Fleming College's Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre at the Sutherland Campus in Peterborough provides students with flexible and integrated learning spaces for the skilled trades, one of the high-demand sectors the college is supporting through its first-ever entrance scholarships program for incoming full-time domestic students. (Photo courtesy of Fleming College)
Fleming College has announced a new scholarships initiative designed to reduce financial barriers for incoming students, while also supporting enrolment in programs for high-demand sectors including the skilled trades and applied health.
Beginning in the 2026-27 academic year, the college will invest $100,000 in its first-ever entrance scholarships program, which will provide $2,000 awards to 50 full-time domestic students.
Ten scholarships will be awarded in each of five demographic groups and program areas: mature learners, students entering the college’s new diagnostic cardiac sonography program, skilled trades students, applied health students, and Fleming alumni returning to study.
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According to a media release, the initiative is intended to support recruitment and enrolment growth in high-priority program areas while continuing Fleming College’s broader commitment to student financial support through bursaries, awards, and scholarships.
“These entrance scholarships represent a meaningful investment in our students and in the future of our communities,” said Fleming College interim president Dr. Theresa Knott in the release.
“By reducing financial barriers at the point of entry, we are helping more students access education in high-demand fields while strengthening the talent pipeline for critical sectors like healthcare and skilled trades.”
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The college’s announcement comes as post-secondary institutions across the province respond to gaps in student financial support as a result of recent changes to the provincial funding portion of the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
For programs that start on or after August 1, OSAP students will receive more of their provincial funding as loans rather than grants. While students previously could receive up to 85 per cent of provincial funding under OSAP as grants, depending on their financial situation, that will change to a maximum of 25 per cent, with the remainder being repayable loans.
Critics say the changes to OSAP’s provincial funding will significantly reduce access to post-secondary education and also increase student debt.
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Fleming College’s entrance scholarships program is being funded by a combination of donor contributions, including the Fleming Forward Fund and private donors, and TD Insurance Affinity program revenue.
“This initiative demonstrates how philanthropy can directly impact student success and institutional growth,” said Katie Pezoulas, Fleming College’s executive director of advancement and external relations. “We are proud to work with our donors to create opportunities that not only support students financially but also align with the evolving needs of our communities and economy.”
Fleming College says the new initiative not only reduces financial barriers for students, but also supports the college’s strategic priorities to expand applied health programming and skilled trades education while enhancing student recruitment and retention.
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The entrance scholarships will be available to full-time domestic students who accept their offer of admission by May 1, with the scholarships automatically awarded based on the academic achievement of students who meet the eligibility criteria.
With campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton, Fleming College has more than 8,500 full-time and 445 part-time students, and 95,000 alumni.
In response to a need identified by their clients, Sullivan Law Ptbo has launched new personal care coordination services to help individuals or their powers of attorney navigate the practical, legal, and logistical aspects of care, especially during periods of vulnerability or transition. Working with the lawyers at Sullivan Law Ptbo as well as local partner services, Personal Care Coordinator Melissa Kenny will create an integrated and holistic client-centred plan that can adapt to an individual's changing needs as well as respond to crisis situations. (Photo courtesy of Sullivan Law Ptbo)
Proactively planning for your own care or identifying care needs for a loved one can be overwhelming even at the best of times.
That’s why Sullivan Law Ptbo has responded to a need identified by their clients and established new personal care coordination services that help individuals or their powers of attorney navigate the practical, legal, and logistical aspects of care — especially during periods of vulnerability or transition.
“The values of our office are rooted in kindness and respect to our clients, our colleagues, and our community,” says Sullivan Law Ptbo founder and lawyer Martha Sullivan. “That approach to the practice of law resonates with our clients, and they wanted us to take on new ways to support them because the reality is there aren’t a lot of solutions out there for personal care coordination.”
Sullivan Law Ptbo’s new Personal Care Coordinator Melissa Kenny brings 17 years of hands-on local professional nursing experience to her role. With degrees in psychology and nursing from Trent University, Melissa worked at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre in many areas of healthcare including surgery, labour and delivery, palliative care, and hospice care.
Melissa also worked in other local hospices before joining Sullivan Law Ptbo, where she now continues to follow her passion for connecting with people and serving them in any way she can.
“Because she is a registered nurse and has a varied background of professional accomplishments, she speaks that vocabulary and knows all the resources that are available,” says Sullivan. “Melissa also has such an authentic kindness that she uses to really help people help themselves.”
