Taking place on a scenic property abutting Eels Creek in Apsley in North Kawartha Township, the Creekside Music Festival runs from September 8 to 10, 2023 with a musical lineup on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and evening including visiting performers Dwayne Gretzky, The Good Brothers, and I, the Mountain and local performers Melissa Payne, The Weber Brothers, Hunt the Hare, The Ireland Brothers, and more. (Photo: Creekside Music Festival)
For those convinced that size does matter, we take you to village of Apsley, some 40 kilometres northeast of Lakefield, in North Kawartha Township.
There, off Highway 28 on a scenic property abutting Eels Creek, the little music festival that could is set to return in September for a fourth year, featuring a performance lineup that the organizers of any much better known and larger local music festival — such as Peterborough Musicfest or the Peterborough Folk Festival — would love to bring to their respective stages.
Returning from Friday, September 8th to Sunday, September 10th with performances on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and evening, the Creekside Music Festival has earned a place in the local music festival conversation, and this year’s lineup will only serve to increase that chatter.
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Billed as headliners, Toronto-based cover band collective Dwayne Gretzky is alone worth the price of admission but, as the late night TV commercial hawkers bellow, “Wait, there’s more.” Much more.
Add eight-time Juno award-winning country/bluegrass/folk group The Good Brothers to the mix, alongside acclaimed Kitchener indie-folk quartet I, the Mountain. And then there’s a generous sprinkling of local flavour, represented by The Weber Brothers Band, Melissa Payne, Blue Hazel, The Ireland Brothers, Hunt The Hare, and Montana Sky.
Yes, the little music festival that could still is.
Montana Sky returns to perform at the 2023 Creekside Music Festival in Apsley from 7 to 8:10 p.m. on Friday, September 8. (Photo: Creekside Music Festival)
According to Alicia Scriver, who oversees ticket sales and manages social media for the festival as well as liaises with the acts and vendors, the Creekside Music Festival grew from a less ambitious undertaking.
“A friend of my parents (Mike and Sandy Del Mastro) had a family reunion that he was doing every year,” says Scriver. “He kind of goes big with everything. He hired bands and decided he was going to build a beautiful timber frame stage just for his family reunion. My dad and him just got talking, like ‘What if we just had a festival here? Why don’t we bring more bands here and open it up to the public?'”
That they did, hosting a one-day festival in 2018 featuring four local bands with just 300 tickets available. When property adjacent to the site became available, the Del Mastros bought it, not only enlarging the venue but also providing a location for Del Mastro’s business, Mikey D’s Fired Up Food Truck.
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The extra space created, the festival became a two-day affair in 2019. After the pandemic brought things to a halt for two years, it returned in 2022, bringing “a ton of people to the gate.”
“We want an intimate feel but hopefully we can build it a bit more so that those on the stage can see a big crowd,” Scriver notes. “It’s amazing how little 400 people can feel when you have the space.”
In addition to single-day and weekend passes being available, there is accommodation for trailer and tent camping, with about 100 sites available.
“We typically sell out the camping,” says Scriver.
The Good Brothers return to perform at the 2023 Creekside Music Festival in Apsley from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 9. (Photo: Creekside Music Festival)
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As for single-day tickets and weekend passes, Scriver says there are still some available but is optimistic they’ll be scooped up with time.
“Dwayne Gretzky is fantastic but comes with a high price tag, so we’re hoping that people are just waiting (to purchase),” she says.
Not hurting the cause is the fact that both Dwayne Gretzky and Melissa Payne headlined Peterborough Musicfest this summer and, by all accounts, were very well received by the Del Crary Park crowd.
“We are excited about the lineup,” says Scriver. “We’ve had The Good Brothers in the past. This is their 50th year of making music. Last year, they played in the middle of the afternoon — it was so hot — and they’re in their 70s, but their show was fantastic. They sound like they did decades ago.”
“And the local talent we have. Melissa (Payne) is a dear friend of mine. I was at her show at Musicfest. Blue Hazel was on the stage with her and Kane Miller of Hunt The Hare came on and did a couple of songs with Melissa as well. These are some of the most talented people in our area.”
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For his part, longtime Peterborough singer and songwriter Dylan Ireland — who performed with Melissa Payne in the past as Express and Company — is looking forward to performing again with his brother Daniel. Starting in the mid-2000s, The Ireland Brothers were a regular staple on the Peterborough bar scene as well as played out-of-town festivals.
“It’s a fun thing to return to for me and my brother,” says Ireland, adding “We don’t fight like my dad and uncles did, so we can still play together” — a reference to their dad and uncles’ band playing days.
Ireland performed has performed at the festival twice, first with his own band and then playing guitar for Payne.
“It’s beautiful, especially the nighttime slot,” says Ireland of the venue. “People are there to have a good time and experience the bands, so it’s awesome as a performer. We’ll mostly be playing our own songs mixed in with a few covers. We’ll play my dad’s songs and a couple of Swamp Band songs, which was my dad’s band with my uncles.”
Hunt The Hare returns to perform at the 2023 Creekside Music Festival in Apsley from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 9. (Photo: Creekside Music Festival)
Presently “super busy” with Doses, the band he’s currently part of, Ireland is looking forward to taking the stage with the quartet at the Peterborough Folk Festival on Saturday night (August 19). That will be followed by the August 25th release of the new single “Runaway.”
For her part, Scriver’s to-do list is getting a lot of her attention as the festival nears.
“It’s a lot of work, and at times you question yourself, and then the (festival) weekend comes around and it’s well worth it,” she says. “Seeing the people, having kids there dancing in front of the stage — having that feel of community. The Apsley Food Bank is there, taking donations. It really is a full community event.”
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Raised in Apsley, Scriver moved to Toronto with her husband before returning. She says the festival “fills me with so much pride. We’ve grown this beautiful thing and it makes me proud.”
A self-admitted ‘groupie’ during her Trent University days, Scriver remains a fervent fan of the local music scene.
“Music does something to us. It brings us together on a different level. Everyone there (at the festival) appreciates music as much as my family and I do, so it’s a beautiful thing.”
Attendees enjoy a performance at a previous Creekside Music Festival in Apsley. Dwayne Gretzky, Canada’s best cover band, will headline the 2023 festival from 8:30 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, September 9. (Photo: Creekside Music Festival)
On Friday, the schedule of performers is Jimbob Marsden (5 to 5:25 p.m.), Blue Hazel (5:30 to 6:40 p.m.), Montana Sky (7 to 8:10 p.m.), Melissa Payne (8:30 to 10 p.m.) and The Weber Brothers (10:20 p.m. to midnight).
On Saturday afternoon, the schedule of performers is Friends of Creekside (12 to 12:30 p.m.), The Good Brothers (12:30 to 2 p.m.), Dukes of Earle (2:30 to 3:30 p.m.), and I, The Mountain (4 to 5:30 p.m.). Following an hour-long break for dinner, the evening’s performers are Hunt The Hare (6:30 to 8 p.m.), Dwayne Gretzky (8:30 to 10 p.m.), and The Ireland Brothers (10:30 p.m. to midnight).
The pre-tax cost for single-day tickets for the Creekside Music Festival is $55 for Friday and $85 for Saturday, with weekend passes costing $140. For more information about the festival and to order tickets or passes, or to reserve a tent or trailer site for an additional $40 or $75 respectively, visit www.creeksidemusicfestival.ca.
