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‘Girl in the Goldfish Bowl’ closing the curtain on the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s 2023-24 season

In "Girl in the Goldfish Bowl" by Morris Panych, 10-year-old Iris (Lindsay Wilson, right) is convinced a mysterious stranger named Mr. Lawrence (Stew Granger, left) is the reincarnation of her pet goldfish, whose death she believes has precipitated everything that has gone wrong in her world. The Peterborough Theatre Guild's production runs for 10 performances from May 3 to 18, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Theatre Guild)

The months ahead promise to be very busy for Kim Blackwell, who is directing Girl in the Goldfish Bowl — the final production of the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s 2023-24 season.

Along with her responsibilities as managing artistic director of Millbrook’s 4th Line Theatre, Blackwell will also direct Jim Watts: Girl Reporter, the outdoor theatre’s company’s second production of its two-play summer season.

Added to Blackwell’s plate is the milestone — and the extra attention that will inevitably bring her way — as she navigates her 30th season with 4th Line Theatre, a remarkable run that has seen her direct 28 plays at the scenic Winslow Farm, 15 of those world premieres.

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All this considered, it would have well understood if the 58 year old stepped away from the stage during her off-season and recharged her creative batteries. But then anyone with familiar with Blackwell’s lifelong all-in commitment to the art form knows that wasn’t going to happen.

So it is that, since January, Blackwell has been directing rehearsals for Girl in the Goldfish Bowl, the award-winning satirical comedy penned by celebrated Canadian playwright and actor Morris Panych, which opens May 3rd at the Guild Hall on Rogers Street in East City and continues until May 18th.

The play tells the story of a precocious 10-year-old girl named Iris (Lindsay Wilson) who, proclaiming “she’s in the last few days of her childhood,” lives with her depressed parents Sylvia and Owen (Nancy Towns and Peter Dolinski) in British Columbia’s ocean-side fishery town of Steveston in 1962.

Adding to the dysfunctional family is a sharp-tongued and sharp-eyed boarder named Miss Rose (Lisa Devan), Iris’ godmother, who works at a fish cannery by day and drinks at the local legion by night.

The cast of "Girl in the Goldfish Bowl": Lindsay Wilson as Iris, Nancy Towns as Sylvia, Peter Dolinski as Owen, Lisa Devan as Miss Rose, and Stew Granger as Mr. Lawrence. (kawarthaNOW collage of photos by Tracey Allison)
The cast of “Girl in the Goldfish Bowl”: Lindsay Wilson as Iris, Nancy Towns as Sylvia, Peter Dolinski as Owen, Lisa Devan as Miss Rose, and Stew Granger as Mr. Lawrence. (kawarthaNOW collage of photos by Tracey Allison)

Iris believes the world has been held together by her pet goldfish Amahl. That belief is strengthened by what happens when Amahl dies: Sylvia threatens to leave the family and the Cuban missile crisis takes place, with the former Soviet Union placing nuclear missiles in Cuba and creating the imminent threat of nuclear war with the U.S.

Shortly after Amahl dies, Iris finds a strange man named Mr. Lawrence (Stew Granger) washed up on the beach, who she thinks bears an uncanny resemblance to her dead goldfish. After she brings the mysterious Mr. Lawrence home, Iris becomes convinced he is the reincarnated Amahl who will fix everything that has gone wrong in her world.

“It’s very, very funny but, at the same time, it has at its core a reflection of what was,” says Blackwell of the play’s story line. “Our protagonist, played by an adult woman, is trying to grapple with the exact moment when she stopped being a child and began the process of becoming a grown-up.”

“I had that exact moment in my life. I won’t say what it was, but I happened to be 10 as well. I’ve been asking people if there was a moment that marked the end of their childhood, either by force of circumstance or reality of life, where they took the first steps of the next chapter towards adulthood. We all have that reflective moment to think back on.”

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Another theme of the play, says Blackwell, is reincarnation.

“That idea of self-discovery, of reinventing yourself,” she says, adding “Can your dead goldfish come back to life as an adult man and can he save your family?”

“Iris is incredibly bright … much older than her years. She holds her own with all of the adults in her life but yet, at the same time, she has deep innocence. That’s a combination where we find a lot of the comedy of the piece as well as a lot of the pathos.”

Set in British Columbia's ocean-side fishery town of Steveston in 1962, "Girl in the Goldfish Bowl" is the story of Iris, a 10-year-old girl who is convinced that all the problems in her world, including the conflict between her parents Owen and Sylvia (Peter Dolinski and Nancy Towns) as well as the Cuban missile crisis, are linked to the death of her pet goldfish.  (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Theatre Guild)
Set in British Columbia’s ocean-side fishery town of Steveston in 1962, “Girl in the Goldfish Bowl” is the story of Iris, a 10-year-old girl who is convinced that all the problems in her world, including the conflict between her parents Owen and Sylvia (Peter Dolinski and Nancy Towns) as well as the Cuban missile crisis, are linked to the death of her pet goldfish. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Theatre Guild)

A huge factor in Blackwell’s taking on the role of director of Girl in the Goldfish Bowl, as opposed to taking a well-earned winter break, is her affinity for the Peterborough Theatre Guild as well as the former St. Luke’s Anglican Church building it has called home since 1965.

“I was there as a little kid doing (theatre) workshops,” she says.

“I remember having my makeup done in a Saturday morning workshop by Nancy Bethune who, to me, looked like an old lady. I didn’t take that makeup off all day because I could see the possibilities of the suspension of disbelief and the potential magic of theatre. I can draw my (theatre) career today to that Saturday morning makeup workshop.”

“I was in The Wizard of Oz when I was a teenager. When I came back (to Peterborough) from living out west, I went right back to the Guild to lick my wounds and heal. I was going to Trent and was involved backstage on a few shows. My parents had a subscription when I was a little kid. I have such a deep affection for the purple walls and the purple seats.”

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First produced at the Arts Club Theatre in Vancouver in 2002, Girl in the Goldfish Bowl won a Jessie Richardson Award for achievement in professional theatre in Vancouver in 2002, a Dora Mavor Moore Award in Toronto in 2003, and the prestigious Governor General’s Award for Drama in 2004.

Panych himself has directed more than 90 productions across Canada and has written 30 plays that have been produced throughout Canada, Britain, the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand in a dozen languages. His work has earned him 14 Jessie Richardson Awards and five Dora Mavor Moore Awards.

“He has a lovely wit about him and a lovely way of seeing the world,” assesses Blackwell, who saw the playwright-directed production of Girl in the Goldfish Bowl at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre in 2002.

