Peterborough Regional Health Centre's online ED wait-time clock provides a real-time estimate of the estimated average wait time to see a doctor after arriving at the hospital's emergency department. The hospital says the wait-time clock supports transparency, reduces uncertainty, and empowers patients with timely information. (kawarthaNOW screenshot)
Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) is making it easier to know how long you may have to wait to see a doctor when you come to the hospital’s emergency department (ED).
PRHC has launched a new online ED wait-time clock that provides a real-time estimate of the average wait time to see a doctor, along with the number of patients waiting to see a doctor, the number of patients waiting for an inpatient bed, and the number of patients currently in the ED.
The online clock at prhc.on.ca/healthcare-services/ed-wait-times/ also provides graphs showing the typical wait times at different times of the day and on different days during the week.
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“Patients and families are already experiencing stress and uncertainty when they come to the ED,” says PRHC’s chief of emergency medicine Dr. Nicole De Francesco in media release. “By sharing wait time information in real time, we’re making a difficult moment a bit easier for people, improving their hospital experience by providing more and better communication to help them understand what they can expect.”
The online clock, which is updated every 30 minutes, reflects all ED patients who have checked in or been triaged, including people who have pre-registered, walked in, or arrived by ambulance.
The hospital notes that patients in the ED are always seen in order of medical priority rather than by arrival time, with those having more serious conditions always treated first. Wait times can also change quickly and unexpectedly due to new or more urgent emergencies, including sudden high-volume incidents.
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With a new patient arriving at PRHC’s ED every seven minutes (more than 75,000 visits annually), Dr. De Francesco says the hospital has been working over the past few years to reduce wait times, hospital admissions, and patient length-of-stay.
Although these efforts have resulted in “incredible successes,” Dr. De Francesco notes they have been offset by increases in patient volumes, complexity, and acuity.
“In other words, while the work has had excellent results, the improvements the team has made are helping us to manage the growth we’ve been seeing, but not to get ahead of the curve,” Dr. De Francesco says. “Our work in these priority areas will continue as we invest in new initiatives to improve the care we provide.”
Environment Canada has issued a snow squall watch for much of the Kawarthas region for Thursday (November 27).
The snow squall watch is currently in effect for all of Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough County, and southern Haliburton County.
Lake effect snow squalls off of Georgian Bay are expected to move through the area Thursday, before locking in place Thursday night.
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Local snowfall amounts of 5 to 10 cm are possible. Strong winds are also expected, further reducing visibility in local blowing snow.
Travel may be hazardous. Prepare for the possibility of quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions.
Meanwhile, in Northumberland County, a special weather statement for strong winds is in effect through Thursday afternoon, with strong southwest winds gusting 80 to 90 km/h. Local utility outages are possible. High-sided vehicles will be pushed around by the wind. Loose objects may be tossed by the wind.
Northumberland Hills Hospital is located at 1000 DePalma Drive in Cobourg. (Photo: Northumberland Hills Hospital)
When it comes to the future of healthcare at Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) in Cobourg, community members are being invited to hear about the hospital’s master plan and share their input, starting this week.
As part of an overall community engagement plan, NHH recently announced the launch of three public forums seeking community input into the hospital’s future as part of its “Growing Care for the Future” master plan.
“We want to raise awareness that this is a process we are embarking on and set the stage for the coming months of meaningful community conversations around the future of hospital programs and services,” NHH president and CEO Susan Walsh told kawarthaNOW.
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Registration is open for the first session, which takes place on Zoom at 5:30 p.m. this Thursday (November 27). In the forum, NHH will share an overview of its current services, patient volumes, growth projects already underway, and community growth predictions.
“We encourage people to register as soon as possible, but registration will remain open until just prior to the kick-off of the discussion,” Walsh said, noting in a media release the consultations are “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to provide input into the hospital’s future.”
The second forum, which will take place on Zoom on Wednesday, December 10, will take a deeper look at the hospital’s inpatient priorities, including medical services, surgical services, intensive care, post-acute, and palliative, as well as an overview of current and future needs and strategic partnership opportunities to enhance local care.
The final forum on Wednesday, January 28 will explore the hospital’s outpatient services, including emergency services, ambulatory clinics, cancer and supportive care, dialysis, and community mental health and addiction services. As with the second forum, there will be an overview of current and future needs and strategic partnership opportunities to enhance local care.
VIDEO: Growing Care for the Future – Northumberland Hills Hospital Master Plan
“Between now and March we will be taking this conversation into all corners of our community,” Walsh said. “From one-to-one conversations with our master planning steering committee members, to group discussions at community partner tables, online forums and surveys, there will be many ways to get involved.”
With the 22-year-old hospital will soon be at its maximum available capacity due to growing pressures from patient volumes and acuity, NHH is embarking on the master planning process in part to meet an expected population surge, an aging population, and the resulting need for healthcare services in Northumberland County and surrounding area.
