Peterborough's Canadian Canoe Museum has launched a $1.5 million public fundraising campaign to help prepare its collection of watercraft, paddles, artifacts, archives, and library to the new museum currently under construction at the Johnson Property at 2077 Ashburnham Drive in Peterborough. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Peterborough’s Canadian Canoe Museum has launched a $1.5 million public fundraising campaign for its “great portage” — preparing its collection for the move to the new museum now under construction.
The museum, currently located at 910 Monaghan Road, has more than 600 watercraft and 500 paddles, as well as hundreds of artifacts and an archives and library collection.
According to a media release from the museum, every item in the entire collection needs to be prepared for eventual transfer to the museum’s new home at the Johnson Property at 2077 Ashburnham Drive in Peterborough.
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“Every vessel and artifact requires detailed cleaning, documentation, stabilizing, packaging, transportation, a quarantine and inspection process, and installation in the new museum,” says museum curator Jeremy Ward. “Each step is crucial to preserve this renowned collection and its many stories so it can be shared for generations to come.”
The museum is encouraging people to support the Move The Collection campaign at canoemuseum.ca/move by donating to move a canoe, kayak, paddle, or artifact.
Donation amounts range from $100 to $500 to support the transfer of paddles and related equipment all the way up to $5,000 to support the transfer of the largest vessels in the museum’s collection.
VIDEO: Help us Move The Collection – Canoe Museum’s great portage needs your help
Unlike the museum’s existing facility, where only a portion of its collection is on public display, the museum’s new facility will house the entire collection in a building that meets Class A conservation standards. The new facility, located near the shore of Little Lake beside Beavermead Park, is scheduled to open in summer 2023.
According to the museum, staff and interns under the direction of the museum’s curatorial department will be carefully cleaning, photographing, documenting, and packing each canoe and kayak before placing it on a custom pallet to see it safely moved.
Once packed, each canoe will be tagged according to its future location in the racking system within new museum’s collection hall or to be incorporated into brand new exhibits at the new museum.
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The museum will be hosting a virtual tour called “Moving the Collection: Behind-the-Scenes with Curator Jeremy Ward” at 7 p.m. on Thursday (November 25).
The Zoom tour will include “a look at the unique challenges and surprises of moving a collection of this size (and the stories these watercraft carry) to their new home at the water’s edge.”
Tickets are pay what you can, with proceeds supporting the new museum. For more information and to register, visit canoemuseum.ca/virtual-tours/.
Ontario children aged five to 11 will be eligible to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments beginning on Tuesday (November 23).
On Friday, Health Canada approved the paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, a modified formulation which is one-third the dose (10 micrograms instead of 30 micrograms) of the vaccine available for those 12 and older. The recommended interval between the two doses for full vaccination is eight weeks.
Ontario expects to receive over one million doses of the paediatric vaccine from the federal government, which will then be immediately distributed to public health units, pharmacies, and primary care settings across the province. This is enough vaccine to provide first doses to all eligible Ontario children aged five to 11.
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“Offering the protection of the vaccine to children aged five to 11 is a significant milestone in Ontario’s fight against COVID-19 in advance of the holiday season,” says Ontario health minister Christine Elliott in a media release. “We continue to encourage all Ontarians to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated to protect themselves, their families and their communities.”
As of 8 a.m. on Tuesday, COVID-19 vaccine appointments for children aged five to 11 can be booked through the COVID-19 vaccination portal at covid19.ontariohealth.ca or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.
The vaccine will also be available directly through public health units using their own booking system, through participating pharmacies, and through participating primary care providers.
In the Peterborough area, dedicated family-friendly paediatric vaccination clinics for children aged five to 11 will be offered at the Healthy Planet Arena (formerly Evinrude Centre, at 911 Monaghan Road in Peterborough) Mondays to Thursdays and in schools throughout the city and county. The first clinic appointments will be available starting Monday, November 29th.
Parents or caregivers of children aged five to 11 will usually have to provide consent on behalf of the child, either in advance or at the time of the vaccination appointment. Consent forms will be provided online and in paper at clinics.
Vaccine certificates with QR codes will be available for inoculated children, although there is no current requirement in Ontario for children aged five to 11 to show proof of vaccination.
