The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) has officially unveiled its redeveloped website at TheBoro.ca. The website offers residents and visitors an interactive business directory, events calendar, trip-planning content, access to The Boro gift card and The Boro merchandise, and more. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) has launched a redeveloped website at TheBoro.ca to make it easier for both local residents and visitors to plan their downtown experiences.
The DBIA originally developed the website — named The Boro as the DBIA’s branding moniker for downtown Peterborough — in 2020 as a virtual marketplace so that people could shop online at downtown businesses during the pandemic. Since then, it has evolved into a digital destination for both residents and visitors.
On Monday (June 23), the DBIA unveiled a fully reimagined version of the website, which was developed with funding from Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RT08) through their Partnership Allocation Program.
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“TheBoro.ca is more than just a website,” says DBIA executive director Nour Mazloum in a media release.
“It’s a crucial part of our long-term strategy for fostering economic growth and cultural vibrancy in the heart of Peterborough. We really want people to feel excited about exploring our downtown, whether they’re visiting us for the first time or just looking for a great way to spend their weekend.”
The redeveloped website includes an interactive business directory with curated categories and mapping tools, an events calendar that includes both DBIA-led events and community-submitted events taking place downtown, trip-planning content (such as self-guided tours and itineraries, local stories, and business and artist spotlights and guides), and integrated connections to the Boro gift card program, exclusive Boro merchandise, and newsletters.
Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) executive director Nour Mazloum announces the DBIA’s redeveloped website TheBoro.ca at Venture North in downtown Peterborough on June 23, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
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According to the DBIA, having strong digital tools drives higher event attendance and increased visitor spending.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business reports that more than 60 per cent of consumers search online before deciding where to shop or dine locally, and Google reports that 76 per cent of people who search for something nearby on their smartphone visit a business within a day.
“With the new website’s updated design and user-focused features, the DBIA is ensuring that downtown Peterborough businesses are visible, easy to discover, and competitive in today’s digital economy,” states the media release.
Peterborough native Pat Rees, a singer-songwriter now based in Ottawa, has organized the "Songs For A Stronger Tomorrow" benefit concert for addiction and mental health services provided by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge on June 28, 2025 at 100 Acre Brewing Co. in Peterborough. (Photo: Pat Rees website)
Such is the way of the world that the big fundraisers garner the most attention.
That said, every now and then a less-heralded benefit comes to be — an event no less important to the cause its supporting, but one seeking to find traction in a caring community that’s replete with long-established fundraisers.
“Songs For A Stronger Tomorrow” is the new benefit kid on the block, organized by Peterborough native Pat Rees.
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Set for Saturday (June 28) at the 100 Acre Brewing Co. (390 Ashburnham Drive in Peterborough, just south of Neal Drive), the live music-anchored event is a fundraiser for addiction and mental health services provided by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge.
From 2 to 8 p.m., Ottawa-based singer-songwriter Rees will be joined by a number of fellow performers, a list at this point that features the talents of Alex Whorms, Brodie Bell, Laura Pointon, and Brad Renault — all musical friends of Rees.
Billed as “a day of live music, family fun, and community building,” admission to the all-ages event is free, but donations on a pay-what-you-can basis will be gratefully accepted. A silent auction will also help raise money for the cause, with games and food also being made available.
Along with Pat Rees, other musicians performing at the “Songs For A Stronger Tomorrow” benefit concert for addiction and mental health services provided by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge on June 28, 2025 at 100 Acre Brewing Co. in Peterborough are (left to right, top and bottom) Brad Renault, Alex Whorms, Laura Pointon, and Brodie Bell. (kawarthaNOW collage of artist photos)
While organizing a benefit is new territory for Rees, his reason for doing so is one we’ve heard time and time again: he wants to give back to the city he called home before he graduated from Adam Scott Collegiate and left the community to attend the University of Guelph.
“Peterborough is still very much home to me,” says Rees, who returns each summer to spend time at the family cottage north of Havelock (his father Terry is the former long-time executive director of the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations).
“I know Peterborough has a history of supporting the community and the less fortunate. I’ve always wanted to give back there but haven’t had the opportunity. I’m trying the pave the way here for making that happen.”
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“I started reaching out for artists months ago,” Rees recalls. “It’s been a little bit of a struggle, but the idea is, with this the first year doing this, to try and get something going — have people out in support, have an (addictions and mental health) education booth, and make it as good and as big as we can, and grow on that for years to come.”
Rees says he has been “working pretty hard at my solo career as an artist” for about eight years, “trying to get my music out there and provide value for listeners of my music.”
“A lot of what I write about is from personal experience with mental health struggles and addiction, and trying to fit in a world that didn’t always seem like I was cookie-cut for the role,” he says, speaking to what “triggered” the idea of organizing a benefit for CMHA-provided services.
VIDEO: “The Wall” – Pat Rees
“It has been a slog,” Rees admits. “It’s hard to make a break as an artist. It takes a lot of energy. The idea of this (the benefit) came about me working really hard to try and make something happen. I’ve never had a dream of selling out 100,000 people shows. It’s been a dream about being able to make an income from sharing these stories and, in turn, have people who find value in community and connection through the songs and the stories.”
