Michelle Ferreri, MP for Peterborough-Kawartha. (Campaign photo)
Although the Liberals have again formed a minority government, political neophyte Michelle Ferreri has unseated former Liberal Cabinet minister Maryam Monsef in Peterborough-Kawartha.
This is only the second time in almost 60 years that Peterborough-Kawartha, known as a bellwether riding, has elected a candidate who is not a member of the party that has formed the federal government. The only other time was in 1980, when Progressive Conservative Bill Domm defeated Liberal Sylvia Sutherland in the federal election when the Liberal Party, led by Pierre Trudeau, won a majority.
Ferreri, a social media marketer and former broadcaster running for political office for the first time, defeated Monsef — who has been a Cabinet minister in the past two Liberal governments led by Justin Trudeau — by 2,738 votes.
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Although Ferreri’s campaign was not without controversy, when it was revealed she was campaigning at long-term care homes without being fully vaccinated, Monsef likely lost support as a result of a comment she made in August when she referred to the Taliban as “our brothers”.
The comment infuriated many Canadians despite a later clarification from Monsef, whose family fled the Taliban in the 1990s, that it was a cultural reference.
In the rest of the greater Kawarthas region, Conservatives were re-elected in all three ridings.
In Northumberland—Peterborough South and Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, Conservative incumbents Philip Lawrence and Jamie Schmale easily held on to their ridings, beating the Liberal candidates by almost 8,000 and 20,000 votes respectively.
In Hastings—Lennox and Addington, Conservative Shelby Kramp-Neuman defeated Liberal candidate Mike Bossio by almost 6,000 votes. Derek Sloan, who was the Conservative incumbent until he was expelled from caucus in January 2021 for controversial comments, ran in Banff-Airdrie with no party affiliation (where he came in fifth).
Here are the official final results from Elections Canada from all four ridings in the greater Kawarthas region, as of September 27.
The fall 2021 intake of the Starter Company Plus program, administered by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre with funding from the Ontario government, will provide five weeks of business training to 12 entrepreneurs starting or running a business in the City or County of Peterborough. The program, delivered completely online this fall, will see half of the participants each receive a $5,000 microgrant based on the strength of their business plans and business pitches to a panel of community judges. (Photo: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
Another 12 entrepreneurs in Peterborough & the Kawarthas will soon be equipped with the knowledge and skills for small business success when the Starter Company Plus program returns this fall.
Applications for the fall 2021 intake of the popular program, offered by the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre (BAC) with funding from the Ontario government, opened September 1 and close September 26.
As of August 2021, Starter Company Plus has supported 176 entrepreneurs since it was first offered in Peterborough & the Kawarthas in 2017, many of whom have launched a new business or expanded an existing one. (Infographic: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
Not only will the successful applicants to the program receive business training at no cost to them, but half of them will each receive a $5,000 microgrant based on the strength of their business plans and business pitches to a panel of community judges.
Anyone aged 18 and older not in school who is interested in either starting a new business with the City or County of Peterborough, or expanding an existing one that’s been operating for five years or less, is eligible to apply. The full eligibility criteria can been found at peterboroughed.ca/starter.
Since Starter Company Plus was first offered in Peterborough & the Kawarthas in spring 2017, 176 entrepreneurs have benefited from the program, resulting in the launch of 95 new businesses and the expansion of 49 existing ones.
Even more impressive is the $1.2 million in funding and financing subsequently secured by entrepreneurs who have participated in the program.
During the fall intake of Starter Company Plus, which runs for five weeks, 12 successful applicants will participate in virtual sessions covering a wide variety of topics including market research, digital marketing, small business financing, and hiring practices.
VIDEO – Starter Company Plus 2021: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development
“On the very first day we go around the room — the Zoom room — and everyone introduces themselves and tells everyone why they’re here and what their business idea is or, if the business is already open, what their business is,” explains Hillary Manion, the BAC Entrepreneurship Officer who leads the program.
“From there we start working on what we call their elevator pitch — what you tell people in 30 seconds when they ask what you do. From that first day of introducing themselves, they work up to a 10-minute video at the end of the five weeks. At the beginning a lot of people struggle to talk for 30 seconds but, by the end of the five weeks, most of them have a hard time keeping their video to 10 minutes.”
