Fifteen-year-old Kaydance (in wheelchair) stops by Five Counties' Seating and Mobility Clinic with her mom April (standing, second from right) to get her chair adjusted. Also pictured are (standing, from left) Five Counties technician Luke, occupational therapist Kate Jaboor, and seating and mobility consultant Stewart from Motion Peterborough. Crouched beside Kaydance is Five Counties physiotherapist Ange Harrison. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children's Centre)
Every month, Five Counties Children’s Centre provides a story about the work of the charitable organization. This month’s story is by Bill Eekhof, Communications Coordinator, Five Counties Children’s Centre.
It’s another busy day at Five Counties Children’s Centre in Lindsay, as the monthly Seating and Mobility Clinic is underway.
There’s lots riding at every clinic visit — notably comfort and posture, but also inclusion and participation for young clients like 15-year-old Kaydance.
“Hey Kaydance, what are you doing for fun these days?” asks Ange Harrison, a physiotherapist at Five Counties, as she welcomes Kaydance and her mom April to the clinic.
“Studying,” Kaydance replies, as she maneuvers her power wheelchair into the clinic space.
Ange probes further. “Hanging out with friends?”
“That too,” replies Kaydance, her slight grin turning into a beaming smile.
“So tell us,” continues Ange, “what do you need? Is your wheelchair still comfy?”
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Kaydance was born with cerebral palsy and has been coming to Five Counties since she was 18 months old. At today’s Seating Clinic, Kaydance is getting her wheelchair checked on — akin to getting a car tune-up — and, using that parlance, Five Counties staff like Ange and occupational therapist colleague Kate Jaboor are the mechanics.
Last year, 77 kids and their families were supported at the Seating and Mobility Clinic that operates at Five Counties sites in Lindsay, Peterborough, and Cobourg. The clinic — which requires a referral — is made up of therapists, a technician, and other staff who support children and youth who have difficulties with movement and require equipment like specialized strollers and wheelchairs.
Some clients also have more complex medical needs or degenerative disabilities which require mobility support. Whatever the case, the therapy team’s goal is to help improve a child’s comfort, posture, and overall ability to perform daily activities.
Seating and mobility consultant Stewart from Motion Peterborough makes some adjustments to Kaydance’s power wheelchair. Five Counties provides the seating and mobility clinic to its clients to ensure the chair is comfortable, supports their posture and allows them to perform daily activities. Five Counties works with the family and third-party suppliers to ensure the chair is the right fit for the person needing it. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children’s Centre)
Typically, Five Counties staff will start with an assessment to determine what seating system and wheeled mobility is best suited for a child and their family. Comfort, posture, purpose, place of use, cost, and specialized needs are all factored into the equation. Even the type of family vehicle needs consideration to see if a potential chair will fit inside.
Once the right wheelchair or mobility assistive device is determined — “we prescribe,” is how Ange terms it — Five Counties will assist with ordering, customizing, fabricating, and (if needed) coordinating equipment with third-party suppliers.
Staff will also help families access financial support programs to offset the costs of mobility devices. As well, Five Counties provides short-term equipment loans to let families try out a chair before committing to buying one.
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Several visits to the Seating Clinic may be required for initial assessment, customization, and final dispensation of the mobility equipment. Check-in visits will also be subsequently scheduled to ensure the wheelchair or other device still meets the client’s needs.
That’s the case today for Kaydance, who gets the wheel bearings on her latest power wheelchair fixed, while also discussing with Five Counties staff the ordering of new leg straps and seating covers to improve her seating and potential ways to cover these costs.
“They fix my chair, which makes it better for getting around,” she says.
Seeing Kaydance and her mom is like rekindling an old friendship for Kate, who has supported the family for many years.
“We have long-term involvement with many of our seating clinic clients,” she notes. “You really feel like you’re growing up with these families.”
Five Counties therapist Kate Jaboor (front left) makes a few final adjustments to the new customized wheelchair being used by eight-year-old Mark. Offering assistance are (kneeling at rear) Fikret of Nova Seating and Jeanette (front right) from Align Home Health Care. Mark’s new wheelchair is perfectly timed, as he is picking it up on his birthday. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children’s Centre)
Kaydance’s situation is a perfect example of “knowledge transfer” over time, says Kate.
“Initially, we’ll help to guide families on what their child needs, but parents — and eventually the client herself — become more involved in the process as they adjust to the learning curve.”
While not written on the equipment prescription, it’s a client’s independence and freedom that are at the core of what’s done at the Seating Clinic.
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“We’re helping our clients more fully participate with their family and friends every day,” says Ange.
“It’s not about the chair,” adds Kate. “It’s seeing the child out in the community, going to the fall fair, or visiting the pumpkin patch. It’s heartwarming when you hear these stories, especially knowing that a child is being included and the barriers to their participation are being removed.”
Rick and Gailie Young's Peterborough All-Star Band at Peterborough Performs III in March 2023. The band will be returning to play at Peterborough Performs IV in the Erica Cherney Theatre at Showplace Performance Centre on March 7, 2024, one of 15 music acts donating their time and talents to help raise funds for local programs and initiatives that support people experiencing housing instability, food insecurity, and underemployment. (Photo courtesy United Way Peterborough & District)
As the world evolves (or devolves, depending on your point of view), some things never get old. Take, for example, the exhilarating feel-good feeling that comes to the forefront when people come together in support of those in need of our help.
However, combine such compassion with the gifted talents of multiple local musical acts and, well, you’re onto something really special.
For a fourth time, Peterborough Performs: Musicians United To End Homelessness will be staged on Thursday, March 7th at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough, presenting 15 acts — full bands as well as solo performers — on two stages simultaneously.
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From 7 to 11 p.m., the big stage in the Erica Cherney Theatre will host The Weber Brothers Band, SJ Riley, The Austin Carson Band, Rick and Gailie Young’s Peterborough All-Star Band, The Cheryl Casselman Trio, and Emily Burgess.
During the same time frame, in the more intimate Nexicom Studio, performances by Tom Eastland, Irish Millie, Wylie Harold, Chris Collins, Michaela Hetherington, Dan Hick, Jacques Graveline, The Hippie Chicks (Tami J. Wilde and Joslyn Burford), and Phil Stephenson and Glen Caradus will be presented back-to-back.
