The Japanese practice of forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, offers simple but profound ways to connect to nature which benefits personal wellbeing through emotional awareness and self-regulation. It also enhances one's ability and commitment to promote environmental and climate justice and to show up in effective, realistic, collaborative, and creative ways. (Photo: Beth McKinlay)
Taking time to walk slowly and mindfully in a forest is not a luxury. It has profound benefits not only for personal wellbeing, but it can also enhance one’s ability and commitment to promote environmental and climate justice, and to show up in effective, realistic, collaborative, creative ways.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by guest writer Beth McKinlay, a trained forest and nature therapy guide.
Christiana Figueres, climate leader, activist, and one of the architects of the Paris Accord, came to understand the value of taking time to nurture emotional awareness and self-regulation after finding herself overwhelmed by personal and global challenges.
She found that prioritizing self-care is not simply an indulgence, but an absolute necessity which allows her to work in a way that is aligned with her values, while remaining committed to her goals.
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Thereafter, Figueres grounded herself in practices that helped her stay within her “window of tolerance,” a concept promoted by Dr. Dan Seigel.
Operating from one’s “window” allows one to function optimally: to think clearly, rationally, and creatively; to regulate emotions; to be open to different perspectives; and to work collaboratively.
Stress can push people outside of their window of tolerance into states of fight, flight, or freeze, which can result in aggressive or impulsive choices. They can also lead to burnout and withdrawal. A powerful way to return to and expand that “window” is to slow down and mindfully engage with nature.
By encouraging you to slow down to truly look and engage in your senses, forest bathing can help reveal the awe, wonder, and beauty of the natural world. Turning to nature has proven physical and emotional benefits, especially when life’s challenges seem overwhelming. (Photo: Beth McKinlay)
Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, combines the wisdom of animism, embedded in Shinto — Japan’s Indigenous spirituality — with mindfulness practices drawn from Buddhism. The act of forest bathing offers simple but profound ways to connect with nature, with oneself, and has many cognitive, psychological, and physical benefits.
Rigorous scientific research quantifies these benefits. The Canadian Psychological Association recommends time in nature for improved immune response and emotional self-regulation, mood, sleep, energy, focus, creativity, and memory, along with reduced levels of stress, anxiety, blood pressure, and depression. Further, it increases social connection, generosity, and cooperation.
It’s no wonder that the practice of forest bathing is also referred to as forest and nature therapy. Medical professionals worldwide are beginning to “prescribe” time in nature. Locally, the Peterborough Public Library lends Ontario Park passes, helping to reduce barriers to those wishing to spend time outdoors.
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Not only can mindful time in nature help individuals stay within their window of tolerance, forest bathing is an opportunity to be open to the lessons that nature can teach.
The field of biomimicry, for instance, looks to natural systems to inspire solutions to human challenges. One such example is the invention of velcro, designed after an engineer took notice of the burrs that stuck to his dog during a walk.
One obvious lesson from nature is the reality of change. In her book The Beginning Comes After the End: Notes on a World of Change, American writer, historian, and activist Rebecca Solnit frames the chaos of these times as a radical and often painful re-structuring of our civilization. She reminds readers that change is inevitable, and beneficial.
Solnit points out that the emerging worldview emphasizes and values the reality of interconnection, interrelatedness, and interdependence. Forest bathing is an opportunity to experience connection with nature, and can inspire people to care for what they love.
The veins of a leaf casting a shadow on the veins of a hand is a visual demonstration of the interrelatedness between humans and the more-than-human world. Plants capture sunlight and turn it into food for caterpillars, humans, and all creatures. Human survival depends on a commitment to environmental and climate justice. (Photo: Beth McKinlay)
Another lesson inspired by the healing balm of nature: each individual has the freedom to turn towards what brings them a sense of peace and strength.
Psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Victor Frankl empowered many with his insight that no one can take away the freedom to choose one’s attitude, regardless of the circumstances.
Spending mindful time in nature enhances well-being, increases resilience, and fosters collaboration and commitment — qualities essential for building a healthy future.
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As filmmaker Michael Moore writes: “Take a breath. The rest of the choir will sing. Rejoin, so others can breathe. Together we can sustain a very long, beautiful song.”
In caring for ourselves, we strengthen our capacity to care for the world.
“Experience Forest Bathing: Finding Peace in Nature II,” a morning session offered by the Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough, takes place at the Camp Kawartha Environment Centre on Saturday, April 25. To learn more and register, visit www.peterboroughunitarian.ca/wonderandinquiry/.
Beth McKinlay is an educator, a volunteer with For Our Grandchildren and the Kids Help Phone Crisis Text Line, and a trained forest and nature therapy guide. For more information on her approach to forest bathing, visit sites.google.com/view/mindfulnatureconnection.
An educator and volunteer with For Our Grandchildren and the Kids Help Phone Crisis Text Line, Beth McKinlay is a trained forest and nature therapy guide. (Photo courtesy of Beth McKinlay)
Coinciding with Earth Week 2026, The Friends of Jackson Park will be hosting a cleanup in Jackson Park from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, one of several events taking place across Peterborough and the Kawarthas on or around Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22. This year's Earth Day theme is "Our Power, Our Planet," reminding individuals that environmental stewardship is sustained by individuals and communities who take small steps every day. (Photo: Friends of Jackson Park)
On April 22 in 1970, 20 million people from coast to coast in the U.S. gathered to protest environmental destruction. More than 55 years later, over one billion people will continue to mobilize individually or with their community on Earth Day for the protection of the planet.
The 2026 Earth Day theme “Our Power, Our Planet” is a reminder that environmental progress and stewardship doesn’t depend on a single administration, institution, or election. Instead, it’s sustained by daily actions of communities, educators, and individuals who dedicate themselves to protect the places they live.
This is being exemplified in the Kawarthas region as municipalities, volunteer groups, and organizations are teaming up for an Earth Week that’s full of cleanups, celebrations, and knowledge sharing. Below are some ways you can take part in initiatives in your community before and during Earth Week this year.
RE:Connect Circular Economy Event in Peterborough – Wednesday, April 15
Some of the 25 businesses and organizations that participated at Clean Up Peterborough’s inaugural RE:Connect circular economy event on October 29, 2025 at the Morrow Building in Peterborough. The free family-friendly event returns on April 15, 2026 and will give attendees the opportunity to learn creative and practical ways to repair, reuse, and recycle materials to divert them from the landfill. (Photos courtesy of Clean Up Peterborough)
Leading up to Earth Week, grassroots organization Clean Up Peterborough is hosting a free celebration of circular economy living, inviting community members to learn ways they can repurpose, reuse, and save items from the landfill.
