Over 12 months, the Innovation Cluster's "Women Breaking Barriers" program will help up to 20 female entrepreneurs fast track their companies in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and social innovation. The Innovation Cluster announced the 10 participants of the first six-month cohort of the program on September 9, 2020. (Photo courtesy of the Innovation Cluster)
On Wednesday (September 9), the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas announced the 10 participants in the first cohort of “Women Breaking Barriers” — a 12-month business accelerator program designed to help female entrepreneurs fast track their companies in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and social innovation.
The products and services of the 10 participants’ companies include mobile applications, safety technology, community development, new and innovative products, agriculture innovation, and more.
Roselea Terry, marketing manager and senior innovation specialist who is leading the program, says the Innovation Cluster was “blown away” by the interest in the program and the number of applications they received.
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“The 10 female-led startups are sure to break barriers and make a dent in the Canadian startup ecosystem with their innovative solutions,” Terry says.
The participants in the first six-month cohort of the program are:
Amy Arthur, founder of Claxon, a personal safety device that can be initiated without using your hands.
Andrea Buckley Gilders, founder of Community Equity Housing Partners, a collaboration opportunity to create affordable residential units for individuals and families.
Danielle Greene, co-founder of Canadian Custom Genetics, which assist agribusinesses in obtaining animal genetics for herd health, growth, and prosperity.
Ellen Edney, founder of Mariposa Woolen Mill, which creates sustainable wool food packaging.
Jennifer Andersen, founder of Coupon Addict Inc., a mobile app that streamlines grocery saving opportunities.
Jessica Dalliday, founder of Pilates On Demand, a membership website that offers live and on-demand exercise classes taught through video.
Dr. Margaret Kalmeta, founder of Rapid Nexus Inc., a platform with a rapid wound-healing and infection-control technology able to close open diabetic wounds.
Othalia Doe-Bruce, founder of InnovFin Consulting Inc., an online education platform teaching emerging technologies using emerging technologies such as blockchain.
Robin Linton and Katherine Porter, co-founders of Undu Wearables Ltd., a modern wearable solution that leverages the age-old use of heat to combat pain caused by menstrual cramps.
Stephanie Hendren, founder of Peterborough Microgreens, which harvests live organic microgreens year-round from sustainable urban farm.
Over the next six months, the Women Breaking Barriers program will help the 10 participants accelerate their companies, including through training sessions, weekly mentorship with advisors, peer-to-peer learning, and community networking.
The program will also reduce financial barriers for the female founders by providing them with an opportunity, at the end of the six months, to pitch to the Peterborough Region Angel Network, which currently comprises more than 30 angel investors who have invested over $6 million in companies to date.
Women Breaking Barriers is supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, which is providing $75,000 in seed funding.
The overall program will be 12 months long, consisting of two separate cohorts of up to 10 women that will last six months each. Applications for the second six-month cohort will be announced at a later date.
"The pandemic has put a halt to a number of scheduled productions. I now have time, as we come slowly out of this, to channel my work into a new direction. Keep moving!" - Brad Brackenridge, Performing Artist (Photo: Julie Gagne)
On August 31st, the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) in Peterborough launched “Essential”, a photography project that raises awareness of the precarious situation of local artists and arts organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Part of EC3’s Peterborough Arts Alive initiative, the Essential project is a series of 17 photos by local photographer Julie Gagne that depicts 20 local artists during the pandemic. Each of the photos feature an artist or artists in their home or workplace and is accompanied by an artist statement about their experience of the pandemic.
Twice each week until the end of October, kawarthaNOW is publishing photos from the series. Today, we feature performing artist Brad Brackenridge.
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Brad Brackenridge, Performing Artist
Brad Brackenridge – The Essential Project. (Photo by Julie Gagne, design by Rob Wilkes)
A message from EC3 about The Essential Project
The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on both individual artists and arts organizations in Peterborough. Performance venues and galleries have been closed, concerts cancelled, exhibitions postponed, entire seasons abandoned. Organizations and facilities are trying to grapple with the loss of revenue and an uncertain future. “Reopening” is not straightforward, to say the least.
Individual artists have lost their creative income and the opportunity to work together to create — something that is absolutely vital to them and to their audiences. Many have pivoted, and developed and presented some great virtual and digital projects. But nothing replaces live performance in front of a live audience and the catalytic energy that comes from being together to rehearse, discuss, and plan projects, to gather at an opening or artist talk.
Isolated at home, cut off from their communities and the lifeblood that is their artistic practice, local artists still found ways to keep our cultural life alive. Silenced and almost invisible, they kept working. But it hasn’t been easy.
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Local photographer Julie Gagne began photographing a number of Peterborough residents in their homes during the earlier stage of the pandemic and posted the photos on Facebook. The eloquent, haunting images of her “Within” portrait project included some artists, and those incredibly moving images caught the eye of EC3 executive director Su Ditta.
Julie’s photos made us think. We have all benefited from the work of artists during the pandemic: we’ve listened to music, read books, watched films, toured virtual exhibitions, tuned in to living room concerts. What has it been like for the artists? Will people remember how essential the arts were to getting through the pandemic when it comes to recovery funding and budget planning? Will arts organizations be supported in a robust recovery plan?
EC3 asked theatre artist Sarah McNeilly to curate and coordinate, and approached Julie Gagne to do a distinct series of photos that spoke to the experience of local artists and what art means to our lives, in good times and in bad. It’s essential.
This arts awareness project is both a witness to the struggles of, and a testament to the courage and contributions of this community during the COVID-19 lockdown. Our heartfelt thanks go out to Julie and everyone in the arts community who have kept us going.
Theresa Connell and Marlene Dawson of Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, two colleagues of late emergency department nurse Stacie Vokins, stand in the garden they dedicated to the memory of Vokins (shown in the picture frame), a 20-year employee of the hospital who passed away in November 2019. The garden, which includes heart sculptures by local artist Christina Handley, won the hospital's annual "Garden Cup". (Photo courtesy of Ross Memorial Hospital)
An award-winning garden at Ross Memorial Hospital has been dedicated to Stacie Vokins, a late emergency department nurse at the Lindsay hospital.
Each year, departments at the hospital adopt and beautify garden spaces around the property to compete for the annual “Garden Cup”.
