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Tribunal rejects Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes appeal, ending plans for Lansdowne St. sleeping cabin community

Terry, a Peterborough resident who supports himself by delivering papers and recycling bottles and cans, tries out the prototype sleeping cabin built by Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH). After leasing a site at 385 Lansdowne Street East from Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and Kawartha Region, PATH applied to the City of Peterborough for a temporary use zoning by-law amendment to build 24 one-room sleeping cabins with wrap-around services to help address the city's homelessness crisis. Although city staff recommended approval of the application, Peterborough city council voted against it, prompting PATH to appeal the decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal. (Photo: Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes)

The Ontario Land Tribunal has dismissed an appeal by Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) of Peterborough city council’s decision to deny the grassroots organization’s application for a temporary use by-law to build 24 sleeping cabins on Lansdowne Street for people experiencing homelessness.

“It is with sadness, heartbreak and disappointment that we received the decision of the Ontario Land Tribunal yesterday,” PATH stated in a media release issued on Thursday night (October 23). “The ruling denied our final appeal for temporary rezoning, determining that we will not be able to create a sleeping cabin community at our 385 Lansdowne Street East site.”

In March 2023, PATH entered into a three-year lease agreement with Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and Kawartha Region for the purpose of providing transitional shelter support at the Lansdowne Street site, the former Peterborough Humane Society property located east of Ashburnham Drive, which Habitat had purchased with the intention of later developing multi-unit affordable residential housing.

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PATH then began the land use planning process that would eventually result in an application for a temporary use by-law for the site, which is currently zoned as commercial. That process culminated with a report from city staff that recommended the temporary use by-law be approved. The staff report was presented to Peterborough city council meeting as general committee on August 26, 2024.

That meeting became a referendum on the viability of PATH’s proposal itself, as well as the suitability of the proposed site, with council hearing from 10 delegations that included neighbouring businesses and residents who objected to the location of the proposed sleeping cabin community.

One of the delegations was Toromont Industries, a heavy machinery company that operates Toromont Cat and Battlefield Equipment Rentals to the south of 385 Lansdowne Street, which objected to the proposed location of the sleeping cabin community because it would be in close proximity to their operations in an industrial zone.

“That heavy machinery makes a lot of noise (and) spits out a lot of dust and emissions,” said Garnet Peirson, the company’s vice president of real estate and development, during the delegation. “If there are complaints to Ministry of the Environment about noise, Ministry of the Environment can come in and shut down our operations or they can severely alter our operations.”

Peirson said this is something the company has faced in Kanata when a residential development was located near their business as well as in Concord. Peirson also noted that Toromont is planning to expand directly behind 385 Lansdowne Street.

At the end of the meeting, city council voted 8-2 against accepting the application for the proposed use by-law, with only councillors Alex Bierk and Joy Lachica voting in favour.

In response to city council’s decision, PATH announced on October 3, 2024 that it had submitted an appeal to OLT, and subsequently began raising money to cover some of the legal costs for the appeal process.

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After a case management conference in March 2025, during which Toromont Industries was added as an appellant, OLT held a video hearing from June 12 to 26 to review the appeal against the City of Peterborough’s decision.

While the city monitored the hearing, it did not take an active role and did not call any witnesses. Instead, representatives from Toromont Industries argued against PATH’s appeal, cross-examining the city’s director of planning, development and urban design Brad Appleby at one point during the hearing about the city staff recommendation.

On October 22, OLT issued its ruling to dismiss PATH’s appeal, concluding that the proposed use of the site would conflict with provincial land use compatibility policies because of its proximity to Toromont. The 19-page decision was written by Carolyn Molinari, who was reappointed to the tribunal in September 2024 for a three-year term. The Ajax resident is a member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute with over 30 years experience as an urban planner.

The tribunal found that the proposed cabin community is a residential use and not an institutional or shelter-type use as PATH had argued, and is therefore considered a “dwelling” under provincial noise and land use compatibility rules. Because of this classification, the project would be located too close to an active industrial operation, creating land use compatibility conflicts that provincial policy seeks to avoid.

OLT determined the site is within the restricted 70-metre separation zone for sensitive land uses near industry, creating a risk of noise complaints and could limit Toromont’s operations or expansion. Even if mitigation such as fencing, air conditioning, or noise walls were added, the tribunal concluded, the risk to Toromont’s lawful operations and expansion could not be acceptably eliminated.

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The tribunal’s decision heavily leaned on provincial land-use rules that prohibit new residential uses near industrial facilities without separation or transition zones, that protect employment lands from being constrained by neighbouring complaints, and that require avoidance first rather than mitigation — suggesting that PATH needs to find a more suitable site.

In its findings, OLT states four times that it “prefers the evidence” given during the hearing by Toromont experts over PATH’s experts.

OLT also gave “limited weight” to the city staff report supporting the application, noting that the staff recommendation presumed the sleeping cabins were classified as “noise sensitive institutional purpose buildings” rather than residential dwellings.

“Had the cabins been classified as dwellings, it remains uncertain whether the staff report would have reached the same conclusion,” the ruling states.

The tribunal also found that the proposed temporary use by-law application “does not meet the intent and policies” of the city’s official plan, adding that it “does not represent good land use planning and is not in the public interest.”

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As for PATH, the organization expressed its dismay at the OLT decision and outlined the group’s activities while the appeal was underway.

“We believed in our community of sleeping cabins as a creative and meaningful part of the solution to the housing crisis in Peterborough,” PATH states. “We believed strongly in our appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal. We fought hard, engaged experts, presented strong evidence, and did our due diligence.”

“While we waited for the OLT decision, we forged ahead. We looked at our community’s need and asked where we could help. We continued to develop strong partnerships with community agencies and we collaborated, shared capacity and resources, slowly moving the dial forward to support people through the local housing crisis. Over this time, we are proud to say that more of our unhoused neighbours had access to warm, sturdy winter clothing and survival essentials through our program and outreach partnerships.”

“Our Community Clothing Hub continues to hum as we receive, launder, sort and distribute hundreds of bags of clothing, blankets, sleeping bags and survival items to partner agencies in an effort to help our unhoused neighbours have some comfort and safety in extreme temperatures.”

“We continue to open our doors on Wednesdays through our PATHWay to Home initiative, that provides shelter from the elements, a warm shower and meal, snacks to take away and a fresh haircut and clothing-while at the same time helping folks feel the comfort of a caring community.”

