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Initiative to grant Rice Lake legal personhood status gaining momentum, says Alderville First Nation chief

Two Mississauga Ojibwe (Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg) men harvesting wild rice (manoomin) on Rice Lake (Pimadashkodeyong) in 1921. (Photo: John Boyd / Library and Archives Canada / John Boyd fonds / PA-084653)

Taynar Simpson is hoping his legacy as chief of Alderville First Nation will include a cleaner and protected Rice Lake for many future generations of the Indigenous community.

Stating that over-fishing and pollution is savaging the health of the large body of water located in both Northumberland and Peterborough counties, Alderville First Nation’s current chief and others are aiming to make a long-term contribution to the vitality of this vital resource.

Simpson is helping spearhead an effort to have Rice Lake granted legal personhood status, which would ultimately protect the lake’s rights now and in the future.

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Working in collaboration with Alderville community members, other First Nation communities, the International Observatory of Nature’s Rights (which has taken on the case pro bono), local politicians, and other stakeholders, the endeavour is gaining momentum, Simpson said.

“We’ve been putting together our team and if all goes well, we will be getting legal personhood status for Rice Lake,” Simpson told kawarthaNOW.

It’s an important undertaking, Simpson said, because “we would be able to pursue any wrongs against the lake. It’s a way to ensure the lake is protected the same way a person would be protected under the law.”

As well as serving his second term as chief of Alderville First Nation after also serving as a councillor, Taynar Simpson founded Wampum Records in 2001, which has since become Canada's largest research and consulting firm on Indigenous issues. (Photo: Wampum Records)
As well as serving his second term as chief of Alderville First Nation after also serving as a councillor, Taynar Simpson founded Wampum Records in 2001, which has since become Canada’s largest research and consulting firm on Indigenous issues. (Photo: Wampum Records)

Rice Lake provides Alderville First Nation with food sustainability, Simpson said.

“It’s our wild rice, it’s our fish, it’s our waterfowl, and it’s our muskrats,” he explained. “Right now, Rice Lake is highly polluted. Fish stocks are down. People are over-fishing. The weeds — the invasives — are going crazy.”

Simpson has been involved in many recent activities to help raise awareness about the personhood initiative.

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Simpson hosted a “water walk,” which involved bringing a container of water from Rice Lake into the Alderville community centre for an event.

“We had a great meeting with the International Observatory of Nature’s Rights, who were our guest panellists for the discussion with our community,” Simpson said. “We had 36 people in attendance, which for Alderville is huge. It’s something that’s speaking to the community.”

“Afterwards, I took the observatory folks out on my boat to look at our (wild) rice fields. The rice field on Rice Lake has been growing exponentially — it’s about 75 acres right now and we’re hoping to get up to 100 acres next year. This is the biggest rice field we’ve had in Rice Lake in over 100 years, so everything seems to be coming together all at once to make this move forward.”

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Meanwhile, the Municipality of Port Hope hosted an event on September 30 for Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation that raised more than $20,000 in support of the personhood initiative.

The project also received endorsement and a financial commitment from the event’s guest, Tom Jackson. A Métis actor, musician, philanthropist, and activist, Jackson said he would match up to $5,000 in donations garnered through the Port Hope fundraiser.

The fundraiser was a great boost, Simpson said, noting “We had zero expectations going in.”

VIDEO: “I Am the Magpie River” trailer

The money that was raised will support costs associated with the personhood initiative, he explained, including bringing in experts.

“We need to be building our case for what we’re saying,” Simpson said. “There would be a lot of science work, we want to test the water, we want to probably do some surveys, and put some media marketing out there to the public.”

Since Jackson’s concert, a lot of people have reached out and said they wanted to be part of the project, he noted.

“We’re just trying to build our team,” Simpson said. “We’re still in the formulating phase.”

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Simpson noted he has been advised to amend Alderville First Nation’s constitution to fundamentally include the rights of nature, so there are several next steps and legal costs on the horizon.

When asked how long he expects achieving personhood status will take, the chief said he hopes the process is completed in less than five years. The project is not part of Simpson’s core work at the helm of Alderville First Nation — it’s a volunteer-driven effort and a grassroots movement.

The Magpie River in Quebec was the first lake in Canada to be granted legal personhood, after the local municipality of Minganie and the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit passed joint resolutions in 2021. I Am the Magpie River, a 2023 documentary from CBC’s The Nature of Things available for streaming on CBC Gem, follows the story of the river and its journey to legal personhood.

CPKC Holiday Train stopping in Cobourg on November 29

For the past 27 years, the CPKC Holiday Train has been touring Canada and the United States to raise money, food, and awareness for the important work that food banks do in their communities. Professional musicians play free concerts from the brightly decorated train's stage, with CPKC donating to the local food bank at each stop and encouragingall attendees to make a monetary or food donation of their own. (Photo: CKPC)

The CPKC Holiday Train will once again be visiting Northumberland County this year, with a stop in Cobourg on Saturday, November 29 that will feature a free live musical performance by two Canadian country music artists.

A combination of Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) railways, CPKC is the first and only transnational rail network in North America. For the past 27 years, the CPKC Holiday Train has been touring Canada and the United States to raise money, food, and awareness for the important work that food banks do in their communities.

