4th Line Theatre in Millbrook is Canada's premier outdoor theatre company. (Photo: 4th Line Theatre / Facebook)
Millbrook’s outdoor theatre company 4th Line Theatre announced on Thursday (August 6) that live performances will return to Winslow Farm in October, with the world premiere of Bedtime Stories and Other Horrifying Tales.
The Halloween-themed production was co-written by 4th Line’s general manager Lindy Finlan and managing artistic director Kim Blackwell, who will also direct the show, with musical direction and original compositions by Justin Hiscox.
Set on a dark fall night in 1835, the play follows 10-year-old Samuel Deyell as he goes into the darkest night, in search of his missing mother.
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Samuel is joined on his quest by his two best friends. In the shadows, the children encounter the darkest secrets and most horrifying facets of Millbrook and Cavan. As the story unfolds, audiences will be taken throughout the Winslow farm to secret spaces never seen by audiences before.
“This creepy production is inspired by the images and creatures that fill children’s nightmares, alongside a story of the devastating consequences of forbidden love,” reads a media release from 4th Line Theatre.
This theatrical presentation will adhere to all provincial COVID mandates and guidelines for maximum audience numbers, physical distancing, and mask wearing. Health checks will be done on all audience members and creative team members prior to each performance.
“Bedtime Stories and Other Horrifying Tales” was co-written by 4th Line’s general manager Lindy Finlan and managing artistic director Kim Blackwell, who will also direct the show, with musical direction and original compositions by Justin Hiscox. The interactive production runs at Winslow Farm in Millbrook for 10 performances only from October 20 to 30, 2020. (Supplied photos)
“With 100 acres of land at the farm, we are very confident that people will be able to enjoy this production while maintaining appropriate distancing,” Blackwell says. “As an outdoor theatre, we are ideally suited to return to entertaining theatre-going audiences in the fall of 2020.”
This interactive production will travel up and down dark paths and over uneven terrain for approximately one kilometre, and is not suitable for people with mobility or health issues.
Patrons are asked to dress for the weather, wear appropriate and sturdy footwear, and to bring a flashlight to the performance. The performances will run rain, snow, or shine.
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4th Line Theatre says the production contains frightening scenes and mature content, and parental guidance is suggested.
There will be 10 performances only, running from Tuesday, October 20th to Friday, October 30th. Tickets are $25 each, and are limited for each performance.
Tickets and gift certificates for 4th Line Theatre productions can be purchased 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.
It's International Lazy Day on August 10th, and you can still help the environment even when you're kicking back and taking it easy. If you're thinking about planting a tree on your property, take the lazy approach to planning. Survey how the sun hits your yard during the day from the comfort of your favourite chair or hammock, and don't forget a cool drink. (Photo: Leif Einarson / GreenUP)
This article is for loungers, loafers, and couch potatoes.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Benjamin Hargreaves, Communications and Marketing Support Staff at GreenUP.
Inaction on climate change is undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges we must overcome this decade. But in honour of International Lazy Day on Monday, August 10th, we at GreenUP have gathered together things even the laziest of the lazy can do to help the environment.
It’s the perfect time for that inaction to go green. Here are three ways to do it:
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1. Take advantage of existing resources
Why bother figuring out how laziness can be green when someone can do that for you? The United Nations created an online tool called The Lazy Person’s Guide To Saving The World.
Clearly, they recognize that we can’t save the planet without channelling the power of laziness. This guide is conveniently broken down into four levels of sustainable actions you can take from your couch, home, outside your home, and at work.
The United Nations recognized that inaction can be sustainable, so they built an online tool called “The Lazy Person’s Guide to Saving the World,” which you can conveniently browse from your couch. (Photo: Benjamin Hargreaves / GreenUP)
The tool includes simple things you can do from your phone like switching your paper bills to e-bills, sharing climate justice posts on social media, and keeping up with environmental news.
Keeping up with the news can be exhausting, but you can circumvent this chore by signing up for Google Alerts that send relevant articles right to your inbox.
2. Shop sustainably and locally
There are many products we use in everyday life that we can substitute for sustainable alternatives. The best part about this is that once you make the change, you can usually forget about these items, letting you continue your lazy ways but with a sustainable twist.
GreenUP store and resource centre coordinator Kristen LaRocque suggests beeswax food wraps as a lazy alternative to plastic wrap. They last over a year, eliminating the need to worry about restocking plastic wrap.
