Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 485 new cases today, with the seven-day average of daily cases increasing by 23 to 496. Due a technical issue, the province is not reporting vaccination status of new cases today.
Toronto is reporting a triple-digit increase today of 108 cases. Of Ontario’s remaining 33 health units, 11 are reporting double-digit increases — Windsor-Essex (75), Peel (59), Hamilton (36), Middlesex-London (27), York (22), Ottawa (19), Simcoe Muskoka (17), Durham (16), Halton (16), Waterloo (12), and Brant (11) — and 4 are reporting no new cases at all.
The number of hospitalizations has risen by 11 to 174. Due a technical issue, the province is not reporting data about ICU patients or ventilated patients. Ontario is reporting 3 COVID-related deaths today.
Almost 20.3 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 41,016 from yesterday, with over 9.6 million people fully vaccinated, an increase of 29,121 from yesterday, representing just over 65% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from July 18 – August 17, 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 18 – August 17, 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.coCOVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from July 18 – August 17, 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 24 new cases to report over the past 2 days, including 14 in Hastings Prince Edward, 4 in Peterborough, 2 in Kawartha Lakes, 2 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton.
An outbreak at RONA in Lindsay was declared on August 17. There is 1 new COVID-related hospitalization in Peterborough.
An additional 7 cases have been resolved in the region including 3 in Hastings Prince Edward, 2 in Kawartha Lakes, and 2 in Haliburton.
The number of active cases has increased by 11 in Hastings Prince Edward, by 4 in Peterborough, by 1 in Northumberland, and by 1 in Haliburton, and remains the same in Kawartha Lakes.
There are currently 66 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 17 since Monday, including 39 in Hastings Prince Edward (19 in Belleville, 14 in Quinte West, 3 in Prince Edward County, 1 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, 1 in Central Hastings, and 1 in North Hastings), 10 in Kawartha Lakes, 8 in Peterborough, 7 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,654 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,624 resolved with 22 deaths), 1,208 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,153 resolved with 58 deaths), 962 in Northumberland County (938 resolved with 17 deaths), 130 in Haliburton County (127 resolved with 1 death), and 1,219 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,168 resolved with 12 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Hastings Prince Edward on July 28.
The main entrance of Peterborough Regional Health Centre. (Photo: PRHC)
Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has announced COVID-19 testing and medical assessment services will be consolidated at the hospital’s COVID-19 assessment centre at 1 Hospital Drive as of Monday (August 23).
The final day of COVID-19 testing at Northcrest Arena, where testing has been available since October 2020, will be on Thursday (August 19).
Peterborough Paramedics will support testing at the hospital site, where testing will continue to be available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday.
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The existing process to book an appointment for a test will not change.
Those who have mild symptoms of COVID-19, who have been advised by Peterborough Public Health or a medical professional to get tested, or who are required to be tested for work or other reasons, should use the online booking form.
Those with have moderate symptoms of COVID-19 and need a medical assessment should call PRHC’s COVID-19 assessment centre at 705-876-5086. Anyone with severe symptoms should call 911 or visit PRHC’s Emergency Department.
People with no sysmptoms can get a COVID-19 test, including for international travel, at Shoppers Drug Mart at 741 Lansdowne Street West.
COVID-19 testing has been offered inside the Northcrest Arena since October 2020.
The Bee Works Honey & Gift Shop at Dancing Bee Equipment's new location at 5029 County Road 2 in Port Hope. Founded in 2020 by Todd Kalisz as a small apiary with only 16 hives, Dancing Bee has rapidly grown to become the top supplier of beekeeping equipment in Canada. (Photo: Dancing Bee Equipment / Facebook)
businessNOW™ is our monthly round-up of business and organizational news from Peterborough and across the greater Kawarthas region.
In businessNOW, our managing editor collects news and events related to businesses and organizations from across the Kawarthas. If you’d like us to promote your news or event in businessNOW, please email business@kawarthanow.com.
This month’s column features Port Hope’s Dancing Bee Equipment, which recently moved to a new expanded location featuring a retail warehouse and a new dedicated gift shop, Peterborough’s Watson & Lou hosting a piñata-smashing fundraiser for the United Way on First Friday in September, the new rooftop patio bar at Euphoria Wellness Spa in Peterborough, and the new Lavender Moon boutique shop in downtown Peterborough,
We’re also featuring Peterborough web and mobile developer Brad Carson who created the Apsley Studio Tour app, Galerie Q’s move to its new location in downtown Millbrook, the owners of Grady Shoes in Peterborough being honoured for their commitment to Peterborough Rotary Club, and other business and organizational news from across the region.
Port Hope’s Dancing Bee Equipment expands with new warehouse and dedicated gift shop
The Bee Works Honey & Gift Shop at Dancing Bee Equipment’s new location at 5029 County Road 2 in Port Hope features a wide range of honeys, products made with honey, and more. The new location also includes a state-of-the-art bottling facility and a new 55,000-square-foot retail warehouse. (Photo: Dancing Bee Equipment / Facebook)
If you’re interested in bee-keeping or just a fan of honey, you’ll want to visit Dancing Bee Equipment at its new location in Port Hope.