“We work closely with our partner One City Peterborough to create much needed Additional Rental Units (ARUs) that provide permanent shelter and add to our city’s depleted transitional housing pool.”

As for its next steps given the OLT decision, PATH says “Our purpose is to help relieve poverty, and we will continue to work toward this goal,” noting that governments at all levels (federal, provincial, and municipal), social service organizations, and grassroots movements must come together to provide “meaningful solutions for our unhoused neighbours that involve a full range of pathways that honour a person’s choice and right to dignity.”

“We will take time to reflect on this by consulting with our partner agencies,” PATH states. “We will process this setback and ask ourselves what steps we will take going forward.”

 

PDF: Ontario Land Tribunal – Case number OLT-24-001038
Ontario Land Tribunal - Case number OLT-24-001038

 

This story has been updated to include a copy of the OLT’s ruling.

Collaboration was the focus of the inaugural RTO8 Regional Tourism Summit

A panel discussion on agritourism during the inaugural Regional Tourism Summit hosted by Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope on October 21, 2025. With a keynote address, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, the event saw tourism operators and partners from across the Kawartha Northumberland region gather for a day learning about the challenges and opportunities that exist in the industry regionally, with a focus on strengthening partnerships and collaborations. (Photo courtesy of RTO8)

Collaboration for the sake of increasing tourism in the Kawarthas region was one of the key takeaways during the inaugural Regional Tourism Summit, hosted by Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) on Tuesday (October 21) at the historic Capitol Theatre in Port Hope.

Called “Stronger Together: Shaping the Future of Rural Tourism,” the summit invited tourism operators and industry partners of the Kawartha Northumberland tourism region and beyond for a day spent learning about the key opportunities and challenges shaping the regional tourism landscape through panel discussions, a keynote, and networking.

RTO8 is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming to promote regional tourism activity in Kawartha Northumberland, which is inclusive of the City of Peterborough, Peterborough County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County.

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RTO8 hosts programs and mentorships to help tourism operators scale their business and promote initiatives that draw in tourism, like the Trent-Severn Trail Town program, the first of its kind in Canada.

That was one of the initiatives spotlighted by RTO8 throughout the summit, alongside the Taste of the Trent-Severn Waterway, the Butter Tart Tour, and the Partnership Funding Program.

Following a generous grazing table breakfast from Milly’s Market, the summit kicked off with introductions and warm welcomes from RTO8 board chair Elizabeth King, who introduced Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky and RTO8 executive director Brenda Wood.

Dave Nicolaou (right), owner of Hunnabees Honey & Co. in Millbrook, was one of several local producers and makers who showcased and offered samples of their products at the "Taster's Market" during the inaugural Regional Tourism Summit hosted by the Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope on October 21, 2025. (Photo courtesy of RTO8)
Dave Nicolaou (right), owner of Hunnabees Honey & Co. in Millbrook, was one of several local producers and makers who showcased and offered samples of their products at the “Taster’s Market” during the inaugural Regional Tourism Summit hosted by the Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope on October 21, 2025. (Photo courtesy of RTO8)

Wood walked the audience through the “tourism ladder,” which was repeatedly referred to throughout the event. The ladder outlines the organizations supporting and promoting local businesses at every level. from Destination Canada and Destination Ontario down to regional tourism organizations like RTO8 and local destination marketing organizations (DMOs).

She urged business owners to connect with their own DMOs, of which there are four in the region: Northumberland County, The City of Peterborough, Peterborough County, and Kawartha Lakes.

The first panel of the day called on audience members to reflect on their partnership with Indigenous businesses. Moderated by Dr. Hayden Kind, executive director of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Yellowhead Institute, the panel featured Eliza Braden-Taylor, a cultural interpreter at Curve Lake Cultural Centre, Robyn Ivory Pierson, the founder of Indigenously Infused, and Keri Gray, the owner of Shades of Gray Indigenous Pet Treats.

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The three panellists spoke in-depth about how Indigenous businesses are not just about cultural showcasing or focused on past trauma, but rather are modern and “forward-thinking.”

Pierson highlighted that tourists are more likely to visit an attraction if there are cultural components to it, and spoke about the systematic obstacles faced by Indigenous business owners, including a lack of access to First Nations communities.

Braden-Taylor spoke about the need for non-Indigenous businesses to not only build partnerships but develop genuine friendships when wanting to work with an Indigenous business, while Gray emphasized the importance of not only doing so to “check a box.”

Summit attendees expressed interest in building these partnerships and asked questions on approaching collaborations, where to find resources, and how to learn more about the Seven Grandfather Teachings.

During the inaugural Regional Tourism Summit hosted by Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope on October 21, 2025, Bannikin managing partner Trevor Jonas Benson (far right) led a panel discussion on agritourism with (left to right) Topsy Farms co-owner Jacob Murray, Agritourism Ontario CEO Kevin Vallier, and Wanderlight Alpaca Experience founder Katie Maitland. The conversation explored why agritourism is becoming so popular and how authenticity is the key to helping visitors form connections to the land. (Photo courtesy of RTO8)
During the inaugural Regional Tourism Summit hosted by Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope on October 21, 2025, Bannikin managing partner Trevor Jonas Benson (far right) led a panel discussion on agritourism with (left to right) Topsy Farms co-owner Jacob Murray, Agritourism Ontario CEO Kevin Vallier, and Wanderlight Alpaca Experience founder Katie Maitland. The conversation explored why agritourism is becoming so popular and how authenticity is the key to helping visitors form connections to the land. (Photo courtesy of RTO8)

For the keynote address, Tourism Industry Association of Ontario president and CEO Andrew Siegwart spoke on the topic of “Tourism, Tariffs and Trends.” He shared that Ontario has returned to 2019 tourism sales volume after recovering from the pandemic, though he suggested there is a need for growth at a faster rate.

Siegwart highlighted other opportunities, such as shop local campaigns that many businesses have used as part of their marketing over the past several months, as well as challenges the industry continues to face. These include the reduction in international students entering the workforce, extreme weather events impacting how people spend their time, and rising living costs causing consumers to be more discretionary in their spending.

To conclude, he noted how a lot of what “global travellers” are seeking is available in the Kawartha Northumberland region, including cool escapes, conscious travel, film tourism, noctourism (tourism after dark), nostalgia tourism, Indigenous experience, and digital detox, among many others.

