Flanked by the United Way Peterborough & District's CEO Jim Russell and director of philanthropy Anne Ondercin, Shirley Turner gives the thumbs up after her appointment as the chair of the non-profit organization's 2024 community campaign. The Peterborough real estate agent and former teacher has been a long-time supporter of and advocate for the United Way and currently serves on the board. (Photo courtesy of United Way Peterborough & District)
Peterborough real estate agent and former teacher Shirley Turner has been appointed chair of the United Way Peterborough & District’s 2024 community campaign.
The United Way made the announcement at its office at 277 Stewart Street in downtown Peterborough on Wednesday (June 12).
“Shirley’s dedication and passion for our community are truly inspiring,” says United Way CEO Jim Russell in a media release. “Her leadership and commitment to making a difference align perfectly with our mission. We are confident that under her guidance, the 2024 campaign will achieve remarkable success.”
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Turner has been a long-time supporter of and advocate for the United Way, first becoming involved with the organization as a young teacher and currently serving as a board member as well as the committee chair of Women United Peterborough.
“Over the years, she witnessed the profound impact of United Way-funded programs on her students and their families,” reads the media release. “Her commitment to the cause grew even stronger upon her retirement, as she transitioned into real estate and continued her philanthropic efforts.”
As chair of the 2024 campaign, Turner will lead the fundraising cabinet of volunteer leaders who will spearhead fundraising efforts, engage with potential donors, and host community events.
“Her enthusiasm and deep-rooted belief in the power of community collaboration will inspire others to join the cause and contribute to the campaign’s success,” states the release.
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“United Way is the heartbeat of our community,” Turner says. “Every dollar raised here, stays here. I’ve lived in Peterborough my entire life and I’ve seen firsthand how United Way’s support transforms lives. It’s an honour to lead this year’s campaign and work towards a brighter future for our community.”
As campaign chair, Turner’s focus will be on reinforcing the “hyper-local” impact of the United Way. She will also highlight the organization’s research-based approach to ensure donated funds are distributed to meet the most important needs in Peterborough County.
“By supporting United Way, we’re not just addressing immediate needs — we’re investing in long-term solutions that build a stronger, more resilient community,” Turner says. “I encourage everyone to get involved, whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word about our mission. Together, we can make a difference.”
For more information on how to get involved with the 2024 campaign, visit www.uwpeterborough.ca or call the United Way’s director of philanthropy Anne Ondercin at 705-742-8839 ext. 30.
Sam Sayer, owner of Sam's Place, has teamed up with long-time employee and manager Owen Walsh to launch a new restaurant and bar in downtown Peterborough. Set to open in early July 2024 at the former Food Forest location on Hunter Street, Love You, Mean It will combine casual and fine dining, serving seasonal share plates and specialty house cocktails. (Photo: Justin Ross)
You may have noticed some movement behind the storefront at 135 Hunter Street West in downtown Peterborough, which has been vacant since the closure of vegan restaurant The Food Forest last fall.
Well, wait no further for answers as Love You, Mean It has moved in with the goal of opening in just a few short weeks. While the restaurant and bar might be all new, the faces behind it are not.
Love You, Mean It is the latest project from Sam Sayer, the well-known entrepreneur and namesake behind Sam’s Place and its expansion, Sam’s Place Wienery — both of which are just steps away from the new restaurant. A staple in the downtown core, Sam’s Place has been making original “samwiches,” with all meats cured, smoked, and prepared in-house, since 2010.
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For her latest project, Sayer has joined forces with Owen Walsh, a Peterborough native who has worked at the deli for four years, working his way from line cook to manager. Now he is eager to take on an ownership role alongside Sayer.
“Sam is one of the hardest-working people I’ve ever met, and a very big inspiration,I think she’s fantastic,” he says. “I think she’s fantastic. We work really well together.”
Together, they are opening Love You, Mean It with the goal to “bridge the gap between casual dining and fine dining.”
“We’re coming in the middle with the best of both worlds,” Walsh says. “You’re going to eat the best version of a smash burger, but you also may eat a more accessible version of a beef carpaccio.”
Love You, Mean It is a new restaurant and bar in downtown Peterborough owned and operated by Sam Sayer and Owen Walsh that is set to open in early July 2024, with Mack Found as head chef. (Graphic: Love You, Mean It / Instagram)
Behind such plates is another familiar face — or at least someone who offers familiar tastes — to Peterborough foodies, as everything is the brainchild of head chef Mack Found. Found is the former head chef at Publican House Brewery & Pub, and has also worked in the kitchen at Rare Restaurant and Black Honey.
“The nice thing is that all three of us come from very different backgrounds, but we have similar views on food and how we want to make our customers happy,” says Walsh.
With a rotating seasonal menu and a few popular mainstay items, diners can expect to find just a handful of entrées alongside a list of sharables. Staples include a house bread, onion dips, and a fried mortadella steak served with mustard and a baguette, where guests can make their own sandwiches right at their table.
“We’re big believers that when you go out, it’s for that sense of community,” Walsh says. “You’re joining friends, and you all enjoy the same foods as each other and discuss what you’re eating. That’s an exciting opportunity to have as a consumer.”
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The share plates will be paired with a selection of Ontario craft beers and wines. Alongside classics like the ever-popular espresso martini and a negroni, the restaurant bar will offer a list of house cocktails, including one special which plays into the “high-low” theme: a Miller High Life with a shot of Campari — a drink Walsh is excited to bring to downtown Peterborough.
“It adds a slight bitterness to that sweetness from the beer, for a really balanced taste,” he says.
The food will be served in the “intimate” and “cozy” space which seats 36 people across a bar top, tables, and a lounge area with couches and armchairs for a more relaxed dining experience.
