4th Line Theatre in Millbrook is Canada's premier outdoor theatre company. (Photo: 4th Line Theatre / Facebook)
Eleven festivals and events across the greater Kawarthas region are collectively receiving more than $900,000 in one-time funding from the Ontario government — including the Lindsay Exhibition, Globus Theatre, 4th Line Theatre, Peterborough Musicfest, and ReFrame Film Festival.
The funding is part of $43 million for 439 festivals and events across Ontario through the province’s Reconnect Festival and Event Program (known as Celebrate Ontario before the pandemic)
Lisa MacLeod, Ontario’s heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries minister, made the funding announcement in Toronto on Wednesday (August 4).
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“For more than a year, the pandemic has disproportionately impacted tourism and culture — two major industries that bring people together and our communities to life,” MacLeod said. “Increasing our annual support for festival and events will give the sector a much-needed boost as we continue to deal with the effects of COVID-19.”
The government developed the Reconnect Festival and Event Program to help festival and event organizers adapt to new public health measures with virtual events, drive-through events, and other COVID-safe activities.
In the greater Kawarthas region, the following 11 festivals and cultural organizations hosting events are receiving a total of $904,386 in funding:
2020/21 International Plowing Match & Rural Expo (Kawartha Lakes) – $250,000
Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef and David Britton, director of Ontario waterways for Parks Canada, with the first of 4,000 trees to be planted along the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site of Canada, which is celebrating its 101st anniversary of through navigation this year. (Photo: Parks Canada)
Parks Canada is planting 4,000 trees along the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site of Canada this year.
On Wednesday (August 4), Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef and David Britton, director of Ontario waterways for Parks Canada, broke the ground near the Peterborough Lift Lock for the first of the trees to be planted.
“This beautiful tree is just the start of a project that will see greener spaces and cleaner air from Trenton through to Port Severn,” Monsef said.
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The Trent–Severn Waterway comprises 386 kilometres of canals that connect Lake Ontario at Trenton to Lake Huron at Port Severn. The tree planting also commemorates the 101st anniversary of through navigation on the waterway.
The project is part of an initiative by Parks Canada to plant 150,000 trees in 2021 in up to 18 national parks across the country, to help fight climate change, clean the air, and protect biodiversity.
The trees will be planted as part of the federal government’s commitment to plant two billion trees, projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 12 megatonnes annually by 2050.
Brenda Ibey, owner of The Avant-Garden Shop, is donating $1,000 towards Dave McNab's campaign to bring Rashid, an 18-year-old Syrian refugee, to Canada. McNab met Rashid after the teenager posted in a Facebook birding group about his dream to come to Canada and received abuse from some members. Ibey's shop has done well during the pandemic based on the increased demand for birding supplies and her bird seed and feeder supplier, Newmarket-based Wild Bird Trading, has even offered Rashid a job when he comes to Canada. (Photo courtesy of Brenda Ibey)
When Brenda Ibey learned about the plight of a 18-year-old Syrian refugee and a Peterborough couple’s efforts to bring him to Canada, she decided to step up and help — and she’s calling on others in the community to join her.
Ibey owns The Avant-Garden Shop in downtown Peterborough, a home and garden store that also specializes in birding supplies. Unlike many businesses, Ibey says her shop has done well during the pandemic, largely because of her loyal customers coupled with an increased interest in birding and gardening.
“The Avant-Garden Shop has done well during the pandemic with many customers intentionally buying and supporting local,” Ibey tells kawarthaNOW. “This has been so great to see and to feel the support of the birding and gardening community.”
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While her business regularly donates to various fundraisers, Ibey says she has been trying to decide on what to donate to this year to show how thankful she is for her supportive community.
Then she learned about Rashid, an 18-year-old Syrian refugee currently living in Turkey who wants to come to Canada. Dave McNab, a retired police officer, recently connected with Rashid when the teenager was subjected to some hateful and racist comments after posting about his dream to come to Canada in a Facebook birding group.
Along with his wife, veterinarian Kristy Hiltz, McNab has begun the process of sponsoring Rashid to come to Canada. Part of the sponsorship process includes raising $18,000 in costs to support Rashid in Canada for a year.
