Kawartha Land Trust has protected 147 more acres in Kawartha Lakes for future generations, including a 56-acre property owned by Kawartha Lakes residents Mark Maitman and Dale Sutton who have entered into a conservation easement agreement (CEA) with KLT. The Maitman-Sutton CEA consists of 56 acres of deciduous forest, mixed swamp, and meadow, with 90 per cent of the property consisting of a wildlife corridor. (Photo: Kawartha Land Trust)
The recent protection of two Kawartha Lakes properties “will support cleaner air, water, soil, and food security” for future generations, according to Kawartha Land Trust (KLT) executive director John Kintare.
KLT has announced that, as a result of forward-thinking and nature-minded landowners, the land conservation organization has been able to protect an additional 147 acres of nature and agricultural lands in the City of Kawartha Lakes, including 91 acres within the Stoney Creek watershed that have donated to the KLT and 56 acres of natural lands in the Pigeon Lake subwatershed that are protected through a conservation easement agreement.
“With the protection of these ecologically significant lands, we are caring for nature and working lands in Kawartha Lakes today and protecting potential for tomorrow and in the years ahead,” Kintare told kawarthaNOW.
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“Decades from now, these wildlife corridors will remain conserved; woodland, wetland, and grassland species supported; and the agricultural land at KLT’s Stoney Creek Meadow still in use,” Kintare said.
“These lands will support cleaner air, water, soil, and food security in the region. As a father and resident of Kawartha Lakes, this makes me hopeful about the future and proud of our community for protecting these natural assets.”
Located within the Stoney Creek watershed, KLT describes the Stoney Creek Meadow nature reserve as a wildlife haven. The two landowners of the 91 acres, who wish to remain anonymous, donated the land to KLT to ensure its permanent protection.
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“The owners loved this land for generations, but realized they could not care for it long into the future,” Kintare said. “We’re extremely grateful for the trust they put in Kawartha Land Trust to help create their conservation legacy and ensure both nature and agriculture in the region continue to thrive.”
Protecting land also protects corridors for wildlife to travel safely across the land to their habitats. According to KLT, wildlife corridors make up almost half of KLT’s Stoney Creek Meadow.
The property will also be an example of co-existing active agriculture and active land stewardship activities. Before it was donated to KLT, a portion of KLT’s Stoney Creek Meadow was used as pasture by a local farmer for light cattle grazing. KLT will continue to allow sustainable cattle grazing in a section of the pasture while also planning to restore a meadow for grassland birds species like grasshopper sparrow, eastern meadowlark, and bobolink in another section of the pasture.
The State of Canada’s Birds, a 2024 report from Birds Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, notes that Canada’s grassland-dependant birds have experienced a 67 per cent decline in their populations since 1970 — the most out of any other groups of birds in the country.
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As for Kawartha Lakes residents Mark Maitman and Dale Sutton, they have ensured the permanent protection of their 56-acre property by entering into a conservation easement agreement (CEA) with KLT.
Conservation easement agreements allow property owners to retain private ownership and management of their land but limit what they and any future owners can do on the property, with the intent of protecting wildlife, habitats, shoreline, water quality and quantity, or other natural, agricultural, and other cultural features in perpetuity.
The Maitman-Sutton CEA consists of 56 acres of deciduous forest, mixed swamp, and meadow, with 90 per cent of the property consisting of a wildlife corridor.
“Every day, we are reminded of the interconnectedness of everything on this earth and how fragile the health of the land, the water, the air, and all of us who share this planet are,” Maitman and Sutton said in a joint statement. “Perhaps we cannot do much to mitigate climate change at a macro level, but we can affect this small area. We can do something.”
KLT noted the permanent protection of KLT’s Stoney Creek Meadow and Maitman-Sutton CEA were supported by funding received from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund. In addition, portions of both conservation projects were donated to KLT through the Government of Canada’s ecological gifts program.
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KLT now protects 46 properties that encompass more than 8,250 acres of natural and working lands in the Kawarthas, with 2,400 acres in Kawartha Lakes including Stoney Creek Meadow, Maitman-Sutton CEA, Cation Wildlife Preserve in Coboconk, and Ballyduff Trails in Pontypool.
While Cation Wildlife Preserve and Ballyduff Trails are open to the public and are popular destinations for hikers, birders, and nature lovers, neither Stoney Creek Meadow and Maitman-Sutton CEA are open to the public.
Meanwhile, KLT will be making an announcement on Friday (November 7) that it has permanently protected a 435-acre property in the Municipality of Trent Lakes known as the Kawartha Highlands South nature reserve, which is bordered on three sides by Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park.
The event will acknowledge the donors and funding agencies that made this protection possible and share information about future community hiking trails on the property.
The Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (PACAC) has recommended to city council that additional buildings in the General Electric factory complex receive heritage designation, including the facades of buildings 8 and 34 along Albert Street, to protect them from planned demolition by GE Vernova. (Photo: Google Maps)
In short order, Peterborough city council decided to reject a recommendation from the city’s Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (PACAC) that several buildings at the General Electric factory complex be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in addition to those council had approved for designation at its October 14 meeting.
At a special general committee meeting on Monday afternoon (November 3), council dispensed with the only item on the agenda in under 10 minutes with no debate.
Councillors were considering a city staff report from the city’s commissioner of infrastructure, planning and growth management Blair Nelson, which included a recommendation from the city’s citizen-led heritage committee that facades along Albert Street be retained for buildings 8, 34, 16A, 16, and 22 in their current location and be included in a heritage designation, along with building 13 (the power house).
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The heritage designations recommended by PACAC would be in addition to heritage designations for buildings 2, 2A, 8A, 21, 24A, 26, 28, and 30, which council had approved on October 14 based on a 154-page heritage impact assessment (HIA) report prepared by ERA Architects Inc. on behalf of GEPR Energy Canada Inc., a subsidiary of GE Vernova, that owns the GE complex at 107 Park Street North in downtown Peterborough.
The HIA report accompanied GE Vernova’s notice of intention to the city to demolish and remove all buildings in the complex’s centre block that haven’t been used since 2018. The 26 buildings to be demolished represent around 84,500 square metres (910,000 square feet) of the 104,000 square metre (1.1 million square feet) site.
