Some of the stolen meat recovered by police following thefts of more than $100,000 worth of meat from Smokey Joe's Butcher Shop and Otonabee Meat Packers in Peterborough County in January 2020. Dean Prentice of Lindsay and Terry Watson of Douro-Dummer have been arrested and charged in the thefts. (Photo: Peterborough County OPP)
Police have arrested and charged two local men after the theft of $100,000 worth of meat from two Peterborough County butcher shops earlier in January.
On January 11th, a break and enter occurred at Smokey Joe’s Butcher Shop in Selwyn Township. The suspects stole around $45,000 worth of meat and caused an additional $20,000 worth of damage in spoiled product.
On January 19th and again on January 20th, a break and enter occurred at Otonabee Meat Packers on Drummond Line. The suspects stole around $40,000 worth of meat, caused an additional $8,000 worth of damage in spoiled product, and stole two commercial meat slicers valued at $8,000.
Advertisement - content continues below
Through a joint investigation involving the Peterborough County OPP assisted by the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP, Durham Regional Police, and Kawartha Lakes Police Service, two men have have arrested and charged:
Dean Prentice, 40, of Lindsay has been charged with two counts of break and enter, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000.
Terry Watson, 55, of Douro-Dummer has been charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000.
Search warrants have been executed at several address in multiple jurisdictions and have also recovered approximately $100,000 in stolen property, unrelated to the butcher shop thefts.
“It is a real steal”. Someone at Smokey Joe’s Meat Packers has a sense of humour despite having suffered a break-in where two local men stole around $45,000 worth of meat and caused an additional $20,000 worth of damage in spoiled product. (Photo courtesy of Anne Arnold)
Peterborough OPP investigators are offering an amnesty to members of the public who may have unknowingly purchased stolen meat, and are asking they come forward.
With the approval of the Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Company, Otonabee Meat Packers and Smokey Joe’s Butcher Shop have decided to donate all recovered usable product to the local food bank, the Riverview Park and Zoo in Peterborough, and area humane societies.
Investigators are actively looking for information that may lead to further suspects in these cases. Anyone with tips on these cases can contact Peterborough County OPP at 705-742-0401, the non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Local playwright, actor, musician, and composer Beau Dixon will be honoured at the proclamation ceremony for Black History Month on February 2, 2020 at Emmanuel United Church in Peterborough. Dixon will read from one of his plays and perform some of his songs at the event. (Photo: David Leyes / www.davidleyes.com)
February is Black History Month — an opportunity for all Canadians to acknowledge the achievements and contributions of black Canadians to Canadian history and society at large.
Last year, the City of Peterborough officially recognized Black History Month for the first time, with a proclamation by Mayor Diane Therrien and a presentation of a key to the city to legendary singer Ada Lee, who lived in Peterborough for almost 50 years.
This year, the Peterborough launch and proclamation ceremony for Black History Month 2020 takes place at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 2nd at Emmanuel United Church (534 George St. N., Peterborough), and will honour local theatre artist and performer Beau Dixon.
Advertisement - content continues below
An award-winning playwright and actor, Dixon is the founding artistic director of Firebrand Theatre in Peterborough. With a music career spanning more than 20 years, he has toured extensively throughout Canada, the U.S., and Europe, recorded three solo albums, and recorded and produced numerous albums for professional recording artists.
He also composes music for television, radio, and theatre — including last summer’s Bloom: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fable at 4th Line Theatre in Millbrook.
At Sunday’s event, Dixon will be reading from his one-man play Beneath Springhill: The Maurice Ruddick Story — about the role of African Canadian miner Maurice Ruddick during the 1958 mining disaster in Springhill, Nova Scotia — and performing a few of his songs.
Beau Dixon toured his one-man play “Beneath Springhill: The Maurice Ruddick Story” at schools in the Greater Toronto Area during Black History Month in 2015. He will read from his play at the Peterborough proclamation ceremony for Black History Month on February 2, 2020 at Emmanuel United Church in Peterborough. (Photo supplied by Beau Dixon)
Hosted by the Community Race Relations Committee of Peterborough, the free event will also feature calypso music by Winston Fredrick, African dance by Mayelin Lovet, and a performance by the Trent International Students’ Association Choir.
