Locally and independently owned by Rob Cooper and Kevin Linton since 2021, Floor Coverings International Peterborough & Kawarthas has opened at its new location at 4463 County Road 29 in Lakefield. Sourcing Canadian-made flooring wherever possible, the company offers a wide range of products for homeowners and also works with general contractors, restoration companies, and builders. (Photo courtesy of Floor Coverings International Peterborough & Kawarthas)
With a new and larger location, Floor Coverings International Peterborough & Kawarthas is better positioned to support homeowners, restoration companies, and contractors in designing and installing new flooring and much more.
Now located at 4463 County Road 29 in Lakefield, Floor Coverings International Peterborough & Kawarthas is locally and independently owned by Rob Cooper and Kevin Linton. Cooper has more than two decades of experience in the flooring industry, while Linton is considered one of the best installers and job site foremen in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
Since 2021, the franchise has been servicing Peterborough and the Kawarthas and surrounding areas, from as far south as Durham Region and north to the Algonquin Highlands.
At the new Lakefield location, Floor Coverings International Peterborough & Kawarthas now has its own building with a larger showroom and even more product in stock. From carpet to laminate, vinyl, and tile, the company offers a catalogue of high-end flooring that fits a range of styles. Whether you prefer contemporary, traditional, eclectic, or entirely unique designs, Cooper says he sources Canadian-made flooring as much as possible.
Despite its name, Floor Coverings International Peterborough & Kawarthas doesn’t just design and install flooring. The team can also help you with custom showers, backsplashes, drywall, painting, and custom stair runners.
The business partners with custom builder and general contractors and can work from blueprints and accommodate building schedules. The team also partners with restoration companies that respond to emergency situations like flooding, fire, and sewage backups.
Floor Coverings International Peterborough & Kawarthas has moved to a new location at 4463 County Road 29 in Lakefield with a larger showroom and even more product in stock. Founded in 2021 by Rob Cooper and Kevin Linton, the locally and independently owned company can also help with custom showers, backsplashes, drywall, painting, and custom stair runners. (Photo courtesy of Floor Coverings International Peterborough & Kawarthas)
Floor Coverings International Peterborough & Kawarthas works with clients every step of the way from design to installation, offering free and accurate quotes, flexible financing, and thorough follow-ups.
Whether you’re a homeowner or a builder or a contractor, you can be assured of rapid turn-around times, consistent installation quality, and a reliable and long-term partnership.
With more than 100 reviews on Google, Floor Coverings International Peterborough & Kawarthas has consistently maintained a five-star rating. One reason for that is the dedication of the company’s team to ensuring customers are happy with the result, including Linton who is able to deal with any tricky situation that is thrown his way.
“Sometimes we have to do some really good head-scratching and problem-solving together, but we always get through it,” says Cooper. “It’s all about the ability to adapt to different situations on the fly and come up with solutions.”
Floor Coverings International Peterborough & Kawarthas is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday at 4463 County Road 29 in Lakefield. To learn more or to schedule an in-home consultation, call 705-954-9595 or visit floorcoveringsinternational.com/locations/ca/on/peterborough/.
Know Your Locals™ is a branded editorial feature about locally owned independent businesses and locally operated organizations, and supported by them. If your business or organization is interested in being featured in a future “Know Your Locals” branded editorial, contact Jeannine Taylor at 705-742-6404 or jt@kawarthanow.com or visit our Advertise with kawarthaNOW page.
Bradley Austin (top left) stars as Burt in the world premiere of his comedy "Sore Losers" at Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon from July 15 to 25, 2026, along with James Barrett (top right) as Jim, Mallory Brumm (bottom left) as Angie, and Kyle Claeys (bottom right) as Greg. The four actors portray a ragtag team of underdogs who join a provincial bowling tournament to an effort to save Burt and Angie's bowling alley. (kawarthaNOW collage of supplied photos)
After being turned into a soccer field for its World Cup murder mystery, Globus Theatre’s stage in Bobcaygeon is now being transformed into a bowling alley for the world premiere of a new comedy by Canadian actor Bradley Austin, who will also star in the play.
Tickets are still available for Sore Losers, which tells the story of a ragtag team of underdogs competing in a high-stakes bowling championship. The hilarious and heartfelt comedy is being staged for 10 performances Wednesdays to Saturdays from July 15 to 25.
While this is only his second play, Austin has been an actor for more than two decades, appearing on stage including at Lighthouse Festival Theatre, Drayton Entertainment, and The Foster Festival, as well as on hit television shows like Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, The Boys, Schitt’s Creek, and Doc.
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Along with Sore Losers, Austin wrote the two-act comedy Tips for Living Without Your Dog, which saw a staged reading in Niagara Region this past April at the third annual Fostered Playwrights Festival, which nurtures Canadian voices and brings new stories to the stage.
For its part, Globus Theatre is doing the same by providing a stage for the world premiere of Sore Losers.
“I love it when Globus Theatre becomes this incubator and gives opportunities, whether it’s to a new artist or a new playwright,” Globus Theatre artistic director Sarah Quick recently told kawarthaNOW.
Kim Hone works on a retro bowling alley set on the stage of Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon for the world premiere of Bradley Austin’s comedy “Sore Losers” from July 15 to 25, 2026. (Photo: Globus Theatre / Facebook)
In Sore Losers, Burt and his niece Angie are struggling to keep their family-run bowling alley in business as they bleed customers to the bigger, newer, and flashier Galaxy Bowl across town.
That’s when Burt’s lifelong friend Jim hatches a plan. Unlike their famous bowling champion fathers, Burt and Jim have never won anything, but Jim proposes that they enter the provincial bowling championship and win, saving the business and their pride. Angie’s on board with the plan, and all they need to do is convince Burt and recruit Greg, the town’s clueless new dentist, to join their team.