The only buildings that would be retained include two currently in use by GE Vernova, four currently in use by BWXT (an independent company that was originally part of GE Vernova’s nuclear energy division), and two unoccupied buildings with heritage value that will be retained and mothballed pending potential future uses.
In addition to receiving PACAC’s recommendation, the city staff report presented two options to council: accept PACAC’s recommendation, which would require council to reconsider its original October 14 decision, or retain its original decision.
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At Monday afternoon’s meeting, which was chaired by councillor Matt Crowley (councillor Andrew Beamer, who is normally general committee chair, was absent), councillor Lesley Parnell moved that general committee accept the option to retain council’s original decision.
Chair Crowley asked city clerk John Kennedy for clarification on procedure, who advised council they could move the entire motion and then separate out the options and vote on them individually.
Kennedy noted that, if general committee voted to accept PACAC’s recommendation with a simple majority, it would then require a two-thirds vote from city council at a regular meeting since it would be a reconsideration of a motion that had already been approved by city council.
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Councillor Alex Bierk raised a point of order, asking for an explanation of how the PACAC recommendation was actually a reconsideration.
Chair Crowley ruled that it was a reconsideration since council had given direction to PACAC to review its motion to designate the buildings approved by council on October 14, and PACAC was recommending additional designations.
Councillor Parnell then moved the entire motion, noting that the two options in the motion are contrary to each other and asking they be separated out for a vote.
Councillor Dave Haacke then moved to call the question, which is a procedural tactic to prevent debate, which was carried. While the votes of individual councillors were displayed in chambers, they were not displayed online to the public as is the usual process.
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In quick succession, council then voted in favour of receiving the PACAC recommendation, voted against accepting the PACAC recommendation, and voted in favour of retaining council’s original October 14 decision. Again, the votes of individual councillors were not displayed online.
General committee’s decision will be confirmed at a city council meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday (November 4), where registered delegations will be heard. The decision is the only item on that meeting’s agenda.
Council’s decision on which buildings to designate will affect how the city serves its notice of intent to designate to GE Vernova by November 7 — the 60-day deadline under the Ontario Heritage Act given that GE Vernova sent its notice of intention for demolition to the city on September 8.
The proposed demolition is controversial because of known contamination of the industrial site with toxic hazardous substances over the past 125 years and the impact of a demolition on the safety of the surrounding residential neighbourhoods.
encoreNOW for November 3, 2025 features (from left to right, top and bottom) the ARTISANity show and sale at Peterborough Square, the Haliburton International Film Festival at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion, St. James Players production of "Into The Woods" at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough, Peterborough Pop Ensemble's "Best of Sentimental Journey" at Westdale United Church in Peterborough, Public Energy's presentation of "who will save the night sky?" at Trent University's Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space, and Beau and Lance Dixon's "Footnote To Freedom" at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. (kawarthaNOW collage)
encoreNOW is a bi-weekly column by Paul Rellinger where he features upcoming music, theatre, film, and performing arts events and news from across the Kawarthas.
This week, Paul highlights the ARTISANity show and sale at Peterborough Square, the Haliburton International Film Festival, St. James Players production of Into The Woods, Peterborough Pop Ensemble’s “Best of Sentimental Journey,” Public Energy’s presentation of who will save the night sky?, and the Dixon brothers’ staging of their musical Footnote To Freedom.
ARTISANity returns with its offering of unique handmade items
A few of the many handmade gifts available at the fall 2024 ARTISANity show and sale in Peterborough Square. (Photo: Artisans Centre Peterborough)
With a mission to preserve and promote traditional heritage skills, the Artisans Centre Peterborough does just that via the offering of instructional classes and the promotion of local artists and artisan groups.
At its home on the lower level of Peterborough Square, the centre offers a large classroom and a wood shop as well as its Artisans Market where a number of handcrafted items can be purchased. Meanwhile, partnerships with the Kawartha Gourd Society, the Peterborough Weavers and Spinners Guild, and ACP Woodturners have helped ensure the centre’s sustainability over the years.
Not unlike many such cultural organizations, the Artisans Centre is reliant on donations to keep the doors open. Maintaining the studios, supplies and equipment, and instructors’ time comes with a price tag.
This Friday and Saturday (November 7 and 8), ARTISANity will be held in the downtown mall just outside the centre’s doors, and inside the centre proper.
Held each spring and fall, the show and sale is by far the centre’s largest outreach event and a source of funding. Each handcrafted item sold will see 25 per cent of the sale price go to the centre, with the respective artisan pocketing the remainder.
With Christmas in the offing, ARTISANity offers the prospect of taking home a truly unique piece or two for that hard-to-please person on your list, all while supporting the centre’s continued viability.
Show and sale hours are noon to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free, with free parking in the mall’s underground garage.
Haliburton International Film Festival features cinema’s best
VIDEO: “Once Upon My Mother” trailer
If you’re a cinema buff, Haliburton will be the place to be this Friday to Sunday (November 7 to 9) as the Haliburton International Film Festival (HIFF) screens seven films over three days.
Presented by Haliburton-based Those Other Movies, a not-for-profit volunteer organization that provides film fans unique experiences via year-round programming, the festival opens Friday with two sold-out screenings of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein at Kinmount’s Highland Cinemas.
Over the next two days, all screenings are at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion (located in Haliburton Highlands Secondary School at 5358 County Road 21). The lineup is truly international, with films produced in Europe being screened alongside Canadian productions, including Little Lorraine, Once Upon My Mother, DJ Ahmet, Youngblood, There’s Still Tomorrow, and Köln 75.
The schedule and film details can be found at www.thoseothermovies.com, where you can also order a weekend VIP pass for $65. Individual films priced at $10 each at the door.
Now in its 13th season, Those Other Movies is part of the Haliburton County Community Cooperative. Formed in 1998, the cooperative has a mandate to encourage, develop and support initiatives that contribute to the social, cultural, environmental and economic well-being of Haliburton County and its residents.
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St. James Players goes “Into The Woods” in fairytale fashion
Paul Crough stars as the Baker, just one of the many characters in the St. James Players production of the 1986 musical “Into the Woods” running for seven performances from November 7 to 15, 2025 at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Graphic: St. James Players)
It’s difficult, if not impossible, to imagine Peterborough’s community theatre landscape, both past and present, without the St. James Players in our midst. Since 1972, the musical theatre group has entertained thousands, while providing live stage experience for countless young people.