Martha, who herself has experienced the struggles of being a power of attorney for personal care for a loved one, adds that she wishes she could have met with Melissa for guidance and support during that period of her life.
Sullivan Law Ptbo’s new Personal Care Coordinator Melissa Kenny brings 17 years of hands-on local professional nursing experience to her role. After studying psychology and nursing at Trent University, she worked at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre in surgery, labour and delivery, palliative care, and hospice care. Personal care coordination services can include taking instructions from an individual’s power of attorney, providing advice to an individual directly, providing regular wellness checks of an individual on behalf of family members who live at a distance, and connecting clients with local resources they may not be aware of. (Photo courtesy of Sullivan Law Ptbo)
Personal care coordination services can include taking instructions from an individual’s power of attorney, providing advice to an individual directly, providing regular wellness checks of an individual on behalf of family members who live at a distance, and connecting clients with local resources they may not be aware of.
After an initial meeting with the client or their power of attorney, Melissa and the lawyers at Sullivan Law Ptbo create an integrated and holistic client-centred plan that can adapt to an individual’s changing needs as well as respond to crisis situations.
“A lot of times, people can get lost in the system and then need somebody to speak up for them and be their advocate,” Melissa says. “We can support people struggling with all health conditions and the things that limit or overwhelm them. We can help those people navigate the system and coordinate their care and, of course, be there if they need us.”
Though she does not provide hands-on medical care, Melissa can support clients by attending medical appointments and taking notes and advocating for a client, checking in on a client to ensure that all is well, and identifying gaps in care and additional supports to improve a client’s quality of life or safety — everything from arranging for foot care or homecare services in a client’s home to arranging for and securing a residential placement that meets an individual’s care needs.
Melissa says she considers it “a huge win” when Sullivan Law Ptbo clients are receiving high quality and reliable care, adding that she cherishes the longevity of her professional but personable relationship with clients.
“We are here when they need us, and for however long they need us,” Melissa says.
Know Your Locals™ is a branded editorial feature about locally owned independent businesses and locally operated organizations, and supported by them. If your business or organization is interested in being featured in a future “Know Your Locals” branded editorial, contact Jeannine Taylor at 705-742-6404 or jt@kawarthanow.com or visit our Advertise with kawarthaNOW page.
The Peterborough chapter of The Order of the Eastern Star, a worldwide fraternal not-for-profit organization open to both men and women, has donated $25,000 to YES Shelter for Youth and Families to support youth housing. (Photo courtesy of YES Shelter for Youth and Families)
The Peterborough chapter of The Order of the Eastern Star has donated $25,000 to YES Shelter for Youth and Families to support youth housing.
According to a media release, the Peterborough chapter’s donation was made possible from the sale of the chapter’s building several years ago.
“We’re very proud to be able to provide this help to the YES Shelter,” said Patti James, Worthy Matron of the Peterborough Chapter. “The heart and soul of the members of the Order of the Eastern Star has gone into raising money to help local charities and it feels meaningful to invest in something that will have a lasting impact on young people in our community.”
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The Order of the Eastern Star is a worldwide fraternal not-for-profit organization, open to both men and women, with a commitment to charity, community service, and supporting those in need. It was founded in the late 1800s by Dr. Rob Morris, an American poet and Freemason, along with his wife Charlotte Mendenhall Morris, as a way for female relatives of Masons to share in the benefits of Freemasonry.
The Peterborough chapter’s $25,000 donation will directly support the renovation of one of the locations of the RISE Youth Housing Program operated by YES.
The program houses young people with the supports needed to resolve their homelessness permanently. It helps them find stability, build life skills, and move forward with confidence, while also creating a welcoming space where youth can access support, connection, and care.
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Once complete, the renovated RISE location will create six additional housing units for young people who would otherwise be experiencing homelessness, along with a dedicated youth drop-in space open to all youth in Peterborough who are navigating housing instability.
YES executive director Aimeé Le Lagadec called the Peterborough chapter’s donation “incredibly significant.”
“Not only does it help us move closer to completing this much-needed space, but it also reflects a strong belief in the potential of the young people we serve,” Le Lagadec said. “We’re so grateful to the Order of the Eastern Star for choosing to invest in youth in our community in this way.”
A month before the nomination period opens for the October 26, 2026 municipal election, a record number of Peterborough residents have already confirmed they are either "possibly considering" running for mayor, "seriously considering" it, "thinking about it," "keeping the door open," or "just seeing what happens." (kawarthaNOW-modified City of Peterborough photo)
With a month still to go before the nomination period opens for this fall’s municipal election, an unprecedented number of Peterborough residents have confirmed they are “possibly considering” a run for mayor — with many going as far to say they are “seriously considering” becoming a mayoral candidate.