“I’ve been fighting really hard for this, for years saying something has got to give, but realizing maybe it doesn’t have to. There’s something else I can do with this passion, and some might say talent: find an opportunity to give back when I’m working so hard on my craft, to have some value come out of it.”
Having played a gig last summer at the 100 Acre Brewing Co., Rees credits the venue’s owners for being “so game and so willing to help make this happen.” As for those who he’ll share the stage with, he says there’s a tie that binds.
“All of the artists involved are starting up their own solo careers in various different stages, but everyone is eager to give back, share their story, and be part of something that brings us all together a little bit.”
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“The idea is not to bring out as many people as we can and then have them empty their wallets,” says Rees. “The education part of it is the big thing.”
“I have some family members who have struggled and used these (mental health and addiction) programs, as I have. It’s great that we have these programs but, for a lot of us, until you go through something, or you know someone personally that you’re helping through things, we don’t know who’s using these programs. So the idea is to educate and bring people together more.”
Rees’ music, available for listening on Spotify and YouTube, is a blend of indie, folk, and country influences, with its creator wholly “dedicated to creating music that inspires us to feel, heal, and grow together.”
VIDEO: “The Fool” – Pat Rees
“Playing around the campfire — that’s where I started as a kid,” recalls Rees, adding “That was before I started to delve into the songwriting.”
“Struggling with mental health and addiction and things like that is really what pushed me to realize there’s something more I can share. Going through university, I started to struggle more, and had family members who were struggling. That kind of brought me into writing about that and sharing those experiences — not necessarily all negative. I’ve learned a lot from my mental illness … about how to be resilient and be part of something that’s meaningful.”
“I think I’ve always cared more for the greater good and for everyone to have the opportunities to have a great life, leaning big on the fact that I struggled a lot growing up. But I had support systems that were there to pick me up, now understanding that we’re more alike than we think and trying to push that way.”
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Of note, just after the Songs For A Stronger Tomorrow benefit concert is set to end, multiple Juno award-winning singer-songwriter Serena Ryder will be at Peterborough’s Del Crary Park to open the 38th edition of Peterborough Musicfest. With her mental health challenges well documented, and a mental wellness theme running through many of her songs, Rees has gone out on a limb and invited her to drop by.
“She’s definitely an inspiration for a lot of artists,” says Rees.
Now, with fingers crossed that the fundraiser will see a good turnout, Rees says his next goal musically is to release a full album of his songs.
“The next big step is to try to figure out more opportunities to get my songs, and the ideas behind them, in front of more people,” he says. “But the benefit is a big thing for me. It’s very meaningful and empowering for me to be part of something that’s giving back. That propels me to keep working and give my energy to this stuff.”
Peterborough native Pat Rees, a singer-songwriter now based in Ottawa, has organized the “Songs For A Stronger Tomorrow” benefit concert for addiction and mental health services provided by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge on June 28, 2025 at 100 Acre Brewing Co. in Peterborough. Admission to the all-ages event is free, but donations on a pay-what-you-can basis will be gratefully accepted. A silent auction will also help raise money for the cause, with games and food also being made available. (Photo: Pat Rees website)
Meanwhile, Rees is looking for more sponsorship support for the benefit, welcoming anyone interested in helping to phone him at 705-930-2797.
Those who can’t attend but want to contribute to the cause can do so by visiting cmhahkpr.ca/get-involved/donate/ and choosing “Songs For A Stronger Tomorrow Benefit Concert” from the dropdown menu list.
For more information about Pat Rees, including links to his music, visit patreesmusic.com.
A berry cute baby in a strawberry field at McLean Berry Farm and Buckhorn Berry Farms near Buckhorn. Strawberry season is back in full swing, and this year's crop is extra sweet and juicy. Pick-your-own and pre-picked strawberries are now available at both family farms, and you can also find McLean Berry Farm and Buckhorn Berry Farms at six local farmers' markets in the region as well as more than 30 local grocery stores. (Photo courtesy of McLean Berry Farm)
There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than fresh, sweet, and juicy locally grown berries — and no berries are fresher, sweeter, and juicier than those grown at McLean Berry Farm and Buckhorn Berry Farm near Buckhorn.
Strawberry season is now in full swing, and whether you want to pick your own or enjoy a basket of pre-picked berries, you’d better hurry because berry season does not last long!
Founded in 1991 by Sam and Jane McLean, McLean Berry Farm not only offers healthy farm-fresh produce to the region, but experiences that help guests reconnect to the food they consume and better appreciate where it comes from. With the increasing involvement of their children Ben and Erin, who continue to maintain daily operation of the farm, the McLeans also purchased Buckhorn Berry Farm in 2010.
Today, on a combined 286 acres of land — 220 of which is used for the production of fruit, vegetables, and maple syrup — McLean and Buckhorn Berry Farms are the places for making memories, from the first tap of maple trees in the spring through berry season and the rest of summer until Pumpkinfest in the fall.
McLean Berry Farm is located on 2191 16th Line, just off County Road 23, around 25 kilometres north of Peterborough and five kilometres south of Buckhorn, with Buckhorn Berry Farm located at 3055 Berrie Road just one concession north of McLean Berry Farm.
