Tegan Moss, pictured at GreenUP Ecology Park, is the new executive director of Peterborough GreenUP effective September 7, 2021. (Photo: Tanner Paré)
Peterborough GreenUP has announced Tegan Moss will be taking on the role of executive director of the non-profit organization effective September 7.
Moss has been executive director at B!KE: The Peterborough Community Cycling Hub since 2011. Under her leadership, including through collaborations with GreenUP, Moss has greatly increased B!KE’s capacity for cycling education, including by launching in-school cycling programs, community bicycle repair and riding workshops, and Earn-A-Bike programs for youth and adults.
“I know I can speak for our board, staff, and partners when I say that we are excited to support and follow Tegan’s leadership as we celebrate GreenUP’s 30th anniversary and empower climate action towards the 2030 and 2050 sustainable development goals,” says Tammy Williams, chair of the GreenUP board, in a media release.
Advertisement - content continues below
Moss has advocated for inclusive access to active transportation and infrastructure for many years. She has been recognized by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition with the Wheels of Change Award for Educating the next Generation, and with a Peterborough-Kawartha Women’s Leadership Award.
“I’m honoured to join GreenUP,” Moss says. “The Peterborough region needs urgent climate action. I’m inspired and eager to join this amazing team and our partners to shape a greener and more equitable future for the city and county of Peterborough.”
Moss takes over from Brianna Salmon, who has worked at GreenUP since 2008 in a variety of roles, including as executive director for the past five years. Salmon has been named executive director of Green Communities Canada, a national non-profit association of community-based environmental organizations that was formed in 1995.
With Moss’s imminent departure from B!KE, that organization is now seeking a new executive director. For more information, visit communitybikeshop.org/opportunities/
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
After 3 days of cases under 200, Ontario is reporting 213 new cases today, with 9 of Ontario’s 34 health units reporting double-digit increases — Toronto (44), Peel (31), York (18), Hamilton (18), Windsor-Essex (17), Waterloo (14), Halton (11), Ottawa (10), and Middlesex-London (10) — and 12 reporting no new cases at all. The seven-day average of daily cases has decreased by 1 to 198.
The number of hospitalizations has increased by 1 to 113, with the number of ICU patients increasing by 2 to 110 and the number of patients on ventilators increasing by 1 to 77.
Ontario is reporting 14 COVID-related deaths, but 12 of these deaths occurred between February and May and are being reported now as part of a data clean-up. The number of new deaths yesterday is 2.
Over 19.7 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 58,213 from yesterday, with more than 9.1 million people fully vaccinated, an increase of 46,133 from yesterday, representing over 62% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from July 5 – August 4, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from July 5 – August 4, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of hospitalizations, and the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from July 5 – August 4, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered and the green line is the cumulative number of people fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Advertisement - content continues below
In the greater Kawarthas region, there is 1 new case to report in Peterborough, with the number of active cases increasing by 1.
Numbers are unavailable for Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Northumberland, and Hastings Prince Edward as the respective health units only issue reports on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Numbers for Thursday will be included in Friday’s update.
There are currently 43 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 1 since yesterday, including 19 in Kawartha Lakes, 13 in Hastings Prince Edward (9 in Quinte West, 3 in Central Hastings, and 1 in Prince Edward County), 5 in Northumberland, 5 in Peterborough, and 1 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,644 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,617 resolved with 22 deaths), 1,185 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,121 resolved with 58 deaths), 954 in Northumberland County (932 resolved with 17 deaths), 126 in Haliburton County (124 resolved with 1 death), and 1,161 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,136 resolved with 12 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Hastings Prince Edward on July 28.
During First Friday Peterborough on August 6, 2021, Christine Jaros will be showing her metal work in an exhibition called 'Empty Oceans: An Exploration of Coral Reefs' at Joe Stable's ACME Art & Sailboat Company in the Commerce Building in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Christine Jaros / Facebook)
For the first time since step three of Ontario’s reopening plan went into effect, First Friday Peterborough — the monthly art crawl in downtown Peterborough — will return to its usual format, although with pandemic protocols in place.
