Peterborough police chief Stuart Betts responds to a reporter's question during a media conference on September 7, 2023 about the arrest of a 29-year-old Peterborough man for the murder of a 27-year-old Peterborough woman and the attempted murder of a 30-year-old Peterborough man the previous evening. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of police video)
Police have arrested and charged a 29-year-old Peterborough man with a lengthy criminal record for the murder of a 27-year-old Peterborough woman and the attempted murder of a 30-year-old Peterborough man on Wednesday night (September 6).
At around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, officers were called to an apartment on Simcoe Street between George Street and Aylmer Street about a possible stabbing. Upon arriving, officers found a female and a male victim.
Both victims were taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre, where the female victim was pronounced dead. The male victim was transported to a Toronto-area hospital in critical condition.
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After arriving at the apartment, officers learned that a man had been seen leaving the area. After thoroughly investigating and examining footage from the closed-circuit television cameras in the area, both police-maintained and private ones, police identified a suspect.
At around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, officers received information the suspect was spotted in a wooded area near Ashburnham Drive and Maria Street. The Emergency Response Team, Remotely Piloted Aircraft System Unit, officers from the Investigative Services Unit, and a canine unit from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) attended the area.
After arriving, officers learned two women known to the suspect had been verbally threatened and one had been attacked with a hatchet. The two women were able to escape and were taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre for treatment.
VIDEO: Peterborough police media conference
Officers continued searching the woods and, shortly after, took a man and woman into custody without incident.
As a result of the investigation, police arrested and charged 29-year-old Jesse Rowe of Peterborough with second degree murder, attempt to commit murder, assault with a weapon, two counts of uttering threats, and two counts of failing to comply with a probation order.
Peterborough police say Rowe has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2012. He is currently before the courts for robbery with a weapon and failure to comply with a probation order. He is also bound by a probation order with conditions to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. He is also bound by seven prohibition orders with regard to firearms, restricted weapons, ammunition, and explosives.
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“Thanks to the quick work of our officers, an arrest in this case was able to be made,” said Peterborough police chief Stuart Betts in a media conference on Thursday. “Our OPP colleagues and their canine unit were incredibly helpful in helping us identify the location where this individual was and taking him into custody.”
Rowe is being held in custody and will appear in court on Thursday. Police have notified the next of kin of the 27-year-old Peterborough woman who Rowe is accused of killing. At the request of the family, police are not releasing her name.
The 30-year-old Peterborough woman who was found with Rowe has been taken into custody on the strength of a warrant for a shoplifting incident on August 27, and has also been charged with two counts of uttering threats in connection with the incident in the woods early Thursday morning. She is being held in custody and will also appear in court on Thursday.
In April 2022, Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region helped 41 individuals, seniors, couples, and families become homeowners with the completion of Phase One of the 33 Leahy's Lane multi-residential condominium. Habitat is now raising funds to support the completion of the Phase Two 12-unit affordable condo development at 21 Leahy's Lane, including through the inaugural "Sunday Dinner at the ReStore" fundraiser at the Peterborough North ReStore on October 22, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region)
This October, supporters of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region are invited to come together as a family and enjoy a shared meal while supporting affordable homeownership.
POSTPONED UNTIL APRIL 2024
Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region has postponed this fundraising event until April 14, 2024.
Taking place on Sunday, October 22nd from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Peterborough North ReStore (300 Milroy Drive), the organization’s inaugural “Sunday Dinner at the ReStore” fundraiser will include a harvest dinner with wine and cocktails, entertainment, and a silent auction featuring a large selection of donated items.
At a ticket cost of $125 per person, all funds raised through the event will support Habitat’s Phase Two 12-unit affordable condo development at 21 Leahy’s Lane in Peterborough. Tickets are available now at sunday-dinner-at-the-restore.square.site.
Construction is well underway for Phase Two of Habitat for Humanity’s innovative multi-residential condominium project at 21 Leahy’s Lane in Peterborough, with 11 two-bedroom units and a single one-bedroom unit. On October 22, 2023, the organization is hosting its inaugural “Sunday Dinner at the ReStore” fundraiser at the Peterborough North ReStore (300 Milroy Drive), with proceeds supporting the Phase Two build. (Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region)
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“We wanted to bring our community supporters together to give back to local families needing a hand-up,” explains Jenn MacDonald, the charity’s communications and donor services manager. “What better time to do that than in the fall around harvest, when we’re all thinking about what we’re thankful for and coming together as a family?”
Acoustic sounds from Caleb McKinnon of KEEBS Music will set the backdrop to the evening as guests make bids at the silent auction or even browse retail items at the ReStore. A festive roast beef harvest dinner will be served, with an alternative vegetarian lasagna option also available.
