Ireland MacLean and Chloe Drummond are both 14 years of age. (Police-supplied photos)
Peterborough police are asking for the public’s help in locating two missing 14-year-old girls.
UPDATE Friday, January 19 – Police report the two 14-year-old girls have been located safe in Toronto.
Ireland MacLean and Chloe Drummond were reported missing at around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday (January 18). The girls were last seen on a security camera in Peterborough at 11:35 a.m. in the Erskine Avenue and Barnes Crescent area.
Since they were reported missing, officers have been checking locations the two girls have been known to frequent, with information leading police to believe they went to Toronto on Thursday night.
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The Peterborough Police Service has since been working with the Toronto Police Service to try and locate the two girls. Family and police are concerned for their safety.
Ireland MacLean is described as 5’4″ tall and around 130lbs, with shoulder-length dark hair. She was wearing a black puffy coat, black/gray camouflage track pants, beige Sorrel boots,and a light gray shirt with pink skulls. Chloe Drummond is described as 5’6″ tall with a thin build and shoulder-length black hair. Police do not have a description of the clothing she was wearing when she went missing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough police at 705-876-1122 x225 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at stopcrimehere.ca.
Nòstimo By The Original Greek, a restaurant in Peterborough's Northcrest Plaza that serves up Greek-Mediterranean cuisine, opened its new dining room in November 2023. Offering dine-in eating has been a goal for co-owners George Anagnostou and Shannon LeClair since they launched the eatery in 2021. The new dining space seats 40 people in two separate areas, with the opportunity to host private events and dinners. The duo has launched a new menu to support the dining room and will be soon offering wine pairings. (Photo courtesy of Nòstimo By The Original Greek)
Peterborough foodies have gotten their wish with the opening of a dining room that’s been two and a half years in the making and carries on the traditions and recipes of more than 45 years.
Nòstimo By The Original Greek, previously only offering takeout and catering, was met with enthusiasm from the public in November when it opened a dining room for both lunch and dinner service, and launched an updated menu with both familiar favourites and all-new dishes.
Opening the north-end eatery during the height of the pandemic back in 2021, co-owners George Anagnostou and Shannon LeClair had the perfect combination of Anagnostou’s expertise running several restaurants throughout his career and LeClair’s fresh ideas and excitement at opening her very first restaurant.
Nòstimo By The Original Greek owners George Anagnostou and Shannon LeClair celebrating the restaurant’s grand opening in October 2021, after being delayed for months by pandemic restrictions. (Photo courtesy of Nòstimo By The Original Greek)
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Nòstimo By The Original Greek began serving moussaka, souvlaki, loukaniko, pitas, and other authentic Greek dishes through takeout and catering, with the intent of offering dine-in seating when it was safe to do so.
“I’ve owned restaurants since 1986 and I’ve always done dine-in,” says Anagnostou, adding that guests had been asking about dining in since the restaurant opened. “We were waiting until people started dining out again, and decided it was finally time to open the dining room.”
Aptly named after the Greek word for delicious, Nòstimo By The Original Greek can now seat up to 40 people across two different dining spaces. One space is near the entrance to the restaurant where the wine bar is located. The second space, which had been under construction since last spring, features another bar stocked with liquor and is ideal for booking private parties, gatherings, and events.
The second dining space at Nòstimo By The Original Greek gives the restaurant more space to host private parties, gatherings, and events. (Photo courtesy of Nòstimo By The Original Greek)
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Decorated with 18th century artwork, photos of the blue waters and white buildings of Greece, and tablecloths to match, both dining rooms offer a relaxing escape to the Mediterranean,
“People have really been supporting us,” notes Anagnostou. “We still get a lot of takeout orders which is great, but we’ve definitely been seeing the demand for dine-in. On New Year’s, we were full the whole night.”
Some of those who come to dine at Nòstimo By The Original Greek are very familiar with Anagnostou’s culinary legacy over the years. His parents Paul and Mary introduced Peterborough to the traditional cuisine of Greece when they opened the city’s very first Greek restaurant, Shish Kabob Hut, in 1976.
Nòstimo By The Original Greek co-owner George Anagnostou is carrying on his family’s culinary legacy. His parents Paul and Mary opened the first Greek restaurant in Peterborough, Shish Kabob Hut, in 1976. Their son began his own culinary career working in the restaurant at just 14 years old. (Photo courtesy of Nòstimo By The Original Greek)
Anagnostou began working at the buzzing downtown joint (where the King of Greece once dined) when he was just 14 years old and, before long, developed the same passion as his parents for sharing the culture and food of Greece.
When he was just 24 years old, after spending three years in the kitchen of Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Anagnostou opened The Greek Tycoon in Whitby — his first independent venture but certainly not his last. In search of more knowledge, he then became a sommelier and opened a wine bar in Toronto, before returning to his hometown to open The Original Greek at Parkhill Road and Water Street — the same location where his parents had opened Shish Kabob Hut all those years ago.
It was during his next venture, operating a jazzed-up food truck called The Original Fat Greek STREETery in Ennismore, that he began attending private wine pairings where he became acquainted with LeClair. A designated Red Seal Chef, LeClair had gained a reputation across the Greater Toronto Area, learning techniques for French, Mediterranean, and Asian cuisine in high-profile restaurants and hotels and from well-known chefs like Mark McEwan.
Nòstimo By The Original Greek is owned by Chef Shannon LeClair and George Anagnostou, who is also a sommelier and once ran a wine bar in Toronto. Guests often ask for his recommendations for wine pairings. (Photo courtesy of Nòstimo By The Original Greek)
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“One day I said to her that people were asking me to open a restaurant and I asked if she wanted to join me,” Anagnostou recalls. “She came out of Toronto and here we are today.”