After social advocate Michael VanDerHerberg, who is helping with the sponsorship process, offered $5,000 towards the cost, McNab and Hiltz contributed another $5,000 and have created a GoFundMe campaign to raise the remaining $8,000.
Rashid’s plight and the connection to birding has prompted Ibey to donate $1,000 to the cause — which is also close to her heart because her own family was sponsored to come to Canada in 1955. Ibey’s parents, in turn, sponsored another family to come to Canada.
Since Rashid’s call for help began on a birding Facebook group, Ibey is hoping members of the birding community will also step up and contribute towards the costs of supporting Rashid during his first year in Canada.
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That’s already happened in the case of The Avant-Garden Shop’s bird seed and feeder supplier, Newmarket-based Wild Bird Trading. After learning about Rashid, the company’s president Mark Bennett and his wife Laura have offered to give him a job when he comes to Canada.
“When I got into business I never would have thought about how wonderful gardeners and birders are,” Ibey says. “They are so supportive — Kristy and Dave included.”
Along with her donation, Ibey says she will be contacting some of her customers and other businesses who may be willing to donate.
“We’ll do as much as possible to help Rashid,” Ibey says.
Two 10-by-10 inch mini-paintings by Jennifer Gordon, one of the 28 artists and artisans participating in the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour on September 18 and 19, 2021. This is Gordon's first year participating in the studio tour. Her lifelong family log cottage on Chandos Lake is the inspiration for many of her paintings. (Photo courtesy of Apsley Autumn Studio Tour)
With the province gradually reopening after 16 months of the pandemic, this fall is a great time to get outside and safely reconnect with some of the most talented artists of the Kawarthas region during the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour — and there’s a new free app available this year to help you get the most out of the tour.
The renowned studio tour is returning for its 28th year from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 18th and Sunday, September 19th with COVID-19 protocols again in place, including physical distancing and mask requirements, so you can safely experience the work of regional artists and artisans in their studios.
This year’s free self-guided tour features 28 artists in 13 studio locations across North Kawartha Township in Peterborough County, with an additional studio located in nearby Wollaston Township in Hastings County.
A shawl created by Judy Ranieri, one of the 28 artists and artisan participating in the 2021 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour. Ranieri is a new artist to the tour this year. Her love for natural fibre, fabric, colour, design and textures are major factors in creating one of a kind pieces like this shawl-which was inspired by nature. (Photo courtesy of Apsley Autumn Studio Tour)
As always, the studio tour includes artists who live in the area and guest artists from out of town, all presenting new works created specifically for the tour. New artists are also admitted to the studio tour every year, through a juried process.
This year’s artists cover the gamut of the visual arts, including painting, jewellery, glass art, stained glass, mosaics, woodworking, sculpture, fabric and fibre art, pottery, photography, and metalwork.
By attending the tour, you will have the opportunity to meet and chat with each welcoming artist, view their arts, and purchase works if you wish. Several studios on the tour will also be hosting demonstrations of the artists at work.
A wrapped silver heart brooch by artist Vivienne Jones, one of the 28 artists and artisans participating in the 2021 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour. Based in Toronto, Jones is a guest artist on this year’s tour whose highly distinctive jewellery is influenced by natural forms. (Photo courtesy of Apsley Autumn Studio Tour)
To participate, hop in your vehicle along with the tour map (see below) or download the brand new Apsley Autumn Studio Tour app, available for iOS and Android devices.
Replacing the traditional full-sized brochure, the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour app augments your ability to enjoy the tour by allowing you to view event details, artist profiles, and selected artwork. It includes an interactive map so you can easily explore while touring and save your favourite locations.
And you don’t have to worry about spotty cell service when you’re in the rural locations of the tour — the app will continue to function even if you don’t have an internet connection. The free app is available for download now on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
Screenshots from the Android version of the brand new Apsley Autumn Studio Tour app, also available for iOS devices. (Screenshots from Google Play)
You can take a day trip and stop in at one of the local eateries in the area for refreshments (including Calm N Ground in Apsley, Border Town Market & Cafe and The Grape & Wedge in Glen Alda, and The Barn Chefs in Coe Hil) or make it a studio tour weekend by staying at local accommodations such as the Burleigh Falls Inn.