“Working with so many families, one thing we always think about is the importance of having that time to sit down together as a family and enjoy dinner together,” says MacDonald, adding that this type of fundraiser has been very successful for neighbouring affiliates who have run the event in the past. “It’s a really special thing that takes place that some people, unfortunately, don’t have the opportunity to have with their families.”
When completed, the units at Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region’s Phase Two 12-unit affordable condo development at 21 Leahy’s Lane will come fully equipped with in-suite appliances, a fridge, dishwasher, washer and dryer, and stove. The energy-efficient condo units will help owners save on utility costs. (Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region)
Serving Peterborough, Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, and the Haliburton Highlands, the regional affiliate of Habitat for Humanity Canada builds and rehabilitates homes to provide affordable homeownership.
Since 2002, the not-for-profit organization has helped 82 low-income working families become homeowners through low-interest, geared-to-income mortgage plans.
All profits from the Sunday Dinner at the ReStore fundraiser will go towards the 12-unit condo building currently under construction at 21 Leahy’s Lane in Peterborough. Located next to the completed Phase One development at 33 Leahy’s Lane, Phase Two comprises 11 two-bedroom units and a single one-bedroom unit, fully complete with in-suite appliances including a fridge, dishwasher, washer and dryer, and stove. The energy-efficient condo units will help owners save on utility costs.
At the end of May 2023, Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region kicked off construction for Phase Two of its 33 Leahy’s Lane affordable condominium development. Proceeds from the inaugural “Sunday Dinner at the ReStore” fundraiser at the Peterborough North ReStore (300 Milroy Drive) on October 22, 2023 will help cover the cost of construction. (Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region)
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“When we raise funds to help cover the cost of construction, that allows us as an organization to support lower-income families who are applying for the homes,” says MacDonald.
According to MacDonald, only two families have been selected so far for the Phase Two development at 21 Leahy’s Lane, meaning there are still 10 units available. Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region is currently accepting applications from qualified families for the remaining units.
Completed last April, the Phase One 41-unit condo development at 33 Leahy’s Lane has provided affordable homeownership for a mix of individuals, couples, seniors, and families. The multi-unit building marked a dramatic departure from the regional affiliate’s previous focus on single-family homes.
Since 2002, Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region has helped 82 low-income working families become homeowners through low-interest, geared-to-income mortgage plans. The organization is accepting applications for the Phase Two condo development at 21 Leahy’s Lane, which includes 11 two-bedroom and a single one-bedroom unit. (Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region)
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“This was the first time our affiliate has taken on this type of build,” says MacDonald. “It’s proven very successful and we’re one of the leading Habitat affiliates across the country to move forward with this type of innovation.”
The Phase Two development is made possible through support from the Government of Canada. Through the National Housing Strategy’s National Housing Co-Investment Fund, the federal government has invested $600,000 into the build.
To ensure that more proceeds from Sunday Dinner at the ReStore can support affordable homeownership, Habitat for Humanity is seeking additional sponsors for the October 22nd fundraiser.
The multi-unit development at 33 Leahy’s Lane in Peterborough was a dramatic departure from the organization’s previous focus on single-family homes, extending affordable homeownership to couples and individuals including seniors as well as families. Completed last year, Phase One of the development (pictured) included six one-bedroom units, 29 two-bedroom units, and six three-bedroom units. Proceeds from the inaugural “Sunday Dinner at the ReStore” fundraiser at the Peterborough North ReStore (300 Milroy Drive) on October 22, 2023 will help cover the cost of construction for the Phase Two 12-unit affordable condo development at 21 Leahy’s Lane. (Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region)
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“Sponsorships help make the event a success and raise more funds, while allowing us to give back to the local businesses who support us and champion us throughout the work that we do,” explains MacDonald. “We really want to showcase them as leaders in supporting affordable housing in the community.”
MacDonald adds that with a 100-seat capacity at the Sunday Dinner, the silent auction also provides a great opportunity for local businesses to market themselves to a wide range of demographics.
“We’ll have a diverse group of people in the room, from our donors to community leaders to the general public and supporters,” she says. “We will be including a variety of items in the silent auction to suit all needs and desires.”
She says Habitat is also seeking volunteers to assist with the Sunday Dinner fundraiser, adding that these events would not be possible without support from the community.
Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region’s inaugural “Sunday Dinner at the ReStore” event at the Peterborough North ReStore (300 Milroy Drive) is raising funds for Phase Two of Habitat for Humanity’s innovative multi-residential condominium project at 21 Leahy’s Lane in Peterborough. People can also support Habitat by shopping at one of the organization’s three ReStores in Peterborough and Lindsay, which offer new and used building materials, appliances, home décor items, and more. The ReStores fund Habitat’s operational costs and programs, helping direct 100 per cent of cash donations made to the organization to local build projects. (Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region)
MacDonald points out people can also support the Leahy’s Lane project by shopping at the three ReStore locations in the region, located at Peterborough North (300 Milroy Drive), Peterborough South (550 Braidwood), and in Lindsay (55 Angeline Street North), where you can purchase new and used building materials, appliances, home décor items, and more. The ReStores fund Habitat’s operational costs and programs, helping direct 100 per cent of cash donations made to the organization to local build projects..
People can also support Habitat by donating items — including windows, cabinets, and doors — to the ReStores, or by making a cash donation to the organization to support construction costs.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Police service dog Isaac and his handler constable Bob Cowie (pictured), along with police service dog Gryphon and police constable Dillon Wentworth, are representing the Peterborough Police Service at the 2023 National Police Dog Competition in Barrie, with the final day of competition on Saturday, September 9 open to the public. (Photo: Peterborough Police Service)
The Peterborough Police Service is participating in the 2023 National Police Dog Competition in Barrie.
Presented by the Canadian Police Canine Association and hosted by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Barrie Police Service, the five-day event features nearly 40 canine teams competing from across the country.
Police constable Bob Cowie and police service dog (PSD) Isaac and police constable Dillon Wentworth and PSD Gryphon are representing Peterborough.
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PSD Isaac, a German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix who specializes in drug detection, joined the canine unit in 2019. PSD Gryphon, a Dutch Shepherd who joined the canine unit in 2022, is trained in human scent detection and location, suspect apprehension, article detection, handler protection, and narcotics detection.
Along with the Peterborough Police Service, the OPP, and the Barrie Police Service, handlers and their canines as well as judges are attending the competition from police and government agencies including the RCMP, Regina, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Victoria, Ottawa, Canada Border Services Agency, Alabama, Calgary, Peel, London, Saanich, York, Toronto, Sault Ste. Marie, Ottawa Airport Authority, and Metro Vancouver Transit.
The final day of the National Police Dog Competition on Saturday (September 9) will be open to the public at the Sadlon Arena in Barrie. Show times begin at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and continue throughout the day.
The Bethune Street bikeway, stretching from McDonnel Street to Townsend Street, is the first street in the City of Peterborough that best serves cyclists and pedestrians over cars and trucks. Pictured is a cyclist using Bethune Street while, in the background, an elderly couple walks beside a newly built pollinator garden. (Photo: Tegan Moss / GreenUP)
The City of Peterborough recently opened up its inaugural “bicycle priority” street, the Bethune Street bikeway.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s column is by Tegan Moss, GreenUP Executive Director.
Stretching from McDonnel Street to Townsend Street, this new streetscape introduces features like curved gardens that enhance traffic safety by slowing traffic, while providing garden spaces that absorb runoff and are home to native plants that support pollinators.
Intersections and pedestrian crossings are marked with brick pavers to heighten awareness, while sharrows — icons depicting a bike over a diamond — illustrate shared road space for cyclists and vehicles.
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Bethune Street now best serves pedestrians and people on bikes. At intersections, vehicular traffic is channelled to arterial roads such as Aylmer Street to traverse downtown Peterborough on routes better suited to cars and trucks.
Underlying the transformation is vital stormwater infrastructure that will safeguard our city from intensifying climate-related storms.
The hidden marvel beneath the Bethune bike boulevard is the 1,600-metre “box culvert” sewer system. This underground network diverts floodwaters from Jackson Creek to the Otonabee River, safeguarding downtown homes and businesses from floods like those that devastated our downtown in 2004 and 2012.
Stormwater drains quickly on Bethune Street during a heavy rainstorm on the night of August 3rd, 2023. An underground 1,600-metre “box culvert” sewer system diverts floodwaters from Jackson Creek to the Otonabee River, safeguarding downtown homes and businesses from flooding. (Photo: Tegan Moss / GreenUP)
This Bethune Street overhaul achieves dual goals: preventing catastrophic floods and prioritizing active transportation. It is a marked success in helping our community in our climate adaptation efforts.
The City of Peterborough secured $15.9 million in federal and provincial funding, primarily through the federal Small Communities Fund, to finance this climate adaptation project. This initiative involved constructing the Jackson Creek stormwater diversion sewer and revamping the sanitary sewer along Bethune Street.
Responding to climate change will continue to be a costly investment for communities everywhere.