Until January, early bird general admission tickets cost $40, with all proceeds going to United Way of Peterborough and District-supported agencies provide emergency shelter for those in need of safe refuge. Tickets are available at the Showplace box office and online at www.showplace.org.
Ticket holders have the choice of catching all the main stage performances or all the lounge acts or, ideally, go back and forth to both rooms as they please.
VIDEO: “Message of Love” – Rick and Gailie at Peterborough Performs III
United Way director of philanthropy Anne Ondercin says Peterborough Performs will again be “a catalyst, bringing together hundreds of music lovers and community supporters to enjoy incredible local talent and give back to their community.”
“Proceeds from Peterborough Performs will help move people from poverty to possibility by funding local programs and initiatives that support those experiencing housing instability, food insecurity, and underemployment.”
Ondercin terms the United Way “a safety net that helps catch those who might otherwise fall through the cracks,” noting last year saw United Way funding support 900 people in find housing in Peterborough, and provided 794 food cards and 24 employment support sessions through six funded partners.
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Returning for Peterborough Performs fourth staging as the exclusive digital media sponsor is kawarthaNOW while Long & McQuade is again providing stage audio equipment with Porter Sound handling sound and lighting production.
Also back in the fold is Andy Tough of RMS Events, who will again work his magic to ensure the audience in each space can see (and hear, during breaks) who’s performing in the other space.
Meanwhile, United Way Campaign Cabinet member and kawarthaNOW writer Paul Rellinger is again organizing and producing the show.
Rellinger helped then campaign cabinet chair David Goyette stage the inaugural Peterborough Performs benefit in March 2020 — just days before the emergence of COVID-19 put a stop to pretty much everything.
Since then, two more have been held — in March 2022 and March 2023. Combined, Peterborough Performs has raised close to $80,000 for the benefiting agencies’ work.
VIDEO: “Wild as the Wild Dogs” – The Weber Brothers at Peterborough Performs III
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“From the very first note struck at the very first Peterborough Performs, I knew we were onto something very special and I’m so grateful the United Way has seen fit to continue with this event,” says Rellinger, expressing equal gratitude to RBC, the presenting sponsor of each Peterborough Performs to date, and LLF Lawyers, the sponsor of past event-associated virtual auctions.
“Those who were there in March 2019 know what a great buzz there was in both rooms. They were wholly entertained, all while contributing toward the eradication of what is an ongoing scourge in this city. I’m hopeful they’ll return but not before telling their friends to buy a $40 ticket for what is a terrific night out.”
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Rellinger says that while most of the acts are of the returning variety, he does try to mix it up year to year. To that end, Dan Hick and The Cheryl Casselman Trio will make their Peterborough Performs debut, along with stand-up comic Tim Burnie.
Emily Burgess, meanwhile, has played past Peterborough Performs events with The Weber Brothers Band, and is doing so again, but is also performing her original music with a full band, including selections from her new album Arrow.
“Stand-up comedy is a new element for us; I’m thrilled Tim, a longtime friend, is on board, making with the funny during breaks between main stage acts,” says Rellinger.
“I cannot say enough about all our performers. We need a theatre of Showplace’s size to contain hearts so big. Without them, there is no show, and with no show, there is no opportunity for so many to gather and say, in one loud collective voice, ‘Homelessness isn’t acceptable — period.’
Austin Carson performing at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. The Austin Carson Band will be returning to play at Peterborough Performs IV in the Erica Cherney Theatre at Showplace Performance Centre on March 7, 2024, one of 15 music acts donating their time and talents to help raise funds for local programs and initiatives that support people experiencing housing instability, food insecurity, and underemployment. (Photo: Justin Michael Carriere)
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Also returning for the event is The Austin Carson Band, reprising its 2020 and 2022 appearances.
“It’s rare that you get the opportunity to share the stage with so many of Peterborough’s top local acts,” says Carson. “Each time we walked away feeling more united with the community than before. The big reason for that is we are all there for the same reason, coming together to fight homelessness in our city.”
“We can’t wait to present a snippet of the show we’ve crafted for our 2024 touring season. We’ve spent the last couple years playing across the province, from headlining Toronto’s legendary Horseshoe Tavern to playing resorts and campgrounds throughout cottage country. Peterborough Performs will mark our first public hometown show since June 2022 and we can’t wait.”
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Also chomping at the bit is folk/alternative artist Dan Hick, whose single “Armour Hill” has seen his star rise quickly in indie music circles.
He admits to being “extremely excited” for his inaugural Peterborough Performs appearance.
“In buying tickets for this show, you’re not only going to see an amazing concert but you’ll make a big difference for those in our community who are in need. I will be donating 100 per cent of my merchandise profits from the night of the show to help out.”
VIDEO: “Armour Hill” – Dan Hick
Meanwhile, thrilled to be back for his fourth Peterborough Performs event, alongside longtime musical partner Glen Cardus, is Phil Stephenson.
“This event is like old home week for me,” says Stephenson who, this Friday night (December 15), will host his annual Tacky Christmas Sweater Party at Jethro’s (137 Hunter St.) at 10 p.m., preceded by Irish Millie, another Peterborough Performs regular.
“It’s always great to reconnect with old friends and fellow musicians,” Stephenson says. “I enjoy watching the other performers when I’m not playing. The vibe is always positive. It feels good knowing we’re all collectively helping to make a difference in this great city of ours.”
Phil Stephenson, with Glen Caradus in the background, at Peterborough Performs III in March 2023. Stephenson and Caradus will be performing at the event for the fourth time when Peterborough Performs IV take place at Showplace Performance Centre on March 7, 2024, one of 15 music acts donating their time and talents to help raise funds for local programs and initiatives that support people experiencing housing instability, food insecurity, and underemployment. (Photo courtesy United Way Peterborough & District)
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Rellinger says with the holiday season shopping frenzy in full swing, there’s no better affordable gift for the live music lover on your list than a Peterborough Performs ticket.
“Peterborough Performs is full value for your money,” he says. “Grocery prices have gone through the roof. Fuelling your car requires a loan. Here we are with an early bird ticket price of $40 — $10 off the regular $50 ticket price. You tell me where I can see 15 stellar Peterborough music acts perform for $2.67 per act, all while helping the most vulnerable among us, and I’ll buy a ticket tomorrow.”
