The Royal Canadian Legion Colour Party honouring the Veterans Memorial Crosswalk in downtown Lakefield during an official unveiling ceremony on June 20, 2026. Lakefield Legion Branch 77, Peterborough County, and Selwyn Township collaborated on the creation of the crosswalk, which also commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Lakefield Legion, one of the earliest chartered branches. (Photo: Selwyn Township)
The Lakefield Legion has honoured local veterans while commemorating its 100th anniversary with a new memorial crosswalk in downtown Lakefield.
The new veterans memorial crosswalk on Queen Street at the intersection with Bridge and Albert street was officially unveiled during a ceremony on Saturday (June 20), attended by representatives from Royal Canadian Legion Branch 77 Lakefield, Peterborough County, and Selwyn Township along with local veterans, the Royal Canadian Legion Colour Party, community members, and invited guests.
Emceed by Lakefield Legion president Lorna McDonald, the unveiling ceremony also included remarks by Peterborough County deputy warden and Selwyn Township mayor Sherry Senis, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, Keith Knott of Curve Lake First Nation, and Allie Bonner on behalf of Peterborough MP Emma Harrison.
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“The Lakefield Legion got our charter in 1926 and Branch 77 is celebrating this milestone too,” MacDonald said. “One of the big goals we had this year was to have a veterans memorial crosswalk in Lakefield. We have been wanting to make this happen for quite a while, and we thought our 100th anniversary would be a fitting time.”
Lakefield Legion Branch 77, Peterborough County, and Selwyn Township collaborated on the creation of the crosswalk, with Peterborough County contributing to the road-marking installation and Selwyn Township supporting the unveiling event as part of the Legion’s 100th anniversary celebrations.
“The crosswalk is meant to express our gratitude to the veterans in our area who have served or are still serving,” MacDonald said. “We were pleased our county and township partnered with us to make this crosswalk happen.”
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“The veterans memorial crosswalk is a visible and lasting tribute to those who have served our country with courage and dedication,” said Mayor Senis. “As we mark the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion, this project provides an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made to protect our freedoms and to ensure their legacy is remembered by future generations. On behalf of Selwyn Township Council, I am proud to see this meaningful tribute become part of our community.”
Also calling it a “meaningful tribute,” Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark said in a statement that the crosswalk “honours the service and sacrifice of veterans from our communities.”
“Peterborough County is proud to partner with Selwyn Township and the Lakefield Legion Branch 77 on a project that recognizes those who have served our country while creating a lasting symbol of remembrance for residents and visitors alike,” the warden added.
During the ceremony, Lakefield Legion past-president Jim Marsden accompanied a Second World War veteran in a ceremonial first walk across the crosswalk, followed by other local veterans.
Federal Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon at Queen's University in Kingston on June 22, 2026 announcing the release of Alto's public and Indigenous consultation report, where he also announced that he has directed the Crown corporation to develop a southern corridor option that includes a station in Kingston for the Peterborough-Ottawa section of the proposed 1,000-kilometre high-speed rail (HSR) network between Toronto and Québec City. (Photo: Office of Steven MacKinnon / Facebook)
The federal government has directed Alto to develop a southern corridor option that includes a station in Kingston for the Peterborough-Ottawa section of the proposed 1,000-kilometre high-speed rail (HSR) network between Toronto and Québec City, with further public consultation on the Peterborough-Ottawa section now set for 2027.
Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon made the announcement at Queen’s University in Kingston on Monday (June 22) where he was joined by Alto president and CEO Martin Imbleau to release the What We Heard Report, which documents the results of Alto’s public consultations from March to April as well as the results of Indigenous consultation.
While Alto had said in April that it would be announcing a “more precise corridor” for the Peterborough-Ottawa section by the fall, the Crown corporation is now saying that consultation this fall will focus on a narrower corridor for the Ottawa-Montréal segment, with subsequent consultation for the western and eastern segments of the project taking place in 2027.
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Advocates for a high-speed rail station in Kingston successfully make their case
Following a review of the findings of Alto’s public consultation report, Minister MacKinnon has directed Alto to develop a plan to assess a southern route option between Peterborough and Ottawa that includes a potential stop in Kingston that would interconnect with VIA Rail services, “subject to technical feasibility and project requirements.”
The 134-page report includes a section on Kingston, which was excluded from Alto’s originally proposed southern corridor.
“Although a station is not currently proposed in Kingston, municipal, stakeholder, resident and community support has emerged for the project, contingent on the inclusion of a Kingston station,” the report states. “The existing VIA Rail station was a suggested location for a Kingston HSR station.”
According to the report, advocates for a Kingston station pointed to the city’s strategic location between Toronto and Ottawa/Montréal alongside its importance as an existing rail hub serving a wider eastern Ontario population, noting it is in the fourth-busiest VIA Rail station in Canada.
“Canadians shared valuable perspectives through Alto’s consultation process, and we are acting on what we heard,” Minister MacKinnon said. “I have asked Alto to further assess an alignment option that could include Kingston as a potential stop as we continue advancing this transformative project for communities across the Toronto-Québec City corridor.”
According to a media release from Transport Canada, adding a high-speed rail station in Kingston would reduce travel times between Kingston and Toronto to around 90 minutes “while establishing Kingston as a key regional mobility hub, improving connections and placing up to 80 per cent of residents between Peterborough and Ottawa within a 25-minute drive of a station.”
For his part, Imbleau said the announcement of a potential stop in Kingston “demonstrates that Kingston’s voices were thoughtfully considered throughout this important consultation process,” adding that the decision “reflects the strength of local engagement and advocacy.”
The proposed northern and southern corridor options for the Peterborough-Ottawa section of Alto’s proposed 1,000-kilometre high-speed rail (HSR) network between Toronto and Québec City. Federal Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon has directed Alto to develop a southern corridor option that includes a station in Kingston, highlighted in yellow. (Map: Alto)
Public feedback highlights both global and local concerns with proposed high-speed rail
Alto’s public consultation report summarizes feedback gathered during 26 in-person open houses, 10 virtual sessions, and 31 stakeholder roundtables, engaging more than 10,000 people, as well as nearly 45,000 comments through online questionnaires and an interactive map from over 324,000 visits on Alto’s online consultation platform.
The report identifies key global themes heard during consultation — including cost and timeline, value for taxpayers, environmental considerations, land acquisition and expropriation, farmland protection, ridership, affordability, construction impacts, integration with existing public transportation, impact on VIA rail, and more — as well as local themes for each of the sections of the proposed rail line.
That includes 17 pages of the report dedicated to the section between Toronto and Peterborough, the location of an Alto station in Peterborough, and the southern and northern corridor options between Peterborough and Ottawa. While there was broad interest in the project’s potential to improve regional connectivity and economic development, there were significant concerns about the impacts on farmland, rural communities, environmentally sensitive areas, and existing transportation networks.
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Toronto-Peterborough segment
For the Toronto-Peterborough segment, many participants said high-speed rail could support job creation, tourism, business connectivity, and commuting, with some suggesting it could make Peterborough and the Kawarthas a more attainable place to live for people working in Toronto. Participants also noted that communities in Kawartha Lakes such as Lindsay are underserved by transit and could benefit from better connections to a future Peterborough station.
However, respondents also raised concerns about the route’s potential effects on rural landowners, farmers, emergency access, property values, and seasonal residences. Agricultural concerns included the loss and fragmentation of farmland, reduced access across right-of-ways, and the need for agricultural impact assessments comparable to environmental assessments.
