Just before the Labour Day long weekend, total fire bans have been lifted in some areas of the greater Kawarthas region.
On Wednesday (August 27), both the City of Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland County announced that open-air burn bans are no longer in place, effective immediately, due to significant rainfall in some areas, cooler temperatures, and more rain in the forecast.
This means that campfires, fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, charcoal-burning barbeques, and fireworks are again permitted in Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland County, subject to any regular municipal restrictions.
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In Kawartha Lakes, the burn hazard index remains at high, with elevated fire risks from large amounts of storm debris from the spring ice storm and localized precipitation.
“Lifting the ban does not mean the risk has passed,” said Kawartha Lakes Fire Chief Terry Jones in a media release.
“There’s still plenty of dry, combustible material on the ground from spring storm damage, and rainfall has been uneven across our communities. If you choose to burn or use fireworks, do so responsibly — keep it small, keep water close by, and never leave a fire unattended. If it’s too windy, don’t burn.”
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Northumberland County is reminding residents to follow their local municipal open-air burning by-laws and to always use extreme caution when performing open air burns.
Haliburton County lifted its fire ban effective August 28, 2025. Outdoor nighttime burning is once again permitted between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. in the townships of Algonquin Highlands, Minden Hills, Highlands East. and Dysart et al. Daytime burning between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. is prohibited until October 31.
As for Peterborough County, Cavan Monaghan Township lifted its burn ban last Wednesday (August 20), with campfires permitted between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.
On Tuesday (August 26), Selwyn Township lifted its burn ban to allow campfires, outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, and chimineas; however, waste and brush burning and agricultural burns remain prohibited.
As of the date and time of this story, the remaining six municipalities in Peterborough County have fire bans in place, with a county-wide fire ban also continuing in Haliburton County. As for the City of Peterborough, open-air burning is never permitted with the city’s boundaries.
"Wild Wagi" by David Grieve, one of the 33 artists participating in the 32nd annual Apsley Autumn Studio Tour on September 20 and 21, 2025. With a summer studio on Jack Lake, Grieve has a distinct painting style using thick swatches of oil paint on canvas to create images inspired by Ontario landscapes. During the tour, he will be at Studio G, located at 17 Fire Route 52A in Apsley, with mosaicist Anja Hertle. (Photo: David Grieve / Instagram)
For more than three decades, the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour in North Kawartha has not only given locals and visitors the chance to get an inside look at the vibrant and diverse works of art that are inspired by the region — and the studios they are created in — but it has also been a vehicle for building a creative community.
“Apsley’s spent a lot of time and energy being a happening place for cottagers and a hub for so many lakes,” says Sue Rankin, the treasurer of the volunteer-run tour and a participating artist. “With the Jack Lake Film Festival and the Creekside Music Festival, it’s really coming along, and it all started with the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour bringing people in and getting the support of the community.”
Featuring 33 artists across 12 studios, the free self-guided tour is returning for its 32nd year from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m on Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21 — just as the fall foliage is turning to stunning yellows, reds, and oranges.
Returning to the 2025 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour on September 20 and 21, Jennifer Gordon is a self-taught artist who paints in her studios on Chandos Lake and in Panama. She takes inspiration from the natural beauty of the Canadian landscapes, using vibrant colour, and soft, bold brush strokes. During the self-guided tour, she will be located at Studio J on 638 Paw Road in Apsley. (Photo: Jennifer Gordon / Instagram)
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“Most of the artists are inspired by nature and their surroundings in some way,” Rankin says. “There’s just so much to draw from and, if we’re lucky, the colour is just peaking. It’s a great time to spend the weekend going from studio to studio in Apsley and the surrounding area.”
Though the fall colours make for a scenic backdrop, it’s not the main reason visitors plan their annual getaways and cottage trips around the weekend of the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour. From blown glass to mosaics with whimsical materials to honey products made on buzzing apiary in Coe Hill, there is a vast range of exceptional artwork that makes the fall studio tour a highly anticipated event every September.
“As a juried exhibition, the calibre of the work is very high and people are very excited to see what’s going on,” Rankin says. “Being a cottage event, you’d be hard-pressed to go to any studio and be the only one there. People focus in on that weekend — it’s a girls’ weekend, or a family weekend. It’s fun for everyone.”
As he does every year, glass artist Brad Copping will be one of the artists on the 2025 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour holding live demonstrations to give visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the glass art. Throughout the weekend from September 20 to 21, he will be working out of Studio F, located at 645 Jack Lake Road in Apsley, where David Smith, Susan Rankin, Jillian Messervey, and Rusty Girl will also have artwork on display and for sale. (Photo: Paul Thomas)
While a printed map with all tour stops is available online or can be picked up at local businesses, it is also available through the free Toureka! app, which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play and accessed even when you’re offline. With a bio and art samples for each participating artist, the app lets you find those you are most interested in visiting so you can curate your own route for the weekend.
Along with artists like Rankin who have been on the tour for decades and others who have returned after time away, there are four new artists on the tour this year, including glass artist Alex Anagnostou and encaustic and ceramicist Nina Sampaleanu, who will both be stationed at Studio D on Jack Lake. Also new is jewellery maker Glynis Williams, who can be found at Studio E, and potter Anne Young who is joining Tom Parsons at Studio B, his woodworking studio in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park.
During the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, visitors will be immersed into each artist’s world not only by seeing their studio, but by seeing demonstrations of the artistic processes that go into creating the original artworks.
One of 33 artists participating in the 2025 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour on September 20 and 21, Judy Sparkes is a ceramicist whose work is inspired by the community and nature around her and the joy that comes from sharing good food. She believes that handmade pottery can elevate the dining experience. Alongside Kathy Robichaud, Aubre Scott, Catharine Scott, Dolores Hopps, and Mary Ellen Gerster, she will be at Studio H during the tour, located at 2229 Balmer Road in Apsley. (Photo: Judy Sparkes / Instagram)
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For Rankin, some of the joy of the weekend comes from seeing the amazement as visitors to Jack Lake Road studio (Studio F on the tour) watch fellow glass artist Brad Copping demonstrate glass blowing.
“People love the demonstrations, and glassblowing is magical when you see it happening,” Rankin says. “Brad tells you exactly what’s going on, and then there’s that little bit of magic when the cup is done. It looks cold, like you could grab it, but then when you drop a piece of newspaper in, it bursts into flames. It’s really exciting to watch.”
By opening their studios up to visitors, Rankin says, the artists are able to make a personal connection with those who appreciate their artwork.
“It’s really great to be able to educate, because when people understand where the inspiration comes from and when they know the process and how much of each artist actually goes into the work, all of a sudden there’s a connection,” says Rankin. “When you purchase something, you feel like you’re taking home a piece of that artist.”
“Day’s End” by Barbara Miszkiel, one of the 33 artists participating in the 2025 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour. Alongside work by Tom Parsons and Anne Young, Miszkiel’s paintings will be on display and for sale at Studio B at 329 Fire Route 57 in Apsley during the 32nd annual self-guided tour, which takes place on September 20 and 21. (Photo: Barbara Miszkiel / Instagram)
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Rankin also enjoys connecting with visitors so she can give them extra details about her glass art — that her cups won’t lose their colour in the dishwasher, for example.
“It’s great having that opportunity because, when we send our work to galleries, we don’t get to have that interaction,” she says. “I think that connection to people seeing or buying your art is really important.”
As an artist who has participated in the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour for decades, Rankin has come to know a lot of the local cottagers, with some returning to her studio every September, but she’s also always excited to see new faces and share the beauty of the region and its art with them.
“There was a couple from New York City staying in Bancroft and when they came to the studio tour, they were completely blown away by the quality of the work and the variety of work,” she says. “They were amazed that this was happening, and that it happens every year, so that’s always really exciting to hear.”
