Peterborough Public Health (PPH) has retracted a list of potential measles exposure locations on Peterborough Transit buses from June 14 to 18 after a presumed case of measles was confirmed not to be measles.
The health unit originally shared the list on Friday (June 20) “out of an abundance of caution” according to an updated media release issued later the same day, stating there was a “high clinical suspicion (of measles) due to compatible symptoms and a known exposure.”
“Individuals who are susceptible to measles have a short timeframe for post-exposure care if exposed and because of this, PPH made the decision to share exposures prior to laboratory confirmation,” the media release states.
Advertisement - content continues below
However, lab testing has confirmed the person was not infected with measles.
The supplied information of potential exposure locations included a list of Peterborough transit routes and dates and times, as shown below.
This information has now been retracted, as the person is confirmed to not be infected with measles.
Renderings of Gidigaa Migizi College (top) and the new Otonabee College residence (bottom) at Trent University in Peterborough. Construction of the two new buildings will take place over three years with expected completion in fall 2028. (kawarthaNOW collage of renderings by Diamond Schmitt Architects)
After years of planning, Trent University broke ground on its newest residential college and a new student residence on Thursday (June 17).
To be built on the east bank of Trent University’s Symons Campus in Peterborough, Gidigaa Migizi College will be the university’s sixth college, joining Champlain, Lady Eaton, Peter Gzowski, Otonabee, and Catharine Parr Traill. The colleges are scholarly communities comprising student residences, dining halls, and academic and administrative space.
The largest campus infrastructure developments since the university was founded in 1964, the 700,000 square-foot development will create more than 1,300 new beds for students, including 700 in Gidigaa Migizi College and more than 600 in the new Otonabee College residence, which will include indoor connections to existing dining facilities and an outdoor communal quad.
Advertisement - content continues below
“We are about to embark on a defining chapter at Trent University,” said Trent University president and vice-chancellor Dr. Cathy Bruce in a media release.
“Gidigaa Migizi College and the new Otonabee residence will offer modern, inclusive spaces where students live, learn, and form lasting connections. It’s our most ambitious campus project yet. This new project will contribute tremendously to Trent’s vibrant learning and living environment.”
Gidigaa Migizi College is named in honour of the late Curve Lake First Nation Elder and former chief Gidigaa Migizi (Douglas Williams), who passed away in July 2022. Williams was an associate professor at the university and director of studies for the PhD program in Indigenous Studies, teaching the land-based course for the program. In Anishinaabemowin (the Ojibwe language), Gidigaa Migizi means spotted eagle.
Representatives from Trent University along with the development team at a groundbreaking ceremony on June 19, 2025 for Gidigaa Migizi College and New Otonabee College Residence, the university’s largest campus infrastructure project since the university was founded in 1964. (Photo courtesy of Trent University)
Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects and Indigenous architectural firm Two Row Architects and developed by Knightstone Capital Management, Gidigaa Migizi College will include two flexible lecture halls, a rooftop amenity space with panoramic views, a student services hub.
The design, which will make use of natural materials like wood and stone, organic shapes, and extensive sightlines to the outdoors, is based on Indigenous design principles informed by engagement with the First Peoples House of Learning at Trent, the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies, the Trent Elders Council, and members of the Michi Saagiig First Nations.
Other features include storytelling space, smudging areas, and symbols of cultural significance, including the pike and eagle.
Advertisement - content continues below
In terms of the environment and sustainability, both buildings will be supported by a geothermal heating and cooling system, with designs projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent from the National Energy Code 2017 baseline.
Fram Construction will be working with the developer, architects, and the university to build Gidigaa Migizi College and the new Otonabee College residence.
Early site servicing and preparation for tapping geothermal resources will begin later in the summer, setting the stage for three years of construction, with Gidigaa Migizi College and the new Otonabee College residence slated to open in fall 2028.
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, June 25, the following beaches are unsafe for swimming:
Lakefield Park – Lakefield
Hastings Waterfront South – Trent Hills
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.
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.
While we strive to update this story with the current conditions, you should confirm the most recent test results by visiting the local health unit websites at Peterborough Public Health and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. As noted above, the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead are tested every business day so the results listed below may not be current.
Advertisement - content continues below
Peterborough City/County
City of Peterborough Beaches (sampled each business day)
Beavermead Park (2011 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough) – sample date 24 June – SAFE
Rogers Cove (131 Maria Street, Peterborough) – sample date 24 June – SAFE
While no longer supervised by the City of Peterborough, Rogers Cove will be maintained and sampled. Sampling resumes on June 12th.
Peterborough County Beaches (sampled weekly)
Buckhorn Beach (12 John Street, Buckhorn) – sample date 17 June – SAFE
Crowe’s Line Beach (240 Crowe’s Line Road, Trent Lakes) – sample date 17 June – SAFE
Douro North Park (251 Douro Second Line, Township of Douro-Dummer) – sample date 16 June – SAFE
Ennismore Waterfront Park (1053 Ennis Road, Ennismore) – sample date 24 June – SAFE
Curve Lake Henrys Gumming (107 Chemong Street S, Curve Lake) – sample date 17 June – SAFE
Hiawatha Park (1 Lakeshore Road, Hiawatha) – sample date 23 June – SAFE
Jones Beach (908 Jones Beach Road, Bridgenorth) – sample date 24 June – SAFE
Lakefield Park (100 Hague Boulevard, Lakefield) – sample date 24 June – UNSAFE
Curve Lake Lime Kiln Park (70 Whetung Street E, Curve Lake) – sample date 17 June – SAFE
Sandy Beach (1221 Lakehurst Road, Buckhorn) – sample date 18 June – SAFE
Selwyn Beach Conservation Area (2251 Birch Island Road, Selwyn) – Temporarily closed
Please note that this beach is not being sampled yet as the property remains closed by Otonabee Conservation pending ongoing clean up from the March ice storm.
