Three male suspects in the atrium of the Kawartha Credit Union branch at 4088 County Rd 121 in Kinmount on June 30, 2025. (Police-supplied photo)
Police are searching for three male suspects after an attempted robbery of a financial institution in Kinmount late Monday afternoon (June 30).
At around 5 p.m. on Monday, Kawartha Lakes Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to reports of an attempted robbery at the Kawartha Credit Union branch at 4088 County Rd 121 in Kinmount.
The OPP’s preliminary investigation found that three disguised male suspects attempted to gain access to the business. They fled the scene empty-handed in a blue Honda Civic before police arrived. No injuries were reported.
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The first suspect is described as around six feet tall, wearing construction-orange pants and jacket with a black hoodie underneath, a black ski mask and gloves, and white sneakers with black stripes.
The second suspect was also wearing construction-orange pants and jacket with a black hoodie underneath, and a black ski mask and black sneakers. He is believed to be white.
The third suspect was wearing grey pants, a black sweater with a pink design on the chest and a hoodie with a small pink crown. He was also wearing a construction-orange vest over the sweater, a black ski mask with white writing on the side, and black gloves.
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Anyone who was in the Kinmount area between 4:30 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. on Monday and may have dashcam video or any sort of surveillance video, or anyone with other information about the incident, is asked to contact the Kawartha Lakes OPP Crime Unit at 1-888-310-1122.
If you prefer to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.khcrimestoppers.com.
When you contact Crime Stoppers, you stay anonymous and you never have to testify.
Kelly Convery left her stressful career working as a paramedic for Peterborough County to begin Sanctuary Flower Fields in the Township of Selwyn. Growing cut flowers as well as offering photography sessions and regular wellness events, retreats, and workshops in partnership with many local businesses and artisans, the farm is committed to offering a destination location to connect with nature for health and rejuvenation. (Photo: Mary Zita Payne Photography)
From professional photography sessions to wellness experiences to community events, flowers aren’t the only things blooming at Sanctuary Flower Fields in Ennismore.
Founded by Kelly Convery when she decided to turn her love for flowers into a business after 14 years of a stressful career as a paramedic, Sanctuary Flower Fields has always been rooted in the belief that nature has the power to heal and rejuvenate.
What began as a small garden in the Township of Selwyn, one of eight townships in Peterborough County, has since grown into thousands of flowers on two acres of Convery’s 69-acre property. Starting from seed as early as December, Sanctuary Flower Fields grows dahlias, zinnia, cosmos, sunflowers, snapdragons, strawflowers, eucalyptus, dusty miller, and many more blooms.
Convery creates bridal bouquets, offers pick-your-own experiences starting in August, and sells wholesale to businesses like Reclaimed Garden Co. in Burleigh Falls. To grow the flowers, she depends on local businesses including William Dam Seeds in Dundas, Stem Flower Farm in Cookstown, Callaghan Farm Supply in Lindsay, and Scott Concrete and Jakins & Sons Landscape Supplies in Lakefield.
The fields at Convery’s farm make for a stunning backdrop for family photos, engagement shoots, photos with your best gal pals, or unique solo shots. Guests can snap their own shots or have photos taken by one of the many local professional photographers working with Sanctuary Flower Fields, including Photography with Care, Wild Lace Photography, Charlie O Photography, Kayla Fajt Photography, Katie Shaw Photography, Sabrina Bynes Photography, and Mary Zita Payne Photography.
“I’ve seen nothing but magic come out of the photos from the field,” says Convery.
In addition to supplying pre-cut bouquets for brides and selling through wholesalers, Sanctuary Flower Fields allows guests to pick their own jars full of flowers beginning in August. The farm will also be hosting several special events which will feature local wellness practitioners, including a Sanctuary Summer Soiree and the Rising Wildflowers Mini Wellness Retreat. (Photo: Mary Zita Payne Photography)
Sanctuary Flower Fields also hosts a range of wellness events throughout the growing season by working with local businesses and entrepreneurs including One Body Wellness, Mind Body Breath, Lucky One Wellness and Amanda Reed, Penny Dale, and Heather Litster.
In Peterborough, Sanctuary Flower Fields has partnered with 100 Acres Brewery for its Blooms and Brews events and hosts The Garden Club at Horlings Garden Centre. Among other local partnerships, Convery also does all florals for elopements held at Ennismore’s Southcross House and hosts pop-up events at Bonita Clothing Co. in Lindsay.
The farm also host larger special events during the growing season, including the Sanctuary Summer Soiree on August 15 that includes a pick-your-own experience and curated market featuring more than 15 local vendors, and the Rising Wildflowers Mini Retreat on August 17 that offers guests exclusive access to wellness services and activities.
In September, Sanctuary Flower Fields will be collaborating with Katherine Polack Art for an event with Peterborough’s Gateway Recovery Centre, a facility providing treatment for military personnel, veterans, first responders, and healthcare professionals seeking mental health and addictions treatment.
By combining her cut flower business with photography experiences and wellness events, Convery has made Sanctuary Flower Fields into a not-to-be-missed destination and an exceptional example of the economic prosperity that can bloom when local businesses collaborate.
“We see the benefits of being able to let everyone’s business and strengths and talents shine,” Convery says. “It means we can offer an even bigger service to our community by working together.”
For more information about Sanctuary Flower Fields, including booking a photography shoot and registering for upcoming events, visit www.sanctuaryflowerfields.com.
The Local Advantage in Peterborough County is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in Peterborough County, created in partnership with Peterborough County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.
As part of its response to the impact of U.S. tariffs, Peterborough County is showcasing the many unique businesses located in the county, both by sharing their stories of success and how they support both residents and other businesses in their communities.
Whether by shopping at local businesses, dining at local restaurants, staying at local accommodation, or enjoying local experiences, residents and visitors can enhance the economic resilience of Peterborough County during these challenging times and help establish a sustainable foundation for the future.
