Some of North America's top snowshoe athletes are expected to compete in the inaugural Kawartha Lakes Winter Festival at Eganridge Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Fenelon Falls on February 1, 2026. (Photo: Spafford Health and Adventure)
A new outdoor family health, fitness, and wellness event will see competitive snowshoe racing and family-friendly winter activities come to Fenelon Falls in February.
Taking place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 1 at Eganridge Resort, Golf Club & Spa (26 Country Club Drive), the inaugural Kawartha Lakes Winter Festival will feature snowshoe and trail running events in the morning, followed by non-competitive activities for families in the afternoon.
According to organizer David Robinson, the festival aims to highlight the region’s winter assets, noting that the area offers “some of the best winter scenery in the province.”
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“We are hoping for good weather and a big turnout,” said Robinson, a lifelong recreational athlete and local cottager who organizes the annual Fenelon Falls Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving weekend and also serves as president of the non-profit organization Snowshoe Canada.
The morning will include both snowshoe running and trail shoe running events, with the snowshoe running event serving as the Snowshoe Canada national championships as part of the Dion Canadian Snowshoe Series. There will be three distance options, including a one-kilometre run/walk for kids and families, a short course loop of around five kilometres, and a long course (two loops) of around 10 kilometres.
Some of North America’s top snowshoe athletes are expected to compete in the Snowshoe Canada national championships, including recent USA and world championship gold medallist Eliot Soderholm of Saranac Lake, New York. Also expected are podium finishers Bernie Hogan of Bancroft and Julien Pinnsonault of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, along with Mississauga’s Janice Robinson, who placed on the podium in the women’s 60–59 category at the world championship event in Brillion, Wisconsin in December.
A $1,000 cash purse will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers in the long course event, with age-group medals presented in four divisions: 13–19, 20–29, 40–59, and 60-plus.
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Following the morning races, the festival will shift to family-based outdoor recreation in the afternoon, including tobogganing (bring your own sled), snowman building, maple syrup tasting, snowmobile rides, and a special demonstration by Fleming College’s Logger Sports team. Local musician Shannon Roszell will be performing inside the resort bar.
The event will also raise funds for BGC Kawarthas (Boys & Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes).
Online registration for the running events is open until January 28 at kawarthalakeswinterfestival.com. Entry fees range from $19.16 to $91.28 depending on age and course, with family activities by donation to BGC Kawartha Lakes (minimum $6).
The Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (PACAC) will make a decision on January 21, 2026 to recommend to city council whether this historic farmhouse at 314 Carnegie Avenue should be removed from the city's heritage register or given heritage designation. In November, the city ordered owner Activa Holdings Inc. to demolish the building due to its deteriorating state. (Photo: D.M. Wills Associates Limited)
The Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (PACAC) will be deciding Wednesday (January 21) on a recommendation to city council as to whether a historic farmhouse slated for demolition should be removed from the city’s heritage register or given heritage designation.
On December 11, the city received a notice of intention to demolish the building at 314 Carnegie Avenue from D.M. Wills Associates Limited on behalf of property owner Activa Holdings Inc., a Waterloo-based company that developed the adjacent 382-home Heritage Park subdivision between 1999 and 2014.
The demolition notice followed a November 19 notice from the city to Activa Holdings Inc. that a recent inspection found the building contravened the city’s property standards by-law, and ordered the owner demolish it.
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“Due to the current deteriorating state of the building in question you are hereby ordered to have said building demolished,” the city’s notice stated. “In the interim until said building can be demolished it is to be secured to prevent entry of unauthorized persons.”
According to the demolition notice from D.M. Wills Associates Limited, the farmhouse has not been occupied in over 10 years, since it was used as office space for Activa Holdings Inc. for the Heritage Park subdivision.
In 2023, Activa Holdings Inc. demolished accessory structures and ancillary additions to the farmhouse, including the veranda, due to their state of deterioration and collapse.
The property at 314 Carnegie Avenue was purchased in 1859 by farmer John Garbutt, who first constructed a frame farmhouse on the site by 1861, with the Garbutt family owning the property until the 1930s. The farmhouse, which has been vacant for the last 10 years, was listed on the city’s heritage register in 2019, along with another 152 properties, with the city’s heritage staff describing it as “a good example” of a mid-19th century Gothic Revival farmhouse. (Photos: D.M. Wills Associates Limited)
“The original farmhouse structure remains; however, it requires continued efforts to maintain a safe premises and secure the house against trespassers and vandals and the owner has no intention to retain the structure going forward,” states the demolition notice, adding that Activa Holdings Inc. intends to develop the property as part of the company’s 2016 registered plan for the Heritage Park subdivision.
At last Monday’s general committee meeting, councillor Dave Haacke brought forward a motion that directed staff to “expeditiously consult” with PACAC on whether the property should be designated or removed from the heritage register and to report back to council with PACAC’s recommendation by or before February 13.
Under the Ontario Heritage Act, if a property is listed on a municipal heritage register, the owner must give the municipality at least 60 days of written notice before demolishing it, allowing council time to consider formal designation.
