Hydro One crews conducting overnight maintenance on lines in the Picton area in September 2020. (Photo: Hydro One)
UPDATE: The planned outage was originally going to affect 16,000 Hydro One customers from the west side of Pigeon Lake in the north to Lake Scugog in the south and west to Durham Region. As of Thursday afternoon, Hydro One has notified some customers the outage has been cancelled, and the Hydro One outage map is now showing a reduced area from Bobcaygeon in the north to Lindsay in the south.
Kawartha Lakes households and businesses are being reminded of a planned power outage for eight hours overnight on Saturday (May 23).
Hydro One will be performing maintenance work that will result in an outage beginning at 9 p.m. on Saturday, with an estimated restoration time of 5 a.m. on Sunday.
Around 10,549 Hydro One customers will be affected, from the west side of Pigeon Lake in the north to Lindsay in the south.
Affected communities include Bobcaygeon, Dunsford, and Lindsay.
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As a result of the planned outage, FLATO Academy Theatre in Lindsay has cancelled the Lennon.Live tribute concert that was scheduled for Saturday night. Ticket-holders will be issued a refund.
The City of Kawartha Lakes is advising residents in the affected area to prepare in advance for the power outage, which can affect heating, cooling, lighting, water, and internet and phone service.
The weather forecast for Saturday night is showers with an overnight low of 8° C.
The revised area in Kawartha Lakes that will be affected by Hydro One’s planned eight-hour power outage starting at 9 p.m. on May 23, 2026. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of Hydro One outage map)
The original version of this story has been updated to reflect the reduced area for the planned outage.
While Dr. Joe Hoja (left) of Peterborough Optimetric has spent decades cycling through Peterborough, commuting by bike is a newer experience for his colleague Dr. Bella Sudik (right). Now sharing a similar ride to work, the two have bonded over their love of cycling and rarely miss a chance to swap biking tips. (Photo: Rebekkah Hyams / GreenUP)
When a fellow optometrist at Peterborough Optometric said she was mulling the idea of cycling to work, it was music to clinic owner Joe Hoja’s ears.
Hoja, who has been plying Peterborough’s streets on two wheels for more than three decades, is passionate about sharing his love of cycling with others.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Green Economy Peterborough Program Coordinator Rebekkah Hyams and GreenUP Active Transportation Coordinator Brett Throop.
The garage of Hoja’s west-end home is filled with his family’s bicycles. With young grandchildren now learning to ride, he is adding hooks to store even more.
“It’ll almost be like a museum of bikes,” he says.
He also built a locked shed at the clinic for staff to store bikes during inclement weather.
So, when Hoja’s colleague Bella Sudit said she wanted to ride to work but didn’t have a bike, Hoja was quick to offer one from his collection.
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As a new mom, cycling to work has given Sudit some much needed alone time each day.
“The ride allows for those 15 minutes to myself,” she says. “Plus, by the time I arrive at home, I feel like I’ve done some exercise already because the ride home is physically difficult.”
Peterborough Optometric is one of a growing number of local businesses making it easier for employees to commute by active transportation. Some organizations, like the Peterborough Public Library, have invested in building sheltered and secure bike parking areas, but small steps can also make a difference.
Sometimes the smallest changes can have the biggest impact. At downtown Peterborough shared office space Unicity, a few simple bike hooks transformed an unused area into secure bicycle parking, making it easier for employees to choose active transportation. Small investments like these not only encourage people to rethink their commute but also show staff their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint are valued and supported. (Photo: Brett Throop / GreenUP)
Unicity, a shared office space in downtown Peterborough, turned an unused space under a stairwell into a secure bike parking area by simply screwing a few bike mounts into the wall.
“Because we’re downtown, driving isn’t always the most convenient option to commute to work, so we wanted to make sure that our tenants and their clients had options,” says Savanna Cordeiro-Nolan from Unicity.
It would be hard to find a business that’s done more to encourage cycling and walking than local outdoor retailer Wild Rock Outfitters. The downtown Peterborough business offers staff discounts on bicycles, a salary add-on meant to encourage active transportation, and secure indoor bike parking.