At the end of July, the company celebrated the opening of its new warehouse and dedicated gift shop, located at 5029 County Road 2 beside the Highway 401 westbound ramp at Toronto Road.
Founded in 2010 by Todd Kalisz as a small apiary with only 16 hives, Dancing Bee has rapidly grown to become the top supplier of beekeeping equipment in Canada, providing commercial beekeepers with equipment and distributing its products to over 60 stores across North America. In 2018, Dancing Bee acquired The Bee Works and, in 2020, opened its second retail location in Winnipeg.
Previously located at 3384 Loyalist Road, Dancing Bee received $65,000 in 2019 through the Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario Fund.
Dancing Bee Equipment received funding in 2019 from the Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario Fund to support the purchase and installation of a new innovative extraction line, allowing the company to process a higher volume of honey more efficiently. (Photo: Dancing Bee Equipment / Facebook)
The funding was intended to support Dancing Bee’s purchase and installation of a new innovative extraction line, allowing the company to process a higher volume of honey more efficiently, and to create as many as four new full-time and two part-time jobs in Northumberland County.
The new location at 5029 County Road 2 includes The Bee Works Honey & Gift Shop — featuring a wide range of honeys, products made with honey, and more — as well as a state-of-the-art bottling facility and a new 55,000-square-foot retail warehouse.
Peterborough’s Watson & Lou hosting piñata-smashing fundraiser for United Way on First Friday in September
You can get a chance at revenge against the COVID-19 virus while helping the United Way by buying raffle tickets during Watson & Lou’s fundraiser on September 3. The winner gets to smash a virus-shaped piñata. (Photo: Watson & Lou / Facebook)
Watson & Lou, a creative goods gift shop and creative hub in downtown Peterborough, is raising money for the United Way Peterborough & District by “smashing” COVID-19.
During September’s First Friday art crawl on September 3, Watson & Lou owners Anna Eidt and Erin Watson will sell raffle tickets for a chance to smash a piñata shaped like the COVID-19 virus.
Raffle tickets will begin selling for $5 each (cash preferred) at 6 p.m., with the winner smashing the virus at 8 p.m. Naturally, physical distancing and face masks are required at the event.
The fundraiser will take place at Bankers Common behind the Commerce Building, as a part of the monthly downtown art crawl. All proceeds from the event will go to United Way Peterborough & District.
For more information about Watson & Lou, visit watsonandlou.com.
– By Hannah Abrahamse
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Peterborough’s Euphoria Wellness Spa opens new rooftop patio bar
Party like it’s 2019 at Euphoria Wellness Spa’s new open-air rooftop patio bar. U4 Rooftop Patio Bar is accepting bookings for private events. (Photo: U4 Rooftop Patio Bar website)
At the end of July, Euphoria Wellness Spa in Peterborough opened its new rooftop event space called the U4 Rooftop Patio Bar.
Located on the rooftop of the award-winning spa owned by Simone Dobson and located at 290 Water Street in downtown Peterborough, U4 Rooftop Patio Bar is booking private events, including social gatherings, wedding celebrations, company parties, and group events.
The open-air event space offers a curated list of cocktails, spirits, and wines, a personal chef serving authentic Italian cuisine and bartenders, private cabanas, and more.
For more information and to book, visit u4rooftop.com.
Lavender Moon boutique shop opens in downtown Peterborough
Lavender Moon in downtown Peterborough offers a selection of clothing, crystals, tarot, incense, and more. (Photo: Lavender Moon / Facebook)
Lavender Moon — a boutique shop offering a selection of clothing, crystals, tarot, incense, and more — opened at 181 Charlotte Street in downtown Peterborough in July.
Owned by Bethany Telford and Derek Morley, the store is an an offshoot of Morley’s Modern Primitive store in Kingston, which Morley acquired from its previous owners in 2019. Morley also owns Global Culture Trading Post in Brockwille.
He and Telford first spoke about the possibility of opening a store in Peterborough in early June. Two weeks later, they had rented a space at 181 Charlotte Street and were preparing to open.
On July 1, Lavender Moon opened its doors to customers for the first time and held its grand opening on July 24.
Morley and Telford created the store to be a safe, healing space where people come for conversation, tarot readings, and information and knowledge on crystals, herbs, plants, and the metaphysical.
Tarot reader ‘Sunset Tarot’ is in the store every Tuesday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for readings (a 20-minute reading costs $34).
For more information, visit Lavender Moon on Facebook.
– By Hannah Abrahamse
Peterborough web and mobile developer brings Apsley Studio Tour into the digital age
Peterborough web and mobile developer Brad Carson developed an app for the 2021 Apsley Studio Tour, and is also working on a build-your-own-app platform called Toureka that will allow other organizations in the arts, culture, and tourism industries to have their own apps without incurring huge development costs. (Photos courtesy of Brad Carson)
When you think of a studio tour taking place in the rural areas of North Kawartha Township, a mobile app probably doesn’t come to mind.
