A car on Lock Street in the south end of Peterborough was crushed by falling tree branches during the severe storm that ripped through southern Ontario and Quebec on May 21, 2022. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
It’s Emergency Preparedness Week from May 5 to 11, and both the Ontario government and municipalities in the Kawarthas region are reminding residents to “plan for every season” — the theme for this year’s national effort led by Public Safety Canada, provincial and territorial emergency management organizations, Indigenous organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.
“Plan for every season” underscores the importance of readiness for the unique challenges presented by Ontario’s changing seasons, including the increase of extreme weather events due to climate change, and highlights the opportunity for year-round practice of emergency preparedness.
Regardless of the season, residents are advised to be prepared for emergencies by taking the following steps:
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Understand the local risks from emergencies such as extreme weather events and power outages so that you can better prepare for them.
Make an emergency plan so you and your family can respond effectively when faced with an emergency, including making and practising a home escape plan.
Prepare a 72-hour emergency kit with essential supplies (including water) to support you and your family (including any pets) for at least three days during any kind of emergency that may occur.
As part of Emergency Preparedness Week and in advance of the summer, the Ontario government is hosting “Exercise Heatwave” from May 7 to 9. This large-scale simulated exercise, which will not affect the public or any provincial services, will reinforce provincial procedures and response to heat-related emergencies.
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“Exercise Heatwave is a valuable opportunity to practise and plan for our response to potential extreme heat emergencies,” says Caroline Mulroney, Ontario’s minister responsible for emergency management, in a media release. “Planning exercises like this one will play a critical role in keeping Ontarians safe while reducing economic strain and minimizing impacts on our infrastructure and environment.”
In the Kawarthas region, the City of Peterborough is one of the municipalities that will participate in Exercise Heatwave, along with Guelph, Mississauga, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, and Toronto, as well as three federal government departments and more than 50 non-governmental organizations.
“Emergencies can vary widely in nature, so it is important for us to adapt our preparations accordingly,” says Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal in a media release. “Whether it’s a natural disaster, power outage, or other unforeseen event, having a well-thought-out emergency plan and supplies can provide peace of mind and increase our resilience in challenging situations.”
Connor from Kawartha Heights Public School concentrates on a word during the Rotary Club of Peterborough's 10th annual spelling bee on May 4, 2024 at Whetung Theatre at Fleming College. (Photo: Rotary Club of Peterborough)
Champion spellers from Peterborough elementary schools won great prizes for themselves and their schools during the Rotary Club of Peterborough’s 10th annual spelling bee on Saturday (May 4) at Whetung Theatre at Fleming College.
More than 50 students from grades 4 to 8 competed in the fun competition, with participants selected from students across Peterborough County who competed in mini-spelling bees at their schools.
The spelling bee final consisted of a junior division for students in grades 4 to 6, and an intermediate division for students in grades 7 and 8.
Rotarian Catherine Hanrahan was the emcee of the Rotary Club of Peterborough’s 10th annual spelling bee on May 4, 2024 at Whetung Theatre at Fleming College. (Photo: Rotary Club of Peterborough)
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Chloe Cupit from Monsignor O’Donoghue Catholic Elementary School was the top speller in the junior division, with Emily Gordon from Queen Elizabeth Public School placing second and Verna Conlin-Hanley from St. Anne Catholic Elementary School placing third.
In the intermediate division, Charlotte Brown from Children’s Montessori School placed first, with Pax Wallace from Prince of Wales Public School placing second and Adeniji Adejolaoluwa from St. Alphonsus Catholic Elementary School placing third.
The top spellers won prizes donated by Camp Kawartha, Zap Attack, Canadian Tire on Lansdowne Street, Rebecca Quinn of Century 21 United, the Art School of Peterborough, Trent Excalibur Camp, By the Book, and Crayola.