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It’s not just carrots, though, there’s a stick too: employees must pay to use the customer parking lot if they choose to drive.
“What we needed to do at Wild Rock was to make driving less convenient and biking or walking more appealing, which nudged our staff to make the switch,” says co-owner Scott Murison.
The result? According to Murison, about 35 of 40 staff members walk or bike to work, himself included.
After 35 years of commuting by bike, Murison says he recently started making the daily trek on foot to give himself more time to transition between home and work.
“Cycling was almost too efficient. Sometimes I listen to podcasts, and other times, I just listen to my own thoughts.”
Secure bike storage can be a gamechanger for employees considering cycling to work. Wild Rock co-owner Scott Murison now prefers walking to work, but says the business’s dedicated bike parking fills up quickly during the warmer months as most staff choose to ride. (Photo: Rebekkah Hyams / GreenUP)
Jim Sexton is one Wild Rock employee who doesn’t need a nudge to get out of his car. He spent his summers growing up riding his BMX in Orillia and his enthusiasm for bikes never faded.
“Cycling is as close to flying as humans can get,” Sexton says.
To savour that flying feeling as long as possible each day, Sexton loops through residential streets and trails on his daily commute. He drags out what would otherwise be a three-kilometre trip to 15 kilometres.
“Even when I feel like it’s going to be a slog, I will push through, and I always feel better in the end,” he says.
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There are many ways workplaces can encourage staff to bike, walk, or use public transit, but sometimes the best catalyst for change is one person showing it can be done.
Josh Burke, a designer with civil engineering firm Engage Engineering, says he was new to cycle commuting when he first hopped on the hand-me-down bike he got from his father-in-law last November.
“I started biking out of necessity as we only have one car, but I definitely started to enjoy it,” he says.
When Josh Burke and his partner first moved to Peterborough, he’d never commuted by bike before. But after picking up his father-in-law’s hand-me-down bicycle and riding daily for six straight months, the Engage Engineering employee says he’s grown more confident with every ride – and hopes his experience encourages others to give cycling a try, no matter the season. (Photo: Brett Throop / GreenUP)
Burke biked to work all through this past winter, one of the harshest in recent memory, and is currently participating in the Shifting Gears May Challenge.
Now in its 23rd year, the month-long challenge sees hundreds of people in the region swap their car keys for active and sustainable modes of transportation every May.
Burke says his efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by his colleagues.
“I don’t know if I have inspired anyone, but they definitely say, ‘if Josh can do it in the winter, you can do it.'”
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The Shifting Gears May Challenge wraps up next week, but GreenUP works year-round to promote active and sustainable transportation, including helping businesses implement bike-friendly measures.
Oeterborough Optometric, Engage Engineering, and Wild Rock Outfitters are members of GreenUP’s Green Economy Peterborough (GEP) program, a network that supports local businesses in sustainable practices. Learn more and sign up for the GEP mailing list at greeneconomypeterborough.ca.
Located on two floors in Peterborough Square in the downtown core, the Peterborough Community Health Centre (PCHC) is a non-profit community-governed organization that provides a a combination of primary healthcare services, community programs, and community development initiatives to underserved and marginalized communities including people who self-identify as Indigenous and people experiencing homelessness. (Photo: PCHC)
Having focused on building a strong foundation since it was established in 2024, the Peterborough Community Health Centre (PCHC) is now looking to increase its impact through new programs, resources, and increased participation in services.
A non-profit community-governed organization located on two floors in Peterborough Square in the downtown core, the PCHC provides a combination of primary healthcare services, community programs, and community development initiatives.
“We’re seeing a lot of strong engagement for the community programs — there’s an appetite for this,” said Ashley Safar, inaugural executive director of the PCHC, in a recent interview with kawarthaNOW.
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Providing primary healthcare and more for marginalized communities
Safar said the PCHC plays a critical role in addressing gaps in the healthcare system, especially for those whose needs are not met by a traditional healthcare system or provider.
The PCHC’s priority population is people who self-identify as Indigenous and those who do not have a primary care provider and experience barriers related to social, economic, cultural, or systemic factors.
