Last held from 2016 to 2019, Parks Canada's Lock & Paddle event returns to the Peterborough Lift Lock on August 26, 2023. Paddle alongside hundreds of canoes and kayaks along the Trent-Severn Waterway towards the world's tallest hydraulic lift lock, where the two tubs will be packed full as everyone is sent 65 feet (20 metres) in the air. (Photo: Parks Canada)
After a three-year absence due to the pandemic, the fifth annual Lock & Paddle event returns to the Peterborough Lift Lock on Saturday (August 26), when paddlers will fill the two tubs at the world’s tallest hydraulic lift lock and get lifted 65 feet (20 metres) into the air.
Organized by Parks Canada to celebrate the national historical site, the free event is open to all ages. Unlike previous events held from 2016 to 2019, registration is not required.
The theme for this year’s Lock & Paddle is “Lift Your Spirits,” and Parks Canada is encouraging all participants to decorate their vessels and wear costumes for the event.
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This is a smoke-free and alcohol-free event that will happen rain or shine, so dress appropriately for the weather.
While the first lockage begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday (with additional lockages to follow if required), paddlers should be in their vessels and ready to load at the bottom at the Peterborough Lift Lock at 2:30 p.m.
The Peterborough Lift Lock Visitors Centre and grounds will open at 1 p.m., but parking at the Visitors Centre is reserved for accessible permit holders (additional parking options are listed below).
The theme for this year’s Lock & Paddle event on on August 26, 2023 is “Lift Your Spirits,” and Parks Canada is encouraging all participants to decorate their vessels and wear costumes for the event. (Photo: Parks Canada)
Gear and rental options
If you don’t have your own canoe or kayak or gear, local rental options are available.
Kawartha Outfitters (Millennium Park near the Silver Bean, 1 King Street, Peterborough)
Wild Rock Outfitters (169 Charlotte Street, Peterborough)
Parking at the Peterborough Lift Lock Visitors Centre is only available for accessible permit holders, but here are locations where you can park that are within walking (and paddling) distance to the Peterborough Lift Lock:
If you’re planning to paddle for this year’s Lock & Paddle event on on August 26, 2023, there are a number of nearby parking and put-in locations available. Note that you will not be able to park at the Peterborough Lift Lock Visitors Centre unless you have an accessible permit. (Photo: Parks Canada)
Here are put-in locations if you plan to paddle to the Peterborough Lift Lock. Note that if you are going through Lock 20 – Ashburhnam, you need to allow an extra 45 to 60 minutes to transfer and paddle to the Peterborough Lift Lock.
Beavermead Campground (2011 Ashburnham Dr.) – 5-minute paddle to Lock 20, 45-60 minutes to transfer and paddle to Peterborough Lift Lock
Rogers Cove (131 Maria St.) – 5-minute paddle to Lock 20, 45-60 minutes to transfer and paddle to Peterborough Lift Lock
Millennium Park (130 King St.) – 20-minute paddle to Lock 20, 45-60 minutes to transfer and paddle to Peterborough Lift Lock
Del Crary Park (100 George St.) – 35-minute paddle to Lock 20, 45-60 minutes to transfer and paddle to Peterborough Lift Lock
Warsaw Swing Bridge (Parkhill Rd, E. and Canal Rd.) – 20-minute paddle to Peterborough Lift Lock
McFarlane Bridge (McFarlane St. & Ashburnham Dr.) – 10-minute paddle to Peterborough Lift Lock
Trent-Severn Waterway Headquarters (2155 Ashburnham Dr.) – 5-minute portage to launch at the top and west side of Lock 20, 20-minute paddle to Peterborough Lift Lock.
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In addition to a canoe or kayak (standup paddle boards are not permitted for safety reasons), all participating paddlers need the following gear: a PFD for each paddler (which must be worn), a sound signalling device, a buoyant heaving line, a bailer for each boat.
Bring a sunscreen and a hat if the weather forecast is for sun, and a raincoat or umbrella if it’s going to rain.
The Netflix Australian romantic comedy "Love is in the Air," filmed in Queensland's picturesque Whitsundays islands, stars Delta Goodrem as a fiercely independent seaplane pilot fighting to keep her family business afloat who starts falling for the man sent by corporate to ground her operation forever. It premieres on Netflix on Friday, September 15th. (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 September.
The Netflix Australian romantic comedy Love is in the Air, filmed in Queensland’s picturesque Whitsundays islands, stars Delta Goodrem as a fiercely independent seaplane pilot fighting to keep her family business afloat who starts falling for the man sent by corporate to ground her operation forever. It premieres on Netflix on Friday, September 15th.
The Netflix adult animated dark fantasy action series Castlevania: Nocturne, a spin-off of the Castlevania animated series, is set in France in 1792 during the French Revolution and tells the origin story of Richter Belmont. It debuts on Netflix on Thursday, September 28th.
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For the kids, there’s the Netflix spy comedy film Spy Kids: Armageddon, a reboot to the original Spy Kids franchise about the children of two secret agents who must work together to save their parents — and the world — when a game developer unleashes a powerful computer virus. It comes to Netflix on Friday, September 22nd.
The British teen sex comedy-drama series Sex Education returns for its fourth and final season on Thursday, September 21st. With Maeve in America and Moordale closed, Otis must find his footing at free-spirited Cavendish College — but he’s not the only sex therapist on campus.
The third and final season of the British crime drama series Top Boys, which Esquire has called “the best show on Netflix,” tells the story of drug dealers Dushane (Ashley Walters) and Sully (Kane Robinson) along with others involved with drug-dealing and gang violence in London. In the final season premiering on Thursday, September 7th, Sully takes charge, pushing Dushane to cash out, but with a new order comes new challenges, threats, and consequences.
VIDEO: “Top Boy” season three trailer
Other returning Netflix series include the fifth and final part of the animated medieval fantasy sitcom Disenchantment (Sep.1), season five of Virgin River (Sep. 7), and season five of Love Is Blind (Sep. 22).
Netflix documentaries include nature series Predators (Sep. 6), Scout’s Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America (Sep. 6), and Wrestlers (Sep. 13).
Theatrically released films coming to Netflix in September include 300, F9: The Fast Saga, Jexi, Madagascar, the Pitch Perfect franchise, and Straight Outta Compton (all on Sep. 1), The Wolf of Wall Street (Sep. 12), About Time (Sep. 15), American Hustle (Sep. 20), American Pie and Snowpiercer (both on Sep. 21), The Equalizer (Sep. 28), and A Nightmare on Elm Street and Troy (both on Sep. 30).
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VIDEO: New on Netflix Canada in September 2023
Here’s the complete list of everything coming to Netflix Canada in September, along with what’s leaving.
Coming in September (no release date specified)
The Devil’s Plan (Netflix series) – In this competition of intelligence, contestants face off in games of wit and strategy to be crowned winner and go home with the ultimate prize.
Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso (Netflix documentary) – This documentary delves into the unanswered questions surrounding the trial of Jessica Wongso — years after the death of her best friend, Mirna Salihin.
Song of the Bandits (Netflix series) – In the lawless land of Gando, fierce bandits will stop at nothing to fight for their precious homeland and loved ones — even if it means life or death.