Population projections for Northumberland County indicate growth of at least 22 per cent over the next 20 years alone, from 92,500 in 2021 to 112,800 in 2041 — a figure that will increase if projects like the proposed nuclear generation facility in Wesleyville, which would create 1,700 new jobs in Port Hope, move forward.
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In addition, the proportion of the population aged 65 and over is expected to grow to 34.5 per cent by 2036, which will be 12 per cent higher than the Ontario average of 22.5 per cent.
An aging population will have a significant impact on the hospital, as older patients tend to have complex acute care needs. Currently, over 75 per cent of the hospital’s acute inpatient days are for patients 65 and over.
While a number of key growth projects already underway at NHH to meet increasing demand for healthcare services — including the construction of a fourth operating room, the replacement of critical diagnostic imaging equipment, and an upgrade to critical supporting services like pharmacy and medical device reprocessing — the hospital is creating a master plan to determine needs for hospital services and space in the coming decades.
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The plan will be guided by input from staff, physicians, patients, caregivers, volunteers, and community partners. NHH said the necessary government approval is underway and it’s ready to hear input from the public.
Launched this past May, the master plan is expected to take about 12 months to complete, concluding in May 2026 with a formal submission to the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health regarding the proposed long-term program and facility requirements of NHH.
For more information about the master plan and to register for the upcoming virtual public forums, visit nhh.ca/AboutNHH/master-planning.
Ann Farquharson (left) with Danielle Turpin, both volunteers with the United Way of Peterborough and District's 2025-26 campaign cabinet, during the United Way's campaign launch event on September 25, 2025. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography)
Tributes to, and remembrances of, Ann Farquharson poured forth Tuesday in the wake of her unexpected passing.
The prominent Peterborough lawyer, former city councillor, and civic leader died in her sleep at her home sometime over the weekend.
Her death at age 68 has shocked and saddened many people from the several facets of community life that she was immersed in, both as a meaningful contributor and as a staunch advocate.
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According to former Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, a celebration of life for Farquharson will be held at 2 p.m. this Saturday (November 29) at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough.
“She was Peterborough’s daughter,” says Monsef of her longtime friend and supporter.
“She cared about this community and served it like it was her full-time job. We may have seen some headlines about some of her interventions, but the bulk of her work she did behind the scenes. Our community is so much better because of her.”
“Today (Tuesday) marks the start of 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence, a mission near and dear to her heart,” says Monsef, who served as the federal Minister for Women and Gender Equality from 2017 to 2021. “There’s a void. I don’t know what we’re going to do without her, but part of it is we have to pick up and carry on the work.”
Ann Farquharson (centre back) with Maryam Monsef, Lynn Zimmer, Kim Zippel, Diane Therrien, Ann F Kerry Brennan, Anne-Marie Smith, and Joy Lachica. (Photo courtesy of Joy Lachica)
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In a prepared statement, Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal remembered Farquharson as “a dedicated advocate for our community” who “served the people of Peterborough with integrity and an unwavering commitment to making life better for others.”
“Her leadership, her thoughtful voice at the council table, and her years of service left a meaningful and lasting impact on our city. Beyond her time as an elected official (from 2006 to 2010), Ann was an active and passionate community supporter, always working to strengthen the places and organizations she cared about. She will be remembered for her generosity, her spirit, and her steadfast belief in building a stronger Peterborough.”
As yet a further tribute to Farquharson’s “remarkable life and contributions,” the flag outside City Hall was lowered to half-mast on Tuesday.
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Also sharing reflections with kawarthaNOW was current Peterborough MP Emma Harrison.
MP Harrison says she and Farquharson “became fast friends” when Harrison announced her intention to seek the federal seat this past March. On the evening of her June election win, Farquharson was among those gathered at her victory celebration to offer congratulations.
“We spoke almost every day since we met,” says MP Harrison, adding “It’s going to leave a tremendous hole in my daily life not hearing from her.”
“One of the things Ann did best was elevate the voices of people who were strong advocates, especially women, in politics and in leadership roles. We shared the same passion for this community and for the riding as a whole. She wanted to see it represented and supported well. That was what she really cared about.”
“Anytime there’s a passing of someone like Ann, it’s a stark reminder of what’s really important in life, which is supporting one another and kindness, but also remaining steadfast in your beliefs and fighting for what’s right.”
Ann Farquharson (right) with (left to right) Kim Zippel, Joy Lachica, and Diane Therrien. (Photo courtesy of Joy Lachica)
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Meanwhile, a “reeling” Joy Lachica acknowledged “such an absence” in the wake of the passing of “a very dear friend.” The Town Ward councillor says Farquharson “introduced me to the soul of Peterborough” when Lachica moved to the city.
“It was so meaningful to be introduced to the people, places and organizations; to the network that makes this such a great city. Ann was really a fulcrum in the wheel of so many who sought to be involved and connected, especially women. She really connected us and shone a light on things that mattered.”
“Many of us would have felt lost without her there to light that fire; to speak about the things that are important. I speak of her in the present tense because her fire and inspiration will live on within the folks she spent time with.”
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kawarthaNOW also reached out to community activist Danielle Turpin.