Together, LeClair and Anagnostou have won hospitality awards including Peterborough Community Votes awards for best Greek restaurant in 2022 and 2023, and best restaurant and caterer in 2023. The restaurant was also nominated last year for a Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award in the hospitality category.
Along with the launch of the dining room, the duo decided to add a few new dishes to the lineup of favourites that have been featured on Anagnostou’s menus for 20 years.
“We kept our original menu from The Original Greek and from past restaurant ventures that have been successful and then we added new menu items,” says Anagnostou.
Along with traditional authentic Greek cuisine such as moussaka, souvlaki, loukaniko, and more, Nòstimo By The Original Greek is serving up new menu items including chargrilled octopus, beef brochette, and shrimp saganaki. (Photo courtesy of Nòstimo By The Original Greek)
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Using fresh ingredients as always, the new menu items — some of which can’t be found elsewhere in Peterborough — include chargrilled octopus, beef brochette, and shrimp saganaki — pan-seared tiger shrimp in a zesty tomato sauce. On weekends, Nòstimo By The Original Greek offers dinner specials where LeClair and Anagnostou get “creative” with their cooking. Specials are announced through the restaurant’s social media pages every week.
“The guests are loving what we’ve done,” Anagnostou affirms. “They’ve been around with me since opening The Original Greek in 2003 — for 20 years — so they’re happy we’re offering indoor dining.”
The co-owner notes that, having formed such a connection with many of the regular guests, they always know to ask for his advice as a sommelier of the best wines to pair with their meal. While some are Ontario wines, many come from across the world, as far as Australia, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, and, of course, Greece.
“The majority of guests let me do the recommendations for their wine pairings,” says Anagnostou, acknowledging that it was one of the main things he missed before the dining room opened. “They trust me.”
Nòstimo By The Original Greek offers both domestic wine and wine from as far as South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and, of course, Greece. The restaurant will soon be hosting monthly food and wine pairing events with a seven-course meal and part of the proceeds going to a local organization or charity. (Photo courtesy of Nòstimo By The Original Greek)
To give back to the community, the two co-owners often share their kitchen with those interested, including by hosting sushi-making classes led by LeClair out of the restaurant and inviting students for co-op placements to get direct mentorship.
“It’s for those really interested in becoming chefs and getting into the culinary industry,” Anagnostou explains. “You have to start somewhere and, if they have a passion, here they can get hands-on training.”
As Anagnostou and LeClair adjust to the business of the new dining space, Nòstimo By The Original Greek will soon be re-introducing monthly food-and-wine pairings, consisting of a seven-course dinner. A portion of the proceeds will be donated towards a local charity.
In the past, these events have supported relief in Ukraine, Kawartha Food Share, and local families in need during the holiday season. In April of 2023, Nòstimo By The Original Greek raised $1,700 for the Peterborough Rotary Club and YES Shelter for Youth and Families through a wine pairing night.
With the opening of the new dining room, Nòstimo By The Original Greek has added new menu items alongside the recipes that have been on the menu for 20 years since co-owner George Anagnostou opened The Original Greek in Peterborough. The chargrilled octopus appetizer is one of the newer menu items that cannot be found elsewhere in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Nòstimo By The Original Greek)
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As they prepare to offer romantic dinner specials for Valentine’s Day, Anagnostou and LeClair are embracing and enjoying the old and new connections they are making while welcoming patrons into the dining room to feast from the new menu.
“It’s great getting to see people happy and enjoying the food once again,” says Anagnostou. “I just love the buzz of the room.”
Located at 184 Marina Boulevard in Northcrest Plaza, Nòstimo By The Original Greek is open for takeout, catering, and dine-in. Visit their website at www.nostimobytheoriginalgreek.com to browse the menu and to order online and follow them on Instagram and Facebook for updates on weekend dinner specials.
Along with the extensive menu of authentic Greek dishes, Nòstimo By The Original Greek offers specials only available on the weekend, including the beef tenderloin wellington. This beef tenderloin is wrapped in prosciutto, mushroom duxelle, and puff pastry and served with garlic whipped potatoes, sautéed vegetables, and a red wine demi-glace sauce. Weekend specials are announced on the restaurant’s social media channels. (Photo courtesy of Nòstimo By The Original Greek)
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Nòstimo By The Original Greek. If your business or organization is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
An aerial view of Northumberland Hills Hospital in Cobourg, which has been recognized by the Canadian Coalition of Green Health Care for its ongoing work toward energy conservation and environmental responsibility, including in the categories of water excellence, waste management, and leadership. (Photo: Northumberland Hills Hospital)
From monitoring its water use daily to using LED technologies for lighting inside and outside the hospital, Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) in Cobourg is being touted for its environmental efforts.
The west Northumberland hospital has been recognized by the Canadian Coalition of Green Health Care for its ongoing work toward energy conservation and environmental responsibility.
The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care works with health care facilities to share green health care best practices and to support organizations interested in enhancing their environmental responsibility and becoming better equipped to deal with the unique challenges facing health service organizations.
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To be considered for the Green Health Care Awards, NHH was required to track its performance against key indicators also measured by hospital peers on a national scorecard maintained by the coalition known as the Green Hospital Scorecard.
How does a hospital make strides on a daily basis to become more environmentally responsible and conserve energy?
Chuck Cudmore, NHH’s director of plant operations, shared a few examples with kawarthaNOW.
“NHH’s combined heat and power system is one example of a step we have taken in recent years to improve energy performance,” Cudmore said. “Since this unit has been operationalized, it has significantly impacted annual energy and greenhouse gas performance.”
Cudmore pointed to the hospital’s interior and exterior lighting systems as another example. “We’ve installed LED technologies, which help in reducing the energy required to light these fixtures and also reduce maintenance costs.