Flanked by Liam Nolan as mascot Buzz on the left and Leigh Ramsey as Princess Leia on the right (in recognition of Star Wars Day), the top spellers at the Rotary Club of Peterborough’s 10th annual spelling bee on May 4, 2024 were (top, left to right) Verna Conlin-Hanley, Emily Gordon, and Chloe Cupit in the junior division and (bottom, left to right) Pax Wallace, Charlotte Brown, and Adeniji in the intermediate division. (kawarthaNOW collage of Rotary Club of Peterborough photos)
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Students in each division also won cash awards to fund literacy projects worth a total of $3,500 at their schools.
The first place school in each division won $1,000, with the second place school winning $500 and the third place school winning $250.
The spelling bee will be broadcast on YourTV Peterborough-Lindsay several times between May 11 and 17.
On April 30, 2024, Chief Keith Knott announced Curve Lake First Nation will receive $400,000 in funding to renovate the Mary Dorothy Jacobs Memorial Park baseball diamond, with $300,000 coming from Indigenous Services Canada and $100,000 from the Jays Care Foundation "Field Of Dreams" grant program. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of Curve Lake First Nation video)
Curve Lake First Nation has scored a homerun to help create recreational opportunities for youth with $400,000 in funding to renovate a baseball diamond in Curve Lake.
Chief Keith Knott of Curve Lake First Nation, which is located about 25 kilometres northeast of Peterborough, and federal indigenous services minister Patty Hajdu announced last Tuesday (April 30) that the Government of Canada and the Jays Care Foundation “Field Of Dreams” are investing in the Mary Dorothy Jacobs Memorial Park baseball diamond.
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is funnelling $300,000 into the project and the Jays Care Foundation is providing $100,000, as Curve Lake is a recipient of the 2024 Jays Care Foundation Field Of Dreams grant. The Jays Care Foundation, the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays, runs baseball for development programming for more than 59,000 children and youth annually across Canada.
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Field Of Dreams is Jays Care’s grant program that provides funding to design, refurbish, and build local baseball diamonds in communities across the country. Curve Lake First Nation is one of 14 communities across the country receiving a total of more than $1.5 million in 2024.
“This announcement is a dream come true for Curve Lake First Nation community,” Knott said in a media release.
“We are continuously striving to enhance our community’s infrastructure; this project represents our dedication and commitment to providing valuable program opportunities. Our entire community, especially our youth, stands to benefit greatly from this work.”
The $400,000 in funding from Indigenous Services Canada and the Jays Care Foundation will be used for upgrades and retrofits to the upper baseball diamond at Mary Dorothy Jacobs Memorial Park at Curve Lake First Nation. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of Curve Lake First Nation video)
In October 2023, Curve Lake First Nation and ISC engaged the Jays Care Foundation to explore funding opportunities for a baseball diamond renovation. With the funding now coming to fruition, Curve Lake said it’s excited and eager to begin renovations on the baseball diamond and also plans to continue to develop youth baseball leagues.
The First Nation community said it’s focused on creating opportunities for youth to get involved in sports and recreational activities in their own community. Limited access to local recreational facilities can be a barrier for kids and youth seeking to play sports, the media release noted.
Field Of Dreams diamonds are created with the intention to be safe and inclusive spaces where communities can connect, and kids can grow.
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For Curve Lake First Nation, “baseball is more than a sport … it’s a part of their community foundation,” Hajdu said.
“Through this announcement, our government and the Blue Jays are teaming up to revitalize something dear to the community — the Mary Dorothy Jacobs Memorial baseball diamond. This will benefit generations of First Nation children to come.”
Curve Lake has a population of more than 3,000 members and non-members.
VIDEO: Curve Lake First Nation Chief Keith Knott – April 30, 2024
Knott said sports indeed “hold a special place in the hearts of the youth in Curve Lake. Our youngsters eagerly participate in the summer ‘Jr. Jays’ program, and each year, we host a tournament inviting neighbouring Nations to join. The revitalization of our ball diamond promises an exciting experience for all First Nation youth, offering them a safe and vibrant space to enjoy and engage in the beloved game of baseball.”
