Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Today, Ontario is reporting 114 new COVID-19 cases, with only 3 of Ontario’s 34 health units reporting double-digit increases — Grey Bruce (18), Waterloo (15), and Toronto (10) — and 13 health units reporting no new cases at all. The seven-day average of daily cases has decreased by 8 to 173.
Hospitalizations have increased by 12 from yesterday to 141, but 10% of hospitals did not submit data for the daily bed census so the actual number of hospitalizations may be higher. The number of ICU patients has increased by 2 to 204 and the number of patients on ventilators has fallen by 9 to 123.
Ontario is reporting no new COVID-related deaths today.
More than 17.1 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 121,653 from yesterday, with over 92% of Ontario’s total population now having received at least one dose. Almost 7 million people have been fully vaccinated, an increase of 110,327 from yesterday, representing over 47% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from June 11 – July 11, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from June 11 – July 11, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of hospitalizations, and the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from June 11 – July 11, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered and the green line is the cumulative number of people fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
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After a single-day respite of no new cases in the greater Kawarthas region at the end of last week, there are 22 new cases to report across the region over the last 3 days, including 12 in Kawartha Lakes, 8 in Peterborough, 1 in Northumberland, and 1 in Hastings Prince Edward. There are no new cases in Haliburton.
There is one new COVID-related hospitalization in Peterborough.
An additional 26 cases in the region have been resolved over the past 3 days, including 16 in Kawartha Lakes, 7 in Peterborough, 2 in Hastings Prince Edward, and 1 in Northumberland.
Regional active cases have decreased by 4 in Kawartha Lakes and by 1 in Hastings Prince Edward, and have increased by 1 in Peterborough.
There are currently 51 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 4 from July 9, including 27 in Peterborough, 20 in Kawartha Lakes, and 4 in Hastings Prince Edward (1 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto and 3 in North Hastings). There are no active cases in Northumberland or Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,622 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,573 resolved with 22 deaths), 1,132 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,067 resolved with 58 deaths), 946 in Northumberland County (929 resolved with 17 deaths), 122 in Haliburton County (121 resolved with 1 death), and 1,135 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,120 resolved with 11 deaths). The most recent two deaths were reported in Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes on June 29.
A rendition of what the new Scotts Mills Dam at Lock 19 on the Trent-Severn Waterway in Peterborough will look like when completed. (Graphic: Parks Canada)
There’s both good news and bad news for Peterborough residents living near Scotts Mills Dam at Lock 19, located south of Lansdowne Street where it crosses the Otonabee River.
The bad news is they can expect to endure additional noise in the late evening and early morning hours while the dam replacement project continues.
The good news is that, without this additional noise, the project would take at least an additional year to complete.
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On Monday (July 12), Parks Canada announced some changes to the work hours for the ongoing project. Construction on the project began in spring 2019 and, for the first two years of the project, contractors were instructed to work from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., including on weekends, with a variety of noise levels allowed at different times.
To keep the project on track for completion in spring 2022, Parks Canada has approved an additional work shift by contractors, which will result in longer hours for light construction noise.
However, heavy construction noise would still be restricted to certain hours of the day and evening.
Activities generating heavy construction noise will be allowed Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. These activities can include installation of piles, use of machinery or vehicles equipped with backup alarms, demolition and excavation, use of air compressors, drilling and bush hammering, and loading, hauling, and placement of rip rap or concrete.
Activities generating light construction noise only will be allowed daily from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. These activities can include general carpentry (including the use of handsaws and hammering), general craning (including form work placement and fuelling), rebar placement, concrete finishing and parging, and general site cleaning, cleanup, and organization.
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Without the extra work shift, Parks Canada explains in a media release, construction would continue until at least summer 2023. With the change in work hours, construction is expected to conclude in spring 2022, with restoration to follow that summer, as scheduled.
“Parks Canada is thankful the public’s patience and understanding during this critical construction project,” the media release reads.
