One of Our Future Peterborough's flyers taped to a light pole in front of Peterborough City Hall. Fighting against the restructuring and job elimination at the Peterborough Public Library is the "spark" that encouraged three Peterborough parents to form the grassroots organization committed to protecting the city's public services for children and families. (Photo courtesy of Our Future Peterborough)
The City of Peterborough is not proceeding with planned staff reductions at the Peterborough Public Library, at least not for the time being.
In a media release on Monday (June 16), the city announced the staff reorganization at the library has been “paused” so that the city can “consider other options for meeting budgetary constraints.”
During deliberations on the 2025 budget last fall, councillors approved the elimination of two positions and the reclassification of some positions as lower-paid positions to save $120,000 of the city’s $411 million operating budget.
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After the city’s budget was approved earlier this year, library management subsequently decided to lay off three of the library’s four full-time unionized librarians, including a children’s librarian, the adult and teen programming librarian, and the librarian who manages the library’s information systems. Two positions (an outreach coordinator and a programming assistant) would be created, resulting in a net reduction of one position.
The planned changes to staffing at the library resulted in strong community opposition, particularly by a number of concerned parents who launched an online petition that has garnered 2,480 signatures to date and founded the Our Future Peterborough grassroots advocacy group.
Last Tuesday (June 10), Our Future Peterborough issued an open letter signed by more than 100 celebrated writers, artists, educators, and performers — Margaret Atwood, Neil Young, and former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson among them. As well as received coverage from local media and national media including the CBC and The Toronto Star.
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“The city has heard and appreciates the support for library services expressed by residents and others who have advocated for the Peterborough Public Library,” states the city’s media release.
“While the approved budget needs to be followed, the city is exploring all options to ensure the most effective means to reduce the budget while maintaining the same level and quality of service, through constructive meetings with Peterborough Public Library staff.”
The city adds that it is committed to continuing “an open dialogue with Peterborough Public Library staff and their union executive at Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1833 as discussions progress on how to implement changes within the library’s approved budget, and as the collective bargaining process continues.”
encoreNOW for June 16, 2025 features (from left to right, top and bottom) the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival with Songs from Gichi-Gamiing featuring Baabii & Friends among other shows at the Peterborough Theatre Guild, The Salt Cellars at Havelock Stone Hall, Globus Theatre's production of Norm Foster's "Come Down From Up River" in Bobcaygeon, Serena Ryder opening Peterborough Musicfest, Lighthouse at Westben in Campbellford, and Julia Scaringi and Jay Davis in the world premiere of "The Housekeeper" at 4th Line Theatre in Millbrook. (kawarthaNOW collage)
encoreNOW is a bi-weekly column by Paul Rellinger where he features upcoming music, theatre, film, and performing arts events and news from across the Kawarthas.
This week, Paul highlights the 5th annual Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival, a Havelock date for the The Salt Cellars, Globus Theatre’s staging of Norm Foster’s Come Down From Up The River, Serena Ryder opening the 38th edition of Peterborough Musicfest, classic rock Lighthouse-style at Campbellford’s Barn at Westben, and yet another world premiere opening a new summer season at Millbrook’s 4th Line Theatre.
New home for the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival
“Whistling Pine (A Dark Comedy)” written and performed by Chris Mejaki and “Postcards from Colonization” created and performed by Mara Heiber, Marianne Nahayo, and Stefanie Wood are two of the shows at the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival running from June 19 to 22 at the Peterborough Theatre Guild. (Graphics: Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival)
When the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival debuted in 2021, after having already been delayed a year due to the pandemic, it was originally going to feature 35 shows at four outdoor locations with a limit of 10 tickets for each show. In the end, due to Ontario government restrictions, it was presented drive-in style, with audience members confined to their vehicles to keep the nasty COVID-19 virus at bay.
Four years on, that valiant show-must-go-on premiere is well in the festival’s rear-view mirror with the fifth showcase of Indigenous artists and art ready to enthrall at its new home of The Guild Hall in Peterborough’s East City. Previous festivals, including the drive-in debut, were held on the Trent University campus.
From Thursday to Sunday (June 19 to 22, which includes National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21), the festival will well meet its mandate of connecting Indigenous artists with the Nogojiwanong community and beyond. Scheduled are several uncensored, land-based multi-art form performances — comedy, storytelling, dance, music, burlesque, and more. Accomplished Indigenous artists from across Ontario and beyond are in the mix, as evidenced by the schedule posted at www.indigenousfringefest.ca/schedule.
Billed as the only Indigenous fringe festival in the world, at its heart is the organizers’ pledge that each participating artist is free to choose how and what they perform. As you would expect, such freedom invariably brings forth stunning performances that truly are one of a kind.
Meanwhile, this year’s move to the Peterborough Theatre Guild will allow for the first-time display of Indigenous visual art in a hall space that has regularly seen art exhibited. That adds yet exciting another dimension to the festival’s offerings.
Tickets to individual festival performances, affordably priced from $8 to $12 depending on the show, are available online at eventbrite.com/cc/niff-2025-4299063 and also at the door prior to each performance.
The Salt Cellars’ advocacy for social justice strikes a chord
VIDEO: “Down The Road” – The Salt Cellars
As a means of advocating for social justice, music has long played a prominent role. As a prime example, talk the folk music scene of the 1960s, led by the likes of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Pete Seeger, and many others, that gave a loud history-changing voice to the protests over American involvement in the Vietnam War.
That voice hasn’t gone away. New challenges abound today, with the resulting concern and angst of the masses expressed in song by many worldwide. Closer to home, Virginia deCarle and Rob Bersan — The Salt Cellars — have been doing so since forming in 2016.
Hailing from the south side of Algonquin Park, the duo’s songwriting is anchored by a shared belief in, and commitment to, empathy, equality and equity. The goal is simple but at the heart of everything they do musically: spark meaningful conversations and inspire positive change.
The Salt Cellars’ fusion of folk, Americana, blues and jazz is at the heart of three albums — Truth, Crooked Tree, and Inside These Walls — along with their 2024 EP Sky Compass. In the recording studio, guest turns by the likes of Jane Bunnett, Hugh Marsh, Tom Fitzgerald, and Jordon Zadorozny have added to the rich result.
On Sunday (June 22), Pineapple Productions is presenting The Salt Cellars as part of the Havelock Stone Hall Concert Sessions at Stone Hall on the 6th Line of Belmont (6713 Highway 7).