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“Bamboo toothbrushes are another easy swap,” LaRocque adds. “Simply refuse to buy the dense plastic conventional kind, which take hundreds of years to disintegrate and often end up polluting bodies of water. Bamboo toothbrushes do the job well and when the bristles are splayed, you can repurpose as a grout cleaning brush or snap off the head and compost the handle.”
Whether out of laziness, convenience, or necessity, many of us have relied on e-commerce sites like Amazon during the pandemic. Unfortunately, items on Amazon often come from a supply chain that doesn’t have the planet’s best interest in mind, not to mention the long distances most products travel before ending up on your doorstep.
Shopping sustainably means opting to purchase from local independent retailers rather than big box stores or chains. Here in Peterborough, theboro.ca has done the work for you. This website is your one-stop source for local stores in downtown Peterborough offering online purchasing options.
These sustainable alternatives to plastic wrap are a great way to put environmental inaction to use. They last over a year so no more worrying about restocking that pesky plastic wrap. (Photo: Kristen LaRocque / GreenUP)
Shopping sustainably also means looking for retailers that abide by an environmentally conscious mandate and take extra care in their sourcing process. We’re proud to offer exactly that at the new online GreenUP Store, and are happy to see many other local shops doing what they can to go green.
I just want to pause at this point in the article to let our more lethargic readers have a break. Are you comfortable? Maybe get someone to grab you a snack? Alright, let’s keep going.
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3. Do some lazy landscaping
With the weather keeping things parched and the pandemic keeping us home, many industrious folks have turned to property maintenance and home improvement projects just for something to do. Luckily for you there are a few environmentally conscious ways you can care for your property that you won’t break a sweat over.
You’ve probably heard this from us before but we can’t say it enough. Your grass isn’t dead if it’s brown; it’s dormant.
“Lawn grasses naturally go dormant during drought,” says Jenn McCallum, coordinator with GreenUP’s water programs. “Grass will go green again when it rains. Letting grass go dormant saves effort and water.”
Wild bergamot is an excellent low-maintenance perennial that’s perfect for lazy landscaping. They can withstand droughts, are pleasant to look at, and even provide an important food source to pollinators. (Photo: GreenUP)
If your Netflix series just ended and you’re thinking about watering your lawn, forget about it. Find a new series and save water.
Why stop with grass? Strive to be lazier with your perennials too. If your perennial garden is constantly demanding water and attention but still looking pathetic and tired, there’s an easier way.
“Native drought-tolerant perennials, shrubs, and trees can be far more self-sufficient than lawns and many non-native perennials,” observes McCallum. “Lawns are over-rated with all that mowing, aerating, and fertilizing. There are many beautiful and easier alternatives with deep root systems that can find water themselves, survive droughts, and provide food for pollinators.”
You can purchase a wide array of these plant species from GreenUP’s Ecology Park Nursery. Feeling too lazy to choose plants and design your garden? We made it even easier by packaging up a Water Wise Garden Kit that includes a design plan, which you can purchase online at greenup.on.ca/water-wise-garden-kit/ and pick up.
The GreenUP Store has started to provide online purchasing options in response to the pandemic. Shopping locally is a great way to take a more sustainable approach to your buying habits. (Photo: Benjamin Hargreaves / GreenUP)
A personal favourite lazy landscape-planning tip of mine comes from Matthew Walmsley, coordinator of education programs at Ecology Park. I know, I said “planning”, and that sounds like a lot of work. But it doesn’t have to be.
“In my opinion, considering which tree is right for your yard is one of the laziest planning activities,” Walmsley says. “Get your favourite chair (or hammock) and your favourite cold drink. Relax in your yard for hours at a time.”
“If anyone asks why you’re endlessly relaxing in your yard, you can test different responses. Perhaps explain that you’re studying how much sunlight your yard gets to determine which tree would be happiest in this place. Alternatively, you can just say you’re fighting climate change.”
Now you’re ready to celebrate International Lazy Day this August 10th the right way, by channelling your inaction towards more sustainable living. Be sure to share your lazy ways with us on social media @PtboGreenUP.
How much is that doggie in the window? Nebula, one of the puppies from Karolina's Border Collies in Ennismore, in a scene from the second season two of Netflix's hit show "The Umbrella Academy". (Photo: Netflix)
Some Ennismore-bred border collie puppies are now Netflix stars.
At least in the eyes of border collie fans and of Karolina’s Border Collies, the Ennismore breeder that supplied the puppies for the second season of Netflix’s hit show The Umbrella Academy.