Based on anonymous sources, social media posts and comments, and remarks overheard in local cafes, the number of people who say they are “thinking about it,” “keeping the door open,” or “just seeing what happens” has surged to a record level for a municipal election in the City of Peterborough.
“I’ve never seen this level of early indecision,” Dr. Alf Sprolio, a political scientist based in Peterborough, told kawarthaNOW. “Historically, people have always waited until the nomination period opens before they publicly state they are undecided about running for council. That so many people are already declaring they are undecided about running for mayor is especially hard to believe.”
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The nomination period for candidates opens on Friday, May 1 and closes on August 21 — meaning people already have almost four months when they can remain undecided about whether to run.
Dr. Sprolio, who is conducting a study on what he calls “speculatory politics” in Peterborough, is investigating the causes of this year’s early indecision. To support his research, he has been tracking the number of early potential mayoral candidates and reaching out to them.
“So far, I’ve contacted 17 people who have said they are considering running for mayor but haven’t actually committed to doing so,” he explains. “It’s fascinating to find out who these people are and what is motivating them to think about running.”
They include an older resident who once spoke at a city council meeting and was upset when no councillors asked her any questions, a younger resident who comments “Just fix it” on every Reddit post about city council, and a business owner who describes himself as “somebody who gets things done.”
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Dr. Sprolio said some of the people who have publicly declared they are considering running for mayor are waiting to see who else is considering running before they decide whether to continue considering it.
One of those potential candidates told Dr. Sprolio she is “heavily leaning toward maybe, but it’s too soon to say for sure.”
“You don’t want to rush into something like this,” she added. “It’s all about timing, and that means waiting to see if anyone else goes first before I decide whether to throw my hat in the ring. Right now, I’m just putting some feelers out there to see what people think.”
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Dr. Sprolio said he has also interviewed some people who are considering running for mayor but haven’t yet publicly declared they are considering it.
“In a race of undeclared candidates, there’s definitely a risk to staying silent,” he said. “If people don’t know you’re thinking about running, they might assume you’re not thinking about running. That’s a tough place to come back from. Chances are you’ll be perceived as indecisive if you say you’re thinking about running only after everyone else has already said they are thinking about running.”
It remains unknown how many of the potential mayoral candidates will actually file nomination papers on or after May 1, but city officials are taking steps to help people make a decision while preparing for the possibility of a deluge of nominations if all the uncommitted candidates make up their mind to run.
That includes hosting an information session called “What to Consider if You’re Seriously Considering Whether You Want to Run for Council,” with the goal of helping people make up their minds about whether they want to put their name forward.
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The city is also reportedly exploring options to manage the field of potential mayoral candidates, including a pre-nomination process with a mandatory “confirmation of consideration” form and a cap on the number of people who are allowed to be publicly undecided at any one time.
According to one anonymous source, the city may launch a “Try Before You Decide” pilot program, where participants would spend an afternoon reading city staff reports and attachments and answering email complaints about potholes and non-functioning street lights, before attending a mock five-hour evening council meeting where they would learn how to speak coherently in three-minute increments while debating issues with other participants without taking a break.
After kawarthaNOW asked Dr. Sprolio when he will be publishing his study on speculatory politics in Peterborough, he said “I won’t actually be publishing anything, because this is an April Fool’s Day joke.”
With files from Jeannine Taylor.
“Alf Sprolio” is an anagram for April Fool’s. We decided to take a more satirical approach for our April Fool’s Day story this year, mainly because people are tired of being tricked by AI-generated images and videos.
Here are our April Fool’s stories from the past eight years:
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, flanked by Conservative Northumberland-Clarke MP Philip Lawrence and former Conservative Peterborough MP Michelle Ferreri, announcing his party's opposition to the Alto high-speed rail project during a media conference in Keene on March 31, 2026. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of CPAC video)
Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal has issued a statement criticizing Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre after he announced his party’s opposition to the Alto high-speed rail project during a media conference on Tuesday (March 31) at the Indian River Cattle Company in Indian River in Peterborough County.
With former Conservative Peterborough MP Michelle Ferreri and current Conservative Northumberland-Clarke MP Philip Lawrence by his side, the federal opposition leader said the project is a “boondoggle” and called on the Liberal government to cancel it, adding that a future Conservative government would cancel the $90-billion project.
