Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Kawarthas region for Wednesday evening (June 5).

The severe thunderstorm watch is currently in effect only for southern Kawartha Lakes.

A line of thunderstorms preceding a cold front is moving across southwestern Ontario and Lake Huron. This line of thunderstorms, which is expected to push through central and eastern Ontario Wednesday evening, could bring wind gusts up to 90 km/h, heavy downpours, and up to nickel-sized hail.

Emergency Management Ontario recommends that you take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches.

Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Water-related activities may be unsafe due to violent and sudden gusts of wind over bodies of water. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors. If you hear thunder, then lightning is close enough to be dangerous.

Environment Canada issues severe thunderstorm watches when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall.

When Tracey Randall had the “best summers of her life” working at the Peterborough Summer Festival of Lights in 1987 and 1988, there was no way she could have known back then that, more than 35 years later, she would be at the helm of Canada’s longest-running free outdoor concert series as it heads into its 37th season.

Randall still remembers those first days on the job. Then a tourism and business student at Fleming College, she recalls the “amazing” summers driving boat number two in the illuminated boat show that was a feature of the festival in those days, while learning from festival founder Fred Anderson.

“I spent two years working for Fred, so I really got to know who he was and what he wanted to do with bringing live music to Peterborough at no cost,” she says. “Sometimes the students (now) will come back to me and say ‘That was the best summer of my life’, and that’s what I want to hear because it was for me as well.”

Though the Peterborough native has been the general manager of Musicfest since 2012, the festival’s board and staff agreed the title did not do justice for the role Randall has played and continues to play for the not-for-profit organization. She is now officially the executive director of Peterborough Musicfest.

“The title of general manager doesn’t quite justify what Tracey does for this organization,” says Musicfest marketing and communications manager Raff Melito. “So many not-for-profits have realigned their structure to change the title of general manager to executive director, because there’s always the question if there’s someone between general manager and the board of directors, and there is not. There is Tracey, so we just wanted to elevate her title to better reflect what it is she does for the organization.”

Despite the fun of summers spent at the festival back in the late 1980s, Randall moved to Toronto and spent 15 years working her way up the corporate ladder of a Fortune 500 company. Then she was determined to work the Olympic Games when it came to Canada — Randall was a competitive figure skater growing up — and, sure enough, worked the international circuit, first in Beijing in 2008 and Vancouver in 2010.

In between, however, Randall did some travelling and spent a year volunteering in Africa, which encouraged her to return to her home in Peterborough following the Olympics.

“I really was grounded and living a different life there, helping children in need,” she says. “I learned a lot about myself and was able to slow down and just take it easy and I realized that I wanted a different lifestyle.”

So, after her involvement with the Olympics, she returned to her hometown where she still had so many connections and was hired to cover a maternity leave at Musicfest.

“I just planned to stay here in Peterborough for about a year looking after the festival, and then pass it back and go and work at the Pan Am Games,” she recalls. “Now here I am, 12 years later, still running the festival.”

In her role at Musicfest, Randall has been able to do the event management she learned to love so much throughout her previous careers.

“I love to juggle and I like giving back to my community and solving puzzles and putting them together, and I think it just works well with my personality,” she says, noting it goes back to her days in figure skating. “It says a lot about when I was a little girl on the ice at Peterborough Memorial Centre when I was eight, and they put a light on me by myself and I’ll never forget it. And now I have no problem taking the mic standing in front of that crowd and speaking.”

In the more than 20 years Randall was away from Peterborough, Musicfest has grown into what it is today, seeing thousands of locals and visitors enjoying outdoor concerts at Del Crary Park every summer (except during the pandemic), while generating more than $4 million in revenue for the local community. The concerts have always been free admission, thanks to the 120 sponsors of the festival, 30 per cent have been involved since the beginning.

Since Randall has been leading the team, she is “proud” that Musicfest has worked to ensure the festival is barrier-free, opening it up to many who were unable to come down before, with “all walks of life” now in attendance.