For your convenience, here’s a summary in alphabetical order of the artists and artisans participating in the 2021 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, including their disciplines and the studios where you can find them, as well as a link to the studio tour map.
Rachel has introduced her artisan soaps to compliment the unique wools she’s been recognized for. She began experimenting with herbs from the garden and wild plants from her farm and woodland, blending them into the wholesome soaps. Rachel says creating artisan soaps along with novel wools is not only a manifestation of nature and colour, but also celebrates the charm of farm life.
Working from his home on the edge of the Canadian Shield, Brad maintains a successful practice as both a sculptor and a functional glass blower, often traversing the line between.
Jacques is a self-taught woodworker who uses only wood from dead or fallen trees. Gnarls, insect holes, and spalted wood are his materials of choice. He is always ready for a creative challenge of any size.
Valerie has been sewing for over 40 years starting with clothing for herself and her family, which eventually grew into a children’s clothing home business in Calgary. After moving to Saudi Arabia in 2000, she brought her seamstress skills into the practice of machine quilting. Valerie enjoys the mathematical aspects of quilting. She has grown to also love the practice of free motion quilting.
Since 2005, Valarie and her husband Ted have spent the bulk of her summers at Chandos Lake in Apsley. Valarie and Ted repatriated to their log home on Chandos Lake in 2015.
Mary Ellen Gerster sees the world according to shape, value, and colour, immersing the viewer in her bright and glowing watercolour paintings. Through the layering of transparent colours she creates photo realism in her still life, fruit, flowers and waterscapes. She is inspired and challenged by subjects with strong lights, shadows, shapes, colours and is especially drawn to high contrast and bright colours.
Ever since she was a small child, painting has been Jennifer Gordon’s favourite thing to do. Her family log cottage on Chandos Lake has been the inspiration for many of her paintings. Jennifer paints large renderings on canvas of her favourite places, peaceful settings, and places that depict happiness. She works with bold strokes, large brushes and thick acrylic paint. Her style is a combination of impressionism and realism.
First introduced to oil painting as a child, David has been painting ever since and has developed a unique distinctive style. He uses a multi-layered technique, applying thick swaths of oil paint to create images inspired by the Ontario landscape.
Anja works with broken china, pottery, porcelain figurines, and tile to give these elements a second life in her whimsical mosaic art pieces. She also incorporates forks, beads, buttons, bottle caps, and typewriter keys.
Expressive colour and evocative themes of nature are Susan’s hallmarks. She layers crushed and sheet glasses, sometimes with metal inclusions, and then kiln fires them. Susan strives to create engaging imagery in plates, bowls, and freestanding glass art.
Dolores’ work includes quilts, using imported fabrics from England and Japan, as well as wall hangings, runners, and smaller items. Many of her pieces have wool felting incorporated into the quilting, as well as beads, silk, and quite a number of other interesting embellishments.
A member of Kawartha Potters Guild and Spirit of the Hills Art Association, Melanie enjoys creating personalized pottery, particularly clocks. She enjoys making one-off pieces and is currently experimenting with raku and smoke fire techniques.
Vivienne is a contemporary artist based in Toronto whose work is very much influenced by natural forms. She creates highly distinctive jewellery using both traditional and non-traditional materials.
Living in rural Apsley, Lisa paints the world around her. Jack pines, full maples, wild flowers, and rural homes, Lisa paints what is found outside her front door.
After a successful career both nationally and internationally in architecture, Barbara Miszkiel has returned to her original interest in fine arts, painting primarily in acrylics. Although Barbara has created new buildings most of her career, in painting she is drawn to old buildings, live subjects and landscapes.
The starting point for all of Molly’s work is the pristine landscape that surrounds her: the lake, forest, and uninterrupted skyscape are the foundation of every piece she paints. A visual artist whose primary focus is abstraction, she works primarily in acrylic and mixed media.
Applying multiple patterns in a range of colours on clay, Cathy creates one-of-a-kind functional pieces of art or a whimsical collectible. New animal-themed mugs, piggy banks, and horse figurines add to the collection among a continuation of animated forms of snowmen, gnomes, Santas, and assorted critters.