Celtic earrings by Silver Timbers, one of the 33 artists participating in the 32nd annual Apsley Autumn Studio Tour on September 20 and 21, 2025. The sterling silver jewellery artist believes art is an essential element of attire and her pieces are designed to be worn at all times and for all occasions. During the self-guided tour, she will be based at Studio C, at 296 Burleigh Street in Apsley where Britt Olauson, Arne Roosman, and Lisa Mace will also be displaying their work. (Photo: Silver Timbers / Instagram)
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While the tour continues to attract more visitors every year, with around 400 people visiting Studio F alone throughout the weekend, it also serves an important role in supporting the arts community in Apsley and North Kawartha.
Not only do many of the participating artists lead art programs at local schools and the public library, but the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour annually grants an art award to one Grade 8 student from Apsley Public School who shows creative promise.
“It’s really nice to see how the community has started to really embrace more involvement in the arts,” Rankin says. “We really try to foster arts in the community, and that’s part of our mandate even beyond the weekend.”
For your convenience, below is an alphabetized list of the artists participating in the 2025 Apsley Studio Tour, complete with their disciplines and tour stop locations.
Alex Anagnostou is a glass artist who has worked in the visual arts field for over 20 years. Sculpting blown and cast glass combined with metal, much of her work is inspired by how glass has expanded our ability to see on a microscopic and macroscopic level.
Raising sheep introduced Rachel Conlin to creating with wool from hand-spinning and dyeing their fibres to felting. Completely self-taught, Rachel makes unique and wearable accessories from nature’s materials and all wool creations are made from sustainable and renewable wool fibre. This year, Rachel can be found at her new studio location on Finnegan’s Lake, just outside Coe Hill.
Working from his home on the edge of the Canadian Shield, Brad Copping maintains a successful practice as both a sculptor and a functional glass blower, often traversing the line between. His work examines how we live with each other within physical spaces, and often references water in some form. He will be doing hot glass demonstrations for the tour.
Jacques Deslauriers is a self-taught woodworker who uses only wood from dead or fallen trees. Gnarls, insect holes, and spalted wood are his materials of choice. He is always ready for a creative challenge of any size.
Mary Ellen Gerster sees the world according to shape, value, and colour, immersing the viewer in her bright and glowing watercolour paintings. Through the layering of transparent colours she creates photo realism in her still life, fruit, flowers and waterscapes. She is inspired and challenged by subjects with strong lights, shadows, shapes, colours and is especially drawn to high contrast and bright colours.
Returning to the tour, Jennifer Gordon is a self-taught artist who enjoys painting in her studios on Chandos Lake and in Panama. She is inspired by the natural beauty of the Canadian landscape at her 90-year-old log family cottage of four generations and uses vibrant colour and soft, bold brush strokes.
While retired art teacher Andrew Gregg has made art since his childhood in rural Australia and has been featured in local exhibitions, he mostly paints for pleasure while spending the summers on Rathbun Lake in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park.
First introduced to oil painting as a child, David Grieve has been painting ever since and has developed a unique distinctive style. He uses a multi-layered technique, applying thick swaths of oil paint to create images inspired by the Ontario landscape.
Anja Hertle works with broken china, pottery, porcelain figurines, and tile to give these elements a second life in her whimsical mosaic art pieces. She also incorporates forks, beads, buttons, bottle caps, and typewriter keys.
Dolores Hopps’ work includes quilts, using imported fabrics from England and Japan, as well as wall hangings, runners, and smaller items. Many of her pieces have wool felting incorporated into the quilting, as well as beads, silk, and quite a number of other interesting embellishments.
After a brief absence, Lisa Mace is returning as a long-time participant of the Apsley Studio Tour. While you can expect to see elements of her previous techniques, her art has evolved and she is introducing fresh twists, new subjects, and a variety of materials and tools she’s been experimenting with.
Jillian Messervey is a Peterborough-based weaver who is inspired by colours and textures she sees in nature, and who uses natural fibres and traditional patterns to make hard-working and functional pieces that also decorate the home or wearer. Her blankets, scarved, and towels are woven by hand on her antique floor looms.
After a successful career both nationally and internationally in architecture, Barbara Miszkiel has returned to her original interest in fine arts, painting primarily in acrylics. Although Barbara has created new buildings most of her career, in painting she is drawn to old buildings, live subjects, and landscapes.
Molly Moldovan is a visual artist whose primary focus in recent years has been abstraction, though her repertoire has also embraced more conceptual work including multifaceted installations. She is drawn to intense colour, texture, and intent.
Britt Olauson enjoys making custom furniture in an old-school manner using traditional joinery to ensure the object is made to last. She employs traditional woodworking techniques in making her functional designs.
Kelly O’Neill is a multidisciplinary visual artist who enjoys the immediacy of dry materials in her drawing practice, and engages with found objects, natural materials, video, assemblage, and textile practices to create three-dimensional forms and installations. The Selwyn-based artist studied sculpture and installation at Toronto’s OCAD University and Her work has been shown in galleries in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.
Working out of his studio on Looncall Lake in Kawartha Highlands, woodworker Tom Parsons enjoys working collaboratively with clients who can choose from a wide range of wood species for their projects. From burl bowls and bird’s eye maple end tables to walnut charcuterie boards and live-edge tables, he is always making something.
Joeann Pearson has been making non-traditional stained glass mosaics for 25 years. Her style is to make mosaics that use deliberately shaped, hand-cut larger pieces that are sometimes hand painted which are usually only used in the making of windows. She has always sought out nature spots to indulge in present moment awareness, and feels nature guides her work. After decades of visiting the family cottage on Chandos, she now resides full time on a small rural homestead in Apsley.
After working for many years in the tech industry, Judy Ranieri retired and began to explore her creative passions. Many of Judy’s projects are inspired by nature and utilize natural fibres, fabric, colour, design, and textures to create one of a kind textile and fabric art pieces.
In her 30-year career as a glass artist, Susan Rankin has drawn inspiration from the landscape in which she lives. An avid gardener, she continues to explore the idea of garden through her vessel and sculptural works and is well known for her vibrant floral vessels.
Kathy Robichaud has been a stained glass artist for over 25 years, using traditional techniques to produce stained glass art. Concentrating on the copper foil method, Kathy looks to nature for inspiration.
Brenda Rudder is a wildlife artist who specializes in creating artworks on natural wood. Her pieces are rich in intricate details and vibrant colours, showcasing a deep connection and passion for the natural world. Having experimented with many media over the years, she now solely uses acrylics on reclaimed wood scraps from a local mill.
Born in Romania, Nina Sampaleanu discovered her passion for art when she moved to Canada and began a career working in mixed media, using wax, wood, metal, paper, and other materials. Her pottery explores themes of destruction and fragility and of strength and materiality.
Aubre Scott (Piping Hot Pyro Studio) is an emerging artist based out of Whitby. She began working with pyrography (wood-burning) in 2021, gaining inspiration from the scenery, landscapes, and wildlife of the local area.
Catharine Scott is a self-taught artisan who is inspired by the natural beauty of coloured gem stones, the ability to form and create meaningful pieces of art through wire working, and her own creative style of stringing that can be worn at any time of the day with any style of fashion.
Clare Scott-Taggart aka Rusty Girl (Metal Sculpture, Studio F)
Clare Scott-Taggart (Rusty Girl) has worked in metal for the past 30 years. She maintains a small studio in Thousand Islands where she recently moved and continues to create birdbaths, climbers, and trellises.
After a 36-year career as a graphic designer, illustrator, and colour correction artist, David Smith creates landscape painting and does printmaking full time from his home studio in North Kawartha. A leader in the arts, he has had solo exhibitions, sits on exhibition juries, has won awards, and taught painting and general art workshops for adults and teens.
Obsessed with the relationship between great food and handmade pottery, Judy Sparkes believes eating from handmade pots elevates the dining experience. Her work is carefully hand crafted to be enjoyed as everyday art.
Marci Smith is the “queen bee” behind Swift Acres Apiary & Farm in Apsley, where she and her family offer raw unpasteurized honey products, beeswax candles, and natural body essentials like beeswax lip balm and goat’s milk soap.