“I wrote this play as a love letter to losers — to the ones who keep trying even without getting the desired result,” Austin says in a media release. “I wanted an underdog story, and I wanted to laugh. A ragtag, cobbled-together team that, against the odds, risks it all to get the big win … who doesn’t want to see that?”
“We have all felt that way in our lives, haven’t we? Bad runs of luck where everything goes wrong. When you can’t catch a break no matter how hard you try. It can be disheartening, demoralizing, and really funny. I love these losers; they remind me that playing for the sake of winning isn’t as important as who you’re playing the game with, and ultimately for.”
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As well as seeing his play performed before audiences for the first time, Austin will also be making his Globus Theatre acting debut by playing the role of Burt.
“It’s really exciting to be able to go through the rehearsal process with the playwright right there,” Quick says. “That is very helpful for the first time that a show is being performed.”
Joining Austin on stage will be Globus Theatre’s artistic producer James Barrett as Jim, Mallory Brumm (Buying the Farm) as Angie, and Kyle Claeys (Galatea, Shakespeare BASH’d, Comedy Bar Danforth) as Greg. Both Brumm and Claeys are fresh off their roles in Globus Theatre’s recent murder mystery, Murder at the Match: World Cup 2026 Edition.
Globus Theatre’s artistic producer James Barrett (left) and artistic director Sarah Quick (right) during the first day of rehearsals for the world premiere of Bradley Austin’s “Sore Losers” from July 15 to 25, 2026. Along with Barrett performing as Jim, Austin (second from right) will play Burt, Kyle Claeys (beside Austin) will play Greg, and Mallory Brumm (beside Claeys) will play Angie. (Photo: Globus Theatre / Facebook)
“I could not be happier that Sore Losers gets to have its world premiere here at Globus, a place known for its dedication to telling great stories with humour and heart,” Austin said. “As it’s my first world premiere, I am also extremely grateful and humbled to be included in the season with so many playwrights that I look up to.”
Quick told kawarthaNOW that Austin was mentored by Canadian playwright Kristen Da Silva, who wrote Beyond the Sea, which is being staged by Globus Theatre later this year. In turn, Da Silva was mentored by Norm Foster, whose comedy A Woman’s Love List Globus Theatre is also presenting this season.
“It’s lovely that there are all of these Canadian writers passing on their knowledge, and helping and encouraging and inspiring,” Quick said.
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Globus Theatre’s production of Sore Losers runs at 8 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays from July 15 to 18 and July 22 to 25, with additional 2 p.m. matinee performances on July 18 and 23. An optional dinner is available before evening performances, although some are already sold out.
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, July 16, the following beaches are at moderate risk for swimming, meaning swimming is not advised due to elevated bacteria levels.
Lakefield Beach – Selwyn
Bond Street – Fenelon Falls
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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 and Prince Edward Counties.
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.
While we strive to update this story with the current conditions, you should confirm the most recent test results by visiting the regional health unit websites at Lakelands Public Health and Southeast Public Health.
In the following results, low risk means the water is safe for swimming, moderate risk means swimming is not advised due to elevated bacteria levels, and high risk means a beach is closed due to high bacteria levels or hazardous water conditions.
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City and County of Peterborough
Lakefield Beach – Selwyn – Moderate Risk
Beavermead Beach – Peterborough – Low Risk
Belmont Lake – Havelock-Belmont-Methuen – Low Risk
John Street Beach – Trent Lakes (Buckhorn) – Low Risk
Jones Beach – Selwyn (Bridgenorth) – Low Risk
Chandos Beach – North Kawartha – Low Risk
Crowe's Line Beach – Trent Lakes – Low Risk
Douro Park North – Douro-Dummer – Low Risk
Ennismore Waterfront Beach – Selwyn – Low Risk
Henry's Gumming – Curve Lake First Nation – Low Risk
Hiawatha Beach – Hiawatha First Nation – Low Risk
Kasshabog Lake – Havelock-Belmont-Methuen – Low Risk
Lime Kiln Park – Curve Lake First Nation – Low Risk
Quarry Bay Beach – North Kawartha – Low Risk
Roger's Cove – Peterborough – Low Risk
Sandy Beach – Trent Lakes – Low Risk
Selwyn Beach Conservation Area – Selwyn (Owned by Otonabee Conservation) – Low Risk
Squirrel Creek Conservation Area – South Monaghan (Owned by Otonabee Conservation) – Low Risk
Warsaw Caves Conservation Area – Douro-Dummer (Owned by Otonabee Conservation) – Low Risk
White's Beach – Trent Lakes – Low Risk
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City of Kawartha Lakes
Bond Street – Fenelon Falls – Moderate Risk
Beach Park – Bobcaygeon – Low Risk
Birch Point – Fenelon Falls – Low Risk
Blanchards Road Beach – Bexley – Low Risk
Burnt River Beach – Somerville – Low Risk
Centennial Beach – Verulam – Low Risk
Centennial Park West – Eldon – Low Risk
Four Mile Lake Public Beach – Somerville – Low Risk
Head Lake Beach – Laxton – Low Risk
Lions Park – Coboconk – Low Risk
Norland Bathing Area – Laxton – Low Risk
Omemee Beach – Low Risk
Riverview Beach Park – Bobcaygeon – Low Risk
Sturgeon Point Beach – Fenelon Falls – Low Risk
Valentia Sandbar Beach – Low Risk
Verulam Recreational Park – Low Risk
Centennial Verulam Parkette – Testing Season Closed – Beach Closed For Construction
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Northumberland County
Caldwell Street Beach – Port Hope – Low Risk
Crowe Bridge Park – Trent Hills – Low Risk
East Beach – Port Hope – Low Risk
Hastings Waterfront North – Trent Hills – Low Risk
Hastings Waterfront South – Trent Hills – Low Risk
Little Lake – Cramahe – Low Risk
Sandy Bay Public Beach – Alnwick-Haldimand – Low Risk
Victoria Beach- Cobourg – Low Risk