This year, the emergency department chose to dedicate their garden space to Vokins, a registered practical nurse who mainly worked in the emergency department for more than 20 years. She passed away at Ross Memorial Hospital last November at the age of 42, after being diagnosed with cancer in January 2019, leaving behind her husband and two sons.
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Theresa Connell and Marlene Dawson, two of Vokins’ colleagues in the emergency department, coordinated with staff, physicians, community partners and Votkins’ family to create the memorial garden, which includes hostas and other flowers from Vokins’ own garden. The garden won this year’s Garden Cup.
“We incorporated purple flowers, because that was Stacie’s favourite colour, and yellow flowers, for remembrance,” Connell says. “The flowers from Stacie’s garden line both sides of the pathway as you walk in, like a hug from Stacie.”
Dawson says Vokins was “very family oriented, loved sports and was very competitive, so she would have loved that we worked together with her family, and that we won the competition.”
The team plans to keep the garden beautiful for many years to come.
“This isn’t just where we work,” Connell says. “This is our family.”
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region as well as in Ontario.
Today, the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit reported the death of a Northumberland County resident related to COVID-19. The health unit states the individual passed away with COVID-19 listed as the cause of death.
“While we have not seen a high number of COVID-19 cases in Northumberland, this person’s unfortunate passing is a reminder that we cannot become complacent about this virus,” says medical officer of health Dr. Lynn Noseworthy. “It is still in our community and it poses a threat to all of us, especially our older and more vulnerable residents.”
This is first death in the greater Kawarthas region since May 7, when a death was reported by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
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Hastings Prince Edward Public Health has reported 4 new cases in Prince Edward and Hastings counties since the last report on September 4. Two of the new cases resulted from travel, 1 from close contact, and the cause of transmission of 1 case is pending. Two of the cases were confirmed on September 4, 1 on September 5, and 1 on September 8. There are now five active cases in Prince Edward and Hastings counties.
There are no new cases to report in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, or Haliburton. An additional case in Peterborough has been resolved, leaving 2 active cases. One case in each of Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland has been resolved, leaving 4 active cases, including 2 in Kawartha Lakes and 2 in Northumberland. The outbreak at Campbellford Memorial Multicare Lodge was declared over on September 8. This outbreak was declared on August 26 after one symptomatic resident tested positive for COVID-19 during enhanced surveillance testing.
In Ontario, 190 new cases were reported for September 6 and 185 new cases were reported for September 7, with cases continuing to climb in large urban centres. Today, the majority of the new cases are in Toronto (48), Peel (42), Ottawa (37), York (19), and Waterloo (6). The remaining 28 public health units are reporting five or fewer cases, with 18 of them reporting no new cases.
Over the past two days, almost two-thirds of the new cases have been people 39 years of age or younger, with 46% among people ages 20 to 39 and 16% among people under the age of 19. The percentage of cases that are resolved has dropped from a high of 90.8% in August to 90% today.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 106 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (102 resolved with 2 deaths), 179 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (158 resolved with 32 deaths), 35 in Northumberland County (32 resolved with 1 death), 15 in Haliburton County (15 resolved with no deaths), and 53 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County (43 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported on September 8 by the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit.
Province-wide, there have been 43,536 confirmed cases, an increase of 185 from yesterday, with 38,958 (90% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 119. There have been 2,813 deaths (no change from yesterday) with 1,817 deaths reported in long-term care homes (no change from yesterday). A total of 3,171,062 tests have been completed, an increase of 20,929 from yesterday, with 8,357 tests under investigation, a decrease of 2,183.
This report is based on data supplied by the province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), as well as any additional information supplied by health units. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
Confirmed positive: 106 (no change) Active cases: 2 (increase of 1) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 102 (increase of 1) Total tests completed: Over 25,750 (increase of 100) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit provides reports on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays. However, the health unit has provided a report for Tuesday, September 8.
Confirmed positive: 229, including 179 in Kawartha Lakes, 35 in Northumberland, 15 in Haliburton (increase of 1, in Northumberland)* Probable cases: 0 (no change) Hospitalizations (total to date): 15 (no change) Deaths: 33 (increase of 1) Resolved: 205, including 158 in Kawartha Lakes, 32 in Northumberland, 15 in Haliburton (increase of 1, in Northumberland) Active cases: 4, including 2 in Kawartha Lakes and 2 in Northumberland (decrease of 2, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Northumberland) Institutional outbreaks: None (decrease of 1)**
*One case has been removed from Kawartha Lakes, as it was transferred to another health unit.
**The outbreak at Campbellford Memorial Multicare Lodge was declared over on September 8. This outbreak was declared on August 26 after one symptomatic resident tested positive for COVID-19 during enhanced surveillance testing.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides reports on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays. However, the health unit has provided a report for Tuesday, September 8.
Confirmed positive: 53 (increase of 4) Active cases: 5 (increase of 1) Deaths: 5 (no change) Hospitalized: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change) Recovered: 43 (increase of 3) Total tests completed: 24,827 (increase of 1,416) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
September 6 (reported September 8)
Confirmed positive: 43,351 (increase of 190) Resolved: 39,077 (increase of 119, 90.1% of all cases) Hospitalized: 55 (increase of 3) Hospitalized and in ICU: 18 (increase of 3) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 8 (decrease of 1) Deaths: 2,813 (no change) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,817 (no change) Total tests completed: 3,150,133 (increase of 23,725) Tests under investigation: 10,540 (decrease of 7,158)
September 7 (reported September 8)
Confirmed positive: 43,536 (increase of 185) Resolved: 39,196 (increase of 119, 90% of all cases) Hospitalized: 55 (increase of 3) Hospitalized and in ICU: 18 (increase of 3) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 8 (decrease of 1) Deaths: 2,813 (no change) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,817 (no change) Total tests completed: 3,171,062 (increase of 20,929) Tests under investigation: 8,357 (decrease of 2,183)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from August 8 – September 7, 2020. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from August 8 – September 7, 2020. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Organized by Christina Adams in association with 4th Line Theatre of Millbrook, the Open Spaces Theatre Festival features five productions running from September 24 to 27, 2020 in outdoor spaces in downtown Peterborough.
