Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Lindsay announced it is expanding its team of full-time orthopedic surgeons to four by welcoming Dr. Bill Mei to the Kawartha Lakes hospital. (Photo courtesy of RMH)
Patients in the Kawartha Lakes will have better access to health care in the area of orthopedic surgery as a result of a new addition at Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Lindsay.
RMH announced on Wednesday (January 15) it is expanding its team of orthopedic surgeons by welcoming Dr. Xin (Bill) Yu Mei to its roster.
Dr. Mei received his medical training at Queen’s University in Kingston in 2018 and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Toronto. He practised at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School where he completed an orthopedic trauma fellowship. He also completed a lower extremity arthroplasty fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.
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Dr. Mei’s practice will focus on primary and revision hip and knee arthroplasty, as well as orthopedic trauma and post-traumatic reconstruction, a media release noted.
With the addition of Dr. Mei, RMH now has four full-time orthopedic surgeons on board. The other surgeons are Dr. Farid Guirguis, Dr. Sebastian Heaven, and Dr. Catherine Conlin.
“We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Mei is joining our surgical team at Ross Memorial Hospital,” said Kelly Isfan, president and CEO, in a statement. “With his expertise in orthopedic surgery and a commitment to patient-centred care, we are confident that Dr. Mei will greatly enhance the exceptional care provided to our community.”
RMH declined to provide further comment about the current need for orthopedic surgeries and the projected impact of having an additional full-time orthopedic surgeon at the hospital.
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For his part, Dr. Mei said he feels “privileged and excited to join the team at Ross Memorial in order to serve the tight-knit, welcoming Kawartha Lakes community.”
“I look forward to using my skillset to help patients with musculoskeletal ailments return to healthy, active lifestyles,” he added.
More than 5,000 surgeries take place annually at RMH, including orthopedic surgeries. The surgical team provides a range of procedures, as well as pre- and post-operative support.
RMH’s orthopedic surgeons perform hip replacements, knee replacements, knee arthroscopy, ankle and foot surgery, shoulder surgery, and fracture surgery.
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To access orthopedic surgery consultation at RMH, patients need to be referred by their primary care provider, or by a physician or nurse practitioner via a walk-in or virtual care clinic, to the hospital’s Rapid Access Clinic.
At the clinic, a registered physiotherapist with advanced training in orthopedic care will complete a consultation, including a comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment reviewing a patient’s past medical history, history of symptoms, functional assessment, clinical examination, and diagnostic imaging. Patients who are surgical candidates will be referred for a consult with an orthopaedic surgeon.
Dr. Mei’s office will be accepting referrals beginning January 20.
Ice sculpture demonstrations and competitions are one of the many family-friendly events that will be happening around the Township of Selwyn during the 18th annual PolarFest, running from January 31 to February 2, 2025. Other not-to-be missed events happening around the township include a charity hockey game, the Polar Paddle, the new five-kilometre run, and the 45th annual BEL Rotary Polar Plunge. (Photo courtesy of Selwyn Township)
Get through the winter blues this year by plunging — literally, if you’re brave enough — into the cold during the Township of Selwyn’s 18th annual PolarFest.
The annual festival is taking place from Friday, January 31st to February 2nd and will show off the best of the region through special events at local businesses, fundraising initiatives for regional charity organizations, and a slew of winter activities for the whole family.
On Friday, the festival will kick off with youth shinny hockey and free public skating, before the opening ceremonies and firework display are held at Chemong Lodge.
Following a candlelight skate at the Ontario Speed Skating Oval and a guided night hike at the Marshland Centre, the puck will drop for the Guns & Hoses Charity Hockey Game. In the annual game, local police officers face off against the Selwyn Fire Department while collecting non-perishable food items and cash donations to be split between the Lakefield Food Bank and Bridgenorth Food Bank.
The winter fun will continue into Saturday when families can start the day with a drive-thru pancake breakfast, before exploring the Township by watching an ice sculpture competition in Lakefield, participating in scavenger hunts and outdoor games, and trying their hand at snowshoeing. Adults won’t be missing out on the fun either as afternoon and evening activities include a winter Olympics and BBQ at the Lakefield Legion, an ’80s retro après ski party at Chemong Lodge, a spaghetti dinner with live entertainment at Bridgenorth United Church, and a polar wine pairing at The Cheesy Fromage.
