Lindsay Wilson (left) and Paden Gilhooley in a scene from Ed Schroeter's "Tide of Hope", the inaugural history drama production of Trent Valley Archives Theatre. A prequel to the immigration story of Peter Robinson, the play will be performed at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough for school groups on May 15, 2024 with public performances on May 15 and 16. (Photo: Suzanne Schroeter)
Trent Valley Archives Theatre is seeking volunteer actors to perform in its inaugural production Tide of Hope, coming this May to Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough.
The theatre company — an historical theatre initiative of Trent Valley Archives — will be holding auditions on Thursday, February 29th in the lecture hall at Trent University’s Sadleir House (751 George Street North, just north of Parkhill), with the first session at 6:15 p.m. and the second session at 7:15 p.m.
Written by Ed Schroeter and directed by Gerry McBride, Tide of Hope is a 70-minute historical play that follows two Irish families who are struggling with English oppression and the violence of Irish nationalists while they grapple with the difficult decision of whether to accept an offer to emigrate to Canada from Peter Robinson, the 19th-century politician in Upper Canada who administered the passage and settlement of more than 2,000 poor Irish Catholics in what is now eastern Ontario.
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Set in 1825 in the Blackwater district of Ireland at the height of the agrarian rebellion against excessive land rents and church tithes, Tide of Hope tells the story of David Nagle, an Irish land agent and rent collector forced to flee to Upper Canada when Irish rebels branded him a traitor.
The play is a kickoff to celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the Peter Robinson settlers to what would become Peterborough County.
“Some people think history is kind of dry but, at its heart, it’s the stories of people who have come before us dealing with many of the same issues we are grappling with today,” says McBride. “Seeing those struggles brought to life on stage can be a powerful experience indeed.”
Gerry McBride directs a script reading of “Tide of Hope,” Trent Valley Archives Theatre’s inaugural production. Auditions for volunteer actors will be held on February 29, 2024 at Trent University’s Sadleir House. (Photo: Suzanne Schroeter)
The February 29th casting call is for a total of nine roles, including five male roles (20 years of age and older), two female roles (20 to 40 years of age), and two other male or female roles for actors of any age. While no prepared pieces are required to audition, actors should be prepared to read excerpts from the play’s script.
To register for a session, email director Gerry McBride at gerrymcb57@gmail.com, who you can also email to schedule another time if you are not available on February 29 but would still like to audition.
Rehearsals for Tide of Hope will be held on Monday and Wednesday evenings throughout April and early May, when there will also be an evening dress rehearsal performance for residents at one of The Gardens of Peterborough Retirement Residences, which is a platinum sponsor for the play along with kawarthaNOW.
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Geared to both students in Grades 6 to 12 and the general public, Tide of Hope will be performed for school groups on Wednesday, May 15th at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Market Hall. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions of the cast and crew after each performance, and teachers will be able to arrange for in-school workshops after the performance dates.
Teachers can book classes by emailing trentvalleyarchivestheatre@gmail.com, with admission costing $250 for a class of 25 students or more (including free admission for the teacher and up to four volunteer chaperones). More information, including educational resources, is available at sites.google.com/view/tvatheatre/.
A public performance of Tide of Hope, which also serves as a fundraiser for Trent Valley Archives, takes place at the Market Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 16th. Tickets for the public performance are $36 for assigned cabaret table seating or $26 for regular assigned seating and are available online at markethall.org.
An excerpt from The Waterford Mirror in Ireland from May 9, 1825 referring to four of the ships that transported Irish emigrants to Upper Canada as part of an experimental assisted emigration scheme run by Canadian politician Peter Robinson. It’s estimated there could be hundreds of thousands of Canadians today who are descended from the original Peter Robinson settlers. (Photo: Newspapers.com)
A retired elementary school teacher who taught at Highland Heights Public School in Peterborough, director McBride also has a diverse theatrical background and has seen first-hand the impact theatre can have, especially on young people.
“Over the years I’ve seen lots of live theatre productions with students,” he recalls. “When the lights go down, it’s thrilling to see how quickly they become gripped with what’s happening on stage. Being able to present at a venue as great as Market Hall is the cherry on top of the sundae.”
Tide of Hope was written by award-winning playwright Ed Schroeter, a retired Millbrook elementary teacher who is also a Trent Valley Archives volunteer. As well as serving as artistic producer of Arbor Theatre, Schroeter was a driving force behind the Peterborough Museum & Archives’ Heritage Pavilion Stage series in 2001, transforming it into a school tour company from 2003 to 2005.
Greg and Mary Conchelos — who today are producing Tide of Hope — took over the Heritage Pavilion Stage series from 2005 to 2011, producing school tours and environmental theatre, while Schroeter continued to write scripts for them.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a platinum sponsor for Tides of Hope.
Ava Richardson and Kiyotami (Zenryu) Owatari moved from Japan to Peterborough County to launch their market garden farm Hello Farm in Havelock in 2021. The married couple used Japanese farming techniques to improve the soil quality, resulting in growth in overall crop yields by their second year of production. (Photo: Hello Farm)
An innovative approach to improving soil quality by two Peterborough County farmers has not gone unnoticed in the farming community.
Hello Farm, which has a market garden location north of Havelock, is this year’s recipient of the Peterborough Agricultural Innovation Award.
Created by the Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable and co-sponsored by Sunderland Co-op, the award recognizes Ava Richardson and Kiyotami (Zenryu) Owatari of Hello Farm for their “visionary approach to improving soil fertility” using Japanese farming techniques.
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This is the second year of the Peterborough Agricultural Innovation Awards, which are designed to showcase and acknowledge innovation in farming.
“Farmers are innovating all the time,” Pat Learmonth, a member of the Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable, told kawarthaNOW.
“They are always looking for ways to do things more efficiently — saving time or saving money by reducing input costs or improving soil health which improves yields and resilience in unpredictable weather.”
Those efforts should be highlighted and appreciated, Learmonth said.
“We felt it was important to recognize innovation in agriculture because it results in the sharing of ideas more widely, so more farmers can consider adopting new ideas. Ingenuity should be rewarded, as new ideas are always needed to move agriculture forward.”
The Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable presented its second annual Peterborough Agricultural Innovation Award on February 15, 2024 to Ava Richardson and Kiyotami (Zenryu) Owatari of Hello Farm in Havelock. Pictured at Sunderland Co-op are, left to right, Peterborough County warden and roundtable member Bonnie Clark, Havelock Belmont Methuen Township mayor Jim Martin, award winners Owatari and Richardson, Garth Stoner of co-sponsor Sunderland Co-op, and roundtable member Elmer Buchanan. (Photo: Peterborough County)
It also means that people who have farmed for a lifetime might be recognized alongside a farmer who is new to farming — or in the case of this year’s winner, an experienced farmer who is a new Canadian.
Richardson and Owatari received the award on Thursday (February 15) at Sunderland Co-op at 2182 Keene Road, where they were presented with $500 and a plaque.
Richardson farmed in the region before moving to Japan, where she met Owatari, and farmed there for eight years before the married couple moved to Peterborough County in July 2021. Now, as a new Canadian, Owatari is bringing techniques used in Japan to the pair’s market garden.
After leasing 1.5 acres of land in Havelock that had lain fallow for over 25 years, Richardson and Owatari faced challenges preparing the soil — which was very rocky with pockets or gravel, sand, and heavy clay — for growing their organic heirloom vegetables.
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To prepare the land and improve soil fertility, moisture retention, and tilth, the pair has been applying biochar and bran to their soils. Biochar is charcoal produced from plant matter and stored in the soil to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Owatari brought to Canada a biochar chimney from Japan, where he used rice husk to create biochar. In Canada, he has successfully substituted spelt husk for rice husk. In addition to biochar, he adds raw, bacteria-rich wheat bran to the soil in place of rice bran.
By its second year of production, Hello Farm had witnessed growth in its overall crop yields as a result of the increase in soil fertility and presence of beneficial bacteria.
The full text of Hello Farm’s award nomination can be found on the Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable website at ptboagnews.com.
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“Congratulations to Ava and Zenryu for your visionary approach to improving soil fertility on your farm, and for winning the prestigious innovation award,” said Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clark in a media release. “Your dedication to pushing the boundaries of agricultural excellence is deserving of recognition and celebration. Thank you for choosing to contribute and lead in the agricultural community of Peterborough County.”
The Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable is supported by a range of local agricultural organizations. The group envisions all farmers working together to create a vibrant future for farming in Peterborough county, city and in Hiawatha First Nation and Curve Lake First Nation. Membership is open to any farmer or owner of farmland.
The Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable runs the annual Peterborough Farm Showcase Tour for local decision-makers and publishes the Peterborough Ag News e-newsletter, which covers topics of importance to the local farm community. To learn more about the Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable and agriculture in Peterborough, visit ptboagnews.com.
For more information about Hello Farm, visit hellofarm.ca.
Ontario chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore (bottom left) attended the February 15, 2024 virtual meeting of the board of health for the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit, along with two of his staff: public health division executive lead Elizabeth Walker (top right) and accountability and liaison branch director Brent Feeney (bottom right) to answer questions from board members about a possible merger with Peterborough Health Unit. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of YouTube video)
The merger of health units in Ontario is not a provincial cost-saving exercise that will result in the loss of front-line jobs, reductions in public health services, or additional costs for municipalities.
That was the word from provincial health officials at a meeting on Thursday (February 15) of the board of health for the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit, which is considering a merger with the neighbouring Peterborough Public Health.
Ontario chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore attended the virtual meeting along with two of his staff — public health division executive lead Elizabeth Walker and accountability and liaison branch director Brent Feeney — to answer questions from board members.
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“The merger is a means by which we can enhance your funding, cover costs, and help smaller health units build competencies and capacities that maybe they haven’t had,” Dr. Moore said. “Realistically, this is the only means by which we can help you fiscally.”
While Dr. Moore said he couldn’t reveal the total amount of funding to support health unit mergers, “the amalgamation pool of funding that has been given to us is significant to cover costs.”
The boards of health for the HKPR District Health Unit and Peterborough Public Health announced last November they were moving ahead with a process to explore the impacts of a voluntary merger in the communities they serve.
Peterborough Public Health serves the city and county of Peterborough as well as Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations, and the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit serves the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
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In 2019, the two health units first explored opportunities for shared service delivery after the Ontario government announced a budget that included plans to slash the number of public health units in the province from 35 to 10 and cut public health funding by $200 million.
The government put those plans on hold when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and, in August last year, announced it was reversing course on the planned reductions, instead offering funding, resources, and supports to health units that voluntarily merged and reinvested any savings from the merger into programs and services.
To explore the feasibility of a merger, the two health units hired Sense and Nous, a Toronto-based consultancy that specializes in the process of amalgamations and mergers.
“The Sense and Nous team has worked with many public health units in a variety of projects,” reads the Sense and Nous website. “A comprehensive feasibility analysis of the health units, including IT, marketing, and governance, can result in a compelling business case for a potential amalgamation, if supported by the analysis. ”
Sense and Nous presented its final report to the health units in early February during in-camera sessions at the respective board of health meetings. The sessions were not open to the public as the report includes legal and human resources considerations.
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As part of the process of considering the report, the board of health for the HKPR District Health Unit invited provincial health officials to its February 15 meeting. The board of health for Peterborough Public Health has also invited the officials to attend its next meeting on February 21.
“With respect to mergers, this is not intended to result in a loss of front-line jobs,” said Feeney during the February 15 meeting. “This is not a provincial savings exercise as it was in 2019 so, if there are savings made at the local level, the local health unit can keep those savings and reinvest in enhancing public health services. We don’t expect any reduction in local presence. This is about building capacity across the health units, utilizing savings to advance services, and not see an impact to municipalities in terms of costing.”
Nine health units in Ontario have expressed an interest in merging. The health units have until April 2 to provide the provincial health ministry with proposals for mergers, as part of a business plan with a three-year budget. The ministry will announce decisions about mergers in August and approved health units will merge as of January 1, 2025.
“This funding will require minister approval, and then we will have to do some regulation changes as well,” Feeney said. “So approval of those business cases will occur as soon as possible, and that will include a three-year funding commitment for the merger.”
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Board member and Port Hope mayor Olena Hankivsky expressed concerns with the merger timeline, given the health units would only have four months to complete a merger after approval.
