The Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm is a tiny parasite that lives in the intestines of canids like coyotes, foxes, wolves, and dogs. Three of the adult tapeworms are shown in this photograph that includes a paper clip for scale. (Photo: Brent Wagner / Jenkins Lab, University of Saskatchewan)
A parasitic tapeworm that can cause a potentially fatal disease in humans has been reported in a dog in Peterborough for the first time.
Sherbrooke Heights Animal Hospital confirmed a canine patient has tested positive for Echinococcus multilocularis (E. multilocularis), a tiny tapeworm carried in the small intestines of canids like coyotes, foxes, wolves, and dogs.
In both domestic dogs and humans, the parasite can cause a potentially fatal disease called alveolar echinococcosis.
“There’s a specialized fecal test specifically for echinococcosis because that’s something we regularly keep an ear out for,” says Dr. Kristen Harton, a veterinarian at Sherbrooke Heights Animal Hospital. “There are lots of people that do routine fecal screening through their vet, but this wouldn’t be picked up on those.”
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The lifecycle of E. multilocularis begins when the tapeworm’s microscopic eggs are excreted in an infected canid’s feces and dispersed into the environment, where they can live for up to a year.
When rodents (primarily voles and field mice) and rabbits ingest the eggs either through canid feces or from the environment, the eggs hatch into larvae that invade the animal’s liver and sometimes other organs, multiplying and causing severe cysts that grow like metastatic cancers.
When a wild canid or domestic dog then eats an infected animal, the larvae contained in the consumed animal’s cysts latch onto the canid’s intestines and grow into adult tapeworms that produce eggs, and the parasite’s lifecycle continues.
Alveolar echinococcosis is a potentially fatal disease in humans caused by ingesting the eggs of Echinococcus multilocularis, a parasitic tapeworm that is carried by canids like coyotes, foxes, wolves, and dogs. (Graphic: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
While the adult tapeworms aren’t typically problematic in wild canids, in domestic dogs the parasite can sometimes cause alveolar echinococcosis where, similar to what happens to rodents or rabbits, the tapeworm larvae invade the dog’s liver or other organs. Because domestic dogs are canids like their wild relatives, usually the adult tapeworms will live in their intestines without causing alveolar echinococcosis.
However, even if a dog doesn’t develop the disease, they will continue to excrete the parasite’s eggs in their feces — and those eggs can cause the potentially fatal disease in humans if they accidentally ingest the eggs.
“Dogs can act like the coyote or other infected canid, and then humans can act like the rodent if we ingest the (egg-infested) feces of dogs, coyotes, or foxes without meaning to,” says Dr. Harton.
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Since a dog infected with the tapeworm may appear healthy, owners will not know the dog is shedding the parasite’s microscopic eggs in their feces. In fact, the dog confirmed to have been infected in Peterborough was not displaying any symptoms of having the tapeworm — it was brought to Sherbrooke Heights Animal Hospital for something unrelated.
However, when the hospital learned more about the pet’s lifestyle and its tendency to ingest rodents, they administered a specialized fecal test for enchinococcosis.
“The tricky thing with this tapeworm is that they don’t always show clinical signs, so it really a matter of doing the due diligence during our history taking and for owners to really keep an eye on their (dog’s) behaviours,” says Dr. Harton. “The risk factors for dogs truly is in eating rodents, and especially in an area where there are a lot of coyotes or foxes.”
Echinococcus multilocularis isolated from a fox in Hungary. Scale bar is half a millimetre. (Photo: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
While the most common way for humans to get alveolar enchinococcosis is by eating wild foods like berries and herbs that have been contaminated with wild canid feces, they can also get the disease if their dog gets wild canid feces in its fur, or from an infected dog’s own feces.
“For people, as long as they’re practising good, thorough handwashing after handling dog feces, fox feces, or coyote feces, their risk is really well-managed,” Dr. Harton says. “It’s the best technique — as well as washing your fruits and vegetables before consumption, even if you grow it in your own backyard.”
E. multilocularis is only found in the northern hemisphere, in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. According to Public Health Ontario, E. multilocularis is now considered endemic in Ontario and was declared a disease of public health significance in 2018.
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Infectious diseases surveillance reports show there have been four confirmed human cases of alveolar echinococcosis in Ontario since 2017, with the latest in 2022. However, the actual number of human cases may be higher, since people infected with the parasite can remain asymptomatic for five to 15 years.
Eventually, those infected will show symptoms of abdominal pain, weakness, and weight loss, as the tapeworm causes damage to the liver and other organs. If left untreated, the disease is invariably fatal.
While E. multilocularis had never been found in wildlife or domestic animals in Ontario prior to 2012, a study conducted from 2015 to 2017 showed that 23 per cent of postmortem fecal samples collected from 460 wild canids in southern Ontario — 416 coyotes and 44 foxes — tested positive for E. multilocularis.
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Although none of the samples were collected from wild canids in the Peterborough area, Dr. Harton says there’s no reason to assume the situation is different in the region.
“We unfortunately just don’t even have information about the wild canids in Peterborough,” says Dr. Harton. “What we can do, though, is assume that our wild canids are just as infected as the other local areas around us where they did collect samples from, because wild canids don’t follow our public health (borders).”
Given that dogs infected with E. multilocularis often show no symptoms, Dr. Harton suggests the best action for dog owners to take is simply to be aware of the risk, maintain good hygiene for yourself and your pet, and know your dog’s behaviours and habits.
