Brock Mission board member Alan Wilson, who is leading the project to develop a 52-unit, six-storey co-ed transitional housing apartment building to be constructed at 738 Chemong Road, speaks to city council during a general committee meeting on February 24, 2025. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of City of Peterborough video)
Saying his office has been “inundated” with phone calls and emails, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP-elect Dave Smith issued a statement on Monday (March 3) to correct what he terms are “erroneous comments” recently made by the project lead for the Brock Mission transitional housing building planned for 738 Chemong Road.
Speaking before Peterborough city councillors last Monday, Brock Mission board member Alan Wilson said “operational costing” for the 52-unit building that will rise next to the organization’s Cameron House emergency shelter for women “has been costed at $2 million,” adding “MPP (Smith) has said he will make sure we get that money.”
But in his statement, Smith made it very clear that “that’s not the case.”
“There has been no (provincial) funding offered to Brock Mission for this (project), whether it’s capital or operating,” he later clarified for kawarthaNOW.
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“We (the Province) don’t have any (funding) programs at the moment because, obviously with the election, the budget has not been released yet,” Smith said. “Until the budget comes out, I don’t know what’s in it.”
“My office was inundated this morning (Monday) with phone calls and emails asking for clarification on this … based upon the statement Mr. Wilson said at city council.”
In his written statement, Smith acknowledges he participated in an “introductory meeting” last fall regarding the project.
“Representatives for Brock Mission were directed to work with the lead partners on the HART (Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment) Hub project during the development of Peterborough’s HART Hub application,” Smith writes in his statement. “Representatives of Brock Mission chose not to participate in the collaboration for the operational funding opportunity for the HART Hub.”
A rendering of Brock Mission’s proposed 52-unit, six-storey co-ed transitional housing apartment building to be constructed at 738 Chemong Road in Peterborough, adjacent to the existing Cameron House women’s shelter. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of City of Peterborough video)
“I’ve been very heavily involved with the HART Hub application since its inception,” Smith told kawarthaNOW. “I don’t believe that what he (Wilson) is proposing is actually going to be a solution for our problem at the moment. Brock (Mission) has been operating in isolation, without working with any of the other partners on this (HART Hub).”
As for provincial dollars to help fund the Brock Mission build, Smith makes it clear in his statement that this is not an option. He notes the $6.3 million in funding that the Ontario government has committed for Peterborough’s HART Hub “can only be allocated toward operational expenses.”
“None of the funding can be used for capital build expenses. No funding from the successful HART Hub application for Peterborough can be used to assist in the Brock Mission build.”
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Furthermore, Smith notes there are no provincial capital funding programs available for which Brock Mission could apply.
“No provincial capital funding is available nor has any been committed to Brock Mission for this project,” he states.
“As is the case for all funding opportunities, should a program be made available, Brock Mission may choose to apply for funding, at which time, the project would be evaluated through a competitive application process, and the merits of the proposal combined with the needs of all of the communities that apply would determine whether their application is successful or not.”
Dave Smith was re-elected as Peterborough-Kawartha MPP for a third time on February 27, 2025 after Premier Doug Ford called a snap winter election asking Ontario voters for a strong mandate to take on the threat of tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo: Dave Smith / Facebook)
Asked if he thinks Wilson was misleading when he told councillors that he had been assured funding for operational costs would be forthcoming, Smith took a long pause before answering.
“Suggesting that someone is lying is not something I’m comfortable with,” Smith said. “What I will say is I have no idea where he came up with a commitment or dollar amount.”
To clarify that exact point, kawarthaNOW shared Smith’s statement with Wilson via email, to which Wilson only replied “I understand what Dave has said.” Meanwhile, kawarthaNOW’s request to Wilson for an interview went unanswered.
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Wilson’s appearance before city council — the outcome of which saw Mayor Jeff Leal exercise his strong mayor powers to fast-track the project, and subsequently gain enough support from council to expedite it by amending the city’s zoning by-law and exempting the project from the city’s site plan requirements — followed an earlier appearance before Peterborough County councillors where Wilson sought financial support from the county.
Wilson afterwards told the Peterborough Examiner that he expects the project to include $2 million in operating expenses which, he’s quoted as saying, “will be covered by the Province in recognition of the desperate need for transitional housing in the city.”
While county council voiced its support of the project, it voted to defer Wilson’s funding request until 2026 budget deliberations.