Environmental concerns in the Toronto-to-Peterborough section included potential impacts on environmentally sensitive areas including Oak Ridges Moraine and its headwaters, the Cavan Swamp Wildlife Area, Ganaraska Forest wetlands, the Trent-Severn Waterway, Rice Lake, the Otonabee River, and more, as well as species at risk such as the Blanding’s turtle, western chorus frog, monarch butterfly, eastern hog-nosed snake, and northern map turtle.
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Peterborough station
For Peterborough, the report states many participants support a high-speed rail station because the city is not served by VIA Rail or GO Transit rail services. Some participants said a station could encourage transit-oriented development, create jobs, attract tourism, and improve access for students and employees at Trent University and Fleming College, while others said expanding VIA Rail or GO Transit would be a better option.
Participants were divided on where a Peterborough station should be located, with some advocating for a downtown station as a way to support local businesses, investment, housing, and a more walkable urban core, but others pointing to higher construction costs and possible impacts on the city’s historic character.
Supporters of a greenfield station south of the city, including the Cold Springs area near Highway 115 and Highway 7 that the City of Peterborough has identified as its preferred location, identified the benefits of establishing a new economic hub that could include housing development, while other participants raised concerns about a station lacking public transit service that would require users to travel by car and increase parking requirements, as well as the potential loss of agricultural land.
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Peterborough-to-Ottawa northern corridor
For the Peterborough-to-Ottawa northern corridor, participants suggested considering routes north of Highway 7 or along existing infrastructure corridors to reduce impacts on farmland and rural communities. Respondents questioned whether the project’s long-term benefits would outweigh its impacts, while noting possible opportunities for rural employment through maintenance facilities, rail yards, and local procurement.
Impacts on the environment and wildlife with a northern corridor were prominent among participants, with concerns raised about several sensitive areas, including wetlands, wells, and waterways, as well as at-risk species. Many participants emphasized the need to preserve farmland and had a large number of questions about land acquisition, including compensation, how land values will be assessed, and differences between market and replacement value.
Participants also raised construction concerns related to building a route through the granite bedrock of the Canadian Shield, including technical challenges and potentially higher costs due to blasting and elevation changes with the topography.
Peterborough-to-Ottawa southern corridor
The Peterborough-to-Ottawa southern corridor included even stronger opposition from some rural residents, with major concerns involving community fragmentation and the impact on rural life including agriculture.
“Some have formed organized groups that are very active in both traditional and social media,” the report notes. “Among these residents, emphasis was placed on the importance of preserving rural character and way of life, citing strong ties to farmland and nature, as well as concerns related to land acquisition and potential impacts on property values.”
According to the report, many participants said they could support a southern corridor option if it included a station in Kingston, as that would require the alignment of the route to move further south. There was a preference to align the route with existing infrastructure, such as Highway 401 to minimize potential impact on land.
Across both northern and southern corridor options, participants repeatedly called for Alto to use existing infrastructure where possible, protect farmland and sensitive environmental areas, provide clear information about land acquisition and compensation, maintain emergency access, and integrate high-speed rail with local transit, VIA Rail, bus services, airports, parking, and last-mile transportation.
No decisions have been made yet on a preferred corridor
Although Alto has been directed to develop a southern corridor with a stop in Kingston, the original southern corridor and the northern corridor options are still being considered.
“No corridor has been formally confirmed or excluded at this stage,” according to a statement on Alto’s social media. “Both northern and southern options, including variations such as a potential stop in Kingston, remain under consideration. Work continues on identifying the option that delivers the greatest collective benefit, while reducing the impacts.”
Alto also states that no decision has been made on a stop in Kingston.
“Alto has been asked by the government to study its technical feasibility, and any future decision will be informed by further analysis and consultation.”
Meanwhile, the Indigenous consultation report identified interests and concerns with the project’s process and timelines, land claims and potential overlap with the project corridor, socio-economic benefits and impacts, archeological heritage, watershed and river systems (including spiritual, cultural, and harvesting practices), impacts on Aboriginal and treaty rights (especially hunting, harvesting, and fishing rights), protection of species valued by Indigenous peoples and their habitats, cumulative effects and impacts, and mitigation, offsetting, and restoration opportunities.
Juno award-winning musician Gowan performs a free-admission concert in Del Crary Park in Peterborough on June 27, 2026 to open Peterborough Musicfest's 39th season. The Canadian singer-songwriter and keyboardist enjoyed a successful solo career in the 1980s before joining American rock band Styx. (Publicity photo)
Fortunate are the few who are not only doing what they were always intended to do but are also able do so on the world’s biggest stages to the delight of the masses.
Since securing a degree in classical piano from Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music at age 19, Lawrence Gowan hasn’t missed a note, initially in the 1980s as a solo performer known as Gowan, and, since 1999, as the lead keyboardist and singer for the iconic American rock band Styx.
Scottish-born and raised in Scarborough, Gowan’s music career began in unison with his high school journey when his prog-rock band Rhinegold formed and, with time, made the rounds of the Toronto bar circuit. His soaring vocals and relentless attack upon the piano keys aside, it was Gowan’s showmanship that garnered attention early on and kept it.
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Peterborough Musicfest presents Gowan
When: Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 8 p.m. Where: Del Crary Park (100 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: Free admission
The evening will also feature Irish Millie at 6:30 p.m. as part of the Cogeco Future Sound Series. 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.
After 16 Juno Award nominations, with two of the statues in his possession, Gowan is now approaching 27 years as a member of Styx, having earlier enjoyed a very fruitful solo career in the new wave era that brought him considerable commercial success to the tune of four platinum-certified albums and a star on Scarborough’s Walk of Fame.
All of this brings us to Peterborough, where organizers of Peterborough Musicfest’s 39th season know full well that the season-opening concert sets the tone for what’s to follow. And so, on Saturday (June 27), Gowan will welcome live music fans back to Del Crary Park.
Admission to the 8 p.m. concert, which will mark Gowan’s fourth Musicfest appearance, is free.
VIDEO: “(You’re A) Strange Animal” – Gowan (1985)
When Gowan formed his band Rhinegold in 1976 with school friends Daniel Bourne on drums and Pat Bourke on guitar, it provided the perfect training vehicle for its theatrical front man for the next five years.
Performing keyboard-heavy covers for the most part, a typical set included Styx hits — close to 25 years before the singer of those covers could count himself among its members.
“When I was a teenager, I saw Rick Wakeman, Elton John, Tony Banks, Freddie Mercury and Keith Emerson — all these great keyboard players,” said Gowan in an April 2022 interview with Andrew Daly of VWMusic.
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“I took note of Styx. That’s kind of what the band that I was in was trying to emulate in some ways,” Gowan recalled.
“Rhinegold, unfortunately, emerged right at the height where disco just melted into punk. We had a great following in Toronto but the record companies weren’t all that enamored with it, because we just weren’t the flavour of the moment. That’s ironic because now that’s the flavour that seems to have lasted the longest.”
Undaunted, Gowan carried on post-Rhinegold, signing a deal with Columbia Records. In 1982, his debut self-titled album, while commercially falling short, served notice of better things to come.
VIDEO: “A Criminal Mind” – Gowan (1985)
Come they did when English record producer David Tickle brought Gowan to Ringo Starr’s Startling Studios in 1984 and enlisted the help of a number of Peter Gabriel’s backing musicians.
