This photo taken by Allison MacGregor, of a snowbear in created by Jon Kolodziej and Dana Beren Watts outside their home in downtown Peterborough, was one of two comprising the top post on our Instagram in January 2020. (Photo: Allison MacGregor @allison.macgregor / Instagram)
January is finally over. Yes it is. I can’t recall a January where so many lamented the length of that month. But now we can step back and enjoy what January brought us on our Instagram, including great conditions for building a mega snowbear, scenic snow scenes, misty mornings, and more.
Do you want to get on our top photographers list? All you need is an Insta account and to tag us using our hashtag #kawarthanow when posting your photo.
We share photos from across our readership area, which is the five-county area surrounding Peterborough which includes Peterborough, Northumberland, City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Hastings (we sneak in the occasional Algonquin Park picture as well, particularly if it’s by a Kawartha photographer).
To see our daily shares of photos, follow us on Instagram @kawarthanow and check out our feed’s highlight reels for recaps of every month in 2020.
Posted January 28, 2020. 8,089 impressions, 925 likes
This polar bear made of snow (“snowlar bear”) was created by Jon Kolodziej @onkolodziej and Dana Beren Watts @danaberenwatts outside their home on George Street in downtown Peterborough. After kawarthaNOW shared these photos on social media, the snowlar bear went viral, resulting in Dana Beren Watts being interviewed by CBC Radio’s Ontario Morning host Wei Chen.
Environment Canada has issued an extreme cold warning for most of the Kawarthas, including Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Hastings Highlands.
A period of very cold wind chills is expected, with wind chill values near -30°C expected Friday night (February 7) into Saturday morning.
Milder temperatures are forecast to return on Sunday.
Advertisement - content continues below
Extreme cold puts everyone at risk. Watch for cold related symptoms: shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and colour change in fingers and toes. Dress warmly. Dress in layers that you can remove if you get too warm. The outer layer should be wind resistant.
With extreme cold in the forecast, the hours for One Roof Community Centre (99 Brock St., Peterborough) will be extending its hours to provide daytime shelter from the cold this weekend.
Extended hours will be in effect Friday evening until 9:30 p.m., Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Erin Underhill as Kat, Tara Worrall as Nora, and Jessica Ernest as Carrie in a scene from Stacie Lents' "Laugh Out Loud (Cry Softly)", a play exploring the online dating experiences of twenty-somethings living in New York City. The Anne Shirley Theatre Company production runs for six performances from February 7 to 15, 2020 at The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Andy Carroll)
On Friday, February 7th, the Anne Shirley Theatre Company returns to The Theatre on King (TTOK) to present its first show of 2020, Stacie Lents’ comedy Laugh Out Loud (Cry Quietly).
Anne Shirley Theatre Company presents Laugh Out Loud (Cry Softly)
When: Friday, February 7 and Friday, February 14, 2020 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, February 8 and Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Where: The Theatre on King (171 King St., Peterborough) How much: $15 ($10 for students, seniors, and art workers)
Written by Stacie Lents, directed by Mary Grace Murphy, and starring Tanner Abramczyk, Jessica Ernest, Tara Worrall, Ceilidh Peters, Anand Kumar, Erin Underhill, Shamus Merkley, Mads Ferris, Raquel Grobe, Taytum Raven-Culliton, Nick Toth, and Connie Jordan-Turner. Tickets available at door and in advance during business hours outside of Wenjack Theatre and in the TCSA office until February 8th.
Directed by Mary Grace Murphy, the show is a witty look at the new language of dating in the modern world, full of profiles, texting, misunderstandings, anxiety, failure, and success.
Being single in the modern world is tough, and meeting people in a world where people are plugged in and obsessed with social media has made internet dating more common, especially for the current generation who has made it mainstream.
Laugh Out Loud (Cry Softly) follows 16 twenty-somethings living in New York City, all connected in often obscure ways, as they go on the internet looking for love. More of an anthology of sketches than a traditional play, the storylines weave in and out in short through entertaining vignettes dealing with all aspects of modern dating and the various types of people you meet on the internet.
Advertisement - content continues below
Wile the show is about internet dating, what I found interesting is just how few actual dates are shown in the play. The majority of the show involves characters talking to their friends and family about their anxieties over online dating, or satirizing modern communication.
This makes for a much more interesting exploration of the modern phenomenon of internet dating, and the show becomes more character based than just a romantic comedy.
Through the vignettes, different ideas and opinions are showcased. Is online dating just a place for desperate individuals looking for love? Is it just full of weirdos and uglies? Is it possible to find love without it? Does it really work?
Taytum Raven and Mads Ferris as Amy and Sarah in the Anne Shirley Theatre Company production of “Laugh Out Loud (Cry Softly)” at The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Andy Carroll)Shamus Merkley and Mads Ferris as Jeremy and Sarah in the Anne Shirley Theatre Company production of “Laugh Out Loud (Cry Softly)” at The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Andy Carroll)
Mary Grace Murphy assembles a bright and likeable cast of Trent University students to bring Laugh Out Loud (Cry Softly) to life. Anne Shirley Theatre Company veterans are mixed with some new faces, which means performances are sometimes uneven — but everybody is fun to watch.
One of the interesting things about the show is that all of the characters are likeable, and even the characters with the biggest flaws have their redeeming vignettes. Mary Grace really cast the show well in making these characters endearing to the audience, with all the players having their own moment in the spotlight.
Although there isn’t any real solid plot to the show, the strongest through-line connecting to the most characters is one involving three siblings: Jeremy (Shamus Merkley), Rachel (Raquel Grobe), and Jojo (Tara Worrall). Jeremy is a geeky guy who is fascinated with a bar with see-through bathrooms, Rachel is a smart girl who is unlucky in love, and Jojo is their vapid sister who is going all bridezilla days before her wedding.
Jessica Ernest and Tara Worrall as Mimi and Jojo in the Anne Shirley Theatre Company production of “Laugh Out Loud (Cry Softly)” at The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Andy Carroll)Raquel Grobe and Shamus Merkley as Rachel and Jeremy in the Anne Shirley Theatre Company production of “Laugh Out Loud (Cry Softly)” at The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Andy Carroll)
Shamus and Raquel manage to create that warm bond that siblings posses, which is possibly why the audience is drawn to them the most. The “us versus her” relationship between Shamus and Raquel and their sister Jojo makes for some great comedy.
While Tara’s character Jojo is pretty awful, she manages to somehow bring a sweetness to her, making her redeemable. While these characters don’t drive the show, for some reason they seem to tie all the links together and become the audience focus.
Also stepping in the centre stage is Anand Kumr as Edward, a charming photographer working on a book about the different women he meets while dating online. With his own weird flaws, Anand brings a likeable energy every time he steps on the stage and he becomes an audience favourite.
