If making a good first impression still counts for something, it would appear the Peterborough Federal Liberal Association has hit upon something good in its choice of Emma Harrison as its candidate for the April 28 federal election.

Three days after being acclaimed as the party’s local candidate, Harrison was officially introduced Tuesday (March 25) to the Liberal faithful at the party’s campaign headquarters on King Street in downtown Peterborough.

A broad smile rarely leaving her face, and emotional when referencing her late father, the third-generation Selwyn farmer and small business owner was equal parts resolute and humble as she accepted her nomination before a red-clad crowd hanging onto her every word.

“I’m in this room tonight, and I believe you are as well, because we share a mutual understanding of the critical nature of this election,” said Harrison.

“Not just here in our community, but on a global scale. We, together, believe Prime Minister Mark Carney is the leader we need and deserve in this pivotal moment. That our prime minister will continue to create and build, at a blinding speed, a steadfast emphatically driven mission to protect all Canadians.”

While she avoided any direct references to her major party opponents — incumbent Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri and NDP candidate Heather Ray — Harrison pledged, to the evening’s loudest cheer, to “restore the honour of being called a Member of Parliament.”

“I will listen; I will build bridges,” added Harrison, but added the disclaimer “Do not be fooled. While I am very kind, empathetic, smiley, maybe even described as bubbly, I am not to be trifled with.”

“I stand firmly on my moral convictions and values. I am not easily swayed. I’m excited to show you that. All my life experiences have led me to this moment and to be the leader that we need in this time.”

Turning to her motivation for allowing her name to stand as the Liberal candidate, Harrison, who is married with three young children, said it’s rooted in her desire to pay back the “enormous support” she received as a high school student, as a local and national women’s lacrosse team member, and, since 2021, when she and her husband assumed full-time operation of the family farm.

Taking time to acknowledge and thank her campaign team, led by campaign manager Andy Mitchell, a former Liberal cabinet minister, Harrison said “I adore the saying ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.'”

While her campaign is but a few days along, Harrison noted some 300 volunteers have signed on to help, and donations totalling $30,000 have come in.

After Harrison closed by promising to “to work my ass off” over the course of the campaign, her audience erupted into a rousing rendition of “O Canada.”

Later, Harrison told kawarthaNOW she was “overwhelmed” by reception she received.

While she’s only just started canvassing, Harrison says many she has met have expressed concerns about the future of the Canadian Dental Care Plan. The ruling Liberals have said if re-elected, plan coverage will be expanded to include those under 65 years old. The Conservatives have indicated, to this point, those who now have coverage won’t lose it.

“I talked to one dentist and they’ve seen more than a thousand patients who wouldn’t be able to have had dental work done if they hadn’t been under the plan,” she said.

That said, Harrison noted the U.S. tariffs threat and the Trump administration’s continued talk of Canada becoming the 51st state “is really the biggest concern on most people’s minds. What does that mean moving forward? What does that look like for our community?”

“We need strong, fierce leaders with an incredible amount of compassion and empathy for people; and who understand the issues our community is facing. Those issues aren’t going to be removed just because of these bigger threats from the United States. We need someone who is very attuned to local needs and issues.”

“People have also been asking about the divide between rural and urban. The truth is that people who are rural use all of the major services in Peterborough. The truth is we’re one unit, and we rely on the services of both the rural and the urban. It’s a whole riding approach, and we need to focus on how we create stability for those services.”

Among those in the crowd was Jim Patterson, a local Liberal election campaign veteran of some 25 years.

After hearing Harrison’s remarks, he assessed “This young lady is going to really make a mark.”

“She’s smart. She’s dedicated. She’s a mother. She’s a farmer. She’s educated. She checks a lot of boxes. We’ve worked with some winners, and I think we’ve got a winner here.”

Asked what has impressed him most from what he heard, Patterson was quick to answer.

“Genuine, genuine, genuine. I’m not going to make comparisons (to other candidates), but we need genuine.”

When pressed over the fact that Conservative candidates typically do well in rural areas while Liberals are strong amongst urban voters, Patterson maintained Harrison can make gains outside the boundaries of the city.