The spring edition of RE:Connect will take place at the Morrow Building in Peterborough on Wednesday, April 15 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to connect with sustainability-focused organizations and businesses and learn creative and practical ways to reduce waste and keep items in use. The event will include hard-to-recycle product collections, as well as the an all-new jigsaw puzzle swap, the Great Peterborough Clothing Swap, and the RE:Create Circular Art Contest.
Earth Month Ask Me Anything with Algonquin Highlands Environmental Services – Friday, April 17
Do you have burning questions about recycling, reducing waste, or living greener?
Drop by the Stanhope Branch of the Haliburton County Public Library (1109 North Shore Rd.) on Friday, April 17 between noon and 1 p.m.
This informal, drop-in session is an opportunity to connect with a municipal environmental staff to learn more about local programs and resources available in the community.
Earth Day Celebration with the Township of Cavan Monaghan – Saturday, April 18
The Township of Cavan Monaghan is hosting an Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 18 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Cavan Monaghan Community Centre (986 County Road 10, Millbrook).
The event provides the opportunity to connect with municipal staff, share ideas, and learn about sustainability initiatives and local projects. Organizations such as GreenUP will be on site to promote their work in sustainability, and visitors will also be able to purchase trees, pollinator packs, and rain barrels.
Cigarette Butt Cleanup in Cobourg – Sunday, April 19
On April 26, 2025, volunteers collected 9,182 cigarette butts from the Cobourg waterfront, bringing the town’s four-year total to 125,814. Community members are invited to join Cobourg mayor Lucas Cleveland for the 2026 annual event on Sunday, April 19, kicking off Northumberland County’s 16th annual Mayors’ Keep the County Clean Challenge. (Photo: Town of Cobourg)
Cobourg mayor Lucas Cleveland is inviting community members to join this year’s cigarette butt cleanup in the downtown and waterfront areas on Sunday, April 19.
Meet at 10 a.m. at the Cobourg Marina (103 Third Street). Supplies will be provided onsite. Due to the nature of the material being collected, this cleanup is recommended for ages 19 and older.
All collected cigarette butts will be recycled through the TerraCycle UNSMOKE Cigarette Recycling Program in partnership with A Greener Future.
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Cleanup of Rogers Cove in Peterborough – Sunday, April 19
Salix Environmental Consulting is hosting its second annual Earth Day Cleanup on Sunday, April 19 from noon to 2 p.m.
This year, community members of all ages will be gathering at the Rogers Cove parking lot to clean up the park and Little Lake waterfront. The cleanup will begin with a brief safety talk focused on hazard awareness to ensure everyone feels comfortable and prepared.
Families and children are encouraged to join, and high schoolers can have volunteer hours signed off.
Earth Week in Kawartha Lakes – Sunday, April 19 to Saturday, April 25
During Earth Week 2026 from April 19 to 25, the City of Kawartha Lakes is encouraging community members to make a difference in their own neighbourhood by getting together with friends, family, and sports teams and participating in a 20-Minute Community Cleanup. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)
During this year’s Earth Week, the City of Kawartha Lakes is encouraging community members to make a difference in their own neighbourhood by getting together with friends, family, and sports teams and participating in a 20-Minute Community Cleanup.
The municipality will provide clear garbage bags and gloves to registered groups, who will be able to drop off waste at municipal landfills for free with a pre-approved permit.
Groups can register at any municipal service centre on online at www.kawarthalakes.ca/earthweek. The deadline to register is Wednesday, April 15.
Northumberland County Mayors’ Keep the County Clean Challenge – Monday, April 20 to Saturday, April 25
In recognition of Earth Day on April 22, Northumberland County is encouraging residents to take part in the 16th annual Mayors’ Keep the County Clean Challenge from Monday, April 20 to Saturday, April 25.
The week-long litter cleanup campaign is an effort to keep the county clean from litter on roadsides, in parks, and more. Community members are encouraged to register with their local municipality in order to pick up bags, gloves, and safety vests. For more information, visit northumberland.ca/event/earth-day/.
On Friday, April 24, community members are also encouraged to participate in “The 20-Minute Makeover” by spending a few minutes cleaning up an area in their neighbourhood, such as their school yard, place of work, or a local park. No registration is required — simply grab a bag and some gloves and head outdoors.
GreenUP Earth Day Open House in Peterborough – Wednesday, April 22
GreenUP is hosting an Earth Day open house from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22 at its offices at 378 Aylmer St. in downtown Peterborough.
You can meet GreenUP staff and help celebrate some of the environmental organization’s “wins” in 2025, including planting over 2,100 trees and engaging over 5,300 youth across all GreenUP’s educational programs.
Grow a Tree with GreenUP at the Peterborough Public Library – Saturday, April 25
For last year’s “One Book, One Ptbo” community read, the Peterborough Public Library chose To Speak for the Trees, a part-memoir about author Diana Beresford-Kroeger’s life and with illuminating ideas about the power of trees.
Now, in partnership with GreenUP and the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, the library is aiming to meet Beresford-Kroeger’s challenge to take action. Drop in to the Multipurpose Room at the main branch (345 Aylmer St. N.) on Saturday, April 25 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m to learn about native tree species, select your seed or seedling, and consult with GreenUP on how best to care for it.
Cleanup of Jackson Park in Peterborough – Saturday, April 25
The Friends of Jackson Park is hosting a cleanup of Jackson Park in Peterborough on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Focusing on priority areas, participants will meet in the parking lot at the end of Monaghan Road before breaking into a few teams and following team leaders to the cleanup sites.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own work gloves (a few will be available on site), water, and snacks.
The Municipality of Port Hope is hosting “Green Together” at the Town Park Recreation Centre on April 26, 2026, featuring two free events in celebration of Earth Week. (Poster: Municipality of Port Hope)
On Sunday, April 26, the Municipality of Port Hope is getting “Green Together” with two events focused on sustainability and local action in celebration of Earth Week.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Town Park Recreation Centre (62 McCaul Street), the Port Hope Environmental Advisory Committee is hosting the second annual Sustainability Expo. The all-ages event invites residents to connect with local organizations offering sustainable services and solutions and learn through live demonstrations, interactive exhibits, and engaging discussions.