“Ann really pushed people to do their best,” says Turpin, the founder and owner of Peterborough-based Home Care Workers Cooperative who, at one time, was seriously considering a 2026 run at a city council seat.
“She knew I was considering running. I knew Ann for several years — we’d meet at community events — but just this past year we connected more formally. We went out for breakfast and it became a bit of a regular thing.”
“I was looking through some of her text messages last night (Monday). In several of them, she told me how proud she was of me. I’m 51 years old. Her saying how proud she was of me sits very differently. She tried to make sure people knew their worth, especially women. She encouraged them to do their best; to know their value in society.”
Terming Farquharson “a force for good,” Turpin says “We lost a really good one yesterday (Monday). I don’t think the spirit that Ann had is going anywhere. I think, if anything, this (her passing) may light a fire. It’s like ‘OK, Ann’s job is done. We now need to carry that torch a little bit for her.”
Ann Farquharson (right) with members of the United Way of Peterborough and District’s 2025-26 campaign cabinet during the United Way’s campaign launch event on September 25, 2025. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography)
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Farquharson was a volunteer with the United Way of Peterborough and District’s 2025-26 campaign cabinet, and United Way CEO Jim Russell speaks to there being two levels of grieving in the wake of her passing.
“There’s the grieving of the loss of the person, and then the grieving of what does this mean for the community in terms of her passion and her commitment,” says Russell.
“Ann was a fierce, fierce defender of things she believed in. Then you layer on that the love she had for the community, the roots she had in the community — whether it was her allegiance to her party of choice, the Liberals, or her allegiance to boards she sat on. She was full throated and that was really part of her makeup. She was all in. When you experience that viscerally from someone, it’s powerful. She was a force of nature. She was larger than life in many ways and that will be missed.”
“The other thing is she lived well. She enjoyed herself, she travelled, she had a rich network of friends, and she had a lot of interests. She was a model for all of us on how to live a life in many ways. Certainly we (the United Way) benefited from her commitment and passion. She was here last week phoning (United Way campaign) donors and thanking them. Most of the people she phoned she knew, or had some connection to.”
“She was a real model on taking action. She wouldn’t hesitate to phone CEOs and mayors and councillors and MPs. She was fearless in that regard. Part of that was her training as a lawyer and part of that was just her make-up — not taking no for an answer and advancing the cause. She was model and a template for how people engage in their communities. What’s interesting for me is that it was all about personal relationships for her.”
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Feeling the loss of Farquharson as keenly as anyone is her longtime friend Terry Guiel, the executive director of the Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce.
During his time in Peterborough, Guiel worked as a clerk in Farquharson’s law office, served a term on city council from 2003 to 2006 and, from 2013 to 2023, served as executive director of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).
“She would friend you to death,” says Guiel. “If you were her friend, she knew everything about you. She would support all your friends, your kids, your pets. She friended hard and that’s a rarity.”
Terry Guiel enjoying a dessert with Ann Farquharson. (Photo courtesy of Terry Guiel)
A self-proclaimed Conservative, Guiel says his political beliefs never got in the way of their friendship.
“She would constantly try to bring me over to the dark side,” laughs Guiel, adding “It made for great debate and conversations.”
“When we heard yesterday (Monday), we were all on her patio deck. I looked around and saw Liberals and NDP (supporters). I said “I guess I was her token Conservative.’ But I think she enjoyed that I brought a different perspective. She respected my opinion, but she would tell me I’m wrong a lot.”
A celebration of Ann Farquharson’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on November 29, 2025 at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Terry Guiel)
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“She really opened my eyes to a lot of things that were misogynistic and sexist, especially within the levels of government, including the municipal level,” Guiel recalls. ” The community has lost someone who was a strong advocate for the community.”
“I can’t name one person who has done more than Ann, and I don’t think there’s anybody out there right now. You have to have a lawyer’s mind. She did. You have to have a fight in you. She did. You have to be able to accept that people are going to hate you for your advocacy, which she tolerated.”
“In her advocacy for her community, she ruffled feathers, but if your feathers were ruffled by Ann, you were on the wrong side of what’s best for the community.”
For those unable to attend the November 29 celebration of life service in person, the service will be livestreamed on the Highland Park Funeral Centre website. In lieu of flowers, donations to a charity of your choice are encouraged.
The original version of this story has been updated with additional details about the celebration of life service.
The Rotary Club of Peterborough and the Rotary Club of Peterborough-Kawartha jointly announced their 2025 Paul Harris Fellows during a dinner and celebration at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club on November 20, 2025. The Paul Harris Fellows in the front row, left to right, are Linda Calverley, Ashley Bonner, Lorne M. Hamilton, Marcus Ferguson, Steve Paul, and Len Lifchus, with Brendan Moher on behalf of Nine Ships 1825 Inc. receiving a certificate of appreciation (missing is Eric Steinmiller). Also pictured in the back row from left to right are Kelli Grady, Betty Halman-Plumley, Margaret Hamilton, Catherine Hanrahan, Wendy Swain, Elwood Jones, Don Watkins, Maureen Crowley, and Mary Smith. (Photo courtesy of Rotary Club of Peterborough)
Seven Peterborough residents were recently recognized for their community service when the Rotary Club of Peterborough and the Rotary Club of Peterborough-Kawartha jointly presented their annual Paul Harris Fellow recognitions.