Brock Mission’s transitional housing project was earlier granted $250,000 by the city to pay for site test testing work which has already begun.
Wilson has said that federal funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is actively being sought.
Should funding be forthcoming, the building’s foundation could be dug as soon as late April, with construction of the building itself starting this summer.
Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) has announced Joe Rees and Hillary Flood will lead key initiatives for the not-for-profit organization that promotes regional tourism activity in the area branded as Kawarthas Northumberland. (kawarthaNOW collage of supplied photos)
Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) has hired two Peterborough residents well known in the local economic development community to lead key initiatives for the not-for-profit organization.
Joe Rees is joining RTO8 as the program manager for the Acceler8 program and Hillary Flood is RTO8’s sustainable tourism certification coordinator.
Based in Hastings, RTO8 is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport to promote regional tourism activity in the area branded as Kawarthas Northumberland, which includes the City and County of Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County.
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Rees, who was previously director of tourism at the now-defunct Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED), will be heading up Acceler8, a mentorship program for tourism businesses.
Acceler8 is designed to help business owners identify specific challenges to their growth and facilitate a structured coaching process with a skilled mentor with relevant business experience.
Flood, who was previously vibrancy manager with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, will facilitate GreenStep Destination Certification for the Kawarthas Northumberland region.
GreenStep Certification is a process that will help RTO8 assess its environmental impact, set meaningful sustainability goals, and enhance its role as a leader in responsible tourism. By earning the certification, RTO8 will demonstrate its dedication to sustainable practices and the long-term well-being of tourism in Kawarthas Northumberland.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the entire Kawarthas region for significant rainfall and mild temperatures on Wednesday (March 5).
The special weather statement is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.
Rain, heavy at times, along with isolated thunderstorms will impact southern Ontario beginning Tuesday night and ending Wednesday night.
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Rainfall amounts of 15 to 25 mm are expected in the Kawarthas region, with the daytime temperature on Wednesday expected to reach 8°C.
The rainfall, combined with melting snow from the mild temperatures and the limited ability of the frozen ground to absorb the water, may lead to localized flooding in low-lying areas and water pooling on roads.
To help reduce the risk of localized flooding and pooling water, the City of Peterborough is encouraging residents who live near a storm drain to clear the drain of snow and ice if they can safely do so. While city crews are working to clear storm drains, there are more than 6,000 storm drains located across the city.
Northumberland County CAO Jennifer Moore and other municipal leaders in the county are advancing a "Team Canada" approach as a coordinated response to the challenges posed by recent trade developments, particularly the U.S. threat of 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods to take effect on March 4, 2025. (Photo: Northumberland County
Northumberland County’s seven member municipalities are embracing a “Team Canada” approach in light of recent trade developments and the proposed U.S. tariffs.
Following a recent meeting of municipal CAOs and economic development officers, all seven municipalities are advancing the approach as a coordinated response to the current economic challenges, particularly the threat of 25 per cent U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods expected to take effect Tuesday (March 4).
“Local municipalities are working together to ensure Northumberland’s concerns are heard by all levels of government,” Northumberland County CAO Jennifer Moore told kawarthaNOW. “We are teaming up to support local businesses, bolster our economy, and strengthen pride in our community.”
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The county announced the “Team Canada” approach on the heels of Canada’s recent celebration of the 60th anniversary of the maple leaf flag, and as a way to “proudly reaffirm their commitment to Canada’s economic resilience and independence.”
According to a media release from the county, the proposed tariffs would have “a far-reaching impact” on local economies in Ontario where industries and communities are deeply interconnected with the U.S. From construction materials and essential fleet parts to agricultural products and tourism, cross-border trade “is vital” to the health and prosperity of Northumberland and surrounding communities.
When representatives from the county and the seven member municipalities gathered to discuss how best to respond to these challenges and protect the region’s economic interests, they zeroed in on the four areas of action listed below.
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1. Joint municipal purchasing
Treasurers and finance officers are exploring opportunities for joint purchasing initiatives that will allow local municipalities to leverage economies of scale, reduce the impact of any tariffs, and ensure critical materials and services remain accessible for municipal operations.
2. Data collection and direct advocacy
Economic Development staff will be collecting data from local businesses to understand the specific risks they face and to track the impacts of trade developments. This data will be used to strengthen direct advocacy efforts with upper levels of government, ensuring that the interests of Northumberland businesses and residents are represented.
Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander has also sent letters to more than 60 US border communities seeking a collaborative approach to advocacy with officials on both sides of the border, ensuring that expected economic impacts are well-understood.
3. Regional advocacy for trade and local businesses
Local municipalities are engaged with and supporting the advocacy efforts of organizations such as the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities by gathering and sharing local data “critical to a clear economic picture.”
“Adding Northumberland voices to this collective approach will elevate our message, ensuring local concerns are heard.”
4. Buy local initiative
Economic Development staff are coordinating a high-visibility “buy local” campaign, which will encourage residents to pledge an increased percentage of their monthly spending on locally produced goods and services. The goal is to support local businesses, ensure the continued growth and health of the local economy, and reinforce community pride. More about this campaign will be released in the coming weeks.
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In addition, as part of the Team Canada approach, municipal leaders in Northumberland County are standing together to advocate for fair trade practices and champion local industries and businesses.
Supporting Canadian businesses means protecting jobs, strengthening the economy, and investing in a resilient future, the release noted.
“In light of the threat of increased tariffs on both sides of the border, there is more strength in working together as a collective voice,” said Dave Dawson, CAO of the Township of Alnwick/Haldimand, in a statement. “Unified, we are better positioned to advocate for the protection and growth of our local economy.”
“Trade with the United States has been a cornerstone of Canada’s economy for decades,” said Hamilton Township CAO Arthur Anderson. “As we navigate current challenges, we remain committed to a collaborative, team-oriented approach to support local businesses, safeguard jobs, and ensure long-term prosperity for our communities and our country.”
Meanwhile, Municipality of Port Hope’s interim CAO Tonia Bennett, said, “It’s more important than ever that we come together, not just as individual municipalities but as a collective force for positive change. By aligning our advocacy efforts and sharing vital data, we are amplifying our voices and making sure our concerns are heard at all levels of government.”
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The executive order that U.S. President Donald Trump signed in early February, after he agreed to pause the tariffs for 30 days, states they will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday. However, there is some confusion as to whether they will be as high as 25 per cent on Canadian goods and 10 per cent on Canadian energy as originally announced.
While the U.S. commerce secretary Howard Lutnick has confirmed U.S. President Donald Trump will impose the tariffs on Tuesday, he did not confirm their magnitude and scope.
On Monday afternoon, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the 25 per cent tariffs against Canada and Mexico would proceed as of Tuesday.
“It’s a fluid situation,” Lutnick said in an interview with Fox News on Sunday. “There are going to be tariffs on Tuesday on Mexico and Canada. Exactly what they are I’m going to leave that for the president and his team to negotiate.”
Meanwhile, newly re-elected Premier Doug Ford said at a media conference on Monday that he was prepared to cut energy to American states like New York, Michigan, and Minnesota if the U.S. moves ahead with the tariffs. He also encouraged consumers, retailers, and municipalities to source goods from Ontario or from elsewhere in Canada.
A 41-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with a death in Cobourg on Sunday morning (March 2).
At around 6 a.m. on Sunday, Cobourg police and emergency services responded to an apartment building at 24 James Street West where a person was found dead.
Kenneth Trolley, 41, of Cobourg has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Police have not yet released any information about the victim.
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Just before 10 a.m., Cobourg police contacted the Northumberland Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to assist in the investigation.
The murder investigation is now being conducted by the Cobourg Police Service with assistance from the OPP Forensic Identification Services, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service.
Anyone with any information about this investigation is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or stopcrimehere.ca.
Located at 983 Burnham Street in Cobourg, the 151-bed Golden Plough Lodge is the only municipally operated long-term care home in Northumberland County. (Photo: Google Maps)
A fire on Saturday afternoon (March 1) at Golden Plough Lodge, the only municipally operated long-term care home in Northumberland County, has displaced seven residents but there were no injuries.
Emergency services responded at around 2:50 p.m. on Saturday to a fire in a resident’s room on the main floor in the Mcmillan Cottage area of the 151-bed Cobourg facility. There was no one in the room at the time of the fire.
While the fire was contained to the resident’s room and extinguished, smoke and water damage affected two other resident rooms on the main floor and, on the floor below, two additional resident rooms, a nurse’s station, and two office spaces.
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All residents and staff in the vicinity of the fire were assessed. Although five staff members were transported to hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, all residents were cleared with no health impacts.