Silver Timbers (Sterling Silver Jewellery, Studio C)
From the delicate to the dramatic, Silver Timbers’ jewellery designs are timeless treasures, which will serve as wearable art for years to come.
“I believe that jewellery is an essential element of attire,” the artist states. “Even when I am riding camels in the Moroccan desert, I wear my bracelets. My pieces are designed to be worn 24/7 wherever you are in the world.”
Having created with sterling silver for many years, Glynis Williams finds designing jewellery pieces and the manipulation of metal as both challenging and fun. After heating, bending, hammering, sawing, soldering, and completing the final polishing stage, she turns a one-of-a-kind object into a wearable piece of art.
New to the tour this year, Anne Young is a guest artist who works just west of Peterborough and has loved clay, glazes, and firing pottery for over 45 years. Her functional high-fired work is easily recognized by the spirited swirled handles, colourful glazes, and bark-like texture on the outside of a lot of pieces. Her non-functional Raku work features horsehair, feathers, and sugar sprinkles.
First launched in 1994, the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour creates public awareness of the arts by promoting and supporting artists in the community.
For more information on the 2024 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, visit apsleystudiotour.com. You can also follow the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour on Facebook and Instagram.
Find the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour on the Toureka! app or download the tour map and watch for the black-and-white studio tour signs that mark each studio location. (Photo courtesy of Apsley Autumn Studio Tour)
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Matthew and Kristin Morgan and her husband Matthew are the owners of The Eyrie, a birds of prey facility near Apsley in North Kawartha Township that provides educational outreach and hosts demonstrations at their facility with the aim of providing interactions with raptors that inspire conservation. This past winter, the couple was flooded with support from the local community after they lost buildings due to weather and many of their raptors were poisoned. (Photo courtesy of The Eyrie)
For five years, The Eyrie has educated the public about raptors and the importance of conservation and, when the birds of prey centre near Apsley faced devastating losses this past winter, the community stepped up to give back and show them some much-needed support.
Located in the Township of North Kawartha, one of eight townships in Peterborough County, The Eyrie — which is named after the term for a raptor’s nest — has a mission to inspire conservation through meaningful education.
Husband-and-wife team Matthew and Kristin Morgan opened the facility in 2020 after spending many years training raptors and studying eco-tourism. The facility currently has 25 birds, including many born over the past few months, including species of hawks, owls, eagles, and falcons.
The Morgans host up-close, free-flight demonstrations both onsite at their facility and by touring to festivals, schools, campgrounds, fairs, and other events and venues. They also host photography sessions to give participants the opportunity to photograph the raptors in a natural setting, and provide commercial pest control services by using their raptors and dog to control nuisance animals like gulls and geese.
Seasonally, The Eyrie also hosts “owl prowls” where they take visitors out on their property in search of wild owls. All of this is offered with the hope that The Eyrie can give people an appreciation for raptors, their important role in the natural world, and how human activity can affect their survival.
“When people have a connection to something, they feel more strongly about it and they want to be more involved, learn more about it, and they become more aware as to what’s going on,” says Matthew. “We try to give people a connection to not just the raptors, but to all the wildlife that make up the really incredible place that is Canada and North America.”
Just days after losing a building due to heavy snowfall this past winter, The Eyrie in North Kawartha suffered a break-in in which unknown persons poisoned several of their raptors. While they were successful in nursing most of the birds back to health, The Eyrie was unable to save the live of their Eurasian eagle-owl named Echo. (Photo courtesy of The Eyrie)
Some of the many local organizations and businesses for which The Eyrie has hosted demonstrations this summer include Camp Kawartha, Viamede Resort, the Peterborough Public Library, the Municipality of Hastings County, Emily Provincial Park, and the Lakefield Fair.
To run their business, The Eyrie relies on services and products from local businesses including Apsley Home Hardware and Kemp’s Garage in Apsley, as well as Apsley Outdoor Power Equipment & Rentals which, according to Matthew, was instrumental in supporting the community during the spring ice storm and power outages.
The Eyrie has once again begun to host on-site demonstrations, following a devastating winter that made it necessary to restrict public access to their property.
During a major snow storm, one of the buildings collapsed and damaged equipment. Only about a week later, unknown persons entered the facility and caused harm to the raptors, with many of them falling ill with symptoms pointing to toxin ingestion. The Eyrie spent a lot of time and resources caring and healing the birds, though they were unable to do so for their Eurasian eagle-owl named Echo, who tragically lost his life.
As the Morgans navigated the loss and additional challenges — including damage to another building, the weathering area, during the spring ice storm — The Eyrie received support from regional wildlife reserves and rehabilitation centres. Most recently, Bowmanville’s Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue donated food for the raptors.
“That support definitely helps in a time when we were feeling a little bit isolated,” Matthew says. “We’re a pretty small community but we do a good job of keeping each other supported.”
The Local Advantage in Peterborough County is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in Peterborough County, created in partnership with Peterborough County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.
As part of its response to the impact of U.S. tariffs, Peterborough County is showcasing the many unique businesses located in the county, both by sharing their stories of success and how they support both residents and other businesses in their communities.
Whether by shopping at local businesses, dining at local restaurants, staying at local accommodation, or enjoying local experiences, residents and visitors can enhance the economic resilience of Peterborough County during these challenging times and help establish a sustainable foundation for the future.
For more information about economic development and tourism in Peterborough County, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev and The Kawarthas Tourism at thekawarthas.ca.
This summer, Apsley real estate agent Tania Rightmyer set out to complete a self-imposed challenge to stand-up paddleboard along the entire perimeter of Chandos Lake, one of the largest lakes in the region, to see every cottage from the water's view. Over the course of eight days, 15 hours, and more than 70 kilometres, she met with many neighbours, saw wildlife, and raised awareness about how clean the lake is. (Photo via Tania Rightmyer / Facebook)
If you were on Chandos Lake this summer and noticed a woman dressed in pink paddleboarding by your cottage, you weren’t the only one. In fact, over the course of eight days and 15 hours this summer, Tania Rightmyer paddled past every property on the North Kawartha lake.
On Sunday (August 24), Rightmyer paddled to her own dock where her two daughters stood with champagne, and danced to music by P!nk to celebrate the completion of her self-imposed challenge to stand-up paddleboard the lake’s entire perimeter and every island with a cottage.
With many neighbours cheering her on along the way, she racked up a total 72.57 kilometres on the water to complete the challenge.
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“For me, it’s about the sense of community, but I also love to set a challenge for myself and make sure I get it done,” she says. “I’ve always been a water girl and I’ve done every water sport, but ever since paddleboarding came in, I just loved it as soon as I started doing it.”
Someone who loves to keep her “brain and body busy,” Rightmyer sets a New Year’s goal — not a resolution — for herself to complete every year, like doing the CN Tower Edge Walk or learning to speak Spanish. This year, her goal was to see every cottage on the lake from the water’s view.
“This (year’s goal) was big in the sense that it brought the community together,” she says. “A big part was I wanted to bring awareness to how incredibly clean our lake is and that everybody works hard at caring for it, and that’s very important to everybody that’s a cottager on Chandos.”
Tania Rightmyer used the Strava app to track her distance and time for the eight days and 15 hours over the summer when she travelled more than 70 kilometres around the shoreline of Chandos Lake on her stand-up paddleboard. She began her journey on June 8 and wrapped it up on August 24, 2025. (Graphics via Tania Rightmyer / Facebook)
A real estate agent with BALL Real Estate Inc. Brokerage in Apsley, Rightmyer was born and raised in Peterborough but has been been visiting the lake since she was seven years old and began visiting the cottage her parents built in 1977. Now, she resides at the property as much as she can from May through October.
Paddling early in the mornings, Rightmyer set out on her paddleboarding challenge for the first time on June 8, leaving her property on the south side of the narrows, heading southwest into West Bay.
She tracked her mileage and time through the Strava app and wore her favourite colour, pink, so she would be recognized by cottagers and seen by her two daughters who chauffeured her to each day’s starting and end points.