“I wish there was, but unfortunately there’s no quick and easy tell for this,” she says. “If your dog ingests rodents, then this should be a conversation to have with your veterinarian.”
Musician Ty Wilson hosting an open mic at Erben Eatery & Bar in downtown Peterborough. Owner Belinda Scollick has announced the restaurant and live music venue, which opened at 379 George Street North in downtown Peterborough in February 2023, will be closing at the end of December 2024. (Photo: Erben / Instagram)
The Erben Eatery & Bar in downtown Peterborough is closing at the end of the year.
Owner Belinda Scollick, who opened the restaurant and live music venue in February 2023, announced the closure in a post on Erben’s Facebook page on Monday (November 25).
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the closing of Erben at the end of December,” Scollick wrote. “This decision was not made lightly. This endeavor has taken a significant toll on my health and well-being, and I need to step back to focus on my mental health, my children, and my career. Running Erben has been an extraordinary journey, and I am excited to see what the next chapter holds.”
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Erben is located at 379 George Street North, which was the former location of The Splice, Cinema 379, and Titles bookstore. As well as being a restaurant, Erben regularly hosts live music as well as private events, with a back room featuring a large stage, sound system, and lighting.
In a post on her personal Facebook page, Scollick noted she feels “so much relief” after announcing the closure.
“It’s been taking a toll on me like nothing I’ve ever experienced,” she wrote. “I know it was the right decision at the right time. I need this more then most can even understand.”
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Scollick added that Erben will host its final scheduled show on New Year’s Eve, and that there are still a few openings available in December for events or parties.
On her post on Erben’s Facebook page, she thanked “our loyal patrons, talented entertainers, and incredible musicians who brought Erben to life. Your unwavering support, laughter, and love have made this dream possible. I could not have done any of this without you.”
“Let’s make this final month one to remember — share some laughs, enjoy great food, and join us for one last toast. Our final show on New Year’s Eve will be a celebration of everything we’ve built together. Let’s send Erben off with all the love and energy it deserves.”
Ed's House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre officially unveiled its new wind phone, an addition to the Hamilton Township hospice's therapy garden, on November 21, 2024. The original wind phone was created in Japan by Itaru Sasaki in 2010 while he was grieving his cousin who died of cancer. He purchased an old-fashioned phone booth and set it up in his garden with an obsolete rotary phone that was not connected to wires and called it "kaze no denwa" (Japanese for "phone of the wind"). (Photo: Ed's House / Facebook)
A unique tool for managing grief called a wind phone has travelled from its birthplace in Japan to Northumberland County to help people begin healing and find comfort following a loss.
Last Thursday (November 21), Ed’s House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre held a dedication ceremony for the wind phone in the Cobourg hospice’s therapy garden.
Consisting of a wooden gazebo with two disconnected rotary-dial phones, the wind phone aims to provide visitors with a space to reflect, remember, and connect with their loved ones who have passed away, Community Care Northumberland noted in a media release.
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Sherry Gibson, the director of hospice services at Ed’s House, told kawarthaNOW about the origin of the wind phone and explained why it’s an important component of the garden.
“The idea of a wind phone originated in Japan, to deal with grief following loss suffered in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami,” Gibson said.
“The phone has gained popularity and is a comforting outlet for those dealing with a loss, as a way to connect symbolically with loved ones. Ed’s House grief and bereavement program has embraced the concept and will ensure the wind phone is accessible to all who need comfort.”
Ed’s House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre in Cobourg officially unveiled its new wind phone on November 21, 2024. (Photo: Ed’s House / Facebook)
The wind phone is said to work by “connecting” people to those they can no longer see, offering solace during grief.
“It provides a space to express emotions, share cherished memories, and say goodbye,” according to Community Care Northumberland. “This profound concept allows our words to be carried on the wind, honouring the memories of those no longer with us and expressing our love for them.”
The project was made possible at the hospice as a result of RTOERO (formerly RTO – Retired Teachers of Ontario) District 30 Northumberland, which donated $4,000, enabling Ed’s House to bring the feature to its garden.
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“We are incredibly grateful to RTOERO District 30 Northumberland, local donors, and garden volunteers for their generosity and support in making the wind phone a reality,” said Community Care Northumberland CEO Trish Baird. “The wind phone is a powerful symbol of remembrance and healing, and we are so thankful for the community’s commitment to providing a space where individuals can process grief and feel a connection to their loved ones.”
Lori Groves, therapeutic garden coordinator at Ed’s House, took the lead in the vision and maintenance of the garden. Ed’s House also recognized volunteers who contributed their efforts and talents, along with the Northumberland Master Gardeners for offering its time and expertise.
The original wind phone was created in Japan by Itaru Sasaki in 2010 while he was grieving his cousin who died of cancer. He purchased an old-fashioned phone booth and set it up in his garden. He installed an obsolete rotary phone that was not connected to wires or any “earthly system” and called it kaze no denwa (Japanese for “phone of the wind”).
VIDEO: The phone booth that allows you to call lost relatives
After the Tohoku earthquake the following year caused a catastrophic tsunami that “obliterated the coast of Japan,” destroyed towns, and killed more than 15,500 people, Sasaki opened his wind phone to the public so visitors could speak with their loved ones who had died in the disaster.