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Councillors voted 10-2 in favour of Haacke’s motion, with councillors Joy Lachica and Alex Bierk dissenting, and the general committee recomendation will be considered for endorsement at the city council meeting this Monday (January 19). Council will make a final decision on the demolition after it receives PACAC’s recommendation.
The farmhouse was listed on the city’s heritage register in 2019, along with another 152 properties, with the city’s heritage staff describing it as “a good example” of a mid-19th century Gothic Revival farmhouse with a central gable and double arched window, a verandah, polychromatic bricks, and decorative wooden bargeboard.
The property was purchased in 1859 by farmer John Garbutt, who first constructed a frame farmhouse on the site by 1861, with the Garbutt family owning the property until the 1930s.
Michael Newnham conducting the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra (PSO) during the sold-out "Popcorn, Please!" concert in 2024. Newnham and the PSO return to Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough on February 7 and 8, 2026 for "Stars of the Silver Screen," the orchestra's third annual film music concert, this time featuring music from films of the 1960s including James Bond, The Pink Panther, Psycho, The Sound of Music, and many more. Audiences are encouraged to help set the mood by dressing in their favourite '60 outfits. (Photo courtesy of the PSO)
Get ready for a groovy night of music in February by sifting through your closet or hitting up your local vintage store in search of go-go boots, miniskirts, and all the bold patterns and colours you can find.
The Peterborough Symphony Orchestra (PSO) will head back to the 1960s for a far-out concert featuring movie scores from the revolutionary decade, and is encouraging audience members to help set the mood by dressing up in their favourite styles from the era.
“It was a fun period because it seems so innocent when we compare it to what we’re in now,” PSO music director and conductor Michael Newnham tells kawarthaNOW. “It was a time of upheaval and there were all kinds of change going on, but also with the fashion and clothes, it offers up a lot of possibilities for us to put on a concert.”
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For what might be the only time you’ll hear music from Psycho paired with that of The Sound of Music, “Stars of the Silver Screen” will be coming to Showplace Performance Centre with two performances, including an evening concert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 7 and a matinee concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 8.
Just as fashion in the 1960s saw everything from Jackie Kennedy shift dresses to the fringe and flowers of the hippie era, the decade’s musical offerings were just as eclectic and fun, which will be highlighted in the program for “Stars of the Silver Screen.”
“This is a really varied program — it’s as varied as it gets because the sixties was just like that,” says Newnham.
“You’ve got everything from the jazz influence of people like John Barry, who wrote most of the music for the James Bond movies, and you’ve got pop influences coming in with Michel Legrand, Lalo Schifrin, and Henry Mancini, but there’s also the classical influence of people who came before like Bernard Herrmann, who wrote for Alfred Hitchcock.”
VIDEO: James Bond Theme (John Barry) – BBC Concert Orchestra
American composer Henry Mancini’s melodic “Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) and his jazzy iconic theme from The Pink Panther (1963) will contrast the suspenseful notes of Bernard Herrmann’s masterful theme from Psycho (1960) and Lalo Schifrin’s thrilling theme from the TV series Mission: Impossible (1966).
“Stars of the Silver Screen” will also feature music from Elmer Bernstein for the 1960 western The Magnificent Seven as well as pop songs like “The Shadow of Your Smile,” composed by Johnny Mandel with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster for the 1965 romantic drama The Sandpiper, and Francis Lai’s theme from the 1970 romantic drama Love Story.
Given that the ’60s followed the “Golden Age” of musical theatre, it was also the era of musical film adaptions. For that reason, the PSO will also be exploring the iconic soundtracks of films like West Side Story (1961) and The Sound of Music (1965).
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“There’s just a huge, huge smorgasbord of works that we’re going to be doing,” says Newnham. “The point is just to have fun.”
“Stars of the Silver Screen” will mark the PSO’s third annual film music concert, which has become a recent tradition for the orchestra due to the popularity of movie music among a wide range of audience members.
After the sold-out “Popcorn, Please!” concert in 2024 that explored the iconic scores of films including Star Wars and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, among others, the PSO expanded last year’s “Indiana Jones meets The Godfather” concert to include a second performance as a Sunday matinee to meet audience demand.
VIDEO: “Moon River” (Henry Mancini) – London FILMharmonic Orchestra
Newnham attributes the popularity of the PSO film music concerts to the fact that audiences rarely have a chance to experience movie music performed in real life by an orchestra.
“Often when you go to a movie and you hear a great film score, you’re not really thinking about the film score,” he reflects.
“You’re thinking about what’s going on on screen, and often this music will get drowned out by the action, which is how it’s written. But when you separate it out and listen to it on its own, you realize, ‘Wow, this is really, really great.'”
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Newnham adds that it was in the 1960s when it became common for people to buy soundtrack records for their favourite films.
“This is where we see composers who specialized in film music, and often those were some of the best composers because this is where they would make money,” he says. “If you were really good and really fast and could really contribute something to film, you could have a fantastic career.”