Alto, the Crown corporation overseeing the project, estimates the 1,000-kilometre high-speed rail network between Quebec City and Toronto, with seven stops including one in Peterborough, would cost between $60 billion and $90 billion to complete.
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“My colleagues and I on Peterborough city council and the broader Peterborough community are very disappointed in Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party of Canada for opposing the Alto high speed rail project,” Mayor Leal said in his statement. “The City of Peterborough has been clear that we are in full support of this transformative nation-building project, which has chosen Peterborough as one of seven station stops along the Toronto to Quebec City corridor.”
“It is especially disappointing to see former MP Michelle Ferreri stand beside Mr. Poilievre as he fights to take away this generational opportunity for our region,” the mayor added.
During his 30-minute media conference in Keene, Poilievre began by criticizing both the Trudeau and Carney Liberal governments for inflation, the lack of affordability for housing and food, increases in the federal deficit, unemployment, and the overall state of the economy, before turning to Alto.
Calling it a “ridiculous pie-in-the-sky Liberal spending initiative” and a “$90-billion monstrosity,” Poilievre said the project would cost each Canadian family of four $8,000 in taxes to build, will not pay for itself and will be subsidized by the federal government, won’t be used by most Canadians, and won’t be completed for more than a decade.
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Poilievre then turned to the issue of land expropriation, a concern of many rural communities in eastern Ontario, saying that the proposed route would require the expropriation of thousands of acres across Ontario and Quebec, and referring to the federal expropriation of 97,000 acres of land in 1969 to build the Montréal–Mirabel International Airport, which is currently operating as a cargo airport after passenger service ended in 2004.
“Your property is not safe under this Liberal government,” he said.
Alto is currently conducting an initial public consultation on a 10-kilometre wide corridor between Ottawa and Toronto, with a northern and southern option, prior to determining where the 60-metre wide route would actually run.
Poilievre also claimed that no-one would benefit from the high-speed rail project.
“Other than a tiny group of Liberal lobbyists, consultants, lawyers, bureaucrats, and other insiders, everyone’s going to be worse off,” he said.
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In his statement, Leal said the Alto project “will significantly strengthen economic development, business investment, tourism, and employment opportunities in Peterborough, and the construction will create jobs and opportunities for local businesses.”
“The last time the Conservatives destroyed a national building project was the Avro Arrow in 1959,” Leal said. “That shortsighted decision devastated Canada’s aerospace industry, with many of the country’s top engineers leaving the country. The talent that left Canada from that Conservative decision helped put the Americans on the moon in 1969.”
Leal concluded his statement by saying “the City of Peterborough will continue to work closely with Alto and the Government of Canada to take advantage of the economic and social benefits of this important project.”
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kawarthaNOW reached out to Liberal Peterborough MP Emma Harrison for a comment on Poilievre’s announcement. Her office provided a statement in which Harrison qualified her support for the project.
“I am supportive of the Alto high-speed rail project and the tremendous economic benefits that it will bring to the riding of Peterborough,” Harrison said in a statement. “The benefits of Alto will be felt before the project is complete, as during the construction phase, priority will be given to local businesses and skilled workers in the riding to help build this project.”
However, she added that she has “heard the concerns from community members and other elected officials, and frankly I do share the same concerns when it comes to protecting farmland, environmentally sensitive areas, and people’s homes.”
“(Alto) will be continuing to the next consultation stage later this year, which will address many of the concerns that are being voiced, especially as Alto begins field studies along the proposed route and also begins to contact property owners directly.”
She said she has met with the federal transportation minister and officials from Alto to voice those concerns and suggested “the possibility of an additional consultation in Norwood so the voices of more residents could be heard in this first consultation phase.”
Harrison encouraged members of the public to provide their feedback to Alto by using the online consultation platform, which is available until April 24.
“My office and I remain available to help connect community members with the most up to date information that’s currently available from Alto,” Harrison stated.
This story has been updated to correct the location of Pierre Poilievre’s media conference, which was not at Elmhirst’s Resort in Keene as originally reported.
Miller Waste, which collects garbage on behalf of the City of Kawartha Lakes, will no longer collect garbage bags containing recyclable items, like flexible plastics and chip bags, beginning April 20, 2026. Any garbage bags containing recyclables will be tagged and left behind, but will be collected the following week if the recyclable materials have been removed. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)
As of Earth Week in April, Kawartha Lakes residents will need to ensure no recyclable materials are included in their garbage bags, or else the bags won’t be picked up.