Anand Kumar as Edward and Raquel Grobe as Rachel in the Anne Shirley Theatre Company production of “Laugh Out Loud (Cry Softly)” at The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Andy Carroll)
In one of the only actual dates portrayed in the show, Anand and Raquel create some of the best comedic moments. You just can’t help but love Anand, even when you want to shake him and tell him to just stop.
Other stand-out performances include: Connie Jordan-Turner as Shelly, a desperate and slightly pathetic woman looking for a husband; Tatum Raven as Any, who wonders if her absent date really plays cricket; Nick Toth and Tara Worrall as Daniel and Mimi, who have trouble communicating in person; Ceilidh Peters as Jessica, who I’d watch eat just about anything; and Erin Underhill as Kay, who is both unphotogenic and unlucky in love.
A big shout out to Mads Ferris as the smart-mouthed waitress and Jeremy’s unfortunate girlfriend Sarah (seriously, she can do better).
Advertisement - content continues below
Mads has a strong stage presence and gives a natural performance, blurring the lines between actor and character. She makes some quirky choices in her performance, and I wish she was on stage more often — I and hope to see her perform more in the future.
What I loved about Laugh Out Loud (Cry Softly) was the dry and awkward humour. Lines are thrown around in such a way that it sometimes takes a moment for a joke to sink in, creating a bigger laugh a beat later. The cast keep it subtle and witty without trying to be funny or delving into slapstick.
The script is naturally funny, and the players find a way to make it work without trying to hard. The result is a good-natured show filled with an endearing cast.
Nick Toth and Jessica Ernest as Daniel and Mimi in the Anne Shirley Theatre Company production of “Laugh Out Loud (Cry Softly)” at The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Andy Carroll)Connie Jordan-Turner as Shelly, Ceilidh Peters as Jessica, Jessica Ernest as Mimi Carrie, and Erin Underhill as Kay in the Anne Shirley Theatre Company production of “Laugh Out Loud (Cry Softly)” at The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Andy Carroll)
In Laugh Out Loud (Cry Softly), everyone will find a character or a situation they can relate to. The playwright does a good job at fleshing out the subject matter and incorporating many thoughts, feeling. and realities around dating in the internet age.
Through their experiences, you can stand back and laugh at your own. I personally related to Kay as the type of person who really wants nothing to do with online dating at all, and would rather relent to a life of loneliness and cats. I can get behind that.
Laugh Out Loud (Cry Softly) is a good follow up to the Anne Shirley Theatre Company’s strong 2019 season and may be my favourite “dramatic” show the company has produced thus far. It’s a fun and light-hearted way to blow away the February blahs or to celebrate Valentine’s Day with someone you love.
Advertisement - content continues below
Perhaps if you’re so inclined, you can even go online yourself and find a first date for this show. It’s a great date night and a conversation starter. I had genuine laugh-out-loud moments, and the cast is delightful. By the end of the show, I wanted to swipe right for all of them.
Laugh Out Loud (Cry Softly) runs for six performances from Friday, February 7th to Saturday, February 15th. Shows start at 8 p.m. with 2 p.m. Saturday matinees.
Tickets are $15 ($10 for students, seniors, and art workers) and are available at the door and in advance until February 8th during business hours outside of Wenjack Theatre and at the Trent Central Student Association office on the second floor of the Student Centre.
Dave Mowat and the Curbside Shuffle (Al Black on drums, Dave Mowat on harp, Terry Wilkins on bass, Clayton Yates on guitar) bring their Chicago, Delta, and country blues to the Keene Centre for the Arts on Saturday, February 8th. The band will also be hosting the PMBA Deluxe Blues Jam at Dr. J's in Peterborough the following week on Saturday afternoon. (Photo: Dave Mowat and the Curbside Shuffle / Facebook)
Every Thursday, we publish live music and performance events at pubs and clubs in Peterborough and The Kawarthas based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, February 6 to Wednesday, February 12.
If you’re a pub or club owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our Nightlife Editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com.
Thursday, February 13 7:30-11:30pm - The Rob Phillips Trio w/ Carling Stephen
Friday, February 14 5-8pm - Rick & Gailie; 9pm - Courtney Bowles Band
Saturday, February 15 5-8pm - Rick & Gailie; 9pm - Josh Gordon Band
Sunday, February 16 3-6pm - The Griddle Pickers; 6:30-9:30pm - Po' Boy Jeffreys
Boiling Over's Coffee Vault
148 Kent St. W., Lindsay
(705) 878-8884
Friday, February 7
7-9pm - Gerald Van Halteren
Coming Soon
Friday, February 14 7-9pm - Rob Barg
Friday, February 21 6-9pm - Open mic
Canoe & Paddle
18 Bridge St., Lakefield
(705) 651-1111
Saturdays
8pm - Live music
Champs Sports Bar
203 Simcoe St., Peterborough
(705) 742-3431
Thursdays
7pm - Open mic
Chemong Lodge
764 Hunter St., Bridgenorth
(705) 292-8435
Thursdays
5-9pm - Pianist Barry McMullen (dining room)
Wednesdays
5-9pm - Pianist Barry McMullen (dining room)
Coach & Horses Pub
16 York St. S., Lindsay
(705) 328-0006
Thursdays
10pm - Open Mic
Fridays
9:30pm - Karaoke Night
Wednesdays
7-11pm - Live music
Coming Soon
Saturday, February 29 2-6pm - Leap Year Party ft Pinky Brown
Dominion Hotel
113 Main St., Minden
(705) 286-6954
Friday, February 7
8:30pm - Open mic
Saturday, February 8
7-10pm - Jeff Moutlon
Coming Soon
Friday, February 7 6-9pm - Valentine's Day Dinner ft Trina West
Saturday, February 15 7-10pm - Gord Kidd and friends
Advertisement - content continues below
Dr. J's BBQ & Brews
282 Aylmer St., Peterborough
(705) 874-5717
Coming Soon
Saturday, February 15 1:30-5pm - PMBA Deluxe Blues Jam hosted by Dave Mowat and the Curbside Shuffle (donations welcome, all proceeds to musicians in need
Dreams of Beans
138 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 742-2406
Coming Soon
Friday, February 14 9pm - Innanfra, Erika Nininger, People You Meet Outside of Bars, Of Doom ($10-15 or PWYC)
Fenelon Falls Brewing Co.