Vasco Rossi: Living It (Netflix documentary) – Italy’s most beloved rock star Vasco Rossi grants unprecedented access to intimate details of his personal life and successful career over the decades.
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (Netflix film) – A beloved Roald Dahl story about a rich man who learns about a guru who can see without using his eyes and then sets out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling.
Friday, September 1
A Day and a Half (Netflix film) – In a desperate bid to reunite with his daughter, an armed man bursts into the medical centre where his estranged wife works and kidnaps her.
Disenchantment: Part 5 (Netflix series) – To save Dreamland from Queen Dagmar’s wrath, Princess Bean must vanquish her mother and outrun a prophecy that foretells she will kill the one she loves.
Friday Night Plan (Netflix film) – When their mother takes off on a business trip, two bickering brothers unite to secretly attend the hottest party of the year before she returns.
Happy Ending (Netflix film) – A year into their otherwise happy relationship, Luna’s suggestion to include a third person in their sex life turns her bond with Mink upside down.
Love is Blind: After the Altar : Season 4 (Netflix series) – The season’s participants share updates and fresh perspectives a year after living the pod life while preparing for an epic flag football showdown.
300
Are We There Yet?
F9: The Fast Saga
Halloween Kills
I Spit on Your Grave
Jexi
Madagascar
One Piece Adventure of Nebulandia
One Piece Episode of East blue – Luffy and His Four Crewmates’ Great Adventure
One Piece Episode of Skypiea
One Piece Film: Gold
One Piece Heart of Gold
One Piece: 3D2Y – Overcome Ace’s Death! Luffy’s Vow to His Friends
Pitch Perfect
Pitch Perfect 2
Pitch Perfect 3
Rumor Has It…
Straight Outta Compton
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2
Young Sheldon: Season 6
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Sunday, September 3
Is She the Wolf? (Netflix series) – They’re all here to look for true romance — but hidden among the women is at least one “wolf,” a saboteur who’s only pretending to be falling in love.
Monday, September 4
PAW Patrol: Season 9
Tuesday, September 5
Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs (Netflix comedy) – A new stand-up comedy special from Shane Gillis.
Wednesday, September 6
6ixtynin9 The Series (Netflix series) – After losing her job, a woman discovers a mysterious package on her apartment doorstep — and her life takes a turn for the worse.
Infamy (PL) (Netflix series) – They’re all here to look for true romance — but hidden among the women is at least one “wolf,” a saboteur who’s only pretending to be falling in love.
Predators (Netflix documentary) – Experience life through the eyes of cheetahs, polar bears and more of the planet’s most powerful hunters as they fight against the odds to survive.
Reporting For Duty (Netflix series) – When Suzano assumes the role of police chief at a new precinct, the timid newbie will have to prove his mettle to his fearless squad.
Scout’s Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America (Netflix documentary) – Survivors, whistleblowers and experts recount the Boy Scouts of America’s decades-long cover-up of sexual abuse cases and its heartbreaking impact.
Tahir’s House (Netflix series) – A family of amateur entrepreneurs must come together to convert their failing fish shop into a thriving business, but branching out isn’t easy.
Thursday, September 7
Dear Child (Netflix series) – A mysterious woman’s escape from her harrowing captivity points investigators toward the terrifying truth behind an unsolved disappearance years earlier.
Gamera – Rebirth (Netflix anime) – In the summer of 1989, four kids in Tokyo witness the emergence of the turtle kaiju Gamera, who bravely stands up against giant human-eating monsters.
Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight: Season 3 (Netflix family) – In a race to destroy the all-powerful Tianshang weapons once and for all, the Dragon Knights face off against enemies both familiar and unexpected.
Top Boy: Season 3 (Netflix series) – Sully takes charge, pushing Dushane to cash out, but with a new order comes new challenges, threats, and consequences.
Virgin River: Season 5 (Netflix series) – Mel adjusts to a different pace of life, Jack works to grow his business, and the town faces new threats as secrets begin to surface in Virgin River.
What If (PH) (Netflix film) – When a pair of newlywed musicians get trapped in a storm on their island honeymoon, they must face difficult truths that could tear their marriage apart.
Friday, September 8
A Time Called You (Netflix series) – A grieving woman magically travels through time to 1998, where she meets a man with an uncanny resemblance to her late love.
Burning Body (Netflix series) – When a police officer is murdered and set on fire, all eyes focus on two other agents: his girlfriend and her lover. Inspired by true events.
Rosa Peral’s Tapes (Netflix documentary) – This true-crime documentary film features Rosa Peral’s first interview from prison since she was convicted of murdering her partner aided by an ex-lover.
Selling The OC: Season 2 (Netflix series) – O Group agents work to keep their eyes on the prize as they meet a potential new teammate, battle red-hot rumours and test the real estate waters in Cabo.
Spy Ops (Netflix documentary) – Intelligence operatives from MI6 to the CIA share insider stories of spy craft, Cold War campaigns, and coups carried out by covert agents.
Tuesday, September 12
Glow Up: Season 5 (Netflix series) – A new batch of aspiring makeup artists draw, contour and blend their way to a big career break in this creative and colourful reality competition series.
Michelle Wolf: It’s Great to Be Here (Netflix comedy) – A new stand-up comedy special from Michelle Wolf.
The Wolf of Wall Street
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Wednesday, September 13
Class Act (FR) (Netflix series) – A relentlessly ambitious working-class man becomes one of France’s most controversial public figures in this fictionalized biopic about Bernard Tapie.
Freestyle (PL) (Netflix film) – In need of cash for time in the recording studio, a rising rap star with a criminal past sets up a risky drug deal that could cost him everything.
Wrestlers (Netflix documentary) – At a storied professional wrestling organization, new owners and a roster of rising stars strive to make an impact beyond the ring in this docuseries.
Thursday, September 14
Barbie – A Touch of Magic: Season 1
Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction (Netflix film) – Appointed to teach the Grand Duchess’s timid son the intricacies of seduction, a love connoisseur finds himself in a scandal — and a romance of his own.
Once Upon a Crime (Netflix film) – While at the royal ball with Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood finds herself in the middle of a mystery. Can she solve the case before midnight strikes?
Thursday’s Widows (Netflix series) – Teresa finds her husband and his two best friends dead in the lavish community where they live. As the truth comes to light, so will dark secrets.
Friday, September 15
About Time
The Club: Part 2 (Netflix series) – With her husband gone, Rasel raises her daughter at Club Istanbul with the help of her mother, but their relationships are tested by loss and betrayal.
El Conde (Netflix film) – Augusto Pinochet is a vampire ready to die, but the vultures around him won’t let him go without one last bite. A dark satire by Pablo Larraín.
Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons: Season 7 (Netflix documentary) – Journalist and former inmate Raphael Rowe experiences life inside prisons in Finland, the Czech Republic, Indonesia and the Solomon Islands.
Love at First Sight (Netflix film) – Two strangers connect on a flight to London, only to be separated by a twist of fate. A reunion seems improbable — but love has a way of defying the odds.
Miseducation (Netflix series) – After a public humiliation, a wannabe influencer enrols in the only university that will take her, where she aspires to regain her social status.
Surviving Summer: Season 2 (Netflix series) – A new rival drops in as Summer trains with her friends for the national surfing competition, challenging her on the waves — and for the boy she loves.