West Beach – Port Hope – Low Risk
Wicklow Beach – Alnwick-Haldimand – Low Risk
Haliburton County
Bissett Beach – Minden Hills – Low Risk
Dorset Parkette – Algonquin Highlands – Low Risk
Eagle Lake Beach – Dysart et al – Low Risk
Elvin Johnson Park – Algonquin Highlands – Low Risk
Forsters Beach – Minden Hills – Low Risk
Gooderham Lake Beach – Highlands East – Low Risk
Glamour Lake Beach – Highlands East – Low Risk
Haliburton Lake Beach – Dysart et al – Low Risk
Horseshoe Beach – Minden Hills – Low Risk
Paudash Lake Beach – Highlands East – Low Risk
Pine Lake Beach – Dysart et al – Low Risk
Rotary Beach – Head Lake – Dysart et al – Low Risk
Rotary Head Lake Beach Lagoon – Dysart et al – Low Risk
Rotary Park Lagoon – Minden Hills – Low Risk
Rotary Park Main – Minden Hills – Low Risk
Sandy Cove Beach – Dysart et al – Low Risk
Sandy Point Beach – Dysart et al – Low Risk
Slipper Beach – Dysart et al – Low Risk
Twelve Mile Lake Beach – Minden Hills – Low Risk
Wilbermere Lake Beach – Highlands East – Low Risk
Hastings and Prince Edward Counties
Beaches sampled monthly
Moira Lake Park – Moira Lake – Low Risk
Centennial Park, Deseronto – Bay of Quinte – Low Risk
Frankford Park – Trent River – Low Risk
Kingsford Conservation Area – Salmon River – Low Risk
Tweed Park – Stoco Lake – Low Risk
Wellington Beach – Wellington Bay – Low Risk
Beaches sampled once at the start of bathing season
Centennial Park, Northport – Bay of Quinte – Low Risk
Pammett's Flowers is a floral boutique that has been selling fresh bouquets and arrangements and delivering across Peterborough County for more than 50 years. In response to changing consumer habits, owner Tova White has closed her Charlotte Street storefront and is now selling arrangements and organizing pick-ups at a retail location at Euphoria Wellness Spa at 290 Water Street in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Pammett's Flowers)
Though its former Charlotte Street storefront is closed, you can still shop for the stunning arrangements and seasonal blooms of Pammett’s Flowers in downtown Peterborough.
Now running through a studio model, Pammett’s Flowers is selling a selection of grab-and-go hand-tied and vase arrangements through a new retail location at Euphoria Wellness Spa at 290 Water Street, which also serves as the pick-up location for pre-ordered arrangements, with free short-term parking available on site.
For more than 50 years, the expert designers at Pammett’s Flowers have been handcrafting nature-inspired bouquets and arrangements with fresh and high-quality flowers for every occasion, whether you’re celebrating a birthday, expressing sympathy, or surprising someone special.
Entrepreneur Tova White has been the owner of Pammett’s Flowers since 2024, bringing her expertise as owner of Holton Flowers in downtown Port Hope. She says the switch to the studio model was prompted by a decline in walk-in sales. However, since she still wanted a physical location for customers who prefer picking up their arrangements, the partnership with longtime customer Euphoria Wellness Spa was born.
“Changing consumer behaviour means more and more people are ordering flowers online and by phone, and fewer are coming into the store,” White explains. “We wanted to evolve our business model to better serve the way people are shopping for flowers.”
Entrepreneur Tova White has been the owner of Pammett’s Flowers in Peterborough since 2024, bringing her expertise as the owner of Holton Flowers in downtown Port Hope. Running both businesses gives her the buying power to attend flower auctions in Toronto to purchase directly from Ontario growers and keep pricing competitive. Without the overhead cost of running a storefront for Pammett’s Flowers, White says consumers will see the savings reflected in pricing. (Photo courtesy of Pammett’s Flowers)
Pammett’s Flowers still maintains the same delivery operations customers have relied on for decades, including same-day delivery Mondays through Saturdays for orders received by noon. As before, the business delivers within the City of Peterborough, across Peterborough County from Lakefield to Millbrook to Keene, and beyond to communities including Omemee and Harwood.
Also not changing is the boutique flower shop’s ability to offer high-quality blooms, including stunning wedding bouquets and centrepieces and working with local funeral homes to ensure sympathy gifts and funeral tributes are handled with care. Pammett’s Flowers also continues to deliver regular subscriptions of fresh cut flower arrangements that can be customized for size and frequency.
What’s more, without the overhead cost of running a storefront, White says consumers will see the savings reflected in pricing. That’s in addition to already competitive pricing thanks to the combined buying power of her two businesses, which attend floral auctions in Toronto three times per week to buy directly from growers, most of whom are based in Ontario.
“That’s great for our customers because we have super fresh flowers,” White says. “We don’t have the markup of wholesalers because we’re direct to growers. That keeps our pricing competitive.”
The retail location at Euphoria Wellness Spa is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
To order from Pammett’s Flowers, visit pammettsflowershop.com or call 705-917-9711 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
Know Your Locals™ is a branded editorial feature about locally owned independent businesses and locally operated organizations, and supported by them. If your business or organization is interested in being featured in a future “Know Your Locals” branded editorial, contact Jeannine Taylor at 705-742-6404 or jt@kawarthanow.com or visit our Advertise with kawarthaNOW page.
Looking south down George Street from Hunter Street West in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area)
The state of Peterborough’s downtown core is once again at the forefront of the minds of both candidates and voters as the municipal election approaches.
On Tuesday night (July 7), Peterborough mayoral candidate Neil Morton hosted the fourth of five “working sessions” asking for feedback from residents on his key policy areas and goals for office.