The Jr. Jays is a membership program for children aged 14 and under. Parents and guardians can register their kids for one of two membership programs offering exclusive benefits, activities, experiences, discounts and prizes.
Meanwhile, the Jays Care Foundation offers an inter-generational baseball program, the Indigenous Rookie League, that promotes connection and belonging among Indigenous communities. The foundation works in partnership with First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities and urban Indigenous organizations across the country.
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“We recognize that this territory is an unequal one, especially for children and youth identifying as Indigenous or living in Indigenous communities,” the Jays Care Foundation stated on its website.
“That’s why so much of the work we do focuses on responding to the calls to action around sport and youth programs as laid out in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada report 2012. In order to answer these calls to action, we partner with Indigenous communities and organizations on an inclusive, trauma-sensitive, and evidence-based sport-for-development program,” the foundation noted.
ISC strives to build relationships with charitable foundations, such as Jays Care Foundation, to develop opportunities to support First Nations communities’ youth, culture, and recreation. It provided funding to support this project through the Community Development Wrap-Around Initiative (CDWAI).
In 2021–2022, ISC launched the CDWAI to support First Nations partners in building the capacities required to implement their community development priorities. It offers a wrap-around model to help leverage existing funding streams, develop trust-based partnerships, and address gaps in existing programs with new investments and flexible funding.
Currently, the CDWAI provides holistic wrap-around support to 22 participating First Nations communities across the country.
An 1874 engraving published in The Illustrated London News shows Irish emigrants preparing to leave the Queenstown port in County Cork, Ireland for North America. Peterborough actor Elaine Day, who is a descendant of one of the Irish emigrants who came to Upper Canada in 1825 as part of a settlement initiative by Peter Robinson, plays the role of The Descendant in Trent Valley Archives Theatre's inaugural production "Tide of Hope," which takes place in Ireland in 1825 and tells the story of one of the emigrants. The play will be performed for the public on May 15 and 16, 2024 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre. (Public domain image)
It’s often said an actor is made for a part, and that couldn’t be truer than for Elaine Day’s role in Tide of Hope, the inaugural production from Trent Valley Archives Theatre which premieres at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough on May 15 and 16.
No better performer could have been chosen to play the role of a descendant of a Peter Robinson settler, considering Day is exactly that.
Written by Peterborough playwright Ed Schroeter and directed by Gerry McBride, Tide of Hope is a prequel to the immigration story of Peter Robinson, the 19th-century Upper Canada politician who administered the passage and settlement of over 2,000 Irish Catholic families to what is now eastern Ontario. Set in 1825 in the Blackwater District of Ireland, the play is based on the life of David Nagle, an Irish land agent and rent collector forced to flee to Upper Canada when Irish rebels branded him a traitor.
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“I always knew I had ancestors who came from Ireland on one of the Robinson ships,” says Day, whose character in the play is simply called The Descendant. “When I was 10, my father had my siblings and me dress up as travellers arriving in Peterborough during an event commemorating the 150th anniversary of their arrival.”
Not only is Day’s ancestor — John Heffernan — one of the Peter Robinson settlers, but he had a connection with one of the characters in Tide of Hope.
Heffernan was an impoverished gardener on the estate of Lord George Kingston (played by Nathan Govier in the play) and married Lord Kingston’s daughter, Lady Elizabeth Kingston. Day explains that, as a poor farmer and a servant of his father-in-law, Heffernan’s marriage to Lord Kingston’s daughter was looked down upon by both her family and society. The couple emigrated to Upper Canada in 1825 to start a new life because of this scandal.
Elaine Day, who plays the role of The Descendant in “Tide of Hope,” is an actual descendant of a Peter Robinson settler who also had a connection with one of the play’s characters. Her ancestor John Heffernan emigrated to Upper Canada to escape a scandal involving his relationship with the daughter of wealthy landowner Lord George Kingston, a role performed by Nathan Govier in the play. (Photo courtesy of Trent Valley Archives Theatre)
After securing the part in the play, Day pulled out the book her father had researched and written about which of the family’s ancestors had immigrated from Ireland and she ultimately saw herself in the family history.