Monday, September 18
My Little Pony: Make Your Mark: Chapter 5 (Netflix family) – Now that Opaline has captured Sparky’s Dragonfire, the evil Alicorn is stronger than ever — and she won’t stop until she has all the power of Equestria!
Tuesday, September 19
Kountry Wayne: A Woman’s Prayer (Netflix comedy) – Comedian Kountry Wayne delivers a rousing stand-up set about life as a dad of 10, how to know if a woman likes you and why he keeps it real with Jesus.
The Saint of Second Chances (Netflix documentary) – Mike Veeck grew up in the shadow of his father, Hall of Fame baseball owner Bill Veeck. But it all fell apart when Mike blew up his dad’s career. Exiled from the game, the younger Veeck spent the next few decades clawing his way back, determined to redeem himself. The Saint of Second Chances is wildly unexpected, full of heart, and keeps you laughing through a comeback story unlike any other.
Wednesday, September 20
American Hustle
Hard Broken (Netflix series) – A tragic murder sends a friend group into a frenzy, revealing hidden romances and betrayals lurking beneath the surface of their seemingly perfect lives.
Thursday, September 21
American Pie
American Pie 2
American Wedding
KENGAN ASHURA: Season 2 (Netflix anime) – The second round of the Kengan Life-or-Death Tournament continues — without Ohma. As the mighty gladiators clash, a shadowy figure plots a violent coup.
Scissor Seven: Season 4 (Netflix series) – After an intense battle, a severely wounded Seven must bounce back to defend Chicken Island and his friends from another ruthless Shadow assassin.
Sex Education: Season 4 (Netflix series) – With Maeve in America and Moordale closed, Otis must find his footing at free-spirited Cavendish College — but he’s not the only sex therapist on campus.
Snowpiercer
Friday, September 22
The Black Book (NG) (Netflix film) – After his son is framed for a kidnapping, a bereaved deacon takes justice into his own hands and fights a corrupt police gang to absolve him.
How To Deal With a Heartbreak (Netflix film) – Her two best friends are mapping out a bright future. Ma Fé? She’s broke, uninspired and under a tight deadline to produce a book she can’t write.
Love Is Blind: Season 5 (Netflix series) – Hoping to find their future fiancés by talking through walls, a new group of men and women braves twists, turns and triangles in search of true love.
Saturday, September 23
Spy Kids: Armageddon (Netflix family) – When a game developer unleashes a powerful computer virus, the children of two secret agents must work together to save their parents — and the world.
Monday, September 25
Little Baby Bum: Music Time (Netflix family) – Come join the fun at the magically musical Magic Time preschool, where every day is an adventure fueled by familiar songs — and lots of learning!
Tuesday, September 26
Who Killed Jill Dando? (Netflix documentary) – Revisit the shocking 1999 murder of beloved TV presenter Jill Dando, which continues to mystify experts and the public, in this in-depth documentary.
Wednesday, September 27
Encounters (Netflix documentary) – Lights in the sky over Texas and Japan. Spacecrafts over schoolyards in Wales and Zimbabwe. It’s not science fiction – these stories of extraordinary mass sightings are true. Presented with fresh urgency by experiencers, top scientists, and military insiders, this thrilling four-part series sets aside skepticism to focus on belief, wonder, and the very human impact of encounters with extraterrestrial life.
Overhaul (Netflix film) – When truck racer Roger loses everything, he receives a tempting but dangerous offer: to work as the getaway driver for a gang of thieves.
Street Flow 2 (FR) (Netflix film) – Struggling to overcome cycles of betrayal, revenge and violence, the Traoré brothers continue to fight for a brighter future in a seedy Paris suburb.
Thursday, September 28
Castlevania: Nocturne (Netflix series) – France, 1792: It begins. A new animated series in the Castlevania universe from showrunners Kevin Kolde (“Castlevania”) and Clive Bradley (“Trapped”) and directors Sam Deats & Adam Deats (“Castlevania”).
The Equalizer
Love is in the Air (Netflix film) – A fiercely independent pilot fighting to keep her family business afloat starts to fall for the man sent by corporate to ground her operation forever.
The Darkness within La Luz del Mundo (Netflix documentary) – For the first time, complainants against La Luz del Mundo megachurch leaders expose the abuses they suffered through exclusive interviews.
Friday, September 29
Choona (Netflix series) – When an unlikely group of misfits discovers a common enemy in the same ruthless yet superstitious politician, they plot a heist to exact revenge.
Do Not Disturb (Netflix film) – A middle-aged man emerges from a pandemic slump with a new job at a quiet hotel, until some eccentric guests turn his first night into a wild adventure.
Love Is Blind: Season 5 (Netflix series, new episodes) – Hoping to find their future fiancés by talking through walls, a new group of men and women braves twists, turns and triangles in search of true love.
Nowhere (Netflix film) – Pregnant, alone and drifting in the sea, a woman trapped in a shipping container tries to survive after fleeing a devastated totalitarian country.
Power Rangers Cosmic Fury (Netflix family) – When Lord Zedd returns more powerful than ever, Team Cosmic Fury takes to the cosmos to battle the emperor of evil — and save the universe as we know it.
Unbeknownst to many visitors and locals alike, about 10 per cent of Algonquin Provincial Park is situated within the Haliburton Highlands and accessible from the Southern Gate, which is much less busy and crowded than the bustling East and West Gates but still gives visitors access to the rugged beauty of the park, including the popular High Falls. (Photo courtesy of Haliburton County Tourism)
Want to go for a hike or a paddle while enjoying the stunning fall colours of Ontario’s largest provincial park but without the crowds and battling for parking spots?
You might be surprised to learn there’s another entrance to Algonquin Provincial Park aside from the bustling East and West Gates — and it’s a lot quieter and closer than you’d think.
Affectionately called “Algonquin’s panhandle” for its location as the narrow strip below the rectangular shape of the park on a map, Algonquin’s southern entrance is located near the hamlet of Harcourt on Elephant Lake Road is accessible right from the Haliburton Highlands.
Affectionately called “Algonquin’s panhandle” for its location as the narrow strip below the rectangular shape of the park on a map, Algonquin Park’s South Gate is located near the hamlet of Harcourt on Elephant Lake Road and accessible right from the Haliburton Highlands. (Map courtesy of Algonquin Park South Gate)
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“It’s a very, very different experience than the busier gates of the park, especially the Highway 60 corridor, and there’s much less traffic,” explains Thom Lambert, Haliburton County’s Economic Development & Tourism Content Coordinator.
That’s because people — even locals who have lived there their whole lives, notes Lambert — don’t realize that roughly 10 per cent of Algonquin Park is actually located in Haliburton County.
To get to the South Gate, follow Elephant Lake Road north for 12 kilometres, then turn left on Kingscote Lake Road, follow it for seven kilometres and you’ll reach Kingscote, the park’s most southern access point (Access Point 15). The six walk-in campsites you’ll find there make for great jump-off sites to begin your backcountry adventure.
VIDEO: Algonquin Park South Gate
From there, visitors can explore both the Haliburton Highlands and Algonquin Park through a variety of outdoor experiences and excursions.