That includes people from one or more of the following groups: people from racialized groups or communities, people with physical or mental disabilities (including mental health conditions, substance use challenges, or both), people who identify as part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, people experiencing homelessness, newcomers (including immigrants and refugees), people living in conditions of extreme poverty, and people living in geographically or physically isolated areas who face barriers to accessing care.
Ashley Safar was appointed as the inaugural executive director of the Peterborough Community Health Centre (PCHC) in October 2024. She was previously the executive director of the Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre. (Photo: PCHC)
“We’re doing outreach work where we attend spaces like Trinity (Community Centre) and other places in the community with other organizations to be able to decrease barriers and increase access to care,” said Safar.
To date, the PCHC has served over 4,300 individuals totalling over 13,000 visits through a combination of primary care, cultural services, and community programs.
For Safar, a key facet of the PCHC’s work is to build rapport and personal relationships with community members to promote trust and positive engagement.
“One of the needs of community is to meet people where they’re at,” she said.
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Holistic wellness model expands beyond primary healthcare
Safar said, in line with the provincial government goal to connect every Ontarian with a primary healthcare provider by 2029, the PCHC has been able to serve currently unattached patients from the Healthcare Connect waitlist.
However, the PCHC also recognizes the importance of providing support and care for individuals who are not able to register for Healthcare Connect or who experience other barriers to mainstream healthcare.
The Peterborough Community Health Centre also differs from traditional healthcare providers by taking a holistic approach to health and wellness, which they define as “supporting the whole person — mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing.”
The Peterborough Community Health Centre (PCHC) employs a 30-person team of medical and paramedical professionals, including nurses, physicians, health promoters, social workers, system navigators, and other team members. In March 2026, the PCHC introduced a wellness team that includes a program manager, social workers, system navigators, a health promoter, and an Indigenous cultural wellness coordinator. (Photo: PCHC)
To support this approach, the PCHC employs a 30-person team of medical and paramedical professionals, including nurses, physicians, health promoters, social workers, system navigators, and other team members.
In March, the PCHC introduced a wellness team to the organization. This team includes a program manager, social workers, system navigators, a health promoter, and an Indigenous cultural wellness coordinator.
This team, sometimes known as an allied health team, provides interdisciplinary and intersectional wellness support that focuses on social determinants of health such as housing stability, social connection, access to community services, and cultural supports.
“We want to continue to build community programming that support mental health, social connection, community connection, and overall wellbeing,” Safar said of the goal of these interdisciplinary services.
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Embedding Indigenous knowledge and culturally safe care
Safar highlighted the inclusion of the Indigenous cultural wellness coordinator on the wellness team and the ongoing dialogue and collaboration between the PCHC and local First Nation communities as central to the organization’s mission to provide culturally safe care for Indigenous patients.
“Indigenous people have often faced discrimination, barriers, and challenges (in the healthcare system) and continue to do so,” said Safar.
During the development of the PCHC, the organization worked with local Indigenization and decolonization consultant Mshkiki Gitigaan Kwe, to ensure that reconciliation values and practices were embedded into the structure and policies of the organization.
With people who self-identify as Indigenous a priority population, the Peterborough Community Health Centre (PCHC) uses the Seven Grandfather Teachings — a foundational set of guiding moral principles and values in Anishinaabe culture — to establish both organizational policies and systems and clinical and patient-facing care. (Photo: PCHC)
Safar described the PCHC as an organization that “weaves together traditional knowledge with western medicine to fit them together in a way that’s really meaningful and well-intentioned to create a space that is for everybody.”
One way in which the PCHC actions their values is through their engagement with the “Ode Bundle,” which uses the Seven Grandfather Teachings — a foundational set of guiding moral principles and values in Anishinaabe culture — to establish both organizational policies and systems and clinical and patient-facing care.
Safar told kawarthaNOW that the PCHC engages with the Ode Bundle in every meeting, where staff members are encouraged to “talk about one of the teachings and how this has showed up in their work.”
Also speaking to Indigenous-centric programming and services, Safar said the PCHC will be joined by Grey Cloud (James Carpenter) to offer two traditional healing clinics on May 25 and June 29.