“We’ve opened up the park to so many people that didn’t come down before,” she says. “I think they come now because, during the pandemic, a lot of people needed music to move ahead. I’m just proud to see a lot of new faces at the park.”

“People have changed their choices of purchase (to local businesses sponsoring the festival) because they see the (sponsor’s) logo down at the park and know that a business is supporting the free music, so they want to support them — and that’s what community is all about.”

Randall adds that it’s also about encouraging an immersion in music and art that doesn’t require having to go all the way to Toronto or other areas. She names local artists like Millbrook’s Serena Ryder and Bailieboro’s Jimmy Bowskill as some of the many musicians who were able to get their start on the Fred Anderson stage.

“Look how far they’re gone after Peterborough,” she notes. “We are just really proud that some of these acts could start or have started their music here and they can move on and move elsewhere. That’s why we want the locals to be here and inspire them to sing and play music and instruments. We’re very proud and we feel we have reflected and inspired them to become better musicians.”

Over the years, Randall has seen many seeing local and up-and-coming artists get their start at Musicfest, which has also hosted big names like Carly Rae Jepsen, Tom Cochrane, Gordon Lightfoot, Our Lady Peace, Walk Off the Earth, Sloan, Randy Bachman, Serena Ryder, and many more.

However, one of the best parts of the job for Randall is being able to connect with the young people who work or volunteer at the festival ever summer. The festival now employs more summer students, and she is drawn to seeing youth spend their summers involved in Musicfest the way she was all those years ago.

“I always think about Fred when I’m training them because I remember being there with him and wondering what it was going to be like and that first day was amazing,” she says. “I really try to take in the first day every year and watch the new students and how they enjoy that first night with 12,000 people in the park.”

“We have volunteers that come in at age 14 as an usher and come in as a timid, quiet person still trying to find themselves but, by the end of the summer, they’re someone different because they’ve worked with this incredible crowd.”

She credits both the festival’s success and her new executive director title to the staff, volunteers, and sponsors, as well as those who crowd Del Crary Park every Wednesday and Saturday night to enjoy the live music.

“I’m just so proud of how far it’s come and feel I’ve worked many hours into making sure this festival can still exist and move ahead,” Randall says. “But I really value community and connection and that’s what pushes me to keep going.”

“It’s the connection with our staff and our sponsors and so I am very proud of this offer that they have given me. I didn’t expect it, but I thank them for having the faith in me to keep going and hopefully we’ll move further and grow more. Let’s see where we can grow with this.”

For more information about Peterborough Musicfest, including the upcoming season which begins with a free concert by Canadian country artist Tenille Townes on June 29, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca.

Donning red shoes and hitting the pavement, Peterborough community members helped YWCA Peterborough Haliburton surpass its fundraising goal for this year’s “Walk a Mile in Their Shoes” event.

YWCA Peterborough Haliburton has announced that Walk A Mile In Their Shoes generated $20,871 for the organization, exceeding its fundraising goal of $20,000. The outcome of the 2024 event brings the total funds raised in support of the YWCA through Walk A Mile to almost $1 million since the walk first took place in Peterborough in 2009.

Tina Thornton, director of philanthropy for YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, shared her thoughts with kawarthaNOW about what made the event successful.

“It’s the giving spirit of our amazing community, showing their ongoing support for the YWCA and our mission, that allowed us to reach this incredible goal,” Thornton said. “That includes all of our participants, donors, volunteers, and our corporate and community sponsors, who were a big reason we were able to promote the event so widely across all channels.”

There’s another reason, Thornton said.

“I should also mention the fact that domestic violence and abuse is an epidemic in our community. Not only has it been recognized as such by our city and county councils, but it speaks to the huge numbers of people who have experienced violence first-hand, or know someone who has, and wanted to help others through supporting this event.”

In addition to monetary gifts from donors and sponsors, Walk A Mile In Their Shoes was supported with $48,094 of in-kind value from sponsors to cover the costs of presenting and promoting the event.

“It was amazing to witness so many people stepping up to join us in speaking out about how gender-based violence is impacting our communities and the lives of survivors and their loved ones,” added Kim Dolan, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton executive director, in a media release.