Both farms are now open for pick-your-own strawberries, with more and more berries ripening and ready for picking every day. Heading out into the fields and taking a bite of a freshly picked strawberry while the sun beats down on you and the juice drips down your chin is a not-to-be-missed summer experience for the whole family.
If you can’t make it to McLean Berry Farm and Buckhorn Berry Farms near Buckhorn for pick-your-own and pre-picked strawberries, you can find them at the Haliburton Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays, the Peterborough Downtown Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays, the Lakefield Farmers’ Market on Thursdays, the Fenelon Falls Farmers’ Markets on Fridays, and the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market and Minden Farmers’ Market on Saturdays. (Photo courtesy of McLean Berry Farm)
This year, McLean and Buckhorn Berry Farms have some extra juicy and sweet strawberries for the picking — but don’t delay as strawberry season only last a couple of weeks, especially with the recent heat wave we’re having, and the sooner you get out to pick your own, the better the picking conditions will be! Raspberries will also soon be ready for picking, beginning in early July.
Picking your own berries is available at both farms, across three fields, including one at Buckhorn Berry Farm that requires a family-friendly tractor ride to access. McLean Berry Farm is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the week, while Buckhorn Berry Farm is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
If you prefer the sweet without the sweat, pre-picked berries are also available to purchase at both the farms. When berry season is done, don’t forget to stop in at the farm stores for more locally grown produce over the course of the summer, including sweet corn, tomatoes, peas, beans, tomatoes, peppers, squash, pumpkins, and gourds.
If you can’t make the trip to the farms to get your berries, both McLean and Buckhorn Berry Farms are vendors at local farmers’ markets, including the Haliburton Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays, the Peterborough Downtown Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays, the Lakefield Farmers’ Market on Thursdays, the Fenelon Falls Farmers’ Markets on Fridays, and the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market and Minden Farmers’ Market on Saturdays. You can also find produce from McLean and Buckhorn Berry Farms at more than 30 local grocery stores.
For more information, visit mcleanberryfarm.com. Before heading out to either farm to pick your own berries, check for the most recent updates by following McLean Berry Farm on Facebook and Instagram.
Know Your Locals™ is a branded editorial feature about locally owned independent businesses and locally operated organizations, and supported by them. If your business or organization is interested in being featured in a future “Know Your Locals” branded editorial, contact Jeannine Taylor at 705-742-6404 or jt@kawarthanow.com or visit our Advertise with kawarthaNOW page.
Municipality of Brighton Mayor Brian Ostrander cuts the ribbon on a British-style telephone booth installed in the downtown core, which serves as both a tourist information kiosk and a backdrop for photos. A local business purchased the phone booth from a private owner and donated to the municipality. (Photo: Municipality of Brighton)
A novel, candy-apple red addition to the Municipality of Brighton’s downtown main street is attracting the attention of residents and tourists alike.
Brighton has installed a British-style telephone box on Main Street (Highway 2).
The booth, placed in time for the summer tourism season, serves as an information hub for visitors and is already proving to be both a conversation piece and a picturesque backdrop for photos in the town’s charming and historic core.
“The booth will be used as a self-serve tourism information booth or kiosk,” Ben Hagerman, Brighton’s manager of economic development and communications, told kawarthaNOW. “There will be information on Brighton and the region, promoting things to do, eateries, and local retail.”
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The phone booth hails from a private residence in Brighton.
“When the resident was preparing to sell and move (the booth), they reached out to me and asked if the municipality would be interested in purchasing it and moving it,” Municipality of Brighton Mayor Brian Ostrander told kawarthaNOW.
“I didn’t think that the taxpayer should be making that kind of purchase, so I asked a few local businesses if they would be interested in making the purchase and donating the phone box to the municipality. We were fortunate to have a partner in Mistral Developments for this project.”
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Municipal employees moved the phone booth and spent some time refurbishing it to get it ready for its new home. The booth was installed before the first long weekend of summer.
Municipal staff are refilling the box twice a week with tourist information as there has been “a steady influx in interest as the summer moves along,” Hagerman noted.
“Visitors and residents alike are using it for photo opportunities and the comments on (social media) have been extremely positive and supportive.”
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The eye-catching booth fits in well with the increased push to shop locally, particularly given the current economy and ongoing international trade war.
“We always want folks to support their local shops and services,” Ostrander said. “Given the precarious economic times we find ourselves in, it’s even more important to do so in order to support our local economy.”
On Facebook, Ostrander also said the phone booth “symbolizes our connection to our namesake in Great Britain,” referring to the seaside resort in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England.
Visitors can find the phone box on the north side of Main Street (Highway 2), just west of Young Street (County Road 30).