With autumn in full swing, St. James Players is bringing its annual fall production to Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough in the form of Into The Woods, opening this Friday (November 7) and running for seven performance until November 15.
The 1986 musical, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, that intertwines the storylines of several Brothers Grimm fairytales. The production’s main characters are taken from “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Rapunzel,” “Cinderella,” and other childhood story favourites.
Tying it all together is a story centred around a childless baker and his wife, their quest to begin a family, their interaction with a witch who has placed a curse on them, and their encounters with fairytale characters.
Directed by Jacquie Butler, with vocal and music direction by Brian MacDonald and Justin Hiscox, and choreography by Melissa Earle, Into The Woods is escapism in its purest form, and — a rarity of sorts these days — is suitable for all ages.
Curtain is 7:30 p.m. on November 7 and 8 and 13 and 14, with 2 p.m. matinee performances on November 8, 9, and 15. For tickets, visit showplace.org/events.
Peterborough Pop Ensemble strolls down memory lane anew
VIDEO: “Sentimental Journey” – Peterborough Pop Ensemble (2015)
Rest assured that somewhere, someplace, Barb Monahan is smiling. Six years after her passing, the choral group she led, and loved, for many years continues to entertain, the joy of doing so clearly evident on the faces of its members.
Now the Peterborough Pop Ensemble is embarking its 25th anniversary season, starting this Sunday afternoon (November 9) with “Best of Sentimental Journey” at Westdale United Church on Sherbrooke Street West in Peterborough.
The 2 p.m. concert will see the ensemble perform songs from the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s. From the lively rhythms of the jazz age to the golden era of swing to the heartfelt ballads that carried a generation through World War II, this concert promises to be a celebration of the timeless melodies that defined each decade.
Admission to the 2 p.m. concert is by donation at the door.
Formed in 2000 under the name The Peterborough Singers Pop Ensemble, the choral group was created to perform a few songs at the Valentines concert headlined by The Peterborough Singers. The audience’s response was so enthusiastic that members of group decided to keep at it.
Come January 2009, its members having opted to strike out on their own, the choral group became officially known as the Peterborough Pop Ensemble. Since then, the Peterborough Pop Ensemble has performed regularly, including at Peterborough Petes hockey games, Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival, with the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, and at many charity events.
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Philip Geller dramatically asks “Who will save the night sky?”
Presented by Public Energy Performing Arts, Philip Geller performs in “who will save the night sky?” at Trent University’s Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space on November 9, 2025. (Photo: Kate Dalton)
It’s difficult to not be intrigued by what who will save the night sky? has to offer, with a description of the performance promising “tail swishes, tall tales, and celestial mischief.”
Presented by Public Energy Performing Arts this Sunday afternoon (November 9) at Trent University’s Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space and curated by Indigenous Performance Initiatives, the performance will see Philip Geller — a Michif (Red River Métis) and Jewish (Ashkenazi) theatre creator and educator — take the audience “into a starry boardroom where the fate of the Earth (and the two-legged) hangs in the balance.”
The interactive solo performance blends bouffon, clown, storytelling. and spectacle, all while reminding us of the importance of our relationship to the stars and sky world.
Geller is an actor, director, dramaturg, producer, clown, and creator who has worked with numerous companies and festivals across Canada. Geller employs trickster methodologies, land-based creation, circular storytelling and destabilizing hierarchical power structures in the rehearsal process, with a strong focus on anti-oppressive and anti-racist modalities.
Currently the associate producer for #ReconcileThis at the National Arts Centre and co-artistic producer for the Kiyanaan Indigenous Theatre Festival in Winnipeg, Geller is creating new works in residency at The Theatre Centre and Theatre Passe Muraille.
The 60-minute show will be followed by a reception with the artist.
The story of Canada’s No. 2 Battalion finally comes to light
Written and performed by brothers Beau and Lance Dixon, “Footnote to Freedom” is a musical about their grandfather George Dixon (front, second from left), a private and cornet player in the band of No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canada’s only segregated Black Battalion in World War I. The musical will be performed on November 9, 2025 at at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia)
With Remembrance Day dawning anew, the story of Canada’s first and only all-Black battalion is long overdue to be told, especially in light of the fact that its existence has been ignored for decades.
Presented by New Stages Theatre this Sunday night (November 9) at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough, Footnote To Freedom tells the story of Private George Dixon, who served with the No. 2 Battalion in the First World War.
Based on a memoir of the same name written by his grandson Lance Dixon and created and performed by Lance with his brother Beau, the musical features original songs and dramatic personal stories that give us a glimpse of their grandfather’s experience, and the lasting impact his service had on their father Blair and on them. More than that, it touches on the challenges faced by Black men in an all-white Canadian military.
Tickets for 7 p.m. performance cost $29, with a $22 “welcome rate” for those who need it and a $36 “pay it forward rate” for those who can afford it, and can be purchased at the Market Hall box office at 140 Charlotte Street, by calling 705-749-1146, or online at tickets.markethall.org/?category=20.
Note that only a handful of tickets remain for the show as of this writing.
The staging promises to be bittersweet for the Dixon brothers, along with their sister Lisa, the former owner of Black Honey and director of the current Peterborough Theatre Guild play 291. On October 13, their father Blair passed away at age 89. On the same day as the play’s presentation, at 11 a.m. at Market Hall, a celebration of life will be held in his honour, with all welcome to attend.
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Encore
It’s a little ahead of the game, but Millbrook’s 4th Line Theatre has already released details of it 34th season next summer at the Winslow Farm. The season will begin June 30 with a reprise of Schoolhouse. Premiered in 2007 and remounted in the 2008, Leanna Brodie’s play will be directed by Monica Dottor. Then, on August 4, Megan Murphy’s Wild Irish Geese, which was featured this past summer, returns to the barnyard stage. Much more detail is forthcoming, but it is known that some of the original cast members of Schoolhouse will be returning while Wild Irish Geese will also welcome back several of its original cast members.
