Members of Township of Asphodel-Norwood council and representatives from Norwood Pride gathered at the Town Hall on June 1, 2026 for the raising of the Pride Flag. (Photo: Township of Asphodel-Norwood)
Norwood Pride has announced its 2026 theme will be “Rainbow Country” in celebration of nine years of building queer community in a small town.
The volunteer-run group is hosting a community-focused family-friendly event on Sunday, July 12 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Norwood Legion at 27 King Street, featuring bingo, a BBQ, cash bar, music, cake, and a family zone.
“I’m really excited about Pride bingo, I’m really excited about the music, the celebration, and the community,” said Tony Tavares, board member for Norwood Pride, in a recent interview with kawarthaNOW.
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Norwood, which sits 30 minutes east of Peterborough, is a small rural community home to fewer than 2,000 people. But the town’s small size doesn’t stop a strong turnout at the community’s annual Pride celebrations.
Tavares was a founding member of Norwood Pride back in 2017 when he and his partner Shane Hodge along with and their friend Braden Clark had the idea to start a local Pride event in Norwood.
“We were actually joking about having a Norwood Pride, because this idea of small-town Pride was not really a big thing at the time,” said Tavares. “After the big joke, we thought why wouldn’t we have a Pride in Norwood?”
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The group led the organization of seven Pride events in Norwood since 2017, only having a short hiatus during the height of the pandemic, attracting around 200 people annually for the celebration.
“The vast number of people there were community people just coming to show their support — straight people bringing their kids, older generations showing up,” remembers Tavares of the first year. “They were saying: we’re here to support you, you’re welcome in our community.”
In 2019, Norwood Pride officially incorporated as a not-for-profit, and have since been investing donations back into their work to help keep events free and community-centric.
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Although Tavares tells the story of joking about hosting Pride events in a community as small as Norwood, he also said that the group wants to create opportunities for queer visibility in the community.
“Despite there being more resources than when we were growing up and coming out, or not coming out, in these small towns people can still feel quite isolated,” said Tavares. “Visibility here is really important, because there are no immediate local resources.”
“If we can even just connect at some level, even if they don’t come, but they see posters with some kid who’s struggling, who doesn’t take their lives, or fall into some deep depression, because they see not only a Pride Parade, but the community supporting them, then that would be worth all the effort.”
As for the 2026 theme, Taveres says “Rainbow Country speaks to the symbolism of the rainbow for Pride, and it speaks to the fact that we’re doing this in a small community.”
“The world’s a tough place right now, and so we wanted for this to be a joyous celebratory event.”
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Tavares told kawarthaNOW that proceeds from the event raised through nominal fees for food will go back into the organization to cover core expenses and support future Pride events.
“We’re just doing this in our own time, we’re not getting paid for this (and) we don’t want to get paid for this,” he said.
Speaking to community members considering attending Norwood Pride for the first time in 2026, Tavares said “Everybody should feel welcome — you’ll probably find your neighbours there.”
For more information about Norwood Pride, visit norwoodpride.ca.
Toronto-based artists Annie Luján and Veronica Hortigüela will perform their award-winning, interactive clown show "MONKS" at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on January 21, 22, and 24, 2027 as part of New Stages Theatre's 2026-27 season. (Photo: Audrianna Martin Del Campo / The Theatre Centre)
New Stages Theatre in Peterborough has announced its 2026-27 season of three full productions, including a holiday production, along with five staged readings and the return of the Brand New Stages Festival.
Subscriptions are now available at www.newstages.ca/26-27 for the new season, which artistic director Mark Wallace announced from the Market Hall stage at the final production of the 2025-26 season, a staged reading of Lynn Nottage’s Clyde’s.
“It has been a great 2025-26 season,” Wallace tells kawarthaNOW. “New Stages has grown significantly, and we aim to keep that positive momentum going in the new year ahead.”
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Wallace says the 2025-26 season was New Stages Theatre’s most successful ever, with over 4,100 people attending 18 different shows performed at three venues.
Founded in 1997 by now-retired artistic director Randy Read, New Stages will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2027. The professional not-for-profit charitable theatre company has grown from a summer theatre only company for its first five years to a fall-to-spring company with a focus on producing and presenting high-quality, thought-provoking contemporary theatre.
For its 2026-27 season, New Stages will be presenting a series of all-Canadian plays, including five of its popular staged readings (where actors perform from scripts without elaborate sets or full costumes) and, for the first time ever, three full mainstage productions in a single season — including a homegrown family-focused holiday production.
Wife-and-husband team Dahlia Katz and M. John Kennedy will present a staged reading of “Mustard” by Kat Sandler at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on October 4, 2026 to open New Stages Theatre’s 2026-27 season. (Photos courtesy of New Stages Theatre)
“Selections include a rich mixture of material, including thought-provoking, comedic, and acclaimed works for the stage,” Wallace says. “Our plays this year are based around the theme of family, whether it is the families we are born into, or the families we form along the way.”
“What binds us together with other people? What keeps us alone and apart? How do we find out where we belong? These questions matter more than ever in our modern era of heightened isolation. We’ll get the chance explore them together in the coming season.”
Season subscription options include a premium subscription for $220 (including taxes and fees) that includes all eight shows at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, a savings of $103 over regular ticket prices, and a flex pack subscription with your choice of six of the eight shows for $180 (including taxes and fees), a savings of $63.
Subscriber benefits include priority access to shows before they go on sale to the general public along with reserved seating, as well as the ability to transfer your tickets to someone else if you can’t make it to a show.
Here’s the lineup for the 2026-27 season, which runs from October to June.
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“Mustard” by Kat Sandler (October 4)
What if your childhood imaginary friend never left? Find out in this funny, wistful, and wildly creative play from Canadian playwright Kat Sandler. Described as a fairy tale for grown-ups, the play won the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Play in 2016.
Directed by Dahlia Katz, the staged reading will star M. John Kennedy as Mustard.
“Casey and Diana” by Nick Green (November 15)
Written by Nick Green, Casey and Diana is based on the true story of Princess Diana’s visit to Casey House, Toronto’s first AIDS hospice, and a dying man who is determined to survive long enough to meet her. Nominated for the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Play in 2024, it won the Toronto Theatre Critics Choice Award for Best New Canadian Play that same year.
One of the most produced plays in Canada in the past two years, the play makes its Peterborough debut as a staged reading featuring Linda Kash.
“The Nonsense Club” by Dreda Blow and Brad Brackenridge (December 9 to 13)
Peterborough theatre artists Dreda Blow and Brad Brackenridge present their homegrown homage to the whimsical nonsense stories of Edward Lear like “The Owl and the Pussycat.”
Filled with dancing, puppetry, music, and sheer wonder, this family holiday production is directed by Mark Wallace and also features Susan Newman and Rob Fortin.
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“MONKS” by Annie Luján and Veronica Hortigüela (January 21, 22, and 24)
Two monks, one donkey, and a million lentils, what could go wrong?
Written and performed by Annie Luján and Veronica Hortigüela, this clown-inspired phenomenon comes to Peterborough fresh off the Edinburgh Festival and a month at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre.