For more information about economic development and tourism in Peterborough County, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev and The Kawarthas Tourism at thekawarthas.ca.
Peterborough native Greg Wells, pictured at his Rocket Carousel Studio in Los Angeles in 2016, is a Grammy award-winning record producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who also funds music scholarships in Canada and donates instruments to students around the world. He was appointed a member of the Order of Canada on June 30, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Greg Wells)
It’s a long way from the raucous halls of Adam Scott Collegiate to the strict formality of Rideau Hall in Ottawa, but Greg Wells has bridged that gap with his appointment as a member of the Order of Canada.
On Monday (June 30), the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, appointed 83 Canadians to the Order of Canada, the Peterborough-raised Adam Scott alumnus among them.
In a release listing each appointee, Wells is described as “a Grammy-winning record producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has worked on best-selling albums for the likes of Adele, John Legend, Rufus Wainright and Céline Dion, and on blockbuster soundtracks for Wicked and The Greatest Showman. He also funds music scholarships in Canada and donates instruments to students around the world.”
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Speaking from his Los Angeles home and recording studio, Wells, 56, told kawarthaNOW that even though he knew of his appointment well ahead of the official announcement, he remains in awe of the simple fact that it has been bestowed upon him.
“I can’t believe that a crazy musician like myself would ever qualify for something like this,” he said, adding quickly “It’s the weirdest thing in the world, but it’s truly the biggest honour of my life.”
That’s quite a statement considering the record producer, songwriter, musician and audio engineer has won two Grammy Awards — in 2019 for the original motion soundtrack records for The Greatest Showman and, in 2023 for his work on Michael Buble’s album Higher — and has been nominated for two Producer of the Year Juno Awards. Closer to home, Wells was inducted into Peterborough’s Pathway of Fame back in 2023.
Wells says a “very cryptic email” he received a few months ago gave him his first inkling that something was up.
“It was from a Canadian government email address and it said something like ‘Can you please call this number? We have something highly confidential to speak with you about.’ That’s kind of all it said. I thought ‘Oh no.'”
Wells called the number provided and was told, in no uncertain terms, that he couldn’t share details of what he was about to hear with anyone.
“I was like ‘OK,’ and then they spilled the beans,” he recalled.
“They explained the whole process, which is very forensic. I don’t know exactly what the machinations are, but they come up with some kind of short list, and then they do their due diligence on each. I know that people from coast to coast have written and answered questions about me.”
There’s much in Wells’ closet, with his having working with many of the biggest names in pop music, but apparently there was nary a skeleton to be found.
The Order of Canada member medal. (Photo: Government of Canada)
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“The Order of Canada is a recognition provided to those who are doing something to help Canada,” noted Wells.
“It’s not just a recognition of a career, or of someone lining their own pockets. It’s (bestowed upon) someone who is trying to make Canada a better place. In that sense, it became incredibly meaningful and really moving. I was kind of blown away that anyone was paying attention to anything that I was doing.”
Wells said answering the initial email required some careful thought.
“People like me, who work with some of the world’s most famous people, get emails from a lot of crazy fans who have figured out how to impersonate celebrities,” he said, admitting to his “having been fooled once or twice in the past.”
“They (the email writer) weren’t asking for anything from me, like the new Wicked songs that haven’t been released yet. All they wanted to do was talk about something, but they wouldn’t tell me what it was.”
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Once he was informed of his pending appointment, Wells’ keeping-a-secret skills were put to the test.
“They said it’s OK to tell family and friends but you can’t go public with it. Don’t post anything online. Don’t tell somebody in the media. They said the Governor General will announce it on the morning of June 30th and, once that happens, you can go public.”
Besides his family, one of those Wells shared the news with was Peterborough resident and fellow Adam Scott grad John Crown. A longtime musician, Crown partnered with Wells in October 2019 to launch the Don Skuce Memorial Music Collective which, over the next few years, saw judged winning songs by local artists recorded by Wells at his LA studio.
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What makes the Order of Canada the biggest honour of all, said Wells, is it’s presented in recognition of work done “outside the music business.”
“I get so much personally out of giving back,” said Wells. “It’s more rewarding for me to help imbue in other people the taking the risk to be creative or believe in themselves, or just improve quality of life, however that’s achieved.”
“Having done music forever, I’m lucky, because I haven’t quit, to get jobs like (producing and mixing) Wicked and working with people we’ve all heard.”
“But it’s more exciting for me to go to Newfoundland where we’ve turned that little church in Winterton (Trinity Hall) into a non-profit centre and have young Newfoundland musicians come there and perform. I work with a bunch of them, and record them produce them for free and any money that comes in from that goes to charity. That just feels so good. It’s wealth of a different kind.”
Greg Wells’ daughters survey the destruction of the family home two months after the devastating wildfires in January 2025 ravaged much of Los Angeles. (Photo: Greg Wells / Instagram)
Wells’ appointment comes just six months after the toughest of times, both personally and professionally.
Back in January, the devastating wildfires that ravaged much of Los Angeles’ neighbouring counties saw Wells’ home and studio destroyed.
“The last six months have just been the most exaggerated highs and lows for me and my family,” he said, adding “We lost everything. We didn’t lose any lives, but we were financially destroyed.”
“It reminds me of my father who helped a Somali family emigrate (to the Toronto area) in the ’90s when Somalia was getting ripped apart by warlords. He helped a doctor’s family; a well-to-do, very successful family. They had to start all over again as janitors. This reminded me of that. This very big, hard reset.”
“Right now, we’re in the middle of Wicked 2, which will be out in November. I’m working hard on that every day. But then thinking Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell have been appointed to the Order of Canada, it makes no sense to me that I’m receiving that same honour.”