But it did for Peterborough web and mobile developer Brad Carson. Years ago, Carson was browsing through a printed brochure for the Apsley Studio Tour when he realized he could create a digital version that would be much more powerful and engaging.
The idea simmered for a while, until Carson was taking an oil painting class. An interest in drawing and art had originally led to his career in graphic and web design, and he was pursuing photography and painting as a hobby. During the class, Carson told the instructor about his idea of a studio tour app, and the instructor introduced him to painter David Grieve, vice president of the Apsley Studio Tour.
For years, the Apsley Studio Tour has relied on a printed brochure and studio map. Carson offered his services to create a prototype studio tour app, and rose to the task of including the tour’s 28 artists and 13 studios (many located in rural locations that presented a mapping challenge), while ensuring the app would work without a network connection — critical given the spotty network coverage in areas of Peterborough County.
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The end result is a full-featured app for both iOS and Android devices that can be downloaded for free from the Apsley Studio Tour website at apsleystudiotour.com. The Apsley Studio Tour takes place on September 18 and 19, 2021.
“I think it takes a certain unapologetic courage to create something and show it to the world,” Carson says. “I have a new perspective and appreciation for art and artists.”
For Carson, the Apsley Studio Tour app is just the beginning. He is developing a build-your-own-app platform called Toureka that will allow other organizations in the arts, culture, and tourism industries to have their own apps without incurring huge development costs.
For more information about Carson, his work, and his art, visit bradcarson.ca.
– From a story by Clare Scott-Taggart (aka Rusty Girl), one of the participating artists in the Apsley Studio Tour.
Galerie Q moves to its new location in downtown Millbrook
After extensive renovation to the building, Galerie Q is now located at 44 King Street East in downtown Millbrook. (Photo: Galerie Q)
Galerie Q has moved from Cavan to its new location at 44 King Street East in downtown Millbrook, at the corner of King and Tupper.
The contemporary art gallery specializes in the works of French Canadian masters as well as emerging Canadian artists, including local artists.
The new location, which previously housed a convenience store, required an extensive renovation.
There will be new and changing art shows in the gallery, with the current show features landscape artist Raynald Leclerc from Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse in Quebec.
Galerie Q is open Thursdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit galerie-q.com.
Galerie Q’s previous location at 1521 County Road 10 in Cavan is currently vacant, but Lush Cannabis Company has applied to open a retail cannabis store in the location.
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Owners of Grady Shoes in Peterborough honoured for commitment to Peterborough Rotary Club
Tony and Kelli Grady of Grady Shoes in Peterborough with their 2020-21 Rotary Service Above Self award. (Photo: Rotary Club of Peterborough / Facebook)
Peterborough Rotary Club has presented Kelli and Tony Grady of Grady Shoes in Peterborough with the 2020-21 Rotary Service Above Self award in recognition of how they embraced Rotary during the pandemic.
The couple joined the club in November 2019 and, despite the pandemic, were actively involved by building relationships with other members, attending every club meeting, participating in a variety of committees, and hosting Zoom socials. Kelli also took on maintenance of the club’s Instagram and Twitter accounts.
Grady Shoes is also the major sponsor of the club’s upcoming golf tournament in support of Five Counties Children’s Centre and Rotary projects. The tournament takes place at Bellmere Winds Golf Resort in Keen on Thursday, September 23rd.
Other business and organizational news
Beauty store Sephora is now open at Lansdowne Place in Peterborough. (Photo: Lansdowne Place Mall)
Cassis Bistro at 27 Queen Street in Lakefield, owned by Jacky and Rob Rocan, has been awarded a 2021 Travellers’ Choice Award from TripAdvisor for consistently high reviews. Only around 10 per cent of businesses listed on Tripadvisor receive the award.
Atria Development is a finalist in the 4th annual BILD Awards, to be presented virtually by the Building Industry and Land Development Association from September 15 to 18. Atria is a finalist for the Best New Community (Planned/Under Development) and Best Mid-Rise Building Design (Pinnacle) for its Y Lofts development in downtown Peterborough.
Lavender & Play, a family boutique and studio located at 1434 Chemong Road in Peterborough, is launching a new prenatal childbirth education class for couples and single families. The one day, interactive workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p..m. on Saturday, September 25th at a cost of $145 (plus HST) for couples (a reduced rate is available for singles). The class will be facilitated by Lavender & Play owners Sonja Martin (a childbirth educator, mother, postpartum doula, lactation educator, and more) and Sarah Susnar (an early childhood educator, mother, lactation educator, postpartum doula, and more). Visit lavenderandplay.ca for more information.