“She has to sell herself to the rural community as being one of them,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jessica Correa said her concerns over American threats to Canada have left her “very fired up,” prompting her to become actively involved in an election campaign for the first time.

“I don’t want to be a bystander this time,” she said, adding “I’m tired of the things I’ve heard from our MP.”

“There’s two times in my life that brought me to tears — when my husband became a Canadian citizen last year and tonight was the second time,” she said, referring to the crowd’s spontaneous singing of the national anthem.

“We all feel what’s happening down south. We’re all feeling anxious and concerned. We want to fight back and make sure Canada stays a sovereign nation, so elbows up. That’s why I’m here tonight.”

As for Harrison, Correa said “We need to hear more from her, but it’s a good start.”

Well-known Peterborough resident Lori Richey has passed away at the age of 57.

According to her official obituary, she passed away on Sunday (March 23) after a “short but aggressive battle with cancer.”

“Throughout her battle, Lori fought with unmatched determination and grace, inspiring everyone who knew her.”

Richey spent 28 years working in the local healthcare sector, including 14 years as manager of human and information resources at Fairhaven long-term care home.

In 2006, she began working with the Peterborough Family Health Team, including as executive director of primary healthcare services for five years before leaving in 2020 to pursue an interest in interior design and photography.

In October 2023, she returned to the healthcare field when she became Peterborough County’s new physician recruiter.

“An avid outdoor enthusiast, she found joy in nature, whether hiking through serene forests or enjoying the tranquility of the mountains,” reads her obituary.

“Her creative spirit shone through in everything she did, inspiring those around her with her unique talents and ideas. Lori was known for her strength, compassion, and unwavering love, leaving a profound impact on all who knew her.”

Richey, whose husband of 34 years Steve passed away in 2018 after a massive heart attack, is survived by her children Kyle (Natalie) and Travis (Ieva) and four grandsons, as well as by her brother Craig Lesurf (Lisa), father-in-law Bob (Sylvia), brother-in-law Todd (Larraine), and her boyfriend Mike Hearne.

Richey’s family and friends are encouraging people who knew her to email their stories to memoriesofloririchey@gmail.com.

“We know that Lori has had a positive impact on many lives, and we would love for these stories to be shared with us. This will allow us all to reminisce about the good times with family, both present and future.”

A celebration of life will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 4 at Highland Park Funeral Centre (2510 Bensfort Rd. Peterborough). Flowers for the celebration of life would be appreciated, as would donations to Big Brothers Big Sisters — an organization that Richey supported for many years.

“Lori will be deeply missed by many but remembered as a fun-loving, genuine, life of the party. She will continue dancing, laughing, and being a light to all those around her.”

Peterborough’s award-winning Mac & Cheese Festival is returning for its fourth time, with a spring edition this year that includes a new outdoor celebration and a new award for the festival champion.

Running from April 1 to 26, this year’s festival features exclusive specials at 17 downtown restaurants, each of whom will put their own creative spin on the classic comfort food, and will culminate with a grand finale celebration at Quaker Foods City Square on the last day of the festival.

First organized by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) in 2021, the festival won a special events and promotions award at the Ontario Business Improvement Area awards conference the following year. The festival has previously taken place annual during the fall, but did not happen in 2024.

“We’re excited to bring this event back with an outdoor festival component that not only supports our local business community, but also kicks off the spring season in a really exciting way with a day full of food, music, and fun for all ages,” says DBIA executive director Nour Mazloum in a media release. “The Mac & Cheese Festival is a fantastic way to showcase the culinary talent and the creativity of our downtown restaurants, while also bringing the community together over a dish we all love.”

As with the previous editions, foodies can indulge in specialty mac and cheese dishes at participating restaurants, who will serve up everything from classic homestyle recipes to bold gourmet interpretations and even unexpected twists, like The Dirty Burger’s Mac & Cheeseburger Samosa and a spicy offering from pescatarian restaurant The Vine — the winner of the 2023 festival.

“We figured why settle for just one cheesy guilty pleasure when you can have two?” says The Vine owner Tyrone Flowers. “This year we’ve combined two fan favourites — mac and cheese and jalapeno poppers — into one irresistible dish. It’s rich, creamy, packed with flavour, and just the right amount of heat. Cheese lovers, we made this one for you.”