The day’s events will include an EV car show, repair café, and the opportunity for young people to get involved in the youth showcase to share their innovative and creative green solutions through an art contest, upcycled creations, and climate research projects.
Also on Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., there will be a community cleanup held at the Town Park Recreation Centre’s Fall Fair Centre. Held in support of the Mayors’ Keep the County Clean Challenge, the cleanup of shared spaces will be followed by a community BBQ and touch-a-truck beginning at 2 p.m.
A "tiny home" built in the backyard of a residential property owned by One City Peterborough, part of a partnership with Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) to construct additional rental units (ARUs) after PATH was unsuccessful in its efforts to obtain approvals from the City of Peterborough for temporary use by-laws to build a sleeping-cabin community for chronically unhoused people. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of One City Peterborough video)
Following multiple rejections from Peterborough city council and losing an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal, the tide has turned for Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) through a new collaboration with One City Peterborough to build self-contained residential units at existing residential properties.
PATH was formed in 2022 with the goal of establishing a community of sleeping cabins for chronically unhoused people in Peterborough. After originally conceiving a 30-cabin community, the grassroots organization applied to the City of Peterborough for a temporary use by-law for a 15-cabin community at 834 Park Street, which city council rejected on December 5, 2022, directing PATH to work with city staff to find another location.
PATH then entered into a lease agreement with Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and Kawartha Region for a property at 385 Lansdowne Street East and applied to the city two years later for a temporary use by-law to build 24 sleeping cabins at that location. Despite city staff support for the application, city council rejected it on August 26, 2025. PATH appealed that decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal, which ruled against PATH last October.
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Despite these setbacks, PATH board member Keith Dalton told kawarthaNOW they are “energized by the prospect of being able to move forward” by redirecting their efforts away from a sleeping cabin community to establishing a series of additional rental units (ARUs) in partnership with One City.
This project intends to further the work of both organizations in providing sustainable and supportive housing.
ARUs are defined within the City of Peterborough as a “self-contained residential unit with a private kitchen, bathroom facilities, and sleeping areas within dwellings or within structures ancillary to a dwelling.” This can include basement apartments and so-called in-law suites as well as independent structures.
Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes board member Keith Dalton has been instrumental in the partnership with One City Peterborough to construct additional rental units (ARUs) to provide supportive housing options for tenants of residential properties owned by One City. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of One City Peterborough video)
Through this program, new ARUs are being established on properties already owned by One City. The charity currently owns eight residential properties and partners with local landlords to support a total of 51 spaces for transitional living.
Dalton explained PATH’s role in this program, as the team leading the actual construction and design of the units as well as being the project management team leading permit applications and volunteer management.
At this time, the program has one fully completed and two nearly completed ARUs built on One City properties — including a backyard “tiny house” and a self-contained basement apartment in the main building — and they are already seeing success for the program.
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Michael Vanderherberg, director of property development at One City, shared that for the first ARU at their Monaghan Street property, the tenants were given the choice to live in the new unit and happily agreed to the new living situation.
Speaking of One City’s first ARU resident, Vanderherberg said “that person is doing really well because of having their own space.”
Both Dalton and Vanderherberg spoke about the significance of the ARUs being single-occupant dwellings. Historically, One City has run congregate living programs where residents live in groups of four or five.
“That doesn’t work for everybody,” says Vanderherberg, noting that some people do not thrive in a group environment.
One City Peterborough’s director of property development Michael Vanderherberg in the kitchen of a self-contained basement apartment, which is part of a partnership with Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes to construct additional rental units (ARUs) to provide supportive housing options for tenants of residential properties owned by One City. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of One City Peterborough video)
Furthermore, when considering the wider Peterborough rental market, there is a lack of single-occupant apartments available, with even fewer being recognized as affordable housing. This program intends to increase the available stock of single units to support not only the tenants directly involved, but to relieve pressure on the rental market as a whole.
Vanderherberg described single-occupant units as “an opportunity to re-engage with families and spaces,” through intentional and effective integration into the community.
When city council considered PATH’s temporary use by-law application for a sleeping-cabin community at 385 Lansdowne Street East, they heard delegations from a number of local businesses and residents expressing concerns with a community of unhoused people at that location. Through its single occupant focus, the ARU project circumvents these concerns.
“People have no idea that these (ARUs) belong to us, and we want it to stay that way,” Vanderherberg said, adding that the anonymity provided by ARUs is consistent with One City’s goals of integration.
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To achieve their goals of expanding the ARU project, One City and PATH have secured significant funding through grants, fundraising, and government incentives.
Vanderherberg expressed his gratitude in particular to the United Way of Peterborough & District for their support with funding from the Reaching Home program on behalf of the Government of Canada. This grant has been used in part to purchase a property that will close on April 15, where One City intends to add ARUs.
Another factor in the success of the project is the city’s municipal incentive program, which provides up to $80,000 per unit to cover municipal fees associated with the development and construction of new affordable units as well as project costs.
Vanderherberg explained that this funding is suited to One City’s non-profit status, as they have a long-term commitment to the affordable housing market.
“This is mission work,” Vanderherberg said. “We’ll still be doing this in ten years.”
The kitchen of One City Peterborough’s newest backyard additional rental unit (ARU), constructed as part of a partnership with Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes. The kitchen countertops were donated by Gus’s Kitchen and Bath. (Photo: Michael Vanderherberg / One City Peterborough)
One City and PATH are also actively fundraising for the ARU project to supplement grants, incentives, and rental income. They have worked closely with corporate donors such as Kingdon TimberMart and Gus’s Kitchen & Bath, who have provided donations of construction supplies and household furnishings.
One City and PATH are already taking action to establish further ARUs and to acquire more property under the ownership of One City. On their website, One City indicates their housing programs “remove housing from the private market” and treat housing as a right and not a commodity.
According to Vanderherberg, One City aims to purchase two properties and is working to acquire three- and four-bedroom properties that show potential for increased capacity through ARU construction.
“They’re coming quicker, which is great,” he said.
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As for Dalton, he says he is pleased with the progress PATH has made with ARUs over the past year but knows there is still much work to be done to meet the needs of the community.
“We need ongoing efforts in this area,” he said. “We can’t do it alone.”