“My friend Kristina Nicoll, who played the mother in Carmel (2019) at 4th Line, played Iris,” Blackwell recalls. “I sent her a message on Facebook the other day, saying how much her performance meant to me and how I haven’t forgotten it. She wrote ‘It’s a play that changed my life in so many ways’. I was also talking to a friend who I first saw it with, and he felt the same way. To imprint itself on us and stay with us — it’s an important and very special play.”

"Girl in the Goldfish Bowl" playwright Morris Panych. (Photo: Joy von Tiedemann)
“Girl in the Goldfish Bowl” playwright Morris Panych. (Photo: Joy von Tiedemann)

Like all associated with the production, Blackwell can’t wait for opening night.

“I stopped laughing weeks and week ago,” she says, reflecting on the amount of time she has now spent with the script and the performers. “They (cast members) so desperately will be ready for an audience to react. Comedy needs that relationship with the audience, even more than drama. I’m excited to share the amazing work of this team.”

“What I love about amateur theatre, about little theatre and the Guild, and I’ve always been in awe of it, is all of these people have full-time day jobs and they have families — they come to the theatre at night and work for months, toiling for the love of the art. Doctors and lawyers and factory workers and restaurant owners who do it for the love of it, putting in hours of their time at night and on the weekends. It’s pretty great.”

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As for marking three decades at 4th Line Theatre this summer, Blackwell says she has had and continues to have “the best job going.”

“I’m so blessed to get to do the thing that I love most in the world and, for the most part, get paid for it. I love the work that I do: the telling of new Canadian stories of little-known heroes of our part of Canada.”

“The work can cause tears and stress — you’ve got make the budgets and raise money and all that — but at the heart of it I believe in the transformative power of theatre to change the world and people’s lives. I take that very seriously. What we try to do is to educate, entertain and enthrall people. If we do all three of those things, we’re cracking.”

"Girl in the Goldfish Bowl" director Kim Blackwell at 4th Line Theatre's box office at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook in 2018. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
“Girl in the Goldfish Bowl” director Kim Blackwell at 4th Line Theatre’s box office at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook in 2018. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)

Additional production credits for Girl in the Goldfish Bowl include Indigo Chesser and Mikayla Stoodley, who are assisting Blackwell, and Beth McMaster, Pat Hooper, Bob Campbell and Kate Suhr as production managers. The set was designed and constructed by Peter Dolinski.

The play runs at the Guild Hall at 364 Rogers Street in Peterborough’s East City from May 3 to 18, with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. on May 3 and 4, 9 to 11, and 16 to 18 and 2 p.m. Sunday matinee performances on May 5 and 12.

Tickets are $30 for adults, $27 for seniors, and $20 for students and are available by calling 705-745-4211 or online at www.peterboroughtheatreguild.com.

The set for "Girl in the Goldfish Bowl" was designed and constructed by Peter Dolinski, who also plays Owen. (Photo: Peter Dolinski)
The set for “Girl in the Goldfish Bowl” was designed and constructed by Peter Dolinski, who also plays Owen. (Photo: Peter Dolinski)

 

kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s 2023-24 season.

How to be a leader with Peterborough Rotary president Betty Halman-Plumley

Betty Halman-Plumley is only the fifth female president of the Rotary Club of Peterborough in its 103-year-old history. Between the pressure of being a role model for other women, combined with her role as a division manager with IG Wealth Management and being a mother and grandmother, she knows exactly what it takes to be a leader. (Photo courtesy of Betty Halman-Plumley)

Change doesn’t happen overnight, but it certainly helps to have passionate, trusted leaders who know what it takes to make things happen.

As the president of the Rotary Club of Peterborough, Betty Halman-Plumley must lead the way to change every day but, as one of only a handful of women to hold the position in the more than a century history of the Club, she is aware that her responsibility as a leader extends well beyond the role of most presidents.

While the Rotary Club of Peterborough — comprised of community members looking to make positive and lasting change — was founded in 1921, its involvement of women does not date quite so far back. Only in 1989 did the club’s constitution change to officially allow women in the club the following year.

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Though certainly not eagerly welcomed by all members at the time, Susan Mackle and Eleanor Phillips became the first female members of Peterborough Rotary in 1990, with Mackle later becoming the first female president in 2001-2002. Halman-Plumley is only the fifth female president of the club since then.

Even on a global scale, only in 2022-2023 did Rotary International welcome its first female president: Jennifer E. Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland.

As one of the first female leaders of the Rotary Club, Halman-Plumley shares how she manages the pressure of leadership, the importance of inclusion, and how she manages to do it all while wearing heels and her best lipstick.

 

I don’t see it as a burden, I see it as a light I’m drawn to.

Rotary Club of Peterborough president Betty Halman-Plumley (left) with Rotary International present Jennifer E. Jones at the Rotary International Conference in Melbourne, Australia. A member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, in 2022-2023 Jones became the first woman president to be elected for Rotary International since its founding in 1905. (Photo courtesy of Betty Halman-Plumley)
Rotary Club of Peterborough president Betty Halman-Plumley (left) with Rotary International present Jennifer E. Jones at the Rotary International Conference in Melbourne, Australia. A member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, in 2022-2023 Jones became the first woman president to be elected for Rotary International since its founding in 1905. (Photo courtesy of Betty Halman-Plumley)

As the oldest of four children born within five years, perhaps it’s not surprising that Halman-Plumley knows she was “meant to be a CEO or leader.”

Or perhaps it’s not surprising because, no matter the sector she has worked in — from her current role as a division manager with IG Wealth Management, to having been the program director for Ontario Early Years Centre, to being past president of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough — she has always been leading the way.

“They have all been about supporting teams and being really focused on how we’re moving forward,” she says of her past roles. “All my experiences together just builds and grows from that.”

Despite how natural leadership comes to her, it was not lost on Halman-Plumley just how significant the role of Rotary Club president would be when she stepped into the position in 2023. Having been a member of the club for upwards of a decade, she knew how meaningful it was to fill the role as a woman.

“I don’t take it for granted,” she says. “I think about it a lot and I’ve always thought about it through my daughter, and now my granddaughters. How do I want to show up for them? I want people to be proud and I want people to say, ‘Look at her, look at this woman doing it, and she’s passionate and has a heart for this’.”

While that alone could be more than enough pressure for a lot of people to bear, Halman-Plumley does not let the weight get to her, but rather lets it motivate her.

“I think about it a lot, about who I am and who is watching, but I don’t see it as a burden,” she says. “I see it as a light that I’m drawn to at an impossible way.”

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You have to take care of yourself first.

