John Rufa (middle) with his daughter Donna and her husband Daryl Coombs in July 2024 celebrating the 20th anniversary of their award-winning family-owned business Kawartha Country Wines. Located just north of Buckhorn in Peterborough County, the winery has always made it a priority to support local by sourcing fruits and berries from Ontario farms, selling its products to local restaurants and businesses, stocking the gift shop with products from local makers, and inviting local small business owners, artists, and musicians to lead events and workshops in their event space. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Country Wines)
When Kawartha Country Wines founder and co-owner John Rufa began making wine at home over two decades ago, he couldn’t have imagined that his passion would lead to one of the most successful businesses in Peterborough County and, in doing so, also end up supporting other local businesses by selling their products and hosting events and workshops.
Specializing in fruit wines and ciders, wine coolers, vinegars, and gourmet preserves, the award-winning winery is located near Buckhorn in the Municipality of Trent Lakes — one of the eight townships in Peterborough County. The four-season destination is open seven days a week, welcoming residents and tourists alike to enjoy its charm all year long.
It offers a truly Canadian experience, with its wine-making facilities, tasting room, and gift shop housed in an 1866 authentic pioneer log cabin and 1889 board and batton house, complete with the original square hewn logs and pine floors.
Whether you’re taste-testing the specialty wines, dropping in to enjoy live music, registering for a yoga class, or buying handmade honey and candles from the gift shop, when you spend the day at Kawartha Country Wines, you can be certain you are supporting more than one local business.
The wines and ciders at Kawartha Country Wines are all made with Ontario-grown fruit and berries — peaches, apples, pears, blueberries, black currants, and much more.
“Almost any fruit you can think of, we make a wine out of it,” says co-owner Donna Rufa.
Kawartha Country Wines sources its strawberries, black currants, and pumpkins from McLean’s Berry Farm in Peterborough County’s Selwyn Township, with cider apples coming from Allen’s Orchards in Newcastle in nearby Clarington. The company sources warmer-climate fruits from as close to home as possible, including the Niagara region.
Kawartha Country Wines is a destination for locals and visitors alike, offering a truly Canadian experience with its wine-making facilities, tasting room, and gift shop housed in an 1866 authentic pioneer log cabin and 1889 board and batton house, complete with the original square hewn logs and pine floors. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Country Wines)
As well as selling its products to international visitors from the U.S. and Europe who come to the winery, Kawartha County Wines also supplies regional businesses. The company sells cider kegs to restaurants including Old Dog Brewery and Just For The Halibut in Bobcaygeon and Gusto Grande in Lindsay, and produces a specialty cider for Elmhirst’s Resort in Keene in Peterborough County’s Otonabee–South Monaghan Township. Closer to home, Shambhala Bed and Breakfast in Buckhorn uses the winery’s locally made jams.
Extending the local love, the gift shop at Kawartha Country Wines is stocked with honey, maple syrup, soaps, jewellery, and more handmade products from over 25 local makers and artisans. An event space also offers the opportunity for both private and public events, with the Rufas often inviting regional musicians to take to the stage, as well as yoga instructors, artists, mediums, reflexologists, and other local experts to lead events and workshops.
As with most local business owners, the Rufas are concerned about the current economic uncertainty but remain confident in the community that has supported them for over two decades.
“We wouldn’t be here for twenty years without the support of our community,” Donna says. “Despite everything going on in the global economy, our town and The Kawarthas come out to support us. We’re looking forward to continuing to expand our offerings and bring a great experience to our community.”
Kawartha Country Wines is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2452 County Road 36 north of Buckhorn. For more information, visit kawarthacountrywines.ca and follow Kawartha Country Wines on Facebook and Instagram.
The Local Advantage in Peterborough County is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in Peterborough County, created in partnership with Peterborough County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.
As part of its response to the impact of U.S. tariffs, Peterborough County is showcasing the many unique businesses located in the county, both by sharing their stories of success and how they support both residents and other businesses in their communities.
Whether by shopping at local businesses, dining at local restaurants, staying at local accommodation, or enjoying local experiences, residents and visitors can enhance the economic resilience of Peterborough County during these challenging times and help establish a sustainable foundation for the future.
For more information about economic development and tourism in Peterborough County, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev and The Kawarthas Tourism at thekawarthas.ca.
Social enterprise Ampere is inviting community members of all ages to a workshop in Lindsay on April 26, 2025 where they'll be be among the first to test and build Ampere's new solar power kit, valued at $150. Registered participants will be able to take the kit home at no cost. (Photo: Ampere)
Community members can get “amped” for the Earth by learning about sustainable energy and building their own solar power kit during a free family-friendly workshop in Lindsay during Earth Week.
Ampere is inviting people of all ages to attend the not-for-profit organization’s Lindsay Makerspace on Saturday (April 26) for a renewable energy-themed event during which attendees can be among the first to test and build Ampere’s new solar power kit.
Running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 12 Peel St. in Lindsay, the “Amped for Earth” workshop offers those who attend the chance to learn about, build, and take home a kit at no cost, while supplies last. There will be a limit of one kit per family.
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“We’re hoping to see our Makerspace full of curious minds, learners of all ages, eager to explore the new kits and engage with solar energy in a way they haven’t yet had the chance,” Jamie Steel, Ampere’s senior lead of community relations, told kawarthaNOW.
“Our goal for the event is to share these kits with as many people as possible, working alongside our friends, families, and neighbours as we collectively learn about solar energy and the various aspects of STEAM — science, technology, engineering, art and math — that contributed to the development of the device.”
Ampere designed and developed the solar kit in collaboration with community subject matter experts, manufacturing partners, component suppliers, Makerspace educators, community participants, end users, and innovators.
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“These kits are an excellent example of how science, technology, engineering, art, and math can create something with a meaningful impact,” said Ampere CEO and founder Ryan Oliver.
“The development of the kit incorporated every aspect of STEAM and assembling the kits offers users a chance to see those components up close.”