The beach at Sandy Lake in Trent Lakes. (Photo: Michael Hurcomb)
Every Friday during swimming season, we post The Beach Report™ — our weekly report of the results of water quality testing at beaches in the greater Kawarthas region — and update it throughout the week as conditions change.
As of Thursday, August 24, the following beaches are unsafe for swimming:
Beavermead Park – City of Peterborough
Ennismore Waterfront Park – Peterborough County
Henry’s Gumming – Peterborough County
Norwood Beach at Mill Pond – Peterborough County
Lions Park – Coboconk
Norland Bathing Area – Laxton
Harwood Waterfront & Dock – Northumberland County
Kingsford Conservation Area – Hastings County
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Below are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in the City and County of Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, Northumberland County, and Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White’s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health provides weekly testing results for beaches in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E. coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like the beach at Roger’s Cove in Peterborough’s East City, are tested every business day while most other beaches are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Important note
The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.
You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.
Surveillance video of a suspect in an armed robbery of a store on Colborne Street in Fenelon Falls at around 4:30 p.m. on August 17, 2023. (Police-supplied photo)
Police have arrested a 35-year-old Woodville man in connection with a robbery in Fenelon Falls on Thursday afternoon (August 17).
At around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, officers with the Kawartha Lakes Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a robbery at a business on Colborne Street in Fenelon Falls.
The suspect entered the store armed with a knife and demanded cash. While the suspect was unsuccessful in obtaining any cash, he took some cigarettes and a victim’s cell phone. The victim sustained minor injuries.
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The suspect, who fled before police arrived, was described as a white man between 20 and 30 years old, wearing a blue, white and brown horizontal striped T-shirt, a black Adidas hat, grey camo long shorts, black Nike shoes, a black bandanna, and a pair of black sunglasses. In surveillance video, the suspect also had several tattoos visible on his arms and legs.
While on patrol in Fenelon Falls on Friday (August 18), officer observed a man who matched the description of the suspect. Further investigation resulted in the arrest of the man.
Police have charged Raymond Reid, 35, of Woodville with possession of weapon for a dangerous purpose, robbery with a weapon, disguise with intent, and three counts of failing to comply with a probation order.
The accused man is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Lindsay for a bail hearing on Friday.
This story has been updated with information about the arrest of a suspect.
On August 20, 2023, PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary's Sheila Burns and will be celebrating the birthday of the sanctuary's late namesake donkey. PrimRose the donkey was 20 years old in 1994 when Burns adopted her before founding the Roseneath sanctuary in 2001. By the time PrimRose passed away in 2021 in her 47th year, Burns and volunteers were caring for more than 60 donkeys, mules, and other animals at the sanctuary. (Photo courtesy of PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary)
This Sunday (August 20), PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary in Roseneath is celebrating a very special occasion: the 49th birthday of the sanctuary’s late namesake, the very donkey who started it all.
All are welcome to visit the sanctuary at 1296 Bowmanton Road in Roseneath for an afternoon of celebration with cupcakes, lemonade, iced tea, and the chance to interact with the sanctuary’s donkeys.
The PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary is a registered charity that takes in abused, neglected, and rescued donkeys. Every Sunday and Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m., the sanctuary is open to the public to pet and interact with a few animals and to learn all about them from the volunteers. Guests can also book hour-long private tours to see the whole six-acre property including the barn and farm.
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PrimRose the donkey was 20 years old in 1994 when Sheila Burns, the sanctuary’s founder and proprietor, adopted her after moving to Georgetown. She wanted to house some animals in her barn, so when the opportunity to adopt some donkeys came up, she warmly welcomed PrimRose and her four-month-old daughter Jilly.
At the time, Burns had no idea that the two animals would eventually encourage her to start her own sanctuary. Before PrimRose came into her life, she had never so much pet a donkey let alone cared for one.
“The two of them taught me everything that I know today,” explains Burns, adding that she got a “warm fuzzy feeling” when she first met PrimRose. “She was just so easy to get along with. She was so patient and understanding.”
VIDEO: PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary (2015)
After her experience with PrimRose, Burns couldn’t say no to adopting more donkeys. She says she would go to farms with the intention of picking up one or two donkeys, only to return home with four.
“These animals are amazing and they’re so misunderstood and so ill-treated,” she points out.
While still living in Georgetown in 2000, she and her husband were visiting her parents when they came across a property for sale in Roseneath. Though they had no intention of moving, they decided to take a tour and ended up purchasing the property within three days.
“It just all kind of fell into place,” Burns recalls. “It was meant to be. I believe there’s a reason for everything in my life. And there was a reason why we turned right on Bowmanton Road that day. It just started the whole deal.”
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Though she was moving to Roseneath with 12 donkeys in tow, she had no intention of starting a sanctuary. But within a few days of being there, people were already reaching out about abused and neglected donkeys. She continued to take them in, before eventually deciding to become a sanctuary in 2001 and then a registered charity in 2005.
Now, despite the constant flux of getting new donkeys and then adopting them out, Primrose Donkey Sanctuary has upwards of 60 donkeys and mules. The charity also makes space for a few other animals and is the current home of a potbellied pig named Dave, a sheep named Lamont, a goat named Preston, and roughly 20 cats.
With so many animals to care for, Burns relies on help from the community for donations and volunteer support. She says she’s very grateful to have a line-up of more than 30 dedicated volunteers who regularly come to the farm to help with its day-to-day function — including some who have been helping at the sanctuary for over 15 years now.
“The donkeys just take everybody’s heart, so every volunteer has a favourite donkey, and that makes them want to come,” she explains, adding that the volunteers often become very close with each other. “The volunteers are so dedicated. I depend on them all greatly.”
As a registered charity, PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary relies heavily on donations and active support from volunteers. A roster of over 30 volunteers are responsible for feeding and grooming the animals, cleaning up after them, and, most importantly, helping the sanctuary’s founder Sheila Burns monitor the health of the donkeys. (Photo courtesy of PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary)
Along with feeding the animals and cleaning up after them, the volunteers alert Burns if any of the animals are acting strange or seem unwell.
“Donkeys can withstand pain more than other animals,” Burns notes. “You don’t know if they’re sick until it’s almost the bitter end, so you really got to keep your eyes open. You have to know your donkey. You have to know what their day-to-day behaviour is so you can figure out what’s going on with them.”
To express her gratitude to her volunteers, Burns tells the story of Holly, a donkey she welcomed to the sanctuary back in January 2022. Holly was sick and thin, with her hips in such poor shape she couldn’t stand. The resident vet said Holly wouldn’t survive for more than four days.
But, between Burns and one volunteer who stayed by Holly’s side every morning for three weeks, Holly eventually stood up and remains healthy to this day.
“She looked at me and she almost said like ‘Hi, mom. I’m good’,” Burns recalls of Holly’s recovery, adding that seeing animals recover is her favourite part of operating the sanctuary. “And now she’s out there, she’s feisty, she’s got personality, she’s got attitude.”
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In fact, Burns says each one of the donkeys at her sanctuary has a distinct personality.
“We’ve got some that are nudgers (and) some that might just stand beside you and kind of lean on you. There are others that really don’t want to give you the time of day, until they come up to you on their terms. A lot of them have been through difficult situations and we’ve had to take the time to reinforce that they’re in a safe place, and that no harm is ever going to come to them.”