Congratulations to Peterborough singer-songwriter Georgia Rose on the recent release of her second single “Where Did We Go?” Arguably among the hardest-working musicians in this area over the last year, the 19 year old has earned all the praise that has come her way. Just this past March, Georgia was well-received as a featured performer at Peterborough Performs V at Showplace — a turn she’ll reprise February 26 when the sixth edition of the fundraiser for local shelters and homelessness relief is staged. At only 19, Georgia’s star is rising quickly. Catch her while you can.
YWCA Peterborough Haliburton is seeking to raise $200,000 by December 31, 2025 to support for the non-profit organization's Journey of Care, a wrap-around model that supports women and children recovering from domestic abuse, from the very first phone call seeking safety until they have achieved independence in their new life. Community donations will be matched up to $60,000 by Olivia and Gord James. (Graphic courtesy of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton)
While the holiday season is a joyful time for many, that’s not the case for women and children in the community experiencing domestic abuse and violence who need to turn to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton for help.
That’s why the non-profit organization is aiming to raise $200,000 before the end of the year, a goal made easier thanks to a matching donation up to $60,000 from Olivia and Gord James. Olivia was previously a long-time YWCA board member and has seen the critical role the organization plays in the lives of thousands of women and families each year.
“We want people to really reflect and take an opportunity to think about how fortunate they are in their own lives through the holiday season,” says Tina Thornton, director of philanthropy for YWCA Peterborough Haliburton. “But we also want people to think about others out there who might unfortunately be sitting around their holiday dinner table, terrified to speak or do anything because they’re afraid of the violence that could occur in their home.”
YWCA Peterborough Haliburton aims to raise approximately $1 million every year to support their many programs, one-third of which are funded through donations alone. However, last year’s postal strike that began in mid-November and continued through the holiday season meant many people couldn’t mail in their donations. As a result, the YWCA experienced a significant shortfall in donated funds, which the organization hopes to make up for through the 2025 holiday campaign.
In this year’s holiday appeal, Christine — whose name has been changed for her safety and to protect the anonymity of her children — is a survivor of domestic abuse who shares her story of having received life-changing support from the YWCA.
Christine’s story highlights the broad range of programs and services offered by YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, as she not only received counselling sessions, legal guidance, and help navigating the education system, but a sense of safety.
“Providing shelter for women and their children when faced with domestic violence is incredibly important, but it is simply just one of many elements that we do to support women and families,” says Thornton.
While donations can always be allocated to specific areas, this year the YWCA is asking community members to consider supporting each of these resources by donating to Her Journey of Care, a wrap-around model that provides a woman with support and guidance on her journey from fear to safety, from trauma to healing, and from control to independence, so she can live the life of her choosing.
Her Journey of Care includes the supports that Christine received, as well as educational resources on healthy relationships and life skills, financial and housing assistance, connections to other organizations, and much more.
“Her Journey of Care provides that wrap-around support from the moment she makes that first call until she’s ready to stand on her own two feet and really become independent,” says Thornton. “We support her no matter what that donation looks like.”
Although the Canada Post labour dispute has not yet been resolved, the postal workers union has decided against a national strike in favour of a rotating strike, meaning mail delivery will continue. You can send your donation by postal mail to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, 216 Simcoe St., Peterborough ON K9H 2H7.
To donate immediately, you can call 705-743-3526 or donate online at ywcapeterborough.org, where you can also learn more about how YWCA Peterborough Haliburton supports women and children recovering from gender-based violence.
People who donate to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s 2025 holiday campaign can choose to direct their donations to specific programs and services or donate to the YWCA’s Journey of Care, with donations allocated to each of the wrap-around supports offered by the non-profit organization to women and children recovering from domestic abuse and violence. These supports include education and resources for healthy relationships and life skills, counselling, assistance with finances and housing, and much more. (Graphic courtesy of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton)
Know Your Locals™ is a branded editorial feature about locally owned independent businesses and locally operated organizations, and supported by them. If your business or organization is interested in being featured in a future “Know Your Locals” branded editorial, contact Jeannine Taylor at 705-742-6404 or jt@kawarthanow.com or visit our Advertise with kawarthaNOW
As a final fundraiser for its "Restore, Renew, Refresh" project and to welcome guests back into the sanctuary, Keene United Church is hosting explorer, author, and cultural geographer James Raffan and his show "The Accidental Canadian" on November 15, 2025. The light-hearted show features songs, pictures, and stories that reflect Raffan's appreciation for the canoe and Canada's waterways, his 50 years spent in the Arctic, and the people he's met along the way. (Photo courtesy of James Raffan)
Songs, stories, adventure, and Canadian pride are all on the docket for a fundraiser that will help fund the restoration of Keene United Church.
To welcome guests back into the sanctuary following the construction that has transpired throughout the summer, acclaimed author, explorer, and cultural geographer James Raffan will be staging “The Accidental Canadian” for one night only on Saturday, November 15 at 7 p.m. Through songs, pictures, and stories, Raffan will share a light-hearted and thought-provoking exploration covering 50 years of Arctic travels.
The fundraiser is expected to raise the final amount needed to reach the $375,000 goal needed for the “Restore, Renew, and Refresh” project, organized by church members Peter Elmhirst and Jim Glenn. When complete, the project will see the interior walls and ceiling of the church sanctuary, narthex, and bell tower refurbished, alongside minor exterior restorations.
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“It’s an amazing feat for a small community to bring that much money into the project,” says Anne Marshall of Elmhirst’s Resort, who was instrumental in bringing Raffan’s show to Keene. “When you drive in, you’re seeing autumn colours and the church steeple, so it’s a part of the landscape of Keene, and I think that’s why people are so ‘keen’ on making sure that it’s looked after.”
When he comes to Peterborough County, Raffan will bring with him a nationally acclaimed resume that includes earning a doctorate in cultural geography, writing several bestselling books, leading expeditions across northern Canada, and speaking and writing across the country.
Raffan was also the executive director of the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough from 2007 to 2011 and a close friend of Kirk Wipper, the founder of the museum who Raffan tells stories about throughout the show.
Adventurer and explorer James Raffan labels himself as an “accidental Canadian” because his British parents decided to move to Canada after World War II at the flip of a coin before he and his sisters were born. (Photo courtesy of James Raffan)
“It’s been a great privilege for me to spend 50 years enjoying the welcome of people all across the country and across the circumpolar world,” says Raffan. “The energy of those welcomes and those lessons that people have brought me are wrapped into this show which is a little bit different.”
