Brown fox sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) is a valuable native host plant for many insects, demonstrating that even the most overlooked plants can play an important role in supporting biodiversity. (Photo: Jonathan Armstrong / GreenUP)
When most people think about pollinators, bees often come to mind. While bees are an important part of any ecosystem, they are not the only insects that help plants reproduce.
Butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, and even wasps all contribute to pollination and ecosystem health, and the relationships between these insects and other living things are known as species interactions.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Jonathan Armstrong, Ecology Park Program Coordinator, GreenUP.
Some interactions are simple and observable, such as a butterfly visiting a flower; others are more subtle. For example, lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) spend the bulk of their lives as caterpillars feeding on specific host plants until they muster enough energy to transform into their final form.
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Unlike recently introduced ornamental plants, native plants have evolved alongside local wildlife for millennia and therefore provide ideal food and habitat for these species, which is why it’s important to include a range of native species when planting.
Creating ecosystems high in biodiversity helps to ensure that host plants for these species will continue to persist, ultimately allowing for their long-term survival.
One well-known example of species interactions is the white oak (Quercus alba), a large native tree known for its shady canopy. White oak is what ecologists refer to as a keystone species, meaning it has a disproportionately large impact on the ecosystem around it.
White oak (Quercus alba) is one of the most important native trees, supporting hundreds of species of insects, birds, and mammals. Its leaves serve as food for caterpillars, while its acorns provide a vital food source for wildlife throughout the year. (Photo: Jonathan Armstrong / GreenUP)
Research has shown that these towering giants serve as hosts for more than 500 different species of lepidoptera, playing an important part in local food webs.
The banded hairstreak (satyrium calanus) is one of the butterfly species that calls the white oak home. Adult hairstreaks lay their eggs on oak twigs, branches, and in bark crevices in the summer. The larvae do not emerge until the following spring, when the fresh green foliage is ready to eat.
Once fully developed, these caterpillars pupate and metamorphose into butterflies, continuing the life cycle.
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Moving from the canopy to the meadow, showy tick-trefoil (Desmodium canadense) is a native member of the pea family that produces vibrant pink clusters of nectar-rich flowers that attract a plethora of pollinators throughout the summer.
The seeds of this plant are covered in tiny hooks that cling to fur, feathers, and even clothing. Though annoying to some, this interesting adaptation is critical to this plant’s reproductive success.
Along with its nutrient-rich nectar, the leaves of showy tick-trefoil and similar species feed insects such as the larvae of the gray hairstreak butterfly (Strymon melinus). In reciprocation for this sustenance, adult butterflies pollinate other flowering plants as they flutter throughout the landscape.
Showy tick-trefoil (Desmodium canadense) produces nectar-rich flowers that attract bees and butterflies throughout the summer, making it an important food source for many pollinating insects. (Photo: Hayley Goodchild / GreenUP)
Less showy plants are equally important when building a pollinator habitat. Grasses and sedges are often overlooked when designing pollinator-friendly gardens.
Brown fox sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) is a perfect example of a plant that serves as more than just a small clump of grass — this native sedge provides critical habitat for a wide range of organisms.
Members of the sedge family are discreet but powerful host plants for numerous moths and skipper butterflies whose young caterpillars feed on the foliage. These insects grow to become food for birds and other wildlife, adding to the food web beyond.
A moisture-loving plant, brown fox sedge stabilizes soil at the water’s edge, offers shelter for small animals, and adds to the overall diversity found within depleting wetlands and moist meadows.
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The lesson here is that no organism works alone. Individually, each of these plants supports a variety of wildlife, but together they weave a complex tapestry where every strand is as important as the next.
By choosing to plant native species, habitat is being created and lost relationships between pollinators, birds, plants, and other wildlife are rekindled. Each native plant added to a garden contributes to the larger underlying web of life.
The native plant species referenced in this article, among many others, are available for purchase at the GreenUP Ecology Park Native Plant Nursery, open Thursdays through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m until Thanksgiving weekend. Learn more about the nursery at greenup.on.ca/native-plant-nursery/.
Every native plant that leaves the GreenUP Ecology Park Native Plant Nursery has the potential to become part of a larger ecological network, providing food, shelter, and habitat for countless species that depend on them. Nursery assistants Amelia McKinney (left) and Emma Hyland are pictured inside Ecology Park’s kiosk, ready to help customers find the plants they desire. (Photo: Jonathan Armstrong / GreenUP)
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for heavy rain and thunderstorms in the Kawarthas region for Thursday (June 18).
The special weather statement is in effect for Peterborough County and southern Kawartha Lakes.
As a strong low pressure system approaches the area, showers will continue Thursday morning through early afternoon. Rainfall amounts of 30 to 40 mm are expected.
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There is also a potential for severe thunderstorms late in morning or early in the afternoon, with heavy rain and strong wind gusts being the primary threats
Rainfall amounts of 40 mm or greater are possible in areas that experience thunderstorms.
For information concerning flooding, consult your local conservation authority or the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. For the latest details on flood conditions, visit www.ontario.ca/floods.