Entitled “Together, We Will Revitalize Downtown,” Tuesday’s event took place at the Knights of Columbus Doyle Hall at 317 Hunter Street West, which is in Town Ward.
Morton is one of five people who have filed nomination papers so far to run for the office of mayor in the October municipal election in Peterborough, with the others being Michael Eamon, Jacob Méthot, incumbent Ashburnham Ward councillor Keith Riel, and Rebecca Schillemat. Incumbent mayor Jeff Leal has yet to declare whether he will be seeking re-election.
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Vacant storefronts and lack of a major anchor store downtown
Attendees at Morton’s event included business owners, Town Ward residents, and individuals living in other wards within the city. Incumbent Town Ward councillor Joy Lachica and Town Ward councillor candidate Jenni Cathcart were also in attendance.
Morton laid the foundation for the group discussion speaking to issues such as community safety, economic development, and small businesses.
“I don’t want to sugarcoat things because I love this downtown, but the downtown is not acceptable to me at all,” Morton said in his opening comments.
“Community members deserve to have a reasonable expectation to be able to shop, reside, and enjoy downtown and feel safe.”
Peterborough mayoral candidate Neil Morton addresses attendees at his “Together, We Will Revitalize Downtown” campaign policy session at the Knights of Columbus Doyle Hall on July 7, 2026. (Photo: Neil Morton campaign)
For some of the attendees, including Jan Fialkowski and Blair Armitage, the growing number of vacant storefronts in the downtown core is cause for concern. Fialkowski said that the city should incentivize businesses to open their stores downtown to fill vacant lots.
Shelby Leonard-Watt, owner of downtown stores Flavour Fashion, S.O.S, and Providence and a board member of Peterborough Downtown Business Area (DBIA), noted the lack of a major anchor store in the downtown core.
Long-time residents at the event remembered the heyday of Peterborough Square, which was anchored by Eaton’s when the mall first opened in 1975. Eaton’s subsequently downsized the store in the 1990s before closing its doors completely in 1998, a year before the company filed for bankruptcy. Since then, Peterborough Square has not had a retail anchor tenant.
In contrast, when Lansdowne Place Mall lost retail anchor Sears in 2018, the building was demolished to make way for a new mall expansion, with Sport Chek anchoring the expansion when it opened in late 2022.
Attendees at Tuesday night’s meeting discussed how the ward system in place to elect councillors can cause competition between wards for economic investments and whether re-imagining council with an at-large system could help support downtown initiatives.
“Maybe if the council could see the city as a whole, we would find more business moving downtown,” said Glenn, who returned to Peterborough after spending time away.
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High rents, lack of parking, broken parking meters, and theft and vandalism
Business owners in attendance said that some of the challenges faced when opening a store downtown include high rental costs, a lack of parking and transit, and costs associated with vandalism and theft.
For example, La Mesita Mexican Restaurant recently had their window smashed costing them approximately $2,000 in damages.
One attendee said that the parking meters are outdated and are not reliable, leading to frustration when looking for parking downtown.
“Parking is not even hard to find, but when you go down there and that machine doesn’t work, it’s frustrating,” he said.
Lachica noted the failed motion she made at council earlier this year to prevent parking fines being given to people parked at non-functioning meters, an issue which she and fellow Town Ward councillor Alex Bierk raised in response to concerns from residents and business owners.
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Safety concerns dissuade some from going downtown
For many attendees, downtown has become too unsafe and unwelcoming to warrant visiting or establishing businesses.
“We do not have a safe and a free downtown,” said one attendee.
“I don’t go downtown anymore,” said another.
A number of attendees said they had lived in Peterborough and in Town Ward for most or all of their lives, and that they have seen significant changes in the safety and perception of downtown, especially in the last 10 years. The impact of the pandemic was also discussed by business owners and residents alike.
For many, the most visible differences are increased homelessness and public substance use. One attendee spoke about the impact of the recently closed Consumption and Treatment Site (CTS) and others referenced the location of Trinity Community Centre and the Wolfe Street modular housing community.
“We’ve created an urban plan that has consolidated all of the social issues in a very tight, confined area,” said one attendee.
Comparisons were made to other municipalities both in Ontario and across Canada regarding perceived community safety and structural solutions.
Pam, who recently lived and studied in Fredericton, New Brunswick, said that it was the safest downtown she had experienced.
“To help the curb appeal, Fredericton doesn’t have its crisis centres close to downtown,” she pointed out.
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Safety concerns exacerbated by lack of support for people who are homeless and stigma of homelessness
An attendee who said she lived nearby spoke about her experience living in downtown, noting high rent, limited housing opportunities, and numerous social issues.
“If I get evicted from that house, there is no lateral move in this city,” she said.
She added that her primary concern is the lack of support for people experiencing poverty and homelessness, saying that current police funding should be reallocated to ensure that mental health calls are handled by trained professionals.
Margie Sumadh, who has spoken often at city council about housing and homelessness, said that people’s fear of the downtown comes from a lack of interaction and engagement with the people who make up the community.
“They are people,” Sumadh said of people experiencing homelessness. “Cities are inhabited by real people.”
Further, she said that by walking around downtown and talking to people from all backgrounds, she has built community and relationships with many unhoused individuals and is not afraid of downtown.
“They know me because I talk to them, because I speak to them, because I share with them,” she said.
The Morton campaign is sharing the results of each policy session on its website at www.mortonformayor.ca/community_input, including the 34 ideas related to downtown revitalization that were generated at Tuesday night’s event.
kawarthaNOW’s coverage of municipal election candidates is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate, campaign, or platform.
The original version of this story has been updated with a correction: councillor Joy Lachica’s parking meter motion at city council did not pass.