Hillary Manion of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre hosts a virtual session of the aspiring to experienced entrepreneurs participating in the summer 2021 intake of the Starter Company Plus program. (Photo: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
As valuable as that business pitch is, the big takeaway is the development of a comprehensive business plan based on the Lean Model Canvas, a proven strategic management template used for developing new business models and documenting existing ones.
“A business plan is a road map,” Manion says. “It helps you set out all of the steps you need to take. It helps you set your goals, and it also helps identify the resources you need to reach those goals.”
“But it’s not something you write once at the beginning of the program and forget about. It’s something you need to review regularly, especially if you are a start-up. Your business is a living, breathing thing — it’s something that’s going to change.”
For the participants in each intake of Starter Company Plus, the strength of their business plan is also key for a potential financial reward at the end of the program that will help them launch or grow their business. After successfully completing the program, each entrepreneur will submit their final business plan and pitch their business to a panel of community judges for a chance to receive one of six $5,000 microgrants.
Katelin Turcotte, owner of home-based preventative foot care and education business Wilde Beauty, received a $5,000 mircogrant in December 2019 after participating in the Starter Company Plus program. (Photo: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
Katelin Turcotte is a graduate of Starter Company Plus who received one of those microgrants. In the late summer of 2019, she was opening Wilde Beauty, a home-based preventative foot care and education business that sees her monitor high-risk clients via regular foot care maintenance. She applied to Starter Company Plus and was accepted.
“I really didn’t know what I was getting into,” Turcotte admits. “I knew I was going to be with other people starting businesses and there was going to be lots of support but, as I dove deeper into it, I found it to be very useful. It made me feel a little more normal, like I wasn’t just having my own mini-panic attack about starting a new business.”
The business plan and pitch components of the program, adds Turcotte, were invaluable.
“The pitch part pushes your knowledge and reveals if you put the time in to figure everything out. Are you really passionate about it? Are you doing it because you really want to, or just because you want to make money?”
Like all businesses, Wilde Beauty has been adversely affected by the pandemic, forcing Turcotte to adjust her original business plan — something she knew how to do thanks to Starter Company Plus.
“During the first lockdown, I shifted everything to an online store and started doing virtual consultations,” says Turcotte, adding “There are a lot of feet out there that still need helping.”
To those who are considering applying for the upcoming Starter Company Plus intake, Turcotte’s advice is to “go for it” — pandemic or not.
“It’s easy to say ‘I’ll wait until things get better’ but really this is the perfect time to do it,” she says.
Six participants of the summer 2021 intake of Starter Company Plus each received a $5,000 microgrant to help launch or expand their businesses. Clockwise from top left: Kelsey Watts of Worthy Truth Wellness, Suzanne Schmidt of Suzanne’s Hot Stuff, Emily Nigro of Dead End Lures, Tuncay Alkan & Laura Wilson of MEZE, Lucas Graham of Countdown Creative, and Chris Carvalho of East City Knife Sharpening. (Photos courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
Like the entrepreneurs it helps, the BAC has also changed the way it offers its services because of the pandemic — pivoting the Starter Company Plus program from an in-person model to a completely online one. According to Manion, the shift to a virtual model has resulted in some clear benefits.
“It has given us an opportunity to expand the offering and expand the training,” she says, noting the upcoming intake will be the third one held virtually.
“We’re able to bring in guest speakers and experts in their field. Having Zoom calls is a little bit more flexible for everyone. In terms of the information we’re able to share, we’re able to cover a lot more topics. We talk a lot more about digital marketing now than we did a year-and-a-half ago.”
Manion adds that the program now also includes a stress management and wellness aspect, “because entrepreneurs often don’t take care of themselves as well as they probably could, especially in the beginning stages because they’re trying to handle everything on their own.’
The pandemic has also led to a new focus for Starter Company Plus participants: resiliency and flexibility in their business models.
“When our last intake graduated in November, we thought everyone was going to run out and start their businesses — and then we ran into another lockdown,” Manion recalls. “A lot of those businesses have had to fall back on their business plans and find ways to continue going forward.”
Noting that between 30 and 50 applications are reviewed for each intake, Manion says those not accepted into Starter Company Plus are invited and encouraged to benefit from the other support services offered by the BAC.
Hillary Manion, the Entrepreneurship Officer at the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre who leads the Starter Company Plus program. (Photo: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
“Our team reaches out to every applicant,” Manion explains. “We are more than happy to work one-on-one with anyone who applies for the program.”