Betty Halman-Plumley at a recent Rotary Club of Peterborough meeting wearing a necklace with the names of all the club presidents since 1921. Though she is only the fifth woman on the list, she is not weighed down by the pressure of such a significant role but rather is guided and excited by it, feeling like she was always meant to be a leader. (Photo courtesy of Betty Halman-Plumley)
Betty Halman-Plumley at a recent Rotary Club of Peterborough meeting wearing a necklace with the names of all the club presidents since 1921. Though she is only the fifth woman on the list, she is not weighed down by the pressure of such a significant role but rather is guided and excited by it, feeling like she was always meant to be a leader. (Photo courtesy of Betty Halman-Plumley)

Between being a mother and grandmother, to working and being an active community member, it’s not difficult to see that Halman-Plumley is a very, very busy woman. But she’s more than okay with that because she loves everything she does.

“Women can do it. We can juggle a lot of things,” she says. “When you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work.”

That said, she is certainly familiar with stress and has had times of being overwhelmed and getting in over her head.

“When I was in college, I did have a time of burnout, and I’ve had times where I’ve been exhausted,” she recalls. “I learned so much from that and now I’m very aware of what that feels and looks like.”

“You have to take care of yourself first,” she adds, noting that rest is especially important when it comes to leading others. “Rest your mind, body, and spirit, and then build on that.”

For Halman-Plumley, taking care of herself means daily walks and taking the time to be quiet, reflect and reconnect. But, she adds, it also means surrounding herself with people who support her, whether it’s personally from having a network of women she can travel and go for dinner with, to professionally surrounding herself with those who keep her grounded.

“I’ve had great coaches many times in my life and coaches are phenomenal because they help you focus and move towards your goals,” she says. “I really believe in coaches.”

Similarly, both in her profession and the Rotary Club of Peterborough, she notes that leadership can only go so far. It’s the team who really makes things happen.

“At IG, I have a great team that supports me and my clients,” she says. “And with Rotary, there’s a great board and great people around that. As the president, I say ‘Here’s where we need to be moving’ and steering the ship, but everyone is all hands on deck all the time.”

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We need the combination of experience with fresh ideas

SBetty Halman-Plumley is a division manager at IG Wealth Management where she uses intergenerational wisdom for estate and legacy planning. As someone who is always learning from her experiences in leadership positions, she used this philosophy to build a Board for the Rotary Club of Peterborough that is not only composed of individuals with years of experience, but also those who are new and come bearing fresh ideas. (Photo courtesy of Betty Halman-Plumley)
SBetty Halman-Plumley is a division manager at IG Wealth Management where she uses intergenerational wisdom for estate and legacy planning. As someone who is always learning from her experiences in leadership positions, she used this philosophy to build a Board for the Rotary Club of Peterborough that is not only composed of individuals with years of experience, but also those who are new and come bearing fresh ideas. (Photo courtesy of Betty Halman-Plumley)

One of the things Halman-Plumley values most in her work with IG Wealth Management is legacy planning through intergenerational wisdom and connecting with family members.

Proving just how much her leadership roles build off each other, this is a philosophy she similarly brings into her community work by encouraging not only women but people of all ages and expertise to join Rotary.

“We need the combination of experienced Rotarians and newer Rotarians working together,” she says. “I’m such a believer that we need to bring the wealth of experience and knowledge and passion from people have been involved in Rotary way longer than I have, but then also the fresh, new, and other ideas that new Rotarians bring. You need them both.”

The idea of bringing in all views and perspectives was also a priority when Halman-Plumley started different programs for the Ontario Early Years Centre, and one that she will likely continue well beyond her time as Rotary Club president.

“I think that’s just how I’ve always been, and that’s who I am,” she says. “The philosophy is let’s build on the experience and wealth of knowledge that we have and bring in the new, different ideas and perspectives and have it all come together.”

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Be yourself.

Rotary Club of Peterborough members at the annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim by Baker Tilly KDN at the Peterborough YWCA Balsillie Family Branch. While Rotary president Betty Halman-Plumley takes on many leadership roles, she says that none of the work would be possible without like-minded team and community members. (Photo courtesy of Betty Halman-Plumley)
Rotary Club of Peterborough members at the annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim by Baker Tilly KDN at the Peterborough YWCA Balsillie Family Branch. While Rotary president Betty Halman-Plumley takes on many leadership roles, she says that none of the work would be possible without like-minded team and community members. (Photo courtesy of Betty Halman-Plumley)

One of the best compliments Halman-Plumley ever received was being told she brings an “intelligent mind and beautiful heart” to the position, and that’s exactly what she strives to do each day.

“Being in this position sometimes means having important conversations with people and, other times, it’s also having compassion, so it’s who am I as Betty and also who I am as a woman,” she says, noting that it means not shying away from being a feminine leader — even if it means, she jokes, being the first Rotary president to reapply her lipstick before introducing a speaker.

“What I love about this world of inclusiveness is I feel I can be myself. I can be a woman that puts on lipstick and wears high heels and loves to get dressed up and be a feminine woman, while also being in a leadership role.”

As a music lover, adding a bit of herself in the role even includes encouraging speakers to dance their way to the podium.

“I want people to leave feeling so excited and happy and passionate and proud to be a Rotarian and thinking ‘I want to join this amazing group’,” she says.

But just as she is able to expertly balance all aspects of her life, Halman-Plumley finds a way to balance the fun and the work in the Rotary Club. As president, she had prioritized developing their strategic plan and looking to add to the lineup of legacy projects like Five Counties Children’s Centre, Camp Kawartha, and the Rotary Greenway Trail.

“What I love is you can go anywhere in the world and you’re part of a big family in the Rotary Club,” Halman-Plumley says. “As Betty, I can only do so much, but collectively as a club in Peterborough, and internationally, we can have a bigger impact. Some Rotarians are so generous with their time and money, it’s incredible, but they also know that that’s pooled with other Rotarians to make an impact.”

For more information about the Rotary Club of Peterborough, visit www.peterboroughrotary.ca. For membership inquiries, email membership@peterboroughrotary.ca.

Peterborough man arrested for the second day in a row for vehicle thefts

A day after he was charged with several vehicle thefts and released from custody, a 26-year-old Peterborough man was arrested again for stealing from vehicles.

On Wednesday morning (April 17), police received a call from a resident about a man rummaging through a vehicle on Perry Street in downtown Peterborough. After arriving, officers conducted a search of the area and located a man matching the description provided to police. The man tried to run, but was taken into custody.

When searching the suspect after the arrest, officers located a makeshift device believed to be used to break vehicle windows as well as stolen items, some of which police have since returned to their owners as a result of online reports filed on April 13.

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The accused man, who was also wanted on a warrant and bound by a probation order to keep the peace and be of good behaviour, was arrested and charged with four counts of theft under $5,000, four counts of mischief under $5,000, four counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, and four counts of failing to comply with a probation order.

The accused man appeared in court later on Wednesday.

The following night at around 10:15 p.m., officers were called to the Hunter Street East and Mark Street area in East City after a concerned citizen reported a man who appeared to be trying to get into vehicles. After arriving, officers conducted a search of the area and located a man matching the description provided to police.