Since then, more than 30,000 people have visited Sasaki’s wind phone. Other wind phones have been installed around the world, including in Europe, the U.S., and Canada. The wind phone has also inspired books and films.
As for Ed’s House, it strives to provide a comfortable setting to receive palliative support from early engagement through to bereavement support at no cost to hospice clients and their families.
An integral service of Community Care Northumberland, Ed’s House acts as a centralized hub for the interdisciplinary hospice services team by providing visiting hospice volunteers, health system navigation, supportive care, grief and bereavement counselling, and 24/7 end-of-life care in its residence.
Kingan Home Hardware, downtown Peterborough's only hardware store, is making it easy to get holiday ready by launching a clearance sale on all Christmas items. Beginning November 25, 2024, customers can get discounts on decorations, ornaments, holiday décor, gift wrap, and more. It's also a great destination for Christmas gift shopping. (Photo courtesy of Kingan Home Hardware)
If there’s one thing Peterborough excels at, it’s offering the charm of a small town with the services of a big city. That balance is exemplified at downtown’s Kingan Home Hardware, where you can find everything you need on sale this holiday season.
After more than 170 years, Kingan Home Hardware still offers the nostalgia of old-timey hardware stores, and long-time customers might still recall the squeaky wooden floors and former owners.
The Simcoe Street store dates back to 1850 when it was established as Kingan Hardware by Robert Kingan. After being passed down through the family, it was purchased by Kirk Merrett in 1974 and was eventually renamed to Kingan Home Hardware. Today, the store and its name continues to uphold the founder’s legacy, even as it becomes a new family affair with Kirk’s son Drew Merrett taking over ownership.
Downtown Peterborough’s only hardware store, Kingan Home Hardware is your one-stop shop for the holidays, with Christmas markdowns beginning on Monday (November 25). Why limit decking your halls to just boughs of holly, when the store offers discounts on ornaments, tree skirts, wreaths, lights, and all other holiday décor?
Deals on wrapping papers and gift bags will ensure each present invites a smile before it’s even unwrapped, while festive mugs, dishes, candles, and wine glasses will help you celebrate the holiday season with family and friends.
Kingan Home Hardware at 167 Simcoe Street in Peterborough in 1976, when it was still known as Kingan Hardware. The hardware store was originally founded in 1850 by Robert Kingan before being passed down in his family, and was purchased by Kirk Merrett in 1974. Today, shopping at Kingan Home Hardware in downtown Peterborough continues to offers the same charm and nostalgia of the original store, while services have grown to include paint matching, knife sharpening, laminating, and more. (Photo courtesy of Trent Valley Archives)
While you’re in store stocking up festive decor, you can find some affordable gifts for everyone on your shopping list. For the fixer-uppers, a variety of high-quality home tool kits are currently on sale, while comfort lovers will be excited by the store’s selection of heated blankets. These and other items that make for great gifts, including toys and games for the kids, can also be found in the Christmas clearance section.
While it’s certainly a great place do your shopping for Christmas decorations and gifts, Kingan Home Hardware is also the destination for treating yourself this holiday season. Looking a specific paint colour you found in a design book for your kitchen reno? Perhaps a festive holiday green? Bring it into the store, and Kingan Home Hardware will match it for you. Paint match is one of many services offered in store, along with key-cutting, knife and scissors sharpening, screen repair, and lamination.
Located at 167 Simcoe Street, Kingan Home Hardware is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays. Customers can avoid the holiday crowds by shopping online at homehardware.ca and selecting Kingan Home Hardware as your store.
Shop The Boro is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in downtown Peterborough, created in partnership with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).
With a Boro gift card, supporting locally owned businesses in downtown Peterborough has never been easier. Buy a Boro gift card for your family, friends, or co-workers and let them choose their own adventure. Whether it’s a delicious meal and a night out, a one-of-a-kind find, or a day of relaxation, it’s truly the gift of possibility. You choose the value, they choose the gift.
With a Boro gift card, you are giving more than just a gift — you’re also supporting the people and places that make Peterborough/Nogojiwanong a truly special place to work, live, and play. Shop, dine, and explore the core with Boro gift cards, available online at theboro.ca/product/the-boro-gift-cards/.
encoreNOW for November 25, 2024 features (from left to right, top and bottom) Peterborough Theatre Guild's "Dorothy in Wonderland - The Musical" from November 29 to December 8, Peterborough Singers' "Yuletide Cheer" on November 30, The Barra MacNeils East Coast Christmas in Lindsay on December 3, In From The Cold in Peterborough on December 6 and 7, Globus Theatre's "Aladdin" from December 6 to 15, and New Stages Theatre's "A Christmas Carol Comedy" from December 11 to 14. (kawarthaNOW collage)
encoreNOW is a bi-weekly column by Paul Rellinger where he features upcoming music, theatre, film, and performing arts events and news from across the Kawarthas.
This week, Paul highlights the Peterborough Theatre Guild staging of Dorothy in Wonderland – The Musical, “Yuletide Cheer” featuring the Peterborough Singers, The Barra MacNeil’s delivery of an East Coast Christmas gift to Lindsay, the 25th In From The Cold benefit concert for YES Shelter for Youth & Families, a new take on Aladdin from Bobcaygeon’s Globus Theatre, and New Stages Theatre’s A Christmas Carol Comedy that sees Peterborough’s Linda Kash get all Scrooge-like.