“When most people think of Algonquin they think of canoe tripping, and we have one of the nicest routes in Algonquin that takes you to High Falls from the South Gate,” Lambert says.
From Kingscote, campers can paddle to a few different portages leading to Byers Lake and High Falls on the York River. Backcountry sites for these lakes and the river can be reserved through Ontario Parks.
One of the unique aspects to the South Gate in Algonquin Provincial Park is the opportunity to paddle down the York River, one of few accessible rivers within the entire park. Backcountry camping sites along the river can be reserved through Ontario Parks. (Photo courtesy of Haliburton County Tourism)
Lambert adds this offering is something quite unique to the region as, aside from the Petawawa River, there are not a lot of river expeditions that people tend to associate with Algonquin Park.
Other portaging routes will take paddlers up to Scorch Lake or, if you’re feeling brave enough to tackle a one or two-kilometre portage, head up to Billings, Little Branch, or even all the way out to another access point at Little Hay Lake. Each offer some stunning, private campsites a bit distanced from the more popular backcountry sites in the central regions of the Park.
“The general landscape of forest and lakes is going to be very familiar to people,” assures Lambert.
Don’t have any camping equipment? There are two backcountry outfitters located by the south access point that offer equipment rentals and guided services.
Deep Roots Adventure at the South Gate in Algonquin Provincial Park has a large selection of watercraft, equipment, gear rentals, and more, and also offers the “High Falls Paddle, Explore, and Dine” experience. (Photo courtesy of Deep Roots Adventure)
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Deep Roots Adventure has a large selection of watercraft, equipment, and gear rentals, while other retail items needed for a night or more in Algonquin’s backcountry — like dehydrated meals, fuel, and snacks — are also available for purchase.
The outfitting company also provides the “High Falls Paddle, Explore, and Dine” experience, which is a five-hour guided trip where you paddle up the York River (either on a paddleboard or in a kayak) and then hike up the banks of the York River past rapids until you reach High Falls.
A delicious meal is then provided by another South Gate business, AM/PM Outdoor Gourmet, before adventurers will hike and paddle back to the access point.
“It’s one of the most unique experiences in the county,” explains Lambert, adding that visitors really enjoy it. “It’s kind of the ultimate Haliburton Highlands experience.”
Algonquin Yeti Paddling at the South Gate in Algonquin Provincial Park offers customized guided trips along with gear rentals for all your backcountry tripping needs. (Photo courtesy of Algonquin Yeti Paddling)
The other outfitter in the region, Algonquin Yeti Paddling, is one of the newest additions to the businesses operating out of the South Gate.
There, you can schedule a personalized guided trip with a crew of passionate campers, or you can join their upcoming beginner-friendly Scorch Lake Lookout Guided Weekend, a completely supplied three-day trip to view the majestic fall colours.
“Both these outfitters know that section of the park incredibly well,” Lambert notes. “They’re both great resources in terms of helping people plan trips.”
High Falls at the South Gate in Algonquin Provincial Park is one of the most popular areas to enjoy year-round, whether as a short two-kilometre hike from the High Falls parking lot or after paddling down the York River. (Photo courtesy of Haliburton County Tourism)
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If you’d rather be on foot than on the water, maybe hiking is more your forte. Though the trail can be rocky, the High Falls are still reachable on foot via an accessible two-kilometre trail from the High Falls parking lot.
“It feels unlike any place else in the county or any place that I’ve been in the park,” Lambert says. “You’re wandering through these huge moss-covered boulders and these really ancient cedar trees. It’s just got this completely different feel to it.”
If you’d prefer to get on your wheels, the Byers Lake Mountain Bike Trail is a 13-kilometre round trip of moderate difficulty that can be accessed just east of the Kingscote Access Point. Along the trail, there is an additional 150-metre side trail that leads to Gut Rapids, a narrow scenic canyon on the York River.
The Byers Lake Mountain Bike Trail at the South Gate in Algonquin Provincial Park gives visitors the opportunity to explore the park on bike or on foot, with a 13-kilometre out-and-back trail of moderate difficulty. A 150-metre side trail also leads to Gut Rapids, a narrow scenic canyon on the York River. (Photo courtesy of Haliburton County Tourism)
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Another experience that’s entirely unique to the region is horseback riding, something that’s not offered elsewhere within Algonquin Park.
South Algonquin Equestrian Trails offers guided trail rides for all ages, ranging from a half hour up to five hours long. And, unique to Haliburton Highlands, the company has campsites specifically designed for visitors who bring their own horses.
“It’s one of the few places in the province where you can just roll in with your horse trailer and set up camp for a few days and then take advantage of the great riding in that section of the park,” explains Lambert.
The South Gate offers the only place in Algonquin Park where visitors can enjoy horseback riding. South Algonquin Equestrian Trails offers guided trail rides and a campground where visitors can bring their own horses. (Photo courtesy of Haliburton County Tourism)
In accordance with all the incredible options for adventure within Algonquin Park, visitors can also stay in a wide range of accommodations, depending on the type of experience they are looking for.
Algonquin Eco Lodge is a truly one-of-a-kind, award-winning experience as one of the most secluded lodges in the park. Despite being completely off-grid, the alternative energy sourced from the waterfall’s rapids allows the eco-lodge to provide all the finer comforts.
The York River sustainably generates enough electricity the same way a large hydroelectric dam does but, unlike a dam, they don’t stop the water — just divert a very small amount that then goes back to the river.
VIDEO: Algonquin Eco-Lodge
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For a “glamping” experience that gets you immersed in nature without diving into the backcountry, Harmony Resorts on Benoir Lake provides seasonal campgrounds and cabins for those who want to get pampered while still enjoying the backcountry.
And, for those looking for a more luxurious, high-end experience, the new Nomi Resort just off the road from the south entrance into Algonquin Park offers a spa retreat, with award-winning dining to help you rest and relax after a day spent enjoying all that South Gate has to offer.
“There’s not a lot of places where you have that huge range of accommodation options available to experience,” Lambert says.
For a “glamping” experience that gets you immersed in nature without diving into the backcountry, Harmony Resorts on Benoir Lake provides seasonal campgrounds and cabins for those who want to get pampered while still enjoying the backcountry. (Photo courtesy of Harmony Resorts)
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For those who want to experience Algonquin Park in all of its autumnal glory, another benefit of the South Gate is that its a region of the park where fall colours first emerge.
“If people are here for early colour season, South Gate is one of your best bets for getting that early colour,” Lambert points out.
All visitors to Algonquin Park, whether for day use or camping, must have a valid park permit. For more information, visit the Ontario Parks website at www.ontarioparks.com.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Hike Haliburton. If your business or organization is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
In June 2023, the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes provided $69,800 in funding to Kawartha Lakes Food Source, one of 32 community organizations in the City of Kawartha Lakes, the city and county of Peterborough, and Haliburton County to receive one-time grants through the Government of Canada's Community Services Recovery Fund. (Photo courtesy of Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes)
A total of 32 organizations in the city and county of Peterborough, Haliburton County, and the City of Kawartha Lakes have collectively received more than $1.2 million in funding through the Government of Canada’s Community Services Recovery Fund.
In the city and county of Peterborough and Haliburton County, the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough and the United Way Peterborough & District delivered more than $915,295 to 25 organizations.
The Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough distributed $492,000 to 17 applicants, including: Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton; B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough; Buckhorn Community Centre; Community Counselling and Resource Centre; Four Counties Addiction Services Team/Peterborough Drug Strategy; Kawartha World Issues Centre; Kawartha Youth Orchestra; Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation; New Canadians Centre; One City Community Development Services; Peterborough Field Naturalists; Peterborough Folk Festival; Peterborough GreenUP; Abbey Retreat Centre; The Canadian Canoe Museum; and The Land Between.
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The United Way Peterborough & District invested $423,295 in eight different projects at agencies throughout Peterborough in the sectors of social services, arts and culture, education, environment, and health.
In the City of Kawartha Lakes, the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes distributed $302,000 in funding to support seven community services in Kawartha Lakes, including Kawartha Lakes Food Source, the Academy Theatre Foundation, the Mishkodeh Centre For Indigenous Knowledge, BGC (Boys And Girls Club) Kawarthas, A Place Called Home, Kinmount Agricultural Society, and Fenelon Falls Seniors Centre.
The Community Services Recovery Fund is a one-time investment of $400 million by the federal government to help community service organizations including charities, non-profits, and Indigenous governing bodies adapt, modernize, and be better equipped to improve the efficacy, accessibility, and sustainability of the community services they provide through the pandemic recovery and beyond.
The 2023-24 Board of Directors of the Women's Business Network of Peterborough (from left to right): Program Director Tracy Minnema, President Katelyn Kemp, Treasurer Kim Freeburn, Past External Communications Director Grace Terfa, Past President Diane Wolf, Director at Large Pamela Van Nest, Membership Director Nancy Wiskel, Secretary Adeilah Dahlke, and Technical Director Donna Enright. Not pictured are Social Director Rebecca O'Rourke and Internal Communications Director Emily Argyrides. (Photo: Laura De Souza, LD Photography)
After a few years of adapting to virtual gatherings during the pandemic, the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN) is ready to get back to doing what it does best — focusing on in-person personal connections and business growth for professional women.
Launching this year’s theme of “Empowered Women … Empower Women,” WBN kicks off its 2023-2024 season at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 6th at the Holiday Inn Waterfront in downtown Peterborough with guest speaker Maryam Monsef, former Peterborough-Kawartha MP and federal Cabinet minister and founder and CEO of Onward.
Since its establishment, WBN has been connecting women in business and supporting them on endeavours through monthly member meetings and events designed to mentor, educate, and support professional women.
Katelyn Kemp is the incoming president of the 2023-24 Board of Directors of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN). In her professional life, Kemp is the director of Alternatives Community Program Services, which works with adults with developmental disabilities in the community. After joining WBN a couple of years ago, she eventually became membership director. (Photo: Laura De Souza, LD Photography)
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Katelyn Kemp, the incoming president of WBN’s board of directors, is eager to take over the reins this season and take WBN back to its roots.
“I’m looking forward to the experience that I’m going to gain this next year,” says Kemp. “It’s been really great to just have so much support in the community and the encouragement that I can do this. We’re just so excited.”
In her professional life, Kemp is the director of Alternatives Community Program Services, which works with adults with developmental disabilities in the community. A couple of years ago, when she found herself wanting to participate in something outside of work, a colleague encouraged Kemp to join WBN, where she eventually became membership director.
“I thought it would be really great to do something completely different,” she recalls. “It’s a very active working board, so there’s a lot that goes into it. I’ve been able to learn so much, even just from sitting through membership and now becoming president.”
Katelyn Kemp, incoming president of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN), and past secretary Cathy Farley enjoying the sun at the 2022 June Beach Party Social. As the networking organization’s new president, Kemp is getting “back to the basics” after a few years of pandemic adjustments made to the network’s programming. This year’s theme is “Empowered Women … Empower Women.” (Photo courtesy of WBN)
At the end of her second year with WBN, Kemp was pregnant and, knowing she would be going on maternity leave soon, she took the opportunity to try something new by taking on the president role.
“I’m a very big lifelong learner, and I know that you can’t learn something like this in school,” she says. “I knew this was going to be a big learning curve, but it was also going to be really great.”
While Kemp initially jumped at the opportunity because she thought she’d have more free time available during maternity leave, she jokes she’s now busier than she was while working 40-hour weeks.
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According to Kemp, she’s been so busy because because WBN has a lot in store to make this season a memorable one and to get things back to the way they used to be pre-pandemic. The themes for the past two seasons had a lot to do with bouncing back from hardship and building resiliency after the pandemic.
This year’s theme of “Empowered Women … Empower Women” instead focuses on WBN’s core mission.
“It’s going back to the basics of why we’re here,” Kemp says. “We’re women in business supporting each other, both professionally and personally.”
Each season, the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN) recognizes individual members with the Member of the Year award, where members can vote for an outstanding peer who embodies the spirit of the membership. Pictured is 2022-23 Member of the Year Janet McLeod of East City Flower Shop with legacy member Maureen Tavener, who created the award 40 years ago. (Photo courtesy of WBN)
As WBN treasurer Kim Freeburn explains, businesses were in “protection mode” for the past few years during the pandemic, adapting to stay open while keeping employees healthy. Now, businesses are ready to focus again on growing their success.
“The world is different and we have to figure out how do we navigate that with more of a growth mindset,” Freeburn says. “We’re ready for growth. That includes growing our membership and empowering our members to imagine bigger and better things, including things they haven’t considered before. The way we’re setting it up for this year, the sky is the limit.”
With Kemp describing the upcoming season as a “rebuilding” year, WBN’s board is introducing new methods to reconnect with previous members and to encourage new members to join the organization.
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One such method is by sharing a podcast hosted by outgoing president Diane Wolf and social director Rebecca O’Rourke. The duo will be interviewing board members and spotlighting businesses, covering a range of both professional and personal topics.
The podcast will be shared through the WBN social media platforms, with another goal of the board to increase the organization’s online presence.
“The hope is that when we’re getting into this new field of marketing and advertisement, that it’s not just the WBN that’s getting promoted,” explains Kemp. “It’s all the individual businesses that want to promote their business through us. It will go to a larger network than it previously has.”
The Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN) is an inclusive organization open to professional women from all walks of life. Pictured are daughter and mother Christine Teixteira and outgoing WBN president Diane Wolf. New this year, Wolf will be hosting a podcast with social director Rebecca O’Rourke. The duo will interview board members, spotlight businesses, and cover a range of business and personal topics working with the theme for the year. (Photo courtesy of WBN)
For each monthly meeting, WBN members can sign up to sponsor the meeting and talk to the group about their business for a few minutes. The $150 sponsorship includes social media exposure, a feature in the WBN newsletter before and after the meeting, and the opportunity to share a table gift and, ultimately, broaden their exposure both among other members and in the community.
Members can also set up exhibitor tables during the monthly meetings to promote and showcase their offerings and services.
For the opening member meeting of the 2023-24 season on Wednesday, September 6th, WBN is welcoming Maryam Monsef as the guest speaker. The founder and CEO of women’s network Onward and a recent new mom, Monsef is the former MPP of Peterborough-Kawartha and federal Cabinet minister who helped establish Canada’s first full department for women and gender equality. At the meeting, she will be speaking on the role of business in driving social equity.
