Millbrook artist and educator Saira Knowles has launched a new e-commerce business, The Painted Gift, where she has curated 16 collections of unique greeting cards she has designed and hand-painted. Available as prints or original watercolours, the cards feature whimsical, colourful designs of animals, florals, landscapes, and even sourdough bread. Each card comes with an attached ribbon and cardboard easel so it can be easily displayed as a work of art. (Photo courtesy of The Painted Gift)
It’s an age-old question: what do you do with a greeting card from a loved one? Throwing it out feels ungrateful and impolite, but saving it often leads to boxfuls of cards in the back of your closet … which eventually gets thrown out years later during a spring-cleaning purge.
Millbrook artist and educator Saira Knowles has a solution: the “card that lives forever.” Through her new business The Painted Gift, she hand-paints multi-purpose, customizable greeting cards with ribbons and cardboard stands that turn the card into a gift that can be displayed and enjoyed as a work of art long after it’s been gifted.
Hailing from Manchester, U.K., Knowles has an extensive education in art design, fashion, and textiles, as well as years of experience teaching art and drama and working as an award-winning museum and gallery educator.
She is now using her extensive art and storytelling skills to craft whimsical designs ranging from florals to landscapes, animals, “bubbles” of multiple doodles, and even sourdough bread. There are currently 16 collections of images, though Knowles will continually add to them as the seasons change.
Available as prints and original watercolours, greeting cards hand-painted by Millbrook artist Saira Knowles of The Painted Gift can be customized with a personal message printed on the front, back, or inside of the card, depending on the item purchased. (Photos courtesy of The Painted Gift)
Having worked in galleries, Knowles says “art should be for all and not an exclusive thing to own,” which is why her original hand-made greeting cards — which can take hours to create — remain affordably priced. While the composition and colour palettes will match the selected image, each hand-painted piece is unique and original artwork.
With her husband Rob building The Painted Gift website from scratch, Knowles has chosen to run her business independently of third-party marketplace or e-commerce sites. Customers can order prints on a folded card, matte-coated digital paper, and deckled-edge watercolour paper or — for a truly stunning one-of-a-kind gift — a hand-painted original on cotton paper.
Available for shipping across Canada, U.S., and U.K., both prints and the original artwork come with an attached ribbon and a cardboard easel so the gift recipient can display the card and enjoy it for years to come. You can also add an optional personalized message to your gift that will printed on the front, back, or inside of the card, depending on the item purchased.
“When you are just putting money in a card, it can feel inadequate and thoughtless, but this solves that,” says Knowles. “It means that you put thought into it, it’s something unique, and it’s something to keep. This is a gift and a card.”
VIDEO: Original hand-painted greeting cards by The Painted Gift
Know Your Locals™ is a branded editorial feature about locally owned independent businesses and locally operated organizations, and supported by them. If your business or organization is interested in being featured in a future “Know Your Locals” branded editorial, contact Jeannine Taylor at 705-742-6404 or jt@kawarthanow.com or visit our Advertise with kawarthaNOW page.
Cobourg internal medicine specialist Dr. Anuja Sharma and breathwork facilitator Randi Stone are the guest speakers at the free Northumberland PACE Speakers Series webinar on July 23, 2025. They will be leading an evidence-based discussion on how simple breathing techniques can improve your mental clarity and calm, support restful sleep, and lift your mood without medication or gadgets. (kawarthaNOW collage)
There’s still time to register for the latest edition of the Northumberland PACE Speakers Series, which returns on Wednesday (July 23) with a virtual conversation about harnessing the power of breathing techniques to improve several aspects of overall health.
Community members can learn more by joining the webinar, “Breathe Better, Live Better – Discover the Power of Your Breath to Enhance Focus, Sleep, and Mood – Naturally,” at 5:30 p.m. While the webinar is free to attend, advance registration is required at nhh.ca/pace.
Hosted by Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) in Cobourg, the webinar features speakers Dr. Anuja Sharma and Randi Stone. NHH president and CEO Susan Walsh will serve as the guest moderator.
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Dr. Anuja Sharma is an internal medicine specialist with IMCare in Cobourg who has been practising medicine since 1996. Her interests include diseases of the skin, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, arthritis, and health and wellness.
Randi Stone is a certified breathwork facilitator and registered massage therapist with more than a decade of experience supporting musculoskeletal and nervous system health. She specializes in helping the population regulate stress, restore energy, and reconnect with their bodies.
According to a media release from NHH, Dr. Sharma and Stone will be leading an “evidence-based discussion on how simple breathing techniques can improve mental clarity and calm, support restful sleep, and lift one’s mood without medication or gadgets.” Participants will learn strategies to become more aware of their breathing and how to use it as a daily tool for better health and well-being.