The long awaited return of live theatre has finally come to Peterborough with the Open Spaces Theatre Festival, running at outdoor venues in downtown Peterborough from Thursday, September 24th to Sunday, September 27th.
Open Spaces, in association with 4th Line Theatre, will bring four (plus one!) original productions to safely distanced audiences. Tickets are now on sale via 4th Line Theatre.
Christina Adams, the founder of the festival, was travelling in Australia when the pandemic hit. Like thousands of Canadian nationals across the globe, Adams was forced to cut her travels short and return home this spring.
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Witnessing the utter havoc the pandemic has wrecked upon the arts and culture sector in Peterborough and the world over, Adams was inspired to do what she could to help.
“I was in theatre since I was about seven … It was a huge part of my life and I was watching the theatre suffer, like many industries, due to the pandemic,” recalls Adams.
“I just wanted to do something and give back a little bit to something that was so important in my life, especially if it means the local theatre community might be able to come out on the other side of this and continue to give to kids what it gave to me when I was younger.”
Adams brought her idea for a safe outdoor theatre festival to 4th Line Theatre’s managing artistic director, Kim Blackwell, who had the ability to help turn Adams’ dream into a reality.
“When Christina Adams reached out to me with the idea of doing something for artists and to bring theatre back to Peterborough, I thought it was a great idea,” says Blackwell. “4th Line Theatre is committed to supporting artists always and especially in this unpredictable time.”
“Daughter”, written by Kim Blackwell and directed by Lindy Finlan and featuring Dani Breau and Peyton Le Barr, is one of five live performances that will be staged during the Open Spaces Theatre Festival from September 24 to 27, 2020 in outdoor spaces in downtown Peterborough. (Graphic courtesy of Open Stages Theatre Festival)
The festival, which will feature four original performances on rotation throughout the weekend, with an extra performance featuring Linda Kash and her improv students on Thursday night only, will give all ticket proceeds (after taxes) directly to the participating artists. In addition to artists’ fees, a $2 donation from each ticket will be given to support the participating companies: The Theatre on King (TTOK), 4th Line Theatre, and Kash’s Peterborough Academy of Performing Arts (PAPA).
In addition to supporting individual artists and local theatre companies, the Open Spaces Theatre Festival prioritizes the safety of patrons and festival personnel alike. Perhaps more than most, Adams understands that safety is paramount.
“It’s a huge thing for me, living with a high-risk individual,” she explains. “That’s why we’ve thought of everything you can think of.”
Since March, Blackwell and the team at 4th Line Theatre — industry leaders when it comes to health and safety — have been working closely with provincial and national agencies as well as Peterborough Public Health to develop safety protocols, which have been extended to the Open Spaces Festival.
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As a result, audiences can expect some extra precautions while attending the festival. Upon arrival, patrons will be screened via questionnaire, as is standard practice for entry into many public spaces these days. The outdoor festival also asks audience members to bring their own chairs and masks, which they will be required to wear only until they safely reach their distanced seating. Each venue will be equipped with sanitization stations.
Furthermore, all staff, volunteers, and off-stage artists will be donning PPE. Cast sizes have been kept small, and singing will be performed behind barriers. Also, tickets have been made refundable to encourage audience members with even the slightest hint of a symptom to do the right thing by staying home.
“Because this is an introduction back to live performances, we’re really emphasizing practising safety,” Adams says. “We want to make sure that everyone involved — patrons and personnel — knows that their health and safety is being looked after.”
“Surviving Canada”, an interactive comedy show by Stephan Dyer and Juan Cajiao, is one of five live performances that will be staged during the Open Spaces Theatre Festival from September 24 to 27, 2020 in outdoor spaces in downtown Peterborough. (Graphic courtesy of Open Stages Theatre Festival)
With the Open Spaces Theatre Festival, theatre is coming back to Peterborough and it is coming back in full force. Programming for the festival consists of four original works, each performed on multiple dates, plus an additional PAPA performance on Thursday night only:
Surviving Canada is an interactive comedy show about the hardships and culture shock of moving to Canada. International award-winning comedians Stephan Dyer and Juan Cajiao share their immigrant experience in a show that combines improv, stand-up, storytelling, and audience interaction. The play will be staged in the parking lot of Ashburnham Realty, at the corner of Hunter Street West and Water Streets in downtown Peterborough, with performances at 7:30 p.m. on September 24th and 25th, at 1:30 and 3 p.m. on September 26th, and at 12 and 4:30 p.m. on September 27th.
The 13th Sign Walks Into a Bar, a mini musical rom-com with an astrological twist written and directed by Alessandra Ferreri and produced by Cordwainer Productions, is about an aspiring star who enters a bar hoping to secure a spot for himself on their reputable open mic night — despite the fact that the barista insists there is no space for him on their long-standing roster. The play will be staged in the parking lot of The Theatre on King, at 171 King Street in downtown Peterborough, with performances at 6 p.m. on September 24th and 25th, at 12 and 4:30 p.m. on September 26th, and at 1:30 and 3 p.m. on September 27th.
Daughter, Kim Blackwell’s debut work as a playwright starring Dani Breau and Peyton Le Barr with direction by Lindy Finlan, is an examination of family estrangement, the emotional cost of divorce, and the beauty of bread-making. The play explores love, loss, and the ultimate betrayal. The play will be staged in the parking lot of The Theatre on King, at 171 King Street in downtown Peterborough with performances at 7:30 p.m. on September 24th and 25th, at 1:30 and 3 p.m. on September 26th, and at 12 and 4:30 p.m. on September 27th.
Vision at Patmos is a one-man play in which the aged apostle John tells the story of his exile by the Romans on the small Greek island of Patmos, and gives a condensed account of the dramatic vision he experienced there. Written following actor and playwright Mark Finnan’s visit to Patmos, the play offers some enlightening new insights into what is the most mysterious and misunderstood book in the bible. The play will be staged in the parking lot of Ashburnham Realty, at the corner of Hunter Street West and Water Streets in downtown Peterborough, with performances at 6 p.m. on September 24th and 25th, at 12 and 4:30 p.m. on September 26th, and at 1:30 and 3 p.m. on September 27th.