James Barrett, Tara Koehler, and Jajube Mandiela star in Globus Theatre's production of "Come Down From Up River" by Norm Foster, which runs for 10 performances from June 25 to July 5, 2025 in Bobcaygeon. Barrett plays Shaver Bennett, a New Brunswick logger who travels to Saint John for a medical issue and hope to stay with his niece Bonnie Doyle, who he hasn't seen in 23 years. Bonnie considers her uncle a redneck and fears his reaction when he discovers she is married to Liv Arsenault, a Black woman. (kawarthaNOW collage of publicity photos)
Almost every year since renowned Canadian playwright Norm Foster cut the ribbon on Globus Theatre’s performance venue in Bobcaygeon 20 years ago, the professional theatre company has staged one of his plays.
This summer season, Globus Theatre is presenting Foster’s Come Down From Up River for 10 performances starting Wednesday (June 25) and running until Saturday, July 5.
Considered Canada’s most prolific playwright, the Newmarket-born Foster has written nearly 80 plays in the last 42 years and, at the age of 76, shows no signs of slowing down. He is also Canada’s most produced playwright, with around 150 of his plays staged around the world ever year.
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Come Down From Up River premiered in 2018 at The Foster Festival in St. Catharines — the first theatre festival in Canada celebrating the work of a living Canadian playwright.
“It’s set in New Brunswick, where I live,” Foster told kawarthaNOW in 2018 before the play’s premiere. “It’s about a guy who is estranged from his niece, and he comes down river to see her before he goes to the doctor for a medical issue.”
The guy in question is Shaver Bennett, a logger who has spent most of his life isolated in the forests of northern New Brunswick. When he has to travel to Saint John for a series of medical tests, he hopes to stay with his estranged sister’s daughter, Bonnie Doyle, who he hasn’t seen for 23 years. Now a lawyer, Bonnie has been married to a Black woman named Liv Arsenault for three years.
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Something happened between her mother and uncle when Bonnie was 12 years old that leads her to believe Shaver is an intolerant redneck, and she worries what will happen when he discovers she is married to Liv.
“Canadian theatre is so fortunate that, in part because of the Foster Festival that is now in its 10th year, Norm has been writing so many new and excellent plays,” says Globus Theatre co-founder and artistic director Sarah Quick in a media release.
“Come Down From Up River is one of those plays. It cleverly interweaves modern-day dilemmas with long-established perplexities, of both familial and romantic relationships. The characters are real, their stories resonate, and the laughter they elicit is plentiful.”
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Directed by Quick, the Globus production of Come Down From Up River stars James Barrett as Shaver Bennett. The theatre company’s co-founder and artistic producer, Barrett also regularly performs in many Globus productions (Buying the Farm, Sexy Laundry, and Mending Fences among them).
Taking on the role of Bonnie Doyle is Tara Koehler, who had also starred in previous Globus productions (Where You Are, Sugar Road, and The Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby), with Jajube Mandiela (Degrassi – The Next Generation, Binti’s Journey, Wrecked) taking to the Globus stage for the first time as Liv Arsenault.
While all of Foster’s plays generate plenty of laughs, there’s always a theme of loss, sadness, or regret that lies beneath the humour, and Come Down From Up River is no exception.
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“Much like our own relationships with loved ones, Come Down from Up River embraces the complexities of human connection, combining sensitivity with humour to tell a story of rekindled kinship,” reads the release from Globus Theatre.
Come Down From Up River will be performed at 2300 Pigeon Lake Road in Bobcaygeon with evening performances at 8 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays from June 25 to 28 and July 2 to 5, with 2 p.m. matinee performances on June 28 and July 3. An optional dinner is available before the evening performances.
Tickets are $50 for the show only or $100 for dinner and the show (plus tax and fee). For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.globustheatre.com/shows-all/come-down-from-up-river or call the Globus Theatre box office at 705-738-2037.
"HomeGrown: A Habitat Vineyard Party Fundraiser" on June 7, 2025 at Rolling Grape Vineyards in Bailieboro raised $24,000 for Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR). Pictured is event host Neil Morton of Cormor Inc. with Habitat PKR CEO Susan Zambonin and her husband and Habitat PKR procurement manager Mario Zambonin. (Photo courtesy of Habitat PKR)
Having a home of their own has had made a big difference in the lives of a Peterborough father and his teenaged daughter.
Derrick, whose last name has been withheld, is a homeowner who resides in the second phase of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and Kawartha Region’s (Habitat PKR) Leahy’s Lane development.
“It means everything to us to have a place of our own,” Derrick shared in a recent speech during a fundraiser for Habitat PKR. “My daughter now has the security to accomplish all of her life goals. She now knows she always has a home to come back to as she grows and pursues higher education and new life experiences. Thank you for continuing to support families like ours.”
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Derrick was one of 140 guests at Habitat PKR’s “HomeGrown: A Habitat Vineyard Party Fundraiser,” which took place on Saturday, June 7 at Rolling Grape Vineyards in Bailieboro.
The second annual event raised $24,000 for Habitat PKR’s efforts to help more families and individuals in the Peterborough and Kawartha region achieve affordable homeownership.
“It was truly heartwarming to see so many members of our community come together to celebrate and support affordable housing,” said Habitat PKR CEO Susan Zambonin in a media release.
“The generosity shown at HomeGrown will have a real and lasting impact on local families, and we’re especially excited to channel these funds directly into our Fraserville 3D-printed build and the Our Daughters’ Home project.”