Globus Theatre staging yet another Norm Foster classic play
Described as “a hilarious and tender story of reconnection,” “Come Down From Up River” by Norm Foster runs at Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon from June 25 to July 5, 2025. (Graphic: Globus Theatre)
Ever-busy Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon is back at it, presenting yet another hilarious and tender stage play — a formula that has worked so well for the company. If ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?
This time around, the Lakeview Arts Barn welcomes Norm Foster’s Come Down From Up River.
Meet Shaver Bennett, who, working as a logger in the forests of New Brunswick, has spent most of his life in solitude.
After two decades apart, he unexpectedly shows up at the city home of his estranged sister’s daughter Bonnie. Having no fond memories of her uncle, she worries about bringing him into her life — and that of her wife Liv.
As for what follows … well, you have to buy a ticket. What I can tell you is Foster is considered Canada’s most produced playwright. The Newmarket native who now lives in New Brunswick has written almost 80 comedic plays, each known not only for their humour but also their insight into life’s tribulations.
That has drawn comparisons to American playwright Neil Simon, and earned Foster, in 2016, a lifetime membership to the Playwrights Guild of Canada and, in the same year, an Officer of the Order of Canada. Come Down From Up River premiered in 2018 at The Foster Festival in St. Catharines — the first theatre festival in Canada celebrating the work of a living Canadian playwright.
Globus Theatre’s production of Come Down From Up River runs for 10 performances, with evening shows at 8 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays from June 25 to 28 and July 2 to 5 and 2 p.m. matinees on June 28 and July 3.
Peterborough Musicfest opener welcomes a familiar voice
VIDEO: “Better Now” – Serena Ryder
Much has changed in Peterborough, but one thing that hasn’t is the conviction, by thousands near and far, that Peterborough Musicfest’s arrival marks the true start of the summer season.
For generations, that has been the case since the late Fred Anderson founded the free-admission summer music festival in 1987, bringing Canadian jazz great Moe Koffman to Del Crary Park on Canada Day of that year.
Over the summers since, countless music memories have been shared by locals and visitors alike, with the list of acts verging on endless. Now, as Musicfest opens its 38th season on Saturday, June 28, it’s turning to a local girl who’s “done good” (very good, in fact) as its 2025 lineup lid-lifter at the same park.
Seven Juno Awards attest to the talent that is Serena Ryder. With her powerhouse vocals and captivating stage presence, the Millbrook native and graduate of the former PCVS integrated arts program remains a huge draw.
Hit songs such as “Stompa” and “What I Wouldn’t Do” have kept Ryder front-of-mind for many, but her relentless advocacy for mental health and wellness has shared equal space on her calling card, and was cited when she joined Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2021 as the recipient of the Allan Slaight Music Impact Honour.
Ryder has been a good friend of Musicfest, this being her fifth appearance at the festival proper, and adding two Musicfest-related performances at Market Hall, her seventh overall.
Ryder will take to the stage shortly after 8 p.m., kicking off a summer of concerts every Wednesday and Saturday nights until August 16. Up next, on Canada Day, is retro rock tribute Neon Nostalgic followed by, on July 2, William Prince.
For the summer’s complete line-up (with concerts still to be announced for four dates in July), visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca
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Classic Lighthouse sound still resonates 55-plus years on
VIDEO: “Sunny Days” – Lighthouse
Speaking of top Canadian music acts that have thrilled Peterborough Musicfest audiences, Lighthouse has never failed to deliver in a big way.
Formed in 1969, the Toronto-born band’s combining of rock, jazz, classical and swing music still strikes a refreshing chord — its horns and string instruments anchoring its trademark powerhouse sound while providing full evidence of why it was named Canadian Group of the Year at the 1972, 1973 and 1974 Juno Awards.
On Sunday, June 29 at The Barn at Westben in Campbellford, Lighthouse will deliver on the hard-driving sound that gave us iconic hits such as “One Fine Morning,” “Sunny Days,” “Pretty Lady,” and “Hats Off To The Stranger.”
Front stage on keyboards, as he has been since day one, will be Paul Hoffert, who founded the band with the late Skip Prokop. Also still in the fold is original guitarist Ralph Cole.
Lighthouse represents Canadian classic rock at its finest. During a time when homegrown acts struggled to gain a following beyond our borders, this is one band that garnered a lot of attention, and kept it a long, long time after.
While ticketed seats to the 2 p.m. concert are sold out, you may be able to purchase a meadow pass which, weather permitting, means you can experience the concert from the Westben Meadow surrounding The Barn (bring your own chair and dress for the weather). Visit www.westben.ca on Friday, June 27 to check if meadow passes are available.
Another world premiere heralds a new 4th Line Theatre season
VIDEO: Kim Blackwell speaks with Robert Winslow about “The Housekeeper”
If there’s a prettier, more peaceful place than the Winslow Farm to spend a summer evening being wholly entertained, this guy has yet to stumble upon it.
That little slice of heaven on earth off Zion Line near Millbrook has been home, since 1992, to 4th Line Theatre. Back then, Robert Winslow, with a deep interest in local history, envisioned an outdoor company that would bring to life local stories, providing local actors and stage production crew members lots of work while delivering a unique theatrical experience. With 42 original plays — a number written by Winslow himself — since presented, mission accomplished.
On Canada Day, 4th Line Theatre will open its 33rd two-play summer season with the world premiere of The Housekeeper. Written by Winslow and long-time collaborator Ian McLachlan, this is the fourth play of 4th Line’s acclaimed Barnardo series, with Doctor Barnardo’s Children, Wounded Soldiers, and Carmel all being staged in summers past.
The Housekeeper tells the story of a mysterious woman named Eleanor Gwyn who arrives in Millbrook in 1955 looking for a job. Being the housekeeper for widower Walter White might be the perfect fit. Gwyn is hoping to make a fresh start in life and to find a place to call home, but is Millbrook ready for her and her progressive world views?
Gwyn will be portrayed by Julia Scaringi, who performed in 4th Line’s 2022 production of Alex Poch-Goldin’s The Great Shadow and the 2023 production of Winslow’s The Cavan Blazers. Making his 4th Line debut, Canadian actor and singer Jay Davis is playing Walter White — one of the Barnardo children featured in Doctor Barnardo’s Children and Carmel.