When asked what the community at large could do to support the ARU program and the mission of PATH and One City, Dalton spoke about the importance of communicating with elected officials to express support for ARUs and supportive housing.
He suggested the main role of the general public is to “encourage our local council to make this kind of thing more mainstream.”
One City Peterborough’s newest backyard additional rental unit (ARU) during construction, part of a partnership with Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes. A second ARU has been constructed in the basement of the residential property owned by One City. (Photo: Keith Dalton / PATH)
Evident through the conversations with Dalton and Vanderherberg is the importance of collaboration not only between community-led organizations but also with municipal and provincial officials. For example, PATH’s first proposal for a sleeping cabin community was moved by Town Ward councillor Alex Bierk, who has continued to be an ardent supporter of their work.
Vanderherberg expressed his appreciation for the work done by city staff in the housing department who have assisted One City and PATH in completing the official requirements for their ARU developments.
“It feels like they have been a partner in this work, and it’s been a joy,” he said.
The bathroom of a self-contained basement apartment at a residential property owned by One City Peterborough, part of a partnership with Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes to construct additional rental units (ARUs). Reflected in the mirror is a washer-dryer unit. (Photo: Mackenzie Clark-Smith / One City Peterborough)
For Dalton, it is essential that councillors support not only the program as a whole but also the individual agencies and organizations that are leading the work.
“We need a council that will engage with organizations working on housing in a sustainable and affordable ways,” he said.
As the ARU program progresses, Vanderherberg emphasized the value that Dalton and PATH have brought to the project so far and how they will drive the program forward in its goals.
“I am so fortunate to have him in this work,” Vanderherberg said of Dalton. “We couldn’t achieve any of this without Keith and PATH coming on side.”
Vanderherberg is calling on community members to get involved and support the ARU initiative through donations and volunteerism. He encourages interested individuals to email him at mvanderherberg@onecityptbo.ca.
Juno award-winning pop-rock musician Gowan will open the 39th season of Peterborough Musicfest at Del Crary Park on June 27, 2026, with popular Toronto-based pop-rock cover band Dwayne Gretzky performing on July 29. (kawarthaNOW collage of supplied photos)
Gearing up for its 39th season as Canada’s longest-running free-admission music festival, Peterborough Musicfest has announced two audience favourites who will be returning to the Fred Anderson Stage at Del Crary Park this summer.
Juno award-winning pop-rock musician Gowan will be making his fourth appearance when he opens Musicfest at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, with popular Toronto-based pop-rock cover band Dwayne Gretzky returning for the sixth time on Wednesday, July 29.
Born in Scotland and raised in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, singer-songwriter and keyboardist Lawrence “Larry” Gowan earned a diploma in classical piano from The Royal Conservatory of Music when he was 19, and performed in his first band, the progressive-theatrical-rock group Rhinegold, from 1976 to 1980.
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He launched his solo career in 1982 with a self-titled debut album, but his breakthrough album came with 1985’s Strange Animal, which spawned the hit singles “A Criminal Mind” and “(You’re a) Strange Animal” — the videos for both songs won Juno awards — with his 1987 follow-up Great Dirty World producing the hit single “Moonlight Desires.”
In 1999, he joined the legendary rock band Styx as their lead vocalist and keyboardist, where he has since played a key role in continuing the band’s legacy while still maintaining his solo career.
Gowan is known for his virtuosic piano playing, blend of progressive rock and pop, and elaborate stage performances.
VIDEO: “Strange Animal” – Gowan (2025)
As for Dwayne Gretzky, the Toronto-based collective is known for breathing new life into classic pop and rock hits, and has amassed a catalogue of more than 800 songs from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s.
Formed on a whim by friends in 2011, Dwayne Gretzky began with a residency at Toronto’s Dakota Tavern followed by a regular gig at The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern. As the band became more well-known and popular, they began performing outside of Toronto.
Over the past 15 years, Dwayne Gretzky has earned a reputation for their unique versions of well-known hits, each delivered with a high-energy performance designed to entertain big crowds and encourage sing-alongs and dancing.
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Gowan and Dwayne Gretzky are only the first two acts announced for Peterborough Musicfest’s 39th season, which runs in Del Crary Park every Wednesday and Saturday night from June 27 until August 19, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.
“This is just the starting point for what’s shaping up to be a strong 39th season,” says Peterborough Musicfest executive director Tracey Randall in a media release. “We’re focused on building a full summer experience — great live music, a vibrant park atmosphere, and reasons for people to come back week after week. There’s a lot more to come.”
Also returning for the 39th season is the Cogeco-presented Future Sound Series highlighting emerging Canadian talent, the 50/50 draw, and on-site food vendors. Thanks to sponsors including kawarthaNOW, admission to every Peterborough Musicfest concert is free.
VIDEO: “You Can Call Me Al” (Paul Simon) – Dwayne Gretzky
Tourism-related busineses based in and around Peterborough County are invited to Kollab in The Kawarthas, a full-day interactive event designed to encourage partnerships that will grow businesses and promote The Kawarthas as a tourist destination. Held during National Tourism Week on April 21, 2026 at Elmhirst's Resort in Keene, the event will include a keynote speaker, panel discussions, interactive activities, tools and resources, and a speed networking session. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
As local tourism-related businesses gear up for the busy season ahead, Peterborough County is inviting them to a new interactive event designed to develop and strengthen the partnerships that will promote The Kawarthas as a visitor destination.
Peterborough County’s Economic Development and Tourism teams are hosting “Kollab in The Kawarthas” at Elmhirst’s Resort in Keene from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, during National Tourism Week. Attendees can learn from local tourism operators, experts, and leaders how to provide an exceptional experience, how to market their business to visitors, and how to collaborate with fellow business owners to develop new partnerships, cross-promotions, and more.
According to Rhonda Keenan, general manager of Peterborough County Economic Development, the first-of-its-kind event is a response to feedback from tourism-related businesses who said they were not fully aware of what other businesses in the region are offering to visitors.
“We started the Kollab in The Kawarthas as a concept to help them connect with each other,” says Keenan. “We want them to start to collaborate. We want them to tell their visiting clients that this is a great venue to stay, this is a great place to eat, this is a great experience for you, so that visitors have the best experience possible while they’re here.”
Keenan adds that the goal of the event is to encourage tourism-related businesses to see that collaboration can result in an enhanced experience for visitors, promoting The Kawarthas as a thriving tourist destination and leading to further business growth, including by encouraging visitors to return in the shoulder season.