The resulting album — 1985’s Strange Animal — was a huge commercial success, producing the top-selling title track as well as charting hits “A Criminal Mind,” “Guerilla Soldier,” and “Cosmetics.” Critical acclaim followed in the form of six 1985 Juno Award nominations, with statue wins for Best Video for “A Criminal Mind” and Best Album Graphics for “Strange Animal.”
While Strange Animal seemed an impossible act to follow, follow Gowan did, the result being 1987’s Great Dirty World which produced another huge hit in the form of “Moonlight Desires.” Three years later, Gowan’s fourth album, Lost Brotherhood, featured a harder rock feel and produced a hit single in “All The Lovers In The World.” The 1990s saw Gowan release three more studio albums, with singles such as “When There’s Time For Love” and “Dancing On my Own Ground” keeping him relevant.
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However, it was Gowan’s 1997 performance at Montreal’s Molson Centre as a supporting act for Styx that set him on an exciting new trajectory. Two years later, he was contacted by an impressed Tommy Shaw, the band’s guitarist and co-vocalist, and asked to tour with the band as a temporary fill-in for ailing lead singer Dennis DeYoung.
“At first, it was surreal,” Gowan recalled of performing with Styx.
“It didn’t hit me until our first show. We were playing in Branson, Missouri. We opened up with Blue Collar Man and the second song was The Grand Illusion. As we’re about to start The Grand Illusion, there was a big fanfare at the beginning. I’m looking at over two thousand people and realizing ‘This just got very real.'”
VIDEO: “Moonlight Desires” – Gowan (2022)
“My career is weird,” Gowan said. “Normally you’re in a big band and then you try to see how your solo career will go. Mine was the opposite of that. But I’m glad with the way it all worked out because I wouldn’t be in Styx today if it had gone the other way.”
“I like the unpredictable nature of where things have gone for me. It’s like you finally have to acknowledge the fact that you might think life is predictable and you might think that everything’s pointing in one direction, but then fate steps in and says ‘No, I’ve got another idea for you.'”
Prior to Gowan taking the stage shortly at 8 p.m., the Cogeco-sponsored Future Sound Series will see Peterborough musician Irish Millie perform from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., near the food trucks at the George Street entrance to Del Crary Park.
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Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission concerts during its 39th season, staged in Del Crary Park on Wednesday and Saturday nights until August 19.
Overseen by executive director 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 2026 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or call the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest’s 2026 season.
Fibre artist Judy Ranieri is the founder and organizer of the Apsley Artisan Festival, which is returning to the North Kawartha Community Centre on June 27, 2026. The free-admission event held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will see 26 regional artisans selling a range of artwork including jewellery, fibre arts, acrylics, food, and more. The festival will be accepting donations to Community Care Apsley and holding free draw prizes of local artwork. (Photo courtesy of Judy Ranieri)
If you can’t wait another three months to get your fix of cottage country-inspired artwork at the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, then you’re in luck.
On Saturday (June 27), 26 regional artists will be gathering at the North Kawartha Community Centre for the third annual Apsley Artisan Festival. During the free-admission event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., local artists will display their work, connect with visitors, and celebrate the area’s vibrant arts community.
“We have so much talent in our area, and unless people have an opportunity to attend an event to see it, they typically don’t even know that it exists,” says Apsley Artisan Festival organizer and fibre artist Judy Ranieri.
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“It brings our local talent together in one place at the community centre and gives the locals, cottagers, and visitors to the area an opportunity to come and see what talent exists, to talk to the artisans about their craft, and to purchase if that’s what they’re looking to do,” Ranieri says.
Based in North Kawartha and surrounding areas, the participating artists work across a range of art styles and mediums including jewellery, fibre arts, acrylics, stained glass, wood, and more.
New this year, there will also be food vendors selling homemade maple products as well as vendors selling gluten-free and whole foods. Grape and Wedge will also be on site for visitors to purchase snacks and lunch items.
The third annual Apsley Artisan Festival is being held at the North Kawartha Community Centre on June 27, 2026. The event provides opportunities for visitors to connect with 26 regional artists, learn about their process, and purchase one-of-a-kind artwork. (Photo courtesy of Judy Ranieri)
Ranieri, who resides on Chandos Lake, will be displaying and selling her colourful wearable art.
Through nuno felting, she fuses wool fibres with silk to make scarves and shawls.
“Nuno felting is the process of attaching wool to another fabric, in my case silk, and the process uses soap and water,” Ranieri says. “It’s not glued, it’s not sewn, and the process allows the fibres from the wool to migrate through the silk and attach themselves.”
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Ranieri will also be selling needle felted landscape that take inspiration from the birch trees, sunsets, water, and other landscapes of North Kawartha.
“I love working with colour and I love interpreting nature in my designs,” she says.
Ranieri began as a watercolour painter before connecting with a fibre artist led her to discover a whole new passion.
Brenda Rudder, a wildlife artist based in Coe Hill, is one of 26 regional artists who will be displaying and selling her work during the Apsley Artisan Festival being held at the North Kawartha Community Centre on June 27, 2026. Many of the participating artists take inspiration from the landscapes and nature found in North Kawartha and surrounding areas. (Photo courtesy of Brenda Rudder)
“I was at an event and saw someone that was doing landscape art pieces using wool and I thought ‘Wow, that looks from a distance a lot like a watercolour,’ and I was really intrigued by the process,” Ranieri recalls.
“I ended up taking a couple of courses in Fenelon Falls and at the Haliburton School of Art and Design. That was where I was also introduced to the process of nuno felting and creating not only things that could be framed, but things that could be worn.”
Now, Ranieri is on the other side of the table of the events like the Apsley Artisan Festival and gets to introduce even more people to her unique artform.
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“Being able to speak with the artisans about their craft is part of the event and part of the day,” Ranieri says.
“That’s one of the things that is really successful in drawing the community together — both the artistic or the artisanal community and the community visiting the event.”
Though admission to the festival is free, there will be opportunity for visitors to donate to Community Care Apsley.
Vince Frasca of Frasca’s Ridge Maple Co. will be one of 26 local vendors at the Apsley Artisan Festival being held at the North Kawartha Community Centre on June 27, 2026. Frasca will be selling a range of maple products including syrup, butter, fudge, and candy. (Photo courtesy of Frasca’s Ridge Maple Co.)
Guests can also enter a free draw to win one of several door prizes containing a collection of work donated by the participating artists.
“It’s a community builder, bringing local artisans together with the local community and provides an event at a time of year when we’ve got a pretty heavy population,” says Ranieri, referring to seasonal residents and visitors. “It’s summertime and people are looking for things to do.”
For more information, follow the Apsley Artisan Festival on Facebook or Instagram.
Members of Township of Asphodel-Norwood council and representatives from Norwood Pride gathered at the Town Hall on June 1, 2026 for the raising of the Pride Flag. (Photo: Township of Asphodel-Norwood)
Norwood Pride has announced its 2026 theme will be “Rainbow Country” in celebration of nine years of building queer community in a small town.
The volunteer-run group is hosting a community-focused family-friendly event on Sunday, July 12 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Norwood Legion at 27 King Street, featuring bingo, a BBQ, cash bar, music, cake, and a family zone.
“I’m really excited about Pride bingo, I’m really excited about the music, the celebration, and the community,” said Tony Tavares, board member for Norwood Pride, in a recent interview with kawarthaNOW.