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The planning process for the new streetscape dates back to 2015-16 and involved robust community engagement for the Central Area (Bethune Street) Flood Reduction Project. The resulting 2017 Bethunescape Master Plan envisioned a pedestrian and cyclist-friendly corridor, enhanced green spaces, and the potential for spaces that could later be animated with community programming.
This vision is now realized, with the bikeway seamlessly joining the Trans Canada Trail and linking Peterborough’s core.
A bicycle-priority street like Bethune may initially pose an inconvenience as we learn new routes better suited for travel by car, but it is vital infrastructure for healthy, safe, and active transportation in our downtown.
Campers participating in GreenUP’s climate leadership camp use the Bethune Street bikeway to visit a variety of destinations, such as visiting old growth forests in Jackson Park. (Photo: Natalie Stephenson / GreenUP)
Bethune’s success epitomizes the kinds of infrastructure that can be used to build an inclusive transportation system where people of all ages and abilities can travel comfortably.
Bethune Street also stands as a symbol urging citizens to embrace car-free travel, reduce their carbon emissions, and applauds climate-resilient infrastructure.
The phrase “if you build it, they will come” holds true on Bethune. It’s not just people on bikes embracing the new route for daily commutes. Families, mobility device users, tourists, and pedestrians all frequent this corridor, fostering an environment of relaxed and joyous mobility.
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Bethune now accommodates diverse road users facilitating access to parks, work, and residences for people who do not have the option to drive or who choose other modes of travel.
For Freda Bourgon, who uses a power chair on Bethune almost daily with her son Sabastien, Bethune is a safer and smoother route across downtown.
In the recent past, they would often take George Street, but on Bethune, “with next to no cars,” Bourgon says, “it’s much safer going on this path, and it’s my son’s favourite spot — he calls it a shortcut.”
Bethune Street now accommodates diverse road users facilitating access to parks, work, and residences for people who do not have the option to drive or who choose other modes of travel. Freda Bourgon uses a power chair on Bethune Street almost daily with her son Sabastien as a safer and smoother route across downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Natalie Stephenson / GreenUP)
Bethune Street’s bikeway includes two new signalled intersections with state-of-the-art bicycle detection at Charlotte and Sherbrooke. Cyclists are able to roll up to the stop bar and are rewarded quite promptly with, fittingly, a green light in the shape of a bicycle.
“As a daily bicycle rider, I have never felt more at home in our city,” says Natalie Stephenson, director of programs at GreenUP and a Peterborough resident. “I feel like a road user who matters and whose needs have been prioritized.”
It’s time to celebrate this success for Peterborough and our natural environment.
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We can reflect on the water flowing underneath us while using the bikeway and appreciate the work done to reduce our impact on the environment while prioritizing the city and its many inhabitants.
On Saturday, September 9th, from 1 to 4 p.m., GreenUP and B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop will host an event at Bethune and Simcoe Park. Join us in celebrating this significant stormwater and transportation project.
Bring your wheels and don blue attire for a bike parade to mark this milestone in Peterborough’s journey towards resilience!
At its 70th anniversary barbeque on August 26, 2023, Campbellford Memorial Hospital unveiled the first rendering of its proposed "Campus of Care" to be located on County Road 30 just west of Campbellford. Pictured from left to right are Campbellford Memorial Hospital board chair Carrie Hayward, Trent Hills deputy major Michael Metcalf, Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini, Campbellford Memorial Hospital CEO Jeff Hohenkerk, and Jim Curle, who donated the land for the Campus of Care site. (Photo courtesy of Campbellford Memorial Hospital)
Campbellford Memorial Hospital has unveiled the first rendering of its proposed “Campus of Care” to be located on County Road 30 just west of Campbellford.
The ambitious concept would see an array of health care services in a single location within the decade, including a redeveloped 50-bed hospital, a new 128-bed long-term care home, and a medical office building designed to house the hospital’s community mental health program, geriatric assessment and intervention network, primary care offices, and other ancillary health services.
The site would also include supportive and staff housing complexes, recreational trails, community gardens, and wooded areas.
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“This project will usher in a new era of health care excellence in our region,” says Campbellford Memorial Hospital president and CEO Jeff Hohenkerk in a media release.
“By expanding the hospital’s capacity, adding more long-term care beds, and offering a comprehensive range of ancillary health services all in one location, we will provide an unprecedented level of care that surpasses what is typically available in communities our size.”
Built in 1953, Campbellford Memorial Hospital has not undergone any major renovations or expansions since the construction of its emergency department wing, which was completed in 1987.