Sephora Canada has now opened its new store at Lansdowne Place Mall in Peterborough, the beauty company’s 35th store in Ontario and 83rd store in Canada. Offering a wide assortment of makeup, skincare, haircare, and fragrance brands, the store is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The City of Kawartha Lakes (in partnership with the Bobcaygeon & Area Chamber of Commerce, Coboconk, Norland & Area Chamber of Commerce, Fenelon Falls & District Chamber of Commerce and the Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce) is conducting the inaugural Kawartha Lakes Business Count Survey in the downtowns and industrial areas across the municipality. This survey will help the municipality better understand and strengthen the local economy, as well as inform policies and programs. For more information and to complete the survey, visit kawarthalakes.ca/en/business-growth/kawartha-lakes-business-count.aspx.
The Ontario government is launching a new Ontario Business Registry on October 19, replacing outdated technology and providing people across the province with direct access to government services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for the first time ever. Businesses will now be able to complete over 90 transactions through the new online registry, including registering a new business and dissolving an existing one. Registrations or filings that were previously submitted by mail or fax, taking four to six weeks to complete, can now be done instantly through the online registry. For more information, visit ontario.ca/businessregistry.
The Town of Cobourg’s Economic Development Department has launched the ‘Start Here Welcome Package’, a new initiative designed to welcome new businesses while also providing a one-stop information resource to ensure their successful integration into the community. The Start Here Welcome Package will provide new business owners with a variety of Cobourg-centric gifts, resources, and information. New business owners can request their welcome package by contacting the Economic Development Department at 905-372-5481 or by emailing econdev@cobourg.ca.
For business-related events in the Kawarthas, check out our Business Events column.
Peterborough police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 63-year-old man.
Update – August 20, 2021
Police have advised Lorne Leahy has been located safe and sound.
Lorne Leahy was last accounted for on July 17, and was reported missing by a roommate last Wednesday (August 11).
Police believe he is in the Peterborough area and are concerned for his well-being.
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Anyone with information is asked to call the Peterborough Police Service at 705-876-1122 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.stopcrimehere.ca.
Jessica Dalliday, the late owner and CEO of Pilates on Demand in Peterborough, with her husband Michael and daughter Rachel. Jessica passed away in hospital April 2021 following complications that had also taken the life of her newborn daughter five days prior. She is one of the recipients of the Peterborough Chamber's 4-Under-40 Profiles. (Photo: Dalliday family)
The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce has announced the finalists of the 18th annual Peterborough Business Excellence Awards, as well as the recipients of some advance awards — including one honouring Peterborough entrepreneur Jessica Dalliday, who died tragically this past April.
The Business Excellence Awards publicly recognize and honour local businesses and business people that have demonstrated a passion for excellence. The recipients of all the awards (the finalists are listed below) will be announced during an online awards ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, October 20th, with more details to come.
“This year we encouraged the community to rally behind local business and recognize their hard work, creativity, and resilience,” says Stuart Harrison, the Chamber’s president and CEO, in a media release on Wednesday (August 18). “We were overwhelmed by the response, receiving a record number of nominations.”
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In advance of the awards ceremony, the Peterborough Chamber has announced the recipients of four awards and prizes
These include the 4-Under-40 Profiles, which recognize business and community leadership in people under the age of 40, named in the memory of the late Kathy Windrem (former chair of the chamber’s board and 2009 Business Woman of the Year).
This year’s recipients are Faith Dickinson, Joon Kim, and Lyle Saunders, along with a posthumous award for Jessica Dalliday — the late owner and CEO of Pilates on Demand who unexpectedly passed away in hospital on April 6 following complications that took the life of her newborn daughter five days before.
Two other announced award recipients are the Traynor Family of Traynor Farms as the Peterborough County Farm Family Of The Year, and Rosie Salcido-Schmidt of Agave Designs and Faces by 2 as the New Canadian Entrepreneur Of The Year.
The recipients of the Business Student Leadership Prizes are Sarah Moore of Fleming College and Mohamad Ellabban of Trent University.
All the finalists of the 2021 Business Excellence Awards are listed below alphabetically.
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Skilled Trades (sponsored by Charlotte Products Ltd.)
Cardinal Plumbing & Electric
Goodwin Creations
Kawartha Lakes Construction
Tourism (sponsored by OLG)
The Canadian Canoe Museum
Escape Maze Incorporated
Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Hospitality (sponsored by Kawartha Credit Union)
Black Honey desserts coffee catering
Haven Brewing Company
Jesse’s Tap & Grill
Micro Business – Fewer than 5 employees (sponsored by Community Futures Peterborough)
Accountability Financial
CMD Technology Solutions Corp
Jason McIntosh Auctions
Retail (sponsored by RBC Royal Bank)
Avant-Garden Shop
Watson & Lou
Wild Rock
Professional Services (sponsored by Swish Maintenance Limited)
Century 21 United Realty Inc.
Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory
Pinchin Ltd.
Customer First (sponsored by TD Bank Group)
Antoinette Bridal Boutique
Griffin’s Greenhouses
Morello’s Your Independent Grocer
Local Focus (sponsored by Trent University)
Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Living Local
RMS Events – LIVE! at the Barn
Innovation/Research & Development (sponsored by Cleantech Commons & Innovation Cluster)
Noblegen
OptiSolve Ltd.