Each kit is valued at $150. Once built, the kit is small enough to take camping, on road trips, to the office, or keep at home in case of a power outage.
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Although the kits were designed for learners ages 11 and older, Ampere says the event will also offer hands-on activities for younger children. However, this is not a drop-off event and parents must stay with the children.
While registering for the event isn’t mandatory, doing so will ensure a family receives one of the limited number of kits available to take home. Families can register at go.amp.ca/earth_general.
If you miss the event but are interested in obtaining one of the solar power kits, Ampere will be making them available for purchase at a future date.
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Founded in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, and formerly known as the Pinnguaq Association, Ampere is a not-for-profit social enterprise that has partnered with rural, remote, and Indigenous communities to provide access to STEAM education and opportunities for more than a decade.
Ampere says it applies “a lifecycle approach” to support learners at every age and every stage of life, and offers programming directly through makerspaces in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and in the Kawartha Lakes. The organization works directly with community partners, social organizations, governmental funders, and educational institutions across the country.
encoreNOW for April 21, 2025 features (from left to right, top and bottom) Colin Linden, Tak Kwan with the Kawartha String Orchestra, "Menopause The Musical", Caity Gyorgy, "The Boy in the Moon", and The Shuffle Demons. (kawarthaNOW collage)
encoreNOW is a bi-weekly column by Paul Rellinger where he features upcoming music, theatre, film, and performing arts events and news from across the Kawarthas.
This week, Paul highlights Colin Linden’s return to Market Hall, Stage and Symphony featuring the Kawartha String Orchestra, a musical about menopause in Lindsay, live music in Peterborough and Cobourg celebrating International Jazz Day, New Stages Theatre’s reading of a highly-acclaimed play, and The Shuffle Demons presented by Performing Arts Lakefield.
Blues-roots music treasure Colin Linden still getting it done
VIDEO: “Until The Heat Leaves Town” – Colin Linden
In 1971 at Toronto’s Colonial Tavern, Mississippi-born bluesman Howlin’ Wolf made time for an 11-year-old boy who had a lot of questions.
During the course of that encounter, the boy and the legend posed for a photograph. Before parting ways, Howlin’ Wolf told his starstruck admirer “I’m an old man now. I won’t be around much longer. It’s up to you to carry it on.”
To this day, Colin Linden’s wallet is home to that now well-worn photo — a reminder of the passing of the blues torch from his boyhood hero who, just five years after their chat, was no more.
That Linden took those words to heart is not in question.
Over the course of his near five decades-plus performing and producing blues and roots music, the singer and electric/slide guitarist has released 14 albums, won multiple Juno Awards, and performed alongside everybody who’s a somebody in the genre, including Bob Dylan, Bruce Cockburn, Colin James and, since 1996, Stephen Fearing and Tom Wilson as one-third of the beloved roots-rock trio Blackie and the Rodeo Kings.
On April 24, Linden returns to a familiar haunt in the form of Peterborough’s Market Hall. While his primary residence has been Nashville for quite some time, Canada is home, much to the delight of what remains a fervent fan base that rarely leaves a concert seat empty.
Linden arrives in Peterborough as part of his Ride On Tour, which is billed as the start of his second half century of touring. Tickets to Linden’s 8 p.m. performance cost $44 at markethall.org.
Howlin’ Wolf is smiling for sure, as broadly as he no doubt did in 1999 when A Tribute to Howlin’ Wolf, to which Linden contributed, was nominated for a Grammy Award. Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words. For Linden, it’s been worth infinitely more.
Kawartha String Orchestra presents another feast for the ears
VIDEO: Tak Kwan of Kawartha String Orchestra speaks with Marcus Quin
When musical talent collides with the unifying power of community, something wonderful almost always evolves.
In 2017, local string musicians, under the direction of Tak Kwan, came together to form the Kawartha String Orchestra. Since then, members’ shared love of playing music and giving back to their community has seen the ensemble give numerous performances, the musical menu ranging from Vivaldi to popular movie tunes.
In Kwan, the orchestra is in most capable hands. Having learned to play violin at age seven, his career as a soloist and chamber musician led him to serve as concertmaster of both the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra and the Northumberland Orchestra and Choir. In 2010 in Toronto, Kwan performed before Queen Elizabeth. No pressure there.
On April 27 at St. James United Church in Peterborough, the Kawartha String Orchestra presents Stage and Symphony, a 2 p.m. concert featuring the music of Mozart, favourites from The Sound of Music and Les Miserables, and selections from KSO bassist Marcus Quin. Guest soloists are Quin (clarinet) and Kwan (violin).
As a fundraiser for Upbeat! Downtown, an after-school music program for Peterborough kids interested in music but faced with barriers accessing music education, admission is by donation at the door.
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Lindsay-bound hit musical tackles all things hot flashes et al
VIDEO: “Menopause the Musical” promo
As a typically typical male with no idea beyond my next meal and which team is playing for what and when, I have little to no understanding of what women have to endure. I’m working on it, but it is what it is, and what it is I’m reminded of daily by my wife.
Yes, I’ve heard of menopause, but it’s shrouded in mystery for me. I know what brings it on but have no idea of its effects. That’s a lived experience that only those to who experience it can attest to. What I do know is while the effects of menopause are far from funny, women, by virtue of coming together over a shared challenge, find a way to not only endure its effects but show their strength and resiliency in doing so.
In 2001, Menopause The Musical, with book and lyrics by Jeanie Linders, premiered in Orlando. Its storyline, centred around four women shopping for lingerie set to a soundtrack comprised of classic hit songs, resonated in a very big way in the form of more than 1,500 performances off Broadway and, since 2006, where it remains the longest-running scripted musical ever staged in Las Vegas.
Now we’re all invited to “come celebrate womanhood” April 27 at Lindsay’s Academy Theatre where Menopause The Musical, featuring an all-Canadian cast, takes to the stage for two shows, at 2 and 5 p.m.