The title of the show comes from his own self-professed label, the result of his British parents flipping a coin to decide whether they would move to Canada or South Africa after World War II. That’s how Raffan and his three sisters became “accidental Canadians.”
Raffan describes the show as a “revealing” of his understanding of the country, following the arc of his life through adventures, beginning in the valley of the Speed River in southwestern Ontario, where he first got connected to Canada through its waterways.
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“It’s really just about growing up and (having) an emerging understanding that Canada is a nation of rivers,” Raffan says. “Audiences are taken into Canada through my fascination with canoes, and then it goes into what the travel in the hinterland has taught me and takes you to some of the heroes I’ve met (along the way).”
This includes stories about a bush pilot in the Ottawa Valley named Ronnie Bowes who became the pilot with the greatest number of hours on a De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver, a Canadian float plane.
Each story Raffan tells throughout “The Accidental Canadian” is paired with an original song. Though he has always been a storyteller and music has always been one of his mediums, this is the first time he is sharing this passion publicly because he wanted to do something that was “challenging and maybe even a little bit scary.”
VIDEO: The Legend of Ronnie Bowes by James Raffan (2021)
“Music connects with people in ways that straight-up verbal storytelling doesn’t,” Raffan says. “I’ve seen now from performing this show in Ontario and, most recently, in Nova Scotia, that it does give a kind of emotional connection to people that I find really gratifying.”
When he first premiered the show in late March in his hometown of Seeley’s Bay in eastern Ontario, the “Elbows Up” movement was just gaining traction in response to tariff and other threats from the Trump administration. This, Raffan says, not only informs how people understand the story, but also how he continues to share it.
“The show is really reaffirming some of the values that have been articulated by Canadians in response to the threat of annexation by the U.S.,” he says. “As I’ve been massaging the show — not rewriting it, but fine-tuning it — some of those points about what Canada is and how it’s different from its neighbours are getting highlighted.”
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“At the end of it, you come away feeling really great to be Canadian,” says Marshall of Raffan’s show, which she saw when it premiered in Seeley’s Bay.
Though Raffan will soon be taking “The Accidental Canadian” out west, he says being able to bring it to Keene first gives him a “warm feeling.”
“I have a real soft spot in my heart for the people and the places around because, although I never lived in Peterborough the whole time I was at the museum, I got to know so many people and felt the energy,” he says. “I’m also really looking forward to the fact that it’s tied to the fundraiser for the church and to be able to give them a hand doing that brings me a lot of joy.”
Keene United Church has invited James Raffan to present his original show “The Accidental Canadian” on November 15, 2025 as a final fundraiser that’s anticipated to reach the $375,000 goal to complete the “Restore, Renew, Refresh” project which involves refurbishing the walls and ceiling of the church sanctuary, narthex, and bell tower. (Photos courtesy of Keene United Church)
Making it even more of a monumental moment, the last time Raffan stepped foot in Keene United Church was to offer a eulogy to Wipper — who passed away in 2011 at the age of 87 — who he says was one of his “great mentors.”
“It’s kind of a hallowed place for me personally because of that event, but I know that in the audience will be many people who supported the Canadian Canoe Museum,” Raffan says. “I’m not formally associated with the museum anymore, but I do have a great spot in my heart for that as a focal point in the Peterborough area for me and for many others.”
Above all, his hope for the show is to take people out of their own lives for even just a few minutes.
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“There’s a lot of things that you and I worry about in our lives that bring stress to us, but in this case the music transcends all that,” Raffan says. “I’ve been really enjoying doing the show and looking forward to making it a memorable experience for the people who come to Keene.”
Tickets to “The Accidental Canadian” cost $40 and can be purchased through e-transfer to treasurerkuc09@gmail.com or through Linda Albert at Trailers Plus and Anne Marshall.
Wilfred Vienot (seventh from right), who suddenly collapsed in his home one day last year after suffering a cardiac arrest and was resuscitated thanks to community members and first responders, attended Northumberland County's 10th annual "Survivor Night" on October 27, 2025 with first responders from Lindsay Central Ambulance Communications Centre, Cobourg Fire Department, Northumberland Paramedics, and his neighbours and friends. (Photo: Northumberland County)
On a night described as “deeply meaningful to everyone who wears a uniform or answers the call,” Northumberland County recently recognized 85 first responders for their actions that saved the lives of 14 people.
First responders gathered last Monday (October 27) for the 10th annual “Survivor Night” ceremony. Hosted by Northumberland County, the event is dedicated to honouring the stories of lives restored following cardiac arrest and the teamwork behind those successes.
This year, 85 first responders were formally recognized for their life-saving efforts in the successful resuscitation of 14 people who experienced out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in 2024.
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The event was also an opportunity to reconnect some of the survivors and their families with first responders who played critical roles during their emergencies.
“This night is deeply meaningful to everyone who wears a uniform or answers the call — ambulance communications officers, paramedics, and firefighters alike,” Northumberland Paramedics Chief Susan Brown told kawarthaNOW.
“It reminds us why we train, why we serve, and why we stand shoulder-to-shoulder when seconds matter most. Survivor Night is not only about the lives that were saved, but about the bond that forms between all first responders — a shared commitment to protect our communities and give people a second chance at life.”
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One survivor was Wilfred Vienot, who suddenly collapsed in his home one day last year after suffering a cardiac arrest.
According to a media release, bystanders quickly recognized the emergency, called 9-1-1, and began CPR on Vienot.
“Neighbours, friends, ambulance communications officers, firefighters, and paramedics worked together seamlessly,” the release stated, noting the collaboration “ultimately saved his life.”
Vienot attended Survivor Night and joined officials on stage to present his neighbours and first responders with certificates of recognition.
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“Every life saved is a powerful reminder of the dedication and skill of our first responders, as well as the courage and quick action of community members,” Brown said.
“Survivor Night is a celebration of these extraordinary moments and the hope they bring. It also underscores the importance of the chain of survival — from recognizing cardiac arrest and calling 9-1-1, to preforming CPR and using a community automated external defibrillator, to the involvement of first responders with their training and expertise. Each link in that chain is vital to saving lives.”
Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander said the evening serves to recognize “that behind every life saved is a network of people who acted with courage and care when it mattered most.
