Tiny Greens owner and operator Tina Bromley, who opened her plant store in downtown Peterborough in 2017, was one of six local business owners who participated in Community Futures Peterborough's ScaleUP pilot program in 2022. Through a partnership with Scotiabank, the program returns in 2023 with 12 spaces available for entrepreneurs who need help scaling up their businesses. (Photo courtesy of Tiny Greens)
Community Futures Peterborough has announced applications are now open for the 2023 ScaleUP program designed to help Peterborough-area businesses grow.
The not-for-profit economic development organization first piloted the program last year to address a gap in available training for local entrepreneurs, since most training is only focused on the startup growth stage.
Six local women-led businesses participated in the pilot program, which delved into the topics of financial management, supply chain optimization and best practices, people management, crisis management, organizational design, and good governance policies.
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“Business owners in the community have told us they are facing roadblocks when making key decisions about when and how to scale their operations,” says Community Futures Peterborough executive director Devon Girard in a media release. “Encouraging sustainable employment within our region is central to our mission at Community Futures Peterborough. The ScaleUP 2023 program has been specially designed to address this, offering a custom roadmap that guides entrepreneurs through the complex landscape of sustainable growth.”
Through a partnership with Scotiabank, Community Futures Peterborough has been able to double the number of spaces available in the 2023 program to 12 local business owners.
“Scotiabank has long been committed to supporting entrepreneurs and we are excited to be part of this initiative in partnership with Community Futures Peterborough,” says Chris Skinner, Scotiabank’s vice president for central east Ontario. “The support this program offers to participants is aligned to the advice we deliver to our customers through personalized conversations and planning that can position them to grow their business.”
Dan Joyce Clothing owner Nancy Wiskel, who opened a second location in Apsley last year, was one of six local business owners who participated in Community Futures Peterborough’s ScaleUP pilot program in 2022. Through a partnership with Scotiabank, the program returns in 2023 with 12 spaces available for entrepreneurs who need help scaling up their businesses. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
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As was the case last year, the program will be led by Diane Richard, president at both Diatom Consulting and Professional Training Inc. as well as a previous board member with Community Futures Peterborough, and a team of regional experts.
“Seeing the growth and evolution of local businesses is genuinely rewarding,” Richard says. “The ScaleUP program aims to drive expansion and equip entrepreneurs with long-term strategies for success. It’s about building thriving businesses, contributing to our local economy, and creating employment opportunities.”
Participating business onwers will learn through a combination of classroom sessions and one-on-one strategic consultations tailored to their unique growth opportunities. The 2023 program will follow the same curriculum as last year’s pilot, and each business owner with complete the program with a tailor-made growth plan for the sustainable expansion of their business.
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Three of the local businesses that participated in last year’s program were Tiny Greens, Dan Joyce Clothing, and Renew Medical Aesthetics.
“The program was so timely and very focused on business growth strategies,” said Tiny Greens owner Tina Bromley after completing the program. “I have already benefited from implementing small strategic changes that’s created big results in my business.”
Dan Joyce Clothing owner Nancy Wiskel, who has expanded to a second location in Apsley, also participated in the 2022 program.
“The program has positively influenced the health of my business,” Wiskel says. “I’m now more proactive with my staff and contractors and have developed a critical view of my supply chain, leading to open and constructive discussions with suppliers.”
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Roxanne McDonald-Brown, owner of Renew Medical Aesthetics, says last year’s program “far exceeded” her expectations, calling Richard “a powerhouse of support and knowledge.”
“But it was more than just a learning experience,” McDonald-Brown adds. “The bonds I formed with fellow entrepreneurs, who offered mutual support throughout the process, have become one of my favourite aspects of the program. Even post-program, we continue to meet at local restaurants, discussing triumphs and challenges. This sense of community and belonging we’ve cultivated is unparalleled.”
Applications for the 2023 ScaleUP program are open to any business located within the city or county of Peterborough. Interested entrepreneurs can apply by August 25 by visiting communityfuturespeterborough.ca/programs/scaleup/. Successful applicants will be selected at the beginning of September and the program will run from mid-September to mid-November.
A view of the Trans Canada Trail system off of Jackson Creek Trail in Peterborough during one of this summer's smoke-filled days caused by wildfires in Quebec and northeastern Ontario. As a result of climate change, Canadian ecosystems are becoming drier and the severity and length of the wildfire season is increasing. (Photo: Lili Paradi / GreenUP)
The recent smoke-filled days have left us in a daze, questioning why wildfires feel uncontrollable and more widespread than before.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s column is by Lili Paradi, Communications Manager, GreenUP.
The smoke that we experienced in and around June 7th, Clean Air Day, and on many days since, has been a heated topic of discussion. It is important to understand and address the wildfires behind the smoke, and the way that climate change is contributing to these fires.
Fires burning in our forests and our grasslands are not a new phenomenon. In fact, they can be prescribed.
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On June 21st, National Indigenous Peoples Day, Alderville Black Oak Savannah posted about a traditional burning practice held at Black Oak Savannah. In this post, they reflect on the connection between fires, ecosystems, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge.
“Each year, the team continues traditional burning practices in the form of prescribed restoration burning,” Alderville Black Oak Savannah wrote in their post. “Fire is central to countless Indigenous groups, across Turtle Island, and around the globe.”
“[Fire] is one of the four elements necessary for life on earth. The flames of the fire burn orange; another reminder that Indigenous communities and fire have always been interwoven. Today we reflect on the current state of wildfires across Turtle Island and how this land is affected by climate change each day … How can we improve our actions for both our neighbours and our earth?”
Reflecting on that question is part of this call to action.
We know that in particular ecosystems, fire can be a benefit to plant species with certain adaptations. It may seem counter-intuitive, but fires are natural and many ecosystems require fires to clear out organic material and promote regeneration.
Wildfires can be crucial to ecosystem stability, but under certain circumstances, can be out-of-the-ordinary.
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As a result of climate change, Canadian ecosystems are becoming drier and the severity and length of wildfire season we are presently seeing is new.
The warmer, drier climate that Canada is moving toward will further increase the risk of drought events and vegetation flammability, which are major drivers of wildfires.
Not every individual wildfire can be attributed to climate warming, but according to a Climate Change and Land report from the International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) in 2019, “future climate variability is expected to enhance the risk and severity of wildfires in many biomes”.
The IPCC notes that fires in the boreal forest biome will increase in size and frequency. Canada’s land mass has 60 per cent boreal zone, giving some perspective to how uncontrolled wildfires can impact the country.