Around 140 guests attended the “HomeGrown: A Habitat Vineyard Party Fundraiser” for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) on June 7, 2025 at Rolling Grape Vineyards in Bailieboro. (Photo courtesy of Habitat PKR)
Attendees also heard from Jane Bischoff, whose daughter will move into a accessible duplex in Peterborough’s East City area being built by Habitat PKR in partnership with Our Daughters’ Home, a grassroots group founded by Bishchoff and six other parents who have adult daughters with development disabilities.
“Thoughtfully designed” for the seven women and a live-in caregiver, the home will offer long-term stability, dignity, and peace of mind for both the women and their parents.
“I’ve been Jenny’s caregiver for over 30 years, but I know I can’t do this forever,” Bischoff said. “She deserves a safe, loving home — one that lasts beyond me.”
“We’re not just building a house. We’re building peace of mind for families like mine, and a future where our daughters are safe and supported.”
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The event was hosted by Neil Morton of Cormor Inc., a key partner in Habitat PKR’s 3D-printed affordable home build in Fraserville, with presenting sponsors RBC and Floortrends.
The evening “transported guests to the Amalfi Coast,” with vineyard views, a gourmet Italian meal, curated wine pairings, and live music from an accordion-and-guitar duo called Good to Go.
The event’s silent auction was a big success, featuring unique contributions from local businesses, the release noted. Items included a 12-foot King Crimson Maple tree from Rockwood Forest Nurseries, a whimsical fairy house by Karen C., a Millbrook artist, an original etching by internationally known local artist George Raab, a custom refinished dresser from Terrafirm Construction, a room refresh package from Room by Tim + Chris, and a custom European-styled vanity by Canadiana Cabinets.
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“HomeGrown is a meaningful reminder of the impact that community support can have,” the release stated. “Habitat PKR extends sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the event’s success. Your generosity is helping to build real, lasting change for local families in the Peterborough and Kawartha Region.”
Habitat PKR is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting affordable homeownership. Habitat offers a “hand-up” not a “hand-out” to lower-income families by offering no down payment and geared-to-income monthly payments.
Since 2002, Habitat PKR has supported 96 local families into affordable homeownership, according to the release.
Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for the entire Kawarthas region beginning Sunday afternoon (June 22) for “dangerous” heat and humidity.
The heat warning is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and Hastings County.
“The first significant heat event of the season with dangerously hot and humid conditions will begin Sunday afternoon and is expected to continue into the week,” Environment Canada states.
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Daytime highs of 31°C to 36°C are expected, with humidex values reaching 40°C to 46°C. There will be little relief from the heat overnight, with lows of 21°C to 25°C expected.
While the heat wave will peak on Monday, extreme heat and humidity may continue into Wednesday. A cold front is expected to push through the region late Tuesday, but there is some uncertainty with how far south this front will get.
Should the cold front remain farther north, the heat event may continue for Wednesday primarily for southwestern Ontario and the GTA.
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To help deal with the heat and humidity, Environment Canada is providing the advice listed below.
Take action to protect yourself and others, as extreme heat can affect everyone’s health. Determine if you or others around you are at greater risk of heat illness. Check on older adults, those living alone and other at-risk people in-person or on the phone multiple times a day.
Watch for the early signs of heat exhaustion in yourself and others. Signs may include headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, dark urine and intense fatigue. Stop your activity and drink water.
Heat stroke is a medical emergency! Call 9-1-1 or your emergency health provider if you, or someone around you, is showing signs of heat stroke which can include red and hot skin, dizziness, nausea, confusion and change in consciousness. While you wait for medical attention, try to cool the person by moving them to a cool place, removing extra clothing, applying cold water or ice packs around the body.
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Drink water often, and before you feel thirsty, to replace fluids.
Close blinds and shades to keep the sunlight out, and open windows if outside is cooler than inside.
Turn on air conditioning, use a fan, or move to a cooler area of your living space. If your living space is hot, move to a cool public space such as a cooling centre, community centre, library, or shaded park.
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Follow the advice of your region’s public health authority.
Plan and schedule outdoor activities during the coolest parts of the day.
Limit direct exposure to the sun and heat. Wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing and a wide-brimmed hat.
Never leave people, especially children, or pets inside a parked vehicle. Check the vehicle before locking to make sure no one is left behind.
After a hiatus since 2019, RC4G* Peterborough is bringing back the popular Rock Camp for girls and gender non-conforming youth aged 10 to 14 years old. Taking place from July 28 to August 1, 2025 at Sadleir House in Peterborough, the day camp will include workshops, arts and crafts, music lessons, and the opportunity for youth to write and rehearse an original song with a band of their peers and perform it for friends and family as the "Big Gig" at the end of the camp. (Photo: RC4G* Peterborough)
This summer, girls and gender non-conforming youth looking to get their rock ‘n’ roll on can do so with the return of a summer day camp from Rock Camp for Girls* (RC4G*) Peterborough.
After a hiatus since 2019, the program is being revitalized this summer from Monday, July 28 to Friday, August 1. Now built on collaboration with administration from Sadleir House and program leadership from Trent Radio, the rock camp will inspire girls and non-gender conforming youth aged 10 to 14 to explore rock music, gain confidence, and build a community of rock ‘n’ rollers.
