One City Peterborough's director of property development Michael VanDerHerberg in the kitchen of a self-contained basement apartment, which is part of a partnership with Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) to construct additional rental units that provide supportive housing options for tenants of residential properties owned by One City Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of One City Peterborough)
Over the course of the just concluded 2026 municipal election, most candidates’ platforms spoke to the urgent need for affordable and safe housing for all.
Just a year ago, the release of the United Way’s 20th Housing is Fundamental report saw researchers Paul Armstrong and Dr. Naomi Nichols bring attention — again — to the adverse social impacts of the housing crisis, with the former noting “homelessness is expanding, food banks are overwhelmed, inequality flourishes.”
“The effects of the shift away from social support spending, starting in the 1980s, are indisputable today,” added Armstrong.
While the existence of a systemic shortfall continues to be acknowledged and lamented ad nauseam, a Peterborough organization focused on supporting those experiencing homelessness and/or criminalization to facilitate their inclusion as community members has been quietly taking decisive action.
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Building additional rental units for people experiencing homelessness
Michael VanDerHerberg, director of property development at One City Peterborough, speaks to attendees during an event to discuss the non-profit organization’s housing strategy at Knights of Columbus Hall on May 12, 2026. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
Established in 2019 as a result of a merger between Warming Room Community Ministries and Peterborough Reintegration Services, One City Peterborough’s most visible work remains its operation of the Trinity Community Hub at the site of the former Trinity United Church.
While the provision of shelter, meals, basic needs support, and integrated pathways to health, housing and community-based services remain a One City priority, the ongoing acquisition of properties — funded via a combination of community fundraising, private donor support, grants, municipal incentive programs, and strategic partnerships — has taken One City beyond talk of providing housing.
It’s walking the walk.
“We made a very conscious decision at the time to pivot and focus on housing,” recalls Michael VanDerHerberg, One City’s director of development, of when One City was formed.
“We bought our first house on Water Street, we merged with another organization that allowed us to acquire two more homes and, year over year, we just started buying more housing with the intention of housing people coming out of homelessness.”
Then, in 2024, the work of Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) — in particular the efforts of project manager Keith Dalton — appeared on One City’s radar.
By that point, PATH’s efforts since it was formed in 2022 to establish a community of “tiny homes” (sleeping cabins) for chronically unhoused people had been twice rejected by Peterborough city council.
“I had him here for coffee and essentially said ‘Keith, if you want to build, we have spaces in the backyards of houses that we already own. Would you be interested in building, not a tiny home that is movable, but an additional rental unit that is a fixture?”
The City of Peterborough defines an additional rental unit (ARU) as a “self-contained residential unit with a private kitchen, bathroom facilities, and sleeping areas within dwellings or within structures ancillary to a dwelling.” ARUs can include basement apartments and so-called in-law suites, as well as independent structures.
Keith Dalton (middle) of Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) in 2024, working on the site of an additional rental unit located in the backyard of a west-end property owned by One City Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of One City Peterborough)
Partnering with PATH, along with fundraising and a donor’s generosity covering the $110,000 cost, One City’s first ARU was built in the backyard of a property it owns on Monaghan Road.
“The tenants of the existing home had a house meeting and one particular tenant was chosen to move into the backyard unit,” says VanDerHerberg, noting that freed up space in the house for someone else coming out of homelessness.
“The stability it has given the person who moved into the backyard unit is significant,” he recalls. “That really sparked an interest in me. We’ve known that one-bedroom units — where somebody can open their door, lock the door behind them, have their own space, their own bathroom, and their own kitchen — are gold in this sector, particularly for someone with mental health needs that would seem them thrive better in their own space.”
If you don’t have stable housing, VanDerHerberg points out, “your life is chaos.”
“Without housing stability, if they have any predisposition towards drug use, or especially if they have forms of childhood trauma, the gravitation towards really hard drugs is almost inevitable,” he says.
“That’s not a moral issue. That’s a systemic issue that we’re seeing. Yes, addictions sometimes cause homelessness but, more than anything I’ve seen, homelessness exacerbates addictions. Some can hack it for a long time. They camp outside and even exist with the shelter system and do relatively okay but, for most, they need a roof over their head to maintain a stable life.”
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Municipal incentives help One City expand its affordable housing portfolio
The completed additional rental unit located in the backyard of a west-end property owned by One City Peterborough. The tenants living in the main home had a meeting and one particular tenant was chosen to move into the backyard unit, freeing up space in the house for someone else coming out of homelessness. (Photo courtesy of One City Peterborough)
VanDerHerberg says the success of that initial ARU project led to a determination of “Let’s do this again.” With that, sights turned to a One City-owned property on Clonsilla Avenue operated by FourCAST.
“At this point, I had started asking about funding opportunities and learned that the City of Peterborough offers a wonderful program called the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan,” says VanDerHerberg.
Along with the Development Charges Program for developers building new affordable housing and the Tax Increment Grant Program for property owners, the plan includes the Municipal Incentive Program, which provides a financial incentive for affordable housing developments up to $80,000 per unit that is first applied to offset municipal fees and then toward project costs.
“The Municipal Incentive Program offers a specific cash capital investment when you’re developing affordable units,” VanDerHerberg explains. “I could get upwards of $60,000, $70,000, $80,000 per unit that we develop.”
While the city wouldn’t approve funding retroactively for the Monaghan Road project, it did provide $60,000 for a basement unit and another $60,000 for a backyard ARU at the Clonsilla Avenue property. That was boosted by $70,000 from the United Way Peterborough & District and another $10,000 gifted by a private donor.
Tammy Kuehne, executive director of One City Peterborough, speaks to attendees at an event to discuss the non-profit organization’s housing strategy at Knights of Columbus Hall on May 12, 2026. Kuehne supports property development Michael VanDerHerberg’s strategy to purchase properties for additional rental units, as long as they can be purchased without incurring any debt. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
VanDerHerberg says “the stories that came out of that feel really good.”
“One man, a client of FourCAST, said to his intensive case manager that he had the opportunity to have his son for dinner for the first time in 10 years. He was able to unlock his door, bring his son in, close the door, and enjoy themselves in his own space. That’s rehabilitative stuff — that’s restorative stuff in terms of what it means to regain a sense of yourself. It’s dignity.”
Buoyed by these positive outcomes, VanDerHerberg eyed the acquisition of more properties with the goal of building more ARUs.
He says a strategy was developed so “from start to finish, we know all the steps required in terms of recognizing the opportunity to buy a home, determining if it’s a good fit, going to the housing team, and seeing if this is something they want to expand into.”
“If not, we approach somebody like FourCAST and see if they want to partner with us, and figure out all the financing mechanisms to buy the house.”
VanDerHerberg has moved forward in this work with the full blessing and support of One City executive director Tammy Kuehne, with one caveat: “If you want to buy new places, great, but you’ve got to buy them with 100 per cent financing. No debt.”
Challenge accepted, VanDerHerberg has since facilitated the purchase and debt-free financing of additional properties — one each on Stewart, Sherbrooke, and Dublin streets — providing not only a combined eight more ARUs with 19 beds in total, but also living space within the house on each property.
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Community partners and private donors help housing beds surpass shelter beds
Rhonda Gilchrist, former senior director of operations and revenue generation at United Way Peterborough & District, during an event to discuss One City Peterborough’s housing strategy at Knights of Columbus Hall on May 12, 2026. The United Way has supported One City’s purchase of a home on Stewart Street through the federally funded the Reaching Home program. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
While funding from the city and partners such as the United Way, PATH, the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, and PTBO Renovates has made property purchases and ARU construction possible, another source of funding that’s as heartwarming as it is remarkable deserves attention: private donors.
While VanDerHerberg says he is “grateful” for the above-noted partnerships and the resulting funding, he adds that such support falls within each organization’s mandate. The contributions of private donors, he says, are another thing altogether.
“Once a donor puts a certain amount of trust in you that’s attached to a larger donation, the onus to do the work and do it well weighs on me. Not in a bad way, but there’s the weight of responsibility. Somebody has entrusted their money to you. They could buy a yacht with their money but they’ve chosen, out of their love of community, to say ‘Here’s a team buying spaces, building these additional rental units and housing people coming of out homelessness.'”
“A method that I think has resonated with donors has been ‘Find as much money as you can from government. Then go to the United Way and CFGP, or other granting organizations, and then come to us.’ Exhaust those two (funding sources) and then come to us.”
The long-term goal of this work, says VanDerHerberg, was to “get to a place where our housing beds exceed the 45 shelter beds we provide (at Trinity).”
That goal, he says, has been met, adding “Now our goal is to double that.”
“We do not want to expand the number of shelter beds we provide — we want to expand the number of housing beds we provide,” VanDerHerberg says.
While noting that shelter is essential and saves lives, he also calls it a “band-aid” solution to a more systemic problem.
“We’re in a housing crisis. We could fill 200 shelter beds, but I don’t think it’s the right idea.”
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Working with neighbours to deal with issues while seeking lasting solutions to homelessness
To help address cleanliness issues raised by homeowners and businesses neighbouring the Trinity Community Hub, One City Peterborough has been funded by the City of Peterborough for an eight-week pilot project to clean up garbage in downtown Peterborough. The “Clean Team” also provides opportunities for 10 people who face barriers to traditional employment. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of One City Peterborough video)
As for the neighbours of One City properties, VanDerHerberg says he does talk to them “to let them know what’s going on. It’s important for me that they know what our intentions are.”
“We’re adding gentle density. Adding a house and maybe one or two new units on a site … a neighbourhood can absorb that. If you were to add a much larger building, I would be much more conscientious around the effect on the neighbourhood. Alongside Keith, we have an architectural designer. I can already see the desire to build good spaces that build community in a healthy way; that fit the community already there.”
In the meantime, not lost on VanDerHerberg is the need to continue to monitor activity at its Trinity Community Hub site in response to ongoing concerns from neighbours, and make any changes and adjustments as they’re deemed necessary.
“I think there’s something about acknowledging that the work here is tough, and appreciating the folks that do complain — that there is truth in some of it,” he says.
“I’m okay with our immediate neighbours saying we have to do better. We will put in architectural upgrades to the space. We will change staffing routines. We’ll have community meetings with neighbours to bring forward emerging issues.”
VanDerHerberg says he has been “reluctant” to promote the housing work that One City does “because of how political the work is that we do here at Trinity.” He also wants to protect the privacy of tenants who live in the properties owned by One City.
“People have no business knowing the addresses,” he affirms, adding that One City works with immediate neighbours on any issues regarding the tenants. “Let them live there … Give them a chance to thrive there.”
Michael Eamon was one of several candidates for Peterborough city council who attended One City Peterborough’s event to discuss the non-profit organization’s housing strategy at Knights of Columbus Hall on May 12, 2026. Eamon, who was elected mayor on October 26, said in his victory speech that he intends to create a mayoral task force on the issue of homelessness. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
For anyone who believes One City shouldn’t be involved in developing affordable housing, VanDerHerberg has one question: “What do you want?”
“We’re doing a shelter, and a shelter is really tough, and we’re doing housing. If you don’t like either of those, what are you hoping for?”
As for those donating to One City’s housing efforts, VanDerHerberg says they want to see “tangible solutions” that are “changing the lives” of people.
Meanwhile, to the notion that Peterborough is unique in its number of homeless people and related challenges, VanDerHerberg says nothing could be further from the truth.
“This is happening right now at every single other regional hub in Ontario, Canada, and across North America,” he says. “There are no communities that are escaping homelessness.”