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Siegwart’s keynote was followed by a panel on agritourism moderated by Trevor Jonas Benson, managing partner of Toronto-based travel and tourism consulting firm Bannikin, with panellists Wanderlight Alpaca Experience founder Katie Maitland, Agritourism Ontario CEO Kevin Vallier, and Topsy Farms co-owner Jacob Murray.

Vallier spoke about how the pandemic helped people become more aware of the outside world around them, leading to more agritourism success, while Murray and Maitland talked about their respective businesses and shared stories of connecting with people through “authentic” experiences on their land.

When discussing the need to show people where there food comes from, Murray received applause from the audience when he said, “We’re expecting the youth and kids to preserve what’s left of the natural world, but if they’re never exposed to it why would they?”

In the final panel of the day during the inaugural Regional Tourism Summit hosted by the Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope on October 21, 2025, Municipality of Port Hope events supervisor Jeannie Maidens (right) moderated a discussion about partnerships for event planning. Panellists included (left to right) RTO8 special projects manager Hillary Flood, Harmony Marketing head of marketing and partnerships Victoria Mahoney, and City of Quinte West manager of communication and community engagement Rebecca Cotter. Among other topics, the panellists discussed how to find event partners, the benefits of working with the municipality, and how to effectively communicate event changes to an audience. (Photo courtesy of RTO8)
In the final panel of the day during the inaugural Regional Tourism Summit hosted by the Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope on October 21, 2025, Municipality of Port Hope events supervisor Jeannie Maidens (right) moderated a discussion about partnerships for event planning. Panellists included (left to right) RTO8 special projects manager Hillary Flood, Harmony Marketing head of marketing and partnerships Victoria Mahoney, and City of Quinte West manager of communication and community engagement Rebecca Cotter. Among other topics, the panellists discussed how to find event partners, the benefits of working with the municipality, and how to effectively communicate event changes to an audience. (Photo courtesy of RTO8)

Following a lunch from Cobourg’s Craft Food House, Capitol Theatre managing director Erin Peirce welcomed the audience to a live performance that offered a sneak peak to a show that will be part of the venue’s 2026 theatre season.

A panel on content marketing then followed, moderated by Birchbark Media content marketing specialist Matt Snell and featuring Chantal Sweeting, senior manager of content and UX for Destination Ontario, Liisa Sefton, corporate communications manager at Destination Ontario, and Caroline Morrow, a Bannikin partner.

The panellists discussed the need for consistency in storytelling, and how those stories should be adapted and must evolve to fit contemporary trends and topics. Sefton also spoke in detail about business owners needing to be ready to talk to media by having their stories and visual assets available and by sending out detailed media releases.

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The final panel of the day was focused on strengthening partnerships when curating events, moderated by Municipality of Port Hope event supervisor Jeannie Maidens and featuring RTO8 special projects manager Hillary Flood, City of Quinte West manager of communication and community engagement Rebecca Cotter, Harmony Marketing head of marketing and partnerships Victoria Mahoney, who is the co-producer of the Toronto Waterfront Festival and Sugar Shack TO.

The panellists discussed how to navigate communicating necessary event changes that audiences might resist or fight back against and provided tips on looking for event partners.

Cotter spoke on the benefit of including the municipality as a partner, as they can aid with parking, waste management, and other supports, while Flood spoke about the importance of approaching community organizations with a mapped-out plan for an event rather than just an idea.

During the inaugural Regional Tourism Summit hosted by the Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope on October 21, 2025, RTO8 spotlighted regional tourism initiatives that promote food and beverage businesses across the region, including the Kawartha Northumberland Butter Tart Tour. (Photo courtesy of RTO8)
During the inaugural Regional Tourism Summit hosted by the Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope on October 21, 2025, RTO8 spotlighted regional tourism initiatives that promote food and beverage businesses across the region, including the Kawartha Northumberland Butter Tart Tour. (Photo courtesy of RTO8)

When asked what event types RTO8 hopes to see more of in the region, Flood said she’d like to see more winter festivals to strengthen tourism in the off-season and have community members wanting to embrace even the coldest weather.

To offer opportunities to begin developing the partnerships that were discussed throughout the day, the summit provided many networking breaks and held a “Taster’s Market” in the upper level of the theatre.

With shopping and sampling available, the market was a celebration of producers and makers who travelled from across the region, with products coming from Millbrook, Campbellford, Brighton, Peterborough, Cobourg, and beyond.

nightlifeNOW – October 23 to 29

19-year-old Peterborough indie-pop singer-songwriter Georgia Rose, who just released her sophomore single "Where Did We Go?" along with her first music video, is performing Saturday evening at Springville Tap n' Grill in Cavan-Monaghan Township just outside Peterborough and Sunday at Cheeky Duck Vineyard in Selwyn Township. (Photo: Andy Carroll)

Every Thursday, kawarthaNOW publishes live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that musicians provide directly or that venues post on their websites or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, October 23 to Wednesday, October 29.

If you’re a musician or venue owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, 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

Sunday, October 26

3-6pm - Glen Caradus & Phil Stephenson (no cover)