Rainbow Kester and Alex Pearce as teachers Evie Bothwell and Melita Linton in a scene from Leanna Brodie's play "Schoolhouse" during a media day event on June 17, 2026 hosted by 4th Line Theatre at Winslow Farm near Millbrook. The play, which runs from June 30 to July 25, tells the story of the newly graduated Miss Linton as she teaches in a one-room school near the fictional village of Baker's Creek in 1938 and deals with a withdrawn boy recently released from reform school. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
Befitting the setting of her play Schoolhouse, playwright Leanna Brodie did her homework well, prompting 4th Line Theatre to reaffirm its high passing grade.
The theatre company is opening its 34th summer season by reprising Brodie’s story, steeped in humanity and humour, which premiered at the Winslow Farm in 2007 and was restaged the following summer.
On Wednesday (June 17), 4th Line Theatre hosted a media day for the upcoming production of Schoolhouse, which runs from June 30 to July 25. It is the second Brodie-written script that 4th Line Theatre has brought to its outdoor stage near Millbrook, the other being For Home and Country, which was staged in 2002 and brought back the following year.
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Set in 1938, Schoolhouse unfolds at S.S. #1 Jericho, a one-room school near the fictional village of Baker’s Creek. It’s there that Melita Linton (Alex Pearce), a fresh 18-year-old graduate from normal school — a teacher-training institution common during the 19th and early 20th centuries — encounters a lively group of students and a community rooted in the ways of the past.
All is good until Miss Linton’s resolve is tested by the arrival of Ewart (Alexei DeLuca), a withdrawn boy recently released from reform school who has been sent to work on a local farm. As Miss Linton strives to reach the new arrival on some level, she uncovers the deep bonds and quiet fears that are the hallmark of small-town life, bringing to light a long-gone era of Canadian rural history in the process.
Also playing a central role in Schoolhouse is Evie Bothwell (Rainbow Kester), a teacher and friend of Miss Linton’s who has an edge that stands in stark contrast to her more gentle and caring approach.
Alex Pearce (right) as teacher Melita Linton comforting Alexei DeLuca as troubled student Ewart in a scene from Leanna Brodie’s play “Schoolhouse” during a media day event on June 17, 2026 hosted by 4th Line Theatre at Winslow Farm near Millbrook. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
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While Brodie was unable to attend media day, she provided a written statement of her recollection of the play’s development. Her research for the play was exhaustive, including her invite to the community to share their memories of school life as they experienced it.
“Rob Winslow drove me around from farm to farm, kitchen to sitting room,” Brodie recalls, referring to the founder of 4th Line Theatre. “I recorded conversations, was gifted with notebooks and diaries, and spent hours in libraries and archives, looking up school rules and teachers’ salaries and information about the Bowmanville and Strathmore Training Schools. I did interviews in so many rural homes and retirement homes that my blood ran 50 per cent Red Rose Tea.”
“It’s fair to say there is not one character or incident or perspective in this play that doesn’t come directly from the people of this area, with one notable exception. Nearly everyone I talked to had a story about a training school boy, but nowhere in my travels did I ever come across one or anyone who was still in touch with any of them. They were definitely there in the schoolhouses, but were always the blur at the edge of the photograph — intriguingly present and absent at the same time.”
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While 4th Line Theatre managing artistic Kim Blackwell directed the first two stagings of Schoolhouse, this restaging sees Monica Dottor handling that role as well as that of choreographer.
An actor who appeared in earlier productions of The Bad Luck Bank Robbers (2015, 2016) and The Hero of Hunter Street (2016), Dottor has choreographed a number of 4th Line plays, and co-directed The History of Drinking in Cavan (2017).
This, however, marks her debut as a director on her own; a role she feels she’s “really ready” for following her recent graduation from York University where she attained her Master of Fine Arts in theatre and directing.
kawarthaNOW’s Paul Rellinger interviews “Schoolhouse” director and choreographer Monica Dottor during a media day event on June 17, 2026 hosted by 4th Line Theatre at Winslow Farm near Millbrook. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
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“Leanna Brodie has written a beautiful play,” assesses Dottor. “Her writing is really special in the way it captures a nostalgic glimpse into a forgotten time and also the magic of childhood … the magic of the influence of teachers on children.”
“Education has changed. How kids are taught has changed, but teachers remain memorable for kids well into their adult years. That hasn’t changed, right? When you get a teacher like Miss Linton, who really cares and is really invested in her students, that makes a lasting impact.”
Speaking to the challenge of the handling the dual roles of director and choreographer, Dottor says that’s actually an advantage.
“Choreography is such an integral part of vision for me as a director, so there is a shortcut in cutting out the middleman,” she says, adding “The director communicates with the choreographer very seamlessly in this situation.”
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As for the sizeable cast of 28 professional and volunteer actors/musicians, Dottor says their commitment to the telling of the story has made her first-time experience as a solo director as joyful as it is positive.
“They’re incredible human beings — they bring such an open heart to the process,” she praises.
“One of the really special things about 4th Line is members of the community make up the cast — in this case children. The children have many people to look up to. I can see that they do and that in itself is very special.”
