Canadian blues-rock singer and guitarist David Wilcox, pictured in 2016, performs a free-admission concert at Peterborough Musicfest in Del Crary Park on August 8, 2026. (Photo: Liam Richards)
Peterborough Musicfest presents David Wilcox
When:Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 8 p.m. Where: Del Crary Park (100 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: Free admission
The evening will also feature James N. Wilson at 6:30 p.m. as part of the Cogeco Future Sound Series. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets (lawn chairs are available to rent). VIP seating available for sponsors. No smoking, alcohol, or pets permitted. There’s no public parking at Del Crary Park, but there’s neighbourhood street parking nearby and ample parking in downtown Peterborough.
Back in August 2024, when his Peterborough Musicfest season-ending concert was cancelled due a severe weather-induced power outage, an upset David Wilcox vowed to return “as soon as possible to rock out.”
Four days later, Wilcox — who had last performed at Musicfest way back in 1999 — made good on his promise and all was again right in the world for his fans. In the end, if we learned anything about the longtime Canadian blues-rock singer and guitarist, he is a man of his word.
Now, two years on from that hastily organized season-ender, Wilcox is returning for his third Musicfest appearance, headlining Saturday (August 8) at Del Crary Park. As always, admission to the 8 p.m. concert is free, thanks to the support of numerous sponsors including kawarthaNOW.
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A native of Montreal, Wilcox has been doing what he does so well since 1970 when he, as a member of Ian and Sylvia Tyson’s band Great Speckled Bird, he backed up such music legends as Anne Murray, Carl Perkins, and Charlie Rich. Wilcox then played with a few other bands before going solo in 1977.
That year saw Wilcox record and release Out of the Woods, his debut album. Three singles — “Do the Bearcat,” “Bad Apple,” and “That Hypnotizin’ Boogie” — brought the album gold-certified status when it was re-released in 1982.
Wilcox’s follow-up album, 1983’s My Eyes Keep Me In Trouble, capitalized on that momentum, helped along by the hit singles “Downtown Came Uptown” and “Riverboat Fantasy.” The album was also certified gold and Wilcox toured extensively to share his music.
VIDEO: “Layin’ Pipe” – David Wilcox (1987)
Bad Reputation came forth in 1984, followed three years later by Breakfast at the Circus and its hit single “Layin’ Pipe.” Wilcox closed out the decade with 1989’s The Natural Edge, with the single “Lay Down in Your Arms” added to his arsenal of radio airplay standards.
Wilcox recorded four subsequent albums, the latest being 2015’s Guitar Heroes, and has also released five compilation discs over the past four decades. Album success aside, his live shows are a central component of his enduring popularity and his many years of touring have earned him a sizable and very loyal following that he continues to enjoy to this day.
Nominated for three Juno Awards, Wilcox came away a bridesmaid each time. First, Kim Mitchell got the nod in 1983 as Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year. Six years later, Wilcox watched on as Robbie Robertson received the award for Best Male Vocalist. Then, in 1990, nominated in the same category, Wilcox once more found himself in Mitchell’s shadow.
That said, Wilcox is enjoying rare air as one of just a few Canadian artists who, at age 77, is still delivering the goods in a big way. His vocals are only overshadowed by his superb electric guitar mastery, making him a popular draw.
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In an April 2025 interview with Erin McCallum of Port Credit’s The Sound Cafe, Wilcox reflected on his first break when, at the age of 21, he replaced Amos Garrett of Great Speckled Bird and found himself on national television backing Ian Tyson.
“When I was about 20, I had a friend who had a pawn ticket on a Fender Telecaster,” recalled Wilcox, adding “He was going to lose this guitar, so I bought it, and that was my first electric guitar.”
“Shortly after that, I tracked down Ian Tyson’s phone number and wrangled an audition, and I got the job. It was a bit intimidating because, up until that point, I really hadn’t played much electric guitar, and I was on stage with some seriously good players, and now, I was making what, at the time, was an awful lot of money to me. ”
“Through my time on the Ian Tyson show, I learned a lot, being on stage with musicians that were older and more experienced than me. I was also discovering that the electric guitar was really fun and interesting … it was most definitely transformative.”
VIDEO: “That Hypnotizin’ Boogie” – David Wilcox (2016)
Wilcox noted that getting his first album picked up by a label was no picnic.
“Disco was what was big at the time, and nobody wanted the music that I was playing,” he said. “I approached lots of labels and asked them to listen. Some, I’m sure, did, and some, I’m sure, didn’t. Eventually, a small label signed it and it did well. It sold 25,000 copies, so that convinced a bigger label (Capitol Records) to sign us.”
As someone who has played professionally for almost 60 years, few are as authorized as Wilcox to comment on the music industry landscape and, in particular, the factors contributing to a musician’s longevity.
“I think the main one is to provide something that is unique from anyone else. If an artist has a quality that is unique unto them, that will keep their longevity.”
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As for whether it’s easier for today’s musicians to break through than it was for him, Wilcox said that, while it’s not easier, there are more opportunities for musicians to be heard.
“There was a time when just a few record companies were the ones who had a lot of control over which artist’s music got heard or promoted,” he said. “Today, it’s not easier, but it’s not just a few people at a few companies deciding what gets heard and promoted.”
In terms of Wilcox’s motivation all these years on, his September 2020 chat with Ken Vantour of Let’s Rock told us all we really need to know about the man who made good on his Musicfest promise back in August 2024.
VIDEO: “Do The Bearcat” – David Wilcox (2025)
“I started out doing this for love,” Wilcox said. “One of the reasons I take sabbaticals (from touring) is to replenish that. You know, remind myself of how it felt when I was a kid … 11 years old, learning the guitar.”
“My love of music didn’t have any categories. There was no money factor. Just that feeling of being there for the love of the music and the joy of it.”
Prior to Wilcox taking the stage, the Cogeco-sponsored Future Sound Series will see Mohawk and French-Canadian singer-songwriter James N. Wilson perform from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., near the food trucks at the George Street entrance to Del Crary Park.
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Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission concerts during its 39th season, staged in Del Crary Park on Wednesday and Saturday nights until August 19.
Overseen by executive director Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission remains “to provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”
For more information on this concert or the 2026 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or call the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest’s 2026 season.
The Warkworth Long Lunch in 2024. The popular annual fundraising event returns in 2026 to Main Street in downtown Warkworth on Sunday, August 16. (Photo: Bob Leahy)
Long tables covered with red-and-white gingham tablecloths will once again stretch along Warkworth’s Main Street when the village hosts its much-loved Warkworth Long Lunch on Sunday, August 16.
Running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the annual outdoor gathering will bring together local food and drink, live music, shopping, and family activities while raising funds for the Warkworth Medical Centre.
New this year, between eight and 10 artisans and other vendors will also line Main Street to sell art, handmade wares, flowers, and fresh vegetables. A dedicated children’s corner will also offer sidewalk crafts and other activities.
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Food will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with five participating vendors offering menus priced from $8 to $15: Green Moxie, Jeannine’s Backtalk Café, K Okay Café, Robin’s Nest, and Sandy Flats. Meals are purchased separately from admission.
Local musicians Lindsay Glover, Jonah Maclean with John Hailey, and Tailgate Romeos will perform throughout the afternoon, with live entertainment continuing until 3 p.m.
The Main Street beverage tent will also be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., serving beer, non-alcoholic beer, and red and white wine for $6 each. Water and soft drinks will be available for $1.
VIDEO: Warkworth Long Lunch in 2024 by Montse Alverado
Along with proceeds from the modest admission fee, money raised through a new gift basket raffle will support the Warkworth Medical Centre. Raffle tickets will cost $1 each, with four baskets filled with a variety of items available to be won.
The Warkworth Long Lunch was first held in 2003 to celebrate the completion of the first phase of a long-term project to improve the village, beginning with the revitalization of Main Street.
The event initially raised funds for the Warkworth Business Association’s community beautification efforts. More recently, proceeds from the event have supported the Warkworth Medical Centre.
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Over the years, the Long Lunch has grown into a popular summer tradition for resident that also attracts hundreds of visitors every year to the Trent Hills village.
The Warkworth Long Lunch runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 16 along Main Street in downtown Warkworth. Admission is $5 (free for children 12 and under), with meals and beverages available for purchase separately.
For more information, visit the Warkworth Community Service Club’s Facebook page.
Laura, 8, and Adam, 6, are pedalling all over Peterborough with their mom Jennifer this summer as part of GreenUP's Summer Ride Club. "It's a really good habit to ... use your body to get places instead of just always driving," says Jennifer. "Building that confidence now will help them when they're older and they can be more reliant on themselves to get places." (Photo: Brett Throop / GreenUP)
Riding her bicycle growing up felt like freedom to Peterborough elementary school teacher Jennifer B.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Brett Throop, Active Transportation Program Coordinator, GreenUP.
It’s a feeling she didn’t waste time introducing to her two kids.