“In the summertime, people are flocking to the region and we want that to continue, but there are ways that you can add a new element to your business by working with someone else,” Keenan explains. “That collaboration might encourage somebody to come and visit in November, for example. You can leverage each other’s customers and visitors to grow your own business, and that’s really what we’re hoping to achieve out of this.”
Peterborough County’s Economic Development and Tourism teams organized the inaugural Kollab in The Kawarthas event on April 21, 2026 at Elmhirst’s Resort in Keene in response to feedback from tourism-related business owners who said they were not fully aware of what other businesses in the region are offering to visitors. The interactive event is designed to encourage businesses to collaborate by exchanging ideas, developing new partnerships and cross-promotions, and explore other ways they can work together to enhance local tourism in The Kawarthas. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
Kollab in The Kawarthas, which includes a buffet lunch, will feature a keynote presentation from Destination Ontario’s Justin La Fontaine, who will speak to how businesses can position themselves in line with provincial marketing, as well as panel discussions featuring local business owners who have found success through collaboration.
An event highlight will be the speed networking session where attendees can connect with as many fellow business owners as possible, exchanging ideas and exploring ways they can work together to enhance local tourism.
Peterborough County will also introduce attendees to new tools and approaches that will help businesses better connect with one another and with visitors. Interactive exercises and activities will help businesses think about how their offerings can be appeal to a wide range of potential visitors, from adrenaline junkies to culture chasers to wellness buffs and more.
Following Kollab in The Kawarthas, businesses will have the opportunity to share their plans and partnerships with Peterborough County and gather the support and resources to turn their ideas into market-ready experiences.
“We hope this is going to turn into an annual event where tourism operators are really able to get to know one another and get some momentum,” says Keenan. “We’re going to help them dream big and support them in their growth in making The Kawarthas one of the best destinations where visitors spend their time.”
Tickets for Kollab in The Kawarthas are $30 for businesses located in Peterborough County and $45 for those outside the area, and are available at eventbrite.ca/e/kollab-in-the-kawarthas-tickets-1984557915147. Participants are encouraged to register early as space is limited.
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City of Kawartha Lakes councillors vote in favour of a memorandum from deputy mayor Tracy Richardson opposing the proposed Alto project "in its current form" at a committee of the whole meeting on April 7, 2026. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of City of Kawartha Lakes video)
Pushback from rural communities against the proposed Alto high-speed rail project is continuing, with the City of Kawartha Lakes the latest community in the Kawarthas region to formally express its opposition to the project.
At its committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday afternoon (April 7), council voted unanimously to support a memorandum from deputy mayor Tracy Richardson “regarding the agricultural community concerns” around the consultation process for the proposed 1,000-kilometre high-speed rail network between Toronto and Quebec City, which includes a stop in Peterborough.
In part, the memorandum states that the City of Kawartha Lakes formally opposes the Alto project “in its current form as expressed by the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus” and formally requests that Alto “provide additional, accessible, in-person consultation opportunities within the City of Kawartha Lakes prior to advancing any decisions related to the Alto initiative.”
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Memorandum aligns with Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus resolution
The memorandum refers to a March 29 resolution unanimously endorsed by the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC), a non-profit organization comprised of 13 wardens and mayors that advocates for 113 small urban and rural municipalities across eastern Ontario, including the City of Kawartha Lakes.
The EOWC resolution states in part that “there is only currently one proposed stop across the (EOWC’s) 50,000 square kilometre region, benefiting urban residents at the cost of rural residents and lands” and “advocates that the federal government and Alto fully explore train route options along existing infrastructure corridors, such as VIA Rail and/or Highway 401.”
In addition to the deputy mayor’s memorandum, council also received correspondence from the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Federation of Agriculture and Victoria Beef Farmers objecting to the Alto project because of its potential impact on “productive farmland,” including concerns about land expropriation, severed agricultural land, exclusion fences, and the closure of rural roads.
Public delegation to council highlights rural concerns with Alto
Bethany-Pontypool resident and farmer Laurie Reynolds addresses City of Kawartha Lakes council with her concerns about the proposed Alto project at a committee of the whole meeting on April 7, 2026. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of City of Kawartha Lakes video)
Tuesday’s meeting began with a public delegation by Laurie Reynolds, who expressed her concerns with the Alto project. Reynolds described herself as a “lifelong resident of the Bethany-Pontypool area” in Ward 8 of Kawartha Lakes, the former Manvers Township which is located in the proposed corridor for the Alto project.
“(High-speed rail) with no land crossings will sever many local and country roads, and this will lead to longer travel times for emergency services, school buses, snow removal and waste collection,” Reynolds said. “Recreational trail networks and farmlands would be bisected. Businesses on either side of the fence rail system will be negatively impacted. Communities will become divided.”
“Many families have deliberately chosen the countryside to preserve nature and live in peace. A 300 kilometre an hour train will wreak havoc on this, and it offers no meaningful benefits to our residents and comes with significant and long-lasting harm. I understand that the lands in the proposed Alto corridors fall into the former Manvers Township region of the City of Kawartha Lakes, and I realize there are many other areas of the city not directly impacted by the (Alto) proposal. Logistics costs, however, for Alto will be downloaded onto the municipalities across the targeted areas.”
“There will be a long-term operating burden for the City of Kawartha Lakes resulting from this (high-speed rail) line, and this will require the city to increase property taxes for all residents. Communities such as ours should not be left to absorb the long-term effects of this project, which does not serve our community. I understand the necessity of advancing the existing infrastructure of our province and country, but I cannot accept that this needs to come at the expense of rural communities. Residents need affordable, daily commute transit that serves the communities through which it runs, and this should be done by upgrading existing systems along already existing corridors.”
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Reynolds added that high-frequency rail should be considered rather than high-speed rail, as it would be more accessible and affordable for a greater percentage of the population. She noted that Bill C-15, which received royal assent on March 26, includes amendments to the Expropriation Act specifically for high-speed rail that would expedite federal land expropriation and removes the rights of property owners to negotiate for the values of their properties.
She also raised concerns about the “unacceptable environmental impacts” on sensitive watershed systems, wetlands, fish and wildlife habitats, and natural heritage features, pointing out that a 1,000-kilometre stretch of fenced rail system will prevent the migration of many species.