Part of the set of Leanna Brodie’s play “Schoolhouse” during a media day event on June 17, 2026 hosted by 4th Line Theatre at Winslow Farm near Millbrook. 4th Line Theatre put a call out to community members to donate old hardcover books, which set designer Michelle Chesser repurposed in a visually striking way. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
One of those no doubt being looked up to is Pearce, whose portrayal of the young teacher finding her way to the benefit of her students carries the story.
“She clues in very quickly to using different teaching styles for each individual child, which I think was rare for the time,” says Pearce, a Toronto Metropolitan University acting student who is making her 4th Line debut. of her character.
“She very easily, and quickly, develops ways of navigating each child’s learning challenges and things that they thrive at in school, and she uses that to her advantage.”
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“She’s so young, and that helps her see each child for who they are, and what they do, and what they bring to the classroom,” Pearce continues. “She figures it out very, very quickly, which I think is beautiful.”
That Miss Linton is a newcomer to Baker’s Creek only adds to her challenge of getting through to her students, some of whom are but a few years younger than her.
“She has never met any of these children before, so she doesn’t know the background,” Pearce explains. “She doesn’t know their families. She has to kind of figure it out on the spot as well as make a good impression as the new girl in town.”
kawarthaNOW’s Paul Rellinger interviews “Schoolhouse” actor Alex Pearce, who portrays the 18-year-old freshly graduated teacher Melita Linton, during a media day event on June 17, 2026 hosted by 4th Line Theatre at Winslow Farm near Millbrook. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
Asked what makes the role a great fit for her, Pearce answers quickly.
“I loved going to school … I loved academics,” she says.
“My character is definitely headstrong and sure of herself, which I like to think I am as well, along with being responsible, enthusiastic and passionate. Her passion for teaching is similar to my passion for acting.”
kawarthaNOW’s Paul Rellinger interviews 4th Line Theatre founder Robert Winslow during a media day event on June 17, 2026 hosted by 4th Line Theatre at Winslow Farm near Millbrook. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
As for 4th Line Theatre founder Robert Winslow, during media day he displayed the relaxed demeanour of one who remains quite content that what he started remains a perennial hit with audiences.
He inherited Winslow Farm, in his family since the 1880s, in 1990 and converted it to a outdoor theatre space that opened to audiences in 1992 with the inaugural production of his play The Cavan Blazers, which has proven so popular it has since been restaged six times.
“We were just going to do one show of The Cavan Blazers — that was it and here we are,” Winslow says, reflecting on the past 34 years. “I don’t feel we’re at an end. I feel we’re at a beginning in some ways; that there are lots of possibilities moving forward for this theatre, and what we can do, and how we can do it.”
“They keep talking about theatre dying, like it has been dying since Shakespeare because there are other forms of entertainment. Blah, blah, blah. But when you see all the young people involved in community theatre through their schools and through community groups, it’s not even close to (dying). Especially in a world where there’s so much alienation from person-to-person contact, whether you’re a participant or somebody in the audience.”
4th Line Theatre founder Robert Winslow with kawarthaNOW’s Paul Rellinger during a media day event for Leanna Brodie’s play “Schoolhouse” on June 17, 2026 hosted by 4th Line Theatre at Winslow Farm near Millbrook.(Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
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Winslow is also playing a role in Schoolhouse, an opportunity he says he has relished since he began acting in Peterborough Theatre Guild and Trent University productions way back in the day. He has subsequently acted in 4th Line productions and directed many of them.
“I love working with actors and, more recently, doing so as a writer and a director, but I really like being part of a cast. It’s like being on a sports team. There’s a kind of thing there that you can’t really replicate.”
Speaking to Schoolhouse, Winslow acknowledges that restaging a production has been “few and far between,” but says Brodie’s play is too good to keep on the shelf for long.
“The story’s strong, and the director has brought in new elements,” he says, adding “It’s great having kids involved. They keep us young, right?”
“It still has relevance in terms of the theme. Teachers still face the same kind of challenges in some ways with students that those young teachers faced, in this case 80 years ago. I love when we bring back plays that have lots of young people in them, because we get a whole new group that get interested in theatre and end up doing several shows with us.”
Actors Alexei DeLuca, Alex Pearce, and Rainbow Kester during a media day event for Leanna Brodie’s play “Schoolhouse” on June 17, 2026 hosted by 4th Line Theatre at Winslow Farm near Millbrook. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
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For her part, Dottor is chomping at the bit for opening night.
“The production team, the artistic team, the creative team, the actors and the children — everybody has put so much heart and soul into it,” she says. “We’re just really excited to offer it to the world.”
Sponsored by Miskin Law, Schoolhouse features musical direction and original compositions by Justin Hiscox, costume design by Chelsea Day, set design by Michelle Chesser, fight direction by Edward Belanger, intimacy direction by Greg Carruthers, and sound design by Steáfán Hannigan.
Creative team members, actors, and sponsors on the set of Leanna Brodie’s “Schoolhouse” during a media day event on June 17, 2026 hosted by 4th Line Theatre at Winslow Farm near Millbrook. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
Performances run at 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays from June 30 to July 25, with preview performances on June 30 and July 1 followed by opening night on July 2, and an added Monday performance on July 20.
