Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for most of the greater Kawarthas region for Tuesday and Wednesday (July 19 and 20).
The heat warning is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawarthas Lakes, Northumberland County, and Hastings County.
Hot and humid conditions are expected Tuesday and Wednesday, with daytime high temperatures reaching near 31°C and humidex values in the upper 30s. Tuesday’s overnight low near 20°C will provide little relief from the heat.
Advertisement - content continues below
Slightly cooler temperatures are expected by Thursday.
Hot and humid air can also bring deteriorating air quality and can result in the Air Quality Health Index approaching the high-risk category. Symptoms of heat illness including dizziness or fainting, nausea or vomiting, rapid breathing and heartbeat, extreme thirst, and decreased urination with unusually dark urine. The effects of heat illness including swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and the worsening of some health conditions.
Keep your house cool. Block the sun by closing curtains or blinds. Seek a cool place such as a tree-shaded area, swimming pool, shower or bath, or air-conditioned spot like a public building. Never leave people or pets inside a parked vehicle.
In Peterborough, One Roof Community Centre at 99 Brock Street will be open extended hours from 1 to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday and from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday. A lunch meal will be served between 1 and 2 p.m. Outdoor water bottle filling stations are available at Beavermead Park, Eastgate Park, and the Peterborough Marina, as well as at the Peterborough Public Library from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sarah Heydon of The Pearly Acre (second row, middle) and Jeremy Poulin of Red Mill Maple Syrup and Robyn Ivory Pierson of Indigenously Infused (bottom row) are three entrepreneurs in the County of Peterborough who have each been awarded a $3,000 'Spark' seed grant and mentorship. In the City of Peterborough, Kassy Scott of Rare Escape, Polina Ratnichkina of Camping Equipment Rentals, and Luke Farley of Big Top Productions (Buskers Fest) were also awarded the seed grant and mentorship. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
Six entrepreneurs in the city and county of Peterborough have each been awarded a $3,000 seed grant and mentorship to help them get started with their new tourism ideas under the inaugural Peterborough & the Kawarthas “Spark” Mentorships & Grants Program.
The non-profit Tourism Innovation Lab at the University of Windsor first launched the program in Windsor-Essex in 2018, and it has since expanded to more than 20 regions in Ontario and British Columbia — including in Peterborough this past May.
The goal of the program is to find, foster, and support new tourism ideas that will enhance current offerings, address gaps or challenges, motivate travel and longer stays, and increase year-round visits. Program organizers are especially interested in experiential and sustainable culinary tourism and agritourism tourism ideas as well as ideas that address the shoulder season.
Advertisement - content continues below
The Peterborough & the Kawarthas program received 16 applications, with the top five from the City of Peterborough and the top five from the County of Peterborough being invited to present their new tourism ideas at virtual pitch sessions. Judge panels of local partner representatives and tourism innovators from outside the region selected three winning applicants from the city and from the county.
The three winners for the City of Peterborough are Kassy Scott of Rare Escape, Polina Ratnichkina of Camping Equipment Rentals, and Luke Farley of Big Top Productions (Buskers Fest). The three winners for the County of Peterborough are Sarah Heydon of The Pearly Acre (Bunkie Resort), Jeremy Poulin of Red Mill Maple Syrup, and Robyn Ivory Pierson of Indigenously Infused.
The “Spark” program is led by the Tourism Innovation Lab in collaboration with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism, a division of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) and the official destination marketing organization for the City and County of Peterborough.
Advertisement - content continues below
“It’s a privilege to work with these six local tourism innovators and our team looks forward to assisting and promoting these businesses as they grow,” says Joe Rees, director of tourism for Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, in a media release. “We are excited by the prospect of supporting the development of new tourism products which will add more attractive options for visitors to our region.”
In addition to seed funds, mentorship, and additional partner support, selected applicants gain access to a network of tourism innovators, entrepreneurs. and leaders across the province.
The Last Waltz (A Musical Celebration of The Band) performs at Peterborough Musicfest in Del Crary Park at 8 p.m. on July 20, 2022. (Publicity photo)
In 2010, after performing with a group of musicians at the Kitchener Blues Festival, two-time Juno award-winning producer Lance Anderson knew they had stumbled upon something very special.