PLAY ANYWAY, which will only be performed Thursday night, brings a presentation of improv by kids and teen students of PAPA, and is hosted by Linda Kash. Performances takes place at 6 and 7:30 p.m. on September 24th in Millennium Park in downtown Peterborough.
Pandemic notwithstanding, organizing a festival of this proportion is an ambitious task.
“I’ve never done anything like this before,” says Adams, a first-time festival organizer. “I’ve always been on the acting side of the theatre; this is quite a different viewpoint. It’s been great to have 4th Line theatre’s support — I definitely could not have done it without them helping me and guiding me through it all.”
“Ryan Kerr and Kate Story at The Theatre on King, one of the venues, have been amazing,” she adds. “They were so good at reaching out and helping me, no matter what I ran into.”
Support for this festival has come from the entire local theatre community, not just the festival participants.
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“In the Peterborough arts community, everyone is connected in some way,” says Adams. “Everyone really encourages each other. There’s always support, even from the theatre companies that weren’t able to participate. In one way or another, they’ve all helped out in their own ways.”
Indeed, there is an element of poetic justice in the Open Spaces Theatre Festival.
“Christina started working at 4th Line when she was eight years old, acting in Ryan Kerr’s play Attrition,” explains Blackwell. “That play was the first world premiere I ever directed and the lead character’s name was Maude — I named my daughter after her.”
“So now, almost 20 years later, 4th Line Theatre, Ryan’s The Theatre on King, me and Christina are all collaborating to bring live performance back to downtown Peterborough. It feels like somehow the circle has closed with beautiful symmetry.”
Christina Adams began acting at 4th Line Theatre in Ryan Kerr’s 2003 play “Attrition” (middle row, right). Coming full circle, she enlisted the help of of 4th Line Theatre in organizing the COVID-safe Open Spaces Theatre Festival, running September 24-27, 2020 in downtown Peterborough. (Photo source: Kim Blackwell / Facebook)
The “beautiful symmetry” that is the Open Spaces Theatre Festival has brought the theatre community together in a massive collaborative effort to safely bring live performance back to Peterborough audiences.
Show your support for the artists and companies involved in the festival, which runs from Thursday, September 24th to Sunday, September 27th, by purchasing tickets and gift certificates by phone at 705-932-4445 (toll free at 1-800-814-0055), online at 4thlinetheatre.on.ca, or at 4th Line Theatre’s box office at 4 Tupper Street in Millbrook.
Tickets are $17 each per performance or $60 for a festival pack. Patrons are asked to bring their own chairs and to wear masks until safely seated. Lunch box items, in partnership with Black Honey, will be available for $13 for patrons to enjoy before, after, or during the performances.
For updates, visit the Open Spaces Theatre Festival page on Facebook.
Zingha owners Cheryl Edwards (left) and Charmaine Magumbe (right) with Jalen Brink at the launch of the Afrocentric social business at the Silver Bean Cafe in Peterborough on September 5, 2020. The business specializes in Afrocentric merchandise and is also a self-education resource for people who wish to increase inclusiveness as well as eliminate sexism and anti-black racism. (Photo: Branden McCrea)
In this week’s businessNOW™, our round-up of business and organizational news from Peterborough and across the greater Kawarthas region, we feature the launch of the unique Afrocentric social business Zingha in Peterborough, owned and operated by Peterborough residents Cheryl Edwards and Charmaine Magumbe.
In businessNOW, our managing editor collects news and events related to businesses and organizations from across the Kawarthas.
If you’d like us to promote your news or event in businessNOW, please email business@kawarthanow.com.
Also included this week is the United Way Peterborough and District’s announcement of a new board chair and the 2020 campaign chair, local illustrator Jason Wilkins’ design for PARN’s harm reduction outreach truck, Peterborough law firm Miskin Law raising the alarm about an imposter website and an inheritance scam, the opening of applications for the Lindsay and Bobcaygeon Legacy CHEST funds, COVID-19 energy cost credits that are available for small businesses and registered charities, and grants of up to $5,000 for COVID-19 expenses available from Canada United Small Business Relief Fund Program.
Now that September is upon us, business events (mainly virtual) are returning in force. New events coming next week include the Kawartha Lakes CFDC’s Regional Relief and Recovery Fund virtual information session on September 9th, the Kawartha Lakes Economic Recovery Task Force hosting working group meetings on September 14th, 16th, and 17th, the Peterborough Chamber’s virtual ChamberAM on September 15th, the Kawartha Lakes Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre’s small business webinar on September 15th, RTO8’s webinar on tourism in Kawarthas Northumberland on September 15th, the Innovation Cluster’s app-building webinar on September 15th, Northumberland CFDC and Venture13’s sales webinar on September 17th, and the Trent Hills Chamber’s members-only coffee chat with MPP David Piccini on September 18th.
Other upcoming events include the Port Hope Chamber’s September 24th webinar on preparing for the second wave of COVID-19, the Port Hope Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards in Cobourg on October 1st, and the first virtual Tri-Association Manufacturing Conference on October 22nd.
Unique Afrocentric social business Zingha launches in Peterborough
Peterborough musician, actor, and playwright Beau Dixon wearing a Zingha t-shirt, whose logo was designed by artist and former Peterborough resident Stu Adams. Dixon performed with Alana Bridgewater at the launch of the Afrocentric social business, owned and operated by Cheryl Edwards and Charmaine Magumbe, at the Silver Bean Cafe in Peterborough on September 5, 2020. (Photo: Branden McCrea)
Peterborough residents Cheryl Edwards and Charmaine Magumbe successfully launched their new business Zingha at an event held Saturday (September 5) at the Silver Bean Cafe in Millennium Park in downtown Peterborough. The launch event featured a musical performance by Alana Bridgewater and Beau Dixon.
Zingha is an Afrocentric social business that specializes in Afrocentric merchandise including t-shirts, mugs, masks, and tote bags printed in Peterborough. It’s also a self-education community resource for people who wish to increase inclusiveness as well as eliminate sexism and anti-black racism.
“We’re so grateful for the support the Peterborough community gave us,” Edwards and Magumbe write in an email. “We’re an Afrocentric business in a predominantly Caucasian town, so yesterday’s turn-out and purchase volume were definitely better than expected.”
Each Zingha product features a black-oriented design by Edwards as well as a West African symbol. The Zingha logo was designed by Canadian artist Stu Adams, a former Peterborough resident.