The date of the induction ceremony will be announced at a later date. Meanwhile, Wells anticipates being “scared and slightly nauseous” when his name is called and he approaches the Governor General.
“There’d be something wrong if I felt ‘Of course I belong on that list (of appointees).'”
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Since the Order of Canada’s creation in 1967, more than 8,200 people from all sectors of society have been appointed.
Another June 30th appointee to the Order of Canada with a Peterborough connection is Gilbert Donald Walsh, better known as Donnie “Mr. Downchild” Walsh, co-founder and leader of The Legendary Downchild Blues Band. The 78-year-old Walsh currently lives in Burleigh Falls, north of Peterborough.
Recognized as the father of Canadian blues music, the harmonica player and guitarist was the inspiration for Dan Aykroyd’s character of Elwood Blues in The Blues Brothers, with John Belushi’s character Jake Blues modelled in part after Donnie’s younger brother, the late Richard “Hock” Walsh, who was Downchild’s lead singer.
“It’s the greatest honour I’ve ever received in my life,” Donnie Walsh said in a statement. “It makes me even more proud to be Canadian, especially with Canada Day coming up tomorrow. I’ve always played the music that moved me, the blues. Who knew it would lead all the way to the Order of Canada. I am forever grateful.”
Other well-known appointees on the June 30th list are Canada’s outgoing chief public officer of health Dr. Theresa Tam, B.C.’s provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations Marc-André Blanchard (who is about to become Prime Minister Mark Carney’s chief of staff), lawyer and author Maureen McTeer, and novelist Miriam Toews.
Chris Brackenridge of Squirrel Creek Farm teaches Millbrook resident David McNab about farming for a video about the farmers' way of life and the challenges they face. What began with a kind gesture from the Brackenridge family to visiting farmers from the Galapagos Islands led to McNab filming four seasons' worth of footage on the farm. The footage was recently sold to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture for enough money to support six years of school for the 12-year-old son of a female farmer in Kenya that McNab has been sponsoring. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of David McNab video)
Sometimes planting a single seed of generosity can grow into a whole field of kindness. That’s how a Millbrook farmer’s offer to take tourists on a combine harvester eventually led to funding the education of Emmanuel, the 12-year-old son of a Kenyan farmer, through Millbrook resident David McNab.
McNab has spent the past year filming life on the Millbrook farm for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, with proceeds from sale of the footage funding a scholarship for Emmanuel.
“It’s a very fitting and wonderful thing when kindness is returned,” McNab says. “You do something out of kindness, you don’t intend to get anything from it, and yet everybody’s benefiting from this. It’s just a wonderful feeling and experience for everybody and nobody was looking to get anything for themselves.”
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While there are many layers of generosity to the story, it begins in the Galapagos Islands when McNab and his wife Kristy Hiltz learned to scuba dive while on vacation. Later, they had scheduled a holiday to visit one of their instructors, Christian, but given that his daughter had fallen ill with cancer, it was Solon Intriago who took them in without asking for payment.
“He just loved Christian so much and wanted to help, so he put so much time and effort and expense into giving us a great holiday,” says McNab. “It was a really neat experience because all three of our families then became very tight and very bonded by this generosity that we had been shown.”
In October 2023, McNab and Hiltz returned the favour by inviting Intiago and his family to visit Canada for the first time. One day when the group was passing a neighbouring farm, they saw Squirrel Creek Farm owners Steve and Chris Brackenridge using their combine to harvest soy. Though the two farmers had never met the group before, they invited Intriago’s young daughters to take a ride on the machinery.
Over the course of four seasons, Millbrook’s David McNab spent countless hours with the Brackenridge family of Squirrel Creek Farm in Millbrook to learn about and film life on the farm to thank them for a generous moment shared with visiting farmers from the Galapagos Islands. Pictured are Amy Challice-Brackenridge, Chris Brackenridge, Mackennzie Brackenridge, Steve Brackenridge, Hayley Brackenridge, and Tom Judiesch. (Photo courtesy of Brackenridge family)
“We were touched by that, and it was a wonderful experience for his daughters — he was very grateful,” says McNab. “It was beautiful the way it promoted our Canadian culture, and how we see ourselves as generous and welcoming.”
Solon is a farmer himself, though his method of farming looks much different than what he experienced on the Brackenridge farm given he grows food in a climate where there is a shortage of both soil and fresh water. His family has a property on Santa Cruz Island in Ecuador, which is formed by a volcano with lava rock as the base. Without much soil to work with, he is required to use a pick axe or shovel and create a hole in which to put soil to grow food for his family and to sell for extra income.
“It’s a struggle to produce food there, but it’s in little bits and pieces, so for him to see these huge combines and acres and acres of farmland — he had never seen anything like that in his homeland,” McNab says. “The big wow factor was looking at these massive machines cutting soy on a massive scale.”
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To pay back the Brackenridges for their kindness that day, McNab used his drone to take photos and videos of their farm. When Steve saw the footage, he asked if he could pay McNab to film even more.
McNab agreed, but asked that all payment to be donated to Emmanuel’s adoptive mother Naomy, a farmer in Kenya who McNab and Hiltz have been connected with for several years.
And so, from spring 2024, McNab collected hours of footage on his GoPro and drone over four seasons of operations at the farm and learned a lot in the process.
“I got this insight into farming,” he says. “It’s more complex than I ever would have dreamed.”
VIDEO: A moment of kindness led to a much-needed education on food production
McNab learned about all that’s involved with operating a farm, including the intricacies of the costs, environmental impact, and how to use the equipment. One of the things that stuck with him most how the cost of the grain they produce is set by world markets and cannot be adjusted based on poor weather or other factors that affect operations.
“They are locked in when it comes to farming,” he says. “They plant in the spring and hope for a good crop, but if weather or problems with their machinery make that more difficult, they’re stuck with however much food they produce at a price that’s set by the world markets, and if there’s money left over, then they have enough for themselves, but the risk is huge.”