Ash from this summer’s wildfire smoke on the windshield of a car in Peterborough. Poor air quality resulting from wildfire smoke is a public health risk in Canada because of its impact on physical health, mental health, and well-being. (Photo: Eileen Kimmett / GreenUP)
Here in Peterborough, we may not have felt the burn of wildfires, but we do experience poor air quality resulting from smoke.
“Wildfires are considered a public health risk in Canada, due to their impacts on physical health, mental health, and well-being,” states the Government of Canada’s June 2023 public health risk profile of wildfires in Canada.
Uncontrolled wildfires and their smoke will disproportionately impact equity-deserving populations and marginalized people. Across Canada, individuals displaced by wildfires, individuals without housing, and individuals with health concerns will see greater impacts to their health, well-being, and social stability.
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Although wildfires can seem to be uncontrollable at times, Canadians can help mitigate the impacts of climate change and decrease the likelihood of even more severe climate events by acting to reduce our emissions.
Our governments have an important role to play by enacting policy that meet our emissions reductions targets, and ensure a healthy environment, now and in the future.
In 2019, Peterborough City Council declared a climate emergency and renewed their local commitment to enact strategies that significantly reduce the city’s corporate emissions and emissions community-wide.
People can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change by using active travel methods like biking, rolling, or walking. Ironically, during extremely poor air quality days (especially as a result of wildfire smoke), outdoor exercise is not recommended. Peterborough Public Health recommends checking the Ontario Air Quality Index before making a decision to use active travel. (Photo: Tegan Moss / GreenUP)
In the declaration, Peterborough city council identified the need to achieve a target of 45 per cent greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030 below 2011 levels and net-zero by 2050.
As we see fluctuating smoke days in the Peterborough and the Kawarthas, perhaps you can help decrease our local greenhouse gas emissions.
While enjoying the great outdoors this summer, you can limit unnecessary fire use. Even outside of risky periods like a fire ban, personal fires create emissions.
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Plant drought-tolerant native plants or in your neighbourhood — these use less water and can handle warmer, drier seasons.
Use active travel methods like biking, rolling, or walking to cut down on driving-related emissions.
Replace indoor appliances that use natural gas with electric appliances.
A photo of wildfire smoke over the City of Peterborough from the top of Armour Hill, taken by GreenUP Home Energy Advisor Collin Richardson, whose role is to assess your home’s energy efficiency and recommend retrofits that decrease greenhouse gas emissions and also save energy. (Photo: Collin Richardson / GreenUP)
Assess the carbon emissions of your business and identify ways to decrease the environmental impact of your operations.
Even though it may seem daunting, there are many ways we can keep our emissions low and mitigate the worst impacts of climate change.
Together we can look through the smoke and act to create a clearer future.
A painted kayak created by Peterborough artist Jason Wilkins hangs in the Silver Bean Cafe in Millennium Park. (Photos: Silver Bean Cafe / Facebook)
A painted kayak by well-known local artist Jason Wilkins is now hanging in the popular Silver Bean Cafe, located in Millennium Park on the shores of the Otonabee River in downtown Peterborough.
Owner Dan Brandsma commissioned Wilkins to create the art installation to celebrate the cafe’s 20th year in business. The kayak, painted in Wilkins’ signature style with vibrant colours, is hanging inside the exterior ceiling of the cafe building where it covers the patio.
“We are grateful for each and every day that people choose to dine on our patio,” reads a post from Silver Bean Cafe on their Facebook page. “Thanks for bringing your vibrancy, personality, and community energy (like the colours here); your ongoing support for this little cottage in the city.”
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The Silver Bean Cafe opened in 2003 in the Millennium Park building owned by the City of Peterborough (the cafe leases the space from the city). Brandsma took over the cafe in 2019 from original owner Andrea Vanderherberg.
As well as celebrating the Silver Bean’s 20th anniversary, the painted kayak is also a nod to the future opening of the Silver Bean’s second location at the new Canadian Canoe Museum currently under construction on the shores of Little Lake.
Expected to open in the fall, the new museum will include a cafe that seats 30 people inside and 32 outside. Operated by the Silver Bean Cafe, it will offer drinks (including alcoholic beverages), light lunches, treats, and grab-and-go options for both museum visitors and local residents. Unlike the Millennium Park location, the Silver Bean’s museum location will be open year-round..
Peterborough Police Service headquarters on Water Street in Peterborough. (Photo: Pat Trudeau)
A Peterborough priest is facing sexual assault and interference charges as a result of a police investigation.
On Wednesday (July 26), Peterborough police arrested 33-year-old Neil Pereira of Peterborough and charged him with one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference.
Police are releasing the identity of the accused man “as the nature of the offences lead us to concerns there may be other victims,” according to a media release issued by the Peterborough Police Service.
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Sexual interference is when a person, for a sexual purpose, touches — directly or indirectly with a part of the body or with an object — any part of the body of a person under the age of 16 years.
Police say Pereira is an ordained priest with the Catholic Church who has been working in the City of Peterborough since late 2022. Investigators are in contact with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough, who are cooperating with investigators.
Pereira will appear in court on August 8. Police are not releasing any further details about the allegations against Pereira “as this matter is now before the courts.”
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Constable Jacob Donnelly at 705-876-1122 ext. 335, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477
In the Netflix spy action thriller "Heart of Stone", Gal Gadot stars as Agent Rachel Stone, a member of an elite MI6 unit who is also a secret operative for a covert peacekeeping organization called The Charter. It premieres on Friday, August 11th. (Photo: Netflix)
Every month, kawarthaNOW is the only local media source to bring you a list of what’s coming to Netflix Canada. Here are a few highlights of what’s coming to Netflix in August.
Heart of Stone is a spy action thriller film starring Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) as Agent Rachel Stone, an apparently inexperienced member of an elite MI6 unit headed up by lead agent Parker (Jamie Dornan) who actually works for a covert peacekeeping organization called The Charter that uses cutting-edge technology to neutralize global threats. When a routine mission is derailed by mysterious hacker Keya Dhawan (Alia Bhatt), Stone’s two lives collide. As she races to protect the Charter’s most valuable and dangerous asset, codenamed The Heart, her humanity might just be her biggest asset. Heart of Stone premieres on Netflix on Friday, August 11th.
VIDEO: “Heart of Stone” trailer
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One Piece, a live action adaptation of the ongoing Japanese manga series of the same name by Eiichiro Oda, is an American-Japanese fantasy action series about a young adventurer named Monkey D. Luffy who sets off from his small village for a perilous high-seas adventure with his crew the Straw Hat Pirates as they seek the legendary fabled treasure called “One Piece” that will make Luffy The King of the Pirates. It debuts on Netflix on Thursday, August 31st.