After spending the last four years working his way from a line cook to manager position at Sam’s Place in Peterborough, Owen Walsh is moving into an ownership role and teaming up with Sam Sayer for the launch of an all-new restaurant, Love You, Mean It, in the downtown core. Bridging casual and elevated dining, the restaurant and bar will serve season share plates to encourage diners to eat out and create a sense of community by dining on the same menu items. (Photo: Sam’s Place )
“We wanted this restaurant to feel like when you haven’t been home to your parent’s house in a while, where you come in and you realize it’s a familiar space to you,” Walsh says. “You’ll be greeted with a friendly and positive experience that will make you feel warm and at home.”
The name of the restaurant itself is a homecoming for Walsh, as “Love You, Mean It” is a common saying that has always been used by Sayer and her employees at Sam’s Place. While he says the phrase has many “layers,” Walsh explains that it was something they would add on to requests and demands when working diligently in the quick pace of the kitchen.
“When you’re working quickly, things can sound cold and direct sometimes, so we always said this as a sign off and to say that we appreciate each other,” says Walsh, noting that Sayer also often signs off on her text messages the same way. “When we were deciding on the name, it made sense because this restaurant is a love letter to Peterborough and the community.”
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While no exact opening date is set yet, as the restaurant finishes renovations in the coming weeks, Walsh is hopeful that Love You, Mean It will be opening to the public by early July.
“I can’t wait to have people in for dinner,” he says.
For updates, follow Love You, Mean It on Instagram.
Sam Sayer, owner of Sam’s Place, pictured in 2019 in her then newly renovated deli. She also opened Sam’s Place Wienery in 2023 and now, with long-time Sam’s Place employee and manager Owen Walsh, is opening Love You, Mean It in the former location of The Food Forest on Hunter Street West in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Peterborough DBIA / Facebook)
Also known as the host of "Canada's Got Talent," Calgary-born and Nashville-based country pop artist Lindsay Ell is an award-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist who will perform a free-admission concert at Peterborough Musicfest for the first time on August 10, 2024. (Photo supplied by Peterborough Musicfest)
Peterborough Musicfest has announced Alberta-born country pop artist Lindsay Ell will perform a free-admission concert at Del Crary Park on Saturday, August 10th — the first of three performers to fill the remaining open dates in the festival’s 37th summer season. It’s Ell’s first-ever appearance at Peterborough Musicfest.
Now a dual Canadian-American citizen, the singer-songwriter and virtuoso guitarist was born and raised in Calgary, where she started playing piano at the age of six before falling in love with the guitar when she was eight — courtesy of her father’s collection of guitars. She also fell in love with the blues as a child, and began writing songs when she was 10.
Five years later, Canadian musical icon Randy Bachman discovered and mentored Ell, calling her “the most talented and multi-faceted artist I’ve come across in many years, producing her first album Consider This when she was 17, also co-writing most of the album’s 11 songs with Ell.
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After releasing her 2009 album Alone, Ell began making regular trips began Calgary and Nashville, where she participated in songwriting sessions while playing live shows, moving there permanently when she was 21.
Her first official single with record label Stoney Creek Records, entitled “Trippin’ on Us,” debuted in 2013 as the most added song for country music radio in both Canada and the United States, and Ell made her Grand Ole Opry debut in 2014.
Three years later, she released her EP Worth the Wait, which was followed the same year by the album The Project, and then by 2018’s The Continuum Project and Heart Theory in 2020.
VIDEO: “Trippin’ On Us” – Lindsay Ell
Along the way, she has been nominated for almost 30 awards, winning Female Artist of the Year at the 2015 Association of Country Music in Alberta, Interactive Artist of the Year at the 2019, 2020, and 2021 Canadian Country Music Awards, and Single of the Year at the 2023 Canadian Country Music Awards for “Right on Time.” She has also been recognized for her role as host of the Citytv reality competition show Canada’s Got Talent, which earned her a 2024 Canadian Screen Award nomination.
It was recently announced that Canadian country superstar Shania Twain will be joining Canada’s Got Talent as a judge, and Ell will be joining Twain’s Las Vegas residency as her lead guitarist (she opened for Twain during her 2023 Canadian tour).
Here’s Peterborough Musicfest’s summer lineup, with acts still to be determined and announced for Wednesday, July 10 and Saturday, July 27.
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Tenille Townes – Saturday, June 29
Road Apples – Monday, July 1
Aysanabee (with Cale Crowe) – Wednesday, July 3
Tim Baker/Great Lake Swimmers – Saturday, July 6
To be announced – Wednesday, July 10
I Mother Earth – Saturday, July 13
Metric – Wednesday, July 17
The Beau Dixon Band – Saturday, July 20
To be announced – Saturday, July 27
Rêve – Wednesday, July 24
Down With Webster – Wednesday, July 31
Elton Rohn – Saturday, August 3
Dwayne Gretzky – Wednesday, August 7
Lindsay Ell – Saturday, August 10
Choir! Choir! Choir! – Wednesday, August 14
David Wilcox – Saturday, August 17
For more information about Peterborough Musicfest, including details about upcoming concerts, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest’s 2024 season.
Attendees at Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region's garden party fundraiser on June 1, 2024 raise their glasses during the event, which netted $21,500 for affordable home building projects in the area, including a planned new multi-unit condominium to be located on Lansdowne Street West in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy Habitat for Humanity PKR)
Following a recent night of music, art and philanthropy, Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) is launching a project slated to bring 41 more affordable housing units to Peterborough.
On June 1, Habitat PKR held its first-ever garden party, “HomeGrown: A Habitat Garden Party Fundraiser,” at Peterborough’s Northview Gardens.
Garden party guests enjoyed fiddle music of Irish Millie and an aerial performance by Nicole Maulbeuf of Trellis Entertainment. Some attendees took home ceramic centrepieces, created by more than 15 volunteers from the Kawartha Potters Guild, which raised more than $1,000.