Shoppers browse some of Zingha’s Afrocentric merchandise, which includes t-shirts, mugs, masks, and tote bags, at the business launch at the Silver Bean Cafe in Peterborough on September 5, 2020. (Photo: Branden McCrea)
Born in Jamaica, Magumbe is a Zimbabwean-Canadian community activist, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Peterborough, past board member and staff at Jamaican Self-Help, present chairperson of Community Race Relations Committee of Peterborough (CRRC), fiddler with the English Country dance, and a model and actor with Strutt Central Models in Peterborough. She also was the 2017 YMCA Peace Medal recipient.
Born and raised in Canada by Jamaican parents, Edwards is a local artist who is actively involved in craft shows and has been running them for at least eight years.
Their business is named after Nzingha Mbande, the 17th-century queen of the Ambundu kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba (located in present-day northern Angola), who ruled during a period of rapid growth in the African slave trade and encroachment into southwest Africa by the Portuguese Empire, which was attempting to control the slave trade. Nzinga, who fought for the freedom and stature of her kingdoms against the Portuguese during her 37-year reign, is celebrated for her intelligence, political and diplomatic wisdom, and brilliant military tactics.
For more information about Zingha and to purchase products, visit www.zingha.ca. Zingha is currently running two Afrocentric contests for children and youth, whose winners will be announced during Black History Month in February 2021. More details are available on the website.
United Way Peterborough and District announces new board chair and 2020 campaign chair
Jim Hendry is the new chair of the board of United Way Peterborough and District and Marcus Harvey is the 2020 United Way campaign chair. (Supplied photos)
The United Way Peterborough and District recently announced the new chair of the board of directors and the 2020 campaign chair.
On August 24th at the organization’s annual general meeting, Jim Hendry was announced as the chair for the upcoming year. A former journalist and managing editor at the Peterborough Examiner, Hendry joined the United Way board in 2017 and has chaired the community impact committee for the past two years.
“During my three years on the board, United Way has taken a bigger role in shaping the social service delivery model in Peterborough, particularly in regard to homelessness, and I am really looking forward to continuing that work, ” Hendry said. “Fundraising on behalf of our partner agencies remains a big part of our work but this added focus is also vitally important.”
On August 27th, the United Way also announced that Marcus Harvey is the campaign chair for 2020. Harvey has served on the campaign cabinet since 2017 and joined the board in 2019. He has been very active in the local campaign at Trent University where he is employed as executive director of the Trent University Faculty Association.
“Most of us lack the understanding, skills, and patience to do the work performed every day by staff and volunteers in United Way partner agencies, ” Harvey said. “The rest of us, however, do have what it takes to be kind and generous. My role is simply to remind everyone of that fact.”
Harvey, who will be faced with the challenge of fundraising during the COVID-19 pandemic, says he is optimistic.
“Crises tend to bring out the best in communities,” he said. “This is probably because adversity is a thing that we all like to beat.”
Local illustrator Jason Wilkins creates design for PARN’s harm reduction outreach truck
Jason Wilkins of Wilkins Art & Creative Inc. in Peterborough created the design on the PARN harm reduction outreach truck. (Photo: PARN / Facebook)
Peterborough freelance illustrator and muralist Jason Wilkins, owner of Wilkins Art & Creative Inc. in Peterborough, recently created his first design for a vehicle wrap.
The artwork adorns the harm reduction outreach truck operated by PARN-Your Community AIDS Resource Network.
Signarama Peterborough was also involved in the project.
Peterborough law firm Miskin Law raises alarm about imposter website and inheritance scam
Miskin Law’s authentic website at miskinlaw.ca includes a warning about the existence of an imposter website being run by scammers. (Screenshot)
Peterborough law firm Miskin Law has raised the alarm about a website impersonating the firm along with an inheritance scam.
In early September, staff at the firm were contacted by more than 100 people who suspected they were the victims of a scam. The scammers created a duplicate of the Miskin Law website, but used different contact phone numbers and email addresses. The scammers then faxed a letter to victims offering to help them (for a large fee) collect a huge inheritance from a deceased person who may be related to them.
Miskin Law has contacted police and the Law Society of Ontario, is warning people of the scam, and is working to get the fake website taken down.
The fake website operated by the scammers is located at miskinllp.com. Miskin Law’s authentic website is at www.miskinlaw.ca. You can tell you are on the authentic website because it includes a warning about the scam.
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Applications now open for the Lindsay and Bobcaygeon Legacy CHEST Funds
Applications are now open for the 2021 Lindsay and Bobcaygeon Legacy Community Hydro Electric Systems Transfers (CHEST) funds.
The annual funds provides financial assistance to non-profit, community-based organizations for programs, projects, services or activities that enhance the quality of life for residents in the areas of health, arts, culture, leisure, heritage, education and the environment.
Eligible projects include capital project grants, special events, projects that provide greater accessibility, start-up programs or events, and more. For the Lindsay CHEST fund, funds will also be available to assist with the COVID-19 relief efforts of charitable non-profit organizations.
COVID-19 energy cost credits available for small businesses and registered charities
The Ontario government’s $8-million COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business is available for small business and registered charity customers of utility companies who are having difficulty paying their energy bills because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program provides a one-time credit on the bills of these customers, with a credit of up to $850 for customers who primarily use electricity for heating (up to $425 otherwise), and up to $425 for customers who use natural gas.
Grants up to $5,000 for COVID-19 expenses available from Canada United Small Business Relief Fund Program
Applications for the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund Program opened last Monday (August 31).
The national fund, which is managed by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, will provide grants of up to $5,000 to reimburse small businesses for pandemic-related recovery expenses, including the purchases of personal protective equipment (PPE), renovating physical space to adhere to public health guidelines, or for the development or enhancement of e-commerce.
Kawartha Lakes CFDC hosts Regional Relief and Recovery Fund virtual information session on September 9
Kawartha Lakes Community Futures Development Corporation is presenting a virtual information session on the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9th.
RRRF is a loan program for small business owners who have been unable to access other federal COVID-19 relief programs.
RSVP to jbain@klcfdc.com by Tuesday, September 8th to receive your online registration details.