Squirrel Creek Conservation Area (2445 Wallace Point Road, South Monaghan) – sample date 23 June – SAFE
Please note that this beach continues to undergo clean up from the March ice storm and may have limited access.
Warsaw Caves Conservation Area (289 Caves Road, Warsaw) – sample date 16 June – SAFE
Peterborough County Beaches (sampled monthly)
Belmont Lake Beach (376 Mile of Memories Road, Belmont) – sample date 9 June – SAFE
Chandos Beach (2821 County Road 620, Apsley) – sample date 12 June – SAFE
Kasshabog Lake (431 Peninsula Road, Havelock) – sample date 20 June – SAFE
Quarry Bay Beach (1986 Northey’s Bay Road, Woodview) – sample date 12 June – SAFE
White’s Beach (26 Clearview Drive, Trent Lakes) – sample date 10 June – SAFE
Advertisement - content continues below
City of Kawartha Lakes
Results updated June 25.
Birch Point – Fenelon Falls – SAFE
Beach Park – Bobcaygeon – SAFE
Blanchards Road Beach – Bexley – SAFE
Bond Street – Fenelon Falls – SAFE
Burnt River Beach – Somerville – SAFE
Centennial Beach – Verulam – SAFE
Centennial Verulam Parkette – SAFE
Centennial Park West – Eldon – SAFE
Four Mile Lake Beach – Somerville – SAFE
Head Lake Beach – Laxton – SAFE
Lions Park – Coboconk – SAFE
Norland Bathing Area – Laxton – SAFE
Omemee Beach – Emily/ Omemee – SAFE
Riverview Beach Park – Bobcaygeon – SAFE
Sturgeon Point Beach – Fenelon Falls – SAFE
Valentia/ Sandbar Beach – Valentia – SAFE
Verulam Recreational Park – Verulam – SAFE
Advertisement - content continues below
Haliburton County
Results updated June 25.
Bissett Beach – Minden Hills – SAFE
Glamour Lake Beach – Highlands East – SAFE
Gooderham Lake Beach – Highlands East – SAFE
Foresters Beach – Minden Hills – SAFE
Paudash Lake Beach – Highlands East – SAFE
Rotary Head Lake Beach – Dysart et al – SAFE
Rotary Head Lake Beach Lagoon – Dysart et al – SAFE
Rotary Park Main – Minden Hills – SAFE
Rotary Park Lagoon – Minden Hills – SAFE
Sandy Cove Beach – Dysart et al – SAFE
Sandy Point Beach – Dysart et al – SAFE
Wilbermere Lake Beach – Highlands East – SAFE
Dorset Parkette – Algonquin Highlands – SAFE
Eagle Lake Beach – Dysart et al – SAFE
Elvin Johnson Park – Algonquin Highlands – SAFE
Haliburton Lake Beach – Dysart et al – SAFE
Horseshoe Beach – Minden Hills – SAFE
Pine Lake Beach – Dysart et al – SAFE
Slipper Beach – Dysart et al – SAFE
Twelve Mile Lake Beach – Minden Hills – SAFE
Northumberland County
Results updated June 25.
Hastings Waterfront South – Trent Hills – UNSAFE
Caldwell Street Beach – Port Hope – SAFE
East Beach – Port Hope – SAFE
Cobourg Victoria Park Beach – Northumberland – SAFE
For 200 years, the original Peterborough Farmers' Market has provided a year-round location for residents to source authentic, locally produced fruits and vegetables, dairy, and preserves, as well as artisan and other products and food made by local small businesses. In honour of the milestone anniversary in 2025, a celebration will be held during the market at Morrow Park on Saturday, July 19 and will feature live music, prizes and giveaways, and a kids' corner of activities. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Farmers' Market)
This year, the original Peterborough Farmers’ Market is celebrating 200 years of providing local produce to shoppers, supporting local farmers and small businesses, and creating community over the shared love of nutritious food.
To celebrate the milestone anniversary of one of Ontario’s longest-running farmers’ markets, a celebration will be held on Saturday, July 19, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Morrow Park, where the market takes place every week year-round.
The event will include live music, vendor giveaways, a kids’ corner with games, and, of course, lots of market-fresh food and treats.
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
“This event is a celebration and a way to thank the community for supporting the market,” says Justin McMakin, the Market Growth Team Lead for the Peterborough Farmers’ Market, adding the event will “share the true appreciation that all the local farmers, bakers, and artisans have for every customer that spends their time and money at the farmers’ market.”
The roots of the Peterborough Farmers’ Market date back to 1825 when Peter Robinson brought over 2,000 Irish settlers to the region and set up a market square for commerce in the community of what was then known as Scott’s Plains, later finding a home in the town hall of the newly incorporated town of Peterborough. In 1890, the market then moved to the building that has since become the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, before being relocated in the early 1950s to Morrow Park, which was then an agricultural fairground that had been gifted in trust to the City of Peterborough by the Morrow family.
Today, more than 50 regular vendors and an additional 10 occasional vendors continue to participate in the market, which is held outdoors at Morrow Park from May through October and moves inside the heated Morrow Building for the remainder of the year.