Peterborough Musicfest presents The Last Waltz (A Musical Celebration of The Band)
When: Wednesday, July 20, 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.
That inaugural performance of The Last Waltz — a celebration of The Band’s final live show of the same name on November 25, 1976 at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom — struck all the right chords with its audience. Twelve years and countless performances later, the magic of that night still resonates in a big way, not only for fans of the famed quintet’s timeless music but equally for those just now discovering the slice-of-Americana sound The Band brought forth.
On Wednesday, July 20th at Del Crary Park, Anderson will lead an ensemble of award-winning musicians in The Last Waltz (A Musical Celebration of The Band) as Peterborough Musicfest’s 35th season continues. As has been the case since July 1987, admission to the 8 p.m. concert is free.
Advertisement - content continues below
Besides serving up a generous selection of the music performed on that special evening close to 46 years ago, the concert will feature a tribute to the late Ronnie Hawkins, featuring Peterborough’s own The Weber Brothers — Ryan and Sam — who were members of Hawkins’ band The Hawks.
During The Band’s farewell show, Hawkins — backed by Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, and Richard Manuel — performed his signature hit “Who Do You Love?” as a rousing salute to the band that backed him from 1958 to 1963, when they were known as The Hawks.
Also in the mix for the Musicfest show will be guest performers Chuck Jackson (of Downchild Blues Band fame), Johnny Max, Matt Weidinger, and Quisha Wint, while Anderson (keyboards/vocals) will lead a stellar band featuring Helm’s godson Jerome Levon Avis (drums/vocals).
VIDEO: “The Weight” performed by The Last Waltz (A Musical Celebration of The Band)
Other band members are Terry Blersh (guitar), Wayne Deadder (bass), and Rob Gusevs (organ), with a stellar horn section comprised of David Dunlop (trumpet), Simon Wallis (baritone sax), Gord Meyers (trombone) and Chris Murphy (tenor sax).
In a 2015 interview with Patrick Langston of The Ottawa Citizen, Anderson recalled the inaugural Kitchener performance of The Last Waltz and what followed.
“Not only were we not ready for the audience’s response — people were crying, it was very emotional — but we had so much fun doing it that we went, ‘Well, we shouldn’t just do this once,'” he said, adding “We play in the style of The Band, not a note-for-note impersonation.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Jerome Levon Avis — whose father Bill Avis, a Peterborough resident, was The Band’s road manager and, as such, was stage side at 1976 The Last Waltz concert — learned to play the drums with his godfather’s guidance.
“A lot of people say I play in Levon’s style, the way I attack the drums,” noted Avis in the same Ottawa Citizen article. “I’d always be at him to show me different things. I have a picture of Levon showing me licks on an old baseball glove when I was eight. I had it blown up and it’s on the front of my bass drum.”
Avis’ connection to Helm is as emotionally overwhelming today as it ever was. When a reprised version of The Band, including Helm, went on tour after the original group members parted ways, the Avis family sometimes joined them.
Jerome Levon Avis, pictured with his godfather the late Levon Helm, will be performing with The Last Waltz (A Musical Celebration of The Band) at Peterborough Musicfest on July 20, 2022. (Photo courtesy of Jerome Levon Avis)
“My sister (Rebecca) and I spent summers on the road with the guys,” recalled Avis. “It was a pretty interesting childhood.”
In 2012, after the Arkansas-born Helm died of cancer at age 71, Jerome and his father were among a select few invited to his private wake in Woodstock, New York.
“Levon was a beautiful soul,” Avis said. I miss him.”
VIDEO: “Who Do You Love” – Ronnie Hawkins with The Band (from The Last Waltz film)
VIDEO: “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down Scene” – The Band (from The Last Waltz film)
At Peterborough Musicfest, Anderson et al will perform a number of The Band’s timeless songs, including “The Weight,” “The Night They Drove Ol’ Dixie Down,” “Up On Cripple Creek,” “Life Is A Carnival,” “The Shape I’m In,” “Rag Mama Rag,” and “Ophelia,” along with songs that were performed by The Band’s special guests all those years ago — an impressive lineup that featured Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Van Morrison, and Ronnie Hawkins.