According to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), while most children infected with the COVID-19 virus have no or mild symptoms, some infected children may rarely develop severe COVID-19 disease and require hospitalization.
Infected children are also at risk of developing multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), following infection with the COVID-19 virus. MIS-C is a serious but rare event that can occur several weeks following infection.
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NACI also says infected children may be at risk of a post COVID-19 condition known as long COVID or post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, although current limited evidence suggests the risk is lower in children compared to older age groups.
According to NACI, the paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is 90.7 per cent effective. Interim clinical findings did not indicate any serious safety concerns with the paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. No cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) or pericarditis (inflammation of the heart lining) related to the vaccine were reported. Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and NACI will continue to monitor the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.
The provincial government is encouraging parents, caregivers, and children who have questions about the vaccine to visit ontario.ca/covidvaccinekids, to call the Provincial Vaccine Confidence Line at 1-833-943-3900 or to visit COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service at sickkids.ca/vaccineconsult to book a confidential phone appointment with a SickKids clinician.
A 37-year-old Oshawa man died after his vehicle rolled over during a multiple-vehicle collision on the southbound lanes of Highway 115 near Manvers on Monday morning (November 22).
Peterborough County OPP and emergency crews responded to the scene of the collision near Porter Road, which resulted in the closure of all lanes of the highway.
Police report three vehicles entered the centre median, resulting in three separate collisions in close proximity to each other.
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One of the vehicles rolled over, resulting in the driver suffering fatal injuries.
Police have since identified the victim as David Legris, 37, of Oshawa.
The northbound lanes were closed at Porter Road and the southbound lanes were closed at Tapley Quarter Line until around 6 p.m. on Monday afternoon.
Police are continuing to investigate the collision.
The original version of this story has been updated with additional information released by the Peterborough County OPP.
The Climenhage Project celebrates 20 years of Peterborough artist John Climenhage painting Peterborough's urban and rural landscapes. The retrospective exhibition opens to the public at the newly renovated Sadleir House in downtown Peterborough on November 26, 2021. (Photos: The Climenhage Project and Sadleir House)
A new retrospective exhibition celebrating the work of renowned Peterborough artist John Climenhage will be unveiled to the public at Sadleir House in downtown Peterborough this Friday (November 26).
The Climenhage Project showcases multiple periods in the career of the 52-year-old artist, who has been painting Peterborough’s urban and rural landscapes for 20 years.
Born in Brockville in 1968, Climenhage has been painting since 1989. His work has been exhibited widely at public and private galleries across Ontario and is held in public and private collections around the world in countries including Australia, Cuba, El Salvador, England, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Scotland, Spain, and the United States. Climenhage has taught art at Loyalist College, Prince of Wales Public School, and the Art Gallery of Peterborough.
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Selections from Climenhage’s work have been installed throughout the newly renovated Sadleir House, located at 751 George Street North.
The November 26th launch event at Sadleir House runs from 7 to 10 p.m., with capacity limited to 60 attendees. Guests must register in advance by purchasing tickets at eventbrite.ca/e/204524246527. The admission cost of $10 will be donated to One Roof Community Centre.
To enter Sadleir House, proof of full vaccination is required and face masks must be worn during the event. A cash bar will be available in the dining hall.
Climenhage himself will be attending virtually, livestreaming a painting session from his studio in downtown Peterborough.
In addition to Climenhage’s paintings, the launch event will feature work created by four Peterborough poets and artists recognizing Climenhage’s artistic contributions.
At 8 p.m., spoken word artist Justin Million will be reading excerpts from the suite of poetry he has written in response to The Pandemic Series, Climenhage’s latest body of work. Poet Bruce Whiteman will also perform a reading, with copies of his limited edition essay John Climenhage: Painter Among Poets available for sale.
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Over the course of several months, Climenhage, Million, and Whiteman, along with visual artist and writer Ann Jaeger and designer and videographer Laura Thompson, met regularly to discuss art, poetry, philosophy, and digital media.
Thompson has created video collages containing excerpts of those conversations, which will be projected throughout Sadleir House during the November 26th event.