“If you think, for one second, that this is a Peterborough problem, give your head a shake. Travel. Get out of the city and look at what’s happening. Open your eyes. We have people falling through the cracks right now because of systemic issues. If it was just a Peterborough thing, we wouldn’t see it other communities.”
As for criticisms levelled against city council, city staff, and the non-profit sector for not doing enough to address homelessness, VanDerHerberg admits “we can all do better” by looking at longer-term solutions.
“We can invest more in affordable housing. We can talk about basic income guarantees. We can talk about things outside the concept of current capitalism that might improve things.”
He points out that simply finding housing for people “that are easy to house” is not going to solve the problem.
“It takes a community to lean into the hard work and say, ‘Okay, we’re going to intentionally buy spaces for people who are struggling,’ because what we’re seeing right now, happening in our community and in communities around North America, is simply not acceptable.”
For more information about One City Peterborough and to donate, visit www.onecityptbo.ca.
Clocks will “fall back” an hour when daylight saving time (DST) ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday (November 1).
The annual return to eastern standard time (EST) means it will be lighter in the morning when we get up, with the sun rising at 6:50 a.m. on Sunday in the Kawarthas. On the other hand, it will be darker earlier, with the sun setting at 5:02 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
If you still have any manual clocks, remember to set them back an hour before you go to bed on Saturday night.
The end of DST also means it’s time to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and to check whether the alarms need to be replaced (if they are more than 10 years old, they probably do).
Here’s everything you should know about DST, including recent actions to make it permanent so we don’t have to change our clocks twice a year.
If you find daylight saving time annoying, you can blame New Zealand entomologist George Hudson. He first proposed “saving daylight” in 1895 so he could have more time during the day to collect insects. (Public domain photos)
Although it’s commonly believed Benjamin Franklin came up with the idea for DST, it was actually New Zealand entomologist George Hudson.
In 1895, Hudson proposed a two-hour shift in the clocks (he wanted more daylight to collect insects).
“The effect of this alteration would be to advance all the day’s operations in summer two hours compared with the present system,” Hudson wrote in 1898, explaining his original proposal. “In this way the early-morning daylight would be utilised, and a long period of daylight leisure would be made available in the evening for cricket, gardening, cycling, or any other outdoor pursuit desired.”
A few years later, English outdoorsman William Willett also proposed advancing the clocks during the summer months (he wanted more daylight to golf).
The first governments to implement DST were Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1916, as a way to conserve coal during World War I. Britain and most other European countries adopted it shortly after, with the United States and Canada adopting it in 1918.
DST used to begin the first Sunday of April and end the last Sunday of October, but in 2007 the U.S. decided to change it to begin the second Sunday of March and end the first Sunday of November in an attempt to conserve energy.
To avoid issues with economic and social interactions with the U.S., the Canadian provinces that observe DST followed suit.
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What are the health effects of changing time twice a year?
While the evidence is mixed, some research has found that “falling back” results in more accidents involving pedestrians, while “springing forward” increases the risk of heart attacks and traffic accidents.
In any case, moving clocks forward or backward changes our exposure to daylight and affects our circadian rhythm (the body’s natural internal clock).
In the spring, having to get up an hour earlier can disrupt your sleep patterns. In the fall, having an extra hour of sleep can actually make you feel jet lagged.
In either case, it can take up to a week to adjust your internal clock to the shift in daylight hours.
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Why don’t we just get rid of DST?
It’s possible that we’ll eventually end the practice of changing our clocks twice a year, but by making DST permanent rather than getting rid of it.
On November 25, 2020, the Ontario government gave royal assent to The Time Amendment Act, a private members’ bill tabled by Ottawa-West Nepean MPP Jeremy Roberts that proposed making “the time now called daylight saving time the standard time year-round.” The bill would only come into force if the province of Quebec and the state of New York also make DST permanent.
On March 2, 2026, then British Columbia premier David Ebey announced the province was permanently adopting DST. In 2019, B.C. introduced legislation to allow the switch to permanent DST, following initiatives by California and Washington state to do the same. Originally, Ebey said he would wait for the American states to make the switch before doing the same.
“We are done waiting,” Eby said. “British Columbia is going to change our clocks just one more time, and then never again.”
Surrounded by school children, British Columbia premier David Ebey announced on March 2, 2026 that the province would change its clocks for the final time, permanently adopting daylight saving time. (kawarthaNOW screenshot)
British Columbia’s northern neighbour, Yukon, already ditched the switch in 2020, permanently adopting DST.
After Manitoba announced on September 17, 2026 that it would be permanently adopting DST this year, the Ontario government announced on October 13 it would also make DST permanent in Kenora and the northwestern regions of Ontario that have historically been aligned with neighbouring Manitoba. The change, to take effect on November 1, would be made through a regulation under the Time Act.
In 2022, it looked like the U.S. was on the verge of ending the bi-annual time change. On March 16, 2022, the U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make DST permanent beginning in spring 2023. Despite passage in the Senate, the bill stalled in the House of Representatives, where it remained in a committee until it died with the expiration of the previous Congress. In March 2023, then Florida senator Marco Rubio reintroduced the bill into the 118th Congress, where it also died in committee with the U.S. election.
In January 2025, two Republican Florida senators reintroduced the bill into both the House and Senate, where it was again referred to committee. Although U.S. President Donald Trump said prior to his inauguration that DST “is inconvenient, and very costly to our nation,” in March 2025 he said it’s “hard to get excited” about changing DST and called it a “50-50 issue,” adding “a lot of people like it one way, a lot of people like it the other way.”
On July 14, 2026, the House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act with backing from Trump. After being sent to the Senate and referred to a committee, the bill has faced division among senators and remains stalled.
“The United States Senate is letting the Daylight Saving Bill die, when a vast Majority of the Country want it,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on October 26. “Most people are demanding light in the evening, but ALL want not to change their clocks anymore.”
While the Sunshine Protection Act remains in limbo, 19 states have enacted laws to make DST permanent. However, these laws can’t go into effect until Congress allows it at the federal level.
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Is making DST permanent a good idea?
The primary argument for adopting DST permanently is that, by increasing the amount of daylight at the end of the day, it would lead to more economic activity and reduce vehicle collisions, energy usage, and robberies.
But researchers in chronobiology — the study of biological rhythms — disagree that DST should be made permanent. While they also want to get rid of the bi-annual time change, they say we should be permanently adopting standard time rather than DST.
“Based on current chronobiology knowledge, permanent Standard Time (ST) would be a wiser, healthier choice,” the Canadian Society for Chronobiology has said.
Chronobiologists say adopting permanent standard time would move sunrise closer to our body’s internal clock, while permanent DST would move it further away. It’s the light in the morning that is most important in resetting our biological clocks, they say.
And it’s not just the Canadian Society for Chronobiology advocating for the permanent adoption of standard time. The U.S.-based Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, the European Biological Rhythms Society, the British Sleep Society, and the European Sleep Research Society have all issued statements supporting it.
If DST is made permanent, sunrises in the winter would occur an hour later. On the shortest day of the year in December, sunrise would be at 8:47 a.m. in the Kawarthas region. That means it would still be dark when children are walking to school or waiting for the bus, although they’d have more sunlight after school to play outdoors (sunset would be at 5:38 p.m. on the shortest day of the year).
How can we reduce the health effects of the time change?
Although gaining an hour of sleep is much less disruptive than losing an hour, you can take a few simple actions to adjust more quickly to the time change.
Shift your sleeping pattern gradually over the next few days, instead of all at once on Saturday night. Delay your bedtime and waking time by 15 minutes each night to ease the transition.
Resist the urge stay up late on Saturday night or sleep in on Sunday morning, so you can keep your internal clock consistent.
Eat a healthy breakfast when you first wake up, as food is one way to tell your body it’s the beginning of the day.
Expose yourself to daylight as soon as you can when you wake up in the morning. Morning light is key to synchronizing your internal clock.
Increase the overall quality of your sleep by reducing your use of caffeine and alcohol during the day and increasing your physical activity.
This week's edition of kawarthaNOW's "Kawartha Localist" editorial series highlights 13 Halloween-related events across the greater Kawarthas region, including Haunted Halloween for Kids at Hutchison House in Peterborough, Ghouly Goat Spooktacular at Haute Goat in Port Hope, Haunted Halloween Forest at Winterdance Dogsled Tours in Haliburton County, Project Skyharvest at Escape Maze in Otonabee-South Monaghan, Halloween in Haliburton, Chaos Carnival's "The Dark Circus" forest walk, and more. (kawarthaNOW collage)
Kawartha Localist is an editorial series from kawarthaNOW sharing trusted local recommendations, hidden gems, and favourite discoveries from people who know and love this region. It’s what we love about where we live. Kawartha Localist is sponsored by Kawartha Financial Services.
There are so many things to love about Halloween: crafting creative costumes, carving pumpkins, visiting haunted houses, going trick-or-treating, indulging in endless amounts of candy, and watching horror movies that you know will make it hard to fall asleep.
Did you know Halloween traces its roots to Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival marking a new year on November 1 and the start of winter? Believing the boundary between the living and the dead blurred on October 31, the Celts lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as All Saints’ Day to honour saints and martyrs, and the Christian festival later incorporated some Samhain traditions. The prior evening became known as All Hallow’s Eve — “hallow” being an old word for saint — and eventually Halloween.
Across the greater Kawarthas region, Halloween will be full of frights to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, as well as family-friendly activities, fundraisers for the community, spooky stories — and maybe even a ghostly goat or two!
Here are 13 things to do to make the most of Halloween this year.
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Bring your young ones to get their fortune read at the Hutchison House in Peterborough
The Peterborough Historical Society will be hosting their annual Haunted Halloween for Kids event at Hutchison House on October 31. Inviting kids to come dressed in their costumes, the event will include opportunity to have your fortune read, dine on sweet treats, make a fun craft, and take a spooky tour of the historic museum. (Photo: Hutchison House)
Hutchison House in downtown Peterborough is combining education, creativity, family-friendly fun, and just a sprinkle of spookiness this Halloween.
Owned and operated by the Peterborough Historical Society, Hutchison House is a museum offering a glimpse of life in 1800s Ontario. It is one of the first five stone homes to be built in Peterborough and was lived in by Dr. John Hutchison, one of the earliest resident doctors in Peterborough County. Today, the society hosts guided tours and other special events including Scottish teas and heritage lunches.
From 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, ghosts and goblins will be taking over the historic house for the annual Haunted Halloween for Kids tradition. Whether you’re there for a spooky tour of the museum, to make a fun craft, to have your future read, or to enjoy some mouthwatering treats, this is an opportunity to experience Hutchison House in a whole new way. Don’t forget to come in costume!
Admission is $8 per person, or free for those under three years of age. The upper level is spooky, though the intention is not to scare.
Get some shmurgles at the Ghouly Goat Spooktacular at Haute Goat in Port Hope
Don your Halloween costume for the annual Ghouly Goat Spooktacular event at Port Hope’s Haute Goat Farm from noon to 3 p.m. on October 31. The family-friendly event will include crafts, scavenger hunts, activities, discounted wood-fired pizza, and face painting. While on the property, you can book a goat shmurgle experience or explore everything else the farm has to offer, including trails, disc golf, the Screaming Goat Café, and other animal experiences. (Photo: Haute Goat Farm)
Goats and alpacas might not be the first thing you think of during the Halloween season, but the Ghouly Goat Spooktacular at the Haute Goat Farm in Port Hope has become an annual tradition.