Tickets are $55 for adults and $48 for children and youth ages 5 to 16, with a discounted price of $42 for both adults and youth on preview nights, plus fee. Subscriptions for both plays this summer, Schoolhouse and Megan Murphy’s Wild Irish Geese that runs from August 4 to 29, are available at $98 for adults and $84 for children and youth ages 5 to 16.
Tickets, season subscriptions, and gift certificates are available by phone at 705-932-4445 (toll-free at 1-800-814-0055), online at 4thlinetheatre.on.ca, and at 4th Line Theatre’s box Office location at 9 Tupper Street in Millbrook.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of 4th Line Theatre’s 34th season.
The original version of this story has been updated to correct two misquotes from actor Alex Pearce.
The Alto high-speed rail project will bring people across the corridor closer together, connecting communities and territories that have deep-rooted ties to the history, culture, and presence of Indigenous Peoples.
Alto’s commitment is grounded in the recognition of rights and in the important role of Indigenous Peoples throughout the lifecycle of the project. We recognize that meaningful relationships require ongoing listening, learning, and adaptation over time. Our project also seeks to contribute to long-term cultural, social, environmental, and economic benefits for future generations.
This work is guided by the following commitments:
Engage and consult early, often and in good faith
Early engagement for the project and relationship building with Indigenous communities began in the early conception phase, and this work continues today as the project advances. We are committed to maintaining ongoing, two-way dialogue with Indigenous communities and establishing relationships based on trust and respect.
We are working closely with Indigenous leadership to identify community priorities and meaningful areas of collaboration for informed participation in project studies and activities.
We will continue to fulfill the Crown’s duty to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate, with the aim of securing the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous communities.
Honour the rights and perspectives of Indigenous communities
Our work is informed by the knowledge, expertise, and self-determined priorities shared by Indigenous communities. We will continue to provide space for communities to bring forward their perspectives, interests, and aspirations at every stage of the project.
Create long-term socio-economic benefits and opportunities for future generations
As part of our commitment to advance economic reconciliation, we aim to create meaningful and lasting socio-economic benefits for Indigenous communities. Through collaboration with Indigenous partners, we will seek to advance opportunities for employment, skills development, training, procurement and business participation that reflect community priorities and supports meaningful participation in the project, contributing to long-term prosperity for future generations.
Eastside Boxing and Wellness owner Marsha Gaulton (right), a certified competitive boxing coach committed to supporting and advancing female athletes in boxing, founded the "Fight for the Future Fund" with the aim of providing youth with a controlled outlet where they can safely release the pressures and emotions that come with everyday life. Community donations to the fund will provide youth aged 12 to 16 with free access to a 12-week boxing program, with preference given youth who have experienced or are experiencing domestic abuse. (Photo: Eastside Boxing and Wellness)
Eastside Boxing and Wellness in Peterborough has partnered with YWCA Peterborough Haliburton to introduce disadvantaged youth to the sport of boxing so they can develop confidence, discipline, resilience, self-respect, and healthy coping skills.
Eastside Boxing owner Marsha Gaulton, a certified competitive boxing coach committed to supporting and advancing female athletes in boxing, has created the “Fight for the Future Fund” with the aim of providing youth with a controlled outlet where they can safely release the pressures and emotions that come with everyday life.
“I know what it’s like to need an outlet and not have the support or access to one,” Gaulton says in a media release. “I felt that deeply as a child. Boxing came later in life for me, but it became a very special place that gave me confidence, self-discipline, and a much-needed safe space to release built-up frustration and anger in a healthy way.”
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Supported by community donations, the Fight for the Future Fund will provide youth aged 12 to 16 with access to a 12-week program at Eastside Boxing and Wellness that will introduce them to boxing while removing the financial barrier to participate.
A committee will select participants based on need. YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, which supports women and children fleeing from gender-based violence, is a partner in the initiative as preference will be given to youth who have experienced or are experiencing domestic abuse.
“At YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, we know that recovery from gender-based violence and domestic abuse requires much more than access to a safe place to stay,” says director of philanthropy Tina Thornton.
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“We have seen firsthand that healing happens on many levels — physical, emotional, and spiritual,” Thornton adds. “Access to safe, supportive spaces where individuals can grow, build confidence, and express themselves in healthy ways, such as those provided through Fight for the Future Fund, is a vital part of that journey.”
Youth selected to participate in the program will receive professional instruction from experienced coaches, starter equipment needed to participate (gloves and wraps), and registration with Boxing Ontario.
Parents, guardians, youth workers, educators, and community professionals supporting a young person are encouraged to learn more about the program at ywcapeterborough.org/fight-for-the-future-fund/, while applications can be completed.
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To support participants, Eastside Boxing and Wellness is asking for community donations to the Fight for the Future Fund. Donations can be made via the link above.
“This fund helps give youth — specifically those who have experienced domestic abuse — a safe space where they can feel supported and able to release their own frustrations in a healthy and productive way while learning discipline and self-confidence,” Gaulton says.
Eastside Boxing and Wellness has been providing boxing classes for both adults and youth since 2024. For more information, visit eastsideboxingandwellness.ca.