Winner of the Toronto Theatre Critics Choice Award for Best New Canadian Work in 2025, MONKS was sold out at Crow’s Theatre and at the Theatre Centre weeks before opening.
Brand New Stages Festival (February 22 – 28)
The fourth annual Brand New Stages Festival will once again feature new Canadian work for the stage, including by local artists Bill Coleman and Wendy Trusler, with more to be announced.
Already confirmed shows are a staged reading on February 25 of On Thin Ice by award-winning Curve Lake playwright Drew Hayden Taylor, a new mystery comedy thriller set at a remote cottage in winter that premiered at Magnus Theatre in 2026, and a staged reading on February 28 of You, Always by award-winning playwright Erin Shields.
The play, which premiered at Crow’s Theatre in 2026, is an ode to sisterhood set across 50 years of shared memories from two sisters and the bond they share based on love, rivalry, and the kind of honestly only a sibling can deliver.
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“The Myth Of The Ostrich” by Matt Murray (April 21 – 25)
When two very different mothers meet to sort out what their teenagers are up to, a small misunderstanding spirals into a hilariously unpredictable and entirely unforgettable day.
Matt Murray’s outrageous comedy, which was a big hit at the 2014 Toronto Fringe Festival, has since been performed across Canada, including at Toronto’s Next Stage Theatre Festival, at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre in 2016, and at Here For Now Theatre in Stratford in 2023, and had its U.S. premiere in Missouri in January 2026.
“Jabber” by Marcus Youssef (June 13)
A staged reading of Vancouver playwright and actor Marcus Youssef’s youth drama that tells the story of a Muslim teenager and a rebellious outsider who form an unlikely friendship that will put everything they’ve been taught to the test.
Commissioned by Geordie Theatre in Montreal in 2011, Jabber has since been performed across Canada and internationally, winning Berlin’s Ikarus prize. Youssef himself won the Siminovitch Prize, Canada’s most prestigious theatre award, in 2017.
Trent Health in Motion sports medicine physician Dr. Jessica Hewitt shows her colleagues how to use a portable ultrasound unit during a team in-service, illustrating the clinic's integrated and collaborative approach with a focus on evidence-informed healthcare. Located within the Trent University Athletics Centre in Peterborough, Trent Health in Motion provides personalized care for sports rehabilitation, injury recovery, and overall wellness, with services including orthopedic physiotherapy, pelvic physiotherapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, personal training, dietitian services, hydrotherapy, and sport medicine physician consultations. (Photo courtesy of Trent Health in Motion)
Whether you’re there for the state-of-the-art facilities, to assess and treat an injury or condition, or to benefit from specialized programming, Trent Health in Motion is on a mission to empower you to move better, feel stronger, and remain active.
Located within the Trent University Athletics Centre in Peterborough, Trent Health in Motion is open to the public, providing personalized care for sports rehabilitation, injury recovery, and overall wellness. With a therapy pool, full weight room, and cardio loft with views of the Otonabee River, Trent Health in Motion’s facilities support a range of fitness, rehabilitation, and performance goals.
Services practised at the clinic include orthopedic physiotherapy, pelvic physiotherapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, personal training, dietitian services, hydrotherapy, and sport medicine physician consultations. Not only are each of these healthcare providers found under one roof, but they collaborate in an integrated way.
Healthcare providers collaborating under one roof for better client outcomes
Husband-and-wife team Michael Williams and Reanna Montopoli are the owners of Trent Health in Motion, an integrated health clinic located at the Trent University Athletic Centre in Peterborough. The couple, who met while studying physiotherapy at Queen’s University, began working as managers of the clinic in 2016 before taking over ownership in 2018. (Photo courtesy of Trent Health in Motion)
“We’re not just working in the same space or in the same building — we’re working together,” says Michael Williams, a physiotherapist and co-owner of Trent Health in Motion.
“That means we’re being intentional about mentoring and sitting down together as a group to communicate about challenging cases or new research or new ideas about services that we could provide, based on what we’re seeing and hearing from clients. We’re communicating and trying to work in an integrated way to get to the best outcomes for the people that we work with.”
The clinic’s unique setting and immense potential is what initially drew Williams and his wife Reanna Montopoli, a Peterborough-raised physiotherapist, to manage the clinic beginning in 2016. The couple, who met while studying physiotherapy at Queen’s University, were inspired by the clinic’s location on a university campus, its beautiful natural light and views of the Otonabee River, and the ability to use the surrounding athletic facilities.
Trent Health in Motion’s facilities at the Trent University Athletic Centre overlook the Otonabee River and contains a full weight room and cardio loft, therapy pool, fitness studios, and more. The integrated health clinic is open to the public. (Photo courtesy of Trent Health in Motion)
Since taking over ownership of Trent Health in Motion in 2018, Williams and Montopoli have intentionally grown the business into a true integrated hub — expanding the team to include more diverse healthcare professionals and services, and embedding a deep focus on collaboration and lifelong learning.
“It’s worthwhile from a client perspective, but also from a care provider perspective,” Williams says. “No one healthcare provider can manage every single issue that someone comes with.”
“If we can identify our strengths and refer clients to other team members for their specific expertise, it leads to a better outcome. If we learn how to work together more effectively, it leads to us being more fulfilled as providers and delivering a higher level of care to our clients.”
Staying current with evolving research to provide evidence-informed care
Australian physiotherapist Antony Lo (middle) with Trent Health in Motion owners Reanna Montopoli and Michael Williams (left) and staff Kelsey Skebo, Michael Newbigging, Kristin Knill, and Joshua Palmer. Lo led The Female Athlete Course at the Peterborough clinic, which was taken by all of Trent Health in Motion’s physiotherapists and one massage therapist as well as other healthcare professionals in the community, including some who came from as far as New York State. (Photo courtesy of Trent Health in Motion)
Learning from one another is one of the core ways Trent Health in Motion ensures their clients benefit from the most up-to-date care. Because health science is constantly evolving, the clinic makes a continuous effort to stay on top of new studies so they can best support their clients’ recovery and wellness.
“We take on students for clinical placements, which forces us to re-evaluate our knowledge and make sure we’re sharp because they’re asking questions and we want to be able to answer well and guide them in the right direction,” Williams says.
The clinic also hosts programming for continued education, like The Female Athlete Course that was led by world-renowned Australian physiotherapist Antony Lo last month.
All of Trent Health in Motion’s physiotherapists and one massage therapist took the course, which provides evidence-informed frameworks to help women train and perform. The course was well-attended by other professionals in the community and beyond, including some who travelled from as far as New York state.
Hydrotherapy is one of many services offered by Trent Health in Motion in Peterborough, which provides a collaborative and evidence-informed approach across healthcare disciplines. Other services available at the clinic include massage therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractic care, personal training, dietitian services, hydrotherapy, and sport medicine. (Photo courtesy of Trent Health in Motion)
“We host continuing education courses because most of the courses that are available, unless they are virtual, are going to be in Toronto or Ottawa,” Montopoli says. “There isn’t much that’s offered in this community, but we have a lot of healthcare and fitness professionals here, so we want to become a hub.”