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As is standard within the PACE Talk format, questions from the audience are welcomed. Questions can be emailed to mbhargava@imcare.ca prior to the webinar or asked during the webinar if time permits.
PACE (Personalized Assessment and Change Education) is a speakers series inspired by TED Talks that is typically hosted on a rotating basis at NHH in Cobourg and the Community Health Centres of Northumberland in Port Hope.
Since 2018, the Northumberland PACE partners have been hosting free public education sessions on a broad range of health and wellness topics and have consistently drawn large groups of community members with a variety of questions and perspectives.
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NHH, the Northumberland Family Health Team, the Community Health Centres of Northumberland, internal medicine specialists IMCare, the NHH Foundation, Community Care Northumberland, the Ontario Health Northumberland, and local patients and caregivers are all represented on the PACE planning table.
Dr. Mukesh Bhargava of NHH previously told kawarthaNOW that PACE webinar topics are developed in a variety of ways, with all of the subjects tied to areas of health and wellness.
“PACE talks have covered a huge variety of subjects — everything from marijuana to the microbiome,” Dr. Bhargava said.
Lasting an hour in length, each PACE talk consists of a 30-minute talk from a guest speaker with a 20-minute question-and-answer period and a short moderator summary. Space is limited to the first 300 registered attendees. The webinars takes place on Zoom, and participants are asked to log in five minutes prior to the start of the webinar.
Patrons enjoying the patio at Publican House's restaurant in 2019. (Photo: Maryam Monsef)
The Publican House Bar & Grill in downtown Peterborough is closed for renovations.
kawarthaNOW learned on Sunday (July 20) that employees at the restaurant had been notified they were on temporary layoff as of the end of the day.
Publican House was acquired in May by One Eyed Jack, a Canadian-owned group of restaurant and pub locations in Ontario.
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kawarthaNOW reached out on Sunday to Sajanthan “TK” Selvarajah, manager of One Eyed Jack’s Peterborough location on Lansdowne Street, about the company’s plans for the restaurant.
Selvarajah said “a lot of work” is needed on the building, and that it would remain closed for a month or “maybe more.” He noted that employees were made aware that One Eyed Jack was planning renovations when the company took over ownership of the restaurant.
He added that employees are being laid off for “the time being,” although when asked he said he wasn’t sure if all employees would be recalled when the restaurant reopens.
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As for what changes One Eyed Jack is planning for the restaurant, Selvarajah said the menu might change “a bit.” An announcement posted Monday on Publican House’s social media states “We’re crafting something new for you to experience.”
Both the Publican House brewery and retail store, located beside the restaurant, will remain open during the renovations.
Marty Laskaris, Mike Laskaris, Matt Philips, and Rick Coit opened the Publican House premium craft micro-brewery at the corner of Charlotte and Rubidge streets in 2009, launching a retail store right beside the brewery in January 2015.
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After opening the retail store, Publican House purchased the former Peterborough Arms on the other side of the brewery, with the intention of renovating the building. Two years later, in August 2017, Publican House Restaurant and Taphouse opened. The restaurant was later renamed Publican House Brew Pub and then Publican House Bar & Grill.
Along with Marty and Mike Laskaris and Brooke Dickey, Katie Watt was a partner in the venture as well as being the front-of-house manager, with her husband Brad Watt as executive chef.
The Watts eventually left the restaurant, with Katie becoming planning manager at Central Smith Creamery and Brad teaming up with chef Becca Kemp and butcher Jacob Hunter to open the Bridgenorth Butcher Block in March 2025.
A fundraiser for Five Counties Children's Centre, Little Lakers Night returns to the Peterborough Memorial Centre on July 24, 2025 when the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers take on the Brampton Excelsiors in their final home game of the regular Major Series Lacrosse season. Pictured during a media event on July 15 are Lakers board chair Len Powers (left) and Five Counties CEO Scott Pepin (right) with nine-year-old Kennedy Meredith, who designed the special jersey that Lakers players will wear during the pre-game warmup before being auction off in support of Five Counties. (Photo: Peterborough Century 21 Lakers)
Five Counties Children’s Centre hopes an upcoming event will net both fun and funds when the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers take on the Brampton Excelsiors in their final home game of the regular Major Series Lacrosse season.
Slated for Thursday (July 24) at the Peterborough Memorial Centre, Little Lakers Night is a collaboration between Five Counties and the Lakers. Now in its third year, it’s a fan-favourite event for Five Counties.
“Little Lakers Night has become a highlight of the summer season for us,” Bill Eekhof, spokesperson for Five Counties Children’s Centre, told kawarthaNOW. “It is a fundraiser that supports important children’s treatment services at Five Counties, but it’s also become something bigger.”