After working for many years in the tech industry, Judy Ranieri retired and began to explore her creative passions. Many of Judy’s projects are inspired by nature and utilize natural fibres, fabric, colour, design, and textures to create one of a kind textile and fabric art pieces.
In her 30-year career as a glass artist, Susan has drawn inspiration from the landscape in which she lives. An avid gardener, she continues to explore the idea of garden through her vessel and sculptural works and is well known for her vibrant floral vessels.
Kathy has been a stained glass artist for over 25 years, using traditional techniques to produce stained glass art. Concentrating on the copper foil method, Kathy looks to nature for inspiration.
Catharine is a self-taught artisan who is inspired by the natural beauty of coloured gem stones, the ability to form and create meaningful pieces of art through wire working, and her own creative style of stringing that can be worn at any time of the day with any style of fashion.
Clare owns Rusty Girl metalwork studio in Toronto, where she designs and makes railings, furniture, arbours, limited-run production pieces for the garden, and sculpture.
David is inspired to create new works in watercolour, acrylic, and oil by the surrounding landscape. Painting full time following a career in advertising, graphic design, and colour retouching, he applies this knowledge and skill into his paintings.
Obsessed with the relationship between great food and handmade pottery, Judy believes eating from handmade pots elevates the dining experience. Her work is carefully hand crafted to be enjoyed as everyday art.
First launched in 1994, the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour not only creates public awareness of the arts by promoting and supporting artists in the community, but it supports young artists as well. The tour sponsors the Arts Award at Apsley Central Public School.
For more information on the 2021 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, visit apsleystudiotour.com. You can also follow the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour on Facebook and Instagram.
Download the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour map (or the new Apsley Autumn Studio Tour app coming this summer) and watch for the black-and-white studio tour signs that mark each studio location. (Photo courtesy of Apsley Autumn Studio Tour)
This story was created in partnership with the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
After 4 straight days of increases over 200 in the last week of July, Ontario is reporting 332 new cases over the past 2 days, with 168 on Sunday and 164 on Monday. The seven-day average of daily cases has increased by 12 to 201.
Of Ontario’s 34 health units, 8 have reported double-digit increases over the past 2 days — Toronto (88), Peel (41), York (39), Hamilton (21), Waterloo (19), Halton (18), Windsor-Essex (17), and Durham (14) — with 10 reporting no new cases at all yesterday.
The number of hospitalizations has dropped by 34 to 71, but more than 10% of hospitals did not submit data for the daily bed census yesterday so the actual number of hospitalizations may be higher. The number of ICU patients has decreased by 4 to 106 and the number of patients on ventilators remains unchanged 78.
Ontario is reporting 2 new COVID-related deaths over the past 2 days, including 1 in a long-term care home.
Almost 19.6 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 72,136 over the past 2 days, with more than 9 million people fully vaccinated, an increase of 60,059 over the past 2 days, representing over 61% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from July 3 – August 2, 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 3 – August 2, 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 3 – August 2, 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.co
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 25 new cases to report over the past 3 days, including 14 in Kawartha Lakes, 8 in Hastings Prince Edward, 2 in Peterborough, and 1 in Northumberland. There are no new cases in Haliburton.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health has declared an outbreak related to a bonfire and indoor party at a property on Hearns Road, Frankford in Quinte West held on the evening of July 24. A person who tested positive for COVID-19 attended the gathering while they were contagious with the virus. The health unit advises that everyone who attended the party who has not been fully vaccinated is considered a high-risk contact and must self-isolate immediately until August 7.
An additional 16 cases have been resolved over the past 3 days, including 10 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Peterborough, 1 in Northumberland, 1 in Haliburton, and 1 in Hastings Prince Edward.
The number of active cases has increased by 7 in Hastings Prince Edward and by 4 in Kawartha Lakes, and has decreased by 1 in Peterborough, by 1 in Haliburton, and remains the same in Northumberland.