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While speaking to the man, officers located items they believed did not belong to him. The man then tried to run and was taken into custody. During a search after the arrest, officers found about four dozen items believed to have been taken from vehicles.

The suspect was then charged with possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 and failing to comply with a probation order. The accused man is being held in custody and will appear in court on Friday.

Police are continuing their investigation and are currently going through the items believed to have been stolen.

Tweet, tweet: Kawartha Lakes achieves ‘Bird Friendly City’ designation

Nature Canada recently certified the City of Kawartha Lakes as a Bird Friendly City. The municipality is currently running an online contest to choose the 2024 Bird of the Year featuring 11 bird species during the first round of voting. (Graphic: Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes)

Kawartha Lakes has something to chirp about.

Nature Canada recently certified the City of Kawartha Lakes as a “Bird Friendly City.”

A bird-friendly city is described as a community where threats to birds are reduced, and nature is restored so native bird populations can thrive. Residents are actively engaged in admiring and monitoring local bird populations, and organizations host events to protect birds. Certification entails meeting standards to keep birds safe.

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Kawartha Lakes has announced it has been awarded Bird Friendly City certification as of March 22, 2024.

“We are thrilled that Nature Canada has awarded us entry level Bird Friendly City certification,” said Kawartha Lakes Councillor Pat Warren in a media release.

“It is a recognition of the commitment to a healthy environment expressed in our strategic plan and the bird conservation efforts of many organizations within our municipality. Along with our Bird Friendly City neighbours — City of Peterborough and Selwyn Township — we look forward to continuing this important work.”

The Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes (BFKL) group submitted an application on behalf of the municipality in February 2024. The BFKL consists of representatives from the Kawartha Lakes Environmental Advisory Committee, Kawartha Conservation, Kawartha Land Trust, Fleming College, Kawartha Field Naturalists, Kawartha Wildlife Centre, and Kawartha Bird Control.

VIDEO: Bird Friendly City – Nature Canada

Thomas Luloff, who represents the BFKL team, is the academic quality assurance lead and a professor in the school of environmental and natural resources sciences at Fleming College’s Frost campus in Lindsay, and he also serves as board chair of the Kawartha Wildlife Centre.

Luloff recently shared why receiving a bird-friendly city designation is important.

“Becoming a certified bird-friendly city is not just a title; it’s a significant milestone for our community,” Luloff told kawarthaNOW. “It underscores our commitment to environmental stewardship and highlights our dedication to preserving the natural beauty and biodiversity that makes Kawartha Lakes so unique.”

“By creating bird-friendly habitats, reducing light pollution, and advocating for responsible pet ownership, we are not only protecting our feathered residents but also enhancing the overall quality of life for all inhabitants of our city,” Luloff continued.

“Birds play a vital role in our ecosystem, from controlling insect populations to pollinating plants, and by safeguarding their habitats, we are ensuring the health and balance of our environment.”

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Speaking of birds, Kawartha Lakes is currently running a contest that invites residents to vote for one of 11 birds to be named “Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes 2024 Bird of the Year.” The online contest aims to showcase the diversity of local bird species and inspire action to protect and conserve birds at the same time.

There will be two rounds of voting, with the first round closing on Migratory Bird Day, which is Saturday, May 11. The top five birds will move on to the second round of voting, which will close on Friday, June 28.

These are the 11 birds on the docket: the northern cardinal, the black-capped chickadee, the American goldfinch, the barred owl, the red-winged blackbird, the tree swallow, the eastern loggerhead shrike, the osprey, the downy woodpecker, the blue jay, and the barn swallow. As of the date of this story, 362 votes have been cast, with the osprey in the lead closely pursued by the northern cardinal and the barred owl.

There will be two rounds of voting during the Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes 2024 Bird of the Year contest. The first round, where people vote for their favourite bird from a list of 11, will close on May 11, 2024. The top five birds will move on to the second round of voting, which will close on June 28, with the official Bird of the Year revealed on June 30. (Graphic: Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes)
There will be two rounds of voting during the Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes 2024 Bird of the Year contest. The first round, where people vote for their favourite bird from a list of 11, will close on May 11, 2024. The top five birds will move on to the second round of voting, which will close on June 28, with the official Bird of the Year revealed on June 30. (Graphic: Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes)

During the second round of voting, the Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes social media accounts will feature fun facts about each of the five birds and why they’re important to the community.

The official Kawartha Lakes’ Bird of the Year, as voted by participants, will be revealed on June 30.

To find out more about the competition and to vote, visit the Jump In Kawartha Lakes website at jumpinkawarthalakes.ca/bird2024. You need to register for a free account to cast a vote.

The Good Baker Brad Katz opens second location at the Peterborough Airport

The Good Baker owner Brad Katz, pictured with team member Katie McDonald, at their YMCA Peterborough location in 2023. In March 2024, Katz expanded with a second location at the Peterborough Airport, taking over operation of the airport's vacant restaurant after the previous operator left in 2021. The Good Baker YPQ is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)

Peterborough baker Brad Katz is flying high.

The owner and operator of The Good Baker cafe in downtown Peterborough has expanded with a second location at the Peterborough Airport, taking over operation of the airport’s vacant restaurant after the previous operator left in 2021.

The Good Baker YPQ — with “YPQ” being the International Air Transport Association location identifier for the Peterborough Airport — opened on March 26 at the airport terminal building at 925 Airport Road.

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Known for his delicious gluten-free baked goods, Katz launched the first location of The Good Baker just inside the YMCA’s Balsillie Family Branch in downtown Peterborough in late 2022, where he offers on-the-go breakfast and lunch options.

At The Good Baker YPQ, Katz also serves a range of breakfast and lunch options as well as his baked goods.

Although he has been baking for his whole life, Katz began his food career around 15 years ago when he launched the Kawartha Lakes Fudge Company, first with a retail location in Lakefield and then wholesale. After a few years as head baker at Millbrook’s Pastry Peddler, followed by a brief stint at the Butter Tart Factory, Katz began exploring options to start his own bakery.

The Good Baker YPQ menu. (Graphic courtesy of Brad Katz)
The Good Baker YPQ menu. (Graphic courtesy of Brad Katz)
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The Peterborough Airport has had a restaurant since the late 1960s, with customers including arriving and departing passengers and pilots, people who work at businesses located at the airport, and visitors who just want to enjoy a meal while watching the planes come and go.

The Good Baker YPQ is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. To contact the restaurant, call 705-775-2727.

For more information, follow The Good Baker on Facebook and Instagram.

Cases of whooping cough confirmed in Kawartha Lakes

The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU) is alerting parents and caregivers that there are confirmed cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, in the City of Kawartha Lakes.

