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Artsweek Peterborough returns May 5 for 10 days of free performance, poetry, and visual arts projects

By kawarthaNOW -
Mayhemingways (Benj Rowland and Josh Fewings) perform at Porchapalooza during Artsweek Peterborough 2018. Featuring live music performed by local musicians on five neighbourhood porches, Porchapalooza returns on May 6 and 7 during Artsweek 2023, which runs from May 5 to 14 with 10 days of free performance, poetry, and visual arts projects across Peterborough featuring 40 events and nearly 100 artists. (Photo: Andy Carroll)

After several delays because of the pandemic, Artsweek Peterborough is returning full force in May with 10 days of free performance, poetry, and visual arts projects across Peterborough featuring 40 events and nearly 100 artists.

Running from May 5 to 14, the theme of this year’s multi-arts festival is ‘Art in Unexpected Places’ — so expect to see for singers and dancers, circus artists, take-out poetry carts, musicians, giant puppets, visual artists, and surprise events and public acts of creativity popping up every everywhere from the Riverview Zoo to Peterborough Square and from Millennium Park to Armour Hill.

The origins of Artsweek go back to 2005, when the City of Peterborough celebrated its 100th anniversary as an incorporated municipality and formed a committee — led by arts managers and champions Su Ditta and the late Liz Bierk — to come up with ideas for designated legacy projects in the arts, ultimately leading to the annual Artsweek festival. The city transferred responsibility for Artsweek to the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) in 2014, and the festival became a biennial event after 2018.

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Although EC3 presented a COVID-modified festival in 2020 and early 2021, this is the first year since the pandemic began that Artsweek will return as a full-scale live event.

Artsweek 2023 launches at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 5th during the monthly First Friday Art Crawl in the courtyard of the Commerce Building at 2 Bankers Common in downtown Peterborough (access via the alley next to Watson & Lou at 383 Water Street).

Artsweek Opening Ceremonies will include the official proclamation of Artsweek by Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal, who will also say a few words about the festival. He will be joined by Terry Guiel, executive director of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) and councillor Alex Bierk, chair of the city’s arts, culture and heritage portfolio (and Liz Bierk’s son). Guest artists include the Unity Singers, musician “Washboard Hank” Fisher, and poets Justin Million and Laurin Isiekwena.

Pictured during Artsweek Peterborough 2018, the Take-Out Poetry Cart returns for Artsweek 2023. Step up to the handmade bicycle-pulled cart and a local poet will create a poem just for you, tapping it out on a classic manual typewriter. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
Pictured during Artsweek Peterborough 2018, the Take-Out Poetry Cart returns for Artsweek 2023. Step up to the handmade bicycle-pulled cart and a local poet will create a poem just for you, tapping it out on a classic manual typewriter. (Photo: Andy Carroll)

After the opening ceremonies, Artsweek’s opening night continues with a selection of 12 signature programs, many of which will be repeated on different dates and locations during the 10-day festival.

At 7:30 p.m. on Friday, artist Jennifer (Opal) Elchuck will lead the Woodland & The Wilds Promenade, a participatory performance featuring a magical gaggle of woodland creatures, musicians, and stilt-walkers who will parade around the downtown. Attendees are encouraged to don one of the animal masks, fly a banner, and join the parade, which departs from the Commerce Building courtyard.

From 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, the Take-Out Poetry Cart will be available on the sidewalks outside the Commerce Building. Step up to the handmade bicycle-pulled cart and a local poet will create a poem just for you, tapping it out on a classic manual typewriter. Whether you request a Shakespearean sonnet, a vengeful haiku, or a tragic ode, you are guaranteed to walk away with a unique work of spontaneous art. The Take-Out Poetry Cart will features a rotating all-star line-up of local poets, including Tammy Bunce-Yaxley, Jon Hedderwick, Kristal Jones, Stevie Lanigan, former Peterborough poet laureate Sarah Lewis, Justin Million, Janette Platana, Carlo José Quinones, Bon Scott, PJ Thomas, Niambi Tree, and Peterborough’s newest poet laureate Ziysah von Bieberstein.

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At 8 p.m. and again at 8:45 p.m. on Friday, visit the courtyard behind Black Honey Café at 217 Hunter Street West (access via the alley next to Karma’s Café) for Interactive Musical Animations, a one-night-only 20-minute performance of multimedia music and projections by singer-songwriter Benj Rowland.

Finally, from 9 to 10 p.m. on Friday at the Heritage Pavilion on Armour Hill at 300 Hunter Street East, experience a one-night-only concert under the stars when Charlie Glasspool and company perform as 3C84. This original song cycle, first written and recorded 15 years ago, is inspired by the discovery that a distant black hole (3C84) in the Perseus cluster of galaxies is emitting a steady B flat note — albeit inaudible to human ears at 57 octaves below middle C.

Intrigued by a note with real uses (concert B flat is used to tune a wind ensemble), Glasspool celebrates this cosmic phenomenon in a concert featuring the space-age sound of the theremin performed by Jesse Pilgrim. Along with Pilgrim on theremin and Glasspool on piano and voice, the performers include Jose Contreras (synths, sound effects, voice), Victoria Yeh (violin), Susan Newman (voice), and Evangeline Gentle (voice). Stargazing on Armour Hill with guest astronomers will follow the concert.

Charlie Glasspool (right) with Evangeline Gentle (left) and Susan Newman during a rehearsal for 3C84, which also includes Jesse Pilgrim, Jose Contreras, Victoria Yeh, who will perform under the stars at Armour Hill on the opening night of Artsweek Peterborough 2023 on Friday, May 5. (Photo: Evangeline Gentle)
Charlie Glasspool (right) with Evangeline Gentle (left) and Susan Newman during a rehearsal for 3C84, which also includes Jesse Pilgrim, Jose Contreras, Victoria Yeh, who will perform under the stars at Armour Hill on the opening night of Artsweek Peterborough 2023 on Friday, May 5. (Photo: Evangeline Gentle)

Artsweek continues on Saturday and Sunday (May 6 and 7) with Porchapalooza, which features live music performed by local musicians on five neighbourhood verandahs each day. Curated by Hank and Kristine Fisher, the performances take place at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. each day. You can take a guided tour of all five porches, moving from one porch to the next, or just drop by any of the five porches on your own.