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“Filled with community spirit, entertainment, and remarkable generosity” according to a media release, the HomeGrown fundraiser also served as the kick-off to Habitat PKR’s new planned development: a multi-unit condominium to be located on Lansdowne Street West.
“Modelled after the award-winning Leahy’s Lane project, this (initiative) will be a life-changing hand-up to over 40 families in the Peterborough community,” Habitat PKR said.
The first phase of the Leahy’s Lane project, a 41-unit affordable condo development at 33 Leahy’s Lane near Parkhill Road East and Armour Road, was completed in April 2022, and the second phase, a 12-unit affordable condo development at 21 Leahy’s Lane, is approaching completion.
An initial conceptual rendering of Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region’s planned new 41-unit affordable housing development to be located on Lansdowne Street West in Peterborough. (Graphic: Aside Architects)
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The proposed Lansdowne Street West condominium development will be located just east of the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Habitat PKR is currently involved in the rezoning process for the Lansdowne project, and is excited about the next steps, Jenn MacDonald, Habitat PKR’s communications and donor services manager, told kawarthaNOW.
“Following the success of the phase one and two developments on Leahy’s Lane, (Habitat PKR) is looking forward to helping more local families and individuals into much-needed safe and affordable housing,” MacDonald said.
“With a low vacancy rate and lack of affordable housing in the city of Peterborough, this new development will provide a hand-up to another 41 homeowner families, giving them the stability they need to invest in their futures.”
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Attendees at the HomeGrown fundraiser, which in total raised more than $21,500 for affordable home building projects, heard the story of a local Habitat homeowner family who shared how affordable homeownership enabled them to achieve strength and stability.
“Habitat PKR extends heartfelt thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers, donors, and attendees who made HomeGrown an unforgettable evening,” the release noted. “Your support is invaluable in helping to build a better future where everyone has a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home.”
Habitat PKR is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting affordable homeownership. Since 2002, Habitat PKR has helped 83 local families achieve affordable homeownership.
Beth McMaster, who was instrumental in the founding of Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough in the early 1990s and served as the inaugural chair of the non-profit organization's board of directors, points to the plaque honouring her contribution that was unveiled in the lobby of the performing arts venue on June 11, 2024. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
When Showplace Performance Centre opened in downtown Peterborough on October 5, 1996, the first song performed was “This Is The Moment” from the musical Jekyll & Hyde.
On Tuesday afternoon (June 11) at the performing arts venue, Beth McMaster — the founding chair of the non-profit organization’s board of directors — had her moment, feted by friends and local arts leaders as a plaque denoting her many, and continuing, contributions was unveiled.
Prominently displayed in Showplace’s ‘Sunshine’ Sean Eyre Lobby, the plaque reads “Showplace Performance Centre gratefully acknowledges the outstanding contribution of Founding Chair Beth McMaster. Her inspiration and ongoing commitment to this theatre have made a lasting impact on the arts in Peterborough.”
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McMaster was overwhelmed by the tribute, fighting to hold back tears as the plaque was unveiled to rousing applause. Prior, she accepted a certificate from the City of Peterborough from mayor Jeff Leal, who said, “The citizens of Peterborough owe Beth a tremendous debt of gratitude.”
Showplace executive director Scott Lale also addressed he gathering, expressing gratitude to McMaster on behalf of the current board and staff.
Following the plaque unveiling, McMaster reflected on the effort to establish a performing arts centre in Peterborough.
Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal presents Beth McMaster, founding chair of Showplace Performance Centre, with a certificate from the city during a celebration of McMaster at the downtown performing arts venue on June 11, 2024. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
“It was very hard to envision (what Showplace would become),” said McMaster who, in 1992, met with Erica Cherney, Elizabeth Farquharson, and Barb Scott “and decided we had to make something happen.”
A month after that lunch meeting, a board of directors was established. Among its members were former Peterborough mayor Sylvia Sutherland, Doug Armstrong, and Pat Lett — each of whom attended Tuesday’s event.
“We looked at a lot of places in Peterborough,” recalled McMaster of the search for a location for the performance venue. “This was the Odeon theatre, which we decided on. We had people who said ‘It’s not going to be big enough.’ Other people said ‘It’s too big.’ We tried to come up with a mid-sized theatre and that’s what we ended up with.”
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Purchased in 1995, the space at 290 George Street North was designed by the Peterborough architectural firm of Lett/Smith to accommodate 650 seats. Aggressive fundraising resulted in the mortgage being paid off by 2000.
Admitting to being “very emotional” during Tuesday’s unveiling ceremony, McMaster said what made it particularly special were the people that shared the tribute with her.
“I was allowed to look at the guest list because they asked who I would like to have here. I (have) here the people who influenced my life and have been great supporters of me over the years. They come to all my shows. They are always there. I can depend upon them.”
A plaque honouring Showplace Performance Centre’s founding chair Beth McMaster was unveiled in the lobby of the performing arts venue during a celebration on June 11, 2024. McMaster was part of a group that helped open Showplace in 1996 and she served as the founding chair of the non-profit organization’s board of directors. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
Guest list or not, it was pretty clear most all on hand were going to attend regardless.
“Such visionaries,” said Pat Hooper of McMaster et al of their efforts to make Showplace a reality.
Hooper was most recently co-champion, with McMaster, of Showplace’s “Take A Seat for Act II” campaign. That efforts raised funds to replace the venue’s aging seats and for other upgrades.
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“We’ve had a long relationship … it’s always fun to be with her and feed off her energy and talent,” said Hooper of McMaster. “She’s patient but she has high expectations, and expects people to meet those. That’s fair enough. And she doesn’t suffer fools but she’s got a great sense of humour, which is so important.”
Meanwhile, Paul Wilson — a Peterborough city councillor at the time that Showplace was discussed, developed, and opened — said he “can’t imagine Peterborough without Showplace, and I can’t imagine Showplace without Beth.”