As a result, HKPRDHU is reminding parents and guardians to ensure their children’s immunizations are up to date and on file with the local health unit.

Pertussis is a serious bacterial infection that affects the throat and lungs. It was one of the most common childhood diseases and a cause of child mortality in the 20th century. Routine childhood immunization for pertussis, along with protection from polio, tetanus and diphtheria, has significantly decreased the number of cases of the disease.

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Whooping cough can be introduced to communities through travel to countries with lower rates of vaccination, and it can circulate among those who are unvaccinated, under vaccinated, or those whose vaccine effectiveness has decreased over time, HKPRDHU noted in a media release.

It is very contagious and spreads via droplets from the noses and mouths of those who are infected, HKPRDHU said. While anyone can get whooping cough, it is most dangerous for children under the age of one year, and pregnant women.

“Immunization remains the best way to protect your child or yourself from getting sick with pertussis,” said Dr. Natalie Bocking, CEO and medical officer of health for HKPRDHU.

“Please familiarize yourself with the symptoms of pertussis and seek medical care if your child has these symptoms. Pertussis can be treated with antibiotics. Lastly, and most importantly, always ensure your child’s routine vaccinations are up to date and have been reported to the local public health unit.”

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Once a person is infected by pertussis it can take up to 20 days for them to develop symptoms. The bacterial infection begins like a cold, with a very runny nose.

After a few days, the typical irritating cough begins that becomes more frequent and severe. Coughing may be followed by a “whoop” sound before the next breath.

The coughing can be so aggressive that it causes children to vomit or have trouble breathing, HKPRDHU noted. The cough is usually severe for two to three weeks and then starts to get better, but it can last up to one to two months.

Diagnosed cases of pertussis are treated with antibiotics.

In Ontario, a vaccine series to prevent pertussis is started in infancy with booster doses in adolescence and adulthood. HKPRDHU asks parents and caregivers to check their own immunization records, as they may be eligible for a publicly funded pertussis-containing vaccine when the next booster is due.

HKPRDHU is holding immunization clinics for students or people who do not have a health care provider. To book an appointment, call 1-866-888-4577, extension 1507, or visit the HKPRDHU’s immunization clinics web page.

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According to the Government of Canada, pertussis is a disease that happens year-round everywhere in the world.

In Canada, between 1,000 and 3,000 people annually fall ill from pertussis. Worldwide, there are about 20 to 40 million cases of whooping cough and 400,000 deaths from pertussis each year.

Without treatment, pertussis can last for weeks or months, and can cause brain damage or even death, the federal government noted. “It is important that you and your children receive all of your vaccinations for protection of yourself and others.”

For more information about whooping cough, including what it sounds like, visit the Government of Canada’s pertussis web page.

City staff recommend cancellation of Peterborough’s Canada Day parade

A float in the Canada Day parade in Peterborough in 2010. (Photo: Peterborough Canada Day Parade / Facebook)

Peterborough city staff are recommending the annual Canada Day parade be cancelled and the $20,000 budgeted for the parade in 2024 instead be devoted to alternative events.

A report to be presented to city council at its general committee meeting on Monday (April 22) states the parade “is no longer a sustainable activity” due to a decline in the number of float entries over the past five years.

“Staff are instead planning for a wider range of alternative events that are a better use of budgeted funds, are more easily managed, and are suited to draw interest from the public,” states the report from community services commissioner Sheldon Laidman.

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According to the report, the number of float entries has declined since the pandemic. In 2019, there were 56 float entries, although only 16 participated due to heat and humidity. The parade was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic and, when it resumed in 2022, saw only 21 float entries that year and only 25 in 2023.

In comparison, the 2023 Santa Claus parade had move than 60 float entries.

“Considering the costs associated with road closures and the lower float participation numbers the parade is no longer either financially or logistically sustainable as a part of the Canada Day celebrations,” reads the report, noting that the city does not employ staff directly to run events and recreation and park staff have to manage them in addition to their regular job duties.

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Instead, the city plans to host a number of other activities on Canada Day, including:

  • A mid-morning family-friendly event at Millennium Park, offering several activities such as face painting, music and performers, Zumba, games, try-it activities, and refreshments.
  • An afternoon family-friendly music show and entertainment on the stage at Del Crary Park prior to the scheduled Peterborough Musicfest concert in the evening.
  • An evening fireworks event following the Peterborough Musicfest concert.

According to the report, a city staff working group was created to review previous Canada Day celebrations. The group consulted with community partners at the New Canadians Centre — which hosts annual multicultural celebrations that culminate on Canada Day — to review the proposed recommendations. Staff at the New Canadians Centre supported the recommendations and provided resources and contacts.

The group also consulted with representatives of Peterborough Musicfest about a city-run afternoon family-friendly music event prior to the evening concert. According to the report, festival organizers and the festival’s sound provider supported the afternoon event.

Local photographer Kirk Doughty captured this shot of the 2018 Canada Day fireworks over Little Lake in Peterborough. (Photo: Kirk Doughty)
Local photographer Kirk Doughty captured this shot of the 2018 Canada Day fireworks over Little Lake in Peterborough. (Photo: Kirk Doughty)

As for fireworks over Little Lake on Canada Day, another staff report to be presented to general committee on Monday is recommending the fireworks platform in Little Lake be decommissioned and disposed of, with fireworks displays launched from the T wharf and other approved sites instead.

According to the report from acting municipal operations commissioner Jen McFarlane and community services commissioner Sheldon Laidman, the Little Lake fireworks platform has failed several times in the past — most recently in January 2023 when it broke free of its moorings due to high water levels and drifted away, “risking catastrophic damage to critical infrastructure” including the Little Lake fountain.

City staff and a contractor were able to recover the platform and tow it to land, where it remained, with the Canada Day fireworks display for 2023 launched from the T wharf at a lower cost. Because it was no longer in use, the city did not insure the platform in 2023, saving around $2,000 in annual premiums.

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“If returned to Little Lake the fireworks platform will incur significant cost, and continued liability to the city’s fountain, as well as other assets on the Trent Severn Waterway,” the report states.

The report notes the estimated engineering costs to review and design a permanent platform would be $10,000 along with additional costs for anchoring and installation, for a total of $14,680, as well as insurance costs estimated at $2,000 per year.

The report adds that, although city staff have received suggestions that the platform could be repurposed as a dock for boats or for swimming, doing so would require additional costs that would exceed the costs of a dock designed and built for those purposes.

nightlifeNOW – April 18 to 24

The Weber Brothers Band will be celebrating the release of their new record "I'm Free" on Saturday afternoon during the Peterborough Musician Benevolent Association's monthly live music event at Dr. J's BBQ & Brews in downtown Peterborough. You can also see them perform at the Ganaraska Hotel in Port Hope on May 3. (Photo: Lance Anderson)

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, April 18 to Wednesday, April 24.