4 May St., Fenelon Falls
(705) 215-9898
Coming Soon
Friday, February 21 7-10pm - Open Mic Night hosted by Andrew Bain (first come basis, sign-up starts at 6pm, each musician has up to 3 songs and 15 minutes in total, all skill levels welcome)
Fiddler's Green Pub & Grub
34 Lindsay St. St., Lindsay
(705) 878-8440
Sunday, February 9
1-5pm - Caleb Van Halteren
Coming Soon
Sunday, February 16 1-4pm - Darren Bailey
Ganarascals Restaurant
53 Walton St., Port Hope
905-885-1888
Coming Soon
Friday, February 14 7-10pm - St. Valentine's Day w/ Steve Marriner ($20)
Ganaraska Hotel
30 Ontario St., Port Hope
(905) 885-9254
Saturday, February 8
2pm & 10pm - Big Bang
Wednesday, February 12
7pm - Open mic
Coming Soon
Saturday, February 15 2pm & 10pm - Tungston
Sunday, February 16 2pm - Buck Tingley and Jimmy Bowskill ($10)
The Garnet
231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 874-0107
Thursday, February 6
8pm - Ben Mahony w/ Chris Culgin
Friday, February 7
5-7pm - Forselli Friday w/ Used Guys; 9pm - Ty Wilson and friends
Saturday, February 8
8pm - Aar-Ray ft. Aaron Lishmen and Ray Houle
Sunday, February 9
3-6pm - 12th Annual Blue Valentine tribute to Willie P. Bennett; 8pm - Boids, Avem
Coming Soon
Thursday, February 13 8pm - Joel Parkes, Kerry McMaster
Friday, February 14 5-7pm - Forselli Friday w/ Rock Bottom Love Matinee
Saturday, February 15 4pm & 9pm - Buck Tingley and Jimmy Bowskill ($15)
Sunday, February 16 9pm - Sunshine Express, BellyRub and Trash Bags (a.k.a. Will Dobbin) ($10)
VIDEO: "Cherry Street Blues" featuring Dave Mowat and Al Black
Coming Soon
Thursday, February 13 1-4pm - Sharon's Cafe open stage hosted by Sharon Marie Doughty ($5)
Friday, February 14 7pm - Valentine's Day w/ The Heartfuls (J.P Hovercraft, Chris Hiney, and Al Black) ($20, rose on every table, studio photos of you and your date, treats to share)
Saturday, February 15 7pm - The Muddy Hack ($5 at door)
Friday, February 28 7pm - Beat the Blues ft The Swingin' BlackJacks (no cover, call for reservations)
McThirsty's Pint
166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 743-2220
Thursdays
9pm - Live music
Fridays
9:30pm - Live music
Saturdays
10pm - Live music
Sundays
9pm - Open mic
Tuesdays
9pm - Live music
Wednesdays
9pm - Live music
The Mill Restaurant and Pub
990 Ontario St., Cobourg
(905) 377-8177
Thursday, February 6
7pm - Greg Hannah Band
Coming Soon
Thursday, February 13 7pm - The Bravos
Murphy's Lockside Pub & Patio
3 May St., Fenelon Falls
(705) 887-1100
Thursday, February 6
7:30pm - Open mic hosted by David Evans
Wednesday, February 12
7-9pm - North Country Express w/ Jason Lynn
Advertisement - content continues below
Oasis Bar & Grill
31 King St. E., Cobourg
(905) 372-6634
Sundays
5:30pm - PHLO
Pappas Billiards
407 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 772-9010
Friday, February 7
10pm - James Higgins
Pastry Peddler
17 King St., Millbrook
(705) 932-7333
Coming Soon
Friday, February 14 5:30pm & 7:45pm - Valentine's Dinner Night ft Terry Finn and Norma Curtis ($60 per person)
Friday, February 28 5:30pm & 7:45pm - Ladies of Jazz Dinner Series ft Lenni Stewart performing music of Ella Fitzgerald w/ Michael Monis on guitar and Howard Baer on bass ($50 per person)
Pie Eyed Monk Brewery
8 Cambridge St. N., Lindsay
(705) 212-2200
Sunday, February 9
4-8pm - Live Music Sundays ft Chris Murphy hosted by Monk House Band (no cover)
Coming Soon
Sunday, February 16 4-8pm - Live Music Sundays ft Emily Burgess hosted by Monk House Band (no cover)
Sunday, February 23 4-8pm - Live Music Sundays ft Rick Fines hosted by Monk House Band (no cover)
Thursday, February 20 8:30pm - Ersatz, Mary-Kate Edwards, ELMS ($10 at door or PWYC)
Sunday, February 23 9pm - Pain Chain, Goth Girl, Victuals, Olias, Noise Workers of Ptbo ($10-15 or PWYC)
The Venue
286 George Street North, Peterborough
(705) 876-0008
Sunday, February 9
2-9pm - Queensland Koala Crusaders benefit ft Colt Harley, Ian K., Lindsay Barr, 4 Front, & more ($10 in advance at PB's Peterburgers, $15 at door, children 12 and under free)
Saturday, February 29 8pm - PTBOStrong and Waste Connections Canada present Destroyer (KISS tribute) w/ Baz Little Rock Band ($15 at door, $10 students)
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for most of the Kawarthas — including Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Hastings Highlands — for Thursday night (February 6).
Periods of snow with patchy freezing drizzle is possible on Thursday night.
Snow will become heavy at times into early Friday morning.
Advertisement - content continues below
Additional light snowfall is expected on Friday before the snow finally comes to an end Friday evening.
Total snowfall accumulations in the 10 to 15 cm range are possible by Friday evening.
Travel is likely to be impacted by this snowfall. Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions.
Enjoying the garden does not have to wait until summer. Practicing patience and slowing down to spend time in the garden during winter can teach us about our native plants and wildlife, and help us grow nicer gardens. For example, red osier dogwood is a popular choice to add a touch of red to your garden in winter. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP Ecology Park)
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Dawn Pond, Coordinator of GreenUP’s Downtown Vibrancy Project and Depave Paradise Program.
Winter can leave us impatient for summer. In a world increasingly full of distractions, patience can seem like a rare quality.
Winter is perhaps the best time to slow down and practise patience by spending time with nature, especially in a garden.
Here are some of the ways that slowing down can bring you more success in your garden.
Advertisement - content continues below
Plan now for your spring and summer garden
Leaving some perennials over the winter supports wildlife while also providing visual interest. This photo shows a residential garden in Peterborough with a variety of echinaceas and rudbeckia. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
Winter is a great time to curl up with a warm blanket and a hot cup of tea to make plans for spring and summer gardening.
However, it is easy to overlook that ambitious garden ideas require work and time. Beware of taking on more than you can chew. Fast fashion does not apply to flowers. Commit to a manageable garden that allows you to care for it properly. The plants will reward you for this in spades (pun intended).
Some plants take inspiration from the tortoise rather than the hare when it comes to growth speed. The slow and steady members of the garden are often tree species, but some crop plants require patience too. Raspberries, for example, take approximately two years after they are planted before they produce a significant crop of berries. Asparagus from seed takes three years until it produces a harvestable crop.
