Toronto drag queen Carlotta Carlisle will host 'Viva Burlesque' at Pinestone Resort in Haliburton on August 26, 2022. Part of Minden Pride, the event will feature stars from Toronto's drag scene, local performers, and more. (Graphic: Viva Burlesque - The 2022 Burlesque Ball / Facebook)
One of the most successful Pride events ever in Haliburton County is returning in 2022.
Viva Burlesque, the latest incarnation of 2019’s sold-out Burlesque Ball, will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 26th at Pinestone Resort (4252 Haliburton County Road 21, Haliburton) — on the eve of the final weekend of Minden Pride.
Hosted by Carlotta Carlisle, the adult and licensed event features some famous and beloved stars from Toronto’s drag scene, including Katrinka Kature, Perla, and Vitality Black. The evening will also include dancing, a show tune sing-a-long, several local performers, and more.
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“It’s a drag event obviously, but I want to make room for some artful dialogue too,” says Viva brainchild Collin Burke, co-owner of Russell Red Records in Haliburton, in a media release. “I love performance of any kind really and, though drag is always one of the most fun and most provocative kinds of performance, I hope to also bring in some more avant garde tones this year.”
Tickets are $45 per person, available exclusively in person from Russell Red Records at 173A Highland Street in Haliburton or online at www.russellredrecords.ca.
As well as being a go-to local destination for vinyl, new and used music, and state-of-the-art electronic components, Russell Red Records is an inclusive and queer-friendly place.
“We are making Russell Red a hub for all things Viva Burlesque,” Burke says. “Get your tickets, get some party music, get your drag accessories — it will be a one stop shop for Pride and the event,” says Burke.
For more information about other events planned for Minden Pride, which runs from August 22 to 28, visit www.mindenpride.ca.
The Great Blue Heron is one of 16 local bird species vying to become the official bird of the City of Peterborough in a contest intended to raise awareness of the city's recent designation as an entry-level bird-friendly city. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
Peterborough residents are being invited to help select the city’s first official bird in a contest intended to raise awareness of Peterborough’s recent designation as an entry-level bird-friendly city.
On June 27, Peterborough city council approved an application from Bird Friendly Peterborough, a community group made up of representatives from local nature-focused organizations, electing the city as being bird friendly through Nature Canada’s Bird Friendly City certification program. In April, Nature Canada certified Peterborough as having met the entry-level requirements of the program through existing city policies and community programs.
The “city bird” contest is open to all Peterborough residents who can select their favourite local bird species, from a list of 16 curated by Bird Friendly Peterborough, through an online survey at connectptbo.ca/climate (hard copies are available at City Hall at 500 George Street North).
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“Selecting an official city bird for Peterborough is a great way to get residents excited about the launch of Bird Friendly Peterborough,” says city cuncillor Kim Zippel, chair of the environment and climate change portfolio, in a media release. “A city bird would also help increase the awareness of how important birds are to our ecosystems.”
Until September 5, residents can select five of their favourite bird species from the following list: American Yellow Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, Belted Kingfisher, Black-capped Chickadee, Bufflehead, Cedar Waxwing, Common Loon, Dark-eyed Junco, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Northern Cardinal, Northern Flicker, Osprey, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-tailed Hawk, and Red-eyed Vireo.
Following the contest, which will narrow the list to the top five bird species, Peterborough’s first official “city bird” will be announced at the inaugural City of Peterborough Environmental and Climate Action Expo at Ecology Park on Friday, September 23rd,
For more information about Bird Friendly Peterborough, including how to make homes and businesses bird friendly, visit www.birdfriendlypeterborough.ca.
The 2022-2023 Board of Directors of the Women's Business Network of Peterborough. From left: Donna Enright, Technical Director; Tracy Minnema, Program Director; Chantal McDougall, Internal Communications Director; Kim Freeburn, Treasurer; Sandra Wilkins, Program Director; Diane Wolf, President; Christine Teixeira, Past President; Karyn Rowe, External Communications Director; Cathy Farley, Secretary; Katelyn Kemp, Membership Director; and Pamela van Nest, Director-at-Large. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
Peterborough-area businesswomen who’ve been unable to network face-to-face during the pandemic can look forward to once again stretching their social muscles and meeting new people when the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN) officially kicks off its 2022-23 season on Wednesday, September 7th at the Holiday Inn Waterfront in downtown Peterborough.