A rendering of Campbellford Memorial Hospital’s ambitious “Campus of Care” project, to be located on County Road 30 just west of Campbellford on a 48-acre parcel of land donated by local farmer Jim Curle. (Rendering by Lett Architects courtesy of Campbellford Memorial Hospital)
According to Hohenkerk, the proposed Campus of Care would represent a substantial improvement in the delivery of care, including more private rooms, increased accessibility features, medical units optimized for efficient patient flow, and an upgraded electrical grid to accommodate advanced medical equipment, and it would also help attract health care professionals to the region.
“In a competitive job market, modern and state-of-the-art facilities play a crucial role in attracting health care workers, especially new graduates,” Hohenkerk explains. “Our new hospital will be designed to meet the highest standards, offering a cutting-edge environment not seen elsewhere in our region.”
Having secured a 48-acre parcel of land donated by local farmer Jim Curle last October, Campbellford Memorial Hospital has been working to address zoning issues, conduct soil testing, study traffic flow, and develop comprehensive program plans.
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Once provincial government approval is received for its planning grant, the hospital expects it will take three or four years before construction begins and another three to five years for construction to be completed.
“Right now our hope is to have our new hospital completed within the next seven to 10 years,” says Campbellford Memorial Hospital board chair Carrie Hayward. “We are working every day to ensure those timelines are met.”
The hospital says it “is committed to ensuring a meticulous, transparent, and efficient development process” for the proposed Campus of Care project. For more information about the project, visit cmh.ca/redevelopment.
The Peterborough Theatre Guild's production of Yasmina Reza's "God of Carnage", about two sets of parents who meet after their sons have a nasty altercation in the schoolyard, runs for 10 performances from September 19 to October 14, 2023. Pictured during a rehearsal are (left to right) Michael Valiant Saunders as Alan Raleigh, Gayle Fraser as Annette Raleigh, Tristina Haines as Veronica Novak, and Kevin O'Neill as Michael Novak. (Photo: Peterborough Theatre Guild)
The Peterborough Theatre Guild is kicking off its 2023-24 season in September with a production of God of Carnage, a “comedy of manners without the manners” by French playwright Yasmina Reza, which runs for 10 performances from September 29 to October 14.
Set in present-day New York City, the play tells the story of two sets of parents who meet for the first time after their two 11-year-old sons have a nasty altercation in the schoolyard.
Attempting to settle the matter, both couples observe diplomatic niceties at first. However, as the meeting progresses and the alcohol flows, tensions emerge and the gloves come off, leaving the two couples with more than just their liberal principles in tatters.
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Directed by Bea Quarrie with Ina Stenner as production manager, the Peterborough Theatre Guild production stars Michael Valiant Saunders as Alan Raleigh, Gayle Fraser as Annette Raleigh, Kevin O’Neill as Michael Novak, and Tristina Haines as Veronica Novak.
God of Carnage was originally written in French by Yasmina Reza, who also directed the French premiere in January 2008 in Paris. Christopher Hampton translated the play into English, with the English version premiering in the U.K. at the Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End in March 2008, starring Ralph Fiennes, Tamsin Greig, Janet McTeer, and Ken Stott. The London production received the Olivier Award for Best New Play of the year.
After some changes to the original English script to accommodate American audiences, a Broadway production opened in February 2009 with the original cast comprising Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini, and Marcia Gay Harden. All four actors were nominated for Tony Awards for their performances, with Harden winning the Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Play.
James Gandolfini, Hope Davis, Marcia Gay Harden, and Jeff Daniels as two sets of parents who meet after their sons have a nasty altercation in the schoolyard in the 2009 Broadway production of Yasmina Reza’s “God of Carnage.” (Photo: Sara Krulwich / The New York Times)
“Never underestimate the pleasure of watching really good actors behaving terribly,” wrote Ben Brantley of the New York Times in a March 2009 review of the Broadway production, adding their performances “incite the kind of laughter that comes from the gut, as involuntary as hiccups or belching” and calling the play “satisfyingly primitive entertainment with an intellectual veneer.”
The Broadway production closed in 2010 after 24 previews and 452 regular performances, with various replacements to the original cast, including Annie Potts and Lucy Liu in their Broadway debuts. The production was remounted in 2011 for Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, with the original Broadway cast reprising their original roles.
In 2011, Roman Polanski directed a film adaptation called Carnage starring Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Christoph Waltz, and Kate Winslet, with both Foster and Winslet receiving Golden Globe nominations for best actress.
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God of Carnage runs at the Guild Hall (364 Rogers St., Peterborough) from September 29 to October 14, with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. on September 29 and 30, October 5 to 7, and October 12 to 14, and 2 p.m. matinee performances on October 1 and 8.
Tickets are $30 for adults, $27 for seniors, and $22 for students, and are available now online at peterboroughtheatreguild.com or by calling 705-745-4211.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s 2023-24 season.