“So we have these amazingly gifted composers, and their use of the orchestra is always interesting because they’re trying to get sound effects and different ideas in there that you wouldn’t necessarily find in the concert hall.”
VIDEO: Psycho Suite (Bernard Herrmann) – BBC Concert Orchestra
As for the PSO, Newnham says it’s always fun for the musicians to revisit film scores because there is more opportunity for exploration.
“Particularly in movie music, there’s a lot of emphasis on the brass players and the percussion because of the beat that you need to do,” he explains. “Often the winds have to do solos that normally wouldn’t happen, so they like that kind of thing. It’s something that they don’t get to do a lot so, when they do, it’s a fun weekend for them.”
“Stars of the Silver Screen” is promising to be even more fun than a traditional classical music concert with audience members encouraged to come dressed in their 007 tuxedos, mod-inspired beehives, bell-bottoms, and more.
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According to Newnham, encouraging audience members to dress the part as they enjoy the music of “Stars of the Silver Screen” is one remedy for the cold winter months and everything that is happening in the world right now.
“Going back hundreds of years in all kinds of cultures, this is the time of year where people let their hair down,” he says. “You want to do something where people can just come out of their shells or just have fun.”
“I really believe, like most people, that the orchestra is there to serve all kinds of purposes, and this is one thing that we can contribute. I think we need this.”
VIDEO: Theme from Mission Impossible (Lalo Schifrin) – Folsom Lake Symphony
“Stars of the Silver Screen” will be preceded by a “Meet the Maestro” talk 45 minutes before each performance, where Newnham will take to the Showplace stage for an intimate chat with the audience about the program.
Tickets for the concert are $36, $50, or $57, depending on the seat you choose, with student tickets costing $15 for all seats. Tickets are available in person at the Showplace Box Office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, and one hour before the concert, or online anytime at showplace.org.
For more information about the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra’s 2025-26 season, visit thepso.org.
Audiences are invited to join Peterborough Symphony Orchestra (PSO) music director and conductor Michael Newnham for a “Meet the Maestro” talk 45 minutes before each performance of the “Stars of the Silver Screen” concert on February 7 and 8, 2026, where he will take to the stage at Showplace Performance Centre for an intimate chat with the audience about the concert program. (Photo courtesy of the PSO)
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra’s 2025-26 season.
The MazeMap touchscreen kiosk in the main entrance of Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), one of five kiosks available throughout the hospital building to help patients and visitors find their way around the hospital. (Photo: PRHC)
Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has introduced another tool to improve the healthcare experience for patients and visitors at the regional hospital.
After launching a new system earlier this week that fast-tracks patients with minor ailments through its emergency department, and a real-time online “wait clock” in November that shows patients how long they can expect to wait before being seen in the emergency department, PRHC has announced the MazeMap digital wayfinding system is now available at the hospital.
“Peterborough Regional Health Centre is a 715,000-square-foot regional referral hospital, and we’ve heard your feedback about how challenging it can be to navigate our hallways, whether you’re coming for an appointment, as a support person, or to visit a loved one,” says Evan Lyons, the hospital’s chief information officer and vice-president of digital services, strategy and planning, in a media release.
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The new GPS-enabled system helps patients and visitors find their way around the hospital through five touchscreen kiosks that are installed inside the main entrance and at four other key locations throughout the building.
After people tap the touchscreen to get started and search for or add the desired destination, a map will be displayed along with the best route to reach the destination.
If they want, people can also scan a code on the touchscreen to add the directions to their mobile device. While using a personal device to access the directions is optional, if people want to use this option the hospital recommends they connect to the hospital’s guest Wi-Fi network so the Mazemap system can determine the device’s location.
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To support improved navigation through the hospital, PRHC also encourages patients and visitors who use personal devices to download the MazeMap app from the Apple App Store or Google Play and search for Peterborough Regional Health Centre.
“Technology plays a significant role in the overall healthcare experience, and we are committed to finding new ways to transform technology to support patients and provide the best possible care and experience at PRHC,” Lyons says. “Our goal with the digital MazeMap system is to help make your time at the hospital just a bit easier by providing more and better information, right at your fingertips.”
Headquartered in Norway, MazeMap is a global indoor mapping and wayfinding technology company with products designed to help people navigate large and complex buildings like hospitals, universities, hotels, and corporate offices.
A sample map from the MazeMap app showing walking directions from central registration at PRHC to the seniors care clinics. (kawarthaNOW screenshot)
A rendering of Ashburnham Realty's proposed 17-storey apartment building to be located on Crescent Street in Peterborough, from EcoVue Consulting's notice of an open house about the proposed development held on September 23, 2025. The rendering includes what the notice describes as "the potential new location of the Art Gallery of Peterborough." (Graphic via EcoVue Consulting)
The Art Gallery of Peterborough (AGP) will not be pursuing relocation to a proposed 17-storey mixed-use building to be developed by Ashburnham Realty on Crescent Street behind the existing gallery building.
That’s according to a report from the AGP to be presented next Thursday (January 22) at the city’s Arts and Culture Advisory Committee Meeting (ACAC).