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‘It belongs to the community’: Community support and engagement important as PCHC looks to the future
Further, Safar said the support of community members, private, charitable, and governmental funders, and corporate and business partners is vital to supporting culturally safe and inclusive programming, noting these types of services typically fall outside funding that the Ontario government provides to PCHC as a primary care provider.
That includes PCHC’s washer and dryer and community kitchen, which have been funded with a $30,000 donation from MCI Constructors, formerly Mortlock Construction.
Safar said this donation will allow the PCHC to “better support clients experiencing housing instability (and) improve access to food and nutrition programming.”
Having on-site laundry services means PCHC can provide clean clothing to clients while the community kitchen will also provide nourishing meals to clients who arrive hungry.
“Those things can make such a big difference in terms of how people access the PCHC and what their experience is,” Safar added.
Peterborough Community Health Centre executive director Ashley Safar with Craig Mortlock, co-owner of MCI Constructors Inc., which donated $30,000 to the centre to fund the full outfitting of a new community kitchen and the purchase and installation of a washer and dryer. The new additions will allow the centre to address immediate needs of its clients from marginalized communities as well as improve the centre’s ability to provide wraparound community-based care. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Community Health Centre)
Looking ahead, the PCHC will continue to collaborate with healthcare providers, social services, businesses, and numerous other local organizations to amplify its impact and create sustainability within services.
One such initiative is the pilot collaboration with the Trent-Fleming School of Nursing, which provides mobile care to those living in the rural localities of Havelock, Ennismore, and Hiawatha First Nation.
As the PCHC expands its capacity to provide primary care and wellbeing services, the centre is looking to the community to provide feedback on areas of need and current barriers to care.
“That comes from meaningful engagement to help inform what types of programs we’re developing within the PCHC,” said Safar.
Safar added the PCHC is committed to listening to its clients and the community at large, and being responsive in its approach to care to ensure flexibility and accessibility.
“Being a community health centre, at the end of the day, it belongs to the community,” Safar said.
For more information on the Peterborough Community Health Centre, visit www.ptbochc.ca.
RCMP chief superintendent Chris Leather in 2019 when he was appointed at acting commanding officer for the Nova Scotia RCMP. (Photo: RCMP)
Cobourg police will have a veteran law enforcement officer at the helm as of June 1.
Cobourg’s police service board announced on Wednesday (May 20) that it has selected Chris Leather, chief superintendent with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), as the 14th chief of the Cobourg Police Service.
Leather has more than 36 years of policing experience, including 15 years with York Regional Police and 21 years with the RCMP.
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In his current role as chief superintendent and criminal operations officer for the RCMP’s central region (Ontario), Leather provided executive leadership for major criminal investigations and federal policing operations relating to organized crime, national security, cybercrime, financial crime, sensitive and international investigations, and border integrity, and also oversaw significant operational responsibilities while leading integrated policing partnerships across Ontario.
“Chief-Designate Leather brings experience and a demonstrated commitment to public safety, accountability, and collaborative community partnerships that reflect the values central to policing in Cobourg,” said police board Adam Bureau in a media release. “The board looks forward to working closely with Chief-Designate Leather as we continue to support a professional, responsive, and community-focused police service.”
Leather began his policing career in 1990 as a member of York Regional Police, serving as a general duty member and in several plain clothes units, the provincial biker enforcement unit, and the York Regional Police hold up squad.
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Leather was seconded to an intelligence unit of the RCMP in 2001, and joined the RCMP in 2004, where he worked in intelligence in Ontario as well as the RCMP’s provincial standards unit. He was promoted to inspector in 2014 and to superintendent in 2017, when he assumed the role of commander of serious and organized crime and the combined special forces enforcement unit in the GTA.
In 2019, he served as acting commanding officer in Nova Scotia and was involved in the response to Canada’s deadliest shooting rampage, when 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman — disguised as an RCMP officer and driving a replica RCMP cruiser — killed 22 people, including RCMP Constable Heidi Stevenson, in April 2020.