The Housekeeper is staged at 6 p.m. from July 1 to 19, with preview nights on July 1 and 2 and opening night on July 3, and performances on Tuesdays to Saturdays from July 8 to 12, and 15 to 19, with an additional Monday performance on July 14. The play contains mature content and is recommended for audience members 16 and older.
Tickets, season subscriptions, and gift certificates are available by phone at 705-932-4445 (toll-free at 1-800-814-0055), online at www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca, and at 4th Line Theatre’s box office at 9 Tupper Street in Millbrook.
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Encore
It’s still a way off, but if you’re planning to take in this September’s Creekside Music Festival in Apsley, tickets are now on sale at www.creeksidemusicfestival.ca/tickets. I’m sharing this now because the annual event typically sells out and sells out fast. First held in 2018 as a one-off on the shores of Eels Creek, the festival has welcomed a number of terrific acts, most of them local, and in the process donated a portion of the proceeds to several Apsley area non-profits. Set for September 5 to 7, this year’s lineup features, among others, Tommy Youngsteen, Montana Sky, Mudmen, and Prairie Oyster founder Russell deCarle.
It’s great to see Quaker Foods City Square in downtown Peterborough being used as intended: as a safe urban gathering place for residents. To that end, a free family-friendly Canada Day Movie Night is set for dusk on Monday, June 30 in the space off Charlotte Street … with free popcorn to boot. The City of Peterborough ran an online vote to choose the movie from among four Canadian-themed options and, after 800 votes were cast, Fly Away Home was the winner. Filmed partly in Ontario and based on real events, the 1996 film starring Anna Paquin and Jeff Daniels tells the story of a young girl from New Zealand who, after losing her mother, must move to Canada to live with her estranged father. After she finds a collection of abandoned goose eggs and they hatch, she bonds with her father as the pair train the orphaned geese to migrate south using an ultralight aircraft.
The recipients of the Peterborough Arts Awards on June 12, 2025 at the Canadian Canoe Museum: Rebecca Birrell for her father Syd Birrell (Outstanding Senior Artist), David Goyette (Arts Champion), Lynda Todd (Outstanding Emerging Artist), Chad Hogan (Arts Catalyst), and Olivia Whetung (Outstanding Mid-Career Artist). Not pictured is Sarah Decarlo (Outstanding Achievement by an Indigenous Artist). Each award winner received $2,000 and a pin created by local artists Christy Haldane and Valerie Davidson. (Photo courtesy of Electric City Culture Council)
Six local artists and arts supporters were recognized for outstanding achievement last Thursday (June 12) during the Peterborough Arts Awards at the Canadian Canoe Museum.
Presented by the Electric City Culture Council (EC3), the awards also recognized another nine finalists in six award categories.
The celebration was attended by Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal and councillor Alex Bierk on behalf of the City of Peterborough and included performances by 11 local artists and a keynote speech by Missy Knott, an acclaimed musician from Curve Lake First Nation and a member of the Ontario Arts Council Board.
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Lynda Todd, Olivia Whetung, Syd Birrell, Sarah DeCarlo, David Goyette, and Chad Hogan each received $2,000 and a pin created by local artists Christy Haldane and Valerie Davidson. As the recipient of the Arts Champion, Goyette will be donating his prize to a local not-for-profit professional arts organization.
The nine finalists for the awards — Elisha May Rubacha, Káhnitha (Ashley Thompson), Michael Duguay, Nicole Malbeuf, Kim Blackwell, Frank Flynn, William Kingfisher, Lindy Finlan, and Jason Wilkins — each received $250.
The finalists and the winners were selected by a peer jury from a multi-disciplinary pool of nominated candidates.
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An independent not-for-profit service organization supporting the arts in Peterborough and the surrounding region, EC3 established the awards to honour and recognize excellence and outstanding achievement of professional artists, arts organizations, and arts supporters living and working the city and county of Peterborough.
The six award categories and their sponsors, finalists, and recipients are listed below.
Outstanding Emerging Artist
Sponsored by Tim Barrie of Merit II Realty Limited, this award recognizes outstanding achievement by an artist, working professionally in any discipline, who has been practising in their field for at least two years.
The finalists were Káhnitha (Ashley Thompson), Elisha May Rubacha, and Lynda Todd, with the award presented to Lynda Todd.
Outstanding Mid-Career Artist
Sponsored by an anonymous donor, this award recognizes outstanding achievement by an artist, working professionally in any discipline, who has been practising in their field for at least five years.
The finalists were Michael C. Duguay, Nicole Malbeuf, and Olivia Whetung, with the award presented to Olivia Whetung.
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Outstanding Senior Artist
Sponsored by Paul and Kristine Hickey, this award recognizes outstanding achievement by an artist, working professionally in any discipline, who has been practising in their field for at least 15 years.
The finalists were Syd Birrell, Kim Blackwell, and Frank Flynn, with the award presented to Syd Birrell.
Outstanding Achievement by an Indigenous Artist
Sponsored by Bill Lockington of LLF Lawyers LLP, this award recognizes outstanding achievement by an Indigenous artist, working professionally in any discipline, contemporary or traditional form.
The finalists were Sarah DeCarlo and William Kingfisher, with the award presented to Sarah DeCarlo.
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Arts Champion
Sponsored by Paul Bennett of Ashburnham Realty, this award recognizes a person who has consistently provided outstanding support and encouragement for the development of the arts in Peterborough through philanthropy, volunteerism, or the development of partnerships and collaborations (the prize is given to an individual who, in turn, gives it to a local not-for-profit professional arts organization).
The sole finalist and award recipient is David Goyette.
Arts Catalyst
Sponsored by Kate and Alex Ramsay, this award recognizes outstanding achievement by a professional arts administrator or manager, fundraiser, art critic, curator, educator, programmer, or producer who has worked behind the scenes to build excellence in the arts.
The finalists were Lindy Finlan, Chad Hogan, and Jason Wilkins, with the award presented to Chad Hogan.
Cobourg's homeless shelter at 310 Division Street opened in late 2024 with a warming/cooling room and laundry, washroom and shower, and dining facilities on the first floor, 35 emergency shelter beds on the second and third floors, and 10 transitional housing units on the fourth floor. (Photo: Northumberland County)
Cobourg council is hosting a town hall meeting on Tuesday (June 17) in the hopes of gathering public feedback about the homeless shelter on Division Street in Cobourg.
Residents and business owners are being invited to attend the Town of Cobourg council’s meeting at 6 p.m. at the Cobourg Community Centre at 750 D’Arcy St.