Linda Calverley, Ashley Bonner, Lorne M. Hamilton, Marcus Ferguson, Steve Paul, Eric Steinmiller, and Len Lifchus were each named Paul Harris Fellows during a dinner and celebration last Thursday night (November 20) at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club.
Named for Rotary International founder Paul Percy Harris, the honour was first established in 1957 to recognize Rotarians and was expanded in 1979 to include non-Rotarians. The first non-Rotarian to receive a Paul Harris Fellow recognition was Mother Teresa, with other notable recipients being U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, U.S. astronaut James Lovell, UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, and polio vaccine developer Jonas Salk.
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Today, the recognition is the highest honour Rotarians can bestow upon non-Rotarians who exemplify Rotary’s motto of “Service above Self” in the categories of community, international, vocational, youth, and environment. In addition, Rotary clubs continue the original tradition by also recognizing a Rotarian as a Paul Harris Fellow in the club service category.
In previous years, Peterborough’s two Rotary Clubs each held their own Paul Harris Fellow recognition events but, for the first time this year, combined their events.
“Presenting the Paul Harris recognition together allows our clubs to honour these recipients as part of a wider Rotary family,” says Rotary Club of Peterborough president Tony Grady. “It reinforces that our achievements in service aren’t confined to individual clubs — they’re part of a larger, collective effort to create lasting change.”
Each of the seven community members named as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Peterborough and the Rotary Club of Peterborough-Kawartha at a dinner and celebration at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club on November 20, 2025 received a Paul Harris Fellow certificate and a Paul Harris pin. On behalf of each recipient, the Rotary Clubs will donate the equivalent of $1,000 USD to the Rotary International Foundation. (Photo courtesy of Rotary Club of Peterborough)
The following community members were named Paul Harris Fellows at last Thursday’s event. Each recipient received a Paul Harris Fellow certificate and a Paul Harris pin and, on behalf of each recipient, the Rotary Clubs of Peterborough and Peterborough-Kawartha will donate the equivalent of $1,000 USD to the Rotary International Foundation.
Youth Services – Linda Calverley
The Youth Services category recognizes a person who makes significant contributions towards youth through programs, services, or related matters.
Linda Calverley has spent the past 25 years shaping the lives of girls through the Girl Guides of Canada, mentoring girls from ages nine to 17 across multiple units. She has supported fellow leaders, organized camps and events, and inspired generations of girls to be confident, capable, and compassionate. Calverley has also led adventure trips to Scotland and the UK, organized national camps, and created experiences that have broadened young minds and built lifelong friendships.
Community Service – Ashley Bonner
The Community Service category recognizes an person who makes a significant leadership contribution to the advancement and betterment of the Peterborough community.
Ashley Bonner is the founder of the East City Community Hub, a grassroots network that began by helping vulnerable neighbours with errands and groceries. She has supported local businesses, organized neighbourhood events, and rallied volunteers in times of need. She created her signature project, the East City Neighbourhood Yard Sale, in honour of her late mother and it has grown to include over 100 participating homes.
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Community Service – Lorne M. Hamilton
The Community Service category recognizes an person who makes a significant leadership contribution to the advancement and betterment of the Peterborough community.
When the Kawartha Woodturners Guild lost their meeting space at St. Peter’s High School, Lorne M. Hamilton reached out to potters, weavers, gourders, and other craftspeople, and together they formed what became the Artisans Centre Peterborough. With his leadership, the Artisans Centre Peterborough found a home in Peterborough Square, a space that still buzzes today with creativity, learning, and community spirit. Hamilton’s vision has made art more inclusive and inspiring for everyone, with the Artisans Centre Peterborough offering everything from children’s programs to accessible workstations for those in wheelchairs.
Vocational Service – Marcus Ferguson
The Vocational Service category recognizes a person who uses their vocational skills consistent with Rotary ideals toward community or international matters.
Marcus Ferguson has become the unseen historian of Peterborough through his work with YourTV Cogeco. From city council meetings and charity fundraisers to sporting events and Rotary gatherings, Ferguson been there with his video camera, capturing the people and moments that shape who we are. Comparable to the Trent Valley Archives or the Roy Studio Collection, one could say the digital video archive Marcus has built will hold that same importance, telling the story of our community.
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Environmental Service – Steve Paul
The Environmental Service category recognizes a person who supports activities that strengthen the conservation and protection of our environment.
Steve Paul is the founder of Clean Up Peterborough, a small grassroots effort to keep Peterborough’s parks, trails, and neighbourhoods clean. He has grown his endeavour into a community-wide movement focused not just on picking up litter, but on rethinking how the city reduces waste, recycles, and reuses materials. Among his many initiatives is organizing the collection of used writing instruments and used pill bottles diverting hundreds of kilograms of plastic waste from our landfills.