Although the first two dates of Ghouly Goat Spooktacular took place this past weekend, you can still visit the 200-acre farm on Saturday, October 31 from noon to 3 p.m. for some Halloween fun. Come dressed in a costume to this free event which features spooky crafts, games, 50 per cent off wood-fired pizza, a self-led scavenger hunt, a freeze-dance competition and, for an extra cost, face painting.
And if you aren’t already in love with alpacas, you’re sure to fall hard when you see these furry animals dressed in their costumes. You can even get your photo taken with them between noon and 1 p.m. and 2 and 3 p.m.
For an additional $5, you can book 30 minutes of mini goat shmurgles, allowing you to spend time with some of the friendliest (and also costumed) Nigerian dwarf goats. While you’re at the farm, play the 18-hole disc golf course, walk the trails, dine at the Screaming Goat Café, and admire the adorable highland cows that were just welcomed home to Haute Goat.
Enter the Haunted Halloween Forest at Winterdance Dogsled Tours in Haliburton County — if you dare
There will be many spooky characters, eerie sounds, and terrifying encounters when you take a walk through the Haunted Halloween Forest at the Winterdance Dogsled Tours in Haliburton County. Held on October 30 and 31, the 0.7-kilometre walk is made for guests over 12 years of age and over, featuring live actors, jump scares, and moments of darkness. (Photo: Winterdance Dogsled Tours)
There are child-friendly spooky haunted experiences across the region, but the one taking over the Winterdance Dogsled Tours for Halloween is certainly not. After all, when night falls, the Spirits of Hollow Lake awaken.
Featuring live actors, sudden scares, theatrical effects, and periods of darkness, a walk through the Haunted Halloween Forest is not for the faint of heart. Recommended for ages 12 and over (younger guests are allowed at their parents’ discretion), the lantern-lit trail is only 0.7 kilometres long, but you’ll be spooked by firelight, strange characters, bubbling cauldrons, a forgotten cemetery, and many gruelling sounds-including your own screams.
Be warned — you’ll be met with more than a few surprises along the way.
The Haunted Halloween Forest can be booked between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31 for $25 plus tax. Note that, for safety reasons, pets are not allowed.
The experience is being held at 1888 Hodgson Road in Haliburton. To learn more and book your spot, visit winterdance.com/halloween/.
Experience Project Skyharvest at Escape Maze in Otonabee-South Monaghan
Spend your Halloween concealing and shutting down the site where the government kept a UFO investigation hidden for 45 years.
Project Skyharvest is taking over the family-owned and operated award-winning Escape Maze in the Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan. Alongside the farm’s other trail games, escape rooms, disc golf course, laser tag, and camping, Escape Maze offers a spooky seasonal experience every year that’s sure to give you a thrill.
Project Skyharvest is this year’s mission. For decades, rural Ontario farmers experienced strange patterns appearing in their fields. The occurrences were publicly dismissed but, behind closed doors, the government was partnering with our southern neighbours on a research investigation into extraterrestrial contact zones.
Today, the strange lights have returned, mysterious messages are being sent through the radio, and there are ominous whispers being heard in the dark. Your job as the civilian task force is to restore the containment systems left to decay, and decode the messages hidden in the crop circles to uncover the truth.
The escape maze is not recommended for players 13 and under, and those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Each time slot can accommodate up to 10 players for the price of $40 plus tax per player.
Project Skyharvest runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. from Thursday, October 29 to Saturday, October 31 at Escape Maze at 156 Cedar Bank Road. To learn more about the experience and book a time, visit www.projectskyharvest.ca. To learn more about Escape Maze, visit escapemaze.ca.
Do the monster mash to live music for a good cause at the Bancroft Brewing Company’s costume party
Earlier in October, Bancroft Brewing Company held a pumpkin painting event for kids to kick off the spooky season this month, and will now be inviting adults to sport their costumes on October 31 and come out for an evening of live music featuring blues band VOODOO Pawn Shop. Halloween for Humanity will also be collecting donations for the local food bank. (Photo: Bancroft Brewing Company)
Who’s ready for a graveyard smash? The new Bancroft Brewing Company kicked off the spooky season with a fun night of family pumpkin painting, and now they’re ending the month by celebrating Halloween in a way that gives back to the community.
Bancroft Brewing Company has teamed up with Music By The Bay Live to present Halloween for Humanity, starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 31 and featuring the spookily named Canadian blues band Voodoo Pawn Shop. Get dressed up in your costume (there’s a prize for best one), sip on some cold beer, and join in the region’s ultimate Monster Mash.
The event is free, though donations to the local food bank are encouraged. Together, Bancroft is “turning generosity into groceries.”
Bancroft Brewing Company is located at 59 Hastings Street North. To learn more, follow the Facebook event page.
Go trunk-or-treating during Halloween in Haliburton hosted by the Municipality of Dysart et al
To celebrate Halloween in Haliburton, the Municipality of Dysart et al is hosting two different back-to-back Halloween events at the A.J. Larue Arena: Haunt & Treat featuring themed displays and trunk-or-treat for young children, and Dysart after Dark featuring a scary walk-through for older children and youth. (Graphic: Municipality of Dysart et al)
Whether your kids want to trick-or-treat or prefer to get their spook on, the Municipality of Dysart et al has them covered with Halloween in Haliburton.
On Saturday, October 31, Haliburton’s A.J. La Rue Arena will be transformed into a Halloween extravaganza for the evening, starting with Haunt & Treat from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Enjoy family-friendly activities alongside Halloween displays suitable for all ages. Kids can also get a head start on their candy collection with the trunk-or-treat event held in the parking lot. Costumes are encouraged!
Then stick around for some darker fun in the evening, with the Dysart After Dark haunted walk-through experience from 7 to 9 p.m. For ages 10 and up, the walk through the arena will feature spooky scares, eerie surprises, and lots of frights!
The municipality is still seeking trunk-or-treat participation from businesses, organizations, and community groups, as well as volunteers and decoration donations.
Admission to Halloween in Haliburton is free, but registration is required for trunk-or-treat.
See spooky displays and scarier scenes at the Maryboro Lodge Museum in Fenelon Falls
Maryboro Lodge in Fenelon Falls is celebrating Halloween with a kid-friendly event full of Halloween activities, along with a spooky haunted house experience, on October 31. (Photo: Maryboro Lodge)
One of the oldest surviving buildings in Fenelon Falls is being turned into a celebration of Halloween.
Though it has been a community museum since 1963, over the decades Maryboro Lodge has served as a family home, community gathering place, and tourist and boarding lodge, sharing stories of the history of Fenelon Falls and the surrounding area — including spooky ones.
One floor will be a kid-friendly event full of Halloween activities, while the other floor is a spooky haunted house experience suitable only for those most brave. In past years, there have been ghosts, clowns, Beetlejuice characters, and more surprising characters that have turned Maryboro Lodge into a must-stop location when trick-or-treating.
Drop by 99 Francis Street West between 5 and 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. To learn more, visit maryboro.ca.
Test your bravery at Chaos Carnival’s “The Dark Circus” forest walk in Selwyn Township
Chaos Carnival in an immersive haunted experience located in Selwyn Township. With this year’s theme of “The Dark Circus,” you’ll walk through a haunted forest fun of terrifying characters including the Ring Master and a twisted clown, with the event running on October 30 and 31. (Photo: Chaos Carnival)
For the fourth year, Chaos Carnival is back to spread frights and instill nightmares in even the bravest of souls.
Kristin Scheurer first put on the haunted forest walk as a birthday party for her son’s friend, then quickly saw there was a need for a spooky forest walk-through in the region. Every year since, her terrifying forest experience has continued to grow.
This year’s theme is “The Dark Circus” and features all kinds of spooky characters like the Ring Master, the twisted clown, a blind fortune teller, and other creatures you don’t want to meet face-to-face in the empty woods. This experience is performed by actors from as young as eight to over 50.
Chaos Carnival runs on Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31 from 7:30 to 11 p.m. at 1734 Fifth Line in Selwyn, with no ticket sales after 10:30 p.m. Tickets are only available on site and cost $15, with a portion of proceeds donated to hospice care and a local youth sports team.
Entry is first come, first served, with the walk recommended for ages 12 and up.
Don’t forget to come back to Chaos Carnival next year, because Scheurer says they’re already planning the theme of “Alyssa’s Asylum,” and they hope to introduce a hayride to add to the experience.
Explore spooky legends and folklore at the Haunting in Minden Hills
The fourth annual Haunting in Minden Hills is returning to the Minden Hills Cultural Centre on October 31 with family-friendly activities for all ages. (Graphic: Minden Hills Cultural Centre)
The fourth annual Haunting in Minden Hills is returning to the Minden Hills Cultural Centre on Saturday, October 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year, the family-friendly event will be exploring urban legends and folklore, with spooky activities and mysterious tales for all ages.
Activities include the witch dance workshop by Haliburton’s Dance Happens Here, face painting by Pockets the Clown, palm readings by Catherine Harper, scavenger hunts, Halloween games, and colouring and crafts about mythical legends.
There will also be costume parade contests, hot chocolate and popcorn to keep you warm, colouring contests, and pumpkin carving contests.
You’re encouraged to come dressed in your costume and wander through the spooky, themed displays and go on a scavenger hunt, solving riddles for a chance to earn a prize donated by local businesses.
The Minden Hills Cultural Centre is located at 176 Bobcaygeon Road in Minden. Admission is by donation.
See the exceptional Halloween display at 4 Payne Crescent in Port Hope
A Port Hope family has gone above and beyond with their Halloween decorations. The immersive displays and spooky walk-through at 4 Payne Crescent are filled with terrifying characters, flashing lights, eerie soundtracks, and much more. (kawarthaNOW collage of supplied photos)
You might think going on the hunt for themed displays and decorations is a Christmas activity, but who says it can’t be for Halloween as well?
One family in Port Hope has been going above and beyond on their Halloween decorations for years, and they seem to go bigger and better every year.
From ghosts, cemeteries, and skeletons to Michael Myers, Pennywise, witches, jars of eyeballs, and plenty more — all the creatures that live in your most haunting nightmares are gathered at 4 Payne Crescent. The creative, expansive, and sometimes interactive displays are accompanied by eerie music, flashing lights, smoke, and bone-chilling surprises.
There is no fee to view or walk through the display, though non-perishable food items are being collected to be donated to the Northumberland Food Share. The family is also accepting donations to go towards next year’s display.
The lights at 4 Payne Crescent are on from dark until roughly 9 p.m. from Sunday until Thursday, while lights, music, and fog will be on Fridays and Saturdays until roughly 10:30 p.m. Guests are invited to also walk through during the day, through the props will not be turned on — except on Saturday, October 31, when they will run all day.
Do the time warp again at the Rocky Horror Picture Show in Peterborough
Joseph Roper will be playing Brad, Ell Parker will be playing Frank-N-Furter, and Hali Crawford will be playing Janet in the Mosaic Arts Collective’s production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre from October 30 to November 1. (Photo: Mosaic Arts Collective)
Grab your newspapers, rolls of toilet paper, noisemakers, and rubber gloves because Mosaic Arts Collective is presenting Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show from October 30 to November 1 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough.
Mother-son duo Barbara Taylor-Mills and Drew Taylor-Grigg recently launched Mosaic Arts Collective as a non-profit organization to create an accessible, free, and grassroots environment for local artists to display their work to the community. The collective will be arranging events and opportunities for artists working in a range of mediums.