PKA SoftTouch Corp.
Commercial Development Or Renovation (sponsored by City of Peterborough)
Cambium
Central Smith
The Little Building Company
Entrepreneurial Spirit (sponsored by Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory)
acorn30
Emily Mae’s Cookies
Social Kat Media
Marketing &; Promotion (sponsored by The Peterborough Examiner)
acorn30
Central Smith
Peterborough Public Health
Green Initiatives (sponsored by County of Peterborough)
Green Street
Lockside Trading Company
Trent University – Forensic Crime Scene Facility
Health & Wellness (sponsored by Peterborough Regional Health Centre)
Canadian Family Health Counselling
Euphoria Wellness Spa
Peterborough Public Health
Not-For-Profit (sponsored by D.M. Wills Associates Ltd.)
New Canadians Centre
Peterborough Humane Society
YMCA of Central East Ontario
Employer Of The Year (sponsored by LLF Lawyers LLP)
Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory
Pinchin Ltd.
Trent University
Businesswoman Of The Year – Entrepreneur (sponsored by Women’s Business Network of Peterborough)
Brenda Ibey – Avant-Garden Shop
Carlye Mongraw – Shaw Computer Systems Inc.
Christine Teixeira – Accountability Financial
Businesswoman Of The Year – Organization (sponsored by Women’s Business Network of Peterborough)
Julia Anderson – Canadian Partnership for Women & Children’s Health
Peterborough's Carlotta James, co-founder and project director of the Monarch Ultra Relay Run, running in Guanajuato, Mexico during the inaugural 2019 run. A team of ultra runners ran the distance of the monarch butterfly's 4,300-kilometre migratory route from Canada to Mexico over the span of seven weeks. Due to the pandemic, the 2021 run will take place in southern Ontario, covering 1,800 kilometres between September 19 and October 9, again raising awareness of the plight of the monarch butterfly along the way. (Photo: Rodney Fuentes)
On Sunday, September 19th, runners will depart form the DePave garden on Water Street in Peterborough for the second bi-annual Monarch Ultra Relay Run.
The previous Monarch Ultra relay run in 2019 saw 46 runners follow the monarch butterfly’s migratory route from Peterborough, Canada, to Macheros, Mexico. The run raises awareness about the plight of the monarch butterfly.
Starting the same day as the run two years ago, this year’s Monarch Ultra will remain north of the border due to the pandemic and travel 1,800 kilometres across southern Ontario.
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Carlotta James, Monarch Ultra co-founder and project director, notes that although the run is a bit different this year, it still has the same mission as the 2019 run.
“Our mission and message are the same, but the route and the communities we’re running through are completely different,” explains James. “We’re still running for monarch butterflies. We’re running to raise awareness and as a call to action to protect the environment.”
This year’s run will take runners from Peterborough southwest through Toronto, Burlington, Hamilton, Saint Catherines, and Niagara Falls before heading towards London, Cambridge, and Kitchener, and looping back to Barrie. The 1,800-kilometre run will take runners through Ontario’s cities, towns, greenways and lakeshores along the Trans Canada Trail and the Waterfront Trail. On Saturday, October 9th, the 21-day run will come to an end in Barrie.
“I’m excited to see the Trans Canada Trail and the Waterfront Trail,” James says. “They’re accessible. They’re bike-friendly. They’re for walking, running, and exploring. Those trails have been welcoming of a running project like the Monarch Ultra.”
The route change has caused some other changes to the relay run this year as well. While runners collectively travelled 100 kilometres a day in 2019, they will run 80 kilometres a day this year. James explains they had to consider the fall weather in Ontario, noting that their runners need to be finished for the day before sunset.
Each morning, two ultra runners will begin a 50-kilometre run at 8 a.m. and finish around 1 or 2 p.m., depending on their pace. Another two runners will pick up exactly where the first two left off and run 30 kilometres,
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In addition to raising awareness of the declining populations of the monarch butterfly, an important pollinator, this year’s run is raising funds for Camp Kawartha, a local non-profit organization that helps to educate future environmental stewards.
James says they decided to link up with Camp Kawartha because they’re a “fantastic” non-profit teaching today’s youth the importance of protecting nature.
“They are doing such good work to empower the next generation of earth stewards through their nature programming,” James points out. “We thought they would be an awesome partner for the Monarch Ultra. Because we’re not running to Mexico, we’re staying in our province and that’s another reason that made us decide to support a local organization rather than an international one.”
VIDEO: Monarch Ultra 2021 by Rodney Fuentes
You can donate to Camp Kawartha’s environmental stewardship programs for youth through the Monarch Ultra Run through their Race Roster webpage. Camp Kawartha will issue charitable tax receipts for all monetary donations of $25 or more.
So far, the Monarch Ultra has raised $4,100 for Camp Kawartha.
This year, the Monarch Ultra has also launched a virtual run for those who would like to support their cause but are not long-distance runners. Participants raise funds from friends and family and then walk, hike, or bike 10 kilometres. The 115 participants in the virtual run have so far raised $2,500 for Camp Kawartha.