Tickets for Peterborough Performs IV are available now at the Showplace box office and online at www.showplace.org. For Peterborough Performs updates, including virtual action details as they become known and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.uwpeterborough.ca.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be the exclusive digital media sponsor for Peterborough Performs IV.
"Lift" is an American action comedy film starring Kevin Hart as the leader of an international heist crew racing to steal $500 million in gold from a passenger plane at 40,000 feet. It premieres on Netflix on January 12, 2024. (Photo: Netflix)
Every month, kawarthaNOW is the only local media source to bring you a list of what’s coming to Netflix Canada. Here are a few highlights of what’s coming to Netflix in January.
Lift is an American action comedy film starring Kevin Hart as the leader of an international heist crew racing to steal $500 million in gold from a passenger plane at 40,000 feet. The film also stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Vincent D’Onofrio, Úrsula Corberó, Billy Magnussen, Viveik Kalra, Yun Jee Kim, and Sam Worthington.
Originally scheduled to be released in August but delayed because of the actors’ strike, Lift premieres on Netflix on Friday, January 12th.
VIDEO: “Lift” trailer
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Griselda is a miniseries based on the life of Griselda Blanco, a prominent Colombian drug lord who created one of the most profitable cartels in history in 1970s-80s Miami and became known as the “Godmother of Cocaine.” Sofía Vergara stars as Blanco in the six-episode limited miniseries, which comes to Netflix on Thursday, January 25th.
VIDEO: “Griselda” trailer
Fans of Schitt’s Creek will want to check out the American comedy-drama film Good Grief, Canadian actor Dan Levy’s first feature film as a writer and director. Levy also stars in the film as Marc, a man dealing with the unexpected death of his larger-than-life husband Oliver (Luke Evans). Along with his two best friends Sophie (Ruth Negga) and Thomas (Himesh Patel), Marc embarks on a soul-searching trip to Paris that reveals some hard truths they each needed to face. Scheduled to be released in limited theatres on December 29, Good Grief arrives on Netflix on Friday, January 5th.
VIDEO: “Good Grief” trailer
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The black comedy action series The Brothers Sun stars Justin Chien as Charles, the eldest son of the head of a powerful triad in Taipei, Tiawan. When his father is shot by a mysterious assassin, Charles heads to Los Angeles to protect his mother Eileen (Michelle Yeoh) and his naive younger brother Bruce (Sam Song Li), who’s been completely sheltered from the truth of his family until now. As the Taipei triads fight a new rising faction, Charles and Bruce must figure out what brotherhood and family truly means before someone takes them out. The eight-episode series debuts on Netflix on Thursday, January 4th.
VIDEO: “The Brothers Sun” trailer
The Spanish survival thriller film Society of the Snow tells the story of the crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 in the remote Andes mountains in 1972, where the survivors were forced to resort to cannibalism. The film is adapted by Pablo Vierci’s book of the same name, which documents accounts of all 16 survivors of the crash, many of whom Vierci knew from childhood. The cast is composed of Uruguayan and Argentine actors, most of whom are newcomers. Selected to represent Spain at the 2024 Academy Awards, the film will be released in selected theatres in Uruguay and Spain in December before coming to to Netflix on Thursday, January 4th.
VIDEO: “Society of the Snow” trailer
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The true-crime documentary Bitconned tells the story of three men — Sohrab “Sam” Sharma, Robert Farkas, and Raymond Trapani — who founded Miami-based Centra Tech, which exploited the freewheeling cryptocurrency market in 2017 to scam millions from investors and bankroll lavish lifestyles. In this fast-paced film from director Bryan Storkel, Trapani guides viewers through the ups and downs of his dramatic journey, alongside his family, former friends, and the journalist who exposed Centra Tech as the first high-profile fraud case of the crypto era.
VIDEO: “Bitconned” trailer
Returning series on Netflix in January include season two of Break Point (Jan. 10), season two of Love on the Spectrum U.S. (Jan. 19), season two of Not Quite Narwhal (Jan. 22), and season eight of Queer Eye (Jan. 24).
Theatrically released films coming to Netflix include Chappie, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Braven (all on Dec. 1), Batman Begins (Dec. 9), Spider-Man: No Way Home and Uncharted (both on Jan. 12), Freaks (Jan. 17), Room (Jan. 20), and Train to Busan (Jan. 23).
VIDEO: New on Netflix Canada in January 2024
Here’s the complete list of everything coming to Netflix Canada in January by date, along with what’s leaving.
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Coming in January (no release date specified)
Detective Forst (Netflix series) – When a detective’s maverick approach to investigating gets him fired, he teams up with a journalist to solve a series of brutal murders outside the law.
Delicious in Dungeon (Netflix anime) – Dungeons, dragons … and delicious monster stew!? Adventurers foray into a cursed buried kingdom to save their friend, cooking up a storm along the way.
Dusty Slay: Workin’ Man (Netflix comedy) – Comedian Dusty Slay serves up his distinctive homespun humour on shirt-tucking, hipster coffee shops and country music mysteries in this stand-up special.
The Kitchen (Netflix film) – Amid rising injustice and encroaching gentrification, a young boy finds community in the last place left for London’s most disadvantaged residents.
Kübra (Netflix series) – When a mechanic receives messages that seem to predict the future, he starts to believe he is speaking with God and quickly develops a following.
Monday, January 1
Bitconned (Netflix documentary) – Ray Trapani had always wanted to be a criminal, even as a young boy. In 2017, amidst the economic frenzy of the Bitcoin boom, there was no better place for scammers than cryptocurrency. So when Ray’s friend approached him with the idea of creating a debit card for crypto, Trapani jumped at the chance. There was only one problem: he had no idea how to do that. But thanks to fake LinkedIn profiles, paid celebrity endorsements, and the online community’s insatiable desire to “get rich quick,” Centra Tech was soon raking in millions of dollars a day. Was it real? No. But did it work? Maybe. In this fast-paced documentary from director Bryan Storkel (Producer of The Legend of Cocaine Island + Director of The Pez Outlaw), Ray himself guides viewers through the ups and downs of his dramatic journey, alongside his family, former friends, and the journalist who exposed Centra Tech as the first high-profile fraud case of the crypto era.