Peterborough Theatre Guild’s holiday family musical presents a mish-mash of two classic stories
VIDEO: Pete Dalliday speaks with director Sarah Rogers
The recent Taylor Swift mayhem in Toronto reminds us that you can go one of two routes when it comes to treating the kids: you can go big or you can stay home.
Home, specifically, is The Guild Hall on Rogers Street in East City where, for a fraction of what Swifties shelled out, a wholly entertaining experience suitable all ages awaits in the form of Dorothy in Wonderland – The Musical.
The Peterborough Theatre Guild is staging Brian Taylor’s bringing together of the worlds of Oz and Wonderland as its annual holiday season production and it really couldn’t have made a better choice. Ditto for the selection of Sarah Rogers as director, who also directed last year’s pre-Christmas staging of The Enchanted Bookshop. Having had a career in education, she loves working with children, and Dorothy in Wonderland – The Musical checks that box with some 30-plus kids in the mix.
Those who love The Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland, or both, will be delighted to again meet the beloved central characters of both stories — Dorothy, The Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Alice, The White Rabbit, The Mad Hatter and all the rest — as Dorothy and Alice team up to face a dangerous foe in the form of the Queen of Hearts, who stands in the way of their ever returning to their respective homes of Kansas and London.
This is a story that Taylor was born to write. Raised in rural Oklahoma, he spent his childhood running through fields and developing a healthy fear of cows. His active imagination saw him create and act out stories about the land and the animals. Years later, after less than a week of business classes at the University of Denver, he followed his heart and subsequently changed the course of his future by majoring in theatre. Taylor has since written 30-plus plays, many of them refreshing new takes on popular children’s stories.
Sponsored in part by kawarthaNOW, performance dates for Dorothy in Wonderland – The Musical are November 29 and December 3 to 6, 7:30 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees November 30 and December 1 and 8. Tickets cost $15 and can be ordered online at www.peterboroughtheatreguild.com or by calling 705-745-4211.
Yuletide Cheer as only the Peterborough Singers can deliver it
VIDEO: Peterborough Singers rehearse for “Yuletide Cheer”
Back in February of this year, I did something I should have done long ago: I finally attended a concert by the Peterborough Singers. Billed as “The Music of Elton John,” the sold-out show was spectacular, with the soaring presentation of Elton’s and lyricist Bernie Taupin’s classic songs nothing short of uplifting and a joy to experience.
Formed originally in 1990 as the Peterborough Symphony Singers, the choral ensemble — under the direction of Syd Birrell — became a stand-alone entity as the Peterborough Singers in 1993. With more than 100 members, it has presented a full fall-to-spring slate of concerts since then, its current home being stately Emmanuel United Church at George and McDonnel streets.
Under Birrell’s leadership, the Peterborough Singers have truly become a cultural staple in this city. Birrell brings decades of experience to the role, as an organist and choirmaster at several local churches. His unabashed passion for what he does has never waned; his awareness of choral music’s ability to move us at the heart of the Peterborough Singers’ success.
On Saturday, November 30th at Emmanuel United Church, a seasonal tradition will continue when the Peterborough Singers present “Yuletide Cheer.” The 7 p.m. concert will see Toronto brass ensemble quintet Venabrass in the mix as the special guest, with Birrell joining in on the church’s Casavant organ.
Tickets cost $40 ($10 for students) and are available online at www.peterboroughsingers.com or by phone at 705-745-1820. Tickets are also available in Peterborough at Pammett’s Flower Shop and Ashburnham Foot & Ankle and in Lakefield at Happenstance.
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The Barra MacNeils are bringing an East Coast Christmas to Lindsay
VIDEO: The Barra MacNeils Christmas Show (2019)
A good friend, whose judgment I trust completely, can’t say enough about The Barra MacNeils. Each time the five MacNeil siblings — Lucy, Boyd, Stewart, Kyle, and Sheumas — have come to these parts, she has lit up with anticipation and made sure, come hell or high water, she’s in the audience.
I imagine that will be the case once again on Tuesday, December 3rd when The Barra MacNeils present “An East Coast Christmas” at Lindsay’s Academy Theatre.
Hailing from Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, the MacNeil clan began performing in 1980 when teenagers and younger. The release of their third album Timeframe in 1990 brought a 1991 Juno Award for Album of the Year. Juno Award lightning struck again in 2001 in the form of Group of the Year honours. In total, The Barra MacNeils have released 15 albums, with 1993’s Closer to Paradise attaining gold record status.
For the Lindsay show, The Barra MacNeils will unleash their full arsenal of instruments, including accordion, guitar, piano, bodhran, mandolin, banjo, Celtic harp, tin whistles, bouzouki and flute, with bass accompaniment by Jamie Gatti. The result will be a potpourri of MacNeil family favourites “gleaned from Christmas ceilidhs, midnight masses, and the general festive frolic that accompanies each Christmas season.”
In the end, their audience will be no doubt be provided full evidence of why the Halifax Daily News praises The Barra MacNeils as “a treasure of the East Coast” — something my friend has been saying for years.
In From The Cold concert at Peterborough’s Market Hall has its audience saying “YES” for a 25th year
VIDEO: “In From the Cold” – A Film By Rodney Fuentes (2017)
The lead-up to Christmas brings us yet another beloved seasonal music tradition in the form of the 25th annual In From The Cold concert, with two performances on Friday, December 6th and Saturday, December 7th at Market Hall in downtown Peterborough.