“I spend as much time as possible outside in my gardens and grow fruits and vegetables every season,” Day says. “I believe my ancestor, the gardener, has passed that interest down through the generations to me.”
Director Gerry McBride notes that, while he was excited upon hearing about Day’s connection to the story during her audition, it wasn’t the reason she was cast as The Descendant (she had also auditioned for the role of The Stage Manager).
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“I thought that was a very cool connection, but truthfully I cast her because of her strong audition more so than the connection,” McBride recalls. “Elaine has brought some family trees and family records to share with us at the rehearsals, which have been interesting and have helped us all become more aware of the real local connection a lot of people have to this story.”
Tide of Hope is the first production from Trent Valley Archives Theatre, which launched earlier this year with the mission to bring history to life onstage while raising funds for the Trent Valley Archives, an organization that promotes the preservation, identification, and care of historical archives.
Though Day is the only actual descendant of a Robinson settler performing in the play, she is not the only cast member with Irish roots. In the role of Mary is Lauren Murphy, whose ancestors hailed from Parkmore Parish in County Wicklow near Carnew before having moved to Canada in 1857. Other actors in Tide of Hope include June Govier, Brogan McKellar, Lucas Pronk, Carling Dulder, Drew Mills, and Paul Baines.
Actor Elaine Day (middle) with director Gerry McBride (front) and actors June Govier (left) and Nathan Govier (right) during a rehearsal for “Tide of Hope”. (Photo courtesy of Trent Valley Archives Theatre)
For his part, playwright Ed Schroeter is not surprised that at least one member of the cast has a connection to the topic of the play.
“Approximately 2,000 settlers arrived in the area 200 years ago,” he says. “It makes sense that five generations later, one descendent would be interested in community theatre.”
However, Day’s family history has already inspired Schroeter to write a sequel to Tide of Hope, to be set in one of the nine Robinson ships that carried Irish settlers to Canada. Who knows what other discoveries and connections he might make in the process?
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Tide of Hope is coming to the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in Peterborough with public performances at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15th and Thursday, May 16th and a performance for school groups at 1 p.m. on May 15. While Thursday’s public performance is almost sold out, tickets are still available for the Wednesday evening performance.
Tickets, which are $40 for assigned cabaret table seating or $30 for regular assigned seating, are available in person at the Market Hall box office (140 Charlotte St, Peterborough), by phone at 705-775-1503, or online at tickets.markethall.org/tide24.
Debris on Lilac Road at Mount Horeb Road west of Omemee after a Pontypool man's motorcycle crashed on May 4, 2024. The 73-year-old driver was pronounced dead in hospital. (Photo: Kawartha Lakes OPP)
A 73-year-old Pontypool man is dead after his motorcycle crashed west of Omemee on Saturday afternoon (May 4).
At around 1:38 p.m., Kawartha Lakes Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and fire and emergency medical services responded a report of a single-vehicle collision involving a motorcycle on Mount Horeb Road near Lilac Road.
The driver of the motorcycle was transported to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
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Mount Horeb Road has been closed between Hogsback Road and Old Mill Road while police document the scene.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation.
Anyone who may have witnessed or has video/dash camera footage of the collision and has not spoken with police is asked to contact the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP Detachment at 1-888-310-1122.
Canadian country music artist Tenille Townes, who has won the Canadian Country Music Association Award for Female Artist of the Year five times, will perform a free-admission concert in Del Crary Park in Peterborough on June 29, 2024, opening Peterborough Musicfest's 37th season. (Photo: Matthew Berinato)
Peterborough Musicfest has announced Canadian country music artist Tenille Townes will open the 37th season of the free-admission outdoor concert series on Saturday, June 29th.