“Whether you are accepted into Starter Company Plus or not, you can still become a client of the Business Advisory Centre. Our services are free and confidential. A lot of the topics we cover in Starter Company Plus are also available in our live online workshops or through e-learning.”
On a personal level, Manion admits to becoming “very emotional” when she reflects on how Starter Company Plus has been a springboard to small business success for participants.
“I’m like a proud mama bear at the end of the program, especially when I see those participants who struggled with their 30-second elevator pitch on the first day become so confident and well spoken when delivering their business pitch at the end of the program,” she says.
“I grew up in a small business. My parents were entrepreneurs. I know there are so many people out there who would be strong entrepreneurs but just need that help to get going. If I can be part of the team who gives them that start, that’s very satisfying.”
For more information on Starter Company Plus and to apply for the fall intake by Sunday, September 26th, visit peterboroughed.ca/starter.
This story was created in partnership with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 610 new cases today, with the 7-day average of daily cases increasing by 2 to 711.
Of Ontario’s 34 health units, 2 are reporting triple-digit increases — Toronto (126) and Peel (100) — with 11 reporting double-digit increases — York (71), Ottawa (54), Waterloo (31), Windsor-Essex (29), Durham (24), Hamilton (23), Niagara (22), Simcoe Muskoka (19), Halton (19), Middlesex-London (18), and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (17) — and 5 reporting no new cases at all.
Of the new cases, 66% are people who have not been fully vaccinated (59% have not received any doses and 7% have received only one dose) and 25% are people who have been fully vaccinated with two doses, with the vaccination status unknown for 9% of the cases because of a missing or invalid health card number. The 7-day average case rate is 10.69 per 100,000 for unvaccinated people, 5.93 per 100,000 for partially vaccinated people, and 1.74 per 100,000 for fully vaccinated people.
Hospitalizations have fallen by 12 from yesterday to 233, but more than 10% of hospitals did not submit data for the daily bed census yesterday so the actual number of hospitalizations is likely higher. The number of ICU patients has decreased by 5 to 177 and the number of ICU patients on ventilators has decreased by 6 to 123. Ontario is reporting 2 new COVID-related deaths.
Over 21.4 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 16,712 from yesterday. Over 10.3 million people are fully vaccinated, an increase of 10,268 from yesterday, representing just over 69.7% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from August 20 – September 19, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from August 20 – September 19, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of hospitalizations, the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and the blue line is the daily number of ICU patients on ventilators. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from August 20 – September 19, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered and the green line is the cumulative number of people fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 40 new cases to report over the weekend, including 19 in Hastings Prince Edward, 10 in Peterborough, 5 in Kawartha Lakes, 5 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton.
There has been 1 new COVID-related death in Hastings Prince Edward, the area’s 13th death since the pandemic began.
An additional 36 cases have been resolved in the region over the weekend, including 16 in Peterborough, 9 in Hastings Prince Edward, 6 in Haliburton, 4 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Northumberland. An outbreak at Caressant Care Retirement Residence in Central Hastings was declared resolved on September 17.
Active cases have increased by 9 in Hastings Prince Edward, by 4 in Northumberland, and by 1 in Kawartha Lakes, and have decreased by 6 in Peterborough and by 5 in Haliburton.
There are currently 88 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 3 since September 17, including 33 in Hastings Prince Edward (15 in Quinte West, 13 in Belleville, 2 in North Hastings, 1 in Prince Edward County, 1 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, and 1 in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory), 25 in Peterborough, 12 in Kawartha Lakes, 12 in Northumberland, and 6 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,787 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,739 resolved with 23 deaths), 1,269 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,212 resolved with 58 deaths), 992 in Northumberland County (963 resolved with 17 deaths), 145 in Haliburton County (138 resolved with 1 death), and 1,349 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,303 resolved with 13 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Hastings Prince Edward on September 20.
Indigenous artist Jimson Bowler with some of his jewellry artwork. Peterborough artist Alex Bierk has organized a fundraiser for Bowler, who is currently living on the street. (Photo: Jimson Bowler via jimsonbowler.com)
Peterborough artist Alex Bierk has organized a fundraiser in support of Indigenous artist Jimson Bowler, who is currently living on the street in Nogojiwanong-Peterborough.