“She’s very modest,” Wilson added. “She doesn’t extol her abilities and accomplishments. What they’ve done with the plaque in the lobby is marvellous — long overdue.”
Beth McMaster, the founding chair of Showplace Performance Centre, was feted during a celebration at the performing arts venue on June 11, 2024 that included the unveiling of a plaque in her honour. (Photo: Tom Keeton)
Over the years, McMaster has created many fundraising productions for Showplace, including the very popular “Spring Tonic” shows and, more recently, “The Legendary Icon Series” that will continue this October with a tribute to Dolly Parton and Tom Jones.
While Showplace’s founding and reputation as a premier performing arts venue has McMaster’s fingerprints all over it, her resumé is also highlighted by a number of high-profile volunteer roles, including past chair of the annual United of Peterborough and District Campaign and board positions with a number of non-profits, the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough among them.
McMaster is also a founding member of the Peterborough Theatre Guild, and has premiered many of her plays on its Guild Hall stage.
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McMaster’s community service has seen a number of honours bestowed upon her, including Peterborough Citizen of the Year (1994), Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellowship (1996), a Peterborough Pathway of Fame induction (2000), the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal (2003), Trent University’s Distinguished Alumni Award (2012), and in 2018, the City of Peterborough Arts Champion.
Following the formal portion of the plaque unveiling, the celebration moved to Showplace’s downstairs lounge where entertainment was provided by singers Meg Murphy, Lisa Devan, Wayne Robinson, and Bob Trennum, with Rob Phillips accompanying the quartet on piano.
Among the selections performed was a song written especially for McMaster — a clear crowd favourite.
Along with the unveiling of a plaque honouring Showplace’s founding chair Beth McMaster, the celebration on June 11, 2024 also featured entertainment in the Nexicom Studio from (left to right) Meg Murphy, Lisa Devan, Wayne Robinson, Bob Trennum, and Rob Phillips. Among the selections performed was a song written especially for McMaster. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
One of the most popular sandwiches served at The Good Baker YPQ is the classic Reuben, made with corn beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and housemade Thousand Island dressing and served with fries. Brad Katz, who first opened The Good Baker at the YMCA building in downtown Peterborough, is hosting a grand opening celebration of his second location at the Peterborough Airport on June 15 and 16, 2024. With mini cupcakes and discounts available, diners can enter a ballot to win passes for local businesses and a free one-hour sightseeing flight. (Photo courtesy of The Good Baker YPQ)
The Good Baker YPQ has landed at the Peterborough Airport and, in celebration at the restaurant’s grand opening this weekend (June 15 and 16), customers have the chance to win a range of prizes with a free flight in the mix.
When Brad Katz first opened The Good Baker in the YMCA’s Balsillie Family Branch in downtown Peterborough at the end of 2022, his goal was to change the stigma around specialty food by serving pastries made without gluten but with all the delicious taste.
With that goal achieved, when the opportunity arose to open a second location in the main terminal building at the Peterborough Airport earlier this spring, Katz took flight, leaving the downtown location in the capable hands of his long-time manager Katie McDonald.
Offering dine-in and take-out, The Good Baker YPQ — with “YPQ” being the International Air Transport Association location identifier for the Peterborough Airport — serves breakfast, lunch, pastries, and ice cream, with locally roasted Kyoto coffee and milkshakes rounding out the beverage menu.
“The Otter”, featuring three eggs, three slices of bacon, three sausage links, and home fries and toast, is one of the large breakfast plates found on the menu at The Good Baker YPQ. All menu items, including chicken fingers, burger patties, soups, and dressings are made in house, with gluten-free bread available upon request. (Photo courtesy of The Good Baker YPQ)
From the house salad dressings and made-from-scratch rotating soup to local burger patties and chicken fingers, everything at The Good Baker YPQ is handmade and entirely gluten free. Breakfast offerings range from eggs and protein plates to omelettes and pancakes, and while lunch sandwiches — including the ever-popular Reuben, chicken Caesar wrap, and classic turkey club — are typically served on regular bread, all menu items are available with gluten-free bread, made with a celiac-safe method, upon request.
Whether you’re enjoying breakfast or lunch, or just dropping in for a coffee and tart, the space boasts a comfortable and casual 42 seats for an afternoon spent with family or friends while watching the planes take to the sky. Katz is inviting the public to spend Father’s Day weekend experiencing The Good Baker YPQ by filling their plates, enjoying sweet treats, and, of course, seeing lots of aircraft.
On both Saturday, June 15th and Sunday, June 16th, The Good Baker YQP will be giving out discounts and mini cupcakes, while diners can enter a ballot to win coupons for experiences from local businesses, including games of bowling and movie passes. One lucky winner will receive the grand prize of a free one-hour sightseeing flight from one of the businesses operating out of the airport. Now that is a boarding call you don’t want to miss!
The Good Baker YPQ is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the original YMCA location is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. For the The Good Baker YPQ’s full menu, visit thegoodbakerypq.ca and follow The Good Bakery YPQ on Facebook.
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.
The 10 inductees of the Peterborough & District 2024 Pathway of Fame are (left to right, top and bottom): Spencer J. Harrison, John Lewis, Earl Wilfong, Melissa Payne, Jim Hendry, Glen Caradus, J. Murray Jones, Tegan Moss, Ray Ostapovich, and the late Kirk Wipper. (kawarthaNOW collage of supplied photos)
The Peterborough & District Pathway of Fame has announced the 10 inductees of the 2024 Pathway of Fame, including the late founder of The Canadian Canoe Museum.
Established in 1997, the Pathway of Fame honours people who have contributed to the arts and humanities heritage of the Peterborough. Nominations are submitted annually by the public in the categories of visual arts, literary, dramatic arts, entertainment/musical, cultural/community betterment, community Samaritan, media, and community builder.