The original version of this story has been updated to correct the opening date (September 29 and not September 19).
Peterborough Public Health is reminding area residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites after a horse tested positive for equine encephalitis last week.
Eastern equine encephalitis virus is transmitted to horses through mosquito bites. Like West Nile virus, it can also be transmitted to humans through mosquitoes carrying the virus.
This is the first confirmed case of equine encephalitis in the Peterborough region and the sixth confirmed in Ontario this year.
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Humans cannot get equine encephalitis from horses or from other humans — only the bite of an infected mosquito that can transmit the disease to humans.
While human infection with the equine encephalitis virus is extremely rare, the symptoms can be severe and life threatening. The best way to prevent an infection is to prevent mosquito bites.
Although the summer months are behind us, you can skill encounter mosquitoes during September, especially during hot weather. To prevent mosquito bites, wear long-sleeved and light-coloured clothing, use mesh screens and close routes of entry to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home, stay indoors during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, use insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin, and remove sources of stagnant or standing water from your property to prevent mosquito breeding.
Peterborough police staff sergeant Dan MacLean spoke to the media on March 23, 2023 after a three-year-old girl died in hospital from injuries she sustained when she was struck in the driveway of a Woodglade Boulevard home when a vehicle left the roadway. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of Peterborough Police Service video)
Peterborough police have charged a 43-year-old driver in connection with the death of a three-year-old girl in March.
At 9 a.m. on March 23, 2023, the girl was struck in the driveway of her family home on Woodglade Boulevard between Kawartha Heights Boulevard and Sherbrooke Street by a southbound SUV that had left the road. She was transported to Peterborough Regional Health Centre with life-threatening injuries and succumbed to her injuries later that day.
Two other children were also in the driveway at the time of the collision, but were not injured.
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Following the girl’s death, police would not comment on whether the vehicle left the roadway because the driver was in medical distress, whether the mechanical fitness of the vehicle or speed were factors, or whether the driver would be charged. They said they would be completing a “full investigation.”
On Wednesday (September 6), police announced they had completed a five-month investigation and had charged a 43-year-old Peterborough woman with careless driving causing bodily harm or death. The accused woman is scheduled to appear in court September 25.
The collision resulted in Monaghan Ward councillor Matthew Crowley posting on social media to call for the City of Peterborough to install a three-way stop at the corner of Oakwood Crescent and Woodglade Boulevard.
“Speeding and dangerous driving has been something the residents on Kawartha Heights Boulevard and Woodglade have been complaining about for years,” Crowley wrote. “The term ‘Kawartha Heights Speedway’ has been used for years to describe traffic in that area.”
Camila Duarte has been appointed the new executive director of Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas. She has worked at the Innovation Cluster since 2021 as an innovation specialist and programs director, working on initiatives that generated over $1 million in revenue growth, mentoring more than 100 companies, and fostering partnerships internationally and across Canada, including hubs in Manitoba, Vancouver, Guelph, and Cape Breton. (Supplied photo)
The board of directors of the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas has announced Camila Duarte is the organization’s new executive director.
Duarte has spent nine years in tech innovation, non-profit, and customer-facing industries, providing coaching and relationship building and developing strategic initiatives across international centres in Melbourne in Australia and in Montreal and Toronto.
She has worked at the Innovation Cluster since 2021 as an innovation specialist and programs director, working on initiatives that generated over $1 million in revenue growth, mentoring more than 100 companies, and fostering partnerships internationally and across Canada, including hubs in Manitoba, Vancouver, Guelph, and Cape Breton.
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“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to understand the Innovation Cluster from its grassroots,” Duarte says in a media release. “This provides me with a unique understanding of the entrepreneurial landscape in the regions we serve and what the organization needs to continue its history of driving growth and innovation.”
The not-for-profit economic development organization had been looking for a new leader since earlier this year, following the departure of former CEO Michael Skinner and former president John Gillis, who announced in November 2022 they would be resigning from the organization and launching a new venture.
Since February, Nicole Stephenson — founder of Toronto-based Stephenson Law Group and chair of the organization’s board — has been the interim chief executive officer.
“Camila’s impressive track record, together with her entrepreneurial spirit and proven leadership skills, makes her the right candidate to lead the organization as a prominent and vibrant centre for the incubation of innovation,” Stephenson says. “Her dedication, resilience, and transformative vision are the skills that we require in a leader to achieve our ambitious goal to be a catalyst for building, attracting, nurturing, and retaining companies in the region.”