Hayley Goodchild, GreenUP’s Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood (SUN) Program Coordinator, is a passionate home gardener. She shared with me her experience getting to know her garden and how she is gaining horticultural knowledge as she watches it grow.
“This will be my third full season at my current home,” Hayley says. “My partner and I grow annual vegetables, perennial food crops like asparagus and apples, and maintain non-edible perennial beds too. Each year we tackle another small project based on the knowledge we’ve gained in previous seasons.”
Cedar is a great option if you want to add a touch of green in your winter garden. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP Ecology Park)
“We waited two years before planting asparagus, which we started from seed. Since asparagus plants can live for a decade or longer, it was important that we chose the site wisely,” Hayley adds. “It took us time and observation to determine where they should go”.
When designing new garden spaces, keep the growth rate of plants in mind. It takes three to five years for the average perennial garden to become established.
Anticipate increased watering needs during those first few years. Choose plants based on your water availability to make your life easier and more beautiful.
Tamarack is an eccentric and excellent local species for areas that stay wet in summer but get full sun. In the fall, the needles turn vibrant shades of yellow an orange before dropping. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP Ecology Park)
“Being patient in the garden has lots of rewards,” Hayley says.
“By spending lots of time observing how things grow, I’ve developed a deeper understanding of the ways that plants and soil benefit one another. Patience makes for a more beautiful and productive garden in the long-term.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Enhance your winter garden
If you struggle to appreciate your garden when it is sleeping and unseen under a blanket of snow, here are a few ideas.
Coniferous species are evergreen trees and shrubs that hold on to their needles or leaves all year. Having cedar, pine, and spruce in the garden keeps some green in your winter garden, and they look lovely when snow collects on the branches.
Beech and ironwood trees keep their leaves through the winter, adding visual and auditory textures to your garden during what can otherwise be bare and silent time of year. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP Ecology Park)
Grasses are also beautiful in the winter. The dry, sandy-coloured grass blades and seed heads blow in the winter wind, adding movement and structure while also providing food and nesting material for animals.
Keeping a garden journal is a great way to learn from your garden. You can record wildlife sightings, budding trees, and any other activity and look back at this in future years as a reference.
It is a joy to watch and a lovely way to get your daily dose of Vitamin N (Nature) all year round.
Queen Anne’s Lace is naturalized to North America and provides beautifully intricate texture and structure during the winter, with the flowers often reaching above 30 to 60cm in height. In growing season, Queen Anne’s Lace can also help boost tomato plant production, and it also helps provide a cooler microclimate for lettuce crops. Be aware that Queen Anne’s Lace can persist in the seed bank for two to five years. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP Ecology Park)
The true joys of the garden can be appreciated not only through summer blooms, but all year round. If you are spending some time this winter planning your garden, here are a few resources for you:
Learn more about reducing your water use while gardening with GreenUP’s Water Wise Recognition Program (www.greenup.on.ca/water-wise/). Starting in spring, recycled olive barrel rain barrels are available for purchase at the GreenUP Store (378 Aylmer St. N., Peterborough).
Save the date for the Garden Market at GreenUP’s Ecology Park, which re-opens for the 2020 season on Saturday, May 16th on the Victoria Day long weekend. Located at 1899 Ashburnham Drive, Ecology Park is your destination for a wide variety of plants and trees as well as advice from the experts about what is right for your garden. For more information about the Garden Market, including hours and prices, visit www.greenup.on.ca/ecology-park/garden-market/.
Ecology Park’s annual Spring Plant and Garden Market Sale is also on opening day (May 16, 2020), so make sure to stop by for some deals.
Cornerstone Family Dentistry owner Dr. Anna Jo, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton executive diector Kim Dolan, and Nourish manager Joëlle Favreau at the February 5, 2020 YWCA Empty Bowls fundraiser announcement at Cornerstone Family Dentistry. At the 16th annual event, taking place at 12 p.m. on February 28, 2020 at The Venue in downtown Peterborough, you can choose a bowl made by local artisans and enjoy food from local restaurants while supporting Nourish food programs. (Photo courtesy of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton)
On Wednesday morning (February 5) at Cornerstone Family Dentistry at 681 Reid Street in Peterborough, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton announced tickets are on sale for the organization’s 16th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, which takes place at 12 p.m. on Friday, February 28th at The Venue in downtown Peterborough.
Cornerstone Family Dentistry is one of the supporters of this year’s event, along with Kawartha Cardiology, Swish Maintenance, Kawartha Potters’ Guild, Artisans Centre Peterborough, Kawartha Woodturners Guild, Country 105, Energy 99.7, BE Catering, Fresh Dreams, Naked Chocolate, Rare Grill House, That’s a Wrap Catering Co., Black Honey, Two Dishes Cookshop, The Old Smoke House, By the Bridge, Ashburnham Alehouse, Sam’s Place, and other local participating restaurants.
At the lunchtime fundraiser, for $40 you can choose from hundreds of ceramic and wooden bowls — crafted and donated by local artisans with Kawartha Potters’ Guild, Kawartha Woodturners Guild, and Artisans Centre Peterborough — and enjoy a variety of food prepared and donated by local restaurants. A limited number of VIP tickets, which allow for early entry at 11:30 a.m., are also available for $50.
Advertisement - content continues below
This year’s event will feature a new “mix and mingle” format at The Venue rather than a sit-down lunch. If you can’t attend in person, you can instead pre-order lunch from the event’s take-out menu and pick up the meal at The Venue (you will receive a charitable tax receipt in place of a bowl).
Tickets can be purchased online at ywcapeterborough.org, by phone by calling Ria Nicholson at 705-743-3526 x113, or in person at YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s administrative office at 216 Simcoe Street in downtown Peterborough.
All proceeds from the event will help to enhance local food security, reduce social isolation, and build healthy relationships through YWCA Nourish, whose innovative programs dedicated to eating, cooking, growing, and advocating for good food cultivate health, build community, and promote fairness.
Members of the Kawartha Potters Guild came together in January to make more than 115 wheel-thrown and hand-built bowls for the annual YWCA Empty Bowls fundraiser. The Kawartha Woodturners Guild and Artisans Centre Peterborough have also donated hand-crafted bowls for the event, which takes place at 12 p.m. on February 28, 2020 at The Venue in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Kawartha Potters Guild / Facebook)
Dabbah Corp owner Waleed Dabbah and Peterborough Police Service deputy chief Tim Farquharson are both board members of the opioid addiction and homelessness advocacy group PTBOstrong. Dabbah Corp, which is a successful brokering service for payment processing machines, donated a Poynt Smart Terminal so the organization can better to track merchandise sales for fundraising. As well as supporting worthwhile community causes, Dabbah Corp is continuing to expand, with plans to hire as many as 29 more employees in 2020 as well as five students. (Photo supplied by Dabbah Corp)
The new year is a time for reflection and new goals.