Club Service for the Rotary Club of Peterborough – Eric Steinmiller
The Club Service category recognizes a Rotarian for their outstanding service and dedication.
As the co-chair of the Rotary Club of Peterborough’s international service committee, Eric Steinmiller is a world traveller and a leader in developing and funding Rotary’s humanitarian projects in Nepal and Honduras.
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Club Service for the Rotary Club of Peterborough-Kawartha – Len Lifchus
The Club Service category recognizes a Rotarian for their outstanding service and dedication.
A dedicated Rotarian for over 26 years, Len Lifchus has faithfully served the Rotary Club of Peterborough-Kawartha in many capacities, most notably serving as club secretary and president and leading the club’s major funding projects. He has also served on the boards of numerous not-for-profits in the community.
Certificate of Appreciation – Nine Ships 1825 Inc.
The Nine Ships 1825 Inc. project also received a certificate of appreciation from the Rotary Clubs of Peterborough and Peterborough-Kawartha for its work in organizing events commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Peter Robinson Irish Emigration earlier this year and creating community engagement. Brendan Moher accepted the certificate on behalf of the group, which also included Elwood Jones, Maureen Crowley, and Mary Smith.
Married couple Shannon Mak and Roland Hosier are the creative forces behind the St Veronus Café & Tap Room and the annex bar Bijoux Bar in downtown Peterborough. While St Veronus takes pride in serving rare Belgium ales coupled with Belgium-inspired cuisine, Bijoux Bar offers an extensive wine list and original twists on classic cocktails. From holiday lunches and dinners to intimate cocktail parties, both locations offer a unique atmosphere for holiday gatherings. (Photo courtesy of St Veronus)
Whether you’re treating visiting family to a sit-down dinner or hosting an intimate celebration with friends, St Veronus Café and Tap Room and Bijoux Bar in downtown Peterborough have you covered this holiday season.
Owned and operated by husband-and-wife Roland Hosier and Shannon Mak, the restaurant and its sister bar are conveniently located side by side at the corner of Hunter and Water Streets.
St Veronus has been a downtown staple since 2002, when Hosier founded the space to share his interest in Belgian beer and cuisine. After living across Europe as a kid and regularly visiting as an adult, he found a passion for Belgian beer culture — a cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO — and its tradition of cooking with beer, and he wanted to bring that back to Canada.
At St Veronus, you’ll find a Belgian-inspired menu complete with four varieties of the national dish “moules frites” (PEI mussels served with Belgian fries and housemade mayonnaise), as well as mains including Flemish meatballs, schnitzel, fish and chips, and more, as well as a minimum of eight daily specials.
The restaurant’s knowledgeable staff will help you identify (and taste) the beer that will best match your meal. That could be a monastery-brewed Trappist ale whose roots can be traced to the 12th and 13th centuries, or the rare lambic beers brewed using the lost method of spontaneous fermentation.
Shannon Mak behind the bar at Bijoux Bar, located adjacent to St Veronus Café & Tap Room in downtown Peterborough. In addition to serving the rare Belgian beer that can be found at St Veronus, Bijoux Bar also offers an extensive wine list, classic cocktails with an original twist, and light snacks. The bar can be rented out for private functions for a maximum capacity of 25 people between Monday and Saturday. (Photo courtesy of St Veronus)
As for Bijoux Bar, it’s an ideal space for hosting intimate holiday celebrations with family, friends, or co-workers.
Mak, who is a certified sommelier, opened the venue (originally called Le Petit Bar) in 2012 to focus on serving wine, cheese, and charcuterie. Today, Bijoux Bar offers an extensive wine list as well as Belgian beer and cocktails, all served in a cozy space inspired by the warm “brown bars” of Antwerp. The bar also offers a twist on classic cocktails, with everything made from scratch — from the fresh-pressed juice to the bitters and syrups.
While St Veronus is a great choice for holiday lunches and dinners, Bijoux Bar offers full-service cocktail parties including hors d’oeuvres, snacks, cheese, and charcuteries for up to 25 people between Monday and Saturday.
St Veronus and Bijoux Bar also host regular public events like poetry nights, tastings, and oyster nights, as well as private events including celebrations of life, intimate wedding receptions, and cocktail parties.
Further celebrating the holiday season, Hosier and Mak will be participating in the 2025 holiday market hosted by First Friday Peterborough and The Neighbourhood Vintage. St Veronus and Bijoux Bar will be serving up hot cider and hot pretzels for the outdoor event, which takes place from 5 and 9 p.m. on Friday, December 5 in the Bankers Commons Courtyard.
“We are so pleased to be downtown,” says Hosier. “There are so many fantastic independent businesses that deserve patronage and attention, and there’s a lot more going on than you might imagine.”
Shop The Boro is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in downtown Peterborough, created in partnership with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).