On October 17 and 18, Trent Health in Motion will be hosting the Fundamentals of Running Injuries course, which will provide best practices and the most recent science to professionals and those who are running, learning to run, or engaging in sports that require running. Learn more about the course curriculum or register for the Peterborough event.
“People often struggle to know how to appropriately get started or they get derailed when they try to do something but hurt an ankle. Now that hurdle to become active becomes a lot bigger,” says Williams.
“Running is really accessible as a low-cost option to be active, and we want to encourage those things. It’s incumbent for us to try to learn the most recent evidence that supports that type of goal.”
Leading by example to promote active living
GreenUP’s Education and Active Transportation Program Manager Ashley Burnie Seeds presents Trent Health in Motion co-owners Reanna Montopoli and Michael Williams with a Sustainability Leadership Award for supporting active commuting initiatives. The business annually participates in GreenUP’s Shifting Gears May Challenge, is a Green Economy Peterborough member, and encourages active commutes from staff members. (Photo courtesy of Trent Health in Motion)
In fact, Trent Health in Motion frequently endorses active transportation by participating in the Shifting Gears May Challenge, an annual initiative from GreenUP that encourages Peterborough businesses and residents to make the shift to active and sustainable transportation together.
Also a member of GreenUP’s Green Economy Peterborough program, Trent Health in Motion has a corporate membership with B!KE, Peterborough’s community bike shop, to remove the barriers for employees to cycle to work.
“In our society, it’s just so normalized that everyone drives their own car to work every single day, but we’re just trying to normalize other ways of doing it that are better for the environment and for your health,” Montopoli says. “We try to lead by example and support staff who are interested and try to promote it for clients who might be interested as well.”
An evidence-based approach to increasing bone density
Trent Health in Motion recently held a free high-intensity strength and impact training program for people with osteoporosis and osteopenia called Lift for Life. The program was structured based on a landmark study from Australia that proved training consistently can increase bone density, despite the previous belief that people with these conditions should stay away from training. (Photo courtesy of Trent Health in Motion)
As proof of how research can inform practice, Trent Health in Motion recently held a free high-intensity strength and impact training program for people with osteoporosis and osteopenia called Lift for Life. The program was structured based on a landmark study from Australia that proved training consistently can increase bone density, despite the previous belief that people with these conditions should stay away from training.
“Some of the things that we thought were problematic — like jumping and landing with force and lifting with heavier weights — have actually been shown to improve strength and bone density when tested over a longer time and done with supervision and guidance and progressive increases,” Williams says.
“When we were in school, we were taught that’s not how things work — that once your bone density started to decline, there was no possibility for even small improvement. This study completely changed that narrative by proving we can actually reverse that decline.”
Through a successful collaborative grant application with Activity Haven Seniors Centre, with funding provided by the Government of Ontario, Trent Health in Motion secured the resources necessary to offer the Lift for Life program completely free of charge, meeting a surge of interest from the local community.
The clinical data gathered from the program is now being studied in collaboration with researcher Christina Ziebart at Western University, with the ultimate goal of publishing a manuscript to share the findings with the wider medical community.
“We’re taking current evidence and trying to apply it locally in a way that no one else was really doing, including by partnering with other organizations in the community,” says Montopoli. “We recognize that cost is often a barrier for people, so trying to find opportunities where we can find funding to, if not eliminate cost, at least reduce it where possible, is really important.”
Helping seniors and new moms stay active while creating a sense of community
Trent Health in Motion’s Moms in Motion program was originally launched as a free community initiative to remove financial barriers for new parents. These weekly prenatal and postpartum sessions combine expert-led group exercises with targeted educational discussions to tackle common misconceptions about exercising during and after pregnancy. (Photo courtesy of Trent Health in Motion)
Trent Health in Motion provides other high-demand targeted programming to seniors, such as the Seniors in Motion and the Seniors Motion and Mobility programs. These ongoing programs promote healthy aging while fostering social and community-building opportunities.
Further making active living and education accessible, the Moms in Motion program was originally launched as a free community initiative to remove financial barriers for new parents. These weekly prenatal and postpartum sessions combine expert-led group exercises with targeted educational discussions to tackle common misconceptions about exercising during and after pregnancy.
“It also creates a sense of community with the participants because they’re coming every single week with the same group,” Montopoli says. “It can be a very isolating time in life, so having that community support is really beneficial.”
Looking ahead, as Trent Health in Motion expands services — including the upcoming onboarding of mental health professionals — Montopoli and Williams are looking for other opportunities to adapt to what clients in the community need and what the most recent science suggests.
“We’ll continue to work with different partners to try to access funding for people in the community,” Montopoli says. “There are a lot of different avenues where we can have a positive impact for our clients and the community and we’re definitely trying to touch on as many of those as we can.”
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Trent Health in Motion. If your business or organization is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region's HomeGrown: A Habitat Garden Disco Fundraiser on June 6, 2026 at Chemong Lodge in Bridgenorth raised $15,000 to support the non-profit organization's local affordable housing builds across the Kawarthas region. (Photo: Bryan Reid)
Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) has raised $15,000 to help support its goal of building 149 affordable homes across the Kawarthas, thanks to those who attended the non-profit organization’s third annual HomeGrown: A Habitat Garden Disco Fundraiser and the event’s sponsors.
Held at Chemong Lodge in Bridgenorth on Saturday, June 6, the sold-out evening saw around 100 community members welcomed into an immersive atmosphere featuring disco-themed décor and sparkling lighting at an outdoor setting along the shores of Chemong Lake.
Attendees enjoyed the garden grazing table, passed and stationed canapés, and dishes prepared on the smokehouse Argentinian grill, along with curated beverages and cocktails, while listening to live music and participating in a silent auction.
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Guests also heard stories from future Habitat PKR homeowners, including a couple who are awaiting the completion of their single-family home in Norwood so they can move in with their children.
The couple spoke about their experience completing the 500 volunteer hours required as part of Habitat PKR’s affordable homeownership model. Families can meet their volunteer hours at Habitat ReStores or by participating in home-building projects.
Attendees also heard from another future Habitat PKR homeowner, who shared her experience navigating housing instability in Peterborough’s rental market. A single mother, she will soon move into a condominium unit at Leahy’s Lane with her son through Habitat PKR’s buyback program, which helps ensure long-term affordability for local homeowners.
The program kicks in when existing Habitat homeowners decide to move due to life changes. When this happens, Habitat PKR will buy the home, renovate it if needed, and make it available to another local family in need of affordable housing.
A few of the guests at Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region’s HomeGrown: A Habitat Garden Disco Fundraiser on June 6, 2026 at Chemong Lodge in Bridgenorth. Attendees were encouraged to dress in their most chic summer-garden-disco-glam attire. (Photo: Bryan Reid)
During the event, Habitat PKR shared its plans to create 149 affordable homes through projects across the Kawarthas, with land secured, partnerships in place, and development plans established.