The 30-year-old award-winning singer-songwriter was born as Tenille Nadkrynechny and raised in Grande Prairie, Alberta, where she was introduced to country music by her parents and grandparents during trips in the family car. When she was nine years old, she attended a Shania Twain concert and was given a chance to sing with Twain on stage.
Townes began writing songs at the age of 14, influenced by singer-songwriters like Patty Griffin and Lori McKenna.
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“My grandparents gave me a guitar and I started learning the chords I needed to make songs out of what I was writing in my journal,” Townes recalls. “It was so liberating to take all the things I had a hard time saying out loud and put them into a song. It felt like I’d found a much easier form of communication.”
When she was 15, Townes released her first single “Home Now”, a song written from the perspective of a daughter whose father is a soldier in Afghanistan, and, two years later, her first album Real and was nominated for a Canadian Country Music Association Award for Female Artist of the Year — an award she won eight years later in 2019 and in each of the next four years.
In 2013, at the age of 19, Townes released her second album Light and relocated to Nashville. After years of taking in sets at the famous Bluebird Café and pushing herself in writing sessions, she signed to Columbia Nashville and released her acoustic EP Living Room Worktapes in 2018.
VIDEO: “As You Are” – Tenille Townes
That was followed in 2020 by her major label debut, The Lemonade Stand, which won the Juno Award for Country Album of the Year in 2021 as well as the Canadian Country Music Award for Album of the Year. Townes captured the same two awards the following year for her EP Masquerades.
This past February, Townes released her latest single “As You Are,” described as an “indie rock masterpiece” and “a major sonic shift” for the singer-songwriter and, in April, released her five-song EP Train Track Worktapes.
In all, Townes has won 17 Canadian Country Music Association Awards, two Juno Awards, and two Academy Of Country Music Awards. She’s toured with Stevie Nicks, Miranda Lambert, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, Reba, Zac Brown Band, and Dierks Bentley, and recorded a duet with Bryan Adams.
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Townes’ June 29th Peterborough Musicfest concert at Del Crary Park, her first-ever performance in the Peterborough area, is part of her “As You Are” tour this spring.
Peterborough Musicfest’s 2024 season runs from June 29 to August 17, with free-admission concerts every Wednesday and Saturday night as well as on Monday, July 1st (Canada Day).
Other performers already announced include indie alt-rockers Metric (July 17) and Toronto-based rap rockers Down With Webster (July 31). The full line-up of performers for the 37th season will be announced on May 14.
The Lakefield Literary Festival kicks off at the Bryan Jones Theatre at Lakefield College School with "Books to Movies," where author Michael Crummey (left) and award-winning director Christian Sparkes (right) will discuss the adaptation of Crummey's 2014 Governor General's award-nominated novel "Sweetland" into the 2023 film of the same name. The festival takes place on July 19 and 20, 2024 and also features authors Kevin Sylvester, Casey Lyall, Kate Hilton, Elizabeth Renzetti, Drew Hayden Taylor, Tim Cook, and Charlotte Gray. (kawarthaNOW collage)
The Lakefield Literary Festival has announced the line-up of Canadian authors for this year’s festival, taking place on July 19 and 20.
This year’s festival features authors Michael Crummey, Kevin Sylvester, Casey Lyall, Kate Hilton, Elizabeth Renzetti, Drew Hayden Taylor, Tim Cook, and Charlotte Gray.
Over two days at the Bryan Jones Theatre at Lakefield College School (along with the popular children’s tent at Cenotaph Park), the authors will present their latest works, engage in spirited conversations with a moderator, respond to audience questions, and sign their books. There will also be a reception with the festival authors.
The festival kicks off on Friday, July 19th at 7 p.m. in the Bryan Jones Theatre with “Books to Movies,” where author Michael Crummey and award-winning director Christian Sparkes will discuss the adaptation of Crummey’s 2014 Governor General’s award-nominated novel Sweetland into the 2023 film of the same name. The discussion will be moderated by Peterborough documentary filmmaker, historian, and journalist James Cullingham.