The pups appear in two scenes in “The Swedish Job”, the third episode of the second season.
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In the first scene (14:50), the puppies are in the window of the W. Arnold Pet Store when The Handler (Kate Walsh) visits the store. In the second scene (44:00), the pups can also be seen when Lila Pitts (Ritu Arya) visits the same pet store.
“Our puppies were posted for adoption when a pet agent contacted me looking for black and white puppies,” explains Karolina’s Border Collies owner Charlotte Darby in an email to kawarthaNOW.
“After sending in photos of the remaining puppies that we still had, they asked me to bring them to be used for the shot.”
Puppies from two litters bred by Karolina’s Border Collies in Ennismore first appear in the pet store scene in “The Swedish Job”, the third episode of the second season, when The Handler (Kate Walsh) visits the store. The second season is set in Dallas, Texas, in the early 1960s. (Photo: Netflix)A close-up of two of the puppies from Karolina’s Border Collies in Ennismore in the pet store scene in “The Swedish Job”, the third episode of the second season. The scenes were shot on July 19, 2019 when The Umbrella Academy was being filmed in Toronto and Hamilton. (Photo: Netflix)
The Umbrella Academy, an adaptation of the popular graphic novel of the same name written by Gerard Way and illustrated by Gabriel Bá, tells the story of the dysfunctional Hargreeves family of misfit adopted sibling superheroes.
In the first season, the siblings have to overcome their differences to reunite and investigate the apparent murder of their strict adoptive father — and then prevent an apocalypse. The second season is set primarily in the early 1960s in Dallas, Texas, before President John F. Kennedy is assassinated, when the family has to come together again to prevent another apocalypse.
The Umbrella Academy was filmed in Canada, mainly in Toronto and Hamilton, with some exterior shots of the real Dallas and with the Dallas skyline inserted digitally into some scenes.
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The scenes with Karolina’s border collies were filmed over two days in July of last year. Charlotte says the puppies are from two litters, both born on May 12, 2019: two from Sadie Lang and Mr Bo’s litter and four from Girl Zed and Bo’s litter.
Karolina’s Border Collies, founded by Charlotte and Rick Szajkowski and named for their daughter Karolina, has been breeding border collies for more than 15 years. Now located in Ennismore, they used to own a pet store at George and Brock streets in downtown Peterborough.
They are lifetime members of the Canadian Border Collie Association, and dogs from Karolina’s have gone to owners across Canada and the U.S.
The puppies from Karolina’s Border Collies in Ennismore can also be seen in the background of the pet store scene, when The Handler (Kate Walsh) intimidates a young boy looking at fish. (Photo: Netflix)The puppies from Karolina’s Border Collies in Ennismore also appear again later in “The Swedish Job”, the third episode of the second season, when Lila Pitts (Ritu Arya) visits the same pet store and pets one of the pups. (Photo: Netflix)
“We love the border collie line,” Charlotte writes. “They make a great family pet, as well as an agility or farm pet. We also have quite a few that are service dogs.”
For more information about Karolina’s Border Collies, you can join their Facebook group.
“Border collies are very well behaved,” Charlotte adds. “All they want to do is make you happy.”
Nebula, from Karolina’s Border Collies in Ennismore and now belonging to Michelle Bertrand-Porter of Peterborough, poses in front of The Umbrella Academy episode in which she appears as a puppy. Nebula is now over a year old. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Bertrand-Porter)
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
For the third day in a row, Ontario is reporting fewer than 100 new cases of COVID-19, with 86 new cases reported for August 4, 91 for August 3, and 88 for August 2. Ninety per cent of all cases in Ontario are now resolved. Hospitalizations also continue to decline, with 66 people currently receiving medical care in hospital as a result of COVID-19.
In the greater Kawarthas region, one new case has been reported in Haliburton, with one new hospitalization, also in Haliburton. There are no new cases to report today in the Peterborough area, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, or Prince Edward and Hastings counties.
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Since the pandemic began, there have been 99 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (94 resolved with 2 deaths), 176 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (156 resolved with 32 deaths), 25 in Northumberland County (25 resolved with no deaths), 14 in Haliburton County (12 resolved with no deaths), and 44 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County (38 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported on May 7 by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
Province-wide, there have been 39,714 confirmed cases, an increase of 86 from yesterday’s report, with 35,747 cases (90% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 146. There have been 2,782 deaths (no change from yesterday), with 1,798 deaths reported in long-term care homes (no change from yesterday). A total of 2,295,116 tests have been completed, an increase of 17,229 from yesterday, with 16,407 tests under investigation, a decrease of 7,122.