“We understand that mergers like this will take a while to work through, so that January date is really to initiate and lock in the process,” Walker said. “There will be some time following that, where a lot of the actions will actually unfold and the work starts to begin.”
“The minister (of health) and others in government are very interested in this process and want to see it succeed,” Dr. Moore added. “If you’re saying the timelines aren’t quick enough for approval, we will relay that information back to them.”
Board member and Kawartha Lakes city councillor Tracy Richardson questioned the benefits of the health units merging, pointing out “we’ve got great leadership structures in place.”
Moore said mergers will allow health units to find efficiencies, such as union negotiations, cybersecurity, and informatics data and analytics.
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“You have two very terrific leaders,” Walker added, referring to medical officers of health Dr. Natalie Bocking and Dr. Thomas Piggott. “We’re also looking at opportunities to deepen our public health leadership across the province. So where we have opportunities to not just have (a medical officer of health) in place in an agency, but also an associate (medical officer of health) and physician consultants, so there’s a successor pathway for our public health leadership.”
Another question raised by the board was how mergers would be financed, especially if health units have upfront costs.
“We are asking for a three-year budget,” Feeney said. “We would approve three year, multi-year funding and then do adjustments as we go through the years. It would not be based on a process like we did throughout COVID, which was more of a COVID extraordinary cost reimbursement process.”
“We know that health units are going to need advanced funding approvals in order to move forward with the work. We’ve got a three-year funding commitment here, which in my time is the first of its kind, so we’re going to be able to approve multi-year funding on this, which I think is so important to ensure success of the merger.”
Moore added that a merged health unit could also apply for additional one-time funding, as health units have done in the past.
Harcourt-born author Deloris Packard used her 30 years of experience working in the hospitality industry as inspiration for her Cedar Grove Resort trilogy, which is about three sisters running an inherited resort in cottage country. Her own love for the industry began when she began working at the Elephant Lake Lodge in the Haliburton Highlands when she was a young teen. (Photo courtesy of Deloris Packard)
They say that art imitates life, and that couldn’t be truer for Stirling-based author Deloris Packard, who used both her hometown of Harcourt in Haliburton County and her career in the hospitality industry as inspiration for her independently published novel trilogy.
Packard is currently working on the audiobook editions of The Cedar Grove Resort trilogy, which follows three sisters as they navigate running an resort they inherited when their mother passed away. Though the books — which can be read as stand-alone novels — were published between 2021 and 2022, the stories stem from decades of Packard working in the hospitality industry.
“I have a good set of background knowledge and knew it would make a good story,” Packard tells kawarthaNOW. “I’ve always had the book in the back of my head.”
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The novels about the three Delanie sisters introduce readers to the behind-the-scenes operation of a popular resort in Muskoka’s cottage country.
“When you go into a restaurant, you don’t know what’s going on in the kitchen,” she says. “I wanted to write the whole story from the backside of the resort, so readers are invited into the kitchen and back tables and see what really happens in a resort in the downtime and on a day-to-day basis.”
Packard’s first job as a young teen was at the former Elephant Lake Lodge in Harcourt (where Camp Eden Woods now offers an overnight camp), located just down the road from the hobby farm where she grew up as the youngest of eight children. Packard has fond memories of riding her bicycle back and forth to the resort over the six years she worked there.
Author Deloris Packard’s career in the hospital industry began with her first job at the former Elephant Lake Lodge in Harcourt, pictured in a postcard from 1960. Located close to the hobby farm where she grew as the youngest of eight children, Packard was drawn to the family-run feel of the business. (Photo: Camp Eden Woods / Facebook)
“That’s where I fell in love with the resort business and I spent 30 years working in that industry after,” she recalls. “I liked the family aspect of the resort as opposed to just a hotel. When you’re in a resort, everybody becomes a close-knit family because you work together all the time.”
Though she would later work in the Northwest Territories and Alberta, and even open her own restaurant (The Corner Café in Wilberforce), it was these early memories of working at the lodge, as well as at the Wigamog Inn and locally owned restaurants in Haliburton, that made her want to work in the hospitality industry.
“My dad told me people are always going to want to have other people serve them food,” she says. “I’m good at personal service, so it was just a natural fit for me.”
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While studying hotel, resort, and restaurant Management at Canadore College in North Bay, Packard had the first spark of an idea to turn her career into a story.
“When you’re in school, you have to buy all these textbooks, but they’re so dry,” she says. “I always thought there has to be an easier, more user-friendly version of this.”
Packard says an award-winning movie encouraged her to find a more approachable way to teach people about the industry.
“I watched The Titanic and it really inspired me because I would never watch a documentary about a ship,” she explains. “But when they put a story on top of it, I did watch and, in the meantime, I learned a little bit about the Titanic.”
Deloris Packard is a Harcourt-born author of four independently published books, including the popular Cedar Grove Resort trilogy and a non-fiction book about grief. Working at Haliburton resorts and lodges while she was young inspired her to pursue a career in hospitality, including owning her own restaurant in Wilberforce for a brief period, before moving to Stirling where she now writes her books. (Photo courtesy of Deloris Packard)
Though she put the idea for the book on the back burner, the pandemic lockdowns finally gave Packard the chance to put pen to paper and create the first book in the series, The Inheritance of the Cedar Grove Resort.
Not to be confused with the real Cedar Grove Lodge in Huntsville, Packard’s Cedar Grove Resort is an homage to her upbringing in Harcourt, where her mailing address was attached to Highland Grove.
Though Packard is now living in Stirling in Hastings County, she maintains her connection to Harcourt and the Haliburton Highlands, which she still considers to be her home. She started an author’s group at her local library and has toured the region to promote her books, appearing at community events like the New To You Community Yard Sales in Haliburton and Bancroft’s Art and Craft Guild.
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Packard’s latest book is a non-fiction collection of stories titled Anticipatory Grief and published in 2023. Discouraged by the lack of resources available while she was caring for her mother, who died of cancer five years ago, Packard interviewed several locals who shared stories about their own complex experience dealing with grief in anticipation of losing a loved one.
“The people I interviewed all had the same issues — they were just so heartbroken, but at the same time, had to be strong,” she says. “People that have read it now tell me that it helped them a lot, because it touches on all ends of life.”
One dollar from each book sale of Anticipatory Grief goes to Hospice Quinte in Belleville, where Packard is now a volunteer.