For 61 years, WBN has been helping to advance aspiring or experienced women in business. Members can find mentors and collaboration partners, get new business leads and referral sources, hear advice from experts, and make new friends as they mix and mingle at monthly meetings with dynamic and inspiring speakers.
Incoming WBN President Diane Wolf of Diane Wolf Counselling says it’s refreshing to see in-person gatherings back on the calendar, after the pandemic limited WBN’s traditional opportunities for professional women to make in-person connections.
Diane Wolf of Diane Wolf Counselling is the President of the 2022-2023 Board of Directors of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
2022-2023 WBN Board of Directors
Diane Wolf, President
Christine Teixeira, Past President
Cathy Farley, Secretary
Kim Freeburn, Treasurer
Katelyn Kemp, Membership Director
Tracy Minnema, Program Director
Sandra Wilkins, Program Director
Donna Enright, Technical Director
Chantal McDougall, Internal Communications Director
Karyn Rowe, External Communications Director
Pam Van Nest, Director at Large
“We were winging it just like everyone else,” says Diane. “The last couple of years have gone well for WBN under the capable leadership of both Danielle McIver (2020-2021 WBN President), who had to manage a solely virtual year, and then Christine Teixeira (2021-2022 WBN President), who worked very hard to figure out how we were going to go from plan A to plan B each month.”
Over the past two years, WBN adjusted to the realities of the pandemic by hosting monthly virtual meetings that included guest presenters and opportunities for members to engage in virtual break-out rooms. While a handful of in-person social events also took place, these were limited in size and scope to accommodate public health restrictions.
Diane says that, while the virtual meetings were beneficial, many female entrepreneurs are tired of online meetings and are yearning for that face-to-face connection again at WBN’s member meetings, which will once again take place monthly on Wednesdays at the Holiday Inn.
“A lot of people are feeling depleted right now and don’t want to spend their Wednesday nights on Zoom,” Diane says. “They want to be back to having a more interpersonal exchange.”
During the pandemic, WBN hosted monthly virtual meetings with a handful of limited in-person events as public health restrictions allowed, such as this October 2021 member meeting outdoors at the Holiday Inn, where some members took part virtually via laptop and Zoom. A full schedule of in-person events is planned for the 2022-2023 season. (Photo: WBN)
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Along with organizing a full schedule of in-person meetings, WBN’s board of directors is making a concerted effort for the upcoming season to improve diversity and inclusion within its membership.
“There’s this perception that WBN is an exclusive old lady’s club where, to become a member, you have to have a certain level of success to belong — and that’s certainly not the case,” says Diane, who has been a member since 1999.
“We’re already very diverse age-wise, but we want to become even more inclusive for all women regardless of who they are and how long they’ve been in business.”
WBN’s Board of Directors encourages women of all ages, experience, and backgrounds, espeically those from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, to join the networking organization for 2022-2023. Pictured at a May 2017 WBN meeting are Rosalea Terry of the Innovation Cluster, SimbiH2O founder Jane Zima, Ribbet co-founder and then WBN Program Director Sana Virji, Chimp Treats CEO and co-founder Brooke Hammer, and then WBN External Communications Director Paula Kehoe. (Photo: WBN)
The WBN board also wants to offer more professional development opportunities for businesswomen from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, including minorities, people with disabilities, immigrants, LGBTQ+, and people who identify as women.
“We also want to attract women in business who are new to the Peterborough community,” Diane says. “They’ve known about us through word-of-mouth, but are newer to the area and may not realize what we have to offer is very appropriate for new entrepreneurs.”
Entrepreneurship can be a lonely and overwhelming place, she adds, especially for women who have started a business in the last few years or are recovering from the economic ripple effects brought on by the pandemic. Studies show that Canadian female-owned businesses across all industries are taking nearly twice as long to rebound from the financial setbacks of COVID than their male counterparts.
WBN membership gives women the ability to connect with other like-minded female business owners in a safe space where they can share their triumphs and struggles with a community that understands. (Photo: WBN)
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It also sheds light on a troubling gender dimension to the pandemic – one that has seen women take on more child care, elderly care and household duties, often at the expense of their careers and businesses.
Diane believes the power of WBN reaches far beyond the networking and business building offered by other local networking groups. Its gatherings give women the ability to connect with other female business owners in a safe space where they can share their triumphs and struggles with a community that understands.