Jaeger has created a Google Maps walking tour for The Climenhage Project that features more than 50 locations Climenhage has painted in downtown Peterborough and East City between 2001 and 2021.
Accompanying each location on the map (which can also be viewed below) is one or more photos of a corresponding painting and link to a web page that may contain a poem by Justin Million, historic information, and more.
Environment Canada has issued a snow squall warning for Monday afternoon (November 22) for the northern Kawarthas Lakes, including Fenelon Falls, and a snow squall watch for the southern Kawartha Lakes including Lindsay.
A winter weather travel advisory for Haliburton County also remains in place Monday morning.
Snow squalls from Georgian Bay are forecast to move into the region late on Monday afternoon. These squalls will bring rapidly accumulating snowfall and reduced visibility at times due to blowing snow, with strong northwesterly winds gusting up to 70 km/h.
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For the northern Kawartha Lakes, local snowfall accumulations of 15 to 25 cm are expected by Tuesday morning, with amounts up to 30 cm possible in areas that experience persistent snow squalls. Snow squalls will dissipate Tuesday morning.
For the southern Kawartha Lakes, snowfall accumulations of 5 to 10 cm are expected, with snow squalls expected to dissipate Monday night.
In both areas, travel will be impacted including the evening commute. Motorists are advised to exercise caution.
In Haliburton County, a winter weather travel advisory remains in place, with snow squalls persisting throughout Monday morning. Snowfall accumulations of 5 to 10 cm are expected with locally up to 15 cm possible in areas experiencing the most intense squalls. The snow squalls are forecast to move out of the area this afternoon.
This story updates a previous snow squall warning and winter travel advisory issued on Sunday.
The Garnet, located at 231 Hunter Street West in downtown Peterborough, is one of the last remaining small music venues in downtown Peterborough, featuring local and touring artists. (Photo: The Garnet / Facebook)
The Garnet, located at 231 Hunter Street West in downtown Peterborough, has been sold.
Current owner Chad Emby announced the sale to Kim Cameron and John Clarke on The Garnet’s social media accounts on Friday (November 19).
“We want to thank the community for supporting us over the last seven years, and we wish the new owners Kim and John much success in the future,” Emby writes.
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Emby purchased the business, when it was called The Red Garnet, from the former owner in 2014. It is one of the last remaining small music venues in downtown Peterborough, featuring local and touring artists.
The new owners plan to open a new British-style pub called Crook & Coffer in the location in 2022. The new venue will continue to offer live music.
Emby writes The Garnet will still be available for private parties during the month of December, and all previously booked live music dates will be honoured.
Kim Cameron and John Clarke plan to open Crook & Coffer, a British-style pub, at at 231 Hunter Street West in downtown Peterborough in 2022. (Graphic courtesy of Kim Cameron)
One person is dead and another seriously injured following a two-vehicle collision on Friday night (November 19) on Highway 35 around 22 kilometres south of Lindsay.
Kawrtha Lakes OPP and emergency crews responded to the collision near Highway 7A East at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
Police report an SUV was travelling southbound on Highway 35 when, for unknown reasons, it crossed into the northbound lane and struck a pick-up truck.
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The driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the pick-up truck was transported to a Toronto-area hospital with serious injuries.
Police have not yet released the identity of driver of the SUV who died.
Highway 35 was closed between Highway 7A East and Lifford Road overnight while police documented the scene.
The historic Capitol Theatre in Port Hope has announced its 2022 season, the first under the leadership of the non-profit organization's new artistic producer Rob Kempson. (Photo: Capitol Theatre)
The Capitol Theatre in Port Hope has announced its 2022 season, the first under the leadership of the non-profit organization’s new artistic producer Rob Kempson.
Kempson, who was appointed to the position in August, may be considered a newcomer to the area, but he is not new to the world of theatre — in fact, it’s his area of expertise.
“I have never felt more connected to and supported by a community,” Kempson said during a meet-and-greet session following the season announcement on Tuesday (November 16). “The community spirit here is so clear. The investment and reciprocal relationship between the community and this organization is also clear.”