Professional musicians play free concerts from the brightly decorated train’s stage, with CPKC making a donation to the local food bank at each stop while encouraging attendees to do the same. Since 1999, the CPKC Holiday Train has raised more than $26.1 million and 5.4 million pounds of food for community food banks across North America.

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The 2025 CPKC Holiday Train runs from November 19 to December 26, with the Canadian route going across the country.

After earlier stops in Belleville and Trenton and before proceeding on to Bowmanville, Oshawa, and Toronto, the train will stop in Cobourg behind the Columbus Community Centre at 232 Spencer Street East from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. on Saturday, November 29.

Peterborough’s Jade Eagleson and B.C.’s Teigen Gayse will be performing during the Cobourg stop. After the train arrives, the stage door will lower and the musicians will perform their first song followed by a brief presentation with local food bank officials and other dignitaries on stage. Once the presentation is done, musicians resume the show with a mix of original songs as well as traditional and modern holiday-themed songs.

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Along with CPKC’s donation to Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank, attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable item or a monetary donation of their own to donate to the food bank, which will be on site.

Parking is available at the Columbus Community Centre. CPKC police and local police will also be on hand to help manage traffic and crowds.

For more information about the CPKC Holiday Train, visit www.cpkcr.com/en/community/HolidayTrain.

Peterborough county council requests information about proposed demolition of contaminated GE buildings

The 2014 demolition of Building 7 at the General Electric factory complex in downtown Peterborough captured by photographer Wayne Eardley as part of his "Caribou" series that was featured at the 2016 SPARK Photo Festival and the Art Gallery of Peterborough. Building 7 was part of the General Electric's armature department, which built coils for motors and generators, stators, DC motors, armatures, and more. (Photo: Wayne Eardley)

Peterborough county council has unanimously passed a motion requesting the City of Peterborough require GE Vernova to provide detailed information about its plans to demolish a large number of vacant buildings at the General Electric factory complex in downtown Peterborough — including information about the volume of demolition waste, disposal location, and whether the waste is contaminated.

The motion was passed at the county council meeting on Wednesday (October 15) in response to city council’s decision to allow GE Vernova to demolish 26 vacant buildings at the complex at 107 Park Street North in downtown Peterborough, while accepting the company’s recommendation to retain eight buildings that are currently in use or have heritage value.

County council’s motion is specifically related to the potential impact of the demolition on the Bensfort Road landfill site. Officially known as Peterborough County/City Waste Management Facility, the landfill is jointly owned and operated by the city and the county but is located in the Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan in Peterborough County.

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The proposed demolition of the GE buildings is controversial because of known contamination of the industrial site with toxic hazardous substances such as asbestos over the past 125 years and the impact of a demolition on the safety of the surrounding residential neighbourhoods.

“Our staff and myself have had calls from residents who are concerned about contaminated waste being brought into the landfill, so we need some sort of assurance that that will be regulated and not happen,” Otonabee-South Monaghan mayor Joe Taylor said at the county council meeting.

“Equally as important is the fact that, even if this material isn’t contaminated, there is likely to be a huge volume of it and we have a limited amount of space and life left in our landfill,” he added. “I think it’s important that we know how much material is going to go there, and what the volume will do to the space remaining and the anticipated lifespan. I think that’s a really critical piece of information we need to have.”

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Although the City of Peterborough is responsible for issuing demolition permits under the Ontario building code, city council has been advised by city staff that the municipality has no authority to require GE Vernova to identify or address environmental issues related to the demolition.

Instead, that responsibility falls under the authority of the Ontario government, including the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks through the Environmental Protection Act, which regulates the disposal of hazardous materials and the management of construction waste, and the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills through the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which regulates safety for workers involved in construction activities including demolition.

The motion passed at Wednesday’s county council meeting states that council “is concerned with the lack of details provided as to the demolition plan, contents disposal intentions, quantity and quality of disposal materials” and that council “requests that the City (of Peterborough) require the owner to provide detailed information, including but not limited to, detailed site demolition plans, including site disposal volumes, intended disposal location, material and site contamination testing and disposal considerations to City and County Councils.”

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“We should be receiving information as to what they plan to do with it, and everything that goes with that because it is a cause of concern,” said deputy warden Sherry Senis at the meeting. “We’re just asking here to be assured that we’re in the loop and that we receive the information that is necessary.”

The motion also requests that the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks “be copied on any and all plans related to the planned demolition or site works.”

On the same day as the county council meeting, Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal sent a letter to Environment, Conservation and Parks Minister Todd McCarthy that outlined council’s ratified motion, the demolition and heritage plan, and the need to deal with potential contaminants during demolition.

“Because of the toxicity of this site, we believe that the full weight of the Environmental Protection Act needs to be applied,” the mayor wrote in part. “Ontario Regulation 347: General – Waste Management and within the Environmental Protection Act speaks to the need for testing, characterization, classification, transportation and disposal of waste related to the demolition process. We also recognize that the Ministry of Labour will have a significant role to play in the demolition process. ”

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As for GE Vernova, the company has stated that it “continues to work with the Ministry of Environment to manage the site, and is committed to working closely with City staff to plan a path forward that minimizes disruptions to the neighbourhood and meets all legislative and regulatory requirements.”