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James says that supporting a local charity is one of the many silver linings to holding the run in Ontario for a year.
“We get to galvanize the province of Ontario and get many communities excited, connected, and united on this front,” James notes. “We are getting to know our own backyard, and that’s pretty neat.”
While James will miss the Mexican food and culture this year, she wants to focus on the positives of running across Ontario and looks forward to running to Mexico again in 2023 — COVID permitting.
Dancers at a reception in Macheros, Mexico for the 2019 Monarch Ultra Relay Rrun. Monarch Ultra co-founder Carlotta James says she will miss the food and culture of the 2019 Mexico run, but is excited to explore and raise awareness in her own province during the 2021 Monarch Ultra run in Ontario. (Photo: Rodney Fuentes)
“Mexican people are very welcoming and hospitable and fun,” says James. “When they heard about the Monarch Ultra, there was a festival almost every single day of our two-week stay.”
“Canadians are full of joy as well, so we’re going to have some fun time in our own province too,” she adds. “We’re not going to think about the things we’re going to miss. Instead, we’re going to think about the things we’re going to inspire and create.”
One thing James hopes will not change for this year’s run is how it inspires and educates people along the way. She says that in every community they ran through during the 2019 run, they took the opportunity to talk to people about the decline of pollinators including monarch butterflies and the environmental destruction caused by human beings to their habitat.
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“For us, education is really big, and it’s also an eye-opener,” says James. “We met so many people who didn’t know that monarchs even migrate, or that they’re in decline, or that they need milkweed to survive.”
“Once people get inspired, they’ll educate their own families and communities,” she adds. “So it’s a ripple effect.”
A documentary about the Monarch Ultra Relay Run is currently in production. James believes it will be another great educational tool that will be shown to thousands of schools, people, and communities.
Monarch Ultra co-founder Carlotta James and race director Clay Williams run together during the 2019 Monarch Ultra Relay Run, which ran the distance of the monarch butterfly’s 4,300-kilometre migratory route from Canada to Mexico over the span of seven weeks. A marathon runner and a pollinator advocate, James conceptualized the relay run in 2016 while running and feeling inspired to do good for the earth. This year’s Monarch Ultra, which takes place in southern Ontario from September 19 to October 9, is also raising funds for Camp Kawartha’s environmental programs for youth. (Photo: Rodney Fuentes)
The Monarch Ultra team is also heading up a ‘Mini Monarch Ultra Run,’ where kids can run during their breaks and lunches to raise money and awareness for the cause.
“Kids will tally up their kilometres, and then there is a national total,” explains James. “We’re hoping to have tens of thousands of kilometres run by youth and students across schools in Canada.”
There will also be a call to action attached to the run that will encourage schools and children to build pollinator gardens or to expand existing ones.
Creating a call to action is what inspired James in the first place to co-found the inaugural Monarch Ultra Run, following the monarch’s migration route from Canada to Mexico.
“We can change our lawns into pollinator habitats,” James explains. “We can reduce the use of pesticides. We can healthily raise monarchs, or at least provide food for monarch butterflies in our gardens.”
This year’s run will have pandemic protocols in place to make sure everyone stays safe. Only two runners are en route at a time, meaning there is plenty of space for physical distancing. In addition, any water, food, or gel for runners will be sanitized at rest points. People not running who cannot physically distance themselves will be required to wear a mask.
James hopes to garner support and encouragement for Monarch Ultra runners from communities along their route. Her dream, she says, is to have people cheering on the runners every hour of the relay run.
The Monarch Ultra team and crew members have worked hard to adapt the 2021 run for the pandemic. They have also launched a virtual run for those who want to support the initiative but are not long-distance runners. Currently, the team is also working on a ‘mini monarch ultra’ for school children to raise funds and awareness. (Photo: Rodney Fuentes)
To keep up with the run and find out where you could stop by and show your support, follow the Monarch Ultra on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
“We will do lots of social media stories,” James says. “Two years ago, we had about 40,000 people following us on Facebook.”
The relay run still has 20 vacant spots for ultra and long-distance runners to fill. James is committed to filling those spots if they remain vacant, but hopes to have them filled by the start of the run on September 19.
“Come on, people,” she urges. “We need you to sign up. We need your legs. We need your voice.”
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
With Ontario’s chief medical officer of health today announcing a series of directives to increase vaccination rates, the province is reporting 348 new cases — the lowest daily increase in the past 6 days.
Of the new cases, 58% are among unvaccinated people, 23% are among fully vaccinated people, 14% are among partially vaccinated people, and 5% are unknown. The seven-day average of daily cases has increased by 4 to 473.
Of Ontario’s 34 health units, 11 are reporting double-digit increases — Toronto (85), Peel (45), Windsor-Essex (41), Hamilton (34), York (32), Halton (21), Durham (19), Simcoe Muskoka (14), Niagara (14), Ottawa (12), and Waterloo (10) — and 13 are reporting no new cases at all.