Now a performing arts centre, Market Hall in downtown Peterborough was originally built as the new home for the Peterborough Farmers’ Market, replacing the much smaller location the market had been operating out of in Peterborough’s first town hall after it was constructed on Water Street in 1851. Mayor James Stevenson laid the cornerstone of the Market Hall in the fall of 1889 and it officially opened in 1890, remaining the home of the market until the mid 20th century. (Photo courtesy of Market Hall Performing Arts Centre)
While the Peterborough Farmers’ Market is the city’s first farmers’ market, today it’s not the only one. A separate Wednesday downtown farmers’ market was launched in 1996, followed by a Saturday downtown farmers’ market launched in 2018 by local vendors who were ousted from the Peterborough Farmers’ Market after they objected to the presence of vendors reselling non-local produce.
“We have certainly changed the way we shop for our food in 200 years, but I think the farmers’ market is a staple in society,” says Kelly Carbajal, the owner of La Mesita, which has been a market vendor since 2010.
“Our farmers are the reason we can all put food on our tables. At the end of the day, the farmers’ market provides a place for friends and families to come together, to be a community, to make good food available and to grow together.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
When Kelly and her husband Chef Martin Carbajal first began operating as a market vendor, it allowed them to grow the business for their Mexican restaurant located in downtown Peterborough, though it has since become much more than that.
“There is such an incredible atmosphere and community,” says Martin. “You build relationships with your customers-relationships that do not happen at the cash register or self-checkout.”
“We have had the privilege of couples telling me they are engaged, they are pregnant, they have a new partner in their lives — even before they tell (about) their family members. We have watched families grow and children grow up. The market is more than a place to shop for local goods — it is a place where you connect with people and share your life and stories with them. The market is a place for families by families.”
Not only is it one of the longest-running markets in Ontario, but unlike many other farmers’ markets, it operates year-round. In fact, each year, vendors only take one week off during the Christmas holidays.
Kelly and Martin Carbajal, owners of La Mesita Restaurante in downtown Peterborough, have been vendors at local farmers’ markets, including the Peterborough Farmers’ Market, since 2010. Chef Martin suggests it has become more than just a source of revenue for the business, but has allowed them to make strong connections and be a part of a vibrant community. (Photo courtesy of Martin Carbajal)
“Being able to participate in the market year-round supports our staff and our business during the slow months,” says Kelly, noting it helps the farmers they source from as well. “The market allows us to grow our customer base while at the same time supporting the various farmers in the area. We really feel that this is a symbiotic relationship. We try to use as many local products as we are able to in the restaurant.”
McMakin adds that operating year-round makes it easier for the hundreds of customers who come through the market each week to source locally grown produce.
“There are people that have been coming to the market Saturdays for 40 years, 30 years, 50 years, so if you took a six-month break each year, the market would not have been as sustainable,” he says. “By having it consistent and weekly for the year, that helps the community that shops there, and it helps the farmer with stability.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
These shoppers can be assured that all farmers and artisans they are purchasing from have been verified and have to reapply every year to ensure they are a small business, they use ethical farming practices, and they are working out of a regulated kitchen if they are making baked goods or other food products.
Further offering support back to the community, many individual vendors will donate any unsold food at the end of the market to Kawartha Food Share, which distributes the items to local food banks.
“If the community shows support just by going to the farmers’ markets, we’ll get more vendors, we’ll get more produce, and hopefully we’ll be able to actually donate even more to Kawartha Food Share,” says McMakin. “It’s an ecosystem — our own Peterborough and area ecosystem.”
As a year-round market that only takes one week off at Christmas each year, the Peterborough Farmers’ Market has sustained itself for 200 years by supporting farmers and small businesses even during the slower winter season, when it moves from outside in Morrow Park to inside the Morrow Building. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Farmers’ Market)
To ensure the Peterborough Farmers’ Market remains a community staple for the next 200 years, McMakin is aiming to reach a larger audience of young families by using the market’s website and social media channels to provide tips and information on farming and food nutrition and to share recipes from vendors.
“I want to go around and interview the farmers or the people that make the preserves and collect the lost wisdom that our grandparents’ generation knew,” McMakin says. “I think the market is an incredible opportunity to be an educational platform for food security and food awareness.”
But before thinking about the next 200 years, the Peterborough Farmers’ Market will be celebrating its previous two centuries with a family-friendly celebration on Saturday, July 19.
The event will include a kids’ corner with face painting, a petting zoo, and other activities meant to inspire and educate on harvesting and farming practices. There will be local musicians, surprise guests, and draws for gift baskets filled with more than $100 of products from market vendors. The first 250 guests who RSVP to the event will receive a goodie bag valued at $30.
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
There will also be product giveaways from the vendors and freshly made treats using the kitchen at Peterborough’s All Saints’ Anglican Church, with leftovers being donated to Peterborough’s Food Not Bombs, which serves free meals to anyone who needs them.
“Two hundred years is no small feat — you do not achieve this without doing something right,” Kelly points out.
“You have to do something really special to celebrate this huge milestone. After all, it only comes along once. To be a part of this makes you realize that you are truly a part of an amazing history, and it’s quite an extraordinary and humbling feeling.”
The Peterborough Farmers’ Market sees more than 50 vendors selling products each week as well as an additional 10 that pop-up throughout the year. Vendors are required to reapply for the market each year to assure they are still a small business with ethical practices, and to ensure food products are made in regulated kitchens. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Farmers’ Market)
A recent "gaming night" hosted by Community Care Peterborough (CCP) and the Apsley and District Lion's Club netted more than $16,000 for supports and services provided to area residents by CCP's Apsley service office. (Photo: Jim O'Shea)
A significant investment is in the cards for the Apsley service office of Community Care Peterborough (CCP), thanks to local residents and cottagers who took part in a recent game night fundraiser.