The General Electric factory opened in 1891 and, at the peak of its operations, employed as many as 6,000 workers. In 2014 and 2015, the company demolished five of its older surplus buildings as part of Project Caribou, a demolition project intended to reduce energy costs and streamline workflow at the factory. In 2018, when the factory had 350 employees, General Electric ceased its manufacturing activities on the site, with most of the buildings decomissioned and machinery and equipment removed.

Since then, GE Vernova has maintained office space for 60 employees in the site’s east block and leases several buildings in the west block to BWXT, which was originally part of GE Vernova’s nuclear energy division but became an independent company in 2016 and now specializes in nuclear components and services for government and commercial clients. Those buildings are among those that would be retained under the demolition plan.

Know Your Locals: Get exclusive access to the Innovation Cluster’s Experts in Residence at ‘Ask the Expert’ event

In celebration of Small Business Week, the Innovation Cluster is hosting an "Ask the Expert" networking event on October 23, 2025 at the Venture North building in downtown Peterborough. Tech founders will have the exclusive opportunity to hear rapid-fire insight from 10 of the non-profit organization's Experts in Residents who have knowledge and experience in key startup areas including marketing, product development, funding, and more. (Photo courtesy of the Innovation Cluster)

Are you a tech entrepreneur with burning questions and the desire to speak candidly to someone who was once in your shoes?

It’s not always easy for founders to gain such access to successful experts in business, but the Innovation Cluster is providing that opportunity by hosting a free “Ask the Expert” networking event from 2 to 4 p.m. on Thursday (October 23) at the Venture North building in downtown Peterborough.

Registration is now open for the exclusive event taking place during Small Business Week, an annual celebration of entrepreneurship launched by Business Development Bank of Canada more than 45 years ago.

Limited to 30 founders, “Ask the Expert” will see participants divided into small groups and rotated between 10 of the Innovation Cluster’s more than 35 Experts in Residence. Experts come from a wide range of backgrounds and have expertise in key startup areas, including IP, corporate law, sales, manufacturing, marketing, and much more.

“These experts are coming with experience of 20 or even 30 years as entrepreneurs themselves, and they’re sharing that experience with these new tech entrepreneurs,” says Innovation Cluster program lead Zahra Shafiei. “Clients see value in talking to our experts, and we receive a lot of requests from people wanting to meet with them so this is an opportunity for founders to have a sneak peek on what they can get as a client.”

The 10 Experts in Residence who will be in attendance at “Ask the Expert” and their areas of expertise are:

  • Barb Willoughby – Operational Excellence, Manufacturing and Supply
  • Paul Banwatt – Corporate Legal Counsel
  • Chris Beetham – Tech/IoT Product Prototyping
  • Gerry Bleau – Sales, Fundraising and Acquisition
  • Jan d’Ailly – Revenue Consulting and Sales Training
  • Jeannine Taylor – Marketing, Media and Communications
  • Marcelo Sarkis – Intellectual Property
  • Mehdi Sanjari – Product Development, AI and Machine Learning
  • Moshe Mikanovsky – Product Development and Product Management
  • Trista Greer – Digital Marketing
During the "Ask the Expert" event held by the Innovation Cluster on October 23, 2025 during Small Business Week, founders will be divided into small cohorts where they will receive advice and guidance from experienced entrepreneurs who were once in their position and are now Experts in Residence at the Innovation Cluster. Participants will also be able to network with other founders navigating similar challenges and learn about the benefits of being a client of the Innovation Cluster. (Photo courtesy of the Innovation Cluster)
During the “Ask the Expert” event held by the Innovation Cluster on October 23, 2025 during Small Business Week, founders will be divided into small cohorts where they will receive advice and guidance from experienced entrepreneurs who were once in their position and are now Experts in Residence at the Innovation Cluster. Participants will also be able to network with other founders navigating similar challenges and learn about the benefits of being a client of the Innovation Cluster. (Photo courtesy of the Innovation Cluster)

“Ask the Expert” will most benefit tech founders who have a product in early traction, are stuck in a plateau, or are ready to scale. They can leverage the experience of the Experts in Residence to get rapid-fire insight on anything from funding and financial metrics to validation or scaling.

“These experts started exactly where the entrepreneur is, so whether participants are in the startup stage, the growth stage, or the scale stage, they will be speaking to people who have already gone through the stages to the point where they can now provide valuable expertise,” says Shafiei. “There will also be peers that are at the same stage or even a different stage, which can lead to collaborations among participants.”

Running from 2 to 4 p.m., the event will include snacks and beverages supplied from Hard Winter Bakery, including coffee from Rapid Ends Coffee Roastery.

To provide more local resources during Small Business Week, Innovation Cluster is also hosting a virtual workshop on Wednesday (October 22) from 10 to 11 a.m. led by Joanne Kirke, founder and CEO of Kirke Leadership. “From Founder to CEO: Leadership & HR” will help founders unlock the mindset to lead with confidence and transition from founder to CEO.

To register for “Ask the Expert” and other Small Business Week events held by the Innovation Cluster, visit innovationcluster.ca/events.