“Our energy performance is monitored regularly, with preference given to design and construction practices that incorporate energy efficient considerations.” Members of the facilities and engineering team at Northumberland Hills Hospital in Cobourg. (Photo: Northumberland Hills Hospital / Facebook)
NHH has held staff training sessions on how employees can make changes that can improve efficiencies.
When it comes to water use, the hospital’s consumption of the resource is monitored daily, Cudmore noted.
“NHH is diligent in looking at water conservation measures,” he added.
The Green Hospital Scorecard is the only comprehensive health care environmental performance benchmarking tool in Canada, measuring energy conservation, water conservation, waste management and recycling, corporate commitment, and pollution prevention, NHH noted in a media release.
NHH’s recognitions in the 2022 Green Hospital Scorecard are for water excellence, waste management, and leadership.
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“As we experience first-hand the evidence of climate change, it is vitally important to continue making a conscious effort to protect the environment through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,” said Susan Walsh, NHH president and CEO, in a statement.
“NHH remains committed to always improving energy and water usage at our hospital through innovative solutions that not only maintain a continuum of operations and services but are also environmentally sustainable.”
Chad Gyorfi, vice-president and chief financial officer at NHH, said the awards “are a testament to the dedication of our facilities and engineering team, who work hard to reduce NHH’s overall carbon footprint by continually prioritizing greener solutions for the hospital.”
To learn more about the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care, visit greenhealthcare.ca.
BST Vacations offers direct from Peterborough Airport departures to provide an easier and more accessible travel experience that involves drive-thru baggage check, complimentary parking, and personal concierge. Now in their 10th anniversary since launching the program, they have introduced the first-ever trip to Memphis from September 19 to 22, 2024 with optional excursions exploring the lively nightlife from street performers and live music to the best barbeque in the world. (Photo supplied by BST Vacations)
If your ideal 2024 vacation involves grooving to soul music in the home of the blues, filling up on ribs in the pork BBQ capital of the world, or just sitting back in a luxury hotel, getting pampered from the moment you leave home until the moment you return, then your dreams are coming true.
Peterborough travel agency BST Vacations (Blowes & Stewart Travel Group Ltd.) is making it easy to do any or all of that with a tour to Memphis, Tennessee that departs directly from Peterborough Airport. From September 19 to 22, the journey cuts out all the hassle of flying by providing a travel experience that is exactly that — an experience.
“Once you fly out of Peterborough Airport, you’ll never want to go back to Pearson,” says Arleigh Elson, the head of business development and marketing at BST Vacations. “Usually, the transportation aspect of travel is the worst part of travelling, from going to the airport to the actual flight. But when you go through Peterborough Airport, it is absolutely enjoyable.”
When you fly direct from the Peterborough Airport, BST Vacations ensures that the travel part of the vacation is just as enjoyable as the destination. Pictured are BST Vacations/Blowes & Stewart Travel Group Ltd. president Scott Stewart and vice-president Dana Empey. (Photo supplied by BST Vacations)
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Including round-trip airfare on the private chartered Boeing 737-800 189-passenger aircraft and three nights of accommodation, the tour to Memphis is one of the destinations for the 2024 Peterborough Airport Departures by Stewart Tours. Other destinations for 2024 that are already sold out include New York City and St. John’s, Newfoundland.
The Peterborough Airport Departures program launched on the company’s 40th anniversary in business. At the time, the Peterborough Airport had just completed upgrades to the runway that would allow for a 737 to land and depart from the Airport. The team at BST Vacations wanted to do something big and very different to celebrate the anniversary, and after plenty of legwork were able to run the first passenger Boeing 737 aircraft to fly from the Peterborough Airport.
“When the first planned trip to New York City sold out in 24 hours, we knew we were on to something and that a market for travel out of the Peterborough Airport exists,” says Elson. “Since the inception, we have continued to improve the experience and grow the program each year.”
VIDEO: Fly from the Peterborough Airport – BST Vacations / Blowes & Stewart Travel
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This year marks the 10th anniversary since the inaugural launch of Peterborough Departures and, to celebrate, BST Vacations has planned a trip back to where it all began: New York City. Part of the group will immerse themselves in the vibrant energy of the Big Apple, while the others will embark on a luxurious cruise to Bermuda from the iconic port of New York City. They are also running charters to St. John’s, Newfoundland, and — to change it up from the usual fast-selling trips to Nashville — the trip to Memphis.
BST Vacations has also launched a new line of charters for the 2024 season called Elevated Escapes, a collection of charters that promises an elevated and more intimate departure experience from Peterborough Airport, using a private 33-passenger aircraft for an unparalleled travel experience. Destinations include the Magdalen Islands and Quebec City.
All the direct from Peterborough flights offer an advantage even beyond the proximity of the runway, including having to arrive only 90 minutes before departure, complimentary parking, complimentary drinks and snacks while waiting for departure, and a drive-thru luggage check-in (where staff pull the bags out of the car while travellers remain seated).
“It’s great for the group of people that want a quick getaway that’s easy, without the headache of travelling to Pearson or the cost of paying for transportation or parking,” says Elson. “It’s an experience on its own, as opposed to just transporting you from one place to another.”
BST Vacations makes your trip from the Peterborough Airport as seamless and pain-free as possible, including reduced wait times, drive-thru baggage drop, complimentary snacks and drinks, and more. Pictured from left to right during a departure are BST Vacations charter manager Laurie Bertrand, business development and marketing manager Arleigh Elson, and senior travel advisor Carolyn Neveu. (Photo supplied by BST Vacations)
When on the flight to Memphis, the luxury treatment does not stop. All passengers are given a complimentary breakfast (typically a croissant sandwich with fruit and chocolate), as well as two complimentary alcoholic beverages to get them in the vacation mood.
All the food is made fresh by the catering department from Sobeys Lansdowne on the morning of the flight, taking into account passenger allergies and dietary restrictions.