“Staff are supporting and reassuring residents through this incident,” said Glenn Dees, Golden Plough’s director of health and human services, in a media release after the incident. “Northumberland County and Golden Plough Lodge staff thank the members of the Cobourg Fire Department, Northumberland Paramedics, and Cobourg Police for their timely and professional response to this incident.”
After the Cobourg Fire Department gave the all clear, all residents but seven were able to return to their rooms. Six of the displaced residents will be relocated to other rooms and Golden Plough are working with Ontario Health atHome to find an alternate placement for the seventh displaced resident.
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County facilities staff have completed an assessment of the affected areas of the home. Restoration work is now underway and is anticipated to take several weeks.
In a second media release after the fire, Dees thanked staff “for their unwavering professionalism and quick action” in response to the incident.
“Special thanks also to the broader Northumberland County team for their rapid response, to our colleagues at Northumberland Hills Hospital and other partner agencies who offered support, and once again to our first responder partners, who acted with speed and expertise to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved,” Dees added.
Regular visiting hours resumed at the home on Sunday morning.
Community Care Peterborough's fundraiser in support of the Meals on Wheels program, "Meals to Go" sees pre-ordered meals delivered by volunteers to workplaces across Peterborough. (Graphic: Community Care Peterborough)
By treating themselves to lunch delivered to their desks, Peterborough business owners and employees can help put dinner on the table for the growing number of community members who rely on Meals on Wheels.
Community Care Peterborough has announced the return of “Meals to Go,” its spring annual fundraising appeal. The popular fundraiser, which takes place on Wednesday, March 26, is a semi-annual event that sees meals delivered directly to local workplaces by Meals on Wheels volunteers.
Each meal sold helps subsidize the cost of Meals on Wheels in Peterborough, “ensuring that nutritious food remains accessible to those who need it most,” Community Care Peterborough noted.
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Danielle Belair, CEO of Community Care Peterborough, shared a few thoughts with kawarthaNOW about the importance of the fundraiser.
“Meals to Go is more than a fundraiser,” Belair said. “Every lunch delivered, every meal donated, and every volunteer hour contributes to a legacy of care that has supported Meals on Wheels for the past 60 years.”
The demand for Meals on Wheels has grown and community support is vital for the success of the program, Belair added.
“The need for Meals on Wheels has increased considerably in the last few years and this initiative helps us further our efforts to fight food insecurity for seniors and adults living with physical challenges.”
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The $15 meal features a Greek chicken pasta bowl (served cold) with a triple-chocolate fudge cake dessert. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free alternatives are also available. The menu has been crafted in collaboration with Mapleridge Retirement Residence, which prepares hot Meals on Wheels in Peterborough.
To take part, groups of co-workers must order meals in advance, with one representative submitting the full order. The deadline to order is Tuesday, March 18. Orders can be placed online at www.commcareptbo.org/mealstogo.
In addition to purchasing meals, Community Care Peterborough invites businesses and community members to donate non-perishable food items in support of Vinnie’s Food Pantry, a Peterborough food bank operated by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. A donation collection will be available at the time of meal delivery.
Community Care Peterborough is also seeking new volunteers in March for the Meals on Wheels program.
“We have set a goal of recruiting 60 new volunteers to support Meals on Wheels, and other essential services we offer, as we commemorate the 60th anniversary of Meals on Wheels in Peterborough,” Belair said.
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In December, Meals to Go surpassed its goal of 600 donated meals for clients in honour of the anniversary milestone. Meals to Go also coincides with March for Meals, an annual campaign that raises awareness of Meals on Wheels programs across North America.
In Ontario, more than 68,000 people rely on Meals on Wheels, and Peterborough is home to one of Canada’s earliest programs. Today, Community Care Peterborough delivers more than 50,000 meals annually throughout the city and county.
“We are so grateful for the incredible support that has sustained Meals on Wheels for 60 years,” Chris LeBlanc, director of donor and public relations at Community Care Peterborough, said in a media release.
“It takes the entire community — businesses, volunteers, donors, and partners — to keep this essential service going. Meals to Go is a fantastic way for businesses to enjoy a great meal, support Meals on Wheels, and now, give back even more by donating non-perishable food items to help those in need.”
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Meals to Go is made possible through the support of sponsors, including Mapleridge Retirement Residence, Sysco, Outpost Packaging, and Crosswind Farm.
