Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon has announced the launch of a $2 million capital campaign to purchase the Lakeview Arts Barn — and has already raised $1.1 million towards that goal.

The professional theatre company’s co-founder and artistic producer Sarah Quick made the announcement during a virtual media conference on Wednesday (May 11).

The distinctive renovated barn, known as the LAB, became the home of Globus Theatre three years after Quick and her husband James Barrett founded the theatre company in 2003. As well as being the stage for Globus Theatre productions, it also served as a venue for events such as weddings, corporate functions, fundraisers, and more.

However, while Globus Theatre — as a registered charitable organization — sustained itself during the pandemic through relief funding and donations, the commercially operated Lakeview Arts Barn faced significant financial challenges.

“We lost all of the events that keep things going — that pay for the operations along the way,” Quick said. “We remortgaged in 2020. We ended up quadrupling our debt over the course of the two years. The relief funding that came for Globus, and the ability to be able to raise funds because Globus was a charity, obviously that was not available to the LAB.”

“We knew when the third lockdown hit at the beginning of the summer of 2021 that James and I were not going to be able to sustain this financially. We knew that we had to put the LAB on the market.”

Quick explained that Globus considered three options: selling the building to a new owner and becoming a tenant, talking with the municipality about its plans for building a new cultural centre, and launching a capital campaign to pay off the mortgages, own the building outright, and complete some repairs.

After consulting with other theatre companies, industry experts, and supporters, and considering the shortcomings of the other options, Globus decided launching a capital campaign was the right solution to secure the theatre company’s future.

“We researched capital campaigns and we found out that, in order to launch a capital campaign, one should have half of the amount already secured in order to do that,” Quick said.

“This is where the amazing news comes in that makes the tears turn happy,” she added, her voice cracking. “When we asked our donors, we received a pledge of $1 million in order to launch our capital campaign.”

After announcing the pledge at a donor town hall a couple of weeks ago, Globus received an additional pledge of $100,000 — bringing the total raised to date $1.1 million of the $2 million goal.

“It’s a massive undertaking but, looking positively, we’re halfway there,” Quick said. “It means that rather than worrying about running a venue, we can concentrate on running a theatre.”

In response to a question, Quick said the building would be renamed after the theatre company as no donors so far have requested naming rights.

For more information about Globus’ “Raising The Barn” capital campaign and to make a donation, visit www.lakeviewartsbarn.com/raising-the-barn-capital-campaign.

The first debate of candidates vying to become the next MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha took place at the Lakefield Legion on Tuesday night (May 10), hosted by the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce and livestreamed on YouTube.

During the two-hour debate moderated by the chamber’s government relations coordinator Joel Weibe, five of the seven candidates — Dave Smith (Progressive Conservative), Greg Dempsey (Liberal), Jen Deck (NDP), Robert Gibson (Green), and Tom Marazzo (Ontario Party) — served up a low-key night of (mostly) friendly banter and well-rehearsed talking points.

At no point did the topic of the night, billed as “local business and community issues,” catch fire despite the tumult of the last several years.

Faced with serious questions that ranged from the cost of energy, to the cost of groceries, to how to improve downtown Peterborough, and whether or not tiny houses might help solve the housing crisis, we learned that each party remains firmly in its ideological lane.

Incumbent Dave Smith was rarely on his heels as his opponents chose not to seriously challenge his record, save for one memorable exchange when Dempsey asked Smith why it took Peterborough three years of wrangling to get a Consumption and Treatment Services Site.

Smith blamed the organizers and then took a swipe at Peterborough’s medical officer of health, Dr. Thomas Piggott, for “[taking] it upon himself to turn it into a public fiasco.”

VIDEO: Dave Smith criticizes Dr. Thomas Piggott

That aside, Smith remained laser-focused on his government’s record by touting its investments in long-term care, infrastructure (high-speed internet), job creation, and cutting taxes. As for his government’s response to COVID-19, he said, “If I have made a mistake, my mistake has been trying to keep people alive during COVID.”

Greg Dempsey suggested the Liberals represent a kinder choice in government who will invest in public services like home care for seniors, “buck a ride” province-wide public transit, smaller class sizes, and a $9,500 subsidy to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles. He also said the Liberals would reinstate rent control, build affordable housing, and offer a two-year tax holiday for small business.

Jen Deck offered that the NDP under Andrea Horwath’s leadership is a “better” choice than the other parties. “Andrea will work for us and I will work for you,” she said. By “better,” Deck referred throughout the night to the NDP’s plan to offer dental care and mental health care as part of an expanded Medicare program for all. She also positioned the NDP as a champion of small business as well as workers with a pledge to raise the minimum wage to $20 per hour.