Despite their young years, Laura, 8, and Adam, 6, have already pedalled alongside their mother to destinations like the Peterborough Public Library, GreenUP Ecology Park, and Lock 19 on the Trent-Severn Waterway.
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A recent excursion to the Miskin Law Community Centre branch of the library was a highlight for Adam, who proudly explains that he rode five kilometres that day. When asked what he likes about biking, he replies, “That it’s exercise!”
This is the third summer Jennifer and her children have participated in GreenUP’s Summer Ride Club, a free club which invites kids and families to complete nine weekly ride challenges — such as biking to a playground, a beach, or across a bridge — on their own time and record their adventures in a Summer Ride Club passport.
The ride challenges can make an ordinary outing, like a library run, something her kids can get excited about, says Jennifer.
“We can pack a snack and stay there and make it more of an adventure than just a quick errand.”
Campers with GreenUP’s Urban Bike Adventures Camp use hand signals as they come to a stop along the Bethune Street bicycle boulevard. It’s one of the bike skills they learn as part of the week-long camp that lets kids aged nine to 12 explore Peterborough via its trails and cycling infrastructure, all while under the guidance of trained cycling educators. (Photo: Brett Throop / GreenUP)
In a world built around cars, people under 16 have limited transportation options, often unable to get to sports practice or an after-school job unless an adult is available to drive them. Summer Ride Club encourages kids to explore one way to get around that’s more accessible to them: bicycles.
As a bonus, participants who submit their completed passport to GreenUP by September 3 have the chance to win a $500 gift card to a local bike shop.
The club is a hit with many kids, as are other GreenUP cycling programs like Urban Bike Adventures Camp. Beyond the sheer fun of cycling, part of the draw is that many kids want to be able to travel around their communities without being stuck in the back seat of a car.
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Ellie, 11, says she likes the independence of being able to hop on her bike and head to the convenience store, or sit by the river near her home.
“I’d be kind of sad if I couldn’t bike for a bit because I just wouldn’t be able to go places as quickly. I’d need to ask my parents to take me,” she says.
Ellie, who spent a week this summer exploring Peterborough by bike with GreenUP’s Urban Bike Adventures Camp, says “I’m more comfortable doing hand signals now,” after previously being scared she’d fall off her bike.
GreenUP’s cycling programs, like its Urban Bike Adventures Camp, are a hit with many kids. Aside from the sheer fun of cycling, many kids tell GreenUP staff that part of the draw is wanting to get around their community without always being in the backseat of their parents’ vehicles. (Photo: Brett Throop / GreenUP)
Frank, who has three summers at Urban Bike Adventures Camp under his belt, says he, too, would be disappointed if he couldn’t bike to the Bonnerworth Park pump track or his friends’ houses.
“It would stop a lot of things I do,” he says.
Two-time Urban Bike Adventures camper Nathan says if he couldn’t pedal to school with his big sister, he would “feel sad and think of bike riding.”
Freya says she and her fellow campers enjoy bike riding because “you can get exercise, you don’t pollute, and it’s a lot of fun.” She once had to hang up her bike helmet for weeks while nursing a broken arm and says it was tough seeing her older brother bike to the park without her.
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For years, GreenUP has advocated for improved cycling infrastructure in Peterborough, not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but to give people — including kids — more transportation options.
Infrastructure that separates bicycles from cars, such as multi-use trails and curb-separated bike lanes, can allow kids to use the power of their own bodies to get where they need to go while building confidence and independence along the way.
GreenUP’s bike playground offers another way for kids to increase their comfort and competency on a bike. During Peterborough’s August 8th Second Saturday Sidewalk Sale, the playground will be set up on the corner of Charlotte and George streets from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with qualified cycling instructors on hand to teach cycling skills through fun drills and games.
Kids look for a summer read at a little free library on the front lawn of a Maria Street home. Visiting one of these tiny libraries is one way to complete the Summer Ride Club’s “ride to read” challenge, one of nine cycling challenges kids and families complete over the course of the summer. (Photo: Brett Throop / GreenUP)
After such events, GreenUP staff often hear kids pleading with their parents to let them bike home. Improved cycling infrastructure and cycling education opportunities would allow Peterborough parents to feel comfortable saying yes to those requests more often, knowing their kids can enjoy the freedom of getting most places on two wheels safely.
Summer Ride Club passports are available at the GreenUP office, B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop, and GreenUP Ecology Park. Learn more and sign up for the Summer Ride Club at greenup.on.ca/summer-ride-club.
Keep an eye on GreenUP’s website at greenup.on.ca/camp-programs/ for registration details for next summer’s Urban Bike Adventures camp.
Aaron Macpherson stars as a young Farley Mowat in "And No Birds Sang", Dave Carley's adaptation of the late Canadian author and environmentalist's memoir of the same name, in which he recounts his experiences in the Second World War. The play premieres at the Capitol Theatre's Sculthorpe Theatre in Port Hope, running for 27 performances from August 14 to September 6, 2026. (Photo: Sam Moffatt)
Decades after his gruelling wartime slog through Sicily and the Italian mainland as a Canadian soldier, Farley Mowat’s moving account of that experience — what he saw and what he heard, and how it made him feel — is coming to the stage.
Adapted by renowned Canadian playwright and Peterborough native Dave Carley, And No Birds Sang opens a 27-show run on Friday, August 14 at the historic Capitol Theatre in Port Hope.
Staged in the performance venue’s intimate Sculthorpe Theatre, Carley’s adaptation is based on Mowat’s 1979 memoir of the same name, which recounts his wartime experience as a platoon commander with The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment as it invaded Nazi-occupied Sicily in July 1943 before landing in Italy proper two months later.
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That the play being premiered in Port Hope is most fitting, in that Mowat and his second wife Claire spent much of the later years of their life together in the town where, in May 2014, he was buried at St. Mark’s Anglican Church Cemetery.
Directed by Capitol Theatre artistic director Rob Kempson and starring Aaron Macpherson as Mowat with Daniel Reale and Mayson Sonntag featured in multiple roles, And No Birds Sang was developed in the Capitol’s Creators’ Unit in 2024.
“I’ve been curating the 10-Minute Play Series in Port Hope for a few years now as part of their summer festival — it’s hard not to come across something about Farley Mowat,” Carley says. “There’s the park there (Farley Mowat Park), there’s the boat there (the Boat Roofed House monument in Eastside Ganaraska Park) … the local bookstore has shelves of his books. He remains a fixture of the town.”
“I had read some his books but I had never read his war memoir. It immediately hit me that it was worth dramatizing. We did a 10-minute excerpt (for the 10-Minute Play Series) but I kept going from there.”
Playwright Dave Carley (left) with director Rob Kempson during a rehearsal of Carley’s adaptation of Farley Mowat’s Second World War memoir “And No Birds Sang”, which premieres at the Capitol Theatre’s Sculthorpe Theatre in Port Hope, running for 27 performances from August 14 to September 6, 2026. Originally staged as 10-minute excerpt for Port Hope’s 10-Minute Play Series, Carley developed the full-length play in the Capitol Theatre’s Creators’ Unit in 2024. (Photo: Sam Moffatt)
Carley says while the history of both world wars continues to captivate readers and audiences, Mowat’s autobiographical account is compelling for another reason.
“It’s a real look into the psyche of the very young men that went off to war,” he says, adding “I just marvel at what they did, because they were so young.”
The loss of youthful innocence, notes Carley, is what attracted him to the memoir as a dramatist.
“It begins with Farley being a young man going off to war and trying to impress his girlfriend. He’s going to make his dad happy. He thinks it’s going to be a big old lark and then, by the end, he realizes what it really is, which is hell.”
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As recounted in his memoir, Mowat, after a year of basic training in Canada, arrived in England in July 1942 at the age of 21. A year later, he was part of the Allied seaborne invasion force that invaded Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky.
Come September 1943, Mowat was in Italy where some of the fiercest fighting of the Second World War took place. During the Battle of Ortona, Mowat was sidelined with battle stress, also called combat neurosis. His memoir describes the deaths of friends lost in battle, and ends with his weeping by the stretcher of an unconscious friend wounded in the head by a bullet.
Not unlike All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque’s vivid semi-biographical account of the horrors of the First World War, Pierre Berton’s Vimy and, more recently, Steven Spielberg’s film Saving Private Ryan, Mowat’s account tears away at the glorification of war to present it as it really was.
A 22-year-old Farley Mowat beside a dugout near Ortona, Italy in 1943 when he was platoon commander with the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment. During the Battle of Ortona, the regiment lost a third of its fighting men, who were either killed or wounded. (Photo: Mowat family collection)
For Carley, considerable thought went into what to highlight and what to leave out, all while best serving that notion — “A very hard part of the process,” he says.
“You pick the book because you love it and then, at some point, you have to stop loving it enough to drop out chunks that slow down the advance of the plot, or are extraneous, or are too much information. In this case, there’s a point where he’s chronicling battle after battle after battle. That just wouldn’t work dramatically. I’ve really truncated time and made it more compact.”