Bonding over hot flashes, mood swings, memory loss and other menopausal symptoms, its central characters create a fun and wholly relatable celebration of the life stage. With the production rated as “man-datory viewing for men,” there’s a welcome seat for those who have an idea, but really have no idea at all.
International Jazz Day marked in Peterborough and Cobourg
VIDEO: “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” – Caity Gyorgy Quartet
Back in 2011, April 30 was proclaimed International Jazz Day by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to “highlight jazz and its diplomatic role in uniting people in all corners of the globe.”
The idea came from legendary jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, who is chair of the day with his Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz being the lead organizational partner.
Over the years, International Jazz Day has been marked locally in some way and this year is no different, with several jazz concerts of note scheduled.
In Peterborough, the day is being celebrated the prior weekend. Although the headline concert featuring Juno award-winning jazz singer Holly Cole at the Market Hall on April 27 is sold out, the Curtis Cronkwright Quartet will be performing a free show at the Black Horse Pub from 9 p.m. to midnight on April 26.
Earlier that same evening, the “Dine with Jazz” series will see four jazz duos perform from 6 to 8 p.m. at four downtown Peterborough establishments: Pete Woolidge and Craig Paterson at La Hacienda, Mike Graham and Victoria Yeh at Amandala’s, Michael Monis and Paco Luviano at Agave, and Rob Phillips and Carling Stephen at The Black Horse.
Meanwhile, the Caity Gyorgy Quartet — featuring three-time Juno award-winning vocalist Caity Gyorgy — will perform at the Concert Hall at Victoria Hall in Cobourg on April 30. Local promoter Ken Prue calls booking Gyorgy for International Jazz Day “a coup.”
Tickets for the Caity Gyorgy Quartet’s 7 p.m. concert cost $50 (plus taxes and fees) and are available at tickets.cobourg.ca.
Jazz is, admittedly by those who love it, an acquired taste, but those who gravitate to the genre are fiercely loyal to it, and most protective of it being presented in its purest form. But any jazz aficionado I’ve talked to has been clear on one point: the door is wide open for discovery of jazz, and appreciation for its longstanding and revered place in the cultures of not just North America but worldwide.
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New Stages Theatre hosting a reading of an acclaimed play
If you’re going to present a staged reading of a beautifully-written drama, it’s vital to secure the talent of a dynamic lineup of actors to deliver its lines.
In preparation for its May 3 presentation of Emil Sher’s The Boy In The Moon, Peterborough’s New Stages Theatre has done just that.
Directed by New Stages’ artistic director Mark Wallace, reading parts are being delivered by Cliff Saunders, a veteran of both Stratford and Broadway, the very captivating Linda Kash and recent Randolph School of Performing Arts grad Sydney Marion. Also in the mix are local well-known performers Kate Suhr, Hilary Wear, Laura Lawson and Maria Luisa Belmes.
Based on the book by Ian Brown, The Boy In The Moon is a Dora Award-nominated play centred around Walker, the son of Brown and Joanna Schneller, who was born with a rare genetic mutation. The story relates their raising of their severely disabled son, the result, according to Sher, is a story “not just about raising a child with a disability, but any child.”
When it was staged at Toronto’s Crow Theatre, artistic director Chris Abraham praised the play as “generous, funny and deeply moving in a way I’ve rarely encountered.” Quite an endorsement.
General admission tickets for the 7 p.m. reading at the Market Hall cost $28 ($14 for arts workers, students, and the underwaged) at markethall.org. As of this writing, fewer than 50 tickets remained, so jump on it quick.
Performing Arts Lakefield continues to do what it does so well
VIDEO: “Money Is My Only Religion” – The Shuffle Demons
I remain intrigued by the high calibre of entertainment that Performing Arts Lakefield (PAL) consistently brings to its home of Lakefield United Church.
That trend will continue on May 4 when PAL brings The Shuffle Demons to its stage as the penultimate concert of its 2024-25 season.
Formed in 1984 by saxophonist Richard Underhill in collaboration with a number of Toronto-area jazz musicians, The Shuffle Demons enjoyed success early, with the 1986 single “Spadina Bus” bringing an unexpected Top 40 hit.
The debut album on which it was featured, Streetniks, was the best-selling independent release in Canadian music history up to that time, eclipsed for that honour five years later by The Barenaked Ladies’ Yellow Tape. The single’s success helped Streetnik be nominated for a 1987 Juno Award as Best Jazz Album.
Over the years since, The Shuffle Demons have toured extensively, both in Canada and overseas, their jazz and funk sound accentuated by eye-catching costumes and over-the-top stage antics. Simply put, there’s never a dull moment when this band is in the house.
Full marks to PAL which, since 1981, has in a big way delivered the goods in the form of music, mime, dance, comedy, theatre, and storytelling. Quite the gem for a community the size of Lakefield and a testament to the dedication of many.
Tickets to the 3 p.m. concert cost $40 ($15 for students) and are available online at performingartslakefield.org or in person at Happenstance Books and Yarns in Lakefield. Of note, this concert was originally scheduled for May 18, but has since been moved to May 4.
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Encore
What does Peterborough’s Irish Millie have to do to bring home some hardware from the Canadian Folk Music Awards? Stand on her head and kill it on the fiddle? Recently returned from the 2025 ceremony in Ottawa where she was nominated for two awards related her album Grace, the Peterborough performer was denied yet again. That brings to five the number of times she has been nominated. Disappointing for her, for sure, but she’s not dwelling on that, instead taking to Facebook to laud about what a great experience it was to again be in the company of other artists and to be nominated in the first place. Very commendable, for sure, but c’mon to those doing the judging — it’s high time Millie’s talent and dedication to her craft is duly recognized as second to none.
Having said all that, Irish Millie will be getting her due this summer at Peterborough Musicfest, which continues to roll out announcements about the performers for its 2025 summer season of concerts in Del Crary Park. Having already announced Serena Ryder as the season opener on June 28 and Kim Mitchell as the season closer on August 16, organizers have revealed three Irish-themed concerts in August that coincide with the week of bicentennial celebrations for the Peter Robinson emigration: U2 tribute band Acrobat on August 2, Mudmen on August 6 with Irish Millie opening, and The Celtic Tenors on August 9. We still don’t know, but will find out at some point in May, who the remaining performs will be. That annually remains the most anticipated live music-related announcement for thousands. I, for one, cannot wait.