Waleed Dabbah, owner of Dabbah Corp, has no small list of goals for 2020. Continuing to grow his business, hiring as many as 29 local individuals for stable employment, assisting students with their career goals, and fighting the Peterborough opioid crisis are just a few of the items on his list.
And reflecting on Dabbah’s success from 2019 suggests that he is well positioned to achieve these goals.
In the spring of 2019, Waleed Dabbah launched his own financial services company Dabbah Corp, which is a brokering service for payment processing machines also known as point of sale (POS) systems.
“This is a competitive industry and I’m proud to say that Dabbah Corp has had a successful year in 2019,” says Dabbah, emphasizing that his business is growing. “In the last year, we’ve gained many new clients in the City of Peterborough and the surrounding area.”
Dabbah Corp currently services Peterborough and the Kawarthas, with Dabbah working on expanding north towards Bancroft.
In addition to gaining new clients, Dabbah Corp also hired eight employees in 2019 and is looking to hire 29 more before the end of 2020. Dabbah says he’s also looking to hire about five students in total, and will provide training and career advice.
“We’ve hired great staff so far and want to continue to hire local skilled employees,” says Dabbah. “I also want to help the student community and show students that Peterborough and the surrounding area is a great place to do business.”
Waleed Dabbah, owner of Dabbah Corp, which offers a range of point-of-sale systems, from simple to complex, to large and small businesses. Dabbah’s extensive knowledge about the systems and the financial services industry, along with his commitment to customer service and support, is a strong asset to his clients. (Photo: 705 Creative / kawarthaNOW)
But while Dabbah is planning to grow in 2020, he remains committed to the business principles that got him where he is today: offering excellent hands-on services at an affordable rate and treating each client as an individual with unique needs.
There are many larger financial services companies that offer POS systems, but Dabbah’s personalized approach is what sets him apart from other companies.
“I want to see my clients succeed,” says Dabbah, who encourages his clients to call him on his cell phone if they experience any issues. “Unlike larger companies, I’m always just a phone call away.”
Dabbah Corp offers a range of POS systems, from simple to complex, and Dabbah’s extensive knowledge about the systems and the financial services industry is a strong asset to his clients. Before launching his company, Dabbah worked at Hampton Financial and spent over five years developing his client base in the local community.
Dabbah’s refreshing approach to business will be of great benefit to small businesses especially.
“The goal is to give small businesses a chance,” says Dabbah. “I work with both large and small companies, but small businesses are at a higher risk of failing due to financial strains. Small businesses are the heart of our community and I want to see them thrive.”
Despite the many successes Dabbah Corp has had since launching, there are always challenges.
“Businesses can be skeptical about switching providers or about going with a smaller provider,” explains Dabbah. “I can reassure my clients that Dabbah Corp provides a world-class service to our local community for half the price.”
While Dabbah Corp works with both large and small companies, owner Waleed Dabbah (pictured here with client Sarah Susnar, owner and operator of family activity studio Play Cafe) says his company’s services are especially beneficial to small businesses. (Photo: 705 Creative / kawarthaNOW)
After meeting Dabbah, it is not hard to imagine why local businesses are making the switch to Dabbah Corp.
Right from the start, Rob Whelan’s experience with Dabbah was different. Whelan, the office manager of Whelan’s Flooring Centre (2512 Chemong Rd., Peterborough), met Dabbah when he came into the store to discuss saving the business money on their processing fees.
“This was already a different approach to most providers,” says Whelan. “I get several cold calls per week from different providers, but none of them come in to discuss business in person.”
Whelan allowed Dabbah to analyze their finances and to his surprise Dabbah was able to save his business a significant amount annually.
“Given Waleed’s personal approach and the savings, I decided to switch to Dabbah Corp,” says Whelan. “Waleed’s service is great. If I have an issue with the machine, I just call him directly instead of calling a tech line and waiting on hold.”
“He also drops in on a monthly basis to see how everything is going. None of my previous providers have ever done that. I would definitely recommend Dabbah Corp to another business. It is well worth the switch.”
Dabbah Corp owner Waleed Dabbah (right) with Peterborough Humane Society executive director Shawn Morey. As well as offering both savings and attentive customer service for its clients, Dabbah Corp has always been a strong supporter of the Peterborough community, such as by donating $10,000 to the Peterborough Humane Society. (Photo supplied by Dabbah Corp)
But Dabbah’s goals are not just business oriented.
Dabbah is committed to ensuring Peterborough is a strong and vibrant city through his community work. And he’s deeply invested in this — it’s the community he has chosen to start his business and raise a family.
For example, Dabbah’s previous community work included donating over $10,000 to the Peterborough Humane Society and sponsoring the Nels You Are Not Alone project, which allowed creator and mental health advocate Andrew Nelson to produce inspiring posters that have been displayed throughout the community.
Moving forward into 2020, as a member of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), Dabbah is committed to improving the downtown core for both businesses and shoppers.
While Dabbah has visions of eventually seeing a unified POS system throughout the downtown core, which would make it more convenient for both shoppers and merchants, he has turned his attention to a more immediate concern: Peterborough’s opioid and housing crisis.
Dabbah Corp owner Waleed Dabbah (second from right) with fellow board member Tim Burke of PTBOstrong, an advocacy group formed in 2015 to raise awareness, education, and funds to support the opioid addiction and homelessness crisis in Peterborough. Dabbah Corp donated a Poynt Smart Terminal so the organization can better to track merchandise sales for fundraising. (Photo supplied by Dabbah Corp)
Dabbah is currently working with local organization PTBOstrong. An effort that began in 2019 to address the opioid and homelessness crisis facing the City of Peterborough, PTBOstrong aims to raise awareness, education, and funds about the crisis within the local community.
Dabbah, who is a PTBOstrong board member, will be sponsoring the hall for the organization’s 2020 gala. He also supplied PTBOstrong with a POYNT Smart Terminal that has made it more efficient for the organization to track merchandise sales for fundraising.
“Waleed did not want anything in return for his donation,” explains Tim Farquharson, deputy chief of the Peterborough Police Service and a fellow PTBOstrong board member.
“This was a corporate donation to a not-for-profit he considers important in Peterborough. We are truly blessed as an organization to have formed this relationship with Dabbah Corp, a company that cares about its community.”
It’s all in a day’s work for Dabbah, who sees it as his duty to give back to the community that has given so much to him.
“I believe that we all need to come together to address this crisis that is affecting our community,” says Dabbah. “If we all put our hands together we can be united against the opioid crisis. It’s important that we start somewhere and commit to improving the lives of everyone in our community.”