“It’s such a worthwhile cause,” she says. “You can just sit there and be a daughter again rather than a caregiver.”
VIDEO: The Cedar Grove Resort trilogy
Taking time away from novel writing while The Cedar Grove Resort trilogy is being turned into audiobooks, Packard is always thinking about her next story. Though she acknowledges that the trilogy was always meant to be exactly that, she as an idea of what she would do if she did return to those stories.
“They really have fallen for the characters,” she says of the trilogy’s readers. “They really want to go on more adventures with them.”
For more information about Deloris Packard, including where to purchase her books, visit delorispackard.com.
Skaters enjoying the outdoor rink at Quaker Foods City Square in downtown Peterborough. The rink will be open on Family Day, weather permitting, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Peterborough Youth Council will also be hosting a free family drop-in event at Quaker Foods City Square from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on February 17, 2024 as part of Peterborough Snofest. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
Observed on the third Monday of February, Family Day is a statutory holiday in Ontario so all provincial and municipal offices and services are closed, although some municipal recreation services are open (with many hosting Family Day events). All liquor and beer stores are closed, as are most shopping malls and big box stores. All grocery stores in Peterborough are closed, but some grocery stores in rural communities are open. Since Family Day is not a federal statutory holiday, federal government offices and many federally regulated businesses remain open. Regular collection and delivery of mail occurs on Family Day.
For your convenience, we provide this list of holiday hours for 287 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 the business did not indicate specific 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
Regular collection and 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
Open for scheduled programming and rental hous
City of Kawartha Lakes Public Libraries Various locations, City of Kawartha Lakes 705-324-9411 x1291
Lindsay Human Services 322 Kent St. W., Lindsay 705-324-9870
CLOSED
Lindsay Library 90 Kent St. W., Lindsay 705-324-9411 x1291
10:00am-8:00pm
Lindsay Ops Landfill 51 Wilson Rd., Lindsay 1-888-822-2225
8:00am-5:00pm
Lindsay Transit / LIMO Specialized Transit 180 Kent St. W., Lindsay 705-324-9411
Regular schedule
Municipality of Port Hope Municipal Offices 56 Queen St., Port Hope 905-885-4544
CLOSED
North Kawartha Municipal Office 280 Burleigh St., Apsley 705- 656-4445
CLOSED
North Kawartha Township Recycling Collection 340 McFadden Rd., Apsley 705-656-3619
No change
North Kawartha Township Waste Collection 340 McFadden Rd., Apsley 705-656-3619
No change
Northumberland County Administration Offices 555 Courthouse Rd., Cobourg 905-372-3329
CLOSED
Northumberland County Waste and Recycling Collection 555 Courthouse Rd., Cobourg 1-866-293-8379
Mon Feb 19 collection moves to Tue Feb 20, Feb 20 to 21, Feb 21 to 22, Feb 22 to 23
Northumberland Material Recovery Facility (no material drop-off by public, but blue boxes, green bins, backyard composters are available for purchase) 280 Edwardson Rd., Grafton 1-866-293-8379
CLOSED
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism Visitor Centre 1400 Crawford Dr., Peterborough 705-742-2201
Habitat for Humanity Northumberland hopes to raise $30,000 for local housing projects through its already sold-out Spring Dinner in the ReStore fundraiser on April 7, 2024 and other related initiatives. (Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Northumberland)
Habitat for Humanity Northumberland (HFHN) hopes an upcoming Cobourg event that brings residents to the Sunday dinner table will prove to be fruitful for local housing projects.
HFHN is hosting on Sunday, April 7 its popular Sunday Dinner at the ReStore, located at 764 Division St.
Through ticket sales from Northumberland County residents and the event’s sponsors, a silent auction, an online raffle and a 50-50 draw, the organization aims to raise $30,000 to support local housing initiatives in Cobourg and Baltimore.
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Melissa Morrison, HFHN’s community and fund development co-ordinator, and Cathy Borowec, HFHN’s CEO, shared their thoughts and aspirations for the event with kawarthaNOW.
Morrison said the event was the brainchild of the organization’s former CEO, and HFHN hosted its first Sunday dinner event in 2019.
“We needed to raise money, but we wanted to do something different,” said Morrison. “The Sunday ReStore dinner is all about slowing down. It’s a time to share and connect with our amazing community through a delicious meal in a warm and inviting atmosphere.”
“We often take for granted that a Sunday dinner in a home is a universal experience, but rather it is a privilege that not everyone can enjoy. And with the help of our community, we want to help to create the opportunity for experiences like this for more people in our community through our programming.”
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The event is being is catered by Prep Food Co. and features a three-course meal, including cocktails and wine. HFHN said the dinner is a unique and important event.
“Unlike other fundraisers, it’s not a gala. In fact, we go to great lengths to make participants feel as comfortable as possible in our space,” said Borowec and Morrison in collaboration.
“At the heart, we want to bring community members together to enjoy a meal. It is a come-as-you-are event, where we can celebrate the successes of HFHN and our current projects.”
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While the tickets sold out on February 14 — the first day they went on sale — HFHN will be launching an online raffle and 50-50 draw at the beginning of March. One raffle prize is a one-room makeover provided by Breed Design. More prizes will be announced in the coming weeks, HFHN noted.
“This year we hope to raise $30,000,” Morrison said. “All proceeds will go towards our current build projects, which include a seven-unit net zero build in Baltimore, and a single-family dwelling in Cobourg.”
Now available for download, the Workforce Development Board's Local Labour Market Planning Report for 2023-2024 is an extensive look at the challenges and opportunities facing both the demand and supply sides of the labour market in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW)
The Workforce Development Board (WDB) has just released its 2023-24 Local Labour Market Planning Report, which provides an in-depth look at regional labour market challenges and opportunities from a demand and supply perspective in the city and county of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton.
An Employment Ontario project funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario, the 96-page report was written by WDB Labour Market Analyst Consultant Sandra Wright. At her disposal was input provided by 66 stakeholders in WDB’s catchment area, with information and feedback gathered through a series of consultations, surveys, and focus groups.