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Norwood, which sits 30 minutes east of Peterborough, is a small rural community home to fewer than 2,000 people. But the town’s small size doesn’t stop a strong turnout at the community’s annual Pride celebrations.
Tavares was a founding member of Norwood Pride back in 2017 when he and his partner Shane Hodge along with and their friend Braden Clark had the idea to start a local Pride event in Norwood.
“We were actually joking about having a Norwood Pride, because this idea of small-town Pride was not really a big thing at the time,” said Tavares. “After the big joke, we thought why wouldn’t we have a Pride in Norwood?”
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The group led the organization of seven Pride events in Norwood since 2017, only having a short hiatus during the height of the pandemic, attracting around 200 people annually for the celebration.
“The vast number of people there were community people just coming to show their support — straight people bringing their kids, older generations showing up,” remembers Tavares of the first year. “They were saying: we’re here to support you, you’re welcome in our community.”
In 2019, Norwood Pride officially incorporated as a not-for-profit, and have since been investing donations back into their work to help keep events free and community-centric.
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Although Tavares tells the story of joking about hosting Pride events in a community as small as Norwood, he also said that the group wants to create opportunities for queer visibility in the community.
“Despite there being more resources than when we were growing up and coming out, or not coming out, in these small towns people can still feel quite isolated,” said Tavares. “Visibility here is really important, because there are no immediate local resources.”
“If we can even just connect at some level, even if they don’t come, but they see posters with some kid who’s struggling, who doesn’t take their lives, or fall into some deep depression, because they see not only a Pride Parade, but the community supporting them, then that would be worth all the effort.”
As for the 2026 theme, Taveres says “Rainbow Country speaks to the symbolism of the rainbow for Pride, and it speaks to the fact that we’re doing this in a small community.”
“The world’s a tough place right now, and so we wanted for this to be a joyous celebratory event.”
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Tavares told kawarthaNOW that proceeds from the event raised through nominal fees for food will go back into the organization to cover core expenses and support future Pride events.
“We’re just doing this in our own time, we’re not getting paid for this (and) we don’t want to get paid for this,” he said.
Speaking to community members considering attending Norwood Pride for the first time in 2026, Tavares said “Everybody should feel welcome — you’ll probably find your neighbours there.”
For more information about Norwood Pride, visit norwoodpride.ca.
Toronto-based artists Annie Luján and Veronica Hortigüela will perform their award-winning, interactive clown show "MONKS" at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on January 21, 22, and 24, 2027 as part of New Stages Theatre's 2026-27 season. (Photo: Audrianna Martin Del Campo / The Theatre Centre)
New Stages Theatre in Peterborough has announced its 2026-27 season of three full productions, including a holiday production, along with five staged readings and the return of the Brand New Stages Festival.
Subscriptions are now available at www.newstages.ca/26-27 for the new season, which artistic director Mark Wallace announced from the Market Hall stage at the final production of the 2025-26 season, a staged reading of Lynn Nottage’s Clyde’s.
“It has been a great 2025-26 season,” Wallace tells kawarthaNOW. “New Stages has grown significantly, and we aim to keep that positive momentum going in the new year ahead.”
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Wallace says the 2025-26 season was New Stages Theatre’s most successful ever, with over 4,100 people attending 18 different shows performed at three venues.
Founded in 1997 by now-retired artistic director Randy Read, New Stages will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2027. The professional not-for-profit charitable theatre company has grown from a summer theatre only company for its first five years to a fall-to-spring company with a focus on producing and presenting high-quality, thought-provoking contemporary theatre.
For its 2026-27 season, New Stages will be presenting a series of all-Canadian plays, including five of its popular staged readings (where actors perform from scripts without elaborate sets or full costumes) and, for the first time ever, three full mainstage productions in a single season — including a homegrown family-focused holiday production.
Wife-and-husband team Dahlia Katz and M. John Kennedy will present a staged reading of “Mustard” by Kat Sandler at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on October 4, 2026 to open New Stages Theatre’s 2026-27 season. (Photos courtesy of New Stages Theatre)
“Selections include a rich mixture of material, including thought-provoking, comedic, and acclaimed works for the stage,” Wallace says. “Our plays this year are based around the theme of family, whether it is the families we are born into, or the families we form along the way.”
“What binds us together with other people? What keeps us alone and apart? How do we find out where we belong? These questions matter more than ever in our modern era of heightened isolation. We’ll get the chance explore them together in the coming season.”
Season subscription options include a premium subscription for $220 (including taxes and fees) that includes all eight shows at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, a savings of $103 over regular ticket prices, and a flex pack subscription with your choice of six of the eight shows for $180 (including taxes and fees), a savings of $63.
Subscriber benefits include priority access to shows before they go on sale to the general public along with reserved seating, as well as the ability to transfer your tickets to someone else if you can’t make it to a show.
Here’s the lineup for the 2026-27 season, which runs from October to June.
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“Mustard” by Kat Sandler (October 4)
What if your childhood imaginary friend never left? Find out in this funny, wistful, and wildly creative play from Canadian playwright Kat Sandler. Described as a fairy tale for grown-ups, the play won the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Play in 2016.
Directed by Dahlia Katz, the staged reading will star M. John Kennedy as Mustard.
“Casey and Diana” by Nick Green (November 15)
Written by Nick Green, Casey and Diana is based on the true story of Princess Diana’s visit to Casey House, Toronto’s first AIDS hospice, and a dying man who is determined to survive long enough to meet her. Nominated for the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Play in 2024, it won the Toronto Theatre Critics Choice Award for Best New Canadian Play that same year.
One of the most produced plays in Canada in the past two years, the play makes its Peterborough debut as a staged reading featuring Linda Kash.
“The Nonsense Club” by Dreda Blow and Brad Brackenridge (December 9 to 13)
Peterborough theatre artists Dreda Blow and Brad Brackenridge present their homegrown homage to the whimsical nonsense stories of Edward Lear like “The Owl and the Pussycat.”
Filled with dancing, puppetry, music, and sheer wonder, this family holiday production is directed by Mark Wallace and also features Susan Newman and Rob Fortin.
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“MONKS” by Annie Luján and Veronica Hortigüela (January 21, 22, and 24)
Two monks, one donkey, and a million lentils, what could go wrong?
Written and performed by Annie Luján and Veronica Hortigüela, this clown-inspired phenomenon comes to Peterborough fresh off the Edinburgh Festival and a month at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre.
Winner of the Toronto Theatre Critics Choice Award for Best New Canadian Work in 2025, MONKS was sold out at Crow’s Theatre and at the Theatre Centre weeks before opening.
Brand New Stages Festival (February 22 – 28)
The fourth annual Brand New Stages Festival will once again feature new Canadian work for the stage, including by local artists Bill Coleman and Wendy Trusler, with more to be announced.
Already confirmed shows are a staged reading on February 25 of On Thin Ice by award-winning Curve Lake playwright Drew Hayden Taylor, a new mystery comedy thriller set at a remote cottage in winter that premiered at Magnus Theatre in 2026, and a staged reading on February 28 of You, Always by award-winning playwright Erin Shields.
The play, which premiered at Crow’s Theatre in 2026, is an ode to sisterhood set across 50 years of shared memories from two sisters and the bond they share based on love, rivalry, and the kind of honestly only a sibling can deliver.