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: 99 (increase of 1) Active cases: 3 (decrease of of 1) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 94 (increase of 1) Total tests completed: Over 21,700 (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.
Confirmed positive: 215, including 176 in Kawartha Lakes, 25 in Northumberland, 14 in Haliburton (increase of 1, in Haliburton) Probable cases: 0 (no change) Hospitalizations: 15 (increase of 1, in Haliburton) Deaths: 32 (no change) Resolved: 193, including 156 in Kawartha Lakes, 25 in Northumberland, 12 in Haliburton (no change) 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..
Confirmed positive: 44 (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: 38 (no change) Total tests completed: 18,031 (increase of 456) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 39,714 (increase of 86) Resolved: 35,747 (increase of 146, 90% of all cases) Hospitalized: 66 (decrease of 12) Hospitalized and in ICU: 28 (increase of 2) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 15 (no change) Deaths: 2,782 (no change) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,798 (no change) Total tests completed: 2,295,116 (increase of 17,229) Tests under investigation: 16,407 (increase of 7,122)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from July 5 – August 4, 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 July 5 – August 4, 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)
The OHL plans to resume 2020-21 regular season play on December 1, 2020, as long as it's safe to do so. (Graphic: OHL)
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) announced on Wednesday (August 5) that it is planning to return to play on Tuesday, December 1st — as long as it’s safe for players, fans, and staff.
Over the next four months, the OHL says it will continue to work with government and health agencies to deal with outstanding issues such as safe attendance at venues and cross-border travel for teams and players.
The season will include a 64-game schedule and a 16-team playoff format. The regular season is scheduled to end on April 29, 2021, with the Memorial Cup — hosted by either the Oshawa Generals or Soo Greyhounds —scheduled to be played June 17 to 27, 2021.
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“We are looking forward to getting back to playing hockey, but are committed to ensuring that we do so in a manner that is safe and healthy for our players, officials, families, billets, teams, staff, fans and the community,” says OHL commissioner David Branch.
“Players will remain at home until the season resumes and teams will work closely with them on both their academic studies and overseeing their on and off-ice development. In addition, the league will liaise with our facilities to ensure that our venues are safe for our return to play.”
Peterborough Petes general manager Mike Oke says the entire organization is looking forward to having a start date to work toward and plan around.
“We feel that, with a great group of returning players and many talented prospects looking to earn spots on our roster, we’ll be icing an exciting team when the season gets underway,” Oke says.
Renewals for Petes’ season ticket memberships will resume on Tuesday, August 11th, with season ticket holders getting priority access to tickets. More details will be released as the regular season approaches.
The National Hockey League resumed play on August 1st in the hub cities of Edmonton and Toronto, with 24 teams in competition for the Stanley Cup.
Overcrowding, littering, parking violations, and bad behaviour is continuing along sections of the Trent-Severn Waterway, prompting closures and other actions.
On Tuesday (August 4), the Northumberland OPP announced that “enhanced rules” will be implemented at Healey Falls, a tourist attraction located 10 kilometres north of Campbellford.
“The tourist area has seen a large increase in visitors resulting in numerous complaints involving overcrowding, parking violations, littering, and various other behaviours which might compromise public safety,” a police media release states.
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Police say Parks Canada will be posting prominent signage warning against littering, camping, fires, and parking in prohibited areas.
Parks Canada staff will be monitoring the area for people contravening the restrictions, which may result in enforcement action being taken by Parks Canada wardens and local police. Any vehicle found to be obstructing the roadway may be at risk of being towed.
This is the latest in a series of similar issues along the Trent-Severn Waterway in the Kawartha region during July.
A kawarthaNOW.com reader who wishes to remain anonymous submitted this photo on August 1, 2020 of a large tent with about 30 people along River Road between Peterborough and Lakefield. Camping on Parks Canada land in this area is prohibited, and there are no public washrooms. (Supplied photo)
Crown land at the popular Burleigh Falls was closed to the public on July 9th because of overcrowding, parking violations, and bad behaviour.
In early July, kawarthaNOW also reported illegal camping, littering, public defecation along the Trent Canal between Peterborough and Lakefield — which continues to take place despite efforts by Park Canada.