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“Little Lakers Night is an opportunity for many of our children/clients and their families to come out and enjoy lacrosse action with the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers,” Eekhoff said. “It may be their first encounter or experience at the game and represents something new and a break from their normal routine.”
“We really hope Little Lakers Night provides our Five Counties families, and the entire community, with a bit of fun and excitement watching the game or taking part in some of the other activities going on with it.”
Little Lakers Night kicks off with pre-game activities starting at 7 p.m., one hour before the Lakers face off against the Brampton Excelsiors. Families can enjoy face painting by donation, freezie sales, a “pass the bucket” fundraiser, and the chance to buy commemorative Little Lakers Night T-shirts in support of Five Counties.
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In addition, a silent auction will take place, featuring two tickets to Canada’s Wonderland, a Crayola prize pack, and VIP passes to the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2025 – Canada in Toronto this October.
This year’s event will feature the debut of a special warm-up jersey with a design by Kennedy Meredith, a local Grade 4 student. Lakers players will wear the jerseys during their pre-game warmup, and the jerseys will later be available for purchase through an online auction with proceeds supporting Five Counties.
The overall event is a celebration of community, inclusion, and the joy of sport, and it’s getting better every year, Five Counties noted in a media release.
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“Each year, Little Lakers Night has grown in impact and excitement,” said Five Counties CEO Scott Pepin. “We’re incredibly grateful to the Lakers for their continued generosity and for giving our kids the chance to be part of something so special.”
Meanwhile, Len Powers, board chair of the Peterborough Lakers, said it’s “an honour” to again team up with Five Counties to host Little Lakers Night and support children’s treatment services.
“We encourage everyone to come out to Little Lakers Night and show their support for the home side, cheering on the Lakers to victory as they prepare for the playoffs and supporting the incredible work done by Five Counties,” Powers said.
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Tickets for Little Lakers Night are available now through the Memorial Centre box office, including online at tickets.memorialcentre.ca. Fans are encouraged to use the promo code FIVECOUNTIES at checkout to ensure that $3 from every ticket sold is donated to support kids’ treatment services.
All proceeds from Little Lakers Night will support Five Counties’ “Building Abilities for Life” campaign, which allows more kids and youth in the region to access life-changing treatment services in a timely manner. Last year’s Little Lakers Night raised $15,295 to support children’s treatment services at the centre.
Thursday night’s game is the final home game before the Lakers close out the regular season on Sunday, July 27 in Cobourg. The Lakers are currently second in the regular season, behind the Six Nations Chiefs and one win ahead of the third-place Brooklin L.C., who could even it up if they win against the Chiefs on Wednesday.
Established in 1974 by James Hamilton, the miniature train ride at Peterborough's Riverview Park and Zoo features a miniature replica of an 1860 locomotive. (Photo: Riverview Park and Zoo)
The Riverview Park and Zoo has announced it will be closing its popular miniature train ride early this year because of a upcoming City of Peterborough construction project.
The miniature train ride usually runs every day in the summer from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on the weekends in early fall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
However, the final day of the season for the miniature train ride in 2025 will be Monday, August 4, at the end of the Civic Holiday long weekend.
The miniature train ride is closing because of scheduled rehabilitation work on the Water Street Pumphouse and Dam, which is located on the Otonabee River at the north end of the city adjacent to Riverview Park and Zoo.
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As the miniature train ride crosses over the dam during its route around the zoo area, it cannot safely do so while the dam is undergoing construction.
The rehabilitation work will address concrete deterioration and improve infrastructure, ensuring the long-term functionality of the dam.
On June 30, the city awarded the contract for the work to Urbanlink Civil Ltd. of Beamsville at a cost of over $1.3 million. Construction work is expected to begin this summer.
The miniature train ride will reopen to visitors during the Victoria Day long weekend in May 2026.
Community Futures Peterborough and its Business Advisory Centre are launching a free, limited-edition educational series called Soar for established businesses ready to expand or scale their operations, including through e-commerce or by looking at other markets. The program runs monthly from September to December with multiple sessions each month and is free to successful applicants thanks to a partnership with Scotiabank. (Photo: Community Futures Peterborough)
Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) is aiming to help small businesses in Peterborough soar to success by launching a limited-edition educational series this fall focusing on growth and expansion.
CFP and its Business Advisory Centre are partnering with Scotiabank for the launch of Soar, a new training program running over four months beginning in September that is designed for established businesses ready to expand or scale their operations.
The free series comes at a good time, according to CFP executive director Devon Girard.
“With today’s changing economic climate, we’ve heard from businesses of all sizes their desire to grow and expand — whether that is bringing their business to e-commerce or looking at markets outside of Ontario or North America,” Girard told kawarthaNOW. “The Soar program is designed to meet the challenges business owners are facing today and ensure they are best prepared to grow and expand strategically.”