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).

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100 Acre Brewing Co.

390 Ashburnham Dr., Peterborough
705-243-2444

Coming Soon

Thursday, April 25
5:30-8pm - Open mic night hosted by Brad Renaud

Arthur's Pub

930 Burnham St., Cobourg
(905) 372-2105

Thursday, April 18

8-10:30pm - Open mic w/ Bruce Longman

Friday, April 19

8-11pm - Brian Bracken

Saturday, April 20

8-11pm - Robert Keyes

Monday, April 22

7:30-9:30pm - Local talent night ft The Colton Sisters

Bar 379 - The Old Twisted Wheel

379 Water St., Peterborough
705-742-0777

Thursday, April 18

8-10pm - Karaoke w/ Jesse Owen; 10pm-12am - DJ Noah William

Friday, April 19

9pm - Dial Up w/ Heartless Romantics, Night Danger, Zoftig ($15 in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/881936885967)

Saturday, April 20

8pm - Divves, Conebuster, Cricrom, Slyphd ($10 or PWYC)

Beamish House Pub

27 John St., Port Hope
905-885-8702

Saturday, April 20

3-6pm - Sarah Segal-Lazar

Black Horse Pub

452 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-0633

Thursday, April 18

7-10pm - Jazz & Blues Night ft. Rob Phillips

Friday, April 19

7-10pm - Brian McDonnell & Diane Williamson

Saturday, April 20

5-8pm - Jazz Month - Noah Abrahamse; 9pm - Pop Machine

Sunday, April 21

4-7pm - Washboard Hank & Mountain Muriel

Monday, April 22

7-10pm - Crash & Burn w/ Rick & Gailie

Tuesday, April 23

6-10pm - Open mic w/ Johann Burkhardt

Wednesday, April 24

6-9pm - Victoria Yeh & Mike Graham

Coming Soon

Friday, April 26
7:30-10:30pm - Keith Guy Band

Saturday, April 27
5-8pm - Johann Burkhardt; 9pm - Jazz Month - Steve Holt Quartet ft Perry White

Sunday, April 28
4-7pm - Cheryl Casselman Trio

Wednesday, May 1
6-9pm - Harry Hannah

Burleigh Falls Inn

4791 Highway 28, Burleigh Falls
(705) 654-3441

Friday, April 19

6-9pm - Tami J Wilde (no cover)

Coming Soon

Sunday, May 19
6pm - East Coast Kitchen Party ft dinner and live music from Tami J Wilde & Jocelynn Burford ($95 per person by reservation only)

Claymore Pub & Table

95 King St. W., Cobourg
905-372-5231

Thursday, April 18

7-10pm - Karaoke

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Coach & Horses Pub

16 York St. S., Lindsay
(705) 328-0006

Friday, April 19

10pm - Karaoke with DJ Ross

Saturday, April 20

10pm - Karaoke with DJ Ross

Crook & Coffer

231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-876-0505

Friday, April 19

8pm - Karaoke with Stoeten

Saturday, April 20

2-5pm - Hugh Beresford; 7:30-10:30pm - Nathan Miller

Tuesday, April 23

7-9pm - Piano Bar Tuesday w/ Jimmy Breslin

Dominion Hotel

113 Main St., Minden
(705) 286-6954

Coming Soon

Thursday, May 2
5-8pm - Gord Kidd (no cover)

Friday, May 3
7:30pm - Open mic

Thursday, May 9
7:30pm - Ian Tamblyn ($25 in advance at https://dominionhotelpub.tickit.ca/)

Sunday, May 12
11am & 1pm - Mother's Day Brunch Buffet w/ Heart & Soul & guest vocalist Karen Frybort

Dr. J's BBQ & Brews

282 Aylmer St., Peterborough
(705) 874-5717

Saturday, April 20

1-4pm - PMBA Deluxe Live presents Weber Brothers "I'm Free" Album Release Party ($20 donation suggested)

VIDEO: "I'm Free" - The Weber Brothers

Erben Eatery & Bar

189 Hunter St W,, Peterborough
705-304-1995

Friday, April 19

8pm - Shoemaker Levee, Jeff Gutteridge, Sean Jamieson, The Bombshell Deluxe (PWYC at the door)

Saturday, April 20

9pm - Ty Wilson (no cover)

Sunday, April 21

6-11pm - New Music Awards ($10 in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/860139248647)

Monday, April 22

4-6pm - Lounge Music w/ Doug McLean

Tuesday, April 23

8pm - Karaoke 1st Year Anniversary w/ Ian Clement

Wednesday, April 24

8-11pm - Open mic

Fenelon Falls Brewing Co.

4 May St., Fenelon Falls
(705) 215-9898

Friday, April 19

6:30-10pm - Open mic hosted by Boots of Hazard

Ganaraska Hotel

30 Ontario St., Port Hope
(905) 885-9254

Saturday, April 20

2-6pm - Marty and the Mojos

Coming Soon

Friday, May 3
9pm - The Weber Brothers ($30 in advance at The Ganny and Zap Records in Cobourg)

Friday, May 10
8pm - Alt Ganny 5 ft Disugsteen (Teenage Head tribute) w/ Hallaphant, Nothing Serious ($20 in advance at https://altganny5.eventbrite.com or at door)

The Granite

45 Bridge St. W., Bancroft
613-332-1500

Saturday, April 20

5-8pm - Kirk Bates

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Honkey Tonk Angel Bar (Golden Wheel Restaurant)

6725 Highway 7, Peterborough
(705) 749-6838

Coming Soon

Friday, May 24
8pm - Gunslingers ($20)

Jethro's Bar + Stage

137 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-931-0617

Thursday, April 18

8-10pm - Sarah Burton; 10pm-12am - The Union

Friday, April 19

6-8pm - Carpe Noctem; 8-10pm - Sarah Segal Lazar; 10pm-1am - Boo Radley Project

Saturday, April 20

3-6pm - Crocky's Tune Saloon w/ guest John Borra; 6-8pm - Dan Hick & Lucy Ferrill; 8-10pm - Sue Newberry & The Law w/ Kayla Howran; 10pm-1am - Doghouse Orchestra

Sunday, April 21

3-6pm - Blues Jam w/ Al Black

Wednesday, April 24

8-10pm - Karaoke hosted by Anne Shebib

Kawartha Country Wines

2452 County Road 36,, Buckhorn
705-657-9916

Coming Soon

Sunday, May 12
5-8pm - Dinner & Music Night ft Carling Stephen & Rob Phillips ($77+HST)