On July 28th, the Municipality of Trent Hills, which operates Crowe Bridge Park park on behalf of the Crowe Valley Conservation Authority, closed the park effective July 30th because of overcrowding and illegal parking.
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Then, on July 30th, the Municipality of Trent Hills announced the closure of the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge, located just south of Ranney Falls in Ferris Provincial Park.
The Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge, located just south of Ramney Falls in Ferris Provincial Park in Northumberland County. (Photo: Northumberland Tourism)
The municipality says it closed the 300-foot-long bridge because of overcrowding and reckless behaviour.
Approaches to the bridge have now been barricaded and entry is prohibited.
The Innovation Cluster's new "Women Breaking Barriers" business accelerator program is designed to support female entrepreneurs in the science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and social innovation sectors. The program is ready to support 20 new or early-stage businesses in the Peterborough and the Kawarthas region with female-identified founders beginning this fall. There is no cost to participate thanks to a one-year $75,000 seed grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario. (Photo courtesy of Innovation Cluster - Peterborough and the Kawarthas)
Did you know only six per cent of Canadian tech firms have a female CEO, and that more than half have no female executives at all?
What’s more, only four per cent of venture capital funding goes toward women-led companies, and female founders who are women of colour get less than one percent of venture capital each year.
The Innovation Cluster – Peterborough and the Kawarthas is working to change those statistics by launching an innovative new business accelerator program called “Women Breaking Barriers”, designed specifically to support female entrepreneurs in the innovation space including direct access to investment and financing.
Announced on Wednesday (August 5), the program is ready to support 20 new or early-stage businesses in the Peterborough and the Kawarthas region with female-identified founders beginning this fall.
The Innovation Cluster’s new “Women Breaking Barriers” business accelerator program will provide learning, growth, and financing opportunities for women-led startups with fewer than 10 employees, or for those who are just at the idea stage. (Graphic courtesy of Innovation Cluster – Peterborough and the Kawarthas)
With targeted training, mentorships, collaboration, and access to funding, Women Breaking Barriers is poised to change the lives of local female entrepreneurs in the science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and social innovation sectors.
This program has been made possible thanks to a one-year $75,000 seed grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario.
“Women Breaking Barriers, made possible through this investment, is an important step in increasing the movement of women into STEM fields,” said Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha. “Simply put, careers in science, technology, engineering and math are the well-paying jobs of the future. This is a great local initiative which I, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and our government are proud to support.”
Intended for startups with fewer than 10 employees or for those who are just at the idea stage, the program will provide learning, growth, and funding opportunities through a process designed to bring great minds together.
“We know that by fostering a community of like-minded women in all levels of STEM and social innovation, we will arrive at innovative solutions that benefit all Canadians,” said Rose Terry, Marketing Manager and Senior Innovation Specialist at the Innovation Cluster.
Members of the Chimp Treats team, including founder and CEO Brooke Hammer (right), demonstrating the “each for equal” symbol for International Women’s Day 2020 at the Innovation Cluster’s The Cube business incubator in downtown Peterborough. Chimp Treats is an innovative health food company that creates frozen dessert products made entirely from fruit. The Innovation Cluster’s new “Women Breaking Barriers” program will support 20 women-led STEM and social innovation startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. (Photo courtesy of Innovation Cluster – Peterborough and the Kawarthas)
“If you’re coachable, if you have great ideas, and you want to go through the process together with lots of mentorship and support, we now have an accelerator program to fast track a female-led startup,” Terry said.
Since launching in 2004 with its renowned business incubator launched in downtown Peterborough in 2017 called The Cube, the Innovation Cluster has supported hundreds of startups by providing creative workspace, coaching, mentoring, and business development support services. The not-for-profit economic development organization launched a second business incubator in the City of Kawartha Lakes earlier this year and, with both locations delivering proof that collaborative environments grow success, the Women Breaking Barriers accelerator program is built on a wealth of past learning.
“It is difficult for women in tech to get financing and it is difficult for women, as founders, to get investment across Canada,” Terry explained. “This program takes all of that into account by getting women in front of financiers early on. We’re also working to create financing streams specifically for these women through Community Futures organizations in our region.”
On the back end of the program there will also be an opportunity to pitch to investors with the Peterborough Region Angel Network.