The beverages are also locally sourced, with spirits coming from Black’s Distillery and beer from Publican House Brewery.
On board the plane to Memphis, all passengers will be given two complimentary alcoholic beverages to start their vacation. On the way back, all proceeds on beverage sales will go towards the Peterborough Humane Society. All food are beverages are sourced locally from Sobeys Lansdowne, Publican House Brewery, and Black’s Distillery. (Photo supplied by BST Vacations)
Though any alcoholic drinks must be purchased on the return trip back to Peterborough, it’s for a good cause as all the proceeds are donated to the Peterborough Humane Society.
With Publican House Brewery already supporting the Peterborough Humane Society through sales of its Pet Pilsner, Elson points out that the Humane Society receives the donation from the purchase of the pilsner, and again when passengers purchase it in-flight, giving the Humane Society double the donation on the same product.
“We’ve always had a relationship with the Humane Society and our guests appreciate the chance to support them,” says Elson. “They do great work and we are happy to be able to donate to them at the end of each charter season.”
Just steps away from the Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel where guests will be staying is a trolley stop that goes directly to Beale Street, one of the most popular destinations in Memphis. (Photo supplied by BST Vacations)
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After touching down in Memphis, a bus is on site to take passengers directly to the four-star Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel. Just outside the doors, guests can get a $1 trolley right to Beale Street, the city’s entertainment district full of live music, buzzing bars and restaurants, and lively street performers every night of the week.
“You can’t miss that unique experience of the Memphis trolley,” says Laurie Bertrand, the head of the Peterborough charters department. “Beale Street is its own unique thing, like Broadway in Nashville or Bourbon Street in New Orleans. With wall-to-wall bars, live music, soul and blues, it’s where you want to be.”
BST Vacations offers several optional excursions for spending your days in the heart of Tennessee. Some excursions include the Elvis Experience Tour at Graceland, the American Soul Tour, Johnny Cash’s Birthplace Tour, and a tour of Sun Studios which launched the careers of Elvis, BB King, and Jerry Lee Lewis.
The Million Dollar Quartet Tour to Sun Studios is one of the optional excursions offered by BST Vacations on the Memphis direct from Peterborough Airport departure from September 19 to 22, 2024. The day trip takes guests to hear the stories of the studio that launched the careers of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and many more icons, while exploring outtakes from recording sessions and interacting with other rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia. (Photo supplied by BST Vacations)
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“You don’t even have to be a music fan to see that there’s so much history there,” says Bertrand. “There’s a lot of big names — and not even just the old timers — so it’s really quite interesting for people of all ages.”
For the foodies in the group, Memphis lives up to its reputation with more than 100 barbeque joints, while also boasting a surplus of other soul and southern restaurants and a recent rise in Mexican eateries. If you’re really lucky, you just might stumble upon a diner serving up The King’s iconic favourite sandwich: peanut butter, banana, and bacon.
Other popular tourist spots include looking out from the Memphis Pyramid, visiting the award-winning Memphis Zoo, diving into history at the National Civil Rights Museum or at the Stax Museum of American Soul, or taking a cruise along the Mississippi River.
“Elvis is huge, but Memphis is not just Graceland and Elvis,” notes Bertrand. “There’s so much to see and do culturally.”
Known as the home of the blues, the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll, the pork BBQ capital of the world, and more, Memphis, Tennessee has a lot to offer from music and entertainment to food, history, and culture. (Photo supplied by BST Vacations)
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All of this and more can be booked by the BST Vacations representative who will be in the hotel acting as concierge for the weekend — booking excursions, buying tickets to shows, and scheduling dinner reservations for guests.
“Guests can be as independent as they want, or they can purchase one of our tours and be part of a little group,” Elson says.
Representatives are also onsite and available 24/7 to help with any issues, questions, or concerns that may arise.
“We handle every single aspect of the journey,” explains Bertrand, adding that they even give out their personal cell phone numbers so guests can always reach them. “If throughout the tour, they need something, they can call our cell phones. We’re available and we’re going to help them, whatever the problem is. It’s not a no-name, no-face trip — we’re there.”
The Elvis Experience Tour at Graceland excursion offered by BST Vacations will take guests to explore the mansion Elvis Presley called home. The excursion includes transportation and entrance into the self-guided tour which offers access to Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex and exhibits on the musician’s wardrobes, records, and automobiles. (Photo supplied by BST Vacations)
For those who prefer to travel domestically, there is still space available on the Elevated Escapes Departures from Peterborough Airport to Quebec City from April 18 to 21.
Labelled as a more personalized experience, it includes airfare on a SAAB 340 33-passenger aircraft, and comes with even more benefits like future tour discounts, an end-of-season celebration, and more complimentary food and drinks on the flight.
“People are really excited about us offering something new and a little more exclusive than what the Peterborough departures experience already is — which is certainly already an elevated experience,” says Elson.
New for the 10th anniversary since launching the direct from Peterborough Airport Departures, BST Vacations has introduced Elevated Escapes, offering a more personalized experience on a SAAB 340 33-passenger aircraft. There is still space available on the trip to Quebec City from April 18 to 21, 2024. (Photo supplied by BST Vacations)
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Like the Memphis departure, the journey to Quebec is designed to provide guests with a stress-free travel experience. BST Vacations sends one of their staff to act as onsite concierge so passengers don’t have to lift a finger to organize what they would like to experience. BST Vacations will look after any dinner reservations, attraction passes, theatre tickets, spa bookings, etc. Whatever passengers are looking to do, BST Vacations will arrange.
“It’s hands-on right from the moment you booked your trip to the moment you get off of the plane and get back into your car to go home,” says Bertrand. “We take care of you every step of the flawless and seamless journey.”