Community Care Peterborough is a multi-service charitable organization dedicated to promoting health, wellness, and independence for seniors and adults living with disabilities across the city and county of Peterborough.
Through services including Meals on Wheels, transportation, and wellness programs, Community Care Peterborough “enriches the lives of thousands in our community each year.”
While the sudden warm spells last winter meant Ontario maple syrup producers tapped trees earlier than usual, this also shortened the timeframe for sap collection and ultimately meant a smaller yield. This year's maple syrup season is promising to be more typical, according to the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers' Association. Consistent below-freezing temperatures at night followed by gradually warming temperatures during the day will allow for a more traditional maple syrup season running from late March to early April. (Stock photo)
Did you know it takes 30 to 40 litres of maple tree sap to make a single litre of maple syrup? That’s a lot of sap and a lot of time spent tapping trees.
Unfortunately for farmers, it’s not always easy to predict how long each maple syrup season will last or how much sap they’ll be able to collect over the season.
Unusually warm weather last January and February led to earlier-than-normal tapping of maple trees, while this winter’s cold weather suggests a more traditional maple syrup season — although nothing is certain when it comes to the weather these days.
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“Like the rest of farming, it’s mother nature and you have no control over that,” says Jill Staples of Staples Maple Syrup, located between Cavan and Bethany.
Founded in 1973, the award-winning producer is a member of the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association. The farm began with Jill’s husband, Robert, making maple syrup in a cast iron pot with his father in the 1960s and has, over the years, turned into a full family business with the help of their children.
Today, the Staples have three sugar bush areas with 3,500 trees they will tap for the 3,500 litres of sap they will collect on average in a given year. This year, however, it might be a few weeks still before the Staples are collecting sap.
Staples Maple Syrup in Cavan taps 3,500 trees every year to produce their award-winning maple syrup. An open house at Staples Maple Syrup on April 6, 2025 during the province-wide Maple Weekend will be one of many activities taking place in the Kawartha region while the sap runs. (Photo: Staples Maple Syrup)
For trees to be suitable to start tapping, the sap must begin to flow which only happens when the weather fluctuates enough that temperatures are above zero in the daytime, but still below freezing at night. The fluctuation causes a build-up of pressure in the sapwood, causing the sap to run.
While this typically happens between February and April in Ontario, sometimes it can happen earlier — as was the case last year, when Staples Maple Syrup produced its first batch of maple syrup on January 30th.
“Our son who’s more involved now just thought we need to start tapping because the temperatures were going up,” she says, noting it didn’t last more than a few days before drying up again. “Several people didn’t have a good amount last year because they missed those first few really good runs.”
Jill says last year was the earliest they’d ever tapped, more than two weeks earlier than the previous record of February 14. Part of the job, she explains, is having to be flexible and “watch the signs.”
“You can just tell things are changing,” she says. “There’s a smell in the air, the crows start cawing more.”
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While the sudden warm spells last winter meant producers tapped trees earlier than usual, this also shortened the timeframe for sap collection and ultimately meant a smaller yield for the season.
This year’s maple syrup season is promising to be more typical, according to the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association. Consistent below-freezing temperatures at night followed by gradually warming temperatures during the day will allow for a more traditional maple syrup season running from late March to early April.
In addition, the large amount of snow that fell this winter will provide moisture for trees while also moderating daytime temperatures during warm spells, preventing the sap from flowing too quickly.
The production of maple syrup can be traced back to Indigenous peoples, who were the first to harvest the sap of maple trees to create a syrup for medicinal purposes and to preserve meat and who shared the process with European settlers. Historical and modern techniques of boiling sap will be on display during the Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival taking place on March 8 and 9, 2025 at the Sandy Flat Sugar Bush. (Photo: Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival)
However, that could all change if there’s a sudden warming trend and Ontario experiences an early spring.
“If it warms up too quickly, the run could be very intense and very short, so that’s the other thing we don’t know,” she says. “You never know from one year to the next what the quantity’s going to be like or what your sap is going to be like.”
Tapping too late into the spring, when the buds are beginning to swell, could result in sap that is more bitter rather than sweet. Jill notes this is often a “fine line,” and can result in sap that comes out very dark and milky.