 

Know Your Locals™ is a branded editorial feature about locally owned independent businesses and locally operated organizations, and supported by them. If your business or organization is interested in being featured in a future “Know Your Locals” branded editorial, contact Jeannine Taylor at 705-742-6404 or jt@kawarthanow.com or visit our Advertise with kawarthaNOW page.

nightlifeNOW – October 16 to 22

Veteran Peterborough singer-songwriter and guitarist Pat Temple performs his signature blend of western swing, jump blues, rockabilly, and roadhouse soul with The Hilo Players (Kyler Tapscott, Rob Foreman, and Brian Ferguson) at the Peterborough Musicians Benevolent Association's Deluxe Live show at The Social in downtown Peterborough on Saturday afternoon, also featuring Dave MacQuarrie and Corey Biswanger of The Wild Cards. (Photo: Pat Temple and the Hilo Players / Facebook)

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, October 16 to Wednesday, October 22.

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).

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100 Acre Brewing Co.

390 Ashburnham Dr., Peterborough
705-243-2444

Friday, October 17

5-9pm - The Eastenders (no cover)

Sunday, October 19

3-6pm - Bob Butcher (no cover)

Arthur's Pub

930 Burnham St., Cobourg
(905) 372-2105

Thursday, October 16

8-10:30pm - Open mic w/ Bruce Longman

Friday, October 17

8-11pm - Brian Bracken

Saturday, October 18

8-11pm - Bruce Longman

Monday, October 20

7:30-9:30pm - Local talent night ft Josh & Wishbone

Bar Vita

413 George St. N., Peterborough
705-743-3339

Friday, October 17

7:30-10:30pm - Chris Collins

Black Horse Pub

452 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-0633

Thursday, October 16

7-10pm - Jazz & Blues Night ft. Carling Stephen & Rob Phillips

Friday, October 17

5-8pm - Bob Butcher; 9pm-12am - Jake Norris & The SideStreet Band

Saturday, October 18

5-8pm - Lizeh Basciano; 9pm-12am - Space Cadets

Sunday, October 19

4-7pm - Washboard Hank & The Wringers

Monday, October 20

7-10pm - Crash & Burn w/ Rick & Gailie

Tuesday, October 21

6-10pm - Open mic w/ Johann Burkhardt

Coming Soon

Friday, October 24
5-8pm - Taylor Abrahamse; 9pm-12am - Woodhouse Crooks

Saturday, October 25
5-8pm - Emily Burgess; 9pm-12am - Four Lanes Wide

Sunday, October 26
4-7pm - Steve Stacey

The Blue Room Coboconk

6666 Highway 35, Coboconk
613-553-4699

Saturday, October 18

5pm - Will Gillespie Music and Lotus Wight perform MINE! True Stories and Legends of the Porcupine Gold Rush

Claymore Pub & Table

95 King St. W., Cobourg
905-372-5231

Thursday, October 16

7-10pm - Karaoke Night w/ Crazy Ray

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Coach & Horses Pub

16 York St. S., Lindsay
(705) 328-0006

Thursday, October 16

9pm-1am - Karaoke w/ DJ Ross

Saturday, October 18

10pm-2am - Karaoke w/ DJ Ross

Crook & Coffer

231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-876-0505

Friday, October 17

8:30pm - Karaoke w/ Stoeten

Saturday, October 18

2:30-4:30pm - Kate Kelly; 7:30-10:30pm - Jimmy Breslin

Ganaraska Brewing Company

33 Mill St., Port Hope
905-885-9029

Coming Soon

Friday, October 31
7-11pm- Halloween Karaoke Party

Ganaraska Hotel

30 Ontario St., Port Hope
(905) 885-9254

Saturday, October 18

2-5pm - Bone Yard

Sunday, October 19

2-6pm - Mike McGiverin and Borderline Express

Coming Soon

Friday, October 31
8pm - Buck Tingley w/ Roxanne Potvin on bass and Tim-Jim Baker on drums ($20)

Gordon Best Theatre

216 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 876-8884

Coming Soon

Saturday, November 15
7:30pm - UK Calling ($39.46 in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1735882624659)

Graz Restobar

38 Bolton St., Bobcaygeon
705-738-6343

Friday, October 17

7:30-9:30pm - Jesse Byers

Saturday, October 18

7:30-9:30pm - Troy Bishop

Honkey Tonk Angel Bar (Golden Wheel)

6725 Highway 7, Peterborough
(705) 749-6838

Friday, October 17

8-11pm - Gunslingers

Coming Soon

Saturday, October 25
7-11pm - Kevin Parrish

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Jethro's Bar + Stage

137 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-931-0617

Thursday, October 16

8pm - A Sea of Gold & Burgundy w/ Brandon Agnew; 10pm - The Union

Friday, October 17

8pm - 2/3 Ain't Bad; 10pm - Crocky's Star Band

Saturday, October 18

8pm - David Tosh; 10pm - The Lazarettes

Sunday, October 19

3pm - Blues Jam

Wednesday, October 22

9pm - The Space Heaters

The John at Sadleir House

751 George St. N., Peterborough
705-742-3686

Saturday, October 18

8:30pm - Babe Chorus presents "Practical Magic" w/ special musical guests Missy Knott and Nick Procyshyn and drag performers Audrina Venti and Sahira ($25 in advance at Bluestreak Records)