Bierk’s GoFundMe campaign is seeking to raise $6,000 to secure a live-and-work space for Bowler and to save his body of current and archived work, which is at risk of bring thrown out.
For almost 20 years, Bowler has been creating jewellery, painting, photography, and sculpture, with his work featured at the Art Gallery of Peterborough, the SPARK Photo Festival and, most recently, in an exhibit called “Electric Avenue” along with Bierk at the First Friday Art Crawl in downtown Peterborough in August.
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In 2013, Peterborough’s Rob Wilkes, owner of Big Sky Design, worked with Bowler on the Big Loon Portage bus wrap, a work commissioned by Artspace and the City of Peterborough.
“I was thrilled to be awarded the design contract to execute this interesting project,” Wilkes writes on his website.
“Local indigenous artist Jimson Bowler was awarded the commission, based on a series of anti-colonial paintings he did where he painted First Nations symbolism and icons directly over thrift store found landscapes, frames and all. Translating this intriguing approach to a full bus wrap was a special challenge and Big Sky worked closely with the artist, the stakeholders and suppliers to ensure a successful and artistically sensitive finished product.”
In 2013, Indigenous artist Jimson Bowler was commissioned to create this artwork on a City of Peterborough transit bus. The bus wrap was designed by Peterborough’s Big Sky Design, which also designed and maintains Bowler’s website pro bono. (Photo: Big Sky Design website)
Wilkes went on to produce Bowler’s website at www.jimsonbowler.com, which Big Sky Design continues to host and maintain pro bono.
On his website, Bowler explains his art is inspired by the rock carvings at Petroglyphs Provincial Park — the largest known concentration of Indigenous petroglyphs in Canada and a sacred site known as “The Teaching Rocks” — and uses the Anishinaabe story of Nanaboozhoo (trickster) as “teacher lessons and stories.”
“I create one of a kind jewellery using recycled silver in the form of forks, spoons, knives; and cut stones from my own unique collection acquired over the years,” Bowler writes. “My sculptural work combines traditional mediums such as bone and turquoise with discarded modern materials. I take inspiration from the traditional ways that respectfully use all materials from mother earth and I seek to create objects that keep the stories alive, motivate us to learn the culture and realize that Aboriginal people are not relics of an ancient past.”
Indigenous artist Jimson Bowler in 2014. (Publicity photo)
So far, the fundraiser for Jimson Bowler has raised over $4,300.
“If you want to support the arts, this is how you can make a difference,” Bierk writes.
Zachary Comeau, 18, of no fixed address, is wanted in connection to a shooting incident at a Trent Hills home on September 16, 2021. The victim of the shooting has since died, and police are now investigating the incident as a homicide. (Police-supplied photo)
Police are continuing their search for a man wanted in connection to a shooting incident at a Trent Hills home, and have released a photo of the suspect.
Zachary Comeau, 18, of no fixed address, is described as a white male, approximately 5’11” and 150lbs, with blue eyes and brown wavy/curly hair.
He is considered armed and dangerous. If you see him, do not approach him but call 9-1-1 immediately.
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On Thursday (September 16) at 8:12 a.m., Northumberland OPP and Northumberland Paramedics responded to reports of a male at a residence on Centennial Lane in Trent Hills suffering from a suspected gunshot wound. The male was transported to a hospital, where he remains in life-threatening condition.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the suspect in this case is asked to call the Northumberland OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at stopcrimehere.ca.
Nish Tees owner James Hodgson designed the Amik (beaver) orange t-shirt for his company's annual Orange Shirt Day fundraiser, with proceeds going this year to the new Sage and Sunshine Indigenous school in Nogojiwanong-Peterborough. A customer recently thanked him for his efforts by sending him an orange bouquet. (Photo courtesy of Nish Tees)
James Hodgson, owner of Nish Tees in Nogojiwanong-Peterborough, has found a way to merge his passions in a meaningful way with his custom screen printing and graphic design company.
With over 20 years’ experience in design and imprinting services, James started his own company in 2016. Through Nish Tees, he raises money and awareness for Indigenous communities annually by selling orange shirts.
Naturally creative, James started his own business to share his strengths with others.
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“I like doing my own designs and printing my own stuff — it’s my motivation to do what I do,” James says. “I also like using those skills to help other people. I think it’s important to share yourself with your community.”