The City of Kawartha Lakes announced on Tuesday (March 31) that Miller Waste, which collects garbage on behalf of the municipality, will begin enforcing the city’s waste management by-law beginning Monday, April 20.
As of that date, Miller Waste will tag any garbage bag that contains recyclables with an “Oops” tag and will not collect it, indicating why the bag was left behind.
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If recyclables are removed and the garbage bag is set out again the following week, Miller Waste will collect the previously tagged bag as part of a double collection that week.
“This grace period will be in place until further notice,” states the municipality on its website.
However, if a garbage bag is set out the following week without the recyclables removed, it will continue to be tagged and left behind.
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The municipality’s mandatory waste-sorting requirement is a result of an Ontario-wide expanded recycling program that came into effect on January 1, with a new list of recyclable items that were previously disposed of in garbage.
The new list of recyclable items includes hot and cold beverage cups (coffee cups), black plastic containers, frozen juice containers, ice cream tubs, toothpaste tubes, deodorant containers, foam packaging (including meat trays, takeout containers, cups, plates, bowls, and foam packaging for products), and flexible packaging (including chip bags, pet food bags, bubble wrap, snack wrappers, cereal box liners, deli pouches, and plastic gift bags).
In the City of Kawartha Lakes, garbage is collected by Miller Waste and recycling is collected by Emterra Environmental. According to the City of Kawartha Lakes, the mandatory waste-sorting requirement will help keep collection running smoothly while supporting the municipality’s integrated waste management strategy, which focuses on reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill and increasing recycling and diversion.
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“Properly sorting waste and recycling will help get residents ready for organics program changes starting June 15, which will affect households in the curbside organics program,” the municipality’s website states.
Currently, up to 10 per cent of material in a garbage bag can be organic waste. After June 15, no organic waste will be allowed in garbage bags.
“Starting now with recycling helps ensure residents are ready for these upcoming changes,” the municipality states.
The Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre (KSAC) has announced it is shutting down its sex trafficking response program after five years following a decision by the federal government not to renew funding through Public Safety Canada.
KSAC is urging Public Safety Canada to reconsider the decision, and is also calling on all federal leaders to demonstrate their commitment to addressing sexual violence and human trafficking by ensuring continued funding for frontline, survivor-focused services.
“For the past five years, this program has provided essential support to individuals in our community working to escape situations of sex trafficking, heal from trauma, and begin rebuilding their lives,” says Jordanne McLaren, KSAC’s manager of client services and the human trafficking response team, in a media release.
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“The reality is that the need for these services has not disappeared,” McLaren adds. “When funding for anti-trafficking programs is withdrawn, exploitation does not stop; it simply leaves survivors with fewer supports and fewer pathways to safety.”
According to KSAC, in 2025 alone, the program provided specialized support to over 75 individuals experiencing sex trafficking and sexual exploitation across the region, including those currently entrenched, those who have recently exited, and those navigating longer-term recovery.
KSAC says the sex trafficking response program has supported survivors through complex and often life-threatening circumstances by providing trauma-informed advocacy, safety planning, system navigation, and collaboration with community partners.
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“At a time when governments across Canada are publicly acknowledging the seriousness of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation, the loss of funding for frontline services is deeply concerning,” states the media release.
“Without sustained investment through programs such as those funded by Public Safety Canada, communities are left with fewer tools to respond to exploitation and fewer supports for survivors trying to rebuild their lives.”
KSAC adds that the federal government’s decision not to renew funding “will have real and immediate consequences for vulnerable people in our community.”
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“Survivors of sex trafficking require specialized, trauma-informed support, and programs like this exist because the need is real and ongoing,” the release states. “It is important for our community to understand that this program is ending not because the need has disappeared, but because the federal funding supporting it has not been renewed.”
KSAC offers free and confidential support services to people affected by sexual violence across Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Northumberland, including crisis support, advocacy, counselling, group programming, and prevention education.
“KSAC remains incredibly proud of the work accomplished by our team over the past five years and of the courage shown by the survivors we have had the privilege to support. While KSAC will continue to provide our core sexual violence services, the closure of this program represents a significant loss for our region.”
Lindsey Irwin is the third owner of The Lakefield Panty, an old-time groceteria that has operated in the Township of Selwyn for 45 years. As a serial entrepreneur, Irwin knows how crucial it is to support local and how difficult it can be make connections with new suppliers while simultaneously running a business. That's why she remains grateful for the support of Peterborough County and their agricultural programming, including the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale and Kawartha Choice FarmFresh programs. (Photo courtesy of The Lakefield Pantry)
As a serial entrepreneur, Lindsey Irwin understands not only the importance of supporting local small business, but just how difficult it can be to make connections while simultaneously running a business. That’s why her business The Lakefield Pantry is participating in Peterborough County’s agricultural programs.