Fool Me Once (Netflix series) – When ex-soldier Maya sees her murdered husband on a secret nanny cam, she uncovers a deadly conspiracy that stretches deep into the past.
You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment (Netflix documentary) – Identical twins change their diets and lifestyles for eight weeks in a unique scientific experiment designed to explore how certain foods impact the body.
Annie (1982)
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Braven
Chappie
Loudermilk: Seasons 1-3
Mahalia
Mandy
ONE PIECE: Marineford
Sex Tape
Something Borrowed
War Dogs
Thursday, January 4
Boy Swallows Universe (Netflix series) – A young boy growing up in the suburbs of 1980s Brisbane faces the harsh realities of life — and the looming dangers that threaten his family.
The Brothers Sun (Netflix series) – When a mysterious enemy targets his family, a Taipei triad member heads to Los Angeles to protect his strong-willed mother and oblivious younger brother.
Society of the Snow (Netflix film) – In 1972, a Uruguayan flight crashed in the remote heart of the Andes, forcing survivors to become each other’s best hope. A film by J.A. Bayona.
Friday, January 5
Good Grief (Netflix film) – Marc (Daniel Levy) was content living in the shadow of his larger-than-life husband, Oliver (Luke Evans). But when Oliver unexpectedly dies, Marc’s world shatters, sending him and his two best friends, Sophie (Ruth Negga) and Thomas (Himesh Patel), on a soul-searching trip to Paris that reveals some hard truths they each needed to face. Good Grief marks Levy’s debut as a feature-film writer and director. He also produced as part of Not a Real Production Company, alongside Sister Pictures.
Gyeongseong Creature Part 2 (Netflix series) – Gyeongseong, 1945. In Seoul’s grim era under colonial rule, an entrepreneur and a sleuth fight for survival and face a monster born out of human greed.
Sunday, January 7
Mr. D: Seasons 1-3
Tuesday, January 9
Batman Begins
Wednesday, January 10
Break Point: Season 2 (Netflix documentary) – The world’s top tennis players return to the courts and set their sights on glory once again during another gruelling Grand Slam season.
The Trust: A Game of Greed (Netflix series) – In this reality series, strangers living in a luxurious mansion compete for $250,000. Will they split it — or cut each other out to raise their share?
Thursday, January 11
Champion (Netflix series) – Rapper Bosco is free from prison and ready for a comeback — until his sister Vita steps into the spotlight and puts their family bond to the test.
Sonic Prime Chapter 3 (Netflix family) – After Nine steals the Paradox Prism to create a world all for himself, Sonic must team up with unlikely allies to protect the universe as he knows it.
Friday, January 12
Lift (Netflix film) – An international heist crew, led by Cyrus Whitaker (Kevin Hart), races to lift $500 million in gold from a passenger plane at 40,000 feet.
Love is Blind: Sweden (Netflix series) – The unique dating experiment lands in Sweden as local singles seek true love and propose marriage — all before seeing each other in person.
Monday, January 15
CoComelon: Season 9
Maboroshi (JP) (Netflix anime) – A factory explosion plunges a small town into a timeless freeze, leaving 14-year-old Masamune and his pals to grapple with a quickly collapsing reality.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Uncharted
Tuesday, January 16
Umma
Wednesday, January 17
End of the Line (Netflix series) – Ivan, a clandestine van driver, navigates the end of his marriage and daily challenges with humour in this quirky comedy series featuring a live audience.
Freaks
Thursday, January 18
Rachid Badouri: Les fleurs du tapis (Netflix comedy) – The charismatic Quebecois comedian gets real on everything from meeting a racist fan to letting success go to his head in this candid stand-up special.
Friday, January 19
Love is Blind: Sweden (Netflix series, new episodes) – The unique dating experiment lands in Sweden as local singles seek true love and propose marriage — all before seeing each other in person.
Love on the Spectrum U.S.: Season 2 (Netflix series) – Single people with autism — including new romantic hopefuls and familiar faces — search for the perfect partner in this dating docuseries.
Mi soledad tiene alas (Netflix film) – With his estranged father’s return, Dan’s inner demons resurface, triggering a downward spiral. Can love save him from a tragic destiny?
Sixty Minutes (Netflix film) – Desperate not to lose custody, a mixed martial arts fighter makes dangerous enemies when he ditches a matchup to race to his daughter’s birthday party.
Saturday, January 20
Captivating the King (Netflix series) – Captivating the King draws the cruel love story between King Lee In, who is in danger of both royal and political power struggles, and Kang Hee Soo, who tries to seduce the King and get revenge, but gets seduced instead
Room
Monday, January 22
Not Quite Narwhal: Season 2 (Netflix family) – From the ocean to the land, curious Kelp learns more about himself by going on fun-filled adventures with his unicorn friends and narwhal family.
Tuesday, January 23
Jacqueline Novak: Get on Your Knees (Netflix comedy) – Comedian Jacqueline Novak’s break-out hit stand-up show about the blowjob is coming to Netflix. A word-of-mouth sensation Off-Broadway, directed for the stage by John Early, the show first took off in 2019, where audience members showed for repeat viewings across multiple sold-out runs. A Time’s Critic’s Pick, the show earned Jacqueline a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance. Over the last few years, Novak has toured the show nationally and abroad, and enjoyed sell-out stints at Largo Los Angeles. This year, Novak teamed up with director Natasha Lyonne and cinematographer Sam Levy (Rothaniel, Lady Bird) to film the show’s final performance as a concert film-meets-comedy special at historic Town Hall in New York City. Ostensibly a 90-minute stand-up set about the blowjob, it is both raunchy and poignant, an unexpectedly philosophical, coming-of-age tale of triumph that pushes the boundaries of stand-up.
Train to Busan
Wednesday, January 24
Six Nations: Full Contact (Netflix documentary) – Round by round, match by match, the best teams in Europe battle it out to take home the trophy in the 2023 Six Nations Championship.
Queer Eye: Season 8 (Netflix series) – The Fab Five return to the city of New Orleans to jazz up the lives of their heroes — one emotional makeover at a time.