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“I didn’t want to rush because I would chat with people that I knew at their docks for a bit, so on the first day, I had to readjust my mindset that’s it’s not about how fast I go,” Rightmyer says.
“It’s about just being here and enjoying every minute of it and living in the moment of it. I get in a hypnotic state where I just get on a roll, and I get into the groove where life is pure bliss. I keep going and before I knew it, three hours were done.”
In stints of two to three hours each day that she paddled, Rightmyer achieved her goal of seeing all the roughly 1,200 cottages on the lake, which is one of the largest in the area.
According to Tanya Rightmyer, Chandos Lake is in her family’s blood as she has been going there since she was seven years old. She says one of the highlights of completing her self-imposed challenge to stand-up paddleboard around the North Kawartha lake was doing so with her adult daughters, who dropped her off and picked her up during each leg of the journey. (Photo via Tania Rightmyer / Facebook)
“I’d see little unique things on people’s properties, like signs that are special to them,” she says.
“(I saw) really cute original old cottages, which would be over 100 years old, to places that are now being rebuilt into modern cottages. It was just a really cool blend of the uniqueness of each property, and everybody has pride in the property they own — you can just see it. Everybody loves their spot on the lake.”
But the cottages weren’t the only things Rightmyer was excited to be seeing along the journey.
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“I saw lots of wildlife like loons, (great) blue herons, and turtles,” she says. “It was pretty sweet — almost brings tears to your eyes, just watching nature in its own element.”
Because she posted her challenge in regional Facebook groups and the story spread quickly around the community, she was being recognized and cheered on for doing the challenge, even when she wasn’t paddling but out in the community.
She even started a competition, urging viewers to post photos of her paddling for a chance to win a $50 Shantilly’s Place marina gift card.
Tanya Rightmyer jumps off her stand-up paddleboard on August 24, 2025 to celebrate completing her personal challenge of paddling along the entire shoreline and around each island with a cottage on it on Chandos Lake. It was an opportunity to chat with cottagers on the lake, see wildlife, and raise awareness about how clean the lake is. (Photo via Tania Rightmyer / Facebook)
“People would open up their windows and it’d be early morning, so you could tell they’re having breakfast, and they would yell because they were excited for me,” Rightmyer says. “Everybody was so lovely, and I wish I had been able to stop at everybody’s dock that offered a chat — but I would never have gotten it done.”
In addition to encouragement from her neighbours, Rightmyer says she couldn’t have done the challenge without the help from her two daughters, Taylor and Kennedy Daly.
“It’s nice as a mom to be a role model for your kids, even when they’re adult kids, so to see them cheering me on and smiling when I came in — that was the highlight,” she says. “I always say Chandos Lake is in our blood.”
Chimo Youth & Family Services in Lindsay is one of nine organizations in the City of Kawartha Lakes that received a grant from the Social Sustainability Fund of the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes (to be renamed the Kawartha Community Foundation). Chimo received a $6,000 grant for a city-wide youth engagement initiative with anti-bullying workshops, focus groups, and a teen wellness fair. (Photo courtesy of Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes)
With one grant from the Social Sustainability Fund, an organization was able to provide meals for people living rough in the City of Kawartha Lakes. With another grant, an agency delivered mobile workshops for isolated older adults in the City of Kawartha Lakes, focusing on fall prevention, nutrition, and mental health.
There are just two of nine initiatives made possible because of financial support organizations and agencies received through the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes’ Social Sustainability Fund (SSF).
The Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes is celebrating the success of its inaugural SSF granting program that helped fund locally driven efforts and services that promote well-being, equity, and belonging throughout the City of Kawartha Lakes.
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Launched in 2025 with seed funding from the City of Kawartha Lakes’ human services department, the fund received 18 applications totalling more than $160,000 in requests.
With $56,000 awarded, the SSF supported nine local initiatives addressing mental health, youth engagement, food access, newcomer inclusion, digital literacy, and child development. A volunteer assessment committee reviewed the applications to ensure the funds were allocated equitably and strategically.
The Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes’ Carissa Ferguson told kawarthaNOW the impact of the inaugural program has been significant.
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“One of the most meaningful outcomes from this year’s granting was seeing how quickly and creatively local organizations responded to urgent needs in our community,” Ferguson said.
“For example, through SSF support, A Place Called Home (Lindsay’s emergency homeless shelter) was able to launch a weekend food program for individuals living in Lindsay encampments, filling a critical gap and providing consistent access to nutritious meals where there previously were none,” she noted.
“What stands out most is how a relatively modest investment of $56,000 enabled nine organizations to make such tangible, immediate differences, from youth mental health supports and newcomer programs to enhanced food security and opportunities for vulnerable children. It’s a powerful reminder that when we invest directly in community-led solutions, the impact multiplies across the community,” Ferguson said.
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Below are the 2025 SSF recipients.
Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes: Mobile workshops for isolated older adults focused on fall prevention, nutrition, and mental health.
John Howard Society of the Kawarthas: Nutritious snacks and meals at the Community Integrated Care Hub to encourage wraparound support.
A Place Called Home: Weekend food program for people living in Lindsay encampments.
Pinnguaq Foundation: Inclusive weekend science, technology, engineering, art, math (STEAM) programming for youth, promoting mental wellness and digital literacy.
New Canadians Centre Peterborough: Expansion of newcomer integration and well-being programs into Kawartha Lakes.
Coboconk & Area Food Bank: Upgrades to food-prep and bulk-purchase capacity.
Chimo Youth & Family Services: City-wide youth engagement with anti-bullying workshops, focus groups, and a teen wellness fair.
Fenelon Falls Salvation Army Community and Family Services: Weekly “Hub & Grub” program offering meals, social connection, and referrals.
Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation: Access to extracurricular activities for vulnerable children and youth.
“When you think of how far $56,000 can go and the impact it will have, it’s truly rewarding,” said Cheryl Faber, director of human services for the City of Kawartha Lakes, in a media release. “This fund captures the collective impact of what’s possible when we work together to support community well-being.”
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According to the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes, in 2026, the SFF will “continue supporting inclusive, resilient, and community-led solutions that make Kawartha Lakes a place where everyone belongs.”
“Next year’s cycle will feature a larger pool of funding to disburse and, for the first time, will expand eligibility to include both registered charities and non-profit organizations.”
The expansion is aimed at ensuring even more community groups can access the fund and bring forward innovative solutions.
While the SSF’s first year was shaped by the City of Kawartha Lakes’ Community Safety and Well-being Report, future cycles will increasingly draw upon the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes’s Vital Signs research project, which measures community well-being across 11 key indicators of health.
According to the release, doing so will “ensure granting decisions are both evidence-based and deeply responsive, targeting areas where investment can make the most lasting and meaningful impact.”
Meanwhile, the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes is in the final stages of a brand refresh that will include an updated logo and the shortening of the organization’s operating name to Kawartha Community Foundation.
Boshkung Brewing in Minden is one of two businesses in the greater Kawarthas region that have been nominated for Ontario Made Awards, an initiative of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters. (Photo: Boshkung Brewing website)
Two businesses in the greater Kawarthas region have been nominated for the fifth annual Ontario Made Awards, an initiative of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME).
K2 Mart Bailieboro and Boshkung Brewing in Minden are two of 10 Ontario businesses nominated for a Retailer Spotlight Award.
According to CME, the awards recognize Ontario manufacturers and retailers that help consumers make informed decisions to increase the sales and awareness of Ontario-made products.
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K2 Mart Bailieboro, located at 200 County Road in the former location of the Bailieboro Grocery Store, is a convenience store franchise that opened in May. Boshkung Brewing, located at 20 Water Street in downtown Minden, is a craft brewery owned by Mathew Renda and Deb Banks.
In addition to the 10 businesses nominated for a Retailer Spotlight Award, 10 Ontario businesses have been nominated for a Manufacturer Spotlight Award and 10 Ontario businesses have been nominated for a Consumer Awareness Award.
CME is encouraging Ontarians to vote for their favourite manufacturer and retailer in each category by visiting ontariomade.awardsplatform.com.