Just six months after opening LóLa Cakes and Coffee in downtown Peterborough, owner Nino Ante is already ready to expand. Bringing years of experience working for global hospitality groups and in private kitchens, the trained chef opened LóLa to offer a space where people can enjoy coffee and cake along with other desserts. The restaurant also offers a breakfast and lunch menu. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area)
LóLa Cakes and Coffee in downtown Peterborough has only been open since December, but even more sweet treats and caffeinated goods might soon be on the way. Owner Nino Ante is on the hunt for a second location — and that’s only the start of the empire he has planned.
Located at 136 Hunter Street West between George and Water, LóLa Cakes and Coffee offers fresh baked goods, an approachable breakfast and lunch menu, and custom cakes. Ante, who opened the coffee shop with partner Apple Roque, says it has been well-received in the community.
“We are on our sixth month now and it’s been really great,” he says. “The reception of the community has been really positive, and we are getting busy.”
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Growing up in the Philippines, Ante always loved being in the kitchen and, after a brief stint studying kinesiology in university, he attended culinary school where he trained in classical French cuisine. There, he built on the foundation that his parents instilled in him from a young age.
“My family loves hosting parties. My mom and dad really loved cooking — especially my dad — and that really influenced me to really do what I’m doing now,” says Ante, noting that a passion for cooking is crucial in the restaurant industry.
“If you don’t have it and it’s just for the sake of looking for a job, you’re not going to go anywhere. You really need to have it in order for you to be the chef. Everyone can cook, but not everyone can be a chef.”
Located 136 Hunter Street West in downtown Peterborough, LóLa Cakes and Coffee serves a rotating lineup of freshly baked goods and artisanal savoury dishes that take inspiration from countries around the world. Chef Nino Ante, who owns the restaurant with partner Apple Roque, named it after the Filipino word for grandmother, how the coffee shop and bakery creates healthy food based on classic recipes. (Photo courtesy of LóLa Cakes and Coffee)
After working on a cruise ship and after 10 years in Shanghai, Ante came to Canada in 2011 and worked in six different provinces before landing in Peterborough County. His impressive resume boasts global brands like the Fairmont, the Hilton, and The Westin, and he has been a club chef at the Rogers Centre with the Toronto Blue Jays and a private chef for prominent individuals on a private island.
While that may seem like a dream career for any chef, Ante says it “burns you out.”
“The companies I’ve worked with really entail a lot of dedication and will, with long hours (and) high-pressure, high-intensity kitchens,” he explains. “I was really tired. I just needed a rest.”
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Ante was working as a private chef in Fraserville last year when he decided to open his own restaurant in Peterborough, noting the “nice community” that’s “not congested.”
“I really wanted to have a dessert in a coffee place, and when I was going around (Peterborough) there was no place that you can have cakes and just sit down with good coffee in the community,” he says.
“I thought we needed to fill the void, so LóLa was created.”
Apple Roque and Nino Ante are the owners of LóLa Cakes and Coffee in downtown Peterborough. After years working as a chef in high-intensity kitchens around the world and moving to the Peterborough area, Ante was feeling burnt out and wanted to do something on his own. (Photo: Nino Ante)
Lóla gets its name from the Filipino word for grandmother, reflecting on how the coffee shop and bakery takes inspiration from classic recipes.
“When our grandmothers were little or teenagers, they were eating plain, good old healthy food with no preservatives or additives,” Ante says. “That’s the same concept we’re doing here.”
With most ingredients coming from Canada where possible, the baked goods are influenced from Ante’s travels from around the world though presented in his own way. Ante’s innovation was recognized with the first-ever dessert entry into the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area’s annual Mac & Cheese Festival this spring — a mac and cheese tiramisu.
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Adding to the reputation of sourcing high-quality drinks, including matcha that comes straight from Japan and an award-winning tea brand from Vancouver, Ante will soon be working with a Toronto roastery to produce an exclusive coffee blend with notes of chocolate using beans from the Philippines.
But that’s not his only plan for the future, as Ante says he’s hoping to open a second Lóla location before the end of the year.
While he’s looking in Peterborough, he says he’s open to other smaller communities like Lindsay, Cobourg, or Port Hope.
Lóla Cakes and Coffee was celebrated for their creativity during the 2026 Mac & Cheese Festival hosted by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) for introducing the festival’s first-ever dessert entry, a mac and cheese tiramisu. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
Even beyond Lóla, Ante hopes to introduce other venues and concepts to create even more job opportunities for locals, saying “I’d love to help the community.”
“It’s just sad because when I posted a job for a barista, there were 466 applicants for the position,” he says, noting the bakery position similarly had 180 applicants.
“I think the community needs jobs.”
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Though more locations would mean continuing with those long working days, Ante says he’s no longer feeling burnt out but is rather rejuvenated working for himself.
“I see the fruits of our labour, because it’s ours,” he says. “Of course, I got compliments from when I was still working (in other places), but now it’s completely different because it’s mine. It just really keeps me going.”
For more information about LóLa Cakes and Coffee, including the breakfast and lunch menu, visit lolacakesandcoffee.ca.
As well as serving freshly baked goods and breakfast and lunch, LóLa Cakes and Coffee creates custom cakes and does catering for special events. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area)
Two years after holding community consultations about its plans to build a new double-circuit 230-kilovolt transmission line between Clarington and Peterborough by 2029, Hydro One is seeking approval from the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) to proceed with construction.