An old-fashioned groceteria, The Lakefield Pantry has been a staple in the Township of Selwyn for 45 years, stocking a range of local fare from beef, breads, cheeses, maple syrup, treats, and bulk foods to home and body products. Irwin, who purchased the business in 2025, is its third owner and is committed to continuing the shop’s legacy of supporting local suppliers.
“The second I opened the doors as an owner, the question I got asked from everybody was ‘Are you local?'” says Irwin, who is a Peterborough County native. “People really cared about this and wanted to know that I know the community and I know the farmers and makers and artisans.”
Also the founder of the successful social enterprise Old Jar Candle Co., Irwin knew it was important to keep this local focus and The Lakefield Pantry continues to maintain these relationships. Today, more than 90 per cent of all the store’s stock is sourced in Peterborough County.
“As a serial entrepreneur and owner of multiple businesses, my world doesn’t exist without local support — without a community of other businesses working in tandem,” says Irwin. “I think that’s the most important thing: supporting each other. That way the community can thrive, too.”
That’s why The Lakefield Pantry is participating in the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program, an initiative that aims to increase the capacity for local food distribution by connecting buyers with food producers in Peterborough County, the City of Peterborough, and the City of Kawartha Lakes. Through the project’s Green Circle Food Hub, The Lakefield Pantry will be able to source maple syrup, honey, jams and other pantry items from a range of local farmers all in one place.
A legacy business in the Township of Selwyn, The Lakefield Pantry stocks products like maple syrup, jams, beef, bread and other items made as close to home as possible. Since it can be hard to connect with local farmers while running her business, owner Lindsey Irwin counts on support from the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh and Kawartha Local Food Wholesale programs delivered in part by Peterborough County. (Photo courtesy of The Lakefield Pantry)
“Since taking over the store, I barely have the time to be knocking on doors and trying to source or vet the quality of things,” Irwin points out. “It’s really hard once you’re actually working in your business to work on your business.”
The same applies to food producers, she adds.
“They’re busy because they’re farmers. They’re not sitting and staring at their phones waiting to hear from people. They’re taking care of their animals. So that in-between can make it a lot easier for us, and I like a seamless solution whenever I can find it.”
To further strengthen local connections, The Lakefield Pantry is also a member of the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh, an economic development program delivered by Peterborough County, the City of Peterborough, and the City of Kawartha Lakes. The program provides a brand identity for local producers, a network for members to share and access resources, and an online database for buyers to find farmers.
The support and growth from these two programs has assured Irwin that Peterborough County is committed to supporting the local agriculture sector, from farmers to food retailers like The Lakefield Pantry, every step of the way.
“They are always checking in and making sure that we’re okay and we’re supported, and I appreciate that so much,” Irwin says. “Being part of their network where they share ideas and launch new programs and try new things — that’s invaluable.”
The Lakefield Pantry is located at 44 Queen Street in downtown Lakefield. For more information, visit lakefieldpantry.ca.
The Local Advantage in Peterborough County is a branded editorial feature series celebrating the farmers, food producers, food retailers, and agri-tourism businesses that make The Kawarthas thrive, created in partnership with Peterborough County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.
Agriculture is a key economic driver and a point of pride for Peterborough County, with local farms producing a wide variety of high-quality goods, from traditional crops and livestock to organic and specialty products, reflecting the strength and diversity of this vital sector. With a growing focus on sustainability, local food systems, agri-innovation, and agri-tourism, agriculture offers strong potential for growth and diversification.
The Local Advantage with Peterborough County series spotlights the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh and Kawartha Local Food Wholesale initiatives, which aim to strengthen connections from farm to table across our region.
For more information about economic development and tourism in Peterborough County, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev and The Kawarthas Tourism at thekawarthas.ca.
"Young Frankenstein" director Nate Axcell at the Peterborough Theatre Guild. The musical comedy, based on the 1974 film of the same time by Mel Brooks, runs for 11 performances from April 17 to May 3, 2026. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
Never mind checking the oversized creature for vital signs — if you don’t find what’s about to transpire on the Peterborough Theatre Guild stage ridiculously funny, you best check yourself for some sign of life.
For the final production of the 2025-26 season, the theatre company is presenting the musical version of Young Frankenstein. with 11 performances from April 17 to May 3.