Thursday, January 25
Griselda (Netflix series) – Griselda is inspired by the life of the savvy and ambitious Griselda Blanco, who created one of the most profitable cartels in history. In 1970s-80s Miami, Blanco’s lethal blend of unsuspected savagery and charm helped her expertly navigate between business and family, leading her to become widely known as “the Godmother.” Starring and executive produced by Sofia Vergara, the dramatic limited series is created by Narcos and Narcos: Mexico showrunner Eric Newman, who comes to the title alongside Narcos director Andrés Baiz, who directs all six episodes. The series is co-created by Doug Miro, Ingrid Escajeda & Carlo Bernard and Executive Produced by Newman, Baiz, Miro, Escajeda, Bernard, along with Vergara and Luis Balaguer with Latin World Entertainment. In addition to Vergara, the series stars Alberto Guerra, Christian Tappan, Martín Rodríguez, Juliana Aidén Martinez, Vanessa Ferlito and, making her on screen debut, Carolina Giraldo (a.k.a Karol G).
Masters of the Universe: Revolution (Netflix series) – The final instalment of Kevin Smith’s animated adult version of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
Friday, January 26
The Blacklist: Season 10
Love is Blind: Sweden (Netflix series, new episodes) – The unique dating experiment lands in Sweden as local singles seek true love and propose marriage — all before seeing each other in person.
Saturday, January 27
Doctor Slump (Netflix series)
Sunday, January 28
Love is Blind: Sweden (Netflix series, new episodes) – The unique dating experiment lands in Sweden as local singles seek true love and propose marriage — all before seeing each other in person.
Monday, January 29
Mighty Bheem’s Playtime (Netflix family) – When Mumma Bheem gets a new job as the palace Chef, it’s time for Bheem to start school.
Tuesday, January 30
Jack Whitehall: Settle Down (Netflix comedy) – A new special from Jack Whitehall.
Wednesday, January 31
Alexander the Great (Netflix documentary) – Combining expert interviews with gripping reenactments, this docudrama explores the life of Alexander the Great through his conquest of the Persian Empire.
Baby Bandito (Netflix series) – After Kevin and his gang pull off Chile’s biggest heist, reckless love — and social media — threatens to ruin everyone’s fortunes. Inspired by real events.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse: Part 1 (JP) (Netflix anime) – As a prophesy of doom unfolds upon the peaceful land of Britannia, a pure-hearted boy sets out on a journey of discovery — and revenge.
Wil (Netflix film) – Two young police officers find themselves torn between collaboration and resistance as they navigate the Nazi-occupied Antwerp during World War II.
Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) has launched a pilot program called "Ready for Home," which features a clothing hub and supply depot. At the former location of the Peterborough Humane Society at 385 Lansdowne Street, a small number of people experiencing homelessness work alongside community volunteers one day a week to clean, repair, and package clothing items and basic supplies to help unsheltered people during the brisk months ahead. (Photo: Margaret Slavin / PATH)
Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) and partners are launching a new initiative where people experiencing homelessness help other unsheltered people survive the winter.
In partnership with the Elizabeth Fry Society and Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region, PATH’s “Ready for Home” pilot program features a clothing hub and supply depot.
At the former location of the Peterborough Humane Society at 385 Lansdowne Street, a small number of people experiencing homelessness work alongside community volunteers one day a week to clean, repair, and package clothing items and basic supplies to help unsheltered people during the brisk months ahead.
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“The idea for Ready for Home came from our amazing, collaborative steering committee,” Erin Boshart of PATH told kawarthaNOW. “We were seeing delays in being able to prepare the living cabins and wanted to create a way to build community and provide support in other ways for those with unstable housing.”
Tony D’Amato Stortz of BetterStreet — a Toronto-based group that provides consulting services for organizations supporting people experiencing homelessness — helped guide PATH towards using its current space to create this program.
“The plan really was a product of our team being able to work together to find innovative solutions to reach our greater goals,” Boshart said.
Tony D’Amato Stortz (left) of BetterStreet, a Toronto-based group that provides consulting services for organizations supporting people experiencing homelessness, helped guide Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) towards using its current space at 385 Lansdowne Street in Peterborough to create the “Ready for Home” pilot program. Also pictured is a prototype sleeping cabin, one of 30 that will eventually be built at the location. (Photo courtesy of PATH)
Along with preparing clothing items and basic supplies for unsheltered people, the program gives people with barriers to housing a meaningful way to build community, learn and practise skills, and contribute back where there is need.
Donated items are dropped off by appointment, processed on site, and redistributed to Peterborough charities and organizations.
The items are not available for pickup at the Lansdowne Street location, but are instead processed through the supply hub to provide additional support to existing street-level efforts.
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“The best thing that could happen to Ready for Home is for the greater Peterborough community, businesses, and residents to support it,” Boshart said.
“We are open to volunteers of all kinds coming to help (with) our efforts in doing laundry and providing supplies. We would love to see local businesses show support by partnering with us and providing services. We want to build connections and it would be great if we had rotating events to highlight these connections.”
“We want to earn the trust of the local neighbours and see Ready for Home grow until we are doing things like laundry, cooking, gardening, and other activities not just once a week, but as part of the tiny home community once it is approved and constructed.”
On August 2, 2023, representatives of Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) met with Susan Zambonin of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (back right) for the official signing of the lease agreement between Habitat for Humanity and PATH for the former site of the Peterborough Humane Society at 385 Lansdowne Street. The site will eventually house 30 sleeping cabins for unsheltered people. (Photo courtesy of PATH)
PATH said its continuing to conduct due diligence towards site grading and zoning requirements to construct sleeping cabins on the property leased through Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region.
In the meantime, according to PATH interim board chair Margaret Slavin in a media release, “we are thrilled to be using the space to create this program while we keep pressing forward with the approval process for constructing our cabin community.”
“Having a small number of participants enrolled in this weekly program allows us to build the kind of community we hope for once members are able to live on site,” Slavin said. “The goal has always been to have an array of skill-building activities within a tiny home community as participants work toward more stable housing solutions.”
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Those who take part can gain trust with the local community and spend at least one day a week out of the cold and in a warm and dry facility, where basics like food and running water are accessible, Slavin noted.