Arthur's Pub

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

Thursday, October 23

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

Friday, October 24

8-11pm - Ryan Forsythe

Saturday, October 25

8-11pm - Steve Battig

Monday, October 27

7:30-9:30pm - Local talent night ft Aay Jay Walker

Black Horse Pub

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

Thursday, October 23

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

Friday, October 24

5-8pm - Taylor Abrahamse; 9pm-12am - Woodhouse Crooks

Saturday, October 25

5-8pm - Emily Burgess; 9pm-12am - Four Lanes Wide

Sunday, October 26

4-7pm - Steve Stacey

Monday, October 27

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

Tuesday, October 28

6-10pm - Open mic w/ Joslynn Burford

Coming Soon

Friday, October 31
5-8pm - Georgia Rose; 9pm-12am - Odd Man Rush

Saturday, November 1
5-8pm - Featherweight; 9pm-12am - High Waters Band

Sunday, November 2
4-7pm - Tex Mudslide

Cheeky Duck Vineyard

1786 Young's Point Rd., Lakefield
705-772-7311

Sunday, October 26

11am-2pm - Georgia Rose

VIDEO: "Where Did We Go?" - Georgia Rose

Claymore Pub & Table

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

Thursday, October 23

7-10pm - Karaoke Night w/ Crazy Ray

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Coach & Horses Pub

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

Thursday, October 23

9pm-1am - Karaoke w/ DJ Ross

Saturday, October 25

10pm-2am - Karaoke w/ DJ Ross

Crook & Coffer

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

Thursday, October 23

7-9:30pm - The Rusty Snails

Friday, October 24

7-10:30pm - Shuga

Saturday, October 25

2:30-4:30pm - The Skelligs; 7-10:30pm - Greg Thomas

Dominion Hotel

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

Friday, October 24

5-8pm - Mixed Bag

Dreams of Beans

141 Charlotte St., Peterborough
705-742-2406

Monday, October 27

1-2:30pm - Bob Butcher

Ganaraska Brewing Company

33 Mill St., Port Hope
905-885-9029

Friday, October 24

4-6pm - Easy TImes Band

Saturday, October 25

7-9pm - Kevin Foster

Sunday, October 26

2-5pm - Open mic

Coming Soon

Friday, October 31
7-11pm- Halloween Karaoke Party

Ganaraska Hotel

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

Saturday, October 25

2-5pm - Marty and the Mojos

Coming Soon

Friday, October 31
8pm - Buck Tingley w/ Roxanne Potvin on bass and Tim-Jim Baker on drums ($20)

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Gordon Best Theatre

216 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 876-8884

Coming Soon

Saturday, November 15
7:30pm - UK Calling ($39.46 in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1735882624659)

Graz Restobar

38 Bolton St., Bobcaygeon
705-738-6343

Friday, October 24

8pm - Jam Night

Saturday, October 25

7:30-9:30pm - Ian Clement

Honkey Tonk Angel Bar (Golden Wheel)

6725 Highway 7, Peterborough
(705) 749-6838

Saturday, October 25

8-11pm - Kevin Parrish

Jethro's Bar + Stage

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

Thursday, October 23

10pm - The Union

Friday, October 24

6-8pm - Chester Babcock Trio; 8-10pm - Dan Hick & Lucy Ferrill; 10pm - Bouche & Smitty

Saturday, October 25

6-8pm - Newberry Family Variety Hours; 8-10pm - Gráinne Ryan & The Knight Riders; 10pm - Tallulah Argue

Sunday, October 26

3pm - Blues Jam

Wednesday, October 29

9pm - The Space Heaters

The John at Sadleir House

751 George St. N., Peterborough
705-742-3686

Friday, October 24

8pm - Fittonia album release show w/ Wily Era ($20 in advance at Bluestreak Records)

Saturday, October 25

8:30pm - Illegal Aliens w/ Kidz, Blue Velour ($15 in advance at Bluestreak Records, $20 at door)

Kelly's Homelike Inn

205 3rd Street, Cobourg
905-372-3234

Friday, October 24

7:15-11pm - Karaoke w/ Cait Sheppard

Saturday, October 25

4-8pm - Andy Earle and The Bandits

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McThirsty's Pint

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

Friday, October 24

9pm-1am - Cale Crowe

Saturday, October 25

9pm-1am - Davey Boy

Sunday, October 26

8pm - Karaoke and open mic

Tuesday, October 28

8pm - Joanna & Danny Bronson

Wednesday, October 29

8pm - Kevin Foster

Pig's Ear Tavern

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

Friday, October 24

7-10pm - Allura (no cover, donations welcome)

Saturday, October 25

4-7pm - The Wild Cards (PWYC); 9pm - Excuses Excuses w/ Intimidators ($5)

Tuesday, October 28

9pm - Open stage

Wednesday, October 29

9pm - Karaoinke

Puck' N Pint Sports Pub

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

Saturday, October 25

8pm - High Waters Band

Rolling Grape Vineyard

260 County Rd 2, Bailieboro
705-991-5876

Thursday, October 23

5:30-8:30pm - Bob Butcher

Sunday, October 26

2-5pm - Mike Tremblett Jr.

Royal Crown Pub & Grill

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

Saturday, October 25

8pm - Ganaraska Shine (no cover)

Scenery Drive Restaurant

6193 County Road 45, Baltimore
905-349-2217

Saturday, October 25

5-7:30pm - Darren Bailey

Springville Tap n' Grill

2714 Brown Line, Peterborough
(705) 876-9994

Saturday, October 25

6-9pm - Georgia Rose

VIDEO: "Where Did We Go?" - Georgia Rose

Tap & Tonic Pub & Bistro - Campbellford

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

Thursday, October 23

7-10pm - Mike Tremblett

Tap & Tonic Pub & Bistro - Marmora

16 Forsyth St., Marmora
613-666-9767

Thursday, October 23

7-10pm - Nighthawk

The Thirsty Goose

63 Walton St., Port Hope

Friday, October 24

8pm-12am - Davey Boy

Saturday, October 25

8pm-12am - Bruce Longman

The Venue

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

Coming Soon

Friday, October 31
9pm - The Graveyard Gala Halloween Bash ft Roses Reloaded Guns N' Roses tribute ($40 in advance at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1653380939899)

Saturday, November 1
8pm - Halloween Bash w/ Mid Life Crisis ($25)

Wednesday, November 26
8pm - Dwayne Gretzky ($39.96 - $52.43 in advance at https://www.ticketweb.ca/event/dwayne-gretzky-the-venue-tickets/13936324)

Cheer on the Jays at free outdoor community watch parties in downtown Peterborough starting Saturday night

The Toronto Blue Jays celebrate after defeating the Seattle Mariners on October 20, 2025 to win the American League pennant, sending them to the World Series for the first time in 32 years. (Photo: Major League Baseball)

You can cheer on the Toronto Blue Jays in their World Series run at free outdoor community watch parties in downtown Peterborough, starting with game two at 8 p.m. on Saturday night (October 25).

A mega screen at Quaker Foods City Square at 215 Charlotte Street will be livestreaming the second game in the best-of-seven series as the Jays take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

This is the first time that Canada’s only Major League Baseball team has made it to the World Series in 32 years, since winning the championship back to back in 1992 and 1993. The Dodgers won the World Series last year after defeating the New York Yankees in five games.