As for this weekend’s honoree, PrimRose, Burns says the donkey showed her creative and independent personality with her signature look: she always wore her halter off centre.
“That was her fashion statement — if you straightened it out, two seconds later, it was on an angle again,” says Burns with a laugh, adding that PrimRose also dressed up in pearls and a tiara every year for her birthday celebration.
Before she passed away in 2021 in her 47th year, PrimRose the donkey loved celebrating her birthday every year because she loved cake. Everyone is invited to the annual birthday celebrations on August 20, 2023 for the donkey who inspired the opening of PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary in Rosneath. There will be cake, lemonade, iced tea, and cupcakes at the sanctuary on the day that would have been PrimRose’s 49th birthday. (Photo courtesy of PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary)
Living under Burns’ care for 27 years before she passed away in February 2021 in her 47th year, PrimRose was the sanctuary’s representative or “ambassador donkey,” and would frequent community events and fundraisers. Burns says PrimRose held this role by being a very “stoic” and calming presence.
From 1 to 3 p.m. on August 20, PrimRose’s legacy will be celebrated with cupcakes, iced tea, lemonade, and a granola cake made especially for the donkeys — just as PrimRose would have wanted.
“PrimRose loved cake,” Burns says. “She loved cookies, cupcakes … anything (like that). Anything with an icing, she loved. You had to really watch her around it.”
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Burns says she’ll never stop celebrating the birthday of her beloved donkey that started it all.
“She was such a big part of my life and such a big part of establishing this sanctuary for other donkeys. It’s hard to not miss her. It’s hard to not miss an animal that you’ve loved so dearly and has been such a big part of what you’ve become.”
Following PrimRose’s birthday party, you can find Burns with the sanctuary’s new resident ambassador donkey, Raspberry, at the Port Hope Fair in September. The next sanctuary gatherings will be an early celebration of World Animal Day on Sunday, September 24th and the ninth annual evening of holiday caroling with the donkeys on Sunday, December 10th.
As well as being the first donkey at Sheila Burns’ PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary, PrimRose was the registered charity’s donkey ambassador and would often be found attending fundraisers and fairs, walking in parades, visiting seniors, and educating the public. She passed away in 2021 in her 47th year. (Photo courtesy of PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary)
PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary is located at 1296 Bowmanton Road in Roseneath and is open for curbside visits from the public every Thursday and Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. Personal tours are also available for $20 per person.
The sanctuary is always looking for more volunteers to care for the animals and to look after visitors. To learn more about PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary, or to sign up as a volunteer or make a donation, visit www.primrosedonkeysanctuary.com.
For the latest updates, you can follow the sanctuary on Facebook.
In advance of the free weekend music festival at Nichols Oval Park, the Peterborough Folk Festival presents Juno award-winning Ottawa-based blues and roots singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Angelique Francis with special guest, Peterborough's own blues singer-songwriter and guitarist Emily Burgess, performing at the Gordon Best Theatre in downtown Peterborough on Friday night. (Photo: angeliquefrancis.net)
Every Thursday, we publish live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, August 17 to Wednesday, August 23.
If you’re a pub or restaurant owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our nightlifeNOW editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com. For concerts and live music events at other venues, check out our Concerts & Live Music page.
With the exception of karaoke, we only list events with performing musicians. Venues may also host other events during the week (e.g., dancing, DJs, comedy shows).
Friday, September 1 7pm - Free For All w/ Niambi Tree, Will Ward, DJ Infinite Lee, Open Mic (no cover)
The Granite
45 Bridge St. W., Bancroft
613-332-1500
Friday, August 18
5-8pm - Kirk Bates
Saturday, August 19
5-8pm - Melodi Ryan
Haliburton Highlands Brewing
1067 Garden Gate Dr., Haliburton
705-754-2739
Friday, August 18
7-9pm - Albert Saxy w/ Trina West.
Sunday, August 20
2-4pm - Brian Sachs and friends
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Jethro's Bar + Stage
137 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-931-0617
Thursday, August 17
8-10pm - Michael C Duguay w/ Quinton Barnes 10pm - Joan Smith and the Jane Does w/ Generator Party
Friday, August 18
6-8pm - Carpe Noctem; 10pm - Peterborough Folk Fest Afterparty ft B.A. Johnston w/ Tapes In Motions
Saturday, August 19
6-8pm - Donovoan Locke & Jesse Whitely; 8-10pm - Paul Reddick Band; 10pm - Cross-Eyed Cats; 1am - Nicolas Campbell & The Two Metre Cheaters
Sunday, August 20
3-6pm - Open Blues Jam
Monday, August 21
8pm - Karaoke w/ host Anne Shebib
Wednesday, August 23
9pm - Country & Bluegrass Jam w/ host Michelle Moran
Kawartha Country Wines
2452 County Road 36,, Buckhorn
705-657-9916
Sunday, August 20
1-4pm - Sonny & Cloudy
Coming Soon
Sunday, August 27 1-4pm - Melodi Ryan
Kelly's Homelike Inn
205 3rd Street, Cobourg
905-372-3234
Saturday, August 19
4-8pm - Urban Rednecks
The Lounge in the Hollow Valley Lodge
1326 Kawagama Lake Rd., Dorset
705-766-1980
Friday, August 18
8pm - Section 53
Saturday, August 19
8pm - Rebekah Hawker, Sarah Hiltz, and Shawna Caspi
Sunday, August 20
7pm - Open Jam hosted by Sean Cotton
Coming Soon
Friday, August 25 8pm - Lakeshore Road
Saturday, August 26 8pm - Lou Moore
Mainstreet Bar & Grill
1939 Lakehurst Road, Buckhorn
(705) 657-9094
Thursday, August 17
7-10pm - Bill Black
Saturday, August 19
7-10pm - Jake Ezs
Sunday, August 20
2-5pm - Tami J Wilde
McGillicafey's Pub & Eatery
13 Bridge St.. N., Hastings
(705) 696-3600
Thursday, August 17
7-11pm - Karaoke
McThirsty's Pint
166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 743-2220
Friday, August 18
9pm - Cale Crowe
Saturday, August 19
9pm - Van Loon
Sunday, August 20
7pm - Open mic
Tuesday, August 22
8pm - Live music TBA
Wednesday, August 23
9pm - Live music TBA
The Mill Restaurant and Pub
990 Ontario St., Cobourg
(905) 377-8177
Thursday, August 17
6-9pm - Emily Burgess
Coming Soon
Thursday, August 24 6-9pm - Monkey Mountain
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The Muse Gallery & Cafe
23 Bridge St., Bancroft
613-332-1573
Wednesday, August 23
CANCELLED - 7-9pm - MoonFruits ($15 in advance, $20 at door)
Pastry Peddler
17 King St., Millbrook
(705) 932-7333
Tuesday, August 22
6:30pm - Jazz Dinner Night ft Michael Monis & Howard Baer w/ Kirk Losell, Marsala Lukianchuk, Saskia Tomkins ($50 per person, reservations required)
Pie Eyed Monk Brewery
8 Cambridge St. N., Lindsay
(705) 212-2200
Saturday, August 19
7pm - Music at the Monk 3 ft Cassie Noble, Gamekeeper, Sean Jamieson, Looking For Heather ($10 in advance at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/627735191857, $15 at door)
Canal Pursuit For Mental Health founder Clay Williams (middle) in Ottawa during the 2022 relay run that raises funds and awareness for mental health. For the 9th annual event, which takes place from August 19 to 26, 2023, Williams will once again carry the Canadian flag that each year is signed by people who have or know someone with mental health issues. (Photo: Canal Pursuit For Mental Health)
In August 2015, when Clay Williams ran the length of the Trent-Severn and Rideau canals, from Port Severn to Parliament Hill in Ottawa, he was the epitome of the loneliness of the long distance runner.