Historian, author, and educator Rosemary Sadlier will be the presenter for the evening. From 1993 to 2015, she was president of the Ontario Black History Society. Under her leadership, the society successfully lobbied the federal government in December 1995 to have February declared as Black History Month.
Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien (right) spoke at the Rotary Club of Peterborough meeting at the Holiday Inn on January 27, 2020, along with Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones (second from right). Also pictured are Rotarians Jay Amer (at the podium) and Kevin Duguay. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
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 Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien and County Warden J. Murray Jones addressing the Rotary Club of Peterborough, the Innovation Cluster launching a new startup incubator space in Lindsay, Peterborough-area businesses donating skilled trades work and supplies to help families transitioning out of homelessness, Michael Skinner rejoining Peterborough clean-tech company Rainmaker Worldwide Inc. as CEO, Omorfia Creation Station opening in downtown Peterborough, and other notable business and organization news from across the Kawarthas.
New events added this week include IG Wealth Management’s free financial planning seminar for businesses in Peterborough on February 5th, the Innovation Cluster’s business development seminar in Peterborough on February 5th, the Haliburton Chamber’s members-only meeting with MP Jamie Schmale in West Guilford on February 11th, the Northumberland Chamber’s business networking event in Cobourg on February 11th, the Kawartha Lakes Arts Council’s social media for cultural businesses seminar in Bobcaygeon on February 12th, the Port Hope Chamber’s coffee meeting with MP Philip Lawrence and MPP David Piccini in Port Hope on February 14th, and the Trent Hills Chamber’s lunchtime seminar on WSIB in Campbellford on February 25th.
Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien and County Warden J. Murray Jones address the Rotary Club of Peterborough
On Monday (January 27), Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien and Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones attended a regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Peterborough at the Holiday Inn – Peterborough Waterfront to update Rotarians on the status of current projects and upcoming challenges.
Jones spoke about the need to promote Peterborough County through continued support for Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, service gaps with the Peterborough County-City Paramedics ambulance service, and efforts by the Eastern Ontario Regional Network to address gaps in cell coverage and to bring high-speed internet service to rural areas.
“The CRTC said that should be our standard for everyone in Canada,” Jones said, referring to the CRTC’s recommendation of 50 Mbps down and 10 Mbps for internet service across Canada. “But it’s not that easy.”
Jones also spoke about the county’s asset management plan, the status of the James A Gifford Causeway rebuild, and the county’s service delivery review — noting unanticipated costs such as day care funding.
“It’s going to cost $100,000,” Jones said. “Where do we come up with that?”
An audience member asks a question of Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien and Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones at the Rotary Club of Peterborough meeting at the Holiday Inn on January 27, 2020. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
Therrien, who was returning to speak at the Rotary Club of Peterborough for her second time as Mayor, said that housing is one of the major challenges for the City of Peterborough, referring to the tent city issue from last summer. She explained that the city now a housing portfolio for the first time since 2008, but has a lot of “catching up” to do and is now working with developers and senior levels of government.
“Rents have gone up by 7.1 per cent in the last couple of year,” she said. “That’s making rental units increasingly unaffordable. While we do have new builds coming in, a lot of them are coming in above what a lot of the average residents in our community can afford.”
Therrien also spoke about the city’s climate emergency declaration.
“We’re looking at different way that we can reduce our carbon emissions,” she said, mentioning the controversial proposal to reduce the operating season of the Centennial Fountain in Little Lake. “Peterborough has a climate change action plan and, under that plan, we are committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by the year 2031.”
She also mentioned the city’s capital budget and operational budget, efforts to make the budgetary process more accessible and transparent to the public, efforts to streamline communications processes both with the public and between councillors, the opioid addiction issue, and the city’s relationship with the county as well as the rest of eastern Ontario.
A key upcoming challenge, Therrien said, is the pending PDI sale and deciding what to do with the proceeds should the sale be approved.