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“We’re looking forward to joining communities across Canada in cheering on the Toronto Blue Jays in a proudly Peterborough way, surrounded by community in downtown’s Quaker Foods City Square,” says Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal in a media release. “I encourage community members and visitors to don their blue and white and mark this historic sports moment as we watch the Jays compete to become World Series Champions.”

The community watch parties are being organized by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), with the City of Peterborough providing financial support for the mega screen, sound, and servicing at the park. Saturday’s watch party will follow the Peterborough DBIA’s “Halloween in the Booro” festivities in the downtown core running from 4 to 6 p.m.

The watch party will take place rain or shine, and attendees are asked to dress for the weather and to bring their own chairs and blankets. Snacks, vendors, and a booth for The Boro merchandise will be available on-site. Free parking is available after 6 p.m. along the street and at the adjacent King Street Parkade.

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“Downtown Peterborough is at its best when people come together to celebrate and connect,” says Peterborough DBIA executive director Nour Mazloum. “We’re thrilled to partner with the City of Peterborough to host these community watch parties for the Toronto Blue Jays as they advance to the World Series. This is a wonderful example of how downtown can serve as a place where people come together to share in special moments of excitement, pride and celebration.”

Watch parties are also planned for the third and fourth games in the series on Monday and Tuesday night (October 27 and 28), when the Jays will be playing at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles. Additional watch parties will be planned for each of the remaining three games as necessary.

For details on the watch parties and other updates, visit theboro.ca/events/

Queen Street in downtown Lakefield will reopen Friday morning

Queen Street in downtown Lakefield is scheduled to reopen at 8 a.m. on October 24, 2025, as demolition work of the fire-ravaged Kawartha Home Hardware building no longer requires the street to remain closed. The demolition site at 24 Queen Street will remain fenced off, with a temporary pedestrian walkway installed in front of the site. (Photo: Selwyn Township)

Queen Street in downtown Lakefield will be reopening as of 8 a.m. on Friday morning (October 24) according to the Township of Selwyn.

Although demolition of the fire-ravaged Kawartha Home Hardware building is not yet complete, enough progress has been made so that work can safely continue without requiring Queen Street to remain closed.

“Reopening Queen Street represents a positive milestone for our community,” says Selwyn Township mayor Sherry Senis in a media release. “Although the streetscape will look very different for some time, we are encouraged by the resilience and spirit that Lakefield continues to demonstrate. We urge residents and visitors to support our local businesses and enjoy the warmth and hospitality that make Lakefield so special.”

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According to the township, the demolition site at 24 Queen Street will be fenced off until the contractor completes the work and backills the lots to create a level and safe site.

While the sidewalk in front of the site will remain closed, the on-street parking spaces directly in front of the site will be converted into a temporary pedestrian walkway so pedestrians do not have to cross the street to avoid the site, providing a continuous route to the intersection and nearby businesses on the same side of the street.

Two streetlights on Queen Street that were removed during firefighting operations will be reinstalled once the demolition is complete.

Burnham Street will remain closed between Queen Street and Charlotte Street, including the sidewalk, as demolition activities continue in that area. However, the parking area adjacent to Divine Craft at 15 Burnham Street will be accessible from the intersection of Burnham and Charlotte streets.

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“Businesses in downtown Lakefield are open and ready to serve customers,” reads the media release. “The township encourages everyone to shop local, dine local, and continue showing support for the business owners and staff who have been deeply affected by the recent events.”

The township is also highlighting some initiatives to support Lakefield businesses, including a recent story in kawarthaNOW, the upcoming Lakefield Scavenger Hunt (with details to be announced soon), Ladies Night Out in Lakefield running on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from November 13 to December 2, holiday programming to support shopping local, and an upcoming story from Peterborough County highlighting Selwyn Township, including Lakefield.

The Township of Selwyn and Peterborough County are also partnering for a social media campaign that will spotlight local small businesses, community groups, and stories while encouraging residents and visitors to rediscover Lakefield and the people who make it special.

Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee hosting October 29 public meeting on nuclear issues

Port Hope has the largest volume of historic low-level radioactive wastes in Canada, produced between 1933 and 1988 from uranium and radium refining operations of former Crown corporation Eldorado Nuclear Ltd. A $2.9-billion initiative began in 2012 to clean up the radioactive waste in both Port Hope and Clarington. (Photo via Port Hope Area Initiative)

The Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee (PHCHCC) is sponsoring an upcoming public meeting on the topics of past, current, and future issues related to nuclear power in the Municipality of Port Hope.

Leading Canadian anti-nuclear activist Dr. Gordon Edwards, president of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, will share the floor with PHCHCC chair Faye More on Wednesday (October 29) in Port Hope. The event runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the Dr. Hawkins gym of Port Hope High School at 130 Highland Drive.

There will be a question-and-answer period for the public following the presentations.

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“The public meeting with our guest (Dr. Edwards) will focus much-needed attention and discussion on the health, safety, security, and lived experiences of people who are too often treated as invisible where nuclear issues are involved,” More told kawarthaNOW.

“After the meeting, the (PHCHCC) will continue to do what we have been doing for many years as volunteers, which is to bring forward concerns, requests, and recommendations to those with the power and responsibility to put the welfare of people first.”

She said the committee intends to present that information to various stakeholders, including the prime minister and federal cabinet, the premier of Ontario, leaders of the provincial parties, political representatives at all levels, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, and the auditor general of Canada.

“This is the first in a series of public meetings the committee will be hosting, and we are grateful to have Edwards with us,” More said, noting his extensive knowledge and many years of experience in the field.

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Dr. Edwards co-founded the not-for-profit Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility in 1975, the year after he first gained public profile by winning a debate on the necessity of nuclear reactors with Edward Teller, the famous Hungarian-American physicist and “father of the hydrogen bomb,” during Global Television’s The Great Debate series hosted and moderated by Pierre Berton.

During the October 29 public meeting, Dr. Edwards will speak about numerous issues, including a federal compensation fund for current and former Port Hope residents, proactive and precautionary disclosure of all contaminated locations, federal remediation policies and practices in Port Hope (including the proposal to change the remediation criteria for arsenic), independent health monitoring and reporting, the proposed new nuclear power plant in Port Hope’s Wesleyville community, and a national public inquiry starting with Port Hope into the management of radioactive wastes in Canada.

