The Aron Theatre Co-operative is working to reopen Campbellford's Aron Theatre on September 10, 2021. (Photo: Aron Theatre Co-operative)
After being closed for a year and a half, the Aron Theatre at 54 Bridge Street East in Campbellford is set to reopen on Friday, September 10, kicking off the co-operative organization’s 10th anniversary.
Built on the site of a livery stable used by former St. Lawrence Hotel on Front Street, the theatre first opened it doors on November 15, 1947. For decades, the privately owned theatre screened films and hosted small concerts and special events.
However, by 2009, the theatre’s financial viability was under threat due to the evolving movie industry — particularly on-demand home entertainment and the switch from 35-millimetre film to digital — and was going to close upon the retirement of Paul Imperial, the theatre’s owner since 1976.
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That’s when a group of community members, led by Campbellford resident Russ Christianson, came together to establish Aron Theatre Co-operative, a not-for-profit business owned and controlled by its members. In May 2011, the co-op purchased the theatre from the former owner.
Through a combination of grants and community support, the co-op raised the funds to purchase a $96,000 digital projector and sound system, which allowed the theatre to show on-release Hollywood movies for the first time in 20 years.
This in turn widened the theatre’s audience, generating additional revenue and allowing the co-op to focus on the long-term sustainability of the theatre as a community hub and cultural centre. Since then, among other improvements, the co-op repaired the roof and the exterior of the building and upgraded the washrooms. The Aron Theatre Co-operative is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2021. After community members formed the non-profit organization and purchased the Aron Theatre from the former owner in 2011, they installed the theatre’s first digital projector and sound system, allowing the screening of on-release Hollywood movies for the first time in 20 years. Pictured are people lining up on March 30, 2021, for The Hunger Games, the theatre’s first on-release movie. (Photo: Aron Theatre Co-operative
Then the pandemic hit. The theatre shut its doors on March 15, 2020, two days before the Ontario government closed all non-essential businesses. A cash-only business before the pandemic, Aron Theatre Co-operative lost over 90 per cent of its revenue.
With the support of grants and donations, they’ve managed to make it through the last 18 months, creating a new website where they offer memberships, accept donations, and sell T-shirts.
Although the theatre could have reopened at 50 per cent capacity when step three of Ontario’s reopening plan went into effect, Aron Theatre Co-operative decided to wait until after Labour Day for the safety of audience members as well as volunteers and staff.
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They will be completing the installation of new air ventilation, UVC purification, and filtration systems, as well as ensuring all required health and safety practices are in place. A team of volunteers will be completing a thorough cleaning of the theatre on August 23.
“We will have an exciting roster of movies, special events and concerts lined up for this fall,” Aron Theatre Co-operative writes on its Facebook page.
For more information about Aron Theatre Co-operative, to buy or renew a membership or buy a T-shirt, and to donate, visit www.arontheatre.com.
Located on Cedarbank Farm, Escape Maze Peterborough was founded in 2014 after the Preddy family discovered the fun of escape rooms. Owners Jake Walling and Fred Preddy have persevered through the pandemic by expanding their games to include more COVID-safe options, including driving games, four outdoor trails, and an outdoor haunt experience. (Photo courtesy of Escape Maze Peterborough)
Now that pandemic restrictions are easing with step three of Ontario’s reopening plan, there’s a pent-up demand for activities that connect us with others.
According to Jake Walling, who owns Escape Maze Peterborough along with Fred Preddy, their business is the perfect option for those looking for a fun social experience that is also COVID safe.
Escape Maze Peterborough is a family business located on Cedarbank Farm, the Preddy’s family farm. Since 2014, Escape Maze has taken guests back in time to the 1866 gold rush with escape games and mazes. The live-action games have you and your team work through a series of games, riddles, locks, and keys before the clock runs out.
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“Certain hormones are released when you accomplish something together,” Jake says. “It’s a great way to connect with other people. It’s different than going to a movie. You may be sharing the experience of going to the movie, but you’re not getting that high of completing something together and talking with each other along the way.”
Escape Maze Peterborough has always been a unique and worthwhile activity for groups — but now, with COVID, the connection it builds is more crucial than ever. Jake and Fred have expanded their options over the pandemic to introduce more games that can be played remotely or outdoors, so everyone can participate in the fun while staying within their comfort level.
Expanding their options to meet present needs is part of Escape Maze’s pandemic recovery plan. Like many businesses, COVID-19 had a massive impact on Escape Maze. In fact, Jake and Fred had to make the tough decision to close their second location in Peterborough’s Lansdowne Place Mall.