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Voting is open until October 5, and the top-voted companies in each category will move on to the final round of judging.
Each person can vote 10 times per day, with each vote giving participants a chance to win one of five $250 gift cards to a registered Ontario Made manufacturer of their choice.
A non-profit business association that represents over 2,500 leading manufacturers across Canada, CME operates the Ontario Made program at supportontariomade.ca to celebrate Ontario manufacturing and bring awareness to locally manufactured products. The program is a free branding opportunity to help consumers identify and support the purchase of Ontario-made products.
A rendering of TVM Group's proposed 17-storey residential-commercial building at 90 Hunter Street East beside Mark Street United Church in Peterborough's East City, which includes a four-storey parking garage. (Graphic: RAW Design Inc.)
After a five-hour public meeting, Peterborough city council voted to approve a zoning by-law amendment to allow a 17-storey mixed-use development to be built in Peterborough’s East City.
A report from Blair Nelson, the city’s commissioner of infrastructure, planning and growth management, was presented at a public meeting under the Planning Act during city council’s general committee meeting Monday night (August 25), with the report recommending that the zoning by-law amendment be approved.
The proposed development, which would be built at 90 Hunter Street East just west of the Mark Street United Church on a site of around 3,350 square metres (less than one acre), would be the tallest building ever constructed in Peterborough. It would have 205 market-rent apartments with 201 parking spaces.
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Toronto-based developer TVM Group acquired the property where the building would be constructed from the board of trustees of Mark Street United Church is exchange for four rental condominium units in TVM Group’s nearby East City Condos development valued at $2 million, as well as the construction of a new hall on the north side of the church building at no cost to Mark Street United Church.
Originally, TVM Group was proposing a 10-storey mixed-use building at the location and, in June 2024, a consultant hired by TVM Group held an open house about that proposal. No other open house was held prior to or after TVM Group submitted a proposal to the city for a 17-storey building.
Following a presentation from city land use planner Nolan Drumm, council heard from 16 public delegations, including residents of Ashburnham Ward who expressed a variety of concerns about the proposed building, including its height, shadow, impact on the character of East City, and traffic and congestion issues, as well as a lack of community consultation.
Council also heard from Daryl Bennett on behalf of the board of trustees for Mark Street United Church, EcoVue Consulting Services Inc. principal Kent Randall (representing the applicant), and The TVM Group CEO Amit Sofer, all of whom spoke in support of the zoning by-law amendment.
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Given the late hour, city council decided to defer all items on the agenda, except for the remainder of the public meeting and a time-sensitive item on development charges, to a special general committee meeting at a future date.
After voting 7-4 against a motion by Ashburnham Ward councillor Keith Riel to defer the zoning by-law amendment (with Riel and fellow Ashburnham Ward councillor Gary Baldwin and Town Ward councillors Joy Lachica and Alex Bierk voting in favour of the deferral), councillors then debated the main motion.
After councillor Kevin Duguay put forward a motion that the question be put, ending further debate, councillors voted 7-4 in support of the zoning by-law amendment, with Mayor Jeff Leal and councillors Duguay, Lesley Parnell, Matt Crowley, Don Vassiliadis, Andrew Beamer, and Dave Haacke voting in favour and Riel, Baldwin, Lachica, and Bierk voting against.
Items endorsed by general committee will be considered for final approval at the council meeting on Tuesday, September 2 after the Labour Day weekend.
A charming village in the Township of Cavan Monaghan, Millbrook is a popular film location and is home to the greatest number of historically designated buildings per capita in Canada. From quaint shops and restaurants to expansive hiking trails and outdoor theatre, it's one of the many locations you can enjoy when road tripping through the Township of Cavan Monaghan. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
Whether you’re seeking adrenaline-pumping thrills or looking for a space of reflection in The Kawarthas, you can find it all in the Township of Cavan Monaghan, a destination nestled in the rolling hills and expansive landscapes of southwestern Peterborough County.
From car and harness racing to heartwarming outdoor theatrical performances, the township offers entertainment in all forms. But Cavan Monaghan is also celebrated for its rich agricultural roots and scenic countryside, where you can find plenty of locally grown food and sweet treats as well as places to reflect and reconnect, whether hiking on a trail or meditating in the garden of a Buddhist temple.
“One of the things that makes Cavan Monaghan so unique and special is its deep and rich agricultural history,” says Cavan Monaghan Mayor Matthew Graham. “What is now the township was first surveyed in 1817 — 50 years before Confederation — and it’s steeped in that hardworking agricultural history. There are still several buildings in the village of Millbrook and historic farmhouses throughout the municipality that date back into the mid-1800s, so it’s got a lot to offer in that historical regard, but there’s also a lot to get out and do in the township as well.”
Morning: Take flight with sweets and treats
Not just another chocolate shop, Mitchel’s Cake & Chocolate Co. (featuring Millbrook Valley Chocolates) also offers gourmet cakes and cheesecakes, peanut butter cups, and lots of ice cream. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
Start your day in Cavan Monaghan with a first-class breakfast courtesy of The Good Baker YPQ. This newest location of the beloved local bakery at the Peterborough Regional Airport serves up full breakfasts as well as freshly made gluten-free baked goods, which you can enjoy while watching the planes take to the sky or the classes in session at the Seneca Polytechnic School of Aviation.
When you’re all fuelled up for your day of exploration, head south on Peterborough County Road 28 to Millbrook. After just a few minutes spent exploring the well-preserved historic downtown, you’ll understand why it has been the backdrop to many acclaimed television shows and films including, among others, Reacher, Anne with an E, and Murdoch Mysteries.
“A lot of the downtown Millbrook is more than a century old and we’re doing a lot of work in maintaining that heritage in the village,” says Mayor Graham. “You have the Needler’s Mill right next door that has different iterations dating back to 1820 with the original mill. There was a fire just at the turn of the century so different iterations have been rebuilt, but parts are still from the early 1800s, which is really unique. You can really feel that history in the downtown.”
Fairweather is one of the many historic and architecturally significant buildings in Millbrook. Built in 1876 for merchant Thomas Baxter Collins and originally called Glenhaven, the impressive family home is said to have been modelled on an Irish castle. Famous guests include Canada’s first prime minister John A. Macdonald in the 19th century and Canadian novelist and journalist Robertson Davies in the 20th century. (Photo courtesy of Millbrook and Cavan Historical Society)
For a sweet treat, head to King Street East to Mitchel’s Cake & Chocolate Co. (featuring Millbrook Valley Chocolates) where you’ll find gourmet cakes and cheesecakes, peanut butter cups, and lots of ice cream. If you’ve ever wanted to make your own chocolates, call ahead to book a private class and learn to make anything from chocolate bars and truffles to a smooth ganache!
Right next door, you’ll find The Village Apothecary, your Cavan Monaghan haven for health and wellness with on-site naturopathic doctors and dietitians. Stock up on high-quality supplements and wholesome health foods, curate the ultimate gift basket, or reduce your use of single-use plastics by buying from the refillery.
For a taste of what’s growing in The Kawarthas, drop by the Millbrook Farmers’ Market on Sundays. With farm-fresh produce as well as a variety of local vendors, makers and artisans, and entertainment, this weekly farmers’ market is just another way to immerse yourself in Cavan Monaghan’s rich agricultural roots.
Located immediately south of Millbrook in Cavan Monaghan, the Millbrook Valley Trails network includes over 13 kilometres of trails that follow the shoreline of Baxter Creek, a cold-water stream that originates on the Oak Ridges Moraine and is a tributary of the Otonabee River that provides habitat for a variety of species. The trails wind through valleys, forests, wetlands, and meadows providing scenic views and a connection to the Ganaraska Forest. (Photo courtesy of Township of Cavan Monaghan
Spend some time in nature by enjoying a trail walk along one of the nearby Millbrook Valley Trails. Winding through valleys, forests, wetlands, and meads, the network includes over 13 kilometres of trails that follow the shoreline of Baxter Creek, a cold-water stream that’s a tributary of the Otonabee River and provides habitat for a variety of species.