The PHCHCC said residents of Port Hope have been living with a variety of radioactive and other toxic contaminants in their immediate environment since the 1930s. In response, the volunteer-based PHCHCC was formed in 1994 as an incorporated non-profit organization of current and former residents.

The committee’s goal is to share concerns relating to health and environmental impacts of the contaminants from two nuclear industries operating in the community, as well as the presence of 1.9 million cubic metres of radioactive and heavy metal wastes in more than 1,300 locations within the town.

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Port Hope has the largest volume of historic low-level radioactive wastes in Canada, produced between 1933 and 1988 from uranium and radium refining operations of former Crown corporation Eldorado Nuclear Ltd. In 1988, both Eldorado and another Crown corporation, Saskatchewan Mining Development Corporation, were merged and privatized as the Canadian Mining and Energy Corporation (now known as Cameco Corporation).

In 2001, the Government of Canada and the municipalities of Port Hope and Clarington signed a legal agreement known as the Port Hope Area Initiative to clean up the radioactive waste in both communities. In 2012, the federal government committed spending $1.28 billion on what was originally a 10-year initiative, increasing the amount in 2022 to $2.6 billion to carry the initiative through to completion, including long-term monitoring.

This past January, the Ontario government announced it is exploring the potential of building a nuclear power plant in Wesleyville in the Municipality of Port Hope, on the site of an oil-fired power generation station whose construction was abandoned in 1979 and that has since been maintained by Ontario Power Generation (OPG). Earlier this month, OPG opened a “nuclear discovery centre” at 115 Toronto Road in Port Hope that features education exhibits on nuclear power and information on the proposed Wesleyville project.

How a Peterborough engineering and environmental firm embraced the circular economy by turning waste into worth

Cambium Consulting & Engineering staff show off their recycled plastic concrete molds. By turning their previously discarded plastic molds into reusable ones, the Peterborough firm is proving how businesses can lead the way in building a circular economy. From left to right: facilities and environmental health and safety manager Jeff Hoskin, technologist and green team representative Hillary Bradshaw, group manager for construction testing and inspection Brian Graham, and coordinator and green team representative Becky Yarnell. (Photo: Connor Evans / Cambium)

In 2022, to accompany festive fall gatherings and Halloween shenanigans, October was officially designated Circular Economy Month in Canada. Perhaps inspired by the conundrum of candy wrappers, this one-up on the former Waste Reduction Week is a call-to-action for businesses to get creative to reduce waste.

While the name is a bit on the dry side, the concept is an exciting one. The circular economy is based on the idea that with a little intention, tweaking, and collaboration, companies can come up with solutions that reduce their environmental impact while cutting material and disposal costs. This can result in standing out from competitors with sustainable practices, inspiring customer and community loyalty, and even identifying new revenue streams.

What does this mean for local small businesses — and where can they start?

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For Cambium Consulting & Engineering, a Peterborough-headquartered engineering and environmental firm, it started with a single waste stream — cylindrical plastic molds used in their concrete lab — and a commitment to find a better end-of-life solution.

Cambium has a certified materials testing lab that uses 10,000 of these plastic molds per year to test concrete. By asking questions, the organization learned that rather than being recycled, the material was ending up in landfill.

To address this, Cambium embarked on a partnership with a plastics recycler. Together, the businesses created a recyclable mold made from the same plastic waste that was originally generated. Now, after one use, these molds are collected, recycled, and transformed into a brand-new mold, ready to go again.

After Cambium Consulting & Engineering learned that the 10,000 plastic molds they use annually for concrete testing were going to landfill instead of being recycled, the Peterborough firm partnered with a plastics recycling company to turn the waste into new molds, creating an in-house circular economy system. (Photo: Brian Graham / Cambium)
After Cambium Consulting & Engineering learned that the 10,000 plastic molds they use annually for concrete testing were going to landfill instead of being recycled, the Peterborough firm partnered with a plastics recycling company to turn the waste into new molds, creating an in-house circular economy system. (Photo: Brian Graham / Cambium)

Significantly, this innovation means 10,000 molds a year are diverted from landfill. Even more importantly, Cambium is showcasing an excellent example of circular thinking in practice: designing out waste, reusing materials, and reducing environmental impact, without sacrificing quality or productivity.

The system is efficient and scalable, with their new partners able to provide Cambium with ready-to-use molds within a week, ensuring uninterrupted lab operations.

Beyond just improving their own practices, Cambium’s model offers a blueprint for others, especially larger organizations that use high quantities of concrete molds. It’s a small change with potential for big, industry-wide impact.

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“By proving that discarded plastic molds can be repurposed into CSA-approved reusable molds, we have introduced a circular approach to waste management within the construction testing and inspection industry,” says Jeff Hoskin, Cambium’s facilities and environmental health and safety manager.

As Circular Economy Month shines a spotlight on reducing waste and rethinking resource use, Cambium’s approach stands out as a practical, local success story. It’s proof that even niche waste problems can have circular solutions with the right partnerships and a commitment to sustainability.

To take part in the circular economy, businesses can start by identifying the types of waste they generate and confirming where that waste ends up. Beyond simply reducing the amount of waste generated, understanding what materials are being discarded and whether they’re truly being reused, recycled, or sent to landfill is the first step toward making meaningful changes.

Staff from Cambium Consulting & Engineering, a member of Green Economy Peterborough, joined tree-planting efforts to rebuild the tree canopy along the Trans Canada Trail in GreenUP Ecology Park after storm damage, highlighting their role in a local network of businesses working together toward a low-carbon and sustainable future. (Photo: Connor Evans / Cambium)
Staff from Cambium Consulting & Engineering, a member of Green Economy Peterborough, joined tree-planting efforts to rebuild the tree canopy along the Trans Canada Trail in GreenUP Ecology Park after storm damage, highlighting their role in a local network of businesses working together toward a low-carbon and sustainable future. (Photo: Connor Evans / Cambium)

From there, businesses can look for practical ways to reduce or eliminate waste, whether by reusing materials internally, or partnering with others to give materials a second life.

One of the more rewarding steps is building or joining networks where waste has value. A good starting point is to identify clean, consistent waste streams that could be used by others. Cambium reused its plastic waste within its own operations, but other local businesses can benefit from sharing materials with partners who can repurpose them.

Reaching out to schools, makerspaces, non-profits, or small manufacturers may lead to useful collaborations.