The Transition House homeless shelter, which moved from Chapel Street to 310 Division St., partially opened in December by offering short-term beds for those experiencing homelessness. It has since opened fully, offering additional services for those in need of longer-term housing support as well.
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“The meeting is intended to be a community engagement opportunity for residents to share feedback, suggestions, or concerns regarding 310 Division St. with council,” Kara Eaule, the Town of Cobourg’s communications manager, told kawarthaNOW.
“Cobourg does not have a say in the operation of 310 Division Street. Therefore, Mayor (Lucas) Cleveland will take the community feedback to Northumberland County council where he hopes it can serve to inform positive change.”
The Division Street facility, which Northumberland County purchased in 2023 in partnership with Transition House, is intended to “modernize” shelter services, and serves as the only shelter of its kind in Northumberland County.
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In addition to 35 emergency short-term beds, the shelter also now offers longer-term transitional housing options. Services include connecting individuals to needed resources, such as wellness, housing, and employment supports. The Division Street facility includes a drop-in warming room and cooling centre.
Northumberland County created a community liaison committee for the shelter, comprised of members of the community including neighbours in the immediate vicinity of the shelter, residents of the broader Cobourg community, and individuals with lived experience of homelessness and housing insecurity, along with delegates from local businesses, the faith community, and community agencies, members of Northumberland Paramedics and the Cobourg Police, and representatives from both the shelter and from the Town of Cobourg and Northumberland County.
According to a release from the county, monthly committee meetings provide a forum for sharing information, resolving challenges, and advancing solutions to support the local integration of shelter services.
There has been friction between the county and the town related to Transition House, mostly centring around compliance with Cobourg’s emergency care establishment by-law.
Cobourg council hopes to hear from a variety of community members on Tuesday.
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“The development of the low-barrier shelter at 310 Division St. presents an opportunity for individuals within the community who have struggled to transition into housing,” a media release from the Town of Cobourg noted.
“In the early stages of any project, experiential learning is a powerful tool to gain insight and knowledge. Cobourg council is eager to hear from members of the community who have benefited from 310 Division St. as well as those whose experience has been less than optimal.”
The town hall meeting will take place in the gym of the community centre.
Residents and Cobourg business owners who wish to speak at the meeting are encouraged to register in advance by emailing clerk@cobourg.ca or calling the clerk’s office at 905-372-4301.
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Staff from the clerk’s office will also be available on-site during the meeting for those who wish to register to speak in person.
Speakers will be provided five minutes to speak. Speakers must register to speak before 7:30 p.m. If speakers would like to share any materials at the meeting they must be submitted by Monday, June 16 at noon by email to clerk@cobourg.ca. A maximum of five slides will be permitted for presentations.
For those able to attend in person, the meeting will also be livestreamed on the Town of Cobourg’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/towncobourg.
Lydia the trumpeter swan swimming in the Trent canal in Peterborough on June 15, 2025, after 11 days at Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge in Pefferlaw. On June 2, Peterborough residents Karen Hjort-Jensen and Peter Hewett had noticed the swan behaving strangely along the trail beside the canal and, after contacting Trumpeter Swan Conservation Ontario, connected with volunteer Steve Paul who captured the bird captured it and transported it to Shades of Hope, suspecting a wing injury. (Photo: Mike McKay)
After almost two weeks at Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge in Pefferlaw in the Town of Georgina, Lydia the trumpeter swan is healthy and back home in Peterborough.
The healthy swan was released on Sunday morning (June 15) at the same location where it was captured, along the trail on the west side the Trent canal just south of the swing bridge on Parkhill Road.
Steve Paul, a volunteer with Trumpeter Swan Conservation Ontario, captured the bird and drove it to the wildlife refuge on June 4, two days after Peterborough residents Karen Hjort-Jensen and Peter Hewett first noticed the swan along the trail behaving strangely.
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Although the swan appeared healthy, it was staying in a location where it hadn’t been seen before and wasn’t moving away from people. Hjort-Jensen and Hewett watched over the swan for around two hours as they made phone calls to various local organizations they thought could help.
Through Trumpeter Swan Conservation Ontario, they connected with Paul, who met the couple at the location to assess the bird’s condition.
“It looked like there was something off about its left wing, like it couldn’t fully extend it,” Paul told kawarthaNOW in an earlier interview.
Peterborough residents Steve Paul (right) and Peter Hewett captured a potentially injured trumpeter swan along the Trent Canal trail just south of the Parkhill swing bridge on June 4, 2025, with Paul then driving it to the Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge. Two days earlier, Hewett and Karen Hjort-Jensen had sat with the swan for more than two hours after noticing the swan was behaving strangely and reached out to various organizations for help, including Trumpeter Swan Conservation Ontario which connected them with volunteer Paul. (Photo: Karen Hjort-Jensen)
After consulting with Shades of Hope, the trio returned to the location two days later, where Paul captured the bird and placed it in a carrier for the 90-minute drive to Shades of Hope.
In an update provided to kawarthaNOW on Sunday, Paul says they learned several days after the swan was admitted to Shades of Hope that its wing was not injured — it had been snared with fishing line that prevented the bird from flying, something Paul did not notice when he captured the bird.
Aside from the fishing line, Paul says the swan was underweight and Shades of Hope kept the bird in care to ensure it was properly fed and healthy before release.
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Paul adds that a decision was made to band and tag the swan, which helps researchers track their movements, monitor their health, and study population dynamics.
Krystal Hewitt, a licensed bander with Trumpeter Swan Conservation Ontario, visited Shades of Hope last Wednesday (June 11).
The swan was banded on its left leg and tagged with U33 on both of its wings.
Pete Hewett and Steve Paul hold a carrier containing Lydia the trumpeter swan on June 15, 2025 before releasing the bird at the same spot where it was captured 11 days earlier and transported to Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge in Pefferlaw. Also present for the release were (left to right), Jennifer Semple, Victoria Koppin, and Karen Hjort-Jensen. Not pictured are Amy Semple and Mike McKay. (Photo: Mike McKay)
When he captured the bird, Paul guessed it was around two years old because all of its feathers are white, which means it has moulted out all of its grey cygnet features, but he wasn’t sure of the swan’s sex. It was later confirmed the bird is at least two years old and is female.
With the bird’s gender confirmed, Hjort-Jensen and Hewett were given the honour of naming the swan.