Porchapalooza – Saturday, May 6

466 Gilmour St. – Chester Babcock (vintage vocal jazz)
516 Homewood Ave. – Victoria Yeh (jazz fusion violin)
524 Homewood Ave. – Phaedra & Marc (bluegrass country)
530 Gilmour St. – Little Fire Collective (space folk rock)
550 Gilmour St. – Irish Millie (traditional fiddle)

Porchapalooza – Sunday, May 7

546 Waterford St. – Tami J. Wilde (country folk)
562 Waterford St. – Sam Allison (roots hokum blues)
573 Waterford St. – Beau Dixon (R&B soul)
592 Waterford St. – Tom Eastland (folk rock)
544 Harvey St. – McDonnel Street Gospel Quartet (vintage roots gospel)

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When you’re not enjoying Porchapalooza, you can also visit the Take-Out Poetry Cart from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday at the main entrance to Jackson Park and experience Woodland & The Wilds Promenade on Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m. at the main entrance to Riverview Park & Zoo, where you can don a mask, fly a banner, and join a magical gaggle of woodland puppets, stilt-walkers, and travelling musicians.

Artsweek continues on Monday (May 8), with the launch of Look Out!, where a suite of Peterborough painters, video artists, and photographers investigate the possibilities of our urban landscape. Curated by Su Ditta, artists include Tia Cavanagh, LA Alphonso/Age of Moss (Paul Moss), Sioux Lily Dickson, Cassandra Lee, and Sammy Tangier. Look Out! will run daily until May 12, with locations and times to be announced at artsweekpeterborough.ca.

Also launching on May 8 and running until May 12 is Hot Spots, featuring 30-minute performances of music, dance, and spoken word at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the Peterborough Square courtyard at the corner of Water and Charlotte Streets.

Jennifer (Opal) Elchuck's "Woodland & The Wilds Promenade" is a participatory performance during Artsweek 2023 that celebrates local wildlife and our shared greenspaces with community crafting and a musical parade. Everyone can take part: don a mask, fly a banner and join a magical gaggle of woodland puppets, stilt-walkers, and travelling musicians on three celebratory tours of the downtown, the Riverview Zoo, and Ecology Park. (Photo courtesy of Public Energy)
Jennifer (Opal) Elchuck’s “Woodland & The Wilds Promenade” is a participatory performance during Artsweek 2023 that celebrates local wildlife and our shared greenspaces with community crafting and a musical parade. Everyone can take part: don a mask, fly a banner and join a magical gaggle of woodland puppets, stilt-walkers, and travelling musicians on three celebratory tours of the downtown, the Riverview Zoo, and Ecology Park. (Photo courtesy of Public Energy)

Curated by Sara Shahsavari and Su Ditta, performers include The Colton Sisters at 12:30 p.m. and Mintu Maria James at 5:30 p.m. on May 8, Cale Crow at 12:30 p.m. and Elizabeth Jenkins at 5:30 p.m. on May 9, Saskia, Jade & Shahrazi at 12:30 p.m. and Will Ward at 5:30 p.m. on May 10, Adrian Lowe at 12:30 p.m. and Kelli Marshall & Shahrazi at 5:30 p.m. on May 11, and Ále Suárez at 12:30 p.m. and Harbhajunkie at 5:30 p.m. on May 12. Catch them at lunchtime or after work.

Look Out! and Hot Spots continue Tuesday through Thursday (May 9 to 11), with the Take-Out Poetry Cart available from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Peterborough Public Library.

On Thursday (May 11), the Peterborough Poetry Slam Collective presents the first-ever Artsweek Invitational Peterborough Poetry Slam from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Peterborough Square courtyard (with the rain location inside Peterborough Square). The evening of competitive performance poetry, where poets perform original pieces up to three minutes in length, features poets Ziysah von Bieberstein, Niambi Tree, Sarah Lewis, Laurin Isiekwena, Carlo Jose Quinones, and more.

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On Friday (May 12), Look Out! and Hot Spots continue and the Take-Out Poetry Cart will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lansdowne Place.

Also on Friday, Naomi Duvall presents Dark Eyes: Granny Tales at 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. in the parking lot behind the Theatre On King at 171 King Street. Building on an original shadow puppet play, Dark Eyes is a 20-minute musical and semi-improvised storytelling session with projections where ‘Granny’ shares tales with her grandchildren and vivid memories of experiences from her younger days. Live music is performed by Naomi Duvall and Ryan Mclean Purdon, with recorded music and performances by Satah Cameron, Robert Hedge, Derek Bell, Lindsay Unterlander, and Sarah McNeilly.

On Saturday (May 13), the Take-Out Poetry Cart will be available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market at Quaker Foods City Square (on Charlotte Street just east of Aylmer).

Quaker Foods City Square will also host Construction Guys at 12 p.m. on Saturday. This aerial acrobatic street show from the Hercinia Arts Collective and Trellis Arts debuted in 2022 with performances at Brooklin Spring Fair, Arts in the Parks, and Toronto Buskerfest. Co-created and performed by Vanita Butrsingkorn, Nicole Malbeuf, and Emily Hughes with direction by Zita Nyarady, this high-energy show for the entire family features physical comedy, feats of strength, choreographed dances, and some high-flying acrobatic surprises. The show will be performed for a second time at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Millennium Park at 130 King Street.

VIDEO: “Construction Guys” trailer (2022)

Also on Saturday, Woodland & The Wilds Promenade takes place from 2 to 3 p.m. at Ecology Park (parking available at the Beavermead Park parking lot off Ashburnham Drive). For the final time during Artsweek, you can celebrate local wildlife and our shared greenspaces with community crafting and a musical parade. Everyone can take part: don a mask, fly a banner, and join a magical gaggle of woodland puppets, stilt-walkers, and travelling musicians.

The Artsweek Closing Celebration will be held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at Millennium Park, beside the Silver Bean Café. Join Artsweek artists, volunteers, staff, and supporters and dance your legs off to the sounds of Cajun music from the Peterborough bayou courtesy of Pays d’en Haut.

The final event for Artsweek 2023 is The Verandah Society from 1 to 2 p.m. on Sunday (May 14) on the Kerr House verandah at Trail College at 299 Dublin Street. An original performance of story and song by Megan Murphy and Kate Suhr with Saskia Tomkins on fiddle, The Verandah Society is a charming, humorous and heartfelt show that takes audiences on an entertaining and thought-provoking journey using personal storytelling and song writing. Full of nostalgia, humanity and humour, it’s time well spent with neighbours on the proverbial front porch.

PDF: Artsweek Peterborough 2023 program
Artsweek Peterborough 2023 program

For complete details of Artsweek 2023, including additional performances and any last-minute schedule changes, visit artsweekpeterborough.ca.

Presented by the Electric City Culture Council (EC3), Artsweek 2023 is funded by the City of Peterborough, the Ontario Arts Council, and the federal Department of Canadian Heritage and sponsored by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area and kawarthaNOW, with partners Public Energy Performing Arts, Ashburnham Realty, Peterborough Square, and First Friday Peterborough.