There are currently 44 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 9 since July 30, including 21 in Kawartha Lakes, 10 in Hastings Prince Edward (6 in Quinte West and 4 in Central Hastings), 7 in Northumberland, 4 in Peterborough, and 2 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), 1,182 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,116 resolved with 58 deaths), 954 in Northumberland County (930 resolved with 17 deaths), 126 in Haliburton County (123 resolved with 1 death), and 1,158 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.
On Tuesday (August 3), the Ontario government quietly released its back-to-school guidelines for the 2021-2022 school year — one which will see all elementary and secondary school students returning to the classroom, with remote learning remaining an option.
The guidelines include a requirement for face masks for students and staff, as well as self-screening before coming to school. However, the guidelines do not require mandatory vaccinations and provide no details on how schools will manage and monitor COVID-19 cases and outbreaks.
While there was no official announcement about the guidelines, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore responded to many questions from reporters during a media briefing on Tuesday afternoon — including under what circumstances schools would be closed.
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“I really can’t envision or see any closure of any schools in Ontario, or colleges or universities,” Dr Moore said. “We must maintain them open going forward,” comparing the management of COVID-19 to other viruses like influenza.
“I think we have to normalize COVID-19 for schools, and have an approach that’s prudent, that’s cautious, but that realizes we’re going to have a rise in cases, but we’re going to adhere to best practices to minimize the spread and keep our communities safe.”
Those best practices include requiring all students in Grades 1 to 12 to wear non-medical face masks while indoors at school, including in hallways and during classes as well as on school vehicles (which can operate at full capacity).
However, students will be allowed to remove masks indoors during low-contact physical activities and while eating and drinking, and will not be required to wear masks outdoors. Students in kindergarten are encouraged to wear masks but they won’t be required.
All school staff and visitors will be required to wear medical face masks indoors in school, including in hallways and during classes.
All staff and students must also self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms every day before attending school, along with visitors.
Elementary students will be cohorted for the entire school day, with a single teacher if possible. For secondary schools, school boards are instructed “to timetable students with no more than two courses at a time in order to preserve the option of reverting to more restrictive measures, if needed.”
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Vaccinations are not mandatory for staff and students to attend school, with the guidelines only stating “School boards are encouraged to work with local public health units to reach out to families to promote vaccination.”
School assemblies or other gatherings will be permitted, along with clubs, sport teams, extra-curricular activities, and bands (but without wind instruments). Community use of schools will also be permitted.
Students and staff from different schools will be able to interact outdoors, where high-contact activities will be permitted without masks. However, only low-contact activities without masks would be permitted outdoors for inter-school sports.
School boards are expected to continue optimizing air quality in classrooms and learning environments through improving ventilation and filtration, and all ventilation systems must be inspected and be in good condition before the start of school year.
The guidelines are scant on details for how schools will manage COVID-19 cases and outbreaks. In the section called “Management of COVID-19 in schools”, the guidelines state “This section is forthcoming” and that it will build on operational guidance provided for the previous school year.
A 61-year-old kayaker drowned Monday night (August 2) after being swept under turbulent water on the Rosedale River in Fenelon Township in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
At around 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Kawartha Lakes OPP report that emergency services received an urgent call about a kayaker who was caught in and then swept into the undertow of the dam, located near Coldstream Road on the river, which runs between Balsam Lake and Cameron Lake.
Witnesses were able to get the kayaker to shore and administer first aid, until Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Services arrived and took over the life-saving efforts.
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Leonid Kazantsev, 61, of York was pronounced dead at the scene.
The OPP encourages the proper use of PDFs when using watercraft. Most marine drownings happen unexpectedly when small boats capsize or someone falls overboard. A PFD left behind is not much use, especially in cold water.
Parks Canada also advises that getting too close to dams can be dangerous. Calm water can quickly and without warning become a surge of fast-moving water. This fast-moving water creates strong undercurrents that cannot always be seen from the surface and can drown even the strongest swimmer.
The Ontario government also warns personal watercraft and boats should always stay clear of dams.
The story has been updated to correct the victim’s surname at the request of his family.