For more information about the opportunities Dabbah Corp has to offer, visit dabbahcorp.com or contact Waleed Dabbah by phone at 705-761-2672 and by email at info@dabbahcorp.com.
VIDEO: Why work with Dabbah Corp?
This story was created in partnership with Dabbah Corp.
Emily Mae's Cookies & Sweets owner Jennifer Wight (right) with Madeleine Hurrell, entrepreneurship officer at Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development's Business Advisory Centre. Hurrell oversees the Starter Company Plus program, which awarded Wight a $4,000 grant in 2017 to help build her business. Wight held the grand opening of her brick-and-mortar shop at 1135 Lansdowne Street West in Peterborough on February 1, 2020. (Photo: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development / Facebook)
businessNOW™ is the most comprehensive weekly round-up of business and organizational news and events from Peterborough and across the Kawarthas.
Every week, our managing editor collects news and events related to businesses and organizations from across the Kawarthas. If you’d like us to promote your news or event in businessNOW, please email business@kawarthanow.com.
The week’s news features Emily Mae’s Cookies & Sweets officially opening its brick-and-mortar shop in Peterborough, the owners of Toe Beans Cat Café in Port Hope putting the business up for sale (cats not included), the opening of the federal government’s 2020 Canada Summer Jobs program to employers, and other notable business and organization news from across the Kawarthas.
New events added this week include the Township of Douro-Dummer’s launch party of its Sustainable Development Program in Peterborough on February 11th, the launch and open house of the Kawartha Lakes Incubator in Lindsay on February 11th, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development’s branding, marketing, and sales workshop in Peterborough on February 12th, the Innovation Cluster’s selling to government workshop in Peterborough on February 18th, and the Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre’s small business tax seminar in Lindsay on February 19th.
Emily Mae’s Cookies & Sweets officially opens brick-and-mortar shop in Peterborough
Emily Mae’s Cookies & Sweets owner Jennifer Wight (fourth from left) celebrates the grand opening of her brick-and-mortar shop at 1135 Lansdowne Street West in Peterborough on February 1, 2020. (Photo: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development / Facebook)
Jennifer Wight, owner of Emily Mae’s Cookies & Sweets, held the grand opening of her brick-and-mortar shop at 1135 Lansdowne Street West in Peterborough last Saturday (February 1).
Wight first launched Emily Mae’s Cookies & Sweets, which specializes in custom decorated sugar cookies, as an online business when she was on maternity leave in 2016. She named the business using her middle name, which is comprised of the first names of each of her grandmothers.
In 2017, she received a $4,000 grant from Starter Company Plus, a program funded by the Ontario government and administered by the Business Advisory Centre of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development. By that time, she had already produced around 16,000 personalized cookies.
Emily Mae’s Cookies & Sweets owner Jennifer Wight in 2017 with her $4,000 grant from Starter Company Plus, a program funded by the Ontario government and administered by the Business Advisory Centre of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development. (Photo: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
“I started when my little one was a few months old,” she told kawarthaNOW at the time. “I was looking for something to do and I came across this idea, tried it, and this is what came out of it. I didn’t expect it to blow up like it has. The response has been amazing. I call it art on a cookie because that’s what it is. People are really curious. I think that has really helped with the success of the business.”
Emily Mae’s Cookies was one of the six finalists in the 2019 Bears’ Lair Entrepreneurial Competition, where Wight won the People’s Choice Award and a free 2019/2020 membership to the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough. Emily Mae’s Cookies was also one of four finalists in the entrepreneur innovation category for the 2019 Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Awards of Excellence.
Prior to the February 1st grand opening, Wight has been preparing the location for several months and had her soft launch in November 2019. As well as offering her baked goods, Wight hosts workshops and live-streams her “Cookie Lookie” show most Friday nights.
A sample of Jennifer Wight’s work at Emily Mae’s Cookies & Sweets. (Photo: Emily Mae’s Cookies & Sweets / Facebook)
While the grand opening was a great success, Wight shared some bittersweet news on Facebook after the launch. One of the namesakes of her business, Wight’s grandmother Emily, passed after a few hours after the grand opening was over.
“When I graduated culinary school in early 2000, Grammy gave me a baking book all about cookies,” Wight shares on Facebook. “She wrote in the front that someday I would have a cookie shop — how did she know!”
Toe Beans Cat Café in Port Hope is for sale (cats not included)
Owners Alise-Ann Glover and Spencer Roffey are selling the Toe Beans Cat Café in Port Hope. (Photo: Toe Beans Cat Café / Facebook)
Alise-Ann Glover and Spencer Roffey, owners of the Toe Beans Cat Café (119 Peter St., Port Hope), have put their family-run business up for sale.
The wife-and-husband team, who are avid coffee drinkers and cat lovers, launched the popular cafe in September 2018. They are selling the business for personal reasons.
“We want to have a family,” Glover wrote on their Facebook page. “And having a human child is tough when you have a cafe baby. So we’re making the tough decision to list the cafe for sale.”
Silas, one of the cats available for adoption through the Toe Beans Cat Café in Port Hope. Since opening in September 2018, owners Alise-Ann Glover and Spencer Roffey have assisted in the rehoming of more than 160 cats. They are now selling the business because they want to start a family. (Photo: Toe Beans Cat Café / Facebook)
Toe Beans Cat Café partners with the Northumberland Humane Society and the municipal animal shelter to act as a foster home for adoptable cats, which can be seen in the cafe’s cat room. They have assisted in the rehoming of more than 160 cats since opening.
Glover and Roffey are asking $70,000 for the business in a turnkey sale, which includes all the cafe’s physical and virtual assets and a fixed lease with an option to renew. Cats are not included.
They expect to have sold the business by the end of February.
Toe Beans Cat Café owners Alise-Ann Glover and Spencer Roffey are asking $70,000 for the business in a turnkey sale, which includes all the cafe’s physical and virtual assets and a fixed lease with an option to renew. Cats are not included. (Photo: Toe Beans Cat Café / Facebook)
For more information and to contact Toe Beans Cat Café, visit toebeanscafe.com.
Federal government’s 2020 Canada Summer Jobs program is now open to employers
Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef meets with young people. The Government of Canada’s 2020 Canada Summer Jobs program is now accepting applications from eligible employers until February 24, 2020. (Photo: Office of Maryam Monsef / Facebook)
The Government of Canada has opened its 2020 Canada Summer Jobs program, which creates summer job opportunities for youth and young adults aged 15 to 30.
Small businesses with up to 50 employees, not-for-profit organizations, and public sector employers in Peterborough and the Kawarthas are eligible to apply.