Kicking off the start of the 2023-2024 season, Maryam Monsef will be the guest speaker at the first monthly meeting of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN) on September 6, 2023 at the Holiday Inn Waterfront in downtown Peterborough. The former Peterborough-Kawartha MPP and Cabinet minister has launched a venture called Onward and is also a recent new mom. (Photo courtesy of Maryam Monsef)
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“Maryam was a natural fit — being a well-known local person with a great leadership background — to talk to us about what it means to empower women and how to pay it forward and empower others as well as yourself,” Freeburn says.
New this year, a program for new membership has been created by membership director Nancy Wiskel and secretary Adeilah Dahlke.
“We know that joining a program like this can be intimidating and the biggest thing again is we’re coming back to why we’re here,” Kemp explains. “It’s for building community, support, networking, and building on both professional and personal growth. The whole membership this year is going to be very inclusive for anyone that’s now joining and for recurring members.”
Tracey Minnema, owner of River of Yarn, displays her wares at a Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN) monthly meeting. The meetings provide an opportunity for members to set up their own vendor booths to share their businesses and services with other professional women. (Photo courtesy of WBN)
Kemp adds that another main goal for the year is to get back into creating personal connections that happen in person at meetings rather than over email and virtually. It’s about bringing professional women back together, no matter what they’re looking for.
“Everyone joins WBN for a different reason,” she says, adding that some women are new in town wanting to create connections, others are looking to grow their business in some capacity, and others just want to learn more about themselves and bring strategies back to their organizations.
As well as being a community of women who support one another, Kemp says WBN encourages mentorship of emerging leaders. The organization is always in search of volunteers, she adds, stating that it’s a great way for people to learn to become comfortable in leadership positions.
Grace Terfa (middle)was the External Communications Director on the 2022-23 Board of Directors of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN), an inclusive organization where professional women can network and learn in a welcoming, supportive, and safe environment. (Photo courtesy of WBN)
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“It’s creating those personal connections to other businesses and other like-minded people and learning both professionally and personally,” she notes. “Wherever someone is coming from, there’s going to be something for them.”
That includes Kemp who, through her new position as the board’s president, is looking forward to expanding her knowledge and experience.
“I’m really excited for this year and I’m excited to grow with all the other members that are going to be attending this year,” she says. “We’re all going to be learning new things, especially myself. I am so happy to be able to do that in such a welcoming, supportive, and safe environment.”
If you’re a professional woman in the Peterborough area who’s interested in learning more about the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough, or you want to apply for membership, visit wbnptbo.ca. You can also connect with WBN on LinkedIn and Facebook.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough. If your business or organization is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
There will be plenty of fire-cooked corn smothered in butter for the entire family to enjoy during the Corn Roast event at Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene on August 27, 2023. Find out the many ways 19th-century settlers used corn, watch a variety of harvest-related and historic demonstrations, enter a corn-on-the-cob eating contest, and more. (Photo courtesy of Lang Pioneer Village Museum)
Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene is celebrating the beginning of the harvest season with a Corn Roast from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday (August 27), featuring a day of old-fashioned family fun including historic demonstrations, live music, and plenty of fire-cooked corn.
Discover the many ways 19th-century settlers used corn, including corn bread, popcorn, dried corn, corn soups, and corn relish in the Fitzpatrick House. In the Milburn House, you can sample some Johnnycake with maple syrup — a cornmeal flatbread that originated with Indigenous people of North America, who are credited with teaching European settlers how to make the food.
There will be a variety of harvest-related demonstrations including threshing, bagging, fanning mill, and corn grinding, and historic demonstrations including broom making, natural dyeing using corn and corn flowers, flop mattress repairing and stuffing, rug hooking with the Northumberland Rug Hookers Guild, stitching with the Northumberland Hills Stitchery Guild, and weaving on the Jacquard loom.
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At the Menie General Store, discover the history of candy corn and how it got its shape — hint: it was invented in Philadelphia in the late 19th century to celebrate farmers and was originally called “chicken feed” — and learn about the history of whisky in the Hotel Bar Room.
You can hop aboard a free horse-drawn wagon ride to tour the historic village and listen to traditional music performed by Lotus and Luke from the Weaver Shop porch. Visit the Peterborough Agricultural Society’s Homecraft Show at the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building (which also runs on August 25 and 26), and see the Kawartha Truth and Reconciliation quilt on display.
At the Ayotte Cabin, make a corn craft to take home with you and try your hand at some cornhole (so named because the bean bags used in the game were originally filled with corn). In the Town Hall, experience what it was like for children going back to school in the 19th century and learn some “corny” jokes.
Hop aboard a free horse-drawn wagon ride and tour Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene during the historic village’s Corn Roast event on August 27, 2023. (Photo: Michael Hurcomb)
Enjoy fire-cooked corn smothered in butter at the fire pit and, if you’re feeling adventurous, enter the corn-on-the-cob eating contest taking place on the Village Green. There will also be sweet treats and refreshments available for purchase in the Keene Hotel for an additional fee, fresh kettle corn for sale by Ben’s Kettle Corn, and Empire Cheese curd and bread for purchase in the Cheese Factory.
Admission costs $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors 60 and older, and $7 for children and youth ages five to 14, with free admission for children under five. Family admission is also available for $40 and includes two adults and up to four children and youth.
Last admission is 3 p.m., but Lang Pioneer Village Museum recommends you give yourself a minimum of two hours for your visit to experience everything.
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Visitors may purchase admission at the gates or in advance online. To purchase advance admission or for more information, visit langpioneervillage.ca.
This is the final special event for the summer at Lang Pioneer Village Museum. Special events for the fall include Applefest on Sunday, October 1st and Historic All Hallows’ Eve on Friday and Saturday, October 27th and 28th.
Lang Pioneer Village Museum’s summer hours of operation of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays continue until September 3. From September 4 to November 18, outside of the special events mentioned above, the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays to Fridays.
The 2023 CNE Ambassador of the Fairs is Leah Lai of the Lindsay Agricultural Society (left), pictured with 'Miss CNE 1972' Debby Carter-Wood from Richmond Hill, the very first winner of the Ambassador program. (Photo courtesy of Canadian National Exhibition)
Leah Lai of the Lindsay Agricultural Society has been crowned the winner of the 2023 Ambassador of the Fairs program at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in Toronto.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the Ambassador of the Fairs program is a longstanding CNE tradition that aims to educate and celebrate Canada’s rich history in agriculture. The program has seen more than 3,000 contestants from over 100 communities across Ontario over the past 50 years.
Representing the Lindsay Agricultural Society, Lai competed with almost 50 contestants and was one of seven semi-finalists who participated in the final round on Sunday (August 20).
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Three finalists were then interviewed and judged on a wide range of criteria including knowledge of the CNE and Canadian agriculture, poise, self-confidence, public speaking, and overall impression, with Lai selected as the winner. The first runner-up was Taryn Kennedy of the Ilderton Agricultural Society, with Luke McBride of the Kincardine Agricultural Society the second runner-up.