Carley credits Kempson with “adding a lot to the process.”
“I worked for many years at CBC Radio in radio drama, so I know radio sound effects. We’re adding a whole suite of live radio sound effects. As they doing the play, they’re also making all the sounds that you would hear in a war. He (Kempson) brought that feature in and I’ve been able to capitalize on it.”
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Speaking to the cast, Carley is equally full of praise.
“They’re wonderful young actors. They’re all at the threshold of great careers. They’re very versatile. Two of them (Reale and Sonntag) are playing about 20 roles. It’s pretty marvellous how they move through them.”
“And they’re all versatile musically. They’re going to be playing the piano, there’s violins … you name it, we got it. That’s all apart from the sound effects they’re creating.”
“And No Birds Sang” playwright Dave Carley (seated) with (from left) actors Aaron Macpherson, Daniel Reale, and Mayson Sonntag. Macpherson plays a young Farley Mowat while Reale and Sonntag play around 20 roles as well as perform sound effects for the play, which premieres at the Capitol Theatre’s Sculthorpe Theatre in Port Hope, running for 27 performances from August 14 to September 6, 2026. (Photo: Sam Moffatt)
A graduate of Adam Scott who was inducted into Peterborough’s Pathway of Fame in 2022, Carley’s plays have seen more than 500 productions across Canada, the United States, and abroad. Just earlier this year, his comedy Midnight Madness was staged by the Peterborough Theatre Guild. At present, he working on an adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Emily of New Moon.
“I just love telling stories,” says Carley of the continued appeal of playwriting.
“I tell ones that I make up but I also love telling stories that other people have created. Farley Mowat is one our country’s greatest storytellers. He really had just a brilliant way of moving us from A to Z. I’m happy to be a part of that.”
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“I really enjoy doing adaptations of other authors’ work,” Carley adds. “You have to crawl into their heads sort of. I’ve done a Margaret Atwood adaptation (The Edible Woman) and a few others. It’s been really fun trying to figure out what they’re saying. You start to see the methods they use to get their story across, but most of what I do comes out of my poor little head.”
Asked what he hopes audiences will take away from his adaptation of And No Birds Sang, Carley answers quickly.
“Obviously, they’re going to come away thinking ‘Wow, war isn’t a good thing’ but I also want them to come away with two things,” he says. “A sense of pride in the Hastys Ps (the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment), a local regiment. They were integral to the invasion of Sicily, a battlefront that was kind of overlooked by history. These are local guys that fought there. It’s important to me that that be made known.”
Author and environmentalist Farley Mowat in 2010 in his home in Port Hope, where he died on May 6, 2014 at the age of 92. (Photo: Peter Power / The Globe and Mail)
“It just blows my mind how young these guys were; that they went off and did this. There were many reasons why they went, but part of it was idealism. Full kudos to them all. I hope people come away with a feeling of respect for these young guys.”
Curtain for And No Birds Sang is 7:30 p.m. on August 14 and 15, 20 to 22, 27 to 29, and September 3 to 5, with 2 p.m. matinees on August 16, 18 to 20, 22 and 23, 25 to 27, 29 and 30, and September 1 to 3 and 5 and 6.
Tickets are $45 ($35 for those under 30) and are available at capitoltheatre.com.
OPSEU Local 358 president Jessica Bushey (front left) with developmental services workers and supporters in front of the Community Living Trent Highlands office on Aylmer Street in Peterborough on June 12, 2026. (Photo: Bethan Bates / kawarthaNOW)
At its August 10 meeting, city council voted unanimously 11-0 in support of councillor Lachica’s motion.
Earlier in the meeting, Peterborough and District Labour Council president Marcia Steeves made a registered delegation in support of the motion.
In response to a later question from Mayor Jeff Leal, city staff noted the language in the city’s internal social services policy document has already been reviewed and updated.
The mayor said he had voted against the motion in general committee the previous week as he wanted the issue resolved before the September deadline in the motion because, at the time, developmental service workers employed by Community Living Trent Highlands were still on strike.
Peterborough city councillors have voted to support a motion to continue city child care subsidies for eligible parents participating in a lawful strike or lockout, on the same day the strike by workers of Community Living Trent Highlands that prompted the motion ended.
During a general committee meeting on Tuesday (August 4), councillors voted 8-2 in favour of a motion from councillor Joy Lachica directing city staff to expedite a review of 14-year-old wording in an internal social services policy document that generally makes parents involved in a labour disruption ineligible for a child care fee subsidy.
The motion also directs staff to ensure no parent receiving a subsidy when a lawful strike or lockout begins loses it during the labour disruption, with staff to report back to council by the end of September.
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Strike put child care subsidy policy in the spotlight
The issue came to council’s attention during the strike by more than 300 full-time and part-time developmental service workers represented by Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 358.
The workers, who are employed by Community Living Trent Highlands serving Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton County, began striking on May 22.
On July 30, Local 358 president Jessica Bushey wrote on Facebook that the city’s child care subsidy policy stated people participating in a legal strike or labour disruption did not qualify for a subsidy.
Bushey said the city reversed the decision in her case after she challenged it, but argued access to the subsidy should not depend on whether an affected parent speaks up.
“Policies like this create unnecessary barriers for workers who are legally exercising their rights,” she wrote. “I’m fighting for the policy to change. Advocacy doesn’t end when your own problem is solved.”
Peterborough and District Labour Council president Marcia Steeves shared Bushey’s post on Facebook, tagging members of city council.
Councillor Lachica subsequently discussed the policy with acting commissioner of community services Rob McAuley before bringing her motion to general committee.
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Councillor Lachica calls 2012 city policy outdated and inequitable
During Tuesday’s meeting, councillor Lachica said the policy is contained in an internal social services operational practices document dating back to 2012.
She explained that, under section 4.9 of the document, a parent participating in a labour disruption, strike, or work-to-rule action will typically not qualify for a fee subsidy because the activity is not included under the city’s eligible hours of care policy. The parent would be given two weeks’ notice before losing the subsidy.
The policy also states that, when a labour dispute exceeds three months, the city will review the number of affected parents and the availability of fee subsidies to determine whether assistance can continue.
Describing the language as outdated and inequitable, councillor Lachica said it effectively penalizes workers for exercising their legal right to strike.
“A strike is a very taxing thing for those workers who are in a position of not having the same amount of income that they normally would have,” she said.
Councillor Lachica noted many of the striking Community Living Trent Highlands employees are women and single parents for whom a child care subsidy is “a lifeline.”
“This is a motion that is supportive of women,” she said. “We want to be non-discriminatory, and we want to be the city that in goodwill provides a subsidy on a consistent basis without the fear, without the anxiety, that that subsidy would be removed because of a strike.”
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City staff have already begun review of policy
In response to a question, McAuley told council that city staff became aware of the concern the previous week and had already begun reviewing the policy.
“We’ve already addressed the two situations that have arisen out of this, and they are receiving their fee subsidy,” he said, adding staff were already on track to complete the review within the timeline proposed in councillor Lachica’s motion.
Councillor Keith Riel said he would support the motion, noting he had recently visited the Community Living Trent Highlands picket line on Aylmer Street.
“Most of them are women,” Riel said of the striking workers. “They are the sole breadwinner, but a lot of them are single mothers.”
Councillor Kevin Duguay said he supported the intent of the motion, but considered it redundant because staff had already committed publicly to reviewing the policy and reporting back by the end of September.
Councillor Lachica responded that the motion was an opportunity for council to demonstrate its political support for striking workers and to acknowledge the policy needed to change.
“There are times when a council needs to be responsive to an inequity when it’s pointed out and when it affects a swath of people in our community,” she said.
After some further debate on the motion, council voted on it. Because councillor Lachica introduced her motion under “other business,” it required the support of two-thirds of councillors present to pass.
The motion carried 8-2, with only Mayor Jeff Leal and councillor Duguay voting against it. While councillor Matt Crowley was absent from the meeting and did not vote, he had earlier posted on Facebook that he supported revising the city’s policy.
Items endorsed by general committee on August 4 will be considered by council for final approval the following Monday.
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Peterborough and District Labour Council welcomed motion
Before councillor Lachica presented her motion to council, Steeves told kawarthaNOW the labour council welcomed the motion and anticipated council’s quick response to the concern.
“Workers should not lose access to essential child care supports simply because they are exercising their legal right to participate in a lawful strike,” Steeves said. “We encourage council to remove this barrier and ensure municipal policies respect workers’ rights while supporting families during times of labour disputes.”
Steeves said the situation also challenged the misconception that all unionized employees earn high incomes, noting many developmental service workers are single-income parents in lower-paying jobs and do not earn a living wage.
On Wednesday, Steeves acknowledged the passing of councillor Lachica’s motion.
“Thank you to those listened, stepped up, dug in and quickly made changes needed for our community at the city’s general committee last night,” she wrote on Facebook.