“It’s important to be able to bring together a group of strong, like-minded women so that we can talk openly about our challenges and celebrate our wins,” she explains.
As one of the benefits of membership, WBN members can spotlight their business at a monthly meeting. (Photo: WBN)
Benefits of WBN membership include the opportunity for members to feature their business in the WBN newsletter (which also circulates to members of the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce), having access to the email addresses of all members for targeted advertising, promotion through WBN social media channels, and spotlighting their business at a monthly meeting.
Another membership benefit is WBN’s well-received peer mentoring program, first launched in 2019. The program, which runs from October to June, pairs volunteer mentors with other WBN members to support their mentee’s professional development.
Diane believes the peer mentoring program is important for members with any level of experience who can share lessons they’ve learned and counsel fellow members to learn a new skill, such as getting more comfortable with public speaking.
A full list of membership benefits is available on the WBN website at wbnptbo.ca/membership/.
For more than 30 years, WBN has raised funds to support the YWCA Crossroads Shelter, which helps local women and children fleeing domestic abuse. WBN members often volunteer for other community fundraising causes. (Photo: WBN)
For the 2022-23 season, WBN will continue its philanthropic volunteer projects, including its 30-year-plus support for the YWCA Crossroads Shelter, which helps local women and children fleeing domestic abuse.
In past years, WBN members have also participated in other community fundraising events, including the Pulling for Dementia Fire Truck Pull in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society, the Under the Lock sledge hockey tournament to support the Kawartha Blazers, and Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build which focuses on the nation’s affordable housing crisis.
WBN membership fees for 2022-23 are $425 for a single membership and $475 for a corporate membership. For women who are intrigued by WBN but aren’t yet members, the organization offers a guest program where they can attend a few meetings at a cost of $60 per meeting to see first-hand the extra value a membership brings.
Along with business and networking, WBN gives members opportunities to enjoy the company of like-minded women and have fun. Pictured are WBN members enjoying an end-of-the-season social event at the Steele Centre at Fleming College in June 2019. (Photo: WBN)
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“A membership is a huge investment for your business as it’s personal development and professional development,” Diane says. “You’re getting 10 dinners, speakers, networking, and mentoring. Each of those alone is worth a ton. I know of several members who said their membership paid for itself because they got extra business out of it to cover the cost.”
As Diane anticipates welcoming both previous and new members for the 2022-23 season, she says networking is more than just creating a LinkedIn profile – it’s about building in-person relationships.
“When you meet people at WBN, you’re not only finding individuals to do business with or to refer you to someone else,” she explains. “You’re finding people you can know, like, and trust.”
If you’re a woman in business (or a woman with an interest in business) in Peterborough and the Kawarthas and you want to find out more about WBN, visit wbnptbo.ca/membership/ or follow WBN on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough. If your business or organization is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
A performance by Donovan Woods and the Opposition is one of 12 featured in the Peterborough Folk Festival's concert film "We Can Do This', which documents the festival's four-day series of concerts during the pandemic in August 2021 at the Rolling Grape Vineyard in Bailieboro. The film premieres at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough on August 18, 2022, just before the 2022 Peterborough Folk Festival. (kawarthaNOW screenshot)
The Peterborough Folk Festival has announced the premiere of its concert film We Can Do This along with a limited vinyl edition soundtrack featuring 11 songs from the film.
The film will be screened at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough on Thursday, August 18th, the day before the 2022 Peterborough Folk Festival kicks off with a ticketed concert by Kathleen Edwards, also at the Market Hall, followed by a weekend of free musical performances at Nicholls Oval Park by Bahamas, The Trews Acoustic, Odario, AHI, My Son The Hurricane, Georgia Harmer, and Adria Kain, Joyful Joyful, Michael C Duguay, Lauryn Macfarlane, Kayla Mohammed, Nathan Truax, Kelly McMichael, Julian Taylor, The Colton Sisters, I, the Mountain, Murder Murder, Kellie Loder, and Sharon & Randi.
We Can Do This documents the festival’s four-day series of concerts during the pandemic in August 2021 at the Rolling Grape Vineyard in Bailieboro, and features performances by Terra Lightfoot, AHI, Evangeline Gentle, Lauryn Macfarlane, Brooks and Bowskill, William Prince, Whitehorse, Hawksley Workman, Donovan Woods and the Opposition, Melissa Payne, Travis Good, and Greg Keelor and the Family Band.