Escape Maze Peterborough now has four indoor escape rooms, one haunted escape experience, four outdoor adventure trails, and more. Many of the games have an “Old West” theme. (Photo courtesy of Escape Maze Peterborough)
“We were not having any income coming in at all,” Jake says, explaining the decision to close the mall location. “It was challenging for us because it’s a family business, and we all rely on it. Three families have their income coming from it.”
Earlier this year, Escape Maze was one of the recipients of funding under the Tourism Resiliency Funding Program, offered by Peterborough & The Kawarthas Economic Development and Community Futures Peterborough. The funding has helped them make their business COVID-safe for customers, including by developing a new game that can be played remotely from participants’ cars.
Marketed under the brand Escape Drives, the first-of-its-kind game is called “Catch An Art Thief”. Along with other games currently in development, it is played in part online at escapedrives.com.
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“It’s $69 a carload, and you go out and drive,” explains Jake. “You use your skills of navigation because it tells you to go so many kilometres, then turn right, et cetera. You’ll end up at a location, and you’ll put a passcode into the website that you got along the way. Then, you can take a 360 virtual tour inside the building.”
By expanding online game play, Jakes says, they can attract more customers who may still be uncomfortable getting together with others.
“We thought if people are not feeling like coming in, this game takes place all in their car,” she says. “They just need a phone and a vehicle, and they can drive around and don’t need to interact with people.”
Escape Maze Peterborough has four different outdoor adventure games. ‘The Young Warrior Trail’ is designed specifically for kids, ‘The Gold Rush Trail,’ and ‘The Pioneer Trail’ are pioneer trails based on local history, and ‘The Great Bear Trail’ is a First Nations trail developed in collaboration with an Indigenous historian. (Photo courtesy of Escape Maze Peterborough)
Another driving game in development, “Ghost of an Axe Murderess”, will be available this fall in time for Halloween. It’s based on the true story of Hessie Gray, who was accused of murder after David Scollie’s charred, headless corpse was found on a Peterborough farm in 1894.
Escape Maze’s expanded options do not stop here. Another fun new offering, “Secret Case Files”, is also played remotely and promotes tourism and connection with other local businesses. Escape Maze will deliver a package to a customer’s hotel room, and then the fun will begin.
“In the package is a mystery that unfolds, and they have to try to figure it out using their phones or laptop,” Jake explains. “Whether they do it the same day or over two days, they will discover they have to go visit some local businesses.”
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All of the 10 local businesses connected to this game participate by delivering clues to the players. “Secret Case Files” is another game that customers can play if they are uncomfortable coming into an escape room.
The fall season is typically Escape Maze’s busiest, since customers love the unique haunt-themed rooms and mazes Escape Maze ls known for. In their efforts to expand their outdoor options, Escape Maze offered their first spooky-themed outdoor game last fall.
Called “The Stalking Dead”, the game was a smashing success, selling out spots completely. Typically, the indoor maze called “The Shaft” is a seasonal classic at Escape Maze for Halloween time. When they decided to pivot last year to offer an outdoor maze instead because of the pandemic, Jake and Fred had no idea is would become so popular.
Every fall, Escape Maze Peterborough offers unique haunt-themed experience. ‘The Stalking Dead’, a popular haunted outdoor experience involving a zombie virus, will return in October. (Photo courtesy of Escape Maze Peterborough)
“I think it was partly because there weren’t as many options for people who wanted something to do,” Jake notes. “A couple of blogs picked it up and were talking about it. We were getting people from as far away as Windsor, North Bay, and Ottawa. It was quite exciting that people would from that far to play.”
This haunt season, “The Stalking Dead” will return at the beginning of October with a version appropriately called “The 2nd Wave”. The outdoor game is completely touch-free and calls for teams to walk through a nature trail, collect information, and move on to the next station.
Be warned: you may come across a zombie or two on your route, since the game’s objective is to find a cure for a zombie virus after zombified livestock breach a containment area.
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If you like less scary outdoor games, you may also enjoy the other four adventure trails at Escape Maze. Staff will give you an old-timey map and a compass or scorecard to complete your challenge for these four games. On the trail, you must find different stations where you will stop and complete a challenge.
On top of Escape Maze’s wide variety of remote and outdoor game options, step three has allowed them to reopen their inside escape rooms, but with some restrictions.