Formed in Toronto in 1967, after parting ways with Hawkins in 1963 over personal differences and performing as Bob Dylan’s backing band in 1965 and 1966, The Band revealed itself as something very special with its critically acclaimed debut album Music From Big Pink in 1968, followed by a series of studio and live albums until 1977, with all five original members performing together for the last time in 1978.
The Band was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Meanwhile The Last Waltz film, directed by Martin Scorsese and released in 1978, is hailed as one of the greatest concert documentaries ever made.
Advertisement - content continues below
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.
A four-year-old boy has died in hospital after he suffered life-threatening injuries when a golf cart rolled over on Villiers Line east of Keene on Sunday afternoon (July 17).
At around 12:20 p.m. on Sunday, Peterborough County OPP and emergency services were called to the scene of the collision.
A golf cart with six people on board was travelling southbound on Villiers Line, near Bellmere Winds Golf Course, when it rolled over.
Advertisement - content continues below
The four-year-old boy was airlifted to a Toronto-area trauma centre with life-threatening injuries. A woman was transported to Peterborough Regional Health Centre with minor injuries.
Villiers Line south of County Road 2 was closed for several hours while police documented the scene.
On Tuesday, police reported the four-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries in hospital and was pronounced dead. Police have not released the name of the boy.
Police continue to investigate the cause of the roll-over. Anyone who may have witnessed the incidient or has video footage and has not yet spoken with police is asked to contact the Peterborough County OPP at 705-742-0401 or 1-888-310-1122.
This story has been updated to indicate the injured boy has died in hospital.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for rainfall in the most southern areas of the greater Kawarthas region on Monday (July 18).
Rainfall amounts of 25 to 50 mm of rain are possible on Monday in Northumberland County and southern Hastings County.
Localized ponding of water in low-lying areas is also possible.
Advertisement - content continues below
Further north in the greater Kawarthas region, including in southern Peterborough County and southern Kawartha Lakes, 15 to 25 mm of rain are possible.
There is also a risk of thunderstorms in these areas.
Rain is expected to dissipate by early Monday evening.
Jo Haydock, Sarah Quick, Kevin Sepau, and Matthew Olver will play more than 30 characters with multiple costume changes in Globus Theatre's Canadian premiere production of John Nicholson's "The Three Musketeers," a riotous adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' classic 1844 novel originally performed by physical-comedy theatre company Le Navet Bete on a UK tour in 2019. The comedy runs for nine performances from July 20 to 30, 2022 at the Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon. (Supplied photos)
For the third play of its 19th season, Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon presents the Canadian premiere of the epic comedy adventure The Three Musketeers, running for nine performances from July 20 to 30 at the Lakeview Arts Barn at 2300 Pigeon Lake Road.
Globus Theatre presents The Three Musketeers
When: July 20-23 & 26-30, 2022 at 8 p.m.; July 23 and 28, 2022 at 2 p.m. Where: Lakeview Arts Barn (2300 Pigeon Lake Rd., Bobcayegon) How much: $42.50 ($32.50 students) theatre only; $85 ($75 students) dinner theatre
Adapted from the Alexandre Dumas novel by John Nicholson and Le Navet Bete. Directed by James Barrett and starring Jo Haydock, Sarah Quick, Kevin Sepau, and Matthew Olver. For tickets, call the box office at 705-738-2037 or order online at www.globustheatre.com.
Written by John Nicholson, this riotous adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic 1844 novel was originally performed by physical-comedy theatre company Le Navet Bete on a UK tour in 2019, with four actors playing more than 30 characters with multiple costume changes.
The play follows young and naive D’Artagnan as he sets out for Paris — armed only with a baguette and his loyal but problematic steed — on a quest to become a King’s musketeer.
After discovering that the musketeers have been disbanded, he makes it his mission to get them reinstated — but an encounter with the dangerous femme fatale Milady de Winter may prove to be his downfall.