Reynolds concluded by noting the impact of the Alto project on arable land and the impact of family farms, speaking from a personal perspective.
“Farmland is precious and we cannot afford to lose more of it,” she said. “For myself and my family, like many others, the potential impacts of this project are profoundly personal. I reside on two multi-generational family farms, both of which fall into the Alto corridors being considered for the project.”
“My father, grandfathers on both sides of my family, and my great-grandfather on the farm where I reside, have farmed the lands which my husband and myself and my children now farm. These properties are more than acreage — generations of my family have built their lives, homes, and livelihoods on these farms. They represent my family’s heritage, investment, and the future. They hold deep meaning and are intended to be passed down to the next generations of our family.”
In response to a question from deputy mayor Richardson about Alto’s consultation process, Reynolds said the consultations needed to be more of an open town hall style format, rather than a “science fair” style setting with booths around the room. She added that Alto’s online interactive map is “very difficult to read” and to use.
Councillor Pat Warren asked Reynolds whether she would be in favour of high-speed rail “in some different form.”
“Personally, I would like to see high-frequency rail that allows land crossings and doesn’t have huge fences on either side of it … so that roads aren’t cut off to communities, farms aren’t cut in half, you’re still able to cross those tracks,” Reynolds replied. “I mean, to have a high speed rail that does 300 kilometres an hour — could 200 kilometres an hour for a high-frequency rail not satisfy the same requirements?”
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‘Not here, not now, use what you have that’s available’
Mayor Doug Elmslie thanked Reynolds for her delegation and said that EOWC’s view is that “we already have a transportation corridor in the south,” referring to the Highway 401 corridor, “and that is the ideal place for it.”
“The support was for high-speed rail, but not this high-speed rail in this location,” he added. “Not here, not now, use what you have that’s available.”
Later in the meeting, deputy mayor Richardson also thanked Reynolds for her delegation, before asking her fellow councillors to support her memorandum.
“The Alto proposal, as it stands, risks leaving rural communities like ours behind, offering limited benefit while placing real strains on our residents, our agricultural land, environment, and infrastructure,” she said. “Our farmers and our rural residents have not been adequately heard from, and the current consultation process has not met the standard of accessibility or inclusion they deserve.”
“We’re not opposing progress here today — we’re calling for fairness. We’re asking for a plan that reflects the realities, contributions, and voices of rural Ontario. Until that happens, we stand firmly in support of our community and opposed this project in its current form, along with the same position of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus.”
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‘The government needs to be prepared to radically revise this plan’
Councillor Mark Doble spoke in support of the memorandum, saying “The government needs to be prepared to radically revise this plan.”
He asked councillors to imagine restoring daily passenger rail service from Lindsay to Toronto, the need for daily bus service from Kawartha Lakes to Toronto and Peterborough, and a four-lane highway along Highway 35 from Lindsay to Highway 115.
Doble added that those projects could be funded for a “small fraction” of the potential $90 billion cost for the Alto project.
While councillor Dan Joyce said he has been in favour of high-speed rail for many years, as it will reduce air travel and pollution and climate change, he said the proposed Alto corridor “is in the wrong place.”
“We have a transportation corridor already between Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal,” Joyce said. “It’s called the 401 and the 416. That’s where the high-speed rail needs to be.”
Councillor Ron Ashmore also spoke in support of deputy mayor Richardson’s memorandum, stating that the Highway 401 corridor “is the most appropriate place to put this,” with councillor Warren also stating that “it needs to be in the 401 corridor.”
Councillor then voted unanimously to support deputy mayor Richardson’s memorandum.
Decisions made at committee of the whole will be brought forward for consideration at the next regular council meeting on April 21.
Juno award-winning Canadian jazz vocalist Molly Johnson performing with pianist Robi Botos and bassist Mike Downes at the 2019 Kensington Market Jazz Festival in 2019. Johnson will be performing with Botos and Downes along with drummer David Direnzo at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough on April 26, 2026 as part of the annual International Jazz Day Peterborough celebrations. (Photo via Tom's Place website)
In another sign of the growing popularity of live jazz in Peterborough, only a handful of tickets remain for Juno award-winning Canadian jazz vocalist Molly Johnson’s upcoming concert at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre.
The 7 p.m. concert on Sunday, April 26 is the main event of this year’s International Jazz Day Peterborough, which also features the “Dine with Jazz” series the evening before with eight local jazz musicians performing at four downtown Peterborough restaurants, followed by a concert by a jazz quartet.
With almost three weeks left before Johnson’s concert at the downtown venue, it is sure to sell out — which is also what happened last year when International Jazz Day Peterborough presented another Juno award-winning Canadian jazz vocalist, Holly Cole.
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International Jazz Day Peterborough was first organized in 2015 by Peterborough jazz musicians including Craig Paterson and — except for a three-year hiatus during the pandemic — has been celebrated ever year since, with the goal of bringing together the community, local businesses, and jazz enthusiasts so that people can enjoy the diversity of the genre today.
Iconic American jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock first proposed International Jazz Day in 2011, after he was designated as a Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). UNESCO subsequently proclaimed April 30th to be International Jazz Day beginning in 2012 and now, 14 years later, over 200 countries participate every year.
As for Johnson, she is one of Canada’s most acclaimed jazz vocalists, known for her rich and soulful voice and emotionally resonant interpretations of jazz, blues, and pop standards. Born in Toronto into a musical family in 1959, she performed as a child in musical theatre productions and sang in several bands in the 1980s and 1990s before launching her solo career in 2000 with her self-titled debut, which became one of the best-selling jazz recordings in Canadian history and established her as a leading figure in the country’s jazz scene.
VIDEO: “Still Believe In Love” – Molly Johnson
Beyond her recording success, Johnson has been a leading supporter of the arts and a champion of Canadian jazz. In 1993, she launched the Kumbaya Festival benefiting AIDS hospices and Canadians living with AIDS, contributing directly to the birth of Toronto’s Casey House. She is also a co-founder of the Kensington Market Jazz Festival in Toronto and has received numerous honours for her contributions to music, including a Governor General’s Award for lifetime artistic achievement and induction into the Order of Canada.
At her Market Hall concert, Johnson will be backed by a band consisting of Juno award-winning pianist Robi Botos, Juno award-winning bassist Mike Downes, and drummer Davide Direnzo.
Reserved seating tickets are $58 and are available at markethall.org.