Inspired by the Girls Rock Camp Alliance, Jean Greig connected with other female musicians in 2006 to bring Rock Camp for Girls to youth in Peterborough. Since then, RC4G* Peterborough has been creating inclusive spaces for both girls and for gender non-conforming youth (symbolized by the asterisk) by facilitating community programming and performance opportunities though summer camp, monthly jam sessions, workshops, and mentorships.
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“The goal is to create space to empower girls to take part in rock music and punk rock music,” says Trent Radio’s director of programming and “Rock & Roll Fairy Godmother” Jill Staveley.
“We can go back to the riot girls in the late ’80s and the early ’90s trying to fight to include women and girls and people who are in traditionally marginalized communities.”
As a female musician herself, Staveley says it’s important to have a rock camp for girls and gender non-conforming individuals, not to create an exclusive community but to create “a safe space for people who traditionally don’t have access to take up space in the music communities.”
No experience playing a musical instrument is necessary for campers signing up for the Rock Camp hosted by RC4G* Peterborough at Sadleir House in Peterborough, running from July 28 to August 1, 2025. Throughout the week, campers will engage in activities and be taught by experienced past camp staff and former campers. (Photo: RC4G* Peterborough)
Working as a sound technician and musician, she recalls times when she was treated “differently” than men in the same spaces.
“I would get asked to play shows because they needed a chick band, they needed to make sure they had girls at their show, and I didn’t feel like a musician,” she says.
“I think there has been progress that’s been made in terms of equity in music communities, but there’s always work to be done to make sure that everybody’s included — especially (so) that young people feel seen and heard and supported and know that it’s their right to take up space — and then try and provide opportunities for them to do that.”
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When registering for Rock Camp, campers will be asked to select their top choice for an instrument (electric guitar, electric bass, or drums) they would like to learn to play throughout the camp. On the first afternoon, they will be put into bands (each with two guitarists, a bassist, and a drummer) to write an original song they will perform at the end of the week.
Running from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day at Sadelir House in downtown Peterborough, the camps will begin with a workshop in the morning, before campers are split into groups and given lessons on their chosen instruments. The workshops and lessons are led by a “Rock Squad” made up of music professionals and former campers.
In the afternoon, each band will get together and practise their original songs. Throughout the week, there will also be other arts and craft activities, such as making band shirts.
“It’s a lot of stuff happening, but it’s really this focused space where campers get to hands-on play for a lot of the day, which is really great,” Staveley says.
When registering for the Rock Camp hosted by RC4G* Peterborough at Sadleir House in Peterborough from July 28 to August 1, 2025, campbers will be asked to select their top and second choice of one of three instruments (electric guitar, electric bass, or drums) they would like to learn to play during the camp. (Photo: RC4G* Peterborough)
As the campers are connecting and writing songs, the goal of RC4G* is to instill a sense of confidence in the musicians.
“Rock ‘n’ roll is not just a genre of music — it’s an ethos and it’s a way of approaching life,” Staveley says.
“For everybody, and especially for young people across the board, there’s a lot of pressure to be very good at something before you let anybody see you do it. I think building confidence comes with creating spaces where humans can learn and remember that it’s okay not to be good at something when you first try it.”
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To that effect, Staveley assures that none of the campers need to have any experience or already know how to play the instrument they select. While campers who do own an instrument can bring it if they wish, instruments will be supplied at the camp.
“I think most people who sign up for Rock Camp are probably terrified of doing it,” Staveley notes. “But once they get there, they recognize that it’s really important to create spaces of learning and it’s important to try things that are scary.”
“We spend a lot of time at camp focusing on community building and healthy relationships. It’s about this rock ‘n’ roll way of life of being community minded, trying to empower and uplift the people around us, and to convince ourselves to take risks and know that it’s okay not to be perfect.”
The Rock Camp being hosted by RC4G* Peterborough from July 28 to August 1, 2025 at Sadleir House in Peterborough will not only teach girls and gender non-conforming youth aged 10 to 14 years old about rock ‘n’ roll music, but build their confidence in a safe community where participants are not afraid to take risks. (Photo: RC4G* Peterborough)
Once campers have built that confidence by the end of the week, they will perform their original compositions with their band at what’s called the “Big Gig.” Campers can invite their friends and family for the show, which will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 1 in the John K. Muir Dining Hall at Sadleir House.
“It’s really fun and a very high-energy moment,” says Staveley. “The pride on the campers’ faces as they get up and then celebrate each other and share what they’ve learned is a really intense and powerful moment.”
Registration for Rock Camp is priced at $300 for the week, with a $50 e-transfer deposit required when registering. There are funds set aside for camper subsidies on a sliding scale, which campers can apply on the registration form available on Google Docs.
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Staveley especially encourages youth who don’t know how to play an instrument to give Rock Camp a try.
“If there’s someone out there who is intrigued but they’re nervous that they can’t play, or they’re nervous that it would be too hard, those are the people who should sign up,” she says.