Green candidate Robert Gibson promised to both double the Ontario Disability Support Program and create a basic minimum income, as well as to better support students, meet housing density targets, and earmark 10 per cent of the health care budget for mental health services.

Tom Marazzo said the Ontario Party would not “whip” its votes but allow its members to vote with their constituents on all matters. He expressed dismay at government spending and borrowing, suggested 5G wireless should be better scrutinized before it becomes widespread, and stated that “gender identity” was a matter for the family, not schools.

The next debate of Peterborough-Kawartha candidates will take place via YouTube on Thursday (May 12) from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Organized by For Our Grandchildren, GreenUP, Kawartha World Issues Centre, the Federation of Ontario Cottagers Association, and youth activists, the topic of Thursday’s debate will be climate change and the environment. The organizers invited candidates from the four parties that won seats in the last provincial election, so Smith, Dempsey, Deck, and Gibson will be participating.

To submit a question and to receive a link to the livestream, visit forms.gle/v3oSJeseXgmRSiyZ6.

This story has been updated to correct Tom Marazzo’s name in the 11th paragraph.

Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh made a brief visit to Peterborough on Tuesday afternoon (May 10) to support Jen Deck, the Ontario NDP candidate for Peterborough-Kawartha in the June 2nd provincial election.

Singh dropped into Deck’s campaign office at 349 George Street North in Peterborough at around 2:35 p.m., navigating his way through a small group of protestors outside the office.

After a warm welcome from Deck’s supporters, Singh addressed the crowd of supporters.

“It’s a great honour to be here,” Singh said during his remarks, asking the crowd to give a round of applause to Deck. “Jen is an education worker, and education workers are so fundamental to building a good society.”

On April 26, Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwarth also visited Peterborough to welcome Deck as the local Peterborough-Kawartha candidate.

Those vying to become the next Peterborough-Kawartha MPP on June 2 include Deck, incumbent Dave Smith of the Conservatives, Greg Dempsey of the Liberals, Robert Gibson of the Green Party of Ontario, Tom Marazzo of the Ontario Party, Dylan Smith of the None Of The Above Party, and Rebecca Quinnell of the New Blue Party.

Peterborough’s Porch Pirates for Good are springing into action on Saturday (May 14) with another porch food drive to restock the dwindling shelves at Kawartha Food Share.

People who are not ill or in self-isolation are asked to leave a bag of non-perishable food items on their front porch.

Beginning at 9 a.m., volunteers will drive around the city, collect the donated items, and deliver them to the Kawartha Food Share warehouse.

The rising cost of food along with supply-chain shortages have affected Kawartha Food Share’s clients, donors, and the organization’s own purchasing power, according to a media release.

Making matters worse, the demand for food supports has also grown over the pandemic, with Kawartha Food Share now supporting 51 local organizations in the city and county of Peterborough — 14 more than they were supporting before the pandemic.

Needed food items include peanut butter (Kawartha Food Share suppliers are out of stock), canned fruit, canned tuna, individually wrapped school snacks, pasta and pasta sauce, easy-to-cook items that kids like such as mac and cheese, breakfast cereal, gluten-free items such as pasta, canned vegetables, rice, and canned soup and stew. Other needed items include feminine hygiene products, baby formula, and diapers.

Those who are ill or who can’t donate food items can also help by making a monetary donation at kawarthafoodshare.com/donations.html. For every $1 donated, Kawartha Food Share can purchase up to $6 worth of food.

The organizers behind Porch Pirates for Good have held four porch food drives since the pandemic began, bringing in more than 100,000 pounds of food and over $10,000 in monetary donations for Kawartha Food Share.

Police have released the name of the victim of a fatal worksite accident at a quarry site north of Bobcaygeon in the Municipality of Trent Lakes on Tuesday morning (May 10).

According to Peterborough County OPP, officer responded to a report shortly after 6:45 a.m. of unresponsive men at 400 Bass Lane, a natural limestone quarry operated by Buckhorn Sand and Gravel off County Road 49 around 15 kilometres north of Bobcayegon.

“The initial investigation revealed that the victims had been trapped between two vehicles,” reads an OPP media release.

One man was pronounced dead at the scene. On Friday (May 13), police identified the victim as Dustin Aubrey, 20, of North Kawartha Township.

A second man was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries before being flown by air ambulance to a Toronto-area hospital.

The Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development is investigating the cause of the accident with assistance from the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario.

This story has been updated with the name of the victim.