Emily Hughes, Nicole Malbeuf, Laura Lawless, and Flexy-T are the performers in Toronto-based Flying Solo's 'Circus Sundae: Sweet & Salty', presented by Public Energy. The show takes place on August 8, 2021 with two outdoor performances in the parking lots of Peterborough Memorial Centre and PCVS. (Supplied photos, collage by kawarthaNOW)
Public Energy is bringing the circus to Peterborough this Sunday (August 8) as the kick-off event of Pivot 2.0, the performing arts organization’s final series of outdoor family-friendly events before performances move back inside theatres this fall and winter.
Circus Sundae: Sweet & Salty is presented by Toronto-based Flying Solo, which fuses circus, dance, and theatre to present performances on originally designed and fabricated apparatuses.
UPDATE
The 12 p.m. performance has been moved from the Peterborough Memorial Centre parking lot to the PCVS parking lot.
The 25-minute show takes place on Flying Solo’s the ‘City Circus Truck’, a one-of-a-kind bit top circus on wheels, with two outdoor performances on Sunday, August 8th: at noon in the parking lot of the Peterborough Memorial Centre at 151 Lansdowne Street (enter from Lock Street), and again at 3 p.m. at the PCVS parking lot at 201 McDonnel Street (limited seating, bring your own lawn chair if possible).
Described as a “hilarious and dazzling circus extravaganza”, the show is performed entirely on the City Circus Truck’s flatbed trailer. Spumoni the Clown (Emily Hughes) attempts to create the ultimate mouth-watering ice cream sundae, with aerialists Nicole Malbeuf and Laura Lawless and contortionist Flexy-T making their way through Spumoni’s zany kitchen.
Sweet and salty ice cream treats will also be available by donation at each performance.
The seven-part Pivot 2.0 series, a follow-up to the Pivot series of outdoor performances of live dance and theatre presented by Public Energy last October, continues next month on Saturday, September 11th with Heirloom (a program of exciting percussive dance, with artists to be announced), followed by Bone Stories (an original contemporary dance by Ireni Stamou, performed by Ireni Stamou and Dreda Blow) on Thursday, September 16th.
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On Wednesday, September 22nd, there will be a performance of Hybrid Women (an experimental dance-theatre-ritual action co-created and performed by Norma Araiza and Olga Barrios with music composed and performed by Edgardo Moreno), followed by Armour (original dance-theatre by Peterborough expatriate Christy Stoeten, performed by Madie Brown, Sharazade Vahid, Simon Mazziotti, with an original design by Sonia Gemmiti) on Friday and Saturday, September 24th and 25th.
Also coming in September, with the date to be determined, is Ninagamoon~Niweechewagan, a cycle of stories and songs created and performed by Nicole Joy-Fraser.
For confirmed dates, times, and locations, keep an eye on the Public Energy website at publicenergy.ca.
Lang Pioneer Village Museum is located at 104 Lang Road in Keene. (Photo: Lang Pioneer Village Museum website)
Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene will once again be welcoming drop-in visitors five days a week beginning Wednesday (August 4), with the museum resuming its traditional self-guided living history format.
Previously, the museum was only offering pre-booked and time-limited guided tours as permitted under the pandemic restrictions of Ontario’s reopening plan. However, now that Ontario has entered step three of the reopening plan, the museum is again able to allow visitors to tour the museum on their own — with COVID-19 safety protocols in place.
“We’ve had our sights set on the day when we can open up again to a living history experience for our visitors,” says museum manager Laurie Siblock in a media release. “It is finally here. Staff and volunteers are excited to welcome visitors back to a village filled with the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of the 19th century.”
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With the museum open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday until the Labour Day weekend, visitors can tour the historical buildings of the village at their own pace on the date and time of their own choosing. Costumed interpreters, who will be stationed in some of the historic homes and businesses, will introduce visitors to the building’s history and demonstrate traditional trades.
Visitors will be required to wear face masks when entering all buildings on the property, as well as maintaining two metres distance between themselves and visitors from outside of their group, and are asked to practice proper hand sanitization and follow all posted signage while on site.
Following the end of the summer season on Sunday, September 5th, the museum will be offering pre-booked guided tours for groups of 10 or more from Monday to Friday (September 7 to December 17, with some dates unavailable). These tours must be booked at least two days in advance.