“We’re planning to undertake community consultations to get feedback and ideas from folks about they might want to see,” she explained. “PDI was our asset, so this is our money — $50 million sounds like a lot, but we could easily blow that in a day on any of the projects that we have to do. So we want to make sure we’re spending it in a smart and sustainable way.”
Other challenges Therrien mentioned include the potential closure of Northcrest Arena, the improvement of roads including Parkhill Road West and Chemong Road, breaking ground on the, urban park, the status of Cleantech Commons at Trent University, and continued economic development.
After Jones and Therrien made their comments, there was a question-and-answer session with members of the audience.
Innovation Cluster launching new startup incubator space in Lindsay
Graphic: Innovation Cluster
The Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas is launching the first full-service incubator in Lindsay for entrepreneurs in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
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.
Startups working in more remote areas throughout the Kawarthas will now have easier access to programming, network connections, funding, and investment and business opportunities, as well as marketing and commercialization support.
The incubator space, modelled after the Innovation Cluster’s The Cube in downtown Peterborough, is located at Kawartha Lakes Economic Development at 180 Kent Street West in Lindsay,
A grand opening and open house takes place from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11th. 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.
Peterborough-area businesses donate skilled trades labour and supplies to help families transitioning out of homelessness
Local skilled trades people and businesses are donating their labour and supplies to support the City of Peterborough’s Housing First initiative. (Photo supplied by the City of Peterborough)
The local business community and skilled tradespeople are donating time and supplies to support the City of Peterborough’s Housing First initiative, with work under way for families transitioning out of homelessness at 953 Clonsilla Avenue and 808 Sherbrooke Street.
The building at 953 Clonsilla Ave. is being converted into two two-bedroom units and one three-bedroom unit with shared laundry facilities for families transitioning out of homelessness. A second building at 808 Sherbrooke St., which is a two-unit building that could be converted into a three-unit building, is also being renovated to create affordable transitional housing. The renovations are expected to be completed by May 2020.
Mortlock Construction will be overseeing renovations at both houses with four local electrical contractors (Barry Electric, CPD Electric, Lancer Electric, and SRP Electric) partnering together to donate their labour for the projects. Boss Roofing employees are donating their time with Gibson’s Building Supplies donating materials to put a roof on 808 Sherbrooke Street.
VIDEO: Peterborough businesses and tradespeople embrace Housing First
Our Housing First project has been embraced by Peterborough's businesses and tradespeople. Together we are making a difference to help address homelessness in our community. Media release: https://www.peterborough.ca/en/news/community-businesses-donating-to-support-the-housing-first-initiative.aspx
Other participating businesses include City Electrical Supply, Gibson’s Building Supplies, Lett Architects, Nedco, Oscan Electrical Supply, and Neil Johnson Heating, as well as the Peterborough District Construction Association.
Any business or skilled trades person interested in donating work or materials to the project can contact Andrew Mitchell at the City of Peterborough at 705-742-7777 ext 1802 or amitchell@peterborough,ca.
Michael Skinner rejoins Peterborough clean-tech company Rainmaker Worldwide Inc. as CEO
Michael Skinner is the new CEO of Rainmaker Worldwide Inc. (Photo source: Rainmaker Worldwide Inc.)
Last Tuesday (January 21), Peterborough clean-tech company Rainmaker Worldwide Inc. announced the appointment of Michael Skinner as the company’s CEO.
Skinner, who was previously the President and CEO of the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas before leaving to run as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the 2019 federal election, worked at Rainmaker Worldwide Inc. as the company’s chief strategy officer from 2015 to 2017, and was part of the executive team that took the company public in 2017.
Skinner will continue to be involved in the Innovation Cluster as part-time CEO as well as the local and regional water sector. He will report to Michael O’Connor, the previous CEO moves into the role of Executive Chairman. In his capacity as CEO, Skinner will manage the overall operations of the company and focus on operational efficiency, logistics, and marketing and sales as projects, as well as product delivery development in the coming weeks and months.