“The Art Gallery of Peterborough – Gallery Relocation Business Case, developed by consultant team V Formation, was considered by council in closed session,” the report reads. “They did not approve moving forward on this particular opportunity, however, gave direction to staff to continue discussion with the AGP Board of Directors on the potential of a new facility.”
Last September 23, a report to ACAC advised the AGP board had been “exploring the potential” of relocating the gallery to the proposed building, which would include 231 rental apartment units and commercial space on a portion of the ground floor.
Also on September 23, a public open house about the proposed Crescent Street development was held at the AGP. The notice for the open house from EcoVue Consulting, the planning consultant for Ashburnham Realty, indicated a portion of the second and third floor of the proposed development could be “the potential new location of the Art Gallery of Peterborough.”
The AGP’s September 23 report to ACAC noted that Paul Bennett of Ashburnham Realty had invited the AGP to consider relocating within the proposed Crescent Street development, which would consolidate nine existing properties located along Crescent Street, Lake Street, and George Street.
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“The AGP has engaged the services of Unity Design Studio to develop (a) rendering based on the needs assessment included in the Feasibility Study Update, 2020,” the September 23 report stated. “We are working the consulting firm V Formation to develop a Business Case and undertake a Fundraising Feasibility Study.”
While AGP is a non-profit public art gallery governed by an independent board of directors, it is owned, staffed, and largely funded by the City of Peterborough. AGP said that a report and business case document would be submitted to city council meeting as general committee on October 6.
It appears the report was instead considered during a closed session of general committee on October 20. While the report is not available to the public as it was discussed in a closed session, council voted at its November 3 public meeting to receive the “relocation request” report for information and directed staff “to continue conversations with the Art Gallery Board of Peterborough (sic) regarding relocation.”
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A 2011 study on the AGP conducted in response to issues of limited space, technical deficiencies, and risks to the art collection at the existing Del Crary Park location recommended either a major renovation of the existing facility or relocation to a new site that could meet the professional and technical standards required for a Class A designation.
This led to a 2014 feasibility study by Lundholm + Lett, which explored two potential new sites in downtown Peterborough along with the existing site and concluded that renovating and expanding the existing facility would be more cost-effective and had several advantages.
According to the City of Peterborough’s 2020 budget document, an update to the feasibility study was planned for presentation to council in 2020, alongside a review of AGP bylaws and its memorandum of understanding with the city. kawarthaNOW is unable to locate any public information about the 2020 update.
To raise the final funds needed to host the full-day Northumberland Youth Sing Festival in partnership with Sounds of the Next Generation (SONG), the Peterborough Children's Chorus is hosting a fundraiser euchre tournament on January 24, 2026. Being held at the All Saints' Anglican Church, the tournament will also include a 50/50 draw, silent auction, and café. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Children's Chorus)
It will be a win-win for everyone when the Peterborough Children’s Chorus (PCC) hosts an upcoming fundraiser in support of music education for children and youth.
Proceeds from the four-round euchre tournament, which will be held from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 24 at the All Saints’ Anglican Church in Peterborough, will support the launch of the Northumberland Youth Sing Festival this spring.
Presented in partnership with Sounds of the Next Generation (SONG), a free after-school music program for children and youth in Northumberland, the day-long festival would see 90 young PCC singers travel to Port Hope in mid-April.
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The PCC, which is open to singers aged 8 to 18 years old in Nogoijwanang-Peterborough and surrounding areas, meets weekly to immerse students in a range of music styles and to promote musical skill through play, workshops, games, and informal concerts. No experience is required to participate.
“As much as we care deeply about music education, first and foremost, we want the kids to have a good time,” says PCC artistic director Anna Eidt. “We want them to feel good about themselves, each other, and their voices, so it’s primarily a place to connect and gain confidence and feel good.”
Eidt explains that, prior to the pandemic, the choir regularly went on fun educational trips, though it’s taken some time to bounce back by building up the membership. Eidt says they have also been working to make these opportunities more financially accessible for members.
Open to children and youth ages 8 to 18, with no experience required, the Peterborough Children’s Chorus meets weekly to immerse students in a range of music styles and to promote musical skill through play, workshops, games, and informal concerts. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Children’s Chorus)
“As people are encountering more financial hardship, we are working hard to make sure that’s not a barrier to access to music education,” says Eidt. “So, in addition to regaining the organization’s financial stability, we’re also trying to make it much more accessible.”
During the Northumberland Youth Sing Festival, groups of young people will work with conductors, engage with new workshops, and participate in mindfulness activities and Indigenous-led teachings. A highlight of the festival will be a mass choir.
“That’s the number one thing that comes up for our alumni — they absolutely love the experience of singing with many, many voices at once,” says Eidt. “We want to provide this very special experience again for our singers, and we want it to be accessible.”
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As for why it’s critical to provide opportunities to engage in music education from a young age, Eidt says the benefits are “limitless,” including how it uses “all parts of the brain.”
“I know from personal experience as a musician that it can be a life-changing experience and it can be a lifeline,” Eidt explains.