Coming Soon

Friday, October 24
8pm - Fittonia album release show w/ Wily Era ($20 in advance at Bluestreak Records)

Saturday, October 25
8:30pm - Illegal Aliens ($15 in advance at Bluestreak Records, $20 at door)

Saturday, November 1
8:30pm - Mourning Wood, Pulsar, After The Horizon ($15 in advance at Bluestreak Records)

Kelly's Homelike Inn

205 3rd Street, Cobourg
905-372-3234

Friday, October 17

7-10pm - Kat Lovett

Saturday, October 18

4-8pm - Monkey Mountain

Mainstreet Bar & Grill

1939 Lakehurst Road, Buckhorn
(705) 657-9094

Friday, October 17

7pm - Karaoke hosted by DJ Ross

McThirsty's Pint

166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 743-2220

Friday, October 17

9pm-1am - Jordan Thomas

Saturday, October 18

9pm-1am - Ryan Scott

Sunday, October 19

8pm - Karaoke and open mic

Tuesday, October 21

8pm - Joanna & Danny Bronson

Wednesday, October 22

8pm - Kevin Foster

Murphy's Lockside Pub & Patio

3 May St., Fenelon Falls
(705) 887-1100

Thursday, October 16

8pm - Murphy's House Band (Mike Wright, Jason Lynn, Jordan Kirkness, Scott Carleton, Dar Kimble)

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Olympia Restaurant

106 Kent St. W., Lindsay
705-328-1444

Friday, October 17

5-8:30pm - Live music TBA (reservations recommended)

Pig's Ear Tavern

144 Brock St., Peterborough
(705) 745-7255

Saturday, October 18

4-7pm - Collette Savard & Little Fire Collective; 9pm - B.A. Johnston w/ Beef Boys and Pretty Titty

Sunday, October 19

6pm - Not The Beatles - A Tribute to the Beatles: A Party for John and Lylie ft Emily Burgess, Nicholas Campbell, and more ($10 suggested donation)

Tuesday, October 21

6-8pm - McDonnel Street Gospel Quartet (no cover)

Wednesday, October 22

9pm - Karaoinke

Puck' N Pint Sports Pub

871 Chemong Rd., Peterborough
(705) 741-1078

Saturday, October 18

7-11pm - Bob Butcher

Rolling Grape Vineyard

260 County Rd 2, Bailieboro
705-991-5876

Thursday, October 16

5:30-8:30pm - Jasmine Stephenson

Sunday, October 19

2-5pm - Sean Jamieson

Royal Crown Pub & Grill

4 King St. E., Colborne
905-355-1900

Saturday, October 18

8pm - Gavyn Boyce (no cover)

Scenery Drive Restaurant

6193 County Road 45, Baltimore
905-349-2217

Coming Soon

Saturday, October 25
5-7:30pm - Darren Bailey

The Social Pub

295 George St. N., Peterborough
705-874-6724

Saturday, October 18

1-4pm - PMBA Deluxe Live presents Pat Temple & The Hilo Players w/ The Wild Cards (no cover, donations appreciated)

VIDEO: "Say So" - Pat Temple & The Hilo Players (2016)

Sticks Sports Pub

500 George St. S., Peterborough
(705) 775-7845

Friday, October 17

7-10pm - The Hippie Chicks

Tap & Tonic Pub & Bistro - Campbellford

18-22 Bridge St. W., Campbellford
(705) 947-2333

Thursday, October 16

7-10pm - Kevin Weaver

Tap & Tonic Pub & Bistro - Marmora

16 Forsyth St., Marmora
613-666-9767

Thursday, October 16

7-10pm - Joslynn Burford

The Thirsty Goose

63 Walton St., Port Hope

Friday, October 17

8pm-12am - Jacob Henley

Saturday, October 18

8pm-12am - Jeff Biggar

The Venue

286 George Street North, Peterborough
(705) 876-0008

Coming Soon

Saturday, November 1
8pm - Halloween Bash w/ Mid Life Crisis ($25)

Wednesday, November 26
8pm - Dwayne Gretzky ($39.96 - $52.43 in advance at https://www.ticketweb.ca/event/dwayne-gretzky-the-venue-tickets/13936324)

Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region’s Women Build Retreat raises $15,000 to support local affordable housing projects

Organized by Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR), the Women Build Retreat held from October 3 to 5 at Camp Timberlane in Haliburton County taught participants how to build a bunkie, which will be auctioned off to raise funds for an affordable housing project in Haliburton. The event also raised $15,000 for affordable housing projects across the Kawarthas region. (Photo: Habitat PKR)

A group of women recently rolled up their sleeves in Haliburton County and built a bunkie, all while raising $15,000 for affordable housing projects in the Peterborough and Kawartha area.

Swinging hammers and learning how to use power tools, the participants of the second annual Women Build Retreat organized by Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) used their acquired skills to build the bunkie while also spending the weekend engaging in outdoor events and activities and relaxing.

The event held from October 3 to 5 at Camp Timberlane in the Haliburton Highlands attracted more than 60 women from across the province.

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Holly McKinnon, Habitat PKR’s marketing and communications manager, shared a few details with kawarthaNOW about the popular initiative.