Formerly known as the Greater Toronto Area East Line, the $430-million Durham Kawartha Power Line will run for around 55 kilometres between the Clarington Transformer Station in the Municipality of Clarington and the Dobbin Transformer Station in Selwyn Township just on the edge of the City of Peterborough.
Since beginning the project in June 2024, Hydro One states it has received feedback and completed environmental studies to select a route that minimizes the effects to the natural environment and uses existing transmission line corridors where possible. The preferred route runs through northern Municipality of Clarington, southern City of Kawartha Lakes, northern Cavan Monaghan Township, and southwestern Selwyn Township.
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On Friday (June 12), Hydro One announced it has filed a leave-to-construct application with the OEB to seek approval to construct the Durham Kawartha Power Line.
Filing a leave-to-construct application under Section 92 of the Ontario Energy Board Act is required for electricity transmitters in Ontario to obtain approval from the OEB to construct, expand, or reinforce the transmission system. The application includes details on the project’s route, design, timing, and cost.
Hydro One is also currently conducting a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) in accordance with the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. Following OEB approval and the successful completion of the Class EA process, construction would begin in 2027 and be completed by 2029.
The preferred route of the Durham Kawartha Power Line. (Graphic: Hydro One)
Hydro One says that, once the new transmission line is completed, it will increase the power capacity in eastern Ontario by over 400 megawatts and increase resiliency and capacity for the Peterborough area.
Hydro One is collaborating with the two First Nations in proximity to the transmission line — Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation and Hiawatha First Nation — on the line’s planning, development, and construction.
Through Hydro One’s First Nation Equity Partnership Model, the two First Nations will have the opportunity to invest in a 50 per cent equity stake in the transmission line component of the project.
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“Electricity demand is increasing,” said Ryan Docherty, Hydro One’s exetutive vice president of capital portfolio delivery, in a media release. “Aging infrastructure, severe weather, and the need to strengthen and secure the grid mean we must make significant investments to support growth and maintain reliability.”
“The Durham Kawartha Power Line is part of one of the largest transmission line infrastructure investment portfolios in Canada that we are advancing together with First Nations. We are delivering value for the people of Ontario by building a stronger, more secure and self-reliant system to meet the needs of the future.”
For more information about the Durham Kawartha Power Line project and updates, visit www.hydroone.com/dkpl.
The Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas has launched a new on-demand online course aimed at helping skilled tradespeople across Ontario transition into entrepreneurship.
BuildUP On Demand was developed in response to interest in the Innovation Cluster’s BuildUP business accelerator program, launched in 2025 for workers in the skilled trades — welders, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, general contractors, and more — looking to become their own boss.
The self-paced online course allows participants to complete training from home, work, or on the road, with access to the course materials available for up to one year from the date of purchase.
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The six modules of BuildUP On Demand provide practical guidance on key areas involved in starting and operating a business, with a focus on helping trades professionals move from employee to business owner and build sustainable companies.
“The Innovation Cluster continues to introduce new programs that directly address critical needs in our local and provincial economy,” said Nicole Stephenson, chair of the Innovation Cluster board of directors, in a media release. “By delivering the proven BuildUP On Demand, we continue to help Ontario address the critical gap in the skilled trades industry by empowering trades professionals to build businesses and strengthen their local communities.”
Course modules cover entrepreneurship and starting a business, tax basics and bookkeeping, startup financing, marketing and reputation management, sales, and compliance. The course includes video presentations, downloadable reference materials, and short quizzes at the end of each module to reinforce learning.
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Depending on the topic and the learner’s pace, each of the six modules takes about 180 minutes to complete, although the Innovation Cluster recommends participants allow additional time to complete quizzes and to apply what they have learned.
As learners will have access to course materials for up to a year, they can complete the program at their own pace and revisit the materials as needed for a refresher. Those who successfully complete all six modules will receive a personalized certificate.
While the course’s regular price is $128, the Innovation Cluster is offering an introductory price of $89.60. For more information and to enrol, visit innovationcluster.ca/buildup.
Peterborough city council is now fully behind the idea of slashing development charges in the city by 50 per cent in a bid to get a share of $8.8 billion in federal and provincial funding intended to increase housing by making it more affordable.
At its regular meeting on Monday night (June 15), with councillor Don Vassiliadis absent, council voted unanimously 10-0 to support the motion introduced by Mayor Jeff Leal at general committee the previous Monday, with three amendments subsequently brought forward by councillor Matt Crowley.
Councillors voted in favour of the motion despite the risk that the city will lose half of its existing development charge revenue over the next three years if the city’s application to the Ontario government’s new Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) is not approved.
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City must apply to new Ontario government program by June 19
The mayor’s original motion proposed that the city apply to the DCRP, which the province announced on June 1 following the Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build agreement signed in March that includes $8.8 billion in federal and provincial funding over 10 years for Ontario municipalities that reduce and maintain low development charges, as well as a harmonized sales tax (HST) rebate.
With the intent of reducing the cost of new homes, the DCRP would provide Ontario municipalities with funding if they commit to reducing development charges by 30 to 50 per cent or greater for all residential types and maintain the reductions for at least three years.