The art crawl, so named because it occurs on the first Friday of every month, will celebrate the return to in-person events and gatherings by offering people the opportunity to visit several local artists’ studios to view and purchase art, with the ReFrame Film Festival participating for the first time with a free documentary screening.
The art crawl runs on Friday (August 6) from 6 to 11 p.m. at several locations in downtown Peterborough. COVID-19 protocols such as capacity limits and mandatory face coverings will be in place at each location.
Here’s a summary of what’s on offer during the August art crawl:
Venture into Kit Coffee (144 Hunter St.) to shop at an after-hours pop-up vintage shopping event.
Minty Vintage will be joined by fellow vintage retailers Electric Lady Land Vintage and Kin Vintage between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. for a collaborative pop-up shop.
To add to the fun, guests can purchase an artisanal refreshment to elevate their shopping experience. Between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., cocktail creative Little Miss Drinky Poo will be making and serving their liquid treats to customers.
Open Gallery at Meta4 Contemporary Craft Gallery
As part of First Friday, Meta4 Contemporary Craft Gallery (164 Hunter St. W.) will be hosting an open gallery until 8 p.m.
Meta4 Gallery is a fine craft and original craft shop and gallery that carries works by more than 120 Ontario artists.
The gallery opened its Peterborough location in downtown Peterborough in November 2017.
su-per-nu-mer-ar-y: Juried Exhibition at Atelier Ludmila Gallery
The juried group exhibition ‘su-per-nu-mer-ar-y’ at Atelier Ludmila Gallery features submissions from 23 local artists. (Graphic: Atelier Ludmila Gallery)
Atelier Ludmila Gallery (129-1/2 Hunter St. W., second floor) will be debuting the new juried exhibition ‘su-per-nu-mer-ar-y’ on First Friday.
Works for ‘su-per-nu-mer-ar-y’ were selected from submissions of emerging, mid-career, and established visual artists working in painting, sculpture, textile, book art, pottery, mixed media, and more.
The exhibition, featuring 23 Nogojiwanong-Peterborough artists, will run from 6 to 10 p.m. on First Friday, and will continue at the gallery until August 28.
Juxtaposition: A Mixed Media Series at Blue Frogs Legs Studio
Kelly Albin of Blue Frogs Legs Studio will be exhibiting her works in an exhibition called ‘Juxtaposition: A Mixed Media Series’. (Photo: Blue Frogs Legs Studio)
Kelly Albin of Blue Frogs Legs Studio (393 Water St.) will debut her exhibition ‘Juxtaposition: A Mixed Media Series’ from 6 to 10 p.m. on First Friday.
The series uses a combination of materials, mediums, colours, and imagery to tell a story where the viewer can decide the ending.
Albin works in several mediums such as watercolours, acrylics, charcoal, pencil crayon, pencil, chalk, oil, photography, and various sculpture media.
Madderhouse Textile Studios will be debuting a new line of breezy summer tops at Watson & Lou. (Photos: Madderhouse Textile Studios)
Madderhouse Textile Studios — a screen printing, dyeing, felting, sewing construction, and paper arts textile studio — will reveal their first line of breezy summer tops on First Friday.
Customers can drop in at a pop-up at Watson & Lou (383 Water St.) to shop the clothing line. If you miss the First Friday debut, the pop-up will continue at Watson & Lou on Saturday.
The summer tops, made from a lightweight hemp and organic cotton blend, are available in four designs and sets of colours and in four sizes.
Hand printed at Madderhouse, the breezy garb clothing line was produced with support from the Newcomer Sewing Crew, a group of newcomer women living and working in Peterborough.
Advertisement - content continues below
‘Water Stories’ documentary film screening at Artspace
For the first time ever, ReFrame Film Festival is participating in First Friday with a free screening of Water Stories, a collection of short films that debuted earlier this year during the virtual film festival.