“The Millbrook Valley Trails take you around the hidden, wooded area of undeveloped natural beauty throughout the township,” says Mayor Graham.
“It can bring you right through into the village of Millbrook and take you all the way out to the Ganaraska Forest. Depending how much of a hike you’re into and where you’d like to get, it’s a really interesting way to see the natural beauty of the township.”
Millbrook Mercantile is a one-stop shop and deli where you can browse curated home décor, fashion, wellness products, 100 cheeses from around the world, and more than 20 cured meats. When road tripping through Cavan Monaghan, enjoy a decadent meal with wine on the patio or pack a deli lunch to take on the road. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
Prefer a more urban landscape as you walk? Learn all about the architectural and historical significance of some of the properties that contribute to Millbrook being home to the greatest number of historically designated buildings per capita in Canada.
On a self-guided tour with Millbrook’s interactive Walking Tour Map, you can step into the town’s past by exploring everything from Victorian farmhouses to gothic churches.
Don’t forget to visit The Millbrook Mercantile, a one-stop shop and deli where you can browse curated home décor, fashion, and wellness products, as well as 100 cheeses from around the world and more than 20 cured meats. Dine on homemade soups, salads, and boutique wines on a streetside patio, or order a charcuterie board to-go to create your own picnic on your afternoon adventure.
Afternoon: Speed, sightseeing, and so much more
When construction is complete, the Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Cavan Monaghan will be the largest single Buddhist complex outside of China. On 535 acres, the sacred grounds offer a myriad of massive sculptures, multiple shrines, a man-made lake, a tea shop, an art gallery, and walking trails. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
After you’ve explored Millbrook, head north on Peterborough County Road 28 to the Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden, a unique destination in The Kawarthas. Residing on 535 acres of land, this sacred site, when complete, will be the largest single Buddhist complex based outside of China. Spend some time exploring all the grounds have to offer from massive structures and multiple shrines to a man-made lake, a tea shop, an art gallery, and walking trails.
Just north on the Trans Canada Highway, you’ll find even more entertainment at the Peterborough Speedway, Canada’s fastest 1/3-mile paved oval and one of the busiest racing venues in Canada. Did you know you can even get behind the wheel with the Peterborough Speedway Driving Experience? That’s sure to get your heart pounding!
To add more racing to your itinerary, follow County Road 28 to Kawartha Downs. The lively entertainment venue is the home of weekly free-admission harness racing, offering fun for the whole family with the option to enjoy it all while dining buffet-style at the Grandstand Dining Room.
Located in Cavan Monaghan, the Peterborough Speedway is Canada’s fastest 1/3-mile paved oval and one of the busiest racing venues in Canada. Adrenaline seekers taking a road trip through the township can book an experience that gets them behind the wheel and on the track. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Speedway)
For a special agritourism experience in The Kawarthas, head south to Hunnabees Honey & Co., a 200-colony apiary run by third-generation beekeepers. Sign up to be a beekeeper for a day, learn about the honey extraction process through scheduled workshops, or drop in to browse the farm store and purchase a range of honeys, beeswax food wraps, pollen, and more.
The Kawarthas draws golfers from near and far, and there are plenty of opportunities to hit the links in Cavan Monaghan. Tee off at Baxter Creek Golf Club, an award-winning champion course in Fraserville that boasts a unique 19th island green bonus hole.
You can also head to the fairways at Keystone Links Golf & Country Club or Heron Landing Golf Club, both located just outside the City of Peterborough.
Evening: Settle in for the night in Cavan Monaghan
Every summer, renowned outdoor theatre company 4th Line Theatre stages two original productions focused on regional history at its barnyard stage at the Winslow Farm just outside Millbrook. (Photo: Wayne Eardley / Brookside Studio)
End your road trip in Cavan Monaghan by heading back to downtown Millbrook for dinner and a locally roasted organic-bean coffee at The Peddler, a community staple whose location in a heritage building illuminates Millbrook’s unique history. From pierogis and scallops to ribs and fondant, there’s something for everyone on the dinner menu.
Make sure you leave in time to get to 4th Line Theatre just outside the village. Every July and August, the renowned outdoor theatre company stages two original productions focused on regional history at its barnyard stage at the Winslow Farm. Performances run from Tuesdays to Saturdays at 6 p.m. and, if you don’t have time for a sit-down dinner in Millbrook before the show, you can pre-order a charcuterie snack box to enjoy at the Winslow Farm.
Adrenaline junkies can extend their time at Kawartha Downs into the evening at Shorelines Slots, or by booking tickets to a live music, comedy, or line dancing event at the entertainment venue.
Sweet Hills Farm Bunkie is a private, hilltop, Amish-built pine bunkie that offers spectacular mile-long views and lookouts. During your stay, you can enjoy the amenities, campfire, and private hiking trails, and purchase seasonal produce, maple syrup, and honey. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
Need more time to explore Cavan Monaghan? Turn your day adventure into an overnight one by staying at Sweet Hills Farm Bunkie. This private hilltop Amish-built pine bunkie offers spectacular mile-long views and lookouts, and provides access to a campfire and private hiking trails, with seasonal produce, maple syrup, and honey available for purchase.
You can also spend the night at Field Day Art and B&B, an 1874 Gothic building that has been turned into a gallery setting where owner Kate Field displays her vivid Canadiana paintings. Open year-round, the accommodation is on a two-acre property that offers a spa-like experience with a swimming pool, children’s activities, and is within walking distance of downtown Millbrook.
For a night or more on the water, rent a houseboat at Le Boat for up to 10 days. No license or experience is required for these rentals, which you can us to explore the Otonabee River. Part of the Trent-Severn Waterway and running throughout The Kawarthas, the river is one of Mayor Graham’s must-see destinations in Cavan Monaghan.
Part of the Trent-Severn Waterway and running throughout The Kawarthas, the Otonabee River is one of Mayor Matthew Graham’s must-see destinations in Cavan Monaghan. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
Cavan Monaghan Mayor Matthew Graham’s Must Do’s
Tour the many historic buildings in downtown Millbrook and nearby Needler’s Mill.
Hike the Millbrook Valley Trails.
Rent a houseboat and explore the Otonabee River.
“I think a lot of people underappreciate the natural beauty of the Otonabee River,” Mayor Graham says.
“It’s a really cool experience and it also saves you from any weather or wind that can make lake access a bit more dangerous sometimes. The river is a nice place that’s tranquil and calmer.”
Red Mill Maple Syrup is one of the sugar shacks open year-round in Cavan Monaghan. With owners who come from a long line of maple syrup producers, Red Mill hosts tours of the sugar bush, sells a range of maple products, and offers sweet tastings. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)
No matter the season, there’s always a reason to return to Cavan Monaghan.
Plan a visit back to the township during the Millbrook Fair, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2026. Held by the Millbrook Agricultural Society, the fair takes place every June, bringing the community together for a wide range of events, competitions, activities, and displays that focus on the importance of agriculture. Expect to find parades, live entertainment, and classic fair treats at this small-town fair.
On your next trip, take a self-guided tour through the Cavan Monaghan Barn Quilt Trail by car or on foot to view the region’s history through dozens of hand-painted quilt blocks that transform barns and public buildings. This educational, interactive, and fun art installation is accessible year-round, inviting you to pause and connect with the history, culture, and community of the region.
Come to Cavan Monaghan in the spring for Maple Weekend, an annual province-wide celebration held on the first weekend of April by the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association, with producers across Ontario taking part, including Staples Maple Syrup near Cavan and Red Mill Maple near Millbrook. You can also visit Staples and Red Mill year round to take a tour of the sugar bush, learn about the sugaring process, partake in a maple syrup tasting, and stock up on locally made syrup until your next trip to The Kawarthas.
Road Tripping in The Kawarthas is a partnership between kawarthaNOW and the Peterborough County Tourism and Communications Division, created to showcase the unique and distinct townships of The Kawarthas.