“You don’t have to be good at something when you first try it out. If you’re interested in the camp at all, but you think it’s not for you because you don’t already play an instrument, come to camp and realize you are a powerful human being who’s got a lot to offer the world.”
While RC4G* is not currently accepting instrument donations, those interested in supporting the camp can make a difference by supporting the camper subsidy fund. To do so, email Staveley at rc4gpeterborough@gmail.com.
For more information on Rock Camp, follow RC4G* on Facebook or Instagram.
Particles of polystyrene foam "snow" along the Rotary trail in Peterborough's East City are the result of contractors sanding insulated concrete forms (ICF) being used in the construction of a six-storey building just north of Robinson Street where Megan Boyles lives. Boyles says the particles have been blown on her property as well as throughout the immediate neighbourhood. (Photo: Megan Boyles)
Something inherently pretty and calming results when the white stuff descends from above and blankets the landscape upon which it settles.
But when that white stuff is in the form of particles of polystyrene foam — styrofoam as it’s commonly called — that’s quite something else. It’s not pretty, and from an environmental or health standpoint, it’s far from calming. In fact, quite the opposite for East City resident Megan Boyles.
The Robinson Street resident recently took to Facebook — specifically the East City PTBO Neighbourhood Hub group — to express her dismay and frustration with styrofoam “snow” that has fallen on her property and, she says, throughout her immediate neighbourhood.
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The result of contractors sanding the exterior of the insulated concrete forms (ICF), which are made with polystyrene, at the site of an Ashburnham Realty six-storey build south of Hunter Street East off the Rotary trail and nears Boyles’ property, the polystyrene particles have settled where the wind has carried them.
Making matters worse, says Boyles, is that it’s virtually impossible to pick up and dispose of the stuff — which means it will remain in the environment.
“This material does not break down,” posted Boyles, adding, “We cannot let this blatant disregard for the health of our environment, our children, and ourselves continue.”
While insulated concrete forms (ICF) have historically been common for below-grade applications, above-grade ICF walls are increasingly being used for the entire building envelope. Ashburnham Realty is the developer behind the six-storey building off the Rotary trail south of Hunter Street East and north of Robinson Street in Peterborough’s East City, and owner Paul Bennett has been responsive to the complaints of resident Megan Boyles about ICF particles getting into the environment, although she remains unsatisfied with the remediation efforts. (Photo: Megan Boyles)
Boyles is making two demands.
First, that Ashburnham Realty have work at the construction site halted until the entire building is tarped, or another way to contain the styrofoam residue is put in place. Second, that the City of Peterborough prohibit the use of styrofoam in the building process and that “the implementation of measures to ensure the surrounding environment is not impacted” are put in place.
Boyles told kawarthaNOW that styrofoam fallout from the work being done on other buildings at the development site occurred last year, but not to the same worrying degree.
“It didn’t reach as far as my house at that point,” she recalls.
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But on Wednesday (June 18), her anxiety went up a huge notch.
“My son and my daughter and I were having a little breakfast picnic mid-morning and it was literally snowing styrofoam on our food,” she says. “I thought, oh my gosh, ‘We’ve got to get out of here before we start inhaling this.'”
The week prior, Boyles put her in infant son in a stroller for a nap.
“We have a screen (net) that goes over it (the stroller). The particles had gone through the screen and covered his clothing. It was likely that he was inhaling (the particles).”
“There’s been larger chunks of styrofoam flying around for quite a while. That bothered me, but I could pick them up easily enough and throw them out, and that’s what we’ve been doing.”
“But this is really hard to clean up. It’s not going to decompose ever. We grow food on our property. We have kids playing on the grass. It scares me that it’s going to be there potentially forever.”
“I spoke today (Thursday) to someone who was at The Railyard Café (on Hunter Street East just north of the work site). There was styrofoam in their water glass.”
According to East City resident Megan Boyles, particles of polystyrene foam have been found as far north as Hunter Street East. “I spoke today to someone who was at The Railyard Café. There was styrofoam in their water glass.” (Photo: Megan Boyles)
After Boyles raised the issue with the building site superintendent, a worker was sent to her property to vacuum up the styrofoam residue.
“They’re trying, but it’s not really good enough,” says Boyles, who has also had communication with Ashburnham Realty owner Paul Bennett.
“He (Bennett) is trying to mitigate (the styrofoam fallout) but it’s so hard to contain. I don’t want to say it’s impossible, but the way they have it set up now, it’s impossible.”
“They do have a vacuum attachment on their sanders but it’s not very effective. They’re six storeys up. It’s not like they’re sanding a foundation. It’s pretty hard to contain when you’re way up there.”
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Approached for comment, Bennett declined an interview but, in an email, he noted he has “talked to Megan a few times and visited her home as well.”
“It’s something we’re not happy about at all,” he added.
“The contractor worked on a windy day (when we had asked him not to work on windy days). Before we were able to stop them, some of the particles got off the site. As per her (Boyles’) Facebook post, some got onto her property and has since been cleaned up. We visit her property, and the area, at the start and end of each day. We take this stuff very seriously.”
Bennett adds that “all environmental precautions recommended to us by the city and the MOE (Ministry of the Environment) prior to starting the work” have been adhered to.