According to Parks Canada, the new dam once completed will respect the historic look of the site and will have a life expectancy of more than 80 years. It will optimize hydraulic capacity, increase the safety of water management operations, and be constructed in a way that allows improved access for maintenance activities.
In addition, the project will be the first step in creating a more public-friendly lock site. Once restored, the dam will include pedestrian access onto the dam itself.
A pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic is taking place in Apsley on Thursday afternoon and early evening (July 15).
Following recent clusters of COVID-19 cases in North Kawartha Township, Mayor Carolyn Amyotte contacted Peterborough medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra to see if a pop-up clinic could be arranged to take place in the township.
The clinic, which runs Thursday from 2 to 7:30 p.m. in the North Kawartha Community Centre at 340 McFadden Road in Apsley, is for any North Kawartha resident 12 years and older.
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Priority will be given to those who need their first dose of vaccine, with Moderna available for adults and Pfizer available for children and youth.
“My sincere thanks to Dr. Salvaterra and the health unit staff, the Peterborough Family Health Team, our township staff, and our North Kawartha volunteer firefighters who have quickly mobilized to bring this clinic to our community with only a few days notice,” Mayor Amyotte says in a video posted on Facebook.
To book an appointment, call the North Kawartha Township office at 705-656-4445 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Since this clinic is not part of the provincial vaccination booking system, appointments can only be booked by calling this number.
VIDEO: North Kawartha Mayor Carolyn Amyotte announces pop-up clinic
Attention North Kawartha! Peterborough Public Health is bringing a pop-up vaccination clinic to Apsley this Thursday July 15, 2021 from 2pm until 7:30pm. This clinic will be for any North Kawarthan ages 12 and up with the priority for those who need to get their first shot. Starting Monday July 12, 2021 please call (705)656-4445 to book your appointment. Be well and take care folks.
Peterborough police are seeking these two suspects after an armed robbery at a convenience store in the George Street North and Parkhill Road area on July 9, 2021. (Police-supplied photo)
Peterborough police are searching for two suspects following a robbery at a convenience store late Friday night (July 9).
At around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, officers were called to a convenience store in the George Street North and Parkhill Road area.
Police report the store clerk had been threatened by one man who was brandishing a knife while a second man watched the door. The pair made off with some cash and the clerk was not injured.
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The canine unit was called to search the area but did not locate the suspects.
The first suspect is described as a white male in his mid-to-late 20s, medium build, with what appears to be a circular dark tattoo on the top of his left hand. He was wearing a light blue Puma rain jacket with a white hood, black pants, a teal-brimmed ball cap, and white shoes with blue edging. His face was covered with a black mask and sunglasses.
The second suspect is described as a white male in his mid 20s, with a thin build. He was wearing a black hoodie with a large horizontal white stripe and a white hood, beige pants, and black shoes with white edging. His face was covered with a black mask and he was wearing a toque underneath his hood.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Peterborough police crime line at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.stopcrimehere.ca.
This story was updated to correct a typo in the sixth paragraph.
Police are investigating a suspicious death after a body was recovered Sunday (July 11) from the water near Fenelon Falls in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
On Sunday morning, officers of the Kawartha Lakes OPP were notified a body had been discovered in the water in the Fenelon Falls area.
In a media release, the OPP state they believe the death is not a random incident and that there is no threat to the general public.
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Police have not released any details about the gender of the victim or the suspected cause of death, but state a post-mortem examination will be conducted to confirm the cause of death.
They are also not releasing the name of the deceased person, as family members have not yet been notified.
The investigation is ongoing with members of the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP Crime Unit, Forensic Identification Services, and the Underwater Search and Recovery Unit under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch and in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit your information anonymously online at www.kh.crimestoppersweb.com.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Today, Ontario is reporting 166 new COVID-19 cases — the lowest increase since last July 17 when 166 cases were also reported.
Of Ontario’s 34 health units, only 4 are reporting double-digit increases — Toronto (28), Waterloo (28), Peel (18), and Grey Bruce (18) — with 12 health units reporting no new cases at all. The seven-day average of daily cases has decreased by 7 to 181.