With a Boro gift card, supporting locally owned businesses in downtown Peterborough has never been easier. Buy a Boro gift card for your family, friends, or co-workers and let them choose their own adventure. Whether it’s a delicious meal and a night out, a one-of-a-kind find, or a day of relaxation, it’s truly the gift of possibility. You choose the value, they choose the gift.
With a Boro gift card, you are giving more than just a gift — you’re also supporting the people and places that make Peterborough/Nogojiwanong a truly special place to work, live, and play. Shop, dine, and explore the core with Boro gift cards, available online at theboro.ca/product/the-boro-gift-cards/.
The entire original cast from New Stages Theatre's 2023 production of "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show" will be reprising their roles when the show returns to Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough for six performances from December 10 to 14, 2025. From left to right: Brad Brackenridge, Megan Murphy, director Mark Wallace, Kerry Griffin, M. John Kennedy, Ordena Stephens-Thompson, and musical director Gabriel Vaillant. (Photo: Dahlia Katz)
Guardian angel Clarence Odbody knows “No man is a failure who has friends” and, if the return of an entire original cast is proof enough, it’s clear that New Stages Theatre Company has plenty of friends.
Those friends will once again be transforming Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough into a 1940s radio studio for one week only, with six performances of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play from December 10 to 14.
The 2023 production of the play, dubbed “one of the most acclaimed” ever staged by New Stages, marked the start of a new annual tradition of holiday shows from the professional theatre company.
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“This was an opportunity to start making our own tradition here,” says New Stages artistic director Mark Wallace of staging a holiday production. “We’re into year three and certainly the audiences have been really enjoying it.”
Following the success of last year’s sold-out holiday production of A Christmas Carol Comedy, starring Linda Kash as Scrooge and Kerry Griffin as every other character, New Stages decided to bring back It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play for another run.
Adapted by Joe Landry, the play retells the 1946 holiday cult classic film It’s a Wonderful Life, directed and produced by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, as a 1940s radio broadcast. An immersive production, it invites audience members into the show as the live studio audience.
Donna Reed and James Stewart (middle) in a scene from Frank Capra’s classic 1946 Christmas film “It’s a Wonderful Life.” In New Stages Theatre’s production of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” five actors perform all the characters from the film as well as sound effects. (Photo: RKO Radio Pictures)
Capra’s film, originally shot in black and white, follows the despondent George Bailey as he considers ending his own life on Christmas Eve, before he is visited by a guardian angel who shows him what life in Bedford Falls would be like if he had never existed. Written by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Jo Swerling, and Capra, the screenplay is based on Philip Van Doren Stern’s 1943 short story “The Greatest Gift,” which itself is loosely based on the 1843 classic “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens.
For Wallace, who is again directing the production as he did in 2023, it’s a film that nearly everyone, young and old, has a connection to and can learn from. He notes the universal messages about “redemption” and “the small acts in your life that you think are insignificant.”
“There’s so many ways that you can impact people and be a positive difference in people’s lives that you don’t even know, and this story magnifies the powers of those small acts that make everyday people heroes in the way they lift you up,” Wallace says. “It’s told at this time of year because there’s that spirit of giving and generosity that is tied to this overall message that life is a precious gift, and there are great gifts that you can give through your actions.”
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Landry wrote his adaptation as a radio broadcast, with a small ensemble cast playing dozens of roles, after his attempt to replicate a full-scale production on stage proved too costly. It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play premiered in 1996 at Stamford Centre for the Arts in Connecticut. Since then, the play has been produced around the world, including by New Stages in 2023.
Returning to the original set from the 2023 production, M. John Kennedy, Megan Murphy, Kerry Griffin, Brad Brackenridge, and Ordena Stephens-Thompson are each reprising their roles to play all of the characters in the film.
In addition to singing jingles and presenting “on-air” commercials, the actors will also be creating each of the sound effects — the crunch of the snow, the chirp of crickets, the crack of ice — in true radio show fashion.
In true radio show fashion, each of the actors in “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” will be making each of the sound effects alongside playing every character in the classic holiday film. The actors are learning to make the realistic sound effects under the guidance of Foley artist Andy Malcolm who has worked on more than 700 film and TV projects, including “Barbie” and “Dune: Part One.” (Photo: Dahlia Katz)
Just as they did in 2023, the actors will be guided in sound creation by Stouffville foley artist Andy Malcolm, who has worked on top films and television series including Barbie, Dune: Part One, The Handmaid’s Tale, and more than 700 other projects.
“It’s a really fun opportunity to see behind the scenes of movie magic and explore the best things to use to make sounds,” says Wallace. “It’s a fun element because most actors don’t have to perform and make the sound effects too.”
Another returnee is music director Gabriel Vaillant, who put a score together based on popular holiday carols.
“He’s playing around with familiar songs, but he made it his own,” says Wallace. “He adds so much to it with the creative work he’s done.”
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To participate in one of the most recognizable sounds of the film, audiences will be able to purchase bells before the show that they can ring when Clarence get his wings — one of many moments during the play that will invite participation from the “live studio audience.”