The Trent-Severn Waterway, which connects communities throughout Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough & The Kawarthas, and Northumberland County, is an important driver of the visitor economy in Kawarthas Northumberland. (Photo: RTO8)
If you’re a tourism industry leader in Kawarthas Northumberland, Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) could use your expertise.
The not-for-profit organization funded by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming is seeking tourism professionals to serve as volunteer members of its governance-focused board of directors beginning in June.
RTO8’s board is a group of dedicated local industry experts and leaders who are passionate about the organization’s mission to be a destination that drives its visitor economy, with balanced and purposeful year-round visitation that meets current and future capacity and community development needs.
Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) markets the region branded as Kawarthas Northumberland (the City of Kawartha Lakes, the City and County of Peterborough, and Northumberland County) as a tourism destination. (Map: Province of Ontario)
“Becoming a part of the RTO8 board of directors allows you to actively contribute to shaping the community’s future as a tourist destination,” says Laurie Dillon-Schalk, chair of the RTO8 Finance Committee.
“Whether you’re a seasoned board member or new to this role, being part of RTO8 provides a unparalleled window into the region’s opportunities and challenges allowing board members to leverage their tourism expertise, and actively participate in supporting the growth of Kawarthas Northumberland.”
Many of the towns and villages in Kawarthas Northumberland, which also features more than 350 lakes and rivers, are connected by the Trent-Severn Waterway, a national historic site.
Programs offered by Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) include the Trent-Severn Trail Town Business Friendly program, which promotes businesses and attractions in 10 communities in Kawarthas Northumberland located along the Trent-Severn Waterway (Bobcaygeon, Buckhorn, Campbellford, Coboconk, Fenelon Falls, Hastings, Lakefield, Lindsay, Peterborough, and Rosedale). Pictured is the new Canadian Canoe Museum, located on the shores of Little Lake in Peterborough, which has been named as one of the world’s greatest places to visit in 2025 by TIME magazine. (Photo: The Canadian Canoe Museum)
The importance of the Trent-Severn Waterway to Kawarthas Northumberland’s visitor economy is reflected in the vision statement in RTO8’s 2025-26 business plan:
“By 2026, Kawarthas Northumberland communities will be recognized as one of the leading travel destinations in Ontario for experiencing soft outdoor and rural adventure connecting Canadian waterway heritage.”
To help realize its mission and vision, RTO8 is seeking individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences to fill six vacancies on its board effective June 12 for one, two and three year terms.
Programs offered by Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) include the annual Kawarthas Northumberland Butter Tart Tour, which consists of more than 30 tart providers across the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Peterborough City and County. (Photo: RTO8)
Board members will be required to attend RTO8’s virtual annual general meeting on the morning of June 19, attend a full-day orientation session in Peterborough on June 25, and a full-day strategic planning session in September. Board members are also required to attend at least six board meetings per fiscal year and to sit on a committee of the board that meets as required virtually.
Prospective board members must be Canadian citizens of at least 18 years of age. Preference will be given to business owner-operators or individuals who are working within the Kawarthas Northumberland tourism industry.
RTO8 encourages those interested in becoming a board member to read RTO8’s 2025-26 business plan and then complete the 2025-26 RTO8 board application form, both of which are available at rto8.com/eoi-rto8-board/, where you can also find more details about the requirements and responsibilities of board members.
All applications must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8. The appointment of directors will be confirmed at the RTO8 board meeting on Thursday, June 12.
This story was created in partnership with Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8). If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Two-year-old Emira is all smiles, as she enjoys a lighter moment at home. The little girl is benefiting from Five Counties services, and her mom Haidyn credits staff at the regional child treatment centre with giving the family confidence along the way. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties)
Every month, Five Counties Children’s Centre provides a story about the work of the charitable organization.
This month’s story is by Darlene Callan, Director of Clinical Services, Five Counties Children’s Centre.
Halloween is supposed to be scary, but it’s not the ghosts and goblins that put Haidyn Scott on edge as the big day approached.
Trick-or-treating made Haidyn nervous, specifically how her young daughter Emira would react to the experience. Haidyn didn’t want Emira to miss out on trick-or-treating, but knew her daughter’s aversions to many foods and difficulty adjusting to people she didn’t know could pose challenges.
Thankfully, all roadblocks were removed last October when the family’s trick-or-treating journey took them to the first-ever All-o-ween event held at Five Counties Children’s Centre.
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Five Counties created All-o-ween as an accessible, inclusive and sensory-friendly trick-or-treating experience for Centre clients and their families — and for Haidyn, it was a game-changer.
“All-o-ween allowed me for the first time to relax about trick-or-treating, and just let (Emira) be herself without the fear of anyone judging her,” Haidyn recalls. “It made me so happy to see her comfortable in a new place with people she knew while still experiencing something new.”
Emira is no stranger to Five Counties in Cobourg. By her first birthday, Emira wasn’t crawling or walking — just scooting on her bum — so she was referred to Five Counties for physiotherapy.
Haidyn Scott holds her daughter Emira at last October’s All-o-ween event at Five Counties Children’s Centre. The accessible, inclusive trick-or-treating experience broke down barriers for kids like Emira to take part, and also calmed fears that Haidyn had about marking Halloween given her daughter’s aversions to many foods and difficulty adjusting to people she doesn’t know. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties)
At their first appointment, Haidyn recalls the assurances she received from Five Counties clinician AJ that she was not responsible for Emira being behind with her movement. It was the tonic Haidyn and husband Matthew needed to hear.
“Five Counties has given me the confidence in my daughter and myself to take everything that comes at us and adjust in our own way,” Haidyn says. “We have been given resources I never thought I would be able to get … and AJ and the rest of the staff at Five Counties in Cobourg have been fantastic, always positive and helpful.”