Featuring music and lyrics by Mel Brooks with a book by Brooks and Thomas Meehan, the Margaret Peiper-produced musical is based on the critically acclaimed 1974 film of the same name.
Shot in black and white, the film introduced audiences to some still-memorable characters. There’s Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced Fronk-en-steen), there’s his hunchbacked assistant Igor (pronounced Eye-gore), and there’s Inga, the doctor’s love interest.
And then there’s the monster he creates in the laboratory of the Transylvania castle he inherited from family — the result of his desire to finish the work started by his late grandfather, Victor Frankenstein.
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The film’s creators called on the considerable comedic talents of Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, Teri Garr, Peter Boyle, and Madeline Khan to make it work. There’s no such benefit here for Nate Axcell but, as director of the Peterborough Theatre Guild production, there’s the motivating challenge of presenting a fresh take of a storyline that will no doubt be familiar to many audience members.
During a sit-down with kawarthaNOW at the Guild Hall, Axcell says his goal is to present “something new but familiar.”
“When you do a show like this, you’re somewhat locked in because there are expectations that come with it,” he says. “If there are certain beats that people are looking for, depending on what they are, sometimes you do them exactly the way people are expecting. However, if I can throw my twist on it, those beats are still there, but it still surprises them. Then it’s the best of both worlds.”
While the Guild has presented musicals in past seasons, most of those have been at the Showplace Performance Centre, due mainly to the stage room needed for the large ensemble cast of a typical musical. Although Axcell is directing “a pretty big cast” of 25 actors for Young Frankenstein, he says the stage at the Guild Hall is more than enough.
“It fits really nicely in that it fills the space well,” Axcell says. “I think it’s actually easier do it here. It is a smaller stage. You can’t have a cast of 40 people, but if you take the size of the show and scale it down a little bit, it becomes almost the same venue (as Showplace).”
There’s the added benefit of rehearsing on the same stage where the show will be performed, unlike Guild musicals staged at Showplace.
“The nicest thing about doing a show here is you’re on the stage you’re going to perform on months ahead of when the production opens,” he says. “If you’re troubleshooting something when you get to Showplace, it’s almost show time. Here, we’re troubleshooting stuff already.”
Some of the cast for the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s production of the Mel Brook’s musical “Young Frankenstein,” based on his classic 1974 horror-comedy film of the same name, which runs for 11 performances from April 17 to May 3, 2026. (Graphics: Peterborough Theatre Guild)
As for the 25-member cast, Axcell says “I’m lucky to work with such talented people.”
“When you get many people out to audition, you tend to get a wide range of talent. They’re going to make me look good because they’re such good performers. I don’t have to do too much. It’s kind of just molding everything, making sure the big picture all fits together. The cast is phenomenal.”
Among the cast are Tom Stanley, who plays Dr. Frankenstein, Anna Hykaway portraying Inga, and James Burell, who brings Igor to life.
“The main thing I look for is whether or not people have the ability to change their portrayal of a character on the spot,” says Axcell.
“I’ll get somebody to do a reading in the way he or she feels they should do it, and then I ask them to do it a slightly different way. If they’re able to make that pivot, I know that we can work together. Now there can be a back and forth — they can give their vision, I can give my vision, and we find somewhere in the middle.”
Other members of the leading company are Rainey Smith (Elizabeth Benning), Jocelyn Enright (Hermit), Lindsay Unterlander (Frau Blücher), Matt Kraft (Inspector Kemp), and Blair Waller (The Monster).
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For Axcell, working with the actors also means giving them as much leeway as possible within the confines of the established script.
“I am a big fan of improv. There are certain parts of this show where I’ve allowed the actors freedom to do a particular part as they see fit. That doesn’t change the story in any sort of meaningful way, but if they want to change their body movement a little bit or make a slightly different pop culture reference, there’s room for them to do that.”
“We can’t change it too much because our contract says we’re not allowed to, but there’s a little bit of wiggle room for the way you say a line or the way you present something.”
Not surprisingly, a big part of any musical is the music itself.
Young Frankenstein features a number of fun numbers in the form of “The Transylvania Mania,” “He Vas Was My Boyfriend,” and ‘”Puttin’ on the Ritz,” to name a few. Enter seasoned music director Justin Hiscox and choreographer Heather Boyd.