With a donor matching the money generated through the June 7th event in Apsley, CCP announced this week that more than $16,000 will support programs and services for local residents who use CCP programs and services.
The evening drew more than 100 people from the Apsley community and surrounding area and featured casino-style games, food, fun, and a variety of prizes.
Advertisement - content continues below
CCP said the event proved to be a major fundraising success, bringing in $8,052 in support of local programs and services. Coupled with the anonymous donor who matched the total, the final amount raised was $16,104.
In partnership with the Apsley and District Lion’s Club, this was CCP Apsley’s fourth annual gaming night fundraiser.
“We were overwhelmed by the generosity of our sponsors and community members,” said Katie Bryck, CCP community development coordinator for the Apsley office. “Their sponsorships and donations helped us cover event costs and contributed more than 25 amazing prizes, generously provided by local businesses, volunteers, and residents.”
Advertisement - content continues below
CCP said it’s appreciative of the many volunteers, sponsors, and donors who made the night a success.
“We simply couldn’t do it without our dedicated team and the ongoing support of the community,” Bryck added.
Event sponsors included RE/MAX (Clark Breuls), Rockers Landscaping, BALL Real Estate, Chandos Lake Property Owners Association, Paxton Trucking, Woody’s, and The Grape and Wedge.
Advertisement - content continues below
The event was held at the North Kawartha Community Centre and has become “a much-anticipated tradition” in Apsley.
Bryck recently told kawarthaNOW the event provides for “a fun night with real impact, and a great way to celebrate community spirit.”
The fundraiser encompassed friendly competition and featured games including Blackjack, Crown and Anchor, and Money Wheel, along with prizes, a 50/50 draw, appetizers and a cash bar.
“With packed Blackjack tables and enthusiastic guests, we’re already excited for next year,” Bryck added.
Advertisement - content continues below
Chris LeBlanc, CCP’s director of donor and public relations, told kawarthaNOW the fundraising goal for the event was $15,000.
“While fundraising is certainly a big part of the evening, the event is also about more than dollars raised,” LeBlanc explained. “It’s a chance to bring our community together, to reconnect local and seasonal residents, and to build awareness about the programs and services we offer in the Apsley area.”
Proceeds from the event support the subsidy program at CCP’s Apsley location. The program helps provide residents with accessible transportation through the Caremobile, supports volunteer rides to medical appointments, and also facilitates regular food bank deliveries.
The Peterborough Musicians Benevolent Association (PMBA) will be celebrating the heavenly birthday of founder Phil "Mr. Deluxe" Marshall at The Social Pub in downtown Peterborough on Saturday afternoon, with performances by Union Street Groove and the Keith Guy Band. A singer and keyboardist, Phil died of a heart attack in 2013 at the age of 61. (Photo: SLAB Productions)
Every Thursday, kawarthaNOW publishes live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that musicians provide directly or that venues post on their websites or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, June 19 to Wednesday, June 25.
If you’re a musician or venue owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, email our nightlifeNOW editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com. For concerts and live music events at other venues, check out our Concerts & Live Music page.
With the exception of karaoke, we only list events with performing musicians. Venues may also host other events during the week (e.g., dancing, DJs, comedy shows).
Sunday, June 29 1-3pm - Trevor Davis & Wyatt Burton
Muddy's Pit BBQ
3247 County Rd. 2, Keene
(705) 295-1255
Sunday, June 22
3-6pm - Al Black & The Steady Band
Pappas Billiards
407 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 772-9010
Saturday, June 21
9-11pm - Brian Black ($10, includes pool)
Pig's Ear Tavern
144 Brock St., Peterborough
(705) 745-7255
Friday, June 20
7pm - Summer Solstice Variety Show ft Sarah van den Bramble, Meg Thorne, and special guests
Saturday, June 21
9pm - The Boo Radley Project ($5)
Tuesday, June 24
9pm - Open stage
Wednesday, June 25
9pm - Karaoinke
Puck' N Pint Sports Pub
871 Chemong Rd., Peterborough
(705) 741-1078
Friday, June 20
7pm - KC Carter
Saturday, June 21
8pm - Brittany & The Bad Boys
Riverside Grill & Gazebo at Holiday Inn
150 George St, Peterborough
705-740-6564
Friday, June 20
6-10pm - Gunslingers (no cover)
Sunday, June 22
1-5pm - The Pangea Project (no cover)
Rolling Grape Vineyard
260 County Rd 2, Bailieboro
705-991-5876
Thursday, June 19
5:30-8:30pm - Jonah Mclean
Sunday, June 22
2-5pm - Deanna Earle
Royal Crown Pub & Grill
4 King St. E., Colborne
905-355-1900
Saturday, June 21
8pm - Danforth 60 (no cover)
Scenery Drive Restaurant
6193 County Road 45, Baltimore
905-349-2217
Saturday, June 21
5-7:30pm - Kevin Parrish
Silver Bean Cafe
130 King St. (Millennium Park), Peterborough
705-749-0535
Monday, June 23
1-2:30pm - Bob Butcher
The Social Pub
295 George St. N., Peterborough
705-874-6724
Saturday, June 21
1-4pm - PMBA presents Phil Marshall's Heavenly Birthday ft Union Street Groove and Keith Guy Band (no cover, donations appreciated)
Tap & Tonic Pub & Bistro - Campbellford
18-22 Bridge St. W., Campbellford
(705) 947-2333
Thursday, June 19
7-10pm - Mike Tremblett
Tap & Tonic Pub & Bistro - Marmora
16 Forsyth St., Marmora
613-666-9767
Thursday, June 19
7pm - Matt Marcuz
TheBack40 Smoke House
217 Fairbairn Rd., Bobcaygeon
705-928-0270
Thursday, June 19
6-9pm - Jake Dudas
The Thirsty Goose
63 Walton St., Port Hope
Friday, June 20
8pm-12am - Harry Hannah
Saturday, June 21
8pm-12am - Bruce Longman
Wild Blue Yonder Pub at Elmhirst's Resort
1045 Settlers Line, Keene
(705) 295-4591
Coming Soon
Tuesday, July 1 8pm - Tuned Up Tuesdays ft Carling Stephen Band ($10 cover for show only, $49 for BBQ & show, $25 for children 3-12, reservations required)
Peterborough County OPP are investigating an act of vandalism that occurred at the North Kawartha Public Library in Apsley overnight on June 11, 2025 when two Pride-themed bollards at the walkway entrance to the library were defaced with black paint. A community repainting party will take place in the library's parking lot at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 20 to restore the bollards while showing solidarity with the local LGBTQ+ community. North Kawartha Mayor Carolyn Amyotte and members of the Peterborough County OPP will be attending. (Photo: North Kawartha Public Library / Facebook)
To show solidarity for the local LGBTQ+ community after Pride-themed bollards at North Kawartha Public Library in Apsley were vandalized last week, the library is holding a repainting party in the parking lot at 11 a.m. on Friday (June 20).