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“The Myth Of The Ostrich” by Matt Murray (April 21 – 25)
When two very different mothers meet to sort out what their teenagers are up to, a small misunderstanding spirals into a hilariously unpredictable and entirely unforgettable day.
Matt Murray’s outrageous comedy, which was a big hit at the 2014 Toronto Fringe Festival, has since been performed across Canada, including at Toronto’s Next Stage Theatre Festival, at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre in 2016, and at Here For Now Theatre in Stratford in 2023, and had its U.S. premiere in Missouri in January 2026.
“Jabber” by Marcus Youssef (June 13)
A staged reading of Vancouver playwright and actor Marcus Youssef’s youth drama that tells the story of a Muslim teenager and a rebellious outsider who form an unlikely friendship that will put everything they’ve been taught to the test.
Commissioned by Geordie Theatre in Montreal in 2011, Jabber has since been performed across Canada and internationally, winning Berlin’s Ikarus prize. Youssef himself won the Siminovitch Prize, Canada’s most prestigious theatre award, in 2017.
Trent Health in Motion sports medicine physician Dr. Jessica Hewitt shows her colleagues how to use a portable ultrasound unit during a team in-service, illustrating the clinic's integrated and collaborative approach with a focus on evidence-informed healthcare. Located within the Trent University Athletics Centre in Peterborough, Trent Health in Motion provides personalized care for sports rehabilitation, injury recovery, and overall wellness, with services including orthopedic physiotherapy, pelvic physiotherapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, personal training, dietitian services, hydrotherapy, and sport medicine physician consultations. (Photo courtesy of Trent Health in Motion)
Whether you’re there for the state-of-the-art facilities, to assess and treat an injury or condition, or to benefit from specialized programming, Trent Health in Motion is on a mission to empower you to move better, feel stronger, and remain active.
Located within the Trent University Athletics Centre in Peterborough, Trent Health in Motion is open to the public, providing personalized care for sports rehabilitation, injury recovery, and overall wellness. With a therapy pool, full weight room, and cardio loft with views of the Otonabee River, Trent Health in Motion’s facilities support a range of fitness, rehabilitation, and performance goals.
Services practised at the clinic include orthopedic physiotherapy, pelvic physiotherapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, personal training, dietitian services, hydrotherapy, and sport medicine physician consultations. Not only are each of these healthcare providers found under one roof, but they collaborate in an integrated way.
Healthcare providers collaborating under one roof for better client outcomes
Husband-and-wife team Michael Williams and Reanna Montopoli are the owners of Trent Health in Motion, an integrated health clinic located at the Trent University Athletic Centre in Peterborough. The couple, who met while studying physiotherapy at Queen’s University, began working as managers of the clinic in 2016 before taking over ownership in 2018. (Photo courtesy of Trent Health in Motion)
“We’re not just working in the same space or in the same building — we’re working together,” says Michael Williams, a physiotherapist and co-owner of Trent Health in Motion.
“That means we’re being intentional about mentoring and sitting down together as a group to communicate about challenging cases or new research or new ideas about services that we could provide, based on what we’re seeing and hearing from clients. We’re communicating and trying to work in an integrated way to get to the best outcomes for the people that we work with.”
The clinic’s unique setting and immense potential is what initially drew Williams and his wife Reanna Montopoli, a Peterborough-raised physiotherapist, to manage the clinic beginning in 2016. The couple, who met while studying physiotherapy at Queen’s University, were inspired by the clinic’s location on a university campus, its beautiful natural light and views of the Otonabee River, and the ability to use the surrounding athletic facilities.
Trent Health in Motion’s facilities at the Trent University Athletic Centre overlook the Otonabee River and contains a full weight room and cardio loft, therapy pool, fitness studios, and more. The integrated health clinic is open to the public. (Photo courtesy of Trent Health in Motion)
Since taking over ownership of Trent Health in Motion in 2018, Williams and Montopoli have intentionally grown the business into a true integrated hub — expanding the team to include more diverse healthcare professionals and services, and embedding a deep focus on collaboration and lifelong learning.
“It’s worthwhile from a client perspective, but also from a care provider perspective,” Williams says. “No one healthcare provider can manage every single issue that someone comes with.”
“If we can identify our strengths and refer clients to other team members for their specific expertise, it leads to a better outcome. If we learn how to work together more effectively, it leads to us being more fulfilled as providers and delivering a higher level of care to our clients.”
Staying current with evolving research to provide evidence-informed care
Australian physiotherapist Antony Lo (middle) with Trent Health in Motion owners Reanna Montopoli and Michael Williams (left) and staff Kelsey Skebo, Michael Newbigging, Kristin Knill, and Joshua Palmer. Lo led The Female Athlete Course at the Peterborough clinic, which was taken by all of Trent Health in Motion’s physiotherapists and one massage therapist as well as other healthcare professionals in the community, including some who came from as far as New York State. (Photo courtesy of Trent Health in Motion)
Learning from one another is one of the core ways Trent Health in Motion ensures their clients benefit from the most up-to-date care. Because health science is constantly evolving, the clinic makes a continuous effort to stay on top of new studies so they can best support their clients’ recovery and wellness.
“We take on students for clinical placements, which forces us to re-evaluate our knowledge and make sure we’re sharp because they’re asking questions and we want to be able to answer well and guide them in the right direction,” Williams says.
The clinic also hosts programming for continued education, like The Female Athlete Course that was led by world-renowned Australian physiotherapist Antony Lo last month.
All of Trent Health in Motion’s physiotherapists and one massage therapist took the course, which provides evidence-informed frameworks to help women train and perform. The course was well-attended by other professionals in the community and beyond, including some who travelled from as far as New York state.
Hydrotherapy is one of many services offered by Trent Health in Motion in Peterborough, which provides a collaborative and evidence-informed approach across healthcare disciplines. Other services available at the clinic include massage therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractic care, personal training, dietitian services, hydrotherapy, and sport medicine. (Photo courtesy of Trent Health in Motion)
“We host continuing education courses because most of the courses that are available, unless they are virtual, are going to be in Toronto or Ottawa,” Montopoli says. “There isn’t much that’s offered in this community, but we have a lot of healthcare and fitness professionals here, so we want to become a hub.”
On October 17 and 18, Trent Health in Motion will be hosting the Fundamentals of Running Injuries course, which will provide best practices and the most recent science to professionals and those who are running, learning to run, or engaging in sports that require running. Learn more about the course curriculum or register for the Peterborough event.
“People often struggle to know how to appropriately get started or they get derailed when they try to do something but hurt an ankle. Now that hurdle to become active becomes a lot bigger,” says Williams.
“Running is really accessible as a low-cost option to be active, and we want to encourage those things. It’s incumbent for us to try to learn the most recent evidence that supports that type of goal.”
Leading by example to promote active living
GreenUP’s Education and Active Transportation Program Manager Ashley Burnie Seeds presents Trent Health in Motion co-owners Reanna Montopoli and Michael Williams with a Sustainability Leadership Award for supporting active commuting initiatives. The business annually participates in GreenUP’s Shifting Gears May Challenge, is a Green Economy Peterborough member, and encourages active commutes from staff members. (Photo courtesy of Trent Health in Motion)
In fact, Trent Health in Motion frequently endorses active transportation by participating in the Shifting Gears May Challenge, an annual initiative from GreenUP that encourages Peterborough businesses and residents to make the shift to active and sustainable transportation together.