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If you don’t secure tickets for the Johnson concert, there are other opportunities to take in some jazz during the “Dine with Jazz” series, where selected downtown Peterborough restaurants host local jazz musicians from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 25.
This year’s series will see Pete Woolidge and Mark Davidson performing at La Hacienda (190 Hunter St. W.), Ginny Simonds and Craig Paterson at Amandala’s (375 Water St.), Michael Monis and Paco Luviano at Agave (376 George St. N.), and Rob Phillips and Carling Stephen at The Black Horse Pub (452 George St. N.).
Reservations are recommended. Other than the cost of your dinner, there is no charge for the “Dine with Jazz” series. That’s also the case for a jazz concert taking place at The Black Horse following Rob Phillips and Carling Stephen’s performance.
Following the “Dine with Jazz” series on April 25, 2026 featuring jazz duos performing at four downtown Peterborough restaurants, The Curtis Cronkwright Quartet will play a free show at The Black Horse Pub. (Graphic: International Jazz Day Peterborough)
The Curtis Cronkwright Quartet — featuring Chris Gale on saxophone, Nathan Hiltz on guitar, Duncan Hopkins on bass, and Peterborough’s own Curtis Cronkwright on drums — will take over the Black Horse stage from 9 p.m. until midnight. There is no cover charge for the concert.
Returning as sponsors of this year’s International Jazz Day Peterborough are LLF Lawyers, We Design Group, Alterna Savings, and McCosh Private Wealth Management, with kawarthaNOW as media sponsor, as well as the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).
Burlington-based SIREG Management Inc. has filed an appeal with the Ontario Land Tribunal after Peterborough city council denied its application to convert a townhouse complex of 128 three-bedroom rental units at 700 Parkhill Road West into condominiums. After filing the appeal, SIREG also notified tenants of its intention to apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for an above-guidance rental increase as a result of capital expenditures and building improvements made at the property. (Photo: SIREG Management Inc.)
A month before an initial hearing on an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) by the owners of a Peterborough townhouse complex of a city council decision to deny their request to convert the rental units into condominiums, tenants are waiting to find out if their rents are going to increase and by how much.
That’s because Burlington-based Simple Investor Real Estate Group (SIREG) Management Inc., which owns the property at 700 Parkhill Road West, has advised residents of the complex’s 128 three-bedroom rental units that the company intends to apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for an above-guidance rental increase (AGI), stating the increase is necessary as a result of capital expenditures and building improvements made at the property since SIREG purchased it four years ago.
SIREG’s intention to apply for an AGI follows Peterborough city council’s recent decision to deny the company’s request to convert the rental units into condominiums.
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Condo conversion plan and tenant opposition
SIREG first announced its plan to apply to the City of Peterborough for a condominium conversion — known as a draft plan of condominium — by delivering notices to the tenants of 700 Parkhill in May 2025.
The term “condominium” in real estate refers to the manner of ownership of a series of units. In condominiums, each unit is independently owned whereas a rental apartment block must be owned entirely by one entity.
In November 2025, residents were informed that a public meeting under the Planning Act for SIREG’s draft plan of condominium would take place during city council’s general committee meeting on December 1.
Upon receiving these notices, long-time 700 Parkhill residents Jennifer Lacey began researching the implications of a condominium conversion and connecting with representatives at the city and SIREG.
Lacey would go on to give a delegation at the December 1 public meeting to oppose the conversion application, citing concerns about affordability, maintenance, and tenant security.
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City council rejects condo conversion application
At the public meeting, council considered a report from city staff that recommended council deny SIREG’s request. In part, the report indicated that staff were not in support of the proposal “on the basis that it does not provide an opportunity for ‘affordable ownership’ and would reduce the rental segment for 3-bedroom units.”
“Approval of this application is expected to have an undesirable effect on the City’s rental housing market and affordable housing supply and does not meet the Official Plan’s intent to preserve and encourage rental and affordable housing,” the report concluded.
After hearing delegations from both SIREG and tenants and after debating the item, council voted to reject the application and subsequently ratified that decision at a city council meeting on December 8. Both votes were unanimous.
“I appreciate everything the city did,” Lacey told kawarthaNOW. “The staff report was very balanced and fair.”
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City staff report cites affordability and housing supply concerns
One of the reasons city council decided to deny SIREG’s request was that the conversion would not move the city towards meeting its housing target of constructing 4,700 new dwellings by 2031, which was part of the city’s 2023 municipal housing pledge to the Ontario government.
Another reason was that SIREG’s original price of $409,900 for a condo unit was above the city’s minimum affordable threshold of $311,000 for a three-bedroom unit. At the December 8 council meeting, SIREG lawyer Jasdeep Dhillon stated the price would be reduced to $311,000.
In its application, SIREG indicated current tenants would have the first right of refusal on purchasing their units, and would be protected from eviction if someone else purchased their unit. However, tenants such as Lacey have said that, even if they wanted to purchase their unit, they would not be eligible for a mortgage.
“I don’t think it would be a good investment to purchase my unit,” Lacey added.
Although 40 per cent of the units at 700 Parkhill are designated as affordable housing and current tenants are protected from rental increases as a result of condominium conversions, future tenants of condo units would not have the same protection. As indicated in the staff report, this would lead to the overall reduction of affordable units in the area as tenancy changes hands.
City staff also noted the potential long-term consequences of removing this number of affordable rental units from the wider Peterborough rental market, as the 128 three-bedroom rental units at 700 Parkhill represent 17 per cent of all such units in the City of Peterborough.
For Lacey, it is this type of long-term impact that is especially concerning.
“It’s great that I’m protected, but for future tenants they don’t have that protection,” she said.
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OLT appeal and potential rent increases
During the December 8 council meeting, Dhillon indicated there was “a good possibility” SIREG would appeal to OLT if council ratified its earlier decision to deny the condo conversion application.
In January, SIREG filed its appeal with OLT, and an initial hearing has been set for May 7 to identify the involved parties, specific issues being raised, and procedural matters.
Lacey told kawarthaNOW that she has been working to stay involved with the appeal and is passionate about advocating for her fellow tenants to ensure their voices are heard.
“If there’s going to be discussion and decisions surrounding my housing, I want to be at the table,” she said. “It’s difficult seeing two positions of power being able to make decisions for people who don’t have a say.”