Each room has a limited capacity, and there’s an hour between booking so staff can thoroughly clean and disinfect each room between groups. Guests must wear a mask the entire time they are inside an escape room. In addition, if you’re on an outdoor adventure trail and come across someone, or you have to enter a building, staff ask that you put a mask on.
Satisfied customers at Escape Maze Peterborough, where the indoor escape rooms are now open again with COVID-19 safety protocols in place. (Photo courtesy of Escape Maze Peterborough)
According to Jake, expanding Escape Maze’s offerings to include online and remote games, as well as new outdoor games, will ensure there’s something for everyone’s interest and comfort level.
Escape Maze Peterborough is located at 156 Cedar Bank Road in Peterborough. To explore Escape Maze’s game options and to reserve your adventure, visit their websites at www.escapemaze.com abd escapedrives.com.
You can also follow Escape Maze on Facebook to stay up-to-date with the unique new game options coming your way in the future.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 378 new cases today, the second straight day of cases over 300 and the highest single day increase since June 16 when 384 cases were reported. The seven-day average of daily cases has risen by 17 to 231.
Of Ontario’s 34 health units, 9 are reporting double-digit increases — Toronto (94), York (62), Peel (38), Hamilton (30), Durham (20), Waterloo (20), Windsor-Essex (19), Ottawa (11), and Simcoe Muskoka (10) — with 5 reporting no new cases at all.
The number of hospitalizations has jumped by 24 to 138, with the number of ICU patients increasing by 1 to 111 and the number of patients on ventilators increasing by 5 to 81.
Ontario is reporting 9 COVID-related deaths, but 1 of these deaths occurred more than 2 months ago and is being reported now as part of a data clean-up. The number of new deaths yesterday is 8.
Over 19.8 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 61,041 from yesterday, with almost 9.3 million people fully vaccinated, an increase of 48,933 from yesterday, representing almost 63% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from July 7 – August 6, 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 July 7 – August 6, 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 July 7 – August 6, 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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Numbers are unavailable for Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Northumberland, and Hastings Prince Edward as the respective health units only issue reports on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Regional numbers for the weekend will be included in Monday’s update.
As of August 6, there were 50 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 24 in Hastings Prince Edward (15 in Quinte West, 1 in Belleville, 6 in Central Hastings, and 2 in Prince Edward County), 19 in Kawartha Lakes, 5 in Peterborough, 1 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,644 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,617 resolved with 22 deaths), 1,193 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,129 resolved with 58 deaths), 954 in Northumberland County (936 resolved with 17 deaths), 126 in Haliburton County (124 resolved with 1 death), and 1,174 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,138 resolved with 12 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Hastings Prince Edward on July 28.
This photo by Rachelle Richard Photography of sunset paddlers on View Lake was our top Instagram post in July 2021 with more than 16,500 impressions. (Photo: Rachelle Richard Photography @rachelle_richard_photography / Instagram)
When viewing our top photos for July, you’d never know we were waterlogged with many inches of rainfall — but we needed it after the spring drought.
Even with the rain, photographers still served up some of my favourite summer things: paddling, rainbows, live local music, herons, white-tailed deer, and reflections on waterways. We are indeed the “land of reflections” — the meaning of the word Kawartha in the Anishinaabe language.
Thanks once again to all of our local photographers who allow us to share their work!
Do you want to get on our top photographers list? All you need is an Insta account and to tag us using our hashtag #kawarthanow when posting your photo.
We share photos from across our readership area, which is the five-county area surrounding Peterborough which includes Peterborough, Northumberland, City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Hastings (we sneak in the occasional Algonquin Park picture as well, particularly if it’s by a Kawarthas photographer).
To see our daily shares of photos, follow us on Instagram @kawarthanow and check out our feed’s highlight reels for recaps of every month in 2021.
#2. “Waiting for the right porch” by Rosemary and Tiph @ptbonaccord
Posted July 27, 2021. 15.4K impressions, 750 likes
This summer, housemates Rosemary MacAdam and Tiphaine Lenaik are hosting a series of porch concerts at their Bonaccord Street home in Peterborough — an idea that resonated with many of our Instagram followers.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 340 new cases today, the highest single day increase since June 26 when 346 cases were reported. The seven-day average of daily cases has jumped by 16 to 214.
Of Ontario’s 34 health units, 11 are reporting double-digit increases — Toronto (80), York (41), Peel (36), Windsor-Essex (23), Waterloo (22), Middlesex-London (15), Hamilton (15), Grey Bruce (14), Durham (13), Ottawa (10), and Niagara (10) — with 5 reporting no new cases at all.