The number of hospitalizations has jumped by 55 to 163, the highest number of hospitalizations since July 9 when 165 were reported. Of the hospitalizations, 37% are among unvaccinated people, 9% are among fully vaccinated people, 4% are among partially vaccinated people, and 50% are unknown. The number of ICU patients has increased by 8 to 127 and the number of patients on ventilators has increased by 12 to 78.
Ontario is reporting 10 COVID-related deaths today, but 6 of these occurred more than 2 months ago and are being reported today as part of a data clean-up, so there are 4 new deaths.
More than 20.2 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 40,626 from yesterday, with over 9.6 million people fully vaccinated, an increase of 29,359 from yesterday, representing 65% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from July 17 – August 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 July 17 – August 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 July 17 – August 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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There are no new cases to report today in Peterborough. With one additional case resolved, the number of active cases in Peterborough has decreased by 1 to 4.
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 Tuesday will be included in Wednesday’s update.
There are currently 49 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 1 since yesterday, including 28 in Hastings Prince Edward (14 in Belleville, 8 in Quinte West, 3 in Prince Edward County, 2 in Central Hastings, and 1 in North Hastings), 10 in Kawartha Lakes, 6 in Northumberland, 4 in Peterborough, and 1 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,650 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,624 resolved with 22 deaths), 1,206 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,151 resolved with 58 deaths), 961 in Northumberland County (938 resolved with 17 deaths), 127 in Haliburton County (125 resolved with 1 death), and 1,205 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,165 resolved with 12 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Hastings Prince Edward on July 28.
On August 17, 2021, Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, announced he is issuing a directive to make COVID-19 immunization policies mandatory, first for hospitals, ambulance services, and home and community service providers and later for colleges and universities, retirement homes, women's shelters, and congregate group homes and day programs for children and vulnerable adults. He also announced Ontario will begin offering third doses of vaccines to certain vulnerable populations, will expand eligibility for the Pfizer vaccine to children born in 2009, and will remain in step three of its reopening plan. (CPAC screenshot by kawarthaNOW)
With the COVID-19 delta variant driving a fourth wave of the pandemic in Ontario, the provincial government is making vaccination policies mandatory for all high-risk settings — including hospitals, ambulance services, and home and community service providers — no later than September 7.
The government will also be requiring the same for all colleges and universities, retirement homes, women’s shelters, and congregate group homes and day programs for children and vulnerable adults.
Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, announced the directive on Tuesday (August 17).
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“For the last several weeks, I have been unwavering in my pleas for all eligible Ontarians to step up, roll up their sleeves, and get vaccinated,” Dr. Moore said. “I said time is of the essence, but now that time is here. We must take assertive action to protect the health and safety of all Ontarians, especially as we move closer to a return to school and the cooler weather drives us indoors.”
At a minimum, the vaccination policies will require employees, staff, contractors, students and volunteers in high-risk settings to provide either proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, a medical reason for not being vaccinated against COVID-19, or completion of a educational session about the benefits and risks of COVID-19 vaccination. In addition, those who do not provide proof of full vaccination will be required to undergo regular testing and demonstrate continued negative results.
“The delta variant is more transmissible, and has resulted in a reintroduction of COVID-19 in some high-risk settings,” Dr. Moore said. “These are settings where individuals are at a higher risk due to age or their health conditions or co-morbidities and we need to better protect them.”
Dr. Moore said that organizations will have the authority to implement more stringent COVID-19 vaccination policies above the minimum requirements if they choose to do so.
For employees of publicly funded school boards, staff in private schools, and staff in licensed child care settings, the Ministry of Education will introduce a vaccination disclosure policy that will require rapid antigen testing requirements for staff who are not immunized against COVID-19.
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The province will also require vaccination policies to be implemented in post-secondary institutions, licensed retirement homes, women’s shelters, and congregate group homes and day programs for adults with developmental disabilities, children’s treatment centres and other services for children with special needs, and licensed children’s residential settings.
Ontario will also begin offering third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to those at highest risk from the delta variant, including transplant recipients, cancer patients undergoing treatment, recipients of an anti-CD20 agent (used to treat diseases such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia), and residents of high-risk congregate care settings including long-term care homes, higher-risk licensed retirement homes, and First Nations elder care lodges.
Effective Wednesday (August 18), the province is also extending eligibility to receive the Pfizer vaccine to children who are 11 years old and turn 12 before the end of the year. Appointments can be made through the provincial booking system, through public health units, or at pharmacies or walk-in vaccination clinics.
While 81 per cent of eligible Ontarians have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, another 400,000 Ontarians need to be vaccinated before Ontario reaches its target of having 75 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated.
While the government says it expects to reach the 75 per cent target in August, Dr. Moore also announced Ontario will be staying in step three of the province’s reopening plan until further notice “out of an abundance of caution.”
When asked by a reporter while the province waited this long to implement these directives, Dr. Moore said the decision was made due to lower-than-expected vaccination rates.