"Moon of the Crusted Snow" by Waubgeshig Rice, a 2018 post-apocalyptic thriller set in a small Anishinaabe community, was chosen earlier this year for the Peterborough Public Library's inaugural "One Book, One Ptbo" event. The event aims to build community through a shared reading experience, and culminates with a public reading by the author in Peterborough on November 15, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Public Library)
This fall, the Peterborough Public Library is holding events and workshops related to its first “One Book, One Ptbo” event, which builds community through the shared experience of reading the same book.
That book is the 2018 critically acclaimed bestseller Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice, an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation near Parry Sound. Chosen as the first community read earlier this year, copies of Rice’s book have been available since May at the Peterborough Public Library for members of the community to borrow.
Throughout the fall, the library will be hosting events and workshops to get readers engaged with the story, leading up to the grand finale on Wednesday, November 15th when the author himself will visit Peterborough for a public reading and interview. That means there’s still plenty of time to borrow the book from the library and finish reading it before Rice makes his visit.
Waubgeshig Rice is an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation near Parry Sound. As the grand finale for this year’s “One Book, One Ptbo” event that features his 2018 post-apocalyptic thriller “Moon of the Crusted Snow”, the Anishinaabe author will be at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough on November 15, 2023 where he will read from the book and its new sequel “Moon of the Turning Leaves”. (Photo: Shilo Adamson)
“One Book, One Community” events have been held at libraries across North America. For “One Book, One Ptbo,” the event began with a community-wide online vote to select a book from among a short list of three Canadian titles curated by librarians at the Peterborough Public Library. Along with Rice’s Moon of the Crusted Snow, the other two finalists were The Theory of Crows by David A. Robertson and Holden After and Before: Love Letter for a Son Lost to Overdose by Tara McGuire.
Moon of the Crusted Snow is a post-apocalyptic thriller where a small Anishinaabe community goes dark, leaving people confused and panicked, just as winter is looming. When an unexpected visitor arrives and begins to manipulate the tired, hungry, and desperate residents, the community leadership loses its grip on power. A group of young friends turn to the land and Annishinaabe tradition to help their community heal and begin to thrive once again.
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“We put it on the short list because it deals with issues that are relevant to Indigenous communities,” explains Karen Bisschop, Community Development Librarian with the Peterborough Public Library. “We’re talking so much in Canada about Truth and Reconciliation, we thought this was a good fit in terms of getting people to think and talk about some of those issues.”
At just over a couple of hundred pages and with Rice’s masterful plotting, journalistic eye for detail, and ear for dialogue, the novel is a very accessible read and appropriate for both adult and teenager readers.
“We thought a lot of people could read it, even if they’re not readers to begin with,” Bisschop notes.
The Peterborough Public Library is currently stocked with more than 70 copies of “Moon of the Crusted Snow” by Waubgeshig Rice, this year’s “One Book, One Ptbo” selection. The 2018 post-apocalyptic thriller is available in a range of formats including traditional paperbacks, e-books, audio books, and CD books, with French language versions also available. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Public Library)
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The Peterborough Public Library is currently stocked with over 70 copies of Rice’s novel in a range of formats including traditional paperbacks, e-books, audio books, and CD books, with French language versions also available.
According to Bisschop, roughly two-thirds of the available copies are checked out at a given time, meaning that while many people are engaging with the story and participating in One Book, One Ptbo, there are still plenty of copies left for those wanting to read the book before the fall events begin.
The Peterborough Public Library also has a couple of “Book Club in a Bag” kits prepared to help readers form their own book clubs to discuss Rice’s novel. Each kit comes with 10 copies of the book, a list of discussion questions, and other resources including interviews and articles. Like the One Book, One Ptbo event itself, the kits are assembled to encourage community members to engage in their own conversations about their reading outside of the library.
“We had this idea that people would just start chatting about the same book and have discussions about it, even if it’s not at the library,” Bisschop says. “Maybe it’s with their friends, members of their book club, or just people who ride the bus with them. Wherever they are, they’re having discussions about the book.”
To get readers talking about books outside of the library, the Peterborough Public Library has created “Book Club in a Bag” kits, complete with 10 copies of a book, discussion questions, and other resources. A couple of Book Club in a Bag kids are available for “Moon of the Crusted Snow” by Waubgeshig Rice, this year’s “One Book, One Ptbo” selection. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Public Library)
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To support the shared community reading experience, the Peterborough Public Library is hosting several events throughout the fall that are related to Rice’s novel.
The first workshop, held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 9th, is “Kairos Blanket Exercise.” This interactive, experiential activity will be led by Moon Tide Reconciliation, comprised of Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and educators.
Participants will step into the role of Inuit, First Nations, and Métis peoples with a blanket representing their land. Guided by the facilitators, participants respond to the cues of their scrolls, covering pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization, resistance, and more between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. The afternoon will end with a de-brief to discuss the activity.