Municipalities levy charges against new development as a primary source of funding for growth-related capital expenditures, with the City of Peterborough bringing in $6.5 million in revenue from development charges in 2025. Of the 444 municipalities in Ontario, those that currently levy development charges — over 200 urban municipalities — would be eligible to apply to DCRP, with the deadline to apply set for Friday (June 19).
After Mayor Leal introduced his motion at the general committee meeting under “other business,” some councillors expressed concerns about the process and the timing of the motion, along with questions about the implications of halving development charges for three years should the city not receive DCRP funding.
Councillor Joy Lachica’s motion to defer failed by a 3-7 vote, and the mayor’s motion passed 8-2 with councillors Lachica and Alex Bierk voting against it. Councillor Matt Crowley was absent from the meeting.
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Amendments to original motion will see staff report back to council
At Monday night’s council meeting, councillor Crowley introduced three amendments to the mayor’s original motion: having city staff come back to council after submitting the city’s DCRP application with a report on selected projects and why they were selected, having any amended by-laws come to council for approval, and having staff report back to council no later than the end of September with an update on the status of the city’s DCRP application and the implementation of the reduction in development charges.
During debate on the third amendment, councillor Bierk asked finance and corporate commissioner Richard Freymond whether the city had the option of reverting back to the previous development charge rate should the report back to council indicate the city’s DCRP application was unsuccessful.
“There is no off-ramp here,” Freymond replied. “If council reduces the rates, the rates will stay in the reduced 50 per cent rate for three years.”
Freymond noted the city should know by August whether it will receive DCRP funding or not but, in either case, the reduced development charges would still remain in effect for three years.
“There is a risk here, if council determines to reduce the rates,” he added.
After councillor Bierk asked what would prevent council from reconsidering its decision to reduce development charges should it not receive DCRP, Freymond reiterated that the city, by applying to DCRP, would be making a commitment to the province to reduce development charges for three years.
“If council elects to put the rates back up, then say goodbye to any senior level federal-provincial funding for the next three years,” Freymond warned. “Council can either elect to incentivize development as is being encouraged by the provincial government and follow that directive, or we can sit on the sidelines.”
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New development could offset $7.5 million revenue shortfall if province does not approve city application
Councillor Bierk expressed concerns that, should the city not receive DCRP funding, it would have a $7.5 million shortfall for infrastructure as a result of the 50 per cent reduction in development charges.
“Does that just mean we do less capital, less infrastructure, or do we dip into the residential tax base to make up that $7.5 (million)?,” Bierk asked Freymond.
“It could mean all of the above,” Freymond said. “Those will be choices that council can make, in terms of whether they want to continue to move projects forward in the absence of senior (government) levels of funding.”
Freymond then pointed out that the $7.5 million shortfall is a staff estimate based on historical revenues received from past development charges, and does not include any revenue that may result over the next three years from additional residential development incentivized by reducing the development charge rate by 50 per cent. Those additional revenues, he said, could offset some of the shortfall.
In his remarks, councillor Gary Baldwin said incentives are needed as existing development charges are not resulting in more housing, and that he “can’t imagine” the provincial government would encourage municipalities to reduce their development charges and then not provide any funding.
“I’m prepared to roll the dice,” he said.
For her part, councillor Lesley Parnell said the city is not getting any development charge revenue anyway due to the lack of shovel-ready projects, and that reduced development charges will lower the cost of housing for young families and first-time home buyers.
After some further discussion, council voted unanimously 10-0 in favour of councillor Crowley’s amendment for staff to report back to council by September 30, voting the same way for the two other amendments.
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‘We’re making the right decision to be of one voice in this’
Council then briefly debated the mayor’s amended motion, with councillor Kevin Duguay noting he recently attended a meeting of the Economic Developers Council of Ontario in Windsor and that “all the city officials that I spoke to, all of their communities are actively pursuing this program.” He added that senior levels of government are watching how municipalities are responding to the DCRP.
“It would be inappropriate for us to suggest that we would participate in this program only if the federal-provincial funding is provided — we will not be successful in our application,” Duguay said, adding that new housing as a result of reduced development charges will also create new assessment, increase employment, and help the city meet its housing targets.
“This is a bold decision, but it is a necessary decision,” Duguay said.
Councillor Bierk, who earlier had thanked councillor Crowley for his work bringing forward the amendments, also thanked Mayor Leal for his original motion and councillors Parnell and Duguay for their comments.
“It’s helped me understand what we’re doing here a little bit better,” he said. “I voted against it last week because I still had some questions, and even our treasurer said it was a risk. So my questions came from that standpoint, but I do believe it’s important for us to have unity on this.”
Bierk said it has been difficult for him to “let go” of all the discussions and debate involved in council’s previous decision to raise development charges and, although there is some risk in proceeding, said he would support the motion.
Councillor Andrew Beamer spoke in favour of the motion, saying it would spur economic growth and increase affordability for first-time home buyers.
“I’m glad it’s going to be unanimous, unlike last week,” Beamer said of the pending vote.
Councillor Lachica, who voted against the motion in general committee, said she felt “confident and comfortable that we’re making the right decision to be of one voice in this.”
