Hello, all you gorgeous readers! It’s Ms. Madge Enthat — the drag queen with the big purple hairdo(n’t) which can often be seen scraping the sky in and around Peterborough.

As I’m writing this, Peterborough Pride’s 2020 virtual version has just begun. Writing as a contributor to kawarthaNOW, Sarah McNeilly asked recently if I had any plans for a digital online presence in relation to our annual LGBTQ+ festival. Especially since COVID-19 had postponed any immediate continuation of the wildly popular Drag Bingo & Comedy show hosted at Delta Bingo Peterborough by yours truly and my fabulous drag partner-in-crime, Miss Divalicious.

The short answer was, “No, not at this time.” Well, I wasn’t planning on any online video, but Sarah inspired me regardless.

(Full disclosure: I don’t have the set-up for an enjoyable video presentation. Me in my little home office/drag room with a desk lamp, overhead background lighting, and the ceiling fan for effect isn’t gonna cut it!)

The past number of months have literally been a waiting game to see what was going to be possible for live face-to-face performances with enthusiastic audiences, which is where I have always felt most comfortable.

Whether or not a successful return of students to a new school year was going to be possible felt like the go/no-go which may have given the rest of us permission to move forward with any plans we had in the following weeks.

Now that we’re seeing the difficulties of reviving in-class education during the viral pandemic, the thought of responsible indoor live drag entertainment seems like a bit of a far-off dream.

So here I am sharing a small release of pent-up thought and hopefully, inspiration now that Pride has rolled around again to provide a much-needed recharge of our rainbow.

In fact, this year’s Pride theme finds me celebrating in my own way while stationed in a distant place: Bruce Nuclear Power Generating Station — North America’s largest nuclear energy source. “Pride In Other Spaces” indeed!

But I’m not here as the bedazzled and sequinned Ms. Madge Enthat. I’m here out of drag as an employee contributing to regular component maintenance projects for these giant reactors. That may sound impressive, but I’m not the one actually splitting atoms. We leave that to the folk who get really aroused by the nuclear science chatter around the water cooler here.

No, my role is a small one out of thousands on-site which keep these huge machines running safely. I’ve been working various maintenance projects within the nuclear energy sector for a couple of years now and I find it to be incredibly interesting work. It’s necessary work that helps keep the lights for about 25 per cent of Ontario, when referring to Bruce Power. And of course, I’m thankful for the work.

Now, I’m not going to rainbow-wash the truth here: though I can hold my own in any awkward situation, as a drag queen with a gay man alter-ego it can be a tad daunting to rub shoulders with some very talented tradespeople in the industry.

Currently, many of these are folk who, in addition to being good at their craft, spend a lot of their time concerning themselves with methods of welding, equipment used in welding, off-road LED light bars for their pick-up trucks, industrial work opportunities, and topics of ‘locker room’ talk, as examples.

The awkwardness. It happens. And one of those situations inevitably occurs when, with almost every new introduction I get asked if I have a girlfriend/wife/kids back home. That default question containing a sizable chunk of assumption delivers a bit of a sting, to be honest.

Even in 2020, coming out to members of a new project crew requires some tact. If you’re asking “Why would you be outing yourself?”, trust that I’m not going out of my way to do so. Though I do appreciate demonstrating that my innate lifestyle can be discussed in the same cavalier way as anyone else asking about spouses and offspring when given the chance.

So, most often I decide (with a fit-for-a-queen, mildly sarcastic voice in my head), “Well, since you asked…” and proceed to deliver my truth with a breath deepened by my learned pride to the questioning party — about having a male partner of 20 years back home in Peterborough, about having come out some 24 years ago, in addition to any other details of my life which could be pertinent to the conversation.

More often than not, this leads to us discovering things in common as well as our differences, which reveal we are as unique and valid as one another.

This happened as recently as yesterday.

I’ve learned to be valid as-is, no longer molding to anyone’s preconceived idea of what I should be.