Coincidentally, Community Living Trent Highlands and OPSEU Local 358 jointly announced on Tuesday they had reached an agreement ending the strike after almost 11 weeks.
“The path forward is one of reconciliation and renewed strength,” the joint statement said. “As we return to full service delivery, we do so with appreciation for a community that continues to stand with us.”
The original version of this story has been updated with the August 10 city council meeting vote.
Peterborough city councillor Keith Riel questions city staff about an economic development update presented to city council during a general committee meeting on August 4, 2026. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of City of Peterborough video)
At its first meeting since June 29, Peterborough city council has endorsed a report from city staff providing an update on the city’s economic development activities for the first half of 2026, with the report drawing both praise and scrutiny from councillors.
Meeting as general committee on Tuesday evening (August 4), councillors considered the 11-page report from Blair Nelson, the city’s commissioner of infrastructure, planning and growth management.
The report is the first public update to council on the city’s economic development activities since the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County each assumed responsibility for economic development and tourism in January 2025, after ending their multi-year tri-party agreement with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED), a non-profit organization that had been providing economic development and tourism services on behalf of the city and county for 25 years.
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City builds its economic development framework
The report covers the city’s economic development activities from January to June 2026, which the report describes as “a period of deliberate momentum” for economic development in the city, with a “key milestone” being full staffing of the city’s economic development team, including hiring a manager of economic development in January and two economic development officers in June.
According to the report, the team has also been working across city departments “to establish an economic development lens throughout the organization,” with economic development “intended to function as a connective thread across the organization, bringing an investment and growth perspective to decisions across municipal operations.”
The city has secured around $92,000 in provincial and federal funding to support its first city-led economic development strategic plan and its foreign direct investment work. The strategic plan, which will guide investment attraction, business support, and sector development through 2031, is being prepared by an external consultant following baseline research and consultations with businesses, residents, Indigenous partners, institutions, community organizations, council, and city staff. It is expected to be presented to council later in 2026.
The report says that business retention and expansion is a “foundational priority” for economic development, with staff engaging with businesses in the manufacturing, aerospace, defence, nuclear, hospitality, retail, and service sectors. This included assisting manufacturers considering expansions, connecting major employers with government funding and workforce programs, supporting early discussions about new hospitality development, and helping retail and service businesses with permitting, signage, patio licensing, and funding opportunities. A formal business retention and expansion program is expected to launch during the second half of the year.
The city also launched the Peterborough Aerospace & Defence Cluster in June, bringing together 60 businesses, post-secondary institutions, and public-sector funding partners to address workforce development, supply-chain connections, and industry promotion. Other sector development activities included attending the CANSEC defence trade show in Ottawa in May, continuing work with nuclear-sector organizations (including exploring opportunities related to the medical-isotope supply chain), and supporting an increasing number of inquiries from film productions considering Peterborough as a location. The city is developing a standardized film permitting process intended to make it easier for productions to film locally.
According to the report, the city has active but confidential investment files involving industrial, commercial, hospitality, and film projects. Its foreign investment efforts included trade missions to Brazil in March and Japan and South Korea with Global Affairs Canada in June, with staff meeting companies, investment agencies, trade commissioners, and aerospace and advanced manufacturing organizations. However, the report cautions that foreign investment work typically unfolds over several years and characterizes the 2025 and 2026 activity as relationship-building that could produce investments in subsequent years.
The report frames physician recruitment as part of economic development, in that it attracts highly skilled professionals to Peterborough, supporting the growth of local medical practices and creating skilled employment opportunities within the healthcare sector. Three newly recruited doctors assumed patients from five retiring physicians, preserving care for more than 6,500 people, while the city supported a physician’s family succession plan for another 1,100 patients. The report states that new and expanded practices could create capacity for up to 10,000 patients. Following a city-supported exemption from provincial eligibility requirements, three Practice Ready Ontario physicians were also offered local positions that could provide care for more than 3,500 additional patients.
The report identifies the shortage of development-ready industrial land and access to skilled workers as continuing obstacles to growth. Priorities for the second half of 2026 include completing the economic development strategic plan, launching formal business retention and industrial concierge programs, mapping the aerospace and defence supply chain, following up on international investment leads, advancing the remediation of strategic industrial properties, and developing the film permitting framework.
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Councillor Riel questions staffing and reporting gap
Commenting on the report at Tuesday’s general committee meeting, councillor Keith Riel asked commissioner Nelson how the four staff on the city’s economic development team — director Darryl Julott hired in January 2025 and the three staff hired in 2026 — would be able to carry out the economic development and tourism work previously conducted by the 16 staff who worked for PKED.
Nelson noted that the tourism component is being carried out by the city’s corporate services and community services divisions, and that the city’s existing staff levels are sufficient to carry out economic development work at present.
“As the demand and the requirements grow, then obviously there could be the possibility of additional staff being requested, but at this point obviously that whole system is still growing,” Nelson said. “We’re working towards ensuring that the staff that we have hired remain efficient and continue to do the work that they’re assigned to do, and build out that framework as we grow.”
Calling city council the “board of directors” for economic development, councillor Riel raised a concern about a lack of reporting to council to date.
“This is the first time since we hired a director, outside of a couple of emails, that we’ve had a report on economic development,” Riel said. “We held the former (PKED) executive director’s feet to the fire to come here every quarter and make a report on economic development.”
While councillor Joy Lachica recognized the work of city staff, Julott in particular, she said it would have been “nice to see” a report on what happened in 2025 and expressed concern that she was not aware of the Peterborough Aerospace & Defence Cluster until after it was publicly announced. She asked commissioner Nelson whether city CAO Jasbir Raina or Mayor Leal directed the priorities for city staff to focus on foreign direct investment and the aerospace cluster.
CAO Raina said that neither he nor the mayor provided direction to city staff, and asked director Julott to answer the question. Julott said the cluster initiative was presented to him by The Loomex Group, which operates the city-owned Peterborough Regional Airport.
“I worked with Kyle Bruce as our airport manager, because obviously he works with our businesses at the airport,” Julott said. “We invited our existing businesses in our aerospace and defense supply chain and brought them together for an event to learn more about the state of federal and provincial funding that they might be able to access, as well as opportunities to connect and collaborate on local supply chain to see about growth.”
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Councillor Bierk questions trade mission costs and value
Councillor Alex Bierk, who participated in the meeting virtually, asked about the cost for city staff to participate in the trips related to foreign direct investment and trade missions, specifically to Brazil, Tokyo and Seoul, and the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK.
Julott said the city’s cost of the trade mission to Brazil with the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce was $1,479 and the total cost of the Global Affairs Canada trade mission to Japan and Korea was $2,644. He added that the cost of the trip to Farnborough is still being confirmed and he will report back “once we have all the final receipts.”
Councillor Bierk noted that the consultant working on the city’s economic development strategic plan has said that municipalities are moving away from the traditional economic development approach to secure an anchor industry or employer. He asked Julott whether he believes these types of trips will continue in the future and whether they are valuable in attracting investment.
Julott said all the trips were “highly targeted and organized,” noting that the Brazil trip followed a period of relationship building. He added that foreign direct investment is a multi-year process.
“A lot of investors that you’ll talk to operate on a two-to-five year window, so relationships are key, time is key … just ensuring Peterborough is relevant is key — making sure that we’re on the map for when some of these businesses from this countries are considering decisions,” Julott added. “We have a lot of active follow-up, a number of files from both trips that we’re still actively engaged with. It’s everything from specific businesses to the local trade commissioners in those markets.”
Councillor Bierk said there are local businesses “that are feeling very unheard and very left out” of the city’s planning and econonmic support.
“My hope with the new (economic) strategic plan is that we can maybe move away from these big pink cloud, silver bullet saviours to the city and sort of move towards looking at the people that are driving our economy and thinking how we can best serve them,” he said. “I know that there are always opportunities to come, but I think the public is really hungry for us to get some results, and that’s definitely the feedback that I’m hearing.”
For his part, Mayor Jeff Leal explained that he had no involvement with organizing that aerospace and defence cluster event, but was invited to provide opening remarks and also to welcome a deputy minister from the Ontario government who attended. He said the defence sector is an “enormous opportunity” for manufacturers, and noted that Fairbanks Morse Defense has finalized its acquisition of the Rolls-Royce Naval Handling facility in Peterborough, which will become the company’s Canadian headquarters.
After citing recent tourism statistics from Peterborough’s visitor centre (2,900 visitors in 25 days, 67 per cent of which were from across Ontario and 18 per cent from other countries, with U.S. visits up 18 per cent), the mayor mentioned that both Northern Skyline Ventures and Circul-Air Corp are considering investment in Peterborough. He also lauded Peterborough’s success at physician recruitment.
“There’s a lot to be bullish about,” Leal said.
Councillor Keven Duguay said the city has seen “enormous gains” in sports tourism. He noted that, while PKED staff had to be invited to council meetings, director Julott is always available at every council meeting.
