reImagineers Lisa and Matt Couture, Susan Dunkley, Noah Crowley, Nick Beamish and his son Luke, Jess Crowley and her son Theo, Darryl Porter, and (in front) PRHC Foundation manager of community giving and engagement Jane Lovett with her son Sam. (Photo courtesy of PRHC foundation)
A group of volunteer ambassadors for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation’s $60-million Campaign for PRHC to reimagine healthcare at the regional hospital have launched a holiday initiative called the Sharing Tree.
The Sharing Tree invites community members to rally around the hospital by sharing their connections with PRHC — whether it’s a story of exceptional care, a cherished memory, or a message for PRHC’s doctors, nurses, staff, and patients — by writing their words on a cardboard ornament, which will be placed on the tree.
Known as the reImagineers, the group of volunteer ambassadors includes Lisa Couture, a donor to the PRHC Foundation and the owner of Couture Candy Ptbo in downtown Peterborough, where the Sharing Tree launched on Saturday morning (November 23).
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“We hope that by sharing our own stories, we can inspire others to reflect on their connections with the hospital,” Couture said. “Each message on the Sharing Tree serves as a reminder of the care, compassion, and support that bring us all together.”
Couture celebrated the launch of the Sharing Tree by announcing a fundraiser at her store in support of the PRHC Foundation. Until Christmas Eve, $1 from each $19.99 mixed candy bag purchased will be donated towards the Campaign for PRHC.
Fundraisers like Couture’s are another way the community can support the hospital, which serves a regional population of up to 600,000 people. PRHC relies on community donations to fund the equipment and technology needed to save and change patient lives.
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PRHC Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway thanked Couture and the other reImagineers for their dedication and efforts to connect the community and the hospital through the Sharing Tree.
“The tree will spread warmth and encouragement through the community, then bring cheer to the hospital over the holiday season while supporting the Campaign for PRHC,” Heighway said.
The Sharing Tree will travel to locations around the region throughout the holiday season, before coming “home” to PRHC in time for Christmas, where the community’s shared stories and inspiring messages will be on display for doctors, nurses, staff, and patients to read.
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For those unable to visit or contribute to the Sharing Tree in person, there’s also an online version at prhcfoundation.ca/sharingtree where stories and messages can be shared digitally, and where the in-person locations of the Sharing Tree are listed.
Nick Beamish, another reImagineer who is also a grateful patient and a donor to the PRHC Foundation, is encouraging people to contribute their stories and messages for the Sharing Tree, whether in person or digitally.
“Help us decorate the tree with hope, warmth, and gratitude,” Beamish said.
Northumberland County is encouraging community members who have a disability or have lived experience with disabilities to join the Northumberland Accessibility Advisory Committee and help identify barriers to accessbility and create practical inclusive solutions. Pictured is assistive listening technology installed at customer service desks in county facilities that not only makes it easier for visitors to hear staff behind plexiglass safety barriers by dimming background noise and sharpening the sound of speech, but also has integrated hearing loop technology that enables a wireless transfer of speech directly to a visitor's hearing aids. (Photo: Northumberland County)
People who have a disability or lived experience with disabilities and would like to improve accessibility in Northumberland County are being encouraged to share their skills and ideas.
Northumberland County is currently recruiting residents to join the Northumberland Accessibility Advisory Committee (NAAC).
While the county has a legal requirement under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act that people with disabilities make up most of the committee’s membership, the county and NAAC have additional reasons for extending that particular call, according to Andrea Nicholson, Northumberland County’s accessibility coordinator and NAAC staff liaison.
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“Lived experience provides unique insights that cannot be replicated simply by watching or studying something,” Nicholson told kawarthaNOW.
“Individuals with disabilities or related experiences bring authentic perspectives to the discussion that help identify barriers and create practical, inclusive solutions. Their voices ensure that programs and initiatives address real needs, fostering improved equity and accessibility for all community members.”
With International Day of Persons with Disabilities approaching on December 3, the NACC is encouraging Northumberland community members to join them in “Advocating for Accessibility, Together” by adding their voices to help “build a barrier-free future,” according to a media release.
As a member of NACC, residents can expect to share their thoughts, ideas, and feedback to help improve the accessibility of county initiatives and programs.
December 3 is recognized annually as International Day of Persons with Disabilities by the UN and marked in communities around the world.
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This year, Northumberland County is acknowledging the day under the theme of “advocating for accessibility together.”
The theme was chosen as it underscores the importance of collective action in ensuring accessibility for all, the county said. It calls for collaboration between individuals, communities, organizations, and governments to break down barriers and create inclusive environments.
“Northumberland County is committed to accessibility,” Nicholson said. “We’re looking for dedicated individuals who are passionate about making a difference and championing accessibility within our community. Joining the NAAC is a unique opportunity to advocate for a more inclusive environment for everyone.”
The committee collaborates closely with county council and staff, with the goal of ensuring that county services, programs, and facilities are accessible to everyone.
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“Disabilities are only noticed because our society is not fully accessible,” noted Bobby-Jo Preston, NAAC chair, in the release.
“Together we work to help put the pieces together to finish the puzzle. Our committee values the lived experience of its members to inform decisions that help improve accessibility for all community members. By working together, we can create a community where everyone can fully participate.”
Residents who are interested in applying for a position on the committee are asked to submit an online application by Friday, December 6 by visiting northumberland.ca/NAAC.
The application form is also available in an alternate format upon request. For more information, email accessibility@northumberland.ca or call 905-372-3329 ext. 2327.
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