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The festival continues at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 20th with the children’s tent at Cenotaph Park featuring Casey Lyall, author of A Spoonful of Frogs, and Kevin Sylvester, author of The Fabulous Zed Watson.
Back in the Bryan Jones Theatre at 2 p.m. on Saturday, “Bending Genres” will see Elizabeth Renzetti and Kate Hilton, coauthors of Bury The Lead, and Drew Haydon Taylor, author of Cold, read from their novels and discuss the ways in which they write beyond the bounds of genre.
At 4:30 p.m., festival-goers can gather at Lakefield College School to mix and mingle with all the authors and enjoy served hors d’oeuvres and a wine and beer cash bar.
The Lakefield Literary Festival takes place on July 19 and 20, 2024 at at the Bryan Jones Theatre at Lakefield College School, with a children’s tent at Cenotaph Park. (Poster: Lakefield Literary Festival)
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The festival concludes in the Bryan Jones Theatre at 7 p.m. on Saturday with “Wartime Mothers and Allies” featuring authors Tim Cook (Lifesavers and Body Snatchers and the upcoming The Good Allies: How Canada and the United States Fought Together to Defeat Fascism during the Second World War) and Charlotte Gray (Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons: The Lives of Jennie Jerome Churchill and Sara Delano Roosevelt).
The two authors will read from their recent books and share what they discovered about the people and the historical time that inspired them, with journalist and author Doug Saunders moderating the discussion.
Admission to individual events is $30, except for the reception which costs $50, or $80 for all the events except the reception or $115 for all events including the reception. Tickets are available now at lakefieldliteraryfestival.com, and will also be available in mid-May at Happenstance Books and Yarns at 44 Queen Street in Lakefield. Admission to the children’s tent is free.
Jimmy Bowskill and Greg Keelor performing during the red carpet gala celebration at Port Hope's Capitol Theatre on April 27, 2024. The gala, along with themed activities hosted at local venues from April 22 to 25 and a matching donation from Rod Stewart and Masumi Suzuki, raised over $70,000 to support the not-for-profit organization's upcoming summer season. (Photo: Sam Moffatt)
Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre has raised over $70,000 for this year’s summer season thanks to community support during the not-for-profit organization’s recent season rollout celebration.
From April 22 to 25, the Capitol Theatre kicked off its upcoming summer season by inviting members of the community to participate in themed activities hosted at local venues, culminating on April 27 with a red carpet gala celebration at the theatre.
The gala celebration featured a main stage presentation hosted by Layne the Auctionista with performances by Greg Keelor, Jimmy Bowskill, and Melissa Payne. The evening also included complimentary hors d’oeuvres by Jayne’s Gourmet Catering, live and silent auctions, a costume and prop exhibition, and more.
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With a matching donation from Rod Stewart and Masumi Suzuki, the net proceeds of the rollout events and gala celebration amounted to over $70,000.
“I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all who attended and supported the Capitol this past week,” said Dan Fraleigh, chair of the Capitol Theatre’s board of directors. “I also want to take a moment to recognize the incredible support you provide all year round. Your contributions keep our doors open and our stages lit.”
The funds raised will support the Capitol Theatre’s upcoming summer season, in particular the props and costumes — made at the Capitol by the props and costume teams — that are essential to bringing the theatre’s professional productions to life.
Joel Cumber will perform as Frog and Haneul Yi will perform as Toad in the Capitol Theatre’s production of the family musical “A Year with Frog & Toad,” running from May 17 to June 2, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Capitol Theatre)
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The Capitol Theatre’s summer season begins in May with the family musical A Year With Frog & Toad, based on Arnold Lobel’s beloved books with music by Robert Reale and book and lyrics by William Reale.