“The amount of control that they have over their prices is much less than we would have ever thought, and there’s no room for error. They have to have a complete understanding of how a crop will grow, how it will respond to climate, what the climate is doing. That’s not something most of us have to face … the huge risk, huge debt, and they’ve got less control than we would assume.”
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Another major lesson that stuck with McNab was that farmers can’t use electric combines, leaving them unable to avoid carbon taxes — and those are costs that will not be later covered by the consumer.
“They’re expected to just somehow work harder, somehow work faster, to make up for that, and if the consumers and our government and everybody else keeps putting greater demand on the farm, it has to come out of the farm’s pocket or it’s more effort that they have to put in,” McNab says. “We all picture them out there working long hours and no holidays, but we probably don’t fully understand exactly what that means, until you find yourself in the middle of it and you watch it.”
While he says he has always felt “a sense of responsibility in buying from local purveyors,” in part driven by environmental concerns, McNab hopes compiling and educational video about farming will educate buyers on the challenges faced in the industry and ultimately consider buying local produce and goods.
VIDEO: Kenyan woman and ex-cop form unusual business partnership
“Why wouldn’t we buy local so that we can try and pick up some of the slack and repair a little bit of damage done by the relationship with the States?” he says, referencing the current trade war.
“It would also be tragic to lose more farms, and to have more farmers have to give up and sell their farms because they can’t make a profit,” he continues. “I think it must be heartbreaking to not feel that there’s loyalty, that (it’s) your own problems or your own (country) wouldn’t support you in your time of need.”
Upon completion of the video, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture inquired about purchasing the additional footage McNab captured throughout the four seasons.
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The profit from that sale has also been donated to Naomy. When she was young herself and struggling to feed her grandparents through her farming, Naomy took in Emmanuel, who had been abandoned at two years old. McNab was drawn to her selflessness.
“She just thought it was the right thing to do to take him in and look after him,” he says. “She lives in a world where it’s pretty hard to look after yourself, and yet she took on another mouth to feed.”
Since they connected, McNab has been helping Naomy by hosting various community fundraisers, including auctioning off charcuterie boards and helping another neighbour, Millbrook beef farmers Catherine Ives and Dave Kennedy, hold a calf-naming contest to raise funds to cover Emmanuel’s schooling.
“A young man in Kenya finally feels like somebody believes in him enough that he has an education ahead of him,” says McNab. “I just think that’s neat that he can feel that now thanks to everybody here.”
In 2023, Millbrook beef farmers David Kennedy (left) and Catherine Ives (right), pictured with David McNab and Kristy Hiltz, held a calf-naming contest at their farm to help a Kenyan farmer pay for her adopted son’s schooling. (Photo courtesy of David McNab)
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The money from the video footage is enough to create a scholarship fund that will cover close to the remaining six years of his schooling until Emmanuel finishes high school.
But given that Emmanuel walks three kilometres to school and back every day, which causes his shoes to wear down quickly, McNab has also launched a GoFundMe with a goal of raising $800 to purchase new shoes, school supplies, and potentially even Emmanuel’s first bicycle so he can ride to school.
“Between the Brackenridges, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, and Dave Kennedy and Catherine Ives, almost all of Emmanuel’s schooling has been supported by the farm community locally here in Millbrook and Ontario,” McNab says. “That’s pretty magical.”
Five Counties Children's Centre occupational therapist Jess shares a smile with Five Counties client Jude during a recent treatment session. In 2024-25, Five Counties served the highest number of annual clients so far in its 50-year history, with a record 6,208 children and youth with disabilities receiving services from the regional treatment centre. (Photo: Five Counties)
More than 6,200 children and youth from the greater Kawarthas region accessed supports and therapies from Five Counties Children’s Centre in 2024.
As it celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025, Five Counties says it served a record number of children and youth with disabilities — 6,208 — in 2024. The total number of client visits in 2024-25 was almost 55,400, which is an increase of 2,295 visits from 2023-24.
“This past year has been a banner one for Five Counties in terms of caring for more kids and youth, offering more visits for families, reducing wait times for important children’s treatment services, investing in staff, and raising more funds to help more kids,” said Five Counties CEO Scott Pepin in a statement.
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Wait lists for kids’ treatment services continue to drop at Five Counties even as the number of clients served and referrals for services continue to rise, a media release noted.
Five Counties shared those details and more during its annual general meeting last Tuesday (June 24) in Peterborough to mark its activities and achievements over the past year.
The centre provides treatment services for children with physical, developmental, and communication needs in Peterborough County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and in Haliburton and Northumberland counties.
Bill Eekhof, spokesperson for Five Counties, said staff contributions stand out as integral to the centre’s success in 2024.
“Five Counties is very much in the people business,” Eekhof told kawarthaNOW. “It’s our staff who work directly with children and youth and their families to provide them with the supports and resources needed to help them on their treatment journey.”
“Without their care, commitment and dedication to innovate and support clients in many different ways, we couldn’t do what we’ve been able to accomplish.”
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The centre’s newly released annual report for 2024-25 provides a snapshot of what Five Counties Children’s Centre has accomplished over the past year.
The number of children waiting for services stood at 2,186 clients as of March 31, 2025. The current wait list was lower than in 2023-24, and has seen a 15.3 per cent reduction over the past three years. It comes as 3,506 more kids were referred to Five Counties for services over the past year.
The centre surpassed $2.141 million in fundraising last year, setting a new record for donations. Money raised by Five Counties supports hiring more staff to support more kids and reduce wait times for high-demand treatment services.
Nearly 3,730 students received treatment services in local schools, the vast majority being for either occupational therapy or speech therapy.
One-third of the kids who are clients of Five Counties receive two or more services at the centre.