Covering an average of 94 kilometres daily over seven days and six nights, the Elmira resident’s goal was to raise funds for the Belleville-based Mood Disorders Society of Canada and to raise awareness and dialogue about depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Nine years after that inaugural event, Williams, 63, isn’t running alone.
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The event he started — now known as the Canal Pursuit For Mental Health — has since become a relay run and from August 19 to 26 this year will see at least 35 runners join Williams for the 700-kilometre relay run alongside or very near both canals.
Starting at 8 a.m. at Port Severn’s Lock 45, teams of two runners will cover the route in a week, finishing on Parliament Hill in Ottawa at 4:30 p.m. Each runner is bringing sponsor money to the table that will be added to the $115,000 raised to date for the Mood Disorders Society of Canada.
How the Canal Pursuit For Mental Health got legs, both figuratively and literally, is rooted in Williams’ personal loss as well as an event south of the border that he registered for.
“I had done really well in a 48-hour race and was looking for my next event,” recalls Williams. “There was this thing in New York State called the Erie Canal Marathon Tour. It was a multi-day run from Rochester to Buffalo along the Erie Canal — about 600 kilometres. I registered and got a team together to support me. I then connected with the Mood Disorders Society and started to publicize I was going to do this run.”
“In January, months before the event, the race directors cancelled it because there weren’t enough people registered, so I had to make up my own thing. I was kind of stuck on canals and I discovered we’ve got a couple of cool canals in Ontario too.”
Canal Pursuit For Mental Health founder Clay Williams holds the Canadian flag that serves as a baton for the relay run. For eight years, he’s asked people along the route to sign the flag if they or someone they know has mental health issues. It now has around 400 signatures. (Photo: Eileen Kimmett)
Have lost two brothers to suicide — one in the 1980s and the other in the early 2000s — and with mood disorders afflicting his wife, daughter, and sister, Williams’ choice of a benefactor was an easy one.
“A big thing that played a part in the deaths of my brothers was the stigma around mental health issues,” he explains. “(The response to mental health issues) was ‘Suck it up, buddy. You’ve got to be tougher than this.’ But just in the past 10 years, we’ve knocked down a lot of walls. Everyone is a lot less uncomfortable talking about their mental health.”
That first run in 2015, notes William, was supposed to be a one-off “but as I learned a more about Canada’s mental health care system, both the gaps and the efficiencies, I stuck with (raising funds and awareness) for mental health.”
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In 2016, Williams again ran the route solo but covered about 60 kilometres daily, resulting in a two-week trek. The following year, he started to recruit other runners who, relay style, would cover shorter distances.
“Awareness is so powerful,” says Williams, noting how he’s had numerous conversations with people along the route who are going through their own mental health struggle or have a loved one or friend who is struggling.
“Awareness is the stigma buster. The more people hear conversations around mental health, the less uncomfortable they’ll be around it. We would be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t been affected in some way or who doesn’t know someone who has been affected by depression, anxiety, or PTSD.”
That includes many first responders, which is why this year’s relay run is dedicated to the mental well-being and support of those who keep us safe. Daily starting August 19th, in order, CFB Borden, CFB Trenton, CFB Kingston, paramedics, firefighters, the OPP, the RCMP, and the Ottawa Police Service will be feted with members of those organizations coming out in support of the runners.
Peterborough runner Joel Kimmett gets a high five from Clay Williams during the 2022 Canal Pursuit For Mental Health. Joel and his wife Eileen will both participate in the 2023 event, running 10 kilometres each from Brechin south of Orillia to Lock 34 in Fenelon Falls on August 20, 2023. (Photo: Canal Pursuit For Mental Health)
Among this year’s participants are Eileen and Joel Kimmett of Peterborough, this being the fourth year the husband-and-wife team have participated (although Eileen missed the 2022 run due to COVID-related illness). They’ll join the relay on Sunday, August 20th in Brechin south of Orillia, running 10 kilometres each before finishing at Lock 34 in Fenelon Falls.
“I live with mental illness,” says Eileen of her connection with the cause. “Physical activity has helped me get through episodes of depression. It helps keep my brain healthy so I don’t slip back. It helps me cope.”
Cycling more as of late as opposed to running — “I had long COVID and it did a number on my lungs” — Eileen acknowledges covering her 10-kilometre stretch “will be difficult but so is having a mental illness. This is about connecting with other people that have mental health challenges. It raises awareness and gives people hope.”
Another Peterborough participant of note is Nicole Armstrong, who has run every year.
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During the relay run, a cherished symbol of what the event is all about and who it’s helping will be close at hand.
“That first year, 2015, as part of my training, I did a bunch of races leading up to the August event,” recounts Williams. “I bought a Canadian flag and brought it to each of the races and I asked people ‘If you or someone you love is struggling with depression, anxiety or PTSD, sign my flag and I’ll carry it the full distance of my run as a symbol that you don’t have to carry your burdens alone.'”
“Each year we’ve been carrying that same flag. We’ve got around 400 signatures on it now. It’s the relay baton. I’ve had the honour of carrying it to Parliament Hill and waving it there eight years in a row and I’m going to do that again this year. It’s a tangible responsibility to carry that because the people who signed it have trusted that we’re trying to help.”
Peterborough’s Nicole Armstrong has run in the Canal Pursuit For Mental Health every year for the past nine years. Her brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia 25 years ago. (Photo: Canal Pursuit For Mental Health)
Now, as the relay run’s start nears, Williams admits to his usual pre-run event nervousness but is excited to again see many of the familiar faces that have participated in past years.
“One of the things I learned in that first year is if you’re doing something that’s good and something that’s right, people will want to help,” says Williams. “People have been helping along the way all through this. It’s not all resting on my shoulders anymore.”
In the meantime, thoughts of his two brothers, always there, will be even more present.
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“Far too many people I’ve met have said they’ve lost someone close to suicide — a brother, an uncle, a sister,” Williams says. “That brings it home and reinforces the reason I do this.”
Williams is already looking ahead to 2024, which will be the 10th anniversary run of Canal Pursuit For Mental Health.
“This year, I’ll be running about 60 kilometres total. Next year, I plan to run the entire thing again. It’s year number 10 — the last hurrah. I don’t know what’s going to happen after that. Maybe a hand off or maybe other some sort of change.”
To register or donate for the Canal Pursuit For Mental Health, visit canalpursuit.defeatdepression.ca, where you can also find more information about the relay run, including a schedule of each day with locations and times. To follow the progress of the runners for this year’s event, follow Canal Pursuit For Mental Health on Facebook, Instagram, or X (formerly known as Twitter).