Hospitalizations have fallen by 35 from yesterday to 130, but 10% of hospitals did not submit data for the daily bed census so the actual number of hospitalizations may be higher. The number of ICU patients has increased by 5 to 202 and the number of patients on ventilators has decreased by 2 to 132.
Ontario is reporting 6 new COVID-related deaths, with none in long-term care homes.
Almost 17 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 170,537 from yesterday, with almost 92% of Ontario’s total population now having received at least one dose. Almost 6.9 million people have been fully vaccinated, an increase of 153,322 from yesterday, representing over 46% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from June 10 – July 10, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from June 10 – July 10, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of hospitalizations, and the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from June 10 – July 10, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered and the green line is the cumulative number of people fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
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Numbers for the greater Kawarthas region are unavailable on weekends as health units in the region no longer publish reports on Saturdays or Sundays.
The Ontario data indicates that, for July 10, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit had 7 new cases, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health had 1 new case, with Peterborough had no new cases. The weekend’s numbers will be confirmed when regional health units issue their reports on Monday.
As of July 9, there were 56 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 4 from July 8, including 26 in Peterborough, 25 in Kawartha Lakes, and 5 in Hastings Prince Edward (1 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, 2 in Central Hastings, and 2 in North Hastings). There are no active cases in Northumberland or Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,614 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,566 resolved with 22 deaths), 1,120 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,051 resolved with 58 deaths), 945 in Northumberland County (928 resolved with 17 deaths), 122 in Haliburton County (121 resolved with 1 death), and 1,134 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,118 resolved with 11 deaths). The most recent two deaths were reported in Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes on June 29.
Peterborough native Kelly McMichael released her first solo album, "Waves", in May 2021. Co-produced with Jake Nicoll, the 10-track record includes the single 'Stepping Stone', which McMichael originally wrote years ago with the help of Beau DIxon during the 24-Hour Music Project showcase at the Historic Red Dog in Peterborough. (Photo supplied by Kelly McMichael)
When the doors of Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School (PCVS) closed for good in June 2012, many mourned the loss of the high school’s integrated arts program — including Peterborough-raised singer-songwriter Kelly McMichael.
Fortunately that program subsequently found a new home at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School, continuing to encourage young musicians, actors, artists, and dancers who would go on to find their creative place in the world — not unlike many of McMichael’s fellow PCVS grads, including comedian Sean Cullen, dancer Evelyn Hart, and singer Serena Ryder.
“Being a part of the PCVS integrated arts program was definitely where it all started for me,” McMichael reflects. “Being surrounded by such a vibrant arts scene and inspiring peers; knowing that people were going on to pursue careers in the arts and seeing that as a possibility for myself was great.”
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“I knew I was going to do something in the arts but I wasn’t sure what that was or how it would come about,” she adds. “I did 4th Line Theatre (in Millbrook). I did a lot of visual art. I took fine art at the University of Guelph, but music was always my number one thing. I used to be very shy, so I didn’t have a lot of confidence in myself but I managed to come around.”
What was possible for McMichael has since become very real, an early indication of what was to come being her 2007 claim of the Emerging Artist Award bestowed by the Peterborough Folk Festival — “That was a nice little kick off to feeling like I had a shot at a music career,” she recalls.
After years of collaborating with other musicians in a number of bands, dividing her time between Peterborough, Toronto and St. John’s, McMichael released her first solo album, Waves, this past May.
AUDIO: ‘Stepping Stone’ by Kelly McMichael from “Waves”
Co-produced with Jake Nicoll, the 10-track Waves was years in the making but has proven well worth the wait. As of this writing, the single ‘Stepping Stone’ was sitting in the top spot of the Best Music of 2021 (So Far) list compiled by The East, a popular blog of all things East Coast arts and culture.