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Locally, Green Economy Peterborough (who can direct inquiries to the nascent Circular Peterborough Collective), the Circular County Community Hub, and the Kawartha Manufacturers’ Association can help connect businesses with potential partners, while the Circular Opportunity Innovation Launchpad (COIL), Partners in Project Green, Loop, and the Canadian Materials Circular Economy Syndicate are worth exploring. Even business Facebook groups offer informal ways to match waste with need.

In other words, real change doesn’t always start with grand gestures. Sometimes, it begins with a little determination and a humble plastic mold. By treating waste as a resource, businesses can not only reduce their environmental impact but may also discover cost savings, new partnerships, and innovative opportunities.

Now, about those Halloween candy wrappers …

Cambium Consulting & Engineering is a member of GreenUP’s Green Economy Peterborough (GEP) program. Learn more about GEP at www.greeneconomypeterborough.ca.

PRHC Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway named Peterborough’s Business Citizen of the Year

Lesley Heighway, president and CEO of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation, received a standing ovation as she accepted the Business Citizen of the Year award at the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce's 23rd annual Peterborough Business Excellence s at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough on October 22, 2025. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)

Lesley Heighway, president and CEO of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation, took home the top honour at the 23rd annual Peterborough Business Excellence Awards at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough on Wednesday night (October 22) when she was named Business Citizen of the Year.

Organized by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, the well-attended event was hosted by chamber board chair Susan Dunkley and vice chair Ben vanVeen, with the awards handed out by various sponsors with the assistance of the chamber’s president and CEO Brenda Whitehead.

Heighway, who joined the PRHC Foundation in 2008 and has served as president and CEO for the last 14 years, leads a team of professionals and volunteers who raise millions of dollars every year for the regional hospital — more than $45 million over the past five years alone. She is currently leading the $70-million Campaign for PRHC, which was also recognized on Wednesday night with the chamber’s Marketing & Promotion award.

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In accepting the Business Citizen of the Year award, Heighway explained her passion for healthcare philanthropy is rooted in her family’s lived experience in her home province of New Brunswick. Her parents had to drive three hours from a small community to a hospital in Saint John for her father to receive cancer radiation treatment for five days a week over a six-week period.

“Over the years in the leadership roles I’ve held, I’ve learned that business and professional success is measured not just in dollars, but also enjoy in joy, in gratitude, and in the impact you have on others and on your community,” she said.

“I’m so appreciative of this recognition, but just as grateful for the chance to do the work that I love in a community that’s become my home with people I care about, who care so much about each other and our collective future. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.”

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Other notable recipients included the Peterborough Humane Society, which received both the Not-for-Profit and the Employer of the Year awards, and Wild Rock Outfitters, which received both the Entrepreneurial Spirit and Retail awards.

The evening concluded with Peterborough Examiner photojournalist Clifford Skarstedt receiving the President’s Award, a special non-annual award that recognizes a unique and inspiring example of excellence that does not fit within one of the regular categories.

A full list of the award finalists and recipients is provided below.

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Local Focus

  • Charlotte Products Ltd – Recipient
  • kawarthaNOW
  • OmniWorx Design

 

Entrepreneurial Spirit

  • JMD Hospitality
  • Peterborough Axe Club
  • Wild Rock Outfitters – Recipient

 

Health & Wellness

  • Dr. Meagan McLaren/Health Foundations
  • Dr. Nicole Loucks/Kawartha Family Chiropractic
  • Five Counties Children’s Centre – Recipient

 

Commercial Development or Renovation

  • Black Rock Developments – Recipient
  • East City Dental
  • Forest Hill Lodge

 

Skilled Trades

  • Black Rock Developments
  • Cardinal Home Services
  • Just Spray It – Recipient
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Retail

  • Dan Joyces Retailing Limited
  • Monaghan Lumber
  • Wild Rock Outfitters – Recipient

 

Micro Business

  • Couture Candy – Recipient
  • Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association
  • Smash Courts

 

Professional Services

  • Kawartha Drainscape
  • Matthews & Associates
  • OmniWorx Design – Recipient

 

Customer First

  • Monaghan Lumber
  • Paris Marine
  • Trent Valley Honda – Recipient

 

Tourism

  • Egan Houseboat Rentals – Recipient
  • Sanctuary Flower Fields
  • Shorelines Casino Peterborough

 

Hospitality

  • Agave by Imperial
  • Kawartha Gymnastics
  • Millbrook Mercantile – Recipient

 

Marketing and Promotion

  • kawarthaNOW
  • Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation – Recipient
  • PTBO Home, Garden & Cottage Show

 

Not-for-Profit

  • Five Counties Children’s Centre
  • Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Foundation
  • Peterborough Humane Society – Recipient

 

Employer of the Year

  • Charlotte Products Ltd
  • Peterborough Humane Society – Recipient
  • Trent Valley Honda

 

4-Under-40 Profiles, in Memory of Kathy Windrem

  • Adeilah Dahlke
  • Amy Muir
  • Meagan McLaren
  • Michael Riseley

 

Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year

  • Sammy’s Braids

 

Business Citizen of the Year

  • Lesley Heighway, Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation

 

President’s Award

  • Clifford Skarstedt

Award-winning Farmerettes documentary comes to Lakefield on November 26

An audience in Stratford watches a screening of "We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes", produced and directed by Colin Field with historical producer Bonnie Sitter, who wrote the 2019 book "Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes" with retired journalist Shirleyan English. (Photo via welendahand.ca)

Millbrook’s 4th Line Theatre and Lakefield College School have partnered to present a screening on November 26 of an award-winning documentary about a largely untold chapter of 20th-century Canadian history.

We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes tells the story of the 40,000 teenage girls who volunteered on Canadian farms during and after World War II and helped sustain the nation’s food supply while the young Canadian men who normally worked the farms were fighting overseas. Known as “Farmerettes,” the girls — many with no previous farming experience — came from different parts of Ontario and Quebec to many farms in southwestern Ontario.

If the story sounds familiar, it may be because 4th Line Theatre presented the world premiere of Onion Skins & Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes in 2024. The play was written by Alison Lawrence based on the book by Shirleyan English and Bonnie Sitter.

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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 retired 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, Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes, which features a collection of photos, letters, and memories from Farmerettes across the country.