They named it Lydia, after one of their grandchildren who is a passionate animal lover.
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Paul picked up Lydia from Shades of Hope on Sunday morning and, with the help of Hewett, released it at the exact same location where he captured it.
Hjort-Jensen was also present for the release, along with Jennifer Semple and her daughter Amy Semple — Paul’s friend and a local bird watcher — and her partner Mike McKay, and Victoria Koppin.
Paul notes that Jennifer, who was in Peterborough to visit Amy and Mike, is a trumpeter swan lover from Elk Lake in northern Ontario who regularly enjoys watching swans in her area. As she was celebrating her birthday on Sunday, the release of Lydia was a special gift.
Now named Lydia by Karen Hjort-Jensen and Peter Hewett, the released trumpeter swan makes its way down to the water of the Trent Canal in Peterborough on June 15, 2025. (Screenshots of video by Amy Semple)
As for Paul, he is reminding anglers to always take their fishing line with them.
“Wildlife are impacted all the time by discarded fishing line, and in most cases these incidents can be easily prevented,” he explains.
He is also encouraging people to consider making a one-time or monthly financial donation to Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge.
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Instead of making a financial donation, people can also donate items from the refuge’s wishlist, which includes items such as cleaning supplies, heating pads, feed dishes, grain, cat and dog food, and more.
“Shades of Hope takes care of thousands of cases each year, and donations help support animals in care,” Paul says.
While at Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge in Pefferlaw, Lydia the trumpeter swan was banded and tagged, which helps researchers track their movements, monitor their health, and study population dynamics. (Photo: Steve Paul)
Since being established in January 2025, volunteer rescue group Tail Trackers Kawartha has helped find more than 100 pets in the Kawartha Lakes, including two of six Great Pyrenees dogs that were found abandoned in Little Britain during the March 29 ice storm. Pictured is Chauncey, the last of the six brothers who is still looking for his forever home after being brought to the Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes. (Photo: Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes)
It’s all paws on deck when a pet goes missing in the Kawartha Lakes, thanks to a new volunteer group that thermal drones, trail cameras, and a whole lot of compassion to help find lost pets.
It was this crew of volunteers who searched tirelessly on March 29 when six Great Pyrenees dogs were found abandoned during the devastating ice storm. While four of them were secured by the community and brought to the Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes, two remained at large and needed to be humanely trapped before being safely transported to the shelter.
“It took so many volunteer hours and we had one volunteer sleep in her truck just to keep an eye on the traps and not miss an opportunity when the dogs came out at 4 a.m.,” says Jenny Miskelly, a co-founder of Tail Trackers Kawartha. “We had volunteers there pretty well 24 hours a day monitoring and just ready.”
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Aided by such a level of dedication, the six Great Pyrenees dogs — all brothers — have since found safety, comfort, and aid through the humane society and five have already found their forever homes.
This is just one story of the more than 100 pets that Tail Trackers Kawartha have helped support since the organization’s launch in January. Miskelly first connected with Liana Gassyt and Georgia McIntosh when helping bunnies that were left abandoned on the side of the road, and the group then joined with Kelly Richardson and Lydia Van Den Berg, who both had similar experience with pet rescue organizations, to officially launch Tail Trackers Kawartha.
“There are definitely a lot of groups out there that share posts and get the word out on social media, but we are ground search teams, so we go out and recruit volunteers and actually search for these animals, and we have all the equipment to do so,” says Miskelly. “They’re our family members and I know if my dog were lost, I would hope the community would help me or someone would be helping me.”
Several compassionate animal lovers banded together to establish the pet rescue organization Tail Trackers Kawartha after connecting over the rescue of a group of abandoned bunnies. Since its launch in January, the organization has supported efforts for locating more than 100 pets. (Photo courtesy of Tail Trackers Kawartha)
Tail Trackers Kawartha, which is currently operating with 60 volunteers across Kawartha Lakes, operates a web app where either those who have lost a pet and those who have found a missing pet can report it by uploading photos and noting characteristics like the breed, colour, behaviour, direction of travel, and place and time of last sighting.
Volunteers who have signed up through the web app will then be notified if a pet has been missing in their area for multiple days.
The grassroots organization uses thermal drones, trail cameras, and humane traps to find and secure lost pets, while a team lead will act as a liaison to the family, helping them navigate the process and ensuring they are not being taken advantage while in a vulnerable state of mind.
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“Unfortunately, often when a pet is missing, there can be fraud that comes out,” says Mike Sharma, a team lead and administrative volunteer for the organization. “We know how to help pet owners navigate this and, most importantly, we know how to prioritize getting their lost family member back home as quickly as possible.”
“It gives them a person to talk to and pitch and brainstorm ideas with,” adds Miskelly. “You know your pet best, but we know what happens in those cases when a pet goes missing, so we can work together to make sure that everyone’s got a clear head and are doing what’s best for the animal.”
When a pet is lost, Miskelly and Sharma recommend owners to put up posters around the community in addition to alerting Tail Trackers Kawartha, given that not everybody has social media or has downloaded the app. Especially in a rural area, people who notice a dog out on its own may not realize it’s missing,
“People will turn a blind eye and think it’s a farm dog or that the dog will go home safe,” adds Miskelly. “It sounds a little old school but when there are signs up, you’re basically asking drivers-by to keep an eye out for your dog.”
Thermal drones are used by volunteers of Tail Trackers Kawartha to locate lost pets, in addition to trail cameras and humane traps. The grassroots organization also uses a web app with a map marking where pets have been lost, and offers support and education for owners whose pets have gone missing. (Photo courtesy of Tail Trackers Kawartha)
Through the web app, Tail Trackers Kawartha supports finding the lost pets by offering resources and works to educate all team leads and volunteers on best practices for capturing a pet.
Dogs, specifically, often enter a survival mode where fight-or-flight instinct can take over, and they don’t recognize even their owners’ voices. As such, chasing or calling the pet can increase their fear and prompt them to flee.
“People are very surprised when they find out how quickly their dog can go back to its natural survival instincts and require a little bit more or a different approach than what they expected,” Miskelly says. “In a forested area they’re going to hear sticks break from underneath your feet before they see who you are, and they’re going to run.”
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To capture a lost dog, volunteers with Tail Trackers Kawartha are encouraged to be silent, avoid eye contact, assume a non-threatening position (on the ground, with their back to the dog), and allow the dog to approach.