The large-than-life statue of Elvis Presley on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. A BST Vacations representative will be stationed in the Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel to provide concierge services to all guests throughout the weekend. The representative will provide tips on things to do in Memphis, as well as help book dinner reservations, schedule tour, and purchase show tickets. (Photo supplied by BST Vacations)
This branded editorial was created in partnership with BST Vacations (Blowes & Stewart Travel Group Ltd.). If your business or organization is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Ennismore's Melissa Payne headlines the Peterborough Musicians Benevolent Association's monthly Deluxe Live show at Dr. J's BBQ & Brews in downtown Peterborough on Saturday afternoon with her friends Rico Brown, Caitlin O'Conner, Nicholas Campbell, and Brandon Munro. Lotus Wight (Sam Allison) of Sheesham and Lotus & 'Son will also be performing. (Photo: Bryan Reid)
Every Thursday, we publish live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, January 18 to Wednesday, January 24.
If you’re a pub or restaurant owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please 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).
6-8pm - Dinner & Jazz featuring Mike Graham and Victoria Yeh (reservations recommended)
Arthur's Pub
930 Burnham St., Cobourg
(905) 372-2105
Thursday, January 18
8-10:30pm - Open mic w/ Bruce Longman
Friday, January 19
8-11pm - Davey Boy
Saturday, January 20
8-11pm - Bruce Longman
Bancroft Eatery and Brew Pub
4 Bridge St., Bancroft
(613) 332-3450
Friday, January 19
7-10pm - Andrew Irving
Saturday, January 20
7-10pm - Northbound
Black Horse Pub
452 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-0633
Thursday, January 18
7-10pm - Jazz & Blues Night ft. Rob Phillips
Friday, January 19
5:30-7pm - Taylor Abrahamse; 7-10pm - Rick & Gailie
Saturday, January 20
5-8pm - Samara Johnson; 9pm - Odd Man Rush
Sunday, January 21
4-7pm - Washboard Hank & Mountain Muriel
Monday, January 22
7-10pm - Crash & Burn w/ Rick & Gailie
Tuesday, January 23
6-10pm - Open mic w/ Johann Burkhardt
Wednesday, January 24
6-9pm - Avian Agenda
Coming Soon
Thursday, January 25
5pm - Robbie Burns Day w/ Washboard Hank followed by Rose Petal piping in the Haggis; 7-10pm - Jazz & Blues Night ft. Rob Phillips
Friday, January 26 7-11pm - The Doozies
Saturday, January 27 5-8pm - Daelin Henschel; 9pm - Misfits in Action
Sunday, January 28 4-7pm - Cheryl Casselman Trio
Wednesday, January 31 6-9pm - Victoria Yeh & Mike Graham
Boston Pizza Lindsay
435 Kent St. W., Lindsay
705-328-0008
Friday, January 19
8-11pm - Larry Shepherd - The One and Only Neil Young Experience
Claymore Pub & Table
95 King St. W., Cobourg
905-372-5231
Thursday, January 18
7-10pm - Karaoke
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The Cow & Sow Eatery
38 Colborne St., Fenelon Falls
(705) 887-5111
Saturday, January 20
7:30-10:30pm - Open mic hosted by Shannon Roszell
Crook & Coffer
231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-876-0505
Friday, January 19
7:30-10:30pm - Doug Horner
Saturday, January 20
2:30-4:30pm - Lisa Canivet; 7:30-10:30pm - Lotus Wight
Dr. J's BBQ & Brews
282 Aylmer St., Peterborough
(705) 874-5717
Saturday, January 20
1-4pm - PMBA Deluxe Live ft Melissa Payne w/ Rico Brown, Caitlin O'Conner, Nicholas Campbell, Brandon Munro & spotlight guest Lotus Wight (by donation, $10 suggested)
One person was transported by air ambulance with serious injuries after a collision between a passenger vehicle and a tractor trailer on County Road 28 in the Municipality of Port Hope on January 18, 2024. (OPP-supplied photo)
One person has been seriously injured in a two-vehicle collision Thursday morning (January 18) on County Road 28 near Bewdley in the Municipality of Port Hope.
At around 8:54 a.m. on Thursday, Northumberland Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and fire and emergency medical services responded to collision between a passenger vehicle and a tractor trailer near Boundary Road.
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As a result of the collision, one of the drivers was transported by air ambulance to receive medical treatment for serious injuries.
A section of County Road 28 from 9th Line to County Road 9 has been closed while police investigate and document the scene.
Five Counties Children's Centre clients Callum and Marin are encouraging families to take part in two upcoming events in support of the centre. Candlelights For Kids is an evening outdoor skate on February 10, 2024, and the annual Next Gen Game with the Peterborough Petes is on Family Day, which is February 19, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties)
Peterborough and area residents can support high-demand treatment services for kids with developmental disabilities by taking part in two upcoming fundraisers in support of Five Counties Children’s Centre.
Two events — one new and the other a returning favourite — are coming up in February and benefit clients of Five Counties.
Candlelights for Kids is an evening outdoor family skate on February 10 at the Ontario Speed Skating Oval in Lakefield. The Next Gen Game with the Peterborough Petes takes place on the afternoon of Family Day, which is February 19, with a pre-game family skate prior to the Petes facing off against the Kitchener Rangers at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
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“The intent of both of these events is to raise funds — but we hope, also some fun for families,” said Bill Eekhof, communications co-ordinator for Five Counties Children’s Centre.
“We don’t have any set fundraising goals but proceeds from both will go towards our Building Abilities for Life (BAL) campaign. Our overall fundraising goal for BAL is $500,000 this year; money raised from BAL goes directly to support high-demand treatment services at Five Counties,” Eekhof explained.
High-demand treatment services include speech, occupational, and physio therapies provided to local children and families.