Not to be missed is Saturday’s 1 p.m. Polar Paddle which combines the best of winter and summer fun. Last year’s return of the event saw hundreds of spectators come out to cheer on costumed teams of six as they raced to push or pull canoes on wheels down Lakefield’s Queen Street. Make sure to register your team early! The cost is $40 per team.
The 45th annual BEL Rotary Polar Plunge will be the final event of the 18th annual PolarFest taking place across the Township of Selwyn from January 31 to February 2. Participants dressed as their favourite retro TV characters will jump into the water to raise money for a local charity organization of their choice and Bridgenorth-Ennismore-Lakefield Rotary Club. (Photo courtesy of Selwyn Township)
At 9 a.m. Sunday, the final day of PolarFest will start out with a new addition to the line-up this year: a five-kilometre run along Lakefield’s frosty and picturesque riverside trails. The cost is $15 per person, with all proceeds donated to the Lakefield Food Bank.
Following more opportunities for outdoor skating and seeing the ice sculptures in Lakefield and Bridgenorth, as well as an antique and vintage snowmobile show, the festival will close with the 45th anniversary event that started the Selwyn PolarFest: the BEL Rotary Polar Plunge.
Participants dressed as their favourite retro TV characters will jump into the water to raise money for a local charity organization of their choice and Bridgenorth-Ennismore-Lakefield Rotary Club.
Before, during, and after the PolarFest weekend, locals and visitors alike are encouraged to celebrate small businesses in Selwyn Township with the PolarFest PolarPass. Make purchases at participating businesses from January 16 to February 7 and earn a stamp, before submitting your completed passport to one of the designated drop-off locations. Entering the draw will give one lucky winner the opportunity to win a $150 gift card for the local business of their choosing.
For more information about this year’s PolarFest, including a full schedule and map of all the activities during the weekend, visit www.polarfest.ca. You can also follow PolarFest on Facebook.
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.
Heather Loney of Fenelon Falls claimed her $1 million at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto on January 9, 2025. She purchased a winning ticket in the final draw of OLG's Triple Millions lottery on August 29, 2024. (Photo: OLG)
A Fenelon Falls grandmother is a millionaire after winning the top prize in last summer’s Triple Millions lottery.
Heather Loney purchased a winning ticket in the final draw in Triple Millions, a limited-time OLG lottery game that ran from June 20 to August 29, 2024.
A long-time OLG lottery player, she decided to give Triple Millions a try.
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“I actually bought 10 tickets,” Loney said when claiming her winnings at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto on January 9. “I kept three for myself and gave the rest to my kids as birthday gifts.”
After returning home from an unsuccessful night of bingo, Loney checked her tickets and discovered one was a big winner. She ran across the street to her daughter’s house.
“I excitedly banged on the door. When she opened it, I showed her my ticket, saying, ‘Look at this! Is this real?’ We both screamed with pure joy. I kept my poor, pregnant daughter up until 4:00 a.m. that night. I couldn’t sleep for days with all that excitement running through me!”
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“I’ve faced a lot of hardship and loss over the years, and while I do feel sad that I can’t share this win with those who are no longer with us, I know they are watching over me,” Loney said. “I feel beyond lucky and blessed.”
She plans to use the money to pay some bills, invest, and travel.
“I want to take my family to Disney World, take my sister on a cruise, and treat myself to a trip to Nashville,” she said.
Loney purchased her winning ticket at New Rave Convenience on King Street East in Oshawa.
“I’m proof that extraordinary things do happen,” she said, adding “If I can win the lottery, maybe the Leafs will bring home a win this year too.”
The City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County are encouraging residents to complete a survey about their housing experiences, which is geared towards informing future policies and improvements in the two municipalities. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)
From issues of affordability to having a stable roof overhead, the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County are reaching out to residents for input about their experiences accessing housing in their respective communities.
The two municipalities are hoping to gain a better understanding of the region’s housing circumstances and challenges, ultimately to help them improve affordability, stability, and inclusion when it comes to housing options in the Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton.
To collect this information, Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton are asking residents to complete a survey, titled “Understanding Housing Needs,” by Friday, January 31.
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Michelle Corley, human services manager of housing for Kawartha Lakes, highlighted what the impetus was for the survey and why it’s crucial community members have their say.