The six short films all feature a connection to water: Gichitwaa Nibi – Sacred Water (Water Teaching with Elder Dorothy Taylor) by Sacred Water circle, River Queens by Jeremy Lurgio, Headwaters to Hearts: Education in Action by Karen O’Krafka, Sing Them Home by Cara Mumford, River Guards by Aaron Kalischer-Coggins, and Starborn by Olivia Mater.
The screening, which takes place at 8:30 p.m. at Artspace (378 Aylmer St.), is already fully booked. If any additional spots are available tomorrow, they will be filled on a first come, first served basis.
The free screening is made possible by a partnership between ReFrame, First Friday Peterborough, and Peterborough GreenUP’s Wonder of Water program.
‘Empty Oceans: An Exploration of Coral Reefs’ at ACME Art & Sailboat Company
Along with hosting metal artist Christine Jaros’ show, Joe Stable of ACME Art & Sailboat Company will be displaying his own work, including in the Copper Closet. (Photo: Joe Stable)
Joe Stable is hosting a exhibition by Christine Jaros at ACME Art & Sailboat Company (129-1/2 Hunter St. W., second floor) beginning at 6 p.m.
‘Empty Oceans: An Exploration of Coral Reefs’ features new metal works by Jaros, who will be in attendance.
As always, Stable will also be showing his latest works, including in the Copper Closet.
Advertisement - content continues below
Paintings by John Climenhage at WeDesign Group
Works by Peterborough artist John Climenhage will be on display during First Friday at the WeDesign Group studio (129-1/2 Hunter St. W., second floor).
Climenhage has been painting, teaching, and exhibiting throughout Canada and the U.S. since 1989.
His studio practice and en plein air landscapes experiment with post-modern approaches to abstract space, based on contemporary philosophy and quantum physics.
Organized by a group of local artists, stakeholders in the arts community, and local arts-based businesses, First Friday Peterborough is dedicated to showcasing the immense artistic and musical talent in the Peterborough community. The free downtown art crawl is supported by a grant from the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).
For more information on First Friday Peterborough, visit firstfridayptbo.com.
Marshall Dominey with his $5 million Lotto 6/49 prize. (Photo supplied by OLG)
A Trenton man has won $5 million in the June 2nd Lotto 6/49 draw.
Marshall Dominey, a retired mechanic, says he has played Lotto 6/49 (and Lotto Max) for 40 years.
When he stopped at the store to check his tickets, he thought at first someone else had won.
Advertisement - content continues below
“I saw ‘big winner’ on the ticket checker screen and I thought it was for the lady checking her tickets with the cashier,” he recalls. “I checked it again and I was in complete shock. I stared at my ticket forever, thinking ‘It can’t be me!'”
A father and grandfather, Dominey plans to share his winnings with his family and save some for future travel.
“I’m excited to enjoy some new adventures,” he says. “This amount of money is life changing — it’s surreal.”
Dominey purchased his winning ticket at West End Convenience on Dundas Street in Trenton.
All the major party candidates for Peterborough-Kawartha riding in the next federal election have now been confirmed: incumbent Liberal Maryam Monsef, Conservative Michelle Ferreri, NDP Joy Lachica, and Green Chanté White. (Collage of supplied photos by kawarthaNOW)
All four major party candidates for the riding of Peterborough-Kawartha in the next federal election have now been selected — and, for the first time, they are all women.
Michelle Ferreri won the nomination to be the candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada on Wednesday night (August 4), defeating John Rich, after a member vote at the Peterborough Curling Club,
A Trent University graduate, Ferreri worked for 12 years at CHEX Television (now Global Peterborough), and then at The Loomex Group, before launching her own independent media company.
Advertisement - content continues below
Also on Wednesday night, recent Trent University graduate and social advocate and volunteer Chanté White was acclaimed as the Green Party candidate during a virtual meeting, after Guy Hanchet withdrew from the race.
In April, the NDP chose educator Joy Lachica as their candidate. Lachica, who relocated from Toronto to the Peterborough area last year, is an active member of the Elementary Teachers of Toronto Local and a member of the provincial executive of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario.