“Doing music, learning musical skills, practising music, and creating music in a group can actually prime your brain and it primes kids to be better learners in all other areas. The research around music education for academic success overall is absolutely proven.”
Previously the co-owner of Watson & Lou in downtown Peterborough, Anna Eidt decided in 2021 to return to her roots in music education. Eidt has a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from the University of Western Ontario and, in addition to being artistic director of the Peterborough Children’s Chorus, teaches music in the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Children’s Chorus)
Following a matching donor campaign which raised $2,000 in support of the festival, the PCC is aiming to raise the final $1,000 of their goal at the January 24 euchre tournament. The venue is wheelchair accessible and has gender neutral bathrooms.
The winner of the tournament will win up to $100, and there will also be a 50/50 draw, as well as a silent auction full of donated goods from downtown businesses, including local art, jewellery, high-quality crafting supplies, and more.
There will also be a cash-only café selling hot beverages, carbonated drinks, baked goods, and more for participants.
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Businesses interested in sponsoring the event or giving to the silent auction are encouraged to reach out to Eidt at anna@peterboroughchildrenschorus.com to help make a difference to youth music education locally.
“We don’t have the same choral culture that we had 20 or even 10 years ago,” Eidt says. “We don’t have as many choirs in schools and in churches. Kids don’t have as many opportunities to sing, to learn how to sing, and to sing in a group, so making our organization strong and accessible is incredibly important right now. It’s essential.”
Tickets for the euchre tournament are available on a sliding scale from $13 to $20 and can be purchased online through Eventbrite at eventbrite.ca/e/1979683129532 or by calling Joan at 647-234-3032.
Peterborough Musicians Benevolent Association (PMBA) Deluxe Live presents The Jethro's Blues Jam All-Stars, featuring Al Black on vocals/drums/harp, Jeremy Spencley on guitar/vocals, J.P. Hovercraft on bass/vocals, Lucy Ferrill on guitar/vocals, Parker Farris on guitar, Caitlin O'Connor on vocals, Frank Barth on trombone, and Maddy Hope on drums, at The Social Pub in downtown Peterborough on Saturday afternoon. (Photo via PMBA Facebook page)
Every Thursday, kawarthaNOW publishes live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that musicians provide directly or that venues post on their websites or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, January 15 to Wednesday, January 21.
If you’re a musician or venue owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, email our nightlifeNOW editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com. For concerts and live music events at other venues, check out our Concerts & Live Music page.
With the exception of karaoke, we only list events with performing musicians. Venues may also host other events during the week (e.g., dancing, DJs, comedy shows).
7:30-9:30pm - Local talent night ft Garrett Graham
Bancroft Brew Pub
4 Bridge St., Bancroft
(613) 332-3450
Friday, January 16
7pm - Near the Open
Black Horse Pub
452 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-0633
Thursday, January 15
7-10pm - Jazz & Blues Night ft. Carling Stephen & Rob Phillips
Friday, January 16
5-8pm - Victoria Yeh & Mike Graham; 9pm-12am - Butter
Saturday, January 17
5-8pm - Emily Burgess; 9pm-12am - Four Lanes Wide
Sunday, January 18
4-7pm - Bradley McAree
Monday, January 19
7-10pm - Crash & Burn w/ Rick & Gailie
Tuesday, January 20
6-10pm - Open mic w/ Joslynn Burford
Coming Soon
Friday, January 23 7-10pm - Hillary Dumoulin, Marcus Browne, Emily Burgess, and Chris Hiney
Saturday, January 24 5-8pm - Daelin Henschel; 9pm-12am - Crooked Archers ft Bridget Foley
Sunday, January 25 4-7pm - Robbie Burns Night ft Washboard Hank & Piping of the Haggis
Boston Pizza Lindsay
435 Kent St. W., Lindsay
705-328-0008
Friday, January 16
8-11pm - Geordy Craig
Capers Tap House
28 Bridge St. W., Campbellford
(705) 653-5262
Saturday, January 17
6-9pm - Kevin Weaver
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Claymore Pub & Table
95 King St. W., Cobourg
905-372-5231
Thursday, January 15
7-10pm - Karaoke w/ Crazy Ray (CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER)
Crook & Coffer
231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-876-0505
Thursday, January 15
7:30-930pm - Joan Lamore
Friday, January 16
7:30-10:30pm - High Waters Trio
Saturday, January 17
2:30-4:30pm - Rod MacDonald; 7:30-10:30pm - Tim Bastmeyer
Dusk to Dawn Brewing Co.