According to Paul Bennett, owner of Ashburnham Realty which is the developer of the six-storey building, the contractor was sanding the building’s insulated concrete forms (ICF) on a windy day, allowing particles of polystyrene foam to blow off the construction site into the surrounding neighbourhood. A tarp has been placed around the bottom of the fence to try to prevent the particles from blowing off site. (Photo: Megan Boyles)
That said, Boyles says mitigation measures that have been taken, including the partial tarping of a perimeter fence on the south and west sides of the work site, aren’t cutting it.
“The tarp is maybe one-foot high … it basically blows when the wind blows and lifts off the ground,” she says, adding “I don’t understand how it’s going to contain anything at all. If the wind was blowing the tarp against the fence, that would help.”
Boyles says Peterborough environmental officer Dan Snowball told her “This is a somewhat new building technique … doing the ICF above ground” and “The regulations … haven’t really caught up.”
The result, says Boyles, is “there’s no clean up protocol, or protocols to mitigate the mess.”
“The contractor could have chosen to scaffold the whole building and tarp it, but I imagine the added cost of that wasn’t in anyone’s interest,” she says.
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In addition to reaching out to Bennett and Snowball, Boyles says she has been “playing phone tag” with Ashburnham Ward councillor Keith Riel, and has filed a report with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment — “The person I spoke to said there is likely nothing they could do; they thought it was in the city’s jurisdiction” to deal with.
According to Boyles, at Snowball’s direction, landscape fabric has been placed over storm sewer openings, and straw bales have been used to prevent the styrofoam residue from entering culverts leading to the on-site water catchment ponds.
Boyles emphasizes that Bennett has been “receptive,” noting “he appears to be trying.”
“It’s a really hard clean-up to do. The person who came over and vacuumed … I can’t really tell what they did. I think the guy kind of looked around and thought ‘What am I supposed to be doing here?'”
“Don’t get me wrong. I don’t have piles of little bits of styrofoam. I picked all the big chunks up. It looks like vermiculite everywhere. It’s stuck to everything. Maybe it will blow away to the next person’s lawn, but it’s here forever.”
“I do think he (Bennett) is making some effort. But the tarping (of the fence) is pretty sub-par. I thought ‘Is this for real?’ That’s your plan?'”
“Ashburnham Realty does a lot of stuff in the community. I see that and I appreciate it a lot. I’m sort of in disbelief that this is happening, and that it’s allowed to happen. It’s not like at the last minute they decided to use styrofoam and nobody knew it was going make a huge mess.”
“I hope the city can learn from this and do something around building materials and clean-up, and environmental and health impacts,” Boyle says.
Experience Cobourg has launched the "Little Book of Summer Perks," which contains coupons for area businesses and targets boosting the local economy. (Photo: Experience Cobourg)
In a move to promote shopping close to home and investing in the local economy, Cobourg’s tourism department Experience Cobourg has launched the “Little Book of Summer Perks.”
The inaugural edition of the little book features coupons, discounts, and offers totalling more than $250 in savings at local shops, eateries, and attractions all summer long. Books are available to purchase for $3.
“We are excited about this project here in Cobourg,” Jackie Chapman Davis, manager of culture, events and tourism, told kawarthaNOW. “The Little Book of Summer Perks is designed to do more than offer great deals — it’s a direct investment in our local economy.”
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From an economic development perspective, the 2025 edition aims to increase visibility, foot traffic, and revenue for Cobourg’s small businesses by giving both residents and visitors “extra motivation” to explore, spend, and support local, Chapman Davis said.
“The hope is that each coupon redemption strengthens the connection between our community and the entrepreneurs who make it thrive, leading to long-term customer loyalty and a stronger local economy.”
She said the 2025 edition carries added significance. With ongoing recovery from pandemic disruptions, the rising costs affecting small businesses, and economic uncertainty caused by the U.S. trade war, “it’s more important than ever to support our local economy.”
“This book represents a broader cross-section of Cobourg’s downtown and surrounding commercial areas. It’s also part of a larger push to re-engage both locals and tourists, encouraging them to rediscover what’s right in their backyard.”
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While purchasing and using the Little Book of Summer Perks is a small act, Chapman Davis added, it will have a big impact.
“Every time someone redeems a coupon, they’re helping a local business succeed. It’s an easy and affordable way for the public to give back, show support, and get more value from their summer.”
The book also encourages people to explore various shops, services, or restaurants they might not have tried otherwise.
“It’s a fun way to connect with the community and make the most of the season,” Chapman Davis said.
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She noted the goal is for the book to become an annual offering in Cobourg.
“We hope it becomes a much-anticipated seasonal tradition — one that locals look forward to and businesses proudly participate in. It will continue to evolve in design, content, and reach, but the core mission will remain the same: support local, strengthen community, and celebrate the seasons in Cobourg.”
The Little Book of Perks is available for purchase at the Victoria Hall customer service desk, the Cobourg Marina, the campground office at Victoria Park, and the Cobourg beach information kiosk (during hours of operation).
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The businesses participating in the 2025 Little Book of Summer Perks are listed below.
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