New this year is the grand finale event, taking place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 at Quaker Foods City Square on Charlotte Street in downtown Peterborough, which will feature vendors, live music, entertainment, a beer garden, and a variety of mac & cheese vendors offering samples of their creations.

Also new this year is the Judge’s Choice Award, which will see a panel of local celebrity judges at the grand finale event decide which dish reigns supreme as Peterborough’s Mac & Cheese Champion for 2025.

As with previous festivals, people will still be able to vote online for their favourite mac and cheese dishes at participating restaurants. This year, the dish receiving the most votes will win the People’s Choice Award. Online voting will open on Tuesday, April 1.

As for the April 26th grand finale celebration, a lineup of four local bands — Jeanne Truax, Warren Frank, Brooklyn Doran, and VanCamp — will be performing throughout the afternoon.

“I’m really looking forward to playing the Mac and Cheese Festival at Quaker Square with the band,” says Peterborough-based songwriter and VanCamp founder Calvin Bakelaar.

“There’s nothing like an outdoor event with live music and an unreasonable amount of mac and cheese to really kick off spring.”

A beer garden will be set up on the rink pad at Quaker Foods City Square featuring local breweries including 100 Acre Brewing Co., Sandbagger Hard Seltzer, and Maple Light.

The grand finale event is being supported by Peterborough Tourism, the City of Peterborough’s new tourism department, and is sponsored in part by Sparq Retail.

For more information about the Mac & Cheese Festival and to vote online for your favourites starting April 1, visit theboro.ca/program/mac-cheese-festival/.

There are 15 new banners hanging from lamp posts on George Street in downtown Peterborough for the bicentennial of the Peter Robinson emigration of Irish settlers to the Peterborough region.

The non-profit organization Nine Ships 1825 Inc., in partnership with the Peterborough Historical Society and with funding from the Peterborough Foundation, has installed the banners to promote bicentennial events that will be taking place from August 1 to 10, during which the Civic Holiday — long recognized as Peter Robinson Day in Peterborough — falls.

“We’re expecting people from all over the world,” said Maureen Crowley, Nine Ships 1825 board member and secretary, in an interview with kawarthaNOW. “We’ve had interest already from the United States and from Ireland.”

Events planned so far during August include a walking tour on Friday, August 1 hosted by Elwood Jones of Trent Valley Archives, a “Grand Irish Gathering” on Saturday, August 2 at The Canadian Canoe Museum, and a week-long Bicentennial Heritage Fair at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 317 Hunter Street West. In addition, 4th Line Theatre will present the world premiere of Megan Murphy’s play Wild Irish Geese about the Peter Robinson emigration from July 29 to August 30 at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook.

Nine Ships 1825 was formed to coordinate and promote all the local Irish-related heritage, historical, and community groups that are planning events during the bicentennial year. The organization’s name refers to the nine ships that carried the Irish settlers across the Atlantic in 1825 under an emigration plan led by Upper Canada politician Peter Robinson.

As well as promoting the bicentennial events taking place from August 1 to 10, the lamp post banners on George Street in downtown Peterborough also highlight each of the nine ships that carried 2,024 Irish men, women, and children to Canada: the Fortitude, Brunswick, Regulus, Resolution, Star, Elizabeth, Albion, Amity, and John Barry.

“The Peterborough Foundation is proud to fund these banners which highlight such a significant part of the history of our community,” says Peterborough Foundation chair Nancy Martin in a media release.

To learn more about the Peter Robinson emigration bicentennial, members of the public can attend a meeting of the Millbrook and Cavan Historical Society meeting at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 11 at the Millbrook Legion (9 King St. E., Millbrook), where members of Nine Ships 1825 will give a presentation.

Cultural resource manager and historian Dennis Carter-Edwards will speak to the significance of the emigration, outline the journey, and highlight the resources available to learn more. Crowley, a past president of the Peterborough Canadian Irish Club, and former Selwyn Township mayor Mary Smith will speak about previous commemorations of the emigration, describe how Nine Ships 1825 was formed, and share the events planned during 2025.

More information about Nine Ships 1825, the Peter Robinson emigration, and events planned during the bicentennial is available at nineships1825.com.