VIDEO: “One Piece” trailer
The Netflix series Painkiller is a scripted limited series that explores some of the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America, highlighting the stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin. The fictionalized retelling of events is based on the book Pain Killer by Barry Meier and the New Yorker Magazine article “The Family That Built the Empire of Pain” by Patrick Radden Keefe. Painkiller premieres on Netflix on Thursday, August 10th.
VIDEO: “Painkiller” trailer
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The hit young adult British series Heartstopper returns to Netflix for a second season on Thursday, August 3rd. The coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama, written and created by Alice Oseman based on her webcomic and graphic novel of the same name, has received critical acclaim, particularly for its tone and pacing as well as its portrayal of LGBT people.
Season two follows Nick, Charlie, and the gang return as they journey through the next chapter of life, love, and friendship, including exams, a school trip to Paris, and the prom on the horizon.
VIDEO: “Heartstopper” trailer
The Netflix documentary Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food examines the problem of deadly foodborne illness in the U.S. Through revealing interviews with experts and victims’ families, the documentary exposes how decades of apathy and malfeasance among the food industry and its regulators have left the American food supply and its consumers vulnerable to deadly pathogens like e. Coli and salmonella. It premieres on Netflix on Wednesday, August 2nd.
VIDEO: “Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food” trailer
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Other Netflix films include 10 Days of a Bad Man (Aug. 18), Killer Book Club and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (both on Aug. 25), and Choose Love (Aug. 31). Other Netflix series include part two of season two of The Lincoln Lawyer (Aug. 3), The Big Nailed It Baking Challenge (Aug. 4), At Home With The Furys (Aug. 16), part four of The Upshaws (Aug. 17), season two of The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On (Aug. 23), and season three of Ragnarok and Who is Erin Carter? (both on Aug. 24).
Theatrically released films coming to Netflix include 47 Metres Down, The Angry Birds Movie, Coming to America, Rush Hour, and Two Weeks Notice (all on Aug. 1), Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (Aug. 8), The Lost City and The Matrix Resurrections (both on Aug. 10), The Mummy (Aug. 15), The Big Short (Aug. 23), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Aug. 24), Compulsion (Aug. 25), and The Departed and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (both on Aug. 30).
VIDEO: New to Netflix Canada in August 2023
Here’s the complete list of everything coming to Netflix Canada in August, along with what’s leaving.
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Coming in August (no release date specified)
Guns & Gulaabs (Netflix series) – In the cartel-run town of Gulaabgunj, an unprecedented opium deal pulls a big-city cop and a lovesick mechanic into its chaotic clutches.
Risqué Business: Taiwan (Netflix series) – Shin Dong-youp and Sung Si-kyung embark on a laughter-filled journey to Taiwan, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of its sex culture and business.
Tuesday, August 1
Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child (Netflix documentary, new episodes weekly) – At 26, is Jake Paul the boxing world’s new savior or a “delusional” promoter who packs more punch in his marketing skills than in his right hand? It depends on whom you ask in Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child, an unflinching deep dive into how a wide-eyed kid from Ohio morphed from Internet sensation to most polarizing man in sports. For every high-profile critic (UFC president Dana White), there’s another supporter in his corner (former professional boxer Mike Tyson). In 2013, Jake and his older brother, Logan, lit up social media with pranks and antics posted first to Vine and then a YouTube channel that racked up millions of views. The brothers parlayed their online success into lucrative side hustles, with Jake releasing music and landing a role on a Disney Channel show (Bizaardvark). As their notoriety grew, so did tensions between the once-close siblings. When Jake’s real-life controversies nearly ruined his career, he got a second chance as a boxer who shocked skeptics as he knocked out one opponent after another. Built on gripping interviews with the Paul brothers — along with their parents, fans, fellow boxers, and the skeptical old guard — the film culminates with a nail-biting match that will prove if Jake has what it takes to rule his new kingdom.
47 Metres Down
The Angry Birds Movie
Coming to America
No Strings Attached
Not Another Teen Movie
Rush Hour
The Smurfs
The Smurfs 2
SpongeBob SquarePants: Seasons 9-11
The Sweetest Thing
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Two Weeks Notice
Wednesday, August 2
Mark Cavendish: Never Enough (Netflix documentary) – Intimate and captivating, this documentary charts the meteoric rise, tragic downfall and unbelievable comeback of professional cyclist Mark Cavendish.
Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food (Netflix documentary) – Through revealing interviews with experts and victims’ families, this gripping documentary examines the problem of deadly foodborne illness in the US.
Scream (1996)
Soulcatcher (Netflix film) – A military contractor hired to seize a weapon that turns people into savage killers seeks revenge when his brother falls victim to the device.
Thursday, August 3
Head to Head (Netflix film) – Hilarity meets danger when a lovesick chauffeur and a bootleg mechanic mistakenly pick up a retired crime lord, igniting a wild, life-changing adventure.
Heartstopper: Season 2 (Netflix series) – With exams, a school trip to Paris and prom on the horizon, Nick, Charlie and the gang must navigate the next stages of life, love and friendship.
The Last Hours of Mario Biondo (Netflix documentary) – Questions persist about the last night of Mario Biondo, the husband of Spanish TV host Raquel Sánchez Silva. This true-crime series uncovers new details.
The Lincoln Lawyer: Season 2 Part 2 (Netflix series) – As Lisa’s trial approaches, Mickey faces doubts, setbacks and unexpected revelations. Lorna and Cisco plan for their big day, while Izzy makes big moves.
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (Netflix film) – Bullied by his boss, worked around the clock, he’s nothing more than a corporate drone. All it takes is a zombie outbreak for him to finally feel alive!
Friday, August 4
The Big Nailed It Baking Challenge (Netflix series) – After 7 seasons of eating a lot of debatably edible treats, Nicole and Jacques are ready to up the ante and give a group of motivated but inexperienced bakers the opportunity of a lifetime. Over the course of 10 episodes, Nicole and Jacques will provide 10 bakers with every tool and resource they need to go from ‘Oh no’ to ‘pro’. They’ll be coached by world-renowned pastry chefs and be given the training necessary for a professional baker to succeed. The stakes and bakes are higher than ever because only the best bakers will make it to the end and compete for a huge cash prize that can help make their baking dreams come true!
Fatal Seduction: Volume 2 (Netflix series) – The dark and mysterious erotic thriller series from Steven Pillemer returns for a new season of lust, longing and betrayal.