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After Heritage Canada asked live event producers to reinvent artistic presentations during the pandemic, the Peterborough Folk Festival conceived of a film to document musical performances in unique locations using a mobile recording studio. Recording engineer James McKenty and his ‘In Record Time’ mobile studio to capture musical performances using 32 channels of inputs for maximum quality.
The project then evolved to include the idea of recording performances in front of a live audience. Unable to host a live event within the City of Peterborough due to pandemic restrictions, the Peterborough Folk Festival decided to instead host a four-day concert series at the Rolling Grape Vineyard.
The resulting 55-minute film will be screened at 7 p.m. and again at 9 p.m. on Thursday, August 18th at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough.
VIDEO: “We Can Do This” trailer
Admission is a pay-what-you-can donation to the Peterborough Folk Festival, with tickets available at the door. Donations over $20 will receive a tax receipt.
Accompanying the film is a limited edition vinyl soundtrack album featuring 11 songs recorded live. Only 400 copies will be available to the public, with no plans to create a digital download. The album will be available for sale at the Peterborough Folk Festival as well as at Blue Streak Records in Peterborough.
The album features “Empty House” by Terra Lightfoot, “Sundays” by Evangeline Gentle, “The Lonely Club” by Brooks and Bowskill, “Run” by William Prince, “Broken” by Whitehorse, “Piano Blink” by Hawksley Workman, “We Used To” by Donovan Woods, “Letting It Out” by Lauren MacFarlane, “September Skies” by Melissa Payne, “All The Good Times Are Past And Gone” by Travis Good, and “Lost Together” by Greg Keelor and The Family Band.
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The cover of the limited vinyl edition soundtrack of “We Can Do This”. (Design and illustration: Brittany Brooks)
We Can Do This was written, directed, and executive produced by Peterborough Folk Festival board chair Malcolm Byard, with the festival’s Ryan Kemp as artistic director and executive producer. The film was produced by award-winning Jim Lambie (The Umbrella Academy), with sound recording, mixing, and mastering by James McKenty. Brittany Brooks designed and illustrated the vinyl soundtrack album.
For more information about the Peterborough Folk Festival, or to become a volunteer, donate, or sponsor the festival or become an artisan vendor, visit peterboroughfolkfest.com.
kawarthanow is pleased to be a major media sponsor of the 2022 Peterborough Folk Festival.
One person is dead after a head-on crash north of Fenelon Falls on Monday evening (August 1).
At around 6:45 p.m. on Monday, Kawartha Lakes OPP and emergency services responded to a two-vehicle collision on County Road 121 north of Fenelon Falls.
According to police, a vehicle was attempting to pass other vehicles when it crossed the centre line and collided head-on with a oncoming vehicle in the other lane.
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Both vehicles were travelling at a high rate of speed when the collision occurred. Following the collision, both vehicles were engulfed in fire, which was extinguished by the fire department after emergency services arrived.
The driver of the oncoming vehicle, who was its only occupant, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are not releasing the victim’s name until family have been notified.
The driver and passenger of the vehicle that attempted to pass were transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
County Road 121 was closed between County Road 8 and Bury’s Green Road/County Road 37 for around six hours as police documented the scene.
Police are continuing to investigate the collision. Anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet spoken with police is asked to call City of Kawartha Lakes OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
This August, "Grease" and "The Princess Bride" are screening at Lock 34 in Fenelon Falls and "Dirty Dancing" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" are screening at Lock 32 in Bobcaygeon. All films are free, but you need to bring your own seating. (kawarthaNOW collage)
Kawartha Art Gallery, in partnership with the City of Kawartha Lakes and Parks Canada, is presenting four free outdoor movies at the locks in Bobcaygeon and Fenelon Falls this August.
“Grease” (1978 musical romantic comedy with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John) screens at Lock 34 in Fenelon Falls on Tuesday, August 2nd, followed by “Dirty Dancing” (1987 romantic drama dance with Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey) at Lock 32 in Bobcaygeon on Tuesday, August 16th.
On Tuesday, August 23rd, “The Princess Bride” (1987 fantasy comedy romance starring Cary Elwes and Robin Wright) screens at Lock 34 in Fenelon Falls, with “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986 American teen comedy with Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, and Alan Ruck) screening at Lock 32 in Bobcaygeon on Tuesday, August 30th.