“We had a sudden drop-off over the last several weeks and, quite honestly, we have to rebolster our efforts to immunize Ontarians,” he said. “It was unexpected to have such a sudden drop-off, and we’ve learned more about the threat of delta. It is now over 90 per cent of the detected samples in Ontario, and we are now seeing our rates of illness go up and we’re seeing our hospitalization numbers go up.”
Opal, a nine-month-old Australian Shepherd puppy, has been reunited with her owners Claudia Woodruff and Gavin Bergsma of Cobourg after she was stolen, along with the couple's pick-up truck, from Simcoe Street just south of Port Perry in Durham Region on August 11, 2021. (Photo: Claudia Woodruff and Gavin Bergsma)
Opal, a nine-month-old Australian Shepherd puppy, has been reunited with her Cobourg owners after police recovered their stolen pick-up truck and charged a 31-year-old Clarington woman with theft.
Gavin Bergsma and his wife Claudia Woodruff had been frantically searching for Opal since last Wednesday morning (August 11), after the couple’s 2015 Dodge Ram pick-up truck was stolen in Durham Region.
Bergsma had parked his truck on Simcoe Street, near the intersection of Scugog Line 3 just south of Port Perry, to check on a well’s water level as part of his job. Opal was in the truck and, because temperatures were in the 30s, Bergsma left the engine running with the air conditioning on.
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As he walked about 30 feet into a bush area, he noticed someone approaching on a bicycle but didn’t give it any thought. However, after he emerged from the bush, he saw the cyclist steal his truck with Opal still inside.
After reporting the theft, Bergsma and Woodruff searched the area and started posting flyers in Port Perry and Oshawa the following day. Durham police posted about the theft of Opal and the truck on social media and sent a detailed bulletin to neighbouring police services. Lost animal search group Team Chelsea also shared the incident.
Police received multiple leads from the public, including one tip that the stolen vehicle and a potential suspect had been seen in the town of Gooderham in Highlands East in Haliburton County.
Nine-month-old Australian Shepherd Opal was apart from her owners, Cobourg couple Claudia Woodruff and Gavin Bergsma, for five days after being stolen, along with the couple’s pick-up truck, from Simcoe Street just south of Port Perry in Durham Region on August 11, 2021. (Photo: Claudia Woodruff and Gavin Bergsma)
Officers from the Haliburton Highlands OPP responded to the lead on Monday (August 16) and located the stolen truck and Opal.
As a result of the investigation, police have charged Kaila Grech, 31, of Clarington with two counts of possession of property obtained by crime.
She was held in custody pending a bail hearing scheduled for Tuesday (August 17).
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 526 new cases today, with the seven-day average of daily cases rising by 29 to 469. Of the new cases, 67% are among unvaccinated people, 21% are among fully vaccinated people, and 11% are among partially vaccinated people.
Toronto is reporting another triple-digit increase today of 128 cases. Of Ontario’s remaining 33 health units, 11 are reporting double-digit increases — Peel (83), York (66), Hamilton (52), Windsor-Essex (46), Ottawa (20), Middlesex-London (20), Simcoe Muskoka (18), Durham (17), Waterloo (14), Niagara (11), and Halton (10) — and 7 are reporting no new cases at all.
The number of hospitalizations has increased by 10 to 108, but 10% of hospitals did not submit data yesterday for the daily bed census so the actual number of hospitalizations is likely higher. The number of ICU patients has increased by 3 to 119 and the number of patients on ventilators has decreased by 5 to 66.
For the second day in a row, Ontario is reporting no new COVID-related deaths.
More than 20.2 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 26,033 from yesterday, with over 9.5 million people fully vaccinated, an increase of 20,086 from yesterday, representing almost 65% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from July 16 – August 15, 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 16 – August 15, 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 16 – August 15, 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 over the past 3 days, including 11 in Hastings Prince Edward, 6 in Kawartha Lakes, 2 in Northumberland, 1 in Peterborough, and 1 in Haliburton.
There is 1 new COVID-related hospitalization in Peterborough.
An additional 17 cases have been resolved in the region over the past 3 days, including including 11 in Hastings Prince Edward, 4 in Kawartha Lakes, 1 in Northumberland, and 1 in Peterborough.
The number of active cases has increased by 1 in Kawartha Lakes and by 1 in Haliburton, and remains the same in Peterborough, Northumberland, and Hastings Prince Edward.
There are currently 50 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 2 since August 13, including 28 in Hastings Prince Edward (14 in Belleville, 8 in Quinte West, 3 in Prince Edward County, 2 in Central Hastings, and 1 in North Hastings), 10 in Kawartha Lakes, 6 in Northumberland, 5 in Peterborough, and 1 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,650 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,623 resolved with 22 deaths), 1,206 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,151 resolved with 58 deaths), 961 in Northumberland County (938 resolved with 17 deaths), 127 in Haliburton County (125 resolved with 1 death), and 1,205 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,165 resolved with 12 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Hastings Prince Edward on July 28.
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