Candlelights for Kids, the first-ever joint fundraiser for Five Counties and the Ontario Speed Skating Oval in Lakefield, features outdoor skating by candelight on February 10, 2024. (Photo: Ontario Speed Skating Oval / Facebook)
Last year’s Petes’ Family Day game raised approximately $3,000.
Money generated through BAL is above what Five Counties receives from the provincial government, allowing the centre to serve more kids in an effort to reduce wait times, Five Counties noted.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Peterborough Petes and the Ontario Speed Skating Oval on these two separate events that will offer family fun and support the life-changing work that we do every day,” said Lyn Giles, director of fund development for Five Counties. “Come out and embrace winter activities and help ensure more kids get the treatment they need, when they need it, to be the best they can be.”
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Candlelights for Kids is the first-ever joint fundraiser for Five Counties and the Ontario Speed Skating Oval. The February 10th event takes place at the oval at 3358 Lakefield Rd. in Lakefield.
Weather permitting, families can lace up for outdoor skating on the oval by candlelight. Two skating sessions will be available, with one from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and another from 7 to 8:30 p.m. There will be hot chocolate and food at the venue.
Tickets are $10 per adult and $5 per child. Tickets are limited and will be available at the end of January on the Ontario Speed Skating Oval website at ontariospeedskatingoval.com.
At the Next Gen Game with the Peterborough Petes on February 19, 2024, attendees can participate in a pre-game family skate starting at 1 p.m. A silent auction fundraiser, face painting, giant LEGO, and more will be held during the game. (Graphic courtesy of Five Counties)
At the Next Gen Game with the Peterborough Petes, attendees can participate in a pre-game family skate starting at 1 p.m., with the game beginning at 2:05 p.m. A silent auction fundraiser, face painting, giant LEGO and more will be held during the game.
“Five Counties kids will take part in behind-the-scenes experiences at the game, including playing the role of coach, scout, general manager and PA announcer,” Five Counties noted.
Game tickets are available directly from Five Counties for $15 each by calling 705-748-2337 ext. 248 or by emailing development@fivecounties.on.ca.
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Five Counties Children’s Centre provides speech, physio, and occupational therapies, as well as other treatment services for kids and youth from birth to age 19 years in the counties of Haliburton, Northumberland, Peterborough, and the City of Kawartha Lakes.
This past year, Five Counties served more than 6,200 children and youth in its region — the highest number of clients in its nearly 50-year history.
The 2024 ReFrame Film Festival, running from January 25 to February 4, includes a number of short and feature-length environmental films that take a look at the impact of positive action. "The Engine Inside" tells the stories of six everyday people from all over the globe who reveal the unique power of the bicycle to change lives and build a better world. Presented in partnership with GreenUP, the feature-length documentary screens at 8 p.m. on Friday, January 26 at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of ReFrame)
The 20th annual ReFrame Film Festival returns, in hybrid format, in person from January 25 to 28 to downtown Nogojiwanong/Peterborough and online across the country from January 29 to February 4.
GreenUP, like ReFrame, believes that the actions we take toward social change make a difference in our communities.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by GreenUP and the ReFrame Film Festival.
As festival-goers know, ReFrame boasts the best in environmental and social justice documentary film. While it aims to present a diverse range of content on a wide variety of themes and topics, the subject matter can at times be overwhelming for some viewers.
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This year, the festival is striving to present films that focus on positive action in addition to raising awareness of pressing global issues. This extends to its environmental programming, and includes The Engine Inside presented in partnership with GreenUP and screening Friday, January 26th at 8 p.m. at Showplace Performance Centre.
The Engine Inside tells the stories of six everyday people from all over the globe who reveal the unique power of the bicycle to change lives and build a better world. Through their stories, the film uncovers the often-overlooked potential of this 200-year-old machine, exploring its impact on a wide range of global issues such as physical and mental health, socioeconomic inequality and climate change.
The film aligns with GreenUP’s work in the community to support bicycle travel through programming and advocacy for safer cycling infrastructure in cities.
VIDEO: “The Engine Inside” trailer
Solutions-focused climate story How to Power a City (Friday, January 26th at 5:15 p.m. at Showplace Performance Centre) also demonstrates the societal and human health impact that climate justice action — in this case, renewable energy — can have on individuals and communities.
The film provides a front-row seat to communities battling fossil fuel dependence by bringing solar and wind projects to their hometowns.
Filmed in six locations, the stories reveal how a diverse cast prevailed against myriad obstacles such as indifferent politicians, technical impasses, public ignorance, cost, and natural and manmade disasters.
VIDEO: “How To Power A City” trailer
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Innovative tech also comes to the foreground in Eco-Hack!, a short energetic film screening alongside How to Power a City that is also presented in partnership with GreenUP. Deep in the Mojave desert, an unconventional field biologist wages a high-tech war against ravens — laser cannons, drones, exploding turtle shells — in a last-ditch effort to save the few remaining desert tortoises from extinction. This unexpected take on biodiversity science will leave audiences feeling fired up.
Another quirky addition to the festival lineup, short film Shitty Little (Sunday, January 28th at 12:30 p.m. at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre) critiques attitudes that promote resource extraction and environmental devastation with stunning shadow puppetry visuals, providing solace in its creative approach. This is a playful, poignant and very memorable live action animation, where humans take from forests whatever they desire — leaving nothing.
Similarly, Feeling the Apocalypse, screening with Shitty Little, faces tough topics while caring for viewers. The short film makes use of collage paper animation to guide audiences through a discussion of mental health in the face of the climate crisis. It also notes the importance of making time to process the emotional toll of confronting overwhelming issues such as climate change.
VIDEO: “Eco-Hack!” trailer
One film that makes space for experiencing these emotions is the stunningly beautiful feature-length film Songs of Earth (Sunday, January 28th at 10 a.m. at Showplace Performance Centre), which draws emotional parallels between relationships with nature and relationships with family.