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Each film begins at 9 p.m., although organizers recommend people arrive by 8:30 p.m. to get settled in before the film begins. All films are free, but you need to bring your own seating. Parking is available. Organizers also advise it may be chilly at night so dress appropriately, and bring some bug repellent.
Ben’s Kettle Corn will be selling kettle corn, cotton candy, and sno cones (cash only). Cans of pop and chips will also be available for purchase by donation to the Kawartha Art Gallery.
In addition, each screening will feature retro candy as a prize for audience members to win.
For “Grease,” dress in your best ’50s outfit, hair, or makeup or sing part of a song from the film. For “Dirty Dancing,” dress in your best ’80s dance wear or show off some of your best dance moves. For “The Princess Bride,” bring your best medieval fantasy costume or props or quote your favourite lines from the movie. For “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” wear your best back-to-school fashion or share a story of school shenanigans that could have (or did) sent you to the principal’s office.
Juno award-winning JJ Wilde and Juno award-nominated Suzie McNeil will co-headline a Peterborough Musicfest rock-pop concert in Del Crary Park on August 3, 2022. (kawarthaNOW collage of promotional photos)
This is a tale of two Canadian pop rock success stories that, while similar in some respects, remain significantly different enough to stand very much on their own.
When: Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at 8 p.m. Where: Del Crary Park (100 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: Free admission
Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets (lawn chairs are available to rent). VIP seating available for sponsors. No smoking, alcohol, or pets permitted. There’s no public parking at Del Crary Park, but there’s neighbourhood street parking nearby and ample parking in downtown Peterborough.
In one corner, you have JJ Wilde, whose 2020 debut album brought her a Juno Award in 2021 just two years after she launched her music career. Opposite her stands Suzie McNeil, a 2008 Juno Award nominee for Best New Artist of the Year whose work as both a solo artist and collaborator has held our collective attention for close to 20 years.
On their own, each is a musical force to be reckoned with. But bring them together on one stage for one night, well, now you’re onto something really special.
On Wednesday, August 3 at Del Crary Park, the latter will be the case as Wilde and McNeil co-headline another chapter of Peterborough Musicfest’s milestone 35th season. Admission to the 8 p.m. concert, as always, is free.
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Kitchener-born JJ Wilde — Jillian Dowding in another life — made quite the first impression in 2019 with the release of her debut EP Wilde Eyes, Steady Hands and the single “The Rush,” which, in May 2020, simultaneously attained the top spot on Canada’s modern rock, active rock, and mainstream rock charts — one of a handful of songs to achieve that feat.
Any doubts about Wilde’s rock prowess after that remarkable debut were put to rest when her 2020 debut studio album Ruthless followed a similar trajectory. Nominated for a 2021 Juno award as Rock Album of the Year, Ruthless brought Wilde her first statue. Not since 1996, when Alanis Morissette took home a Juno for Jagged Little Pill, had a female performer won in that category.
Wilde arrives in Peterborough with new material courtesy of her second EP Wilde, released just last year. The six-song collection includes her powerful cover of the Stevie Nicks/Tom Petty classic “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” featuring Brett Emmons of The Glorious Sons, who Wilde has recently been touring with in Canada — she opened for them at the Peterborough Memorial Centre this past April — along with The Scorpions in Europe.
VIDEO: “The Rush” – JJ Wilde
“This EP (Wilde) was created during the pandemic so there is definitely some frustration that leaked into this project from not being able to play shows,” reflected Wilde during a June 2021 interview with Rob Laing of MusicRadar.
“But having the time off to do more writing influenced this record in a very positive way as well. I had more time to sit with the songs than I usually do; to refine and make changes. I also had more time to write just for me. I think there’s a real honesty that comes from that.”
Asked to describe her sound, which has resonated with so many so very fast, Wilde admits to being stumped.
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“It’s always hard for me as a musician to describe my sound because music means so many different things to different people,” Wilde said. “It’s all up for interpretation. I would say my music is raw, emotional and from the heart. My songs are all very personal to me. The sound is rock … heavy guitars, big booming drums, and a rumbling bass line.”
While a quickly growing legion of fans eagerly awaits what’s next from Wilde, her commitment is to “keep evolving and growing.”
“I just want my songs to continue to come from a genuine place. The sound will naturally evolve with the songwriting. As I grow as a person, my interests in sounds will change.”
VIDEO: “Wired” – JJ Wilde
Post-Musicfest, Wilde will headline August 5 at the Kitchener Blues Festival and then take a breather before undertaking a busy fall of performances across Canada.