VIDEO: Discover the Sounds of History – Fitzpatrick House (Lang Pioneer Village Museum)
The museum will also once again be hosting special events this fall, beginning with Village by Lanternlight on Friday and Saturday, September 17th and 18th.
Other popular events returning this fall and winter include Applefest (Sunday, October 3rd), Historic All Hallows’ Eve (Friday and Saturday, October 29th and 30th) and Christmas by Candlelight (Saturday and Sunday, December 4th and 5th). Advanced booking will be required for all fall and winter events.
For more information on Lang Pioneer Village Museum including upcoming events, visit www.langpioneervillage.ca.
Leslie Scott, owner of Walton Wood Farm in Bailieboro, chats with her friend Danielle French, owner of South Pond Farms in Pontypool, on the porch at South Pond Farms. The two entrepreneurs have teamed up to launch a brand collaboration, with Walton Food Farm expanding its product line by offering French's gourmet food products. (Photo: Ash Nayler Photography)
Two iconic farm-inspired startups founded in the Kawarthas have teamed up to integrate their brands. Leslie Scott, owner of Walton Wood Farm, and Danielle French, owner of South Pond Farms, have spent the past several months collaborating for a brand team-up.
Walton Wood Farm in Bailieboro is a personal care gift product brand that has been around for seven years. The company sells high-quality products for men, women, babies, and pets, with funky names like their ‘Week from Hell’ product line.
In 2016, Scott took her business to the CBC hit television show Dragons’ Den, where she accepted a $150,000 investment for a 12 per cent stake in her company with Manjit Minhas. Today, Scott’s products are sold in more than 2,500 brick-and-mortar outlets across Canada and the United States.
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South Pond Farms in Pontypool is a farm-to-table event venue where French also produces and sells a line of culinary products and gifts. French was also the host of the television show Taste of Country, which aired on the Makeful Channel in Canada and was formerly on Netflix in 11 countries.
This past May, French made the difficult decision to put her farm property up for sale and is transitioning her business to emphasize her product lines, which include gourmet food items such as hot sauce, honey, jams, and marmalade.
Although entirely different businesses, with Scott offering personal care products and French hosting culinary events and experiences, both were built to create non-farming income to sustain their small farms, which are located only 30 minutes apart from one another. So it’s no surprise Scott and French have become friends — and now business partners.
South Pond Farms owner Danielle French in the kitchen with her friend Leslie Scott, owner of Walton Wood Farm. Scott, who primarily sells her brand of personal self-care products as well as some food products (such as the garlic and parmesan beer bread mix pictured) has expanded Walton Wood Farm’s product line to include South Pond Farms’ gourmet food products, which include jams, marmalade, honey, sauces, baking mixes, and more. (Photo: Ash Nayler Photography)
Much like their businesses, Scott and French share a lot in common yet are the complete opposite in personality. Their differences complement each other both in business and friendship.
“We’re completely opposite personalities,” Scott tells kawarthaNOW. “We dress differently, we talk differently — we’re very different people — but we developed this very deep friendship because of our businesses.”
“We are the go-to support for each other, because our businesses are both very complicated and it can feel as though nobody relates to you,” she adds. “But we could relate to each other. Even though our problems were different, they were fundamentally the same.”
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When the pandemic hit, French’s business was especially hard hit because the pandemic prohibited large gatherings and events — the basis of her business model.
“We pivoted a few different times,” French recalls. “We did grocery box pickups, where we made food and people could pick it up. I’m doing picnics this year, where people can pick up the picnics from the farm and then sit on the property and enjoy them.”
French’s final pivot is the most significant, moving to focus more on a product line of gourmet foods she had already developed and working to create more new products.
“It really is something that I love to do because it’s creating flavour, connections, and putting things together with other things, pairings that I love,” she explains.
Walton Food Farm owner Leslie Scott and South Pond Farm owner Danielle French say they are a great team because they have opposite-but-complementary personalities. Having both launched farm-inspired businesses in the Kawarthas, the two entrepreneurs discovered they had a lot in common and decided to collaborate. (Photo: Ash Nayler Photography)
While French has been selling her products from her farm, she did not have a wide distribution network — the very kind of network Scott has already built for her business.