As for missing cats, since they don’t typically stray as far from their homes, pet owners are encouraged to check beneath decks, porches, and garages, and talk to their neighbours. Leaving out familiar scents like blankets or clothes to attract them can also pull them out of the survival instincts.
“They prefer to actually move around in low light,” says Miskelly. “Going out at dusk is a good time for you to look for your cat, because cats have very reflective eyes which you might be able to spot with the flash (from a light).”
To support Tail Trackers Kawartha, community members can sponsor a $25 starter pack for volunteer pet rescuers. The pack includes treats, food, slip leads, towels, and everything else needed to secure a lost or missing dog. (Photo courtesy of Tail Trackers Kawartha)
Individuals who find and secure pets are advised to contact their local animal control by-law officer to determine the best course of action for returning the dog or, if it’s been abandoned, get it into a shelter. Tail Trackers Kawartha will continue to support efforts by offering transportation or scanning the pet’s microchip.
“If you don’t have you dog or cat microchipped, get it done,” Miskelly says. “If your dog or cat is microchipped. it’s a much quicker trip back home.”
To further prevent lost pets, Tail Trackers Kawartha offers TrackiPet GPS pet trackers which provide a user with live tracking and allows pet owners to alert other users when their pet is missing. Proceeds from sales of the trackers go to Tail Trackers Kawartha, and the purchase comes with a free three-month subscription to the app.
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As Tail Trackers Kawartha continues to grow, they are seeking more volunteer team leads to spread awareness, educate pet owners, and, ultimately, help reunite lost pets with their owners.
“The more we can drive awareness of what we are doing and the fact that we’re here to help, but also that we could use more volunteers and more team leads, the more likely we can return pets to home,” says Sharma.
To support Tail Trackers Kawartha, community members can sponsor a volunteer for $25, which includes a starter pack filled with treats, food, slip lead, towels, and other items for securing a lost or missing dog.
For more information about Tail Trackers Kawartha, including how to volunteer, sponsor a volunteer, report a missing or found pet, and more, visit tailtrackerskawartha.com.
The Port Hope police station at 55 Fox Road in Port Hope. (Photo: Port Hope Police Service)
An elderly Port Hope man who had been reported missing was found dead on Saturday evening (June 14).
At around 6:12 p.m. on Saturday, Port Hope police responded to a report about a missing elderly man in the area of Bedford Street.
After arriving at a property, officers found the man in a body of water behind the property with no vital signs. They began life-saving measures until fire and emergency medical services arrived and took over.
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The man was transported to Northumberland Hills Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police, who are continuing to investigate the incident in collaborate with the Office of the Chief Coroner, say they do not believe foul play is involved and that this is an isolated incident with no threat to public safety.
Police have not released any other details about nature of the incident or the man’s age.
“Out of respect for the family’s privacy, the identity of the deceased will not be released,” a media release from the police states.
Members of 100 Men Kawartha Lakes gathered at the Fenelon Falls Legion on June 5, 2025, where they voted to donate over $10,000 to the Lindsay Agricultural Society, and $2,500 each to Lindsay Little Theatre and the Kinsmen Club of Lindsay. (Photo: 100 Men Kawartha Lakes)
100 Men Kawartha Lakes has done it again.
This time, members of the collective philanthropy group gathered on June 5 at the Fenelon Falls Legion for camaraderie and to cast their ballots for their choice of three local charities to receive a cut of a combined total of more than $15,000 in donations.
As happens ahead of each of the group’s quarterly meetings, three nominated organizations are drawn at random and a representative from each organization attends the meeting to make a brief presentation on their organization’s work and how the group would spend and benefit from a donation. Members then vote on which charity should receive the group’s largest donation.
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During this second meeting of 2025, the three charities were Lindsay Little Theatre, the Lindsay Agricultural Society, and the Kinsmen Club of Lindsay.
As a result of receiving the most votes, the Lindsay Agricultural Society received a $10,000-plus donation, with Lindsay Little Theatre and the Kinsmen Club of Lindsay each receiving $2,500.
According to 100 Men Kawartha Lakes member Brad Campkin, Lindsay Agricultural Society general manager Lance Nachoff told the group the society will use the donation to create a special booth at its events for the use of local charities to provide information about what they do and for fundraising.
Nachoff said he expected the donation from 100 Men Kawartha Lakes will generate over $100,000 worth of advertising, promotions, and donations for local charities.
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During the meeting, the group also heard from Jack Veitch of the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) about how the March donation from 100 Men Kawartha Lakes has impacted the lives of local residents who needed mental health support.
Campkin told kawarthaNOW the meeting was “a huge success,” noting that collective philanthropy is “a simple concept — four meetings a year, each guy donates $100 in just under one hour.”
“If you cannot make a meeting, it’s no problem,” he said, adding that members can send their donation to the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes, which administers a fund on behalf of 100 Men Kawartha Lakes to assist with some of the financial and administrative tasks related to donation collection, tax receipting, and funds management.
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As is common practice with collective philanthropy groups, 100 Men Kawartha Lakes previously chose a single charity to receive their donations. However, as the group grew well beyond 100 members, it decided to provide a portion of the donations to the other presenting charities.
“As our group has grown, we have realized all the monies going to one charity was excessive,” Campkin said.
So far in 2025, the group has donated almost $30,000 to local charities, bringing the total since the group’s formation in 2018 to nearly $280,000 donated to 38 organizations.
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“At the June meeting, we had several new members bringing our total members to just over 170,” Campkin added. “When we hit 200, we will vote on staying as one group or separating into three,” which would serve the Fenelon Falls, Lindsay, and Bobcaygeon areas.
“We expect our September and December meetings to be epic with more new members and bringing our total donations for the year 2025 to over $65,000.”
For more information about 100 Men Kawartha Lakes or to join, visit 100menkawarthalakes.ca.
The New Canadians Centre is hosting the 2025 Canadian Multicultural Festival from June 18 to 27, featuring a series of events including dance lessons, a discussion panel, a cooking class, and more in Peterborough, with an additional event in Northumberland County. The festival culminates on Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27 with the New Canadians Centre 46th anniversary block party outside its Peterborough location at St. James United Church. (Photo courtesy of New Canadians Centre)
Culminating with a celebration of Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27, the New Canadians Centre (NCC) is transporting Nogojiwanong-Peterborough across the world with a series of events that celebrate the city’s rich cultural diversity.