As Madge, I am fashioned to be a fantastic and humorous version of my male self when I wear all the colourful costuming, makeup and glittery drippings to be a larger-than-life drag queen. Altogether the spectacle becomes my own self-empowering character which I enjoy sharing whenever possible. The promise is to always use that resulting aura of energy to encourage others to live their unique truth in health and with pride.

As a gay man with an over-the-top drag queen alter-ego, you can bet a bag of hot-fix Swarovski’s that I’m proud of it.

My role in this world is only one-in-eight-billion who help keep Pride alive in other places.

Happy Pride, Peterborough.
Ms. Madge Enthat

Highway 28 is closed in both directions between Highway 118 at Paudash and Jeff Road, around 7 kilometres north of Apsley, due to a serious collision.

At around 3:15 p.m. on Sunday afternoon (September 20), a motorcycle was travelling southbound on Highway 28 north of Jeff Road when the driver lost control for an unknown reason.

One male victim has been transported by air ambulance to a Toronto-area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Southbound traffic is being detoured at Highway 118 in Paudash and northbound traffic is being detoured at Jeff Road.

Drivers should give themselves extra time if travelling in this area due to the length of the detour. The closure will remain in place for several hours while police investigate.

This story has been updated with details from an OPP media release.

Police have charged a Peterborough woman with arson and attempted murder following a fire early Sunday morning (September 20) at a Hunter Street West apartment complex.

At 3:24 a.m. on Sunday, police and fire services responded to a structure fire at TVM Mansions at 369 Hunter Street West.

The 85-unit apartment complex, owned by TVM Group, also has entrances at 384 Park Street North and 386 Park Street North.

When police and fire services arrived, the building was on fire and several residents were gathered on the sidewalk. Police observed a woman, with visible burn marks to her clothing, walking in the area. Witnesses subsequently identified the woman as the person responsible for starting the fire.

When police approached the woman, she began to walk away. After police caught up to her around Hunter and Downie Street, they spoke with her and had reason to believe she started the fire.

At 3:31 a.m., police arrested Kristina Saunders, 35, of Hunter Street West in Peterborough on a charge of arson with disregard for human life and took her into custody.

After further investigation, police allege Saunders had intentionally set a fire in an apartment where a man was sleeping in a bedroom. As a result, police have also charged Saunders with attempted murder.

Saunders was held in custody pending an appearance in provincial court.

Over the next few days, Peterborough police will be working with the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office to determine the cause of the fire.

Police are not aware of any injuries as a result of the fire, and say the estimated costs of the fire damage is not yet known.

An investigative team has arrived in Peterborough to assist @PtboPolice @PtboFireRescue determine the origin, cause and circumstances of an overnight fire. pic.twitter.com/ItkXLXZFZg

— Steven Wilson (@A_Deputy_OFMEM) September 20, 2020

With Ontario reporting 407 new COVID-19 cases today, the second straight daily increase over 400, the government is extending restrictions on unmonitored and private social gatherings to the entire province.

Premier Doug Ford made the announcement on Saturday morning (September 19) at a media conference at Queen’s Park along with health minister Christine Elliott and associate chief medical officer of health Dr. Barbara Yaffe.

“The alarm bells are ringing,” Ford said. “And too much of it is being tied to people who aren’t following the rules. People who think it’s okay to hold parties, to carry on as if things are back to normal. They aren’t.”

Ford said the government needs to take “decisive action” and, effective immediately, is extending the same restrictions currently in place in Toronto, Ottawa, and Peel Region for unmonitored and private social gatherings — a maximum of 10 people indoors and a maximum of 25 people outdoors — to every region in Ontario for the next 28 days.

“We made this decision on the advice of our chief medical officer of health, Dr. Williams, and our public health team,” Ford added. “Folks, we can’t have these wild parties right now. It’s just way, way too risky.”