The three candidates are challenging Liberal incumbent Maryam Monsef, who will be seeking her third term as Peterborough-Kawartha MP. She is currently the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development.
While the federal election must be held on or before October 16, 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is widely expected to call an election later in August, with the vote to be held in mid to late September — despite growing concerns that Canada is facing a fourth wave of COVID-19 due to the delta variant.
According to CTV news, as of Tuesday (August 3), the Liberals have nominated 226 candidates, the Conservatives have nominated 275 candidates, the NDP have nominated 126 candidates, and the Greens have nominated 97 candidates.
In the Peterborough Public Health and Peterborough Petes 'Get a Shot to Take a Shot' campaign, Peterborough-area residents who receive a COVID-19 vaccine dose between August 9 and September 30, 2021 will be entered into a draw for 250 pairs of free tickets to a Petes home game, with five of those winners getting the opportunity to shoot the puck in the net from centre ice to win seats in the Petes' executive suite. (Graphic: Peterborough Petes)
Peterborough Public Health and the Peterborough Petes have teamed up to motivate Peterborough-area residents who are not yet vaccinated by offering them a chance to win free tickets to a Petes home game during the 2021-22 season.
In the two-month ‘Get a Shot to Take a Shot’ campaign, anyone who gets a vaccine dose between Monday, August 9 and Thursday, September 30 — at a clinic run by Peterborough Public Health, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, or a local pharmacy — will have a chance to win one of 250 pairs of free tickets.
People receiving a vaccine dose during this time will be provided with a QR code to enter the contest. People who receive both first and second doses during the contest period can enter twice.
Advertisement - content continues below
“Increasing local vaccination rates as quickly as possible is vital to fending off the delta variant, so we are thrilled to team up with the Petes through this exciting campaign,” says medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra in a media release.
“We need to reach 90 per cent coverage rates of eligible individuals to achieve herd immunity in order to prevent spreading COVID-19 and the disruption it can cause to things our community loves, like hockey.”
A virtual draw will be held on September 30 to draw the 250 winners. A second draw will be held among those winners to provide five people with the opportunity to shoot the puck in the net from centre ice during the first intermission of an upcoming Petes home game. The winner of the shootout can enjoy an additional Petes home game from the Petes’ executive suite.
Advertisement - content continues below
“We understand that the safest and quickest way to return to a hockey season with an arena full of cheering fans is dependent on vaccine uptake,” says Burton Lee, the Petes’ executive director of business operations.
“It will be an honour to host hundreds of local fans who have done their part to keep the Peterborough community safe at games next season.”
To date, 69.6 per cent of eligible Peterborough-area residents 12 years of age and over have been fully vaccinated. A total of 91,149 residents have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, representing 71 per cent of adults and 47 per cent of youth ages 12 to 17.
Ron Armstrong of Woodville received his second dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the drive-through vaccination clinic at the Lindsay Exhibition on July 13, 2021, the 50,000th dose administered at the clinic since it opened in March. Carol Henley, a registered nurse at Ross Memorial Hospital, administered the vaccine. (Photo courtesy of Ross Memorial Hospital)
In another sign of the decreased demand for vaccinations, the drive-through COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Lindsay Exhibition (LEX) will be closing on Friday, August 27.
Ross Memorial Hospital, which operates the clinic, is advising anyone who has a vaccination appointment booked at the clinic after August 27 to rebook their appointment to an earlier date.
Alternatively, people can just drive to the clinic between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday to Friday for a vaccination. No appointment is needed.
Advertisement - content continues below
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available at the clinic.
Since it opened on March 18, Ross Memorial Hospital has administered almost 60,000 vaccine doses at the clinic.
“Our drive-through vaccination clinic has received such overwhelmingly positive feedback from the community for its functionality and the outstanding efforts of our hard-working staff,” says Ross Memorial Hospital’s president and CEO Kelly Isfan in a media release. “The expertise, care and compassion they have delivered at the LEX during this historic effort is truly something to celebrate.”