“We’ve seen from our past Women Build projects and now our Women Build Retreat that women really want to get hands-on learning in how to build,” McKinnon said.

“They want to feel confident in using power tools and take on their own home projects, both big and small. These are practical skills, but too often women don’t get the chance to try and learn them in a supportive environment and we want to change that.”

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Guided by Habitat PKR’s professional female construction staff who have built homes in the community, participants worked together to construct the seven-by-10-foot bunkie from start to finish. The completed bunkie was donated to Haliburton’s Places for People, a local affordable housing organization.

The bunkie will be raffled off to raise additional funds for a new partnership between Places for People and Habitat PKR that will see a 35-unit affordable condominium development built on Peninsula Road in Haliburton. The development would include 20 affordable home ownership units and 15 affordable rental units.

“Moments like our Women Build Retreat remind me how powerful community can be when people come together, learning, giving back, and building toward something lasting,” said Habitat PKR CEO Susan Zambonin in a media release. “It was incredible to see so many women learning new skills, supporting each other, and helping make affordable housing a reality for more families in our region.”

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According to McKinnon, the proceeds raised from the Women Build Retreat will help Habitat PKR “keep doing what we do best — creating more opportunities for families to have safe, stable, affordable homes in the Peterborough and Kawartha region.”

Beyond the building work, participants also took part in yoga, archery, kayaking, pickleball, and paddleboarding during the retreat. Highlights included a wine-pairing session with Leah Spooner Wine, a life-coaching workshop called “The Worthy Blueprint with Lisa Fell,” and a gourmet s’mores bar by Miss Grove & Co.

The event was presented by D.M. Wills, with support from sponsors Sun Life Kalyta Financial Solutions, NuVolt Group Canada, Dawson Gray LLP, and kawarthaNOW.

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For women who missed the retreat but are also interested in learning hands-on construction skills, Habitat PKR is launching a new series of “Women Build Workshops,” with each workshop focusing on a different set of tools and techniques that will empower women to tackle their own DIY projects with confidence.

The workshops will run on six Wednesday evenings from October 29 to December 10 at the former Lakefield ReStore location at 3001 Lakefield Road in Selwyn Township. Sessions will cover topics including hand tool basics, an introduction to power tools, and a full build project. Each workshop costs $95, or $525 for all six workshops, with all materials included.

For more information and to register for the workshops, visit women-build-workshops.raiselysite.com.

Trent University and Peterborough Community Health Centre launch new outreach vehicle to serve rural and Indigenous communities

Trent/Fleming School of Nursing dean Dr. Hugo Lehmann and associate dean Dr. Ellen Buck-McFadyen, nurse practitioner and Trent University clinical instructor Erinne Stevens, donors Brad Holland and Bryan Davies, and Trent University provost and vice-president Dr. Mark Skinner in front of the new donor-funded community health outreach vehicle that the Peterborough Community Health Centre will use to improve primary healthcare services to rural and Indigenous communities in Peterborough County while also providing nursing students with practical experience. (Photo courtesy of Trent University)

With the demand for healthcare services increasing, Trent University and the Peterborough Community Health Centre (PCHC) have teamed up to improve primary care services to rural and Indigenous communities in Peterborough County while also providing nursing students with practical experience.

On Wednesday (October 15) at Trent University, the partners unveiled a new donor-funded community outreach vehicle that will serve the communities of Havelock, Ennismore, and Hiawatha First Nation for two days per week during the first year of a pilot project.

“Our mission is to meet people where they are, addressing not just medical needs but the broader social factors that impact health,” said PCHC executive director Ashley Safar, noting that the community outreach vehicle reflects PHCH’s commitment to low-barrier and community-based care.

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“By partnering with Trent, we’re able to expand access to primary care and ensure more people receive the timely equitable care they deserve,” Safar added.

Staffed by a nurse practitioner and eight second-year students of the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing each academic term, the outreach vehicle will offer drop-in services for acute and chronic conditions, well-child visits, harm reduction supplies, and safer sex supplies and education.

“By partnering with PCHC and through the generosity of our donors to Trent’s Momentous Campaign, we are advancing access to healthcare for Indigenous, rural, and underserved populations while ensuring our students gain the experience to become leaders in equitable healthcare,” said Trent/Fleming School of Nursing dean Dr. Hugo Lehmann.

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Trent University and PCHC say that, if the first year of the pilot project is successful, they hope to increase funding for the initiative, expanding the range of services offered, increasing the number of communities served, and involving students from additional disciplines beyond nursing such as social work.

“Students gain so much by serving directly in communities and by being immersed in the realities of frontline healthcare,” said Erinne Stevens, a nurse practitioner in the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing who will be leading the participating students. “The community health outreach vehicle will allow students to build clinical expertise while also learning what it means to provide care that is accessible, responsive, and rooted in community.”

Schedules and locations of the community health outreach vehicle will be available on the PCHC website at www.ptbochc.ca.