Kawartha Lakes Economic Recovery Task Force hosts working group meetings September 14, 16, and 17
Kawartha Lakes Economic Development is hosting three virtual working groups of the Economic Recovery Task Force in September to help the task force shape economic recovery in the community.
The tourism working group (for businesses in tourism, downtowns, culture, retail and restaurant industries) takes place from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, September 14th, the construction and innovation working group (for businesses in construction, tech, innovation and real estate industries) takes place from 9 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 16th, and the agriculture and industry working group (for businesses in agriculture, manufacturing and food processing industries) takes place from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 17th.
Peterborough Chamber of Commerce hosts virtual ChamberAM on September 15
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is hosting its next virtual ChamberAM from 8 to 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 15th.
ChamberAM is a drop-in virtual networking event with a focus on professional growth for businesses, managers and leaders in the community. This event opens an opportunity for attendees to connect, share news with each other while absorbing relevant information, tips and tricks from a local expert.
The guest speaker is Paul Bennett of Ashburnham Realty.
Kawartha Lakes Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre hosts small business webinar on September 15
Kawartha Lakes Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre is hosting the “Small Business in 2020” webinar from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 15th.
This virtual workshop is for new start-ups and existing business owners to help explore the changes to doing business in response to the new normal and customer expectation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The workshop will discuss removing obstacles to entrepreneurship and to build resilience, getting back to business with new goal setting, rethinking your customers new normal, and product and service delivery options (e.g., Digital Main Street programs). Each participant will create a simple business model canvas that covers all elements of a classic business plan and provides a clearer vision of the direction to take their business.
RTO8 hosts webinar on tourism in Kawarthas Northumberland on September 15
Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) is hosting a webinar on tourism in Kawarthas Northumberland from 11 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, September 15th.
David Coletto, one of the founding partners and CEO of Abacus Data, a research and strategy firm with offices in Toronto and Ottawa, will share results specific to the Kawarthas Northumberland region from a province-wide survey of 2,000 travellers in central Ontario about how travel preferences have changed as a result of COVID-19. He will also share results from his firm’s ongoing polling on public perceptions and attitudes towards the pandemic.
Innovation Cluster hosts webinar on building an app on September 15
Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas is hosting a virtual workshop called “Hands-ON: Business Digitization and Building an App with Gyroscopic Inc.” from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15th.
Waun Broderick, chief technology officer of Gyroscopic Inc., will walk you through the beginning steps of making your app idea a reality. He will explain how to proof the right app solution for you and your business, architecting the technical foundation for your application, and building a team and product to best prepare for an uncertain future.
Northumberland CFDC and Venture13 host sales webinar on September 17
Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation and Venture13 are hosting a webinar called “How to Create and Benefit from a Strategic Sales Plan” from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 17th.
Ruth van Vierzen, founder of REVsquared, will provide a step-by-step guide to creating your own strategic sales plan, explaining how to generate more sales for your business and how your strategic sales plan can help you in other areas of your business operations.
Trent Hills Chamber hosts members-only coffee chat with MPP David Piccini in Hastings on September 18
The Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce is hosting a members-only coffee chat with MPP Northumberland-Peterborough South David Piccini at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, September 18th at the Grand Maple Event Centre (19 Albert St. E., Hastings).
Doors will open at 7:30 a.m. for networking and to pick up your refreshments. The meeting will begin promptly at 8 a.m. Masks will be required with the exception of when you are seated, when the required physical distancing will be maintained. Attendance will be limited to 15 members. Advance registration is required. If you are not comfortable attending the meeting in person, a limited number of spots will be available to attend via the Zoom video-conferencing platform.
Port Hope Chamber hosts webinar on September 24 on preparing for the second wave of COVID-19
The Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce is hosting “Preparing for the Second Wave – What Businesses Need to Know” from 2 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, September 24th.
This candid online discussion features Linda Davis, president and CEO of Northumberland Hills Hospital, and Varouj Eskedijan, president and CEO of Campbellford Memorial Hospital, who will speak on the serious implications of a second wave of COVID-19, how businesses could be impacted, and what can be done right now to prepare for the coming challenges.
Port Hope Chamber hosts Business Excellence Awards in Cobourg on October 1
The Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 23rd Annual Business Excellence Awards from 7 to 10:15 p.m. on Thursday, October 1st at the Port Hope Drive In Theatre (2141 Theatre Rd. S., Cobourg).
Billed as “a night under the stars”, the awards will celebrate the best in Port Hope business while practising physical distancing. A one-of-a-kind premiere movie is being made and shown to announce the 2019 nominees and winners of the Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. This family-focused celebration will follow COVID-19 safety guidelines.
Tri-Association Manufacturing Conference goes virtual on October 22
The Northumberland Manufacturers Association, Quinte Manufacturers Association, and Kawartha Manufacturers Association are presenting the Tri-Association Virtual Manufacturing Conference from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 22nd.
The theme of the virtual conference is resilience: how Canadian manufacturers innovate, create, and overcome disruption. The virtual conference features keynote speaker Liane Davey on building resilient teams, plant tours with Harco Enterprises and Research Castings International, a panel discussion, four workshops (Create a Team of Problem Solvers, A Mobile Workforce – Infrastructure & Security, Building A Resilient Health & Safety Culture, Supply Chain Disruption), and a virtual trade show with 20 exhibitors.
The cost is $100 for members and $125 for non-members. For more information and for tickets, visit themanufacturingconference.ca.
For more business-related events in the Kawarthas, check out our Business Events column.
Public health nurse Simone Jackson wearing personal protective equipment as she prepares to open a swab to test a patient for COVID-19 in Peterborough Public Health's clinic. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Public Health)
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region as well as in Ontario.
Today, Peterborough has reported one new case of COVID-19, for a total of 106 cases since the pandemic began, and three active cases.
Reports for Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, and Prince Edward and Hastings counties are not available because of the Labour Day holiday. Likewise, a report of new cases data for the entire province are unavailable because of the Labour Day holiday.
Yesterday, Ontario reported 158 new cases, with the majority of the new cases in Toronto (49), Peel (44), Ottawa (21), York (16), and Simcoe (6). The remaining 29 public health units reported five or fewer cases, with 20 of them reporting no new cases.