Kirk Wipper, whose collection of more than 600 canoes, kayaks, and other paddled watercraft became the basis for what would become The Canadian Canoe Museum in 1997, has been inducted in the category of community builder. His induction, 13 years after his death at the age of 87, comes on the heels of the May opening of the new state-of-the-art museum facility on the shores of Little Lake, where all of Wipper’s collection will be accessible for display for the first time in the museum’s history.
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Inductees in the cultural/community betterment category include retired journalist and active volunteer Jim Hendry, educator and environmental activist Glen Caradus, former Peterborough County warden J. Murray Jones, and Peterborough GreenUP executive director Tegan Moss.
Local musicians Earl Wilfong and Melissa Payne have been inducted in the entertainment category, artist and 2SLGBTQ equity advocate Spencer J. Harrison has been inducted in the visual arts category, and YourTV producer and on-air host John Lewis has been inducted in the dramatic arts category.
Ray Ostapovich, who has been a member of the Peterborough Lions Club for almost six decades, has been inducted in the community Samaritan category.
A public induction ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10th at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough, which the Pathway of Fame notes is the first time the induction ceremony has been held on a weeknight. The event is free and open to the general public as well as to families, friends, and supporters of the inductees and past inductees.
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Below are the short bios of each of the 2024 inductees, as provided by the Pathway of Fame.
Spencer J. Harrison (Visual Arts)
As an artist, activist and academic, Spencer J. Harrison’s work has been, and remains, highly influential in the call for a change in attitudes around equity and for fuller inclusion for members of 2SLGBTQ community, his art featured at several galleries across Ontario as he positions artists in the academic work as knowledge creators.
John Lewis (Dramatic Arts)
Possessing of an unabashed love for Peterborough’s music scene, YourTV producer and on-air host John Lewis, via his well researched signature programs Junction 28 and The Skinny, has introduced a broad audience to music artists in our midst while mentoring countless volunteers looking to make their own mark in the community television realm.
Earl Wilfong (Entertainment)
A lifelong entertainer who has performed across North America and overseas in Europe, Peterborough native Earl Wilfong has shared stages and collaborated with numerous well-known acts but has never forgotten where he comes from, selflessly gifting his talent time and time again to the benefit of countless local causes and organizations.
Melissa Payne (Entertainment)
Ennismore born and raised Melissa Payne was gifted her first fiddle at age four and has never put it down, fashioning a remarkable music journey that has seen her record three full-length albums and collaborate with the likes of Natalie MacMaster and Greg Keelor, while making the mentoring and supporting up-and-coming musicians a priority.
Jim Hendry (Cultural/Community Betterment)
Since retiring from The Examiner in 2014 after a 32-year career with the Peterborough newspaper, Jim Hendry found himself with the time to devote to causes that he’s passionate about, and the United Way of Peterborough and District, the ReFrame Film Festival and newcomers to Peterborough remain grateful he didn’t put his feet up.
Glen Caradus (Cultural/Community Betterment)
As an educator with Camp Kawartha, Ecology Park and the Canadian Canoe Museum, musician, storyteller and puppeteer Glen Caradus has made educating kids and young people on Canadian history and the environment his mission while raising thousands of dollars for climate change advocacy groups by way of his Ride For Climate initiative.
J. Murray Jones (Cultural/Community Betterment)
Retiring in 2022 after a remarkable run in Peterborough County politics, including 11 years as warden, J. Murray Jones’ legacy is as well-founded as it is secure, his leading the charge to bring expanded broadband and cellular service to the county and rural eastern Ontario, and his steady hand during the pandemic, being hallmarks of his time in office.
Tegan Moss (Cultural/Community Betterment)
Promoting active transportation, as she did as the longtime executive director of B!KE, or working to mitigate the effects of climate change, as she does now leading Peterborough GreenUP, Tegan Moss has long had the best interests of Peterborough residents well in mind, her advocacy helping others lead healthier eco-friendly lives.
Ray Ostapovich (Samaritan)
A member of the Peterborough Lions Club for close to 60 years, Ray Ostapovich played a key role in the development of the service club’s Handicap/Medical Equipment Loan Program which, at age 88, he still oversees, collecting, repairing and delivering used assistive devices and medical equipment to anyone hard pressed to purchase new.
Kirk Wipper (Community Builder)
With the new home of the Canadian Canoe Museum now open, Kirk Wipper is being remembered for his diligent efforts, over many years, securing, storing and preserving more than 500 canoes and related artifacts, providing the springboard for what has become the internationally recognized Peterborough-based home of all things canoe.
Hosts Matt Kippen, Sandy Jobin-Bevans, and Mike Shara will take to the stage at Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon when Globus Theatre presents the first-ever live-on-stage version of the "This Day in Sports" podcast from June 14 to 16, 2024. (Photo: This Day in Sports / Instagram)
Whether you’re a sports enthusiast or just tolerate one, Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon has a perfect outing for the Father’s Day weekend: the first-ever live-on-stage version of the This Day in Sports podcast.
Described as “an irreverent look at one day in sports history, hosted by three men who think they’re funnier than they are and probably know less than they think,” This Day in Sports is rapidly becoming one of Canada’s most popular sports podcasts.
That’s due no doubt to the aforementioned hosts — Sandy Jobin-Bevans, Mike Shara, and Matt Kippen — who are each seasoned performers with some serious comedy credentials along with their shared love of sports.
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Jobin-Bevans is a television host, Second City performer, and nine-time Canadian Comedy award winner, who is also co-founder of the improv troupe Slaphappy that has performed at Globus Theatre many times. Shara is a stage, film, and television actor who regularly performs at the Stratford and Shaw Festivals and has appeared in television series including Orphan Black, Designated Survivor, and Queer as Folk. Kippen is an actor, producer, and award-winning writer for shows including Kim’s Convenience and Schitt’s Creek.