The projects include three new single-family homes in Norwood, 40 condominium units at Keystone Court on Lansdowne Street in Peterborough, 35 units in a Haliburton development in partnership with Places for People in Haliburton, supportive shared living housing in Peterborough for six women with developmental disabilities through Our Daughters’ Home, and a 64-unit condominium development in Haliburton that will include new childcare spaces for local families.
The $15,000 that was raised through the June 6 fundraiser will directly support the organization’s local affordable housing builds across the region.
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“HomeGrown is a meaningful opportunity for our community to come together in support of affordable housing,” said Habitat PKR CEO Susan Zambonin in a media release.
“We are grateful to share updates on our upcoming projects and to celebrate the impact we are already seeing in the lives of local families. With land secured, strong partners in place, and a clear vision ahead, continued community support will help us move these homes forward.”
HomeGrown: A Habitat Garden Disco Fundraiser was supported by RBC as the presenting sponsor, as well as event sponsors Floortrends, Chemong Lodge, Peterborough Axe Club, Kerr’s Home Products, Lakeshore Designs, Braun Custom Builds, Habitat for Humanity Canada, Cambium, Sunbelt Rentals, and Kingdon Timber Mart.
Presented by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) with support from the City of Peterborough and sponsors and community partners, the "Movies at the Park" series will see free movies screened on a large outdoor screen at Quaker Foods City Square every Tuesday evening during July and August. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
There will be even more free outdoor movies in downtown Peterborough this summer, with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) announcing an expanded “Movies at the Park” series.
The free movies will run at dusk every Tuesday evening in July and August at Quaker Foods City Square, located at 215 Charlotte Street just east of Aylmer.
After launching the series for the first time last summer with five movies, the DBIA has expanded it to eight movies this summer with the support of Peterborough Tourism, the City of Peterborough’s destination marketing program, along with a group of sponsors and community partners.
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“Initiatives like this strengthen community connections while enhancing the experience for locals and visitors alike,” said Stoyan Barakov, the city’s manager of cultural services, in a media release. “Peterborough Tourism is pleased to support the Peterborough DBIA in creating a fun and friendly atmosphere for Movies at the Park by providing the outdoor screen and promotional support.”
The movie line-up includes:
July 7 – “The Secret Life of Pets”
A pampered terrier’s comfortable life is turned upside down when his owner brings home a new dog and the pair are swept into an adventure through New York City.
July 14 – “Dirty Dancing”
A young woman falls in love with a charismatic dance instructor from the wrong side of the tracks while vacationing with her family at a Catskills resort in the summer of 1963.
July 21 – “Grown Ups”
Five childhood friends reunite with their families for a Fourth of July weekend after the death of their former basketball coach.
July 28 – “Jurassic Park”
A preview tour of a remote island theme park filled with cloned dinosaurs becomes a fight for survival when the park’s security systems fail.
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August 4 – “Paddington in Peru”
Paddington and the Brown family travel to Peru to visit Aunt Lucy, only to find themselves on an unexpected adventure through the Amazon rainforest.
August 11 – “Back to the Future”
A teenager is sent 30 years into the past in a time-travelling DeLorean and, after inadvertently preventing his dad from meeting his mom, must fix the situation before he vanishes from the future.
August 18 – “Skyfall”
James Bond is forced to confront his past while defending MI6 from a cyberterrorist with a personal vendetta against M.
August 25 – “How to Train Your Dragon”
A young Viking named Hiccup befriends an injured dragon and challenges his village’s long-held beliefs about the creatures.
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During the movie nights, local businesses will be offering snacks, beverages, and treats.
“Downtown should be a place where people gather, connect, and create memories together,” said DBIA executive director Nour Mazloum. “Movies at the Park helps bring that vision to life by transforming Quaker Foods City Square into a welcoming community gathering place for all ages. We’re proud to offer a free and accessible experience that brings people downtown and creates opportunities to connect with one another throughout the summer.”
The movies are free to attend and no registration is required. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.
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In addition to the Movies at the Park series, the City of Peterborough is hosting an additional free movie at Quaker Foods City Square on Canada Day eve (Tuesday, June 30). There will be family-friendly activities beginning at 7:30 p.m., including a live band, sidewalk chalk activities, a s’mores station, complimentary popcorn and snacks, and a short family-friendly film presented by ReFrame Film Festival before the feature presentation screens at 9 p.m.
As for which movie will be screened, the city is conducting a survey at www.connectptbo.ca/movienight where you can vote for one of four film options. With voting closing just before midnight on Friday (June 19), so far the 2011 family animated comedy Gnomeo & Juliet is in the lead with almost half of more than 200 votes cast.
Set in a world of warring neighbours, Gnomeo & Juliet is a retelling of Shakespeare’s classic tale about two garden gnomes from rival factions who fall in love and must overcome their families’ bitter feud to be together.
Located at 2300 Pigeon Lake Road in Bobcaygeon, Globus Theatre is a professional theatre company founded in 2003 by husband-and-wife duo Sarah Quick and James Barrett that stages original Canadian plays along with comedy and music performances, with an optional dinner available for many performances. (Photo courtesy of Globus Theatre)
From murder mysteries to sweet love stories to hilarious world premieres, there’s still a lot in store for Globus Theatre’s 2026 season — and it’s not too late to become a subscriber.
For more than 20 years, the professional theatre company in Bobcaygeon has invited residents and visitors to its charming barn at 2300 Pigeon Lake Road for dinner and theatre experiences.
A recent winner of the Tourism Award of Excellence from the Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce, Globus Theatre draws patrons and theatre lovers from across the province to enjoy celebrated and original works by Canadian playwrights.
Globus Theatre co-founders James Barrett and Sarah Quick as Henry and Alice in a rehearsal for a 2023 production of Michele Riml’s hit comedy “Sexy Laundry”, which saw the real-life couple reprise the roles they performed in the Bobcaygeon theatre company’s 2013 production of the play. In 2026, the couple will perform in the Globus Theatre production of Kristen Da Silva’s “Beyond the Sea” from August 19 to 29. (Photo: R.A. Bloom Creations and Photography)
As is the case every year, artistic director Sarah Quick works diligently to present a cohesive season, but one where every show is different than the one before.
“Ideally when people pick up the season brochure, they definitely find at least one show that really speaks to them and they say ‘That is right up my alley,'” Quick says. “But hopefully what actually happens is they say, ‘Oh, I like that one as well, and that one too,’ and then end up being a subscriber.”
Globus Theatre’s 23rd season — its fourth extended season running from May through December — started off in a big way with the 20th anniversary celebration of Girls Nite Out, the female improv troupe that got its roots at Globus Theatre. The sold-out celebration was followed by the ultimate ’70s soundtrack with Get Down Tonight starring Leisa Way and her Wayward Wind Band.
If you saw either show, you can turn your ticket into a subscription package, with the ticket value being deducted from the total cost. Except for the annual holiday panto, individual show tickets are priced at $50 each for the show only, or $100 for dinner and the show, with murder mysteries available only as dinner and theatre.