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“This building is incredible, the volunteer team is incredible, the staff is small but mighty and incredible, and we have a lot of potential,” Kempson added. “It’s exciting to be joining an organization where there is potential to grow and change and move things forward, and there is the appetite for that at all levels.”
To celebrate its 25th anniversary of the Festival of Lights and Trees this year, theatre staff have put a lot of work into creating a pandemic-safe environment for audiences. Managing director Erin Peirce and her team have taken every precaution to protect theatregoers, staff, and visitors.
But Kempson said the effort to welcome back audiences goes far beyond plexiglass barriers and wearing masks.
Rob Kempson was appointed artistic producer of Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre in August 2021. A director, writer, and educator, he has 15 years’ experience in the non-profit professional arts sector and has served in various artistic leadership positions. (Photo: April Potter / kawarthaNOW)
“I have programmed with artistic excellence in mind, because ultimately — if you’re going to drive somewhere, park your car, pay for parking, and spend two hours sitting in a theatre wearing a mask — we need to hold up our end,” he explained. “We need to give our audiences quality entertainment.”
“That doesn’t mean that the work on stage is going to be to everyone’s tastes, but it will be of an undeniably high quality. Our community is changing constantly, and I want our stage to reflect that too.”
According to Kempson, his approach to programming reflects community, diversity, and inclusion, and he has a few core principles in mind, including achieving balance and consulting with the community.
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Balance means holding onto the theatre’s legacy, heritage, and history while moving forward to create a season with a little something for everyone. He said he wants the work on the Capitol stage to celebrate Northumberland County and the Port Hope community.
“This place should be a hub for the community,” he said. “Everyone should feel welcome here at the Capitol, especially those who have traditionally felt marginalized. It is my job to make sure our community feels welcome here, and it starts with the programming. When there’s something for everyone, it means that there’s diversity in the programming, ensuring that everyone has access and is interested in what’s going on.”
Since he has been working at the theatre, Kempson said he has already spoken with many community members including the local arts organization, Critical Mass, the Northumberland Orchestra, and Alderville First Nation. He said he’s committed to engaging with community organizations to find opportunities for partnerships.
“I think that there’s a lot of opportunity for inclusion and access — making sure that traditionally marginalized groups feel increasingly welcome here by programming work that reflects the needs of those communities. We’re engaging with amazing arts and cultural organizations and individuals.”
VIDEO: “Welcome Back” to the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope by Rob Kempson
Rob Kempson, artistic producer of the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope, performs “Welcome Back” during the announcement of the theatre’s 2022 season on November 16, 2021, with Jeffrey Newberry on piano and Kyler Tapscott on guitar. Original video by Erin Peirce.
The 2022 season will begin in March with the “mind-blowing multimedia masterpiece” Boom, written, directed, and performed by Rick Miller. The production was originally scheduled during the 2020 season and was postponed because of the pandemic (ticket holders are scheduled to be contacted).
The summer season will kick off in June with A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, Dean Reagan’s tribute to the iconic country legend. In July, Mark Crawford’s “high-flying farce” Stag & Doe will take the stage. in August and early September, the Capitol will present 9 to 5 The Musical, based on the 1980 hit film with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick.
An experienced director, Kempson will be directing this production himself. He sees his directorial debut at the Capitol as the perfect opportunity to show the community who he is as an artist and as a person.
“I love Dolly Parton,” Kempson said. “She has a miraculous ability to reach across barriers, across political divides, and generational divides. The thing that I like most about theatre is that it brings people who are different into the same room together.”
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Ideally, moving forward, Kempson said he won’t be directing very much. He is looking forward to many future collaborative productions with artists from across the country.
In addition to its main theatrical shows, the Capital has created four entertainment categories for additional programs within the 2022 season.
Capitol Kitchen Party will feature live bluegrass, country, Celtic and roots music in the Sculthorpe Theatre, while Capitol Concerts will be held in the Festival Theatre downstairs. Capitol Cabaret will feature intimate musical performances from “stages across the country”. Capitol On Screen will include TIFF films throughout the year, as well as on-screen performances of the MetOpera Live. The Capitol also hopes to bring back broadcasts of National Theatre Live.