After the clinic closes on August 27, residents can still get a vaccination at one of the local clinics listed on the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s website at hkpr.on.ca/2021/07/30/vaccination-clinics/ or by contacting their primary care provider.
Vaccinations are also available at selected pharmacies in the region. Locations can be found on the Ontario government website at covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations.
Advertisement - content continues below
Next week, Ross Memorial Hospital will be running the following pop-up vaccination clinics in smaller communities in Kawartha Lakes (no appointment needed):
Bolsover Community Centre (12 Bolsover Rd., Bolsover) – Wednesday, August 11 (9 – 11 a.m.)
Norland Recreation Centre (7675 Highway 35 N., Norland) – Wednesday, August 11 (1 – 3 p.m.)
Kinmount Community Centre (4995 Monck Rd., Kinmount) – Thursday, August 12 (9 – 11 a.m.)
Baddow Community Centre (60 Sommerville Rd., Coboconk) – Thursday, August 12 (1 – 3 p.m.)
Manvers Community Centre (697 Highway 7, Bethany) – Friday, August 13 (10 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
To date, 119,151 residents of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 69.4 per cent of residents 12 years of age and older fully vaccinated.
In 2021, the City of Peterborough is again offering subsidies of up to $500 to eligible homeowners who install rain gardens on their properties. Many trees, shrubs, grasses, sedges, and flowers are well-suited to rain gardens including a number of native species such as blue flag iris. (Photo: Hayley Goodchild)
After one of the driest springs on record, July was 150 per cent wetter than average, with rainfall recorded every two of three days. This kind of weather-related volatility will become more common as climate change intensifies.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s column is Hayley Goodchild, Neighbourhood and Residential Programs Coordinator at GreenUP.
The good news is that installing a rain garden on your property can help manage these extremes.
In 2021, the City of Peterborough is once again offering subsidies of up to $500 to eligible homeowners who install rain gardens on their properties.
Advertisement - content continues below
Why rain gardens?
A rain garden is a bowl-shaped garden that collects water from your roof, driveway, or other hard surface, and allows the water to drain into the ground instead of entering the stormwater system. Rain gardens are an important part of green urban infrastructure that keeps our waterways healthy.
“Currently, only 25 per cent of the City of Peterborough’s stormwater is filtered for pollutants before entering natural waterways, such as the Otonabee River or Jackson Creek,” explains Curtis Mei, the city’s stormwater systems coordinator.
Cup plant, dogwood, and other water-loving and drought-tolerant native plants soak up the rain at the rain garden in the Jiimaan’ndewemgadnong Pocket Park in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Geneviève Ramage)
“When it rains, urban runoff (stormwater) carries sediment and pollutants from vehicles, fertilizers, road salt, animal waste, and grass clippings into these waterbodies, which pollutes natural habitat and our source of clean drinking water,” Mei adds.
By diverting rainfall away from roads and sewers, rain gardens also reduce pressure on the municipal stormwater system, which in turn lowers the risk of localized flooding. This will become more important as rain events intensify.
All rain gardens share certain features, such as an inlet where water enters the garden and an outlet that allows for the safe overflow of rain during extremely heavy storms. Rain gardens also include a variety of plants. Beyond that, rain gardens come in all sizes, shapes, and styles.
Advertisement - content continues below
Many trees, shrubs, grasses, sedges, and flowers are well-suited to rain gardens, including a number of native species. Moisture-loving plants — such as blue flag iris (iris versicolor) or river birch (betula nigra) — should be placed toward the centre of your garden, where conditions are wetter.
Plants that can tolerate longer periods of drought should be placed around the perimeter of the garden, where conditions are drier. Many of my favourite drought-tolerant species — such as butterfly milkweed (asclepias tuberosa) and prairie dropseed (sporobolus heterolepis) — work well on the edges of rain gardens.