Leather also led strategic modernization initiatives at RCMP National Headquarters. According to the media release, he “is recognized for building high-performing teams, strengthening relationships with government and community partners, and advancing policing approaches grounded in professionalism, transparency, and public trust.”
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Leather is taking on Cobourg’s police chief role from Paul VandeGraaf, who announced last December that he would be retiring in June after 35 years in policing.
“I am honoured to have the opportunity to serve as chief of the Cobourg Police Service and to continue the strong tradition of professional, community-focused policing established within the service,” Chief-Designate Leather said. “I want to recognize Chief Paul VandeGraaf and the dedicated members whose commitment and professionalism have earned the trust and respect of the community.”
“I look forward to working closely with the Police Service Board, our policing partners, and the residents of Cobourg to advance public safety, strengthen community engagement, support the well-being of our members, and ensure the service continues to meet the evolving needs of the community with accountability, compassion, and professionalism.”
Community Futures Peterborough's Business Advisory Centre entrepreneurship officer Allison Adam (far right) in the Venture North building in downtown Peterborough with the six young entrepreneurs selected to participate in the 2026 Summer Company program funded by the provincial government and delivered by the Business Advisory Centre. The Business Adivsory Centre received 40 applications for this year's program, which is almost double the number received in 2025. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
Six young entrepreneurs in the city and county of Peterborough will be getting a boost for their new summer businesses thanks to the Business Advisory Centre at Community Futures Peterborough.
With ventures ranging from providing swimming lessons to offering 3D printing services, the six youth accepted into the Summer Company program will receive training, mentorship, and grants to help them succeed with their businesses.
“These students are incredibly impressive,” said Business Advisory Centre entrepreneurship officer Allison Adam in a media release. “They’re already eager to get started and are showing real potential for success.”
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The provincially funded Summer Company program provides youth aged 15 to 29 with tools, guidance, and grant dollars of up to $3,000 to start and launch a business. Participants receive in-person training in key areas including business planning, marketing, and financial management, along with one-on-one mentorship tailored to their individual needs.
The Business Advisory Centre received 40 applications for this year’s program, which is almost double the number received in 2025.
“It is inspiring to see such a record-breaking number of applicants this year, and we are proud to support their journey,” said Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith on behalf of the Ontario government. “By providing students with both the financial capital and the professional mentorship they need, we are ensuring that young entrepreneurs don’t just dream about starting a business — they actually do it.”
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The six young people participating in this year’s Summer Company Program are Aiden Budd of Dock to Driveway Detailing in Peterborough, Zander Bromley of Clearview in Peterborough, Caleb Galbraith of Joy Collectibles 3D in Lakefield, Emma George-Peters of Kawartha Luxe Cottage Care in Peterborough, Rutger Huntley of Peak Beach Volleyball in Millbrook, and Rielle MacDougall of Lake Safe Swim Lessons in Peterborough.
“Being accepted into the Summer Company program means that this idea is backed and validated by a fantastic team of individuals, which makes proceeding with everything feel far more achievable and realistic,” said Huntley, whose business will offer volleyball training and gameplay.
“The resources and connections from this program will be monumental for getting Peak Beach Volleyball of the ground and running. One of the scariest parts of beginning a business is the lack of promise of anything actually evolving, so to take the monetary risk out of that and have guidance is phenomenal.”
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Community Futures Peterborough is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) as part of the Community Futures Program, and supports small businesses in the city and county of Peterborough with flexible financing.
In 2024, the organization also began operating the Business Advisory Centre, funded through the Ontario government’s Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) program, with operational funding from the city and county of Peterborough.
Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal and Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark both expressed their support for the Business Advisory Centre and the Summer Company program participants, with the mayor saying “These six entrepreneurs are demonstrating creativity, ambition, and a strong commitment to our community” and the warden adding “It’s inspiring to see this next generation of entrepreneurs building skills, confidence, and businesses that will contribute to the strength and vitality of our rural and urban communities alike.”