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The offering for businesses “is a direct response to the gaps we’ve consistently seen in our local businesses while operating the Business Advisory Centre for the past year,” said Business Advisory Centre and corporate communications manager Rose Terry in a media release.
“Existing businesses often hit a ceiling without access to tailored, expert support, and guidance. We have been offering this in our one-on-one consultations, but the Soar series bridges that gap, offering high-impact, cohorted, practical training to help businesses in our region thrive and lead.”
Offered September through December, there are limited spots available for each month. Business owners are encouraged to apply now to be accepted into the individual cohorts for each month. Successful applicants will gain access to expert-led workshops tailored to the challenges and opportunities that growing businesses face.
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“We’re excited to renew our partnership with Community Futures Peterborough in support of Soar,” said Scotiabank’s Chris Skinner, district vice-president for Ontario Central East. “This program aligns strongly with Scotiabank’s commitment to fostering local entrepreneurship and empowering business owners to achieve their goals.”
Scotiabank previously partnered with CFP in 2023 and 2024 for the ScaleUP program, which CFP piloted in 2022 when the organization identified a lack of existing support and programming for established small businesses that were looking to expand.
As was the case with ScaleUP, with Scotiabank’s support, the Soar program is free for all successful applicants. Each month, the program will focus on a critical area of business development that has been determined by the needs of the local business community.
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The Soar program begins in September with “Marketing Mastery and Pitching for Growth,” running for four sessions (September 4, 11, 18, and 25) and featuring interactive workshops led by marketing, branding, and communication experts, including Rosalea Terry, Erika Eileen, and Kyle MacDonald, each bringing unique perspectives and toolkits to help entrepreneurs craft and communicate their story with impact. The deadline to apply is August 17.
In October, “Business Development and Sales” will include three sessions (October 9, 16, and 23) led by Jason Fiorotto, a highly successful marketing and sales leader with more than 25 years of experience working with companies ranging from private equity-backed startups to Fortune 50 global brands. Focusing on building the systems and strategies that drive consistent revenue growth, these sessions will teach business owners how to identify and qualify leads, strengthen their sales conversations, close deals with confidence, and build a sustainable business development pipeline that supports long-term growth and scalability. The deadline to apply is September 17.
In November, “Cross-Border Expansion and E-Commerce” will offer two sessions (November 6 and 13) for businesses looking to expand into new provinces or sell across international borders. The sessions will help business owners master the logistics, digital tools, and market entry strategies required for expansive growth, and teach them to optimize their e-commerce presence, from choosing the right platforms to navigating shipping, compliance, and customer experience across borders. The deadline to apply is October 17.
The series wraps up in December with “Selling, Acquiring, and Succession Planning,” with two sessions (December 4 and 11) covering the key aspects of transitioning a business, whether through sale, purchase, or succession. Led by business succession planning experts Michael Riseley and Nicole Truman, the sessions will focus on all aspects of a business transition, with business owners learning about various transition strategies for a range of diverse businesses and how to transition in tax-efficient ways. The deadline to apply is November 17.
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Businesses can apply for as many months as they wish. To be eligible to participate, businesses must be legally registered in Ontario (as a sole proprietership, partnership, or corporation), must be operational and actively selling products or services, and must be located within the city or county of Peterborough or Hiawatha or Curve Lake First Nations. The sessions will rotate across locations (to be announced) to ensure both urban and rural entrepreneurs will be able to participate.
With over 95 per cent of businesses in Canada identifying as small businesses, CFP says the support offered through the Soar series “is crucial,” especially for small businesses in rural areas. According to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, rural small businesses are growing faster than their urban counterparts in key sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism, yet many rural entrepreneurs report facing barriers to growth, including limited access to mentorship and specialized training.
ABBA tribute band Abbamania and The Bee Gees tribute band Night Fever will supply a double dose of disco-era musical nostalgia with a free-admission concert at Peterborough Musicfest in Del Crary Park on July 23, 2025. (Photos: Clairmont Photography)
While the primary aim of any live music performer is to entertain, something special evolves when those listening are empowered to make a connection with their past.
New music will always have its place, but the soundtrack of our lives ignites memories of days long gone; days when things were much less complicated and the years ahead were exactly that — years ahead.
Many can’t remember yesterday, but a long-forgotten song revived has the power to transport one back to a life moment; a happy moment, a sad moment, whatever, but a moment as fresh as the day it happened.
Through the 1970s into the following decade, it was impossible to escape the music of ABBA and The Bee Gees — two of the most culturally and commercially successful acts in the history of popular music. As the such, the music of both acts is associated with millions upon millions of moments.
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Peterborough Musicfest presents Abbamania + Night Fever (The Bee Gees)
When: Wednesday, July 23, 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.