Peterborough grows greener, one tree at a time

Some of the 100 volunteers planting trees at Wedgewood Park in Peterborough on September 10, 2025. The event saw 515 trees planted as part of the City of Peterborough's Trees 4 Peterborough initiative. (Photo: Christina Balint / GreenUP)

GreenUP is a charitable partner on the Trees 4 Peterborough initiative, proudly supporting the project through all five years of delivery and assisting in the planting of over 2,000 trees in local parks. In this week’s column, GreenUP is excited to invite Leighanne Howard, City of Peterborough’s urban forest program manager, to share an update on the program, and details of the latest planting at Wedgewood Park.

The urban forest is comprised of both private and publicly owned trees. The City of Peterborough’s urban forest program is responsible for planting new trees on municipal road allowances, in parks, and reforesting open spaces.

Planting new trees is essential to maintain and increase urban forest and the many benefits trees provide the community.

It also supports the city’s long-term goal of achieving 35 per cent canopy cover by 2051, as outlined in the Urban Forest Strategic Plan.

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Studies are currently being conducted to review the canopy loss associated with the 2025 ice storm. The use of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) as well as updating the city tree inventory will provide a data-driven foundation for planning future tree planting programs.

The city’s urban forest tree planting program focuses on recovering tree losses due to emerald ash borer and annual loss due to risk and extreme weather events with the goal to restore ecological services, improve tree species diversity for climate resilience, and create a healthier, greener city for future generations.

Trees are stalwart natural allies in mitigating climate change. They maintain the health of water systems by intercepting rainfall, which reduces flooding; they improve air quality through absorption of carbon dioxide and lessening heat build-up in the city; and they provide important habitat for wildlife.

 

Tree planting in action

In addition to the 515 trees planted at Wedgwood Park in Peterborough on September 10, 2025, 305 native trees were planted at Rogers Cove as part of the City of Peterborough's Trees 4 Peterborough initiative. (Photo courtesy of City of Peterborough)
In addition to the 515 trees planted at Wedgwood Park in Peterborough on September 10, 2025, 305 native trees were planted at Rogers Cove as part of the City of Peterborough’s Trees 4 Peterborough initiative. (Photo courtesy of City of Peterborough)

During National Forest Week — Septemeber 21 to 27 — the city hosted two successful community planting events. On Saturday, September 20, more than 100 volunteers gathered at Wedgewood Park on Fairmount Boulevard to plant 515 native trees as part of the Trees 4 Peterborough initiative.

Founded by city councillor Lesley Parnell, the event was supported by RBC Dominion Securities, The Excelsior Group, Merrett Home Hardware, Super 8 Peterborough, and East Side Mario’s. The Rotary Club of Peterborough and GreenUP also played key roles in making the event a success.

“This is an investment in the health and vitality of Wedgewood Park and this neighbourhood. These trees will help create a welcoming space for families and residents to enjoy for years to come,” said Monaghan Ward councillors Matt Crowley and Don Vassiliadis in a joint statement.

“We are proud to see our community come together through the Trees 4 Peterborough program to make such a lasting contribution to our ward.”

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In addition, 305 native trees were planted in the park at Rogers Cove with support from Drew Merrett Home Hardware and funding from Tree Canada, further contributing to the city’s canopy restoration effort.

Trees 4 Peterborough initiated plantings over the last few years in Kiwanis Park (2024), Bears Creek Woods Park (2023), and Farmcrest Park (2022) and along the Rotary Park Greenway Trail (2021).

The city also partners with GreenUP in the Peterborough Community Orchard Stewards project by participating in stewardship days and by providing new fruit trees to be planted.

 

A community effort

The City of Peterborough's urban forest tree planting program aims to restore ecological services, improve species diversity, and create a healthier and greener city for future generations. Pictured are the city's urban forest program staff. (Photo courtesy of City of Peterborough)
The City of Peterborough’s urban forest tree planting program aims to restore ecological services, improve species diversity, and create a healthier and greener city for future generations. Pictured are the city’s urban forest program staff. (Photo courtesy of City of Peterborough)

The success of the tree planting across the community depends not only on city resources, but also on community involvement. Residents are encouraged to participate in planting events, help care for newly planted trees, and support urban forestry initiatives in their neighbourhoods.

“Trees 4 Peterborough has made a tremendous difference in strengthening our urban forest and creating greener, healthier spaces across our city,” says Parnell. “(The September 20th) tree planting at Wedgewood Park is another wonderful example of how this program brings people together to make improvements in our neighbourhoods.”

With increased staffing and funding for tree stock, Peterborough is well-positioned to recover from past losses and build a more resilient urban forest. The city’s commitment to biodiversity, ecological function, and climate adaptation is evident in every tree planted.

Peterborough is growing greener — one tree at a time.

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Residents that currently do not have trees in the municipal road allowance adjacent to their homes are encouraged to request a new tree to be planted through the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) initiative by filling out a form at form.peterborough.ca/Urban-Forestry/Tree-Planting-Request.

Peterborough artists to share their works-in-progress in inaugural ‘Rough Cuts’ on October 24

Theatrical performer Naomi Duvall, singer-songwriter Georgia Fisher, and drag performer Sahira the Djinn are three of the six artists participating in the inaugural "Rough Cuts" presented by Public Energy Performing Arts at The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough on October 25, 2025. Along with filmmaker Angel Hamilton, theatre artist and spoken word artist Charlotte Kennedy, and multidisciplinary artist Hartley Stephenson, the artists will test-drive their works-in-progress before an audience. (All photos by Andy Carroll)

For the second event of its 2025-26 season, Public Energy Performing Arts is introducing a new program where local artists and audiences can share in the creative process, from novels to dance to music to multidisciplinary mashups.