“Every story shared tonight reminds us that readiness and resilience start long before an emergency happens, in the partnerships, the training, and the trust we build together,” the warden added.
Debbie Quinlan, pictured with her daughter Kacee, has been named Special Olympics Ontario's 2025 Coach of the Year for supporting women's sports. She has been coaching the swim team for 22 years and was instrumental in launching women's soccer and basketball teams in Peterborough. She is now a finalist for the Special Olympics Canada 2025 Coach of the Year. (Photo courtesy of Debbie Quinlan)
During a awards banquet held in Aurora on October 23, Peterborough coach and longtime advocate for female athletes Debbie Quinlan was named Special Olympics Ontario’s 2025 Coach of the Year.
The provincial award recognizes a coach who has demonstrated exceptional leadership while playing an integral role in promoting and developing the sports programs. According to Special Olympics Ontario, Quinlan, who coaches swimming, soccer, and basketball, “exemplifies what it means to coach with purpose, patience, and heart.”
“This award I received really is to honour our Special Olympians that I’ve coached over the years because they demonstrate such passion, determination, commitment, and love of sport,” Quinlan says. “That has brought the best out of me and makes me a better swim coach. I truly love what I do.”
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In operation for more than 50 years, Special Olympics is the world’s largest movement dedicated to promoting inclusion through sport for people with intellectual disabilities. The Peterborough chapter provides year-round training in a number of sports, allowing athletes to play at their own level and giving them the opportunity to compete at a provincial, national, and world level.
“Peterborough is really flourishing and doing well in Special Olympics,” Quinlan says.
“What’s most important to our Special Olympians throughout Peterborough, Ontario, and other communities is that they feel like they’re part of a family. What’s so rewarding is these athletes demonstrate what the true meaning of sport is all about. They have this love of sport, they have a love of competing, and they have a love of cheering on their own Special Olympians.”
The Peterborough Special Olympic women’s soccer team (Candace Bushie, Crystal Cochrane, Jasmine Davis, Haley Fowler, Heather Fowler, Nicole Hewitt, Kristen Lackey, Gillian McHugh, Miriam McHugh, Kacee Quinlan, Jenn Wildman, and Carlea Wilkie-Ellis) with coaches Debbie Quinlan, Shawna Goode, and Linda Wilkie celebrating the first-ever gold medal in the women’s soccer division at the Special Olympics provincial games, held in Brantford from July 10 to 13, 2025. (Photo: Special Olympics Ontario)
Quinlan began coaching with Special Olympics over 22 years ago when her daughter Kacee, who has Downs syndrome, showed an interest in competitive swimming. With Quinlan’s own background as a teacher and competitive swimmer, she asked if she could be a coach, and later that year, took over as head coach.
“I’ve never looked back since then,” she says. “The wonderful thing about Special Olympics is you never see the disability; you only see the ability. You see the person for who they are and what gifts they bring to the sport. It’s such a rewarding experience.”
She then began coaching the mixed-league soccer team for the 2018 nationals in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and it was there she noticed the wide discrepancy between male and female players on the team.
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“I saw that there was a huge need for women’s soccer,” Quinlan says. “I felt that we were going to lose our women in Special Olympic sports at a higher level because there weren’t as many women competing.”
She returned from the nationals and asked the organizations if they would promote women’s soccer. By 2019, Special Olympics Ontario hosted the first soccer tournament in Toronto, and this past summer, the organization supported the first women’s soccer division at the Special Olympic provincial games.
Peterborough’s team made history earning a gold medal after going undefeated throughout the tournament.
“When we would compete in different events or tournaments, we saw how many other women from other communities really wished their community had a women’s soccer team,” Quinlan says.
The Blazers Women’s Basketball team for Special Olympics Peterborough (Candace Bushie, Tessa Scates, Kacee Quinlan, Emma Keating, Lisa Butler, Miriam McHugh, Kristin Lackey, Crystal Cochrane, Gillian McHugh) with head coach Bev Quinlan, assistant coach Debbie Quinlan, and a Special Olympic Ontario representative celebrating their win of “Team of the Year” during the 2025 Special Olympics Ontario AGM and Awards Banquet held on October 23, 2025 in Aurora. (Photo courtesy of Debbie Quinlan)
Just last year, she began noticing the same unbalanced ratio between men and women while her daughter played on the basketball team.
She approached the Peterborough executive and encouraged her husband Bev, who is the award-winning coach of Peterborough Challenger Baseball, to head a new women’s team, for which Quinlan is now the assistant coach.
That same team, called the Blazers — “because they were trailblazers,” says Quinlan — won the 2025 Team of the Year award from Special Olympics Ontario for playing an important part in advancing women’s sport within Special Olympics.
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“Our goal is to spread the word so that other communities will be inspired to start other women’s basketball teams so that one day we can go to a provincial, qualify as a women’s team, and compete against other women,” says Quinlan. “That would be our dream.”
She explains that she will keep advocating for more women in sport within Special Olympics because “sport is a life-long experience” for the athletes — some of whom are into their 60s — and yet the higher division of competition in mixed leagues continues to have fewer women.
“It can be very physical when you’re playing with men, but we want to feature the women and show and instill in them that they do have the abilities, they can blossom, they can experience a higher level of playing if given the opportunity,” she says. “When you’re able to play with other women, there’s a real camaraderie but you’re also in appreciation of each other as athletes.”
Debbie Quinlan (far right) along with Stephanie Dancey, Renee Oake, and Amanda Devlin represented the Trent Torpedoes Masters of the Trent Swim Club at the 2022 Speedo Canadian Masters Swimming Championships in Quebec City and collectively took home 16 medals and ribbons. Quinlan, who has been a coach for the Special Olympics swim team for more than 22 years, won a silver medal in the 1,500-metre freestyle race. (Photo: Trent Swim Club)
As the recipient of the Special Olympics Ontario award for the Coach of the Year, Quinlan is also a finalist for the Special Olympics Canada 2025 awards, which will be broadcast on TSN at 7 p.m. this Thursday (November 6).
“This award is not just a recognition of my efforts over the years, but it’s really a testament to the collective commitment and passion of all the Special Olympic coaches and team managers that I’ve coached with and learned from over the years,” she says.