38 King St. E., Millbrook
705-932-2337
Thursday, January 15
5-8pm - Open mic (CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER)
Friday, January 16
6-9pm -Chris Nolan
Saturday, January 17
6-9pm - Daryl Wernick
Ganaraska Brewing Company
33 Mill St., Port Hope
905-885-9029
Saturday, January 17
7-9pm - Live music TBA
Sunday, January 18
2-5pm - Open mic
Ganaraska Hotel
30 Ontario St., Port Hope
(905) 885-9254
Saturday, January 17
3-6pm - Delaney Drive
Coming Soon
Friday, February 28 8pm - Monkey Junk ($40 at The Ganny and Zap Records)
Saturday, March 7 8:30pm - Johnny Max Band ft Chuck Jackson ($20 at The Ganny)
The Granite
45 Bridge St. W., Bancroft
613-332-1500
Coming Soon
Saturday, January 31 5-8pm - Melodi Ryan
Friday, February 13 5-8pm - Paul Richard
Saturday, February 21 5-8pm - Matt Smith
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Honkey Tonk Angel Bar (Golden Wheel)
6725 Highway 7, Peterborough
(705) 749-6838
Coming Soon
Thursday, February 19 7-11pm - Open mic hosted by Ian Clement
Jethro's Bar + Stage
137 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-931-0617
Thursday, January 15
8-10pm - M.H. Vernon; 10pm-12am - The Union
Friday, January 16
6-8pm - Carpe Noctem
Saturday, January 17
8-10pm - Bouche & Smitty
Sunday, January 18
3pm - Blues Jam
Wednesday, January 21
9pm - The Space Heaters
Kelly's Homelike Inn
205 3rd Street, Cobourg
905-372-3234
Friday, January 16
7:30pm - Karaoke w/ Cait Sheppard.
Saturday, January 17
4-8pm - Harley and the Howlers
The Locker at The Falls
9 Lindsay St., Fenelon Falls
705-887-6211
Thursday, January 15
Closed due to weather
Friday, January 16
5:30-8:30pm - Kevin Foster
McThirsty's Pint
166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 743-2220
Friday, January 16
9pm - Cale Crowe
Saturday, January 17
9pm - James Higgins
Sunday, January 18
8pm - Karaoke and open mic
Tuesday, January 20
8pm - Joanna & Danny Bronson
Wednesday, January 21
8pm - Kevin Foster
The Muse Gallery & Cafe
23 Bridge St., Bancroft
613-332-1573
Saturday, January 17
6-8pm - Shoot Toby Twice ft Brandon Humphrey and Tony Silvestri ($20 in advance at The Muse)
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Olympia Restaurant
106 Kent St. W., Lindsay
705-328-1444
Saturday, January 17
5-8:30pm - Live jazz
Pig's Ear Tavern
144 Brock St., Peterborough
(705) 745-7255
Saturday, January 17
9pm - The Friendly Frogs Beach Show w/ Beached Out ($5 or PWYC)
Tuesday, January 20
8pm - Open Stage
Wednesday, January 21
9pm - Karaoinke
Puck' N Pint Sports Pub
871 Chemong Rd., Peterborough
(705) 741-1078
Friday, January 16
8-11pm - Doug Horner
Saturday, January 17
8-11pm - KC Carter
Royal Crown Pub & Grill
4 King St. E., Colborne
905-355-1900
Saturday, January 17
8pm - Tyler Cochrane (no cover)
The Social Pub
295 George St. N., Peterborough
705-874-6724
Saturday, January 17
1-4pm - PMBA Deluxe Live presents The Jethro's Blues Jam All-Stars ft Al Black on vocals/drums/harp, Jeremy Spencley on guitar/vocals, J.P. Hovercraft on bass/vocals, Lucy Ferrill on guitar/vocals, Parker Farris on guitar, Caitlin O'Connor on vocals, Frank Barth on trombone, and Maddy Hope on drums (no cover, donations appreciated)
VIDEO: "Pride and Joy" by Stevie Ray Vaughan - Jethros's Blues Jam (2024)
Tap & Tonic Pub & Bistro - Campbellford
18-22 Bridge St. W., Campbellford
(705) 947-2333
Friday, January 16
7pm - Karaoke
TheBack40 Smoke House
217 Fairbairn Rd., Bobcaygeon
705-928-0270
Thursday, January 15
6-9pm - Cory Wannamaker
The Thirsty Goose
63 Walton St., Port Hope
Friday, January 16
8pm-12am - Jordan Thomas
Saturday, January 17
8pm-12am - Dave Ferrel
The Venue
286 George Street North, Peterborough
(705) 876-0008
Operated by Otonabee Conservation, the Harold Town Conservation Area off Old Norwood Road features about 10 kilometres of wooded trails for hiking and cycling. (Photo via Mindtrip)
A group of hikers were cold and embarrassed but otherwise unharmed after getting lost on the trails at Harold Town Conservation Area for over two hours on Tuesday night (January 13).
Just before 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Peterborough County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were called to the popular conservation area off Old Norwood Road, which is operated by Otonabee Conservation and features about 10 kilometres of wooded trails for hiking and cycling.
Police said the group had decided to take a visiting friend for a hike but, after being dropped off by a ride-share service, they quickly became disoriented on the trails and were unable to find their way back to the trailhead.
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Officers who arrived on scene were able to contact the caller by phone, who said they could hear the police sirens but couldn’t determine what direction the sirens were coming from. Police then instructed the caller to use the What3words mobile application, which allowed officers to obtain precise coordinates for their location.