Representatives from Five Counties Children's Centre and the Peterborough Humane Society each hold a cheque for $68,355.98, representing their share of the $138,711.96 raised at 18 Tim Hortons locations across Peterborough, Bridgenorth, Lakefield, and Curve Lake which donated 100 per cent of the proceeds of the sale of Smile Cookies between April 27 and May 3, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties)
Thanks to Tim Hortons and community support, the annual Smile Cookie campaign in the Peterborough area has raised almost $137,000 in support of children with special needs and animals in care.
Both Five Counties Children’s Centre and the Peterborough Humane Society were the beneficiaries of this spring’s campaign, which saw 18 Tim Hortons locations across Peterborough, Bridgenorth, Lakefield, and Curve Lake donate 100 per cent of the proceeds of the sale of Smile Cookies between April 27 and May 3.
The campaign raised a total of $136,711.96, which will be split equally between Five Counties and the Peterborough Humane Society, with each charitable organization receiving $68,355.98.
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For Five Counties, which supports children and youth with physical, developmental, and communication needs, the funds will go towards its Building Abilities for Life campaign that ensures kids can more easily access high-demand treatment services that will benefit them as they grow up.
“Our community truly came together to make this all possible,” said Five Counties CEO Scott Pepin in a media release. “We are grateful to everyone who volunteered their time, helped spread the word, purchased Smile Cookies, and supported this initiative.”
“We are also very appreciative of Tim Hortons and its staff, who warmly welcomed our volunteers. Their ongoing generosity and commitment to community organizations is truly inspiring, and it was a pleasure to work alongside them and the Peterborough Humane Society.”
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For the Peterborough Humane Society, the funds will go towards animal care programs, including sheltering, medical care, and adoptions.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Tim Hortons owners for selecting us as a Smile Cookie beneficiary and for the opportunity to partner with both Five Counties throughout this campaign,” said Peterborough Humane Society CEO Shawn Morey.
“We’re proud to have more than 100 volunteers lend their time throughout the week. We extend our sincere thanks to the Tim Hortons staff who made us feel like part of the team. With the support of our community, many children, families, and pets will benefit.”
Since it was launched in 1996, the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign has raised more than $170 million for charities and community groups across Canada selected every year by Tim Hortons restaurant owners. This year’s campaign raised a record-breaking $23.3 million for more than 700 organizations.
The vehicle and suspect in the theft of a community pantry from Bridge Street West in Campbellford on the afternoon of May 18, 2026. (kawarthaNOW screenshot)
Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying a person responsible for the theft of a community pantry in Campbellford on Victoria Day (May 18).
Shortly after 5:30 p.m., Northumberland Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a report that Maddy’s Community Pantry on Bridge Street West in Campbellford was stolen.
According to police, the theft occurred at around 2:15 p.m. on Monday.
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Located across from No Frills on private property, the pantry is a large cupboard containing non-perishable food donated by members of the community for those in need.
The cupboard, which was donated by a community member with custom wooden shelving, is described as off-white in colour with a dark brown top and bottom.
Surveillance video from the owner of the property where the pantry was located shows a dark-coloured pickup truck with the pantry loaded in the truck bed and an individual with the truck who is believed to be associated with the theft.
VIDEO: Theft of community pantry
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Police are continuing to investigate the incident.
Anyone with any information regarding the incident or the whereabouts of the pantry is ascked to call the Campbellford OPP Detachment at 705-653-3300 or the non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122, referring to occurrence E260679079.
To submit an anonymous tip, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your information online at stopcrimehere.ca. You will not testify in court and your information may lead to a cash reward of up to $2,000.
A couple walks along the Trent Severn Waterway in Lindsay. The new Visitor Research Program delivered by Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) allows business operators, municipalities, and tourism partners within Kawarthas Northumberland to access visitor data collected through Environics Analytics based on mobile device detection. The program can be used to access insights on who visitors are, where they come from, and how they can best be reached. (Photo: Fred Thornhill)
Are you a tourism operator or partner within Kawarthas Northumberland wanting to learn more about the visitors who are coming to your location? Would knowing visitor interests, where they come from, how they travel, and how they can be reached help inform crucial decisions that would help increase your revenue?
The new Visitor Research Program from Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) offers affordable and trusted tourism data to business owners and operators, municipalities, Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs), and other tourism partners in the City of Peterborough, Peterborough County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County.