Wilde is walking a path not unlike one well travelled by Suzie McNeil since 2005 when the Mississauga native placed fourth on Rock Star: INXS, subsequently reaping the benefits of a successful and diversified careers as a solo artist and as a collaborator with the likes of INXS, Clay Aiken, Foreigner, and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.
McNeil has recorded three studio albums, with her 2007 debut album Broken & Beautiful featuring the singles “Hung Up” and 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics anthem “Believe” and earning her a 2008 Juno Award nomination as Best New Artist of the Year.
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Subsequent albums Rock-n-Roller (2008) and Dear Love (2012) followed, the former spawning her top charting hit “Supergirl” and the latter bringing McNeil more commercial success via the singles “Drama Queen” and “Merry Go Round.”
In addition to her Juno Award nomination, McNeil won a 2008 Independent Music Award as Favourite Pop Artist and, in the same year, was shortlisted for two Canadian Radio Music Awards.
Diversity has been the name of the game for McNeil, her varied musical pursuits including using her multi-instrumental talents as a member of her own Nashville-based country-rock band, forays into the Broadway-level musical theatre realm, and commercial jingle recording work.
VIDEO: “Supergirl” – Suzie McNeil
Rarely standing still, she has dipped her toe into a number of new musical waters, ranging from singing backing vocals for Pink on her North American tour to entertaining troops in Afghanistan to performing at the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremonies.
“I love doing this so much,” she told Jim Barber in a November 2018 interview with Music Life Magazine, adding “I love getting paid for it. I love being able to support myself doing something that I love. To me, that was always the goal.”
“I do kind of get bored and like to have new challenges and different experiences. I love musical theatre, so I loved being able to do that with We Will Rock You (in 2007 at Toronto’s Canon Theatre). I love 1970s music, so I loved doing that show. When I look back at my life, I am very proud, and very proud of all the different experiences I have had and people I have been able to meet and work with.”
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One of those new challenges manifested itself in 2014 when McNeil teamed up with Elisha Hoffman, Rebecca Lynn Howard, and Marti Fredericksen to form the country rock quartet Loving Mary. That union brought forth the EP Loving Mary – Live in 2015, and a stint with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler as the backup band on his debut country solo studio album We’re All Somebody from Somewhere and its supporting “Out On A Limb” tour in the U.S. and Japan.
Unsurprisingly, working with Tyler remains a career highlight for McNeil.
“He is a very, very generous man,” she said. “He loves music; he is like a little kid with music. He has more energy than I do. He is just a beautiful soul.”
VIDEO: “Hung Up” – Suzie McNeil
“He cares a lot about the small stuff, like people’s birthdays, and I don’t know if that’s because he has been famous for so long that he probably appreciates all those little things more than we do because they feel mundane for us. I do think people who have had fabulousness for so long appreciate the simpler things in life.”
Ahead for McNeil is a fourth solo album that, as indicated on her Twitter feed, “is already written.”
Bet on her fans chomping at the bit to hear what’s next from the singer who has done nothing but surprise over the course of her career.
Win VIP passes to MusicFest!
As a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest, kawarthaNOW.com is giving away VIP seats to every one of this summer’s concerts.
While the concerts are free to all, VIP seats are not available to the general public — only to festival sponsors. You are guaranteed a chair near to the stage for the best view.
The giveaways are exclusive to subscribers to our weekly e-news. For your chance to win, sign-up to our weekly e-news at k-n.ca/subscribe.
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission concerts during its milestone 35th anniversary season, each staged Wednesday and Saturday nights at Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough.
Overseen by general manager Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission remains “to provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”
For more information on this concert or the entire 2022 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
Two girls jumping off a dock into a lake during the summer. (Stock photo)
The Civic Holiday is called Peter Robinson Day in Peterborough, James Cockburn Day in Cobourg, Simcoe Day in Toronto, Colonel By Day in Ottawa, George Hamilton Day in Hamilton, Joseph Brant Day in Burlington, Founders’ Day in Brantford, McLaughlin Day in Oshawa, Alexander Mackenzie Day in Sarnia, John Galt Day in Guelph, and numerous other names in smaller municipalities. Whatever you call it, the holiday is always celebrated on the first Monday in August.
This year, the Civic Holiday falls on August 1 which is also Emancipation Day, established in 2021 to mark the day in 1834 when slavery was officially abolished across the British Empire.