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
Globus Theatre is no stranger to Nicholson’s work, having produced his staged version of The Hound of Baskervilles in 2013. Like that spoof of Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic tale, The Three Musketeers is the type of performance style at which Globus excels: where a handful of talented actors take on a multitude of roles to tell a classic story with a comedic spin.
Directed by James Barrett, the Globus Theatre production of The Three Musketeers stars Jo Haydock, Sarah Quick, Kevin Sepau, and Matthew Olver, each of whom have performed in similar Globus productions — Haydock in 2014’s Fanny Hill, Quick in 2011’s The 39 Steps and 2018’s Sunshine Express, Sepaul in 2009’s The Woman in Black, and Olver in 2013’s The Hound of the Baskervilles.
“Globus Theatre has always been known for bringing fringe-style theatre to the mainstream stage,” says Quick, who is also Globus Theatre’s artistic director. “This play is a great example of that — a minimal set and simple props but a fantastic tale told with theatrical flair. It is very Monty Python-esque in its humour and we know our audiences will enjoy the laughter. We are extremely excited to bring this show to life for a Canadian audience for the first time.”
Directed by James Barrett and starring Jo Haydock, Sarah Quick, Kevin Sepau, and Matthew Olver, “The Three Musketeers” runs at 8 p.m. from July 20 to 23 and July 26 to 28, with 2 p.m. matinee performances on July 23 and 28. An optional dinner is available before the evening performances. (Graphic courtesy of Globus Theatre)
The Three Musketeers will be performed at 8 p.m. from Wednesday, July 20 to Saturday, July 23 and again from Tuesday, July 26 to Saturday, July 30, with additional matinee performances at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 23 and Thursday, July 28. An optional three-course table d’hôte menu is available at 6 p.m. prior to every evening performance (reservations required).
“The Three Musketeers is a funny, high-energy romp full of swashbuckling and rollicking adventure, guaranteed to make you smile, laugh and cheer,” reads a media release from Globus.
Tickets are $42.50 ($32.50 for students) for the show only, or $85 ($75 for students) for dinner and the show. To get your tickets, call the box office at 705-738-2037 or order online at www.globustheatre.com.
Round-trip bus transportation from Lock 32 to Globus Theatre is available for selected evening performances at a cost of $10 plus HST by contacting the box office in advance.
The Simcoe Parking Garage is located above the Peterborough Transit Terminal at 190 Simcoe Street in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
After almost 13 months of being closed, the Simcoe Parking Garage in downtown Peterborough will reopen at 6 a.m. on Monday (July 18).
As part of the rehabilitation work on the garage, the City of Peterborough has installed a new automated parking control system, expected to be operational on August 2. Parking at the 190 Simcoe Street structure will be free for all customers between July 18 and August 2.
The new automated parking control system includes gates controlling entry and exit from the garage. Customers will receive their ticket upon entry and need to have the ticket validated before exiting the parking garage. Validated tickets inserted into the machine at the exit will raise the gate arm for the vehicle to leave the parking garage.
Advertisement - content continues below
Customers have a number of options to pay for parking and get their ticket validated.
They can pay by debit or credit card at the machine at the exit by inserting their ticket at the exit gate. They can also pay before proceeding to the exit gate by using payment machines located in the parking garage (there is a 15-minute period after validating a ticket to allow customers to return to their vehicles and proceed to the exit gate). New signs are being installed to guide customers to pay stations, which are fully accessible.
Customers paying by cash can insert their ticket at the new pay station located on the lower level by the elevators and the walkway to the transit platform (the pay station also accepts payment by debit or credit). There is also a new pay station on Level 2A, near the rear stairwell, that accepts only debit or credit for paying for parking and validating parking tickets prior to exit.
Customers can also pay for their parking using their HotSpot account. HotSpot readers are provided on all pay stations for customers to activate the gates using their phones.
Advertisement - content continues below
Monthly pass holders will be issued a new proximity card or be able to obtain an RFID tag to install on their windshields, which will automatically open the gates upon entry and exit from the garage, as long as their monthly permit is active and is renewed prior to the start of the next month.