“There is significant importance in addressing housing affordability for our communities, as housing affordability closely supports community well-being,” Corley told kawarthaNOW.
“We encourage our residents to share their housing experiences by completing the survey, as community needs will help guide long-term affordable housing plans. Additionally, our current needs assessment exercise, which includes personal experiences of those who have faced housing insecurity/homelessness, will also support data-led decisions and effective advocacy.”
Through the online survey, community members have the opportunity to share their thoughts on affordable housing, barriers to access, and the connection between housing and community well-being.
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The survey was initiated as part of updates to the Housing and Homelessness Plan, Corley noted.
“The Province requires us to have a 10-year Housing and Homelessness Plan. Our current plan (2020-2029), including the current affordable housing targets, was adopted by Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County councils in 2019,” she said.
“Significant social and economic changes have occurred since then. We also have an obligation to update the plan every five years and are currently taking steps to refresh our plan and strategy. The survey will help complete an updated Housing and Homelessness Needs Assessment, as one of the first stages of this work.”
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By sharing firsthand experiences and insights, community members can inform policies that improve housing affordability, stability, and inclusion. Residents can ultimately contribute to meaningful changes in policies that directly affect their lives, Kawartha Lakes noted on its website.
Feedback from residents will help reveal current challenges and successes related to housing and homelessness.
The survey aims to identify common challenges in finding and keeping housing, barriers to affordability, stability, and fairness, and community-driven ideas to enhance housing policies and well-being.
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For more information or to complete the survey, visit www.jumpinkawarthalakes.ca/housing. There are also posters distributed throughout the area that include a QR code that can be scanned to access the survey.
“Anyone who lives, works, or studies in Kawartha Lakes or Haliburton County can provide valuable insights,” read the survey page. “Owners, renters, those who share homes, and individuals seeking stable housing — every perspective matters.”
The questionnaire takes about 10 minutes to complete. All responses will remain anonymous. No personal identifiers will be connected to the responses, the municipality noted.
As many as 15 vehicles, including two tractor trailers, were involved in a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 401 between Port Hope and Cobourg on January 16, 2025. Five people were injured in the collision, including a 70-year-old Colborne man who was pronounced dead in hospital. (Photo: Northumberland OPP)
A 70-year-old Colborne man and a family pet died in two separate multi-vehicle collisions in Northumberland County on Thursday morning (January 16) during poor weather and road conditions.
The first collision happened at around 9:40 a.m. on County Road 28 just south of Bewdley.
Northumberland Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), along with emergency medical services and the fire department, arrived at the scene where two passenger vehicles had sustained heavy damage, and a third vehicle was in the ditch on the west side of the road.
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Three people were treated as the scene and transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A family pet in one of the vehicles did not survive the collision.
County Road 28 was closed at County Road 9 and Boundary Road for several hours for a police investigation and cleanup.
Three people were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after a multi-vehicle collision on County Road 28 just south of Bewdley on January 16, 2025. A family pet did not survive the collision. (Photo: Northumberland OPP)
The second collision happened shortly after 11:30 a.m. on Thursday in the westbound lanes of Highway 401 between Port Hope and Cobourg.
Northumberland OPP and emergency medical services and fire departments responded to the collision involving as many as 15 vehicles, including two tractor trailers.
Five people were transported to a local hospital, where a 70-year-old man from Colborne was pronounced dead. The other four people sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
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The westbound lanes of Highway 401 were closed, with diversions in place at Burnham Street, until around 2:45 a.m. on Friday morning for a police investigation and environmental cleanup.
Police are continuing to investigate both collisions. Investigators are asking anyone who may have witnessed or has video/dash camera footage of the collisions, and who has not yet spoken with police, to contact the Northumberland OPP Detachment at 1-888-310-1122.
For people who may be affected by these incidents or who witnessed the collisions and wish to speak to victim services, Peterborough-Northumberland Victim Services can be reached at 705-748-0324.
The Town of Cobourg Civic Awards program recognizes local residents who have helped benefit the community through outstanding volunteerism and their community involvement, and include the Major Awards in 11 categories and the Distinguished Awards in seven categories. Major Award recipients will receive an aluminum statue (pictured) created by Hoselton Studios, a Victoria Hall pin, and a certificate of honour, while Distinguished Award recipients will receive a Victoria Hall pin and a certificate of honour. (Photo: Town of Cobourg)
Cobourg mayor Lucas Cleveland hopes local residents take a moment to recognize their fellow citizens who are making a meaningful difference locally by nominating them for a civic award by February 21.