The access to clean and warm clothing items “can literally save lives” as temperatures drop, she said.
For more information about how to donate or volunteer, visit PATH’s website at www.pathptbo.org.
Kawartha Wildlife Centre in Ennismore was forced to close its doors in June 2023 due to shortfall in volunteers combined with the resignation of the centre's authorized wildlife custodian. With no government funding for wildlife rehabilitation in Ontario, the centre is launching an appeal for $200,000 in donations by June 20, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Wildlife Centre)
It’s been said that a society can be judged by the way it treats its animals, but that isn’t what drives Thom Luloff and all those associated with the Kawartha Wildlife Centre.
Rather, their compassion is rooted in something less lofty but no less sincere — that caring for injured and sick wildlife is simply the right thing to do.
Until this past June when it announced what was termed a temporary shutdown, the Ennismore-based volunteer-run charitable wildlife rehabilitation organization was able to do its important work. Then the money ran out.
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At that point, Luloff, chair of the centre’s board, in conjunction with board members, had two options: call it a day or find a way to eventually re-open the centre with an eye on its sustainability over the years ahead.
“It would have been very easy to say ‘We’re done,'” admits Luloff, adding “lots of discussion” followed the closure with a number of centre-saving options considered.
“We spent seven years building this organization and doing this service for the community, and we met some great people along the way, but we had never done a community-wide appeal. We decided, as a board, to do that. Let’s put this out to the community. This is our last chance (to keep the centre open).”
VIDEO: Kawartha Wildlife Centre featuring Thom Luloff
The result is an ambitious fundraising campaign that was launched last Friday (December 8), the goal being to raise $200,000 by June 1, 2024. As of this writing, some $25,000 had come in.
“We don’t want to see the centre close (permanently) but it will if this appeal isn’t successful,” says Luloff.
“The ball is in the community’s court. We’ve done everything we can to try and keep us going, through the pandemic, through huge inflation with massive cost increases — it’s been a real challenge. We’re a young charity. We didn’t have a whole lot of years before COVID.”
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While the organization was founded in 2017, the centre itself opened in 2019 at 470 Robinson Road in Ennismore. Since then, its volunteers has cared for more than 2,000 wildlife ‘patients’ ranging from porcupines to great blue herons to owls — 134 species in total. Since opening, the patient caseload has increased by close to 350 per cent.
Back in June, a shortfall in volunteers combined with the resignation of the centre’s authorized wildlife custodian — to legally practice wildlife rehabilitation in Ontario, a person must by authorized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry — forced the difficult decision to close the doors and examine a possible course forward.
Of note, the centre has always been reliant on community support, a reality necessitated by the fact that it isn’t eligible for any government funding as spelled out in Ontario’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. That, says Luloff, means all wildlife rehabilitation providers in the province “have to go the charitable route.”
Since opening at 470 Robinson Road in Ennismore in 2019, Kawartha Wildlife Centre has cared for more than 2,000 wildlife ‘patients’ ranging from porcupines to great blue herons to owls. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Wildlife Centre)
While raising the funds needed to re-open is one challenge, another is securing enough volunteers to keep it operating as it has. However, Luloff says if the fundraising campaign falls short of its target, that will be a moot point.
“As we get closer to spring, when things gets busy and it looks we can re-open, we’ll be putting out a call for volunteers,” he says. “We’ve always been a volunteer model with very dollar going toward wildlife care. We can’t attract the same number of volunteers that we did before the pandemic. Life has changed for a lot of people. We can’t continue to operate as a volunteer-run-only organization. We still have a need for volunteers but they can’t be it because it (wildlife care) is a 24-7 job.”
“At this point, it’s about the money. We don’t want people to step forward and say ‘Yeah, I want to come and help’ if there’s no money to hire staff. We’re not going to open if we’re not able to do that.”
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Should the campaign hit its target goal or ideally surpass it, Luloff says the board has looked beyond the immediate need, adopting a plan that will ensure there’s “a sustainable pot of money to take us forward.”
“This campaign is about setting us up and making sure we have a three-year buffer to be able to continue our service forever — sustainability moving forward with at least one full-time staff person whose role would also include some fundraising, some purpose-built pieces. That’s the missing piece that will allow us to be able to do our work going forward as opposed to relying on volunteers only.”
While he’s “encouraged” by the community response to date, Luloff says he’s well aware “that these are exceptionally challenging times for people. The socioeconomic challenges we are facing in this area are huge.”
ince opening at 470 Robinson Road in Ennismore in 2019, Kawartha Wildlife Centre has seen its ‘patient’ caseload increase by close to 350 per cent. According to board chair Thom Luloff, almost every single patient admitted to the centre is the result of some sort of human-wildlife interaction that ended negatively. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Wildlife Centre)
“There are so many charities that are on the verge (of shutting down permanently), just like we are,” Luloff notes. “The need has never been stronger and the resources have never been lower. I’m very much aware it’s a large ask and that there are a lot of competing priorities.”
That said, the centre is making it as easy as possible for people to give, the simplest way being online at www.kawarthawildlifecentre.ca where a link will take visitors to the Canada Helps donation page. The centre will also accept cheques mailed to 470 Robinson Road, Ennismore, Ontario K0L 1T0.
“If people are unsure if they want to donate now, they can pledge money. We’ve created a pledge form on our website with pledges due on June 30th. So if you want to give but don’t want to donate until you’re sure the centre will re-open, we encourage you to pledge money. That way you’re not out of pocket if the centre doesn’t re-open. We’ll cancel the pledge if we’re not reopening.”
Tax receipts are issued for donations. In the case of pledges, they will be issued for the 2024 taxation year.
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Meanwhile, calls are being made to potential corporate donors, with Luloff noting every option is on the table, including naming rights for the centre.
If the campaign target is hit by June 30 — the total of money received and money pledged — and required staff and volunteers are in place, the centre will re-open, possibly as early as July 1. In the event the campaign hits its goal earlier, an earlier opening date is possible.
Luloff, a conservation biology professor at Fleming College, is hoping for the best.