Kelly's Homelike Inn

205 3rd Street, Cobourg
905-372-3234

Friday, April 19

7-10pm - Jeff Biggar

Saturday, April 20

4-8pm - DCB

The Locker at The Falls

9 Lindsay St., Fenelon Falls
705-887-6211

Friday, April 19

7:30-10pm - Open mic night hosted by Rick Hughes

Saturday, April 20

7-10pm - Daniel Humphreys

The Lounge in the Hollow Valley Lodge

1326 Kawagama Lake Rd., Dorset
705-766-1980

Coming Soon

Saturday, May 18
8pm - Van Halen One ($25 in advance at https://www.hollowvalley.ca/live-music)

Mainstreet Bar & Grill

1939 Lakehurst Road, Buckhorn
(705) 657-9094

Coming Soon

Saturday, April 27
8pm - Rob Donaldson

McThirsty's Pint

166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 743-2220

Friday, April 19

9pm-1am - Live music TBA

Saturday, April 20

9pm-1am - Live music TBA

Sunday, April 21

8pm - Open mic

Tuesday, April 23

8pm - Live music TBA

Wednesday, April 24

9pm - Live music TBA

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Moody's Bar & Grill

3 Tupper St., Millbrook
(705) 932-6663

Coming Soon

Tuesday, May 7
8-10pm - Tom Eastland

Olympia Restaurant

106 Kent St. W., Lindsay
705-328-1444

Saturday, April 20

5:30-8pm - Jazz Music ft Mike Graham & Dennis Pendrith (reservations recommended)

Coming Soon

Saturday, April 27
5:30-8pm - House Brand Trio (reservations recommended)

Pig's Ear Tavern

144 Brock St., Peterborough
(705) 745-7255

Saturday, April 20

8pm - Bobby Dove w/ Babe Chorus ($5)

Tuesday, April 23

9pm - Open mic

Porch & Pint

172 Lansdowne St. E., Peterborough
(705) 750-0598

Sunday, April 21

2-5:30pm - Joslynn Burford

The Publican House

300 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 874-5743

Thursday, April 18

7-9pm - SJ Riley

Friday, April 19

7-9pm - Chris Collins

Puck' N Pint Sports Pub

871 Chemong Rd., Peterborough
(705) 741-1078

Friday, April 19

7pm - Andy & The Boys

Saturday, April 20

8pm - Brian Black

Royal Crown Pub & Grill

4 King St. E., Colborne
905-355-1900

Saturday, April 20

8pm - Tyler Cochrane & Hayden Kelso

Springville Tap n' Grill

2714 Brown Line, Peterborough
(705) 876-9994

Coming Soon

Sunday, April 28
3-6pm - Open mic hosted by Backspin

Tap & Tonic Pub & Bistro

18-22 Bridge St. W., Campbellford
(705) 947-2333

Thursday, April 18

7-10pm - Justin Cooper

The Thirsty Goose

63 Walton St., Port Hope

Friday, April 19

8pm-12am - Live music TBA

Saturday, April 20

8pm-12am - Live music TBA

The Venue

286 George Street North, Peterborough
(705) 876-0008

Coming Soon

Saturday, May 4
8pm - Tyler Joe Miller, Shawn Austin & Andrew Hyatt - The Country Mixtape Tour ($40.05 in advance at https://www.ticketweb.ca/event/tyler-joe-miller-shawn-austin-the-venue-tickets/13275783)

Wednesday, May 29
8pm - Chris Webby - Last Wednesday Tour Part 2 w/ Sean Ski, Robbie G., Zack Weston, Bru Casteliano ($40 - $340 in advance at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/845119574397)

White House Hotel

173 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 741-2444

Thursday, April 18

9-11pm - Karaoke

Peterborough’s Patrick Steeves prepares to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to the benefit of Parkinson’s disease research

Peterborough's Patrick Steeves, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2022, will be making the 19,341-foot trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in August 2024 as a member of Team Fox raising funds for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. As a member of Team Fox, Steeves must raise at least $10,000 for the foundation. He will cover the costs of the trip out of his own pocket. (Photos: Patrick Steeve /Stephan Bechart)

Compared to the challenge of living with Parkinson’s disease, climbing to the summit of the world’s fourth-highest mountain peak is a walk in the park, figuratively but literally as well.

Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania, to be exact, where Peterborough resident Patrick Steeves will find himself this coming August as a member of a small Team Fox contingent that will trek 19,341 feet to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

As a fundraiser for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, each member of the team — Steeves included — is required to fundraise a minimum of $10,000 for continued research into the neurological disorder that, this year alone, will see 6,000 new cases diagnosed in Canada.

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Back in 2018, Steeves, then age 48, knew something wasn’t right.

“I had facial paralysis and I was drooling,” recalls the longtime high school math teacher. “I’d go to the doctor and it was always an allergic reaction or Bell’s palsy. After about the third or fourth visit, they were like ‘This needs to be looked at.'”

Steeves’ initial Parkinson’s diagnosis was confirmed in April 2022, at which point he immediately underwent LSVT Big physiotherapy. Medications also became part his new reality.

Peterborough high school math teacher Patrick Steeves first developed symptoms of Parkinson's disease in 2018 at the age of 48, although he didn't receive an initial diagnosis until 2022, at which point he underwent physiotherapy and began taking medications. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Steeves)
Peterborough high school math teacher Patrick Steeves first developed symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in 2018 at the age of 48, although he didn’t receive an initial diagnosis until 2022, at which point he underwent physiotherapy and began taking medications. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Steeves)

An acronym for Lee Silverman Voice Treatment, LSVT Big trains people with Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions to move differently via gestures and actions that are smaller and slower.

“Luckily someone offers it here in Peterborough,” says Steeves. “It made me more active and easier to do things that typically I would be kind of hunched up doing. It encourages a better posture. It exaggerates your movements which makes them not so small when you’re actually doing them.”

“Everyone (diagnosed) has a different outlook in how things will turn out for them. Because I’m fairly young, it means my symptoms may stay at bay longer. One thing they recommend is a lot of exercise at the beginning. That seems to delay some of the symptoms.”

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves. Symptoms start slowly and gradually worsen as the condition progresses over time. Although there’s no cure, medication and rehabilitation can improve symptoms.

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With encouragement and support from his wife Marcia and their two teen daughters, Steeves continued his therapy. In addition, he educated himself via information sessions and webinars offered through the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research website. In March 2023, that led to his receiving an email that introduced him to a truly once-in-a-life opportunity.

“They were looking for participants for this trip to Tanzania in August. It would be an eight-day climb (of Mount Kilimanjaro). ‘Would there be any interest?’ I said ‘Yes, I’d like to talk about this,’ thinking there would be an application process. That phone call ended up being the application and I was accepted.”