A majestic symphony for the big screen, the filmmaker’s father is our guide. Bringing us through Norway’s most scenic valley, he shows us where generations have been living alongside nature in order to survive.
The sounds of earth harmonize together to make music in this breathtaking journey.
VIDEO: “Songs of the Earth” trailer
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GreenUP and ReFrame hope you find inspiration and strength in these films and in the community that gathers around them to sustain you throughout the year.
We encourage you to make your festival experience greener by walking, cycling, carpooling or using transit to watch the in-person festival, or watch a selection of the program online from January 29 to February 4, including How to Power a City, Eco-Hack!, and Feeling the Apocalypse.
Join us in celebrating 20 years of ReFrame, with all-access in person, hybrid, and virtual festival passes available now. Individual virtual screenings are also now available to non-passholders through the ReFrame website. Individual tickets for in-person screenings will be available at festival venues on a rush basis 15 minutes in advance of each scheduled screening from January 25 to 28.
Hamilton photographer and activist Jessie Golem's 2018 photographic series called "Humans of Basic Income" is featured in the short documentary "A Human Picture," screening at the ReFrame Film Festival at 3 p.m. on January 26, 2024 at the Peterborough Public Library. Presented by Basic Income Peterborough Network along with Peterborough—Kawartha NDP and Cambium, the screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Golem along with filmmakers Simon Brothers and Luke Mistruzzi and author and activist Jamie Swift. (Photo: Jessie Golem)
With an upcoming screening of a film called A Human Picture, the Basic Income Peterborough Network (BIPN) is hoping to “help galvanize public conversation and ideally influence policy-makers” around the importance of a basic income.
BIPN is co-presenting the short documentary on Friday, January 26th at 3 p.m. during the ReFrame Film Festival.
The film is about Ontario’s Basic Income Pilot project, which was launched in 2017 under the former Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne’s government. Shortly after being elected in 2018, the Ford government announced it was ending the pilot project.
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Almost 4,000 people were enrolled in the pilot program in five regions: Lindsay, Thunder Bay, Hamilton, Brantford, and Brant County. A provincial minister said at the time it was part of a plan to “reform social assistance to help more people get back on track.”
The screening of A Human Picture, being held at the Peterborough Public Library, located at 345 Aylmer St. N., also includes a post-screening panel discussion called “Impact of Basic Income” with filmmakers Simon Brothers and Luke Mistruzzi, basic income pilot participant and activist Jessie Golem, and author and activist Jamie Swift.
“BIPN is thrilled to be able to partner with ReFrame for this event,” said BIPN’s Steph Benn. “We feel the film and the panel afterwards will help galvanize public conversation and ideally influence policy-makers to adequately address the growing epidemic of poverty and poverty-related issues in communities across Canada.”
Simon Brothers and Luke Mistruzzi’s short documentary “A Human Picture” is screening at the ReFrame Film Festival at 3 p.m. on January 26, 2024 at the Peterborough Public Library. Presented by Basic Income Peterborough Network, Peterborough—Kawartha NDP, and Cambium, the screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring the filmmakers, photographer and activist Jessie Golem, and author and activist Jamie Swift. Pay-what-you-can tickets are available for the screening. (Graphic courtesy of ReFrame Film Festival)
Benn describes A Human Picture as “a powerful short honouring the lived experiences of some of the participants of the Ontario Basic Income Pilot.”
Specifically, the filmmakers were moved by the response of pilot project participant Jessie Golem after the newly elected Ford government unexpectedly and prematurely cancelled the pilot — “a devastating blow to the 4,000 Ontario participants,” Benn explained.
“Jessie’s response was to photograph many of the participants as they held signs to say what basic income had meant for them. It was a beautiful effort by Jessie to document what participants had experienced.”
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BICN is screening the film because it sheds light on such vital issues, Benn said.
“Many community members are living with extreme poverty, insecurity, precarious housing, poor health, access to education, opportunity, and loneliness. Poverty can be extremely isolating. The impact of poverty on families and individuals is devastating and current social safety policies are stigmatizing and inadequate.”
Benn hopes the film offers the audience a chance to listen to some of the pilot’s participants, who share what it meant to them to be able to make ends meet.
“The film is a beautiful documentation of many important aspects of this story.”
In 2018, Hamilton photographer Jessie Golem created a photographic series called “Humans of Basic Income,” showing the human side of the Ontario provincial government’s decision to cancel the basic income pilot project. Herself a participant in the program, Golem’s portraits of participants in the program — who are holding signs sharing their stories of how project has benefited them — received national and international attention. (Photo: Jessie Golem)
The panel afterwards provides attendees with the opportunity to ask questions and share experiences from a variety of different perspectives, she added.
“We hope that many will leave the event determined to make the elimination of poverty and a guaranteed livable income a public demand, an election issue, and a reason for hope,” Benn said.
“A guaranteed livable income shifts the approach away from safety nets and instead moves us toward a raised floor — giving everyone that needs it, a guaranteed livable income with no strings attached.”
To promote income-based accessibility to the festival, ReFrame provides a pay-what-you-can option for individual screenings (tickets are available at festival venues 20 minutes in advance of screenings).
ReFrame also distributes a limited number of free festival passes and ticket packages to the community through the Community Access Program. These are available to the public through the Peterborough Public Library. ReFrame also partners with local advocacy groups and service organizations to distribute free tickets to their membership.