These meaningful insights can support decision making about marketing strategies, program development, and investment, while also providing valuable statistics to strengthen funding and grant applications.
Get a deeper understanding of your visitors
The new Visitor Research Program delivered by Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) can help business operators, municipalities, and tourism partners make informed decisions toward marketing, investments, and program development, while strengthening funding and grant applications. Reports can be customized and tailored to unique needs, such as filtering for specific timeframes, locations, and audiences (including locals and visitors). (Photo: Northumberland Tourism)
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“We’re seeing more and more people wanting to know who the visitor is, where they are coming from, and how they can reach them,” says RTO8 Executive Director Brenda Wood. “When you’re applying for funding, especially if you’re looking at provincial or federal funding, they’re looking for hard numbers. That’s been coming to the forefront in the last couple of years, so there is a need for this research.”
The research reports are provided through Environics Analytics, a leader for mobile data and analytics in Canada. The research is based on data collected from individuals detected within the defined geofence areas who are 15 years of age and over with location services enabled on their mobile device.
Reports start at $350 and can be customized and tailored to unique needs, such as filtering for specific timeframes, locations, and audiences (including locals and visitors).
“The main thing for us is that the operators understand and can easily interpret the information, so they can put it to good use and help increase visitation into their business,” Wood says. “This means revenue for the region, which means economic impact. All of that information is there to help them achieve that.”
Case study: Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Owned and operated by Peterborough County, Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene used visitor data through the new Visitor Research Program offered by Regional Tourism 8 (RTO8) to gain insights into daytrip data for the height of the busy season in 2024 and 2025. Delivered through easy-to-read infographics and one-on-one presentations, this data is helping the living history museum make informed and strategic decisions on operations including hours, pricing, programming, marketing, and more. (Photo: Lang Pioneer Village Museum)
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Elizabeth King, Museum Operations Manager at Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene in Peterborough County, participated in the program because her team was interested in better understanding visitor behaviour to find strategies to increase revenue.
She was particularly interested in learning about seasonal trends, day-of-the-week fluctuations, and spikes during specific events held at the Museum.
“It also helps us understand the types of visitors that are coming so that we can tailor our event themes, workshops, and programs to both people who already love us and return often, and some new offerings to capture those who maybe haven’t found a fit here yet,” King explains. “We want to make operational decisions that are data-driven and evidence-based. Reports like these give some weight to our ideas and plans.”
Lang Pioneer Village Museum looked at the 2024 and 2025 day trip data for the height of the busy summer season. The reports revealed informative visitor data like age and other demographics, social media use, activity preferences, sortation areas from where visitors originated, and more. King says this will help them better plan for operational decisions like hours, pricing, programming, and marketing.
A volunteer demonstrates how the Jacquard loom works at Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene. The living history museum is using visitor data through the new Visitor Research Program offered by Regional Tourism 8 (RTO8) to tailor its events, workshops, and programs for returning visitors as well as to develop new offerings for first-time visitors. (Photo: Lang Pioneer Village Museum)
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“Money is tight, so municipalities and businesses need data so they know where to invest their budget,” Wood says. “Being able to identify their visitors and how they to reach them, including on social media, can help them invest those dollars wisely. It helps a lot, because it means they’re not throwing money out there hoping to find someone who’s interested. This is very specifically targeted.”
The data is presented in easy-to-read infographics, and each service includes a one-on-one knowledge transfer session. Clients can invite their board, staff, and other partners to participate as RTO8 guides them in understanding and interpreting the infographics and data.
“Sometimes looking at data and stats can be overwhelming,” says King. “While the report forms made looking at and understanding this data very easy, it was the additional level of having staff at RTO8 talk it through with us and answer questions that made this extra great in my opinion. It allowed us to go a bit deeper and learn some additional ways we could make this data work for our site from the tourism experts.”
Distance Travel Report
Through the program, clients can access the Distance Travel Report to better distinguish between attendance from local visitors in comparison to visitors residing more than 40 kilometres away.
The report provides key metrics on total visitors and unique visitors, while providing a breakdown of each audience visiting on both the weekends and during the week.