The number of hospitalizations has increased by 1 to 114, with the number of ICU patients unchanged at 110 and the number of patients on ventilators decreasing by 1 to 76.
Ontario is reporting 18 COVID-related deaths, but 16 of these deaths occurred more than 6 weeks ago and are being reported now as part of a data clean-up. The number of new deaths yesterday is 2.
Over 19.7 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 53,975 from yesterday, with more than 9.2 million people fully vaccinated, an increase of 42,230 from yesterday, representing over 62% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from July 6 – August 5, 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 July 6 – August 5, 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 July 6 – August 5, 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 21 new cases to report, including 13 in Hastings Prince Edward and 8 in Kawartha Lakes over the past 2 days. There are no new cases in Peterborough, Northumberland, or Haliburton.
An additional 14 cases have been resolved, including 8 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 2 in Hastings Prince Edward.
The number of active cases has increased by 11 in Hastings Prince Edward, decreased by 4 in Northumberland, and remains the same in Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough, and Haliburton.
There are currently 50 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 7 since yesterday, including 24 in Hastings Prince Edward (15 in Quinte West, 1 in Belleville, 6 in Central Hastings, and 2 in Prince Edward County), 19 in Kawartha Lakes, 5 in Peterborough, 1 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,644 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,617 resolved with 22 deaths), 1,193 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,129 resolved with 58 deaths), 954 in Northumberland County (936 resolved with 17 deaths), 126 in Haliburton County (124 resolved with 1 death), and 1,174 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,138 resolved with 12 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Hastings Prince Edward on July 28.
Every Friday during swimming season, we post The Beach Report™ — our weekly report of the results of water quality testing at beaches in the greater Kawarthas region — and update it throughout the week as conditions change.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials recommend staying home if you feel sick, visiting a beach close to your home to avoid unnecessary travel, bringing hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, and maintaining at least two metres of physical distance from other beachgoers.
As of Wednesday, August 11, the following beach is unsafe for swimming:
Harwood Waterfront & Dock – Hamilton (Northumberland County) – based on July 22nd sample
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Below are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in the City and County Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, Northumberland County, and Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White?s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health provides weekly testing results for beaches in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E. coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like the beach at Roger’s Cove in Peterborough’s East City, are tested every business day while most other beaches are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Important note
The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.
You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.
The Warsaw Swing Bridge on Parkhill Road East between Armour Road and Television Road in Peterborough before the replacement project began. (Photo: Google Maps)
Parks Canada has announced another delay in the reopening of the Warsaw Road Swing Bridge on Parkhill Road East in Peterborough to vehicles and pedestrians.
On July 28, Parks Canada had announced the bridge would reopen on Saturday (August 7), but added “If additional adjustments or modifications are required as a result of the testing, the bridge opening will be delayed until they are completed.”
That’s exactly what happened, according to an email from Parks Canada issued on Friday.
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“During commissioning of the swing bridge this week, the fit of key mechanical components on the bridge did not meet specifications,” the email states. “The components have been removed and are being remachined to ensure the proper fit. These components need to be properly in place on the bridge before testing and commissioning can restart to ensure safety.”
Parks Canada states it still expects the bridge to be reopened in August, but once again adds “If additional adjustments or modifications are required as a result of the testing, the bridge reopening will be delayed until they are completed.”
The bridge, originally constructed in 1956, was closed in October 2020 to replace the steel swing bridge structure, to repair the concrete abutments, and to replace mechanical and electrical operating systems. The bridge is now capable of handling full highway loading.
The bridge was originally scheduled to reopen in spring 2021. In May, Parks Canada announced the reopening of the bridge would be delayed until early July and, in July, until early August. During the closure, local traffic has been detoured along alternate routes.
Tegan Moss, pictured at GreenUP Ecology Park, is the new executive director of Peterborough GreenUP effective September 7, 2021. (Photo: Tanner Paré)
Peterborough GreenUP has announced Tegan Moss will be taking on the role of executive director of the non-profit organization effective September 7.
Moss has been executive director at B!KE: The Peterborough Community Cycling Hub since 2011. Under her leadership, including through collaborations with GreenUP, Moss has greatly increased B!KE’s capacity for cycling education, including by launching in-school cycling programs, community bicycle repair and riding workshops, and Earn-A-Bike programs for youth and adults.
“I know I can speak for our board, staff, and partners when I say that we are excited to support and follow Tegan’s leadership as we celebrate GreenUP’s 30th anniversary and empower climate action towards the 2030 and 2050 sustainable development goals,” says Tammy Williams, chair of the GreenUP board, in a media release.