Monday, August 7
Gabby’s Dollhouse: Season 8 (Netflix family) – With all new songs and all new friends, the fun times never end for Gabby and her cute cat, Pandy Paws. Want to come along? It’s time to get tiny!
Tuesday, August 8
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh Part 2 (Netflix anime) – Reunited with Lancelot for the first time since their tragic accident, Tristan must learn to conquer his inner demons in order to save his mother’s life.
Untold: Johnny Football (Netflix documentary, new episodes weekly) – In 2012, the brightest star in all of sports was an undersized freshman quarterback at unheralded Texas A&M, whose fervor on the field was rivaled only by his hard-partying ways off it. Dubbed “Johnny Football,” the magnetic football player captured the nation’s attention and initially relished his alter ego: “I wanted to be Johnny Football. Johnny Football never had a bad time,” he says. But as the money rolled in, the scrutiny heightened, and Manziel rejected his newfound fame and suddenly lost his way. With astonishing candor, Manziel — along with his family, coaches, his former best friend, and his agent — details what happened behind the scenes as scandals piled up in the glare of paparazzi flashbulbs. He fumbled his shot at NFL success after the Cleveland Browns picked him in the first round of the NFL draft in 2014, but Manziel went on to search for something even greater: inner peace and happiness with a quieter life that he reveals here.
Zombieverse (Netflix series) – In Seoul, where a zombie virus outbreak has run amok, who will outwit the undead in the face of challenging quests and come out alive?
Wednesday, August 9
Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop (Netflix documentary) – This timely limited doc series recontextualizes the role the irrepressible women of hip hop played throughout the revolutionary genre’s 50 years by reinserting them into the canon where they belong: at the center, from day one to present day.
Thursday, August 10
Jagun Jagun
The Lost City
Marry My Dead Body (Netflix film) – After finding an odd envelope, Policeman Ming-han’s life takes a spooky turn: He’s now wed to a ghost husband, and they must solve a crime together.
The Matrix Resurrections
Mech Cadets (Netflix family) – An underdog teen joins a group of young Cadets who’ve been chosen to bond with Robo Mechs from space and defend Earth against alien invaders.
Painkiller (Netflix series) – A fictionalized retelling of events, Painkiller is a scripted limited series that explores some of the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America, highlighting the stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin. An examination of crime, accountability, and the systems that have repeatedly failed hundreds of thousands of Americans, Painkiller is based on the book Pain Killer by Barry Meier and the New Yorker Magazine article ‘The Family That Built the Empire of Pain’ by Patrick Radden Keefe. Executive produced by Eric Newman, Pete Berg, Alex Gibney, and showrunners/creators Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster. Starring Uzo Aduba, Matthew Broderick, Taylor Kitsch, Dina Shihabi, and West Duchovny.
Friday, August 11
Down for Love (Netflix documentary) – A heartwarming quest for love, this feel-good reality show follows several people with Down syndrome as they navigate the trials and triumphs of dating.
Heart of Stone (Netflix film) – Rachel Stone (Gal Gadot) appears to be an inexperienced tech, on an elite MI6 unit headed up by lead agent Parker (Jamie Dornan). What her MI6 team doesn’t know is that Stone actually works for the Charter — a covert peacekeeping organization, secret even from other spies, which uses cutting-edge technology to neutralize global threats. Rachel has been trained to be the consummate professional: a phenomenal field agent who sticks to the mission, follows the numbers, and trusts no one. When a routine mission is derailed by mysterious hacker Keya Dhawan (Alia Bhatt), Rachel’s two lives collide. As she races to protect the Charter and strives to beat the odds, her humanity might just be her biggest asset.
Saturday, August 12
Behind Your Touch (Netflix series) – A psychic vet and a detective join forces to crack small-town cases — but their skills are tested when they unravel a chilling serial killer mystery.
Tuesday, August 15
Jared Freid: 37 and Single (Netflix comedy) – Introducing Jared Freid’s hilarious stand-up comedy special, “37 & Single”. In this uproarious performance, Jared, a self-proclaimed expert on the single life, takes us on a wild ride through the ups and downs of navigating the modern dating world. With a humorously annoyed perspective, he hilariously tackles the frustrations of apps, awkward set-ups, and the constant reminders from friends who have moved into the next phase of life. Join Jared as he explores the nuances of being single, growing up, gender reveal parties, and the inevitable break-ups that occur along the way. Get ready for a night of laughter and relatable stories as Jared sheds light on the joys and challenges of being 37 and still searching for that special someone.
The Mummy
Untold: Hall of Shame (Netflix documentary, new episodes weekly) – Victor Conte’s name is synonymous with the biggest doping scandal ever to rock the sports community, ensnaring top athletes such as baseball great Barry Bonds and track-and-field legends Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery. For 16 years, Conte swears BALCO Laboratories, his supplement and nutrition company based in the Bay Area, never dabbled in illegal, performance-enhancing drugs. But by 2000, he went to the dark side and became the go-to guy for athletes in search of steroids, fame, and world records. The film features interviews with several of Conte’s notable former associates — including Montgomery and the anti-doping and IRS authorities who helped send him to prison after a 42-count indictment — give harrowing testimony as the legend of one of sports’ most notorious names continues to unfold.
Wednesday, August 16
At Home With The Furys (Netflix series) – Undefeated heavyweight champion Tyson Fury retires from boxing to embrace the eccentricities of family life in this hilarious and heartfelt docusoap.
The Chosen One (Netflix series) – Jodie, a twelve-year-old living in Baja California Sur, discovers he has Jesus-like powers. Will he answer his calling and fulfill his destiny?
DEPP V HEARD (GB) (Netflix documentary) – Depp v Heard is a three-part series examining the infamous defamation case that captured the world’s attention and became the world’s first trial by TikTok. Showing both testimonies side-by-side for the first time, this series explores this global media event, questioning the nature of truth and the role it plays in our modern society.
Thursday, August 17
My Dad the Bounty Hunter: Season 2 (Netflix family) – The hunter becomes the hunted when Terry mysteriously goes missing, leaving his wife, kids — and Blobby — to search for him all over the universe.
The Upshaws: Part 4 (Netflix series) – A working-class Black family in Indiana strives for a better life and a happy home while juggling everyday struggles in this comedy series.
Friday, August 18
10 Days of a Bad Man (Netflix film) – Battered, broken and bereaved, a private investigator must muscle his way through a tangle of lies to uncover the truth behind a mansion murder.
Love, Sex and 30 Candles (Netflix film) – In the year they all turn 30, four best friends navigate relationships, heartbreak and a and a shocking development that threatens to tear them apart.