The other four semi-finalists were Kelsey Lennox of the Arthur Agricultural Society, Diane Van Staveren of the Collingwood Agricultural Society, Abigail Peel of the Howick-Turnberry Agricultural Society, and Kiara Driscoll of the Seaforth Agricultural Society
As the 2023 winner, Lai will participate in a series of official duties at Canada’s largest fair including special appearances, while also representing her local agricultural community. The exclusive year-long role of Ambassador of the Fairs will take her across Ontario as a representative of the CNE and all agricultural fairs in the province.
2023 CNE Ambassador of the Fairs Leah Lai (right) with first runner-up Taryn Kennedy of the Ilderton Agricultural Society (middle) and second runner-up Luke McBride of the Kincardine Agricultural Society. (Photo courtesy of Canadian National Exhibition)
Sacha Law and John Eaton of Shipyard Kitchen Party perform in "Tom Thomson's Wake," a folk musical portrait of the famed early 20th-century Canadian landscape artist as told from the perspective of three people who were close with Thomson: A.Y. Jackson (Craig Ashton), Lowery "Larry" Dickson (Dean Hollin), and Winnie Trainer (Julie LeBlanc). Also featuring musicians Jason Murphy, Victoria Yeh, and Jason Redman, the production will be performed at Showplace Performance Centre in Peterborough on September 23, 2023 and at the Concert Hall at Victoria Hall in Cobourg on September 30, 2023. (Photo: Trevor Hesselink, Groundswell Photography)
For more than a century, the story of early 20th-century Canadian landscape artist Tom Thomson — both his artistic endeavours in life and mystery in death — has been an alluring one.
That story will be told again in an innovative way when Georgian Bay’s Shipyard Kitchen Party presents the folk musical Tom Thomson’s Wake at Showplace Performance Centre on Saturday, September 23rd and again at the Concert Hall at Victoria Hall in Cobourg on Saturday, September 30th.
Uniquely presented through both narrative and music, Tom Thomson’s Wake pieces together the final years of Thomson’s short life — he died mysteriously in July 1917 while canoeing in his beloved Algonquin Park — with a completely original script and folk musical score by Shipyard Kitchen Party’s John Eaton and Jason Murphy. Taking place two years after Thomson’s death, the story is told from the varying perspectives of three people who were close to the artist.
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Canadian Opera Company veteran Craig Ashton plays artist A.Y. Jackson, Thomson’s mentor and Group of Seven member, who speaks to Thomson’s artistic influences. Dean Hollin, who hosts Radio Limelite and co-hosts The Garden Show on Toronto’s Zoomer Radio, plays Algonquin Park guide Lowery “Larry” Dickson, Thomson’s friend who attests to the artist’s love for the park. Actress and improv comedian Julie LeBlanc portrays Thomson’s lover Winnie Trainer, who shares an intimate perspective as one of few people who had a deeply personal connection with the painter.
“Each character has a different view of who Tom was and what inspired him,” says Shipyard Kitchen Party’s Jason Murphy in a press release. “The characters don’t always agree on who Tom was or what his work meant, but their diverging views help the audience construct their own portrait of who he was, which is a big part of the show’s appeal.”
Shipyard Kitchen Party is made up of Murphy on bodhran and vocals, Eaton on guitar, bass, mandolin, and vocals, and Sasha Law on bass and vocals. Joining the band for Tom Thomson’s Wake is Victoria Yeh, a Peterborough-based fusion electric violinist who previously lent her talents to the band for their production 100 Years From Now, and singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jason Redman on keys, mandolin, and bass
Canadian artist Tom Thomson at Tea Lake Dam in Algonquin Park in 1916, the year before his death. To earn money, Thomson sometimes worked as a guide or a fire ranger at the park. (Public domain photo)
“Tom Thomson died at the very young age of 39 during a time where people corresponded to each other by letter over great distances and long periods of time,” explains Yeh. “There are so many gaps and unknowns about that period of time and about Tom himself, so there’s a real sense of wonder around who he really was, and what more he could have contributed as an artist.”
The engaging production, which set off on an Ontario tour in August, includes high-definition imagery of paintings by Thomson and the Group of Seven from the Art Gallery of Ontario.
“I can’t say enough about how entertaining, thought provoking and touching this show is,” explains Yeh. “Even after performing with this crew for almost three years now, I still actually cry during some scenes.”
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For Yeh, it’ll be “a treat” to bring the production to Peterborough’s Showplace Performance Centre on September 23, not only since it will be a quick commute considering her own studio is just across the street from the venue.
“Peterborough has really welcomed me as an artist and entrepreneur and allowed me to flourish,” she explains, adding that when she moved to the city last year, she was “daunted” at the prospect of landing somewhere with no professional connections.
“It brings me such joy to be able to perform this amazing show for locals and visitors of this wonderful city,” she says.
VIDEO: “Tom Thomson’s Wake” Trailer (2020)
Yeh isn’t the only member who will be returning to a familiar place during the Peterborough performance. Prior to his move to Collingwood where he co-hosts 95.1 The Peak’s morning show Talk of the Town, Shipyard Kitchen Party band member and co-writer John Eaton started his broadcasting career with Corus Entertainment in Peterborough. He worked for The Wolf 101.5 FM as a special events reporter beginning in 1992, not long after the station first launched.
Eaton’s wife Julie LeBlanc, who plays Winnie Trainer in Tom Thomson’s Wake, is a Peterborough native who discovered her love for theatre in 1983 after a Peterborough Theatre Guild production. In 1996, LeBlanc co-founded the successful Peterborough Improv Group, providing entertainment throughout Ontario.
Both the Peterborough and Cobourg performances of Tom Thomson’s Wake are part of Victoria Yeh’s Travel by Sound concert series, which turns live music into a complete experience by offering concert-goers discounts and dinner specials at local businesses.
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For the Peterborough performance, ticketholders can get an exclusive three-course fine dining experience at Amandala’s Restaurant in downtown Peterborough for $75 per person (not including alcohol and gratuity). For the Cobourg performance, ticketholders can get a discounted hotel room rate at Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre and a free dessert at Arthur’s Pub when ordering an entrée and showing their ticket.
Tickets for the show cost $45 for adults and $40 for students and are available at shipyardkitchenparty.com.
“Tom Thomson’s Wake” includes high-definition imagery of paintings by Thomson and the Group of Seven from the Art Gallery of Ontario. Pictured is The Artist’s Camp, Canoe Lake, Algonquin Park (1915, oil on wood, 21.9 x 27.2 cm) by Tom Thomson. Over the years, Thomson painted at least four images of his tent. (Photo: Michael Cullen / The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario)
Royal Canadian Falconry at the 2022 Kawartha Fall Festival at Ken Reid Conservation area with Laima, a female American kestrel. The Haliburton-based family-owned small business will return to the second annual festival on September 23, 2023 for a birds of prey demonstration. (Photo: Royal Canadian Falconry / Facebook)
Kawartha Conservation is bringing back the Kawartha Fall Festival for its second year on Saturday, September 23rd at Ken Reid Conservation Area just north of Lindsay.
Billed as a celebration of community and nature, the free festival promises a full day of fun for the entire family from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Activities and attractions include a birds of prey demonstration by Royal Canadian Falconry, a family-owned small business located in the Haliburton Highlands, and a visit by Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue, Durham Region’s only wildlife rehabilitation hospital and outdoor education centre, which will have an all-day station focusing on wildlife rescue along with three presentation time slots throughout the day.