Through Nish Tees, James sells his own designed apparel and takes custom orders for promotional products. As a graphic designer, he can also help clients with designing their logos.
“It can be a daunting experience for people to try to take on that creative aspect of logo design while they’re thinking about numbers and business,” notes James. “I like to try to help those people out as best I can.”
Nish Tees owner James Hodgson prints the first bath of Amik (beaver) orange t-shirts in his new shop space at Aylmer and Sherbrooke streets in downtown Peterborough. James has worked in screen printing locally for 20 years, and has owned and operated Nish Tees since 2016. (Photo courtesy of Nish Tees)
Up until recently, James ran and operated Nish Tees from his home. At the beginning of August, Nish Tees moved to a new space on Aylmer and Sherbrooke streets in downtown Peterborough. While the inside of the shop remains closed to customers due to COVID-19, Nish Tees offers delivery and curbside pickup for orders.
James says he was fortunate his business was not overly affected by the pandemic, since he was already working remotely from home when COVID hit. James says all of his current employees are family and, therefore, within his social bubble.
That isn’t to say the business was totally unaffected by the pandemic. Since businesses that would typically make custom orders at Nish Tees for uniforms and other promotional items were locked down, their focus was not on ordering new apparel.
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When custom orders decreased during the pandemic, James diversifying how he generates income by putting up an online store where people can buy his designs.
“When you’re talking about the pandemic, having an actual physical space for people to come in and buy your product doesn’t financially make sense,” James explains. “You’re going to hurt financially if that’s your only way to access customers. The online thing went up during the pandemic.”
The Nish Tees website also now has a ‘pick and ship’ system that allows James to ship products worldwide. Nish Tees has shipped product orders to Scotland, India, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and more.
In addition to fulfilling custom orders, Nish Tees sells a variety of apparel with owner James Hodgson’s own graphic designs. Pictured is a t-shirt design called ‘fishtees,’ inspired by a dream James had about a fish. (Photo courtesy of Nish Tees)
Those who visit the Nish Tees website will note that it has an Indigenous theme. James says although his business is open to everyone, he is a proud Indigenous entrepreneur. He also studied Indigenous studies at Trent University in his 20s.
James’ people are from Whitesand First Nation on the northwest shore of Lake Nipigon, north of Lake Superior. James is a Sixties Scoop survivor, meaning he was adopted into a non-Indigenous family at a young age and had little to no access to his culture.
His own experience is why he is so passionate about donating funds from this year’s Orange Shirt Day fundraiser to Sage and Sunshine, a new Indigenous-led culture-based private school in Nogojiwanong-Peterborough.
Founded and operated by Ashley Wynne, Sage and Sunshine provides urban Indigenous children with access to their language and culture while working through the Ontario curriculum.
The school is currently raising funds to cover tuition costs for its students.
James says giving support to Sage and Sunshine is important to him, since he did not have access to Indigenous culture, language, or teachings as a child.
“I never had that opportunity,” James says. “I feel, personally, a layer of urgency in the sense that I never had that access to Indigenous language and cultural tenets, and I really would have been receptive to that if I were a young person. Having exposure to that would have been a life-changing experience for me.”
For the fourth year, Nish Tees is selling orange t-shirts in honour of Orange Shirt Day on September 30th as a fundraiser and to promote awareness about this residential school system in Canada. This year, funds from the sale of Nish Tees orange shirts are going to support Sage and Sunshine, a new Indigenous culture-based school in Nogojiwanong-Peterborough. Nish Tees owner James Hodgson designed this year’s t-shirt featuring the Amik (beaver), which represents wisdom in the Anishinaabe Seven Grandfather Teachings. (Photo courtesy of Nish Tees)
This is the fourth year Nish Tees has held a fundraiser for Orange Shirt Day, which takes place every September 30th to recognize and raise awareness about the history and impact of Canada’s residential school system. In June, the federal government passed legislation to also recognize September 30th as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
For Nish Tees’ Orange Shirt Day fundraiser, James chooses a different animal from the Anishinaabe Seven Grandfather Teachings to feature on the shirt each year.
“There are seven different characteristics that people should have if they want to live the good way,” James explains. “Each of the animals I’ve depicted represents a different characteristic that should be embraced and learned about. Traditionally, grandfathers in the community would share stories about these animals with the younger generations. That’s why they call them grandfather teachings.”