With files from Paul Rellinger.

Meet Miguel Hernandez, a Venezuelan artist who has called Canada home for nearly 10 years, who says art was “the bright light” that saw him through the challenges of immigration and settlement.

Meet Fatma Al Ahmed, a high school student from Syria, and learn about the challenges and barriers that exist for young Muslim hijabi girls like herself.

The New Canadians Centre (NCC) in Peterborough invites residents to get to know their neighbours — including Al Ahmed and Hernandez — by participating in three upcoming public sessions over the next three months starting Wednesday (March 26).

The NCC is hosting the first of its “Stories from Your Neighbourhood: Meet Your Neighbours” sessions from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Peterborough Public Library, located at 345 Aylmer St. N. in downtown Peterborough.

Ultimately, the NCC is challenging the Peterborough community to have open and respectful conversations about the experiences of newcomers in the region. In February 2024, the NCC launched its “Our Neighbourhood” video series that spotlights the stories of six of Peterborough’s diverse community members.

Building on the success of the videos, the NCC has now developed what it describes as an engaging educational activity — the “Our Neighbourhood” discussion guide — to accompany the videos and serve as a starting point for people to have conversations with their fellow residents.

VIDEO: “Our Neighbourhood” – New Canadians Centre

“My hope is that these conversations will spark deeper understanding and reflection on what it truly means to be a welcoming and inclusive community,” Mauricio Interiano, NCC’s community engagement officer, told kawarthaNOW.

“By using the Our Neighbourhood discussion guide, we’re giving people the tools to engage in meaningful dialogue about the experiences of newcomers. The best outcome would be for people to walk away feeling more connected, more aware, and more empowered to take action — whether that’s being more mindful of the challenges newcomers face, advocating for inclusive policies, or simply extending kindness in their everyday interactions.”

The Our Neighbourhood discussion guide was inspired by the six inspirational stories told through the video series. The guide is filled with questions, prompts, and activities designed to help community members reflect on the important themes of the video series. It is appropriate for audiences ranging from elementary to post-secondary classes as well as adults, workplaces, and communities in general.

“Through this activity, participants can explore the stories of their neighbours, dive deeper into what makes our neighbourhood so unique, and reflect on the themes highlighted in the videos,” the NCC notes on its website. “Together, we’ll learn, share, and celebrate the vibrant tapestry of cultures, experiences, and connections that make our community home.”

The hope is those who take part in the sessions will learn more from meeting the newcomers and also gain new tools from the guide to help them become better neighbours.

When asked to share an insight into being a good neighbour, Interiano said he had “one key tip.”

“I’d say that being a good neighbour starts with listening. Taking the time to genuinely hear and understand someone’s story, without assumptions or judgment, creates the foundation for real connection and inclusion. Small gestures of kindness and respect go a long way in making people feel seen, valued, and welcomed.”

Interiano will be facilitating the March 26th session, along with the NCC’s community development manager Bhisham Ramoutar, which will discuss the stories of Miguel Hernandez and Fatma Al Ahmed and cover the topics of microaggressions (subtle and often unintentional slights that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative attitudes toward members of marginalized groups) and language barriers.

Additional sessions take place on April 23 and May 21 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Peterborough Public Library.

The April 23rd session, facilitated by members of the NCC’s Newcomer Leadership Group, will discuss the stories of Samantha Banton (a Jamaican poet and entrepreneur) and Bhisham K. Ramoutar (a newcomer from Trinidad and Tobago) and will discuss the topics of the importance of representation and international students.

The May 21st session, facilitated by the NCC Young Leaders Group, will discuss the stories of Tashvi Menghi (a teenager from India who is an artist and youth activist) and Tim Nguyen (a high school student from Vietnam who is a musician and a young leader) and will cover the topics of the experiences of newcomer youth and school bullying.

While all three sessions are free, advance registration is required at nccpeterborough.ca/series/stories-from-your-neighbourhood-meet-your-neighbours/.

For more information about “Our Neighbourhood” and to watch the six videos in the series and download the discussion guide, visit nccpeterborough.ca/get-involved/newcomervoices/ourneighbourhood/.