In his comments, Mayor Leal referred to a policy report by economist Dr. Mike Moffatt called A Blueprint to Restore Homeownership for Young Canadians that found that development charges are the number one factor driving the cost of housing, and an analysis by the Canada Mortgage And Housing Corporation that concluded a reduction of 20 to 25 per cent would spur the development of new homes.
“Last Tuesday morning, we got a call from (Peterborough property manager and developer) AON, Brad Smith,” the mayor said. “He’s going to accelerate 400 units in our community because of what we did last Monday night and (will) reaffirm this Monday night. This program will work, it will get housing for people, and it’ll make Peterborough a much better place to live, work, and play.”
Council then voted 10-0 unanimously in favour of the amended motion.
Located in Bridgenorth overlooking Chemong Lake in Selwyn Township, Chemong Lodge uses local ingredients wherever possible, including herbs and produce grown on site and products sourced through weekly regional farmers' markets. To make it easier to source local, Chemong Lodge is interested in participating in the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program supported by Peterborough County, which connects local buyers with local food producers. (Photo: Bryan Reid, courtesy of Chemong Lodge)
With the support of agricultural programming from Peterborough County, Chemong Lodge owner Adam Brown will be able to maintain his commitment to use local ingredients wherever possible.
Adam grew up in Selwyn Township near Chemong Lodge, where he has many cherished memories of celebrating birthdays and family events. When the opportunity came in 2021 for Adam and his wife Sara to purchase the historic Bridgenorth restaurant and events venue that overlooks Chemong Lake, they were thrilled to carry on its legacy.
Beloved by locals and visitors alike, Chemong Lodge serves a chef-driven menu with seasonal ingredients and an authentic smoked BBQ. Alongside hosting regular events, including a famous Sunday brunch buffet and Pub Night Thursdays, Chemong Lodge offers wedding and event services as well as full-service catering. The Brown family also host regular live music and special events including an Oyster & BBQ Fest, Margaritaville, Lobsterfest, and more.
Helmed by renowned trail-blazing Chef Gregory Couillard, Chemong Lodge grows its own herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, peppers, and other produce. For other ingredients, Chemong Lodge attends the weekly Peterborough Downtown Farmers’ Market and the Lakefield Farmers’ Market.
Adam says sourcing locally not only provides “quality assurance” by supplying the restaurant with fresh local ingredients, but it means Chemong Lodge is also supporting the same community that supports them.
“We’re creating relationships and having an economic impact locally by sourcing here and building relationships at the farmers’ markets on Wednesdays and Thursdays,” Adam says. “We want people to support independent operators like us and so, if we’re asking that of them, it’s appropriate that we’re doing the same. We’re leading with that by shopping local and putting the best local ingredients we can on a plate for our guests.”
After growing up near Chemong Lodge, where he has many cherished memories of celebrating birthdays and family events, Adam Brown purchased the historic Bridgenorth restaurant and events venue along with his wife Sara in 2021. He is interested in becoming a member of the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program, supported in part by Peterborough County, that aims to increase the capacity for local food distribution by connecting local food producers with wholesale buyers like Chemong Lodge. (Photo: Bryan Reid, courtesy of Chemong Lodge)
Despite his commitment to source from local producers wherever possible, Adam admits doing so can be one of the most challenging parts of his job. He also recognizes it can be difficult for local farmers to connect with buyers like Chemong Lodge outside of farmers’ markets.
That’s why Peterborough County has partnered with the City of Peterborough and the City of Kawartha Lakes on two economic development initiatives to grow local agriculture.
Kawartha Choice FarmFresh provides a brand identity for local producers, a network for members to share and access resources, and an online database to find local producers, while the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program aims to increase the capacity for local food distribution by connecting local food producers with wholesale buyers through the Green Circle Food Hub developed with Graze & Gather.
Adam is not only interested in becoming a member of the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program, but he recently joined a discussion panel at Kollab in The Kawarthas, an interactive event organized by Peterborough County in April that focused on empowering tourism-based businesses, including many that benefit from using local ingredients.
“It was encouraging and a happy moment to see that, from a municipal level, there’s a real focus being put on hospitality and tourism,” Adam says. “The resources that Peterborough County is deploying are going to be not just beneficial to myself, but there will be dollars generated industry wide, all the way from farmers and producers to hoteliers and restaurants.”
Chemong Lodge is located at 764 Hunter Street in Bridgenorth. To learn more or book a reservation, visit www.chemonglodge.com.
The Local Advantage in Peterborough County is a branded editorial feature series celebrating the farmers, food producers, food retailers, and agri-tourism businesses that make The Kawarthas thrive, created in partnership with Peterborough County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.
Agriculture is a key economic driver and a point of pride for Peterborough County, with local farms producing a wide variety of high-quality goods, from traditional crops and livestock to organic and specialty products, reflecting the strength and diversity of this vital sector. With a growing focus on sustainability, local food systems, agri-innovation, and agri-tourism, agriculture offers strong potential for growth and diversification.
The Local Advantage with Peterborough County series spotlights the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh and Kawartha Local Food Wholesale initiatives, which aim to strengthen connections from farm to table across our region.
For more information about economic development and tourism in Peterborough County, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev and The Kawarthas Tourism at thekawarthas.ca.
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