Canadian country music band Tim & The Glory Boys headlines Peterborough Musicfest's final free-admission concert of the season at Del Crary Park on August 19, 2023, with Canadian country singer-songwriter Robyn Ottolini opening. (Photo via Tim & The Glory Boys on Facebook)
Peterborough Musicfest presents Tim & The Glory Boys with Robyn Ottolini
When: Saturday, August 19, 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.
If the Peterborough Musicfest brain trust has learned anything over the years, it’s that they better satisfy the appetite of country music fans lest they risk open rebellion.
It took awhile — 14 concerts, to be exact — but the free-admission music festival will finally feed the country-music hungry as it draws the curtain on its 36th season with not one but two very different acts that are putting a unique stamp on the country music genre.
On Saturday (August 19) at Del Crary Park, Peterborough Musicfest is presenting headliner Tim & The Glory Boys, with hard-to-ignore and equally hard to forget Robyn Ottolini opening. Admission to the 8 p.m. concert is free.
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Self-described as “a Canadian gang of backwoods hillbillies with world-class facial hair and infectious on-stage energy,” two-time Juno Award-winning Tim & The Glory Boys have toured for a decade now, sharing the stage with top country, roots and gospel music acts.
Formed in 2013, the 2021 CCMA Group of the Year and Rising Star nominee features front man Tim Neufeld, a Winnipeg-sprung singer-songwriter and recording artist with quite a pedigree.
In 2000, Neufeld, with his brother John, founded the contemporary worship music band Starfield. As lead singer and guitarist, Neufeld led Starfield to four Juno Award nominations, a Western Canada Music Award, and 10 GMA Canada Covenant Awards. The band recorded and released five albums before going on hiatus in 2012, at which point the two brothers pursued their own solo projects.
VIDEO: “Me Without You” – Tim & The Glory Boys
As a solo artist, Tim Neufeld released two albums, with the first, 2013’s Trees, bringing him a 2014 Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album as well as a 2013 Country Gospel Music Association award for Modern Worship Album of the Year.
As if he wasn’t busy enough with his solo pursuits, Neufeld formed The Glory Boys, a country and bluegrass trio, in 2013.
Initially billed as Tim Neufeld and The Hallelujah Glory Boys, the name was shortened before the trio took to the road for 60-city tour of Canada to promote Trees.
The following year saw the trio release their debut album The Joy, which earned a 2015 Juno Award nomination for Gospel Album of the Year. In 2016, the follow-up album Hootenanny! came forth, winning Neufeld et al a 2017 Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year.
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But then a funny thing happened on the way to the revival: the band swapped its Christian-themed music for a more contemporary country and bluegrass sound.
Starting in 2018 into 2022, the band released a series of singles — “Blessed,” “When You Know You Know,” “Without A Prayer,” “Right Back Atcha,” “Me Without You,” “Bloodlines,” and “Float” — that received generous airplay, with “When You Know You Know” certified gold.
Terming their boot stompin’ feel-good sound ‘canoegrass’ — a reference to their bluegrass roots and the rustic country Canadiana the band has more explored — Tim & The Glory Boys are riding high with this past April’s release of their debut on the Sony Canada label: a self-titled album which features a number of the previously released singles.
VIDEO: “Take Me Backroad” – Tim & The Glory Boys
The new album was preceded by the release “Take My Backroad” featuring High Valley’s Brad Rempel as a guest singer.
“It is our homage to the dusty back roads and small towns that shaped us,” notes Neufeld in a band press release. “It’s a love letter to a simpler time and a reminder to always remember where you came from.”
“It’s more than just a song to us. It’s a way of life. It’s about slowing down, soaking in the beauty of the countryside, and cherishing the memories we’ve made along the way. We hope it takes our listeners on a nostalgic journey and reminds them of the magic that can be found in the simplest of moments.”
For his part, guest singer Rempel remains thrilled to have been in the mix.
“It has a message that means so much to me. Tim & The Glory Boys sound incredible on it. I tried my best to not mess up the second verse.”
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Speaking generally to the band’s body of work, Neufeuld says love songs will always have an audience, noting “There’s not much fault you can find in them, especially in the wholesome variety that we’re singing about.”
Now in the midst of a tour that will take the band across Canada into early October, the opportunity to bring their sound to new audiences has Tim & The Glory Boys chomping at the bit.
“It all comes down to having the guts to put it all on stage,” says Neufeld. “But way more than that, to have the guts to say something … to bring something to the table.”
Opener: Robyn Ottolini
Canadian country singer-songwriter Robyn Ottolini opens for Tim & The Glory Boys during Peterborough Musicfest’s final free-admission concert of the season at Del Crary Park on August 19, 2023. (Photo via Robyn Ottolini website)
Canadian country singer-songwriter Robyn Ottolini arrives in Peterborough with more than 85 global streams of her music to her credit — a remarkable feat considering her music career first gained traction just three years ago.
Described as “the Eminem of country music” whose music “will either piss you off or make you fall in love with her,” Ottolini first turned heads with “F-150,” a TikTok video soundtrack favourite that rocketed to number four on the Spotify U.S. Viral 50 chart and to number three on Rolling Stone’s all-genre Trend 25 listing.
Signed with Warner Music Nashville, Ottolini’s latest EP I’m Not Always Hilarious garnered more than one million streams well before “F-150” went viral.
Regardless of whether it rhymes, is polite, or is even proper English, more fans of the genre are coming to the full realization that, if it needs saying, Ottolini is the one to say it.
VIDEO: “F-150” – Robyn Ottolini
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Peterborough Musicfest presented 15 free-admission concerts this summer, each staged on Wednesday and Saturday nights, and supported by more than 100 sponsors, kawarthaNOW among them.
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.
To help encourage families to decrease waste by packing litterless lunches when kids go back to school, Peterborough GreenUP has launched a new colouring contest where a randomly chosen winner will receive a Planet Box Launch container worth $80. Details about the contest, which closes August 25, can be found on @ptbogreenup on Facebook. (Photo: Eileen Kimmett / GreenUP)
It’s back-to-school season! How about creating a goal to pack a litterless lunch this year?
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s column is by Eileen Kimmett, GreenUP Store & Resource Coordinator.
Litterless lunches are lunches with little or no packaging. Each year, GreenUP encourages students and families to consider how they can incorporate litterless lunches into their daily routine. This practice means thinking about what we take to school and what we bring home.
This year, the City of Peterborough’s new garbage and compost collection program coincides with the fall school season.
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We are excited that starting October 31, a weekly ‘green bin’ service will be introduced to collect household organic waste. Additionally, clear garbage bags will become mandatory for residential waste collection and the program will switch to every-other-week residential garbage collection.
Packing lunches for school can potentially produce a lot of waste. And since most schools send lunch garbage home with students (these are called ‘boomerang’ lunches), getting into the habit of reducing waste in the lunchbox will make garbage day easier for the whole family.
If you wanted to skip the details in this article, we vouch for one easy action this season: choose products that can be reused for a long time, which will save money and give back to the environment, too.
Single-use plastic straws are being phased out of production by the end of 2023. Reusable metal or silicone straws are alternatives to single-use plastic straws. (Photo by Eileen Kimmett)
Read on for how to create a litterless lunch by looking at how to reduce waste created from food storage containers, compartments, and utensils.
Let’s take a look at packing.