Taylor-Mills has always dreamed of directing The Rocky Horror Show, which is why the 50-year-old cult classic is the first major production being presented by the collective.
Popularized by the movie that came after it, the musical tells the story of sweethearts Brad and Janet who, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Elaborate dance numbers and rock songs reveal Frank-N-Furter’s latest creation: a muscular man named “Rocky.”
Frank-N-Furter will be played by Ell Parker of My Fair Lady, while the rest of the cast and crew is made up of veteran and first-time performers. Guests will be given a program outlining the appropriate callouts and welcoming guests to have fun with it.
Priced at $30 for regular seating and $40 for cabaret seating, there are a limited number of tickets available for each show, with performances on Friday, October 30 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, October 31 at 3 p.m. and 11 p.m., and Sunday, November 1 at 4 p.m. To see if any seats are still available, visit markethall.org.
Join a paranormal investigation at the Kawartha Lakes Museum & Archives in Lindsay
Join paranormal investigation team Supernatural Mysteries Inc. on October 30 to explore the historic Kawartha Lakes Museum & Archives in Lindsay, which was formerly a jail. (Photo: Kawartha Lakes Museum & Archives)
This Halloween, discover the hidden stories of the spirits found in the Kawartha Lakes Museum & Archives in Lindsay — one of Ontario’s most haunted locations.
Originally built in 1863, the building was formerly the Victoria County Gaol or Lindsay Jail. It received heritage designation in 2000 and saw continued use as a correctional institution until 2003. Today, it’s used as a museum to share the history of the region, though very little has changed about the cell area from the original design.
On Firday, October 30, you have the opportunity to experience the museum in an all-new way by joining a paranormal investigation by Supernatural Mysteries Inc.
You’ll see and hear evidence of paranormal activity captured by the investigation team, explore the jails, and use the professional equipment. The museum is one of the team’s favourite locations to explore, and they’ve had many experiences seeing orbs and shadows, hearing voices, and even feeling a mysterious presence.
Maybe you’ll be visited by prisoner William Brooks, who was jailed in 1908 and later was the jail’s first death by suicide. Or maybe you’ll connect with the five men who were sentenced to be hung in the courtyard. Whichever ghostly apparition you hear from is sure to have a story to tell.
Kawartha Lakes Museum & Archives is located at 50 Victoria Avenue North. The three-hour paranormal investigations begin at 6 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are priced at $40 and can be booked at shop-klmuseumarchives.square.site/events. If you can’t make it or tickets are sold out, Supernatural Mysteries Inc. will be returning on December 11.
Dive into spooky stories during a ghost walk in Cobourg and a self-guided IT tour in Port Hope
During the Cobourg ghost walks, narrator Andrew Hall guides guests by lantern through the town’s historic streets, where history will come to life in the most storied landmarks. (Photo: Experience Cobourg)
Sometimes the scariest things are scary because they’re true. That’s what makes ghost walks around old towns so engaging. And with some towns as old as those in the Kawarthas, you know there will be some unbelievable stories.
Every Friday throughout October, the Town of Cobourg has been hosting a ghost walk experience full of chilling tales, legends, and strange occurrences that have taken place over centuries. Narrator Andrew Hall guides guests by lantern through the town’s historic streets, where history will come to life in the most storied landmarks.
The tour promises stories and whispers of royal scandals at Victoria Hall as well as spine-tingling stories of the spirits wandering the streets. Tours are priced at $15 and tka place at 6:20 p.m. and 8 p.m. To learn more, visit experiencecobourg.ca/festivals-events/ghost-walks/.
If the ghost walks sell out, there’s another option in nearby Port Hope, and this one is free.
The Halloween season is a good time of year to take the self-guided walking tour of the filming locations in Port Hope for the movies and TV series based on Stephen King’s horror novel “IT.” One of the locations includes a mural displaying the history of the fictional town of Derry. (Photo: Port Hope Tourism)
If, like me, your older brother instilled in you a fear of clowns by making you watch the films based on Stephen King’s IT on repeat as a child, taking a walking tour of Derry might just be the scariest thing on our roundup.
Port Hope is often visited by film and horror fanatics wanting to see where Pennywise was brought to life, and the town has put together a thorough self-guided walk of the filming locations, which have been updated with set locations for the 2025 IT: Welcome to Derry TV series.
You’ll visit the places that made iconic Derry landmarks in the films and series, including the Capitol Theatre, the Hotel Carlyle and Restaurant, and Walter Street and bridge. Did you know the memorable “Quality Meats” sign and alleyway mural where Pennywise makes a terrifying appearance can still be found between 26 and 28 Walton Street? It’s become a favourite spot to take photos!
Kawartha Localist is an editorial series from kawarthaNOW celebrating the places, experiences, businesses, and communities that make our region extraordinary. Written by people who live here, work here, and have spent nearly 30 years exploring the Kawarthas and surrounding region, each edition shares trusted local recommendations, hidden gems, and favourite discoveries from across Peterborough County, the City of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.
Whether you’re looking for your next hiking trail, favourite patio, scenic drive, farmers’ market, or weekend adventure, Kawartha Localist is what we love about where we live.
Members of the Peterborough's Dragon Boat Festival planning committee, Survivors Abreast members, team captains and paddlers, volunteers, and sponsors, along with representatives from the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) and the PRHC Foundation, gathered on October 27, 2026 to celebrate a $382,518.01 donation to the regional hospital, representing funds raised during the 25th anniversary festival in June. Attendees included the festival's top three fundraisers, Patty MacDonald ($14,299), Mary-Jane Pilgrim ($4,585), and Marilyn Shaw ($3,755), who are all members of the Tastefully Talented Water Warriors, the top fundraising team at $47,877.84. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival has capped off its 25th anniversary by donating $382,518.01 to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation for cancer care close to home.
Festival organizing committee volunteers and members of the Survivors Abreast dragon boat team presented the cheque to PRHC Foundation representatives on Tuesday (October 27) at the regional hospital. The celebration was also attended by team captains and paddlers, volunteers, and sponsors, along with hospital representatives.
The total exceeds the festival’s ambitious 2026 fundraising goal of $325,018.01 by $57,500, bringing the event’s total contribution to breast and other cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment at PRHC over the past 25 years to more than $5.3 million.
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The milestone anniversary festival took place June 13 on Little Lake at Del Crary Park, with 69 teams and more than 1,340 paddlers participating.
Organizers had deliberately increased the fundraising target by 25 per cent for the festival’s 25th anniversary. The unusually specific fundraising goal of $325,018.01 was also chosen to reflect cancer statistics: two in five Canadians will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and approximately 0.01 per cent of men will receive a breast cancer diagnosis.
“Our story is a story about hope, passion, dedication, community and fun,” said festival chair Michelle Thornton. “But in the beginning, it was just a few hopeful and determined breast cancer survivors and their supporters, trying to raise awareness, have fun, and make a bit of a difference in someone’s life.”
The festival was first launched in June 2001 as Liberty Mutual’s “Day on the Water” before becoming Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival the following year.
Hosted by Survivors Abreast, the event has grown into one of Peterborough’s largest annual community fundraisers. Before this year’s festival, it had already raised more than $4.9 million for cancer care at PRHC, with last year’s festival producing the largest single-year donation in its history at $400,104.01.
“This is a tremendously large fundraiser for a single-day event,” Thornton said of the annual festival. “The fact that people continue every year to support it at this level is a wonderful testament to this community and how much we care about the health of our friends and family.”
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Donations to the festival can have a direct impact on patients, Thornton added, by helping doctors detect cancers earlier and provide treatment locally.
“Because of you, and our combined efforts, someone’s cancer will be caught early and receive the best possible outcome,” she said. “Because of you, someone won’t have to travel for their treatments and they won’t incur those additional expenses. Because of you, someone will be able to stay close to their friends and family during one of their most challenging times.”
Attendees at Tuesday’s event included the festival’s top three fundraisers — Patty MacDonald ($14,299), Mary-Jane Pilgrim ($4,585), and Marilyn Shaw ($3,755) — who are all members of the Tastefully Talented Water Warriors, the top fundraising team at $47,877.84.
This year’s donation from the festival will support the PRHC Foundation’s $70-million Campaign for PRHC, the largest fundraising campaign in the hospital and foundation’s history.
Cancer care is one of the campaign’s priorities, with proceeds from the 2026 Dragon Boat Festival helping fund three technologies intended to support earlier diagnosis and safer and more effective treatment: an interventional radiology ultrasound, contrast-enhanced biopsy technology, and an anesthesia machine.
Demand for cancer care at PRHC has increased substantially over the past decade and a half. The hospital recorded more than 23,000 cancer patient visits in 2025, compared with around 5,000 in 2010.
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Previous festival donations have helped fund equipment including CT scanners, 3D mammography technology, breast ultrasound and radiologist workstations, and laboratory equipment.
“What an incredible milestone and a wonderful way to celebrate a quarter century of Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival,” said PRHC Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway.
“More than $5 million raised for cancer care at our regional hospital is an extraordinary legacy, made possible by a community that cares deeply.”
Heighway thanked Thornton, the festival planning committee, Survivors Abreast, and the thousands of donors, paddlers, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters who have contributed over the event’s history.
“Together, you’re helping make exceptional, compassionate cancer care possible for thousands of patients from across our region, close to home,” she said.
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The festival is run entirely by volunteers, including members of Survivors Abreast who organize the event and provide training practices for community teams.
“The festival allows us to fulfill part of our mission statement, and that is to achieve excellence in raising awareness and fundraising for cancer care in our community,” said Survivors Abreast president Janice James.
Sponsorships cover the cost of staging the event, allowing 100 per cent of the pledges raised by paddlers and teams to go to the PRHC Foundation.
Kawartha Financial Services, formerly Kawartha Credit Union, also marked its 25th year as the festival’s presenting platinum sponsor in 2026.
“Cancer touches so many lives across our community, including our employees, members, and their families,” said Kawartha Financial Services president Norah McCarthy. “The generosity and dedication shown by the teams, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters of Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival is truly inspiring.”
With the 25th anniversary now complete, organizers are already thinking about next year’s festival.
The 26th Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival will take place on Saturday, June 12, 2027, with planning to begin over the coming months. Anyone interested in volunteering their time and skills can email festival chair Michelle Thornton at michellethornton.365@gmail.com.
After being elected as the next mayor of Peterborough on October 26, 2026, Michael Eamon addresses his supporters at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
A week shy of six months since declaring Peterborough needs “somebody who’s mayor, not king,” Michael Eamon has been granted the opportunity to put into practice what he preached.
The political newcomer was elected on Monday (October 26) as Peterborough’s 64th mayor since Thomas Benson was appointed to that role in 1850.
Eamon garnered 36.7 per cent of ballots cast to emerge ahead of six other mayoral candidates for the job of leading a city council that is now a equal mix of five re-elected incumbents and five political novices.
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Incumbent Lesley Parnell and first-time councillor Chris Potter were elected in Otonabee Ward (incumbent Kevin Duguay lost his seat), incumbent Matt Crowley and first-time councillor AJ Shearer prevailed in Monaghan Ward (incumbent Don Vassiliadis did not seek re-election), and incumbents Alex Bierk and Joy Lachica defeated three challengers to maintain their seats in Town Ward.