On Wednesday (July 23) at Del Crary Park, Abbamania and Night Fever will pay tribute to ABBA and The Bee Gees, performing many of the hit songs from both acts’ respective huge music catalogues.
Admission is, as always, free due to the continued support of a number of sponsors, kawarthaNOW among them.
Abbamania and Night Fever perform under the auspices of Booking House Inc., which provides tribute acts covering a wide range of bands for pretty much any function you can think of. Both tribute bands headlined Peterborough Musicfest back in 2017.
Founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972, ABBA went on to achieve worldwide album sales estimated as high as 385 million while The Bee Gees, hailing from Australia, sold more than 120 million albums. During both acts’ heyday, unless you were living under a rock, you heard, sang, and danced to at least one of their hit songs.
VIDEO: Abbamania promo video
Abbamania brings the music of Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Fryd (Frida) Lyngstad — the first letter of their first names formed ABBA’s name — to the stage years after ABBA’s last performance together.
Re-creating the quartet’s infectious harmonic sound and associated disco-era glitzy stage show, the critically acclaimed tribute act performs all the hits from their nine albums, including “Dancing Queen,” “Waterloo,” “Mamma Mia,” “Take A Chance On Me,” and “The Winner Takes It All,” to name but a few.
In 1974, Sweden’s Eurovision Song Contest provided the springboard ABBA needed via their performance of “Waterloo.” It was later chosen the best song in the competition’s history at its 50th anniversary bash.
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Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010, a testament to ABBA’s enduring popularity came in the form of the highly successful 1999 Broadway musical Mamma Mia! which subsequently toured the globe, and again in 2008 when the film version of the production was the highest-grossing film in the United Kingdom that year. Incredibly, however, ABBA never collected a Grammy Award, although nominated five times.
When Abbamania was first formed, nailing down the demanding harmony-heavy vocal arrangements alone was a six-month process. That hard work has paid off, as the tribute act has performed around the globe, backed on numerous occasions by symphony orchestras.
The Bee Gees, meanwhile, were formed much earlier in 1958 by brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, and enjoyed great success from the mid-1960s and into the early 1970s on the strength of hits such as “Holiday,” “To Love Somebody,” “Massachusetts,” “I Started A Joke,” “Lonely Days,” and “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?”
VIDEO: Night Fever promo video
The trio’s recording of the soundtrack for the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever starring John Travolta in his breakout role kick-started an even more commercially successful second life for The Bee Gees, courtesy of huge disco favourites “Stayin’ Alive,” “Night Fever,” and “How Deep Is Your Love.” If that success wasn’t enough, huge-selling singles such as “Nights On Broadway,” “Jive Talkin”,” “You Should Be Dancing,” “Tragedy” and, in the late 1980s, “One” kept The Bee Gees at, or near, the top of the pop music mountain.
The Bee Gees were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Among the numerous accolades that came the brothers’ way were eight Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement honour in 2015. Barry Gibb remains the only surviving member of the original lineup.
Performing the songs of The Bee Gees, Night Fever has also toured the world, appearing at Disneyland and in Russia and everywhere in between. Now, along with Abbamania, it will prove yet again why an excellent tribute act should always have a place at Del Crary Park on a warm summer evening. Let the memories flow.
This Wednesday’s concert will be preceded at 6:30 p.m. by country music artist Nickola Magnolia performing under the Cogeco tent near the George Street entrance to Del Crary Park. She is appearing as part of Musicfest’s new Future Sound Series featuring the talents of local performers this summer.
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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.
The Peterborough Special Olympic women's soccer team (Candace Bushie, Crystal Cochrane, Jasmine Davis, Haley Fowler, Heather Fowler, Nicole Hewitt, Kristen Lackey, Gillian McHugh, Miriam McHugh, Kacee Quinlan, Jenn Wildman, and Carlea Wilkie-Ellis) with coaches Debbie Quinlan, Shawna Goode, and Linda Wilkie celebrating the first-ever gold medal in the women's soccer division at the Special Olympics provincial games, held in Brantford from July 10 to 13, 2025. (Photo: Special Olympics Ontario)
A group of Peterborough athletes has made history as the first women’s team to win a gold medal in soccer at the Special Olympics provincial games in Brantford.
The event saw 750 athletes compete in athletics, bocce, golf, softball, and soccer, with this year being the first time Special Olympics Ontario hosted a women’s soccer division as well as a men’s division at the provincial summer games.
Travelling to Brantford to compete in the games, which ran from July 10 to 13, was a memorable experience for both the players and coaches, said Debbie Quinlan, who coaches the women’s Special Olympics soccer team along with Shawna Goode and Linda Wilkie.
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“It has been our dream and goal for the past six years that Special Olympics Ontario would recognize and believe in the importance of developing more programs and competition for women in sport,” Quinlan told kawarthaNOW.