Take a reusable pack for lunch. Compared to single-use plastic bags which degrade over 1,000 years in the landfill, sturdy reusable lunch containers can be used again and again for many years.
One example of a more sustainable lunch container is Planet Box. They are a United States-based organization that carries storage containers for appetites of all sizes. Planet Box products are designed to be durable. One child switching to a reusable food container can saving up to180 single-use containers per year!
Looking into compartmentalizing your lunch box? Using what you have at home, like mason jars, can help reduce waste. The GreenUP Store carries reusable, leak proof lids for mason jars, making it easier to use the jar for multiple purposes, like for food or a beverage.
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Let’s talk juice.
Buying individually sized juice boxes creates more waste than purchasing juice in bulk. Consider purchasing a small reusable water bottle or thermos that you can refill instead of buying disposable juice boxes.
Planet Box and S’well are two organisations that sell drink containers that are catered to young hands and can even be refilled at school.
Speaking of containing, how about wraps and bags?
Beeswax wraps from Abeego are 100 per cent zero-waste. You can get them at the GreenUP Store & Resource Centre at 378 Aylmer Street North in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Eileen Kimmett / GreenUP)
A great substitute for plastic sandwich wrap is reusable beeswax paper. Beeswax paper can last up to a year or more with proper care, after which it can be composted. By choosing products that will biodegrade naturally, we can decrease the amount of waste that ends up in a landfill.
Silicone bags, like those from sustainability brand Stasher, can also be used to eliminate the use of single-use plastic sandwich and snack bags. Not only are Stasher products reusable, but they are dishwasher and microwave friendly, too. Stasher silicone bags come in several sizes and colours, so kiddos can feel creative while at lunch, too!
Utensils are overlooked sometimes, but in December 2023, single-use cutlery like forks, knives, spoons, sporks and chopsticks will be prohibited from being sold in Canada. It will become essential (and mandatory!) to choose reusable by the end of this year.
Bamboo utensil sets can replace single-use forks, knives and spoons. Bamboo is a fast-growing plant making it a renewable and sustainable resource. Bamboo is also known for its durability and versatility.
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It’s not always possible to avoid packaging.
If you are looking to check up on the recyclability of specific items within the City of Peterborough, there is an excellent online resource located on the City of Peterborough’s website called What Goes Where.
This online tool allows you to type in a particular item or material and then receive specific instructions about the how and where of its disposal.
You can also use it to find your garbage, recycling, and green waste collection day.
The GreenUP Store & Resource Centre at 378 Aylmer Street North in downtown Peterborough carries what you need to pack a litterless lunch. (Photo: Eileen Kimmett / GreenUP)
Whether by examining your containers, wraps and bags and/or utensils, you and your little learner(s) will be well on your way to preparing affordable and environmentally-friendly litterless lunches, and will be reducing waste that you put out on your doorstep too!
To learn more about litterless lunches, visit the GreenUP Store at 378 Aylmer St. North in Peterborough or contact Eileen Kimmett, Store & Resource Centre Coordinator during the week at 705-745-3238 ext. 222.
In her Tallon Creek Pottery studio, Cathy Pennaertz has been creating all new pieces to showcase at the free self-guided 30th Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, running on September 16 and 17, 2023. Her collection this year is a series of birch tree and silhouette animal designs with the play of colour. She will be showing off her pieces along with glass mosaic artist Joeann Pearson, new to the tour this year, at Studio K northeast of Apsley. (Photo courtesy of Apsley Autumn Studio Tour)
As the summer of weekend cottage trips and family barbecues finally comes to an end, it’s time to kick off the prettiest season of the year by browsing a wide range of artwork from local and visiting artists during the 30th annual Apsley Autumn Studio Tour.
Celebrating three decades since its founding as a community event to promote local arts and artists, the free self-guided tour is using the theme “30 Years in the Making.” Running Saturday, September 16th and Sunday, September 17th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the tour allows you to explore artwork from 30 different artists in 11 studios across North Kawartha Township. From Chandos Lake to Tallan Lake and Loon Call Lake, many of the studios are tucked away in inspiring, scenic locations.
The Apsley Autumn Studio Tour covers a range of artistic disciplines including jewellery making, landscape and abstract painting, pottery, felting, metalwork, and more. Local artists will be sharing their studios with some visiting artists who either have cottages in the region or who have come up from the city to round out the disciplines.
Artist Sue Rankin has been a member of the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour since its second rendition in 1995. She is a glass blower and the treasurer for the organization. During the studio tour, Rankin will be located at Studio F, alongside studio partner and visual artist Brad Copping, painter David Smith, jewellery artist Vivienne Jones, and metal sculptor Rusty Girl. (Photo courtesy of Sue Rankin)
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Participating artists will be on-site at their studio locations, giving you the opportunity to interact with them, ask questions, and purchase original pieces made specifically for the tour.
“The whole mandate of the studio tour is to foster creativity in the area,” explains Susan Rankin, treasurer of the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour and one of the participating artists.
A resident of Apsley, Rankin has been a glass blower for three decades and is well known for her floral vessels. During the first studio tour in 1994, she along with fellow artist Brad Copping had just moved to Apsley and chose to open up the glass studio for visitors, officially becoming part of the tour the following year.
Thirty years later, she will once again be displaying her vessels and sculptures at the Jack Lake studio she shares with Copping (Studio F on the tour). Throughout the weekend, other visiting artists will also be displaying their works in the studio while Copping does hourly glass-blowing demonstrations.
“It’s easy enough to spend at least an hour at our stop alone,” she explains, adding that she has an acre of perennial gardens that guests are free to roam. “It’s great because every location on the tour is different.”
New to the studio tour this year is glass mosaic artist Joeann Pearson who, after decades of visiting the family cottage on Chandos, now resides full time on a small rural homestead in Apsley. Pictured is one of two of her stained glass loon mosaics in progress for sale at the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour. You can find her in Studio K along with pottery artist Cathy Pennaertz. (Photo courtesy of Joeann Pearson)
This year, two new artists have been juried into the tour: emerging pyrographer Aubre Scott and glass mosaic artist Joeann Pearson (Studio H on the tour). New members are granted entry by a rotating jury of members who determine if the work fits into the tour and, for those wishing to feature their studio, whether it is accessible to the large group of visitors who enjoy the tour every year.
“The tour is very good quality and it’s been recognized for that quality for years,” say Rankin, adding that it features a wide range of artists, from established professionals to emerging artists like Aubre Scott. “The professional artists on the tour really help foster the emerging artists.”
To help plan your tour weekend, the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour is once again available on the free Toureka! app, created by local software developer Brad Carson, which you can download from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
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Using the app, you can read all about the individual artists, select the studios you most want to visit, see how far away they area, and create an interactive map to follow right within the app. For those without reliable cell service, the map can be used completely offline. You can even use the app to explore the many exceptional eateries within the surrounding towns to add to your personalized map, allowing you to plan out your entire day.
“You can sort of pick the studios that you really want to see and then once that’s done, your map comes up and you can start wherever you want,” explains Rankin. “The app will get you from one studio to the next studio to the next studio. It’s really a cool technology.”
If you prefer, you can also download and print the a tour map.