With incumbent Keith Riel running for mayor and incumbent Gary Baldwin defeated, Ashburnham Ward is the only ward where both newly elected councillors — Ashley Bonner and Jason Stabler — are political novices. Meanwhile, in Northcrest Ward, incumbent Andrew Beamer and first-time councillor Charmaine Magumbe defeated six other candidates to come out on top, with incumbent Dave Haacke not seeking re-election.
According to the city, 40 per cent of eligible voters — 30,044 of 74,603 — cast a ballot, with 23,444 of those voting online, resulting in a 40.27 per cent voter turnout.
A jubilant Jim Russell, the retired CEO of United Way Peterborough & District, hugs mayor-elect Michael Eamon at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough on October 26, 2026. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
Among Eamon’s supporters gathered at Market Hall in downtown Peterborough on Monday night — a diverse group that included former Peterborough mayors Daryl Bennett and Diane Therrien-Hale, former United Way Peterborough & District CEO Jim Russell, New Stages Theatre Company artistic director Mark Wallace, and singer-songwriter Danny Bronson — his margin of victory seemed to be a bigger surprise than the fact that their chosen candidate had actually won election.
When the first results were revealed at around 9:30 p.m. from three of seven voting tabulators, Eamon had a significant lead of 2,879 votes over fellow political newcomer Neil Morton, with 9,253 votes to Morton’s 6,374, with longtime councillor Keith Riel third at 4,916 votes. Come 10 p.m., with all voting tabulators reported, Eamon’s vote count stood at 10,867 — a decisive winning margin of 3,500 over Morton’s tally of 7,372.
Following, in order, were Riel with 5,990 votes, Rebecca Schillemat with 2,526 votes, Jacob Méthot with 1,112 votes, Brian Lumsden with 1,106 votes, and Rob Hailman with 800 votes.
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Eamon grew up in Brockville and moved to Peterborough in 2005. A high school valedictorian who earned scholarships to study history, he met his wife Jennine at Queen’s University and first became acquainted with the Peterborough region through visits to her family reunions. The couple raised two sons — Sam and Will — in Peterborough, both of whom attended Prince of Wales Public School and Adam Scott Collegiate and Vocational Institute.
Eamon’s professional experience has largely been in administration and management with the federal government in Ottawa and at Trent University, where he has served as principal of Trent University’s Catharine Parr Traill College for the past 12 years and occasionally teaches history.
He holds four history degrees, along with certificates in project management, project planning and control, procurement, change management, and cultural resource management. His additional training includes non-violent interventions, workplace violence and harassment, and customer service.
Former Peterborough mayor Daryl Bennett and his wife Jewell congratulate mayor-elect Michael Eamon at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough on October 26, 2026. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
In his victory speech, the mayor-elect assured “A better Peterborough begins now.”
“It’s now time to transform plans into action, goodwill into good governance, to bring back civility to council, accountability to city operations, and in doing so, prosperity to all of us,” said Eamon.
“In the coming weeks, stay tuned for updates on my mayoral task forces, especially addressing homelessness (and) wellness in the downtown, as well as other updates about my transition to city hall as it takes shape.”
“Now the real work begins. I’ve never been more energized to make a difference; to roll up my sleeves and get to the business of running this city. You have placed your trust in me. I promise you that is something that I will not take for granted.”
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Eamon took considerable time thanking his campaign team volunteers as well as his wife Jennine, and sons Will and Sam, for their support and “unconditional love.”
He also credited his challengers with running “good, strong campaigns.”
“You brought many good ideas to the table, and you made it abundantly clear how much you care about this community.”
New Stages Theatre Company artistic director Mark Wallace and mayor-elect Michael Eamon celebrate his victory at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough on October 26, 2026. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
After his remarks, Eamon told kawarthaNOW that he’s “excited to roll up my sleeves and start working for Peterborough” before noting he’ll go to work immediately on fostering a spirit of collaboration and unity among councillors that he has repeatedly lamented as sadly lacking.
“I want to meet with all councillors individually. I want to have a frank, honest conversation about where they see the city in four years, in 10 years (to find out) what their priorities are and work with them. I want to create a baseline of where they want to see the city go.”
“You need to build a team when things are good because when things turn bad, you want to have a baseline of understanding and a working relationship. I want to build those working relationships before we get into the business of running the city.”
Eamon said having a council that is a mix of veteran politicians and political newcomers is a positive.
“It is always good to have a bit of consistency of how things are done. That doesn’t mean we always have to do things in the old way, but it is good to have people who have been around the block.”
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Meanwhile, across the city at Mei Mei Chinese Buffet, the mood was decidedly more sombre as Morton and his supporters faced the fact that their bid would come up short.
Still, the first-time candidate, joined by his wife Christi, said he has “no regrets” and delivered a graceful concession speech to a disappointed crowd.
“You’ve got to take chances in life,” Morton said. “You’ve got to bet on yourself and your community.”
“So many people stood up for me and voted for me, and believed in the movement I believe we were creating to push Peterborough forward in the right direction. They (the majority) didn’t buy into my vision, but that’s OK. I wish all the best to Michael Eamon. He deserved the victory tonight.”
Mayoral candidate Neil Morton and his wife Christi arrive at Mei Mei Chinese Buffet on October 26, 2026 to greet supporters as initial election results showed Morton trailing Michael Eamon by over 2,800 votes. Eamon would increase that lead by another 700 votes before being declared Peterborough’s next mayor. (Photo via Neil Morton / Facebook)
“Everyone knows how I feel about this city,” Morton continued. “It has all the right people, all the right amenities. I still believe it can be one of the great Canadian cities. I think Michael (Eamon) is going to bring it in the right direction now and truly push us forward.”
“We can’t do status quo anymore. We have to invest in this community and believe in this community. That’s the motto I hope the new administration and council takes. We can’t be complacent anymore.”
Like Eamon, Morton also singled out Riel’s 16 years of service as a city councillor representing Ashburnham. He also made special mention of Méthot’s election bid, saying “He has such a bright future in politics.”
Although Morton noted his intention to make his way to Market Hall to congratulate Eamon in person, that didn’t happen — a combination of him being pulled in different directions and Eamon’s event wrapping up.
Former Peterborough mayor Diane Therrien-Hale reacts as mayor-elect Michael Eamon celebrates his victory at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough on October 26, 2026. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
While Eamon gave no indication as to what his future holds in terms of his Trent University position, he told kawarthaNOW back in May that if elected mayor, he’s “going to give up Trent,” adding “Both roles deserve full attention.”
“It has been the last 15 years of my life,” Eamon said at the time. “I love the people there. I love the students. I love being in an educational environment. It’s a comfortable life too, but I’m willing to take a bit of haircut on pay.”
Eamon will take less of a “haircut” in salary than he would have had he been elected in 2022, as the new term of council will see a substantial pay raise both for the mayor and councillors.
In April 2025, council approved a staff recommendation that the mayor’s base salary be increased by 60 per cent, from the current $90,318 to $147,631 as of December 2026, while the base salary for councillors will increase by 52 per cent from $36,185 to $54,991.
Mayor-elect Michael Eamon celebrates his victory with son Will and wife Jennine at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough on October 26, 2026. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
Robert Winslow at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook in 2019. The founder of 4th Line Theatre and a playwright, actor, director, and artistic leader, he died unexpectedly on September 12, 2026 at the age of 73. Along with two world premieres, 4th Line's 35th anniversary season in 2027 will include special events to honour and celebrate Winslow. (Photo: Bianca Nucaro / kawarthaNOW)
4th Line Theatre in Millbrook will mark its 35th anniversary next summer with two world-premiere Canadian plays and a season-long celebration of the legacy of late founder Robert Winslow.
On Monday (October 26), the outdoor theatre company announced its 2027 season at the Winslow Farm will feature Waiting for Gainey from June 29 to July 24, followed by The Legend of Pearl Hart from August 3 to 28. Both plays were developed through 4th Line Theatre’s play development program.
The milestone season will be the company’s first since Winslow died unexpectedly on September 12. The playwright, actor, director, and artistic leader was 73 and had remained actively involved with 4th Line until his death.
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“This 35th anniversary season is a love letter to new Canadian theatre and to our founder, Robert Winslow,” said 4th Line managing artistic director Kim Blackwell in a media release.
“I can’t think of a more fitting way to honour Robert than to premiere two new Canadian plays developed through the play development program he was so instrumental in creating.”
Blackwell said the company could have celebrated the anniversary by remounting Winslow’s plays, but that approach would not have reflected the forward-looking philosophy he brought to the theatre.
“He believed passionately in developing new Canadian voices, taking chances on new work and giving playwrights the extraordinary canvas of the Winslow Farm on which to tell their stories,” she said. “These two world premieres are a celebration of everything he believed theatre could be.”
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Winslow founded 4th Line Theatre in 1992 on the family farm he had inherited two years earlier. The company’s first production was his play The Cavan Blazers, which established an approach 4th Line has followed for more than three decades: researching Canadian history and local stories and bringing them to life through large-scale outdoor productions using Winslow’s farm itself for the outdoor stage.
In keeping with the wishes of Winslow and his wife Janette Froncz Winslow, the company will continue creating and producing theatre at Winslow Farm.
“There is something both heartbreaking and hopeful about celebrating our 35th anniversary without Robert here beside us,” Blackwell said.
“We are not simply preserving Robert’s legacy; we are building upon it. The greatest tribute we can offer him is to keep creating ambitious, original Canadian theatre, to welcome new generations of artists and audiences to the farm, and to ensure that the extraordinary place he imagined 35 years ago continues to thrive long into the future.”
4th Line Theatre’s 35th anniversary season will open with the world premiere of the hockey comedy “Waiting for Gainey” by Paul Braunstein and Courtenay Stevens from June 29 to July 24, 2027. The play follows young minor hockey players as they chase their dreams of making the big leagues and the parents willing to make sacrifices to help them get there. (kawarthaNOW collage of photos supplied by 4th Line Theatre)
The season will open with Waiting for Gainey, a comedy written by Paul Braunstein and Courtenay Stevens and directed by Blackwell.
With the title a reference to Peterborough native and NHL legend Bob Gainey, the play is set in the world of minor hockey and follows young players chasing their dreams of making the big leagues and the parents willing to make sacrifices — and sometimes go to extremes — to help them get there.
While described as “a funny, fast-paced and deeply Canadian love letter to hockey,” the play will also examine the pressures, sacrifices, and darker side of the game.
Waiting for Gainey held particular significance for Winslow, as a lifelong hockey fan and devoted supporter of the Montreal Canadiens. He was playing in a hockey game in Peterborough before he died.
“Robert was so excited about Waiting for Gainey,” Blackwell said. “His love of hockey, and particularly the Montreal Canadiens, was legendary.”
“He understood the passion, the humour and the sometimes ridiculous lengths Canadians will go to for the game. He was looking forward to sharing this story with our audiences, and I know he would have loved seeing the world of hockey come alive in the barnyard.”
4th Line Theatre’s 35th anniversary season will continue from August 3 to 28, 2027 with the world premiere of “The Legend of Pearl Hart” by acclaimed Canadian playwright Maja Ardal. The play tells the story of Pearl Taylor, who was born in Lindsay in 1871 and became one of the most famous female outlaws of the American West. (kawarthaNOW collage of photos supplied by 4th Line Theatre)
The second production will be The Legend of Pearl Hart by acclaimed Canadian playwright Maja Ardal. Directed by Anita La Selva, the play tells the story of Pearl Taylor, who was born in Lindsay in 1871 and became one of the most famous female outlaws of the American West.