Mask Girl (Netflix series) – An office worker who is insecure about her looks becomes a masked internet personality by night — until a chain of ill-fated events overtakes her life.
The Monkey King (Netflix family) – A monkey and his magical fighting stick team up on an epic quest, battling demons, dragons, gods and the greatest adversary of all: Monkey’s own ego!
Tuesday, August 22
Lighthouse (Netflix series) – Two leading entertainers casually get together for some real talk, shedding light on their vulnerabilities and worries, with lots of laughs along the way.
Untold: Swamp Kings (Netflix documentary, new episodes weekly) – College football is life in Florida, nowhere more apparent than in the extraordinary story of the Florida Gators from 2005 to 2010. After a blazing run in the 1990s under Coach Steve Spurrier, the University of Florida’s winning streak had dried up by 2005. Enter Urban Meyer, the Gators’ demanding new head coach whose take-no-prisoners style breeds not only a string of legendary victories, but also unrelenting drama that rippled well beyond the locker room. In their own words through extensive sit-down interviews paired with archival footage, Meyer and the titans he coached (Brandon Siler, Tim Tebow, Brandon Spikes, Major Wright, and Ahmad Black, among many others) give viewers a bird’s-eye view of how they catapulted the Florida Gators from underdogs to winners of two BCS National Championships. Drilling down with a riveting play-by-play of some of the Gators’ most blistering wins and losses, this four-episode docuseries zooms in on each turbulent year of Meyer’s reign and isn’t afraid to tackle the challenging sides of his leadership and the perils of his players being star athletes at such a young age.
Wednesday, August 23
The Big Short
Destined with You (Netflix series) – A lawyer bound by a centuries-old curse becomes entangled with a civil servant who holds the key to his freedom — igniting an unexpected romance.
Squared Love Everlasting (Netflix film) – A flashy influencer and a down-to-earth teacher’s committed relationship gets tested when a person from the past threatens their happily ever after.
The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On: Season 2 (Netflix series) – Five different couples, on the verge of marriage. One partner is ready to get married, the other isn’t quite as sure. An ultimatum is issued – and in just over eight weeks, they must commit to marriage, or move on. In the meantime, each will choose a new potential partner from one of the other couples, in a life-changing opportunity to get a glimpse of two different possible futures.
Thursday, August 24
Baki Hanma: Season 2 Part 2 (Netflix anime) – New episodes of the martial-arts anime series.
Ragnarok: Season 3 (Netflix series) – With the lines between good and evil blurred, Magne’s fortitude is about to face its ultimate trial in an epic final battle of gods against giants.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Who is Erin Carter? (Netflix series) – A British expat’s tranquil life in Barcelona spirals out of control when an armed robbery at a supermarket exposes her secret… and violent past.
Friday, August 25
Compulsion
Killer Book Club (Netflix film) – Eight horror-loving friends fight for their lives when a killer clown who seems to know the grim secret they share begins to pick them off, one by one.
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (Netflix film) – Lifelong best friends Stacy (Sunny Sandler) and Lydia (Samantha Lorraine) have long dreamt of epic bat mitzvahs but when popular boy Andy Goldfarb (Dylan Hoffman) and Hebrew school drama come between them, their perfect plans go comically awry. Directed by Sammi Cohen, produced by Happy Madison and Alloy Entertainment, and also starring Idina Menzel, Sadie Sandler, Sarah Sherman, Luis Guzmán, and Jackie & Adam Sandler, You are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah chronicles the high comedy and modern teen angst that comes with family, friendship, and first crushes.
Wednesday, August 30
The Departed
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones (Netflix documentary) – Travel around the world with author Dan Buettner to discover five unique communities where people live extraordinarily long and vibrant lives.
Miss Adrenaline: A Tale of Twins (Netflix series) – A competitive biker takes the identity of her long-lost identical twin sister to bring her killers to justice and get the truth behind their separation.
The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On: Season 2 (Netflix series, new episodes) – Five different couples, on the verge of marriage. One partner is ready to get married, the other isn’t quite as sure. An ultimatum is issued – and in just over eight weeks, they must commit to marriage, or move on. In the meantime, each will choose a new potential partner from one of the other couples, in a life-changing opportunity to get a glimpse of two different possible futures.
Thursday, August 31
Choose Love (Netflix film) – Cami Conway has it all until she comes face to face with a kaleidoscope of tempting but tough choices. What she chooses depends wholly on you, the viewer. But be careful! Things don’t always play out like you think!
Karate Sheep: Season 2 (Netflix family) – Armed with karate skills — and super cool gadgets — Wanda and Trico are back to protect their fluffy sheep friends from the wickedly hungry Wolf.
One Piece (Netflix series) – Based on Japan’s highest-selling manga series in history by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is a legendary high-seas adventure unlike any other. Monkey D. Luffy is a young adventurer who has longed for a life of freedom since he can remember. Luffy sets off from his small village on a perilous journey to find the legendary fabled treasure, One Piece, to become King of the Pirates! But in order to find the ultimate prize, Luffy will need to assemble the crew he’s always wanted before finding a ship to sail, searching every inch of the vast blue seas, outpacing the Marines, and outwitting dangerous rivals at every turn.
A retired municipal politician, Haliburton Highlands resident Larry O'Connor wasn't taught about his Anishinaabe (Odawa) Métis heritage during his childhood. In the early 1990s, when the Métis Nation of Ontario was established, he began exploring his family's roots and is now a recognized member of the Sheshegwaning First Nation band. (Photo courtesy of Larry O'Connor)
Larry O’Connor might call himself retired, but that hasn’t stopped him from keeping busy. For the past seven years, at 6 p.m. on the last Wednesday of every month, O’Connor can be heard through the airwaves at 100.9 Canoe FM, a not-for-profit community radio station based in the Haliburton Highlands.
On his show Tales from the Big Canoe, O’Connor plays contemporary, modern, and traditional music from Indigenous artists and interviews people from communities across North America.
Though the former politician was the mayor of the township of Brock from 2006 to 2011, upon retirement, he and his wife decided to move to Minden where the couple had been cottaging for years.
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Though O’Connor himself is proudly of Anishinaabe (Odawa) Métis and Irish descent and is now a recognized member of the Sheshegwaning First Nation band, there was once a time he had no knowledge of his Indigenous heritage.
Born in Oshawa to a big family of six sisters and three brothers, O’Connor wasn’t taught about his culture during childhood, and it wasn’t until the 1990s that he really began diving into it, as the Métis Nation of Ontario was starting to form. When he — joined by his father and a few siblings — began digging into their family history, he discovered that both his mother and father had Indigeneity in their family lines.