“The camaraderie, new friendships made, sportsmanship between competitors, and the heart exhibited by all women’s soccer players was inspiring to watch. Our women were thrilled when people would stop to comment on how exciting it was that they played on a women’s Special Olympics soccer team.”
Since 2019 this team has believed in the importance of women in sport, Quinlan said.
“They have played and competed against other Ontario Special Olympics teams since then, dreaming of the day Special Olympics Ontario and Canada would recognize and host an all-women’s provincial soccer games division.”
Players on the Peterborough Special Olympic women’s soccer team competing at the Special Olympics provincial games held in Brantford from July 10 to 13, 2025. (Photo: Special Olympics Ontario)
Throughout the three-day event, the team demonstrated “outstanding perseverance and determination while competing in extreme heat conditions against other Ontario women’s teams coming out undefeated and winning the gold medal in the championship game,” Quinlan said.
The soccer team consists of players Candace Bushie, Crystal Cochrane, Jasmine Davis, Haley Fowler, Heather Fowler, Nicole Hewitt, Kristen Lackey, Gillian McHugh, Miriam McHugh, Kacee Quinlan, Jenn Wildman, and Carlea Wilkie-Ellis.
Quinlan said she hopes that Special Olympics Ontario and Special Olympics Canada will one day have women’s divisions for all sports.
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“As women coaches, we hope that we can build and expand women’s Special Olympics soccer to include more teams at various levels in Peterborough and throughout Ontario,” Quinlan said.
“This past year my husband and I started the first-ever Special Olympics basketball team. Our hopes and dreams are to play and compete against other women’s Special Olympics basketball teams in other cities and communities just like we have in soccer.”
Other Peterborough Special Olympians also saw success in their respective divisions at the Brantford games.
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Coached by Patrick Henry, Corlea Freeland, and Bill Chapman, the Peterborough Panthers soccer team (Adam Ferguson, Brian Davis, Blair Bastien, Mary McDougall, Jacob Zitman, Mike Ludlow, Makaya Dafoe, Steve Caban, Ryan Blinn, and Dylan Armstrong) won a silver medal.
Coached by Sydney Venton, track and field athlete Gaerrisen Freeland won a gold medal in the 100 metre, 200 metre, 400 metre, shotput, and javelin, Lisa Butler won a gold medal in the 400 metre, shotput, and javelin and a bronze medal in the 100 metre, and Mercedes Laking won a gold medal in shotput and a bronze medal in the 100 metre.
Coached by Toni Hill and Alan Brioux, bocce player Dalton Davis won a gold medal, Jesse Campbell, Julien Cloutier-Austin, and Florence Ekman won bronze medals, and Monique St. Pierre achieved fourth place.
Bancroft and Bobcaygeon Pet Valu owners Nicole and Sean Courtney with their late dog Kona in the Bancroft store. Staffed with knowledgeable employees, both locally owned stores are stocked with Canadian products, offer in-store vendor demonstrations of vet-approved products, provide nail trim clinics, host events in partnership with local community organizations, and more. (Photo courtesy of Nicole and Sean Courtney)
It’s not hard to love your job when your day is spent helping families spoil their lovable companions. Owning two Pet Valu locations may not have been where she thought she’d end up after studying environmental sciences at Trent University, but Nicole Courtney would now have it no other way.
“I fell in love with the chance to get to meet people’s pets and be a part of their growth in their families,” Nicole says. “It’s such a refreshing industry because people come through our doors and they’re really happy to be there, because they’re shopping for somebody they really love. I get to see that joy and excitement as they spoil their pets.”
A trusted Canadian company with more than 800 locations in over 370 communities across the country, Pet Valu carries more than 1,000 Canadian-made pet products. Nicole and her husband Sean have owned the Pet Valu store in Bancroft since December 2020, and the Bobcaygeon location — just across the lake from their Ennismore home — since October 2022.
All of the employees who work in the Bancroft and Bobcaygeon stores live in the communities they serve, and complete company-provided Animal Care Expert training courses during the onboarding process to provide them with knowledge on a wide selection of pet care topics such as fundamental care, nutrition, and more. (Photo courtesy of Nicole and Sean Courtney)
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Beyond the fun of interacting with customers’ pets, Nicole says another joy of her job is getting to share essential knowledge with pet owners, especially in the Bancroft area where the rural location can make it difficult for customers to access veterinary care.
“We have a lot of high-quality health and wellness products,” she says. “A lot of people don’t know about them or don’t have the knowledge about what they can do, but we are able to share that.”
All of the employees who work in the Bancroft and Bobcaygeon stores live in the communities they serve, and complete company-provided Animal Care Expert training courses during the onboarding process to provide them with knowledge on a wide selection of pet care topics such as fundamental care, nutrition, and more. Employees also take a refresher course every year to keep their pet care knowledge up-to-date with developing trends and new pet care products.