The inaugural “Rough Cuts” takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 24 at The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough. Tickets are priced on a sliding scale from $10 to $25 plus fees ($20 suggested) and are available at eventbrite.ca/e/1676537511829.

Presented in an informal and low-tech setting without the need for sophisticated lighting and sound, six local artists of varying backgrounds and experiences will test-drive their works-in-progress before an audience.

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The aim of Rough Cuts is to give the artists an idea of what works and what doesn’t. For the audience, Rough Cuts is a rare opportunity to watch an artist’s creative process in action.

The six artists participating in the inaugural Rough Cuts and their works are described below.

Naomi Duvall

Naomi is a performer working in burlesque, puppetry, and physical theatre. Naomi will present Howdy, Hellmouth!, a burlesque clown act gone off the rails. Exploring the dark side of power, Naomi blends physical theatre, sensuality, a bull whip, and unsettling humour.

Georgia Fisher

Georgia is a singer-songwriter working on a musical project about premature births and the development of the incubator that saves so many lives, including her own child born at 26 weeks. Her aim is to create a work that both entertains and educates.

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Angel Hamilton

Angel is a filmmaker aiming to present a film pitch for a documentary/media art piece about the search for her real father. Part stand-up monologue and part film, the pitch will reveal the clues she’s gathered as a true-crime detective.

Charlotte Kennedy

Charlotte is a theatre artist, poet, and storyteller with an idea for a dreamscape set in a cemetery — but she doesn’t know if it should be performed as a work of theatre, a story-poem, or something else entirely. Her participation in Rough Cuts may provide the answer.

Sahira the Djinn

Sahira is the drag djinn of Peterborough, whose goal is to present a mix of poetry and songs remixed to create a decolonial message about connection and the importance of community — especially in terms of addiction.

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Hartley Stephenson

Hartley is a multidisciplinary artist who creates collages on paper he makes entirely by hand. He will show examples of his creations and describe the process of hand-making paper, with photos and descriptions of the felt-couching process and the essential machine for turning fibrous material into pulp, called a hollander-beater, that was made for him by a local artisan.

Public Energy is planning another edition of Rough Cuts in March 2026, with a call for applications expected early in the new year.

 

kawarthaNOW is proud to be a long-time media sponsor of Public Energy Performing Arts.

Northumberland County hosting open houses for residents to review updates to agriculture mapping in county’s official plan

Northumberland County is hosting a series of open houses in October 2025 for the public to review the draft of an agriculture amendment to the county's official plan, including proposed updates to mapping. (Photo: Northumberland County)

Northumberland County is inviting the public to review a draft amendment featuring updates to agriculture mapping in the county’s official plan.

Documents are now available for review online and will also be the focus of a series of three open houses that Northumberland County is hosting this fall for residents to attend for an overview of the proposed changes.

The county said the official plan amendment is important because it “aims to protect our community’s vital local agricultural system for future generations” by reviewing and updating prime agricultural areas in Northumberland, as well as mapping, policies, and frameworks related to agriculture and rural lands.

“The amendment is about striking a balance between the pressures of growth and the imperative to preserve valuable agricultural lands,” Dwayne Campbell, the county’s director of economic development, planning and strategic initiatives, told kawarthaNOW.

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“The goal with the open houses is for community members to come away with an understanding of plans to ensure Northumberland’s vital system of agricultural land remains protected for future generations, including increasing the amount of protected land in the community to support the well-being of our agriculture economy,” Campbell explained.

Following the open houses, staff will present the update to county council for adoption this winter.

The agriculture amendment is part of the “Northumberland Next” initiative to update the county’s official plan. Updates include a series of amendments, guiding community growth and development in Northumberland over the next 30 years.

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After extensive consultation with residents and community partners from 2022 to 2025, the project team developed this agriculture amendment, which incorporates the feedback gathered, the county noted.

The draft amendment, mapping, and open house details are available by visiting the county’s online consultation portal at joinin.northumberland.ca.

During the open houses, county staff and project consultants will deliver two 15-minute presentations at each session, one at 4:30 p.m. and one at 6:00 p.m. Presentations will be followed by a period for questions.

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Each of the three open houses take place from 4 to 7 p.m., with sessions at the Port Hope Community Hub (5325 County Rd. 10, Canton) on Monday, October 20, at the Sunny Life Centre (50 Seymour Quarry Rd., Campbellford) on Tuesday, October 21, and at the Cramahe Township municipal office (1 Toronto Street, Colborne) on Monday, October 27.

“At the centre of both the county’s community strategic plan and the county official plan is the mandate to guide growth and development with intention,” Campbell said. “At these upcoming open houses, we will present the final draft of an amendment to the official plan focused on agriculture.

“This is part of the comprehensive update to the official plan that has been underway as the Northumberland Next initiative — including natural heritage conservation, planned growth and population allocation, and, now, agricultural preservation updates,” he added.

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