Members of the OPP Emergency Response Team and canine unit were also dispatched, but prior to their arrival, the hikers managed to emerge from the woods on their own at around 9:15 p.m. Police said the hikers were not dressed appropriately for the winter weather, including wearing running shoes instead of winter boots.
“EMS was on scene and assessed everyone who, other than being cold and embarrassed, were in good health,” reads a police media release.
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The OPP is advising trail users to be prepared when hiking in wooded areas, and to avoid hiking at night on unfamiliar trails as it is easy to become disoriented in wooded areas.
Police also recommend wearing appropriate clothing and footwear, carrying a fully charged cellphone, bringing items such as water and a flashlight, and downloading the What3words app ahead of time in case navigation assistance is needed.
What3words is a global addressing system that divides the world into three-metre squares, assigning each square a unique and easy-to-remember three-word address, which is converted into latitude and longitude coordinates that first responders can use to respond in emergencies. The free app for iPhone and Android devices works offline, making it useful in areas with poor data connections.
A rendering of an Alto high-speed train. The proposed high-speed rail network linking Toronto and Quebec City with a stop in Peterborough would see up to 72 trains per day running on dedicated electric tracks at speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour, cutting current travel times in half. (Image: Alto)
Residents in the Kawarthas region will have a chance to learn more about the proposed high-speed rail line linking Toronto and Quebec City and provide initial feedback when Alto hosts a public open house in Peterborough in February.
The open house will take place at McDonnel Street Community Centre at 577 McDonnel Street on Thursday, February 26, with drop-in hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Peterborough open house is part of a three-month consultation process beginning on January 21 that Alto announced on Thursday (January 15), as the Crown corporation advances the development and pre-construction phase of the rail project.
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More than 20 open house sessions are planned in communities along the corridor between January and March, in addition to eight virtual meetings and a dedicated online information portal.
Federal transport minister Steven MacKinnon — who announced on December 12 that the Ottawa–Montreal corridor will be the first segment to move forward as part of Alto’s planned high-speed rail network — called the launch of consultations “an important milestone” in the project’s development, saying the engagement process will help shape the future of the transportation corridor.
“By engaging Canadians early, and by working in partnership with Indigenous communities, we are ensuring this project is shaped by local knowledge, environmental responsibility, and shared priorities,” MacKinnon said in a media release. “This work will help lay the foundation for a modern transportation network that creates good jobs, supports economic growth, strengthens regional connections, and delivers lasting benefits for communities along the corridor.”
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In addition to public sessions, Alto has already begun a dedicated Indigenous consultation process that includes technical briefings, co-designed tools, and collaboration agreements.
The corporation says it intends to work with Indigenous communities, municipalities, and institutions throughout the project’s design, environmental studies, construction, and long-term operations.
Alto president and CEO Martin Imbleau said meaningful engagement is fundamental to how the project will move forward.
“Public engagement is a cornerstone of the Alto project,” Imbleau said. “Through broad consultations with Canadians, including meaningful dialogue with Indigenous communities, we will ensure that every voice is heard in shaping the future of transportation. By working collaboratively, we will build a rail network that reflects shared priorities, respects Indigenous rights and knowledge, and delivers lasting benefits for generations to come.”
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Alto says that feedback collected during the initial public consultation will inform the rail network’s alignment to be defined later this year. A second round of consultations will follow to review and refine the proposed alignment.
Projected to cost between $60 billon and $90 billion, the project to create the country’s first-ever reliable and frequent high-speed rail system will be the largest public infrastructure project in Canada in recent history.
Planned stations include Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval, Trois-Rivières, and Quebec City, connecting millions of residents across the most densely populated corridor in the country.
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Following a speech in Montreal on Tuesday, Imbleau said construction on the Ottawa–Montreal segment is set to begin in 2029 or 2030. Engineering work on one of both of the Toronto-Ottawa (including Peterborough) and Montreal-Quebec City segments will begin at the same time, with construction on one of the segments expected to begin in 2032.
The proposed high-speed rail network would see up to 72 trains per day running on dedicated electric tracks at speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour, cutting current travel times in half. For example, the estimated travel time between Peterborough and Toronto would be 40 minutes — 45 per cent faster than the 90 minutes required when travelling by road with normal traffic.
Coast Salish Indigenous actor Michelle Bardac, Nakota/Assiniboine Nation actor Sera-Lys McArthur, and Peterborough actor Megan Murphy are the "Women of the Fur Trade" in New Stages Theatre Company's staged reading of Frances Koncan's award-winning play on January 24, 2026 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. Directed by Patti Shaughnessy, the play will also feature Thomas Scott and Chris Mejaki. (kawarthaNOW collage)
What happens when untold stories of Canada’s nation-shaping fur trade are paired with modern slang and contemporary references?
A full house at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre will find out on Saturday, January 24 when audience members gather for New Stages Theatre’s staged reading of Women of the Fur Trade by Anishinaabe and Slovene playwright Frances Koncan.
Set in a fort in “1800 and something-something,” Women of the Fur Trade revolves around three fictional women — an Ojibwe, a Metis, and a British woman — who share their perspectives on life, love, and “hot nerd” Louis Riel during the Red River Resistance.