VIDEO: “We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes” trailer

Filmmaker Colin Field, who directed and produced the documentary, first met Sitter in 2019. Inspired by her research, he wanted to bring the story of the Farmerettes to the big screen.

“I was privileged to collaborate with Bonnie on this extraordinary story of dedication and perseverance,” Field says. “I got to interview 20 Farmerettes — now in their late nineties — for the documentary, and after two years of work and with the help of sponsors and generous donors, the documentary is finally complete.”

The 49-minute documentary shares the experiences of the Farmerettes through reenactments and unique archival images. It was named best documentary at the 2025 Niagara Canada International Film Festival, best Canadian documentary at the 2025 Toronto Independent Film Festival of Cift, and the best film about women at the 2025 Toronto International Women Film Festival.

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Both Field and Sitter will be attending the screening of the documentary at the Bryan Jones Theatre at Lakefield College School at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26.

Following the screening, they will participate in a question-and-answer session along with 4th Line Theatre’s managing artistic director Kim Blackwell. Attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase autographed copies of Sitter and English’s book.

The film is being screened at Lakefield College School as 4th Line Theatre and the school have a long-standing partnership, including the school’s support for 4th Line’s young company. In addition, many of the school’s students are the same age as the Farmerettes were and the school is continuing to develop its farm at the Northcote Campus.

Shirleyan English and Bonnie Sitter with their 2019 book "Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes." The book features letters, photos, and stories of young women's experiences working on Ontario farms during the labour shortage of the Second World War. (Photo: Age Creatively website)
Shirleyan English and Bonnie Sitter with their 2019 book “Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes.” The book features letters, photos, and stories of young women’s experiences working on Ontario farms during the labour shortage of the Second World War. (Photo: Age Creatively website)

Tickets for the screening are $25, with a portion of ticket sales going to 4th Line Theatre’s 30 to the Future Endowment Fund and Lakefield College’s Northcote Farm Endowment.

In addition, a collection will be taken during the screening in support of victims of the recent fire in downtown Lakefield.

To purchase tickets, call the 4th Line Theatre box office at 705-932-4445. Tickets will also be available online at www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca

History meets Halloween during Spooky All Hallows’ Eve at Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene

Take a stroll through the graveyard if you dare while visiting Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene for Spooky All Hallows' Eve from 6 to 9 p.m. on October 24 and 25, 2025. The family-friendly event offers a wide range of fun activities along with stories about the origin of modern-day Halloween traditions. (Photo: Heather Doughty Photography / Lang Pioneer Village Museum)

Did you know that the demand for cadavers to teach anatomy in the early 19th century far exceeded the legal supply, leading to the rise of “resurrectionists” — professional body snatchers who stole freshly buried corpses to sell to medical schools?

The history of body snatching is one of the eerie things you can learn at Spooky All Hallows’ Eve at Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene from 6 to 9 p.m. this Friday and Saturday (October 24 and 25).

But it’s not all macabre facts at Spooky All Hallows’ Eve, with a wide range of fun activities available for the entire family.

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Take a tractor and wagon ride or wander the village, where you’ll learn about the different origins of trick-or-treating and learn a rhyme for “soul-caking.” Watch out for the man-eating plant from Madagascar at the Fitzpatrick House, discover the history of coffins and body snatching at the Carpenter Shop, and stop by the Tinsmith Shop to feel what is lurking in the mystery crocks.

Participate in a class on poisons and potions in the School House, try a treat from the Botched Bakery, and listen to sea shanties and pirate jokes in the Cider Barn — if you can find all the items on their treasure map, you just might receive a piece of treasure for yourself.

Witness a traditional 1890s Halloween party and participate in some party games, meet Stingy Jack (played by Glen Caradus) who will tell you his sorry tale, take a stroll through the graveyard, hear about the story of werewolves, visit the witch’s lair to find out your witch’s name while swamp water bubbles in the cauldron over the fire, and find out what your future holds from Madam Fortune.

Meet the snake oil salesman, try some hula hooping in the Agricultural Barn, learn about the different origins of trick-or-treating, and hear the Michi Saagig people's tale of the malevolent spirit Wendigo during Spooky All Hallows' Eve from 6 to 9 p.m. on October 24 and 25, 2025 at Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene. (Photos: Heather Doughty Photography / Lang Pioneer Village Museum)
Meet the snake oil salesman, try some hula hooping in the Agricultural Barn, learn about the different origins of trick-or-treating, and hear the Michi Saagig people’s tale of the malevolent spirit Wendigo during Spooky All Hallows’ Eve from 6 to 9 p.m. on October 24 and 25, 2025 at Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene. (Photos: Heather Doughty Photography / Lang Pioneer Village Museum)

Learn about paranormal investigations undertaken at Lang Pioneer Village Museum by Paranormal Seekers ghost hunters and see some of the specialized equipment they use to make their “discoveries.” While Halloween is a settler custom, you can also learn about Indigenous traditions at Aabnaabin Camp, including the Michi Saagig people’s tale of the malevolent spirit Wendigo.

Take a trip to the stars on a magic carpet ride, visit the fairies at their lodge, try some hula hooping in the Agricultural Barn, and make sure not to get lost if you are brave enough to enter the maze. You can also warm up by the fire and learn about Samhain, a Celtic fire festival.

Watch the mind-bending magic show in the Weaver Shop, with performances at 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 p.m., but plan ahead as seating is limited. You can also witness a séance and a witch dance, learn about witch broom craft, meet the snake oil salesman, and watch performances by the Peterborough Scottish Country Dancers.

Stop by the Keene Hotel for some hot chocolate and sweet treats or visit the Bewdley Lions Club food truck for some BBQ goods (cash only). Ben’s Kettle Corn will be on-site popping up fresh kettle corn, and you can purchase candy and sweet treats in the General Store.

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Come disguised to blend in with the spirits and ghosts lurking in the village, or have your face painted in the Great Hall by Faces by 2. Children will receive treat bags at the end of the evening to enjoy on their way home.

While some of the origin stories of Halloween customs during this historical tour can be dark, Spooky All Hallows’ Eve is not a frightful experience and is suitable for the entire family.

Admission is $17 for adults, $12 for students and seniors 60 and older, $9 for children and youth aged two to 14, and free for children under two. Family admission is also available for $44 (for two adults and up to four youth ages two to 14). You can purchase tickets in advance, but advance tickets are not required. On-site parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

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