The Artsweek 2023 team includes executive producer Su Ditta, producer Bill Kimball, assistant producer Bryar Gray, EC3 program coordinators Elisha Rubacha and Gabe Pollock, curators Hank and Kristine Fisher (Porchapalooza), Sarah Shahsavari (Hot Spots), and Su Ditta (Hot Spots, Look Out!), with sound production by Alan Stanley, Tai Timbers, Nick Lato, and Rob Hailman, print design by Rob Wilkes of Big Sky Design, and documentation by Michael Morritt and Andy Carroll.

 

kawarthaNOW is proud to be the official media sponsor of Artsweek Peterborough 2023.

Peterborough’s rain garden subsidy program expands to commercial and institutional properties

By GreenUP -
GreenUP showcased this temporary rain garden and permeable parking pad at Peterborough's Market Plaza in fall 2022, as part of the Parking Lot Paradise initiative. Commercial property owners are now eligible for the City of Peterborough's Rain Garden Subsidy program. (Photo: Hayley Goodchild / GreenUP)

Since 2020, eligible homeowners in Peterborough have installed 155 square metres of rain gardens with support from GreenUP and the City of Peterborough’s Rain Garden Subsidy program.

Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s column is by Hayley Goodchild, Program Coordinator, GreenUP.

Together, these gardens can collect and return about 380 cubic metres of runoff into the ground per year, a volume that would fill around 550 average-sized hot tubs.

That’s a lot of water. But why does it matter?

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“Currently, only 25 per cent of the City of Peterborough’s stormwater is filtered for pollutants before entering natural waterways, such as the Otonabee River or Jackson Creek,” explains Curtis Mei, the city’s stormwater systems coordinator.

“When it rains, urban runoff (stormwater) carries sediment and pollutants from vehicles, fertilizers, road salt, animal waste, and grass clippings into these waterbodies, which pollutes natural habitat and our source of clean drinking water,” Mei adds.

Rain gardens are bowl-shaped gardens designed to take in runoff from a nearby hard surface, such as a roof or driveway. They are a type of ‘green infrastructure’. Green infrastructure refers to systems that harness living materials to provide important urban functions, like stormwater management.

An aerial view of a rain garden under construction, as featured in GreenUP's 'How to Rain Garden' video series. (Photo: Michael Hurcomb)
An aerial view of a rain garden under construction, as featured in GreenUP’s ‘How to Rain Garden’ video series. (Photo: Michael Hurcomb)

The plants and soil in a rain garden absorb runoff and filter out pollutants before returning the water to the ground, diverting them from local waterways.

There are many benefits to rain gardens. They provide important habitat for native insects and wildlife, reduce the urban heat effect, and absorb excess carbon from the atmosphere. When multiple homeowners install rain gardens on the same street, it can even lower the risk of flooding during heavy storms.

The City of Peterborough’s Rain Garden Subsidy Program is entering its fourth season. The program subsidizes the cost of installing a rain garden to a maximum of $1,000 per applicant. GreenUP supports this program by providing applicants with educational resources throughout the application and design process.

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There are a limited number of subsidies available each year, which are distributed on a first-come first-served basis.

This year, eligibility has been expanded to include commercial and institutional properties such as businesses, schools, and churches. Integrating green infrastructure into these types of spaces can help clean and manage stormwater in areas with a high proportion of paved surfaces, such as the downtown or other commercial corridors.

To get started with an application, participants must determine whether their property is suitable for a subsidized rain garden.

A digital rendering of a pollinator-friendly native species rain garden, one of two designed by GreenUP for use by anyone who wishes to install a rain garden in the Peterborough region. The bowl shape allows the garden to temporarily hold and filter stormwater. (Rendering: Hayley Goodchild / GreenUP)
A digital rendering of a pollinator-friendly native species rain garden, one of two designed by GreenUP for use by anyone who wishes to install a rain garden in the Peterborough region. The bowl shape allows the garden to temporarily hold and filter stormwater. (Rendering: Hayley Goodchild / GreenUP)

The garden must be situated at least three metres from any nearby foundations and located entirely on their property. It must be located outside the canopy of existing trees, in an area that slopes away from the home or building. Both front yards and backyards are acceptable.

As well, a rain garden cannot extend into the municipal right of way, where there are many utilities buried underground. To determine where your property ends, refer to a legal survey or consult the city’s interactive e-Maps 2.0 website.

Staff at GreenUP can help you find a suitable location for your rain garden. They can also help applicants complete the eligibility questionnaire. After filling out the questionnaire, you will be ready to design your garden and submit your full application.

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If designing a garden sounds like a lot of work, consider using a rain garden design template, a new feature of the program for 2023. The template gardens are designed to suit a range of properties and garden styles and prioritize the inclusion of plants native to this area.

The templates and other resources, including GreenUP’s four-part video series on the Rain Garden Subsidy Program, are freely available on our Rain Garden Resource page for everyone to use.

Start designing your rain garden this season — the waterways will thank you!

VIDEOS: Rain Garden Subsidy Program

 

The Rain Garden Subsidy Program is an initiative of the City of Peterborough delivered in collaboration with GreenUP. For more information, visit peterborough.ca/raingarden, or contact GreenUP program coordinator Hayley Goodchild at hayley.goodchild@greenup.on.ca.

Peterborough police issue public safety notice after Selwyn Township man is released from custody

By kawarthaNOW -
20-year-old Austin DeMaeyer of Selwyn Township. (Police-supplied photo)

Peterborough police have issued a public safety notice after a 20-year-old Selwyn Township man was sentenced and released from custody on Wednesday (April 26) in connection with an incident on a Peterborough trail last June.

Austin DeMaeyer was arrested on June 22, 2022 for contravening a lifetime weapons prohibition and a probation order to not attend any campground, park, trails, or hiking areas except accompanied by an adult.

Peterborough police had spotted DeMaeyer by himself and followed him to a trail in the area of Nassau Mills Road and Armour Road. Officers located him just off the trail in the bushes with a compound bow and arrows.

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As part of DeMaeyer’s sentencing on Wednesday, he was placed on a three-year probation order for failing to comply with a previous probation order to not possess any weapons.

“Given the nature of the crimes, which includes a history of targeting women, we have chosen to release his name and photo,” reads a statement from the Peterborough Police Service. “This release is being made in accordance with the provisions of the Ontario Police Service Act.”

Until his sentencing and release on Wednesday, DeMaeyer had been held in custody since his arrest in June 2022.

What’s new on Netflix Canada in May 2023

By kawarthaNOW -
Arnold Schwarzenegger appears in his first-ever small-screen series in the new Netflix action comedy FUBAR, which tells the story of a father and daughter who learn they are both secret CIA operatives and are forced to team up as partners. The eight-episode series premieres on Netflix on Thursday, May 25th. (Photo: Netflix)

Every month, kawarthaNOW is the only local media source to bring you a list of what’s coming to Netflix Canada. Here are a few highlights of what’s coming to Netflix in May.