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This year’s t-shirt features the Amik (beaver) which, in the Seven Grandfather Teachings, represents Nibwaakaawin (wisdom). The beaver uses its natural gifts wisely to ensure its survival, including its sharp teeth and its knowledge of building. A beaver’s teeth constantly grow throughout its life, but daily chewing on tree trunks and branches keep the teeth from getting too long (which would threaten its own survival), while also enabling the beaver to build dams and lodges to benefit its own family and community.
“I thought it was a nice way to incorporate the Anishinaabe culture into what I’m doing,” says James. “Not only to teach other people, but to learn more about it myself.”
The sale of the orange t-shirts is having a meaningful impact beyond the funds being raised for Sage and Sunshine. James says that, for many of his customers, the purchase of an orange shirt is a starting point to a conversation about the effects of colonization and the residential school system on Indigenous communities.
Nish Tees owner James Hodgson has worked in screen printing locally since 1999. After not getting what he needed from the industry, he decided to venture out on his own in 2016. As a graphic designer and screen printer, James enjoys using his business to share his creativity with his community. (Photo courtesy of Nish Tees)
According to James, this year’s fundraiser has been especially busy with the recent discoveries of unmarked graves at former residential school sites across the county. Orange shirts are in such high demand right now that James says his suppliers do not have any left. Luckily, James already had an ample supply of orange shirts stockpiled for the fundraiser.
Nish Tees owner James Hodgson walks around Nogojiwanong-Peterborough in a t-shirt printed at Nish Tees. (Photo courtesy of Nish Tees)
“There’s a lot of people who want to support not only by wearing an orange shirt but also by supporting an Indigenous business,” notes James. “They want to have a conversation with an Indigenous person. People are incredible. If you give someone a chance and talk to them for five minutes, it can be a game-changer.”
“I had a client who came back and told me he wore his shirt, which was my product, to a family barbecue and had a very long, difficult conversation with his brother-in-law about Indigenous issues,” James recalls. “He came back to tell me that he appreciated that happening. It’s nice to be a part of that.”
Regarding what allies can do aside from wearing an orange shirt and donating to Indigenous causes like Sage and Sunshine, James says now is a time to listen to Indigenous people.
“Action is great, but it’s not time to take the lead,” says James. “Allies should be supporting Indigenous organizations and groups and following their lead when it comes to action. It’s super critical that Indigenous voices are the ones that are being heard.”
One Indigenous-led organization you can support right now is Sage and Sunshine, by ordering Orange Shirt Day Amik t-shirts from Nish Tees. You can make an online order at nishtees.ca/product-page/orange-shirt-day-tee-2021-amik-beaver, but order before September 22nd if you want them by September 30th.
Check the website and follow Nish Tees on Facebook and Instagram for updates on availability and restocking of sizes.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 795 new cases today, with the 7-day average of daily cases decreasing by 8 to 724.
Of Ontario’s 34 health units, 1 is reporting a triple-digit increase — Toronto (166) — with 17 reporting double-digit increases — Peel (77), York (71), Ottawa (64), Durham (60), Waterloo (38), Windsor-Essex (36), Hamilton (33), Simcoe Muskoka (29), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (27), Chatham-Kent (26), Middlesex-London (25), Eastern Ontario (21), Niagara (19), Brant (16), Southwestern (15), Sudbury (10), and Halton (10) — and 2 (Thunder Bay and Timiskaming) reporting no new cases at all.
Of the new cases, 65% are people who have not been fully vaccinated (58% have not received any doses and 7% have received only one dose) and 27% are people who have been fully vaccinated with two doses, with the vaccination status unknown for 9% of the cases because of a missing or invalid health card number. The 7-day average case rate is 10.89 per 100,000 for unvaccinated people, 6.66 per 100,000 for partially vaccinated people, and 1.72 per 100,000 for fully vaccinated people.
Hospitalizations have fallen by 12 to 336, with the number of ICU patients has increasing 3 to 194 and the number of ICU patients on ventilators rising by 13 to 133. Ontario is reporting 5 new COVID-related deaths.