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After finding that every account of the fur trade was from a man’s perspective, Koncan wrote the historical satire to shift the perspective from the male gaze onto the women’s power by satirizing the erasure and using 21st century verbiage.
“I think something that I’ve always been really drawn to is history that’s told in an accessible way — history that is a little fun and playful and not afraid to be a little silly,” said Koncan in a September 2025 interview for CBC’s North by Northwest with Margaret Gallagher.
“That’s something I definitely early on was bringing to the script. I absolutely tried to write it in a much more serious tone, and I realized pretty early on that it wasn’t my style. It wasn’t being truthful to who I was or maybe what my voice was, so I just started leaning into these characters who speak how I speak and speak how my friends speak, and that’s how we’re going to connect to this history is through these characters who talk like us but are in a different situation than us.”
VIDEO: “Women of the Fur Trade” (excerpt from 2023 Stratford Festival production)
Koncan wrote Women of the Fur Trade in 2017–2018 as a submission for the Toronto Fringe Festival, where it won Best New Play before being staged around the country with notable productions by the National Arts Centre and Stratford Festival.
“Our goal is to provide the best contemporary plays — a lot of them Canadian — and to bring them to our audience,” says New Stages artistic director Mark Wallace. “This one certainly has been performed all across Canada now. It’s the first time here, so we’re excited to see what people think of it.”
In addition to suggesting there is a desire for stories that offer an Indigenous perspective, Wallace says audiences are seeking out comedies this time of year and Women of the Fur Trade is a combination of both.
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“It’s late January and I’m not going to see something that’s going to be terribly depressing,” Wallace jokes. “I’m drawn to comedies that have an edge to them. I think it’s fun to be able to laugh at ourselves and poke fun at ourselves. It makes it easier to sometimes cope with the way the world is.”
When the show comes to Market Hall, it will be staged by an all-star and familiar cast and team led by director Patti Shaughnessy. A member of the Mchi Saagig Anishnaabeg from Curve Lake First Nation, she is an actor, director, and producer who has worked on the Ode’min Giizis Festival and co-founded the arts collective O’Kaadenigan Wiingashk.
Shaughnessy has directed at the National Arts Centre among other theatres, and her acting spans acclaimed works by Tomson Highway, Cliff Cardinal, Tara Beagan, and Drew Hayden Taylor. In 2019, she shared the Peterborough Arts Awards’ Outstanding Mid-Career Artist award with actor Beau Dixon.
Anishinaabe and Slovene playwright Frances Koncan wrote “Women of the Fur Trade” in 2017–2018 as a submission for the Toronto Fringe Festival, where it won Best New Play and has since been staged across Canada with notable productions by the National Arts Centre and Stratford Festival. The New Stages Theatre Company’s staged reading of the play on January 24, 2026 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough will be directed by award-winning Indigenous actor, director, and producer Patti Shaughnessy. (kawarthaNOW collage)
“Patti’s a great director and she’s such a talent and living right here in our community,” says Wallace. “She’s playful in the way that she thinks about staging and drama and so having her at the helm is very exciting.”
Taking to the stage as the women of the fur trade will be both local favourites and visiting professionals, including Coast Salish Indigenous performer Michelle Bardach. She will be making a stop at Market Hall following her role in the world premiere of Rez Gas at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre last summer and before heading off to the Stratford Festival this year.
Bardach will be joined in the fort by award-winning Nakota/Assiniboine Nation film actor Sera-Lys McArthur, whose roles on screen have included parts in Arctic Air and Burden of Truth among others. Rounding out the women of the fur trade is local actor Megan Murphy, who just wrapped up a performance in New Stage’s It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play in December.
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The women will be joined by Dora Award winner Mac Fyfe as historical figure Thomas Scott, and Chris Mejaki — whose film Whistling Pine was featured in the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival last year — as Métis leader Louis Riel.
As of the publication date of this story, there are only a handful of stage-adjacent balcony tickets remaining for the performance, priced at $34 with a “welcome rate” of $24 and $44 “pay it forward” rate for those who can afford it. A wait list is available for preferred seats that may become available ahead of the show. To get on the waitlist, contact the Market Hall box office by calling 705-775-1503.
If you miss Women of the Fur Trade, Wallace assures there are lots of tickets still available for the Brand New Stages Festival, set to take place between Tuesday, February 24 and Sunday, March 1 at Market Hall and The Theatre on King.
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Two shows, The Cull by Michele Riml and Michael St. John Smith and 12 Dinners by Steve Ross, have already been announced, but Wallace says audiences can expect to see more titles added to the lineup in the coming weeks, including some new Canadian scripts.
“We’ve got some big names coming plus some great local names and some local playwrights, too,” Wallace says. “It’s going to be a busy week, so we’re really excited for it.”
Tickets for New Stages Theatre can be purchased at the Market Hall box office at 140 Charlotte Street, by calling 705-749-1146, or online at tickets.markethall.org/?category=20.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be media sponsor of New Stages Theatre Company’s 2025-26 season.
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