“I want to express my deep gratitude to everyone who gave their time, their donations, and their voices to help make Walk A Mile such a success this year. I truly believe that with the support and engagement of people like you, we can reach our vision of living without violence and fear.”

Proceeds from Walk A Mile In Their Shoes will support the YWCA’s “Journey of Care,” which encompasses each of the signature programs and services offered to the women, children, and gender-diverse people it serves. Community support ensures that a woman who is fleeing gender-based violence not only has a safe place to recover, but also the wrap-around healing programming she needs as she stands on her own, walking her path to the life of her choosing, free from fear and violence, the release noted.

Thornton hopes the event has a lasting impact.

“Our hope really is to continue to raise more awareness about what the YWCA does for women in our community and why it’s so important,” she said. “Ultimately, we hope to build our community contributions even further so that we can help more women and children find their path on their journey to independence and healing after abuse.”

On the heels of the event, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton is recognizing its top fundraisers.

The trophy for the top team will be presented to Team Scotia of Scotiabank Kawartha Centre on Hunter Street in Peterborough. Team Scotia members raised $2,588. Scotiabank also announced it will be matching the funds raised, bringing the total for Team Scotia up to $5,176.

John D’Altoe, branch manager for Scotiabank Kawartha Centre, will be awarded the trophy for top individual effort for raising a total of $442.

“We are extremely happy that we are in a position to make an impact in our community,” D’Altoe said. “It is very important for us at Scotiabank to ensure that we are an effective ally, not only in our workplace but also in the communities we live and support. The Walk a Mile in Their Shoes allows us to bring awareness to and help end gender-based violence against women, children and gender-diverse individuals in our community.”

Walk A Mile In Their Shoes is one of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s most popular community events, and returned this year after a four-year hiatus. Around 100 participants, volunteers, sponsor representatives and community supporters gathered at Confederation Park in Peterborough for the May 24 event.

Eight local dignitaries joined Dolan in speaking at the opening ceremony, “sharing their compassion for woman-identified people who have been impacted by violence and abuse in our community,” YWCA Peterborough Haliburton noted.

“Several referenced the declaration of gender-based violence as an epidemic by councils in the city of Peterborough and in Peterborough county in November and December 2023 respectively, and the need to continue working toward the rest of the 86 recommended actions from the final report of the Renfrew Inquest in June 2022.”

The recommendations stem from a coroner’s inquest into the murders of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk, and Nathalie Warmerdam in Renfrew County.

With Canadian Multiculturalism Day approaching on June 27, the New Canadians Centre is kicking off the third annual Canadian Multicultural Festival in Nogojiwanong-Peterborough in June with the launch of the month-long Multicultural Food Crawl.

First celebrated in 2003, Canadian Multiculturalism Day is dedicated to celebrating the diverse cultures that make up Canada. Over the past year, the New Canadians Centre — which is marking its 45th anniversary this year — supported a record number of more than 2,000 newcomers speaking 76 languages from more than 100 countries, with each newcomer adding to the cultural fabric of the community.

“Celebrating the richness of multiculturalism is at the heart of community-building,” says New Canadians Centre executive director Andy Cragg. “We may be one small organization in one part of a huge country, but in celebrations like these and in the work that the New Canadians does every day, we are on the front lines of building an inclusive and prosperous multicultural society.”

For the Multicultural Food Crawl, the New Canadians Centre has teamed up with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) to highlight international dishes available at 10 restaurants in downtown Peterborough.

The participating restaurants are Ariyana, Bhojan, Cork & Bean, Curry Village, Fresh Dreams, La Mesita Restaurante, Levantine Grill, Milk + Tea Shop, Oasis Mediterranean Grill (OMG), and Village of Thai.

Until June 30, for every $10 you spend at one of the participating restaurants, you will receive a stamp to add to your Multicultural Food Passport. Passports can be picked up at any of the participating restaurants or at the New Canadians Centre’s office at 221 Romaine Street in downtown Peterborough. Collect six stamps and enter a draw to win one of three $100 Boro gift cards that can be redeemed at downtown businesses.