Emira, now two-and-a-half, benefits from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and other Five Counties services. Haidyn says the centre has also been tremendously supportive as the family navigates Emira’s recent autism diagnosis.
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As Five Counties marks its 50th anniversary in 2025, stories of impact like Emira’s make all the difference, revealing how Five Counties is making a life-changing difference — one child and one family at a time.
Over the decades, the number and nature of care at Five Counties has changed. From supporting 126 young clients and their families in its very first year in 1975, to four times that number by the early 1980s when I joined Five Counties, the centre now provides treatment services to more than 6,100 children and youth in Peterborough, Northumberland County, City of Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton County.
Care has also evolved over time. When it opened, the centre mainly treated children with physical disabilities, but now supports children and youth with more complex and diverse needs. The downside is that wait times for kids’ treatment services are a persistent problem, even with ongoing efforts to reduce them.
Over its 50 years, Five Counties Children’s Centre has provided treatment for many children and families across the region. Even as the centre has supported more children over the decades, supporting children and youth with more complex and diverse needs and increasing demand for services has resulted in longer wait times. (Graphic courtesy of Five Counties)
To Haidyn, Five Counties is “a huge blessing,” offering treatment services close to home. Emira is now walking, working on her food aversions, and making progress in other areas — something Haidyn credits to Five Counties staff.
“I don’t think my daughter would be as far in her development as she is now without Five Counties,” Haidyn notes. “It means everything to me.”
It is equally meaningful for us to support local families — 50 years and counting.
The Curtis Cronkwright Quartet features Nathan Hiltz on guitar, Curtis Cronkwright on drums, Duncan Hopkins on bass, and Perry White on saxophone. The jazz quartet performs at The Black Horse in downtown Peterborough on April 26, 2025 as part of International Jazz Day Peterborough celebrations. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of Instagram video)
In a sign of the growing popularity of live jazz in Peterborough, it didn’t take long before Juno award-winning Canadian jazz singer Holly Cole’s upcoming concert at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre was sold out.
The concert on Sunday (April 27) is the culminating event of this year’s International Jazz Day Peterborough, which also features the “Dine with Jazz” series the evening before with eight local jazz musicians performing at four downtown Peterborough restaurants, followed by a concert by a jazz quartet.
International Jazz Day Peterborough was first organized in 2015 by Peterborough jazz musicians including Craig Paterson and — except for a three-year hiatus during the pandemic — has been celebrated ever year since, with the goal of bringing together the community, local businesses, and jazz enthusiasts so that people can enjoy the diversity of the genre today.
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International Jazz Day was first proposed by iconic jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock in 2011, after he was designated as a Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
UNESCO subsequently proclaimed April 30th to be International Jazz Day beginning in 2012 and now, 13 years later, over 200 countries participate every year.
“The reason is because jazz has functioned in a lot of obvious ways, as music that has made a lot of people over the planet very happy,” Hancock said in a 2012 interview. “At the same time, it’s been a music that has brought people together. It has been embraced by people from various cultures as their own — it’s not thought of as a foreign music. We thought it’s long overdue that jazz be recognized in this very special way.”
International Jazz Day Peterborough 2025 celebrations include the “Dine with Jazz” series on Saturday, April 26 followed by a concert by the Curtis Cronkwright Quartet. A concert by the Holly Cole Trio at the Market Hall on Sunday, April 27 is sold out. (Poster: We Design Group)
While the April 27th concert by the Holly Cole Trio is sold out, there are plenty of other opportunities to take in some jazz during the “Dine with Jazz” series, where selected downtown Peterborough restaurants host local jazz musicians from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday (April 26).
This year’s series will have Pete Woolidge and Craig Paterson performing at La Hacienda (190 Hunter St. W.), Mike Graham and Victoria Yeh at Amandala’s (375 Water St.), Michael Monis and Paco Luviano at Agave (376 George St. N.), and Rob Phillips and Carling Stephen at The Black Horse Pub (452 George St. N.).
Reservations are recommended. Other than the cost of your dinner, there is no charge for the “Dine with Jazz” series. That’s also the case for a jazz concert taking place at The Black Horse following Rob Phillips and Carling Stephen’s performance.
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The Curtis Cronkwright Quartet — featuring Perry White on saxophone, Nathan Hiltz on guitar, Duncan Hopkins on bass, and Peterborough’s own Curtis Cronkwright on drums — will take over the Black Horse stage from 9 p.m. until midnight. There is no cover charge for the concert.
Returning as sponsors of this year’s International Jazz Day Peterborough are LLF Lawyers, We Design Group, Alterna Savings, and McCosh Private Wealth Management, with kawarthaNOW as media sponsor.
Through the Rural Stop Gap program and enhanced home care monitoring provided by Toronto-based healthcare company Gotcare, Campbellford Memorial Hospital's discharge planning and Ontario Health at Home team can help more patients go home sooner, freeing up much-needed hospital capacity while supporting recovery at home. (Photo: Campbellford Memorial Hospital)
By harnessing technology, a Northumberland County hospital is aiming to give patients the support they need at home to improve their quality of life and reduce their likelihood of being readmitted to the hospital.
Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) in the Municipality of Trent Hills is launching a pilot of the Rural Stop Gap (RSG) Program, described in a media release as an innovative initiative designed to help patients manage their health at home and minimize the number of return visits to the emergency department.
Through a partnership with Toronto-based healthcare company Gotcare, the program aims to provide timely technology-enabled care to patients who may otherwise struggle with managing their conditions after discharge.
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“The goal of the program is to give patients the support they need to recover comfortably and safely at home, while also helping to prevent avoidable readmissions to the hospital,” Heather Campbell, vice-president of patient care and chief nursing executive at CMH, told kawarthaNOW.
“By ensuring the right care is in place after discharge, the program promotes better outcomes for patients and reduces strain on hospital resources.”