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In the Kawarthas region, maple syrup season kicks off with the 37th annual Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival, taking place on Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9. During the weekend, you can hop on a free shuttle to Sandy Flat Sugar Bush for a day filled with pancake breakfasts, horse and wagon rides, sugaring-off tours, maple taffy making, live entertainment, and nature trails. Admission costs $5 per person.
The fun doesn’t stop when you get back to Warkworth Village, as there will be a vendor sale, a beer garden, indoor mini golf, the storybook walk, and more live entertainment. All proceeds for the event go to the Warkworth Community Service Club. Visit warkworthmaplesyrupfestival.ca for more information.
The sweet celebrations will continue into Maple Weekend, which is held on the first weekend in April every year. Taking place on April 5 and 6 this year, Maple Weekend sees many producers inviting guests to see how the syrup is made and giving out free samples of fresh maple syrup and maple-based confections.
Maple taffy tasting is one of the many fun activities taking place at Sandy Flat Sugar Bush during the annual Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival on March 8 and 9, 2025. (Photo: Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival)
Back for the 28th year, the Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days. Located 30 kilometres east of Lindsay in Durham Region, the festival includes tour buses to Salem Alpaca Farm and Harlaine Maple Products, where visitors can see how maple syrup is made using modern practices.
Other activities over the weekend include pony rides, a petting zoo, bouncy castles, maple leaf painting contest, bathtub races, and live music and entertainment. For more information, visit maplesyrupfestival.ca.
As for Staples Maple Syrup, they will be hosting an open house on Sunday, April 6. Visitors can get a tour of the equipment, watch the boiling process, and sample some fresh maple products.
“We’ve always felt it very important for people to know where their food comes from,” Jill says.
Maple syrup producers in the Kawarthas region who are participating in Maple Weekend are listed below.
The Peterborough Theatre Guild's production of Lauren Gunderson's "Silent Sky" brings the unsung story of brilliant 19th-century female astronomer Henrietta Leavitt to the stage for 10 performances from March 21 to April 5, 2025. (Graphic: Peterborough Theatre Guild)
If you’re struggling to comprehend live theatre’s appeal to those who truly love the creative art form, then sit down, if even for a few minutes, with Bea Quarrie.
Should you somehow not come away with a better understanding of that appeal, you will gain on some level an appreciation for the passion and commitment that is at the heart of Quarrie’s more than five decades of bringing stories to stage life, be that as a director or actor.
At the Guild Hall on Rogers Street in East City, Quarrie donned her director’s hat as she sat down for a chat with kawarthaNOW about Lauren Gunderson’s Silent Sky, the fifth play of the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s 2024-25 season, which opens March 21 and runs for 10 performances until April 5.
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“Theatre is an art form that continues to puzzle and continues to challenge,” assesses Quarrie.
“You can go to sleep. I don’t want to do that. This keeps me awake; keeps the old brain cells working. It comes with so many challenges in terms of teamwork, in terms of concepts and ideas, so there’s always something that’s intriguing, something elusive. You’re always chasing something.”
“Just to pull something off the page and make it come to life so the audience will enjoy it .. this communing together is magical. It’s like nothing else. That’s why a lot of actors keep working for pennies. It’s addictive.”
In bringing Silent Sky to local audiences, Quarrie is satisfying an addiction more than five decades in the making; a live theatre legacy that took root in 1970 when she moved to Peterborough from Guelph, secured a job teaching drama at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School and shortly after made her Peterborough Theatre Guild acting debut, playing eight roles in Dylan Thomas’ Under Milkwood.
She says Silent Sky, co-produced by Ina Stenner and Antje Burness and starring five actors including Lindsay Unterlander in the lead role, checks a lot of boxes in terms of piquing her interest and keeping it, and in terms of the themes it presents.
Directed by Bea Quarrie (right), the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s production of Lauren Gunderson’s “Silent Sky” stars Lindsay Unterlander (left) in the leading role as the brilliant 19th-century female astronomer Henrietta Leavitt. The play also starte Lyndele Gauci, Kevin O’Neill, Laura Lawson, and Lela Fox-Doran. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
Written in 2011 by Atlanta native Lauren Gunderson as a commission for California’s South Coast Repertory Theatre, Silent Sky relates the true story of the 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt who, when she begins work at the Harvard Observatory, isn’t allowed anywhere near a telescope or to even express an idea.
Along with a group of female “human computers” (women who performed calculations by hand), Leavitt charts the stars for renowned astronomer Edward Charles Pickering who, having no time for the women’s theories, calculates projects in “girl hours.”