Participating Restaurants – Multicultural Festival Food Crawl

“In Spain, our culture, our unity, and our love starts from the table where we spend hours talking with families and friends while sharing family-style meals,” says Monica Silva, who, with her husband Alvaro De La Guardia, owns participating restaurant Fresh Dreams. “Through my dishes and Fresh Dreams, I want to show the community a part of Europe and my culture.”

As part of the Multicultural Food Crawl, the New Canadians Centre is inviting everyone to attend Flavours of the World Sampling Day on Friday, June 28th during the non-profit organization’s 45th Anniversary Block Party at 221 Romaine Street, where you can taste a sample of dishes from each of the participating restaurants between 2 and 6 p.m., while supplies last.

The New Canadians Centre is encouraging participants to share their love of Peterborough’s international cuisine by voting for their favourite restaurant in the Multicultural Food Crawl at bit.ly/NCC_FoodCrawl. Share your experience during Multicultural Food Crawl by tagging the New Canadians Centre @newcanadianscentre #multiculturalfoodcrawlptbo on Instagram or Facebook, with two posts drawn at random to win a $25 Boro gift card.

In addition to the Multicultural Food Crawl, Flavours of the World Sampling Day, and the New Canadians Centre’s 45th Anniversary Block Party, there are more activities taking place in Peterborough during June’s Canadian Multicultural Festival.

• Wednesday, June 19 – Canadian Multicultural Festival launch featuring a family-friendly Bollywood Dance Party & Marketplace from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Millennium Park (no registration required)
• Thursday, June 20 – “Our Home” World Refugee Day Community Conversation Panel from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Peterborough Public Library (RSVP to secure a spot)
• Saturday, June 22 – Family-friendly Zumba Party from 3 to 5 p.m. at Quaker Foods City Square (no registration required)
• Sunday, June 23 – Jollof Rice Cooking Class from 12 to 3 p.m. at the New Canadians Centre (advance registration required)
• Monday, June 24 – Language Exchange (learn common words and phrases in Arabic, French, Spanish, Hindi) from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the New Canadians Centre (no registration required)
• Tursday, June 25 – “Sip Around the World” Coffee and Tea Tasting from 2 to 4 p.m. at the New Canadians Centre (advance registration required)

For more information about the Canadian Multicultural Festival, including the Multicultural Food Crawl and other events (including those requiring registration or RSVP), visit nccpeterborough.ca/multiculturalfestival/.

Ahead of the season-opening play Onion Skins & Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes in July, Millbrook’s 4th Line Theatre is partnering with the Peterborough Museum & Archives to host an event inviting community members to share stories and learn about the women in the region who toiled on farms during World War II.

Held on Sunday, June 9th from 1 to 2:30 p.m. “Memories of the Farmerettes” will include a discussion between Kim Blackwell, 4th Line Theatre’s managing artistic director. and Bonnie Sitter, the co-author of the 2019 book Onion Skins & Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes upon which the play is based.

“Bonnie is such a dynamic and energetic human, and her mission in life right now is to elevate the stories of the Farmerettes,” says Blackwell. “Nobody’s ever heard of them, unless you are a farmer, so it’s really almost a completely unknown part of Ontario’s history.”

“Farmerettes” is the term given to the young women who worked on farms across Canada during World War II, keeping the troops and all Canadians fed while the young men who normally worked the farms were fighting overseas. Often travelling far from home and most with no previous farming experience, the women spent long hours weeding, hoeing, and harvesting, but many of the surviving Farmerettes — who are all in their 90s now — continue to look back at the time as the best summers of their lives.

“This was a chance for them to get away from home and live on their own and have some freedom, maybe for the first time in their lives,” says Blackwell. “Once they get there and they’re out from under the thumbs of family and they’re in the much bigger world, they can start to think about what they, as human beings, really want.”

For many women, the summers away were life-changing, often resulting in meeting the men they would later marry, or wanting to stay in farming long-term.