A deposit will be required for the new proximity cards or RFID tags, which will be refunded when the customer no longer requires a monthly parking pass. Parking staff will be reaching out to current monthly pass holders to arrange for issuing the new cards or customers can call the Parking Division at 705-742-7777 extension 2802 to purchase a monthly parking pass.
After the period of free parking between July 18 and August 2, parking rates remain unchanged and the first hour of parking is free of charge.
Advertisement - content continues below
Work began in June 2021 for an extensive rehabilitation of the Simcoe Parking Garage and the culvert that supports Jackson Creek under the garage.
Work on the garage included replacing the waterproofing system on all levels, repairing deteriorated concrete, painting the entire garage, replacing asphalt on the ground level to the east of the parking structure, replacing damaged parking railings, and completing contrast painting of the stairwells for improved accessibility.
The Simcoe Parking Garage was built in 1974 and last went through a major rehabilitation program between 2002 and 2005. A structural review in 2013 identified the need for repairs, and the first phase of this was completed in 2016. An updated structural review in 2017 confirmed the second phase of repair work to replace the waterproofing system and repair deteriorated concrete.
The project was deferred to 2021 to allow the project to be coordinated with work on the Jackson Creek culvert under the parking garage to realize cost savings and minimize disruptions to the parking garage.
Work on the garage and culvert was completed by Brook Restoration Ltd. at a cost of $4.5 million.
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 Wednesday, July 20, the following beaches are unsafe for swimming:
Lakefield Park, Lakefield (Peterborough County)
Bond Street, Fenelon Falls (City of Kawartha Lakes)
Sandy Bay Beach, Alnwick-Haldimand (Northumberland County)
Advertisement - content continues below
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.
Please note: Although a beach may be open or posted as safe, we recommend avoid swimming for at least 48 hours after recent heavy rainfall or if you cannot see your feet when standing in the water. Water quality can change quickly each day and high bacterial counts may be harmful to your health.
City of Peterborough Beaches (sampled each business day)
Roger’s Cove (131 Maria Street, Peterborough) – sample date 19 July – SAFE
Beavermead Park (2011 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough) – sample date 19 July – SAFE
Peterborough County Beaches (sampled weekly)
Back Dam Park (902 Rock Road, Warsaw, Township of Douro – Dummer) – sample date 12 July – SAFE
Buckhorn Beach (12 John Street, Buckhorn, Municipality of Trent Lakes) – sample date 14 July – SAFE
Crowe’s Line Beach (240 Crowe’s Line Road, Trent Lakes) – sample date 12 July – SAFE
Lance Wood Park, Curve Lake (150 Whetung Street E, Curve Lake) – sample date 12 July – SAFE
Henry’s Gumming, Curve Lake (150 Chemong Street S, Curve Lake) – sample date 12 July – SAFE
Douro North Park (205 Douro Second Line, Township of Douro – Dummer) – sample date 12 July – SAFE
Ennismore Waterfront Park (1053 Ennis Road, Ennismore) – sample date 13 July – SAFE
Hiawatha Beach (1 Lakeshore Road, Hiawatha) – sample date 19 July – SAFE
Jones Beach (908 Jones Beach Road, Bridgenorth) – sample date 13 July – SAFE
Lakefield Park (100 Hague Boulevard, Lakefield) – sample date 19 July – UNSAFE
Norwood Beach at Mill Pond (12 Belmont Street, Norwood) – sample date 19 July – SAFE
Sandy Beach (1239 Lakehurst Road, Municipality of Trent Lakes) – sample date 14 July – SAFE
Selwyn Beach Conservation Area (2251 Birch Island Road, Selwyn) – sample date 19 July – SAFE
Squirrel Creek Conservation Area (2445 Wallace Point Road, South Monaghan) – sample date 19 July – SAFE
Warsaw Caves Conservation Area (289 Caves Road, Warsaw, Township of Douro – Dummer) – sample date 12 July – SAFE
Peterborough County Beaches (sampled monthly)
Belmont Lake (376 Miles of Memories Road, Belmont) – sample date 12 July – SAFE
Chandos Beach (2800 County Road/Highway 620, North Kawartha) – sample date 7 July – SAFE