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Moss has advocated for inclusive access to active transportation and infrastructure for many years. She has been recognized by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition with the Wheels of Change Award for Educating the next Generation, and with a Peterborough-Kawartha Women’s Leadership Award.
“I’m honoured to join GreenUP,” Moss says. “The Peterborough region needs urgent climate action. I’m inspired and eager to join this amazing team and our partners to shape a greener and more equitable future for the city and county of Peterborough.”
Moss takes over from Brianna Salmon, who has worked at GreenUP since 2008 in a variety of roles, including as executive director for the past five years. Salmon has been named executive director of Green Communities Canada, a national non-profit association of community-based environmental organizations that was formed in 1995.
With Moss’s imminent departure from B!KE, that organization is now seeking a new executive director. For more information, visit communitybikeshop.org/opportunities/
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
After 3 days of cases under 200, Ontario is reporting 213 new cases today, with 9 of Ontario’s 34 health units reporting double-digit increases — Toronto (44), Peel (31), York (18), Hamilton (18), Windsor-Essex (17), Waterloo (14), Halton (11), Ottawa (10), and Middlesex-London (10) — and 12 reporting no new cases at all. The seven-day average of daily cases has decreased by 1 to 198.
The number of hospitalizations has increased by 1 to 113, with the number of ICU patients increasing by 2 to 110 and the number of patients on ventilators increasing by 1 to 77.
Ontario is reporting 14 COVID-related deaths, but 12 of these deaths occurred between February and May and are being reported now as part of a data clean-up. The number of new deaths yesterday is 2.
Over 19.7 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 58,213 from yesterday, with more than 9.1 million people fully vaccinated, an increase of 46,133 from yesterday, representing over 62% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from July 5 – August 4, 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 July 5 – August 4, 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 July 5 – August 4, 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 is 1 new case to report in Peterborough, with the number of active cases increasing by 1.
Numbers are unavailable for Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Northumberland, and Hastings Prince Edward as the respective health units only issue reports on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Numbers for Thursday will be included in Friday’s update.
There are currently 43 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 1 since yesterday, including 19 in Kawartha Lakes, 13 in Hastings Prince Edward (9 in Quinte West, 3 in Central Hastings, and 1 in Prince Edward County), 5 in Northumberland, 5 in Peterborough, and 1 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,644 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,617 resolved with 22 deaths), 1,185 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,121 resolved with 58 deaths), 954 in Northumberland County (932 resolved with 17 deaths), 126 in Haliburton County (124 resolved with 1 death), and 1,161 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,136 resolved with 12 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Hastings Prince Edward on July 28.
During First Friday Peterborough on August 6, 2021, Christine Jaros will be showing her metal work in an exhibition called 'Empty Oceans: An Exploration of Coral Reefs' at Joe Stable's ACME Art & Sailboat Company in the Commerce Building in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Christine Jaros / Facebook)
For the first time since step three of Ontario’s reopening plan went into effect, First Friday Peterborough — the monthly art crawl in downtown Peterborough — will return to its usual format, although with pandemic protocols in place.
The art crawl, so named because it occurs on the first Friday of every month, will celebrate the return to in-person events and gatherings by offering people the opportunity to visit several local artists’ studios to view and purchase art, with the ReFrame Film Festival participating for the first time with a free documentary screening.
The art crawl runs on Friday (August 6) from 6 to 11 p.m. at several locations in downtown Peterborough. COVID-19 protocols such as capacity limits and mandatory face coverings will be in place at each location.
Here’s a summary of what’s on offer during the August art crawl:
Venture into Kit Coffee (144 Hunter St.) to shop at an after-hours pop-up vintage shopping event.
Minty Vintage will be joined by fellow vintage retailers Electric Lady Land Vintage and Kin Vintage between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. for a collaborative pop-up shop.
To add to the fun, guests can purchase an artisanal refreshment to elevate their shopping experience. Between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., cocktail creative Little Miss Drinky Poo will be making and serving their liquid treats to customers.
Open Gallery at Meta4 Contemporary Craft Gallery
As part of First Friday, Meta4 Contemporary Craft Gallery (164 Hunter St. W.) will be hosting an open gallery until 8 p.m.
Meta4 Gallery is a fine craft and original craft shop and gallery that carries works by more than 120 Ontario artists.