If you’re concerned about mosquito habitat, don’t be. Rain gardens are not the same as ponds or bogs. They are designed to absorb water within about 24 hours, which isn’t enough time for mosquito larvae to develop. In fact, rain gardens are often quite dry.
A rain garden between the sidewalk and pathway on a property in Peterborough’s The Avenues neighbourhood, installed with the support of GreenUP’s Ready for Rain program in 2017. To qualify for the City of Peterborough’s Rain Garden Subsidy Program, a rain garden must be installed at least three metres (10 feet) from any building foundations. (Photo: Ben Hargreaves)
So how does the City of Peterborough’s rain subsidy program work?
“A rain garden subsidy is a simple and effective way of providing financial support to residents of the City of Peterborough who provide stormwater management at the source, reducing the negative impacts of urban runoff,” Mei explains.
The first step is to complete a pre-application questionnaire through the City of Peterborough website at peterborough.ca, which will determine your eligibility and provide an estimated subsidy amount based on the roof area you intend to capture and your proposed garden size.
Advertisement - content continues below
Rain gardens aren’t suitable for all properties. You need a location at least three metres (10 feet) from any building foundations. The area should also be free of tree roots and underground utilities. Rain gardens can be installed in either in front or back yards.
Next, applicants attend a design workshop hosted by GreenUP. The final design workshop of the 2021 season will be held on Zoom from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, August 24th. For more information or to register, visit greenup.on.ca/event/rain-garden-subsidy-program-design-workshop-2/.
Finally, applicants must draft their design, submit it for approval, and install the garden before the end of this fall.
A rain garden designed and installed by a Peterborough resident as part of the City of Peterborough’s 2020 Rain Garden Subsidy Program. (Photo: Kat Tepylo-Murphy)
If this sounds like a lot of work, keep in mind that GreenUP and city staff are available to assist residents throughout the process. Homeowners can also put the subsidy amount toward the cost of hiring a qualified landscaper to design and install a garden on their behalf.
“Building our rain garden was a great experience from start to finish,” explains Kat Tepylo-Murphy, one of last year’s subsidy recipients. “We enjoyed learning about the plants, building it, and talking to all our interested neighbours as we put it together.”
“The rain garden looks so much nicer than the grass we had before and we’re happy knowing that it helps the environment too,” Tepylo-Murphy adds. “We love watching it fill up on rainy days.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Interested applicants and landscape contractors should plan to attend the August 24th workshop. Those who cannot attend but still wish to apply should contact program coordinator Hayley Goodchild at hayley.goodchild@greenup.on.ca.
Looking for further inspiration? Check out these demonstration rain gardens installed by GreenUP at the following locations: the Jiimaan’ndewemgadnong Pocket Park at the corner of King and Water streets (Euphoria Spa and the Depave Paradise rain garden at the corner of Brealey and Lansdowne streets.
Chantel Coyle, co-owner of Modern Makers Market, at the Chamberland Street location of the creative retail hub. Before opening the shop in November 2020, Modern Makers Market was an events-based business promoting local makers. They are returning to their roots by hosting a welcome back pop-up event on August 14 and 15, 2021. (Photo: Rejeanne Martin)
Modern Makers Market is holding a welcome back pop-up event on the weekend of August 14th at their retail shop at 651 Chamberlain Street in Peterborough.
The welcome back event is a momentous occasion for co-owners Chantel Coyle and Sarah McCarley, who originally founded Modern Makers Market with Laura Kasperlik in 2017 as an events-based way to promote local makers to the Peterborough community. It’s their first event of the year due to the pandemic.
The pop-up market — which runs indoors and outdoors from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 14th and Sunday, August 15th — features 16 local guest vendors along with the 30-plus makers from across Canada and the world already in the store.
Advertisement - content continues below
“We’re going to be celebrating small business as a ‘You did it — you got through this pandemic’ event,” says Chantel. “It’s an event of love for small businesses in the community.”