The RSG program aims to expedite discharges, connect patients with home-based support, and reduce avoidable hospital readmissions, with the added benefit of freeing up much-needed hospital capacity.
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“Given limited resources and long wait times for care in many rural communities, this program addresses this challenge by offering a hybrid approach to care — combining home visits from health ambassadors with virtual visits from clinicians, ensuring patients receive the assistance they need to manage their health effectively,” the hospital states.
“The RSG program is an innovative digital approach to augment our patient care model,” Campbell added.
“By providing structured support at home, we can improve patient outcomes, reduce hospital congestion, and enhance overall health care access for our community.”
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Initially implemented regionally in the Quinte area for patients in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, the program’s funding has now been expanded to include all patients who receive care at the hospital, regardless of where they live.
Services for patients include remote monitoring, falls management, wellness check-ins, and personalized care plans that “empower patients to take an active role in managing their health.”
The program also uses AI-enabled technology and predictive analytics to identify potential health concerns before they escalate.
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“Our goal is to bridge the gap between hospital and home care,” said Gotcare co-founder and CEO Chenny Xia. “By leveraging technology and a dedicated workforce, we can ensure that patients feel supported, stay healthier, and ultimately reduce unnecessary hospital visits.”
CMH said this initiative aligns with the hospital’s soon-to-be-launched strategic plan and its commitment to “pushing the boundaries of rural care by enhancing innovative partnerships and developing proactive health management strategies often not available in rural areas.”
For more information about Gotcare, visit gotcare.ca.
Bobcaygeon Brewing Company is celebrating 10 years of success with an all-day party on April 26, 2025 at its Peterborough taproom featuring live music, pie from Peterborough's Kia Ora Pie Co., and the launch of four brand new brews. The party is part of a week-long celebration of special events including a multi-course dinner with beer pairings, Bobcaygeon-themed trivia, a cornhole tournament with pizza, and a Sunday brunch. (Photo courtesy of Bobcaygeon Brewing Company)
To celebrate 10 years of producing fine craft beer in cottage country, Bobcaygeon Brewing Company is brewing up something special. On April 26, the locally owned brewery is throwing a beer garden party featuring live music, pie, and, of course, no shortage of beer — including some brand-new brews.
In 2015, the company was founded from a passion for craft beer and the dream of bringing a micro brewery to Kawartha Lakes, where co-founder and president Richard Wood has been a lifelong cottager. A decade later, what began as a small-scale wholesale producer is now a recognizable regional brand symbolic of summer afternoons spent on the dock.
Bobcaygeon Brewing Company will be celebrating its 10 years of success with a week of fun-filled events culminating in the “Bobcaygeon Turns Ten!” party on Saturday, April 26.
Taking place at the Peterborough taproom (4-649 The Parkway), the daylong party will feature pie courtesy of Peterborough’s Kia Ora Pie Co. and live music from singer-songwriter James Higgins and cover artist TJ Shirk.
Perhaps best of all, Bobcaygeon Brewing Company will be launching four new beers during the event. Three of the four beers were made in collaboration with Ontario-based breweries Daft Brewing in Kingston, Focal Brewing Co. in Hastings, and Dune Hopper Brewing Co. in Prince Edward County.
Co-founded by Richard Wood in 2015, Bobcaygeon Brewing Company was born from a passion for craft beer and the desire to bring a brewery to Kawartha Lakes cottage country. The company is currently renovating the old Bobcaygeon post office to turn it into a full-production facility, while operating a taproom and gift shop out of Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Bobcaygeon Brewing Company)
“We’re grateful for all the support that we’ve received from the community over ten years,” says Wood. “We’re looking forward to celebrating with everybody on April 26 and giving them a taste of what we’ve been brewing.”
With the purchase of a $15 ticket, you will get a 10-oz glass (yours to keep) and two drink tokens, with each token getting you a 5-oz pour. Additional drink tokens are available at a cost of $2.50 per pour. Designated drivers can get entry to the party free of charge.
Because one party just wouldn’t be enough to celebrate 10 years, Bobcaygeon Brewing Company is hosting five more events throughout the week leading up to and following Saturday’s party.
Tuesday, April 22, 5:30 p.m. – Get a multi-course Brewers Dinner in partnership with Peterborough’s Love You, Mean It. Each course — which includes showstoppers like scallops, filet of beef, and chocolate s’mores, among others — is expertly paired with one of Bobcaygeon Brewing Company’s variety of more than 20 brews. The pairing is priced at $100 per person.
Wednesday, April 23, 6 p.m. – Bobcaygeon-themed trivia night at the taproom.
Thursday, April 24, 6 p.m. – Cornhole tournament and $5 pizza at the taproom.
Friday, April 25 – Bobcaygeon Brewing Company will take over McThirsty’s Pint in downtown Peterborough, where new and familiar beers will be on tap.
Saturday, April 26 – The big all-day birthday bash — Bobcaygeon Turns Ten! — at 649 The Parkway.
Sunday, April 27 – Brunch at the brewery will include breakfast from Kia Ora Pie and beer mimosas.
For more information about Bobcaygeon Brewing Company and its lineup of brews, visit www.bobcaygeonbrewing.ca.
Know Your Locals™ is a branded editorial feature about locally owned independent businesses and locally operated organizations, and supported by them. If your business or organization is interested in being featured in a future “Know Your Locals” branded editorial, contact Jeannine Taylor at 705-742-6404 or jt@kawarthanow.com or visit our Advertise with kawarthaNOW page.
Federal Liberal leader and prime minister Mark Carney spoke to a large crowd of supporters during a rally at the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre on April 19, 2025. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
A large crowd of enthusiastic supporters welcomed federal Liberal leader Mark Carney to Peterborough on Saturday afternoon (April 19), despite long line-ups and then an hour-long delay before the prime minister made his appearance.
The rally took place at the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre on Brealey Drive, with an estimated 1,100 people packed into a gymnasium according to local Liberal organizers.