“I love these performers and I love the concept of the podcast,” says Globus Theatre’s artistic director Sarah Quick in a media release. “It seemed the perfect fit to put on our stage for Father’s Day.”
With performances at the Lakeview Arts Barn at 8 p.m. on June 14 and 15 and a 2 p.m. matinee show on Father’s Day (June 16), audiences will be part of a live recording of the podcast.
“This Day in Sports” hosts Sandy Jobin-Bevans, Matt Kippen, and Mike Shara describe their podcast as “an irreverent look at one day in sports history, hosted by three men who think they’re funnier than they are and probably know less than they think.” (Photo courtesy of Globus Theatre)
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For those who may be less than enthralled by the idea of a show about sports trivia, Quick has some reassuring words.
“This show is definitely more fun than facts — it’s hilarious, irreverent, yet knowledgeable,” she says, calling it “a fresh take on all things sports and sports-adjacent.”
Globus Theatre promises audiences will experience a show filled with comedy, exciting special guests, and even a prize or two.
Tickets are $50 for the show only, or $100 for the show and dinner before evening performances (or lunch before the Father’s Day matinee performance). Tickets can be purchased online at globustheatre.com or by calling the box office at 705-738-2037.
While Peterborough GreenUP's May challenge to promote healthy and active transportation modes in Peterborough has concluded, the organization hope is to keep the momentum going all year long for alternatives to individual car trips, including walking, cycling, taking transit, carpooling, and telecommuting. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
With one in 10 trips in Peterborough being made through active transportation and a growing number of people using public transit, Peterborough GreenUP is aiming to maintain the momentum for alternatives to solo car travel in the city.
While its ‘Shifting Gears’ May Challenge is over, GreenUP aspires to keep the wheels spinning all year long. That’s the biggest hope of Ashley Burnie, GreenUP program coordinator, following the month-long challenge that encouraged Peterborough residents to make the switch to active and sustainable transportation.
“I hope that it acts as a catalyst for longer-term changes,” Burnie told kawarthaNOW. “I hope that it encourages workplaces to be more friendly to staff or clients arriving by way of active and sustainable travel.”
“If someone began to build a successful habit over May, I hope they keep going and are able to enjoy the benefits — whether it’s more fresh air, exercise, time to socialize, money — beyond our campaign. I hope recognizing the hard work of the workplace teams and champions shows them that their positive impacts are celebrated in this community.”
This past May, participants in the Shifting Gears challenge took 6,472 active and sustainable trips, which accounted for 46,627 kilometres of travel by walking, cycling, taking transit, carpooling, and telecommuting.
GreenUP recently celebrated the latest cohort of May challenge winners with an awards celebration and bike-in movie.
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GreenUP said the program has moved new and returning participants to make the shift towards more planet-friendly transportation means in pursuit of both personal and community benefits: added daily activity, savings of transportation costs, social time and/or self-care time, decreased vehicle congestion, improved air quality, and reduced greenhouse gases.
“Peterborough is only 13 kilometres from north to south and has 26 kilometres of trails within the city limits — not to mention our other supportive infrastructure, such as more than a dozen bus routes, numerous bike lanes, et cetera,” Burnie said. “With such a cityscape comes a lot of potential for shifting away from solo car trips in favour of walking, biking, taking transit, and carpooling and Shifting Gears wants to make sure we celebrate every single trip.”
Now in its 20th year, Shifting Gears has grown over the years to include community members and schools, workshops, rides, special events, and more.
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“Outside of the Shifting Gears May Challenge, we have other programs and supports under that brand for business and community audiences, and we have other programs under Active School Travel Peterborough which support our school and family audience,” Burnie noted. “This time of year, we primarily engage in other bike-culture promoting activities.”
For example, June is “Bike Month” and GreenUP will be holding pop-up events in Peterborough and Lakefield and helping facilitate a bike maintenance workshop at a local high school.
From left to right, top and bottom: "Dear Rita" at Bancroft Village Playhouse, "Bed & Breakfast" at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope, "The Selfish Giant's Garden" at Westben in Campbellford, "This Day In Sports" at Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon, "Yes Dan Can" benefit for Dan Fewings at the Piggy in Peterborough, Rick Fine's "Farewell for Now" concert at the Market Hall in Peterborough, John-Paul Chalykoff and his puppet Baabii at the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival in Peterborough, and Elyse Saunders at the Country Music Association of Ontario awards show. (kawarthaNOW collage)
encoreNOW is a bi-weekly column by Paul Rellinger where he features upcoming music, theatre, film, and performing arts events and news from across the Kawarthas.
This week, Paul highlights a unique tribute to the late Rita MacNeil in Bancroft, the staging of Bed & Breakfast at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre, a new musical take on an Oscar Wilde short story at Westben, a live version of one of Canada’s most popular sports podcasts in Bancroft, a benefit for musician, comedian, and storyteller Dan Fewings at The Pig’s Ear, a rousing musical farewell to Rick Fines at Market Hall, and the return to Trent University of the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival.
In 1990, as country music entered a decade that would give the music genre a bold new energy, artists the likes of Garth Brooks and Clint Black ruled the roost pretty much everywhere. Canada, however, proved to be a tough nut to crack as a singer-songwriter from Big Pond, Nova Scotia stood in the way.
Rita MacNeil was the top selling country artist on this side of the border that year, earning three Juno Award nominations and winning Best Female Vocalist. Her biggest hit, “Flying On Your Own,” had been released three years earlier.
Shortly after she passed in April 2016, MacNeil was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Over the years prior, she released 24 albums, and won three Juno Awards, a SOCAN National Achievement Award, four Canadian Country Music Association awards, and 11 East Coast Music Association awards. Add to that resumé her induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, and her being named to the Orders of both Nova Scotia and Canada.