Peterborough police are investigating an act of vandalism at St. Catherine Catholic Elementary School at 1575 Glenforest Boulevard that they have classified as a hate bias crime.

The vandalism took place sometime over the weekend and was discovered by school staff on Monday (May 9) before the start of the school day.

“School staff arrived early this morning to find anti-black, homophobic and other profane messages spray painted on the exterior of the school and portables,” reads an email from acting school principal Karen Procyk sent to parents on Monday. “Fortunately, school staff were able to cover the messages before students arrived this morning.”

Procyk adds the board’s facility services would work to remove the graffiti as soon as possible.

“As a school community dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive, and loving learning environment, we are shocked and saddened that this has occurred,” Procyk’s email reads. “Whether the vandalism was perpetrated by someone outside our school community or within, we take this opportunity to fully condemn racism, homophobia, discrimination and hate in all its forms.”

“Our school board is committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination and to embed equity and inclusive education, anti-racism, human rights, and Indigenous education into all its policies, procedures, programs, operations, and practices.”

“This sort of activity is not only disappointing to see but has no place in our community,” says acting police chief Tim Farquharson in a statement.

“We know that many groups including the police service are working in their own ways to foster a more inclusive and accepting community. We are committed to continuing those efforts.”

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact the school, the Peterborough Police Service at 705-876-1122 x555, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.stopcrimehere.ca.

Peterborough-Kawartha candidates in the upcoming provincial election will be debating environment and climate change on Thursday evening (May 12), with the debate livestreamed on YouTube.

The debate organizers — For Our Grandchildren (4RG), Peterborough GreenUP, Kawartha World Issues Centre, the Federation of Ontario Cottagers Association, and youth activists — invited candidates from the four parties that won seats in the last provincial election, and all the candidates have confirmed their attendance: incumbent Dave Smith of the Conservatives, Greg Dempsey of the Liberals, Jen Deck of the NDP, and Robert Gibson of the Greens.

The Peterborough debate is one of the 100 Debates on the Environment being held across the province by non-profit environmental group GreenPAC.

“Climate change is one of the top issues this election, as voters head to the polls on June 2nd,” reads a media release from Peterborough GreenUP, one of the local organizers of the debate. “Making an informed vote about climate action plans in this election is crucial to establishing a strong plan to combat the climate crisis and securing our collective future.”

“The latest reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that the time to take action against climate change is ‘now or never.’ In Ontario, development and urban expansion are putting natural spaces and human well-being at risk and continuing to exacerbate climate change.”

“2021 demonstrated what the future holds if no action is taken to address the climate crisis, including heat waves, fires, and floods in Ontario and across Canada. Other provincial issues that are sure to be top of mind for voters this election, including health care and education, are inextricably linked to climate change.”

The candidates will debate live from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Trent Symons Campus Student Centre, with in-person attendance limited to organizers and the media. The public can watch the debate live on the 4RG Meets YouTube channel at youtube.com/channel/UCY7bbdtylxSHozPrAHJ-NFA.

During the debate, organizers will posing a series of written questions candidates will receive in advance, followed by questions submitted by the public.

Members of the public who want to register to submit a question can do so at forms.gle/v3oSJeseXgmRSiyZ6.

This is the second debate this week involving Peterborough-Kawartha candidates for the provincial election. On Tuesday night (May 10) from 6 to 8 p.m., the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce is hosting a debate on business-related issues.

Six local candidates — incumbent Dave Smith of the Conservatives, Greg Dempsey of the Liberals, Jen Deck of the NDP, Robert Gibson of the Greens, Tom Marazzo of the Ontario Party, and Dylan Smith of the None Of The Above Party— will debate at the Lakefield Legion, with the debate livestreamed on the Chamber’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/c/PeterboroughKawarthaChamber.

Questions for the candidates can be submitted in advance on the Chamber’s website at peterboroughchamber.ca/provincialelection2022.html.

One person is dead and one seriously injured following a multi-vehicle collision in Peterborough on Monday afternoon (May 9).

Just before 2 p.m. on Monday, a westbound vehicle collided with oncoming traffic at the intersection of Lansdowne Street and River Road South.

Six vehicles were involved in the collision, according to police.

A 65-year-old man, who was a passenger in the westbound vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. Three other people were taken to hospital, one with serious injuries and two others with minor injuries.

Lansdowne Street from Locke Street to Ashburnham Drive was closed for eight hours for a police investigation.

Peterborough police continue to investigate and are asking anyone with dash cam footage or other video to contact them at 705-876-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.stopcrimehere.ca.