The gallery opened its Peterborough location in downtown Peterborough in November 2017.
su-per-nu-mer-ar-y: Juried Exhibition at Atelier Ludmila Gallery
The juried group exhibition ‘su-per-nu-mer-ar-y’ at Atelier Ludmila Gallery features submissions from 23 local artists. (Graphic: Atelier Ludmila Gallery)
Atelier Ludmila Gallery (129-1/2 Hunter St. W., second floor) will be debuting the new juried exhibition ‘su-per-nu-mer-ar-y’ on First Friday.
Works for ‘su-per-nu-mer-ar-y’ were selected from submissions of emerging, mid-career, and established visual artists working in painting, sculpture, textile, book art, pottery, mixed media, and more.
The exhibition, featuring 23 Nogojiwanong-Peterborough artists, will run from 6 to 10 p.m. on First Friday, and will continue at the gallery until August 28.
Juxtaposition: A Mixed Media Series at Blue Frogs Legs Studio
Kelly Albin of Blue Frogs Legs Studio will be exhibiting her works in an exhibition called ‘Juxtaposition: A Mixed Media Series’. (Photo: Blue Frogs Legs Studio)
Kelly Albin of Blue Frogs Legs Studio (393 Water St.) will debut her exhibition ‘Juxtaposition: A Mixed Media Series’ from 6 to 10 p.m. on First Friday.
The series uses a combination of materials, mediums, colours, and imagery to tell a story where the viewer can decide the ending.
Albin works in several mediums such as watercolours, acrylics, charcoal, pencil crayon, pencil, chalk, oil, photography, and various sculpture media.
Madderhouse Textile Studios will be debuting a new line of breezy summer tops at Watson & Lou. (Photos: Madderhouse Textile Studios)
Madderhouse Textile Studios — a screen printing, dyeing, felting, sewing construction, and paper arts textile studio — will reveal their first line of breezy summer tops on First Friday.
Customers can drop in at a pop-up at Watson & Lou (383 Water St.) to shop the clothing line. If you miss the First Friday debut, the pop-up will continue at Watson & Lou on Saturday.
The summer tops, made from a lightweight hemp and organic cotton blend, are available in four designs and sets of colours and in four sizes.
Hand printed at Madderhouse, the breezy garb clothing line was produced with support from the Newcomer Sewing Crew, a group of newcomer women living and working in Peterborough.
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‘Water Stories’ documentary film screening at Artspace
For the first time ever, ReFrame Film Festival is participating in First Friday with a free screening of Water Stories, a collection of short films that debuted earlier this year during the virtual film festival.
The six short films all feature a connection to water: Gichitwaa Nibi – Sacred Water (Water Teaching with Elder Dorothy Taylor) by Sacred Water circle, River Queens by Jeremy Lurgio, Headwaters to Hearts: Education in Action by Karen O’Krafka, Sing Them Home by Cara Mumford, River Guards by Aaron Kalischer-Coggins, and Starborn by Olivia Mater.
The screening, which takes place at 8:30 p.m. at Artspace (378 Aylmer St.), is already fully booked. If any additional spots are available tomorrow, they will be filled on a first come, first served basis.
The free screening is made possible by a partnership between ReFrame, First Friday Peterborough, and Peterborough GreenUP’s Wonder of Water program.
‘Empty Oceans: An Exploration of Coral Reefs’ at ACME Art & Sailboat Company
Along with hosting metal artist Christine Jaros’ show, Joe Stable of ACME Art & Sailboat Company will be displaying his own work, including in the Copper Closet. (Photo: Joe Stable)
Joe Stable is hosting a exhibition by Christine Jaros at ACME Art & Sailboat Company (129-1/2 Hunter St. W., second floor) beginning at 6 p.m.
‘Empty Oceans: An Exploration of Coral Reefs’ features new metal works by Jaros, who will be in attendance.
As always, Stable will also be showing his latest works, including in the Copper Closet.
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Paintings by John Climenhage at WeDesign Group
Works by Peterborough artist John Climenhage will be on display during First Friday at the WeDesign Group studio (129-1/2 Hunter St. W., second floor).
Climenhage has been painting, teaching, and exhibiting throughout Canada and the U.S. since 1989.
His studio practice and en plein air landscapes experiment with post-modern approaches to abstract space, based on contemporary philosophy and quantum physics.
Organized by a group of local artists, stakeholders in the arts community, and local arts-based businesses, First Friday Peterborough is dedicated to showcasing the immense artistic and musical talent in the Peterborough community. The free downtown art crawl is supported by a grant from the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).
For more information on First Friday Peterborough, visit firstfridayptbo.com.
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