And yes, the song has a Peterborough connection, penned years ago for its debut as part of a 24-Hour Music Project showcase at the Historic Red Dog on Hunter Street East.
“I was partnered with Beau Dixon,” McMichael recalls of the development of ‘Stepping Stone’. “I had part of the song idea that I came into the session with. We developed it together, along with a couple of other ones for the performance we had to give the next night. I’ve since revised it a bunch but I gave Beau writing credits because he helped me develop that song.”
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Long before Waves was recorded and released, McMichael cut her musical teeth with a number of acts, including a Peterborough-based yacht rock cover band that also featured Peterborough musician Dave Tough. In Toronto, her time as a keyboardist with Gentlemen Reg, fronted by Indie rock singer Reg Vermue, was instrumental to her career — no pun intended.
“Toronto was sort of where the action was,” says McMichael, who also co-fronted Rouge during her time in the big city. “If you wanted to pursue a career in music you needed to be there, but Toronto wasn’t my vibe.”
“There are a lot of good things about it, but I enjoy a little more space, a little slower pace, and more nature,” she adds. “It’s why I love being part-time in Peterborough at the family cottage on Clear Lake. I’m always back around here (Peterborough), hanging out on The Only Café patio.”
Kelly McMichael performing with her former band Rouge at Pride in Toronto in 2014. The singer-songwriter now lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland, but visits her hometown of Peterborough regularly. (Photo: Rouge / Facebook)
When she’s not visiting her home town of Peterborough, McMichael is living in St. John’s in Newfoundland.
“That’s why I like Newfoundland. I like being near the ocean. There’s nothing better than that. And St. John’s has a bit more going on than Peterborough. I’m able to work.”
McMichael made the move east in 2013.
“I didn’t love it at first,” she recalls. “The weather was really hard for me to take but I really liked the people. Everyone is so friendly and easy to get along with, and there are so many musicians. There’s music happening all the time. Music is really ingrained into the culture. And more people are willing to come out to shows. That really grew on me.”
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In St. John’s, McMichael performed solo under her own name but also under the name Renders.
“Renders is my fun pop electronic alter-ego,” she says, noting her new album is a big departure from that style of music, featuring more intimate material culled from her experiences of both the personal and musical variety, captured in a more mainstream classic pop-rock sound.
Pivotal to what was ahead for McMichael was her co-producing an album for folk-rock band Fun, for which she also wrote one of the songs.
“I had sort of given up on pursuing my own (album) project more seriously,” says McMichael. “The experience of working in the studio with (co-producer) Jake turned things around. We had a really great working relationship and seemed to be on the same page. I was like ‘Maybe I’ll get to record an album with Jake.'”
VIDEO: “Out The Window” – Kelly McMichael
“I was sitting on a lot of songs for the album,” McMichael explains. “I had been playing a lot, backing up other people and making demos, performing them here and there to not very many people in Peterborough and not very many people in St John’s. I finally seemed to catch some people’s attention and was given grant money to make an album.”
“I had spent a year refining a lot of songs. I recorded demos of Stepping Stone again and again and again. I have a lot of ideas and I get them in different ways. I think it’s good to have a variety of different ways of collecting ideas (for songs). I did a lot of hiking at Signal Hill close to where I was living and ideas would come to me. Playing the songs live helped too, refining each song until they felt right”
Noting she “wanted to pursue everything to the fullest … dream big and go 100 per cent in the most fun and elaborate way,” McMichael extended that process to the album’s cover art. which features her on a horse with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop.
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“There are a few different styles and genres on the album, so I thought it would be fun to have an element of surprise,” McMichael says. “I lived on a horse farm in Omemee at one time, so it was a reminder of that. The ocean is a tie-in to my life here in Newfoundland. I want people to ask ‘What is she doing? I want to know more.'”
2020 was to be a big year for McMichael “but then COVID happened.” A North American tour with singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer — it was scheduled to begin at Peterborough’s Market Hall — was postponed indefinitely.