Award-winning Trent Hills vocalist Jane Archer, who just turned 75, will be celebrating her birthday on Saturday night at the Black Horse in downtown Peterborough with her band Blues to the Bone, performing a mix of blues, soul, classic country, rhythm and blues, and her own original songs. Special guests include Peterborough guitarist Emily Burgess and Jane's son Michael Archer, a bassist now living and performing in Austin, Texas. (Photo: Jackie Wimbush / JAX Photo)
Every Thursday, kawarthaNOW publishes live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that musicians provide directly or that venues post on their websites or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, July 9 to Wednesday, July 15.
If you’re a musician or venue owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, 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).
Legendary Canadian rock ensemble Lighthouse, featuring original members Paul Hoffert and Russ Little, bring their horn-heavy sound to Peterborough Musicfest for a free-admission concert at Del Crary Park on July 11, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Hoffert Communications)
It’s a safe bet that the list of musical acts that don’t regret turning down the chance to headline at Woodstock is a short one.
Peterborough Musicfest presents Lighthouse
When:Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 8 p.m. Where: Del Crary Park (100 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: Free admission
The evening will also feature Carling Stephen at 6:30 p.m. as part of the Cogeco Future Sound Series. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets (lawn chairs are available to rent). VIP seating available for sponsors. No smoking, alcohol, or pets permitted. There’s no public parking at Del Crary Park, but there’s neighbourhood street parking nearby and ample parking in downtown Peterborough.
Canadian rock ensemble Lighthouse received an invite shortly after its May 14, 1969 debut at The Rock Pile in Toronto. While the opportunity to perform before hundreds of thousands of music fans over three days in August alongside the greatest popular music acts of the time would seem too good to pass up, the rock ensemble did just that — citing the concern that Woodstock would prove to be “a bad scene” in terms of perceived safety and sanitary issues.
So how did that work out? Pretty good, considering Lighthouse headlined the much larger Isle of Wight Festival the following year, sharing the stage with the likes of Jim Hendrix, The Doors, The Who, The Moody Blues, and Joni Mitchell.
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Today, well into its sixth decade, Lighthouse is still at it, having stayed true to the full horn-heavy sound that co-founders Skip Prokop and Paul Hoffert were confident would survive their snub of Woodstock.
On Saturday (July 11) at Del Crary Park, Hoffert on keyboards and fellow original member Russ Little on trombone will be very much in the mix as Lighthouse brings its hit songs and horn-heavy music to Peterborough Musicfest. Admission is free to the 8 p.m. sponsor-funded concert.
With the words “I’m beginning to see the Light … house,” jazz great Duke Ellington introduced the band at its Rock Pile debut, and Lighthouse became virtually impossible to ignore over the following decade.
VIDEO: “One Fine Morning” – Lighthouse (1972)
Besides the coveted Isle of Wight gig, sold-out performances at Carnegie Hall and at Expo ’70 in Japan spoke to Lighthouse’s growing popularity, not just in Canada but abroad. Music-wise, Lighthouse had the material to anchor a touring schedule that, at its peak, saw the band perform some 300 tour shows annually.
While the band’s first three albums — Lighthouse, Suite Feeling, and Peacing It All Together — were each certified gold for sales in Canada, 1971’s One Fine Morning took things to another level on its way to platinum status on the strength of the title track, which peaked at number two in Canada and charted high south of the border. The follow-up album, Thoughts of Movin’ On, eventually earned platinum sales status as well.
Those sensing there was more to come from Lighthouse were vindicated in 1972 with the release of the album Sunny Days. Again, the title track was a monster hit, cracking the top five on Canadian singles chart and peaking at number 34 on the Billboard Top 100.
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It was album after album from that point in the form of 1973’s Can You Feel It, 1974’s Good Day, and 1976’s Best of Lighthouse — all platinum-certified. Top-selling singles like “Hats Off to the Stranger,” “1849,” and “Pretty Lady” kept the fan momentum going.
As one would expect, critical acclaim was frequent and substantial. From 1970 to 1974, four Juno Awards came Lighthouse’s way, including three statues in 1973, 1973, and 1974 for Best Canadian Group of the Year.
Following Lighthouse’s break-up in the late 1970s, the original band members — Hoffert and Prokop included — turned their attention to other projects. Hoffert, for example, continued his career as a film composer, headed up the Ontario Arts Council for three years and, in 2004, was named to the Order of Canada in 2004. His enduring bandmate Little continued his music pursuits, recording and earning Best Trombonist honours at the 2007 National Jazz Awards.
Lighthouse founding members Skip Prokop (centre) and Paul Hoffert (right) with jazz legend Duke Ellington in the Green Room before the first Lighthouse concert at The Rockpile in Toronto on May 14, 1969. The Duke introduced the band, starting with “I’m beginning to see the Light … house”. (Photo courtesy of Hoffert Communications)
Lighthouse reunited in 1992 and, with varying members, has stayed together ever since. Prokop, who Hoffert met all these years ago by chance on a flight from New York City to Toronto, passed away in 2017. He was pre-deceased by lead singer Bob McBride, whose powerful vocals gave “One Fine Morning” its hit appeal and, decades later, its staying power.
In October 2019, Lighthouse brought its 50th anniversary tour to a sold-out Showplace Performance Centre. Sitting down for a chat with kawarthaNOW, Hoffert recalled that chance encounter with Prokop.
“He was going to be putting together Janis Joplin’s new band, but was having some problems with the personnel,” said Hoffert, adding “He wasn’t sure if it was going to work out, so he told me about this idea he had for a band with horns and strings.”
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Thus, Lighthouse’s trademark fusion of rock, jazz, classical and swing music was born.
“We had a big American record deal before we actually had a band,” Hoffert continued. “We just had an idea and a bunch of guys who were in the studio and recorded some tunes.”
With manager Vinnie Fusco at the helm (he signed Lighthouse to RCA Victor), the 13-member band featuring Hoffert on keyboards and Prokop on drums and lead vocals took to the stage at The Rockpile in Toronto on May 14, 1969. By chance, Ellington was in the city and, on a recommendation, redirected his limo driver to the club so he could take in the show.