Manjit Minhas (second from right, back row) in March 2020 with local business people Dawn Hennessey (second from left, back row), Rhonda Barnet (centre, back row), and Sofie Andreou (right, back row), founders of FemSteamPtbo, an organization supporting young females in the Peterborough area to pursue education and career options in STEAM and skilled trades. Minhas, a Canadian entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and self-described beer baroness who is one of the celebrity investors on CBC Television’s popular Dragons’ Den series, was the guest speaker at the Innovation Cluster’s Electric City Talks series with a talk entitled “Empowering Women: Achieving Business Success in Male-Dominated Industries”. (Photo courtesy of Innovation Cluster – Peterborough and the Kawarthas)
Offering the program virtually allows accessibility benefits, such as women with increased childcare responsibilities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and those residing outside of Peterborough. The program also only takes six months to complete and, best of all, it’s free.
“With the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, there is no cost to participants,” Terry said. “We are looking for people with a great idea who might have been displaced in the workforce due to COVID, or for people who feel the time is right to take their business to the next level in an environment with lots of support.”
Rose notes that many women in the male-dominated STEM space experience isolation, so the collaborative process will let women work closely with other women — something else that boosts the chance of success for new businesses.
Research shows companies led by women tend to perform better, so the Innovation Cluster is focused on moving the dial forward on equity and inclusion in tech and innovation. Supporting women in the tech space also leads to the establishment of a more resilient and sustainable workforce, as many in the digital workforce are better able to thrive despite COVID-related economic impacts.
“The digital sector has many advantages and we have a wealth of resources to draw on from the incubator and the Innovation Cluster,” Terry noted. “There has never been a better time to make this lifestyle change, to be done with ‘the job’ and to start working for yourself.”
Young female entrepreneurs pictured in pre-pandemic days in the Innovation Cluster’s The Cube business incubator in downtown Peterborough. To accommodate the impacts of COVID-19, the Innovation Cluster’s new “Women Breaking Barriers” business accelerator program will be offered virtually and will only take six months to complete. Thanks to a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the program is offered at no cost to participants. Applications for the first cohort are due on August 27, 2020 at noon. (Photo courtesy of Innovation Cluster – Peterborough and the Kawarthas)
This is also an opportunity to commercialize research. The Innovation Cluster’s partnership with two world class education facilities in the region, Trent University and Fleming College, will ensure a smooth transition into business for the selected companies.
The Women Breaking Barriers program is a pilot project that will provide space for two sets of 10 female-identified founders to work through the six-month program. Their experiences will be tracked for a post-project case study that hopes to determine the sustainability of this type of program for the Peterborough and Kawarthas area.
“This is a groundbreaking program for women entrepreneurs in Peterborough and the Kawarthas,” said Nicole Stephenson, Vice Chair of the Innovation Cluster and Founder of Stephenson Law Group.
“By specifically supporting women led early stage and emerging growth companies, the Innovation Cluster is able to provide female entrepreneurs with access to essential resources such as capital, which is not otherwise readily available. This program not only helps break barriers, but it directly benefits the local community by driving economic growth.”
Women Breaking Barriers launches with its first female founders in September, so Terry encourages potential participants to start the outreach and application process now. Applications for the first cohort are due on August 27, 2020 at noon.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded $115 million to 644 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario. For more information, visit otf.ca.
This story was created in partnership with the Innovation Cluster – Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
A 50-year-old woman is dead following a head-on collision on Tuesday afternoon (August 4) near Cameron Road in Norland in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
At around 3:40 p.m. on Tuesday, the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP responded to a report of a two-vehicle collision.
The police’s initial investigation indicates that a vehicle travelling southbound on Highway 35 collided with a vehicle travelling northbound on Highway 35.
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The driver of the northbound vehicle, 50-year-old Samantha Lindquist, died as a result of the collision. A passenger in the vehicle she was driving was transported via Air Ornge ambulance to a Toronto-area hospital with serious injuries.
Highway 35 was closed between Cameron Road and Monck Road for several hours on Tuesday afternoon while police investigated and documented the scene.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation.
This story has been updated with information about the fatality and injuries as a result of the collision.
Michelle Gay is the owner of Garden Style Bridgenorth, a home and garden shop located in Sewlyn Township. Following her dream to own her own small business, she purchased the 20-year-old family-owned shop in 2018. Michelle has now reopened her doors and is welcoming her customers back into the store for a COVID-safe shopping experience. (Photo courtesy of Garden Style Bridgenorth)
For more than 20 years, Garden Style Bridgenorth has been a gathering place for people looking for items that create interest, warmth, and welcome in their homes and gardens.