According to the Workforce Development Board’s 2023-2024 Local Labour Market Planning Report, many employers in the organization’s catchment area are experiencing challenges with recruitment due to a lack of applicants largely due to an aging workforce. (Stock photo)
In her report-opening executive summary, WDB’s Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Lamantia provides an overview of some of the report’s key findings:
With many currently in the workforce expected to retire over the next five to 10 years, many employers are focusing their efforts on the retention of current employees as well as ramping up recruitment.
With Canada planning to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024 and 500,000 more in both 2025 and 2026, many employers are looking at hiring a more diversified workforce as a labour shortage mitigation strategy.
While the labour shortage due to an aging population is creating a significant workforce challenge, it’s also creating an opportunity for employers to explore new initiatives around workplace culture, new technology adoption, and increased employee diversity.
In addition, the report notes that sectors reporting labour shortages include health care, construction, education, tourism and hospitality, and retail.
On the flip side, the list of specific in-demand occupations is long, including nurses, personal support workers, early childhood educators, electricians, millwrights, carpenters, labourers, truck drivers, salespersons, school educators and custodians, cooks and kitchen staff, and administrative and support workers.
As well as an aging and retiring workforce, there are other challenges affecting access to the labour pool, including available and reliable transportation services, adequate childcare services, and affordable available housing. From a job-seeker perspective, mental health challenges, combined with limited financial means, present a challenge in securing gainful employment.
As employers look for workers who have skills in areas such as computer literacy, interpersonal communications, and customer service, and who are reliable with a strong work ethic, many have taken measures such as increasing wages, offering more flexible working hours, and implementing hybrid workplaces.
Even so, that hasn’t been enough for some to overcome the labour shortage challenge, with the result being a reduction in operation hours and services offered, and in some cases, outright closure.
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Among the employment service providers and business attraction and retention organizations involved in the consultation process for the report — and anxious to make good use of its myriad of statistics and related findings to the benefit of their respective clients — are Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services, a division of Fleming College, and City of Kawartha Lakes Economic Development.
Both Rebecca Mustard, economic development manager at the City of Kawartha Lakes, and Sarah Haase, director of workforce development for Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services, are on the same page when it comes to the 2023-24 Local Labour Market Planning Report. Each says there’s no such thing as too much information when it comes to having an up-to-date and accurate fact-based overview of regional labour market realities, needs, and challenges at their fingertips.
“It pulls from a number of different data sources and aggregates it all into one place to tell a story,” assesses Mustard, adding “It’s a great tool for us.”
“When we’re doing our planning and working with the business community, this report is very helpful for us to be able to see trends — particularly what’s changing over time when we’re looking at businesses, when we’re looking at jobs, and when we’re looking at demographics. It helps us understand the dynamics of what’s going on in the community, giving us specific information for questions to ask.”
The Workforce Development Board’s 2023-2024 Local Labour Market Planning Report provides extensive information about the labour market in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton, including for the entire region and individual counties. (Graphic: Workforce Development Board)
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Haase couldn’t agree more.
“The ability to draw into various communities is incredibly useful,” she says. “Muskoka needs this kind of information, as does Haliburton, Northumberland, and Peterborough.”
“Having the different regions incorporated is very useful when we’re looking at localized solutions for jobs seekers and employers. It really helps us drill down. We have so many different pots of information we can access through Statistics Canada and other areas. What this report does is bring it all together in one spot.”
Haase points to the report’s detailed migration information as an example of the report’s practical use for her agency.
“We very often hear big scope stories in the news about influxes or outgoings in our community, but getting into this really detailed information allows us to make detailed decisions,” she says.
“I’m always keen to see where our shifts in industry have happened. When we’re looking at where we see activity in our industries for job seekers, and where we see employers needing support through employment services, being able to have an industry-by-industry look — and what that can mean as we try to help clients make decisions about training they might want to do or educational steps they’re taking — is invaluable.”
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Mustard adds the report helps set priorities for City of Kawartha Lakes Economic Development, answering key questions in the process.
“Where do we need to be putting our time and effort? What’s an industry that might need some stabilization support from a local perspective? How do we then layer that in with what’s going on in the labour force?”
The report, adds Mustard, is even more essential post-pandemic.
“We’ve all heard a lot of stories that are very true for individual people. This gives us a factual, studied base to weigh those stories and figure out how much of what we are hearing or witnessing is true across the entire population, or whether we are seeing certain experiences in different pockets that aren’t reflected everywhere. It’s helping us make better decisions based on the evidence in the report.”
While praising the assistance provided by WDB’s Labour Market Information (LMI) Help Desk, Mustard says the report “brings information to us without us having to go and ask for it all the time. You might be choosing a section of this information when you ask the help desk, but this report gives a broad overview. We’re getting a very holistic view of what’s going on in the labour force.”
According to the Workforce Development Board’s 2023-2024 Local Labour Market Planning Report, industries in the organization’s catchment area that are reporting the most labour shortages are health care, construction, education, tourism and hospitality, and retail. (Stock photo)
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For her part, Haase notes the report is “one of the few sources in the community that everybody can access” and says employers should take advantage of the up-to-date information and numbers that speak directly to their respective industries.
“It’s one thing to look at data on a spreadsheet, but it’s another thing to know what do we do with that data. An employer can read this report and ask ‘What does my industry look like? Where do I see growth? Where do I see possibilities? If I have a challenge with recruitment, is it because of some of these things that are happening?’ The report gives context and setting along with the data, which is really helpful.”
The bottom line, according to Haase and Mustard? As a resource to help employment service providers and business attraction and retention organizations do their work effectively, nothing tops having up-to-date date and insights close at hand.
“Part of its usefulness is the fact that it’s there and available,” Haase points out.
For those who want an overview of the report, WDB will be hosting a half-hour presentation on Zoom at 11 a.m. on Wednesday (February 21), when WDB Labour Market Analyst Consultant Sandra Wright will provide an overview of key changes in local workforce characteristics, including population, employment, unemployment, participation rates, migration and immigration, and education attainment. The session is free, but advance registration is required at eventbrite.ca/e/810369616337.
WDB is also encouraging people to provide feedback about the report by completing a brief online survey at surveymonkey.com/r/2023LLMPFeedback.
Founded in 1996, WDB is a not-for-profit organization located in Peterborough and serving Northumberland, Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton. WDB is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development to provide labour market information, coordinate employment and training services, and engage employer communities. For more information, visit www.wdb.ca.