Joining the production’s alumni are young actors Poppy Alderson, Faela Conroy, and Evie Wallace, who will be the employees of the New York City radio station. They will be singing during the pre-show and preparing the audience for the show.
Rounding out the creative team is Korin Cormier (costume designer), Michelle Chesser (set coordination), Laurie Westaway (producer, sound effects), Victoria Wood (assistant stage manager and stagehand), Patrica Thorne (lighting and set consultant), and Tai Timbers (sound). Talfryn Quiring is the stage manager.
When New Stages Theatre restages its 2023 production of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough for six performances from December 10 to 14, 2025, the show will feature the original cast as well as the original set. (Photo: Dahlia Katz)
“You’re going to enter Bedford Falls when you enter the lobby,” says Wallace. “It’s a time where you feel a little bit lighter, and it pushes you into the holiday spirit if you weren’t already there. It’s really great to be there every day and see these masses of people who are just ready to embrace smiling and laughing and feeling elevated.”
This year, audience members can reserve their seating and are encouraged to do so soon to ensure they secure their preference.
For those who saw the play in 2023, Wallace assures New Stages has found ways to “keep adding the magic” so the show offers something new.
“I know it’s going to be a hit with this cast coming back,” he says. “I’m pretty sure we can guarantee people a good time with this one.”
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It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play will be presented every night at 7 p.m. from Wednesday, December 10 to Saturday, December 13, with 2 p.m. matinee performances on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14.
With all fees included, tickets cost $44 ($24 for youth under 18) or $136 for a family of four, and there is a $34 “welcome rate” for those who need it, and a $54 “pay it forward” rate for those who can afford it (to help cover the costs of the welcome rate).
Tickets can be purchased at the Market Hall box office at 140 Charlotte Street, by calling 705-749-1146, or online at tickets.markethall.org/?category=20.
VIDEO: “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”
kawarthaNOW is proud to be media sponsor of New Stages Theatre Company’s 2025-26 season.
It’s respiratory illness season and there’s still time to receive COVID-19 shots and flu vaccines, says the medical officer of health for Lakelands Public Health.
Dr. Thomas Piggott, who is also CEO of Lakelands Public Health — the Kawarthas-region health unit formed by a merger of Peterborough Public Health and the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit — spoke about the importance of vaccination during his monthly update at November’s board of health meeting.
“A reminder it’s not too late to get your COVID, flu, and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) shots,” Dr. Piggott said. “Those provide tremendously important protection this fall. COVID and flu shots, which are recommended for nearly everybody — at least those six months and older — are available at your local pharmacy.”
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Dr. Piggott expressed his appreciation for pharmacists who are doing the bulk of the work related to administering vaccines.
“That’s important protection this fall as viruses are transmitting more,” he noted.
He said media coverage that this year’s flu shot may not be a perfect match for the H3N2 strain of the influenza virus suggests there’s a bit more of a “vaccine escape apparently, at least in relation to the transmission that we’ve seen in the southern hemisphere just proceeding our own flu season, which is starting now.”
“Certainly, that is concerning, and we continue to watch that development, but the key message is that the flu shot still does provide important protection against other strains of influenza that we will see, but also against (H3N2). Certainly, if (there’s) not full protection, there (will) be protection against severity,” Dr. Piggott said.
“That protection is incredibly important, especially for children who do get very sick and die from influenza and older Canadians as well, so they’re important vaccines for everyone.”
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In relation to RSV, Dr. Piggott noted the RSV vaccine is being offered again this year, and to an expanded group of older adults. The RSV vaccine is available through family physicians for the most part, and those who don’t have a family doctor can call Lakelands Public Health to access a vaccine clinic.
“That vaccine is not a part of the public program this year at pharmacies, so we continue to collaborate around getting access to that important protection for people,” Dr. Piggott said. “That’s not at the stage of annual protection — it might be only every number of years (for) multi-year protection at this point. We don’t know exactly how long that will last, but repeating with RSV is not recommended at this stage.”
The Ontario government announced in late August that it was expanding the RSV prevention program this fall to include all people aged 75 years and older, aiming to help protect those who are most vulnerable during the respiratory illness season.
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RSV immunization is available through Ontario’s publicly funded RSV immunization programs to all individuals aged 75 and older, building on last year’s expansion of the programs that also includes certain high-risk adults aged 60 to 74, such as residents of long-term care homes or retirement homes, infants up to eight months of age in their first RSV season, and high-risk children up to 24 months of age in their second RSV season.
Pregnant women will have the option to receive the RSV vaccine Abrysvo, which can help provide protection to infants at birth, information from the province notes. Eligible newborns, infants, and high-risk children can receive the Beyfortus immunization.
“RSV is a major contributor to illness and hospitalizations,” said Dr. Chris Simpson, chief medical executive for Ontario Health, in a media release. “Fortunately, RSV immunization is safe and extraordinarily effective.”
“This vaccine coverage will save lives and help to improve quality of life for older Ontarians by reducing the risk of serious illness and complications. It also will reduce the number of hospitalizations, which means more capacity in our health-care system during the always busy winter season.”