“My folks came from northern Ontario and grew up at a time in the thirties and forties when being Indigenous or being Indian or being ‘half breed’ was something that was frowned upon,” explains O’Connor. “Nobody ever wanted to talk about it, and nobody wanted to admit it. It’s a shame that colonization had placed on all Indigenous people.”
During pandemic lockdowns, Haliburton Highlands resident Larry O’Connor learned to bead. Not only has the traditional art form allowed him to connect with his own heritage, he’s been able to use it within the Trillium Lakelands District School Boards to speak to students about various stories, experiences, and traditions from Indigenous cultures. (Photo courtesy of Larry O’Connor)
O’Connor traced the family history back to his father’s great-great-grandmother, who they learned was actually an aunt to Louis Riel, the famous Métis leader in western Canada.
“I found it fascinating,” he says. “There’s a little bit of my family history that I didn’t know anything about.”
Use of the term “Indian”
Many Indigenous people in Canada prefer not to describe themselves as “Indians” and view this term as rooted in colonialism and racism. Under the Indian Act, the precise legal meaning of the term “Indian” refers to First Nations persons who are entitled to registration under the legislation. Source – Government of Canada website
During this time, anyone who went to post-secondary school was enfranchised from their heritage, stripped of their Indian status.
Like a lot of families, O’Connor’s great-grandmother (who was granted status from her father who was Sheshegwaning First Nation) wanted her children enfranchised so they would, as O’Connor explains, “not be recognized and stigmatized with that heavy guilt of being Indigenous.”
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Although O’Connor’s family history was erased, he began to make up for lost time by doing his own research, first looking over the records at the residential school his great-grandmother had attended near Sault St. Marie. This trip, roughly seven years ago, ended up being the first of many O’Connor would take as he dove into his family history, eventually attending events and powwows and meeting distant relatives.
One day, Canoe FM’s station manager Roxanne Casey approached him, suggesting his research would make for a great show.
“I started asking the questions and then I started sharing the answers,” he explains. “Reconciliation doesn’t just happen. It requires an action, so my show is an action and the people listening get to hear the show and participate and that’s an action as well.”
Larry O’Connor hosts “Tales of the Big Canoe,” at 6 p.m. every last Wednesday of the month, on 100.9 Canoe FM in the Haliburton Highlands. On the show, he plays modern and traditional music from Indigenous musicians and interviews Indigenous knowledge holders from communities coast to coast. (Photo courtesy of Larry O’Connor)
Now, O’Connor says his journey has taken him to meet people “right across Turtle Island,” including basket weavers, drum makers, moccasin weavers, and more. In his seven years since beginning the show, O’Connor has travelled extensively to visit different cultures and share more stories from coast to coast and as far away as Mexico.
“I would never have had a chance to go and visit and share the information unless my show pushed me in that that direction,” O’Connor admits. “So, I get some really neat teachings that I get to go and see and then be able to share.”
For O’Connor, sharing the stories he learns helps him to connect with his own culture.
“My interest and curiosity just keeps growing,” he explains. “And because I didn’t grow up in the culture, I feel like I’ve got so much to learn.”
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To further share his experience and teachings, O’Connor is a knowledge holder for the Trillium Lakelands District School Board, and often speaks to students in the classroom. He explains that he’s very “humbled” being able to talk about his culture after his family and other Indigenous people felt ashamed of their histories for so long.
“Their smiles and their attention and their enthusiasm to learn is just phenomenal — I can see that their teachers are making a difference,” he says, adding that the curriculum in schools now include Indigenous authors and more history about residential schools and colonial impacts.
“I’m not offering something from a textbook. I’m offering them something from the learned knowledge that I have and, though it may be fresh knowledge for me, it’s important to share.”
On June 1, 2023, Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School hosted the first annual Trillium Lakelands District School Board Powwow and Drum Social to kick off the start of National Indigenous Peoples’ Month. Odawa Anishinaabe Metis Knowledge Holder Larry O’Connor (right), Elder Christopher Stock from Wahta Mohawks First Nation (left), and Oshkaabewis Dave Rice of Wasauksing First Nation (not pictured) participated in the event where students, staff, parents and guardians, and community members were invited to learn about basic traditions, protocols, dances, and music. (Photo courtesy of Trillium Lakelands District School Board)
O’Connor often connects to his students through his beadwork, a traditional art form he picked up during COVID lockdowns. He says he was immediately “hooked” on the hobby and now shares it by telling stories behind his creations, which include cuffs, octopus bags, and wooden-style regalia.
“I’ll chat to them about some of my history (and) some of the knowledge that I’m picking up and that I can share,” he explains. “Because that’s how our language evolved and how our culture evolved. It’s all about sharing — we shared our culture, we shared our legends, we shared our stories, we shared our teachings and I find that remarkable and I still do that now.”
O’Connor says there are now almost 650 children and youth in Trillium Lakelands District School Board who are self-declaring as Indigenous.
“We have an Indigenous student success team at the school board and they’re out spending a little bit of time with each of these young students, and they want to make sure that they succeed and that they’re given as much opportunity as they can to learn about their culture,” explains O’Connor, adding that a lot of the students are disconnected from their Indigenous communities and aren’t necessarily learning about their heritage at home.
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O’Connor admits he’s also still constantly learning and, in doing so, he will continue to share his findings, whether through his beading, the radio show, or in the classroom. But, he says, there’s always more that needs to be done.
“There are so many things that are a direct relationship to Canada’s past history that need to be talked about,” he point out. “This is something that’s going to take years of conversation, and the conversation is not meant to place guilt on anyone. It’s meant to enlighten and acknowledge and move forward. (Indigenous) culture has a lot of amazing pieces to it, and I’m learning more all the time and I want to share that.”
Noblegen founder and CEO Adam Noble with co-founder and previous executive VP Dr. Andressa Lacerda in 2016. (Photo: Lucia Graca Remedios / Noblegen)
Peterborough biotech startup Noblegen has been acquired by an American company and will operate under the name Solar Biotech Canada.
Solar Biotech Inc., a provider of biomanufacturing solutions based in Norton, Virginia, announced the acquisition on Tuesday (July 25).
Noblegen makes nutritious and functional proteins, carbohydrates, and oils from a single microorganism called Euglena gracilis. The company’s proprietary fermentation technology enables it to produce these ingredients with minimal water and land use as well as a reduced carbon footprint compared to the manufacturing of traditional ingredients.