Since the Civic Holiday is not a statutory holiday in Ontario and is not listed in Ontario’s Employment Standards Act or Retail Business Holidays Act, most businesses are open on Monday, although many have reduced hours. While government offices are closed and many government-operated services are unavailable, amost all grocery stores, malls, and big box stores are open on Monday, along with some liquor stores and beer stores.
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For your convenience, we provide this list of holiday hours for 292 selected businesses, services, and organizations across the Kawarthas. This information comes from their websites and social media accounts, which may or may not be up to date, so please always call them first to confirm their hours (we’ve included phone numbers), especially where you see “call” or “call to confirm” or if you are travelling any distance. If your business or organization is listed and the hours are incorrect, please let us know by using our content feedback form. We don’t include hours for restaurants as there are far too many to list.
Bewdley Community Recycling Centre 7650 County Rd. 9, Hamilton 905-342-2514
CLOSED
Brighton Community Recycling Centre 1112 County Rd. 26, Brighton 613-475-1946
CLOSED
Canada Post Mail Delivery / Offices (Note: post offices operated by the private sector will be open according to the hours of service of the host business
No collection or delivery
City of Kawartha Lakes City Hall, Municipal Service Centres, and Administration Offices 26 Francis St., Lindsay 705-324-9411
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Parks, Recreation and Culture facilities, arenas, and pools Various locations, City of Kawartha Lakes 705-324-9411
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Public Libraries Various locations, City of Kawartha Lakes 705-324-9411 x1291
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Waste and Recycling Collection 26 Francis St., Lindsay 1-888-822-2225
Mon Aug 1 collection moves to Tue Aug 2, Aug 2 to 3, Aug 3 to 4, Aug 4 to 5
City of Peterborough Day Cares Peterborough 705-748-8830
CLOSED
City of Peterborough Garbage Pickup Peterborough 705-745-1386
No change
City of Peterborough Green Waste Pickup Peterborough 705-876-1600
No change
City of Peterborough Recycling Pickup Peterborough 705-876-1600
No change
City of Peterborough Social Services (for emergency shelter services call 705-926-0096) Peterborough 705-748-8830
CLOSED
Cobourg Public Library 200 Ontario St., Cobourg 905-372-9271
A view of Victoria Beach on Lake Ontario in Cobourg. (Photo courtesy of Linda McIlwain)
Every Friday during swimming season, we post The Beach Report™ — our weekly report of the results of water quality testing at beaches in the greater Kawarthas region — and update it throughout the week as conditions change.
As of Thursday, August 4, the following beaches have been posted as unsafe for swimming:
Roger’s Cove, City of Peterborough
Back Dam Park, Warsaw (County of Peterborough)
Hiawatha Beach, Hiawatha First Nation (County of Peterborough)
Norwood Beach, Norwood (County of Peterborough)
Omemee Beach, Emily/Omemee (City of Kawartha Lakes)
Harwood Waterfront & Dock, Hamilton Township (Northumberland County)
Tweed Park, Stoco Lake (Hastings County and Prince Edward County)
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Below are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in the City and County of Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, Northumberland County, and Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White’s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health provides weekly testing results for beaches in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E. coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like the beach at Roger’s Cove in Peterborough’s East City, are tested every business day while most other beaches are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Important note
The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.
You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.
Peterborough Police Service headquarters on Water Street in Peterborough. (Photo: Pat Trudeau)
A 19-year-old Quebec man has been arrested in connection to a shooting in Peterborough that seriously injured another man.
On July 11, Peterborough police responded to a 9-1-1 call about a shooting at a residence in the Dalhousie Street and Stewart Street area. A male victim was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre, and then flown by helicopter to a hospital in Toronto.
On Thursday (July 28), Montreal police acting on a Canada-wide warrant arrested a 19-year-old man from Quebec who was wanted in connection to the shooting.
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The man has been charged with attempted murder, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a prohibited firearm, robbery using a firearm, possession of a firearm contrary to prohibition order, possession of a weapon for a dangerous person, pointing a firearm, discharging a firearm with intent, knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm, and six counts of failing to comply with a release order.
The accused man was remanded into custody and returned to Ontario by Peterborough police.
The July 11th shooting incident followed one on July 2 on Park Street North near Sherbrooke Street that resulted in the death of 37-year-old Shawn Singh of Peterborough and the city’s second homicide of the year.
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