As the Town of Cobourg opens the nomination period for its 22nd Annual Civic Awards, the mayor says, “Cobourg is a town of supreme generosity.”
“I have had a privileged first-hand seat to experience the generosity, the kindness, and the goodwill that are the hallmarks of what makes Cobourg the truly amazing community that we enjoy,” Cleveland shared with kawarthaNOW.
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“My greatest hope for this year’s civic awards program is that people take the time to recognize these local heroes who do so much for those around them,” Cleveland said.
The theme for this year’s awards is “Pay It Forward” and Cobourg is encouraging community members to do so by nominating a deserving volunteer. The civic awards recognize local residents who have helped the town benefit as a result of their outstanding volunteerism and community involvement.
There are two levels of awards: the “Major Awards” in 11 categories, for those who have volunteered for five years or more and have varied volunteer experience, and the “Distinguished Awards” in seven categories, for those who have volunteered for a minimum of one year in the community.
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“Volunteers, by their very nature, do not seek the limelight,” Cleveland said in a media release.
“They are happy to work in the background assisting organizations and individuals in need. They consider the greater good of others and are giving of their own time. This is why our civic awards event is so important to me and, in my opinion, the town’s feel-good event of the year.”
The civic awards committee will honour the successful recipients during National Volunteer Week with an event at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29 in the Concert Hall at Victoria Hall on King Street West in Cobourg.
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In line with the “Pay it Forward” theme, Graham Beer, a past civic award recipient, will host the event.
Beer is the founder and executive producer of Cobourg Media, and his interview roster includes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario premiers Doug Ford and Kathleen Wynne, Olympians Clara Hughes and Hayley Wickenheiser, sportscaster Ron MacLean, and more. Beer has given back to several local organizations, raising more than $100,000 for his community, the release noted.
Residents are asked to review the award categories and select the most appropriate category, complete the online nomination form with all required information and supporting documentation (if applicable), and submit the nomination form and any supporting documentation by Friday, February 21.
The Peterborough Musicians Benevolent Association's monthly Deluxe Live music event on Saturday afternoon at The Social Pub in downtown Peterborough features Al Lerman, founder of the Juno award-winning band Fathead, performing with his longtime Fathead bandmate Bob "Omar" Tunnoch on bass along with Gary Peeples on guitar and Al Black on drums. The show will also include a performance by musician Michael Constantini. (Photo: Drew Monrad)
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 16 to Wednesday, January 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).
Detective sergeant Josh McGrath and deputy police chief Jamie Hartnett speak to the media on November 13, 2024 at the site of a shooting at 850 Fairbairn Street in Peterborough, where three male suspects fired multiple shots into the townhomes and into the air the previous night. No one was injured in the incident, which police believe is connected to the illicit drug trade. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of police video)
Peterborough police have arrested three teens and are seeking a fourth in connection to a shooting incident in a Peterborough neighbourhood last November.
On November 12, officers were called to 850 Fairbairn Street, a 36-unit townhouse located between Parkview Drive and Highland Road that is operated by the Peterborough Housing Corporation, after multiple reports of gun shots.
Upon arriving, officers learned that multiple units of the townhomes were struck with bullets and several more bullets were fired into the air. Police also found shell casings on the ground. No one was injured in what police called a “disturbing incident” and the seventh shooting in Peterborough in 2024.
At the time of the incident, police said they were looking for three male suspects and possibly a fourth suspect in a car that was seen leaving the area. Police also said the incident was connected with the illicit drug trade.
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Following the incident, police connected four Peterborough teenagers to the shooting and, in November, arrested a 16-year-old Peterborough male and a 19-year-old Norwood man. Both suspects were charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a loaded prohibited firearm, careless use of a firearm, possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, pointing a firearm, discharging a firearm into or at a place in a reckless manner, and uttering threats to cause death.
In addition, the Peterborough teen was charged with two counts of failing to comply with a sentence and two counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to a prohibition order, and the Norwood man was charged with two counts of possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking (methamphetamine and cocaine) and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000.