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While Pepin is pleased to see Five Counties making progress to reduce wait times, he noted even one child waiting for care is one too many.
“We know early intervention makes a world of difference for a child’s development,” he said. “That’s why we are committed to continue reducing wait times so our clients can get the help they need when they need it.”
Over the past year, Five Counties said it has continued to evolve and enhance its innovative, evidence-based services for clients and families. Its Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Pathway has expanded to better support family physicians in their autism diagnoses for pediatric patients.
Five Counties also ramped up its family engagement services to better connect and improve the experiences for clients and families, including organizing new events to engage with families such as Ready for School events and the ‘All-o-ween’ accessible trick-or-treating experience.
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According to Five Counties, by investing more in its staff, the centre was able to better recruit and retain employees, reflected over the past year in low staff turnover and fewer open positions.
In a survey of Five Counties staff in 2024, 98 per cent of respondents stated they were proud to work for the centre and 97 per cent of employees said their job plays an important role in making a difference for families.
“Our employees deserve all the credit for their dedication to our children and families and their commitment to innovate and meet new challenges,” Pepin said. “We’re grateful to our staff for what they do, because their care, compassion, and commitment for our children and youth are on display every day of the year.”
encoreNOW for June 30, 2025 features (from left to right, top and bottom) The Newfoundland Songbook at Port Hope's Capitol Theatre, "The Buddy Holly Story" at The Grove Theatre in Fenelon Falls, Susan Aglukark at Westben in Campbellford, "Hook Up" at Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon, the Lakefield Jazz, Art and Craft Festival, and Steven Page at Peterborough Musicfest. (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 Newfoundland Songbook’s return to Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre, The Grove Theatre’s summer-long staging of The Buddy Holly Story in Fenelon Falls, Canadian cultural icon Susan Aglukark’s concert at the Barn at Westben in Campbellford, the improv hilarity that is Hookup at Bobcaygeon’s Globus Theatre, the return of the Lakefield Jazz, Art and Craft Festival, and Peterborough Musicfest’s welcome of Steven Page to Del Crary Park.
Why go to Newfoundland when its music and stories are so close at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre?
Shipyard Kitchen Party performing The Newfoundland Songbook at the John Saunders Centre in Collingwood in April 2025. (Photo: Dave West)
You can travel to Newfoundland to take in the timeless sea shanties, triumphant ballads, and fun sing-along numbers that Canada’s 10th province is well known for, or you can save a little time and hit the road to Port Hope instead.
Your choice, but when a generous slice of Newfoundland music and culture is being served very close by, taking full advantage is awfully tempting.
Created and performed by Shipyard Kitchen Party, The Newfoundland Songbook comes to the Capitol Theatre, putting down roots in the venue’s intimate Sculthorpe Theatre, from Thursday (July 3) until July 13.
Featuring John Eaton (guitar, bass, mandolin, and vocals), Sacha Law (bass and vocals) and Jason Murphy (bodhran and vocals), Shipyard Kitchen Party serves up favourites by Great Big Sea, Ron Hines, Buddy Wassisname and the Other Fellers, and Johnny Burke. Helping things along are Derek McLean (guitar, mandolin, and harmonica), Jason Redman (banjo and guitar) and, violins in hand, Peterborough’s own Saskia Tomkins and Victoria Yeh. The result is a rollicking two hours of music artistry and good humour with a side dish of history.
While a kitchen party is defined as “a social gathering that sees people congregate in the kitchen of a home for socializing, music and food,” with music, dancing and storytelling at its centre, you don’t need an actual kitchen to pull it off. This venture offers full proof of that.
Performance dates are July 3 to 6 and 10 and 13 with matinee and evening performances at 2 and 7:30 p.m. each day, except July 4 and 11 with evening performances only. Tickets cost $45, $35 for those under 30, and are available at capitoltheatre.com/events/the-newfoundland-songbook/.
Buddy Holly’s music and short but impactful life are the subject of a musical at The Grove Theatre in Fenelon Falls
American singer-songwriter and musician Buddy Holly in 1957, two years before he died at the age of 22 in a plane crash in Iowa. (Brunswick Records publicity photo)
When tragedy takes a rising young talent from us, it’s easy to ponder what could have been. But what if the focus instead was on what was, and how wonderful the ride was while it lasted?
With its summer-long staging of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, The Grove Theatre in Fenelon Falls invites us to do the latter, relating the Texas native’s remarkable story, from his 1957 breakthrough hit “That’ll Be The Day” until that cold and snowy February day in 1959 when a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa took him from us at age 22 — still widely referred to as “the day the music died.”
Written by Allen Janes, the musical premiered in 1989 at the Plymouth Royal Theatre, and was subsequently staged for 12 years in London’s West End before making its way to Broadway.
Expect all the hit songs Holly recorded during his abbreviated career, including “Peggy Sue,” “Oh Boy,” “Everyday,” “Not Fade Away” and Raining In My Heart,” along with “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens and “Chantilly Lace” by J.P. Richardson (a.k.a. The Big Bopper) — both of whom also died in the plane crash shortly after their last concert with Holly.
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story is promoted with the tagline “Before The Beatles, Before The Stones, Rock & Roll Was Born.” I’m sure more than one Elvis fan would argue Memphis’ favourite son had a hand in that, but there’s denying that the bespectacled singer who fronted The Crickets did his fair share laying foundation for what was to come.
Opening Thursday (July 3) to Saturday (July 5) with sold-out preview performances, the musical continues July 6 and 7, 11 and 12, 15 and 16, 21, 25, 28 and 29, August 2, 7, 10 and 11, 16 and 17, 25 and 26, and 31. All shows are a 7:30 pm start. Visit www.grovetheatre.ca for tickets.