Not-for-profit employers can receive funding for up to 100 per cent of the provincial/territorial minimum hourly wage and mandatory employment-related costs. Small businesses with up to 50 employees and public sector employers can receive funding for up to 50 per cent of the provincial/territorial minimum hourly wage.
The program’s local priorities for employers focus on cultural events (including arts and festivals), projects supporting environmental protection, programs for children and youth (e.g., summer camps), projects supporting not-for-profit organizations, and projects supporting small businesses.
According to Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, the federal government has supported 1,236 youth summer jobs in Peterborough-Kawartha and has approved funding to more than 100 local employers annually.
Applications for the 2020 Canada Summer Jobs program can be submitted until Monday, February 24th. For more information, including a list of national priorities and how to apply, visit canada.ca/canada-summer-jobs or a local Service Canada Centre.
Other notable business and organization news from across the Kawarthas
Plans for the new visitor centre at Kawartha Settlers’ Village in Bobcaygeon. Groundbreaking is expected in spring 2020. Normal operations and events will proceed during the construction period. (Graphic courtesy of Kawartha Settlers’ Village)
Here’s a summary of other notable business and organizational news from across the Kawarthas over the past week:
Riley’s Bar and Grill is now open at 50 Canal Street East in Bobcaygeon. Seasonal hours are 5 to 11 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and noon to 11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, with longer hours after the May long weekend.
Kawartha Settlers’ Village in Bobcaygeon is planning to break ground on its new visitor centre in spring 2020. The new building will serve as a welcome centre, house offices for staff, and provide room for special exhibits. Normal operations and events will proceed during the construction period.
Dr. Vern Chase, founder of Pine Ridge Veterinary Clinic in Cobourg, has received the Golden Life Membership Award from Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA). The award recognizes OVMA members who are retired from full-time career pursuits of veterinary medicine or who have been a veterinarian for a minimum of 30 years and have served the profession in an extraordinary manner. Recipients receive an honorary lifetime OVMA membership.
Northumberland County’s Business & Entrepreneurship Centre (BECN) has entered into a new partnership with financial technology leader Lending Loop to will help local entrepreneurs gain access to capital. As a peer-to-peer lender, Lending Loop’s online platform connects small businesses seeking capital with interested lenders. Under a new memorandum of understanding, Lending Loop will become a key referral partner for BECN.
Mrs. B’s Country Candy Inc. in Brighton opened at its new location at 8 Loyalist Drive, Unit 9 on Monday (February 3). The business, which has been located in downtown Brighton for the past 15 years, closed its previous location on December 31, 2019.
Funding is available under The City of Kawartha Lakes’ Million Dollar Makeover program to support property and business owners in improving the visual and functional aspects of their commercial, mixed-use commercial/residential or heritage designated residential buildings. The municipality has more than $1 million in financial incentives available through loan and grant programs. The application deadline is Friday, February 28th. For more information, visit www.kawarthalakes.ca/makeover.
Advertisement - content continues below
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development hosts new venture session in Peterborough on February 4
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development is hosting a “New Venture Session” from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4th in the VentureNorth board room (270 George St., Peterborough).
Intended for entrepreneurs starting a new business, the session will provide an overview of the foundations of starting and running a business, resources and programs available to entrepreneurs in Peterborough & the Kawarthas, how to work with the Business Advisory Centre to build a plan of action for your business, and completing the start-up checklist
IG Wealth Management hosts free financial planning seminar for businesses in Peterborough on February 5
IG Wealth Management is hosting a free breakfast seminar entitled “10 things that should keep a business owner up at night” from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 5th at the Peterborough Golf & Country Club (1030 Armour Rd., Peterborough)
Guest speaker Ken Greenfield, director of tax and estate planning at Investors Group, will share expert insights and examples of situations that business owners may not realize are problems, and financial planning strategies that can reduce their impact.
Topics include how to grow and access the wealth from your business more efficiently, the new 2018 tax rules and how they influence your financial plan, how to use business incorporation to maximize capital gains exemptions, and why organizational structure matters.
To reserve a space, contact Kelley Giusti at kelleym.giusti@ig.ca or 705-748-9599.
Innovation Cluster hosts business development seminar in Peterborough on February 5
Graphic: Innovation Cluster
Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas is hosting “Hands-ON: From Goals to Wins” from 12 to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5th in the small boardroom at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough)
Ryan Smith, director of business development of Legendary Coaching, will look at how starting from a place of self-awareness and passion will set you up for success and allow you to not only meet your goals, but to inspire others in the process. You will learn practical tools and principles for goal setting on a team and organizational level.
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development hosts business planning workshop in Peterborough on February 6
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development is hosting “Business Fundamentals: Business Planning” from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 6th in the VentureNorth board room (270 George St., Peterborough).
The session is designed to give entrepreneurs a strong foundation in business planning and to explain the importance of a comprehensive business plan. Tools available for creating a business plan will be shared as well as top tips for creating a plan ready to share with banks and funding agencies to secure financing.
Haliburton Chamber hosts members-only meeting with MP Jamie Schmale in West Guilford on February 11
The Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce is hosting “Chamber Connection” featuring Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MP Jamie Schmale from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 11th at Camp Medeba (1270 Kennisis Lake Rd., West Guilford).
This members-only event will include a breakfast and costs $25.
Township of Douro-Dummer launch of Sustainable Development Program in Peterborough on February 11
In partnership with Builders for Climate Action, the Township of Douro-Dummer is hosting a launch party for its Sustainable Development Program at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, February 11th at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough)
Douro-Dummer Township Mayor J. Murray Jones will bring greetings and introduce Brian Fawcett of Fawcett Architectural and Chris Magwood of The Endeavour Centre. Local business leaders will share the positive impact this innovative project will have.
Launch and open house of Kawartha Lakes Incubator in Lindsay on February 11
The Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas is hosting a launch and open house of the Kawartha Lakes Incubator from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11th at Kawartha Lakes Economic Development (180 Kent St. W., Lindsay).
The pilot project is a partnership between the Innovation Cluster and the City of Kawartha Lakes, with the support of FedDev Ontario through the Kawartha Lakes Community Futures Development Corporation, and will run through 2020.
The launch takes place from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., with three half-hour open house sessions running from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Northumberland Chamber hosts business networking event in Cobourg on February 11
The Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce is hosting a special Valentine’s Day meet-and-greet networking event from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11th at BMO Private Wealth (76 King St. W., Cobourg).
Attendees will have a chance to tour BMO Private Wealth’s spacious newly renovated downtown office, meet investment advisors and staff, and do a little business networking in a social environment.
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development hosts branding, marketing, and sales workshop in Peterborough on February 12
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development is hosting “Business Fundamentals: Branding, Marketing and Sales” from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 12th in the VentureNorth board room (270 George St., Peterborough).