Also a member of GreenUP’s Green Economy Peterborough program, Trent Health in Motion has a corporate membership with B!KE, Peterborough’s community bike shop, to remove the barriers for employees to cycle to work.
“In our society, it’s just so normalized that everyone drives their own car to work every single day, but we’re just trying to normalize other ways of doing it that are better for the environment and for your health,” Montopoli says. “We try to lead by example and support staff who are interested and try to promote it for clients who might be interested as well.”
An evidence-based approach to increasing bone density
Trent Health in Motion recently held a free high-intensity strength and impact training program for people with osteoporosis and osteopenia called Lift for Life. The program was structured based on a landmark study from Australia that proved training consistently can increase bone density, despite the previous belief that people with these conditions should stay away from training. (Photo courtesy of Trent Health in Motion)
As proof of how research can inform practice, Trent Health in Motion recently held a free high-intensity strength and impact training program for people with osteoporosis and osteopenia called Lift for Life. The program was structured based on a landmark study from Australia that proved training consistently can increase bone density, despite the previous belief that people with these conditions should stay away from training.
“Some of the things that we thought were problematic — like jumping and landing with force and lifting with heavier weights — have actually been shown to improve strength and bone density when tested over a longer time and done with supervision and guidance and progressive increases,” Williams says.
“When we were in school, we were taught that’s not how things work — that once your bone density started to decline, there was no possibility for even small improvement. This study completely changed that narrative by proving we can actually reverse that decline.”
Through a successful collaborative grant application with Activity Haven Seniors Centre, with funding provided by the Government of Ontario, Trent Health in Motion secured the resources necessary to offer the Lift for Life program completely free of charge, meeting a surge of interest from the local community.
The clinical data gathered from the program is now being studied in collaboration with researcher Christina Ziebart at Western University, with the ultimate goal of publishing a manuscript to share the findings with the wider medical community.
“We’re taking current evidence and trying to apply it locally in a way that no one else was really doing, including by partnering with other organizations in the community,” says Montopoli. “We recognize that cost is often a barrier for people, so trying to find opportunities where we can find funding to, if not eliminate cost, at least reduce it where possible, is really important.”
Helping seniors and new moms stay active while creating a sense of community
Trent Health in Motion’s Moms in Motion program was originally launched as a free community initiative to remove financial barriers for new parents. These weekly prenatal and postpartum sessions combine expert-led group exercises with targeted educational discussions to tackle common misconceptions about exercising during and after pregnancy. (Photo courtesy of Trent Health in Motion)
Trent Health in Motion provides other high-demand targeted programming to seniors, such as the Seniors in Motion and the Seniors Motion and Mobility programs. These ongoing programs promote healthy aging while fostering social and community-building opportunities.
Further making active living and education accessible, the Moms in Motion program was originally launched as a free community initiative to remove financial barriers for new parents. These weekly prenatal and postpartum sessions combine expert-led group exercises with targeted educational discussions to tackle common misconceptions about exercising during and after pregnancy.
“It also creates a sense of community with the participants because they’re coming every single week with the same group,” Montopoli says. “It can be a very isolating time in life, so having that community support is really beneficial.”
Looking ahead, as Trent Health in Motion expands services — including the upcoming onboarding of mental health professionals — Montopoli and Williams are looking for other opportunities to adapt to what clients in the community need and what the most recent science suggests.
“We’ll continue to work with different partners to try to access funding for people in the community,” Montopoli says. “There are a lot of different avenues where we can have a positive impact for our clients and the community and we’re definitely trying to touch on as many of those as we can.”
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Trent Health in Motion. If your business or organization is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region's HomeGrown: A Habitat Garden Disco Fundraiser on June 6, 2026 at Chemong Lodge in Bridgenorth raised $15,000 to support the non-profit organization's local affordable housing builds across the Kawarthas region. (Photo: Bryan Reid)
Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) has raised $15,000 to help support its goal of building 149 affordable homes across the Kawarthas, thanks to those who attended the non-profit organization’s third annual HomeGrown: A Habitat Garden Disco Fundraiser and the event’s sponsors.
Held at Chemong Lodge in Bridgenorth on Saturday, June 6, the sold-out evening saw around 100 community members welcomed into an immersive atmosphere featuring disco-themed décor and sparkling lighting at an outdoor setting along the shores of Chemong Lake.
Attendees enjoyed the garden grazing table, passed and stationed canapés, and dishes prepared on the smokehouse Argentinian grill, along with curated beverages and cocktails, while listening to live music and participating in a silent auction.
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Guests also heard stories from future Habitat PKR homeowners, including a couple who are awaiting the completion of their single-family home in Norwood so they can move in with their children.
The couple spoke about their experience completing the 500 volunteer hours required as part of Habitat PKR’s affordable homeownership model. Families can meet their volunteer hours at Habitat ReStores or by participating in home-building projects.
Attendees also heard from another future Habitat PKR homeowner, who shared her experience navigating housing instability in Peterborough’s rental market. A single mother, she will soon move into a condominium unit at Leahy’s Lane with her son through Habitat PKR’s buyback program, which helps ensure long-term affordability for local homeowners.
The program kicks in when existing Habitat homeowners decide to move due to life changes. When this happens, Habitat PKR will buy the home, renovate it if needed, and make it available to another local family in need of affordable housing.
A few of the guests at Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region’s HomeGrown: A Habitat Garden Disco Fundraiser on June 6, 2026 at Chemong Lodge in Bridgenorth. Attendees were encouraged to dress in their most chic summer-garden-disco-glam attire. (Photo: Bryan Reid)
During the event, Habitat PKR shared its plans to create 149 affordable homes through projects across the Kawarthas, with land secured, partnerships in place, and development plans established.
The projects include three new single-family homes in Norwood, 40 condominium units at Keystone Court on Lansdowne Street in Peterborough, 35 units in a Haliburton development in partnership with Places for People in Haliburton, supportive shared living housing in Peterborough for six women with developmental disabilities through Our Daughters’ Home, and a 64-unit condominium development in Haliburton that will include new childcare spaces for local families.
The $15,000 that was raised through the June 6 fundraiser will directly support the organization’s local affordable housing builds across the region.
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“HomeGrown is a meaningful opportunity for our community to come together in support of affordable housing,” said Habitat PKR CEO Susan Zambonin in a media release.
“We are grateful to share updates on our upcoming projects and to celebrate the impact we are already seeing in the lives of local families. With land secured, strong partners in place, and a clear vision ahead, continued community support will help us move these homes forward.”
HomeGrown: A Habitat Garden Disco Fundraiser was supported by RBC as the presenting sponsor, as well as event sponsors Floortrends, Chemong Lodge, Peterborough Axe Club, Kerr’s Home Products, Lakeshore Designs, Braun Custom Builds, Habitat for Humanity Canada, Cambium, Sunbelt Rentals, and Kingdon Timber Mart.
Presented by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) with support from the City of Peterborough and sponsors and community partners, the "Movies at the Park" series will see free movies screened on a large outdoor screen at Quaker Foods City Square every Tuesday evening during July and August. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
There will be even more free outdoor movies in downtown Peterborough this summer, with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) announcing an expanded “Movies at the Park” series.
The free movies will run at dusk every Tuesday evening in July and August at Quaker Foods City Square, located at 215 Charlotte Street just east of Aylmer.