Both suspects are before the courts.
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On Wednesday (January 15), police arrested another 16-year-old Peterborough male wanted in connection with the shooting after he turned himself in to police. Officers with the emergency response team and canine unit attended a residence in Peterborough and took the teen into custody without incident.
Police arrested the teen and charged him with careless use of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition, discharging a firearm into or at a place in a reckless manner, pointing a firearm, possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, five counts of failing to comply with a sentence, and four counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to a prohibition order.
The accused teen is being held in custody for a court appearance on Thursday (January 16).
Police are continuing to search for a fourth teen believed to be involved in this incident. Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at stopcrimehere.ca.
Shifting stormwater protection funding from the City of Peterborough’s tax base to a dedicated user fee is one of the options city council will consider in an effort to reduce the proposed property tax increase in the city’s 2025 draft budget to 6.6 per cent.
When it meets as general committee on Monday (January 20), council will review a report from finance and corporate support services commissioner Richard Freymond with proposed options to reduce the 2025 draft budget by almost $5.7 million, which would reduce the proposed 2025 tax increase to 6.6 per cent.
In November, council directed staff to provide options to reduce the property tax increase — which currently sits at eight per cent (9.27 per cent including the budget requests from police, paramedics, and public health) — to seven per cent through a combination of additional savings and increased revenue.
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Freymond’s report proposes options for savings and revenue that amount to $5,627,255.
Of that total, almost 77 per cent of the savings — $4.34 million — would come by removing stormwater protection funding from the municipal tax base. Of the $4.34 million, $3.72 million would be converted to a user fee and the 2025 incremental amount of $620,000 for stormwater funding would be forfeited from both the tax base and the user fee.
While the city already charges user fees for water services and sanitary sewer infrastructure, unlike many other Ontario municipalities, Peterborough currently funds stormwater protection through the tax base.
Although transitioning to a stormwater user fee would reduce the 2025 draft budget by $4.34 million, it would not reduce costs for property owners, whether residents and businesses. According to the report, residents would begin paying an interim user fee as of April 1, 2025 that is estimated at $32.70 per year for each $100,000 of residential assessment (for example, $130.80 per year for a property assessed at $400,000).
“The fee essentially mimics what is being paid by property owners through the tax base but removes the levy requirement from the tax base and places the charge on the utility bill,” reads the report.
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The remaining $1,332,255 identified in Freymond’s report is a combination of budget reductions along with some revenue increases.
The Peterborough Police Service has reduced its budget request from an increase of 8.8 per cent to 7.8 per cent, resulting in savings of $350,822, by reducing total compensation and non-personnel costs.
The Peterborough County-City Paramedics has reduced its budget request by two per cent, or $160,291, by deferring the hiring of four new paramedics until the second quarter of 2025.
For Peterborough Public Health, which has now merged with the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit to form the Haliburton Kawartha Northumberland Peterborough Health Unit, the city is allocating $36,771 instead of the requested $220,620, saving $183,849, in recognition that the new board of health will be presenting a new budget to city council at a future date.
The city will be reducing the net tax levy requirement by $210,000 after receiving final assessments for the 2025 taxation year in late November from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). The city is also reducing its 2025 insurance renewal budget by $115,000, reflecting a lower-than-expected increase in premiums.
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In addition to the above changes, city staff have proposed additional savings and revenue increases, listed below, which amount to $312,293.
Reducing Peterborough Transit operating expenses for cleaning supplies and contractual services by $75,000
Reducing Public Works operating expense budgets for graffiti management, forestry, contractual services, and street cleaning expenses by $60,000
Reducing the budget for Municipal Law Enforcement Services by $52,000 by deferring the purchase of one vehicle and modifications
Increasing parking revenue by $50,000 by eliminating one-hour free parking at the Simcoe Street and King Street parking garages
Increasing swimming lessons revenue by $30,000 to reflect actual revenues in 2023 and 2024
Increasing revenue for sport diamond and field rentals by $20,000 by increasing user fees
Reducing the corporate training budget by $14,648
Eliminating the community grant of $7,645 for Peterborough Aids Resource Network (PARN) which, according to the report, has voluntarily agreed to forgo funding
Increasing revenue for asset management and capital planning by $3,000
Final approval of the city’s 2025 draft budget is anticipated to take place on Monday, February 3.