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Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 106 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (101 resolved with 2 deaths), 180 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (158 resolved with 32 deaths), 34 in Northumberland County (31 resolved with no deaths), 15 in Haliburton County (15 resolved with no deaths), and 49 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County (40 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported on May 7 by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
Province-wide, as of September 6 there have been 43,161 confirmed cases, an increase of 158 from September 5th’s report, with 38,958 (90.3 of all cases) resolved, an increase of 111. There have been 2,813 deaths, a increase of 2 from September 5, with 1,817 deaths reported in long-term care homes (no change). A total of 3,126,408 tests have been completed, an increase of 28,955, with 17,698 tests under investigation, a decrease of 5,659.
This report is based on data supplied by the province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), as well as any additional information supplied by health units. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
Confirmed positive: 106 (increase of 1) Active cases: 3 (increase of 1) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 101 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 25,650 (increase of 50) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit provides reports on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are from September 4.
Confirmed positive: 229, including 180 in Kawartha Lakes, 34 in Northumberland, 15 in Haliburton (no change) Probable cases: 0 (no change) Hospitalizations (total to date): 15 (no change) Deaths: 32 (no change) Resolved: 204, including 158 in Kawartha Lakes, 31 in Northumberland, 15 in Haliburton (no change) Active cases: 6, including 3 in Kawartha Lakes and 3 in Northumberland (no change) Institutional outbreaks: Campbellford Memorial Multicare Lodge (no change)
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides reports on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are from September 4.
Confirmed positive: 49 (no change, last case reported on August 25) Active cases: 4 (no change) Deaths: 5 (no change) Hospitalized: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change) Recovered: 40 (no change) Total tests completed: 23,411 (no change) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Ontario did not provide a report for September 7 because of the Labour Day holiday. These numbers are from September 6.
Confirmed positive: 43,161 (increase of 158) Resolved: 38,958 (increase of 111, 90.3% of all cases) Hospitalized: 52 (decrease of 6)* Hospitalized and in ICU: 15 (increase of 1) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 9 (increase of 1) Deaths: 2,813 (increase of 2) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,817 (no change) Total tests completed: 3,126,408 (increase of 28,955) Tests under investigation: 17,698 (decrease of 5,659)
*Around 30 hospitals did not submit data for this update, so the number of cases may be under-reported.
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from August 6 – September 5, 2020. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from August 6 – September 5, 2020. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
With Ontario elementary and secondary school students returning to school this week for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Ontario education minister Stephen Lecce issued a statement on Monday (September 7).
In the brief statement, directed towards students rather than parents, Lecce highlights the health and safety protocols in place at schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“If your first day of school is in-class or online, I want you to know we are behind you every step of the way,” Lecce states, mentioning cleaning of schools, staff training, public health nurses, the use of face masks, and “cohorting” of students.
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Lecce does not address the issue of class size, the most common concern raised by parents and teachers as kids return to school during the pandemic.
Instead, Lecce stresses the importance of mental health.
“I want students to know they are not alone,” he states, noting increased mental health funding for school boards and the 24/7 Kids Help Phone service (kidshelpphone.ca). “You are loved and supported.”
He goes on to mention “the importance of quality learning”, and lists a few policy changes unrelated to the pandemic.
The full statement is provided below.
“While COVID-19 has forced upon us many changes to our schools and our lives, some things remain constant. The importance of quality education, our collective mental health, and the safety of our students and staff.
This year is like no other in our past. I am fiercely proud of our province, and our collective efforts. We will overcome any challenge on the horizon, so long as we continue to work together in the interests of our students and aggressively work to stop the spread in our communities.
If your first day of school is in-class or online, I want you to know we are behind you every step of the way. Ensuring your schools are safe and thoroughly cleaned, educators trained, supported by the doubling of public health nurses in schools, masking, and cohorting. All designed to keep you safe.
Mental health is important to me. It’s personal. I have seen the struggles of many friends and family. I want students to know they are not alone. You are loved and supported. And if you want to talk or seek support, we have nearly doubled mental health funding to boards to ensure you have access to the supports you need when you need them, including Kids Help Phone, a service available 24 hours a day if students want someone to talk to.
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While we remain focused on priority number one — safety — I want to emphasize the importance of quality learning. It is why we introduced a new elementary math curriculum, it is why we continue to strive to be a leader in science, technology, engineering, and math or STEM, and it is why we continue to make the case for merit-based hiring so the best educators are in front of your child’s class. This matters now more than ever.
We will do this, together. Stay positive, kind, and optimistic, and know that by working together, we will overcome any challenge with strength and unity.”
A detail of a photo at Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park by Shine that was our top post on Instagram in August 2020. (Photo: Shine @shineturbine / Instagram)
Our top August photos remind me of the iconic symbols of the Kawarthas: sunsets, sunrises, loons, pristine camping locations, still water, canoes, and paddling.
In this pandemic year when our natural areas have not always been respected, it’s encouraging to know that many people still honour and respect them.
Most of our Instagram followers have connections to the Kawarthas. Some live here year round, some are regular camping trippers, some are cottagers and visitors, and others are far away and missing home.
Whatever your connection to the Kawarthas is, thank you for following us and celebrating the Kawarthas with us every day. Keep tagging us at #kawarthanow!
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Do you want to get on our top photographers list? All you need is an Insta account and to tag us using our hashtag #kawarthanow when posting your photo.
We share photos from across our readership area, which is the five-county area surrounding Peterborough which includes Peterborough, Northumberland, City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Hastings (we sneak in the occasional Algonquin Park picture as well, particularly if it’s by a Kawartha photographer).
To see our daily shares of photos, follow us on Instagram @kawarthanow and check out our feed’s highlight reels for recaps of every month in 2020.
#1. The end of a long day of canoeing at Kawartha Highlands by Shine @shineturbine
Posted August 22, 2020. 17.3K impressions, 684 likes
In the Netflix series 'Away', Commander Emma Green (Hilary Swank) leaves behind her husband and daughter to lead an international crew of astronauts on a perilous three-year mission to Mars. Inspired by Port Hope writer Chris Jones' 2014 Esquire article about American astronaut Scott Kelly's year in space, the series debuted on September 4, 2020. Jones also wrote one of the series' 10 episodes. (Photo: Netflix)
It’s 10:30 on Friday morning (September 4) and the new Netflix series Away starring Hilary Swank has only been streaming since midnight, but Port Hope writer Chris Jones takes time out from pacing in eager anticipation to talk about his experiences writing for the sci-fi series that he also inspired.