A fundraiser for YES Shelter for Youth and Families since day one, with more than $200,000 has been raised since the inaugural concert in 2000, the big draw remains the performance of seasonal music rarely heard on radio or in the mall.
To that end, co-founder John Hoffman et al work year-round at finding relatively unknown music selections with origins beyond our borders to perform.
Featuring the talents of Hoffman and In From The Cold co-founders Susan Newman, Rob Fortin, and Curtis Driedger, the concert has also perennially featured guitarist Michael Ketemer, harpist Tanah Haney, and the Convivio Chorus under the direction of Newman.
As for the “feel” of the annual Christmas concert, Driedger recently told kawarthaNOW that In From The Cold harkens back “to the old days when you’d meet in a church or the community hall. You know everybody. It’s kind of a community thing.”
While the dollars raised have been huge for YES, the awareness raised around the plight of those who are homeless has proven equally vital in the collective empathy and movement to action of countless in the community.
With kawarthaNOW returning once again as a media sponsor of the concert, tickets for either 8 p.m. performance cost $29 ($34 for reserved cabaret seating) and are available at markethall.org.. If you can’t make it to the show during what is a busy time of year, Trent Radio will broadcast a recording of the concert throughout Christmas Day at 92.7 FM as well as online at trentradio.ca.
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Holiday panto fun abounds as Bobcaygeon’s Globus Theatre keeps the British tradition alive
Toronto-based actor Katherine Cappellacci as Snow White with Globus Theatre co-founder and artistic producer James Barrett as the Dame in Globus Theatre’s 2017 traditional British panto “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Barrett will take on the Dame role for the 17th time in Globus Theatre’s panto “Aladdin” from December 6 to 15, 2024 at the Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon. (Photo: Sarah Quick)
Originating in Britain, a panto (short for pantomime) is holiday theatrical entertainment for the entire family that involves music, topical jokes, and slapstick comedy and is based on a fairy tale, nursery story, or other well-known tale.
Unlike pantos in North America that include both a “nice” version of the show for children and a “naughty” one for adults, traditional British pantos instead cleverly incorporate adult-oriented humour in a way that goes over the head of the children in the audience. Children enjoy the action, songs, and audience participation, with adults loving the local references and innuendos. British pantos also feature the “Dame” — a traditional female role that is often portrayed by a male actor in drag.
It’s no surprise then that Globus Theatre’s artistic director Sarah Quick, who is originally from England, pens her annual pantos in traditional British fashion, and this year’s is no exception. Aladdin runs from December 6 to 15 at the Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon.
Aladdin is a comic take on the classic Middle-Eastern folk tale “Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp,” with the title character encountering many wonderful characters during his thrilling adventure. Besides Princess So Shi, the object of Aladdin’s affections, evil Abanazar, and clumsy Genie-of-the-Ring are also among the cast of adult actors that includes Kevin Sepaul, Rebecca Anne Bloom, Maya Doherty, and more than 40 local youths — with Globus Theatre artistic producer James Barrett once again taking on the Dame role as Aladdin’s mother, the Widow Twankey.
Quick assures her version of Aladdin is “funny, irreverent, topical, and so much fun.” With 17 pantos under her belt, I think we can believe her.
Performance dates are December 6, 7 p.m., and December 7, 13 and 14, 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinee stagings December 7 and 8 and 14 and 15. An optional Christmas dinner is available at 6 p.m. prior to the evening performances.
Tickets are $35 ($22.50 for children 12 and under) for the show only, or $85 ($42.50 for children 10 and under) for the show and dinner. For tickets, visit www.globustheatre.com or phone 705-738-2037.
Linda Kash is Scrooge reimagined in New Stages Theatre’s comedic take on another classic tale
After a successful holiday show last December, Peterborough’s New Stages Theatre is staging another twist on a favourite festive tale from December 11 to 15, 2024 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. Katie Leamen’s “A Christmas Carol Comedy” transforms the classic tale by Charles Dickens into a hilarious two-person production, with Linda Kash as the Christmas-hating Scrooge and Kerry Griffin as every other character. Directed by Mark Wallace, the actors are joined by local legend Beau Dixon as musical director, who will lead a holiday sing-along ahead of each performance and will also provide musical accompaniment for the play. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
Peterborough’s New Stages Theatre is bringing us yet another new take on a classic tale in the form of A Christmas Carol Comedy from December 11 to 14 at the Market Hall.
Written by Canadian playwright Katie Leaman and based on Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella A Christmas Carol, it will see one actor play Ebenezer Scrooge and another actor perform all the other roles. That require two performers with considerable acting chops, and director Mark Wallace (New Stages’ artistic director) is leaning heavily on the huge talents of Linda Kash as Scrooge and Canadian Comedy Award winner Kerry Griffin as everyone else.
Suitable for all ages, the play combines shades of Monty Python humour with Dickens’ Ghosts of Past, Present and Future — the result being lots of improv, laughter, and a stocking full of holiday spirit.
No Porpoise Productions debuted A Christmas Carol Comedy in 2014 in Waterford, Ontario, and it has since been restaged across Ontario and south of the border. As for Dickens’ classic story, there have been more than 100 stage and screen adaptations since the early 1900s.