After launching the series for the first time last summer with five movies, the DBIA has expanded it to eight movies this summer with the support of Peterborough Tourism, the City of Peterborough’s destination marketing program, along with a group of sponsors and community partners.
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“Initiatives like this strengthen community connections while enhancing the experience for locals and visitors alike,” said Stoyan Barakov, the city’s manager of cultural services, in a media release. “Peterborough Tourism is pleased to support the Peterborough DBIA in creating a fun and friendly atmosphere for Movies at the Park by providing the outdoor screen and promotional support.”
The movie line-up includes:
July 7 – “The Secret Life of Pets”
A pampered terrier’s comfortable life is turned upside down when his owner brings home a new dog and the pair are swept into an adventure through New York City.
July 14 – “Dirty Dancing”
A young woman falls in love with a charismatic dance instructor from the wrong side of the tracks while vacationing with her family at a Catskills resort in the summer of 1963.
July 21 – “Grown Ups”
Five childhood friends reunite with their families for a Fourth of July weekend after the death of their former basketball coach.
July 28 – “Jurassic Park”
A preview tour of a remote island theme park filled with cloned dinosaurs becomes a fight for survival when the park’s security systems fail.
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August 4 – “Paddington in Peru”
Paddington and the Brown family travel to Peru to visit Aunt Lucy, only to find themselves on an unexpected adventure through the Amazon rainforest.
August 11 – “Back to the Future”
A teenager is sent 30 years into the past in a time-travelling DeLorean and, after inadvertently preventing his dad from meeting his mom, must fix the situation before he vanishes from the future.
August 18 – “Skyfall”
James Bond is forced to confront his past while defending MI6 from a cyberterrorist with a personal vendetta against M.
August 25 – “How to Train Your Dragon”
A young Viking named Hiccup befriends an injured dragon and challenges his village’s long-held beliefs about the creatures.
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During the movie nights, local businesses will be offering snacks, beverages, and treats.
“Downtown should be a place where people gather, connect, and create memories together,” said DBIA executive director Nour Mazloum. “Movies at the Park helps bring that vision to life by transforming Quaker Foods City Square into a welcoming community gathering place for all ages. We’re proud to offer a free and accessible experience that brings people downtown and creates opportunities to connect with one another throughout the summer.”
The movies are free to attend and no registration is required. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.
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In addition to the Movies at the Park series, the City of Peterborough is hosting an additional free movie at Quaker Foods City Square on Canada Day eve (Tuesday, June 30). There will be family-friendly activities beginning at 7:30 p.m., including a live band, sidewalk chalk activities, a s’mores station, complimentary popcorn and snacks, and a short family-friendly film presented by ReFrame Film Festival before the feature presentation screens at 9 p.m.
As for which movie will be screened, the city is conducting a survey at www.connectptbo.ca/movienight where you can vote for one of four film options. With voting closing just before midnight on Friday (June 19), so far the 2011 family animated comedy Gnomeo & Juliet is in the lead with almost half of more than 200 votes cast.
Set in a world of warring neighbours, Gnomeo & Juliet is a retelling of Shakespeare’s classic tale about two garden gnomes from rival factions who fall in love and must overcome their families’ bitter feud to be together.
Located at 2300 Pigeon Lake Road in Bobcaygeon, Globus Theatre is a professional theatre company founded in 2003 by husband-and-wife duo Sarah Quick and James Barrett that stages original Canadian plays along with comedy and music performances, with an optional dinner available for many performances. (Photo courtesy of Globus Theatre)
From murder mysteries to sweet love stories to hilarious world premieres, there’s still a lot in store for Globus Theatre’s 2026 season — and it’s not too late to become a subscriber.
For more than 20 years, the professional theatre company in Bobcaygeon has invited residents and visitors to its charming barn at 2300 Pigeon Lake Road for dinner and theatre experiences.
A recent winner of the Tourism Award of Excellence from the Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce, Globus Theatre draws patrons and theatre lovers from across the province to enjoy celebrated and original works by Canadian playwrights.
Globus Theatre co-founders James Barrett and Sarah Quick as Henry and Alice in a rehearsal for a 2023 production of Michele Riml’s hit comedy “Sexy Laundry”, which saw the real-life couple reprise the roles they performed in the Bobcaygeon theatre company’s 2013 production of the play. In 2026, the couple will perform in the Globus Theatre production of Kristen Da Silva’s “Beyond the Sea” from August 19 to 29. (Photo: R.A. Bloom Creations and Photography)
As is the case every year, artistic director Sarah Quick works diligently to present a cohesive season, but one where every show is different than the one before.
“Ideally when people pick up the season brochure, they definitely find at least one show that really speaks to them and they say ‘That is right up my alley,'” Quick says. “But hopefully what actually happens is they say, ‘Oh, I like that one as well, and that one too,’ and then end up being a subscriber.”
Globus Theatre’s 23rd season — its fourth extended season running from May through December — started off in a big way with the 20th anniversary celebration of Girls Nite Out, the female improv troupe that got its roots at Globus Theatre. The sold-out celebration was followed by the ultimate ’70s soundtrack with Get Down Tonight starring Leisa Way and her Wayward Wind Band.
If you saw either show, you can turn your ticket into a subscription package, with the ticket value being deducted from the total cost. Except for the annual holiday panto, individual show tickets are priced at $50 each for the show only, or $100 for dinner and the show, with murder mysteries available only as dinner and theatre.
To purchase season subscriptions or tickets to individual shows, visit www.globustheatre.com.
Here’s what’s coming up for the rest of Globus Theatre’s 2026 season.
Murder at the Match: 2026 World Cup Edition (June 24 – July 4)
An original murder mystery experience written by Quick, Murder at the Match: 2026 World Cup Edition is centred around the world’s biggest sporting event.
With Quick herself an avid soccer fan, it’s no coincidence the show takes place during the actual World Cup, which is being hosted by Canada, the U.S., and Mexico for the first time.
“Doing something that it so current — that is actually going on at the same time as the World Cup is taking place — allows for all sorts of shenanigans and contemporary references,” Quick says. “If something happens that morning during a game, we can reference it that night and we can riff on it. It’s really the characters and the plot that are scripted — anything in between is fair game.”
The plot involves the hunt for goals and glory spiralling into a red-card-worthy disaster as scheming managers, spotlight-hungry influencers, over-pressured superstars, and sports officials juggle international egos. When one key player doesn’t make it to kickoff, suspicion erupts and suddenly every border crossing hides clues, and every match hides a motive.
The murder mystery is a sequel of sorts to Quick’s Murder at the Match: A World Cup Murder Mystery in 2022, which celebrated Canada’s return to the World Cup after 36 years and where audiences worked to solve the murder of fictional Canadian soccer legend Diego Marrydora.
“It doesn’t matter if you didn’t see the last World Cup murder mystery at all, but there will be a nod to it because it became such a story that everyone was invested in,” says Quick. “I think we can do this every World Cup.”
Murder at the Match: 2026 World Cup Edition will feature Jennine Profeta, Kerry Griffin, Allan Cooke, Mallory Brumm, and Kyle Claeys. Audiences are encouraged to get dressed up in their appropriate costumes or to dress in the colours of country participating in the World Cup. If you’re not a footie fan like Quick, don’t fear — it’s more about the behind-the-scenes mystery than what’s happening on the pitch.
Murder at the Match: 2026 World Cup Edition runs Thursdays to Saturdays from June 25 to 27 and from July 2 to 4 at 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.), with a 12:30 p.m. matinee performance on June 27 (doors open at noon).