It is well documented that astronauts, upon seeing Earth from outer space for the first time, experience what Frank White termed “The Overview Effect”, a cognitive shift in awareness wherein astronauts experience an increased sense of connection to humanity, seeing the Earth as a shared place in this universe.
The same could be considered true for Jones, when seeing his written work come to life on the screen for the first time.
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“It’s definitely changed how I look at the world,” says Jones, who has recently transitioned from journalism to screenwriting. “The experience of writing it and then watching the show has changed me. There’s no ownership. When you write a story, you can clip it out of the paper and hold it in your hands — your name’s on top and you wrote every word of it. TV’s not like that at all,”
“In the scheme of things, I played a very small role in it,” adds Jones, who wrote one of the 10 episodes of the series. “I can’t hold it in my hands — it’s everybody’s; everybody who put anything into that show. There’s just such a massive army of people and you mix the thing together and it’s better in a way because you feel like you’re a part of this larger thing. But it’s different in a sense because it’s not yours anymore — it’s somebody else’s.”
Jones, one of six writers on staff, hit the writers’ room in LA to begin screenwriting for Away in autumn 2018. The series, about an American astronaut’s struggles leaving her family on Earth to command an international space crew on a three-year mission to Mars, began filming in April of 2019. Quite miraculously, shooting wrapped in February of 2020, our year of the virus.
VIDEO: “Away” official trailer
Created by Andrew Hinderaker, Away is loosely based on Jones’ 2014 Esquire article of the same name, in which he details American astronaut Scott Kelly’s experiences during his year in space as an analogue for a trip to Mars.
Jones describes the traits NASA personnel look for in candidates for long-duration space flight missions. They must be “some rare combination of grit and give,” he writes.
Adaptability and resiliency seem like contradictory traits for one person to possess.
“People tend to be either very passive or control freaks,” Jones observes.
An excerpt from the 2014 Esquire article by Port Hope writer Chris Jones that inspired the Netflix series “Away”, and led to Jones penning one of the series’ 10 episodes. (Photo: Esquire)
Possessing equal parts grit and give requires a person to be able to let things go in one case and, in another case, to fight unyieldingly.
“In terms of astronauts, what they’re talking about is that you don’t try to live in space like you do on earth, because it’s going to make you crazy,” he explains.
“You’re going to be weightless, there’s nothing you can do about that. And then when it comes to acute pressure — like an emergency situation — there you fight. You really have this resistance to anything going wrong.”
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Indeed, grit and give — the same traits that make for world-class astronauts — also make for world-class writers.
“This was a good experience to teach me that because, going back to that whole idea of it being a team effort, the show wasn’t just up to me. It was up to everybody’s input; you have hundreds of creative people working on it.”
Port Hope writer Chris Jones has a lot to celebrate. Already an accomplished journalist, he’s now also a screenwriter whose work will be experienced by the global Netflix audience. (Photo: Chris Jones / Twitter)
“I definitely veered on the control freak side of things, especially with the magazine,” Jones says.
“You just can’t do that with something like a TV show. It’ll make you insane. Luckily, in my case, I was surrounded by great people who did great work. It was easy in a lot of ways.”
“But that was the journey for me, learning to let go and to trust other people — that other people would do good things. It was super valuable that way. I’m much less of a control freak and now I’m much more aware of what other people might bring to that conversation.”
Even for a seasoned writer like Jones, whose bylines include notable publications such as Esquire and The National Post, sharing work — in this case with 183 million global Netflix subscribers — can be a nerve-wracking experience.
“I always dreaded publication,” says Jones, recalling the early years of his writing career, during which he has earned numerous awards and accolades including two National Magazine Awards for feature writing.
There is an inherent bravery that necessarily accompanies publication.
“It’s like an accumulation of discipline both in terms of practising your writing and getting better, but also in terms of how it feels to have something like this come out. It’s scary. Today is scary for me.”
“I really can’t convey to you enough how much I’m just a dad who lives in Port Hope,” he adds, laughing. “This is not my normal existence.”
“It’s hilarious to me. I was sitting in Happenstance, the coffee shop in Port Hope, when I got the news that the show would become a show. When I told the girl behind the counter — I knew her a little bit and she was the only person I could tell — I was so excited. She said ‘Oh my god, you’re going to be famous!’ and I was like, ‘Name one TV writer.’ It’s not fame — you’re adjacent to fame. It’s a different kind of thing.”
“You’ve caught me very fresh,” he says, referring to our interview. “It came out this morning. I’m still in the scared phase but hopefully it’s not long before I can take a step back and go ‘That’s awesome’.”
Along with Hilary Swank as mission commander Emma Green, “Away” also stars Josh Charles (The Good Wife) as her husband and NASA engineer Matt Logan, and Talitha Bateman as their teenage daughter Alexis Logan. (Photo: Netflix)
Awesome seems like a bit of an understatement for such an incredible accomplishment. Not many writers are able to see their creations come to life on the screen.
“It’s weird to see something that’s in your head on the TV,” Jones admits. “You imagine something and then it becomes real.”
As an example, he points to one of the characters in the series, a Russian cosmonaut named Misha.
“He was the first character in my head as we were working on the show,” Jones recalls. “He came out so true to how I hoped he would be. Watching Misha was like meeting someone you already know.”
Hilary Swank floating in zero gravity in a scene from ‘Vital Signs’, the eighth episode of “Away” and one that was written by Port Hope’s Chris Jones. (Screenshot)
“That’s what I mean by it being strange,” Jones adds. “You invent these things and then there they are. It’s weird, it’s wonderful. I can’t even tell you how strange the experience was.”
Like the astronauts he writes about, Jones has been launched into new and uncharted territory, gaining new perspectives that most of us only get to dream about.
As his collaborative work takes on a new life, perhaps he will also experience an earthly form of what anthropologist Deana Weibel terms “The Ultraview Effect” — the subjective response of intense awe when viewing larger star fields.
This story has been updated to correct a misspelling of Frank White’s surname in the second paragraph.
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