Undaunted, Leavitt, in her free time, attempts to measure the light and distance of stars. At the same time, she finds herself taking measure of her life in an attempt to balance her dedication to science with family obligations and the possibility of love.
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“A friend of mine said ‘There’s this play I just adjudicated that’s the most popular and most often produced play in North America called Silent Sky’,” recounts Quarrie, adding she had never heard of it let alone read it.
“I got a copy and I read it and I went ‘Now I understand why.’ It’s such a life-affirming play. It’s historically based, but it lifts you up at a time when we all need that — something positive, something that makes you feel like you’re part of a bigger plan. It’s about what makes us human.”
Quarrie notes Leavitt developed a system for measuring the distance to stars “that is still used today. She was pretty well unheard of until this play came to be.”
Henrietta Leavitt at her desk in an undated photo from the early 1900s. (Photo: Margaret Harwood, courtesy of AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives, Physics Today Collection, Shapley Collection)
After studying thousands of Cepheid variable stars in two dwarf galaxies, Leavitt discovered how their intrinsic brightness is directly related to their pulsation period. Her discovery provided astronomers with the first “standard candle” (a term coined by Leavitt) for luminosity with which to measure the distance to other galaxies.
Leavitt’s breakthrough provided a crucial tool for measuring vast cosmic distances, leading to the discovery of the expanding universe. The famed astronomer Edwin Hubble, who was prompted by Leavitt’s discovery to position the Milky Way galaxy away from the centre of the universe, often said she deserved the Nobel Prize for her work.
While a Swedish mathematician tried to nominate her in 1925, he learned she had died of cancer at the age of 53 four years earlier, making her ineligible for a Nobel Prize as it is not awarded posthumously.
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Tasked with portraying this little known but strong character, actor Lindsay Unterlander says all the characters, including the one she’s playing, “are beautifully developed and beautifully flawed, but that makes them so charming and lovable, and relatable even though they are historical figures from more than 100 years ago. Their struggles and their story are universal.”
“We’re always curious about what’s going on outside us,” she says. “We’re always overwhelmed with family obligations and things that pull us away from our passions.”
Of Leavitt, Unterlander says she “fell in love with her right away. I understood her desire to be taken seriously. I loved her humour. She has a habit of blurting and speaking her mind that sometimes gets her in a bit of trouble. I can relate to that. I often say what I’m thinking before I think about my phrasing.”
“I’m blanking on who it was, but there’s this great actor who said ‘You know when you pick up a script and read the role, if you hear it in your voice, you know it’s yours.’ That was how I felt the first time I read it. My partner read every other role and I read Henrietta’s. We were sitting in the kitchen. Bea had just given us the script and we were like ‘Let’s read’.”
Circa 1890, Henrietta Swan Leavitt (third from left) works among “The Harvard Computers” who assisted astronomer Edward Charles Pickering at the Harvard College Observatory. The assistants also included Annie Jump Cannon, Williamina Fleming, and Antonia Maury. Reflecting the sexism of the time, the group was also nicknamed “Pickering’s Harem.” (Photo courtesy of Harvard College Observatory)
Not unlike many actors drawn to a particular role, Unterlander says there are similarities between her personality and that of Leavitt that are helping her make a connection.
“Where she was excluded from the world that she wanted, I remember being a kid and saying ‘When I grow up, I’m going to be a professional athlete … a hockey player or a baseball player,’ and having that bubble burst. Just like the way Henrietta is told she’s not an astronomer because she doesn’t have the degree, I didn’t have the genitalia to be a professional athlete.”
Unterlander adds her goal “is that Lindsay is never on stage.”
“If I feel I’m Lindsay up here, that’s when I’m breaking character. I don’t see myself in her, but I understand her. I see her as someone who is fiery and charged up and loud. She’s a force to be reckoned with. Someone else might see her as awkward and aloof. A different actor could play her differently, but the fun thing is how you interpret or understand her, with the help of your director.”
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For Quarrie, Unterlander — who been part of previous Guild production casts including that for Cats — possesses and projects Leavitt’s spirit.
“She’s got that curiosity about the world that’s so fundamental to exploration — not just exploration in terms of astronomy, but exploration in terms of the human condition,” says Quarrie.