Earlier in the day during a campaign stop in Whitby, Carney had announced the release of his party’s election platform, which promises almost $130 billion in spending over the next four years, including $22 billion tax cut, $22 billion for housing, $18 billion in new defence spending, and $3.5 billion for health care initiatives.
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Peterborough Liberal candidate Emma Harrison spoke at the podium to introduce Carney, noting the attendance of four other Liberal candidates from the Kawarthas region who were at the event: Tracey Sweeney Schenk for Hastings-Lennox and Addington-Tyendinaga, John Goheen for Northumberland-Clarke, Nell Thomas for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes, and Chris Malette for Bay of Quinte,
“Across Canada, the Liberal campaign is built on hope and unity, and is kept alive by the values that we, as Canadians, hold close to our hearts,” Harrison told the crowd. “Canadians from coast to coast have come together as we always have to unite and protect the country that we love. Now, I ask you to bring that same passion to this moment. It is an absolute honour to introduce to you, Prime Minister Mark Carney.”
Carney spoke for just under half an hour, sometimes in French, often interrupted by cheers and applause from the crowd.
There was a long lineup outside the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre on April 19, 2025 for a rally featuring federal Liberal leader and prime minister Mark Carney. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
The Liberal leader outlined his accomplishments in the short time he has been prime minister, sometimes took jabs at Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, described the Liberal election platform, and often returned to the issue that has made the former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England the frontrunner in the race: the threat to Canada’s economy and sovereignty threat posed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Another common theme in Carney’s remarks was hockey — something he referred to when introducing himself to the Peterborough crowd.
“I always think, when I think of Peterborough: home of champions,” he said. “When I think of Peterborough, I think of Bob Gainey … I think of Roger Neilson. I think of Andria Hunter, women’s hockey pioneer, and we have a chance here in Peterborough to add another Peterborough champion, Emma. Send Emma to Ottawa.”
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Explaining why he chose to enter politics, Carney said he saw the need for “big changes to get economy back on track.”
“I’m not a career politician, but what I am is a pragmatist. So when I see something that’s not working, I change it.”
He talked about what he did as soon as he became prime minister, including cutting taxes on new homes, getting rid of the planned capital gains tax hike and the consumer carbon tax because it has “become too divisive” (both initiated by the former Trudeau government), expanding the Liberal dental care plan to cover an additional five million people, and striking a new deal with the European Union.
The RCMP conducted a security sweep of media equipment prior to a rally featuring federal Liberal leader and prime minister Mark Carney at the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre on April 19, 2025. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
Carney described meeting with the premiers of the provinces and territories and reaching an agreement on eliminating barriers to trade and the movement of workers between provinces.
“I thought to myself, ‘When’s the last time all the provinces agreed on anything?’ Except that they hate the federal government, which is okay. As long as they agree on stuff that works for Canadians, I’m fine — they can still hate me.”
After saying “We need one Canadian economy, not 13,” Carney said “We will legislate away all federal barriers by Canada Day.”
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Carney spoke about the Liberal government’s plan to invest in energy, ports, and the military, before taking his first jab at his Conservative rival.
“In nine days in government, before we called this election, we did more than Pierre Poilievre has imagined in all his decades in politics,” Carney said. “I’m not sure he has an imagination. He’s just mimicking Donald.”
Carney listed some of the elements of the just-released Liberal platform, including a middle-class tax cut, modernizing the Canadian armed forces, a strategy for a made-in-Canada auto sector, investing in ports and infrastructure connecting ports, and increasing the pace of home construction.
Sacha Lai-Svirk and Paul Hickey of Peterborough advertising agency Outpost379 at a rally featuring federal Liberal leader and prime minister Mark Carney the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre on April 19, 2025. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
“You know how we’re going to do it?” Carney said of housing. “We are going to cut a bunch of regulations, we’re going to cut a bunch of costs — no question. But honestly, that is not going to be enough. That is not going to build enough houses on its own. We’re going to get the government to come back in to build deeply affordable homes for those who most need it.”
Promising to create “an entirely new housing industry in this country” based on Canadian goods and labour, he said his government would add tens of thousands of new jobs in the skilled trades, before asking for a “strong mandate” to address threats from the U.S.
“We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes,” Carney said. “We’re facing that because of President Trump’s unjustified, unwarranted, unwise tariffs, and his threats to our sovereignty,” with boos resounding from the crowd.
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“When I spoke to him, I told him I categorically reject any attempt to weaken Canada,” Carney claimed of his first official telephone call with the U.S. President back in March.
When he spotted a supporter in the crowd carrying what was presumably a hockey stick, he quipped “I might have to borrow that stick … I might bring the stick down to (Trump’s Florida residence) Mar-a-Lago.”
“We reject any attempt to wear us down, because what they’re trying to do is break us, so America can own us. That will never happen.”
Peterborough federal Liberal candidate Emma Harrison introduced federal Liberal leader and prime minister Mark Carney at a rally at the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre on April 19, 2025. Other Liberal candidates in the Kawartha region were also at the rally. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
“Canadians are over now the shock of this betrayal, but it was a shock,” Carney said. “We’re over the shock of the betrayal, but we can never forget the lessons that we’ve been taught. The first one is that we have to look out for ourselves, and we have to look out for each other.”
Saying Canadians need to be united “to weather the storm,” Carney noted that all revenue from Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. will be used to protect Canadian workers, before returning to a hockey theme.
“We didn’t ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves,” he said. “And in a trade war, just like in hockey, we will win.”
“Like many of you I know, hockey has played a big part in my life. I grew up with the values I learned at the kitchen table, in the classroom, and on the ice. My parents were teachers, and they stressed the importance of working hard, supporting our community, and caring for other people. And my hockey coaches taught me to play hard, to be ambitious, but also — because it’s Canada — to be humble.”
“Those are Peterborough values, those are Canadian values,” Carney said. “And now I’m drawing on them to stand up to Trump and build the strongest economy in the G7, the economy that works for everyone, in a drastically different way.”