The 75-year-old actor and former politician Arnold Schwarzenegger appears in his first-ever small-screen series in the new Netflix action comedy FUBAR, loosely inspired by Schwarzenegger 1994 hit film True Lies with Jamie Lee Curtis.

Luke (Schwarzenegger) and his daughter Emma (Monica Barbaro) have lied to each other for years, both of them not knowing the other is a CIA operative. Once they both learn the truth, they realize they don’t actually know one another at all. Forced to team up as partners, Luke and Emma face challenging family dynamics against a global backdrop of spies, action, and humour. The eight-episode series premieres on Netflix on Thursday, May 25th.

VIDEO: “FUBAR” trailer

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Jennifer Lopez returns to her action roots in the gritty Netflix film The Mother, which was filmed in Vancouver and northern British Columbia. After years of hiding out in the Alaskan wilderness, a deadly military-trained assassin returns to rescue the daughter she’s never met (Lucy Paez) from ruthless criminals gunning for revenge. Also starring Joseph Fiennes, Omari Hardwick, Paul Raci, and Gael Garcia Bernal, the film debuts on Netflix on Friday, May 12th.

VIDEO: “The Mother” trailer

Netflix recently announced it’s investing $2.5 billion in South Korean content over the next four years, buoyed by the success of 2021’s Squid Game, Netflix’s most-popular series of all time, as well as this year’s Physical 100, which was Netflix’s most-watched non-English language show worldwide. On Friday, May 12th, Netflix will release the South Korean sci-fi action series Black Knights, which depicts a dystopian future in 2071 devastated by air pollution where the survival of humanity depends on delivery drivers known as Black Knights. The six-episode series is based based on Lee Yoon-gyun’s webtoon Delivery Knight.

VIDEO: “Black Knights” trailer

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If historical romance is more your thing, you’ll want to check out Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. A prequel spin-off of the hit Netflix series Bridgerton, the series will focus on the rise of young Queen Charlotte (India Amarteifio and Golda Rosheuvel) to prominence and power, including her marriage to King George of England. The six-episode series premieres on Netflix on Thursday, May 4th.

VIDEO: “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” trailer

For lovers of young adult romance, there’s the new Netflix romantic dramedy series XO, Kitty, a spin-off of Netflix’s To All the Boys film series, adapted from American author Jenny Han’s book trilogy To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (Han is serving as writer, executive producer, and a showrunner). A new love story unfolds when teen matchmaker Kitty Covey (Anna Cathcart) reunites with her long-distance boyfriend at the same Seoul high school attended by her late mother. The 10-episode series debuts on Netflix on Thursday, May 18th.

VIDEO: “XO, Kitty” trailer

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Other new Netflix series include Siren: Survive the Island (no release date specified), Love Village and The Tailor (both on May 2), Jewish Matchmaking (May 3), Sanctuary (May 4), Dance Brother (May 10), Mulligan (May 12), Muted (May 19), The Ultimatum: Queer Love (May 24), and Turn of the Tide (May 26). Returning Netflix series include season seven of Queer Eye (May 12) and season six of Selling Sunset (May 19). Netflix documentaries include Missing: Dead or Alive? and Queen Cleopatra (both on May 10), Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me (May 16), McGregor Forever and Working: What We Do All Day (both on May 17), and MerPeople and Victim/Suspect (both on May 22).

Other new Netflix films include Royalteen: Princess Margrethe (May 11), Faithfully Yours and Fanfic (both on May 17), Kathal – A Jackfruit Mystery (May 19), Hard Feelings (May 24), Blood & Gold and Tin & Tina (both on May 26), and Mixed by Erry (May 31). Theatrically released films include American Gangster, Fifty Shades of Grey, Meet the Fockers, Pacific Rim, and Stuart Little (all on May 1), Mamma Mia! (May 7), The 40-Year-Old Virgin (May 14), Book Club and Wind River (both on May 15), Ted and Ted 2 (both on May 16), Jack Reacher, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, and You’ve Got Mail (all on May 21), The Boss Baby (May 22), Masterminds (May 28), and Hitch (May 31).

VIDEO: New to Netflix Canada in May 2023

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Here’s the complete list of everything coming to Netflix Canada in May, along with what’s leaving.

Coming in May (no release date specified)

  • Siren: Survive the Island (Netflix series) – 24 female police officers, firefighters, bodyguards, soldiers, athletes and stuntwomen team up by profession to compete for survival on a remote island.

 

Monday, May 1

  • 3 Ninjas: Kick Back
  • American Gangster
  • Blood Quantum
  • The Butterfly Effect
  • Fifty Shades of Grey
  • Flight
  • Hell or High Water
  • Hop
  • How to Be Single
  • Little Fockers
  • Meet the Fockers
  • Meet the Parents
  • Pacific Rim
  • Rainbow High: Season 3
  • Simply Irresistible
  • Snowtime!
  • Spotlight
  • Stuart Little

 

Tuesday, May 2

  • Love Village (Netflix series) – Singles 35 and over of various backgrounds relocate to a house in the countryside for another chance at love. Will they find “the one” &mash; or leave alone?
  • The Tailor (Netflix series) – A famous tailor begins to sew a wedding dress for his best friend’s fiancé — but all three have dark secrets that will soon upend their lives.

 

Wednesday, May 3

  • Jewish Matchmaking (Netflix series) – A new series from the producers of Indian Matchmaking, Jewish Matchmaking features singles in the US and Israel as they turn their dating life over to top Jewish matchmaker, Aleeza Ben Shalom. Will using the traditional practice of shidduch dating help them find their soulmate in today’s world?

 

Thursday, May 4

  • The Flash: Season 9
  • Larva Family (Netflix family) – The Larva family is growing! When Red and Yellow welcome a baby caterpillar into their lives, they get a crash course in parenting and all things putrid.
  • Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Netflix series) – Young Queen Charlotte’s marriage to King George of England sparks an epic love story and transforms high society in this “Bridgerton” universe prequel.
  • Sanctuary (Netflix series) – A tough, desperate kid becomes a sumo wrestler, captivating fans with his cocky attitude &mash; and upsetting an industry steeped in tradition.

 

Sunday, May 7

  • Mamma Mia!

 

Monday, May 8

  • Spirit Rangers: Season 2 (Netflix family) – Eddy, Summer and Kodi are back in action at Xus National Park, learning about nature on exciting adventures with new visitors &mash; and old friends, too!

 

Tuesday, May 9

  • Hannah Gadsby: Something Special (Netflix comedy) – Emmy and Peabody Award winning comedian Hannah Gadsby is back for their third Netflix comedy special and it’s a feel-good show. The comedian talks about a wedding (theirs!), more than one traumatic encounter with a bunny, and much more. Filmed at the Sydney Opera House.