To legally practise wildlife rehabilitation in Ontario, a person must by authorized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. When Kawartha Wildlife Centre in Ennismore lost its authorized wildlife custodian in June 2023, it could no longer accept sick or injured wildlife and closed its doors. The centre’s closure leaves most of the Kawarthas region without a wildlife rehabilitation option, with the closest authorized wildlife custodians being in Minden, Bowmanville, and Pefferlaw. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Wildlife Centre)
“This work is a labour of love,” Luloff says. “Sadly, there’s a lot of pain and distress you deal with. We see animals at their worst. Hit by a car, damaged in some way, injured, sick … we see a lot of sadness. All of us have come to do this work usually because we’ve seen something and tried to do something about it and realized ‘Wait, there’s nothing available’.”
“What keeps us here is knowing that there are a lot of people who do care and want to see wildlife not affected by humans as much as it is. Almost every single patient brought in isn’t brought to us by accident. There’s been some sort of human-wildlife interaction that ended negatively.”
“We are so fortunate to be in Canada where we have this nature around us and yet we’re one of the few countries that does absolutely nothing in terms of helping animals when they need help. That’s why we exist. There is a gap between what we’re doing on the ground for these animals versus what they need.”
For more information about the Kawartha Wildlife Centre and to make a donation or pledge, visit www.kawarthawildlifecentre.ca.
Roter's Reach Mental Health Awareness will be officially launched later in December in memory of Apsley resident Eric Roter, who passed away on September 25, 2023 at the age of 32. (Photo courtesy of Roter family)
Eric Roter had a mental health illness and supportive family members, but no matter where they turned for help they hit barriers, his sister says.
Eric, who lived in Big Cedar and Apsley in recent years, passed away on September 25, 2023 following his battle with bipolar disorder and, ultimately, “a lack of resources” according to Haley Scriver.
He was 32.
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Scriver and her family, devastated by her brother’s loss, are officially launching a new association and fundraising campaign in Eric’s memory on Tuesday, December 19th. Roter’s Reach Mental Health Awareness will strive to raise awareness and money to support mental health supports and services.
Scriver, who lives in Young’s Point, has been sharing on social media insights into her brother and his life.
“I’m working on completing Eric’s story,” Scriver said in an interview with kawarthaNOW. “Obviously, it’s not the easiest thing to do.”
The family said in the pursuit of providing assistance and resources during Eric’s journey with bipolar disorder, as well as support following his passing, they discovered “a significant gap in available aid.”
“He was just failed at every step, and he couldn’t have had a more loving, supportive family on both sides,” Scriver said, referring to Eric’s own family and his wife’s.
“We weren’t helped at any step,” she added, noting she reached out to crisis lines, police, and the local hospital, for example. “We just had to watch my brother destroy his life because he was mentally ill.”
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Eric, owner of Roter’s Reach Property Maintenance, was an avid angler and a chicken wing connoisseur.
“He loved any excuse for a good crokinole or cornhole match, and he had an uncontrollable sweet tooth,” his obituary reads.
“He was always the first person to lend a hand or help a friend in need. He was best known by those closest to him as a fiercely loyal friend, for his strong belief in vigilante justice, and for his comedic timing, which was unparalleled. Eric has impacted the lives of so many people, and to know Eric was to love him.”
To honour Eric’s memory and address unmet needs in mental health supports, Roter’s Reach is accepting donations and offering signature merchandise for sale.
All proceeds raised by Roter’s Reach will be donated to programs or organizations that support people who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the family noted.
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Scriver said she and her family are still determining the specific organization or effort that will benefit from the fundraising campaign.
“Once the most fitting cause or causes come to light, Roter’s Reach plans to make a significant donation in support of these initiatives.”
Scriver hopes that, by coming together as a community, the association can help bridge the gap and create a lasting impact on the lives of those in need.
For more information or to make a donation, visit the Roter’s Reach website at rotersreach.ca.
On December 15, 2023, the City of Peterborough will host a lighting ceremony for a 35-foot-tall local spruce tree installed on November 30 in Quaker Foods City Square in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Treescape Certified Arborists / Facebook)
The City of Peterborough will be celebrating the holiday season with a community tree-lighting ceremony at Quaker Foods City Square in downtown Peterborough late Friday afternoon (December 15).
With the help of Treescape Certified Arborists, a 23-year-old spruce tree from Ennismore was cut down and installed in the public square on Charlotte Street near Aylmer on November 30.
On Friday, the Peterborough Singers choir will perform seasonal songs before Mayor Jeff Leal flips the switch at 5:30 p.m. to turn on the lights adorning the 35-foot tall tree.
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“Quaker Foods City Square brought a tremendous amount of energy to the downtown last winter with thousands of people enjoying the new outdoor skating rink,” Mayor Leal says in a media release. “The tree will add to the festive spirit and vibrancy. I look forward to celebrating the season with the community at the upcoming tree-lighting event.”
The outdoor skating rink may also be open on Friday for skating for the first time this season, but don’t count on it. According to the city, recent warm temperatures and rain have presented a challenge for icemaking at the outdoor rink. Currently, the weather forecast is calling a high temperature of 8°C on Friday.
When the outdoor skating rink does open, skate rentals will be offered for the first time. The city is sponsoring Runner’s Life at 174 Charlotte Street to offer an inventory of rental skates as well as helmets and skate-sharpening services.
Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal addressing city council during the meeting on December 11, 2023 that saw the city's 2024 budget approved. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of City of Peterborough livestream)
At its meeting on Monday night (December 11), Peterborough city council approved a 2024 budget that would see a residential property tax hike of seven per cent.
This is less than the 7.38 per cent increase in the draft budget recommended by council’s finance committee on November 21, which was itself a decrease from the 9.59 per cent increase in the original draft budget.
Still, the seven per cent increase is more than twice as much as the 3.15 per cent rate increase in the 2023 budget. It would add $10.17 per month, or $122.02 for the year, to residential taxes for each $100,000 of property assessment. For a home assessed at $600,000, this would be an increase of $732.12 for the year.
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During a breakfast meeting with Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal hosted by Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce on November 21, the mayor called the 2024 budget “a course correction budget to avoid a series of double-digit increases down the road.”
At Monday’s meeting, councillor and finance committee chair Andrew Beamer said the budget will improve maintenance of city roads and infrastructure as well as municipal services, while expressing concern about the size of the tax hike.