Studio B on the 2023 Apsley Autumn Studio tour will take participants to Tom Parsons Wildwoods Designs on Loon Call Lake. In his studio, Parsons specializes in handcrafted solid wood furniture made from one-of-a-kind pieces. Barbara Misziel will also be using his studio to display her artwork. (Photo courtesy of Tom Parsons)
In addition to the demonstrations at Rankin’s studio (Studio F), two other studios (Studio H and O) will be offering demonstrations throughout the weekend, giving you the opportunity to learn even more about the artists, the inspiration behind their artwork, and the techniques they use.
“When you get to meet the artists and hear the story of how a piece came about, it’s just so much more enriching,” notes Rankin, adding that the artists don’t always have the opportunity to connect with art enthusiasts if they’re always working alone in the studios. “You work so many hours in your studio by yourself so to really see people appreciate the work and to see that it’s meaningful to them is very uplifting.”
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Since the first tour in 1994, the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour has seen upwards of 400 visitors each year, with a lot of repeat visitors year after year.
“We’ve noticed that a lot of the people that come out will do one group one year and then they’ll do another group the next year,” explains Rankin. “They keep coming and we create great friendships with the visitors who come out.”
The following compilation of all the artists and artisans participating in the 2023 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour is categorized alphabetically and includes disciplines and the studios where you can find them, as well as a link to the studio tour map.
Raising sheep introduced Rachel Conlin to creating with wool from hand-spinning and dyeing their fibres to felting. Completely self taught, Rachel makes unique and wearable accessories from nature’s materials and all wool creations are made from sustainable and renewable wool fibre
Working from his home on the edge of the Canadian Shield, Brad Copping maintains a successful practice as both a sculptor and a functional glass blower, often traversing the line between. At this year’s studio tour, Brad will be showcasing sculptures made for the exhibition “Drawn From Wood,” which was a response to the Maple Syrup Residency, and work from the undula (latin for little wave) series, which explores form, surface, and light within the blown and carved glass vessel.
Jacques Deslauriers is a self-taught woodworker who uses only wood from dead or fallen trees. Gnarls, insect holes, and spalted wood are his materials of choice. He is always ready for a creative challenge of any size.
Valerie Foster has been sewing for over 40 years starting with clothing for herself and her family, which eventually grew into a children’s clothing home business in Calgary. After moving to Saudi Arabia in 2000, she brought her seamstress skills into the practice of machine quilting. Valerie enjoys the mathematical aspects of quilting. She has grown to also love the practice of free motion quilting. Since 2005, Valarie and her husband Ted have spent the bulk of her summers at Chandos Lake in Apsley. Valarie and Ted repatriated to their log home on Chandos Lake in 2015.
Mary Ellen Gerster sees the world according to shape, value, and colour, immersing the viewer in her bright and glowing watercolour paintings. Through the layering of transparent colours she creates photo realism in her still life, fruit, flowers and waterscapes. She is inspired and challenged by subjects with strong lights, shadows, shapes, colours and is especially drawn to high contrast and bright colours.
Stephen Gillberry is an accomplished artist who has spent the past 30-plus years developing his own unique style of painting. He has experimented with colour and texture in an effort to capture the beauty and spirituality of natural elements. Currently living and working in Cobourg, Stephen studied at the Ontario College of Art and Wilfrid Laurier University and his work is widely shown and well represented in galleries and corporate collections.
First introduced to oil painting as a child, David Grieve has been painting ever since and has developed a unique distinctive style. He uses a multi-layered technique, applying thick swaths of oil paint to create images inspired by the Ontario landscape.
Anja Hertle works with broken china, pottery, porcelain figurines, and tile to give these elements a second life in her whimsical mosaic art pieces. She also incorporates forks, beads, buttons, bottle caps, and typewriter keys.
Dolores Hopps’ work includes quilts, using imported fabrics from England and Japan, as well as wall hangings, runners, and smaller items. Many of her pieces have wool felting incorporated into the quilting, as well as beads, silk, and quite a number of other interesting embellishments.
A member of Kawartha Potters Guild and Spirit of the Hills Art Association, Melanie Edson Horner enjoys creating personalized pottery, particularly clocks. She also enjoys making one-off pieces and has been exploring raku and experimenting with horsehair and feathers.
Carolyn Jongeward’s artwork includes hand-woven tapestry, acrylic painting, block printing, fabric painting, and painting on birch bark. As a tapestry artist, Carolyn has exhibited in Canada, United States, and England. Her paintings reflect her understanding of textile structures, her eye for colour, and her ongoing interest in geometry and pattern in art and nature.
Vivienne Jones is a contemporary artist based in Toronto whose work is very much influenced by natural forms. She creates highly distinctive jewellery using both traditional and non-traditional materials. In her artwork, she has an interest in up-cycling, recycling and re-purposing.
Living in rural Apsley, Lisa Mace paints the world around her. Jack pines, full maples, wild flowers, and rural homes, Lisa paints what is found outside her front door.
After a successful career both nationally and internationally in architecture, Barbara Miszkiel has returned to her original interest in fine arts, painting primarily in acrylics. Although Barbara has created new buildings most of her career, in painting she is drawn to old buildings, live subjects and landscapes.
The starting point for all of Molly Moldovan’s work is the pristine landscape that surrounds her: the lake, forest, and uninterrupted skyscape are the foundation of every piece she paints. A visual artist whose primary focus is abstraction, she works primarily in acrylic and mixed media.
Kelly O’Neill is a multidisciplinary visual artist who enjoys the immediacy of dry materials in her drawing practice, and engages with found objects, natural materials, video, assemblage, and textile practices to create three-dimensional forms and installations. The Selwyn-based artist studied sculpture and installation at Toronto’s OCAD University and Her work has been shown in galleries in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.
Tom Parsons specializes in handcrafted solid wood furniture made from one-of-a-kind pieces. From coffee and end tables, charcuterie and cribbage boards, to sculptural works, he is inspired by the beauty of wood in its many forms.
New to the tour this year, Joeann Pearson has been making non-traditional stained glass mosaics for 25 years. Her style is to make mosaics that use deliberately shaped, hand-cut larger pieces that are sometimes hand painted which are usually only used in the making of windows. She has always sought out nature spots to indulge in present moment awareness, and feels nature guides her work. After decades of visiting the family cottage on Chandos, she now resides full time on a small rural homestead in Apsley.
Cathy Pennaertz owns and operates Tallan Creek Pottery in Apsley. There, she takes inspiration from her beautiful rural surroundings and applies them to her pottery working with multiple coloured stoneware clays in red, white, black and grey. Natural colours, textures, and elements inspired by plant and wildlife are easily found in her many types of work including mugs, dishes, ornaments, and more.
After working for many years in the tech industry, Judy Ranieri retired and began to explore her creative passions. Many of Judy’s projects are inspired by nature and utilize natural fibres, fabric, colour, design, and textures to create one of a kind textile and fabric art pieces.
In her 30-year career as a glass artist, Susan Rankin has drawn inspiration from the landscape in which she lives. An avid gardener, she continues to explore the idea of garden through her vessel and sculptural works and is well known for her vibrant floral vessels.
Kathy Robichaud has been a stained glass artist for over 25 years, using traditional techniques to produce stained glass art. Concentrating on the copper foil method, Kathy looks to nature for inspiration.