Sore Losers (July 15 – 25)
Summer continues at Globus Theatre with another sports-themed show that also happens to be a world premiere from accomplished Canadian actor Bradley Austin in his playwriting debut.
In Sore Losers, Burt and his niece Angie run the family bowling alley, a beloved relic that now faces financial ruin as it competes with the flashier Galaxy Bowl. Burt and lifelong friend Jim have never won anything, but in their desperation to save the business and their pride, they develop a plan to win the provincial championship.
Their last-ditch effort hinges on recruiting the town’s earnest but clueless new dentist for the hilarious, high-stakes battle.
“I love it when Globus Theatre becomes this incubator and gives opportunities, whether it’s to a new artist or a new playwright,” Quick says. “Bradley is going to be in the show as well, and it’s really exciting to be able to go to through rehearsal process with the playwright right there. That is very helpful for the first time that a show is being performed.”
Sore Losers is being staged at 8 p.m. from July 15 to 18 and July 22 to 25, with additional matinee performances at 2 p.m. on July 18 and 23.
Downtown Detective Trail (July 27 – 31)
Participants of Globus Theatre’s School of Dramatic Arts (SODA) summer camp in 2024 presenting the Downtown Detective Trail to add to the mainstage murder mystery show “Who Killed the King.” For the 2026 season, the Downtown Detective Trail will be held as a bus tour from July 27 to 31 as a part of Bobcaygeon’s 150-year anniversary celebrations. (Photo courtesy of Globus Theatre)
Young performers in Globus Theatre’s School of Dramatic Arts (SODA) summer camp will be once again be presenting the Downtown Detective Trail, an annual immersive event in Bobcaygeon that gets people interacting with the stories being staged at Globus Theatre.
From July 27 to 31, the Downtown Detective Trail will be held as a bus tour done in collaboration with Bobcaygeon’s 150-year anniversary celebrations.
“They’ll be going to little stops around Bobcaygeon, including Kawartha Settlers Village, Kawartha Dairy, and The Locks,” Quick says. “It’s going to be bigger and better than before.”
As with Globus Theatre’s shows, Quick is hopeful that the event will draw even more tourists to the region.
“I’m not sure the majority of people realize how much the arts actually make people move around Ontario,” Quick explains. “When they’re looking for a place to visit, they will go specifically because they’ve seen a certain show that piqued their interest, and that’s when they start researching accommodation and where to eat and where to shop.”
“We’ve got a lot to showcase and I’m really proud that Globus is one of those places that people want to come and experience.”
Leave it to Cleavage (July 30 – August 1)
Following the success of Girls Nite Out, two members of the troupe — Diana Frances and Karen Parker — will be returning to the Globus stage for the second time this season with Leave it to Cleavage.
Sipping martinis, the cheeky housewives will transport you back in time to the 1950s through interactive audience participation and a tipsy walk down memory lane. The women will be calling on audiences to help them re-write their “Helpful Housewife Hints,” while getting to know them with “Welcome Wagon” treats.
“Although it is a scripted performance, they will be going to the audience to get their impressions of certain things as well to help them rewrite these rules,” says Quick. “The audience helps shape the show.”
Leave it to Cleavage is being staged for three nights only at 8 p.m. from July 30 to August 1.
Fly Me to the Moon (August 5 – 15)
Globus Theatre transports audiences to Belfast, Ireland with Fly Me to the Moon, a dark comedy by Marie Jones, the hilarious playwright of the world-wide hit Stones in His Pockets.
Overworked and underpaid community carers Francis and Loretta face an irresistible temptation after their 84-year-old client Davey, a Frank Sinatra fan, dies on pension day: should they keep Davey’s death a secret and cash in his pension cheque?
The situation quickly spirals out of control when they discover Davey placed a winning bet on the horses just before he died, presenting them with a much larger temptation.
Fly Me to the Moon is being staged at 8 p.m. from August 5 to 8 and August 12 to 15, with additional 2 p.m. matinee performances on August 8 and 13.
Beyond the Sea (August 19 to 29)
For Globus Theatre patrons who missed Quick taking to the stage last season alongside her husband, Globus Theatre’s artistic producer James Barrett, they will have another chance when Globus presents Kristen Da Silva’s Beyond the Sea.
On a summer day at a pier, two strangers stumble into an encounter that might save them both. There’s Theo, a recently single man with a self-image problem, and Gwen, a good-humoured loner who works at the ticket booth for a local boat tour company.
Quick says the story about the emergence of hope through grief is a “touching romance” that’s perfect for date night.
“It’s a witty story, but it is a story of life and love and loss,” she adds. “It’s totally worthwhile — it’s a lovely story.”
Beyond the Sea is being presented at 8 p.m. from August 19 to 22 and August 26 to 29, with additional matinee performances at 2 p.m. on August 22 and 27.
A Woman’s Love List (September 30 – October 10)
For the fall, Globus Theatre is once again staging a play from beloved Canadian playwright Norm Foster.
In his 2003 comedy The Love List, Foster told the story of two men writing up a list of qualities defining the perfect woman who, much to their surprise, appears. In A Woman’s Love List, Foster turns it all around, with Megan and Carly finding what they believe is their perfect man.
In doing so, the two ladies discover that genuine love isn’t a quest for perfection, but a willingness to love someone fully — quirks, flaws, and all.
Many of the playwrights featured by Globus this season have passed on their expertise to one another. Foster mentored Beyond the Sea playwright Kristen Da Silva, who mentored Sore Losers playwright Bradley Austin.
“It’s lovely that there are all of these Canadian writers passing on their knowledge, and helping and encouraging and inspiring,” Quick reflects. “It means that we now have a great catalogue of modern Canadian plays that are relevant to all of our lives. If we’re talking about shopping local and shopping Canadian, then the arts need to do that as well.”
A Woman’s Love List is being staged in the round — meaning the audience will be on all sides of the stage — at 8 p.m. from September 30 to October 3 and October 7 to 10, with additional matinee performances at 2 p.m. on October 3, 8, and 10.
A Hula Holiday Homicide (November 18 – 28)
Globus Theatre will begin the holiday season with A Hula Holiday Homicide, a tropical festive murder mystery dinner theatre experience.
At Surfside Beach, travellers have ditched the snow to enjoy a festive tropical holiday with mulled rum, Santa hats, and flip-flops. But beneath the tinsel and tan lines, someone has ditched being nice for being naughty and a murder ensues.
A Hula Holiday Homicide will be staged at 6:30 p.m. from November 19 to 21 and 26 to 28.
Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs (December 9 – 20)
For its annual traditional British panto to close out the season, Globus Theatre is staging a retelling of the classic fairytale.
Filled with laughter, songs, and audience participation, this family adventure introduces Baron Weakneazie and his new bride the Red Queen of Poppydale, who is making life miserable for stepdaughter Snow White. With only her nanny Dame Wobbley Botham to comfort her, Snow White seeks shelter at the home of seven colourful characters.
Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs is being staged for eight public shows, at 7 p.m. on December 11, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on December 12 and 19, at 2 p.m. on December 13 and 20, and at 8 p.m. on December 18. A Christmas dinner will be available prior to evening performances.
Theatre tickets are priced at $35 for adults and $22.50 for audiences under 16 for the show only, and $85 for adults and $42.50 for children 10 and under for dinner and the show.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Globus Theatre. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
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