“We took on the responsibility and had to build our own toolbox,” he said. “We used what was available to us, but we are building our own. I’m satisfied that what’s been undertaken today and I’m satisfied (what) the report has produced is helpful (and) informative.”
After councillor Don Vassiliadis spoke in support of the “direction we’re going,” councillor Riel once again raised concerns about the lack of reporting.
“We waited almost two years for a report,” Riel said. “We are the board of directors of economic development for the City of Peterborough … I would think there would be quarterly reports to us about economic development, one of the most important things in the City of Peterborough to move this city forward with an eroding tax base.”
“I learned more about economic development from the mayor, when he just spoke here. Why am I getting it from the mayor as opposed to the director of economic development?”
Riel noted that council could go into closed session for any confidential economic development matters.
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Lack of industrial land cited as major impediment to growth
Pointing out recent announcements by two major employers announcing they are leaving Peterborough, councillor Gary Baldwin asked Julott about the process of reaching out to these businesses.
Julott said that the city tries to identify business that are contemplating leaving before they make announcements. In the case of Woodward Inc., which announced in July it would be relocating production from Peterborough to Poland, Julott said the city reached out with 12 hours and learned that staff at the Peterborough location were also surprised by the announcement.
“If it was a surprise to the staff, then it absolutely was not something we could have surfaced in our regular meetings,” he said, before describing the process for helping employees, noting that some have already been hired by other companies.
In response to another question from councillor Baldwin about the major impediment to bringing in jobs, Julott pointed to the lack of industrial land.
“We’re trying to be as creative as possible,” he said, providing an example of a business looking to expand that is “boxed in,” but there’s a business directly behind them with a large amount of greenspace they are not using. “We’re working together — economic development, planning, and other departments — to try and see if there’s a bit of a creative solution we can kind of MacGyver there.”
Julott gave another example of a piece of industrial land that “We’re currently finalizing the remediation of, that’s going to free up about six acres of industrial land that will go on the market later this summer.”
Councillors then voted unanimously, 10-0, to receive the report. Councillor Matt Crowley was absent from the meeting.
Items endorsed by general committee on August 4 will be considered by council for final approval the following Monday. Council meetings are streamed live at www.peterborough.ca.
This edition of kawarthaNOW's "Kawartha Localist" editorial series features our favourite farmers' markets in the Kawarthas, including in Haliburton County, Fenelon Falls, Peterborough, Lakefield, Bancroft, Havelock, Cobourg, Millbrook, Lindsay, and Campbellford. (kawarthaNOW collage)
Kawartha Localist is an editorial series from kawarthaNOW sharing trusted local recommendations, hidden gems, and favourite discoveries from people who know and love this region. It’s what we love about where we live.
This week (August 2 to 9) is Farmers’ Market Week in Ontario, and we are blessed to have so many bustling farmers’ markets filled with local vendors selling fresh and delicious goods grown or produced right here in the Kawarthas.
For many people, a trip to their local farmers’ market is a weekly tradition, but markets have become much more than a one-stop shop to find local produce, meat, bread, and preserves. We’ve heard from market managers and vendors who suggest shoppers love bringing their families to connect one-on-one with the people who grow their food while also reconnecting with neighbours, listening to local musicians, and enjoying prepared snacks.
From Bancroft to Cobourg, here are some of the farmers’ markets across the region that are hosting special events, presenting live music, giving back to the community, and celebrating the food grown right here in the Kawarthas.
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Slow down at the Haliburton County Farmers’ Market
Shoppers line up for some fresh Ontario strawberries at the Haliburton County Farmers’ Market, which runs in Haliburton on Tuesdays and in Minden on Saturdays. To encourage more families to drop in, the markets have begun introducing frequent events like Family Days, Culture Days, and Dog Days. (Photo courtesy of Haliburton County Farmers’ Market)
They call it the IncrEdible Haliburton County Farmers’ Market for a reason. Held in Haliburton on Tuesdays and Minden on Saturdays, this farmers’ market is all about slowing down and encouraging shoppers to not just buy produce, but learn about local food systems.
Since 2009, the Haliburton County Farmers’ Market has been celebrated for vendors who make everything by hand and always have a smile on their faces. At the stalls, you’ll find vegetables, herbs, flowers, meats, prepared foods, baked goods, artisan products, and so much more.
The market has also been growing its reach to families by inviting unique pop-up vendors for special market days like Family Day, Culture Day, and Dog Day.
The Haliburton County Farmers’ Market is held from Mother’s Day until after Thanksgiving at Head Lake Park in Haliburton on Tuesdays and in downtown Minden at Milne and Prince Streets on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find out more at www.hcfma.ca.
Do all your shopping at the Fenelon Falls Farmers’ Market
You’ll find Canadian pride for locally grown food at the Fenelon Falls Farmers’ Market, held on Fridays at the Old Arena Lot. The market encourages the next generation of farmers by aiming to instill a love for growing by sharing “magic beans” with children during the first market of the season. (Photo courtesy of Fenelon Falls Farmers’ Market)
From organic beef to preserves, fresh vegetables, prepared meats, and even doggy treats, you can do your shopping all in one place at the Fenelon Falls Farmers’ Market.
Enjoy a Friday morning walking through the market where each vendor hoists a Canadian flag, and you can shop for candles and soaps while sipping a morning espresso or snacking on a hot dog and listening to live local music.
The Fenelon Falls Farmers’ Market is all about encouraging the next generation of farmers to connect with their food. The picnic tables have tic-tac-toe boards for children to play while their parents are shopping and, in the spring, the littlest shoppers are given bags of “magic beans” to get them excited about local food systems.
The Fenelon Falls Farmers’ Market is held Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from the May long weekend until Thanksgiving weekend at 45 Bond Street (the Old Arena Lot).
Find Rusty the Rooster at the 200-year-old Peterborough Farmers’ Market
The original Peterborough Farmers’ Market is one of the oldest continuously operated running farmers’ markets in Ontario, having celebrated 200 years in 2025. The year-round farmers’ market at Morrow Park gives back to the community by hosting a Commodities Day on the last Saturday of the month that offers free samples of select items, and donating items to Food Not Bombs after every market. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Farmers’ Market)
Did you know the Kawarthas has one of Ontario’s oldest continuously operating farmers’ market? That’s right, in 2025, the original Peterborough Farmers’ Market celebrated its 200th anniversary.
For full transparency to buyers, each of the more than 50 vendors host a sign at their stall outlining the items they specifically grow themselves and the businesses they support for products used in pre-made food. This allows shoppers to know exactly where their food comes from — helping them make informed, intentional choices about what they purchase.
To invite young people to learn about their food, many of the vendors and pop-up special guests provide educational interactive opportunities, like mimicking milking a cow or watching an observational beehive. But not everything has to be educational — every week at the market, kids who find Rusty the Rooster at one of the vendors will get to pick out a prize!
The market is always eager to give back to the community by hosting a commodity day on the last Saturday of the month, where they hand out free samples of a certain item — peaches, corn, apples, and more. Additionally, at the end of each market, Food Not Bombs Peterborough collects unsold items farmers wish to donate for those in need.
The Peterborough Farmers’ Market is held year-round at Morrow Park, with six months indoors and six months outdoors on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit farmersmarketpeterborough.com.
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Shop local in downtown Peterborough at the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market
As a year-round urban market, the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market is accessible to families and working professionals and has become a staple routine for many people. The market is held outdoors in downtown Peterborough at the courtyard of Quaker Foods City Square (pictured) on Saturdays and Wednesdays from May through October, and indoors on Saturdays at Peterborough Square from November until April. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market)
Peterborough is fortunate to have not one but two year-round farmers’ markets, with the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market operating in the downtown core.
Held on Saturdays and Wednesdays from spring to December and then on Saturdays only, the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market has become a habit for many shoppers, whether they’re local families or downtown professionals shopping on their lunch breaks. To entertain the children while you shop, there are two kids’s areas, including one with water toys.
During the peak seasons, you might have upwards of 40 to 50 vendors and hundreds of visitors walking through. Here, you’ll find produce spanning from garlic to asparagus that’s grown in greenhouses year-round, as well as berries, maple syrup, and coffee. Vendors are MyPick verified or otherwise vetted to ensure products are being grown by the farmers themselves.
The Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market also hosts annual events like Strawberry Fest, Barbeque Fest, and Apple Fest where you can get fresh-pressed cider on site and join the apple pie eating contest.
The markets runs on Wednesday and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from May through December at the Quaker Food City Centre, and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from November to April in the lower level of Peterborough Square. For more information, visit www.ptboregionalfarmersmarket.org.
Find verified and vetted producers at the Lakefield Farmers’ Market
At the Lakefield Farmers’ Market, all vendors have been MyPick verified by Farmers’ Market Ontario to ensure all products being sold were grown or produced by the vendor. Held Thursdays at the Lakefield Arena parking lot, the Lakefield Farmers’ Market hosts regular events like a Mothers’ Day opening market, Berry Bash, and Christmas in July. (Photo courtesy of Lakefield Farmers’ Market)
Centrally located between the village of Lakefield and the Otonabee River, the Lakefield Farmers’ Market is a local favourite because shoppers can be confident they are supporting their neighbours.