This series supports the regional Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) campaign by inviting locals and nearby neighbours to rediscover the places, people, and businesses that make this region unforgettable. Every visit to The Kawarthas supports our local economy — and adds another chapter to your Kawarthas story.
Monarch Teacher Network of Canada instructor Laurel Merriam, Friends of Presqu'ile Park member Don Davis, and "Monarch Butterfly Crusader" Carol Pasternak releasing tagged monarch butterflies at Presqu'ile Provincial Park in 2023. The Friends of Presqu'ile Park, a charitable organization devoted to preserving and protecting the natural heritage of Presqu'ile Provincial Park, invites the public to join park staff and volunteers on August 30 and 31, 2025 for the annual "Monarchs and Migrants Weekend" at the park in the Municipality of Brighton. (Photo: Jaime Rojo / National Geographic)
From bird-banding demonstrations to tagging monarch butterflies, community members are invited to watch and learn about the fall migration of birds, butterflies, and insects by attending an educational event in Northumberland County on the Labour Day weekend.
The Friends of Presqu’ile Park, a charitable organization devoted to preserving and protecting the natural heritage of Presqu’ile Provincial Park, is inviting the public to join park staff and volunteers on Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31 for “Monarchs and Migrants Weekend” at the Presqu’ile Provincial Park, which is located at 328 Presqu’ile Parkway in the Municipality of Brighton.
Visitors will learn why birds are banded and can join Don Davis, guest field naturalist, to watch live monarch butterfly tagging and learn more about the insects’ annual migration.
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Monarchs and Migrants Weekend is an important educational and environmental event, according to Beverlie Cook, communications committee chair for The Friends of Presqu’ile Park.
“We want to build awareness about the many species that inhabit the park and to cultivate an understanding of the need to protect them for generations to come,” Cook told kawarthaNOW.
She said that goal drives the programs presented at the park all summer long through the Ontario Parks’ “Discovery Program.” The “Discovery” team, alongside the Friends of Presqu’ile Park, offers four special event weekends each year highlighting some of the natural and cultural features of Presqu’ile.
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“The goal of these special Discovery Programs is always to provide opportunities for visitors to learn more about the lives of the inhabitants of Presqu’ile Provincial Park,” Cook noted.
“There will be guided bird walks to allow visitors to see the many species of shorebirds fuelling up before beginning their long fall migration to their winter homes. There are 25 species of shorebirds regularly seen at Presqu’ile. They often stay well into late fall if the weather remains warm enough.”
Cook said the best outcome for the weekend would encompass favourable weather, several visitors enjoying the many habitats of the beautiful park, and plenty of birds and monarchs to observe.
“Presqu’ile can be a great spot to see migrating monarch butterflies during the first two weeks of September,” Cook noted. “A highlight is always the monarch butterfly tagging.”
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This will be the 41st year that monarchs will be tagged at the park. Presqu’ile attracts so many monarchs because of its abundant supply of nectar sources and milkweed – the monarch butterfly’s main food sources.
“The monarchs need to fuel up before their long migration to Mexico,” Cook said.
Another feature of the Monarchs and Migrants Weekend is a children’s program at the Nature Centre. The Nature Centre, Lighthouse Interpretive Centre, and Friends of Presqu’ile Gift Shop will all be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will also be the final Friends of Presqu’ile Park’s fundraising barbecue for the season at the amphitheatre on Saturday between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
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Program details for the Monarchs and Migrants weekend are still being finalized, but park staff and volunteers will have a full slate of activities for visitors, Cook said. Programs are open to campers and day visitors alike, and are free with park admission.
A detailed schedule of events and demonstrations will be posted on social media and around the park. Check out The Friends of Presqu’ile Park’s website at www.friendsofpresquile.on.ca for more information, including links to the group’s social media accounts.
The Friends of Presqu’ile Park works to enhance the educational opportunities for park visitors, to provide volunteer assistance for park activities, and to provide funding for selected educational and environmental projects.
encoreNOW for August 25, 2025 features (from left to right, top and bottom) Martin Julien performing "Magic Lies: An Evening with W.O. Mitchell" for New Stages Theatre, Mimi O'Bonsawin, Russell deCarle, Julian Taylor and Logan Staats, Creekside Music Festival, and the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra's Musical Nature Walk at Tecasy Ranch. (kawarthaNOW collage
encoreNOW is a bi-weekly column by Paul Rellinger where he features upcoming music, theatre, film, and performing arts events and news from across the Kawarthas.
This week, Paul highlights Magic Lies: An Evening with W.O. Mitchell at the Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre in Peterborough, Mimi O’Bonsawin in concert at Port Hope Memorial Park, Russell deCarle’s appearance at the Minden’s historic Dominion Hotel, Grove Theatre’s welcoming of singer-songwriters Julian Taylor and Logan Staats to Fenelon Falls, the 6th annual Creekside Music Festival in Apsley, and the fusion of classical music and nature at Tecasy Ranch in Trent Hills.
W.O. Mitchell’s storytelling magic returns to Peterborough
Barbara and Orm Mitchell wrote “Magic Lies: An Evening with W.O. Mitchell” in memory of Orm’s father, the iconic Canadian writer best known for his 1947 novel “Who Has Seen the Wind” that portrays life on the Canadian Prairies in the 1930s from the point of view of a small boy. (Supplied photo)
What began in early June is winding down towards its conclusion at the lovely Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre in the courtyard at Trent University’s Catharine Parr Traill College off Dublin Street in Peterborough.
This year’s edition of the William and Nona Heaslip Foundation Summer Festival has seen 10 musical and theatrical performances staged at the venue on Thursday nights during the summer, leading to the season closer on August 28.
Presented in partnership with Peterborough’s New Stages Theatre, Magic Lies: An Evening with W.O. Mitchell is a staged reading that celebrates the storytelling of the late famed Canadian writer William Ormond Mitchell.
Co-written by his son, Trent University professor emeritus Orm Mitchell, and Orm’s wife Barbara, it was first presented by New Stages back in February. Reprising his role as W.O. Mitchell is Canadian stage veteran Martin Julien, with accompanying music by Peterborough-based pianist Rob Phillips.
That this is being staged at Traill College is not without significance. The Saskatchewan-born W.O. Mitchell frequently gave readings and led writing workshops at Trent, and is the holder of an honourary degree from the university.
Mitchell remains best known for his 1947 coming-of-age novel Who Has Seen The Wind. Portraying life on the Prairies from the point of view of a small boy, it sold close to a million copies in Canada. In addition, as a broadcaster, his CBC Radio series Jake And The Kid, also about Prairie life, aired from 1950 to 1956. For his cumulative work of novels, short stories and plays, Mitchell was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1973.
Magic Lies: An Evening with W.O. Mitchell premiered in September 2023 at the Rosebud Theatre near Calgary, breathing new life into Mitchell’s wit, wisdom and belief in the power of storytelling.
The Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre staging begins at 7 p.m. While admission is free, seating is limited, so plan to get there early or bring some lawn chairs.
Port Hope’s Road To Cultivate wraps up with Mimi O’Bonsawin
VIDEO: “Here’s to the Women” – Mimi O’Bonsawin
Yet another summer-long outdoor music series wraps up August 28 at Memorial Park in Port Hope.
Road To Cultivate has seen free-admission concerts staged Thursday evenings since July 3. Now the concert series, a prelude to the September 26 to 28 Cultivate Festival event featuring live music and food at the Haute Goat Farm near Port Hope, comes to an end with a performance by contemporary roots singer-songwriter Mimi O’Bonsawin.
A member of Odanak First Nation, O’Bonsawin is a prolific songwriter with her two albums to her credit, Willow and Boréale, which were both released in 2023. Weaving rhythm, storytelling, and spirit into her songs, she immerses her audience into a soulful journey.
Cultivate is a charitable organization that advances arts education and public appreciation for music, performance and creativity. The upcoming fall festival is billed as “a big picnic, a music festival, a block party, a playground for all ages, and an arts experience” that leaves attendees feeling “fully connected to the things that matter most.”
More information and updates on the festival can be found at cultivatefestival.ca.