After moving west, Hart fell on hard times in Arizona and, with a companion known as Joe Boot, robbed a stagecoach in 1899. The robbery and Hart’s gender generated widespread media attention. After initially being acquitted of robbery, she was subsequently convicted of interfering with the U.S. mail and imprisoned at Yuma Territorial Prison before being pardoned in 1902.
4th Line audiences received an early look at The Legend of Pearl Hart in January, when excerpts were presented at the company’s annual Breaking Ground public reading in Peterborough. Winslow was among the actors participating in that reading, and he had intended to appear in the full production during the 2027 season.
“Robert was tremendously excited about The Legend of Pearl Hart and was really looking forward to being onstage in this production,” Blackwell said.
“He loved the theatrical possibilities of this story: the horses, the adventure, the larger-than-life characters and, most importantly, the chance to bring another remarkable Canadian story to audiences.”
Blackwell said that while it is “heartbreaking” that Winslow won’t be in the production, “his spirit will be very much a part” of it.
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The 2027 season also features a family connection between the two world premieres. Waiting for Gainey co-playwright Braunstein is the son of Ardal, meaning mother and son will each have a world premiere staged at Winslow Farm during the anniversary season.
4th Line will formally begin marking its 35th anniversary on Friday, June 4 with a special celebration of Winslow’s career as a playwright, director, actor, and artistic leader.
A 35th anniversary season launch gala will follow on Saturday, July 3, bringing together artists, audiences, donors, volunteers, and community members.
“This season is about celebrating Robert, but it is also about celebrating the thousands of artists, volunteers, donors and audience members who have made 4th Line Theatre what it is today,” Blackwell said. “Robert’s greatest gift was not simply the theatre he created, but the community he brought together.”
Additional anniversary events will be announced in the coming months.
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Waiting for Gainey will run Tuesdays through Saturdays at 6 p.m. from June 29 to July 24, with previews June 29 and 30, opening night on July 3, and an additional performance on July 19.
The Legend of Pearl Hart will run Tuesdays through Saturdays at 6 p.m. from August 3 to 28, with previews August 3 and 4, opening night on August 5, and an additional performance on August 23.
Gift certificates for single tickets, season subscriptions, and charcuterie boxes go on sale Monday, November 2 are available by phone at 705-932-4445 (toll-free at 1-800-814-0055), online at 4thlinetheatre.on.ca, and at 4th Line Theatre’s box Office location at 9 Tupper Street in Millbrook.
Peterborough's mayor-elect Michael Eamon celebrates his victory at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on October 26, 2026. Eamon is one of several new mayors across the greater Kawarthas region, with some incumbent mayors losing their seats. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
The 2026 municipal election saw several new mayors elected across the greater Kawarthas region, including in Peterborough, Douro-Dummer, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, Kawartha Lakes, Port Hope, Minden Hills, and Bancroft.
In the City of Peterborough, political newcomer Michael Eamon was elected mayor.
He will lead a mixed council of incumbents and other newcomers, including incumbent Lesley Parnell and first-time councillor Chris Potter in Otonabee Ward, incumbent Matt Crowley and first-time councillor AJ Shearer in Monaghan Ward, incumbents Alex Bierk and Joy Lachica in Town Ward, first-time councillors Ashley Bonner and Jason Stabler in Ashburnham Ward, and incumbent Andrew Beamer and first-time councillor Charmaine Magumbe in Northcrest Ward.
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Otonabee Ward incumbent Kevin Duguay and Ashburnham Ward incumbent Gary Baldwin were both defeated.
In Peterborough County, Patrick Wilford was re-elected mayor of Asphodel-Norwood (vote counts are not yet available), Matthew Graham was re-elected mayor of Cavan Monaghan, Peter Leahy was elected mayor of Douro-Dummer (defeating both incumbent Heather Watson and former Peterborough County warden J. Murray Jones), David Sharpe was elected mayor of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen (defeating incumbent Jim Martin), and incumbent Otonabee-South Monaghan deputy mayor and Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark was elected mayor of Otonabee-South Monaghan.
When the nomination period closed back in August, Carolyn Amyotte, Ron Black, Terry Lambshead were acclaimed as mayors of North Kawartha, Selwyn, and Trent Lakes respectively as they were the sole candidates.
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In the City of Kawartha Lakes, Charles McDonald was elected mayor. He will lead a council that includes Brian Bartley (Ward 1), Terry Blackmore (Ward 2), incumbent Mike Perry (Ward 3), Guru Bhat (Ward 4), incumbent Mark Doble (Ward 5), Jasmine Marshall (Ward 6), previous Ward 5 councillor Eric Smeaton (Ward 7), and Tom Hickey (Ward 8).
In the Town of Cobourg, controversial mayor Lucas Cleveland was re-elected for a second term, while former police board chair Adam Bureau — who has clashed with Cleveland on police-related issues — was elected deputy mayor.
In the Municipality of Port Hope, Todd Attridge unseated incumbent mayor Olena Hankivsky.
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In Haliburton County, Liz Danielsen was re-elected as mayor of Algonquin Highlands, Greg Bishop was elected as mayor of Dysart et al (incumbent mayor Murray Fearrey passed away in May at the age of 84), Dave Burton was re-elected as mayor of Highlands East, and Tammy McKelvey easily defeated incumbent Bob Carter to become mayor of Minden Hills.
In the Town of Bancroft, longtime councillor Tracy McGibbon was elected mayor.
Below are the unofficial results of all council races across the greater Kawarthas region, including the City of Peterborough, the eight townships in Peterborough County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, the Town of Cobourg and Municipality of Port Hope in Northumberland County, the four townships of Haliburton County, and the Town of Bancroft in Hastings County. School board trustee races are not included in this list.
This story has been updated to correct the votes of the two candidates for Smith Ward in Selwyn Township, which were inadvertently reversed and therefore incorrectly identified the winner. Incumbent Brian Henry defeated challenger Mark Eakins.
Political newcomer Michael Eamon reacts to the election results as they came in around 9:20 p.m. on October 26, 2026 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, showing him with a substantial lead over fellow political newcomer Neil Morton in the race to be Peterborough's next mayor. (Photo: Jordan Lyall / kawarthaNOW)
Political newcomer Michael Eamon has been elected as the next mayor of Peterborough.
When the first results came in at around 9:30 p.m. on Monday night (October 26) from three of seven voting tabulators, Eamon had a significant lead of 2,879 votes over fellow political newcomer Neil Morton, with 9,253 votes to Morton’s 6,374. Veteran councillor Keith Riel was third at 4,916 votes.
With all seven voting tabulators reporting at around 10:15 p.m., Eamon’s lead over Morton had increased to 3,495 votes, with 10,867 to Morton’s 7,372. Riel’s vote count only increased to 5,590.
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Rebecca Schillemat came in fourth with 2,526 votes, followed by Jacob Méthot at 1,112, Brian Lumsden at 1,106, and Rob Hailman at 800.
Eamon grew up in Brockville and moved to Peterborough in 2005. A high school valedictorian who earned scholarships to study history, he met his wife Jennine at Queen’s University and first became acquainted with the Peterborough region through visits to her family reunions. The couple raised two sons in Peterborough, who attended Prince of Wales Public School and Adam Scott Collegiate and Vocational Institute.
Eamon’s professional experience has largely been in administration and management with the federal government in Ottawa and at Trent University, where he has served as principal of Trent University’s Catharine Parr Traill College for the past 12 years. He holds four history degrees, along with certificates in project management, project planning and control, procurement, change management, and cultural resource management. His additional training includes non-violent interventions, workplace violence and harassment, and customer service.
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Following his victory, Eamon issued the following statement:
“As Peterborough’s mayor-elect, I want to commend the other candidates who ran for mayor. It was a long six-month campaign. Rob, Jacob, Neil, Brian, Keith and Rebecca — you all ran good, strong campaigns. You brought many good ideas to the table. And you made it abundantly clear how much you care for this community. I hope you will continue to use your skills for the betterment of our city.”
“In particular, I would also like to thank Coun. Keith Riel for his 16 years of service to the City of Peterborough.”
“I would also like to offer my congratulations to all the candidates who were elected to Peterborough’s city council. Enjoy your well-earned victories. We have a lot of work ahead of us. I’m looking forward to working with each and every one of you.”
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“I look forward to meeting with you in the coming weeks to learn about your priorities so we can hit the ground running after the inauguration,” Eamon continued.
“And to everyone who ran — Thank you! We can’t have a democracy without caring, committed people who come forward every four years to offer their skills and their service to make the city better.”
Stay tuned for additional coverage from kawarthaNOW.
The Canadian Canoe Museum on the shores of Little Lake in Peterborough has been named Attraction of the Year at the 2026 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence. The museum welcomed more than 116,000 visitors in 2025, its first full calendar year at its new waterfront home. (Photo: Justen Soule)
It’s awards season, and our business community is giving us plenty to be proud of. From provincial recognition with top honours for The Canadian Canoe Museum to the many achievements celebrated at the Business Excellence Awards, there’s much to applaud.
But what inspires me about this edition of businessNOW — and about writing this column each time — is the sense that we are always moving ahead. Businesses are marking milestones, entrepreneurs are expanding and growing their businesses, women are building new connections, and communities are investing in their future.
Taken together, these stories leave me encouraged. Behind each one are people putting ideas into action, supporting one another, and doing the work that helps our region grow. It’s a pleasure to share their progress with you.
The Canadian Canoe Museum earns Ontario’s Attraction of the Year honours
“Living Traditions” is one of six permanent exhibitions at The Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough. (Photo: Justen Soule)
Congratulations to The Canadian Canoe Museum, named Attraction of the Year at the 2026 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence in Ottawa on October 22. The Peterborough museum earned the honour over fellow finalists Niagara Parks and Rivershrike Inc., which operates Napanee River Tours and the Waterfront River Pub and Terrace.
It’s a provincial spotlight on a destination that is already making a substantial contribution to our local economy. In 2025, its first full calendar year at its new Little Lake home, the museum welcomed 116,493 visitors, exceeding its original annual projection of approximately 87,000. More than 62 per cent came from outside Peterborough city and county, with visitation generating an estimated $10.55 million in direct spending.
Those numbers are a reminder that investment in culture also supports local business, bringing people into our region to explore, eat, shop, and stay.
Recognition also goes to regional finalists Brighton Applefest, Kawarthas Northumberland’s Trent-Severn Trail Towns initiative, and Elmhirst’s Resort, nominated in the tourism event, marketing, and sustainable tourism categories respectively.
Nostimo in Peterborough closes as George Anagnostou retires after 50 years in restaurants
George Anagnostou and chef Shannon Leclair operated Nostimo by the Original Greek in Peterborough for more than five years. The restaurant has closed as Anagnostou retires after 50 years in the restaurant industry and Leclair prepares to continue her culinary career outside Peterborough. (Photo: Nostimo by the Original Greek)
After five decades in the restaurant business, George Anagnostou is trading professional kitchens for boating, golfing, and cooking for his wife Amy.
Anagnostou has announced the immediate closure of Nostimo by the Original Greek, which he operated with business partner and chef Shannon Leclair for more than five years. Leclair will continue her culinary career outside Peterborough. In his announcement, Anagnostou reassured customers that both are healthy and doing well.