The whimsical show chronicles the story of two friends — the very chipper Frog and the rather grumpy Toad — through four fun-filled seasons as they join the other animals of the forest to plant gardens, go swimming, rake leaves, go sledding, and learn life lessons along the way.
Directed by Fiona Sauder, the play stars Joel Cumber as Frog, Haneul Yi as Toad, and ensemble members Landon Doak, Taylor Lovelace, and Yunike Soedarmasto. The show runs from May 17 to June 2, with tickets costing $48 ($40 for those under 30 and $22 for children 12 and under).
For tickets and more information about the Capitol Theatre’s summer season, visit capitoltheatre.com.
Two works by local playwright Drew Hayden Taylor performed by members of Toronto's Centre for Indigenous Theatre will be among the shows at this year's Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (NIFF), which runs from June 21 to 23, 2024 at Trent University in Peterborough. Tickets the world's only Indigenous fringe festival are now available. (Photo: Sarah Cornthwaite)
Tickets are on sale now for the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (NIFF) and, with the addition of two works by an esteemed local playwright to the bill, the show’s general manager hopes to draw even more guests to the annual Peterborough event.
Coinciding with ticket sales going live for the three-day festival in June, NIFF announced the creative offerings of Drew Hayden Taylor — playwright, television presenter, columnist, and NIFF co-founder — are included in the line-up for the unique-to-Peterborough event.
It’s “exciting to have our famous local playwright represented twice in the festival,” NIFF general manager Lee Bolton told kawarthaNOW.
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“My hope is that people think about making a day or evening of NIFF,” Bolton says. “The schedule is set up so there are only short breaks between shows. Come see a couple (or) maybe bring a picnic and make a whole day of it.”
Indigenous artists will showcase their talents through film, music, puppetry, theatre, and more. Considered the only Indigenous fringe festival “in the known world,” NIFF runs from June 21 to 23 at Trent University.
The festival’s roster includes more than 20 performances, special events, family activities, and vendors. NIFF “is going to be jam-packed with performances and events and shows in our 100-seat theatre will sell out quickly,” a media release noted.
The Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival is presenting its first-ever family show with John-Paul Chalykoff performing original songs in Anishinaabemowin, along with interludes between songs with his puppet Baabii sharing some Anishinaabemowin. A member of Michipicoten First Nation, Chalykoff is an assistant professor in Anishinaabe studies at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie. (Photo courtesy of NIFF)
“I am excited about all the shows, but it’s neat to have been around long enough — four years — to be welcoming back past artists like Josh Languedoc, Juicebox Theatre, and the Centre for Indigenous Theatre,” Bolton recently told kawarthaNOW.
“I am also really excited to have our first family show with original songs in Anishnaabemowin — Songs and Puppetry with John-Paul Chalykoff.”
NIFF is being held in and around the Enwayaang building on the east bank of Trent University’s main campus, which is located at 1600 West Bank Drive.
NIFF chooses the artists through a lottery process, which is a customary element of fringe festivals. The festival team pulled six live performance companies and a film from this year’s hat, with both local and national artists represented. Each company will have multiple performances.
“Local artists are well-represented this year with the films of Wshkiigmong Dibaajmownan and solo performance ‘There Isn’t 2 Spirits in Me’ by Jess Vossen (Indigiqueen),” NIFF noted.
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Drew Hayden Taylor is featured with performances of his play Girl Who Loved Her Horses and a special once-only reading of his play Drunks and Children Tell the Truth, both by members of Toronto’s Centre for Indigenous Theatre.
Other performances include Julia Ross’s The Hummingbird performed by Juicebox Theatre and music from Mama D and The Old New World Revolutionary Rockin’ Ballroom Dance Band.
Tickets for NIFF are available through the website at www.indigenousfringefest.ca, where you can also find the complete schedule.
All tickets are $12 and are also available on a cash-only basis at the door. Select performances of Chalykoff’s “Songs and Puppetry in Anishnaabemowin” and the Centre for Indigenous Theatre’s Girl Who Loved Her Horses also have child and youth tickets available.