A huge bonus is the involvement of local musician, playwright, director and actor Beau Dixon as the production’s musical director. Prior to each staging, he’ll lead a holiday music sing-along before providing musical accompaniment for the stage antics of the very talented Kash and Griffin.
Performances are at 7 p.m. from December 11 to 14, with 2 p.m. matinees December 14 and 15. Tickets cost $40 ($20 for children, arts workers, students and the under waged) and are available at tickets.markethall.org.
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Encore
The artwork featured in ReFrame’s 2025 posters, tickets, website, and merchandise was produced through a commissioned collaboration between artists Alice Olsen Williams, an Indigenous quilt maker, and Gillian Turnham, a practitioner of traditional Islamic geometric art, with the resulting artwork digitally rendered by Michael Morritt. (Graphic: ReFrame Film Festival)
A huge shout-out to longtime Peterborough music superfan Les Manley who put together the Musicians’ Appreciation Party held November 14 at The Social in downtown Peterborough. A packed club was wholly entertained by a number of area musicians, each of whom were treated like royalty as a nod to their years of entertaining. I was on hand for the first bit of the party and it was a great time, enhanced by sharing a table with Rick and Gailie Young and their bandmate Paul Clark. Manley said his motivation for putting on the event, which saw donated admissions pay for a gift for each musician, was seeing too many near-empty musician tip jars at shows he has been to. As such, he stepped up to say two very simple but all too often left unsaid words: thank you.
Looking beyond the Christmas hubbub are local film buffs, whose sights are set on the 21st edition of Peterborough’s ReFrame Film Festival. It was recently announced it will be held January 23 to 26 with screenings at Market Hall and Showplace, while the festival’s virtual on-demand program will be available across Canada from January 27 to February 2. In total, more than 50 acclaimed films focused on social and environmental issues will be screened. Watch for more details early in the new year at reframefilmfestival.ca.
Located near Crowley Line and Rosa Landing Road in Otonabee-South Monaghan Township and managed by Otonabee Conservation, the Mikinaak Conservation Area is a former gravel pit that has naturally regenerated since aggregate extraction stopped in the late 1990s, including functional wetlands that provide homes to a variety of flora and fauna, especially nesting turtles. Otonabee Conservation worked with Hiawatha First Nation to choose the name for the new conservation area, with "mikinaak" meaning turtle in the Mississauga Ojibwe language. The site will be open to the public for recreational uses in the future. (Photo: Otonabee Conservation)
A new conservation area in Otonabee-South Monaghan Township has been named the Mikinaak Conservation Area in recognition of the area’s Indigenous peoples, with plans to open the conservation area to the public for recreational use.
Located near Crowley Line and Rosa Landing Road, the Mikinaak Conservation Area was once a licensed gravel pit that Otonabee Conservation originally acquired in 1977, with the intent of conserving a section of wetland shoreline on the Otonabee River and developing a conservation area after the aggregate was depleted.
After aggregate extraction stopped in the late 1990s, the area naturally regenerated with many features including functional wetlands that provide homes to a variety of flora and fauna. In January 2023, the Ministry of Natural Resources surrendered the gravel pit license and Otonabee Conservation announced its plan to manage the property as a conservation area.
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“We look forward to protecting the natural habitats, diverse species, and surrounding sensitive ecological features of this property,” said Otonabee Conservation manager of conservation lands Jessie James at the time.
The Ministry of Natural Resources determined the property in its current state provides ecological value for the adjacent Otonabee Midriver Complex provincially significant wetland and as species at risk habitat — in particular for nesting turtles.
Through a collaborative effort between Otonabee Conservation and Hiawatha First Nation, the new conservation area has been named the Mikinaak Conservation Area, with “mikinaak” meaning turtle in the Mississauga Ojibwe language.
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“The renaming of this conservation area is a meaningful step in recognizing the deep historical connection that the Michi Saagiig Anishinaabe people have to this land,” said Otonabee Conservation board chair Michael Metcalf. “This partnership with Hiawatha First Nation is an example of our shared commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of the land we protect.”
Tom Cowie of Hiawatha First Nation’s core consultation and land resource development worked with Otonabee Conservation staff on the renaming process, noting that Indigenous place names are typically descriptive to reflect both the land’s features and what exists there.
“It has been a positive experience sharing Michi Saagiig knowledge with this project,” Cowie said. “Having it named in Michi Saagiig dialect acknowledges our historical footprint on these lands.”
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Because most of the area of the property that was previously used as a gravel pit has naturally regenerated over time, further rehabilitation work is not necessary on the property.
As well as managing the site for conservation purposes, Otonabee Conservation intends to open the property up for recreational pursuits such as hiking and birdwatching.
Otonabee Conservation says more information about plans to open the site to visitors will be available in the coming months.
While The Avant-Garden Shop in downtown Peterborough is known for its garden and birding supplies, owner Brenda Ibey also offers functional and decorative home décor. The shop is stocked with high-quality and eco-friendly products, including many Canadian-made products such as these beautiful mugs featuring hand-carved and painted birds from Peterborough-based potter Cathy Allen — the perfect gift for the bird-lovers in your life. (Photo courtesy of The Avant-Garden Shop)
Selling everything from hats and weeders to mailboxes, garden art, and fresh bird food, The Avant-Garden Shop has been serving Peterborough’s gardeners and backyard birders for more than 20 years.
Given the wide selection of quality-made treasures to be found in store and online, you might be surprised to know that many of the products are Canadian-made and support local small businesses.