“They really have inspired me and motivated me to provide the best possible opportunities and experiences for athletes while making a difference in their lives.”
The Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (PACAC) has recommended to city council that additional buildings in the General Electric factory complex receive heritage designation, including the facades of buildings 8 and 34 along Albert Street, to protect them from planned demolition by GE Vernova. (Photo: Google Maps)
Peterborough city council will be holding a special general committee meeting on Monday afternoon (November 3) to review its current decision on heritage designation for the General Electric factory complex at 107 Park Street North in downtown Peterborough.
At the 2 p.m. meeting, council will consider a recommendation from the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (PACAC) that specific buildings be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in addition to those that council approved at its October 14 meeting.
On October 14, council voted 6-5 to accept recommendations in a 154-page heritage impact assessment (HIA) report prepared by ERA Architects Inc. on behalf of GEPR Energy Canada Inc., a subsidiary of GE Vernova, for which buildings in the complex should receive heritage designation.
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The HIA report accompanied GE Vernova’s notice of intention to the city to demolish and remove all other buildings in the complex’s centre block that haven’t been used since 2018. The 26 buildings to be demolished represent around 84,500 square metres (910,000 square feet) of the 104,000 square metre (1.1 million square feet) site.
The proposed demolition is controversial because of known contamination of the industrial site with toxic hazardous substances over the past 125 years and the impact of a demolition on the safety of the surrounding residential neighbourhoods.
At its October 14 meeting, council decided to accept the recommendations made in the HIA report for which buildings should receive heritage designation: buildings 2, 2A, 8A, 21, 24A, 26, 28, and 30. Those buildings include two currently in use by GE Vernova, four currently in use by BWXT (an independent company that was originally part of GE Vernova’s nuclear energy division), and two unoccupied buildings with heritage value that will be retained and mothballed pending potential future uses.
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While councillors rejected a city staff recommendation that would have seen the city hire a consultant to conduct a peer review of the HIA report, they voted to direct staff to consult with PACAC and report back on the buildings proposed for heritage designation.
At its meeting on Wednesday (October 29), PACAC reviewed GE Vernova’s notice of intent to demolish along with the HIA report and the company’s building removals plan.
In addition to the buildings proposed for heritage designation in the HIA report that council approved, PACAC is recommending that facades along Albert Street be retained for buildings 8, 34, 16A, 16, and 22 in their current location and be included in the designation, along with building 13 (the power house).
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In a report to be presented to council at Monday’s special general committee meeting, the city’s commissioner of infrastructure, planning and growth management Blair Nelson notes that, if council agrees with PACAC’s recommendation for the additional buildings to receive heritage designation, it would need to reconsider its original October 14 decision.
Council’s final decision on which buildings to designate will affect how the city serves its notice of intent to designate to GE Vernova — which must be done by November 7, the 60-day deadline under the Ontario Heritage Act given that GE Vernova sent its notice of intention for demolition to the city on September 8.
Whatever decision council makes at the special general committee meeting will be confirmed at a regular city council meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday (November 4), where registered delegations will be heard.
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Although council is also having a regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday evening where the decision could be confirmed, the agenda for that meeting is already ambitious as it will include recommendations from three general committee meetings.
In addition to the special general committee meeting at 2 p.m., general committee will meet again at 4 p.m. for a closed session where six items will be considered followed by an open session at 5:30 p.m. where council will receive a presentation of the city’s 2026 draft budget.
Monday evening’s city council meeting agenda includes registered delegations, recommendations from the October 20 general committee meeting, recommendations from the October 27 general committee meeting (including confirmation of the official plan amendment for strategic growth area policies and a community planning permit system), and recommendations from the 4 p.m. closed general committee meeting.
At its annual "Diva Night" educational and awareness event on October 23, 2025, The Dragon Flies Breast Cancer Survivor Group's founding members Jo-Ann Forson, Nancy Hanna, and Gail Payne presented three $7,500 cheques to representatives of the Port Perry Hospital Foundation, Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation, and Lakeridge Health Foundation Oshawa. Since it was formed in 2002, the group has raised $437,800 in support of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. (Photo courtesy of Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation)
The Dragon Flies Breast Cancer Survivor Group continues to soar and make a difference for those needing breast cancer care by raising $22,500 in 2025 for three hospitals in central Ontario, including in Kawartha Lakes.
Better known as The Dragon Flies, the group held its “Diva Night” on October 23 at the Victoria Park Armoury in Lindsay. The annual event is a night of education, awareness, and fun that brings women together to learn and bond over dinner and informative speakers.
At the event, founding members Jo-Ann Forson, Nancy Hanna, and Gail Payne presented $7,500 each to the Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) Foundation, the Lakeridge Health Foundation Oshawa, and the Port Perry Hospital Foundation.
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RMH Foundation CEO Erin Coons told kawarthaNOW the donation from The Dragon Flies will support diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer at RMH, helping the Lindsay hospital acquire state-of-the-art diagnostic technology and to become an accredited breast assessment centre offering Cancer Care Ontario’s High Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program.
“The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer relies on patients’ access to many modalities, including 3D mammography, MRI, ultrasound, sentinel node machine, biopsy console, and more,” Coons said.
“Like all tools that are used every day, it is critically important that they are replaced at the end of their useful life. The Dragon Flies’ loyal support for breast cancer care at RMH provides help to acquire these life-saving tools and ensures as little disruption to patient care as possible.”
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During the Diva Night event, Dr. Tina Oliphant — a diagnostic radiologist at Peterborough Regional Health Centre — was the guest speaker.
As a “cancer hunter,” Dr. Oliphant explained the tools and technology she uses to detect breast cancer as early as possible and shared her perspective of the breast cancer patient’s journey.
Dr. Oliphant said that, while breast cancer is the top diagnosed cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death in Canadian women, the survival rate is 99 per cent when the cancer is detected early.
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The Dragon Flies Breast Cancer Survivor Group was formed in 2002 to raise awareness about breast cancer and to raise funds for diagnosis and treatement, to share a spirit of positive energy following a breast cancer diagnosis, and to encourage women or men living with breast cancer to lead full and active lives.
The group uses the sport of dragon boating as its major activity to encourage breast cancer survivors to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and also offers wellness and exercise activities, access to resources, and events featuring special guest speakers.