For the fourth year, the non-profit organization that supports newcomers to the region is hosting the Canadian Multicultural Festival, a multi-day series of celebrations to highlight dance, food, stories, and people around the world. Kicking off on Wednesday (June 18), events will run until Friday, June 27.
“It’s really special when you can showcase something that’s so important to you — that being your culture and your identity,” says NCC Manager of Community Development Bhisham Ramoutar.
Organized by the New Canadians Centre, the 2025 Canadian Multicultural Festival runs from June 18 to 27 in Peterborough and Northumberland. (Poster courtesy of New Canadians Centre)
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“It’s important for individuals who are new to Canada to share a little bit more about themselves, their culture, and their traditions, but it’s also very valuable for the wider community to have a chance to very respectfully engage in those cultures and learn something new,” Ramoutar says. “That’s how we build bridges and how we grow as a community.”
Last year alone, NCC supported over 2,100 individuals who were new to Canada and came from over 100 different countries, speaking more than 70 various languages.
Ramoutar, who himself came to Canada from Trinidad and Tobago a dozen years ago, says it’s always special when he meets others who share similar stories and experiences. One of the benefits of the festival is that it offers a welcoming and inclusive space where newcomers can make connections with one another.
“For a lot of our clients, the festival is a very special time for them to represent their own culture,” he says. “There’s a lot going on in the world, but Peterborough is a welcoming community. To feel that the community has invested in you — has invested in you being a member of this community — and has been hearing your stories, it really makes you not just think that you’re welcome, but that you belong in the community as well.”
The New Canadians Centre is hosting the 2025 Canadian Multicultural Festival beginning on June 18 and culminating on Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27. For the fourth year, the festival offers not only a way for newcomers to connect with one another and celebrate their culture and customs, but for attendees to learn about different cultures by participating in immersive activities. (Photo courtesy of New Canadians Centre)
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At the festival, attendees can learn about other cultures by being fully immersed in their traditions, including dining on cultural dishes, listening to stories, and even taking to the dance floor.
“Culture is so vast, and there are so many facets to it — it’s our customs, our music, our food, our storytelling,” says Ramoutar. “Everyone has these different things that are important to them.”
“We want to show that varied picture of multiculturalism in our community and provide an opportunity for the wider community to learn something that they may not have the opportunity to learn in a different space. It’s a chance for people to be immersed in things that are new to them.”
During the 2025 Canadian Multicultural Festival held in Peterborough from June 18 to 27, the New Canadians Centre will be hosting two “Try It” activities where attendees can become immersed in various cultures. One of the events will involve learning about and savouring staple dishes of Syrian cuisine, including Muhammara and Tabbouleh. The event takes place at the New Canadians Centre’s Romaine Street location on June 22 and is limited to 20 participants. (Photo courtesy of New Canadians Centre)
The festival will kick off with a family-friendly Multicultural Dance Party from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18 at Peterborough Square, where knowledgeable instructors will lead dance styles from round the world in 30-minute intervals.
Mintu James, an instructor in Bharatanatyam (an ancient classical Indian dance originating from Tamil Nadu in South India), will lead a Bollyfit session, which combines Bollywood and cardio in a style similar to Zumba. Instructor Shaoling Wang will transport you to China for a traditional folk dance with slower and more intricate movements. To leave attendees feeling rejuvenated, the activity will close with a high-energy, rhythm-packed Nigerian Naija dance class led by various members of the community.
“There are so many dance styles around the world and many different cultures where dance is a really fundamental part of their culture,” Ramoutar points out. “This event is meant to really immerse people into those different styles.”
The first 50 participants to the event will receive a $10 Boro gift cards which can be used at downtown businesses, courtesy of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area.
New Canadians Centre is located at 221 Romaine Street in Peterborough, in the St. James United Church building that the non-profit organization recently purchased after being a tenant for over a decade. Last year alone, the New Canadians Centre supported over 2,100 people who came to Canada from over 100 different countries, speaking more than 70 different languages. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
The following day (Thursday, June 19), a community conversation will take place at 6 p.m. at the Peterborough Public Library in honour of World Refugee Day on June 20. Titled “Home, Disrupted: Stories of Displacement and Belonging”, the event will feature an evening of storytelling, reflection, and connection moderated by Marisa Kaczmarczyk, NCC’s Director of Client Services.
Panellists Carlos Padrino, Sahimar Padrino, Charlotte Nzabondera, and Rashid Sheikh Hassan will share stories of their lived experience, exploring what it means to lose a home and finding safety in a new one. Community members David McNab and Kristy Hiltz will also talk about their experience in sponsoring Hassan and his Syrian family to come to Canada, as well as other Syrian refugees. Advance registration is required at ca.mar.medallia.com/wrdpanel2025.
Also on Thursday, the Canadian Multicultural Festival will see the first of three “Try It” events designed to immerse participants into other cultures. From 7 to 8 p.m. at the New Canadians Centre’s Romaine Street location, “Try it – Qigong” is the start of a four-week Qigong series led by Jesse Gottlieb-Jacob of Peterborough Accupuncture. Qigong is an ancient Chinese practice that combines gentle movements, breathing techniques, and meditation. These drop-in classes are open to all and offer a relaxing and rejuvenating way to care for your mind and body while giving back to the community. No experience is needed, and registration is not required. Admission is pay what you can, with all proceeds supporting the New Canadians Centre and YES Shelter for Youth and Families.
On Friday (June 20) from 5 to 7 p.m. at Peterborough Square, “Try It: Salsa Dance” will see participants learn a salsa dance routine with instructor Amarillis Rivero Garcia. When you’re not dancing, you can browse and shop at a marketplace of multicultural crafts made by artisans in NCC’s women’s group. Registration is not required. The rain location is indoors at Peterborough Square.
During the 2025 Canadian Multicultural Festival running from June 18 to 27, the New Canadians Centre will be selling tote bags and T-shirts bearing the festival logo. Attendees can also pick up a passport to be stamped at each attended event, and a passport with three or more stamps can be entered into a draw for the chance to win a Boro gift card that can be used at downtown Peterborough businesses. (Photo courtesy of New Canadians Centre)
The third “Try It” event takes place on Sunday, June 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the NCC’s location at 221 Romaine Street. During “Try It: Syrian Cuisine Cooking Class,” participants will discover, learn, and cook up Syrian staples like Muhammara and Baba Ghanouj, as well as a few distinct dishes local to different regions in Syria. The class is limited to 20 participants and advance registration is required at ca.mar.medallia.com/syriancooking.