All vendors of the market are MyPick verified, ensuring that 100 per cent of what they are selling has been produced right on their farm. All artisans are also vetted by a jury of local artists who determine whether the work is entirely made by the seller, while prioritizing those who use local or recycled materials.
With many vendor pop-ups, live buskers on site, and special events like a Mothers’ Day opening market, Berry Bash, and Christmas in July, every week feels a little bit different at the Lakefield Farmers’ Market.
The Lakefield Farmers’ Market is held Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lakefield Arena parking lot. Find out more at www.lakefieldfarmersmarket.ca.
Join the Butter Tart Bake-Off at the Bancroft Farmers’ Market
Reimagined in 2022, the Bancroft Farmers’ Market is held on Saturdays seasonally from the May long weekend to Thanksgiving at Riverside Park in Bancroft. The market is free for vendors and sponsored by local businesses. (Photo courtesy of Bancroft Farmers’ Market)
Just steps away from the York River and a children’s playground, the Bancroft Farmers’ Market is a weekly community gathering that’s all about giving back.
Unlike many farmers’ markets in Ontario, the Bancroft Farmers’ Market aims to support farmers and small businesses by restricting the barriers to access and removing vendor fees. Instead, operational costs are covered through local sponsorships.
As a result, every week, 15 to 30 local farmers and artisans are on site selling specialized coffee, breads, meats, sweetgrass, fishing lures, wooden crafts, crocheted art, and much more.
This year, the market held its first-ever Bancroft Butter Tart Bake-Off in partnership with Virginia Sweets Bakery to kick off the market season. Vendors, locals, and visitors were invited to register their homemade butter tarts to be judged by an expert panel at the first market of the season. The event was such a sweet hit that market organizers are well underway planning a similar event for next year.
The Bancroft Farmers’ Market takes place from the May long weekend to Thanksgiving from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. To learn more, visit bancroftmarket.wixsite.com/bancroftmarket.
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Visit a monthly animal display at the Havelock Farmer & Artisan Market
As you can guess from its name, the Havelock Farmer & Artisan Market not only offers products from local farmers but work from local artisans as well. The market is held weekly on the south side of Highway 7 in the village of Havelock. On the last Friday of the month, the market hosts a special animal display inviting farmers around the region to teach visitors about life on the farm. (Photo courtesy of Havelock Farmer & Artisan Market)
The Havelock Farmer & Artisan Market was established in 2018 in part by Elmer Buchanan, who is both a farmer and a former Hastings-Peterborough MPP who served as Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture and Food.
The market includes a range of farmers selling meat, produce, maple syrup, and baked goods, alongside artisan products including fibre arts and jewellery.
On the last Friday of June, July, and August, the market hosts a special animal display inviting farmers around the region to teach visitors about life on the farm.
The Havelock Farmer & Artisan Market runs from 1 to 6 p.m. on the south side of Highway 7 in the village of Havelock between June and September, with food vendors on site from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Learn more at www.havelockmarket.ca.
Celebrate artisans, young entrepreneurs, and more at the Cobourg Farmers’ Market
A fully producer-run market, the Cobourg Farmers’ Market runs from May until October at Rotary Harbourfront Park in historic downtown Cobourg and from November and December across the street at Market Square. (Photo courtesy of Cobourg Farmers’ Market)
The Cobourg Farmers’ Market is not merely a farmers’ market but also a community hub, celebrating artisans, young entrepreneurs, and the community.
One of the biggest farmers’ markets around, this one feature anywhere from 30 to 50 vendors each week, selling produce, baked goods, salsa, bread, cheese, maple syrup, honey, fruit, preserves, and more.
On the third Saturday of the month, the market expands to celebrate artisans, inviting woodworkers, jewellers, fibre artists, and others to share their works of art.
The fully producer-run market has also begun to launch special events like the Northumberland Flower Festival, inviting flower vendors to connect with the market’s regular shoppers, as well as the Young Entrepreneur Festival, held in partnership with Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland’s program for emerging youth entrepreneurs.
The Cobourg Farmers’ Market runs from May until October from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rotary Harbourfront Park and from November and December from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. across the street at Market Square. Find out more by visiting www.cobourgfarmersmarket.org.
Head to Millbrook on the last Sunday of the month for the Millbrook Farmers’ Market
Currently being held on the last Sunday of the month, the Millbrook Farmers’ Market in the parking lot of the Millbrook/South Cavan Public School hosts more than 15 vendors offering produce, baked goods, pet food, microgreens, fruit, and more. (Photo courtesy of Millbrook Farmers’ Market)
Although the Millbrook Farmers’ Market transitioned to a monthly format this year, organizers remain hopeful that the weekly market will return next year.
For now, it’s on the last Sunday of the month that you’ll find more than 15 vendors selling produce, fruit, microgreens, pet food, wine, beer, and much more. With vendors selling grab ‘n’ go snacks like smoothies and popcorn, the monthly event always draws families and crowds.
The market is located in the parking lot of the Millbrook/South Cavan Public School from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the last Sunday of the month until October.
Support local farmers twice a week at the Lindsay Farmers’ Market
The Lindsay Farmers’ Market takes place at the corner of Kent Street and Victoria Avenue on Saturdays and at Wilson Fields on Thursdays. The Saturday market has been held since 1859, with some vendors having returned for more than 30 seasons. (Photo courtesy of Lindsay Farmers’ Market)
Since 1859, the Saturday Lindsay Farmers’ Market has been giving regional farmers, producers, bakers, and artisans a place to gather and sell their wares. But in 2018, it turned into a twice-weekly celebration of local tastes with the new launch of a Thursday market.
With some vendors having attended for more than 40 years, the market is a destination for finding cured meats, cheese, baked goods, dog treats, vegetables, honey, and more.
As part of a new tradition, the season launches with free hot waffles and maple syrup available during the opening day market. It’s also continuing to introduce more and more events like a pumpkin hunt for children over the Halloween weekend where they can wear their costumes and go trick-or-treating at the vendor booths to win some prizes.
The Lindsay Farmers’ Market runs Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wilson Fields and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the corner of Victoria and Kent. To learn more, visit lindsayfarmersmarket.com.
A new kids’ corner and family events at the Campbellford Farmers’ Market
Held on Saturdays at 66 Front Street South, the Campbellford Farmers’ Market has been a space of community gathering since the mid-1980s. With 25 vendors in attendance weekly, the market also hosts special events including Family Day, Petapalooza, and a Halloween scavenger hunt. This year, the Campbellford Farmers’ Market launched a new kids’ corner where young market goers can find colouring, hopscotch, and more fun activities. (Photo courtesy of Campbellford Farmers’ Market)
Since the mid-1980s, the Campbellford Farmers’ Market in Northumberland County has been one that residents and cottagers visit by car, foot, and boat every week to discover something all new.
With 25 vendors at the market, you’ll find beef, pork, fruit, specialty vegetables, maple syrup, and lavender, as well as artisans selling sourdough, candles, woodworking, baked goods, and more. The Campbellford Farmers’ Markets also hosts annual special events including a Family Day, Petapalooza, and a Halloween scavenger hunt for the children.
To make every market day exciting for youngsters, this year the market introduced a new kids’ corner with hopscotch, colouring, and other fun activities that will keep them engaged while you shop.
The Campbellford Farmers’ Market is held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays from May to October at 66 Front Street South in Campbellford. To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/CampbellfordFarmersMarket
Kawartha Localist is an editorial series from kawarthaNOW celebrating the places, experiences, businesses, and communities that make our region extraordinary. Written by people who live here, work here, and have spent nearly 30 years exploring the Kawarthas and surrounding region, each edition shares trusted local recommendations, hidden gems, and favourite discoveries from across Peterborough County, the City of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.
Whether you’re looking for your next hiking trail, favourite patio, scenic drive, farmers’ market, or weekend adventure, Kawartha Localist is what we love about where we live.
Police have upgraded a second-degree murder charge against a 45-year-old Peterborough woman to first-degree murder in connection with the sudden death of her 74-year-old mother in June.
Just before 5 p.m. on June 5, police were called to the area of the London Street footbridge on the east side of the Otonabee River about a woman in the water.
After arriving at the scene, officers pulled the woman out of the water and attempted life-saving measures. The woman was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre where she was pronounced dead.
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Although police did not consider the death suspicious at the time, all sudden deaths are reviewed by the Major Crime Unit.
After further investigation and follow-up, police arrested 45-year-old Sarah-Jayne Maier on June 12 and charged her with second-degree murder in connection to the death of her mother, 74-year-old Susan Maier of Peterborough.
After further investigation, police have re-arrested Maier and charged her with first-degree murder.
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The accused woman will appear in court on Tuesday (August 4).