“If a director casts a show right, 90 per cent of her work is done. We have a lot of wonderful interactions. The chemistry is good on stage. But it was her spirit — a feisty determination to find things out and, if it isn’t what it could be, she’s going to go for it. She’s going to dig deep.”
With the next few weeks promising rehearsal upon rehearsal, both Quarrie and Unterlander are excited in anticipation of the tie that binds them together: the presentation of their work before an audience.
VIDEO: “Silent Sky” promo
While performing in front of an audience “is a whole different level of adrenaline” according to Unterlander, she admits her favourite thing about theatre is the rehearsal process.
“(It’s a) time to explore and discover new things, and meet your character and the characters you’re playing against,” she says. “I enjoy the process — the challenge of learning the lines and trying out different things. It gives you something to talk about and debate and discuss.”
Quarrie echoes that sentiment, terming the process “the most fascinating thing.”
“I keep saying to the actors ‘You’ve got to play process. Don’t play resolution.’ By the time we get to opening night, certain things will be resolved in terms of where we’re going with it, but not where we’re going to end up.”
“If you’re questing all the way through to find the best possible solution for every single thing that’s put in your way, it’s exciting. Then it comes alive. The audience senses that. It’s not dead on delivery.”
A scene from a 2015 production at TheaterCNU at Christopher Newport University in Virginia of Lauren Gunderson’s “Silent Sky,” one of the most produced plays in the U.S. American Theatre Magazine has referred to Gunderson’s signature style as a “dramatic blend of science, history and romance.” (Photo: Alan Skees Christopher / Newport University)
Joining Unterlander on stage for Silent Sky are Lyndele Gauci, Kevin O’Neill, Laura Lawson, and Lela Fox-Doran, with Lisa Dixon as assistant director.
Other credits include stage management by Marilyn Robinson, assisted by Hayley Griffin-Montgomery, with set design by David Green and lighting and projection design by Esther Vincent.
Silent Sky will be staged at the Guild Hall at 364 Rogers Street in Peterborough’s East City, with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. on March 21 and 22, 27 to 29, and April 3 to 5, with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees on March 23 and 30.
Assigned seating tickets are priced at $30 for adults, $27 for seniors, and $20 for students and can be purchased by calling 705-745-4211 or online at www.peterboroughtheatreguild.com.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s 2024-25 season.
The City of Kawartha Lakes is inviting local musicians to sign up for the 2025 "Concerts in the Park" series of 15 free concerts in Lindsay's Victoria Park. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)
While warm summer days and outdoor concerts are still a few months away, the City of Kawartha Lakes is looking to line up local musicians now for the city’s 2025 “Concerts in the Park” series.
The parks and recreation division, in partnership with local bands and sponsors, has been providing free concerts at Victoria Park in downtown Lindsay for 33 years.
With a series of 15 concerts planned for this summer at the Frank Banks Gazebo, the municipality is inviting performers to put their names forward.
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“We’re aiming for a diverse line-up of performers, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy,” the city’s manager of parks and recreation Ryan Smith told kawarthaNOW. “Our goal is to offer multiple talented artists the opportunity to share their unique performances with the audience.”
Weather permitting, concerts take place on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Sunday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m. during July and August.
The concerts provide an opportunity for people to meet and interact, and the event overall helps develop community spirit while supporting local musical talent.
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Smith said the concerts are important to residents and musicians alike.
“The event provides free, easily accessible entertainment, making it a valuable resource for the community,” he said. “It serves as a platform to showcase local talent and fosters a sense of connection among attendees.”
Attendance for each concert typically ranges from 50 to 100 people, “creating an intimate yet engaging atmosphere for those that attend,” Smith added.
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When asked what types of artists and music genres are desired, Smith said the main objective is to ensure the musicians are offering a family-friendly show.
“We kindly ask performers to tailor their set and language to suit a broad audience. We typically feature a dynamic mix of genres, ranging from jazz to rock, ensuring a variety of musical styles for all tastes.”
The 2025 series, sponsored by the Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce, will feature an open mic concert once a month. These shows will provide aspiring performers with the opportunity to display their talent in three songs or less during a 15-minute set.
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When the first concert of the season takes place on Wednesday, July 2, residents and visitors can grab their lawn chairs or blankets and settle in at Victoria Park, which is located at 210 Kent St. W., to take in the outdoor live music.
Performers interested in volunteering their time and talent to the concert series are asked to reach out to the parks and recreation department.
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