His restaurant roots in Peterborough stretch back to 1976, when he began working at age 14 with his parents at the Shish Kebob Hut at Parkhill Road and Water Street, and their other restaurant, the Corfu on Charlotte Street. He went on to open the Greek Tycoon in Whitby, It’s All Greek to Me in Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood, and the Original Greek in Peterborough.
An attempt at semi-retirement brought the Original Fat Greek Streatery food truck in Ennismore. Customers’ requests for another sit-down restaurant, followed by a dinner conversation with Leclair, eventually led to Nostimo.
In thanking customers and staff, Anagnostou reflected on everything from special wine dinners and holiday menus to the regulars who simply came in for a meal.
“I’m honoured to serve you and share your special memories over the past 50 years,” he wrote.
That’s a lot of meals, celebrations, and familiar faces. Wishing George a happy retirement and Shannon every success in her next chapter.
The Hippie Chippie to open a year-round restaurant in former Nostimo location
The Hippie Chippie’s colourful food trailer on Highway 28 in Woodview. Owners Carla Soles and Nathan White are preparing to open a year-round restaurant in Peterborough’s former Nostimo location, building on seven years of serving customers. (Photo: The Hippie Chippie)
When one door closes, another opens. As we wish George Anagnostou well in retirement, there’s already a new chapter ahead for the former Nostimo location in Peterborough: The Hippie Chippie is moving in.
Owned by locals Carla Soles and Nathan White, the Woodview food truck business is preparing to become The Hippie Chippie Restaurant, serving customers year-round. The couple bought a little red chip truck eight years ago and opened for their first season seven years ago.
We recently featured The Hippie Chippie in our Kawartha Localist roadside eats edition, highlighting its colourful, hand-painted trailer at 6220 Highway 28 and a menu that gives plant-based diners plenty of choice.
Its offerings include a housemade sweet potato and black bean burger, a balsamic-marinated portobello, and decadent grilled cheese sandwiches, alongside house-smoked pulled pork and hand-breaded chicken sandwiches. Weekend specials and shoulder-season Fish Fridays have also been part of the food truck’s offerings.
“We have had some ups and some downs (but mostly ups) and our love and passion for serving great, fresh foods has only grown,” the owners shared in their announcement.
An opening date and restaurant menu are still to come. For now, it’s encouraging to see Carla and Nathan building on seven years of serving the community and taking their business in a new direction. Congratulations to both — I’ll be watching for what’s next.
New Selwyn Women’s Business Network launches November 10
Outgoing Selwyn Township mayor Sherry Senis will be the inaugural guest speaker at the new Selwyn Women’s Business Network’s first gathering on November 10, 2026 at Bridgenorth Community Hall. The network will connect women who own, operate, or manage businesses across the township. (Photo: Selwyn Township)
Sometimes a good idea starts with simply getting out and talking to people. For local businesswoman Shannon Junkin, visits to businesses on behalf of BEL Rotary sparked the idea for a new network connecting women who own, operate, and lead businesses across Selwyn Township.
The Selwyn Women’s Business Network will hold its first gathering on Tuesday, November 10 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Bridgenorth Community Hall, with Mayor Sherry Senis as its inaugural guest speaker.
“The idea came to me while I was out visiting local businesses on behalf of BEL Rotary,” Junkin explains. “I found myself speaking with so many incredible women who were running businesses throughout our community.”
The evening will include informal networking, coffee, and conversation, giving participants an opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences, and build relationships with other local businesswomen. Admission is $5 to help cover costs for the venue and refreshments.
Women who own, operate, or manage businesses within Selwyn Township are encouraged to attend and invite others who might be interested. The network hopes to establish quarterly meetings in 2027, with participants helping shape future programming.
It’s a welcome opportunity to get to know the women behind neighbouring businesses and find ways to support one another. To save a spot at the November 10 gathering, visit selwynwbn.ca
Millbrook Mercantile celebrates seven years
Inside Millbrook Mercantile at 28 King Street East in downtown Millbrook, homewares, gifts, and artisan products complement the shop’s specialty foods and deli offerings. Owners Bernadette MacNeil and Lance Nachoff are celebrating seven years in business. (Photo: Millbrook Mercantile)
A good food shop gives you a reason to visit — one that also introduces you to local makers and sends you home with something unexpected gives you a reason to return.
Congratulations to Bernadette MacNeil and Lance Nachoff, whose Millbrook Mercantile is celebrating seven years at 28 King Street East in downtown Millbrook.
“As we celebrate our 7th year in business we would like to acknowledge all of the wonderful support we have received from our incredible clientele,” the owners shared in an anniversary message.
The husband-and-wife team opened the shop in 2019, bringing decades of culinary and hospitality experience to a business that combines a deli, specialty food shop, and thoughtfully stocked general store.
Alongside prepared foods, sandwiches, charcuterie, and boutique wines, the shelves feature homewares, gifts, and artisan products, with an emphasis on Canadian and small-business suppliers. Recent additions include ceramics by Warsaw artists Thomas Aitken and Kate Hyde.
Cheese lovers have plenty to explore, with more than 100 varieties, including selections the owners collect directly from Quebec fromageries. Their Cheese of the Month Club offers two cheeses with accompaniments, tasting notes, pairing recommendations, and recipe suggestions — a lovely way to expand your cheese repertoire.
The owners credit friendly, knowledgeable service as part of their approach from the beginning, and say they will continue introducing new and hard-to-find products.
We recently featured Millbrook Mercantile among the reader-nominated businesses in our Kawartha Localist Small Business Week edition. Seven years of helping people discover good food and independent makers is certainly worth celebrating.
Business Excellence Awards celebrate the people and businesses strengthening our region
Tiffany Arcari of The Tiffany Show (right) interviews Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Brenda Whitehead on the red carpet at the 2026 Business Excellence Awards gala, held October 22 at Kawartha Downs in Fraserville. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography / Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce)
There’s a lot to celebrate in our local business community, and this year’s Business Excellence Awards offered a reminder of just how much talent, initiative, and commitment we have across Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce brought its annual celebration to Kawartha Downs in Fraserville on October 22, with recipients ranging from independent retailers and tourism operators to skilled trades, professional services, and charitable organizations.
This year, every nomination came from someone else in the community, with self-nominations no longer accepted. That makes the recognition particularly meaningful: customers, colleagues, and neighbours took the time to put these businesses and individuals forward.
The evening also introduced a new dinner format, with Tiffany Arcari hosting the red carpet, appetizers from Fyrestoke, and dinner catered by Chemong Lodge — which also took home the Hospitality award.
Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients:
Business Citizen of the Year: David Feeley, Cogeco Connexion
4-Under-40 Profiles, in memory of Kathy Windrem: Elsa Batten, Jordan Mercier, Kyle Christie, and Susan Tung
Customer First: Kingdon Lumber
Employer of the Year: Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory
Entrepreneurial Spirit: Peterborough Axe Club
Farm Family of the Year: Staples Maple Syrup
Health & Wellness: Trent Health in Motion
Hospitality: Chemong Lodge
Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year: Canada-CPR
Indigenous Led Business: Cambium Indigenous Professional Services
Local Focus: The Cheesy Fromage General Store
Marketing & Promotions: Peterborough Humane Society
Micro Business: Black Rock Developments
Not-for-Profit: Kawartha Land Trust
Professional Services: Baker Tilly
Retail: Kawartha Country Wines
Skilled Trades: Blackwood Developments Inc.
Tourism: Wanderlight Alpaca Experience
President’s Award: Alan Black
Behind every name is a great deal of work, along with the staff, customers, volunteers, and supporters who help make it possible. Congratulations to the recipients and everyone nominated.
Community Futures Peterborough’s Business Advisory Centre reports 227 business launches and 414 jobs in two years
Business Advisory Centre and corporate communications manager Roselea Terry, Community Futures Peterborough executive director Devon Girard, and Business Advisory Centre entrepreneurship officer Allison Adam. (Photo: Community Futures Peterborough
Community Futures Peterborough says its Business Advisory Centre has supported 546 unique businesses during its first two years, helping launch 227 new businesses, sustain or expand 336 others, and complete 10 business acquisitions.
The non-profit organization also reports that 414 jobs were created, 1,047 in-depth consultations were held, and $214,000 was distributed through the provincially funded and locally administered Starter Company Plus and Summer Company programs. In addition, the Business Advisory Centre’s 115 workshops attracted 1,769 participants.
Serving the City of Peterborough, Peterborough County, Curve Lake First Nation, and Hiawatha First Nation, the Business Advisory Centre is part of the Ontario government’s Small Business Enterprise Centre and also receives operational funding from the city and county of Peterborough.
Eastern Ontario Development Fund intake opens November 3
Ontario’s next Eastern Ontario Development Fund intake opens November 3 and closes January 21.
The program supports eligible businesses investing in expansion, new technology, productivity, skills and markets. Business projects generally require at least $500,000 in eligible investment, with a lower $200,000 threshold for qualifying rural businesses. Funding may cover up to 15 per cent of eligible costs, subject to program requirements.
Businesses located in Haliburton, Hastings, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Peterborough may qualify.
Tuesday, October 27 – Women in Business Networking Event
Host: Community Futures Development Corporation of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin
Time: 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Location: Community Futures, 26 Chemaushgon Road, Bancroft
Cost: Free; advance registration requested
This monthly networking gathering will help women entrepreneurs prepare for the holiday shopping season with ideas for marketing their businesses and products, guest speakers and opportunities to connect with other local business owners.
Tuesday, October 27 – Women Wisdom & Wine – Winter Wellness & Self Care
Host: Port Hope & District Chamber of Commerce
Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Location: Knights of Columbus Hall, 1 Elias Street, Port Hope
Cost: Free; registration required
Local businesses will share practical ideas for staying healthy, energized and well through winter. The evening combines presentations, conversation and networking, with limited places available.
Wednesday, October 28 – Thinking of Starting Your Own Business? County Tour – North Kawartha
Host: Community Futures Peterborough and Peterborough County Economic Development
Time: 8:30 a.m. to noon
Location: North Kawartha Municipal Office, 280 Burleigh Street, Apsley
Cost: Free; advance registration requested
An introductory entrepreneurship workshop will cover steps to consider when starting a business, followed by open-house networking and conversations with local financing and economic-development advisers.
Wednesday, October 28 – Free AI Training with IntegrAlign
Host: Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce and IntegrAlign
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (four separate sessions)
Location: Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, 175 George Street North, Peterborough
Cost: Free; registration required
Sherry Hill will deliver hands-on AI sessions for small-business operations (8:30–10:30 a.m.), tourism and hospitality (10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.), health and wellness (12:45–2:45 p.m.), and non-profit and community organizations (3–5 p.m.). Participants register for the session most relevant to them.
Wednesday, October 28 – New Exporters of Technologies and Services to the U.S.
Host: Government of Ontario and the Trade Commissioner Service
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Eastern
Location: Online
This export-readiness session for technology and service companies covers CUSMA, intellectual property protection, taxation, immigration, standards and government services for entering the U.S. market.
Thursday, October 29 – Thinking of Starting Your Own Business? County Tour – Curve Lake First Nation
Host: Community Futures Peterborough and Peterborough County Economic Development
Time: 8:30 a.m. to noon
Location: Andrew’s Building, 1787 Curve Lake Road, Curve Lake First Nation
Cost: Free; advance registration requested
The County Tour concludes with entrepreneurship guidance, open-house networking and direct access to Community Futures and County economic-development staff for information about business advice, financing and regional supports.