To purchase season subscriptions or tickets to individual shows, visit www.globustheatre.com.
Here’s what’s coming up for the rest of Globus Theatre’s 2026 season.
Murder at the Match: 2026 World Cup Edition (June 24 – July 4)
An original murder mystery experience written by Quick, Murder at the Match: 2026 World Cup Edition is centred around the world’s biggest sporting event.
With Quick herself an avid soccer fan, it’s no coincidence the show takes place during the actual World Cup, which is being hosted by Canada, the U.S., and Mexico for the first time.
“Doing something that it so current — that is actually going on at the same time as the World Cup is taking place — allows for all sorts of shenanigans and contemporary references,” Quick says. “If something happens that morning during a game, we can reference it that night and we can riff on it. It’s really the characters and the plot that are scripted — anything in between is fair game.”
The plot involves the hunt for goals and glory spiralling into a red-card-worthy disaster as scheming managers, spotlight-hungry influencers, over-pressured superstars, and sports officials juggle international egos. When one key player doesn’t make it to kickoff, suspicion erupts and suddenly every border crossing hides clues, and every match hides a motive.
The murder mystery is a sequel of sorts to Quick’s Murder at the Match: A World Cup Murder Mystery in 2022, which celebrated Canada’s return to the World Cup after 36 years and where audiences worked to solve the murder of fictional Canadian soccer legend Diego Marrydora.
“It doesn’t matter if you didn’t see the last World Cup murder mystery at all, but there will be a nod to it because it became such a story that everyone was invested in,” says Quick. “I think we can do this every World Cup.”
Murder at the Match: 2026 World Cup Edition will feature Jennine Profeta, Kerry Griffin, Allan Cooke, Mallory Brumm, and Kyle Claeys. Audiences are encouraged to get dressed up in their appropriate costumes or to dress in the colours of country participating in the World Cup. If you’re not a footie fan like Quick, don’t fear — it’s more about the behind-the-scenes mystery than what’s happening on the pitch.
Murder at the Match: 2026 World Cup Edition runs Thursdays to Saturdays from June 25 to 27 and from July 2 to 4 at 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.), with a 12:30 p.m. matinee performance on June 27 (doors open at noon).
Sore Losers (July 15 – 25)
Summer continues at Globus Theatre with another sports-themed show that also happens to be a world premiere from accomplished Canadian actor Bradley Austin in his playwriting debut.
In Sore Losers, Burt and his niece Angie run the family bowling alley, a beloved relic that now faces financial ruin as it competes with the flashier Galaxy Bowl. Burt and lifelong friend Jim have never won anything, but in their desperation to save the business and their pride, they develop a plan to win the provincial championship.
Their last-ditch effort hinges on recruiting the town’s earnest but clueless new dentist for the hilarious, high-stakes battle.
“I love it when Globus Theatre becomes this incubator and gives opportunities, whether it’s to a new artist or a new playwright,” Quick says. “Bradley is going to be in the show as well, and it’s really exciting to be able to go to through rehearsal process with the playwright right there. That is very helpful for the first time that a show is being performed.”
Sore Losers is being staged at 8 p.m. from July 15 to 18 and July 22 to 25, with additional matinee performances at 2 p.m. on July 18 and 23.
Downtown Detective Trail (July 27 – 31)
Participants of Globus Theatre’s School of Dramatic Arts (SODA) summer camp in 2024 presenting the Downtown Detective Trail to add to the mainstage murder mystery show “Who Killed the King.” For the 2026 season, the Downtown Detective Trail will be held as a bus tour from July 27 to 31 as a part of Bobcaygeon’s 150-year anniversary celebrations. (Photo courtesy of Globus Theatre)
Young performers in Globus Theatre’s School of Dramatic Arts (SODA) summer camp will be once again be presenting the Downtown Detective Trail, an annual immersive event in Bobcaygeon that gets people interacting with the stories being staged at Globus Theatre.
From July 27 to 31, the Downtown Detective Trail will be held as a bus tour done in collaboration with Bobcaygeon’s 150-year anniversary celebrations.
“They’ll be going to little stops around Bobcaygeon, including Kawartha Settlers Village, Kawartha Dairy, and The Locks,” Quick says. “It’s going to be bigger and better than before.”
As with Globus Theatre’s shows, Quick is hopeful that the event will draw even more tourists to the region.
“I’m not sure the majority of people realize how much the arts actually make people move around Ontario,” Quick explains. “When they’re looking for a place to visit, they will go specifically because they’ve seen a certain show that piqued their interest, and that’s when they start researching accommodation and where to eat and where to shop.”
“We’ve got a lot to showcase and I’m really proud that Globus is one of those places that people want to come and experience.”
Leave it to Cleavage (July 30 – August 1)
Following the success of Girls Nite Out, two members of the troupe — Diana Frances and Karen Parker — will be returning to the Globus stage for the second time this season with Leave it to Cleavage.
Sipping martinis, the cheeky housewives will transport you back in time to the 1950s through interactive audience participation and a tipsy walk down memory lane. The women will be calling on audiences to help them re-write their “Helpful Housewife Hints,” while getting to know them with “Welcome Wagon” treats.
“Although it is a scripted performance, they will be going to the audience to get their impressions of certain things as well to help them rewrite these rules,” says Quick. “The audience helps shape the show.”
Leave it to Cleavage is being staged for three nights only at 8 p.m. from July 30 to August 1.
Fly Me to the Moon (August 5 – 15)
Globus Theatre transports audiences to Belfast, Ireland with Fly Me to the Moon, a dark comedy by Marie Jones, the hilarious playwright of the world-wide hit Stones in His Pockets.
Overworked and underpaid community carers Francis and Loretta face an irresistible temptation after their 84-year-old client Davey, a Frank Sinatra fan, dies on pension day: should they keep Davey’s death a secret and cash in his pension cheque?
The situation quickly spirals out of control when they discover Davey placed a winning bet on the horses just before he died, presenting them with a much larger temptation.
Fly Me to the Moon is being staged at 8 p.m. from August 5 to 8 and August 12 to 15, with additional 2 p.m. matinee performances on August 8 and 13.
Beyond the Sea (August 19 to 29)
For Globus Theatre patrons who missed Quick taking to the stage last season alongside her husband, Globus Theatre’s artistic producer James Barrett, they will have another chance when Globus presents Kristen Da Silva’s Beyond the Sea.
On a summer day at a pier, two strangers stumble into an encounter that might save them both. There’s Theo, a recently single man with a self-image problem, and Gwen, a good-humoured loner who works at the ticket booth for a local boat tour company.
Quick says the story about the emergence of hope through grief is a “touching romance” that’s perfect for date night.
“It’s a witty story, but it is a story of life and love and loss,” she adds. “It’s totally worthwhile — it’s a lovely story.”
Beyond the Sea is being presented at 8 p.m. from August 19 to 22 and August 26 to 29, with additional matinee performances at 2 p.m. on August 22 and 27.