This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
This story was created in partnership with the Workforce Development Board. If your business or organization is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development is encouraging locals and visitors to explore the culinary diversity of Peterborough through a new pilot project called Brr-O-Licious. From March 1 to 17, 2024, 10 participating downtown restaurant are offering three-course prix fixe dine-in lunch and dinner menus featuring some of their most well-known and most unique menu items. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area)
If the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, then Peterborough is sure to steal some hearts this winter.
Celebrating the diverse culinary destination that is Peterborough, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development is launching the Brrr-O-Licious pilot project at 10 restaurants in the downtown core from March 1 to 17.
Held in partnership with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), Brrr-O-Licious will see participating restaurants offer a three-course prix fixe menu for dine-in lunch and dinner guests, showing off the best flavours, tastes, and culinary techniques their dishes have to offer.
Topped with American cheese and on a toasted brioche bun (with a gluten-free bun available), the famous Smash Burger at Publican House Brewery & Pub is one of the main course options for the $50 prix fixe menu available during the Brrr-O-Licious program taking place from March 1 to 17, 2024 in downtown Peterborough restaurants. Other main course options include the falafel pita and a chicken club. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
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“We’re very proud of our vibrant and diverse culinary scene in Peterborough,” says Joe Rees, Director of Tourism for Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development. “This time of year is a bit quieter and a perfect time to expose the vibrancy of our hospitality industry while supporting the businesses that are predominantly locally owned.”
Participating downtown Peterborough restaurants include Agave, Dirty Burger, Gerti’s, La Hacienda, La Mesita, Sam’s Place, The EI (P), Publican House Brewery & Pub, Riverside Grill & Lounge at the Holiday Inn, and The Vine. Beginning at $35, each menu includes an appetizer, dinner entrée, and dessert, with select locations including a beverage as well.
From homemade soups and stews to spread the warmth in the final weeks of winter to comforting authentic cuisine and chocolatey treats to satisfy post-dinner sweet tooths, each restaurant offers an experience that is entirely unique.
During Brrr-O-Licious, each of the prix fixe menus offered at the 10 participating restaurants in downtown Peterborough includes an appetizer, dinner entrée, and dessert starting at $35. The specials are only available for customers dining in-restaurant from March 1 and 17, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area)
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“With the prix fixe menus, we’re taking foodies on a culinary adventure where a restaurant here can double down on what they do best,” says DBIA Vibrancy Manager Hillary Flood. “They are showing off their creative flair on what makes their restaurant special.”
Between the 10 participating restaurants, there is ample opportunity to explore different styles of cuisine and dine-in atmospheres from casual pubs to fine dining.
Several of the eateries offer various price points, with options provided for each course. Paired with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free selections, Brrr-O-Licious gives foodies the opportunity to, as Flood describes it, “create your own adventure.”
“We have seen a real explosion as far as diversity of our restaurant offerings goes and Brrr-O-Licious gives us the opportunity to showcase that diversity,” adds Rees. “Some of them have been really creative with what they’ve done by providing multiple options for each of the price points. There really is something for everyone.”
Like many of the downtown Peterborough restaurants participating in Brrr-O-Licious, Gerti’s is giving customers the chance to create their own culinary adventure with three different prix fixe menu options including a $35, $50, and $75 option. The $75 menu serves a soup or salad to start, a Sunday steak dinner entrée and choice of dessert (including the white chocolate molten lava cake pictured). It also includes a choice of 9 oz. glass of house wine or 20 oz. draft beer and a $10 gift card. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
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Brrr-O-Licious takes inspiration from the playbooks of the popular Winterlicious Toronto and Kingstonlicious programs. Brrr-O-Licious, however, is unique for its wide selection of offerings available within a mid-sized city.
“Our downtown is very much a culinary destination — within a few city blocks, you can taste the world,” Flood points out. “Most mid-sized city downtown districts are composed of antique and retail shops and just the odd restaurant, but we have over 100 restaurant experiences available. Where in most downtowns, shops close at five, that’s when our downtown is just getting started.”
Flood adds that Brrr-O-Licious, with its prix fixe menus, is a way to support locally owned businesses during difficult economic times for everyone.
“We’re no longer dealing with the pandemic but we are just getting started on recovery,” she says, citing high rates of inflation, the cost of goods, and labour shortages as some of the many factors affecting restaurant success.
“Consumer behaviour when it comes to dining out is based on the economy, and right now diners are a little bit more timid with their spending. We’re trying to elevate what’s already available here 24/7, 365 days per year, and demonstrate that robust experience.”
The $35 prix fixe menu available at Sami’s Deli during Brrr-O-Licious comes with potatoes and cheese perogies to start, a warm roast beef and brie baguette with red pepper jelly and a side of butternut squash and pear soup for the main course, and a raspberry fool for dessert. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
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Another consumer trend is the increase of take-out and delivery services instead of sitting down to dine in a restaurant. Offering Brrr-O-Licious strictly as a dine-in experience works encourages consumers to not only enjoy diverse cuisine but connect with the people behind it.
“The best way to experience downtown is by foot with the sights, the sounds, and the people that make it so fantastic,” says Flood. “With independently owned restaurants, you get to meet the person behind the brand. There’s an access you don’t necessarily receive from a chain restaurant or ordering through third-party delivery. It’s important to build those human connections.”
Over the 17 days of Brrr-O-Licious, diners can also experience other local happenings such as the First Friday Art Crawl, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and March Break events and activities including Trent University’s open house for prospective students.
“There are all kinds of opportunity to welcome people who are here and get them downtown to eat and enjoy so many community events,” says Rees. “As much as we’re an outdoor recreation community, some of those options aren’t available this year, so a better thing to do is come, eat, and enjoy what we have.”
Peterborough’s La Mesita serves up fresh Mexican fare from recipes that have been passed down through generations. During Brrr-O-Licious, a pilot culinary project from Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, La Mesita is offering dine-in customers access to a $35 three-course prix fixe menu consisting of specitos, chiles Rellenos with rice pilaf and charro beans, and a Mayan cupcake. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
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As community events invariably bring out-of-town visitors to the downtown as well as locals, Brrr-O-Licious is an opportunity to introduce them to Peterborough’s vibrant culinary scene.