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Also appearing at the Kawartha Fall Festival is a petting zoo by Omemee-based Small Hooves Big Hearts, a presentation by Zoo to You, and a 46-foot trailer with 26 exhibits by Reptilia Zoo along with three presentation time slots throughout the day.
“The second annual Kawartha Fall Festival is all about connecting people with the wonders of nature and providing a day of enjoyment for the entire community,” says Carolyn Snider from Kawartha Conservation in a media release. “We aim to foster a deeper appreciation for our natural world.”
The Kawartha Fall Festival will also offer a waterfowl birding hike and a mushroom identification hike (advance registration will be required for both hikes), and McQuaid’s Country Market will present a pick-your-own pumpkin patch.
VIDEO: 2023 Kawartha Fall Festival
Along with nature-oriented activities and attractions, there will also be live entertainment by Van Halteren and, new this year, a vendors market and food trucks.
“The new vendors market and food trucks will add an extra layer of excitement to the festival, providing a diverse range of products and culinary delights for attendees to enjoy,” says Melissa Creasy Alexander from Kawartha Conservation.
After the May 2022 derecho wind storm caused much damage to the cabins at Viamede Resort on Stoney Lake, owner Ben Samann took the opportunity to have Mortlock Construction manage a project to build nine all-new cabins in six months, with much of the furniture found in the new cabins (such as the pictured coffee table) built from trees that were downed in the storm. (Photo courtesy of Mortlock Construction)
When life gives you lemons, turn them into lemonade. When a devastating wind storm knocks down your trees, turn them into furniture.
That’s exactly what Viamede Resort owner and general manager Ben Samann did after last year’s derecho caused widespread damage at the Stoney Lake resort, by using the downed trees as part of a rebuild project that saw nine brand-new cabins completed in just six months.
According to Ben, the rapid pace of the build is all owed to the crew at Peterborough’s Mortlock Construction Inc., who were hired on as the construction manager for the project.
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“I don’t know what stops they pulled out, but I don’t think anybody has ever seen anything like this, especially given the quality of the workmanship,” says Ben. “We didn’t make sacrifices to get there. It was a push but we got there, and it’s fantastic.”
On May 21, 2022, a derecho — a widespread and long-lived windstorm associated with a line of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms — moved across southeastern Ontario, resulting in sustained winds of up to 120 kilometre per hour that toppled hydro transmission towers and broke utility poles, damaged homes, and uprooted trees, with broken branches also taking down power lines and damaging property.
Ben recalls it only took 10 minutes for the derecho to leave its mark on Viamede Resort.
Some of the damage at Viamede Resort on Stoney Lake after the May 21, 2022 derecho wind storm, including cabins damaged by fallen trees. (Photo: Viamede Resort / Facebook)
“It was complete destruction,” he says, describing trees that had gone through windows and knocked in roofs, picnic tables that were in trees, roofs that were on the tennis court, and docks that had snapped off their anchors. “It was just complete chaos — absolute chaos on a scale that we’ve never seen before. We’ve never lost a tree in a storm, let alone twenty.”
One of the cottages had to be demolished relatively quickly, while the others required repairs. Between the repairs and power loss, the resort was closed for a week before it re-opened.
While the repaired cabins were able to be used for the busy summer season, Ben decided it was time to do what he had been wanting to do for a long time: rebuild the aging and outdated buildings. Last August, he began site planning, a task that he says took much longer than he anticipated. The old cabins were torn down in November and Mortlock Construction began rebuilding in February.
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Viamede Resort had previously worked with Mortlock Construction a few years before when building their indoor pool. One of the biggest things that drew Ben to work with Mortlock Construction again was vice president Craig Mortlock’s commitment to honesty and dedication. For example, Craig admitted it would be a challenge to finish the rebuild by Ben’s desired date of July.
“It’s nice to work with somebody who’s not trying to mislead you at any point,” Ben says. “He’s honest and he’s open.”
For Craig, that’s all part of the job.
“We just believe in fully collaborative, fully cooperative approach and fully transparent approach with our clients,” he explains. “We believe that relationships are the basis of our business.”
The new cabins under construction at Viamede Resort on Stoney Lake. Managed by Peterborough’s Mortlock Construction Inc. and completed in six months, the rebuild project involved 41 local subcontractors, designers, and suppliers. (Photo courtesy of Mortlock Construction)
Part of the process of rebuilding the cottages involved repurposing all of the trees on the property that were downed by the derecho, by turning them into pieces to furnish each of the cabins — everything from coffee tables to shelving and the bathroom vanities.
“We lost trees that were well over one hundred years old, and it just seemed like a shame to turn them into firewood,” Ben says.
Craig adds that incorporating the wood allowed the cabins to get their upgrades while still the rustic feel that was important to his client.
“It’s pretty cool that the trees that destroyed the old cabins are now incorporated into the construction of the new ones,” he says. “It’s a really neat full circle, fully sustainable approach.”
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Along with the nine two-bedroom cabins decorated with furniture from the fallen trees, a new septic system was installed, the water treatment system was improved and relocated, and Mortlock Construction regraded and relandscaped part of the resort by removing two of the cottages and opening up the waterfront.
Ben says that the new cabins, which were all ready for use before the long weekend this past July, have cathedral-like ceilings and feel “airier” and “roomy,” with the large screened-in porches a favourite of guests. The cabins are being well-received, particularly by Viamede’s many returning guests who are able to compare the brand new cabins with the old ones.
“Mortlock absolutely killed it with this project,” says Ben. “I don’t know how it came together so quickly. I really don’t. I think we’re all still a little bit confused by it.”
Trees that fell at Viamede Resort on Stoney Lake during the May 21, 2022 derecho wind storm have been repurposed to decorate the resort’s nine new cabins, including for shelving, coffee tables, and bathroom vanities. (Photo courtesy of Mortlock Construction)
For his part, Craig praises not only his team but all the local subcontractors, designers, and suppliers who had a part in moving the project along so quickly. He lists 41 local businesses that were involved in the rebuild.
“We have a strong foundation with those subcontractors to make sure that they were committed to this project,” Craig explains. “Being in this community for 76 years, we’ve established a number of very strong bonds with local tradespeople.”
He adds that 100 per cent of the money spent on the rebuild project was within a 75-kilometre radius of Viamede. Based on an economic multiplier, the construction project resulted in an approximately $20 million regional impact.
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“We really believe in the values of social procurement and making sure that our dollars are having a social impact on the communities in which we live,” Craig says. “That’s another motivation for us to utilize local tradespeople. We want to make sure that those dollars that we are spending are staying within the community that we support and want to see thrive.”
For more information about Viamede Resort or to book one of the new cabins, visit viamede.com.
For more information about Mortlock Consruction Inc. and to view some of their other projects, visit mortlockconstruction.com.
Along with the nine two-bedroom cabins decorated with furniture from the fallen trees, a new septic system was installed, the water treatment system was improved and relocated, and Mortlock Construction regraded and relandscaped part of the resort by removing two of the cottages and opening up the waterfront. (Photo courtesy of Mortlock Construction)
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