The inductees of JA-NEO's 2024 Business Hall of Fame give the thumbs-up to photographer Clifford Skarstedt at VentureNorth in downtown Peterborough on January 17, 2024. Pictured (left to right, front to back): Gwyneth James, Jeaninne Taylor, Cindy Koskowski on behalf of John Cunningham, Nicole Truman, Richard Labelle, Jill and Robert Staples, Mike and Andrew Winslow, and Cora Whittington. Not pictured are Tim Barrie, Chris Winslow, and Steve and Tom Gerolamy. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Peterborough’s Business Hall of Fame will grow this spring by 14 inductees representing nine entrepreneurial success stories that are as inspiring as they are worthy of celebration — including kawarthaNOW’s own Jeannine Taylor.
On Wednesday (January 17) at VentureNorth in downtown Peterborough, Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario (JA-NEO) revealed the class of 2024 before a large gathering comprised of supporters, business leaders, and politicians.
Junior Achievement chancellor Allan Hill, the owner of multiple Domino’s Pizza outlets in the Peterborough area, welcomed the new inductees.
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The 2024 inductees, in alphabetical order, are:
Tim Barrie (Merit Precision Limited)
John Cunningham (Community Alternative, Ashburnham Funeral Home, Kawartha Aquamation)
Gwyneth James (Silverthorn Management Consulting, formerly of Cody and James Chartered Professional Accountants)
Richard Labelle (The UK Shoppe)
Jill and Robert Staples (Staples Maple Syrup)
Jeannine Taylor (kawarthaNOW)
Nicole Truman (Fox Law Professional Corporation)
Cora Whittington (Golden Pathways Coaching, Facilitation Retreat and B&B)
Andrew Winslow, Chris Winslow, Mike Winslow, Steve Gerolamy, and Tom Gerolamy (Winslow Gerolamy Motors Limited)
This ninth class of inductees will be formally inducted Thursday, May 23rd at The Venue in downtown Peterborough.
People gather before the announcement of 14 inductees of JA-NEO’s 2024 Business Hall of Fame announced at VentureNorth in downtown Peterborough on January 17, 2024. Joining the crowd for the announcement were Peterborough-Kawartha MP Michelle Ferreri, Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clarke, Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal, and former Peterborough mayor Paul Ayotte. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Overwhelmed by his induction was Labelle who said, as an entrepreneur, operating your own business means “you’ve got to live it, eat it, breathe it 24 hours a day,” adding “It’s the only way you survive.”
“I’m still in shock,” he said of his induction.
“Part of me is asking ‘What are you doing here?’ I’ve worked retail since I was 15 years old. I never thought I would see something like this happen to me. It’s crazy.”
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“There are different levels of business — we’re one of the smaller ones,” Labelle added. “I hope people can learn from this, kids especially, that you have stick with it. You have to do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. I haven’t one day in 16 years where I woke up and thought ‘Oh god, I’ve got to go down there (to the store).”
Not lost on Labelle is the support his business has received from the community.
“The number of people that have come into the shop for years. We know them all by name — we know their kids, we know their parents. I had a guy come into the shop two summers ago. He said ‘Do you remember me? My parents used to bring me in here when I was a kid. He would have been about 10 (years old) when I opened the shop.”
Writer Paul Rellinger speaks with kawarthaNOW founder, CEO, and publisher Jeannine Taylor, one of the 14 inductees of JA-NEO’s 2024 Business Hall of Fame announced at VentureNorth in downtown Peterborough on January 17, 2024. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Taylor, who as publisher founded quidnovis.com in April 1996 and rebranded the platform as kawarthaNOW.com in 2009, says she’s particularly delighted to be part of an induction class that features five women.
“It is humbling, particularly in this case because a group of women got together to nominate another group of women,” she said. “There are more women at the podium this year. That’s humbling for all of us. It’s nice to see something closer to parity.”
Reflecting on late 1995 when she started researching for the business model, Taylor recalled “surfing the internet for the first time ever.”
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“It’s nice to have people pay attention to the fact that we’ve been around for 27 years and that we were the first (digital media platform in Peterborough and the Kawarthas), and that I’m a female publisher,” Taylor said. “We’ll talk about those things today — and then go back to work because we probably have a deadline.”
Asked if she considers herself an inspiration to young people looking at entrepreneurship as a career aspiration, Taylor said not so much initially but she’s learned with time that her example does matter.
“Women are paying attention, and particularly younger women. They need to see female role models. It’s really important that that’s happening.”
Writer Paul Rellinger speaks with Robert and Jill Staples of Staples Maple Syrup, two of the 14 inductees of JA-NEO’s 2024 Business Hall of Fame announced at VentureNorth in downtown Peterborough on January 17, 2024. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Jill Staples, meanwhile, admitted to her and her husband Robert’s induction being “a big surprise.”
“There has been a lot of people who have come over the years to ask Bob for advice — what’s worked and what hasn’t worked,” said Jill.
Looking ahead to the formal induction ceremony, Jill said they “don’t what to expect. We’ve never been at anything like that.”
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JA-NEO president and CEO John McNutt, who oversaw the event from the podium, said the annual recognition is important because it shows young people “there’s something out there” for them and it’s close to home.
“My own kids, a bunch of years ago, had to leave Peterborough to get a job. Well, here are some examples of what’s in our community. They (the inductees) represent everything that’s good about a community.”
McNutt says the latest additions to the Business Hall of Fame brings the total number inducted to past 70.
JA-NEO president and CEO John McNutt (pictured) provided introductory remarks before inviting Junior Achievement chancellor Allan Hill to the podium to announce the 14 inductees of JA-NEO’s 2024 Business Hall of Fame at VentureNorth in downtown Peterborough on January 17, 2024. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Nominations for this induction closed in late November and inductions selection process began shortly after.
Anyone nominated this year but not chosen will again be considered for possible induction in 2025.
Also on hand in the crowd for Wednesday’s reveal were Peterborough-Kawartha MP Michelle Ferreri, Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clarke, and Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal. Former Peterborough mayor Paul Ayotte, who has long been associated with Junior Achievement, also took in the proceedings.
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