VIDEO: Bonnie Sitter on the Farmerettes

“It was really hard physical work that they were doing, but their bodies were strong and healthy,” says Blackwell. “The stories they tell are about picking strawberries eight to 10 hours a day and then getting up into the trees for cherries, knocking the peaches over and being covered in the peach fuzz — an incredible irritant — and smelling like onions. It was really back-breaking physically tough work in the hot sun.”

“Memories of the Farmerettes” calls for local farmers, community members, and more to share stories, memorabilia, and photos about Farmerettes, while inviting others to listen to the often-overlooked histories, including Ontario’s agricultural and rural histories. Some people may have had a Farmerette in their family or as a neighbour, or perhaps a local farming family hosted a Farmerette.

“We’re trying to activate and access and partner with women in our region,” says Blackwell. “This is a springboard to really celebrating and acknowledging and digging into the women who work in farming in our region.”

Last year, 4th Line Theatre hosted a similar event at the Kitchener Public Library, where the public was invited to share stories and memories.

“There aren’t as many Farmerettes anymore, but there’s a lot of families,” says Blackwell. “And we found as well that there were a lot of families who didn’t even know their moms were Farmerettes, because people just did their thing and then got on with the business of living their lives.”

The “Memories of the Farmerettes” community gathering comes ahead of the world premiere of Onion Skins & Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes by playwright Alison Lawrence, based on the 2019 book by Sitter and Shirleyan English. Directed by Autumn Smith, the outdoor production will be staged at Winslow Farm Mondays to Saturdays at 6 p.m. from July 1 to 20.

A resident of Exeter north of London in southwestern Ontario, Sitter first became aware of the Farmerettes when she found an old photograph of three young girls dressed in farm work clothes with “Farmerettes 1946” written on the back.

She did some research and wrote a story in 2018 that found its way to London resident and former journalist Shirleyan English, who it turns out had worked as a Farmerette on the Sitter’s farm in Thedford and was planning to write her own book about the Farmerettes. The two women eventually teamed up to write a book together, featuring a collection of photos, letters, and memories from Farmerettes across the country.

“Many of the Farmerettes do talk about it being the summer of their life, and I think that’s the number one theme,” says Blackwell about the play. “The really interesting part for Alison Lawrence was finding some tension and drama but, when you put people together in a situation where there is physical and mental challenges with the backdrop of the Second World War, she was able to find lots of great stuff.”

With two of the actresses performing in the play of Japanese descent, the play also references Japanese internments during World War II, when some 21,000 Japanese Canadians living on the coast in British Columbia were detained and dispossessed of their property on the assumption their loyalties were with Japan. Many of the interned families were sent to labour camps and some ended up working on farms in Ontario.

The play is structured with six young actresses playing a multitude of roles, with each act centred around different Farmerettes. Included in the cast are 4th Line veteran Rebecca Birrell (The Tilco Strike) and Aimée Gordon, who worked a few seasons as a member of 4th Line Theatre’s Young Company project where young performers work alongside industry professionals and will be making her 4th Line debut.

Joining them at Winslow Farm for the first time are Reena Goze, Carina Sălăjan, Alicia Salvador, and Megan Murphy (not to be confused with the local filmmaker and performer).

Like many Canadians, Blackwell admits she didn’t know about the Farmerettes but has learned a lot since a donor first suggested 4th Line produce a play based on the popular book.

“I always love stories of little-known Canadian and Ontario histories so this fits in perfectly with that,” she says. “We always try at 4th Line to educate, entertain, and enthrall audiences. I think this play will do all three of those things and it is quite joyful as well, so we will continue to honour that history.”

While the “Memories of the Farmerettes” community gathering at the Peterborough Museum & Archives (300 Hunter St. E.) is free to attend, seating is very limited. To reserve a seat, call 4th Line theatre’s Box Office at 705-932-4445 or email boxoffice@4thlinetheatre.on.ca.

The village of Lakefield is getting a new Habitat for Humanity ReStore, which will boast more than 10,000 square feet of space for new and used furniture, appliances, housewares, and home building materials.

The Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) ReStore will open this summer in the former Overstock Liquidation building, which is located at 3001 Lakefield Rd. The new store will enable Habitat PKR to extend its reach and continue supporting local families and individuals through affordable homeownership, the organization said.

“With the end-of-lease closure of our Peterborough South ReStore, we were looking for a suitable location for a Habitat ReStore across our region which encompasses the city and county of Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and the Haliburton Highlands,” Jenn MacDonald, communications and donor services manager for Habitat PKR, told kawarthaNOW.

“An opportunity arose with the location in Lakefield, which served our needs for a ReStore and provided the opportunity to expand our reach into the township of Selwyn,” MacDonald said. “The location provides great exposure for our organization and is located perfectly at the fork in the road when travelling to and from Lakefield, Buckhorn, and Ennismore.”

Habitat ReStores are non-profit home improvement and building supply stores that accept and resell quality new and gently used building materials, furniture, appliances, and home décor items.

Shopping, donating, and volunteering at a Habitat ReStore “is a socially conscious decision,” as funds generated cover administrative costs and fund local Habitat for Humanity homebuilding projects across the Kawarthas region. Habitat PKR says it’s also “an environmentally conscious decision” for those who want to purchase items that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

“We are excited to share this news with our community following the closure of the Peterborough south ReStore,” said Susan Zambonin, CEO of Habitat PKR, in a media release.

“This new Habitat ReStore in Lakefield will enable us to continue serving the Peterborough and Kawartha region through three ReStore locations and bring us closer to our vision of a world where everyone has a safe and affordable place to live.”

While the opening date for the Lakefield ReStore is yet to be announced, the community can continue supporting Habitat PKR by shopping and donating to the Peterborough North ReStore at 300 Milroy Dr., and the Lindsay ReStore at 55 Angeline St. N., Habitat PKR noted.

The organization has high hopes for the Lakefield store.

“A ReStore in Lakefield will be a great addition to our operations of Habitat for Humanity PKR to help expand our reach across our territory,” MacDonald said. “We are looking forward to providing a space where cottagers and local residents of Selwyn can donate and purchase quality new and used furniture, appliances, housewares, and home building materials all in support of local affordable housing initiatives.”

For more information about the ReStores, upcoming grand opening festivities, and special promotions, visit www.habitatpkr.ca/restores, where you can also sign up for the ReStore newsletter for a chance to be one of 25 VIP shoppers when the doors open in Lakefield.

If Dan Fewings doesn’t already know how much he has meant and still means to so many in Peterborough and beyond, he’s in for quite a shock come Saturday, June 15th.

The Simcoe native and retired Peterborough high school music teacher who, for years, has made us laugh, tap our feet, and simply have a whole lot of fun, is in a battle with cancer.

According to his son Josh Buster Fewings, a CAT scan done a few months ago “showed a little bit of cancer” under his father’s tongue.

“It kind of developed from there,” Buster says. “He got more testing, a biopsy, and found it had spread to his vocal chords and maybe a little bit to his thyroid. It looks like they caught it fairly early but it’s still developing.”

Now, with Dan scheduled to begin radiation treatment June 10th at a Hamilton hospital, a benefit on his behalf at the Pig’s Ear Tavern in downtown Peterborough has come together quickly.

Billed as a musical fundraiser, ‘Yes Dan Can!’ is set for 2 to 6 p.m. at the Brock Street pub, with a suggested admission donation of $20 at the door. Those who are unable to attend but still want to support Dan in his fight against cancer can send an etransfer to yesdanfewingscan@gmail.com.

Performances by Greg Keelor (of Blue Rodeo fame), Brooks and Bowskill (Brittany Brooks and Jimmy Bowskill), James McKenty, Nicholas Campbell, The Bonus Numbers (Trevor ‘Tiny’ Davis and Wyatt Burton), Sleevehaus, Ian McKeown, Boogie Time Ramblers, and Buster are scheduled.