VIDEO: “Sunny Days” – Lighthouse (2019)
As the time, Hoffert noted, “rock ‘n’ roll music was transitioning from the early Elvis Presley kind of rock-a-billy stuff to what we now called classic rock ‘n’ roll with a heavier rhythm section.”
“But in high school, which is where a lot of people develop their musical tastes, you have band instruments. You weren’t given electric guitars and basses and stuff to make rock ‘n’ roll music. Everybody was playing in the school band … wind instruments, brass instruments. They couldn’t participate in the rock ‘n’ roll thing because the music that was coming out didn’t have those instruments.”
“There seemed to be a real opportunity to make music that was rock ‘n’ roll but could include those people. That would give us a bigger audience.”
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That Lighthouse clearly did, and has continued to do 57 years after the fact. Speaking to the band’s longevity, Hoffert summed things up in one word: respect.
“A band is kind of like a family … you’re going to have fall-outs or disagreements. The only way to stop that is to have musical respect for each other. We’ve never lost that.”
“We’ve never had a disagreement on the musical direction because those discussions are never about ‘Why can’t I have the solo?’ It’s ‘What’s going to work best for the band?’ We’ve always been able to have a good consensus. That’s been key to keeping the band together and keeping the really great musicians that we have.”
Along with being a musician, Lighthouse founding member Paul Hoffert is a bestselling author, accomplished media music composer, university professor, and recipient of the Order of Canada. (Photo courtesy of Hoffert Communications)
As for Hoffert’s continued involvement, the 82-year-old Brooklyn native — who is also a published author and an academic — says his passion for the band he co-founded, its musical legacy, and the sound that still resonates with fans old and new, provides all the fuel he needs to keep at it.
“We take pride in the quality of the music. We like it when people come back stage and say ‘Oh my goodness, you guys are so tight. You sound like you’ve been playing together a long time.’ Well, we have.”
Prior to Lighthouse taking the stage, the Cogeco-sponsored Future Sound Series will see Peterborough singer Carling Stephen perform from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., near the food trucks at the George Street entrance to Del Crary Park.
VIDEO: “Pretty Lady” – Lighthouse (2019)
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission concerts during its 39th season, staged in Del Crary Park on Wednesday and Saturday nights until August 19.
Overseen by executive director Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission remains “to provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”
For more information on this concert or the 2026 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or call the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest’s 2026 season.
Attendees at Green Economy Peterborough's fifth annual Leadership in Sustainability Celebration on June 11, 2026 collaborate on a visioning exercise where they shared ideas on what a healthy, sustainable version of Peterborough and the Kawarthas in 2050 means to them. Responses included vibrant neighbourhoods, thriving local businesses and a resilient low-carbon economy. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
Envision a vibrant Peterborough and the Kawarthas in the year 2050. What does it look like?
That was the assignment local business and community leaders were given at the fifth annual Green Economy Peterborough (GEP) Leadership in Sustainability Celebration on June 11.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Jackie Donaldson, Green Economy Peterborough Program Manager, GreenUP.
The ideas were inspiring: a well-connected and efficient multi-modal transportation network, rooftop and food gardens, bustling markets without an empty storefront in sight, forested green communities, inclusive services, social spaces and social support, and an active, circular economy connecting businesses, residents, and neighbourhoods.
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Held at the McDonnel Street Community Centre and hosted by GreenUP’s GEP program, the evening brought together a local network of entrepreneurs, small business owners, non-profit groups, and municipal leaders to celebrate five years of working towards a more resilient, dynamic, low-carbon economy.
The evening’s theme, “Let’s do things a little differently,” was both a nod to the network’s founding spirit and a recognition that relationships — a superpower of the local economy — can activate and reinforce a vibrant and resilient economic future.
“In a place like Peterborough where community really matters, sustainability just makes sense,” said Brenda Whitehead, president and CEO of the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce during her opening remarks. “It’s about making thoughtful choices, reducing waste, using resources wisely, and thinking long-term.”
A graphic reflection captured live by Yvonne Hollandy during GreenUP’s fifth annual Green Economy Peterborough Leadership in Sustainability Celebration on June 11, 2026. Elements include quotes and tips offered throughout the evening by GEP members and event speakers, as well as some of the ideas shared for a sustainable Peterborough in 2050 during a visioning exercise. (Illustration: Yvonne Hollandy / GreenUP)
“For small businesses, even modest changes can generate meaningful returns: cost savings, employee engagement, and deeper customer loyalty,” Whitehead added. “If everyone was doing it, there would be a lovely ripple effect that would strengthen our whole region.”
Keynote speaker Rudy Massimo, leadership consultant with Rudy Massimo and Associates, reinforced that message with a case for steady, principled commitment over quick wins.
“Resilience in business isn’t about having all the answers, but rather about having confidence, focus, and commitment, especially during uncertain times,” he said.
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The event also celebrated the efforts of attendees. Numerous GEP members were recognized as sustainability catalysts for their actions throughout the year — businesses that consistently showed up, shared their experience and expertise, and helped advance environmental sustainability across the local business community.
Among them was Engage Engineering, a downtown Peterborough firm and one of the evening’s sponsors.
“For us, operating in Peterborough is a natural fit because of the quality of life and sense of community,” said owner Paul Healy. “We always leave (the annual GEP celebration) inspired and energized to find new ways to bring responsible practices into our workplace.”
With the help of Nour Mazloum of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area and Rhonda Keenan of Peterborough County (front left), Green Economy Peterborough’s fifth annual Leadership in Sustainability Celebration on June 11, 2026 recognized its Sustainability Catalysts of 2026: Sullivan Law, Peterborough Optometric, Camp Kawartha, Engage Engineering, Jigsaw Organizing Solutions, Wild Rock Outfitters, Trent Health in Motion, Generation Solar, Morton Medical Centre, and Woodleigh Farms. Not pictured: Basterfield & Associates, Cabinetree, Cambium Consulting + Engineering, Green Street, Unity Design Studio, and John Cunningham. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
New members, Millbrook’s 4th Line Theatre and Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8), were both welcomed and recognized for their work to support sustainable tourism in the region.