 

Wednesday, May 10

  • Dance Brothers (Netflix series) – Two brothers trying to make it as dancers open their own club, but their artistic drive soon clashes with the business, threatening their relationship.
  • Missing: Dead or Alive? (Netflix documentary) – Follow officers from a South Carolina sheriff’s department as they urgently search for individuals who’ve disappeared under troubling circumstances.
  • Queen Cleopatra (Netflix documentary) – From executive producer Jada Pinkett Smith comes a documentary series exploring the lives of prominent and iconic African aueens. This season will feature Queen Cleopatra, the world’s most famous, powerful, and misunderstood woman — a daring queen whose beauty and romances came to overshadow her real asset: her intellect. Cleopatra’s heritage has been the subject of much academic debate, which has often been ignored by Hollywood. Now our series re-assesses this fascinating part of her story.

 

Thursday, May 11

  • Royalteen: Princess Margrethe (Netflix film) – In the wake of her prom scandal, Princess Margrethe longs for normalcy as she struggles to maintain her perfect facade while dealing with family drama.
  • Ultraman: Season 3 (Netflix anime) – As public sentiment turns against Ultraman, Shinjiro learns that his inherited powers may come with a heavy price, in this exciting series conclusion.

 

Friday, May 12

  • Black Knight (Netflix series) – In a dystopian 2071 devastated by air pollution, the survival of humanity depends on the Black Knights &mash; and they’re far from your average deliverymen.
  • Call Me Kate
  • The Mother (Netflix film) – A deadly female assassin comes out of hiding to protect the daughter that she gave up years before, while on the run from dangerous men.
  • Mulligan (Netflix series) – In this satirical comedy, when most of Earth is destroyed by aliens, can a few survivors rebuild what’s left of America and form a more perfect union?
  • Queer Eye: Season 7 (Netflix series) – Join the party with the Fab Five in the city of New Orleans for a new season of inspirational heroes &mash; and beautiful before-and-afters.

 

Sunday, May 14

  • The 40-Year-Old Virgin

 

Monday, May 15

  • Book Club
  • The Boss Baby: Family Business
  • Nitro Rush
  • Side Effects
  • Starbuck
  • Wind River

 

Tuesday, May 16

  • Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me (Netflix documentary) – From the heights of her modelling fame to her tragic death, this documentary reveals Anna Nicole Smith through the eyes of the people closest to her.
  • Instant Family
  • Ted
  • Ted 2

 

Wednesday, May 17

  • Faithfully Yours (Netflix film) – Using each other as alibis, two friends sneak off to indulge in secret affairs &mash; but their elaborate web of lies unravels when one of them goes missing.
  • Fanfic (Netflix film) – Two high school students form an intense connection as they navigate the challenges of discovering and expressing their truest selves.
  • McGREGOR FOREVER (Netflix documentary) – Conor McGregor embarks on the most important year of his career, fighting three times and trying to climb back to the top of the UFC ladder. This series will be an all-access look at this polarizing superstar, along with the deeper history of what brought him to this point.
  • Rhythm + Flow France: Season 2 (Netflix series) – A fresh batch of aspiring artists competes for a 100,000 euro prize and the claim to French rap fame in this competition judged by Niska, Shay and SCH.
  • Working: What We Do All Day (Netflix documentary) – What brings you joy in work? What gives you purpose? What makes a good job good? These are the questions at the centre of this compelling documentary series that explores the ways in which we find meaning in our work and how our experiences and struggles connect us on a human level. Narrated by President Barack Obama, who makes appearances alongside everyday people in their homes and places of work, the series follows individuals at all levels of the workforce across the industries of home care, tech, and hospitality.

 

Thursday, May 18

  • Kitti Katz (Netflix family) – Three teenage girls transform into fierce feline superheroes to save the world from an evil Egyptian goddess &mash; and still have time for soccer practice.
  • XO, Kitty (Netflix series) – A new love story unfolds when teen matchmaker Kitty reunites with her long-distance boyfriend at the same Seoul high school attended by her late mother.
  • Yakitori: Soldiers of Misfortune (Netflix series) – With Earth colonized by a superior alien civilization, Akira’s only chance at a better future is to enlist as an expendable Yakitori foot soldier.

 

Friday, May 19

  • Kathal – A Jackfruit Mystery (Netflix film) – When two prized jackfruits disappear from a politician’s garden, a spirited cop’s investigation takes an unexpected turn as she digs for the truth.
  • Muted (Netflix series) – Sergio hasn’t spoken since he murdered his parents six years ago. Now, a psychiatrist aims to uncover what happened through a twisted investigation.
  • Selling Sunset: Season 6 (Netflix series) – The stakes and stilettos are as high as they’ve ever been at the brokerage, as longtime agents make big changes and two new team members bring the heat.
  • Young, Famous & African: Season 2 (Netflix series) – The celebrity crew is back &mash; and their claws are out. Join the stars as they return to Johannesburg for another season of fun, fights and drama.

 

Sunday, May 21

  • A Dark Truth
  • Jack Reacher
  • Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
  • Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
  • You’ve Got Mail

 

Monday, May 22

  • The Boss Baby
  • The Creature Cases: Chapter 3 (Netflix family) – Sam and Kit are back to collect the clues and solve more animal mysteries from around the world with new cases, new rides and new creature pals!

 

Tuesday, May 23

  • MerPeople (Netflix documentary) – MerPeople dives into the fascinating world of underwater performers who have turned their love for the mystical sea creatures into real-world careers. From putting on dazzling small-town shows in Florida to the crowning of the King and Queen of the Seas in the Bahamas, this series will take you on a journey of passion and perseverance. Get ready to set sail on an unforgettable voyage and immerse yourself in a world where fantasy becomes reality.
  • Victim/Suspect (Netflix documentary) – When a journalist digs into a case of a woman charged with falsely reporting a rape, a pattern emerges: authorities turning the tables on victims.
  • Wanda Sykes: I’m An Entertainer (Netflix comedy) – Legendary comedian, actress and producer Wanda Sykes returns for her second hour-long Netflix comedy special. From the challenges of raising Gen Z teens to the dilemmas of being a liberal in a hyper charged political climate, Sykes, renowned for her social commentary, delivers her insightful and ferocious wit and candor audiences have come to know and love.

 

Wednesday, May 24

  • Hard Feelings (Netflix film) – Two best friends try to make it through high school while dealing with embarrassing new urges &mash; and their very inconvenient feelings for each other.
  • Mother’s Day (Netflix film) – When the son she’s never known gets kidnapped, former special agent Nina dusts off her deadly skills to bring him home &mash; no matter who gets in her way.
  • Rhythm + Flow France: Season 2 (Netflix series, new episodes) – A fresh batch of aspiring artists competes for a 100,000 euro prize and the claim to French rap fame in this competition judged by Niska, Shay and SCH.
  • The Ultimatum: Queer Love (Netflix series) – Tie the knot or call it quits? Five long-term couples are put under pressure to get married or move on in this queer-centric spin-off of “The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On.”