Bringing the multicultural celebration to NCC’s satellite location in Cobourg, the Canadian Multicultural Festival will also include the free “Around the World in Northumberland” celebration on June 25 at 6 p.m. at Victoria Park (near the Lions Pavilion). Attendees will enjoy cultural performances by the Northumberland Multicultural Dance Troupe — with dances from the Philippines, Spain, Columbia, and beyond — while enjoying snacks and beverages from around the world. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
The Canadian Multicultural Festival closes out in a big way with NCC’s 46th Anniversary Block Party from 2 to 6 p.m. on Friday, June 27 in front of the organization’s location at 221 Romaine Street in Peterborough.
The family-friendly community event will feature a fun-filled afternoon of musical performances, henna face painting, a bouncy castle, food, and more. The Peterborough Public Library will be on site doing some activities, and there will be a Cultural Fair where attendees can learn about some of Peterborough’s multicultural and faith-based groups and their programming. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
New Canadians Centre executive director Andy Cragg (centre) with team members during the non-profit organization’s 45th anniversary block party outside its location at St. James United Church in Peterborough on June 28, 2024. As the final event of the 2025 Canadian Multicultural Festival, the New Canadians Centre will be hosting its 46th anniversary block party on Friday, June 27, which is Canadian Multiculturalism Day. The free family-friendly community event will feature musical performances, henna face painting, a bouncy castle, food, and more. (Photo courtesy of New Canadians Centre)
At each event during the festival, NCC will host a welcome desk where attendees can purchase T-shirts and tote bags with NCC’s Canadian Multicultural Festival logo. You can also pick up a festival passport to be stamped at each event you attend. Once you get three or more stamps, you can submit the passport to be entered in a draw for a Boro gift card you can use at downtown Peterborough businesses.
As Ramoutar notes, the Canadian Multicultural Festival is an opportunity for both newcomers and long-time residents to come together and celebrate the ever-increasing diversity of Peterborough.
“Through the festival, I hope people are able to build an appreciation of the journey that newcomers take when they move to Canada, the diversity of cultures that exist here in our community, and the power that comes when we welcome people and come together as a community,” Ramoutar says.
“If you are a newcomer, I hope you are able to feel and be seen and heard through these events in Peterborough.”
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Cobourg post-secondary students Reagan Lalande (left) and Aishwarya Rajesh Krishnan (right) with Northumberland Hills Hospital's board chair Cyndi Gilmer following the presentation of their Health Professions Scholarship awards on June 5, 2025. Each student has received $1,500 towards their healthcare education. (Photo: Northumberland Hills Hospital)
Two students pursuing careers in healthcare have received a financial boost for their education thanks to a Northumberland County hospital.
Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) in Cobourg recently announced the recipients of its 2025 Health Professions Scholarship awards.
Aishwarya Rajesh Krishnan and Reagan Lalande have each received $1,500 towards their post-secondary education in the healthcare field. The scholarship recipients were announced during a meeting of the hospital’s board of directors last Thursday (June 5).
“This year, we were delighted to receive applications from students representing a broader range of disciplines and areas of study within the healthcare system,” said board chair Cyndi Gilmer in a statement.
“While there were many deserving candidates who applied, and we commend all on their hard work and interest in NHH, the successful recipients of our 2025 scholarships have both demonstrated a clear commitment to their chosen professions with a desire to return and practise in Northumberland County,” Gilmer added.
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The awards presentation is rooted in tradition, having been initiated in 2003 to support students from west Northumberland County who have chosen to pursue careers in the healthcare sector.
“We appreciate that it takes time and commitment to build a career in any profession, and healthcare and hospitals offer so many opportunities,” NHH president and CEO Susan Walsh told kawarthaNOW prior to the 2025 recipients being announced.
“This is a small token of our respect for the hard work that goes into education and professional development and, frankly, an investment in our own future, as it has proven very effective at attracting future employees to NHH.”
By supporting local students with their academic studies, the scholarship initiative aims to entice local students to seriously consider NHH when they graduate, and the time comes to select an employer.
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Rajesh Krishnan of Cobourg is currently in her first year of medical school at the University of Toronto after graduating with distinction, in the top three per cent, from Queen’s University’s bachelor of health sciences program. As a medical student, she has demonstrated a desire to “build more accessible, sustainable, and equitable pathways within the healthcare system,” a media release noted.
An active member of the Canadian Federation of Medical Students’ Health and Environment Adaptive Response Task Force, Krishnan has founded global health literacy initiatives while actively engaging in research spanning Indigenous health, climate advocacy, cardiac health, and healthcare sustainability.
She also served as section editor for the University of Toronto Medical Journal and is a co-founder of a telemedicine education initiative.
“Throughout my academic journey, I have sought to integrate service, leadership, and scholarship,” Rajesh Krishnan said in her scholarship application letter.
“These experiences have solidified my commitment to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care within community healthcare settings. Receiving the NHH Health Professions Scholarship would be a meaningful step in my journey toward serving the people of Northumberland County as a physician and advocate. I would be truly honoured to represent NHH’s values in my future career.”
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Lalande, also of Cobourg, recently earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in kinesiology at Brock University and has been accepted into the primary care paramedic program at Niagara College. Following the successful completion of her diploma, she intends to obtain a graduate certificate for advanced care paramedicine.
“As a future paramedic, Reagan hopes to improve patient quality outcomes through data-driven approaches within emergency medical services,” NHH stated. “She would also like to provide public health education and community outreach programs that enhance emergency preparedness and awareness.”
In her application letter, Lalande said she feels her chosen occupation is a vital field within healthcare.
“This is because of the strong relationship and functioning system paramedics must have with the emergency room and hospital staff to provide the best possible care for patients,” she said. “As a paramedic, I hope to make contributions to this community through providing advanced clinical skills in a hands-on setting for those needing care.”
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In addition to being enrolled or accepted for enrolment in a full-time study program, applicants for NHH’s Health Professions Scholarship are evaluated on the basis of their academic achievements, extra-curricular activities, a personal testimonial they submit explaining their interest in a healthcare field, and written references.
Applications for the program are invited at any time, but typically close in February of each year, with presentations of the awards at the June meeting of the NHH board.
For full details on the Health Professions Scholarship program, including eligibility requirements, visit nhh.ca/careers/studentscholarship.
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