Over 21.31 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 35,285 from yesterday. Over 10.25 million people are fully vaccinated, an increase of 20,420 from yesterday, representing almost 69.4% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from August 17 – September 16, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from August 17 – September 16, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of hospitalizations, and the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from August 17 – September 16, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered and the green line is the cumulative number of people fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 13 new cases to report, including 4 in Hastings Prince Edward, 3 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Northumberland, 2 in Peterborough, and 1 in Haliburton.
There are 2 patients on ventilators in Hastings Prince Edward and 1 new hospitalization in Northumblerand.
An additional 35 cases have been resolved in the region, including 14 in Kawartha Lakes, 11 in Peterborough, 5 in Northumberland, 4 in Haliburton, and 3 in Hastings Prince Edward.
Active cases have decreased by 11 in Kawartha Lakes, by 9 in Peterborough, by 3 in Haliburton, and by 2 in Northumberland, and have increased by 2 in Hastings Prince Edward.
The numbers for Hastings Prince Edward, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton are over the past 2 days.
There are currently 85 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 23 from September 15, including 31 in Peterborough, 24 in Hastings Prince Edward (11 in Quinte West, 8 in Belleville, 3 in Prince Edward County, 1 in North Hastings, and 1 in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory), 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 11 in Haliburton, and 8 in Northumberland.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,777 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,723 resolved with 23 deaths), 1,264 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,208 resolved with 58 deaths), 987 in Northumberland County (962 resolved with 17 deaths), 144 in Haliburton County (132 resolved with 1 death), and 1,330 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,294 resolved with 12 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on September 10.
As part of Public Energy Performing Arts' Pivot 2.0 series of outdoor performances this fall, the dancer/choreographer team of Norma Araiza and Olga Barrios will perform "Hybrid Women" accompanied by musician Edgardo Moreno at The Warren Garden at Trent University on September 22, 2021. (Photo: Marcela Lucía Rojas)
Public Energy Performing Arts in Peterborough is continuing its Pivot 2.0 series of outdoor performances this fall with two works of contemporary dance in September: Hybrid Women and Armour.
On Wednesday, September 22nd at The Warren Garden at Trent University, Vanguardia Dance Projects will perform Hybrid Women, an experimental dance-ritual by artists of Mexican and South American descent.
Performed previously in Peterborough at the 2021 Nogojiwanong Fringe Festival, the 25-minute Hybrid Women uses dance and music “as a ritual to make a connection between the pulsating body and the rhythms of nature,” according to a media release from Public Energy.
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Co-created and performed by the dancer/choreographer team of Norma Araiza and Olga Barrios, Hybrid Women will also feature music composer and performer Edgardo Moreno.
Araiza is a Mexican performer, choreographer. and instructor from an Indigenous background from the Yoeme Nation in Sonora. Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Barrios is a multi-award winning artist who has collaborated with theatre, musical and dance companies as well as in multidisciplinary projects in Canada, USA and Colombia. Moreno is a Hamilton-based composer who has worked extensively with contemporary dance choreographers creating sound design and musical scores.
There will be two performances of Hybrid Women, at 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. The Warren Garden is located outside Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space at Trent University, with parking available at Gzowski College at 2510 Pioneer Road.
Performed previously in Peterborough at the 2021 Nogojiwanong Fringe Festival, “Hybrid Women” is an experimental dance-ritual created and performed by the dancer/choreographer team by of Norma Araiza and Olga Barrios, artists of Mexican and South American descent. (Photo: Marcela Lucía Rojas)
At 7 p.m. on Friday, September 24th and Saturday, September 25th at the Heritage Pavillion Stage on Armour Hill (300 Hunter Street East), Peterborough native Christy Stoeten will present the world premiere of Armour, a work of dance-theatre about growing up in the city.
“When I was in high school, there really wasn’t much to do on a Saturday night in Peterborough,” Stoeten recalls. “The options included the Mustang Drive-In, midnight trips to the new 24 hour Sobey’s, or a drive up Armour Hill. There was always something exciting about driving up the winding road to get to the top of Armour Hill, like we didn’t know what to expect when we arrived at the top.”
Now based in Toronto, Stoeten has had a busy career as a dancer and choreographer with numerous dance artists and companies in Toronto.
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“This piece captures the essence of what it’s like to be young in Peterborough,” Stoeten says of the 20-minute performance. “Or at least what it sometimes felt like for us. With stories from my teenage experience and those of my collaborators, we’ve created a work that feels like a series of snapshots from another time.”