A Woman’s Love List (September 30 – October 10)
For the fall, Globus Theatre is once again staging a play from beloved Canadian playwright Norm Foster.
In his 2023 comedy The Love List, Foster told the story of two men writing up a list of qualities defining the perfect woman who, much to their surprise, appears. In A Woman’s Love List, Foster turns it all around, with Megan and Carly finding what they believe is their perfect man.
In doing so, the two ladies discover that genuine love isn’t a quest for perfection, but a willingness to love someone fully — quirks, flaws, and all.
Many of the playwrights featured by Globus this season have passed on their expertise to one another. Foster mentored Beyond the Sea playwright Kristen Da Silva, who mentored Sore Losers playwright Bradley Austin.
“It’s lovely that there are all of these Canadian writers passing on their knowledge, and helping and encouraging and inspiring,” Quick reflects. “It means that we now have a great catalogue of modern Canadian plays that are relevant to all of our lives. If we’re talking about shopping local and shopping Canadian, then the arts need to do that as well.”
A Woman’s Love List is being staged in the round — meaning the audience will be on all sides of the stage — at 8 p.m. from September 30 to October 3 and September 7 to 10, with additional matinee performances at 2 p.m. on October 3, 8, and 10.
A Hula Holiday Homicide (November 18 – 28)
Globus Theatre will begin the holiday season with A Hula Holiday Homicide, a tropical festive murder mystery dinner theatre experience.
At Surfside Beach, travellers have ditched the snow to enjoy a festive tropical holiday with mulled rum, Santa hats, and flip-flops. But beneath the tinsel and tan lines, someone has ditched being nice for being naughty and a murder ensues.
A Hula Holiday Homicide will be staged at 6:30 p.m. from November 19 to 21 and 26 to 28.
Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs (December 9 – 20)
For its annual traditional British panto to close out the season, Globus Theatre is staging a retelling of the classic fairytale.
Filled with laughter, songs, and audience participation, this family adventure introduces Baron Weakneazie and his new bride the Red Queen of Poppydale, who is making life miserable for stepdaughter Snow White. With only her nanny Dame Wobbley Botham to comfort her, Snow White seeks shelter at the home of seven colourful characters.
Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs is being staged for eight public shows, at 7 p.m. on December 11, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on December 12 and 19, at 2 p.m. on December 13 and 20, and at 8 p.m. on December 18. A Christmas dinner will be available prior to evening performances.
Theatre tickets are priced at $35 for adults and $22.50 for audiences under 16 for the show only, and $85 for adults and $42.50 for children 10 and under for dinner and the show.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Globus Theatre. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
The United Way Peterborough and District's incoming CEO Jason Seguya shakes hands with retiring CEO Jim Russell during an announcement at the United Way's office on June 18, 2026. The 27-year-old will begin in his new role on July 6, with Russell staying until July 17 to help with the transition. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
The United Way Peterborough and District welcomed its new chief executive officer on Thursday (June 18) and, in the process, bid farewell to the longest-serving CEO in the organization’s 85-year history.
Jason Seguya officially assumes his new role on Monday, July 6 and, in doing so, becomes just the 10th CEO to head the local United Way. Meanwhile, outgoing CEO Jim Russell, who is retiring after close to 15 years at the helm, will stay on board until July 17 to help facilitate the transition.
Seguya, 27, a native of Uganda, comes to Peterborough via Ottawa, having previously served as executive director of The Fulcrum Publishing Society and of Ontario Student Voices. He has a bachelor of science in social sciences from the University of Ottawa.
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Seguya’s hiring comes after an exhaustive search for Russell’s successor undertaken by the United Way board that started in December of last year.
In her introduction of Seguya, United Way board chair Karen Wilson noted he brings a strong background in organizational leadership, governance, human resources, communications and community engagement, with a focus on building inclusive, sustainable, people-centred organizations.
“In the short time that I’ve known Jason — we’ve had a few meetings since he was hired — he is a natural leader, a convener, a collaborator, and an advocate,” Wilson said.
“Along with his expertise, I know he’ll bring forth his thoughtfulness, his intelligence, and his positive energy required for the inclusive mission-driven work that the United Way is going to do, and for our community.”
The United Way Peterborough and District’s incoming CEO Jason Seguya speaks about his appointment during an announcement at the United Way’s office on June 18, 2026. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
With that, Seguya took to the podium, as his parents Phares and Sarah Sekalala and his sisters Fiona and Phillipa Sekalala watched on, their pride obvious.
“While today I’m filled with so much excitement — it might be the coffee or the Red Bull — I’m more met with humility,” said Seguya.
“While for this will be a new journey for myself, this is far from a new start for the United Way. For 85 years, this organization has been showing up for community. For 85 years, people have come together through this organization to strengthen lives, to support neighbours, to create opportunities, and to respond to the needs that show up in our community every single day.”
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Seguya noted that what excites him most is “is knowing that I won’t be engaging with this work by myself,” adding “There’s a direct correlation between an organization’s success and the collective power of its people.”
“The people who volunteer, who donate, who advocate, and who partner. The people who show up every day because they believe that their community can become stronger every single day. People who come together with a shared belief that if we work together, we can accomplish anything.”
Praising Russell and his staff for their “professionalism, compassion, kindness and care,” Seguya said the “strength of this organization, and this community, lies in the ability to bring people together with shared beliefs. That our communities are strongest when we support one another and no one gets left behind.”
“Meaningful change does not happen with the action of one individual alone but through collective effort. I see an understanding in this room that community is not something you just inherit — it’s something you build. We will build that together, maintaining that momentum. ”
The United Way Peterborough and District’s incoming CEO Jason Seguya (middle) with his family, sisters Phillipa and Fiona Sekalala and parents Sarah and Phares Sekalala, during an announcement at the United Way’s office on June 18, 2026. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
Seguya made it clear that he “has no intention of rewriting 85 years of history” when it comes to the organization’s legacy.
“My goal is to honour it, to learn from it, to build upon it, to listen before speaking, to understand before acting, and to work alongside the incredible people in this room and many more to carry that mission forward.”
Earlier, Russell bade a heartfelt farewell, at one point fighting back tears.
“As I stand here, I’m certainly filled with gratitude, I’m certainly filled with wonder at the work we did together,” he said.
“The mission, the charisma, the life force of the United Way isn’t about any one person. It’s about the work that can happen together in a community if you engage, if you go out, if you build together. If you want to go quick, go alone. If you want to go deep, go together. That’s been the model for us; that’s the model we hope is, and will be, maintained.”
“Though I’m filled with wonder and gratitude, having met Jason at his second interview and having just had a conversation with him a little while ago, I’m mostly filled with hope, I’m mostly filled with excitement, I’m mostly filled with curiosity, and I’m filled absolutely with a certainty. A certainty that his leadership will inspire, that his leadership will help people to come together, that his leadership is needed at this time in our development and our engagement in the community.”
“We didn’t, and I apologize for this, fix all the problems that are in our community, so there’s work still to be done. We’re really excited about the tenure and the experience and the passion that Jason will bring to this effort.”