 

Thursday, May 25

  • FUBAR (Netflix series) – When a father and daughter learn that they’ve each secretly been working as CIA Operatives for years, they realize their entire relationship has been a lie and they truly don’t know one another at all. Forced to team up as partners, the series tackles universal family dynamics set against a global backdrop of spies, action, and humour.

 

Friday, May 26

  • Barbecue Showdown: Season 2 (Netflix series) – New host Michelle Buteau (“The Circle”) joins the judges for a fresh round of heated competition between eight of the best barbecuers in the country.
  • Blood & Gold (Netflix film) – At the bitter end of WWII, a German deserter and a young woman are drawn into bloody battle with a group of Nazis hunting for hidden gold.
  • Tin & Tina (Netflix film) – After a traumatic miscarriage, a young couple adopts two peculiar twins from a convent whose obsession with religion soon disturbs the family.
  • Turn of the Tide (Netflix series) – When a boat loaded with cocaine sinks off the Azores, Eduardo sees a risky but exciting opportunity to make money and fulfill impossible dreams.

 

Sunday, May 28

  • Masterminds

 

Tuesday, May 30

  • I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson: Season 3 (Netflix comedy) – The critically acclaimed and hilariously absurdist comedy series, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson returns for a third season. Creators and writers Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin bring their distinct comedy style and observational humour to the forefront, continuing to poke fun at life’s most bizarre and mundane situations.

 

Wednesday, May 31

  • Hitch
  • Mixed by Erry (Netflix film) – Smuggling self-made mixtapes in 1980s Naples, an aspiring DJ and his two brothers become surprisingly powerful record producers wanted by the law.
  • Rhythm + Flow France: Season 2 (Netflix series, new episodes) – A fresh batch of aspiring artists competes for a 100,000 euro prize and the claim to French rap fame in this competition judged by Niska, Shay and SCH.
  • The Ultimatum: Queer Love (Netflix series, new episodes) – Tie the knot or call it quits? Five long-term couples are put under pressure to get married or move on in this queer-centric spin-off of “The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On.”

 

Leaving Netflix Canada in May

Sunday, May 7

  • Star: Seasons 1-3

Wednesday, May 10

  • Bordertown: Seasons 1-3

Saturday, May 20

  • The 100: Seasons 1-7

Wednesday, May 31

  • Billy Madison
  • Full House: Seasons 1-8
  • Midnight Diner: Seasons 1-3

 

All titles and dates are subject to change.

Bike share program launched at A Place Called Home’s emergency shelter in Lindsay

By kawarthaNOW -
A Place Called Home's emergency shelter in Lindsay is now offering a free bike share program for its residents thanks to a grant from the United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes. Pictured with the four bikes and bike rack are Jen Lopinski of A Place Called Home (left) along with Shantal Ingram and Jennifer Bain of the United Way. (Photo courtesy of A Place Called Home)

Residents of A Place Called Home’s emergency shelter in Lindsay now have access to a free bike share program thanks to a grant from the United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes.

Since 1995, A Place Called Home has been supporting unhoused men, women, and families with children in the City of Kawartha Lakes and County of Haliburton. Last summer, the charitable non-profit organization completed construction on a new emergency shelter at 64 Lindsay Street South.

Last September, the organization was awarded a $4,987.14 community capacity grant from the United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes to establish a bike share program for emergency shelter residents.

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“Having access to transportation is necessary to carry out some of the day-to-day tasks of everyday life,” says United Way co-executive director Shantal Ingram in a media release. “We are pleased to support the bike share program.”

After receiving advice from Sandra Patrick, owner of the Down to Earth full-service bike shop and outdoor store in downtown Lindsay, A Place Called Home purchased four Electra Townie bicycles, equipped with front baskets and locks, along with a bike rack.

“Our agency has always dreamed of providing our clients with access to free transportation to help them get to important appointments such as a doctor’s appointment or a job interview,” says Jen Lopinski, fund development coordinator at A Place Called Home. “Thanks to the United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes Community Capacity Grant, that dream has come true.”

“Having access to free transportation will increase our client’s independence and self efficiency, bolstering self esteem and positives outcomes,” Lopinski adds.

For more information about A Place Called Home, visit www.apch.ca.

Police ask for public’s help after pickup truck forced SUV off County Road 28 in Port Hope Sunday night

By kawarthaNOW -
The occupants in this SUV reported minor injuries after allegedly being struck and forced off County Road 28 in the Port Hope area by a pickup truck on April 23, 2023. The occupants of the SUV and pickup truck had been involved in an earlier altercation at a pond at the Zion Line Road area in Millbrook. (Police-supplied photo)

Northumberland Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are asking for the public’s help as they investigate an altercation that allegedly led to a pickup truck forcing an SUV off County Road 28 in the Port Hope area on Sunday night (April 23).

At 10:20 p.m. on Sunday, Northumberland OPP received information about a motor vehicle collision involving an SUV and a pickup truck. Upon arriving at the scene of the collision, police received information that an altercation had occurred between several male individuals at a pond at the Zion Line Road area in Millbrook. The altercation continued when the individuals involved left the area in an SUV and a grey or silver-coloured newer model pickup truck.

While travelling southbound on County Road 28 in the Port Hope area, north of County Road 9 by the Hamilton Township border, the pickup truck is alleged to have struck the SUV, forcing it off the roadway and into the ditch. The driver of the pickup truck then drove off.

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The occupants in the SUV reported minor injuries as a result.

The pickup truck may have fresh front-end damage because of this incident.

Police are asking the public’s assistance with this investigation. Any person with information should immediately contact the Northumberland OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000. You can also submit information online at stopcrimehere.ca.

Free summer concerts return to Victoria Park in Lindsay this summer

By kawarthaNOW -
The 'Concerts in the Park' free summer concert series takes place at the Frank Banks Gazebo in Victoria Park in downtown Lindsay on Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons during July and August. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)

The City of Kawartha Lakes is presenting its annual free ‘Concerts in the Park’ series again this summer, and is seeking youth performers for two Sunday afternoon open mic performances in July and August.

The concerts take place at the Frank Banks Gazebo in Victoria Park in downtown Lindsay on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Sunday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m. during July and August (with the exception of Sunday, July 16).

The youth open mic afternoons — taking place from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 9th and Sunday, August 6th — provide an opportunity for local youth 18 years and younger to showcase their talents. Youth are invited to perform a maximum of three songs during a 15-minute set. As limited space is available, any youth interested in performing this summer are asked to e-mail communitydevelopment@kawarthalakes.ca.