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Canadian cultural icon Susan Aglukark performs at Westben’s The Barn in Campbellford
VIDEO: Susan Aglukark – 30th Anniversary Tour Promo Video
If Westben in Campbellford hasn’t captured your attention by now, it hasn’t been for a lack of trying.
The Barn at Westben has been home to more than a handful of incredible performances since the 1999 formation of the Westben Arts Festival Theatre and the subsequent Concerts at the Barn series the following year.
On Sunday (July 6), that determination will to present the finest in Canadian culture and entertainment will continue in the form of Susan Aglukark.
With three Juno Awards, an Order of Canada, and the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in her possession, the Inuk singer-songwriter is a national cultural icon. Her blending of Inuit folk music traditions with country and pop music songwriting has brought forth seven albums.
Aglukark arrives at Westben 30 years after the release of the album This Child and “O Siem,” her most successful single to date which reached number one on both the country and adult contemporary charts in 1995. That brought her the distinction of being the first Inuk performer to have a Top 10 hit.
Six albums followed This Child, and while none came close to attaining that album’s wide appeal, they kept her front of mind for millions of fans, both here in Canada and abroad. Her music, distinguished by her gentle voice, upbeat melodies and inspirational lyrics sing in both English and Inuktuit, has remained refreshingly consistent, and a most welcome breath of fresh air at a time when much of what was is no longer.
Tickets to Aglukark’s 2 p.m. performance are available at www.westben.ca.
Unexpected romance in the air highlights improv comedy hit at Bobcaygeon’s Globus Theatre
A scene from the original Factory Theatre production of “Hookup” in Toronto in February 2025. (Photo: Factory Theatre)
If you’re thinking it’s time for something completely different, Bobcaygeon’s Globus Theatre has you covered, and then some.
From July 10 to 12, the professional theatre company’s venue on Pigeon Lake Road will be the scene of hearty laughter and surprising twists galore during Hookup.
Created and directed by Paul Bates, the improv theatre show explores modern dating by zeroing in on the lives, likes and dislikes, and turn-ons and turn-offs of two random audience members. The result is a totally unscripted romantic comedy, from awkward first encounters to fiery break-ups to unexpected reunions.
Coming to Globus Theatre following its successful run at the Factory Theatre in Toronto in February, Hookup features a cast of Canada’s most hilarious (and dreamiest) improv performers and answers the question “What would it be like to date that charming stranger next to me?”
What ensues is good fun, whether you’re single, taken, or somewhere in the middle.
Curtain is 8 p.m. for each performance, with an optional dinner available before the show at 6 p.m. Tickets are $50 for the show only, or $100 for dinner and the show, and are available at www.globustheatre.com/shows-all/hookup.
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Jazz, crafts and food collide at Lakefield’s Isabel Morris Park
VIDEO: “Summertime” – Denielle Bassels
From “The Little Festival That Could And Has” file, we present the Lakefield Jazz, Art and Craft Festival.
Returning to the village’s Isabel Morris Park on Concession Street on Saturday, July 12, the festival continues a tradition started way back in 1999 and which, last year, saw some 1,500 visitors turn out for a full day of fun in the summer sun.
Opening at 10 a.m., the schedule features six music acts in the form of the Curtis Cronkwright Quartet, Ernesto Cervini’s Turboprop, Denielle Bassels, the Kevin Goss Quintet, Noah Abrahamse and The Mumbo Jumbo Combo, and closing things out after 8 p.m., harmonica master Carlos de Junco fronting The Blue Mongrels.
That’s a lot of entertainment for the $10 admission fee.
In between, festival attendees can browse works for sale by artisans and crafters, and enjoy food and beverages served by local eateries.
Festival co-chair Al Grant told me the key to the festival’s success has been keeping things simple, noting a side benefit is the festival’s draw which sees many visitors explore all that Lakefield has to offer. That’s pretty darn good by anyone’s standards.
For a full music schedule and a list of participating artisans and vendors, visit lakefieldjazzfest.ca.
Note that The Link rural transit service is offering a free shuttle service to the festival from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., running around every 15 minutes and stopping at designated Link bus stops throughout Lakefield. Look for the festival signs at these stops and keep an eye out for the yellow Hamilton Bus Line school bus featuring The Link logo.
Appearing at Peterborough Musicfest, Steven Page proves there is life after Barenaked Ladies
VIDEO: “Indecision” – Steven Page
He may or may not know it, but former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel played a small but important role in the formation of one of Canada’s most beloved rock bands.
Back in the late 1980s, Steven Page held a grudge against high school classmate Ed Robertson, who allegedly stole away his best friend. There things sat until after a Gabriel concert when Page bumped into Robertson at a Harvey’s restaurant and discovered he too was a huge fan of the English singer and songwriter. That common fandom brought them together and ultimately led to the formation of Barenaked Ladies.
A bevy of Juno Awards and Grammy nominations later, Barenaked Ladies is still at, albeit without Page who left the band in February 2009 to pursue a solo career. Page returned to the fold in 2018 for Barenaked Ladies’ induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, but otherwise has been doing his own thing, and doing it very well.
On Saturday, July 12 at 8 p.m., the Scarborough-born Page headlines a free-admission concert at Peterborough Musicfest at Del Crary Park. He’ll bring to the stage the same undeniable talent that was so much a part of Barenaked Ladies’ success. With six solo albums to his credit, including 2010’s Page One and its singles “Indecision” and “Over Joy,” Page has enjoyed big-time success since bidding Robertson et al farewell.
As a creator, Page is indeed well-rounded, having released, in 2021, “A Different Sort of Solitude” as part of the soundtrack for the Canadian comedy film Immersion which was nominated for a Genie Award.
Having a successful career as a member of a band is one thing. To be able to find equal success as a solo performer is quite another, but Page has done just that. Good on Musicfest for bringing him to its stage. Long overdue. Who knows? If we shout loud enough, Page may treat us to a few of the Barenaked Ladies classics he had a hand in.