Peterborough County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a call from the library last Wednesday (June 11), reporting that two of six Pride-themed bollards around the library had been deliberately defaced with black paint sometime during the night before.
Four of the bollards that were not defaced are in close proximity of the building, and library staff believe the perpetrators of the vandalism may have correctly assumed there were cameras recording around the building.
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
The library had originally painted all six bollards with red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet stripes — the colours of the Pride flag — in celebration of Pride Month in June.
According to library CEO Debbie Hall, the bollards are painted every June because library staff “want people in the community to know that the library is a safe space” and that the library is accessible to everybody. The vandalism, she says, was “very hurtful” to many of their staff and community members.
In a statement, North Kawartha mayor Carolyn Amyotte expressed her dismay with the incident.
“I was shocked and disgusted to learn that our North Kawartha Public Library Pride poles were damaged last week,” Mayor Amyotte said. “This is more than just vandalizing public property. Defacing Pride symbols is a hate crime.”
“North Kawartha council and staff fully supports our library’s efforts to provide inclusive programming and a welcoming space for everyone. Our community seeks to build connections with all people, not exclude them because of how they look, dress, self-identify, or who or how they love.”
The North Kawartha Public Library in Apsley paints the six bollards around the library with Pride colours every June to demonstrate the library is a safe and inclusive space. Library staff suspect that four of the six bollards were not vandalized because they are in view of security cameras. This is the second hate-related incident at the library during Pride Month, with some community members having earlier checked out all LGBTQ+ books to remove them from circulation. (Photo: North Kawartha Public Library / Facebook)
The vandalism followed another incident earlier this month when adults checked out many of the books that were included in the library’s limited Pride Month display. In recent years, this has been a widely used tactic across North America to censor and prevent the circulation of LGBTQ+ books.
“The recent vandalism to the posts outside our Apsley Library which were painted for June Pride month and the attempt to make our Pride book collection inaccessible to the community have made it clear to us that our work to foster and support diversity, equity and inclusion is necessary and significant in our community,” reads a statement from the North Kawartha Public Library Board.
The statement goes on to outline that every four years, the board develops a strategic plan to guide the institutional work of the community libraries in both Apsley and Woodview. In the 2022 core values, the second value on the list is diversity and inclusion, and staff and board members annually develop goals to meet these values. In 2025, these goals included “a promise to explore opportunities for diversity and inclusion” with definitions outlined for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
“The library is committed to fostering an environment which makes equity, diversity, and inclusion a priority in planning and decision making for staffing, collections, services, and spaces,” the declaration on the statement reads. “Our staff training will include accessibility, anti-racism, and cultural awareness training.”
By hosting a repainting party on Friday to restore the original colours to the defaced bollards, the library is hoping to turn hate into a celebration of love and unity.
The positive response from the community, Hall says, was best shown when a community member made a donation of upwards of a dozen books to restore the Pride Month book display.
“When something like this happens it’s so hurtful, but then it does galvanize the community into action,” Hall says. “If we can just show that support more widespread and if more people in the community would be willing to put up flags or something, so that people that are currently doing it don’t feel isolated, it galvanizes the rest of the community to speak up and speak out and be present.”
For her part, Amyotte adds, “We know that diversity and equity is vital for a community to thrive, and our municipality is committed to standing up for all human rights and social inclusion. I look forward to attending the library’s Pride paint party and I can’t wait to spread love and rainbows all over town!”
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
According to a media release from the Peterborough County OPP, officers will also be attending Friday’s repainting party.
“Representation from the Peterborough County OPP will be on hand to show our support and to stand in solidarity against hate-motivated actions.”
“Acts of hate or intolerance are taken very seriously by the Peterborough County OPP and will not be tolerated in our community,” the media release adds.
Peterborough County OPP are asking for the public’s help in identifying those responsible for the vandalism. Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If you want to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at stopcrimehere.ca.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough executive director Zoe King (middle) accepts a $10,000 donation from 100 Women Peterborough at the collective philanthropy group's second meeting of 2025 at the Peterborough Humane Society on Tuesday, June 17. (Photo courtesy of 100 Women Peterborough)
At its second meeting of 2025, 100 Women Peterborough has chosen Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough to receive a donation of more than $10,000 that will support the charity’s mentorship programming and outreach to local children and youth.