Since its formation, The Dragon Flies has raised $437,800 in support of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. For more information and to become a member, visit www.thedragonflies.org.
New Stages Theatre is presenting a Brand New Stages Festival workshop production of "Footnote to Freedom" at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough, with a public performance on November 9, 2025 and a private performance the following day. Written and performed by Beau and Lance Dixon and dedicated to their late father Reverend Canon Blair Dixon, the show is a musical about the life of their grandfather George Dixon, who served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion — Canada's first and only segregated Black battalion in World War I. (Photo courtesy of Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia)
It will be an emotional day for the Dixon family on Sunday, November 9 when New Stages Theatre presents Footnote to Freedom, written and performed by Beau and Lance Dixon, at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough.
The brothers are dedicating the show to their father, Reverend Canon Blair Dixon, who passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 12 at the age of 89.
A workshop presentation featured as part of New Stages Theatre’s Brand New Stages Festival of new and emerging theatre, Footnote to Freedom is a musical about the life of the brothers’ grandfather, Private George Dixon, who served in the No. 2 Battalion, Canada’s only segregated Black battalion in World War I.
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In August 1914, as tens of thousands of men across Canada rushed to be recruited for service in the First World War, Black men were being rejected. Many were told it was a “white man’s war,” while white men told recruiting officers and commanding officers that they refused to serve with Black men. This led to protests from Black Canadians and leaders.
Given there were not enough men to provide the reinforcements needed at the front, an all-Black infantry battalion was not an option. The British War Office additionally refused to allow Black units into combat on the Western Front for fear that Black infantry units might act against British authorities in the colonies.
Instead, on July 5, 1916, a Black labour battalion, called No. 2 Construction Battalion, was formed because labour was in short supply though critical to supporting the troops. The battalion was initially headquartered in Pictou, Nova Scotia, but moved to Truro that September. It was one of few units allowing recruitment from across the country and had men from U.S.A. and the British East Indies as well.
Written and performed by brothers Beau and Lance Dixon, “Footnote to Freedom” is a musical about their grandfather George Dixon (front, second from left), a private and cornet player in the band of No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canada’s only segregated Black Battalion in World War I. The musical is based on Lance’s memoir “A Footnote to Freedom: Reclaiming the Life and Legacy of a Black Soldier,” to be released in February 2026. (Photo courtesy of Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia)
In 1917, the battalion of under 600 men sailed to Liverpool, England, but were unable to go on to France because they were too small a battalion. Instead, they were renamed “No. 2 Construction Company” and performed supporting tasks, like improving logging roads, building logging railways, operating and maintaining the system that provided water to all the camps, and supporting timber operations. The men faced harsher living conditions in comparison to their White compatriots, were neglected basic needs, and were often not treated for illnesses by military doctors.
When they were officially disbanded in September 1920, there was no ceremony or recognition for their services or sacrifices.
Though in July 1920 a commemorative plaque recognizing No. 2 Construction Battalion’s casualties was unveiled at the provincial legislature in Toronto and rededicated in September 1926, the battalion was soon forgotten since it was a non-combat unit. The Government of Canada recognized the creation of the battalion as a national historic event in 1992, and in 2002, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized on behalf of the federal government to descendants for the systemic racism experienced by members.
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Now, through Footnote to Freedom, the Dixon brothers are ensuring the stories are not forgotten by offering original songs and dramatic personal stories of the impact of the No. 2 Construction Battalion on their grandfather George, their father Blair, and on themselves. The songs would have been enjoyed by George, who was a cornet player with the No. 2 Construction Company band, which was formed originally for recruitment at churches and rallies, though later provided great entertainment to the men.
Beau is a self-taught, award-winning actor, composer, playwright, sound designer, and music director living in Peterborough, while Lance is an education specialist in racial justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion for the Catholic school board in Calgary, Alberta. The musical is based on Lance’s memoir, A Footnote to Freedom: Reclaiming the Life and Legacy of a Black Soldier, which has an anticipated release of February 2026.
Beau is also the composer and sound designer for the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s production of 291, which opens on Saturday (November 1) and runs until November 15. Directed by Lisa Dixon (Beau and Lance’s sister), the play was written by Lisa’s daughter Jade O’Keeffe and tells the love story of 20th-century American modernist painter Georgia O’Keeffe and American photographer and art promoter Alfred Stieglitz.
VIDEO: “Footnote to Freedom”
While New Stages Theatre offered to postpone the November 9 performance of Footnote to Freedom in light of their father’s passing, Beau and Lance decided to keep the original date and instead dedicate it to their father, who is one of the main characters.
As of the date of this story, only around 20 tickets are still available for the 7 p.m. performance, which is suitable for children aged 10 and up and will be followed by a Q&A. Tickets cost $29, with a $22 “welcome rate” for those who need it and a $36 “pay it forward rate” for those who can afford it, and can be purchased at the Market Hall box office at 140 Charlotte Street, by calling 705-749-1146, or online at tickets.markethall.org/?category=20.
The following day, on Monday, November 10 at 12 p.m., there will be a bonus private performance for schools, veterans, and other groups. Veterans will be given free admission, while other groups of four or more and invited to contact New Stages at info@newstages.ca.
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On the morning of the November 9 performance of Footnote to Freedom, the Dixon family is inviting the community to join them at 11 a.m. at the Market Hall for a celebration of Reverend Canon Blair Dixon’s life.
Like his father before him, Blair began a military career, though it was in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and later faced racial discrimination when pivoting to Anglican priesthood. Eventually, he became the first Canadian-born Black man to be ordained in the Anglican Church of Canada, following two Black priests who had been immigrants.
Those unable to attend the celebration of life can register at eventbrite.ca/e/1835630874359 to receive a link to view the service online.
Written and performed by brothers Beau and Lance Dixon, “Footnote to Freedom” is dedicated to their father Reverend Canon Blair Dixon, who passed on October 12 at the age of 89 and is a central character in the musical. Like his father George Dixon before him, Blair also faced racial discrimination but eventually became the first Canadian-born Black man to be ordained in the Anglican Church of Canada. A celebration of his life is being held at 11 a.m. on November 9, 2025 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, prior to the public performance of “Footnote to Freedom” that evening. (Photos courtesy of the Dixon family)
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