This story is one of a five-part series sponsored by Selwyn Township, as part of the Township’s campaign to promote local businesses and community organizations as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
When Michelle Gay followed her dream and purchased the local family-owned business two years ago, she was committed to keeping the tradition of supplying unique accents, gifts and, above all else, some good old-fashioned retail therapy for everyone who visited the shop.
While this summer is nothing like her previous two as the new owner of Garden Style Bridgenorth, Michelle is thrilled to have her doors open to welcome back customers once again — especially the ones who made every effort to keep her going during a rough two months of retail lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At Garden Style Bridgenorth, owner Michelle Gay offers an wide range of unique items for her customers, who include tourists, visitors, cottagers, and locals. (Photo courtesy of Garden Style Bridgenorth)
Garden Style Bridgenorth is a cozy treasure-filled space where customers of all ages find delight in whimsical pieces for home and garden. Michelle says it’s a destination for girlfriend gatherings and, of course, visitors to the area. In fact, tourist season from April through October has been what keeps the store afloat during the quieter winter months.
Delightful product offerings aside, Michelle is all about customer service and she thrives on the one-on-one connections she makes with shoppers who come back on a regular basis, or with those who have happened across the boutique by chance.
Although she’s a hugger by nature and someone who is happy to place a hand on an arm in a moment of shared enthusiasm, Michelle is doing everything she can to adapt to the new way of doing business during the COVID-19 crisis, helping her community stay safe so they can continue to support independent locally owned businesses like hers.
“We were pretty new to this business and still trying to build that rapport with all of our customers,” Michelle says during an early morning interview. She chose the early morning time because, once she’s in her shop, her customers need her undivided attention — especially now.
“Retail was a huge learning curve for me,” Michelle admits. “I have the spirit though, thanks to my family, who all ran their own businesses. I’m used to welcoming everyone and, when you come from the environment that I come from, you always put on a smile and you get on with it — no matter what.”
Michelle’s no-matter-what attitude was seriously put to the test in early March when she started catching wind of the crisis that was building globally.
Garden Style Bridgenorth is a locally owned independent home and garden shop offering garden-related items, rustic and vintage items, iron work and metal wall art, wooden items, bee houses, soy candles, pin cushions, tea towels, coasters and fridge magnets, ornaments, greeting cards, and much more. (Photo courtesy of Garden Style Bridgenorth)
“I’m not a regular news watcher, because it’s so negative,” she explains. “So I missed what was happening early on. Then stores started closing when we were already coming off our slowest months. The government made all their announcements and then I was left with a feeling of complete terror.”
That feeling of terror came not only because of the unknown illness that was claiming lives, but because Michelle’s dream of owning her own small business was suddenly under threat. She had expected the first few years to be challenging, but dealing with a global pandemic was not part of the plan.
After closing her store to the public, she then discovered her business didn’t qualify for any of the initial government financial relief programs. But she didn’t let that that stop her dream.
Garden Style Bridgenorth owner Michelle Gay is ensuring her customers have a COVID-safe shopping experience by limiting the number of shoppers allowed in the store at one time, providing hand sanitizer, regularly disinfecting surfaces, and wearing a face mask. She is also continuing to offer porch drops for those who are not yet comfortable going into stores. (Photo courtesy of Garden Style Bridgenorth)
“We started peddling our wares on Instagram, offering free delivery, porch drops, and people just responded,” Michelle recalls. “I have the best customers and this community is amazing.”
She says the shopping that people did through the past few months was a lifeline for her business.
“I can’t thank the community enough,” she says. “They helped me get through.”
And now it’s Michelle’s pleasure to return the favour by offering customers a safe shopping experience. There is the standard hand sanitizer and constant wiping of surfaces, but Michelle also wears a mask and has continued to offer porch drops for those who are not yet comfortable coming into stores.
Michelle has also had to adapt to a new style of customer service, because the leisurely pace of customers browsing the store that she previously loved has now been replaced with a more direct, intentional style of shopping.
“People know what they are looking for,” Michelle explains.
Garden Style Bridgenorth is located at 822-6 Ward Street in Bridgenorth. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Owner Michelle Gay will soon be launching online shopping as another way of helping customers to stay safe and support local. (Photo courtesy of Garden Style Bridgenorth)
There’s also way more focus on social media, and Michelle will soon be launching online shopping as another way of helping customers to stay safe and support local.