Capitol Theatre’s 2022 season includes five main shows, as well as four entertainment categories for additional programs to be announced during the 2022 season: Capitol Kitchen Party, Capitol Concerts, Capitol Cabaret, and Capitol On Screen. (Graphic: Capitol Theatre)
To give back to loyal patrons of the Capitol, the theatre has launched subscriptions for its 2022 summer season. Patrons can purchase tickets to all three summer shows and receive the perks of advance seating selection and special discounts for other Capitol events. Subscriptions are now on sale, with single tickets for the 2022 summer season available in January.
The Capitol’s 2022 season will conclude with the holiday panto Sleeping Beauty: A Panto Awakening, written by husband-and-wife team (and Second City alumni) Paloma Nuñez and Kevin Whalen. Kempson said that, while the show will poke fun at cancel culture, performative politics, and our divisive society, it will not include any jokes that would jeopardize a safe and inclusive space for marginalized groups.
“I’m not going to put anything on the stage that’s homophobic, racist, or sexist,” he affirmed. “It’s just not going to happen.”
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With Kempson’s background as a theatre artist and educator, youth access to theatre is something that is important to him. He said he’s optimistic that school audiences will be able to return the Capitol in time for 2022 panto.
“I’ve spent a lot of my life teaching,” he said. “I’ve developed college and high school programs. I’ve worked for Young People’s Theatre as a resident artist and educator. It’s a big part of who I am.”
For this holiday season, the Capitol is changing things with an improv show instead of a panto. Miracle on Queen Street, running from November 30 to December 23, will showcase the improv chops of six talented Canadian performers.
The Capitol Theatre’s managing director Erin Pierce said the show will deliver “the same energy, laughs, and holiday cheer” as a traditional panto and, like a panto, will include both family-oriented and “naughty” performances.
“This show offers the chance for audiences to come back again and again,” she said. “They’ll never see the same thing twice.”
The Capitol Theatre’s annual Festival of Lights & Trees, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is on now and runs until December 16. (Photo: April Potter / kawarthaNOW)
Kempson added it’s a “pandemic silver lining” the theatre can bring together six of Canada’s best improvisers for the show.
“I cannot believe that these people are available to deliver amazing comedy for our audiences every night,” he said. “It’s musical, it’s hilarious, and it has the same kind of great panto energy of a larger production — and it’s something we can safely produce during the middle of a pandemic.”
The Capitol Theatre is also hosting its annual Festival of Lights & Trees, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The annual fundraiser for the theatre, which is on now and runs until December 16 (with the raffle draw on December 17), features a COVID-safe one-way tour experience to allow for physically distanced viewing of the trees in the theatre, as well as a virtual slideshow for those who prefer to stay home.
The holiday window display at Wild Rock Outfitters at 169 Charlotte Street in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) holiday window contest is back for another year, with small businesses in downtown Peterborough competing for votes for the best-decorated festive window.
The business that gets the most votes for their holiday window will win a $1,000 cash prize, with the second and third place businesses winning $500 and $200.
The theme for this year’s contest is “Holiday Cheer”.
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“I love seeing our shop windows illuminated with lights and holiday decorations,” says DBIA executive director Terry Guiel in a media release. “Our merchants always create top-notch displays that bring a wonderful festive spirit into the downtown core.”
The Peterborough DBIA has also created a holiday window map showing the locations of the holiday windows, along with the best spots in the downtown where you can enjoy hot chocolate as you take the tour.
Environment Canada has issued a snow squall warning for Haliburton County and a winter weather travel advisory for northern Peterborough County and northern Kawartha Lakes.
Lake effect snow squalls are expected to affect the areas Thursday night (November 18) into early Friday morning.
In Haliburton County, local snowfall accumulation of up to 20 cm is expected, with higher amounts possible for areas under the heaviest snow squall bands. In addition to the snowfall, reduced visibility in local blowing snow is also possible.
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In northern Peterborough County and northern Kawartha Lakes, including Apsley and Fenelon Falls, local snowfall accumulation of 10 to 15 cm is possible by Friday morning.
The snow squalls will start to shift south overnight and are expected to move out of the area by early Friday morning.
Motorists should expect hazardous winter driving conditions and adjust travel plans accordingly. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow.
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