The collective philanthropy group met on Tuesday (June 17) at the Peterborough Humane Society at 1999 Technology Drive. At each of the group’s quarterly meetings, members hears presentations from three non-profit organizations randomly drawn from a larger list of organizations nominated by the group’s members. Each member commits to donating $100, and the organization that gets the most member votes receives the collective donations.
The three organizations that presented to 100 Women Peterborough at June’s meeting were Peterborough Youth Services, the Canadian Canoe Museum, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough, with the latter chosen by majority vote to receive member donations.
Advertisement - content continues below
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada is a federation of 108 member agencies serving more than 1,100 communities across the country, with over 21,300 trained volunteers mentoring over 41,700 children and youth between the ages of six and 18 through one-on-one or group mentoring programs.
In 2023, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough served made 105 community matches between “bigs” and “littles” and served 920 children and youth including 44 through in-school mentoring at 14 schools and 53 in group mentoring.
“We are incredibly grateful to the 100+ Women of Peterborough for choosing Big Brothers Big Sisters as their charity of choice,” said Big Brothers Big Sisters executive director Zoe King. “Their generosity directly empowers local youth, giving them access to mentorship, creativity, and opportunity to unlock their full potential. This kind of community support doesn’t just fund programs, it changes lives.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Of the children and youth Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough served in 2023, 32 per cent were involved in the child welfare system, 58 per cent had separated or divorced parents, and 70 per cent had experienced bullying.
“This is the kind of support that makes a lifelong difference,” said Wendy Hill, a founding member of 100 Women Peterborough. “For so many young people in our community, the impact of this organization can be the turning point that helps them believe in themselves and build a brighter future. We’re proud to stand behind Big Brothers Big Sisters in the vital work they do.”
Since its formation in 2018, 100 Women Peterborough has collectively donated over $250,000 to 27 local organizations.
Advertisement - content continues below
Organizations that have received member donations include YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, Vinnies Peterborough, Hospice Peterborough, Peterborough Youth Unlimited, One Roof Warming Room, New Canadians Centre, Cameron House, Five Counties Children’s Centre, Casa De Angelae, Lakefield Animal Welfare Society, Community Care Peterborough, Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, Community Counselling and Resource Centre, Peterborough Pregnancy Support Services, Heads Up for Inclusion, Kawartha Youth Orchestra, Peterborough GreenUP, Bridges Peterborough, YMCA Strong Communities, Homeward Bound Peterborough, Good Neighbours Care Centre and Food Bank, PARN – Your Community AIDS Resource Network, Camp Kawartha, the Teachers For Kids Foundation, Hearts 4 Joy, Camp Northern Lights, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough.
100 Women Peterborough is part of a growing collective philanthropy movement that began in the United States in November 2006, when Karen Dunigan of Michigan formed the “100 Women Who Care” group. After their first meeting, those women raised over $10,000 for the purchase of 300 new baby cribs for a local organization. The movement has grown over the past 18 years to include groups of men, women, youth, and children around the world, with hundreds of chapters in Canada alone.
For more information about 100 Women Peterborough, visit www.100womenptbo.ca.
Globally, communities, countries and businesses are committing to necessary net zero emissions reduction by 2050 or sooner. At GreenUP Green Economy Peterborough's 2025 Leadership in Sustainability Awards on June 12, Engage Engineering joined Peterborough-area leaders Woodleigh Farms, Unity Design Studio, and Wild Rock Outfitters in committing to following the global lead. Many of these businesses are already carbon neutral through recent reductions and the purchasing of offsets. Pictured here is Paul Hurley of Engage Engineering, which received recognition for their recent commitment to become Net Zero. (Photo: Hayley Goodchild / GreenUP)
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Jackie Donaldson, Green Economy Peterborough hub coordinator, GreenUP.
Peterborough has long punched above its weight when it comes to community-based environmental action. Many of these actions have been connected to GreenUP’s work, from the beloved Ecology Park to the well-established home energy efficiency program, and the month-long Shifting Gears active transportation challenge.
These successes show that this community is the right size, and has the right spirit, to spark ideas that grow into something bigger; ideas that don’t just stay local, but inspire change across the country.
This spirit was on full display recently as Green Economy Peterborough (GEP), the local business program run by GreenUP, and its umbrella network Green Economy Canada, both hosted their annual green business awards. These gatherings brought together business and community leaders to celebrate and get inspired by the people and organizations leading the way to a low-carbon future.
Advertisement - content continues below
At GEP’s fourth annual Leadership in Sustainability Awards and Celebration, hosted last Thursday evening (June 12) at the McDonnel Street Activity Centre in Peterborough, Darryl Julott, the City of Peterborough’s new director of economic development, spoke to the city’s continued support for this program and for local businesses.
“It’s become clear to me and everyone at the City of Peterborough that sustainability is no longer a niche initiative — it’s a real opportunity for small businesses to strengthen their operations and become future ready,” Julott said.
Among the award recipients were many local businesses doing just that.
Green Economy Peterborough network members and friends gathered at the fourth annual Leadership in Sustainability Awards at the McDonnel Street Activity Centre in Peterborough on June 12, 2025. The awards celebrate local small business efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through operational energy and waste reductions. Winners included Morton Medical Centre, Unity Design Studio, Wild Rock Outfitters and Woodleigh Farms. These businesses were also recognized by Green Economy Canada at their event in May. (Photo: Hayley Goodchild / GreenUP)
Morton Medical Centre earned the “Rookie of the Year” award. When this small rural health centre based in Douro-Dummer joined the program to measure and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, they leapt into action and quickly completed their carbon footprint assessment, an informative first step in GEP’s milestone program.