Kasshabog Lake (431 Peninsula Road, Havelock) – sample date 7 July – SAFE
Quarry Bay (1986 Northey’s Bay Road, Woodview) – sample date 8 July – SAFE
White’s Beach (26 Clearview Drive, Trent Lakes) – sample date 4 July – SAFE
City of Kawartha Lakes
Beach Park – Bobcaygeon – sample date July 12 – SAFE
Birch Point – Fenelon Falls – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Blanchards Road Beach – Bexley – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Bond Street – Fenelon Falls – sample date July 12 – UNSAFE
Burnt River Beach – Somerville – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Centennial Park West – Eldon – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Centennial Beach – Verulam – sample date July 12 – SAFE
Centennial Verulam Parkette – sample date July 12 – SAFE
Four Mile Lake Beach – Somerville – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Head Lake Beach – Laxton – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Norland Bathing Area – Laxton – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Omemee Beach – Emily/ Omemee – sample date July 12 – SAFE
Riverview Beach Park – Bobycaygeon – sample date July 12 – SAFE
Sturgeon Point Beach – Fenelon Falls – sample date July 12 – SAFE
Valentia/ Sandbar Beach – Valentia – sample date July 12 – SAFE
Verulam Recreational Park – Verulam – sample date July 12 – SAFE
Advertisement - content continues below
Haliburton County
Bissett Beach – Minden Hills – sample date July 12 – SAFE
Dorset Parkette – Algonquin Highlands – sample date July 12 – SAFE
Eagle Lake Beach – Dysart et al – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Elvin Johnson Park – Algonquin Highlands – sample date July 12 – SAFE
Forsters Beach – Minden Hills – sample date July 18 – SAFE
Glamour Lake Beach – Highlands East – sample date July 05 – SAFE
Gooderham Lake Beach – Highlands East – sample date July 05 – SAFE
Haliburton Lake Beach – Dysart et al – sample date July 18 – SAFE
Horseshoe Beach – Minden Hills – sample date July 12 – SAFE
Paudash Lake Beach – Highlands East – sample date July 05 – SAFE
Pine Lake Beach – Dysart et al – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Rotary Head Lake Beach – Dysart et al – sample date July 18 – SAFE
Rotary Park Lagoon – Minden Hills – sample date July 18 – SAFE
Rotary Park Main – Minden Hills – sample date July 18 – SAFE
Sandy Cove Beach – Dysart et al – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Sandy Point Beach – Dysart et al – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Slipper Beach – Dysart et al – sample date July 18 – SAFE
Twelve Mile Lake Beach – Minden Hills – sample date July 18 – SAFE
Wilbermere Lake Beach – Highlands East – sample date July 05 – SAFE
Northumberland County
Caldwell Street Beach – Port Hope – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Crowe Bridge Park – Trent Hills – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Harwood Waterfront & Dock – Hamilton Township
Hastings Waterfront North – Trent Hills – sample date July 11 – UNSAFE
Hastings Waterfront South – Trent Hills – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Little Lake – Cramahe – sample date July 8 – SAFE
East Beach – Port Hope – sample date July 11 – SAFE
West Beach – Port Hope – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Sandy Bay Beach – Alnwick-Haldimand – sample date July 11th – CLOSED
Victoria Park – Cobourg – sample date July 12 – SAFE
Wicklow Beach – Alnwick-Haldimand – sample date July 11 – SAFE
The May 21, 2022 derecho storm resulted in more than 600 acres of tree blowdown in the Ganaraska Forest, affecting main trail access points and systems mainly in the west and central areas of the forest. (Photo: Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority)
The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA) has announced the Ganaraska Forest will remain closed until September 30, due to damage sustained from the May 21, 2022 derecho storm.
The Ganaraska Forest is southern Ontario’s largest forest at 11,000 acres (4,452 hectares), straddling Northumberland and Peterborough counties, Kawartha Lakes, and Durham Region. May’s derecho storm was the largest natural disaster to affect the Ganaraska Forest since it was established in 1947.