“I had been kind of thinking about it (a benefit) but Jimmy (Bowskill), who’s a good family friend, messaged me ‘We should really put something together for your dad,'” says Buster.

“Dad’s a retired teacher, so he’s not destitute, but there’s a lot of costs associated with it (cancer treatment) that are coming his way, so we figured if we can soften the blow a little bit, he doesn’t have to use all of his savings to take care of this thing.”

“But more than trying to raise money, it’s to lift his spirits a bit and let him know people are thinking of him. People can play tunes in honour of him while he’s still kicking. Yes Dan Can is the message we want to send to him. He’s going into some crappy treatment time, so this will raise his spirits a bit.”

Anyone who has spent any amount of time with Dan, whether informally or as an audience member, will no doubt have a difficult time imagining him to be anything other than upbeat and positive.

Blessed with a larger-than-life persona and full willingness to poke fun at himself in a bid to make others laugh, the professional clown, guitarist, and popular emcee has been the life of the party for years — earning him an induction into Peterborough’s Pathway of Fame for dramatic arts in 2016.

In 2009, while in the midst of overseeing his Green Roof Children’s Theatre Camp, Dan was invited by Peterborough jazz pianist Rob Phillips to drop by Cassis where he was playing. Dan did so and was invited onstage to sing.

That impromptu performance gave birth to The Three Martinis, a musical improv comedy act that entertained here, there and everywhere over the next several years, with Dan and Rob frequently joined by Bowskill on stand-up bass. Their act was centred around the audience calling out suggested song titles, from which they would select one, and create and perform a song on the spot.

“The Three Martinis was magic — there were some really special moments,” reflects Bowskill, who also toured the East Coast with Dan as the bluegrass duo Fewings and Bowskill.

“He (Dan) had my back right from the get-go. I wanted to go to PCVS (the former Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School), which had a creative arts program. They didn’t want to let me in because I couldn’t read music. Dan went to bat for me for big time. He said ‘If you don’t let him in, I’m going to retire.’ So I got in.”

“I learned from Dan that stage presence is key. He really is a bigger-than-life character. And he helped me do a lot of music that really changed my life. He introduced me to Willie P. Bennett, Bruce Cockburn, and those kinds of Canadian folk music legends.”

All this said, it was a no-brainer for Bowskill that something be done for Dan during what is a difficult time, destined to become all the more tougher.

“He’s going to get through it but it’s going to be a rocky road for awhile,” says Bowskill who, besides performing with his wife Brittany Brooks as part of Brooks and Bowskill, plays pedal steel guitar, mandolin, and dobro with Blue Rodeo.

“It’s always magical to see a community come together and help someone,” he adds. “This is something we can do to help Dan stay positive — let him know that we’re thinking of him and we’re in his corner.”

Meanwhile, Buster says it’s still unclear if his dad will be able attend the benefit.

“He starts treatment the week before but he’s really hopeful that he can make it and thank everybody for coming out,” he says, adding that his gratitude for those who have agreed to perform is over the top.

“They (musicians) get asked to do a lot. Greg (Keelor) is a busy guy. When he’s not playing, he’s taking it easy between gigs. Nick Campbell is on fire. He’s playing all the time. To have these folks come out for Dad is really something special. Peterborough is a great city for that. We really lift each other up when called upon.”

Buster notes that, in addition to the scheduled musical guests, there may be some surprise performances.

“You open the door and who knows who’s going come through it?”

Of note, says Buster, the Peterborough Musicians’ Benevolent Association (PMBA) is hosting its monthly event the same afternoon, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Dr. J’s BBQ and Brew. That group has committed the proceeds from that day to help Dan. Buster suggests people attend both.

In the meantime, Buster says he and his brother Coby have been checking in with their dad daily.

“Dad is such a thinker that it’s easy for him to overthink but he’s still cracking jokes, as you’d expect,” he says.

“It’s all been sort of sudden, so he’s coming to grips with it. His spirits are good, but he’s not looking forward to the treatment. It’s the unknown of all that, right? On one hand, he’s a little bit down and kind of existential, but on the other hand, he’s taking it day by day.”