Women United Peterborough and the United Way Peterborough & District have announced the 20 honorees of the inaugural Women of Impact Awards, described as "a celebration of women who embody leadership, inspire others, and leave an indelible mark on our community." The honorees will be recognized at an awards ceremony and celebration on May 30, 2024 at Farmhill Weddings in Keene. (Stock photo)
Twenty women in the Peterborough area who have made a difference in the community will be honoured at the first annual Women of Impact Awards ceremony and celebration on May 30.
Women United Peterborough and the United Way Peterborough & District announced the list of honourees on Friday (May 3).
In alphabetical order, the honorees are Cassandra Babcock, Dr. Debbie Boyce, Cheyenne Buck, Patti Clancy, Wendy Couper, Susan Dunkley, Hillary Flood, Jennifer Garland, Dr. Jennifer Ingram, Carlotta James, Kristal Jones, Ann MacLeod, Laura Montague, Rosemary Powers, Denise Sayles-Morton, Peggy Shaughnessy, Lisa Trefzger, Lois Tuffin, Carmela Valles, and Jill Wickins.
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Nominations for the inaugural Women of Impact Awards, which recognize women and individuals who identify as women in the city and county of Peterborough who have gone above and beyond to demonstrate remarkable contributions in the community, opened on March 8 — International Women’s Day.
“We were so pleased with the response from the community for this first annual event,” says the United Way’s director of philanthropy Anne Ondercin in a media release. “In total 37 nominations were received, all for very deserving women. I want to thank the members of the Women United Committee who independently reviewed and rated every nomination.”
“I would also like to recognize TD Bank as our presenting sponsor, kawarthaNOW as our media sponsor, and add special thanks to Trent University, and 2032 Dentistry – For Life for their support as well.”
Former Peterborough-Kawartha MP and Minister for Women and Gender Equality Maryam Monsef, the founding chair of Women United Peterborough, speaks at a September 2023 event to announce the recipients of the inaugural Women United Fund in September 2023. On March 8, 2024 (International Women’s Day), Women United Peterborough opened nominations for its inaugural Women of Impact Awards, which will recognize 20 women and individuals who identify as women in the city and county of Peterborough who have gone above and beyond to demonstrate remarkable contributions in the community. (Photo: United Way Peterborough & District)
Launched in 2002, Women United is an international initiative of United Ways across the globe and, regionally, representing a collective of women, inclusive of those who identify as women and allies. Across North America, Women United has 70,000 women involved in 165 communities.
Former Peterborough-Kawartha MP and Minister for Women and Gender Equality Maryam Monsef — who herself honoured 50 local women with the Peterborough-Kawartha Women’s Leadership Awards in 2018 — is the founding chair of Women United Peterborough, a network of women philanthropists and allies who donate $1,200 or more annually to United Way Peterborough & District.
“Here in Peterborough City and County, our goal is to elevate the Women United movement and shine a spotlight on the incredible local women who are driving positive change,” Monsef says. “With support from the United Way team and the Women United committee, we are raising funds to support vital programs and initiatives that empower and uplift women and those who identify as women in our community.”
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According to the media release, the Women of Impact Awards “is a celebration of women who embody leadership, inspire others, and leave an indelible mark on our community.”
“At the heart of the Women of Impact Awards event lies a powerful testament to the significant influence women have in shaping our community. These awards not only celebrate the achievements of remarkable individuals but also serve as a reminder of the countless ways in which women contribute to the fabric of our society.”
The award ceremony and celebration will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 30th at the Farmhill Weddings venue in Keene. Along with the recognition of the 20 honourees, the event will include musical performances by Peterborough violinist Victoria Yeh and the Peterborough Pop Ensemble. Tickets are available now, with early bird pricing of $30 until May 8 and $40 afterwards, and can be purchased online at www.uwpeterborough.ca/women-of-impact/.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be the media sponsor of the inaugural Women of Impact Awards.
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