“I was supposed to be on the road and suddenly I was moved back to my mom’s house in Peterborough. I didn’t have anywhere to live because I was subletting a place in Toronto and was supposed to be on the road. I couldn’t work on my album because Jake was also on the road with another band in Europe and he was stranded and then moved in with his parents in Ontario. He put together a new studio so we managed to finish it.”
The cover of Kelly McMichael’s first solo album “Waves” features her on a horse with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop.
“It was hard for me, being used to being super fast-paced and then having this pause, not being able to finish my record,” McMichael says. “Those first couple of months were a big adjustment. It’s pretty difficult to change gears like that and not know what your purpose is anymore. You’re used to getting attention performing all the time, and suddenly you’re not getting that.”
The good news is the tour with Sarah Harmer has been rescheduled for February to May 2022. That, coupled with the early reviews for Waves, sees McMichael in a good place. She echoes many music industry insiders when she says the reception to live music is going to return stronger than ever. And a follow-up album is indeed in the works.
“I’d like to make it with the same people. The band members are spread out across the country. I don’t know when that will happen but Jake and I have started talking about it.”
VIDEO: Kelly McMichael performs live solo acoustic version of “Stepping Stone”
In the meantime, there’s another Peterborough connection to her upcoming tour with Sarah Harmer.
“I remember going to see Sarah at Showplace when I was in Grade 11,” McMichael says. “Singing those songs and playing them live with her is pretty amazing, then getting to do my own stuff and getting a lot of great press and attention for this album that I’d been plugging away at for years and years and years, It hadn’t really felt like I broke through until recently.”
With the pandemic hopefully soon in the rearview mirror, McMichael is optimistic she can further build her musical career with the success of Waves.
“To have some traction with my own songs is pretty awesome,” she says. “It makes up for feeling sad and shy and unsure for so many years. It’s kind of nice that it took this long to get here. Sure, I could have had something that I would have just taken for granted and moved on from when I was 25, but that probably wouldn’t have been as good as what it is now. I’ll take it.”
For more on Kelly McMichael, or to stream or purchase Waves, visit kellymcmichael.com.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 179 new COVID-19 cases, with the seven-day average of daily cases decreasing by 4 to 188.
Of Ontario’s 34 health units, only 5 are reporting double-digit increases — Waterloo (32), Grey Bruce (27), Toronto (23), Peel (21), and Hamilton (16) — with 10 health units reporting no new cases at all.
Hospitalizations have fallen by 24 from yesterday to 165, with the number of ICU patients decreasing by 5 to 197 and the number of patients on ventilators decreasing by 9 to 134.
Ontario is reporting 8 new COVID-related deaths, including 2 in long-term care homes.
Over 16.8 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 207,507 from yesterday, with over 91% of Ontario’s total population now having received at least one dose. Over 6.7 million people have been fully vaccinated, an increase of 186,664 from yesterday, representing over 45% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from June 9 – July 9, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from June 9 – July 9, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of hospitalizations, and the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from June 9 – July 9, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered and the green line is the cumulative number of people fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
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Numbers for the greater Kawarthas region are unavailable on weekends as health units in the region no longer publish reports on Saturdays or Sundays. The weekend’s numbers will be provided when regional health units issue their reports on Monday.
As of July 9, there are 56 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 4 from July 8, including 26 in Peterborough, 25 in Kawartha Lakes, and 5 in Hastings Prince Edward (1 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, 2 in Central Hastings, and 2 in NOrth Hastings). There are no active cases in Northumberland or Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,614 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,566 resolved with 22 deaths), 1,120 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,051 resolved with 58 deaths), 945 in Northumberland County (928 resolved with 17 deaths), 122 in Haliburton County (121 resolved with 1 death), and 1,134 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,118 resolved with 11 deaths). The most recent two deaths were reported in Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes on June 29.