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Minden’s historic Dominion Hotel welcomes Russell deCarle
VIDEO: “So Crazy About You” – Russell deCarle
Take a historic venue in Minden and add a top-tier Canadian musician, and you’ve got a can’t-miss recipe for a terrific night out.
On Saturday (August 30) at the Dominion Hotel Pub, former Prairie Oyster frontman Russell deCarle fronts his trio, running through material from four solo albums recorded since 2012, the latest being The End of the Road.
The singer-songwriter remains yet another great example of a musician who has fashioned a very active and successful solo career after enjoying years of success with a band.
It was just more than 50 years ago that the singer and then bass player hooked up with guitarists Keith Glass and Dennis Delorme to form Prairie Oyster, a union that lasted four years before each went their separate ways.
Reunited in 1982 with the addition of fiddler John Allen, keyboardist Joan Besen, and drummer Bruce Moffat, Prairie Oyster subsequently hit its stride commercially, recording eight albums that spawned 10 hit singles, and collecting six Juno Awards and 11 Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs) on its way to its 2008 induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.
During a November 2024 interview prior to an appearance at Peterborough’s Gordon Best Theatre, deCarle told kawarthaNOW that he remains thrilled to now be “telling his own story.” He added he’s “singing better, playing better, writing better songs” than he ever has, “and having more fun than I ever had.” No doubt his Dominion Hotel show will provide full evidence of that.
The Russell deCarle Trio takes to the stage at 7:30 p.m. The venue is located at 113 Main Street in the heart of Minden — right where it has been since opening in 1865. Tickets are $35, available in advance online at dominionhotel.gpr.globalpaymentsinc.ca.
Fenelon Falls’ Grove Theatre scores a terrific musical duo
VIDEO: “Seeds” – Julian Taylor
If the Grove Theatre was able to secure just one of Julian Taylor or Logan Staats for a concert, that would have been a treat. To secure a show featuring both together, that’s quite something.
On Wednesday, September 3, the duo will bring their “Songs and Stories” tour to the outdoor amphitheatre in Fenelon Falls, bringing with them their respective huge catalogues of music.
Of Caribbean and Mohawk ancestry, Toronto-raised Taylor began his music career as a co-founder and member of the alt-rock band Staggered Crossing in the late 1990s before establishing himself as a solo artist. Come 2020, with five albums under his belt, The Ridge proved to be his breakthrough album. It earned two Juno Award nominations, a Polaris Prize nomination, and, for its creator, a Canadian Folk Music Award as Solo Artist of the Year.
Taylor’s 2022 follow-up, Beyond The Reservoir, received equal critical acclaim, bringing him another Juno Award nomination, and Roots Artist of the Year honours from the Country Music Association of Ontario. Two more albums have followed, and with them, continued acclaim.
VIDEO: “Deadman” – Logan Staats
Staats, meanwhile, has two studio albums to his credit, 2015’s Goodbye Goldia and 2023’s A Light In The Attic.
Raised in Brantford of Mohawk descent (he was born on Six Nations of the Grand River Territory), Staats really his stride in 2018, winning the first season of CTV’s reality TV music competition The Launch. His performance of “The Lucky Ones” sealed the deal, that song going on to hit number one on the Canadian iTunes chart and winning a 2019 Indigenous Music Award as Best Radio Single.
Tickets to the duo’s Grove Theatre show are $68.50 including fees and are available online at www.grovetheatre.ca.
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Apsley’s Creekside Music Festival returns for its sixth year
VIDEO: “Steady The Wheel” – The Redhill Valleys
What began as one-off in 2018 has evolved into a highly anticipated multi-act outdoor musical festival in North Kawartha Township that returns for its sixth year from Friday, September 5 to Sunday, September 7.
Held on an Eels Creek-hugging property just off Highway 28 in Apsley, the Creekside Music Festival will see multiple music acts take to the stage, with event proceeds benefiting a select organization or cause. Past beneficiaries have included JumpStart, Apsley minor hockey and, last year, Roter’s Reach Mental Health Awareness.
This year’s stage lineup is as varied as it is long: Tommy Youngsteen, The Redhill Valleys, Epic Eagles, Melissa Payne’s Super Band, Mudmen, Russell deCarle, VANCAMP, David Celia, Caitlin O’Connor’s Detention Club, Gordie Tentrees, Montana Sky, KYRA, Alycia Hebert, Mason Moxley, Georgia Rose, Ebonie Kauffeldt, Alex McMann, Still Picking Country Band, Nephton Ridge Runners, and The Ross Singers.
Weekend and day passes are available now, but don’t delay as the audience will be limited to around 600 people. Weekend passes are $145 ($115 for seniors or students), with day passes $65 for Friday and $95 for Saturday, available at www.creeksidemusicfestival.ca. Performances on Sunday are open to the public by donation.
Gates open at 4 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday. Artisans and food vendors will be on site. On-site parking is available only to bands and campers (all campsites are sold out); all others must park at the North Kawartha Community Centre where a shuttle bus will be running every 10 minutes to the festival site.
Classical music meets nature at Tecasy Ranch
For the second year in a row, the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra is partnering with the Peterborough Field Naturalists to combine music and nature at Tecasy Ranch in Trent Hills in Peterborough County. On September 6, 2025, field guides will walk participants through an easy forested trail walk that will be interspersed with ensembles of music performances. Pictured are Jaye Marsh on flute and Jennifer Burford on violin during the inaugural event in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra)
From the Something Different File, let me serve up the Musical Nature Walk set for Saturday, September 6 at Tecasy Ranch off Bolton’s Road in Trent Hills.
Last year, a collaboration between the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra (PSO) and the Peterborough Field Naturalists saw the inaugural event held. Guests were divided into small groups, assigned a guide and naturalists team, and led on a hike along walking trails where, at four stops, small orchestra ensembles performed.
It proved immensely popular, hence the decision to not only bring it back, but to expand it with more musicians and two walking tour sessions, one at 12:30 p.m. and another at 4 p.m.
Attendees will be organized into small groups who will be guided by a Tecasy Ranch staff member and a field naturalist along the trail, with stops along the way to rest and listen to musicians performing classical ensemble compositions of their choice.
PSO solo harpist Liane James will welcome guests at the pavilion as they begin the walk that features six different musical stations along the trail: Bryan Allen will perform on solo marimba, Victoria Yeh will perform on the violin with PSO principal bassist Fil Stasiak, PSO principal violinist Jennifer Burford will perform with principal cellist Zuzanna Chomicka-Newnham, PSO principal violist Adriana Arcila Tascón will perform with oboist Nancy Vanderslice, and PSO maestro Michael Newnham will perform trombone duets with David Archer.
Tickets are $70 for adults and $16.50 for children 12 and under (the walk is not recommended for children under six) and are available at thepso.org, where information about the PSO’s upcoming 2025-26 season is also available. Note that dogs are not permitted and the event rain date is September 7.
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Encore
Let me add myself to the many who are congratulating longtime local musicians Rick and Gaile Young on their achievement of a remarkable milestone, namely their having performed for 20 years at the Black Horse Pub in downtown Peterborough. In a word, wow. It was back in 2005 that former pub owner Ray Kapoor brought the pair on for a regular gig. Subsequent owners Desmond Vandenberg and Sajen Ganeshalingam kept Rick and Gailie on, with their Monday night Crash & Burn event since bringing countless local performers, new and old, to the stage. On Monday (August 25), a celebration of the milestone was held at the pub; an event that, as always, had community at its centre. Here’s to many more years for what is nothing short of a unique-to-Peterborough live music tradition.
The Electric City Culture Council (EC3), Peterborough’s arms-length not-for-profit municipal arts council, has brought on a new programming director. An artist with a strong background in arts administration and research, Alexandra Box most recently worked at the Art Gallery of Peterborough. Originally from London, Ontario, she has called Peterborough home for more than two years now. Her new role will see her support EC3’s programs, research and operations, strengthening the creative ecology of the city and the surrounding area.
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