“This is an activity that’s really encouraged by lots of groups for Truth and Reconciliation,” explains Biscchop. “It’s a way for people to get to know the effect the residential school system has had on Indigenous peoples, and just how many of them are living in Peterborough or surrounding communities and have experienced this generational trauma.”
Anne Taylor, Cultural Archivist for Curve Lake First Nation and Community Anishinaabemowin Coordinator for Curve Lake First Nation, will lead an “Anishinaabemowin Language for Beginners” workshop at the Peterborough Public Library on September 13, 2023. “Moon of the Crusted Snow” by Waubgeshig Rice, this year’s “One Book, One Ptbo” selection, uses Anishinaabemowin words and phrases. (Photo courtesy of Anne Taylor)
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While Bisschop says it’s important to create a safe space for conversation about the more serious issues present within the novel, the librarians also wanted to add in a few light-hearted, fun events that still provide education.
This includes the “Anishinaabemowin Language for Beginners” workshop taking place at the library at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 13th. Led by Anne Taylor of Curve Lake, the workshop gives participants the opportunity to learn some Anishinaabemowin (Ojibway), the Indigenous language of which several words and phrases are used throughout Rice’s novel.
“We live in a community that’s surrounded by people who are learning and speaking Anishinaabemowin and it would be great for all of us to at least learn a few phrases and words,” explains Bisschop.
While the Anishinaabemowin workshop is already full, library members can use their library card number to access language learning online through the Transparent Language platform. The platform provides unlimited access to more than 100 languages, including Ojibway.
As part of this year’s “One Book, One Ptbo” event, the Peterborough Public Library will host librarian-led book clubs about this year’s selection, “Moon of the Crusted Snow” by Waubgeshig Rice. An adult book club will be held on September 26, 2023 and a teen book club will be held on November 14, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Public Library)
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Next, the Peterborough Public Library will host a book club for both adults on Tuesday, September 26th and for teens on Tuesday, November 14th, with discussions led by the librarians. If you can’t make it to one of the book club dates, Bisschop points out the librarians will be happy to help you facilitate your own book club.
“It’s a way for us as librarians to get out in the community and work with other people in their book clubs and to promote the idea of creating them where they can” she says.
After the pandemic and recent events like this summer’s wildfires, the natural disasters within Rice’s novel might hit a little too close to home for some readers. That’s why the library is hosting “Lunch and Learn: Emergency Preparedness” at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, September 28th. City of Peterborough experts Jodi De Noble and Stephanie Sisson will explain how you can be prepared for the next natural weather event or household emergency.
“That whole idea that this major world catastrophe could indeed happen — and was happening as many people read the book during the pandemic — really engaged a lot of people,” notes Bisschop, adding that she believed its relatable storyline was a major reason the novel was chosen by the community.
“I think a lot of people have the idea now that this isn’t just fiction — it’s something that could happen.”
Did you love this year’s “One Book, One Ptbo” selection “Moon of the Crusted Snow”? You’ll be happy to know author Waubgeshig Rice is releasing its sequel “Moon of the Turning Leaves” in October. He will also be reading excerpts from both novels when he visits Peterborough on November 15, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Waubgeshig Rice)
Rice’s reading and interview, originally scheduled to take place at the Peterborough Public Library, has been moved to Market Hall Performing Arts Centre due to high demand.
Last but certainly not least, is the One Book, One Ptbo grand finale at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15th when Waubgeshig Rice himself will be at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough to read an excerpt from Moon of the Crusted Snow as well from the book’s new sequel Moon of the Turning Leaves, which will be released on October 10 prior to his reading.
The evening will also include a live interview with Rice by local journalist and “big reader and library fan” Joelle Kovach. Registration for Rice’s visit opens on Monday, October 2nd.
Throughout the One Book, One Ptbo event, the Peterborough Public Library will also be hosting reading challenges through Beanstack. Used by more than 10,000 public libraries and schools around the world, the online platform makes habitual reading fun by awarding badges for completing challenges and reading goals.
Bisschop hopes the Beanstack challenges, along with the library events related to Moon of the Crusted Snow, will encourage residents of Peterborough and surrounding communities to make a habit out of reading and will come together to discuss the major themes and messages present throughout the text.
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“There’s a lot going on in our community and this is a really great way to get folks talking about a topic through fiction and through literature.”
For more information on One Book, One Ptbo and to register for the upcoming events, visit the Peterborough Public Library website at www.ptbolibrary.ca. You can also follow the library on Facebook, Twitter (now called X), and Instagram.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Peterborough Public Library. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
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