“One of the only things we know for sure is visitors are going to eat and drink while they’re here,” Rees says. “We want to show the best and brightest we have to offer. What better way to get to know the community than to check out the food scene and try something new?”
For more information on Brrr-O-Licious and to browse the menus of participating restaurants, visit thekawarthas.ca/brrr-o-licious/, where you’ll also find several local accommodation options for visitors wanting to turn their culinary experience into an overnight stay.
From the cousins behind The Imperial Tandoor on Lansdowne, Agave by Imperial serves up authentic Mexican cuisine that fuses traditional recipes with modern techniques. When dining in during Brrr-O-Licious, diners can get a chicken or mushroom flautas (crispy taquitos) served with homemade guacamole as a starter, a slow-cooked short rib with traditional house-made mole and Mexican rice, or a grilled portobello mushroom for a main, and a spiced chocolate mousse with tequila whipped cream for dessert. The special is available at $50 per person.
At the family-owned Dirty Burger, Chef Om Patel uses his Indian and Ugandan heritage to craft a one-of-a-kind smash burger paired with craft beer and signature cocktails. The $50 Brrr-O-Licious special comes with a choice of any beer on tap, Vineland Estate Cab Franc, or Pinot Grigio. For a starter, diners can choose either veggie samosas with mango chutney or “freaky onion rings” (chickpea battered onion rings with tamarind chutney and spiced peanuts). For the entrée, participants can choose the Brrr-urger (smash patty with swiss cheese, truffle oil, fried onions, and sautéed mushrooms) served with dirty (spicy) fries, or the cauliflower taco. Dessert gives the option of either a vegan chocolate brownie or the rotating weekly dessert feature.
Cozy gastropub Gerti’s is giving several options with varying price points for their prix fixe Brrr-O-Licious menu. The $35 experience comes with a choice of soup or salad, orange crush tacos, and a white chocolate molten lava cake. The $50 serves a choice of soup or salad, a big smoke burger, white chocolate molten lava cake, and a choice of a 9 oz. glass of house wine or 20 oz. draft beer. The $75 menu serves a choice of soup or salad, a Sunday steak dinner, a choice of dessert, a 9 oz. glass of house wine or 20 oz. draft beer and includes a $10 gift card for the next visit to Gerti’s.
La Hacienda has been serving up authentic Mexican cuisine in a comfortable setting for more than 20 years. When diners visit the restaurant during Brrr-O-Licious, they will be treated to the $35 three-course prix fixe menu. The appetizer is a gluten-free crema poblana soup made with roasted poblano peppers and topped with roasted corn and tortilla chips. The gluten-free entrée is a Jalisco-style beef stew made with steak and bacon simmered in salsa verde and whole beans and garnished with cilantro, caramelized onions, and blistered jalapeño peppers. Churros will end the meal with caramel sauce on the side. Both gluten-free and vegan options are available for each of the three courses.
Home cooking will come to mind when dining from the Mexican menu at La Mesita. For $35, the prix fixe menu for lunch and dinner includes sopecitos (a traditional Mexican dish of a fried corn tortillas with various toppings) for the appetizer, chiles rellenos (roasted peppers coated in batter) with rice pilaf and charro beans for the main course, and a Mayan cupcake for dessert.
Known for meats that are locally sourced and cured and smoked in house, Sam’s Deli has always been downtown Peterborough’s go-to sandwich stop. On the $35 prix fixe menu, Sam’s Deli is serving up potato and cheese perogies with sour cream and fried onions, a warm roast beef and brie baguette with red pepper jelly and a side of butternut squash and pear soup, and raspberry fool for dessert.
Old-school comfort foods are on the menu at The EI(P). The $50 Brrr-O-Licious menu lets diners create their own meal with several options. For the appetizers, guests can choose between a Thai green curry shrimp, caprese flatbread, or brussel sprouts, followed by a main course option of seared salmon, leek pesto pappardelle, or a beef udon bowl. A chef’s cheesecake bookends the full meal.
With daily specials, beer pairings and a wood-fired pizza over, pub food has a whole new meaning at Publican House Brewery & Pub, with the $50 prix fixe menu providing ample opportunity to make it your own. The appetizer gives an option of the flatbread bruschetta or Kawartha fried cauliflower, the main course is an option of a smash burger with fries, a falafel pita, or chicken club, and dessert serves a strawberry cheesecake or malted chocolate brownie.
What better reason to dine out than having a waterfront view? The $75 Brrr-O-Licious menu at The Riverside Grill & Lounge comes with various options. Appetizer choices include the pea crostini, French onion soup, and beef carpaccio (house coffee-rubbed beef tenderloin), main course options include a chicken supreme, smoked pork chop, and squash ravioli, and dessert is a chocolate lava cake or sorbet trio with fresh fruit, either accompanied by tea or coffee.
One of Peterborough’s newest restaurants, The Vine serves up vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian comfort foods. On the $50 prix fixe menu for Brrr-O-Licious, the appetizer options are a clam chowder or the rotating soup of the day and the main course is a creamy gnocchi or lentil meatloaf served with roasted peppers, green beans, and mushroom gravy. Sticky toffee pudding rounds out the meal.
This story was created in partnership with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development and the Peterborough DBIA. If your business or organization is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
More than 200 walkers have registered so far for the Coldest Night of the Year event on February 24, 2024 in Port Hope, hosted by Northumberland County's Green Wood Coalition, which aims to raise $95,000 to support those experiencing homelessness, hunger, and hardship. (Photo: Green Wood Coalition)
Northumberland County residents can lace up their boots or walking shoes later this month in support of Green Wood Coalition.
People can register now to take part in the Coldest Night of the Year event in Port Hope.
The Coldest Night of the Year is a national family-friendly two-kilometre or five-kilometre walk on February 24 in support of local charities serving people who are experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness.
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“Join us in downtown Port Hope as we unite to bring awareness to the challenges of homelessness, hunger, and hardship in Northumberland County,” said Green Wood Coalition in a statement.
The event begins at 10 Robertson Street in downtown Port Hope on Saturday, February 24th with a check-in time of 4 p.m. After a kick-off speech and zumba warm-up with Tanya from Epic Gymnastics and Dance, the walk gets underway at 5 p.m., with rest stops at Queenies Bake Shop and Ganaraska Financial.