The session is designed to give entrepreneurs a robust structure for formulating and identifying their business’s brand, and developing a marketing strategy and a customer relations strategy.
Peterborough Chamber presents “Power Hour” in Peterborough on February 12
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is presenting “Power Hour” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12th at The Venue (286 George St. N., Peterborough).
The annual chat with elected officials is an interactive lunch event and question-and-answer session with Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, City of Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien, and Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones. A moderator will present questions from the audience.
Peterborough city and county councillors and chief administrative officers, as well as First Nations leaders, will also be invited to attend.
The cost is $65 for Chamber members or $75 for non-members (tables for seven are also available for $450 for members and $525 for non-members). For more information and to register, visit www.peterboroughchamber.ca.
Kawartha Lakes Arts Council hosts social media for cultural businesses seminar in Bobcaygeon on February 12
The Kawartha Lakes Arts Council is hosting “Social Media for Cultural Businesses” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12th on the upper floor of the Bobcaygeon Municipal Building (123 East St. S., Bobcaygeon).
Robyn Barton of Barton Creative will share tips on how to use social media platforms to promote your art, attract patrons and customers to your business, and sell your products and services online.
There will be a question-and-answer session at 8 p.m. followed by refreshments at 8:30 p.m.
The cost is $15 for Kawartha Lakes Arts Council members or $20 for non-members and guests.
Port Hope Chamber hosts coffee meeting with MP Philip Lawrence and MPP David Piccini in Port Hope on February 14
The Port Hope & District Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Valentine’s Day coffee meeting with Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Philip Lawrence and Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, February 15th in council chambers at Port Hope Town Hall (56 Queen St., Port Hope)
Light refreshments will be provided by Empire Crossing. There is no charge to attend this members-only event.
Innovation Cluster hosts selling to government workshop in Peterborough on February 18
The Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas is hosting “Hands-ON: Selling to Government” from 12 to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18th at the Innovation Cluster’s third floor office at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough)
Gregory J. Stulen, a specialist in strategic communications and public policy transformation at PathwayGroup Inc., will share information on becoming a vendor of record, accessing existing funds, creating new funding streams, and generating opportunities through regulatory change.
There will be a catered lunch supplied to workshop attendees.
Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre hosts small business tax seminar in Lindsay on February 19
The Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre in partnership with the Canada Revenue Agency is hosting a tax seminar for small business owners from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 18th in the lower level meeting room at the Lindsay Library (190 Kent St. W., Lindsay).
This seminar is offered to owners of small businesses and self-employed individuals who need help in understanding their tax obligations. The presentation is geared towards sole proprietorship and incorporated businesses and will provide participants with the basic principles and resources needed to navigate the tax system.
Kawartha Chamber holds annual general meeting in Lakefield on February 19
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is holding its annual general meeting beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 19th at The Village Inn (39 Queen St., Lakefield).
Open to all Chamber members, the meeting will feature highlights from 2019, networking, and light refreshments. Members will vote for the Chamber’s 2020-21 board and elect the executive. The 2018-19 annual report will be circulated before the meeting.
Trent Hills Chamber hosts lunchtime seminar on WSIB in Campbellford on February 25
The Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce is hosting a “lunch ‘n’ learn” seminar on the WSIB Health and Safety Excellence Program from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25th in the boardroom at Team Eagle (10 Trent Dr., Campbellford).
Find out more about the program and how it can help your bottom line. Bring your own lunch and a refreshment to the meeting.
Port Hope Chamber holds annual general meeting in Port Hope on February 26
The Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual general meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26th in the Sculthorpe Theatre at Cameco Capitol Arts Centre (20 Queen St., Port Hope).
Open to all Chamber members, the meeting will include a review of by-law changes and “Fostering an ecosystem of entrepreneurship”, a presentation by Lindsay Jeremiah, manager of entrepreneurship services at Durham College.
A light lunch will be served by Brandon Manor Bed & Breakfast.
Bruce Cockburn performing at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough on September 25, 2017. The legendary Canadian singer-songwriter returns to Showplace on October 16, 2020 as part of his 50th anniversary tour. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn is returning to Peterborough in October 2020 as part of his 50th anniversary tour.
Announced on Monday (February 3), the new tour begins in the U.S. and ends with five tour dates in Canada.
The Canadian dates, all in Ontario, include one in his hometown of Ottawa and one at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough on Friday, October 16th.
Advertisement - content continues below
Cockburn — who last played Peterborough with a concert at Showplace on September 25, 2017 — is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his self-titled debut album, which was released on April 7, 1970.
Bruce Cockburn in 1969 performing at the Riverboat Coffee House in Toronto’s Yorkville. (Photo: York University Archives)
Recorded in late 1969, the 10-track album includes the tunes “Going To The Country” and “Musical Friends” and launched Cockburn’s music career, which has seen him release 34 albums and play thousands of concerts around the world.
Cockburn’s songs have been covered by many artists including Jimmy Buffet, kd Lang, Barenaked Ladies, Hawksley Workman, Jerry Garcia, Anne Murray, Elbow, Mary Balin, Judy Collins, Chet Atkins, The Rankin Family, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, and many more.
The Ottawa native — who turns 75 in May — has sold more than seven million records worldwide. He’s won 13 Juno Awards, the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award, nine honorary doctorates, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
He has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and is an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2011, Canada Post issued a Bruce Cockburn stamp. Pacing the Cage, a documentary film about his life, music, and politics was released in 2013. His memoir, Rumours of Glory, was published by Harper Collins in 2014.
“In 1969, when I was feeling the need to record an album of the songs I’d been writing, I had no concept of what that might lead to,” Cockburn recalls about his debut album. “Not unusual for a young person I guess. In some organic way it felt like it was time. The future wasn’t really an issue. It still isn’t. For each of us, there’s a future or there isn’t.”
VIDEO: “Forty Years In The Wilderness” – Bruce Cockburn at Showplace (Sep 15 2017)
“But looking back over the arc of fifty years of recording, performing, and travel, not to mention relationships and personal challenges, I can only shake my head and mutter a word of thanks for all of it. Even if I’d been a planner by nature, I doubt I could have predicted how things have gone. And they’re still going!”
During his 50th anniversary tour concerts, Cockburn will perform songs from each decade of his career.
Tickets for the Showplace concert, presented by Folk Under The Clock, go on sale on Friday, February 28th at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough). Tickets will cost $65 for main floor seats and $60 for balcony seats (plus fees), and will be available in person at the Showplace box office, by phone at 705-742-7469, or online at www.showplace.org.
The many faces of Bruce Cockburn. (Graphic: brucecockburn.com)
kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.
Submit your event for FREE!
Use our event submission form to post your event on our website — for free.
To submit editorial content or ideas, please contact us.