Morton’s team then partnered with GreenUP to develop a small business energy efficiency pilot. This involved not only identifying the technical upgrades required to reduce natural gas and electricity use of their facility, but also a commitment to trialling strategies to engage tenants and staff in behavioural and operational changes to reduce energy. Their goal was to build a lasting culture of workplace energy efficiency.
Located in Cavan, award-winner Woodleigh Farms drew praise for their biochar processing pilot. Biochar is an emergent agricultural soil amendment made by turning local waste wood into carbon-rich charcoal. Woodleigh’s “Leadership in Innovation” award recognizes their efforts to sequester carbon in what is understood to be a first-of-its kind-in-Canada commercial biochar processing facility.
Advertisement - content continues below
Wild Rock Outfitters in downtown Peterborough secured the “Leadership Outside the Box” award for their new Wild Again program. Wild Again invites customers to bring in old outdoor gear to trade or reuse, cutting down on the need to manufacture new equipment, slashing emissions and waste. It’s part of a larger commitment to sustainability that includes partnering with eco-friendly suppliers and promoting local adventure tourism.
Unity Design Studio, the award-winning architectural firm that designed the Canadian Canoe Museum, among other gems both local and beyond, received the “Leadership Through Ambition” award. This award celebrates Unity’s comprehensive approach to a tricky problem: the emissions that are produced by employee commuting.
Unity Design Studio piloted GreenUP’s first bike-friendly workplace audit, rolled out a new active transportation policy, and created a safe place for staff to park their bikes. For Unity staff, this direct experience can add extra value and nuance to their design work, influencing how people arrive at future building projects.
Local business and community leaders celebrate peers taking climate action at the fourth annual Green Economy Peterborough Leadership in Sustainability awards and celebration held on June 12, 2025. Of the evening’s winners, local champions Morton Medical Centre and Woodleigh Farms were also awarded for their actions at the national level at Green Economy Canada’s awards event, earning two of five available awards and surpassing the efforts of nine other Green Economy Canada hubs across the country. (Photo: Hayley Goodchild / GreenUP)
The “Leadership in Collaboration” award went to Morton Medical Centre for partnering with GEP on the small business energy efficiency pilot, with Cabinetree, a local kitchen cabinet manufacturer, receiving an honourable mention.
Kelly Jamieson of Charlotte Products won a special staff award for the exceptional scope and accuracy he put into collecting greenhouse gas data for the organization.
Accurate emissions data is easier to work with and importantly provides a clearer picture of the climate action opportunities and savings for a business.
Advertisement - content continues below
The efforts, innovation, and initiative of numerous GEP Leadership in Sustainability awards recipients resonated across the country at Green Economy Canada’s national celebration.
In the Canadian network made up of 10 hubs based in communities from Alberta to New Brunswick, Peterborough’s local businesses won two of five national awards, inspiring businesses nationally.
The awards went to Woodleigh Farms and Morton Medical Centre, while Wild Rock Outfitters earned an honourable mention.
Advertisement - content continues below
With the smoke from wildfires in the air and the impacts of March’s ice storm still evident, the need to act on climate change feels urgent. Our local businesses are clearly rising to the challenge, supporting one another and leading the way for others to follow.
These awards and celebrations were made possible thanks to support from the City of Peterborough, Peterborough County, Camp Kawartha, and Green Economy Canada.
The crowd at a town hall meeting at Cobourg Community Centre on June 17, 2025 applauds a resident expressing concerns with the emergency homeless shelter at 310 Division St. in Cobourg. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of Town of Cobourg video)
Cobourg schoolchildren have had rocks and racial slurs thrown at them. Two businesses have shut up shop and left downtown Cobourg. Some Division Street and area storekeepers and homeowners are dealing with drug paraphernalia, swearing, fights, and people urinating on their properties. Some residents say they are ultimately too scared to venture downtown anymore.
Those were a few comments the Town of Cobourg’s council heard during a town hall meeting Tuesday evening (June 17) that moved 42 people to register to make delegations and many more to gather at the Cobourg Community Centre.
Online, there were, at times, 180-plus people watching the YouTube livestream of the meeting, which lasted four hours. The town hosted the meeting to hear from Cobourg community members, business owners, and other stakeholders about their experiences over the past six months related to the emergency homeless shelter at 310 Division St. in Cobourg, which opened in December 2024.
Advertisement - content continues below
On Wednesday, Northumberland County Council passed a motion during its regular council meeting directing changes to the operation of the emergency shelter, including closure of the ground-floor warming/cooling hub by July 4, development of options for relocating the warming/cooling hub to another location in the county, and preparation of a report for the July 30 social services committee meeting outlining the process and timelines to transition the shelter to a higher-barrier model focused on individuals with low-to-moderate complexity of needs.
“Thank you for taking the time this evening to join us for this important community conversation,” said Town of Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland at the beginning of Tuesday’s town hall. “While the Town of Cobourg does not operate the shelter, we understand the significant impacts it has on our downtown and surrounding neighbourhoods.”
The meeting kicked off with residents sharing their thoughts and observations. One resident said it was her third delegation before council because “things are getting worse, not better, especially since 310 Division became a low-barrier shelter and was established downtown.”
After sharing a few examples of her encounters with people who are using drugs and people who support them, and the state of downtown washrooms in Rotary Park for instance, she said, “Cobourg is going down. We must protect residents and businesses or get dragged down with the drugs here and chaos.