“People always think weekends are busier but, in some of the reports we’ve been running, that’s not always the case — some people like to travel during the week,” Wood points out.
“Businesses who are closed three days a week but open on the weekends might decide to reconsider their hours based on this data and on how many locals are coming and how many visitors are coming.”
The Visitor Profiling Report provides a psychographic perspective of those daytime visitors.
The report provides a clearer profile of visitors using demographic data – age, family status, income, and employment – as well as lifestyle, media, and travel behaviour data. It also outlines the top cities where visitors originate, while providing insight on the social media channels those visitors use.
This information is collected through mobile devices and through the Environics PRIZM Segmentation, which categorizes visitors into one of 67 lifestyle segments based on shared values, attitudes, interests, life stage, and behaviours.
“It’s helpful to know their social media trends,” Wood says. “Maybe a business isn’t spending that much on Facebook, but if they find out their visitors are using Facebook a lot, it will help them to know where to put their marketing dollars.”
Clients can also see insights on overnight visitors who come from 40 kilometres or further to a municipality.
The data offers key metrics such as trip length and frequency, cities of origin, and seasonal breakdown by capturing data across accommodation types including hotels, motels, B&Bs, short-term rentals, and stays at private residences with friends or family.
Clients can view insights from across Canada and the United States.
In June, RTO8 is hosting 30-minute virtual information sessions to provide tourism partners with a practical overview of the Visitor Research Program.
The sessions will help participants explore the reporting tools and insights available and will offer them the opportunity to ask questions.
The sessions are being held on Tuesday June 2 at 9 a.m., Tuesday, June 9 at 10 a.m., and Tuesday, June 16 at 1 p.m.
Reach out to RTO8 for more information
A visitor feeds an alpaca at Haute Goat in Port Hope. Visitor data provided through the Visitor Research Program from Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) can provide tourism businesses with insights about visitors based on key demographics, lifestyle, media, and travel behaviour. RTO8 is hosting 30-minute virtual information sessions about the program on June 2, 9, and 16, 2026. (Photo: Northumberland Tourism)
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As for Lang Pioneer Village Museum, King says working with both Wood and Hillary Flood, RTO8’s Manager of Research and Special Projects, was a “delight.”
She encourages all tourism operators and partners interested in gaining valuable insights about their visitors to reach out to RTO8 to learn more about the program.
“They take the time to understand what works best for you and your business in a way that feels comfortable and aligned,” King says.
“Like all of us in the tourism sector, RTO8 is committed to seeing this region succeed, and we’re incredibly fortunate to have them working so hard to bring opportunities like this forward.”
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8). If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Environment Canada has just issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Kawarthas region for Tuesday afternoon and evening (May 19).
The “yellow” severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, and southern Haliburton County.
With an approaching cold front, conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts of 90 to 110 km/h and large hail, possibly approaching the size of ping pong balls. A tornado is also possible.
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The threat of severe weather will intensify throughout the afternoon and evening, as temperatures and humidity rise ahead of the approaching cold front.
Damaging wind gusts will be the main threat with these storms. Damage to roofs, fences, branches, or soft shelters is possible, and local utility outages are possible.
Emergency Management Ontario recommends that you take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year, and large hail can cause significant damage and injury.
OPP vehicles at the scene of a motorcycle crash on Boundary Road east of Brighton that claimed the life of a 38-year-old Brighton man on May 19, 2026. (Police-supplied photo)
A 38-year-old man is dead after his motorcycle crashed east of Brighton on Tuesday morning (May 19).
At around 7:30 a.m., Northumberland Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and emergency medical services responded to a single-vehicle collision involving a motorcycle on Boundary Road near Hillview Road.
The motorcyclist, a 38-year-old man from Brighton, was pronounced dead at the scene.
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OPP Traffic Collision Investigation members are attending the scene to assist with the investigation.
Boundary Road will be closed between County Road 2 and Little Lake Road until police finish investigating the scene.
Police are asking that anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has video/dash cam footage or other information relating to the collision and who has not yet spoken with police, to contact the Northumberland OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
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