Designed by Sonia Gemmiti, Armour will be performed by Madie Brown, Sharazade Vahid, and Simon Mazziotti.
“The piece doesn’t take place during a specific era, but transports the audience to a time and place that feels nostalgic, bizarre, and at times sentimental. Think The Twilight Zone meets Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”
In keeping with Public Energy’s efforts to maintain open access to the performing arts, tickets for both Hybrid Women and Armour are pay what you can.
Tickets are available online at publicenergy.ca. Due to pandemic gathering restrictions, tickets are limited.
For more information about Public Energy’s Pivot 2.0 series of site-specific performances intended for physically distanced outdoor audiences, visit publicenergy.ca/performance/pivot-2-0/.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a long-time media sponsor of Public Energy Performing Arts.
Peterborough Public Health will be requiring volunteers, coaches, and officials over the age of 18 who are participating in organized sports to provide proof of vaccination and proof of identity each time they enter an organized sports facility.
While the Reopening Ontario Act requires anyone 18 years or older entering a facility for organized sports (including parents or guardians) to provide proof of vaccination and identity, guidance from the Ontario Ministry of Health exempts workers or volunteers, including coaches and officials, from the requirement.
“The provincial requirements related to organized sports have exempted volunteers, coaches, and officials, putting vulnerable individuals at risk,” states Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Peterborough’s medical officer of health, in a media release.
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“Given that these individuals will have close and prolonged contact with unvaccinated youth players, I am requiring proof of vaccination for these individuals, in addition to the individuals prescribed by provincial legislation.”
To that end, Peterborough Public Health is issuing a letter of instruction that will be enforceable under the Reopening Ontario Act (see below).
All volunteers, coaches, and officials 18 years of age and over who are participating or associated with an indoor organized sport will have to confirm proof of vaccination (or proof of being entitled to a medical exemption) and identification each time they arrive at the facility.
One of the subjects of the documentary "P.S. Burn This Letter Please", 84-year-old George Roth (aka "Rita George") is shown preparing in 2019 for the 50th anniversary of his being named "Miss Fire Island" in Cherry Grove, New York. In the 1950s, Cherry Grove became a "safe haven" for members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community who were otherwise ostracized and persecuted for being themselves. (Photo: Zachary Shields)
To mark Pride Week in Peterborough/Nogojiwanong, Peterborough Pride and ReFrame Film Festival are presenting a free week-long virtual screening of the acclaimed documentary film P.S. Burn This Letter Please.
The theme of the 19th annual Pride Week, which begins today (September 17) and runs until September 26, is “Change Starts Here”.
“The gay or queer rights movement was born out of a need for fundamental change to end the oppression, discrimination, and violence against 2SLGBTQ+ individuals,” reads a media release from Peterborough Pride organizers.
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“Over the last 50 or so years, we have seen laws change to end the oppression and to provide equal rights. That said, violence and discrimination against People of Colour and Black, Indigenous, and Queer individuals has continued. We all have to actively make the changes to the culture that perpetuates these injustices.”
The film P.S. Burn This Letter Please exemplifies the theme. Co-directed by Jennifer Tiexiera and Michael Seligman, the documentary explores a box of letters, discovered in a Los Angeles storage locker in 2014, that were written in the 1950s by a group of New York City drag queens — a time and place when “masquerading” as a woman was illegal and penalties were swift and severe.
The film uses original interviews, never-before-seen archival footage, and photographs and stylized recreations to tell the stories of Lennie, Robbie, George, Michael, Jim, Henry, Claude, Tish, and Terry — former drag queens now in their 80s and 90s — and to reveal how they survived and somehow flourished at a time when drag queens were both revered and reviled, even within the gay community.
VIDEO: “P.S. Burn This Letter Please” trailer
“The government sought to destroy them, then history tried to erase them, now they get to tell their story for the first time,” reads a description of the film.
ReFrame Film Festival also hopes to have another virtual film screening for Peterborough Pride 2021 next week.
Due to the pandemic, Peterborough Pride will not be holding a parade or any large gatherings during this year’s Pride Week. However, there are lots of virtual events and smaller in-person events happening during Pride Week.
You can see what’s happening during Pride Week at peterboroughpride.ca, where you can also learn more about the theme of this year’s Pride Week and the history of Peterborough Pride.
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