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As for the rest of the concert series, here’s the line-up:

  • Sunday, July 2 – Brian Wride
  • Wednesday, July 5 – Shannon Roszell
  • Wednesday, July 12 – David Donar
  • Wednesday, July 19 – Band for a Better World
  • Sunday, July 23 – Randy Read
  • Wednesday, July 26 – Douglas MacKenzie
  • Sunday, July 30 – Gary Peters
  • Wednesday, August 2 – The JD Sautner Band
  • Wednesday, August 9 – The Bombshell Deluxe
  • Sunday, August 13 – The Reachers Kawartha Art Gallery
  • Wednesday, August 16 – Parker Boulevard House Band
  • Sunday, August 20 – Ferrport Jazz Ensemble
  • Wednesday, August 23 – Hitcher
  • Sunday, August 27 – Jake Norris and the Sidestreet Band
  • Wednesday, August 3 0- Linda ‘Pinky’ Brown & Gerard Van Halteren

Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Concerts are weather permitting and held at the discretion of the band.

Sponsors for the summer concert series include the Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce, #iPinkySwear.org, Lindsay Dodge, and other local businesses and organizations.

For more information, including performer biographies and individual concert sponsors, visit www.kawarthalakes.ca/en/things-to-do/concerts-in-the-park.aspx.

Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region to lease property to Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes

By Paul Rellinger -
Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) chair Trish Campbell, Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and Kawartha Region CEO Susan Zambonin, Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes land acquisition working group lead Keith Dalton, and Habitat for Humanity communications and donor services manager Jenn MacDonald gathered outside Habitat for Humanity's Milroy Drive location on April 25, 2023 to announce details of a new partnership destined to provide interim solutions to the local homelessness crisis. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)

Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and Kawartha Region has partnered with Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH), giving new life to a vacant Lansdowne Street East building while providing real hope for the unhoused.

On Tuesday (April 25) outside Habitat for Humanity’s office location on Milroy Drive, representatives of both organizations revealed an ambitious plan that checks major boxes for both.

With its pending purchase of the former Peterborough Humane Society building at 385 Lansdowne Street East, Habitat for Humanity will lease the building to PATH for three years for the purpose of providing transitional shelter support. In addition, the property will be home to 15 sleeping cabins, their occupants able to access shower and bathroom facilities in the main building.

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At the end of the three-year lease, the hope is that PATH will have secured property — at a location still to be determined — for a community that can accommodate 30 tiny homes. Habitat for Humanity, meanwhile, will move ahead with plans to develop affordable condo units at the site of the now-vacated building.

“Habitat for Humanity has just made it possible for PATH’s dream to become a reality,” said PATH chair Trish Campbell, adding “This is the birth of a creative relationship to respond to Peterborough’s housing and homelessness crisis.”

Habitat for Humanity CEO Susan Zambonin noted the partnership speaks directly to the agency’s mission.

“Our vision is a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live,” she said. “This partnership will allow Habitat for Humanity to give a hand up to PATH and unhoused members of our community by providing them with a safe place where they can connect, heal, and build community.”

Habitat for Humanity Communications and Donor Services Manager Jenn MacDonald spoke from the podium outside Habitat for Humanity's Milroy Drive location on April 25, 2023, setting the stage for a joint announcement from Habitat for Humanity and Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH). (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
Habitat for Humanity Communications and Donor Services Manager Jenn MacDonald spoke from the podium outside Habitat for Humanity’s Milroy Drive location on April 25, 2023, setting the stage for a joint announcement from Habitat for Humanity and Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH). (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)

Later, Zambonin termed the collaboration “a real win-win.”

“This (unhoused people) is a population we don’t serve, so it’s an ideal opportunity for us to partner with PATH. We had been trying to help PATH find some land for awhile but they found this all on their own. We’re just happy they included us to help them with the purchase.”

While PATH awaits word on a temporary use rezoning application required to use the space for transitional shelter support, Habitat for Humanity has a long road ahead in terms of getting approvals for its intended use of he property.

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“We will be purchasing the property at the end of June — we have an accepted offer (to purchase),” Zambonin said. “PATH will start renting it at that point and doing some renovations inside the building to meet their needs for three years. At that point, we’re hoping that we’ll have the by-law amendment that we need in order to then move forward with our proposal.”

“We still have to have a meeting with our architect to see how many units he thinks the site will support. We’re thinking commercial (units) on the bottom and condos second floor and above, however many stories that happens to be. We’ll have to see what the site can support in terms of parking.”

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With the mission is to provide homes to individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, PATH formed in 2021.

While some tiny homes have been constructed, finding a location for them has proven elusive, including a proposal to locate them on a vacant property at Park and Lansdowne streets that was denied by city council following lengthy and, at times, heated debate.

A crowd featuring, among others, Peterborough city councillors Alex Bierk and Joy Lachica (far left), gathered outside Habitat for Humanity's Milroy Drive location on April 25, 2023 to hear details of a partnership between Habitat for Humanity and Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) destined to provide interim solutions to the local homelessness crisis. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
A crowd featuring, among others, Peterborough city councillors Alex Bierk and Joy Lachica (far left), gathered outside Habitat for Humanity’s Milroy Drive location on April 25, 2023 to hear details of a partnership between Habitat for Humanity and Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) destined to provide interim solutions to the local homelessness crisis. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)

On Tuesday, Town Ward councillors Alex Bierk and Joy Lachica — both staunch supports of the tiny homes model — were on hand.

“It’s such a joy to have conversations this morning with those on the ground who have spearheaded this from the beginning,” said Lachica.

“There have been obstacles but they (PATH) stayed the course and here we are. Partnership has been found and, together, there’s a vision for something bigger. Something that Peterborough hasn’t experienced yet; something that we’re seeing in other cities that has been successful.”

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For his part, Bierk summed up his feelings in just a few words — “This is a good day,” adding “We need to listen to the needs of people that are unhoused. They’re telling us that the current system in place is not working for them. We need to start building systems and supports that are going to meet the needs of individuals who are unhoused.”

Bierk added a report coming before council in early May will be related to “what we’re hearing today. I just came from a homelessness meeting. There’s a lot in the works that hopefully is going to finally start to address the issue in a meaningful way and we’re going to start to work toward some change.”

According to PATH land acquisition working group lead Keith Dalton, with the announcement of the partnership made, “We can now move forward on the many pledges of financial and in-kind support” received from the community.

“The missing piece has been land,” added Dalton.

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Meanwhile, Zambonin, while stopping short of saying other Habitat for Humanity agencies should take note of this partnership and follow accordingly, did note “there’s an excellent opportunity for other Habitat affiliates to help tiny homes across the country.”

A media release states the project “is in the early development stages” and that an open house will be scheduled in the coming weeks to give neighbouring residents an opportunity to learn more and provide feedback.