“Perhaps it’s even time to declare a state of emergency.”
The crowd at a town hall meeting at Cobourg Community Centre on June 17, 2025 about the emergency homeless shelter at 310 Division St. in Cobourg on June 17, 2025. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of Town of Cobourg video)
While the majority of speakers shared concerns related to the location and activities and operations related to the shelter, council also heard from people who appreciated the work that Transition House, which operates the shelter owned by Northumberland County, is doing to help people secure a roof overhead and food on their plates.
The town also heard from people who have been or are homeless, individuals who have been or are dealing with additions, along with people who work in the housing, mental health, and addictions realm.
“I’m on the front lines of these streets, working with the very people we are discussing here today,” said a speaker who works in the sector, including roles as a community programs facilitator with the Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough and a harm reduction worker with PARN.
She said she’s hearing from people she supports sentiments like, “it feels like it’s illegal for us to even exist. We are constantly and consistently told to move along, move along, move along. We have nowhere to sleep. We get discharged instead of transitioning. We need actual trauma-informed care with an actual trauma-informed councillor. We need more programs. We are people — not problems.”
Advertisement - content continues below
One consistent theme was the wish to see the shelter be designated as a sober-living facility and not a low-barrier shelter.
“There is a clear pattern of increased chaotic behaviours on our property,” said Jeff Crowley, co-owner of Cobourg Orthopaedic & Sports Injury Clinic, which is located across the street from Transition House.
He said he or staff call police, by-law officials or security, between one and five times daily because of the “chaos.”
He shared videos of incidents, including one in which his wife and daughter exited the business to find someone urinating on the wall of their building. Crowley said swearing, people making threats, and drug deals unfolding in his business parking lot are also commonplace.
After the footage was shown, Crowley said, “raise the barrier,” which was met with applause.
Jeff Crowley, co-owner of Cobourg Orthopaedic & Sports Injury Clinic across the street from the emergency homeless shelter at 310 Division St., shared many videos and photos showing undesirable behaviour, including fighting, screaming, drug use, and public urination, at a town hall meeting at Cobourg Community Centre on June 17, 2025. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of Town of Cobourg video)
Meanwhile, others said accessible, low-barrier supports are needed. Another common issue people raised was the desire to see the shelter located in a rural area and neither in the core of the business community nor within the close proximity of an elementary school, which is currently the case.
Some people suggested other towns and townships in Northumberland County should be required to take on more responsibility for addressing the issues of homelessness and addictions. The task shouldn’t all fall on Cobourg just because the bulk of services and supports are located in the west-end town, some said.
A former resident of Transition House said he is homeless and many people in his situation feel like there is no hope for their situations to improve because their income is what’s provided through the Ontario Disability Support Program or Ontario Works.
The meeting made it clear that the issue of support for people who are homeless and/or dealing with addictions was much broader than Transition House, and better services and systems are needed across the province and the country to have a meaningful impact on the crisis.
The Transition House homeless shelter, which moved from Chapel Street to 310 Division St., partially opened in December by offering short-term beds for those experiencing homelessness. It has since opened fully, offering additional services for those in need of longer-term housing support as well.
“The meeting is intended to be a community engagement opportunity for residents to share feedback, suggestions, or concerns regarding 310 Division St. with council,” Kara Eaule, the Town of Cobourg’s communications manager, recently told kawarthaNOW.
“Cobourg does not have a say in the operation of 310 Division Street. Therefore, Mayor Cleveland will take the community feedback to Northumberland County council where he hopes it can serve to inform positive change.”
The Division Street facility, which Northumberland County purchased in 2023 in partnership with Transition House, is intended to “modernize” shelter services, and serves as the only shelter of its kind in Northumberland County.
Advertisement - content continues below
While Northumberland County council’s decision to direct operational changes to the shelter happened the morning after Tuesday’s town hall, a media release from the county states that the decision “follows months of public dialogue around the shelter model and service impacts, with council hearing from residents and businesses calling for changes to better balance support for vulnerable populations with broader community well-being.”
“These decisions were not made easily,” said county warden Brian Ostrander in the release. “Council has listened over the past seven months to a broad range of perspectives from across the community, on both the benefits the modernized shelter has delivered to date, as well as the challenges. We remain deeply committed to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. We also recognize the need to respond to concerns raised by the broader community, in particular neighbours and business owners near 310 Division Street.”
While the 310 Division Street facility was designed to be a low-barrier shelter “to ensure the greatest level of access in response to increasingly complex needs,” the release states, it has been operating in an environment where addiction and mental health services are limited.
“The situation in Northumberland lays bare that addiction, mental illness, and housing affordability are intersecting crises impacting communities across Canada, not just large urban centres,” Ostrander said. “The reality is that small and rural municipalities like ours are increasingly on the front lines, with limited resources and limited authority to address what is fundamentally a health and housing crisis. While the operational changes we’ve made today may shift how local shelter services are delivered, the underlying issues remain.”
Advertisement - content continues below
According to the release, county council recognized that transitioning to a higher-barrier shelter model will restrict access for some people currently using services at 310 Division Street, particularly those struggling with significant substance use and mental health concerns, but municipalities are unable to provide the specialized supports that are needed.
“Municipal governments cannot effectively address these crises on the backs of the property tax base,” the warden said. “We urgently need meaningful provincial investments in addiction treatment, detox, supportive housing, and mental health care. We continue to join our municipal counterparts across the province in calling on our provincial partners to address these issues with the funding and solutions that are desperately needed.”
The release states that county staff will begin working immediately with Transition House to develop the operational and contractual changes required to transition to the new high-barrier service model.
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.