In 2021, for the Charlottetown Festival, the Confederation Centre of the Arts first produced Dear Rita: A Musical Toast To Rita MacNeil. After its Ontario premiere at the Marble Arts Centre in Tweed from June 5 to 8, Tweed & Company Theatre is bringing the show to the Bancroft Village Playhouse from June 12 to 16.
The cast features actor-musicians who channel MacNeil’s stories and spirit through their own identities, as opposed to offering a literal depiction of the singer. There is no ‘Rita’ in the show per se. The performers and audience share that role collectively, with MacNeil’s hits and lesser-known songs providing the soundtrack.
The show opens at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12th, with additional 7 p.m. performances from June 13 to 15 and 2 p.m. matinee performances on June 13, 15, and 16. Tickets cost $38.50, with a discounted ticket price for arts workers, seniors and students/youth, and are available at www.villageplayhouse.ca.
Brett and Drew try hard to adjust … and it’s hilarious
Kyle Golemba and Amir Haidar during a rehearsal for Mark Crawford’s comedy “Bed & Breakfast” at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope. (Photo: Sam Moffatt)
My vote for the hardest working people in showbiz changes from show to show but, at present, I’m giving the nod to Amir Haidar and Kyle Golemba.
As the sole actors in the Capitol Theatre’s staging of the riotous comedy Bed & Breakfast, they portray a dizzying 22 roles — male and female, young and old, including the main characters of Brett and Drew, a big city couple who decide to give it a go in a small tourist town after Brett’s inheritance of his aunt’s historic home. The plan? Transform it into a bed and breakfast.
What follows is a crazy year marked by renovation hell, a farcical opening weekend, and encounters with small-town prejudice centre around their gay lifestyle. Ultimately, Brett and Drew have a decision to make — stay or go?
Written by critically acclaimed Canadian playwright Mark Crawford, Bed & Breakfast premiered in 2015 at the Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque and was the best-selling show in the history of its Firehall Theatre. The Capitol Theatre production is directed by Rob Kempson, who is also the theatre’s artistic director.
In a recent interview, Kempson told kawarthaNOW that bringing Brett and Drew’s relationship before its audience checks a lot of boxes for the historic Port Hope venue.
“It’s about taking a stand and being an organization that wants to live true to its values,” he explained. “If this (the Capitol Theatre) is an organization that says it values equity, diversity and inclusion, if this is an organization that says it values artistic excellence, if this is an organization that values community engagement — all of which are key directions in our strategic plan — then work like this isn’t even remotely provocative. Why? Because it does all those things beautifully.”
Bed & Breakfast will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on June 14 (preview night) and 15 (opening night), June 21 and 22, and June 27 to 29, and at 2 p.m. on June 16 to 20, June 22 and 23, June 25 to 27, and June 29 and 30.
Tickets are $48 or $40 for those under 30 (pay what you can for preview night on June 14) and are available at the Capitol Theatre’s box office in person at 20 Queen Street (open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday), by phone at 905-885-1071, or online at capitoltheatre.com.
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Oscar Wilde’s short story transformed into a musical
Robert Longo during a rehearsal for “The Selfish Giant’s Garden,” an original musical by Brian Finley and Ken Tizzard based on the short story by Oscar Wilde at Westben’s The Barn in Campbellford. (Photo courtesy of Westben)
When talk centres on the literary contributions of Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), it’s rare if ever that “The Selfish Giant” crosses anyone’s lips. That isn’t a surprise, considering that the late Victorian Irish writer gave the world such enduring works as his play The Importance of Being Earnest and his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.
But Wilde wrote a fair number of short stories as well, “The Selfish Giant” among them.
All these years later, Westben co-founder Brian Finley and musician Ken Tizzard have written The Selfish Giant’s Garden, an original musical based on Wilde’s short story that explores the precarious beauty and power of nature, and our collective responsibility to future generations.
‘Trespassers will be prosecuted!’ warns the sign at the base of the new wall surrounding the giant’s beautiful garden. What will the children do without their beloved playground? Can one child make a difference?
Starring Robert Longo, Donna Bennett, and Gabriella Prata, the production also features the talents of the Westben youth and teen choruses as the singing flowers in a colourful garden at The Barn at Westben, located off County Road 30 near Campbellford.
Performance dates are Fridays (June 14 and 21) at 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays (June 15 and 16 and 22 and 23) at 2 p.m.. Tickets cost $45 for adults, $43 for seniors, $30 for adults under 30, and $5 for youths and children under 18. To order online, visit www.westben.ca.
Three men and a whole lot of entertaining sports talk
Globus Theatre is bringing Sandy Jobin-Bevans, Mike Shara, and Matt Kippen and their popular “This Day in Sports” podcast to the stage at Lakeview Arts Barn for the Father’s Day weekend. (Photo courtesy of This Day in Sports)
Billed as “an irreverent look at one day in sports history, and hosted by three men who think they’re funnier than they are and probably know less than they think,” the This Day In Sports podcast debuted in November 2022 and, from the very crowded chat field, has emerged to become one of the country’s most popular sports podcasts.
That said, it only makes sense to bring a live version to the masses. That is exactly what Bobcaygeon’s Globus Theatre will do June 14 to 16 at the Lakeview Arts Barn off Pigeon Lake Road.
In the stage production, the original podcast hosts — Sandy Jobin-Bevans, Mike Shara, and Matt Kippen — will take a look back over the years at all things sports, delivering a load of laughs for sports fans as well as those who love (or tolerate) their fandom.
“It seemed the perfect fit for our stage for Father’s Day,” says Globus Theatre artistic director Sarah Quick. “The audience will get to be part of a live taping and enjoy a lot of sports-related banter. This show is definitely more fun than facts. It’s hilarious and irreverent yet knowledgeable.”
And oh yes, there’ll be special guests and even a few prizes to be won.