For Hillary Flood, manager of research and special projects at RTO8, joining the network means tapping into something that provides coaching and support not otherwise available to small businesses.
“(The GEP team) excels at building momentum and enthusiasm for conscientious businesses, and gets folks who may have never dipped their toes into this world to think about their operations and how they might make small changes with large, bold impacts,” she said.
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As the network was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, the inaugural celebration was held online. Five years later, the June 11 in-person gathering honoured GEP’s founding members including Camp Kawartha, Wild Rock Outfitters, Cambium Consulting & Engineering, Peterborough Golf and Country Club, Unity Design Studio, the City of Peterborough, and Peterborough County.
With a shared vision and members recognized, the Leadership in Sustainability Celebration offered a renewed sense of momentum and a reminder that meaningful change is amplified by moving forward together, a sentiment Zaleekhah Boachie shares.
Boachie works with Certified B Corporation and active GEP member Sullivan Law. Learning through the network, she said, has been a great way to involve the firm in taking responsible environmental action for the benefit of the wider community.
Green Economy Peterborough members, partners, and friends gathered at the McDonnel Street Community Centre on June 11, 2026 to celebrate the efforts of local businesses advancing sustainability and helping to build a healthier, more resilient community. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
Though much has been accomplished over the network’s first five years, the visioning exercise at the beginning of the evening laid the groundwork for the future.
The celebration highlighted that building a more resilient local economy doesn’t happen through one bold idea or one organization alone. It happens when businesses learn from one another, share their stories, invest in their communities, and take meaningful steps forward — together.
GEP 2026 Leadership in Sustainability Celebration was made possible through the generous support from sponsors including Engage Engineering, Cambium Consulting & Engineering, Sullivan Law, the RBC Foundation, and TD.
GreenUP’s GEP program is a network that supports local businesses in sustainable practices. To learn more and sign up for the GEP newsletter, visit www.greeneconomypeterborough.ca.
From June 26 to 28, 2026, a group of volunteers from a wide range of organizations came together at the Little Gull Lake Marina on Mississagua Lake and the Gold Lake boat launch to remove more than 60 abandoned docks and other waste volunteers collected from the Catchacoma-Mississagua lakes system as part of the Abandoned Dock Initiative led by the Cavendish Community Ratepayers Association Inc. To continue the cleanup and remove a total of more than 100 abandoned docks, organizers have launched a GoFundMe with the goal of raising $20,000. (Photo courtesy of Abandoned Dock Initiative)
“Our shores are breathing again.”
So says Gold Lake cottager Cindy Bartoli amidst a multi-association initiative currently underway to remove abandoned docks across the Catchacoma-Mississagua lake system.
Though more than 60 abandoned docks have already been removed from the waterways, more and more continue to be documented. To keep up with the momentum, lead organizers have launched a GoFundMe with the goal of raising $20,000.
“Everything helps,” says Gary Jarosz, president of the Cavendish Community Ratepayers Association Inc. (CCRAI). “Let us finish the job because we’ve got the volunteers, we’ve got everything all arranged — we just need the money.”
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A community-based organization dedicated to working with local associations as well as businesses and residents across the Municipality of Trent Lakes to share and represent concerns to policy makers, the CCRAI is leading the Abandoned Dock Initiative.
Jarosz says the project has been on the association’s radar for a number of years, as more and more docks have built up across the seven-lake system which includes Catchacoma, Gold, Mississagua, Beaver, McGinnis, Cavendish, and Cold Lakes. Property owners often build or install new docks without properly disposing of their old ones, often leaving them abandoned in the bays.
“It costs money to take it to the dump,” Jarosz notes. “It’s a heck of a lot of work because these things weigh a ton, and a lot of times the wood’s waterlogged and everything, so people just drag them into a back bay and dump them. It’s out of sight, out of mind.”
The Cavendish Community Ratepayers Association Inc. is leading the multi-organization Abandoned Dock Initiative that aims to remove abandoned docks from the shores of lakes in the Catchacoma-Mississagua lake system in Trent Lakes. Often dumped by property owners in lake bays when they install new docks because of the difficulty and cost in properly disposing of them, the abandoned docks are a hazard for boaters and other watercraft operators, are dangerous for wildlife and the environment, and are an eyesore for lake residents. (Photo courtesy of Abandoned Dock Initiative)
Not only do the abandoned docks pose a hazard to boaters and other watercraft operators, many of the older abandoned docks use an unencapsulated plastic foam that the Ontario government has banned in new docks and platforms since 2021. These foam bats often break down or fall apart when they smash against rocks.
“Unfortunately, waterfowl and fish and other wildlife eat it and sometimes it kills them,” Jarosz says. “The pressure-treated wood has chemicals in it so it’s not good for the water. It starts to destroy the riparian ribbon which is the first section of shoreline from the water and extremely important in terms of naturalization of your shoreline.”
For her part, Bartoli — whose family has had their Gold Lake property since the early 1950s — says that while a lot of people may not notice the docks when they’re boating or on their property, it’s a major “eyesore” for those like herself who like to dip into the bays.
“I do a lot of paddling the shorelines of the lakes, so I’m in these back bays so I see this stuff,” she says. “For me, it was a huge priority because it would just be so upsetting. You’re going back for this lovely pristine nature paddle and all you’re seeing are abandoned docks and breaking up styrofoam flotation bats, and just general garbage and junk on the shorelines.”
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When the CCRAI began working towards a project to clean up the abandoned docks, they learned dumping of any kind, including abandoning docks, is illegal on Crown land and in lakes, and fines can go up to $5,000.