Makers at the pop-up market will include A Bee’s Closet, Dawn Moon Studio, Blue Oasis, Honest AF Mom, Grey Willow Creations, Dragon Fly Design Studio, Dwyer Art, Perfectly Beaded Evelyn PearlBow Co., Pipher Blooms, Church House Studio, and Dog Rags, along with food vendors Hanoi House Peterborough, Taste of Russia, Lisa Bakes, and Sweet & Stuff’d Cookie Co.
The Modern Makers Market shop has been reconfigured for the welcome back event to allow for physical distancing, and the doors will be open to allow for traffic flow between indoor and outdoor markets.
After meeting five years ago at the Peterborough Farmers’ Market, Chantel Coyle and Sarah McCarley decided to collaborate and launched Modern Makers Market, an events-based company promoting local makers. In November 2020, they opened a retail location. Chantel and Sarah are still business partners today, although Sarah is currently working on the business remotely from Australia due to COVID-19. (Photo: Rejeanne Martin)
“We’re spreading everyone out to make sure that there’s enough room to be COVID compliant,” explains Chantel, adding the shop is located in a residential area with a park just down the street. “You won’t have to worry about parking issues or the congestion of other places in the city. It’s a unique space to be in.”
According to Chantel, the pop-up market will be a great COVID-safe option for people looking for something fun and social to do on the August 14th weekend after months of restrictions, while also supporting local makers.
“It’s something to do in the middle of the month when you might not have plans because COVID has cancelled a lot of them,” Chantel says. “That’s the one thing people have been missing throughout the pandemic — human connection.”
Advertisement - content continues below
At the welcome back event, guests can learn about various local businesses all in a single setting. Even if guests don’t necessarily make a purchase from every vendor, the event will expand their knowledge of different local options for the future.
“Local businesses are the backbone of the community,” Chantel points out. “I hope the businesses who come feel supported and the community comes out for them. I hope the people who do come are thoughtful and come with the intent to support the vendors.”
The first in-person Modern Makers Market event for 2021 is also a return to their roots. Before the pandemic, Chantel and Sarah regularly held pop-up markets events where local artisans could sell their products. The pandemic transformed the Modern Makers Market, with Chantel and Sarah offering makers a way to sell their products while still keeping their staff and customers safe.
When the pandemic hit, shutting down Modern Makers Market’s events-based business model, owners Chantel Coyle and Sarah McCarley shifted by opening an in-person retail location and improved their website for online shopping. Now that events are allowed again, the pair hope to make up some of the revenue they and their vendors have lost during the pandemic. (Photo: Rejeanne Martin)
Last November, the pair opened the Modern Makers Market retail location on Chamberlain Street for restricted in-person shopping, carrying products from over 30 different small businesses from across Canada and worldwide. Products in the store vary from week to week, depending on which vendors are currently on contract.
When the province locked down again at the end of 2020 and in-store shopping was prohibited, Chantel and Sarah adjusted again by moving entirely online. In addition to online events and giveaways, they hired a local web designer to restructure their e-commerce website. Now, through their multi-vendor online platform, each vendor has their own digital space.
“When businesses sign up and pay for their spot, they can set up what looks like their own store on our website,” explains Chantel. “Vendors can also link to their own shop on their page. It’s really easy and user friendly.”
Advertisement - content continues below
The investment into improving their online store was worthwhile, according to Chantel, since 40 per cent of their sales are still online even after reopening the physical store.
Modern Makers Market has also recently teamed up with SwiftPost to offer easy shipping throughout Canada and the U.S. Businesses can sign up for a SwiftPost account, package their goods, and drop the package off at Modern Makers Market for SwiftPost to pick up and deliver.
“We’re cutting out steps and turning into a one-stop-shop for businesses,” Chantel explains. “I’m proud to say we thrived and evolved into something that we wouldn’t be now if the pandemic hadn’t happened.”