In the interim, residents who have any questions or comments or who would like to submit statements of support can email pathadm22@gmail.com.

 

This story has been updated with complete coverage of today’s announcement by Paul Rellinger.

Peterborough Petes defeat Ottawa to advance to Eastern Conference championship

By kawarthaNOW -
The Peterborough Petes defeated the Ottawa 67's 5-4 on April 24, 2023 to take the best-of-seven semi-final series 4-2 and advance to the Eastern Conference championship for the first time since the 2016-17 season. (Photo: Kenneth Andersen Photography)

The Peterborough Petes have defeated the Ottawa 67’s to advance to the Eastern Conference championship for the first time since the 2016-17 season.

In game six of their best-of-seven semi-final series at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Monday night (April 24), the Petes won the game 5-4 to eliminate the regular season champions and to take the series 4-2.

The Petes led the game 2-1 by the end of the first period, with goals by Connor Lockhart and Avery Hayes. The Petes dominated the second period, with Lockhart scoring again along with Jonathan Melee. Early in the third period, Lockhart achieved a hat trick (with Chase Smith’s third assist of the game) to increase the Petes’ lead by 5-1.

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Ottawa then scored three successful goals but were unable to tie the game, with Michael Simpson stopping 35 of 39 shots for his eighth win of the postseason.

In the Eastern Conference championship, which will be played between April 27 and May 9, the Petes will face either the North Bay Battalion or the Barrie Colts, whose series is tied 3-3 with the deciding game to be played in North Bay on Tuesday night.

Tickets for the first and second championship home games will go on sale to the general public at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning through the Peterborough Memorial Centre’s Grant Thornton Box Office.

Community backlash grows after announcement Minden’s emergency department will close June 1

By kawarthaNOW -
Haliburton Highlands Health Services, which operates an 24/7 emergency department at 4575 Deep Bay Road in Minden, has announced the closure of Minden's emergency services on June 1, 2023, with all staff to be transferred to the emergency department in Haliburton, due to continued staffing shortages. (Photo: Google Maps)

The backlash from the Minden community continues to grow following the announcement by Haliburton Highlands Health Services last Thursday (April 20) that the Minden emergency department will be closed effective Friday, June 1st, with all staff to be transferred to the emergency department in Haliburton.

Haliburton Highlands Health Services currently operates two emergency departments that are open 24/7, one at 4575 Deep Bay Road in Minden and the other at 7199 Gelert Road in Haliburton, both with on-site heliports. Unlike the Haliburton location, which has 15 in-patient beds, the Minden location does not offer in-patient acute care services.

According to a statement from Haliburton Highlands Health Services president and CEO Carolyn Plummer and board chair David O’Brien, the decision to close the Minden emergency department was made in response to an ongoing shortage of nursing and medical staff.

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“We know how much the community has appreciated having an emergency department in Minden,” reads the statement. “This decision has been made so (Haliburton Highlands Health Services) can continue to maintain high-quality health services for everyone in Haliburton County. It will help us run a more sustainable operation in the long-term, while supporting the well-being of our staff and physicians.”

“It also means we can do more to support our staff and physicians. The pressure to keep two emergency departments open, on top of the personal and professional sacrifices it has demanded, has been unbelievable. We have to support our staff, so they can keep protecting and caring for our patients.”

With the closure of the Minden emergency department, local residents would need to travel 25 kilometres northeast to Haliburton’s emergency department — a 25-minute drive.

“With the only in-patient beds in the county being located at the Haliburton site, this change means that anyone who comes to the emergency department and needs to be admitted to hospital can do so without having to be transferred, when beds are available.”

The two other nearest hospitals, both an hour’s drive from Minden, are South Muskoka Memorial Hospital Site in Bracebridge and Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay.

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Haliburton Highlands Health Services first announced in November 2021 that ongoing staffing shortages could result in a temporary reduction of services at one of its emergency departments. Additional statements were issued in April and December 2022 that staffing shortages could result in temporary closures, although such closures never took place.

In the December 2022 and January 2023 meetings of the Haliburton Highlands Health Services board, president and CEO Carolyn Plummer noted the organization was continuing to rely on agency staffing and contract staff to keep both emergency departments open. The minutes do not indicate whether a decision was under consideration to permanently close the Minden emergency department. Minutes for the March 2023 meeting of the board are not yet available.

Both Minden Hills mayor Bob Carter and deputy mayor Lisa Schell took to Facebook to say they were blindsided by the decision.

“There was absolutely no prior consultation with county or township staff or elected officials,” Carter writes on Facebook, noting he and other area mayors were only informed of the decision during a Zoom meeting the night before the announcement, despite meetings with Haliburton Highlands Health Services on December 19, January 19, and March 16.

“I was present at all of the meetings and although we discussed the fear of having to temporarily close either of the ERs due to lack of staff (which never occurred), there was never any discussion or warning that there was a plan afoot to permanently close the Minden Emergency Department … The process to make this decision was shrouded in secrecy.”

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Minden Hills and Haliburton County were grievously harmed yesterday. The decision by HHHS to close…

Posted by Bob Carter on Friday, April 21, 2023

Along with the decision to close Minden’s emergency department, Carter has also expressed concern about the timing of the closure.

“The decision is to close the Minden Emergency Department (the larger of the two in terms of volume) on June 1st,” he writes. “Most of us don’t need to be reminded that June is the start of the period when our population triples with cottagers and tourists.”

During the Haliburton Highlands Health Services annual general meeting last June, Plummer had reported that Minden’s emergency department had 12,768 visits for the past year, compared to 9,766 for Haliburton’s emergency department.

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For her part, Minden Hills deputy mayor Lisa Schell calls the decision to close Minden’s emergency department “very shortsighted and difficult to understand.”

“Minden is listed as one of the fastest growing communities in the country,” Schell writes on Facebook. “This will cause health and economic harm and is absolutely shameful! The community has had ZERO opportunity to engage with the board before this decision was made! I am speechless.”

The decision to close the Minden emergency department, along with the resulting community outrage, has been covered by local media as well as by Global News and CTV News.

Although with local politicians, local residents are protesting the decision, including through a Facebook group called Save Minden Ontario Emergency Room with almost 3,000 members.

“Everyone needs to take part and flood media along with our provincial government,” reads the group’s description. “Let everyone know how Minden sticks together and this is not right. Especially for our future and our kids.”

In addition, Minden resident and former Minden firefighter Patrick Porzuczek has launched an online petition called Help Save the Minden Hills Emergency Department that has so far received more than 3,000 signatures.

“This closure will be a devastating loss to Minden Hills and all surrounding communities,” Porzuczek writes. “There have been no public meetings or an explanation as to how this closure will impact all of those who use the ER, including local fire departments and paramedic services.”

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