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The idea behind Noblegen came from a science fair project by Adam Noble, who was studying how certain types of algae could be used to treat waste water, while he was in high school in Lakefield. Noblegen was founded in 2013 as Noble Tech Inc., with Noble the CEO and board chair.
With Solar Biotech’s acquisition, Noblegen will now operate as Solar Biotech’s food-grade-certified biomanufacturing and research and development hub in Canada. Solar Biotech CEO Alex Berlin will become the board chair.
“This is a significant step forward for Solar Biotech and its industrial partners since it immediately brings online much-needed capacity and expertise in the biomanufacturing industry,” Berlin says in a media release. “We are bringing together two innovative companies with complementary intellectual property portfolios and sector experience that will help us make a lasting impact on the world.”
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In 2019, Noblegen secured $25 million in Series B private investment financing. Following a successful Series A funding round in 2016, bringing its total funding at the time to $42.5 million.
According to the media release, “Solar Biotech Canada plans to leverage government support to further develop its industrial site and highly qualified team” at its Peterborough biomanufacturing facility, which “comprises a fully equipped biomanufacturing hub with a total nominal capacity of over 160,000 litres of upstream precision fermentation and extensive downstream processing equipment, including spray- and freeze-drying, and innovation and analytical labs based at Trent University.”
No details were released as to whether Adam Noble will stay on as CEO of Solar Biotech Canada. No financial terms of Solar Biotech Inc.’s acquisition of Noblegen were disclosed.
A harmful blue-green algae bloom has been confirmed off the beach at Rogers Cove in Peterborough's East City. First observed by Peterborough Public Health on July 14, 2023 at both Rogers Cove and Beavermead Park, resulting in the closure of both beaches, the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks has confirmed of the bloom and toxins exceeding Health Canada’s recreational water limit. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Peterborough Public Health is advising residents and visitors that a harmful blue-green algae bloom has been confirmed off the beach at Rogers Cove in Peterborough’s East City, and that both the Rogers Cove beach and the beach at Beavermead Park will remain closed to protect the health and safety of the public and pets.
On July 14, the health unit first closed the beaches at both Rogers Cove and Beavermead Park after observing possibly harmful blue-green algae blooms in the water while preparing to collect water samples for its daily water testing.
UPDATE – July 26, 2023
While the toxic algae bloom is no longer present (as of July 26) and both beaches are open, they remain unsafe for swimming pending results from bacteriological water sampling. Results are expected mid-day on July 27.
The Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks subsequently sampled water at the Rogers Cove beach for testing. On Friday (July 21), the ministry confirmed the presence of a harmful blue-green algae bloom in the sample and, on Monday, confirmed the sample had a total microcystin toxin amount of 169 micrograms per litre, exceeding Health Canada’s recreational water limit of 10 micrograms per litre.
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The ministry will collect additional samples from both beaches on Monday, with testing results expected by the end of the week.
“More samples will be collected and sent for analysis today,” says Julie Ingram, manager of environmental health with Peterborough Public Health, in a media release. “It is important to get the beaches reopened as soon as it’s safe to do so, especially with the hot weather that is in the forecast.”
While Peterborough Public Health says there is no immediate risk to Peterborough or Lakefield’s municipal drinking water supplies, the health unit warns that exposure to toxins through activities like drinking, swimming, and bathing can cause illness and discomfort. Common symptoms include itchy, irritated eyes and skin, rash, headache, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Both beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead Park in the City of Peterborough have been closed since July 14, 2023 due to a suspected harmful blue-green algae bloom, which was confirmed on July 21. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Pets and farm animals that consume contaminated water may experience sickness or death.
The risk to humans is primarily from drinking water that has been contaminated with toxins from a dense harmful algae bloom. Long-term consumption of water containing high levels of cyanobacterial toxins may cause neurological or liver problems.
The health unit is encouraging residents downstream of Little Lake to monitor water for the presence of blue-green algae. Dense blue-green algae blooms can make the water look like a bluish-green pea soup, or a shiny paint slick. Fresh blue-green algae blooms often smell like fresh-cut grass, while older blooms can have a strong septic- or garbage-like odour.
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To report a suspect blue-green algae bloom, residents should contact the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks Spills Action Centre at 1-800-268-6060.
If algae blooms are visible, the health unit advises:
Do not use the water for drinking, food preparation, bathing, showering, or swimming use.
Do not allow children, pets, or livestock to swim in or drink the water.
If skin contact does occur, wash with soap and water or rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove the algae.
Do not boil the water. Boiling will not remove the toxins and may release more of the toxin into the water.
Residents should avoid cooking with the water because food may absorb toxins from the water during cooking.
Fishing is generally considered safe and there is low risk to human health from eating fish caught during a peak blue-green algal bloom condition.
Be aware that home treatment systems for water may not remove toxins and may become clogged.
Do not treat the water with a disinfectant such as chlorine bleach. This action may break open algal cells and release toxins into the water.
Today's Little River Band, led by lead singer and bassist Wayne Nelson (middle) who originally joined the band in 1980, also features Bruce Wallace on guitar/vocals, Colin Whinnery on lead guitar/vocals, Chris Marion on keyboards/vocals, and Ryan Ricks on drums/percussion/vocals. The band will perform a free-admission concert at Peterborough Musicfest at Del Crary Park on July 26, 2023. (Photos supplied by Little River Band)
Peterborough Musicfest presents Little River Band
When: Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 8 p.m. Where: Del Crary Park (100 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: Free admission
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.
Sometime it’s not the compliment but the source of the adulation that grabs the most attention. So it was when the late Glenn Frey of The Eagles dubbed Little River Band “the best singing band in the world.” Such praise, coming from a guy who co-founded arguably the best singing band in popular music, carried a lot of weight.
Frey wasn’t just blowing smoke. Formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1975, Little River Band exemplified the pop and rock talent emerging from the Land Down Under at the time. Most of the band’s material from the 1970s and 1980s was written by founding members Glenn Shorrock and Graeham Goble.
The band’s founding members are long departed but the harmonies that brought album and CD sales in excess of 30 million remains very much intact, with lead singer and bassist Wayne Nelson, who joined the band in 1980, leading the charge. While many may argue this isn’t the same band that set out in 1975 and subsequently recorded a bevy of hit songs, those songs still sound as sweet as ever and rekindle memories for legions of fans around the globe.
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On Wednesday, July 26th, full evidence of Little River Band’s enduring appeal will provided at Del Crary Park as the Nelson-led quintet headlines Peterborough Musicfest. Admission to the 8 p.m. concert, as always, is free.