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After the formal part of the announcement, both Seguya and Russell met with the media, with Seguya addressing his plan to build on the work already underway.
“One of the key things is incorporating reconciliation, equity, accessibility, diversity and inclusion in our work,” said Seguya.
“What this looks like internally to the organization is boosting the capacity so that we’re able to speak on these items and support communities, whereas, externally, removing barriers so that folks can engage with the United Way Peterborough and District in different ways.”
“That really leans on the belief that if you support those who are most vulnerable, all will benefit from that. That’s one element of this work, but the other element is truly rooted in community. That will be an ongoing conversation which will pass discussion by discussion, issue by issue.”
Asked about the considerable challenge that lies in the United Way maintaining its share of the fundraising pie, Seguya said that will be rooted in “a collaborative effort, in particular with the incoming campaign chair, to be able to change and adapt our process and strategy to speak towards our current time.”
“The second thing is finding ways of framing our ask in ways that are beneficial towards potential partners. For instance, when it comes to corporations, finding ways to address direct return on investment involving themselves in this work. While that speaks one way in the boardroom, it translates differently in terms of supporting community.”
Before departing, Russell spoke to what retirement will look like for him.
“I’m not from Peterborough and I’m choosing to stay. I met the love of my life after I came here and I think she’s choosing for me to stay too,” Russell said.
“On a more serious note, it has motivated me to think about how I want to still continue to give back to the community — to have a role, not in leadership, but a role in still giving back to the community. I don’t know what that quite looks like yet. We’ll see what evolves.”
“In the very short term, the day after I retire, I’m going to the Haliburton School of Art to learn how to paint. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to try. I’m really looking forward to being still, and being quiet and not being in the spotlight. A cigar on the back deck with jazz playing. My time will fill. I’m not worried about it.”
Toronto-based indie-folk singer-songwriter Erik Bleich will be releasing his new album "Sumach" at The John at Sadleir House in Peterborough on Saturday night. (Photo: Jen Squires)
Every Thursday, kawarthaNOW publishes live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that musicians provide directly or that venues post on their websites or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, June 18 to Wednesday, June 24.
If you’re a musician or venue owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, email our nightlifeNOW editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com. For concerts and live music events at other venues, check out our Concerts & Live Music page.
With the exception of karaoke, we only list events with performing musicians. Venues may also host other events during the week (e.g., dancing, DJs, comedy shows).
Friday, June 26 7pm - Ty Wilson "Northern Heart, Southern Soul" debut album release party w/ Andy Colonico and Bree Taylor ($25 in advance at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1988001251258, $30 at door)
The John at Sadleir House
751 George St. N., Peterborough
705-742-3686
Saturday, June 20
7:30pm - Erik Bleich "Sumac" Album Release ($20 at Bluestreak Records)
VIDEO: "Leslie Split" - Erik Bleich
Coming Soon
Saturday, July 4 7pm - Farrier, Never Began, Thanks Anyway, Dr. Frump ($15 or PWYC)
Kawartha Country Wines
2452 County Road 36,, Buckhorn
705-657-9916
Sunday, June 21
1-4pm - Grainne Ryan (no cover)
Kelly's Homelike Inn
205 3rd Street, Cobourg
905-372-3234
Friday, June 19
7:30pm - Karaoke w/ Cait Sheppard
Saturday, June 20
4-8pm - Kat Lovett Band
Lovesick Lake Restaurant
4738 Highway 28, Burleigh Falls
249-387-0105
Saturday, June 20
6-8pm - Bob Butcher
McThirsty's Pint
166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 743-2220
Friday, June 19
9pm-1am - Cale Crowe
Saturday, June 20
9pm-1am - Ryan Scott
Sunday, June 21
8pm - Karaoke and open mic
Tuesday, June 23
8pm-12am - Joanna & Danny Bronson
Wednesday, June 24
8pm-12am - Kevin Foster
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The Mill Restaurant and Pub
990 Ontario St., Cobourg
(905) 377-8177
Coming Soon
Thursday, June 25 6-8pm - Ryan Scott
Muddy's Pit BBQ
3247 County Rd. 2, Keene
(705) 295-1255
Sunday, June 21
3-6pm - Gary Peeples & Friends
Olympia Restaurant
106 Kent St. W., Lindsay
705-328-1444
Saturday, June 20
5-8:30pm - Warren Graves (no cover, reservations recommended)
Ontario's rural affairs minister Lisa Thompson (behind lectern) during an announcement in Peterborough on June 15, 2026 of $260,305.50 in provincial funding to support rural development. Also pictured are representatives of the five organizations and municipalities receiving the funding (left to right): Innovation Cluster board chair Nicole Stephenson, Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark, City of Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal, Farms at Work community farm planner Andrea Hicks, and Community Care Peterborough operations director Catherine Pink. Absent from the photo is Peterborough-Kawartha Dave Smith. (Photo: Bethan Bates / kawarthaNOW)
Five municipalities and organizations in the Peterborough region are receiving a share of $260,305.50 in provincial funding to support the rural economy and promote innovation through Ontario’s Rural Ontario Development (ROD) program.
“Our rural communities are the backbone of Ontario’s economy, and this investment ensures that Peterborough-Kawartha has the resources to thrive for generations to come,” said Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith in a media release following a funding announcement on Monday (June 15) at the Innovation Cluster’s office in the Venture North building in downtown Peterborough.
MPP Smith was joined at the announcement by Ontario’s rural affairs minister Lisa Thompson along with representatives of the five municipalities and organizations receiving the funding: City of Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal, Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark, Innovation Cluster board chair Nicole Stephenson, Community Care Peterborough operations director Catherine Pink, and Farms at Work community farm planner Andrea Hicks.
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Province provides cost-shared funding for projects that help rural communities
The ROD program, which replaced the Rural Economic Development Fund, was developed as part of the government’s rural economic development strategy in 2025. The program operates under three pillars — economic diversification, workforce development, and community infrastructure — and provides cost-shared funding for projects that help rural communities.
The total funding package will be $20 million, which Thompson said is double the funding available in the past two years. A total of 116 projects have been funded through the first intake, representing $5.5 million in support provided.
Thompson said the ROD program will provide over $2 million across the eastern Ontario region to support 41 unique projects, including five projects in Peterborough-Kawartha totalling $260,305.50.
The Innovation Cluster is receiving $145,000 for its Rural Innovation Centre Project, the City of Peterborough $50,000 for its Future Ready Peterborough: Economic Development Strategy, Community Care Peterborough $30,000 for the Rural Peterborough County Transportation Feasibility Study, Peterborough County $20,000 for its Trade-Ready: Equipping Rural Entrepreneurs to Compete Beyond the Region project, and Farms at Work $15,308.50 for its Peterborough Community Farm Business Plan.
Thompson said that through public consultation, the Ministry for Rural Affairs has found that rural organizations often struggle to secure funding to conduct strategic and pre-project feasibility studies and plans.
As such, she said, the ROD program is designed to provide a “hand up” to businesses, non-profits, and municipalities to help them “turn conversations into actions” through strategic operational funding.