GreenUP native plant propagation coordinator Hayley Goodchild and GreenUP Ecology Park director Vern Bastable prepare to sow native seeds for Ecology Park. (Photo: Tegan Moss / GreenUP)
In this week’s column, GreenUP native plant propagation coordinator Hayley Goodchild shares a bit about her humbling journey through growing native plants from seed, and how the process has affected her philosophy around gardening.
My first attempt at growing native plants from seed was humbling. As an experienced vegetable gardener, I thought it would be easy to extend my hobby to native wildflowers and grasses.
That year, all I yielded was a well-earned dose of humility.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Hayley Goodchild, Native Plant Propagation Coordinator, GreenUP.
The built-in dormancy of many native seeds makes them harder to grow than your average annual flower or vegetable. They often need to be exposed to conditions that mimic winter before they will germinate. Some seeds are much pickier than others about what sort of winter they have.
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Thankfully, my propagation skills have grown by leaps and bounds. Yours can too. But why bother when native plants can be purchased at many local nurseries, including GreenUP Ecology Park?
Learning to propagate native plants improves plant literacy, which makes you a better gardener.
By growing your own, you learn to identify native plants at all stages of their growth, which has many practical benefits for gardening. If you’ve ever spent a morning agonizing over whether to pull or leave a plant that you don’t recognize, you’ll know what I mean. Poor plant identification is one of the biggest stumbling blocks for new gardeners, which leads to weedy, overgrown gardens that are hard to manage.
GreenUP native plant propagation coordinator Hayley Goodchild processing seeds collected in the fall. Each species has different needs when it comes to cleaning and preparing the seeds for propagation. (Photo: Yvonne Hollandy / GreenUP)
You will also get to know the subtleties of species’ needs in a way that isn’t possible by reading the back of a nursery tag. Observing how plants respond to small changes in light, moisture, and temperature allows you to better match plant to place and teaches you when to bend the rules.
(It is fashionable to claim that native plants prefer poor soil, but this cliché obscures more than it explains. The truth is that some species in our region prefer thrifty, bone-dry conditions, while others thrive in moist, nutrient rich soils. Many prefer a mix of conditions that are found in highly specific ecosystems.)
Growing native plants from seed also changed my philosophy around gardening. It confirmed for me that gardening can and should be more than another form of luxury consumerism.
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Engaging with the full cycle of a plant’s existence reminds me that ecologically-informed gardening is a way of tending to the world at a time when Earth’s biophysical systems are screaming at us to change our collective ways.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with buying native plants from reputable nurseries as part of your garden practice. I certainly do!
Nursery-grown plants save years of time when establishing a garden, and the selection is often wider than what you can grow yourself.
The seeds of many native species, including butterfly milkweed and prairie smoke, must undergo a period of cold stratification or winter-like conditions before they will germinate. (Photo: Hayley Goodchild / GreenUP)
Another stumbling block for gardeners who want to grow their own plants is finding suitable seed. The unfortunate reality is that the seeds of many native species are not available for sale commercially in Canada.
Buying plants from a nursery, such as GreenUP Ecology Park, is a great way to get started with propagation in an ethical way.
In time, you may have more than enough seeds to share with wildlife and neighbours alike!
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Join GreenUP Ecology Park staff for a hands-on stratification and seed starting workshop, Starting Native Plants from Seed, on Saturday, February 8 from 1 to 4 p.m. All materials will be provided. Pre-registration is required and there is a $15 fee to attend. For more information or to register, visit nativeplantsfromseed.eventbrite.ca.
In 2025 there will also be hands-on volunteer opportunities at GreenUP Ecology Park for gardeners who want to learn more about propagation and maintaining native plant gardens. Be sure to stay tuned to our website and social media channels for more information about these opportunities.
The cold stratification workshop and other propagation activities at GreenUP Ecology Park are funded by a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation until late 2025. For more information, contact Hayley Goodchild, GreenUP native plant propagation coordinator, at hayley.goodchild@greenup.on.ca.
Gardeners can mimic the natural process of cold stratification by pre-sowing pots outdoors, or by stratifying seeds in the fridge. Each method has advantages and disadvantages. GreenUP Ecology Park uses a mix of methods to increase chances of success. (Photo: Hayley Goodchild / GreenUP)
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