Under Canada’s criminal code, first-degree murder involves a killing that is both deliberate and planned in advance, while second-degree murder involves a deliberate killing without advance planning.
First-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with no possibility of parole for 25 years.
Staff of the Emergency Department at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) undergo simulation training to prepare for real-life emergency scenarios using a pediatric mannequin. The PRHC Foundation has made it a priority to support the simulation training program by investing in a state-of-the-art adult mannequin with the help of donors. One of many areas of urgent care being supported through PRHC's $70 million Campaign for PRHC, the new simulation mannequin will better mimic human patients to improve learning outcomes, communication, and collaboration across teams during real-life emergencies. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
When you or a loved one face a healthcare emergency, it’s comforting to know that the Emergency Department team at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has already been trained to respond to that emergency — not only through their own individual professional medical training, but as a team working step-by-step together.
In fact, PRHC’s Emergency Department (ED) staff participate in monthly simulation training to practise responding as a team to both common and rare emergencies before they happen, and having access to state-of-the-art simulation mannequins will enhance that training even more.
That’s why the PRHC Foundation has made it a priority to acquire a new, cutting-edge simulation mannequin as part of the $70 million Campaign for PRHC.
“This was a recent request that will innovate PRHC’s ED training in support of world-class patient care,” says PRHC Foundation President and CEO Lesley Heighway. “It’s donors who make it possible for the Foundation to respond to the hospital’s urgent equipment and technology needs as they arise across all areas of care.”
Step-by-step training for healthcare emergencies before they happen
“When every second counts when we need emergency care, we’re not thinking about all the preparation that PRHC’s hardworking Emergency Department team has done behind the scenes to be ready, but that preparation, beyond regular medical training, is vital to us receiving lifesaving emergency care,” Heighway adds.
“Essential to that preparation are advanced simulation tools that help our skilled doctors, nurses, and staff practise medical procedures, processes, and teamwork in the most realistic ways possible. A state-of-the-art simulation mannequin that can respond just like a human in a training scenario means better teamwork and care, faster, and with less risk of complication for the real-life patients with similar symptoms or injuries.”
As a Level III Trauma Centre, PRHC’s busy Emergency Department cares for some of the region’s most critically injured patients. During simulation training, doctors, residents, medical students, nurses, nursing students, the respiratory therapy team and partners like Emergency Medical Services (EMS) come together to practise these emergency situations using mannequins that are designed to mimic a real patient.
A more realistic patient for more realistic training
Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Emergency Department Clinical Nurse Educator Emily Philips and Emergency Department Physician Dr. Sarah Foohey lead simulation training for the healthcare team at the department. Every month, nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, and EMS staff come together to engage in simulation training to prepare them to deal with both common and rare real-life emergency situations. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
However, PRHC’s existing simulation mannequins are more than 10 years old, and today’s technology is far more advanced. The latest mannequins are far more realistic, mimicking basic functions like breathing, blinking, and talking all while displaying changing vital signs.
According to PRHC Emergency Department Clinical Nurse Educator, Emily Philips, who leads simulation training for the Emergency Department alongside PRHC Emergency Department Physician Dr. Sarah Foohey, this technology will be transformative for the Emergency Department’s healthcare professionals and in turn, the population of more than 600,000 people the regional hospital services.
“We want to mimic real life as much as possible when we’re doing simulations,” Philips explains. “When Sarah and I are running a sim, we try to put ourselves in the corner and let the sim play out because we want people to engage with it as they would in real life, but that’s not as achievable as we’d like because of the quality of the current mannequin we use.”
Keeping teams immersed in simulations from start to finish
Simulation training gives staff of the Emergency Department at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) opportunities to not only practise medical learning, but improve team communication and ensure equipment, medications, and other necessities are accessible when real-life emergencies arise. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
For example, the Emergency Department team at PRHC is unable to observe changing vital signs with the current mannequins.
Instead, they have to remove themselves from the simulation and ask Philips and Dr. Foohey to describe changes in the simulated patient, such as if they are breathing, what their blood pressure is, and whether their pupils are dilated.
Having a mannequin that presents changing vital signs on its own in real time would allow the team to remain present in the simulation from start to finish, more closely matching a true-life scenario.
“There’s an element of willing suspension of disbelief when your mannequin is quite old,” Dr. Foohey says. “Having a better mannequin helps with that hurdle of emotional fidelity. Once you get past those first few minutes of a sim, then people are immersed. That’s when the learning happens.”
Hands-on practice of lifesaving procedures
Unlike the pediatric simulation mannequin pictured here at the Emergency Department of Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), where training participants have to tape intravenous tubes to the mannequin, a state-of-the-art mannequin can take injections into veins, bones, or muscles. It also has four removable limbs to simulate traumatic accidents and gunshot wounds and is able to simulate a cricothyrotomy situation, where healthcare professionals have to access an airway through the front of the neck. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
The new simulation mannequin will have four removable limbs to simulate traumatic accidents and gunshot wounds.
In addition, the mannequin can take injections into veins, bones, or muscles, unlike the current ones where the team pretends to give injections and tapes tubes to the mannequin. It’s also able to simulate a cricothyrotomy situation — a procedure often depicted on TV or in movies that isn’t common in real life, where healthcare professionals have to access an airway through the front of the neck.
“Having the procedural options is such better training for the doctors and nurses because they actually practise hands-on and it adds to the sense of reality,” says Dr. Foohey.
“When someone has to pretend and say ‘I did a chest tube’ but actually didn’t, it doesn’t really simulate the five to ten minutes it takes to do one, and they lose situational awareness. Until you’re actually walking through a procedure, you’re not really simulating a procedure. And for something like the cricothyrotomy that might be more of a once-in-a-career situation, the team has a chance to become familiar with the procedure, but also where to access the necessary supplies and how to work together on it.”
Identifying obstacles in advance before real patients arrive
Dr. Sarah Foohey leads simulation training for the Emergency Department team at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) using a pediatric mannequin. Without a state-of-the-art simulation mannequin, trainees have to ask trainers to describe changes in the simulated patient, such as if they are breathing, what their blood pressure is, and whether their pupils are dilated. Having a mannequin that presents changing vital signs on its own in real time will allow the team to remain present in the simulation from start to finish, more closely matching a true-life scenario. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
Simulation training also helps the team identify other problems and obstacles that could arise during an emergency and affect patient care.
A recent simulation helped the Emergency Department team see that a rare medication that was needed in the scenario was located in another department — which could make a lifesaving difference when seconds count.
“We get to practise the medical learning and work through our processes so that, in real-life moments, it’s not the first time you’re experiencing it, everything is where it should be, and we’ve talked about it,” Philips says.
Strengthening team communication and fostering a safe learning environment
Simulation training using mannequins at the Emergency Department of Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) strengthens team communication, which indirectly benefits patient care. The training also helps break down the “perceived hierarchy” that exists between participating practitioners to ensure all team members are comfortable speaking up and sharing their concerns in support of better patient care. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
Dr. Foohey adds that these simulations also strengthen team communication, which indirectly benefits patient care. Sim debriefs look at how well teams interact with each other to ensure clarity, such as participants using each other’s names and following closed-loop communication practices.
“We use sim as an opportunity to remind teams that, when multiple doctors are involved in a case, they can brainstorm, but the one doctor designated as lead needs to be clear with the decision and their language,” Dr. Foohey says.
“It also gives members of the team the opportunity to say ‘This stresses me out’ or ‘That’s unclear.’,” Dr. Foohey points out. “It becomes a sounding board for non-sim communication challenges because it’s a safe space to bring it up and address it effectively.”
Philips says the training also aims to break down the “perceived hierarchy” that exists between participating practitioners to ensure all team members are comfortable speaking up and sharing their concerns in support of better patient care.
“We’re really fostering that safe learning environment for everybody, whether you’re a longtime emergency doctor or nurse, new to emergency medicine, upskilling or a junior team member joining sim as part of orientation,” she says. “Practising lifelike situations helps everyone to learn together when they wouldn’t ordinarily do that. Training could be very segregated otherwise.”
Philips notes that cultivating that level of teamwork and trust enhances the team’s ability to work together under pressure, in what are likely to be the most critical and vulnerable moments of their patients and their families.
Improving collaboration and enhancing PRHC’s simulation training program
A new state-of-the-art simulation mannequin at the Emergency Department of Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) will enhance existing training of healthcare professionals by providing a more realistic patient that responds with real-time feedback, allowing the Emergency Department team to remain immersed in the emergency scenario playing out in the simulation. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
PRHC invites EMS crews to join in the training, not only to enhance the realism of the scenario but to extend the team trust to and encourage collaboration across partner organizations for the best care for the patient.
“When the relationship is strengthened, so is patient care,” says Dr. Foohey. “EMS trust us because they know that we’re trying our best to do right by the patients and it’s reflected in everything we do. It extends beyond sim and education.”
This collaborative approach lends itself to PRHC’s reputation as a regional healthcare leader with a high-quality simulation training program. Other regional health centres take inspiration from it.