Thursday, October 29 – Starting a Food Business and Regulatory Compliance
Host: Foodpreneur Advantage, promoted locally by Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland
Time: 10 to 11 a.m.
Location: Online
Cost: Free; advance registration required
This webinar for emerging food and beverage businesses covers validating a product concept, defining a competitive advantage, food-safety and licensing requirements, and common regulatory mistakes that can delay a launch.
Thursday, October 29 – Entrepreneurship 101: Bookkeeping Bootcamp – Bookkeeping Basics for Your Small Biz
Host: Community Futures Peterborough and Scotiabank
Time: Noon to 1 p.m.
Location: Venture North, 270 George Street North, Peterborough
Cost: Free; advance registration required
Presented with Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory, the workshop covers basic bookkeeping, tracking income and expenses, and practical habits that help owners understand their finances and keep records organized.
Thursday, October 29 – AI Café with Alex Tribe and Sherry Hill
Host: Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce
Time: 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Location: Cork & Bean, 382 George Street North, Peterborough
This informal drop-in conversation with AI specialists Alex Tribe and Sherry Hill gives local business owners an opportunity to ask practical questions about artificial intelligence and how it may change their work. No registration is necessary.
Thursday, October 29 – Chamber 5:01 – LBD Naturally Beautiful and The Pulse Café
Host: Port Hope & District Chamber of Commerce
Time: 5 to 7 p.m.
Location: The Pulse Café, 10 Robertson Street, Port Hope
Cost: Free; registration appreciated
Marcia McMaster of LBD Naturally Beautiful and The Pulse Café will host an evening of networking, showcasing Canadian-made skincare, jewellery, corporate gifts, pop-up partnerships and fundraising collaborations.
Tuesday, November 3 – Powering Morocco’s Smart Factory & Mobility Revolution
Host: Government of Ontario and Global Affairs Canada
Time: 9 to 10 a.m. Eastern
Location: Online
Ontario manufacturers and technology companies can learn about export opportunities in Morocco’s automotive, aerospace, electronics, automation, electric-mobility and intelligent-transportation industries.
Tuesday, November 3 – Eastern Ontario Development Fund – New Application Intake Opens
Host: Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Time: Applications open November 3; deadline January 21, 2027
Location: Online through Transfer Payment Ontario
A new Eastern Ontario Development Fund intake opens for eligible business-expansion and community economic-development projects. The fund supports investment, productivity improvements, job creation and innovation; applicants should consult a regional adviser before applying.
Wednesday, November 4 – Do’s and Don’ts When Crossing the U.S. Border
Host: Government of Ontario and U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Time: 10 to 11 a.m. Eastern
Location: Online
Cost: Free; advance registration required
This practical webinar for Ontario small and medium-sized businesses explains the documentation and border requirements involved in shipping products into the United States, with guidance from a U.S. customs officer.
Thursday, November 5 – She Owns It Women’s Entrepreneurship Conference
Host: Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland and Northumberland County
Time: 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.; registration opens at 8:15 a.m.
Location: Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre, 930 Burnham Street, Cobourg
Cost: $58 plus HST; sold out (waitlist available)
The fourth annual conference features keynote presentations, an entrepreneur panel, networking and hands-on learning. Speakers include Comeback Snacks founder Emily O’Brien and author and coach Leisse Wilcox. Tickets are sold out; organizers are accepting waitlist requests.
Thursday, November 5 – How to Sell Your Food Product
Host: Foodpreneur Advantage, promoted locally by Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland
Time: 10 to 11 a.m.
Location: Online
Cost: Free; advance registration required
Former Boho Bars founder Nicole Haney will discuss product positioning, pricing, retail and farmers’ market sales, and how food businesses can build repeat purchases and lasting customer demand.
Thursday, November 5 – Entrepreneurship 101: Marketing Lab – Strategic Marketing
Host: Community Futures Peterborough and Scotiabank
Time: Noon to 1 p.m.
Location: Venture North, 270 George Street North, Peterborough
Cost: Free; advance registration required
Rose Terry will lead a practical session on identifying target audiences, choosing appropriate marketing channels and building strategies that attract customers and encourage repeat business.
Friday, November 6 – Great Lakes Local Action Fund – Application Deadline
Host: Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Time: Applications close at 5 p.m. Eastern
Location: Online through Transfer Payment Ontario
Incorporated community organizations, Indigenous communities, municipalities, conservation authorities and eligible associations have until November 6 to apply for funding for projects that protect Great Lakes water quality, restore habitat and strengthen climate resilience.
Thursday, November 12 – Costing, Pricing and Unit Economics for Food Businesses
Host: Foodpreneur Advantage, promoted locally by Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland
Time: 10 to 11 a.m.
Location: Online
Cost: Free; advance registration required
Food and beverage founders will learn to calculate true production costs, gross margins, break-even points and sustainable prices. Participants receive a forecasting spreadsheet with worked examples.
Thursday, November 12 – Entrepreneurship 101: Brand Lab – Craft a Compelling Brand Story
Host: Community Futures Peterborough and Scotiabank
Time: Noon to 1 p.m.
Location: Venture North, 270 George Street North, Peterborough
Cost: Free; advance registration required
Rose Terry will explore brand voice, visual identity, storytelling and personal branding to help entrepreneurs create a consistent and memorable business identity.
Tuesday, November 17 – Women & Money: Economic Security in Uncertain Times
Host: ONWARD and Kawartha Financial Services
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, 140 Charlotte Street, Peterborough
Cost: $39.95 plus fees
Hosted by Maryam Monsef, this gathering explores women’s economic security, housing, caregiving, and barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in accessing capital. The event includes panels, practical resources and networking.
Thursday, November 19 – Branding and Marketing Your Food Product
Host: Foodpreneur Advantage, promoted locally by Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland
Time: 10 to 11 a.m.
Location: Online
Cost: Free; advance registration required
Food founders will learn how to build a recognizable brand, identify their ideal customers and develop marketing that supports repeat sales and retailer interest.
Thursday, November 19 – Entrepreneurship 101: Digital Impact – Online Marketing, Holiday Edition
Host: Community Futures Peterborough and Scotiabank
Time: Noon to 1 p.m.
Location: Venture North, 270 George Street North, Peterborough
Cost: Free; advance registration required
Rose Terry will show small-business owners how to coordinate email, social media, seasonal promotions and content planning for the holiday shopping period.
A cross-union solidarity rally took place at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) on October 21, 2026 in support of paramedics with Peterborough City-County Paramedics (PCCP) represented by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 4911, who will be in a legal strike position on October 31. (Photo: CUPE / Facebook)
One of the first challenges facing newly elected members of council in both the city and county of Peterborough is the possibility of a strike by paramedics at the end of the month.
Represented by the Canadian Union of Public Unions (CUPE) Local 4911, paramedics with Peterborough City-County Paramedics (PCCP) will be in a legal strike position on October 31 after receiving a no board report.
“We don’t want to strike, but if we need to, that is one avenue to promote change,” said Jordan Lean, president of CUPE 4911, in an interview with kawarthaNOW.
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Wages and mental health benefits at the centre of contract negotiations
The main issues at the bargaining tables are wages, where paramedics are seeking greater parity with other emergency services, and adequate mental health support.
CUPE 4911 members began negotiations in March and, on September 25, 99 per cent of members — 185 of 187 — voted in favour of a strike.
The union was later issued a no board notice, meaning that a board of conciliation will not be appointed. Following this notice, the union is placed in a legal strike position.
Last Wednesday (October 21), a solidarity rally took place at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) that included the four unions representing staff in all departments at PRHC and other local labour and trade unions.
The rally called for a fair deal that supports paramedics, addresses the workforce crisis, and ensures the quality of emergency medical care that residents receive.
Lean said that currently full-time paramedics have $500 of mental health insurance coverage per year and part-time or casual employees receive no support. CUPE estimates that this is equal to three sessions with a psychotherapist.
“As call volumes rise and we’re dealing with more issues on the street level, it’s adding and adding and we’re seeing it break people with PTSD and burnout,” said Lean.
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Union links mental health coverage and working conditions to staff retention
Lean said that PCCP typically has between 90 and 100 part-time paramedics on staff and it is important to the union and the full-time staff to advocate for mental health benefits on their behalf.
“The people doing this work see trauma, death, and tragedy as part of their job every shift. That’s true for part-time paramedics who are new on the job as much as for 20-year full-time veterans,” said Lean.
“It makes no sense to tell a part-time paramedic that their mental health is worth less. If we’re serious about keeping people in this profession, we need mental health support for everyone.”
Lean also explained that mental health support and burnout impact recruitment and retention of qualified paramedics.
“We’re trying to get the employer to come up with reasonable incentives to keep people in the seats, keep our experienced paramedics here so we don’t have this loss of road experience,” he said.
Having just received a notice of an additional resignation prior to Wednesday’s rally, Lean said that PCCP has now lost 55 paramedics over the past three years, citing increased call volumes, lack of workplace support, and better wages and benefits elsewhere.
Of particular concern is the loss of experienced paramedics and the need to replace them with new recruits and the impact of this on patient care.
“If we can keep experienced medics in the seat, you get someone with 15 to 20 years of caring for people and that experience and it translates into care for the next patient,” explained Lean.
“We’re also starting to see a reduction in the number of qualified applicants and we’re trying to create wage and hiring incentives for when paramedics come out of school,” he added.
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Emergency services agreement would set minimum staffing during job action
In addition, CUPE 4911 have reported that workplace injuries increased by 50 per cent between 2024 and 2025, while 14 per cent of full-time paramedics were off due to work injuries in 2025 alone.
“We want a fair agreement that supports the people doing this work, and Peterborough residents deserve a paramedic service that is strong, stable, and there for them when they need it,” Lean said.
If work action takes place, Lean explained that PCCP will still work under an emergency services agreement (ESA) which establishes between the union and the employer the minimum standard of service.
However, Lean said that the public could see a reduction in the number of ambulances on the road as they remove service above the ESA baseline.
“Obviously our goal is avoid that, but even at the even at the best days, we’re at full staffing and we’re still having trouble keeping up with calls. That’s just the nature of 911,” said Lean.
“But our view is it’s a short-term discomfort or pain for the public which would have long-term benefits for them,” he added.
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Union calls for more municipal funding as bargaining resumes October 27
The Ontario government funds around half of the budgeted costs for paramedic services, with the remaining half shared between the City of Peterborough at 56.7 per cent and Peterborough County at 43.4 per cent. In 2026, the city’s portion of paramedic expenditures is $7.82 million and the county’s portion is $5.66 million.
Lean said that community members can support CUPE 4911 by advocating to city and county councils for more funding for paramedic services. A prewritten letter to be sent to council members can be found at cupe.ca/PeterboroughParamedics.
CUPE 4911 also points to the funding and wage disparity between emergency services both in the city and the county, where paramedics earn an average of 20 per cent less than police or fire services.
“We’re trying to improve that disparity to stop the bleed of paramedic into police and fire jobs and keep them here,” said Lean.
“It’s also about equality among the three 911 services. We all show up to the same calls at the end of the day. The pay should be fairly close between each of those three professions.”
Representatives from CUPE 4911 and PCCP will return to the bargaining table on October 27.
“We’re here and all of our efforts are focused on getting a deal done at the table through collective bargaining with the employer and avoiding any strike action at all if possible,” Lean said.
This story has been corrected to indicate that, with a recent resignation, Peterborough County-City Paramedics has lost a total of 55 paramedics in the past three years.
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