Both the Bancroft and Bobcaygeon Pet Valu stores regularly host demonstration days where customers can get more information about new products. (Photo courtesy of Nicole and Sean Courtney)
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For even more specialized insight, the two Pet Valu locations host demonstration days where employees share more information about a new product with customers.
“With the increase of products that we’re seeing becoming available, it can be really daunting and create challenges for people to really understand and learn on their own,” Nicole says. “If we dedicate some time aside to give people that knowledge if they need it, then at least it’s there for them. Nobody knows their products better than the vendors themselves.”
Both Pet Valu locations are stocked with Canadian-made pet food and treat brands like Go, Crumps’ Naturals, Acana, First Mate (which was recently introduced to the Pet Valu shelves), and the popular Performatrin brands Prime, Ultra, Naturals, and Culinary.
Both Pet Valu locations in Bancroft and Bobcaygeon are stocked with Canadian-made pet food and treat brands like Go, Crumps’ Naturals, Acana, First Mate, and the popular Performatrin brands Prime, Ultra, Naturals, and Culinary. (Photo courtesy of Nicole and Sean Courtney)
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“Ultra is what I used to feed my dog all the time, and he had the most beautiful shiny coat while on it, and my cats are on Ultra and do really well on it too,” Nicole says. “I love to talk to people about that because it’s my personal experience.”
Both stores are also filled with toys, treats, and accessories for other pets, including reptiles, bunnies, hamsters, birds, and more. The knowledgeable staff are always available to help customers find a solution to their needs and, if a desired product is not in stock, will order it directly for the customer.
“Our staff do a very good job of giving you as much as much information as they can,” Nicole says. “The value behind the Pet Valu brand is certainly something that resonates not just within my local stores.”
Groomer Lexy Bird trims a dog’s nails during a nail trim clinic at the Bancroft Pet Valu, held monthly on the first Wednesday of each month. Nail trim clinics are now also available at the Bobcaygeon store on the second Wednesday of the month. (Photo courtesy of Nicole and Sean Courtney)
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As one-stop shops for pet needs, both locations offer more than just pet products. For years, the Bancroft location has been hosting a monthly nail trim clinic done by local groomer Lexy Bird.
“Lexy has such a passion for pets and has such a good reputation,” says Nicole. “A lot of people only really have to trim their dog’s nails or pet’s nails once a month, but that consistency is definitely something we want to offer. It’s very reasonably priced and can only take ten minutes.”
The Bancroft nail trim clinics are held on the first Wednesday of each month (with the exception of holidays). The clinics also launched in April at the Bobcaygeon store on the second Wednesday of the month.
The Bancroft Pet Valu hosts regular “Caturday” events where local pet shelter Home Again Bancroft brings in cats that are available for adoption. (Photo courtesy of Nicole and Sean Courtney)
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As local owners of two Pet Valu franchise locations, the Courtneys are intentional about using their stores to support other related organizations in the regions they serve. In Bancroft, Pet Valu hosts “Caturday” every Saturday, where local pet shelter Home Again Bancroft brings in cats that are available for adoption.
“They do such fantastic work in the community, so I love that we can facilitate that — and who doesn’t want to come see the cats?” Nicole says. “It’s always a good thing when people want to come in and just see the pets. Maybe they’re not looking for a cat today, but maybe down the road they’ll be looking. They’ll know where to come back to welcome a new pet and family member, which is such a cool opportunity for us to get to be a part of.”
The value of getting a kitten on Caturday means customers can also get everything they need at the same time they pick up the pet.
“We love being this one-stop shop where you can pick up this awesome pet you’re about to bring in your family, but also make sure you’re actually prepared for everything you need,” she says. “I take pride in the fact that we are here to provide that service.”
The Bobcaygeon Pet Valu supported the regional branch of Carlota Galgos Rescue Canada when it was located in Bobcaygeon. The non-profit organization that spreads awareness about the Galgo Español, which are Spanish hunting dogs that live in horrific conditions before being abandoned or killed when they are no longer used for hunting. (Photo courtesy of Nicole and Sean Courtney)
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Pet Valu Bobcaygeon also supported the regional branch of Carlota Galgos Rescue Canada when it was located in Bobcaygeon. The non-profit organization spreads awareness about the Galgo Español — Spanish hunting dogs that live in horrific conditions before being abandoned or killed when they are no longer used for hunting.
“This organization devotes themselves to trying to rescue as many of these dogs as possible,” Nicole says, noting the organization will bring a few dogs to the store to meet customers. “Learning about it and meeting the dogs was such an impactful experience for me.”