According to the GRCA, the storm resulted in more than 600 acres (250 hectares) of tree blowdown, affecting main trail access points and systems within the West Forest next to Boundary Road and Porter Road, as well as the Central Forest trailhead located at the Ganaraska Forest Centre.
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
There are also isolated blowdown locations scattered throughout the West and Central forests affecting various trail systems, which are popular destinations for ATV and dirt bike riders.
“The GRCA knows how much the Ganaraska Forest means to the local community and recreational users that come from across Ontario and out of province,” says Linda Laliberte, GRCA’s chief administrative officer and secretary-treasurer, in a media release.
“The GRCA is committed to reopening recreational trails in the Ganaraska Forest to recreational use. Everyone’s continued cooperation, understanding, and patience is appreciated.”
Many of the 600 kilometres of trails in the Ganaraska Forest remain impassable, with hazards along the sides of trails including overhead hangers. (Photo: Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority)
While GRCA staff continue to clear affected areas along the 600 kilometres of trails in the forest, many trails remain impassable with hazards along the sides of trails including overhead hangers. The GRCA says it cannot open certain trail sections while others remain closed because of various recovery operations taking place throughout the forest.
Additional high-wind events have also occurred since the storm, causing more downed trees on trails already cleared. Because of the unstable environment in the forest, high-wind events are causing more trees to fall than is normal.
While the East Forest was not as severely affected by the storm, it will remain closed as the East Forest does not have the capacity or the parking areas to accommodate the pressures of recreational use. Tree Top Trekking Ganaraska, whose courses are in a small area on the southern edge of the forest, continues to operate as does the Ganaraska Forest Centre, which is operating by appointment only.
Advertisement - content continues below
Another reason for the ongoing forest closure are multiple logging operations in the West and Central Forests that began mid-July and will continue into the fall.
Along with regular annual harvest operations, salvage harvest operations of storm-damaged trees will be taking place along trails. As is normal practice, trails within and near logging operations are closed or restricted for recreational use.
Recovery efforts are being managed by the GRCA’s five full-time staff and four summer contract staff, assisted by staff from the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority, the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, and Northumberland County Forest.
Recovery efforts are being managed by the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority’s five full-time staff and four summer contract staff, assisted by staff from the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority, the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, and Northumberland County Forest. Because most of the trail-clearing work is dangerous and complicated, the GRCA is currently not seeking volunteers from the public to assist with the recovery. (Photo: Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority)
Because most of the trail-clearing work is dangerous and complicated, the GRCA is currently not seeking volunteers from the public to assist with the recovery.
“Many of the downed tree situations include very dangerous spring poles, cracked, and/or unusually compressed trees,” explains GRCA forest recreation technician Ed Van Osch. “GRCA staff and contractors are highly trained professionals with many years of experience and are equipped to deal with hazardous forestry situations.”
The GRCA says it will consider volunteer opportunities as recovery efforts continue.
Advertisement - content continues below
Due to the forest closure, the GRCA will extend Ganaraska Forest memberships purchased between June 1, 2021 and May 21, 2022 for an additional 12 months from the original membership expiry date.
Those with cross country ski memberships that expired during the closure (between May 21, 2022 and the reopening date) will receive a six-month hiking membership.
Along with trail-clearing recovery work, there will be multiple logging operations in the west and central areas of the forest, including salvage harvest operations of storm-damaged trees taking place along trails. As is normal practice, trails within and near logging operations are closed or restricted for recreational use. (Photo: Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority)
There may still be a few tickets left to see Brooks & Bowskill (Brittany Brooks and Jimmy Bowskill) perform with Bowskill's band The Hometown Beauts at Jethro's Bar + Stage in downtown Peterborough, with two shows on Saturday, July 16. (Publicity photo)
Every Thursday, we publish live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, July 14 to Wednesday, July 20.
If you’re a pub or restaurant owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our nightlifeNOW editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com. For concerts and live music events at other venues, check out our Concerts & Live Music page.
kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.
Submit your event for FREE!
Use our event submission form to post your event on our website — for free.
To submit editorial content or ideas, please contact us.