As part of the condominium ownership structure, unit owners are required to pay fees to support communal facilities and building maintenance. In its condo conversion application to the city, SIREG indicated that the condominium fee reserve would pay for ongoing capital repairs, but in lieu of this approval rent increases would be used to address these costs.
Tenants at 700 Parkhill are skeptical, alleging that SIREG has a history of absentee landlordism and neglecting both routine and essential maintenance requests,
Jennifer Lacey, a tenant at 700 Parkhill Road West in Peterborough, during her delegation to city council on December 1, 2025 at a public meeting under the Planning Act for Burlington-based SIREG Management Inc.’s draft plan of condominium for the townhouse complex of 128 three-bedroom units, which city council unanimously denied. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of City of Peterborough video)
“I’ve had a maintenance request submitted since November that hasn’t been addressed,” Lacey said. “My neighbours have said that they don’t have a functioning bathtub or that their toilet hasn’t been working for three months.”
In Ontario, landlords can legally increase rent above an annual guideline — 2.1 per cent in 2026 — only by applying to the Landlord and Tenant Board for an AGI. One reason a landlord can apply for an AGI is if they have incurred eligible capital expenses as a result of extraordinary or significant renovations, repairs, or replacements. The maximum increase allowed is three per cent over the annual guideline in a single year, and nine per cent over three years.
At this point, SIREG has not filed the official AGI application with the LTB, and it remains unclear whether rental increases would proceed should the company’s OLT appeal be successful and the company proceeds with condo conversion.
When discussing the impact of the ongoing OLT appeal and potential rent increases, Lacey said tenants are “being used as part of a game, being used as a commodity.”
Located in the Township of Cavan Monaghan, Woodleigh Farms uses sustainable and regenerative practices to farm corn, wheat, soy, and oat, produce maple syrup, and operate a passive greenhouse and market garden. The sixth-generation family farm is piloting an innovative project that converts unmarketable forest biomass into compost and organic soil amendments to improve the health of soil for generations to come. To connect with local buyers, Woodleigh Farms will be participating in the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program supported by Peterborough County. (Photo courtesy of Woodleigh Farms)
Maintaining the resilience of the thriving agricultural sector in Peterborough County means not only increasing the capacity for local food distribution but ensuring a sustainable future for the land on which these farms produce.
For Woodleigh Farms in the Township of Cavan Monaghan, that means not only participating in agricultural programs supported by Peterborough County that help the farm reach consumers, but leading an award-winning pilot project that can affordably improve soil quality to keep farmland flourishing for generations.
Operated by Norm Lamothe and his family, Woodleigh Farms is a sixth-generation family farm that uses regenerative and sustainable practices to farm corn, soy, oat, wheat, and pasture-raised livestock, produces organic maple syrup, and operates a passive solar greenhouse and market garden.
When it comes to getting its products into the hands of consumers, Lamothe says it can be challenge for farm gates to compete with commercial grocery stores. That’s why Woodleigh Farms has been partnering with Graze & Gather, which was founded during the pandemic as a virtual farmers’ market.
“I always say you’re either a great producer or you’re a great marketer, and we don’t have time to do both,” says Lamothe. “Graze & Gather gives us a vehicle to move some of our products into the city and it’s certainly been helpful from that perspective.”
Woodleigh Farms plans to become a member of the Green Circle Food Hub, developed by Graze & Gather as the final stage of the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program, a partnership between Peterborough County, the City of Peterborough, and the City of Kawartha Lakes to increase the capacity for local food distribution by connecting farmers with local buyers like resorts, restaurants, and golf courses.
The farm is also a member of the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh initiative delivered through Peterborough County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and the City of Peterborough. The initiative provides a brand identity for local products, a network for members to share and access resources, and an online database for buyers to find producers.
In partnership with the Ontario Woodlot Association, Woodleigh Farms in Peterborough County has launched a forest biomass recovery service to convert unmarketable forest biomass into compost and organic soil amendments including carbon-sequestering biochar. Owner Norm Lamothe says increasing organic matter make soils more resilient, can increase soil’s water-holding capacity by 10 per cent, and reduces the need for costly commercial fertilizer. (Photo courtesy of Woodleigh Farms)
To ensure consumers have access to its products for generations to come, Woodleigh Farms is focused on keeping soil healthy with its ground-breaking “Catching Carbon” forest biomass recovery service.
Launched in partnership with the Ontario Woodlot Association and with funding from the Ontario Forest Biomass Program, the venture recovers unmarketable forest biomass and converts it into compost and beneficial organic soil amendments including carbon-sequestering biochar, pyroligneous acid, and compost extract.
“We’re trying to make our soils more resilient and one of the ways that you can make your soil more resilient is to have a higher percentage of organic matter in the soil,” Lamothe says.
Not only will the project offset some of the cost of commercial fertilizer at a time when that cost is continually increasing, but adding organic matter can increase soil’s water-holding capacity by 10 per cent.
“The ability to hold that water in the soil longer will certainly pay dividends in the long term, and we see that as a necessity for improving those soils and making them more resilient so we can grow crops for longer and get through some of those drier seasons,” Lamothe explains.
According to Lamothe, Woodleigh Farms is demonstrating how compost and soil amendments reduce the environmental impact of waste while improving productivity and prosperity in the agricultural sector, both within Peterborough County and beyond.
“We’re trying to prove that they’re economical, that they work, and that they’re sustainable for the long term so that others might adopt them moving forward,” Lamothe says. “Ultimately, it’s a huge opportunity for the environment and the climate but also to improve the structure of our soils and our ability to grow crops that ultimately feed society.”
Woodleigh Farms is open by appointment only at 528 Sharpe Line in Cavan. For more information, visit cavanfresh.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.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for most of the Kawarthas region for brief but intense snowfall that could affect road conditions and visibility starting Monday night (April 6) into Tuesday morning.
The special weather statement is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and southern Haliburton County.
Snowfall will begin Tuesday evening for areas near Georgian Bay before spreading into eastern Ontario overnight, with local snowfall amounts of 4 to 10 cm.
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Given that the heavy snow will be brief, the primary hazard will be significantly reduced visibility in heavy snow and local blowing snow rather than snowfall accumulation.
Flurries are expected to end Tuesday morning, except for areas near the St. Lawrence River where they will continue into early afternoon.
The Tuesday morning commute may be impacted. Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions. Travel may be difficult.
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