New to this year’s tour, Aubre Scott (Piping Hot Pyro Studio) is an emerging artist based out of Whitby. She began working with pyrography (wood-burning) in 2021, gaining inspiration from the scenery, landscapes, and wildlife of the local area.
Catharine Scott is a self-taught artisan who is inspired by the natural beauty of coloured gem stones, the ability to form and create meaningful pieces of art through wire working, and her own creative style of stringing that can be worn at any time of the day with any style of fashion.
Clare Scott-Taggart aka Rusty Girl (Metal Sculpture, Studio F)
Clare Scott-Taggart (Rusty Girl) has worked in metal for the past 30 years. She maintains a small studio in Thousand Islands where she recently moved and continues to create birdbaths, climbers, and trellises.
David Smith is inspired to create new works in watercolour, acrylic, and oil by the surrounding landscape. Painting full time following a career in advertising, graphic design, and colour retouching, he applies this knowledge and skill into his paintings.
Obsessed with the relationship between great food and handmade pottery, Judy Sparkes believes eating from handmade pots elevates the dining experience. Her work is carefully hand crafted to be enjoyed as everyday art.
First launched in 1994, the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour creates public awareness of the arts by promoting and supporting artists in the community.
For more information on the 2023 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, visit apsleystudiotour.com. You can also follow the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour on Facebook and Instagram.
Find the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour on the Toureka! app or download the tour map and watch for the black-and-white studio tour signs that mark each studio location. (Photo courtesy of Apsley Autumn Studio Tour)
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour. If your business or organization is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Lake Edge Cottages, a 12.5-acre resort property near Young's Point, received over $85,000 from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to help fund the installation of 110 solar panels on the roofs of three structures. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
Converting to green energy, in whole or in part, is a daunting prospect for any business but, with the will to do so aided by financial assistance made available, it can be done.
A shining example of that was heralded on Wednesday (August 16) at Lake Edge Cottages, a 12.5-acre resort property on Katchewanooka Lake just south of Young’s Point that is home to 110 solar panels on the roofs of three structures, including a newly constructed storage building.
With resort owners Steve and Anne Wildfong as their hosts, local tourism officials and representatives of green energy-related agencies learned how the solar panels, installed by Peterborough-based Generation Solar and online since late January, are reducing the resort’s reliance on hydro-generated electricity while lessening the resort’s impact on the environment it so relies on.
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The solar panels, installed with the help of a contribution of over $85,000 from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), speak to the Wildfongs’ continued commitment to reduce the decades-old resort’s carbon footprint with a firm eye on a more sustainable future.
Having acquired the four-season resort in 2019 from long-time owners Peter and Pam Fischer, the Wildfongs “chose sustainability because it was good for the business, it was good for the community and it was good for the environment,” related Steve.
“It allows Hydro One, on (sunny) days like this when we’re producing double what we actually need to use, to take that excess energy and share it with the rest of the community, taking stress off the grid. When the sun goes down, we draw from the hydro grid.”
“At the end of the month, we get a bill from Hydro One that costs us very little to stay connected to the grid while they show the bank of excess energy we gave them over what we use. We can use that for our cooler months, and in the winter when the panels are snow covered, or on a cloudy day when we’re not producing as much as we normally would.”
Steve and Anne Wildfong, with their son Jakob, are the owners of Lake Edge Cottages, a 12.5-acre resort property near Young’s Point. With the help of financial assistance from the federal government, they chose to update to solar energy to decrease energy costs while benefiting the environment. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the installation of 110 solar panels at the resort was held on August 16, 2023. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
Among those on hand for the presentation and tour of the property was Joe Rees, tourism director with Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED).
“Our future-ready plan is to try and be the most innovative and sustainable community and economy in Ontario,” he said. “These are the kind of projects that will help us get there.”
Later, Rees noted there’s a domino effect when one business leads the way, potentially inspiring other business owners and operators to seriously think green and take related steps that will reduce their business’s carbon footprint.
“This investment in technology is allowing him (Steve) to offset costs and become more of a year-round business, and that’s really a goal for whole region,” said Rees. “If we can take advantage of technology, increase sustainability from the environmental perspective, increase sustainability from the business perspective, and inspire other businesses to be year-round, that’s critical for us, as a region, to be more prosperous.”
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Another enthused invitee was Tegan Moss, executive director of Peterborough GreenUP. She acknowledged that energy saving and conserving initiatives on this scale aren’t cheap to carry out.
“That’s one of the things, through the Green Economy Peterborough program, we’re really trying to help illustrate — that the cost of doing business isn’t always where you think it may be,” she said.
Lake Edge Cottages is a member of Green Economy Peterborough, a networking initiative that helps business members to identify, set, and achieve sustainability goals while improving their bottom line.
“Through our emissions inventory, we’re able to help businesses understand what their actual (energy) costs are and what the savings might be through green investment. If you want to make a case for investment, look at the rising cost of fossil fuels projected over the next five years and then compare what it might be like to get energy produced from other sources.”
“There’s a pretty strong business case for making an investment in renewable energy. Taking a step back and seeing successful businesses like this (Lake Edge Cottages) is what we’re inviting people into to.”
The 110 solar panels installed on the roofs of three structures at Lake Edge Cottages, a 12.5-acre resort property near Young’s Point, produce twice as much energy as the resort uses on sunny days. The excess energy goes back into the Hydro One grid where it can be used by other households and businesses. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
Meanwhile, Jackie Donaldson, hub coordinator for Green Economy Peterborough, said the Wildfongs’ initiative is a model example of what can be done. She agreed there’s a wider benefit to the business community at large.
“Business owners are watching each other, they are inspired by each other, and they’re asking each other questions,” she said. “When we have people like Steve and Anne sharing their experience, more and more businesses become interested in taking that step. We can feel that at Green Economy Peterborough. People come to us and say ‘I want to be a part of this. I just need to learn from my peers.'”
Steve, for his part, is more than willing to share, inviting any business owner looking to invest in green technology to drop by and learn more about Lake Edge Cottages’ experience, and the up-front costs versus the potential savings.
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Meanwhile, those who think this was financially painless for the Wildfongs to undertake thanks to the contributed federal money should stop and consider one thing.
“It wasn’t just Generation Solar involved,” noted Steve. “Hydro One replaced our transformers at their own cost because they were old. They replaced the wires because they were old. If you take Hydro One and Generation Solar, it was about $170,000 in costs.”
Add to that, he explained, a new utility building and adjoining deck for guests that cost $200,000. Clearly the FedDev Ontario contribution helped, but the Wildfongs bore a substantial expense.
A member of Green Economy Peterborough, Lake Edge Cottages received a “Leading with Momentum” award at the second annual Leadership in Sustainability Awards event on May 4, 2023 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Heather Doughty Photography)
Now Steve is thinking beyond the solar panels installation, considering new green energy-related initiatives for down the road — a plan already well underway with the addition of an electric vehicle charger on site that resort guests have access to free of charge.
“Over the winter, we’re going to add, to the cottages that currently use gas, electric oil heaters that work on a thermostat, so we’re going to reduce our fossil fuel use,” Steve said. “I’d like to be able to cut that in half.”
Also on the horizon is replacing the resort’s gas-powered pickup truck with an electric model.
As a Green Economy Peterborough member, Lake Edge Cottages was honoured for its sound sustainability practices at Peterborough GreenUP’s annual awards ceremony in May.
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