Chantel Coyle, co-owner of Modern Makers Market, working at the Chamberland Street shop. For their welcome back pop-up event on August 14 and 15, 2021, the shop will be configured to provide a COVID-safe shopping experience, with an indoor and outdoor market featuring traffic flow control and enough room for physical distancing. (Photo: Rejeanne Martin)
That includes a partnership with Hudson’s Bay, with Modern Makers Market offering a pop-up shop in the Hudson’s Bay location in Oshawa Centre until January 2022.
According to Chantel, it has taken a combination of hard work and community support to get Modern Makers Market to where it is right now.
“We have a lot of support but also we’ve worked a lot of hours,” says Chantel. “Sarah lives in Australia due to COVID, so she’s up all night answering emails and I’m up all day operating things. It’s a cool team dynamic that we have going on — but I’m hoping she comes home one day.”
Advertisement - content continues below
While Modern Makers Market has done relatively well despite the pandemic, they’ve also faced challenges. The return to in-person events is an important step towards recovering lost revenue.
“These events coming up are strategies to make back financials because we do have a lot of catching up to do,” says Chantel.
“We’re going to be working hard to turn that around for the vendors in our store — and for us.”
The Modern Makers Market pop-up event takes place at 651 Chamberlain Street in Peterborough from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 14 and Sunday, August 15, 2021. (Graphic: Modern Makers Market)
In terms of how the community can support the Modern Makers Market and the vendors they carry, Chantel asks everyone to keep local businesses in mind when shopping. You can also support Modern Makers Market and their vendors by following and engaging with them on social media.
“It doesn’t cost anything to follow and share,” Chantel notes.
To learn more about Modern Makers Market, their vendors, their welcome back pop-up event, and future events, visit modernmakersmarket.ca and follow them on Facebook and Instagram. Modern Makers Market also has a second Instagram account @modern.makers.shop dedicated to the retail shop.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
For the third day in a row, Ontario is reporting fewer than 200 new cases, with 139 reported today. The seven-day average of daily cases has decreased by 2 to 199.
Of Ontario’s 34 health units, 7 are reporting double-digit increases — Toronto (26), Waterloo (19), Peel (18), York (15), Hamilton (12), Durham (11), and Windsor-Essex (10) — and 17 are reporting no new cases at all.
The number of hospitalizations has risen by 41 to 112, but some of this increase may be a result of underreporting by more than 10% of hospitals over the long weekend. The number of ICU patients has increased by 2 to 108 and the number of patients on ventilators has decreased by 2 to 76.
Ontario is reporting 11 COVID-related deaths, but 7 of these deaths occurred between December and February and are being reported now as part of a data clean-up. The number of new deaths yesterday is 4.
Over 19.6 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 60,094 from yesterday, with more than 9.1 million people fully vaccinated, an increase of 48,008 from yesterday, representing almost 62% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from July 4 – August 3, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from July 4 – August 3, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of hospitalizations, and the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from July 4 – August 3, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered and the green line is the cumulative number of people fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Advertisement - content continues below
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 6 new cases to report, including 3 in Kawartha Lakes and 3 in Hastings Prince Edward. There are no new cases in Peterborough, Northumberland, or Haliburton.
An additional 8 cases have been resolved, including 5 in Kawartha Lakes, 2 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton.
The number of active cases has increased by 3 in Hastings Prince Edward, decreased by 2 in Kawartha Lakes, decreased by 2 in Northumberland, decreased by 1 in Haliburton, and remains the same in Peterborough.
There are currently 42 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 2 since yesterday, including 19 in Kawartha Lakes, 13 in Hastings Prince Edward (9 in Quinte West, 3 in Central Hastings, and 1 in Prince Edward County), 5 in Northumberland, 4 in Peterborough, and 1 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,643 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,617 resolved with 22 deaths), 1,185 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,121 resolved with 58 deaths), 954 in Northumberland County (932 resolved with 17 deaths), 126 in Haliburton County (124 resolved with 1 death), and 1,161 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,136 resolved with 12 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Hastings Prince Edward on July 28.
kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.
Submit your event for FREE!
Use our event submission form to post your event on our website — for free.
To submit editorial content or ideas, please contact us.