Federal Liberal leader and prime minister Mark Carney hugged Peterborough candidate Emma Harrison at a rally at the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre on April 19, 2025. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
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Carney then turned his attention back to Poilievre.
“There’s a type of lifelong politician who worships at the altar of the free market, despite having never actually worked in the private sector,” he said. “And the reflex is always to cut, to destroy, and I’m afraid to divide.”
“But this is no time for divisive, angry politics in Canada. Negativity will not win a trade war, negativity won’t pay the mortgage or the rent, negativity won’t bring down the price of groceries, negativity won’t make Canada strong. Someone who believes Canada is broken won’t put it first.”
Returning to the threat from the U.S., Carney said “It is our strength that the Americans want.”
“They want our resources, they want our water, they want our land, they want our country. Never.”
Contrasting the difference between the two countries, Carney said healthcare in the U.S. is “big business,” while in Canada “it is a right.”
Rally organizers estimate that 1,100 people attended the rally featuring federal Liberal leader and prime minister Mark Carney at the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre on April 19, 2025. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
He then took a few more jabs at Poilievre.
“It’s not a big insight, but we’re not going to be able to change Donald Trump. And a person who worships President Trump, like Pierre Poilievre, will kneel down before him.”
He also criticized Poilievre for still not getting his security clearance, despite the security threats facing Canada.
“We can control our destiny with a plan that meets the moment,” Carney said, before making light of the Conservative leader’s recent announcement about rescinding the ban on single-use plastics, including plastic straws.
“While he was off doing that important work, meeting the moment in a different way, we launched our platform today. And it’s a platform solely focused on how, in the worst crisis of our lifetime, we can build the strongest economy this country has ever seen. And it’s a positive plan.”
Carney claimed that the Liberal’s platform will create $20,000 of new growth for every Canadian in the next five years.
Federal Liberal leader and prime minister Mark Carney spoke for almost 30 minutes during a rally at the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre on April 19, 2025. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
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Carney then related an anecdote about a teacher who shared what her eight and nine-year-old students had written in an assignment about their dreams for Canada.
“This is what struck me: many of the kids wrote about tariffs and threats to our sovereignty,” he said, shaking his head. “At that age, I hadn’t met those words, I didn’t know those words.”
“I’m going to quote one example, where one student said, ‘I dream of a safe, a kind, and a clean Canada.’ And then that student went on and said ‘A Canada that is not the U.S.'”
“Our children should be able to dream of a positive future, not worry about an economic crisis. We can give them that future now. We can give them that future they deserve. And we will do it, not because it’s easy, but because it is right. That’s why I’m standing before you today.”
Federal Liberal leader and prime minister Mark Carney mentioned some well-known Peterborough hockey icons including Bob Gainey and Roger Neilson during a rally at the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre on April 19, 2025. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
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When someone in the crowd shouted “Thank you!”, Carney responded with his final comments.
“I owe Canada something, because Canada has given me everything. My family, my education, and my values. And in return, I’m ready to give everything to Canada.”
Election day is Monday, April 28, with advance polling running until Easter Monday.
According to Elections Canada, preliminary estimates show nearly two million electors voted on Good Friday, the first day of advance polls — a record turnout, up 36 per cent from the first day of advance polling in the 2021 election.
In March 2025, the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus (EOWC) signed a memorandum of understanding agreement with the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, a U.S.-Canada coalition working to develop a plan to restore and protect the Great Lakes ecosystem. (Photo: EOWC)
The recent signing of an agreement between elected officials along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River is a key step towards highlighting the importance of building community relationships across Canada and the U.S., a member of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) says.
The EOWC and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSL) have signed a memorandum of understanding agreement (MOU) to enter into a partnership.
It’s a move that sets the framework for building relationships and advancing key priorities, Northumberland County warden and EOWC member Brian Ostrander told kawarthaNOW.
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“The impetus for this agreement stemmed from recognizing the critical need for collaboration among municipalities along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River,” Ostrander explained.
“The MOU provides a formal framework that fosters partnerships aimed at enhancing community relationships across Canada and the U.S., which is essential for addressing shared challenges related to climate change, economic development, and social resilience.”
Ostrander said the GLSL has been “instrumental” in supporting smaller communities like the Municipality of Brighton, especially during the flooding events of 2017 and 2019, by facilitating engagement with key organizations like the International Joint Commission, a binational organization established by the U.S. and Canada to prevent and resolve disputes over the use and quality of shared boundary waters.
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“This cooperation has proven invaluable in navigating the complexities of water management and environmental challenges,” Ostrander said.
On a regional level, the agreement between EOWC and GLSL will enhance their collective capacity to address climate issues, promote sustainable practices, and bolster their economies.
“By working together, we can leverage resources, share best practices, and create vibrant sustainable communities across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region,” Ostrander said.
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“I’m proud to be a part of this partnership,” Ostrander said. “As Northumberland warden, I hope that we can nurture the partnership at the county level to an even greater level and I look forward to the opportunities it will bring for our communities.”
The EOWC is an incorporated non-profit organization comprised of the head of councils of 13 municipalities in eastern Ontario, including 11 upper-tier counties and two single-tier municipalities, and supports and advocates on behalf of its 90 local municipalities and 800,000 residents across the region.
Founded in 2003 by former Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley and former Toronto mayor David Miller, the GLSL is a coalition of Canadian and American municipal and Indigenous government executives. With 120 member municipalities of all sizes from around the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basin, the initiative represents over 14 million people.
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Headquartered in Chicago with staff in Toronto and Montreal, GLSL actively works with federal, state, and provincial governments to advance the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes ecosystem through the development and implementation of a comprehensive Great Lakes protection and restoration plan.
The coalition will also call upon the U.S. Congress and Canadian parliament to appropriate funds for the development, by an independent panel of science and policy experts including member mayors, of the Great Lakes Protection and Restoration Plan.
“This plan will be updated as various issues arise and will serve as a blueprint to guide agreed-upon future legislative and appropriations activities that restore and protect the Great Lakes ecosystem,” GLSL states on its website.
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