The Avant-Garden Shop was co-founded by Brenda Ibey, a long-time gardener with an educational background in horticulture, in 2002. When the shop moved from its original location on George Street to its current home at 165 Sherbrooke Street, Ibey became the sole owner and expanded the products found in store.
Today, while customers can find a wide selection of functional and decorative outdoor pieces, The Avant-Garden Shop is also full of unique interior decor and home products, including tea towels and aprons, pottery sets, wall art, and tablecloths, as well as tote bags, socks, puzzles, and books.
Ibey is intentional about filling the store with only eco-friendly and built-to-last items, focusing on Canadian-made items as much as possible. A few of the product lines from outside of Canada are certified Fair Trade.
“It’s getting more and more difficult for small businesses to compete with big online stores, so we want to help make more of these businesses accessible,” Ibey says.
A long-time gardener, Brenda Ibey co-founded The Avant-Garden Shop on George Street in downtown Peterborough in 2002. She became the sole owner when the shop moved to its current location at 165 Sherbrooke Street a few years later, and has since expanded the business to offer backyard birding products as well as interior and exterior home décor. Ibey gives advice, shows off new products, and shares tips through her “Garden Gate” video series on The Avant-Garden Shop’s YouTube channel. (Photo courtesy of The Avant-Garden Shop)
While The Avant-Garden Shop also offers an online store with worldwide shipping, shopping in store is a special experience. In addition to being stocked with items that cannot be found elsewhere, the store gives shoppers the chance to chat with knowledgeable and friendly staff who have the answers to all your questions about the best food for birds, how to attract certain birds, and how to make your garden the envy of your neighbours.
Beginner birders can also get more expert insights by watching the Garden Gate videos on The Avant-Garden Shop’s YouTube channel. The educational series was launched 12 years ago and there are more than 300 episodes where Ibey spotlights new products and answers common questions.
For those looking for gifts for the garden lovers on their lists, there are all-new items in store that Ibey is confident will be flying off the shelves this holiday season. These include Ontario-made fused-glass ornaments that reasonably priced and, for a hyperlocal gift, new pottery from Peterborough artist Cathy Allen.
The Avant-Garden Shop is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and Saturdays from 9:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.avantgardenshop.com to shop online and follow The Avant-Garden Shop on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Shop The Boro is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in downtown Peterborough, created in partnership with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).
With a Boro gift card, supporting locally owned businesses in downtown Peterborough has never been easier. Buy a Boro gift card for your family, friends, or co-workers and let them choose their own adventure. Whether it’s a delicious meal and a night out, a one-of-a-kind find, or a day of relaxation, it’s truly the gift of possibility. You choose the value, they choose the gift.
With a Boro gift card, you are giving more than just a gift — you’re also supporting the people and places that make Peterborough/Nogojiwanong a truly special place to work, live, and play. Shop, dine, and explore the core with Boro gift cards, available online at theboro.ca/product/the-boro-gift-cards/.
Environment Canada has updated its special weather statement to a freezing rain warning for Monday night (November 25) into Tuesday morning for much of the northern Kawarthas region.
The freezing rain warning is in effect for northern Peterborough County, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.
Freezing rain is likely, beginning Monday night as a low pressure system approaches the lower Great Lakes. The freezing rain may be heavy at times over a few areas overnight, with a transition to rain Tuesday morning or late Tuesday morning.
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Some ice accretion is possible on surfaces, possibly 1 to 4 millimetres of ice accretion depending on the area.
A few areas east of Georgian Bay and across Algonquin may see about 5 centimetres of snow accumulation late overnight into Tuesday morning.
Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery. Take extra care when walking or driving in affected areas.
Environment Canada issues freezing rain warnings when rain falling in sub-zero temperatures creates ice build-up and icy surfaces.
The original version of this story has been updated with the latest forecast information from Environment Canada
It's pickleball for all at Five Counties Children's Centre, as Peterborough pro pickleball player, coach, and consultant Jennie Davis (front right) has been assisting Five Counties recreation therapy staff like Caitlin Ivany (rear left) give children of all abilities a chance to try out the sport. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children's Centre)
Don’t ever tell Jennie Davis that pickleball is only for seniors and the young at heart. The Peterborough pro pickleball player, coach, and consultant says young people are also getting into the swing of North America’s fastest-growing sport.
Every month, Five Counties Children’s Centre provides a story about the work of the charitable organization. This month’s story is by Caitlin Ivany, Recreation Therapist, Five Counties Children’s Centre.
“Pickleball has grown by over 200 per cent in the last three years, and the biggest growth in pickleball is actually in the under-24 age group,” says Jennie. “Pickleball is very accessible to kids and to seniors, and that’s of course why they play so much.”
Pickleball — or what Jennie terms “this silly-named sport” — is unique in that it combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong.
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The size of a pickleball court (approximately one third the size of a tennis court) and the nature of the game make it perfect for kids of all ages and abilities, including those at Five Counties Children’s Centre.
We’re extremely grateful to Jennie for partnering with us on our “Pickleball For All” program.
On multiple occasions since spring 2023, Jennie has assisted Five Counties staff in offering this program to our Therapeutic Recreation kids/clients who have exceptionalities and disabilities but love the opportunity to try out the sport.