“I want everyone to feel comfortable, and I want to know how they are managing,” Michelle says. “I really love people and I want them to feel like they are coming through the front door of my home. I want people to know that I am here to care for you. That’s just how everyone needs to feel.”
That sense of caring is a big part of what Michelle loves about her shop and what she hopes will return in the months ahead, as more and more of the community get used to this new way of living.
“A lot of people used to come into the store not just to buy something, but for a visit to chat and to make a social connection,” Michelle recalls. “Behaviour is changed now, but I hope that comes back. That’s retail therapy and I can’t wait until all this is done.”
But until the all-clear is called on the pandemic, Michelle is committed to welcoming back everyone, including the tourists who are starting to return to the region. She’s also focused on returning the love, support, and caring that saw her through an unimaginable business challenge.
“I just want to hug people again,” she laughs. “I look so forward to that, to be close to the people I care about in the store and in the community. But right now, until things change, I am going to do everything I can to make it feel like there is not a plexiglass wall between us. I’m going to keep making connections.”
Garden Style Bridgenorth is located at 822-6 Ward Street in Bridgenorth. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday (closed Monday). For more information, call 705-292-5304, email gardenstylebridgenorth@gmail.com or visit gardenstyle.ca. You can also follow Garden Style Bridgenorth on Facebook and Instagram.
The Township of Selwyn has created a comprehensive strategy to help assist local businesses and community organizations recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Selwyn COVID-19 Economic Recovery Strategy includes a five-month multimedia marketing campaign to promote Selwyn’s businesses and community organizations, municipal grants for not-for-profit organizations, the Selwyn Business Re-Opening Program in partnership with Community Futures Peterborough that provides $250,000 to help Selwyn businesses with COVID-19 related adaptation expenses, and much more.
For more COVID-19 resources for Selwyn businesses, visit selwyntownship.ca.
In a sign that things are returning to some semblance of normality, transit fares and parking fees will resume in the City of Peterborough on Monday, August 10th.
Back in March, Peterborough Transit paused the collection of fares to protect the safety of customers and employees during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Peterborough.
Now, protective measures like driver barriers and mandatory face coverings have been put in place so that customers can safely board at the front doors and pay fares.
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Starting on Tuesday (August 4), the sales location at the Peterborough Transit Terminal on Simcoe Street is available for cash, debit, and credit purchases. The customer counter from is open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Starting on August 10th, the sales location at Lansdowne Place mall will be available for debit-only purchases of transit passes.
While cash fare will be accepted on the bus, Peterborough Transit is also introducing a new touchless fare payment for customers with smartphones. Customers can load payments before they go with the HotSpot App available through Apple App Store and Google Play. For the first four months, Hotspot is waving its membership fee for its app for this service.
Wearing face masks is mandatory on public transit by directive of Peterborough Public Health. However, the city asks transit riders to understand that not everyone is able to wear a face covering and that there are exemptions under the public health directive.
Customers entering the Peterborough Transit Terminal customer service area are also required to wear face coverings. The number of customers inside the customer service area will be limited to support physical distancing. Seating and washrooms in the customer service area at the terminal remain closed.
Transit drivers will not need to wear a face covering when they are behind the protective barrier around the driver’s seat on a bus.
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As for parking, paid parking for municipal on-street and surface lot parking in the central area will also resume on Monday, August 10th.
The city temporarily paused paid parking for municipal on-street and surface lot parking in March as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As normal activities resume in Peterborough, the demand for parking is increasing as is the need for turnover in parking spaces. Parking fees help pay for the monitoring and regulation of parking services to keep that healthy turnover in parking spaces.
There are about 385 on-street parking spaces, 400 spaces in municipal lots, and almost 1,200 spaces in parking garages in the central area.
There is one-hour free parking in municipal parking garages as well as free parking after 6 p.m. and all day on weekends and holidays at municipal on-street parking, surface lots, and parking garages.
Residents and visitors are reminded to use hand sanitizer or wash their hands before and after using the pay-and-display machines and parking metres.
The city also offers a parking app service through HotSpot Parking for paying for parking at all its surface lots, parking garages, and on-street parking. The app can be downloaded to smartphones from the Apple App Store and Google Play. HotSpot Parking has a monthly membership fee of $2 or users can sign up for $20 for a year for use of the app.
For more information on municipal parking services, including a map with the locations of the parking lots and parking garages, visit peterborough.ca/parking.
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