Some of the cast for the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s production of the Mel Brook’s musical “Young Frankenstein,” based on his classic 1974 horror-comedy film of the same name, which runs for 11 performances from April 17 to May 3, 2026. (Graphics: Peterborough Theatre Guild)
“We’re still doing vocal rehearsals to make sure everybody is as comfortable as possible with all the harmonies,” says Axcell, adding that process will continue “right up until dress rehearsals” in April.
“People’s ability to read music varies, so there are times when you have to give a little more guidance to make sure everyone is at the same level as everyone else. Justin’s role is invaluable … plus he brings the band together.”
Axcell also has acting experience himself, most recently in the Anne Shirley Theatre Company’s production of The Play Goes Wrong back in November 2024. Before that, he was part of the cast for the Guild’s spring 2023 staging of the musical comedy Something Rotten!
“I think it makes me a better director,” he says of his acting experience. “Some people truly have unparalleled vision. I’m not going to pretend I’m sort of a savant or anything, but having acting allows me to see things from the actor’s perspective, which just makes it more fun. I say often community theatre should be fun for the audience and for the people on stage.”
Axcell adds his acting experience also makes him more empathetic as a director — “I know what it feels like.”
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As opening night on April 17 nears, Axcell says there are some things he’ll be looking for that will tell him that he and his cast nailed it.
“One of the less obvious things, but obvious to me, is if we successfully tricked (the audience) into thinking they’ve seen a show that’s as good a quality as a Toronto show,” he laughs, adding “That’s not to diminish the type of shows we put on. They just have a lot more money than we do.”
Another sign for Axcell will be positive “unsolicited feedback” from the audience.
“Friends and family are going to say ‘Good job’ regardless, but some stranger saying ‘Hey, really great job!’ means we’ve impacted them enough that they’ve gone out of their way to actually let us know. It costs nothing to walk out the door and say nothing. It takes time and effort to have an interaction with what is essentially a stranger.”
Staging a musical comedy, especially one that has such an established pedigree and is based on such an iconic film, brings the risk of not meeting the audience’s expectations that it’s going to be funny.
“I don’t think that’s going to be the case here,” Axcell says. “We’re working with really great actors and we’re working with really good source material. I’m quite confident. You can quote me as saying ‘You are going to laugh.'”
The creative team for the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s production of the Mel Brook’s musical “Young Frankenstein,” based on his classic 1974 horror-comedy film of the same name, which runs for 11 performances from April 17 to May 3, 2026. (Graphics: Peterborough Theatre Guild)
Offstage, besides Hiscox and Boyd, the creative team includes assistant choreographer Laura Collings, stage manager Tina Barnes, assistant stage manager Ty McKeen, sound/lighting designer Andy Duncan, costume designer Brenna Goldie, hair/makeup designer Shelley Moody, and photographer Jordan Lyall.
Young Frankenstein will be staged at the Guild Hall at 364 Rogers Street in Peterborough’s East City with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. on April 17 and 18, April 23 to 25, and April 30 to May 2, and 1:30 p.m. matinee performances on April 19 and May 3.
All Creatures Great and Small in Cobourg was the recipient of the inaugural Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Award at the Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce's 23rd annual Business Achievement Awards in partnership with the Town of Cobourg. One of nine awards presented on March 27, 2026, the IDEA Award recognizes businesses that have taken proactive steps to raise awareness about the importance of welcoming and accommodating all. (Photo courtesy of Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce)
The Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Town of Cobourg, has announced the winners of the 23rd annual Business Achievement Awards.
The winners were celebrated at an awards ceremony on Friday night (March 27) at the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn and Convention Centre in Cobourg.
This year’s awards featured nine updated and new categories, with other award categories returning next year.
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“By moving to a two-year awards cycle, we have been able to divide some of the broader categories into more specific awards, ensuring that every nominee competes on a truly level playing field,” said Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce board chair Tanya Colford when announcing a call for nominations in January.
To qualify for a Business Achievement Award, businesses must be located in the Town of Cobourg, the Township of Alnwick/Haldimand, or the Township of Hamilton, and must have been operating for a minimum of two years.
This year’s winners are:
Entrepreneurship Award: Kerry Viggiani of Here She Creates Studio
IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility) Award:- All Creatures Great and Small
Farming & Agribusiness Award: Dirty Dog Cider and Unique Eats & Garden Treats
Health & Wellness Sector Award: Five Counties Children’s Centre
Not-For-Profit Community Services Award: Northumberland United Way
Outstanding Customer Experience Award: Vandermeer Toyota
Professional Services Award: Baker Tilly Cobourg KDN LLP
Small Retail Trade Award (9 or fewer employees): Spark – Smart Toys for Cool Kids
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