“We do need to make key strategic improvements in the community to ensure that we are not falling behind and that we are moving forward,” Beamer said. “This has to be a one-time budget situation. This can’t become the norm. We need to work together for a more manageable budget next year.”
One of the major changes from the original draft budget to reduce the residential tax increase from 9.59 per cent to 7.39 per cent was shifting around $3 million in taxes from residential properties to commercial and industrial properties by increasing the tax ratio for both commercial and industrial property classes from 1.5 to 1.65 — reversing a trend of decreasing the ratios in previous years.
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A little over a week after hosting the mayor’s breakfast meeting, the Chamber issued a media release objecting to the decision and urging city council to reconsider.
“It’s disappointing that the finance committee would recommend a significant change in economic policy, a policy that was drafted with thorough consultation with local businesses, to give residents the appearance of a reduced tax increase,” said the Chamber’s president and CEO Sarah Budd. “We routinely hear from our government leaders that there is one taxpayer. Shifting $3 million in tax levy to one group of property owners and calling it savings for another does not give the impression that we are all in this together.”
To further reduce the residential tax hike form 7.38 to seven percent, some of the changes from the finance committee version of the budget include using $1.31 million instead of $800,000 in investment interest generated from the sale of Peterborough Distribution Inc. to Hydro One, increasing transit fares to generate an additional $100,000 in revenue, and deferring $150,000 from the Sherbrooke Street reconstruction class environmental assessment project.
The approved budget also increases grants by 1.5 per cent to certain community organizations including Artspace, Community Care Peterborough, Peterborough Musicfest, Peterborough GreenUP, New Canadians Centre, and more. The original draft budget has proposed reductions of around 3.6 per cent in funding for the organizations.
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As part of the 2024 budget, council decided to set aside $226,021 in payments to Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development for physician recruitment. The funds will remain in reserve until council considers a report early in the new year about hiring a physician recruiter.
Council also did not support increasing the budget by $374,686.45 to allow for the purchase of a electric heavy-duty vehicle for wastewater collection to replace an existing diesel truck that is due for replacement. At its general committee meeting on December 4, council had endorsed the increase of $604,644.17 for the vehicle purchase — which would include immediate delivery of the vehicle, two heavy-duty electric vehicle charging stations, staff training, and more — instead of $248,892.46 for a new diesel truck that would be delivered in two to three years.
Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal presented the 2024 budget to council on Monday night under the new Strong Mayor Powers created by the Ontario government. The mayor’s budget incorporated all the changes recommended by council during its deliberations. Under the Strong Mayor Powers, council can amend the proposed budget by passing a resolution within a 30-day review period. The mayor then has 10 days from the end of the council review period to veto any council amendment.
Environment Canada has issued a snow squall watch for much of the Kawarthas region for Tuesday night (December 12) and Wednesday.
The snow squall watch is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, and southern Haliburton County.
Lake effect snow squalls are expected to develop Tuesday evening or overnight in the wake of a passing cold front and affect areas east of Georgian Bay and portions of the Bruce Peninsula. These snow squalls will will continue into Wednesday afternoon before weakening by Wednesday evening.
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Under the snow squall bands, visibility will be significantly reduced due to the heavy snow combined with blowing snow, and snow will quickly accumulate. Locally heavy snowfall with total amounts of 10 to 25 cm is expected in the northern Peterborough County, northern Kawartha Lakes, and southern Haliburton County, with 10 to 20 cm expected in southern Peterborough County and southern Kawartha Lakes.
Snow squalls cause weather conditions to vary considerably, commonly shifting from clear skies to heavy snow within just a few kilometres. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow.
Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.
This story has been updated with the latest forecast from Environment Canada.
Peterborough's artist-run centre Artspace turns 50 in 2024. It was founded in 1974 by late artists Dennis Tourbin and David Bierk and was originally located at 440 Water Street at Brock Street, a building that no longer exists. (Photo: Artspace website)
Peterborough’s Artspace, one of Canada’s oldest artist-run art centres, is about to turn 50. The non-profit organization will be celebrating its semicentennial year in 2024.
Artspace was founded in 1974 by late artists Dennis Tourbin and David Bierk along with a collective of other artists, with Bierk remaining director of the artists’ collective until 1987.
Tourbin passed away in 1998 at the age of 53 from a massive stroke and Bierk passed away in 2002 at the age of 58 as a result of complications from leukemia. Artspace’s original curator, Joe Stable, continues to practise art in his downtown Peterborough studio at the age of 74.
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The organization was incorporated as a non-profit charity in 1977, and offered a multi-disciplinary program that included new music, dance, poetry, film, video, and performance art.
Artspace was originally located at 440 Water Street at Brock Street, a building that no longer exists. It was later located for several years on the second floor of 188-190 Hunter Street West (where La Hacienda and Sam’s Place are now). In 1984, Artspace relocated to and operated the Market Hall, after the venue was converted from a gymnasium into a performing arts centre.
Artspace remained at the Market Hall until the early 1990s, when funding issues forced the organization to drop the performance aspect of its programming. In 1994, the dance component was taken over by Peterborough New Dance with founding director Bill Kimball, who had curated Artspace’s dance program from 1980 to 1994. Peterborough New Dance would later become Public Energy Performing Arts.
A photo outside Artspace in 1976, showing co-founder David Bierk (front row), Joe Stable (front right, wearing suspenders). Others pictured in the photo include Tobey Anderson, Eric Loder, Dorothy Caldwell, and David’s first wife Kathleen Hunter-Bierk. (Photo courtesy of Alex Bierk)
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In all, Artspace had six locations in Peterborough — including at King and George Street, where its archives were either destroyed or badly damaged after the great flood of Peterborough in July 2004 — before opening at its current site at 378 Aylmer Street North in 2006.
Artspace has unveiled a 50th anniversary logo designed by Cameron Noble and will be launching its semicentennial year with a group members’ exhibition that opens on Friday, January 5th.
Also celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024 is the Art Gallery of Peterborough, whose curator Fynn Leitch was director at Artspace from 2010 to 2014.
Artspace Peterborough’s semicentennial logo by Cameron Noble. (Photo courtesy of Artspace)
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