Balls were swapped out with balloons during the Pickleball for All program at Five Counties Children’s Centre in November to give participants the chance to build confidence in using and hitting with a pickleball racquet. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children’s Centre)
“Pickleball is a very special sport in that it is accessible for kids of all ages and abilities, and so I just find it super meaningful to be here,” says Jennie, who first took up pickleball while attending Trent University in 2016.
Since then, she has excelled at the sport, competing (and winning) at professional pickleball competitions across North America, while travelling the continent as a top-flight pickleball coach and consultant.
At Five Counties, Jennie’s skill and passion for pickleball — and her patience with kids — were on full display during our most recent Pickleball for All program held in November.
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Jennie initially substituted balloons for balls to give participants a chance to build confidence in hitting with a racquet. Kids were also able to improve their accuracy tossing a ball at ‘Ernie’ or taking aim at a bulls-eye.
These types of fun and engaging skill development drills and games used by Jennie were inclusive, accessible, and geared to each child’s ability and skill level.
That meant participants had a meaningful experience to try, learn, and enjoy the excitement of this growing sport.
Pro pickleball player Jennie Davis gets assistance from her homemade friend Ernie to help participants in the Pickleball for All program at Five Counties Children’s Centre in November improve their accuracy with the ball. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children’s Centre)
“It’s always amazing to see young people out, off their devices, and gaining confidence, playing a sport that’s easy for everyone to play,” notes Jennie.
She is equally excited that para-pickleball is also growing in popularity as an inclusive adaption of the sport that makes it easier for players in wheelchairs or with other disabilities to play.
Five Counties is fortunate to work with many different community partners like Jennie who see the value in breaking down barriers to sports and recreation activities. And with pickleball, it’s perfectly served — not just with the ball, but on the smiles of kids all ages and abilities who can at last get in the game.
The teams of Rebound Child and Youth Services and Cobourg Home Depot kicking off the Holiday 2024 Orange Door Project campaign, an initiative of the Home Depot Canada Foundation to help prevent youth homelessness across the country. Until December 22, 2024, Northumberland County residents donate to the campaign during checkout at the Cobourg Home Depot or online. According to Rebound, more and more youth in the community are experiencing unstable housing. (Photo: Rebound Child and Youth Services)
From being unsafe in the family home to having parents or caregivers who’ve forbidden their return, youth are not immune to becoming part of the country’s growing population of people without housing.
That’s why Cobourg’s Rebound Child and Youth Services (Rebound) offers programs and continues to develop new resources to prevent youth homelessness in Northumberland.
The not-for-profit agency that supports children, youth, and families has announced it’s a local beneficiary of the Home Depot Canada Foundation’s “Holiday Orange Door Project Campaign” combatting homelessness, which runs until December 22 at the Cobourg Home Depot and online.
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“We know that youth experiencing unstable housing is growing in our community,” Rebound’s executive director Sam Rockbrune told kawarthaNOW.
“Funds raised through this campaign will help us provide supports, such as mental health services and our family wellness hub, to take preventative steps for youth homelessness. Rebound is already working on prevention for youth homelessness with our current programs and rolling out exciting new programs in the new year.”
Rebound services offer a private and confidential process that can assist children, youth, and their families with options and resources for programming. The organization believes that the most effective services are those that are provided in a responsive and respectful manner and in a partnership with families. The agency serves more than 1,800 young people each year.
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In 2018, Rebound partnered with Northumberland County Community & Social Services to deliver the trusteeship program for youth aged 16 to 17 receiving Ontario Works (OW).
“At the time, I was the trusteeship caseworker, and the case load was 13 individuals,” recalled Krystyne Gillespie, Rebound’s outreach and fund development manager, adding the case load has since quadrupled.
“We see approximately 50 to 60 individuals per year, with around 40 to 45 of those (youth) continuing to need support through the program,” she said. “The trusteeship is not just about receiving financial support through OW. Our goal is for the youth to stay in school, graduate and go on to post-secondary education or into the workforce.”
Rebound provides clients with emotional health supports, access to food and clothing items, and strives to serve as a bridge to other resources, as necessary.
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The agency saw, on average, two unsheltered youth per year in the first few years of the program.
“So far in 2024, we currently have seven youth who are experiencing homelessness,” Gillespie noted.
She said Rebound is aware of a large number of youths who are living with grandparents or other family members to provide space between them and their parents, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Youth homelessness is often unseen, as youth are resilient and will find places to stay or couch-surf,” she said. “I would encourage parents to ask questions if their child is having a friend sleep over more often or throughout the week.”
“Ultimately, Rebound hopes to prevent youth homelessness by helping families creating stronger bonds, building their skills around communication and conflict management, for example. Families that learn together, grow together, (and) hopefully stay together.”
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As for the Holiday Orange Door Project Campaign, customers can donate during checkout at the Cobourg Home Depot or by visiting orangedoorproject.ca and selecting Cobourg as the location for their donation.
All local donations will help Rebound provide counselling and therapy, youth justice diversion, youth homelessness prevention programs, along with family and parenting support services.
Since 2022, the Cobourg Home Depot has raised over $25,000 for Rebound through the Orange Door Project fundraising campaign, an initiative of the Home Depot Canada Foundation.
The foundation is a Canadian registered charity supporting 127 organizations across the country that are committed to preventing and ending youth homelessness. To create new paths for youth experiencing homelessness or at risk of doing so, the foundation will invest $125 million by 2030.
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