The Loft Cinema in downtown Cobourg is a second-storey, soft-seat, boutique theatre. The venue has a stage, a 20-inch screen, digital cinema system, and a full P.A. They typically screen documentaries, independent and foreign films, ballets, and operas. Pre-COVID, they also staged live events such as jazz concerts. (Photo: Elizabeth LaFontaine)
Pandemic restrictions requiring cinemas to remain closed haven’t just affected large theatre chains — they’ve also threatened the viability of small and independent repertory cinemas like The Loft Cinema in downtown Cobourg.
According to The Loft owner Ken Prue, the financial burden of the pandemic meant The Loft was facing imminent closure. However, when a group of supporters caught word of the impending closure, they wouldn’t let the cultural cornerstone go under without a fight.
The group, who call themselves “The Fiends of the Loft” due to a serendipitous typo, raised funds to provide Prue with much-needed support after a difficult 15 months.
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“They’re saving me from ruin,” Prue tells kawarthaNOW. “It’s a beautiful thing they have done.”
The Loft is a self-described “art house cinema” located above Craft Food House in downtown Cobourg. At his 63-seat theatre, Prue screens what large, conventional cinemas may not — opera performances, ballet performances, documentaries, and independent films from the past and present. The theatre also has a stage on which they can hold small live music events and workshops.
“I’ve got a killer sound system, a big screen, and a wonderful cinema system,” Prue says. “I tend to show niche films and do small live concerts. I’m providing something that fits a niche need, and I’ve cultivated a really loyal audience because of that.”
A 2019 film screening at The Loft Cinema in Cobourg. (Photo: The Loft / Facebook)
Through his business, Prue has garnered strong relationships with a considerable number of patrons. He has a mailing list of over 2,000 to whom he sends frequent newsletters.
One such loyal audience member is Prue’s friend Martin Partridge. When Partridge came in for a screening one afternoon, he asked Prue how he was doing.
“I said, ‘I’m on my knees and I’m going to probably have to close,'” Prue recalls. “I was in arrears on my rent and with some film distributors for film royalties. I needed a new bulb for my film projector, and I didn’t have $500 to buy a new bulb. When the bulb starts to wear out, the image gets softer on the screen, and I can no longer say I’ve a sharp image with a big sound because it’s not that anymore.”
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Due to pandemic restrictions, The Loft has had to remain closed for 11 of the past 15 months and, when it was permitted to open, could only seat 18 due to capacity restrictions. The lack of revenue from audiences left Prue in an increasingly perilous position financially.
After learning of his friend’s predicament, Partridge went home and — unbeknownst to Prue — called fellow patrons of The Loft, who decided to organize a fundraiser to save the cultural venue they loved. They asked Prue if he’d be willing to accept their help and how much would be needed to save The Loft.
Noting that he was both shocked and heartened by his friend’s offer, Prue says he accepted it.
“It’s not in my nature to ask for help,” Prue admits. “I’m the guy who’s going to go down quietly.”
“Then they got to work,” he says. “They created an email appeal and they sent it to 600 people, carefully culled from several mailing lists — but not my mailing list because I have a contract with the people on my list that I won’t solicit from them.”
The Loft Cinema also hosts small live music events on its stage and is home to the Les AMIS chamber music concert series. Pictured is the Ensemble Made in Canada’s unique Mosaïque Project in 2019. (Photo: The Loft / Facebook)
According to Prue, the first email sent for this initiative contained a typographical error. “The Friends of The Loft” became “The Fiends of The Loft”, a notion the group fell in love with.
Over three weeks, “The Fiends of The Loft” raised the money for Prue to pay off his rental arrears, film royalties, and purchase a new projector bulb — and even a spare.
“I was absolutely flabbergasted with what they were able to raise,” Prue says. “I’ve never had a spare bulb in my life. I also had several electrical repairs and upgrades that are required, so now I can hire an electrician to do that stuff.”
“I’ve got a new lease on life,” he adds. “It’s just a wonderful thing they’ve done. They took the lead on this initiative and kept me informed, but I was at arm’s length. They did all the work. It was amazing.”