After the walk at 6 p.m., a snack from Happenstance Roastery and Bakery will be provided, along with hot chocolate, tea, and coffee.
The Coldest Night of the Year is a national family-friendly two-kilometre or five-kilometre walk on February 24, 2024 in support of local charities serving people who are experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness. Since 2011, the event has raised over $75 million across Canada in 190 communities. (Photo: Green Wood Coalition)
Residents can register a team, sign up to walk, or make a donation to raise funds for Green Wood Coalition’s outreach programs.
Green Wood programs include street outreach services, harm reduction supports, a community garden initiative, an art “hive,” and community education, along with its “High-Fidelity WrapAround” program that it offers in partnership with Wrap Canada.
As of the date of this story, $40,071 of the $95,000 Coldest Night of the Year fundraising goal in Northumberland County had been raised by 216 walkers and 54 teams.
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Along with community sponsors, local businesses supporting the event include Olympus Burger, which will donate 10 per cent of all meals purchased by walkers on February 24 (just say you’re a walker) and Ganaraska Brewing Company, which is donating a portion of its sales from February 19 to 25.
Organized by the registered charity Blue Sea Foundation, The Coldest Night of the Year take place in both Canada and the United States on February 24, with local activities being held in various communities. Since 2011, the event has raised over $75 million across Canada in 190 communities.
For more information about the Port Hope walk including route maps, and to register or donate, visit cnoy.org/location/porthope.
On Saturday afternoon, the Peterborough Musicians Benevolent Association is hosting "Remembering Buzz" at Dr. J's BBQ & Brews in downtown Peterborough, a musical tribute to the late Brian "Buzz" Thompson (pictured with the late Ronnie Hawkins). Affectionately known as "Mr. Soul", Buzz was a beloved musician who was a founding member of The Hangmen in the 1960s and a long-time guitarist and vocalist for Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks. Local musicians who will perform their favourite songs by Buzz include Beau Dixon, Jane Archer, Bridget Foley, J.P. Hovercraft, Gary Peeples, Andy Pryde, Sam and Ryan Weber, Mark Beatty, Dennis O'Toole, Jim Leslie, Brent Bailey, Jim Usher, and Al Black. (Photo via Mark Beatty / Facebook)
Every Thursday, we publish live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, February 15 to Wednesday, February 21.
If you’re a pub or restaurant owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our nightlifeNOW editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com. For concerts and live music events at other venues, check out our Concerts & Live Music page.
With the exception of karaoke, we only list events with performing musicians. Venues may also host other events during the week (e.g., dancing, DJs, comedy shows).
Wednesday, February 28 6:30-9:30pm - Victoria Yeh & Mike Graham
Boston Pizza Lindsay
435 Kent St. W., Lindsay
705-328-0008
Friday, February 16
8-11pm - Derrick Seed
Burleigh Falls Inn
4791 Highway 28, Burleigh Falls
(705) 654-3441
Friday, February 16
6-9pm - Tami J. Wilde (no cover)
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Castle John's Pub & Restaurant
1550 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough
705-740-2111
Sunday, February 18
1:30pm - High Waters Trio
Claymore Pub & Table
95 King St. W., Cobourg
905-372-5231
Thursday, February 15
7-10pm - Karaoke
Crook & Coffer
231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-876-0505
Friday, February 16
7:30-10:30pm - Nathan Miller
Saturday, February 17
2:30-4:30pm - Mike MacCurdy; 7:30-10:30pm - Diamond Dave's Acoustic Explosion III
Dr. J's BBQ & Brews
282 Aylmer St., Peterborough
(705) 874-5717
Saturday, February 17
1-4pm - PMBA Deluxe Live presents "Remembering Buzz" ft Beau Dixon, Jane Archer, Bridget Foley, J.P. Hovercraft, Gary Peeples, Andy Pryde, Sam and Ryan Weber, Mark Beatty, Dennis O'Toole, Jim Leslie, Brent Bailey, Jim Usher, and Al Black (by donation, $10 suggested)
VIDEO: "Cut Me Up" - Buzz Thompson & The Downtown Sound (1990)
Erben Eatery & Bar
189 Hunter St W,, Peterborough
705-304-1995
Friday, February 16
9pm - Pound Of Flesh and Crimson Asphalt w/ Seagrave and Unkle Skurvey ($10 at door)
Saturday, February 17
9pm - Heartless Romantics, Highteens, First Born Son ($10 at door)
Monday, February 19
4-6pm - Lounge Music w/ Doug McLean
Tuesday, February 20
8pm - Karaoke w/ Ian Clement
Wednesday, February 21
8-11pm - Open mic
Ganaraska Hotel
30 Ontario St., Port Hope
(905) 885-9254
Saturday, February 17
2-6pm - Cellar Door
Coming Soon
Friday, February 23 7pm - Walk The Line Fundraiser for Green Wood Coalition ft 13 performers (SOLD OUT)
The Granite
45 Bridge St. W., Bancroft
613-332-1500
Friday, February 16
5-8pm - Melodi Ryan
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Jethro's Bar + Stage
137 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-931-0617
Thursday, February 15
8-10pm - Two Tomorrows; 10pm-12am- The Union
Friday, February 16
6-8pm - Carpe Noctem; 8-10pm- Brennan Sloan; 10pm-12am - Live music TBA
Saturday, February 17
6-8pm - Alex Southey; 8-10pm - Victoria Yeh; 10pm-1am - Ty Wilson & The River Spirits
Sunday, February 18
3-6pm - Blues Jam w/ Al Black
Wednesday, February 21
8-10pm - Karaoke hosted by Anne Shebib
Kawartha Country Wines
2452 County Road 36,, Buckhorn
705-657-9916
Coming Soon
Saturday, February 25 5-8pm - Jazz & Dinner Night ft Rob Phillips & Carling Stephen ($79 per person)
Kelly's Homelike Inn
205 3rd Street, Cobourg
905-372-3234
Friday, February 16
7-10pm - Rocky and Jay Show
Saturday, February 17
4-8pm - Wicklow
The Locker at The Falls
9 Lindsay St., Fenelon Falls
705-887-6211
Saturday, February 17
7-10pm - Larry Shepherd Neil Young tribute (no cover, reservations recommended)
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