Dr. Foohey says a new Emergency Department simulation mannequin will only strengthen that reputation by generating more interest among healthcare professionals and expanding the range of learning opportunities. If other centres can create successful simulation training programs, care in those communities will be strengthened, contributing to a stronger system.
“People know our program is working and want to know how and why and that’s important,” Dr. Foohey says. “Not only will a new mannequin have a positive impact on patient care, but when everyone is working hard while facing the challenges of frontline emergency medicine having a successful, engaging program with new tools and new supplies helps energize them. There’s inherent value in that and it’s something I’m excited for.”
Donations fund urgent needs for equipment or technology
Emergency Department staff at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) undergo simulation training using a pediatric mannequin. The PRHC Foundation is currently fundraising $160,000 to bring a state-of-the-art adult mannequin, which mimics a human patient as closely as possible, to the regional hospital. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
The simulation mannequin is just one of many areas of urgent care that are being supported through PRHC’s $70 million Campaign for PRHC.
Other urgent needs funded throughout the campaign by donors who have given general, undesignated gifts have included nutrition services equipment, the hospital’s new Reactivation Care Centre, mental health care supports, Emergency Department trauma care equipment, and technology for the Palliative Care Unit, among many others.
“These are unexpected opportunities for innovation or advancement that support better patient care right away,” Heighway says. “When PRHC asks us to urgently fund equipment or technology, it’s the generosity of our community that gives us the flexibility to do so.”
“A simulation training mannequin for the Emergency Department is an exciting opportunity to support our hardworking ED team,” she adds. “This is a unique and regionally specific way donors in our area can assist our emergency healthcare professionals with the extraordinary work they do when we need them most.”
“It’s an honour to fundraise for something that Emily and Dr. Foohey, who are so passionate about patient care and the training that helps their teams deliver the very best care possible, need. Together, we can raise the $160,000 to bring this specialty training equipment to PRHC.”
To learn more about fundraising for urgent needs at PRHC and to make a donation, visit the PRHC Foundation website at prhcfoundation.ca or call 705-876-5000.
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.
Belfast-born Melee Hutton as Francis Shields and Sarah Evans as Loretta Mackie in Shillelagh Theatre Company's February 2025 production of "Fly Me to the Moon" at the Red Sandcastle Theatre in Toronto. The two actors will reprise their roles in the Globus Theatre production of the Belfast-set dark comedy by Marie Jones, one of Northern Ireland's most internationally successful playwrights, which runs from August 5 to 15, 2026 in Bobcaygeon. (Photo: Lisa Kannako)
What happens when two overworked and underpaid community carers in Northern Ireland discover their elderly client has died on the same day his pension arrives — and he has also placed a winning bet on the horses?
That’s the premise behind playwright Marie Jones’ dark comedy Fly Me to the Moon, which runs for 10 performances at Globus Theatre at 2300 Pigeon Lake Road in Bobcaygeon from Wednesday, August 5 to Saturday, August 15.
The production stars Sarah Evans and Belfast-born actor Melee Hutton as Loretta and Francis, two women who have spent much of their lives caring for other people while receiving little money or recognition in return.
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Hutton’s Northern Irish roots bring an added air of authenticity to the Belfast-set comedy, which combines rapid-fire dialogue, colourful language, and dark humour from the distinctive wit of Jones, the acclaimed Northern Ireland playwright behind Stones in His Pockets.
Fly Me to the Moon begins with Loretta and Francis arriving at the home of their 84-year-old client Davey, a fan of Frank Sinatra, on pension day. When they discover he has died, the two women consider whether they should claim his pension for themselves. Their seemingly simple plan grows more complicated when they learn Davey also placed a winning bet on a horse that he didn’t have a chance to collect.
What follows is a fast-moving farce about friendship, desperation, temptation, and what can happen when people who have long felt unappreciated suddenly see an opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade.
“Marie Jones writes about ‘two nobodies, just going along their day,'” Evans says in a media release. “That single line, in a nutshell, is what grabbed my heart and imagination when I read this play.”
“Two nobodies. Two people who have, as it were, been written off. The shenanigans Francis and Loretta get themselves into to get a wee taste of freedom and adventure leads to a deeper friendship forged through fire.”
Melee Hutton as Francis Shields and Sarah Evans as Loretta Mackie in Shillelagh Theatre Company’s February 2025 production of “Fly Me to the Moon” by Marie Jones at the Red Sandcastle Theatre in Toronto. (Photo: Lisa Kannako)
Although Fly Me to the Moon uses an increasingly improbable series of predicaments to generate laughs, the play touches upon the serious issues of the low wages and difficult working conditions of those who care for the elderly.
It also asks us to consider what we might do if offered an opportunity to make our lives better through a victimless crime.
Both Evans and Hutton are already familiar with the play and each other’s performances, having played Loretta and Francis in a February 2025 production by Shillelagh Theatre Company at Toronto’s Red Sandcastle Theatre.
According to Evans, the audience response to the Toronto run “was electric,” particularly from those with connections to Northern Ireland.
“We had several people originally from Belfast come to see the show, and they all felt as though they had been transported back home to a world they knew.”
“The dark humour and insane predicaments in which Marie Jones places her characters is not only funny and moving, but highly relatable,” Evans adds. “It raises the question, ‘What would I do if I were faced with these temptations?'”
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As for the Belfast-born Hutton, she trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland before building a stage career in the United Kingdom and Canada.
Her UK credits include appearances at London’s Royal Court Theatre in Gibraltar Strait, Weldon Rising, and Disappeared, as well as the Royal National Theatre production of Juno and the Paycock. She has also appeared in West End productions of Popcorn and Our Country’s Good.
In Canada, Hutton’s theatre credits include Cymbeline with Shakespeare in the Ruff, Shakuntala with Pleiades Theatre, Blithe Spirit and The Miser at Sudbury Theatre Centre, and The Seagull and The Brothers Karamazov with Wordsmyth Theatre.
She received the London New Play Festival’s best actor award for her performance as Julie in Julie Johnson and was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for her performance as Dimitri in The Brothers Karamazov. She has also received a Dora nomination for directing Harold Pinter’s The Dumb Waiter.
Her television and film credits include North of North, The Ninth, Murdoch Mysteries, Flashpoint, Casualty, Love and Savagery, Kill Order, and PSI Factor.
Meanwhile, Evans holds a bachelor of fine arts in acting from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and a master of fine arts in acting from York University. She also trained with the Moscow Art Theatre School through the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University.
She began her professional career in London, England, appearing as Liza in Vassa Zheleznova at the Gate Theatre and Dunyasha in The Cherry Orchard at the Welsh National Theatre.
Her extensive stage credits include Pygmalion with the Classic Theatre Festival, Prairie Nurse at Station Arts Centre, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at the Stratford Festival, A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Canadian Stage, Death of a Salesman at Theatre Aquarius, Steel Magnolias at Theatre New Brunswick and the Stirling Festival Theatre, and Waiting for the Parade at the Georgian Theatre Festival.
Evans received an outstanding performance award from NOW Magazine for her work in Cancer Time. Her screen credits include Hannibal, Murdoch Mysteries, Chucky, Orphan Black, Brilliant Minds, Say Yes to Christmas, Da Vinci’s Inquest, and ReGenesis.
She is also a guest lecturer in communication studies at the University of Waterloo and a studio instructor at York University.
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Jones is one of Northern Ireland’s most internationally successful playwrights, with work that has been staged throughout Ireland and Britain as well as across Europe, Canada, the United States, and the former Soviet Union.
Her best-known play, Stones in His Pockets, follows two extras working on a Hollywood film being shot in rural Ireland. The comedy enjoyed a four-year run in London’s West End, received the Laurence Olivier Award for best new comedy and the Evening Standard Award for best new play, and earned three Tony Award nominations following its Broadway debut.
Jones’ other works include A Night in November, Women on the Verge of HRT, an adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s The Government Inspector, and the Martin Lynch collaborations Dancing Shoes, about Belfast soccer legend George Best, and The Miami Showband Story.
Her plays have been translated into 38 languages. Jones has received honorary doctorates of literature from Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
Jones originally wrote Fly Me to the Moon as a one-act lunchtime production for Òran Mór and Paines Plough’s A Play, A Pie and A Pint series, which was presented at Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre in 2010. Jones later expanded it into a full-length play, which received a well-received run during the 2012 edition of the 1st Irish theatre festival in New York City.
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The Globus Theatre production of Fly Me to the Moon runs for 10 performances Wednesdays to Saturdays from August 5 to 15, with 8 p.m. evening performances from August 5 to 8 and 12 to 15 and 2 p.m. matinee performances on August 8 and 13. An optional dinner is available before evening performances.
Tickets are $50 for the show only or $100 for dinner and the show, and are available at www.globustheatre.com.
Globus Theatre notes the play contains “a fair bit of colourful language — but in a lovely accent.”
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