Prue notes that, although he will be told who donated to support The Loft, he has asked not to be told how much each person donated.
“I don’t want to see people and think of dollar signs,” he explains.
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A true cinephile, Prue is overjoyed to continue operating The Loft, which is truly a passion project. Now retired, Prue had an entire career with Cineplex Entertainment before opening The Loft. He also started a film society in 2003 called “Northumberland Film Sundays”.
“I come by this interest honestly,” notes Prue. “I just love movies. I love curating them. I love talking about them. I love introducing people to quirky stories that they’re not going to find elsewhere. It focuses my interest and keeps me alive.”
Now that the Ontario government has announced step three of its reopening plan will begin on July 16, Prue has announced he will be reopening The Loft on Tuesday, July 20th. Although step three will still create challenges with its 50 per cent indoor capacity limit for cinemas, Prue is delighted his business has been given another shot at survival.
Ken Prue, owner of The Loft Cinema in downtown Cobourg, is overjoyed to continue operating his business and passion project thanks to financial support from his loyal patrons. Prue has been involved in cinema his entire career, working for Cineplex Entertainment before retiring and relocating to Northumberland. (Photo courtesy of Ken Prue)
“I have to say I am overwhelmed and looking forward to getting back to business,” Prue says. “I’d love to be able to one day get back to something like a full room. My dream is to again show movies to full houses of people who are not wearing a mask — who are laughing and singing and enjoying themselves the way they used to.”
As for how the community can continue to support The Loft during step three, Prue says the best thing you can do is visit for a film or show.
“You know the adage ‘If you don’t use it, you lose it’ — it’s as true for businesses that form the cultural fabric of a community as it is of anything else,” Prue says. “Arts and culture can languish if they’re not supported. The best thing that people could do for my business and others like mine is to use them.”
The Loft Cinema is located at 201 Division Street in Cobourg, over the Craft Food House. To browse their scheduled films and live music events, purchase tickets, or sign up for Prue’s email list, visit The Loft’s website at cobourgloft.ca.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
On the same day the Ontario government announced the province will be moving into step 3 of its reopening plan on July 16, a week earlier than scheduled, Ontario is reporting 183 cases — with none in the greater Kawarthas region for the first time since the third wave began.
Of Ontario’s 34 health units, only 5 are reporting double-digit increases — including Waterloo (50), Peel (24), Grey Bruce (24), Toronto (22), and Halton (10) — with 14 health units reporting no new cases at all. The seven-day average of daily cases has decreased by 2 to 192.
Hospitalizations have decreased by 5 from yesterday to 189, with the number of ICU patients falling by 13 to 202 and the number of patients on ventilators decreasing by 2 to 143.
Ontario is reporting 9 new COVID-related deaths, with none in long-term care homes.
Over 16.6 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 224,864 from yesterday, with over 90% of Ontario’s total population now having received at least one dose. Over 6.5 million people have been fully vaccinated, an increase of 203,054 from yesterday, representing over 44% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from June 8 – July 8, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from June 8 – July 8, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of hospitalizations, and the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from June 8 – July 8, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered and the green line is the cumulative number of people fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are no new cases to report in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, or Hastings Prince Edward.
An additional 5 cases in the region have been resolved, including 3 in Peterborough, 1 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Hastings Prince Edward.
Regional active cases have decreased by 3 in Peterborough, by 1 in Kawartha Lakes, and by 1 in Hastings Prince Edward.
There are currently 56 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 4 from yesterday, including 26 in Peterborough, 25 in Kawartha Lakes, and 5 in Hastings Prince Edward (1 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, 2 in Central Hastings, and 2 in North Hastings). There are no active cases in Northumberland or Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,614 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,566 resolved with 22 deaths), 1,120 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,051 resolved with 58 deaths), 945 in Northumberland County (928 resolved with 17 deaths), 122 in Haliburton County (121 resolved with 1 death), and 1,134 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,118 resolved with 11 deaths). The most recent two deaths were reported in Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes on June 29.
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