Thompson said she sees significant potential for growth and development within eastern Ontario and intends to take an “all-of-government approach” to rural development.
“Big things can happen in small towns,” Thompson said.
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Funding to support economic development, farm-based businesses, and rural transportation
The City of Peterborough, which assumed responsibility for economic development in January 2025 from the now-defunct Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development organization, will use its ROD program funding to help develop its economic development strategy, while Peterborough County will use its funding to develop a strategy to help rural entrepreneurs expand trade.
Farms at Work, which was formed in 2010 to support new farmers, keep farmland in production, and promote on-farm environmental stewardship in east central Ontario, will offer agricultural entrepreneurs innovation and business development support through the charitable organization’s community farm initiative, which will provide shared infrastructure and informational resources to farm-based businesses in the region.
“We’re launching an exciting new program called a community farm and we’re going to be providing a suite of educational resources, everything from business planning, to hiring farm employees, to health and safety on the farm,” said Hicks.
Community Care Peterborough will be using its ROD funding to conduct a transportation feasibility study in collaboration with Peterborough County to assess the needs of their rural clients.
“Transportation is about much more than getting from one place to another,” said Community Care Peterborough chief executive officer Danielle Belair in the media release. “In rural communities, it helps people stay connected to health care, services, work, family, and community life
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Innovation Cluster funding will support rural entrepreneurs
Meanwhile, the Innovation Cluster — which is receiving the largest portion of the local ROD program funding — will use it to support ongoing programming and new opportunities for rural entrepreneurs.
In an interview with kawarthaNOW following the announcement, Innovation Cluster board vice-chair Christine Crandell said the organization has seen a great deal of innovation and many unique ideas from rural business people, especially in the agriculture sector.
“Eastern Ontario is ripe for innovation,” Crandall said. “It’s ripe for bringing in programs that enable companies to stay where they are and not have to go someplace else in order to access the resources that they need in order to grow.”
Crandell, who has worked in venture capital across North America, said that in highly developed urban areas there is a level of homogeneity in business development, whereas eastern Ontario has a far more diverse entrepreneurial and business market.
“Maybe it’s a new way of treating soil or raising fish — that level of ingenuity and that level of true innovation is extremely exciting,” she said.
Crandell said the ROD funding will support the non-profit organization’s ability to continue providing the LevelUP Business Accelerator program, which is designed for growth-stage companies and offered to entrepreneurs free of charge.
“We’re very much focused on bringing it under the umbrella of LevelUP,” Crandell said. “That includes coordinated programs that can last six to eight weeks.”
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Support recognizes unique challenges faced by rural entrepreneurs
A key aspect of the LevelUP program is the opportunity for early-career entrepreneurs to engage directly with the Innovation Cluster’s experts-in-residence who are experienced industry leaders.
Crandell explained that the Innovation Cluster often works with local and rural leaders as they have a better understanding of the rural economy and market, and the unique challenges faced by rural entrepreneurs.
“Having local experts in a rural environment means that, when we’re having a conversation with those rural entrepreneurs, we get it,” she said.
Crandell identified two primary reasons that rural businesses and entrepreneurs are disadvantaged, with the first being a lack of access to business and funder networks and the second being a lack of funding opportunities for small and new businesses.
In terms of networking opportunities, rural businesses also face challenges accessing major groups and events due to the disconnect and distance from urban economic centres, she added. She also spoke to the assumptions made by urban networking groups about the opportunities available in rural communities.
“We’re teaching these entrepreneurs the skills that they need to survive and make those connections, so that they have an even footing with somebody who’s sitting in the middle of Ottawa, Kingston, or Toronto,” Crandell said.
After 15 years with Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), including the last three as president and CEO, Dr. Lynn Mikula is leaving in October 2026 to become president and CEO of Sinai Health in Toronto. (Photo courtesy of PRHC)
Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) president and CEO Dr. Lynn Mikula will be leaving the hospital this fall to take on the top leadership role at Sinai Health in Toronto.
According to an announcement from PRHC’s board of directors, Dr. Mikula will become president and CEO of Sinai Health in October 2026. Sinai Health includes Mount Sinai Hospital, an acute care hospital, and Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, both affiliated with the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine.
“Lynn’s leadership has had a lasting impact on PRHC,” said board chair Scott Milligan in a media release. “Over the course of her time here, she has brought clarity to the organization’s direction, strengthened its foundation, and helped to build a strong, collaborative leadership culture.”
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“We are so grateful for Lynn’s many contributions to this organization over the last 15 years, and for the vision, drive and energy that have earned such widespread recognition and respect,” Milligan added. “While we will be sad to see her go, this move is a testament to both her leadership and the incredible mark she has made on the broader healthcare system in her time with PRHC.”
Dr. Mikula joined PRHC in 2011 as a staff general surgeon and went on to hold a series of senior leadership roles, including chief of staff, chief medical executive, and executive vice-president. She also served as the hospital’s executive lead during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2023, PRHC’s board appointed Dr. Mikula as president and CEO.
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“PRHC and the Peterborough community have been central to my life and career,” Dr. Mikula said. “I am deeply grateful for the trust and support I’ve received over the years from our board of directors, our leadership team, and the staff and physicians I am so fortunate to call my colleagues, as well as our partners, volunteers, and donors who make this hospital the great place it is.”
“While this next step means I will be leaving PRHC, the people and the sense of purpose here matter deeply to me, and they always will. PRHC is a critical hub for the broad and diverse population it serves, and I am very proud of the work we’re doing to advance its role across the region. Between now and my departure this fall, my focus is on ensuring a smooth and steady transition and supporting the organization to continue moving forward with confidence.”
Under Dr. Mikula’s leadership, PRHC launched a five-year strategic plan, one of Canada’s first nursing strategies, a workplace well-being framework, and its first equity and reconciliation strategy, including the addition of an Indigenous navigator role at the hospital.
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During Dr. Mikula’s time as president and CEO, the regional hospital also opened its Reactivation Care Centre, introduced implantable cardioverter defibrillator procedures through its cardiac program, developed a custom data analytics platform, and established a formal partnership with Trent University to support research.
PRHC was also named one of Canada’s Best Employers by Forbes in 2025 and 2026, designated as an age-friendly health system by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and received Accreditation with Exemplary Standing for the third consecutive time in 10 years.
“While we have continued to experience a number of systemic challenges over the years, I’m incredibly proud of the work our people have done to set this organization apart as a leader in transformation, adaptation and innovation among our hospital peers,” Dr. Mikula said. “I look forward to celebrating the amazing things this team will continue to achieve in the months and years ahead.”
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Dr. Mikula’s move to Sinai Health marks her return to Toronto’s so-called “hospital row,” one of the largest and most advanced biomedical and healthcare innovation clusters in North America.
After obtaining her Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery from McGill University, she completed her residency in general surgery at the University of Toronto, during which she trained at Mount Sinai Hospital and earned a Master of Science degree at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute.
PRHC’s board of directors said it will work with Dr. Mikula and the hospital’s leadership team over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition.
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