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RSV is a common respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs. Infection is most severe in young babies and older adults and can cause serious lung infections that may require hospitalization. RSV infection can also make chronic health problems worse.
Pregnant women should consult with their health-care provider before receiving Abrysvo, the release notes.
In November 2025, prominent Peterborough lawyer, former city councillor, and civic leader Ann Farquharson passed away at the age of 68. (Photo: Mina Monsef)
Prominent Peterborough lawyer, former city councillor, and civic leader Ann Farquharson has passed away at the age of 68.
kawarthaNOW learned on Monday (November 24) that Farquharson died sometime over the weekend at her home.
Born and raised in Peterborough, Farquharson was the second of three children to Belleville natives Gordon and Elizabeth. Her father, a decorated pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War, was a prominent lawyer in Peterborough for 55 years. Her mother was active in the Peterborough community for over 50 years, and was named Citizen of the Year in 1989 for her work restoring Hutchison House and the Pagoda Bridge at Jackson Park.
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Farquharson attended Westmount Public School and Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School before going on to study at Trent University, where she graduated in 1981 with an honours degree in North American history. Following in her father’s footsteps, she studied law at the University of British Columbia and was called to the bar in 1985.
She returned to Peterborough in 1986 and began practising law with her father and his partner James Daly in their law firm, where she focused on family law, real estate, and litigation. She worked alongside her father until he retired in 2002 at the age of 81.
In 2006, she entered local politics and was elected as a Town Ward councillor and served a four-year term. Aside from her time in local politics, she was also a longtime Liberal supporter and organizer.
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Farquharson had a long history of civic leadership in Peterborough, sitting on the boards of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Association of Peterborough, the former Peterborough Civic Hospital (now Peterborough Regional Health Centre), and the Peterborough Lakefield Police Services Board.
She also served on committees with Five Counties Children’s Centre, PRHC’s Women’s Health Care Centre, the Down Syndrome Association of Peterborough, the Arborough Games, the Save The Market Hall campaign, the Peterborough Theatre Guild, the Peterborough Centennial Celebration, the Peterborough Youth Commission, the Festival of Lights (now Peterborough Musicfest), and the Peterborough Law Association.
Farquharson was also chair of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee for Flood Planning, sponsorship chair of the Peterborough Flood Relief Concert, president of the Peterborough chapter of the Trent University Alumni Association, and a cabinet member with the YWCA Crossroads Safe Haven committee.
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In 2018, the Trent University Alumni Association recognized Farquharson for her contributions to the university, the association, and the community with the Spirit of Trent Award. She continued to be involved with Trent University throughout her career, including serving as Trent University’s human rights lawyer for several years, providing legal advice on the rights and obligations of stakeholders and assisting in dispute resolutions and advanced solutions.
Farquharson established the Gordon Henry Taylor Farquharson Bursary at Trent University in memory of her father, who passed away in 2004 at the age of 83 (her mother, Elizabeth, passed away three years later at the age of 80).
Farquharson remained very active in the community prior to her death, including most recently by volunteering as a member of the United Way Peterborough & District’s 2025-26 campaign cabinet, participating in a public open house about the city’s proposed community planning permit system, and appearing before Peterborough city council to provide her opinion on the police station expansion project.
The original version of this story was updated to indicate that Farquharson died at her home sometime over the weekend.
The new Salvation Army Thrift Store, located in the Market Plaza at 81 George Street North across from Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough, will hold its grand opening from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on November 27, 2025. (Photo: The Salvation Army Thrift Store / Facebook)
The Salvation Army’s new thrift store in downtown Peterborough officially opens on Thursday (November 27).
Located beside Dollarama in the Market Plaza at 81 George Street North across from Del Crary Park, the store spans almost 10,000 square feet and will offer a variety of gently used clothing, household items, electronics, art, books, and more.
The store is managed by The Salvation Army Thrift Store, National Recycling Operations (NRO), which operates more than 100 locations across Canada. The Peterborough store is the organization’s 40th store in Ontario.
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“As more people look for ways to stretch their budgets while making sustainable choices, we’re thrilled to open our doors in Peterborough,” says Ted Troughton, managing director of The Salvation Army Thrift Store.
“This new location will provide an accessible shopping experience for individuals and families while helping fund Salvation Army programs and services that support those in need.”
Funds generated through the sale of donated items help support the Salvation Army’s local programs such as food banks, shelters, rehabilitation for those struggling with addictions, and emergency relief efforts.
The new Salvation Army Thrift Store, located in the Market Plaza at 81 George Street North across from Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough, spans almost 10,000 square feet and will offer a variety of gently used clothing, household items, electronics, art, books, and more. (Photo: The Salvation Army Thrift Store / Facebook)
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The grand opening will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, with the store open those same hours six days a week (closed Sunday).
The opening of the new store marks the return of a Salvation Army thrift store to Peterborough after four years without one.
The previous store, located in the Brookdale Plaza on Chemong Road, closed in October 2021 due to increasing competition from other thrift stores.
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