Also don’t forget that Peterborough Musicfest has launched its Future Sound Series, which features local musicians performing free concerts on a second stage near the entrance to Del Crary Park at 6:30 p.m. before the headline performer at 8 p.m. Peterborough’s own blues and roots rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Emily Burgess will be taking to the Future Sound Series stage, sponsored by Cogeco, before the Steven Page concert.
For more information about Peterborough Musicfest’s 2025 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca.
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Encore
I’m delighted to see my friend Tom Eastland creating and thriving. I first met Tom years ago when we sat down for an article and was immediately impressed by how comfortable I was in his presence. He has a calming aura that has no doubt served him well as a terrific songwriter and an excellent singer. For proof, check out his just-released single “Change Has Come” on Spotify. If one can best be judged by the company one keeps, that Ryan Weber and Emily Burgess are featured on the track tells you all you need to know about Tom. Good people gravitate toward good people, and Tom is one of my favourite humans. I don’t see him nearly enough, but his ongoing success makes me happy from afar.
OK, this is a little self-serving, but what the hell. The date for Peterborough Performs VI has been set, with the annual United Way-supported fundraiser for local shelters and homeless relief returning to Showplace on February 26 of next year. Those who were there for the fundraiser this past March, which raised just shy of $38,000, will attest to what a great night of community and local music it was. Expect much the same this time around. More details as to who’s headlining will follow in due course. In the meantime, I remain grateful to the United Way for seeing fit to stay the course.
Susan Fisher, managing director of Silver Lights Senior Services in Lindsay, is looking to partner with Kawartha Lakes restaurants to offer dementia-friendly dining as a way of honouring her late mother who had Alzheimer's disease and supporting others who are walking a similar path. The inaugural event was held on June 13, 2025 at Charmin's Wholesome Foods Catering and The Club House in Lindsay. (Photos: Silver Lights Senior Services)
A Kawartha Lakes resident is striving to create safe and enjoyable dining experiences in the community for people who have dementia.
Susan Fisher, managing director of Silver Lights Senior Services in Lindsay, is encouraging local restaurants to help her serve “Meals that Matter” in the Kawartha Lakes.
“I started Meals that Matter because I’ve seen firsthand how isolating dementia can be, for both the person living with it and the people who love them,” Fisher told kawarthaNOW.
“My mother lived with Alzheimer’s and walking that journey with her opened my eyes, beyond my professional experience, to the daily challenges families face — the loneliness, the loss of connection, and how something as simple as going out for a meal can suddenly feel overwhelming.”
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“I wanted to create a space here in Kawartha Lakes where people could come together monthly in a safe, welcoming environment and enjoy something most of us take for granted — where laughter is shared, dignity is preserved, and no one feels alone,” Fisher added.
She said the initiative is her way of both honouring her mom’s memory and supporting others who are walking a similar path by providing “warmth, understanding, and good food at the heart of it all.”
Earlier in June, Fisher teamed up with Charmin’s Wholesome Foods Catering and The Club House in Lindsay for the inaugural Meals that Matter event. Several people from different groups gathered for a meal.
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According to Fisher, the event was a success and the feedback from caregivers has been extremely encouraging.
“They especially appreciated the calm, quiet environment, the easy-to-read simplified menus, and the genuine kindness and patience shown by (Charmin’s Wholesome Foods Catering and The Club House staff) who made everyone feel so welcome,” Fisher said.
“It was a powerful reminder that small, thoughtful changes can make a big difference for those living with dementia and their families. We’re so lucky to have (Charmin’s owner Charmin Eckertt) as part of the Meals that Matter initiative and our community.”
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Fisher said the pilot event was even more meaningful because it took place during Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month.
“It felt especially fitting to launch Meals that Matter in June, a time dedicated to raising awareness, showing support, and starting conversations about brain health and dementia.”
“Bringing people together around the table in such a thoughtful, inclusive way was a powerful reminder of the impact small acts of kindness and community can have, especially during a month that holds such significance.”
Fisher also gave a shout-out to Gail Elliot, founder of DementiAbility Enterprises Inc., a partner in the Meals that Matter initiative. Elliot developed specialized training materials for the participating business and helped Fisher work out all of the details for the event.
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To date, Charmin’s Wholesome Foods Catering and The Club House has been the only local restaurant to step up and join the Meals that Matter initiative.
Fisher is hoping for an encore and is looking to more local restaurants in the Kawartha Lakes to host seniors and their caregivers and families for a meal and take steps to make their dining spaces dementia-friendly.
“As we look ahead to our July event, we’re currently searching for one lucky local business to open their doors and offer their space for a truly meaningful cause,” Fisher said.
“This is a chance to not only support individuals and families living with dementia but to show that our community can lead the way in creating inclusive, compassionate spaces where everyone feels welcome.”
Retro rock tribute band Neon Nostalgic (Shawn Brady, Kevin Strom, Grant Strom, and John Johnstone) performs a free-admission concert in Del Crary Park on July 1, 2025 for the Canada Day edition of Peterborough Musicfest. The band performs hits from the 1980s and 1990s in synch with the artists' original music videos for the songs they perform. (Photo: Serrano Photography Studios)
February 3, 1959 — the day when a Clear Lake, Iowa plane crash took Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and “The Big Bopper” J.P. Richardson from us — is still widely considered “the day the music died.”
More than two decades later, August 1, 1981 presented an interesting contrast. On that day, MTV debuted, and the marriage between television and music took flight. For an entire generation, it was and remains the day the music was born.
Just more than three years after that, the dawning of CHUM Limited-owned MuchMusic capitalized on the intense worldwide popularity of music videos. Much like MTV, teens and young adults were firmly in its ratings crosshairs.
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Peterborough Musicfest presents Neon Nostaglic
When:Tuesday, July 1, 2025 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.