The Bobcaygeon location also regularly supports the Kawartha Lakes Humane Society through donations raised from hosting in-store Christmas and Easter pet portraits, and has partnered with the Dog Guides of Canada. They will once again be sponsoring the registration area for the walk-a-thon in support of Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides through the Bobcaygeon District Lions Club.
“I have so much respect for the partners we have in our community and are so grateful to get to work with them,” Nicole says.
Bancroft and Bobcaygeon Pet Valu owners Nicole and Sean Courtney encourage customers to bring their dogs with them when they visit either location. (Photo courtesy of Nicole and Sean Courtney)
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Being passionate about pets, Nicole encourages customers to bring their dogs with them when they visit either location.
“Getting an opportunity to take dogs out and have it be a positive experience for them is so important,” she says. “It also makes our day better, so I selfishly want everyone to bring their pets in when they shop.”
Pet Valu Bobcaygeon is located at 101 East Street and Pet Valu Bancroft is located at 8 Station Street. You can browse products and find out more information about each location at www.petvalu.ca.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Pet Valu Bobcaygeon and Bancroft. If your business or organization is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Some of the 1,400 paddlers in 978 canoes and kayaks who took part in the seventh annual Lock & Paddle event at the Peterborough Lift Lock on July 19, 2025. (Photo: Sean Bruce)
More than 1,400 paddlers in 978 canoes and kayaks took part in the seventh annual Lock & Paddle event at the Peterborough Lift Lock on Saturday (July 19).
Peterborough photographer Sean Bruce was there and shared some of his photos with kawarthaNOW.
First organized by Parks Canada in 2016, the event was originally held on June 26 in partnership with The Canadian Canoe Museum to celebrate both the national historic site and National Canoe Day.
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The inaugural event attempted to fit as many canoes and kayaks as possible into the two tubs at the world’s tallest hydraulic lift lock to be lifted 65 feet (20 metres) into the air and then back down.
For the 2016 event, 138 canoeists and kayakers broke the world record for the number of canoes and kayaks in a single lockage. In 2017, that record was broken again for Canada 150 celebrations, when 328 canoes and kayaks filled the two chambers in a single lockage.
In 2018, the objective was to get as many paddlers as possible through the Peterborough Lift Lock in a three-hour period, with 262 canoes and kayaks making the journey. In 2019, for the first time, the event was held in the evening and featured a lighted paddlecraft parade, lighted night-time lockage, and free overnight camping.
A 360-degree view of one of the tubs filled mostly with kayaks for the seventh annual Lock & Paddle event at the Peterborough Lift Lock on July 19, 2025. (Photo: Sean Bruce)
After a three-year absence due to the pandemic, the event returned in August 2023 when more than 600 people paddled 403 canoes and kayaks into the Peterborough Lift Lock’s two tubs. At that event, Parks Canada encouraged all participants to decorate their vessels and wear costumes.
As with last year’s event, this year’s Lock & Paddle again took place on Parks Day, which is celebrated on the third Saturday of July to celebrate Canada’s national, provincial, and territorial parks while encouraging people to enjoy and learn about these natural spaces.
As was the case last year, simultaneous events also took place at the Hartwells Lock on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa and the Saint-Gabriel Lock on the Lachine Canal in Montreal.
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The Peterborough event ran from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and featured live music with Peterborough Musicfest talent performing on a LeBoat, a kids’ zone, yoga sessions, a BBQ by the Bewdley & District Lions Club, giant games from The Boardwalk Board Game Lounge, and water safety and boat safety information offered by the City of Peterborough and Boating Ontario.
The lockage, which took place from noon until 4 p.m., saw a total of 978 canoes and kayaks lifted up and down the Peterborough Lift Lock over four hours.
The Canadian Canoe Museum also offered a special paddling experience in a traditional Voyageur canoe, where participants left the waterfront location of the new museum on Little Lake and travelled through Lock 20 – Ashburnham and onward to the Peterborough Lift Lock to participate in the event.
The Canadian Canoe Museum offered a special paddling experience in a traditional Voyageur canoe for the seventh annual Lock & Paddle event at the Peterborough Lift Lock on July 19, 2025. (Photo: Sean Bruce)A paddler chats with Parks Canada employees during the seventh annual Lock & Paddle event at the Peterborough Lift Lock on July 19, 2025. (Photo: Sean Bruce)
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Paddlers squeezed together in one of the tubs of the Peterborough Lift Lock for the seventh annual Lock & Paddle event on July 19, 2025. (Photo: Sean Bruce)A 360-degree view of one of the tubs filled mostly with kayaks for the seventh annual Lock & Paddle event at the Peterborough Lift Lock on July 19, 2025. (Photo: Sean Bruce)An aerial view of paddlers packed into the two tubs of the Peterborough Lift Lock for the seventh annual Lock & Paddle event on July 19, 2025. (Photo: Parks Canada)
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