Unmonitored and private social gatherings include functions, parties, dinners, gatherings, BBQs, or wedding receptions held in private residences, backyards, parks, and other recreational areas. Indoor and outdoor events and gatherings cannot be merged together — gatherings of 35 (25 outdoors and 10 indoors) are not permitted. Under new legislation, organizers and hosts of illegal gatherings face a minimum $10,000 fine, while individuals who attend such gatherings can already by fined $750 each.

“We can’t have people merging indoor and outdoor parties, so don’t try to get around the rules,” Ford said. “This is about everyone’s health and safety, and we have to come down hard on the rule-breakers. We have to crack down on the illegal parties.”

The new limits do not apply to events or gatherings held in staffed businesses and facilities, such as bars, restaurants, cinemas, convention centres, banquet halls, gyms, places of worship, recreational sporting or performing art events. Existing rules, including public health and workplace safety measures for these businesses and facilities, continue to be in effect.

With the 407 new cases reported today, the number of active cases in Ontario is now at 5,707, an increase of 230. Most of the new cases are in Toronto (129), Peel (94), Ottawa (55), and York (28) with smaller increases in Halton (18), Waterloo (14), Hamilton (12), Simcoe Muskoka (11), Middlesex-London (10), Windsor-Essex (6), Durham (6), and a new outbreak in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (14). The remaining 22 public health units in Ontario are reporting five or fewer cases, with 14 reporting no new cases.

Of the new cases, 71% of today’s cases are among people under the age of 40. There have been 6 new hospitalizations and 1 new death. There is no change to the number of patients admitted to ICUs or on ventilators.

With Ontario completing 38,940 tests yesterday, the backlog of tests being investigated has now climbed to 42,778, an increase of 2,335 since yesterday.

In the greater Kawarthas region, there are no new cases to report in Peterborough (on September 19, the health unit reported 1 new case for a total of 112 cases and 7 active cases; this was an administrative error and has since been corrected). Reports are not issued on weekends for Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, and Hastings and Prince Edward counties.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 111 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (103 resolved with 2 deaths), 178 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (159 resolved with 32 deaths), 41 in Northumberland County (34 resolved with 1 death), 15 in Haliburton County (15 resolved with no deaths), and 52 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County (47 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Northumberland on September 8.

Province-wide, there have been 46,484 confirmed cases, an increase of 407 from yesterday, with 40,777 (87.7% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 177. There have been 2,826 deaths, an increase of 1 from yesterday, with 1,824 deaths reported in long-term care homes (no change from yesterday). A total of 3,508,463 tests have been completed, an increase of 38,940 from yesterday, with 42,778 tests under investigation, an increase of 2,335 from yesterday.

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

Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.

Confirmed positive: 111 (no change)*
Active cases: 6 (no change)*
Deaths: 2 (no change)
Resolved: 103 (no change)
Total tests completed: Over 27,150 (increase of 150)
Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven (no change)

*On September 19, the health unit reported 1 new case, for a total of 112 cases and 7 active cases. This was an administrative error and has since been corrected.

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 18.

Confirmed positive: 234, including 178 in Kawartha Lakes, 41 in Northumberland, 15 in Haliburton (increase of 1 in Northumberland)
Probable cases: 0 (no change)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 15 (no change)
Deaths: 33 (no change)
Resolved: 208, including 159 in Kawartha Lakes, 34 in Northumberland, 15 in Haliburton (no change)
Active cases: 6 (increase of 1 in Northumberland)
Institutional outbreaks: None (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 18.

Confirmed positive: 52 (no change)
Active cases: 0 (decrease of 5)
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: 47 (increase of 5)
Total tests completed: 28,894 (increase of 1,574)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 46,484 (increase of 407)
Resolved: 40,777 (increase of 177, 87.7% of all cases)
Active cases: 5,707 (increase of 230)
Hospitalized: 64 (increase of 6)
Hospitalized and in ICU: 20 (no change)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 10 (no change)
Deaths: 2,826 (increase of 1)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,824 (no change)
Total tests completed: 3,508,463 (increase of 38,940)
Tests under investigation: 42,778 (increase of 2,335)

For more information about COVID-19 in Ontario, visit covid-19.ontario.ca.