“We talked and thought, ‘Wait a minute, we’re two farm friends, we’ve been getting together for years’,” Scott says. “So why don’t we turn this pandemic story on its head?”
So the South Pond Farms brand is now being integrated into the Walton Wood Farm website, with the latter providing the infrastructure to ship South Pond Farms products across Canada and the United States. It’s a good fit, because Walton Food Farm has already been selling some food products as well.
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“When this opportunity arose for me, it was great because I’ve never had my products be my focal point,” explains French. “They’ve always been an add-on, a side thing where people come to the farm and it’s ‘Oh, by the way, you can buy some jam.’ But now, it is my focal point.”
Through their collaboration, Scott and French will offer self-care boxes including a subscription box, which combines South Pond Farms gourmet foods with Walton Wood Farm personal self-care products.
“What do you do when you’re stressed out and you need to take a little time out?” Scott asks. “You need delicious food. Danielle is a chef and she does everything so beautifully. Everything in her ethos is farm to table, fresh flavours, unique spins on things, but simple and delicious.”
With her farm-to-table events business deeply affected by pandemic lockdowns, South Pond Farms owner Danielle French is selling her farm property and focusing on the food product side of the business. French has partnered with her friend, Walton Wood Farm owner Leslie Scott, to take advantage of Scott’s well-established distribution network for Walton Wood Farm’s product line of personal self-care products and existing food items. (Photo: Ash Nayler Photography)
“What else do you need?” Scott continues. “You need a little personal care: a little sugar scrub, hand cream, body cream, shampoo. Take a nice hot tub and restore your sanity. What better complements gourmet foods than self-care?”
The two entrepreneurs plan to work together to coordinate the scents and themes of Walton Wood Farm products with the flavours of South Pond Farms products. They are also working on expanding the South Pond Farms product line to include culinary accessories such as kitchenware.
The long-time entrepreneurs both say they’re enthusiastic about continuing doing what they love while starting a new chapter for their businesses.
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“We’re both over 55, and we’re starting something new as if we don’t even realize that we’re over 55,” Scott laughs. “You spend your lifetime building these skills. It would be a shame to waste all that if you could turn it into something that you love and you’re passionate about.”
Their age and the roots of their businesses are only two of the many factors that make this pair of entrepreneurs unique.
“When people think of startups or entrepreneurs, they think Toronto or Silicon Valley or Stanford, and they think 20 year olds,” she notes. “Our businesses were founded in rural Ontario. We were both very inspired by our farms, and we were both setting out to create ventures that can support our small farms.”
Both established entrepreneurs over the age of 55, South Pond Farm owner Danielle French and Walton Food Farm owner Leslie Scott are enthusiastic to be starting a new chapter of doing what they love. (Photo: Ash Nayler Photography)
“We both found our farms neglected and ran down,” Scott adds. “We’ve brought them into a new life. Even though Danielle’s selling her farm, it’s been so beautifully restored it’s an inspiration. She’s created something durable that can be passed down, and somebody can breathe a different life into.”
Although the pandemic has resulted in some bittersweet changes to her business, French is incredibly optimistic about what is to come through her partnership with Walton Wood Farms.
“I am looking forward to a new chapter and new beginnings,” says French. “I am so completely excited about this opportunity. For me, it’s just a win-win all around. I’m hoping that I can contribute something to Leslie’s empire.”
Walton Food Farm owner Leslie Scott and South Pond Farm owner Danielle French say their business collaboration, with Walton Food Farm selling South Pond Farms gourmet food products, is just the beginning of what they plan to do together. (Photo: Ash Nayler Photography)
“It’s so fun and inspiring to share creativity with someone,” Scott agrees. “I’m excited about the things that we’re going to create together — and the things to come that we don’t know even know yet.”
For updates on their collaboration, you can follow Walton Woods Farm on Instagram and Facebook and South Pond Farms on Instagram and Facebook.
To shop their products and offerings, visit the Walton Wood Farms website at waltonwoodfarm.com or the South Pond Farms website at southpondfarms.ca.
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