“I did a lot of research. What was intriguing is it (the climb) is not technical. There’s no rappelling. There’s no climbing around ice sheets. It’s more of a very long hike. But altitude is the concern I’ll have to deal with.”

Team Fox at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in August 2023, raising more than $152,000 for Parkinson's research. As a member of Team Fox for 2024, Peterborough's Patrick Steeves must raise at least $10,000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. He will cover the costs of the trip out of his own pocket. (Photo: Team Fox)
Team Fox at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in August 2023, raising more than $152,000 for Parkinson’s research. As a member of Team Fox for 2024, Peterborough’s Patrick Steeves must raise at least $10,000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. He will cover the costs of the trip out of his own pocket. (Photo: Team Fox)

Joining Steeves for the August 8 to 18 adventure will be three others diagnosed with Parkinson’s and a representative of the foundation. As for the $10,000 in pledges Steeves is required to raise, the first $3,500 of that is due on May with the total amount expected by October 4.

“It (fundraising) has been by word of mouth and through Facebook. It has been through the interoffice mail here (at Adam Scott Collegiate) and with the school board. I’m also a member of the Masonic Lodge, so it was in a monthly bulletin that went out to the entire district.”

As for travel costs and other incidentals, Steeves has to cover that out of pocket, making it clear every cent of the $10,000 he raises will go directly to where it’s intended.

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In preparation for the climb, Steeves has ramped up his activity.

“I’m not overly active … I do like to sit and watch TV. But I’ve been doing a lot more walking, adding some hills to my walks. I did weight training after surgery I had last year, so there’s still a lot of that going on.”

“My wife likes to tell me to take a hike, so she was very happy for me to sign onto this — extremely supportive. The same with our kids. They thought it was a bit of a joke at the beginning — ‘Oh yeah, real funny Dad’ — but now they’re kind of warmed up to it.”

Established in 2000, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s through an aggressively funded research agenda as well as further development of improved therapies for those living daily with the disease.

The foundation’s Alberta-born namesake — an awarded and much-loved TV and film actor, author and activist — was diagnosed in 1991 at age 29. He later retired from acting to focus fulltime on advocacy and fundraising, with the foundation he founded raising more than $1.75 billion to date. A documentary about Fox’s life was released last year.

VIDEO: “Still – A Michael J. Fox Movie” trailer

Team Fox, meanwhile, is the foundation’s grassroots member-driven fundraising arm. Since 2006, events held worldwide have raised more than $110 million, all with the foundation’s support.

“There doesn’t seem to be any skeletons in his closet,” says Steeves of Fox’s global appeal as the foundation’s driving force.

“He’s that face that people trust because they know, in his youth, how active he was. They see him and they think ‘Wow, look at this guy. He’s still doing it.”

Not unlike many who have been diagnosed, Steeves shares something with Fox: both were diagnosed at an age that is far younger than that of those whom many typically affiliate the disease with. According to the foundation, only one in five diagnosed experience symptoms before the age of 50.

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“I think people, when they hear the word Parkinson’s, equate it somebody in a nursing home or somebody who is bedridden or someone that isn’t very active, but there are teenagers exhibiting symptoms,” says Steeves. “Things were causing me issues, but I never thought it could be Parkinson’s. It just didn’t come to mind at all.”

Now, looking forward rather than back, Steeves can’t wait for the climb, but admits to some “trepidation.”

“It’s like, oh my goodness, I’m going to Africa. I’m going to be dumped at an airport I’m not familiar with, all by myself until I meet the other people. Visas, passports, the plane fare, plus I’m working full time and trying to get an exercise program in to make sure I’m ready. It’s a lot. It’s keeping me busy.”

Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano located in Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania, Africa. It has three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest single free-standing mountain above sea level in the world. It is part of Kilimanjaro National Park and is a major hiking and climbing destination. (Photo: Wikipedia)
Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano located in Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania, Africa. It has three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest single free-standing mountain above sea level in the world. It is part of Kilimanjaro National Park and is a major hiking and climbing destination. (Photo: Wikipedia)

Saying his diagnosis “might raise me into retirement a little faster” than planned, Steeves says there’s no definitive long-range plan in terms of undertaking a similar adventure beyond the August trek.

“I’m fairly healthy now but I don’t know if I can participate in it (the climb) again next year. I want to take advantage now while I can do it.”

For more information about the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, visit www.michaeljfox.org.

Meanwhile, to donate to Team Fox in support of Steeves, visit tinyurl.com/PatrickSteeves.

Habitat for Humanity’s Peterborough South ReStore to close on June 15

Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region's Peterborough South ReStore, located in the industrial building at 550 Braidwood Avenue, will be closing on June 15, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region)

Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region’s ReStore location on Braidwood Avenue will be closing on June 15.

The non-profit organization announced on Wednesday (April 17) that its lease is ending on the building that houses one of its two Peterborough ReStores — home improvement and building supply stores that sell gently used building materials, furniture, appliances, and home décor items.

While Habitat has been searching for a suitable new location for the ReStore at 550 Braidwood Avenue — known as the Peterborough South ReStore — in advance of the end of the lease, it has been unable to find one.

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In addition to the Peterborough South ReStore, Habitat operates the Peterborough North ReStore at 300 Milroy Drive and the Lindsay ReStore at 55 Angeline Street North. Sales at the ReStores fund Habitat’s operations to help local families and individuals have access to safe, decent, and affordable homeownership.

Originally located at 780 Erskine Avenue, the Peterborough South ReStore moved to 550 Braidwood Avenue in 2014, in the large industrial building that also houses Global Point Logistics, which owns the property.

Global Point Logistics is planning to build a 77-unit residential development in vacant land at the northeast corner of the intersection of Braidwood Avenue and Monaghan Road. The development, which would include a four-storey apartment building and townhouses, was approved by Peterborough city council last June.

Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region's ReStores are home improvement and building supply stores that sell gently used building materials, furniture, appliances, and home décor items.  Sales at the ReStores fund Habitat's operations to help local families and individuals have access to safe, decent, and affordable homeownership. (Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region)
Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region’s ReStores are home improvement and building supply stores that sell gently used building materials, furniture, appliances, and home décor items. Sales at the ReStores fund Habitat’s operations to help local families and individuals have access to safe, decent, and affordable homeownership. (Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region)
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While Habitat says the closure of Peterborough South ReStore will not affect its operations, the organization is encouraging the community to continue supporting Habitat’s work by shopping at the Peterborough North ReStore and the Lindsay ReStore. Any donations to Habitat should also be redirected to one of these two ReStores.

A store-wide end-of-lease sale at the Braidwood Avenue location will begin on Monday, April 22nd, with 50 per cent off all items.

Habitat is continuing the search for an available commercial space to replace the Peterborough South Restore, and is asking anyone with information to contact them at info@habitatpkr.ca or 705-874-0201.

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