The association began rounding up a range of other stakeholders to begin an educational campaign spreading this information and working towards a cleanup initiative.
Involved partners include the Catchacoma Cottagers Association, the Mississauga District Cottagers Association, the Beaver, Cavendish, Bottle McGinnis Cottage Owners Organization, and Gold Lake representatives, as well as Curve Lake First Nation, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park, Little Gull Marina, Catchacoma Marina, and the Municipality of Trent Lakes Waste Management.
In January, the partners were awarded a $14,400 community grant from the Municipality of Trent Lakes after the organizations documented 28 abandoned docks they wanted to remove, and anticipated finding more to remove during the cleanup.
After collecting and extracting more than 60 abandoned docks from the Catchacoma-Mississagua lakes system with the support of a community grant from the Municipality of Trent Lakes, the Cavendish Community Ratepayers Association Inc. is aiming to keep up to momentum for the Abandoned Docks Initiative. The organizations will be removing docks from the Mississagua Dam from July 17 to 19, 2026 and the Catchacoma Marina in August. (Photo courtesy of Abandoned Dock Initiative)
But after the ice went out and the partners searched for abandoned docks, “pinning” them on a Google map, they realized there were a lot more than they initially thought.
From June 26 to 28, a wide group of volunteers worked to pull more than 60 collected abandoned docks out of the Little Gull Marina on Mississagua Lake and the Gold Lake Boat Launch. These abandoned docks filled 12 40-yard bins, which were all then taken to landfill for proper disposal.
“Not only were we pinning docks (on the Google map), but we were finding empty stray blue barrels from someone’s dock that had floated away, styrofoam bats, and pieces of styrofoam all over the place,” Jarosz points out. “We were pinning all of those too, because if we’re going to do a cleanup we’re going to do a cleanup of everything.”
Including the 60 already collected, there are now a total of 106 abandoned docks — and counting — the volunteers are hoping to pull out of the lakes.
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Between machinery rental fees, bin rental fees, and landfill tipping fees, the one-weekend cleanup in June cost about $20,000, leaving the organization down by more than $5,000 after the grant, and with much more work to do.
Instead of waiting to get another grant next year, the organizers decided to get more of the community involved by launching a GoFundMe with the goal of raising $20,000 to make up the $5,000 shortfall and fund the removal of the remaining docks.
The volunteer teams will be doing the removals at the Misssissagua Dam from July 17 to 19, and at the Catchacoma Marina in August.
“What we don’t want to do is lose the momentum,” Jarosz says. “We’ve got people all around the lake and while we’re towing docks on a Saturday morning in the rain, people are out there on their docks cheering us on.”
Although community volunteers are donating their time and efforts to collect, extract, and dispose of abandoned docks and other waste from the Catchacoma-Mississagua lakes system as part the Abandoned Docks Initiative, there are costs associated with renting machinery and disposal bins as well as landfill tipping fees. Although the initiative’s partners received a $14,400 community grant from the Municipality of Trent Lakes, the cost of the cleanup so far is $20,000 and organizers have launched a $20,000 GoFundMe to cover the $5,600 shortfall and additional costs to remove even more abandoned docks. (Photo courtesy of Abandoned Dock Initiative)
Jarosz says an unexpected bonus of the initiative has been seeing local associations, the municipality, residents, and businesses (including the Catchacoma Marina and Little Gull Marina) all coming together for the project.
“We’re galvanizing the entire community from the municipality downwards, including the businesses, to a common goal,” Jarosz says. “It’s great because what’s happening is a lot of people are meeting other people on the lake system, which creates a better community.”
As volunteers continue the cleanup efforts, the organizers suggest they will also be continuing to educate the public on how it’s illegal and dangerous to abandon their docks.
“Identification of the docks and the removal of the docks is a huge, massive part of the project, but education and prevention are going to be, going forward, very big continuing parts of the project,” says Bartoli. “We have to make sure that we’re not in the same position in another ten years.”
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After all, since the first cleanup, Bartoli has already been reaping the rewards of exploring a lake that’s free of abandoned docks.
“I have been out paddling this week and to go along areas of the shoreline that have been cleaned up — it’s been great just to see this, to see it clean and to see it natural and not covered in these bits and pieces of garbage,” she says.
Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation CEO Erin Coon (second from right) accepts a cheque for $15,579.44 from Rhonda White of the Kawartha ATV Association (KATVA). Also pictured from left to right are KATVA volunteer Susan Reeds, KATVA volunteer and founding member Tony Bullough, and KATVA board member Chris Pellow. (Photo courtesy of Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation)
The Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation is celebrating the Kawartha ATV Association (KATVA) for its milestone donation of more than $100,000 over the past decade in support of patient care needs at the Lindsay hospital.
Most recently, KATVA raised $15,579.44 through its annual poker run on June 6, which saw 218 adult registrants from as far away as Ottawa and London, 11 youth participants, 50 volunteers, and more than 50 community businesses and organizations that donated items for a silent auction, with proceeds boosted thanks to an unexpected anonymous donation.
This year’s donation brings the total amount KATVA has raised for the Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation over the past 10 years of poker runs to $100,008.44 — an achievement that means KATVA will receive founder level recognition with a plaque on the 1902 Society Wall in the hospital’s main lobby.
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“This is something every member of the KATVA family should be proud of,” said Rhonda White of KATVA in a media release. “Thank you for helping us make a difference in our community, supporting projects that benefit everyone.”
Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation CEO Erin Coons thanked “the riders, volunteers, sponsors, and landowners involved in making KATVA’s poker runs such an incredible success.”
“In ten years, you have impacted local patient care with support for the Emergency Department expansion and creation of a Mental Health Emergency Services Unit, as well as funding needs in the Mental Health Inpatient Unit, the OR, and the Diagnostic Imaging Department,” Coons added.
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