Recording and releasing an album each year from 1975 through 1977, Little River Band struck platinum in 1978 with its fourth album Sleeper Catcher. Peaking at number 16 on the Billboard 200 listing, it featured the singles “Reminiscing” and “Lady,” both of which landed in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978.
One of the most frequently played songs in the history of U.S. radio with five million plays, “Reminiscing” is the band’s most well-known hit, reaching #3 on the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. John Lennon reportedly said it was one of his favourite songs.
VIDEO: “Reminiscing” – Little River Band
The band capitalized on that success just a year later, releasing First Under The Wire that put forth yet another two Billboard 100 top 10 hits with “Lonesome Loser” and “Cool Change.”
Come 1980, Nelson was in the picture, singing the lead vocal on “Night Owls” which, along with “Man On Your Mind” and “Take It Easy On Me,” anchored the success of Time Exposure, the band’s sixth studio album in six years.
Of note, lead guitarist Stephen Housden came into the fold at the same time, subsequently working closely with Nelson to keep Little River Band in the game into the new millennium and beyond — a role he continues to hold.
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From 1983 to 2013, Little River Band released another nine studio albums, buoyed by its remarkable run of having recorded top 10 hits for six consecutive years. In recognition of its enduring success, Little River Band was inducted into the Australian Recording Association Hall of Fame in 2004.
Now based in the United States, and with more 30 personnel changes in its rear view mirror, Little River Band is in the midst of an extensive North American tour, with the Peterborough Musicfest appearance marking the lone Canadian stop.
Meanwhile, while much has been written about the nasty disputes between the original band members and those who followed over the use of the band’s name and song rights, that has done little if anything to dampen fans’ love for the music of their youth.
VIDEO: “Lonesome Loser” – Little River Band
Whatever one’s take, there’s no denying Nelson’s 40-year devotion to keeping Little River Band together and relevant to modern audiences. In a 2013 interview with Laura Butler of VintageRock.com, the Kansas City, Missouri native opened up on the criticism levelled his way.
“There are people out there that think I shouldn’t be doing this and I’ve heard that opinion for years,” he says. “The truth of the matter is this — it was kind of a unique situation. It’s not like (the band) was together a long time before they starting changing personnel. It happened the first year that the band was around. (Two years later) they made an album with three or four different bass players, none of whom were the first two guys that played with them. Then they went on the road with even a sixth guy or a seventh guy and that’s when we met.”
While Nelson readily admits the current iteration is not the original band {“If you want to hear the original band, it has been recorded for you to listen to your heart’s content”), he says audiences are grateful for the opportunity to hear their beloved songs performed live.
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“(People) come up to me every single night and tell me heartwarming stories about what the band has meant to them when they were in the military, or in good times, or bad times during their life,” Nelson explains. “There are a lot of emotional connections between people and our music and the bottom line to that is they say ‘Thank you, thank you for keeping this going, and thank you for bringing this to our town so that we can experience the band live.'”
According to Nelson, there’s one collective goal anchoring the band’s drive to serve up Little River Band’s catalogue of memory-inducing hit music.
“It’s making sure the band that comes to town is presenting the songs in an energetic way, paying total respect to the songs and their emotional value. It’s not just the Little River Band for the sake of the name and not just throw it up there on the stage, and close enough is good enough. We have never thought that way.”
VIDEO: “Lady” – Little River Band
Overseen by general manager 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 and the entire 2023 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest’s 2023 season.
While digital devices are a part of everyday life, too much screen time - especially for young children - can impact their growth and development. Setting reasonable limits on screen time benefits both kids and families. (Photo: Kampus Production / Pexels)
Kids can quickly rack up screen time, even though it doesn’t always add up to good results.
Every month, Five Counties Children’s Centre provides a story about the work of the charitable organization. This month’s story is by Ida Lloyd, Speech Language Pathologist, and Jessica McGrath, Occupational Therapist, Five Counties Children’s Centre.
Often in our treatment sessions with families, we ask how much screen time a child gets in a day. On occasion, we may discover a child spends up to 12 hours per day in front of a smartphone, tablet, TV, computer, gaming console, or other digital screen.
While this is not the norm, we do know that COVID-19 has fuelled an increase in screen time, especially among very young children.
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Digital devices are part of everyday life, and putting kids in front of the TV, tablet, or cellphone can be a lifeline for adults trying to make dinner or complete a task. However, unless it’s an assistive device or technology to help a child communicate or learn, too much unsupervised screen time can be unhealthy for kids.
Studies show that too much screen time in infancy can impact brain activity, development, learning and lead to problems with behaviour, emotions, and controlling impulses. That’s why the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPA) recommends against any screen time for children under age two, unless it’s to video chat with caring adults or extended family.
For kids two to five years of age, the CPA advises limiting “routine or sedentary screen time” to an hour or less each day.
Five Counties Children’s Centre Occupational Therapist Jessica McGrath and Speech Language Pathologist Ida Lloyd say too much screen time for kids doesn’t always add up to good results. (Photo: Five Counties Children’s Centre)
At Five Counties, we see the value of limiting kids’ screen time. This is especially important when young children need active play and quality family time to develop important life skills like language, self-regulation, play, and creative thinking.
This is apparent with speech and language development, as it’s through talking, hearing, being read to, and interacting with parents, children, and other caregivers that kids truly learn.
Parents who model communication and language skills for children provide a richness that a machine or device cannot.
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The same applies from an occupational therapy perspective. Far from calming or quieting a child, screen time overstimulates and disrupts sleep.
Being on a screen for long periods of time also means missed opportunities for interactive play, engagement, and activities. These are important to help promote muscle movement, co-ordination, and skills in the use of arms and legs, as well as hands, fingers, and wrists.
Play is how kids learn, and without that opportunity we do them a disservice. Real play (not on a game console) allows kids to be imaginative, socialize with others, problem-solve, and learn new skills. This sparks the brain’s neural connections that are so critical, especially at a young age.
Looking for something to do this summer with your child? Unplug from digital devices! When it comes to screen time this summer, stick to a low-tech version like this one that provides a great stage for drama and intrigue. Engaging and interacting with young kids helps to build a healthy brain and body. (Photo: Freepik)
Summer is a great time to unplug and enjoy activities together as a family like reading, outdoor play, and crafts. Reducing screen time is something that benefits kids all year-round.
Setting limits on screen time when kids are young is easier than cutting back when they’re older. It’s also a good lesson for adults to take, being role models for kids in setting limits on their screen time too.
Left to their own devices, it’s easy for kids to spend too much time in the digital world. With direction, let’s help them realize real time has so much more to offer than screen time!
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