Performance times are 8 p.m. on June 14 and 15, with a 2 p.m. matinee show on Father’s Day (June 16). A 5:30 p.m. dinner option is available for the evening shows, and a noon lunch option for the matinee. Tickets to the show are $50, or $100 for the show and dinner or lunch. For tickets, visit www.globustheatre.com.
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Yes Dan Can! And you can too at his June 15 benefit
Dan Fewings and Jimmy Bowskill in 2014. Bowskill is one of the musicians who will be performing at the Pig’s Ear Tavern on June 10, 2024 in a musical fundraiser for Fewings. The beloved retired Peterborough high school music teacher, professional clown, guitarist, and popular emcee was recently diagnosed with cancer and is about to begin radiation treatment. (Photo: Wayne Eardley)
There are many who claim, rightly so, that no community rallies around those going through a tough time better than Peterborough.
That’s particularly true in the music community, with past benefits for Buzz Thompson, Bobby Watson, and Rick Young (of Rick ‘n’ Gailie fame) — to name a few — still remembered for the love and encouragement that were at their centre. And let’s not forget that once each month at Dr. J’s BBQ & Brews, the Peterborough Musicians’ Benevolent Association (PMBA) raises money for artists in need of a hand-up.
Now it’s time to turn out in support of Dan Fewings. The clown, musician, storyteller, and former longtime teacher at PCVS and Crestwood, is beginning treatment for cancer. In a bid to lift his spirits, and raise a few dollars to help offset the costs of constant trips to a Hamilton hospital, Dan’s sons Buster and Coby, along with musician Jimmy Bowskill, have organized “Yes Dan Can!” from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 15th at The Pig’s Ear Tavern in Peterborough.
The suggested admission is a donation of $20 but, based on the stage lineup, another $20 or two is well warranted. Scheduled to perform are Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor, James McKenty, Nicholas Campbell, The Bonus Numbers (Trevor ‘Tiny’ Davis and Wyatt Burton), Sleevehaus, Ian McKeown, Boogie Time Ramblers, Brooks and Bowskill, and Buster. Pretty impressive, for sure, but bet on a few other music notables taking to the stage as things progress.
Dan has been out of Peterborough for a bit but many still remember how he made them laugh like no other, as a member of The Three Martinis or during an informal encounter on George Street. It’s time to repay that gift, with interest. This is going to be one terrific time for a very special human.
And if you can make it to both, make sure to drop by this month’s PMBA event at Dr. J’s on the same Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m., as PMBA has committed the proceeds from that event to help Dan.
Revered Peterborough musician says so long (for now) in style
VIDEO: “Never Let Go” – Rick Fines (2021)
Another Peterborough music treasure will be in spotlight, for a whole different reason, on Friday, June 21st at Market Hall in downtown Peterborough.
Three-time Juno Award-nominated roots/blues musician and Jackson Delta member Rick Fines, is headed to Germany with his family later this summer. With his wife Lise having accepted a teaching contract in Bonn, Fines will be gone for two years.
Fines isn’t going out with a whimper. Quite the opposite with his “Farewell For Now” concert bringing to the stage a number of local music collaborators including his longtime friend, the legendary blues, boogie-woogie, and jazz pianist Kenny ‘Blues Boss’ Wayne. The musical menu will be sprinkled with many of Fines’ original songs and, no doubt, some rousing covers.
Glass Tiger musically pleaded “Don’t forget me when I’m gone.” Fines is doing his damnedest to ensure that doesn’t happen, as if there was really any chance we would forget.
Tickets to the 8 p.m. show cost $30 (cabaret seating is sold out). Visit www.markethall.org for tickets.
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Indigenous performance celebrated over three days
Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival’s first-ever family show features John-Paul Chalykoff performing original songs in Anishinaabemowin, along with interludes between songs with his puppet Baabii sharing some Anishinaabemowin. (Photo courtesy of NIFF)
With June designated National Indigenous History Month, the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (NIFF) could haven’t been timed any better.
Set for June 21 to 23 in and around Trent University’s Enwayaang building, the festival will feature more than 20 performances, special events, family activities and vendors. Artists have been chosen through a lottery process, which is a customary element of fringe festivals.
NIFF’s mandate “is to provide a space for Indigenous artists to showcase their uncensored work, while developing their artistic practice and having access to Indigenous mentors and artistic development opportunities.”
According to festival general manager Lee Bolton, this is the only Indigenous festival “in the known world.” That makes it uniquely ours and that is pretty terrific.
For more information, including the three-day schedule and advance tickets, visit www.indigenousfringefest.ca. Tickets for each performance are $12 and are also available on a cash-only basis at the door.
Encore
VIDEO: “Famous” – Elyse Saunders
What’s left for Elyse Saunders besides world domination? The Peterborough-raised country singer-songwriter came home from the June 2nd Country Music Association of Ontario awards show as the Female Artist of the Year — one year after winning for Music Video of the Year. With her new single “Dirt” already catching fire, her early 2024 song “Never Have I Ever” continues to garner strong radio play, particularly in, of all places, Australia. Saunders has enjoyed a steady year-to-year rise in popularity, no doubt bringing a smile to the face of Peterborough’s Cyril Rawson, Saunders’ vocal coach when she was just another teen with a Nashville dream.
Applications for grants offered by the Electric City Culture Council are being accepted. Grants of up to $1,500 and $3,000 are available for professional artists in the Peterborough region. Visit www.ecthree.org/program/grants-for-individual-artists-2024/ for the grant application form. The deadline to apply is July 11. Now in its third year, the grant program has awarded more than $105,000 to 44 artists working in a broad range of disciplines.
Last time around, we raved about the Gazebo patio in back of the Peterborough Holiday Inn as a great spot to catch live music this summer. Well, there’s another. The Gazebo at Riverview Park and Zoo is the venue for free concerts on several Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. Next up is Harold Wylie and Radio Flyer on June 23. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy. Be sure to check out kawarthaNOW’s concert and live music listings for shows as they near.
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