This story has been updated with the September 19 COVID-19 report for Peterborough.

Four municipalities in the greater Kawarthas region are among the 16 Ontario communities receiving funding from the Canadian and Ontario governments to improve public transit. The City of Kawartha Lakes, Cobourg, Port Hope, and Bancroft will receive almost $3 million in joint funding for their public transit projects.

In total, the federal government is investing more than $23 million in 30 projects, with the Ontario government providing over $19.1 million and municipalities contributing more than $17.5 million.

Catherine McKenna, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, announced the funding on Friday (September 18) in the City of Kawartha Lakes, where she was joined by Ontario Minister of Infrastructure and Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MP Jamie Schmale, and Kawartha Lakes Deputy Mayor Pat O’Reilly.

“Investing in modern and accessible public transportation systems allows Canadians to get around in faster, cheaper and cleaner ways,” McKenna said. “These new buses, upgraded shelters, and modernized software systems will help make public transit in Ontario more accessible and convenient for riders.”

In Kawartha Lakes, $2.9 million will support the renovation and expansion of a bus maintenance facility, seven new conventional buses (five to replace retiring vehicles and two to expand the fleet), a new transit hub and 20 additional transit stops, and additional bike racks and bike corrals.

The funding will also be used for upgrades to transit software will enhance the transit system’s efficiency and connectivity with road and active transportation networks, and will provide for a better customer experience. The federal government is contributing $946,478, the province $788,542, and the City of Kawartha Lakes $1,120,980.

In Cobourg, $1.2 million will be used to purchase of three new buses (two conventional 30-foot transit buses and one eight-metre low floor specialized vehicle) to replace aging vehicles in the fleet, which will improve the town’s transit system by making all buses fully accessible. The federal government is contributing $496,182, the province $413,443, and Cobourg $330,829.

In Port Hope, $264,500 in funding will support the procurement of a new specialized transit vehicle to expand services to rural areas, while the installation of new bus shelters, benches, concrete pads, and sidewalk approaches will improve the quality, safety, and accessibility of the transit system. The federal government is contributing $105,800, the province $88,158, and Port Hope $70,542.

In Bancroft, $210,768 will be used to purchase three new specialized transit fleet vehicles, which will increase the frequency of the fixed-route service while improving the responsiveness of the town’s on-demand specialized transit service, resulting in improved capacity, quality, and accessibility for public transit users. The federal government is contributing $84,307, the province $70,249, and Bancroft $56,212.

Other communities receiving funding include Huntsville, Sarnia, Orillia, Midland, Halton Hills, Elliot Lake, Timmins, Stratford, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Collingwood, Orangeville, and Wasaga Beach.

If you normally drive on Parkhill Road East between Armour Road and Television Road in Peterborough, you’ll need to take another route for the next six or seven months.

Parks Canada announced on Friday (September 18) that the Warsaw Swing Bridge will be closed from October until the spring.

Pending contractor submissions, the bridge will be closed as of Monday, October 5th, and will remain closed over the fall and winter months. It will re-open in spring 2021, prior to the opening of navigation on the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Parkhill Road East will only be closed at the swing bridge, with access to local businesses remaining open.

Detour signage will be in place, with eastbound traffic on Parkhill Road East being directed to Nassau Mills Road and westbound traffic directed to Lansdowne Street.

Parks Canada states that recent engineering inspections have shown the bridge is nearing the end of its useful life. The bridge was originally constructed in 1956, and is a twin to the Maria Street Swing Bridge in East City.

The work involves the full replacement of the steel swing bridge structure, repairs to concrete abutments, and replacement of mechanical and electrical operating systems. Large portions of the new bridge will be constructed off site and assembled in place.

Once complete, the swing bridge will have full highway load rating and a sidewalk for pedestrian use.