For pop music stars, both new and long established, it was no longer good enough to simply release an vinyl record or, later in the decade, a CD. For their songs to gain any serious hit traction, they had to be accompanied by a corresponding music video. And more often than not, music videos were full-blown productions — think Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
For close to 10 years now, retro tribute band Neon Nostalgic has sparked interest anew in the music video craze that was so popular through the 1980s and well into the following decade.
Billed as “the world’s only live television music show,” Neon Nostalgic — Shawn Brady, Kevin Strom, Grant Strom, and John Johnstone — will headline the perennially popular Canada Day edition of Peterborough Musicfest on Tuesday (July 1).
VIDEO: Neon Nostalgic – Live Band Video Dance Party
According to Musicfest executive director Tracey Randall, due to the unavailability of Musicfest favourite Dwayne Gretzky, the search was on for a tribute act that would equally satisfy the audience’s taste for the soundtrack of the past.
Randall found just that in Neon Nostalgic, which brings to the stage a decidedly different twist in the form of four talented musicians synchronizing their performances perfectly to the original artists’ music videos of the songs they play.
With a focus on audience interaction and engagement, Neon Nostalgic has a repertoire of more than 100 songs from the 1980s and beyond. Prince, Bon Jovi, U2, Michael Jackson, and Oasis are but a few of the acts they pay tribute to as their audience takes in the original video of each song the band performs.
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Following last July’s Neon Nostalgic performance at Toronto’s Sounds of Leslieville & Riverside music festival, Joe Taylor of Blast Toronto wrote “This was one hell of a good party.”
“Shawn (Brady), the lead singer, took it upon himself to come off the stage and get into everybody’s face while he sang (David Bowie and) Queen’s ‘Under Pressure.’ Now the crowd was waking up. He took it a step further and got people to move forward to the fun heavy metal anthem from Twisted Sister, ‘We’re Not Going To Take it.’ People walked towards the stage while belting out the song of rebellion from their youth.”
Belanger’s review seems to pay truth to the band promoter’s claim that Neon Nostalgic “isn’t just a show; it’s an invitation to dance, sing and relive the magic of the past.”
On a day set aside for celebrating Canada’s past, that seems like a pretty good fit for the crowd at Peterborough Musicfest.
VIDEO: “Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol performed by Neon Nostalgic
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission concerts during its 38th season, each staged on Wednesday and Saturday nights until Saturday, August 16th.
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 2025 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 2025 season.
A vehicle is removed from the Talbot River north of Kirkfield on June 28, 2025. (Photo: Kawartha Lakes OPP)
Police are investigating after a vehicle was found upside down in the Talbot River north of Kirkfield on Saturday morning (June 28).
At around 9:37 a.m. on Saturday, Kawartha Lakes Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Kawartha Lakes fire responded to reports of an upside-down vehicle in the river off Talbot River Road just east of Kirkfield Road.
The OPP’s underwater search and rescue team was called in and confirmed no one was inside the vehicle.
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A section of Talbot River and Talbot River Road were closed while the vehicle was removed from the river.
Police are continuing to investigate the incident and are seeking witnesses.
Anyone with information is asked to call the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP at 1-888-310-1122 and reference case number E250839571.
As Canada Day is a federal statutory holiday, all government offices and services are closed. All liquor store are closed, with a few beer stores open in selected locations. Most grocery stores are open, except in Peterborough where all are closed. Most malls and big box stores are closed, while most drug stores are open. Some tourist attractions and recreational services are also open.
For your convenience, we provide this list of holiday hours for 297 selected businesses, services, and organizations across the Kawarthas. This information comes from their websites and social media accounts, which may or may not be up to date, so please always call them first to confirm their hours (we’ve included phone numbers), especially where you see “call” or “call to confirm” (which means we couldn’t find or confirm holiday hours) or if you are travelling any distance.
If your business or organization is listed and the hours are incorrect, please let us know by using our content feedback form. We do not have the hours for restaurants in this list as there are far too many to include.
Bewdley Community Recycling Centre 7650 County Rd. 9, Hamilton 905-342-2514
CLOSED
Brighton Community Recycling Centre 1112 County Rd. 26, Brighton 613-475-1946
CLOSED
Canada Post Mail Delivery / Offices (Note: post offices operated by the private sector will be open according to the hours of service of the host business
No collection/delivery
City of Kawartha Lakes City Hall, Municipal Service Centres, and Administration Offices 26 Francis St., Lindsay 705-324-9411
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Parks, Recreation and Culture facilities, arenas, and pools Various locations, City of Kawartha Lakes 705-324-9411
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Public Library Branches Various locations, City of Kawartha Lakes 705-324-9411 x1291
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Waste and Recycling Collection 26 Francis St., Lindsay 1-888-822-2225
Tue Jul 1 collection moves to Wed Jul 2, Jul 2 to 3, Jul 3 to 4; organics collection moves from Fri Jul 4 to Sat Jul 5
City of Peterborough Day Cares Peterborough 705-748-8830
CLOSED
City of Peterborough Garbage Pickup Peterborough 705-745-1386
Tue Jul 1 collection for Zone 1 & 2 moves to Mon Jun 30
City of Peterborough Green Bin Pickup Peterborough 705-745-1386
Tue Jul 1 collection for Zone 1 & 2 moves to Mon Jun 30
City of Peterborough Recycling Pickup Peterborough 1-888-597-1541
Tue Jul 1 collection for Zone 1 & 2 moves to Mon Jun 30
City of Peterborough Social Services (for emergency shelter services call 705-926-0096) Closed, Peterborough 705-748-8830
CLOSED
City of Peterborough Yard Waste Pickup Peterborough 705-742-7777
Tue Jul 1 collection for Zone 1 & 2 moves to Mon Jun 30
Cobourg Public Library 200 Ontario St., Cobourg 905-372-9271
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