“I am very excited to return to Rainmaker at this critical time and lead what I consider a world-class team to the next level,” Skinner says. “There are huge demands for water solutions around the globe and the proven Rainmaker technology is very effective in addressing many of these demands.”
Omorfia Creation Station opens in downtown Peterborough
Kristal Jones has opened Omorfia Creation Station in downtown Peterborough. (Photos: Omorfia Creation Station / Facebook)
Kristal Jones has opened Omorfia Creation Station, located at 410 George Street North in downtown Peterborough.
Jones held an open house last Wednesday (January 22) for the creative space, intended to serve the arts community as a creative incubator, gathering space, and retail experience. Omorfia will serve every kind of creative as a multifunctional space for photographers, yogis, artists, musicians, performing artists, and more.
“This idea for Omorfia Creation Station came out of a need for creative space in the downtown that is accessible, affordable, and multifunctional,” Jones says. “The arts community can feel a bit disjointed, so we wanted to centralize a customizable space for artists to create, collaborate, and celebrate their artistry all under Omorfia’s fantastical umbrella.”
“Peterborough was in dire need a dynamic gathering space for the arts community that’s not cantered around alcohol consumption and our goal is to fill that gap. This is our little way of supporting the creative ecosystem in our community.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Omorfia offers flexible memberships and scheduling, allowing it to be used for many functions, from weekly sober events featuring a complimentary dry bar, to hosting touring artists, private gallery functions, and small theatre productions. Omorfia will also host a variety of workshops of all varieties and classes for the public.
February’s monthly artist is local photographer Mark L. Craghead, who will be unveiling a new series entitled “Valentine’s Guys” during the First Friday Peterborough art crawl on Friday, February 7th.
Omorfia takes over the space previously occupied by the You’re Welcome adult boutique retail store, which owners Diana and Justina Stephans recently closed. However, You’re Welcome will continue to run events, workshops, classes and pop-shops in the space.
For more information about Omorfia, including pricing and upcoming events, visit omorfia705.com.
Other notable business and organization news from across the Kawarthas
Tree House Timber Works, which uses traditional timber techniques, is expanding its business to a 4,000-square-foot shop at 111 Robinson St in Peterborough’s East City. (Photo supplied by Tree House Timber Works)
Here’s a summary of other notable business and organizational news from across the Kawarthas over the past week:
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) issued a third-quarter non-tax gaming revenue payment of $780,031 to the City of Peterborough for hosting Shorelines Casino Peterborough, covering the period of October 1 to December 31, 2019. Since October 2018, Peterborough has received more than $3.9 million in non-tax gaming revenue.
The Peterborough Agricultural Society elected a new board at its annual general meeting on January 15: Victoria McEldon (president), Viren D’Souza (vice president), Sandra Busby (second vice president), Helen Burgomaster, Laura Robson, Kathy Clodd, Robert Hickey, Shawn Berry, Mark Balkwill, Deanna Harrison, Aleisha Bauer, and Chloe Shaw (junior member).
The Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market is accepting vendor applications for the 2020 summer season of the Downtown Peterborough Saturday Farmers’ Market. Applications can be submitted at prfm.prosperous.farm. All applications will be subject to a vendor vetting process designed to ensure the integrity and diversity of the products offered.
Buckhorn food consultant and cookbook author Jennifer MacKenzie, who is also the new festival director of the SPARK Photo Festival, had two of her recipes selected in the top 10 recipes of 2019 by LCBO Food & Drink Magazine. The featured recipes are The Ultimate Apple Pie and Big-Batch Tandoori Chicken.
Tree House Timber Works is expanding its business to a 4,000-square-foot shop at 111 Robinson St in Peterborough’s East City. The company uses traditional timber frame techniques, which do not require nails or other fasteners, including mortise and tendon construction. The expansion will allow Tree House Timber Works to work on larger structures, such as a timber frame barn that will be a wedding venue for local startup Farmhill Weddings. For more information, visit thetimberworks.com.
Advertisement - content continues below
Kawartha Lakes CFDC hosts Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario information session in Fenelon Falls on January 29
Kawartha Lakes Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) is hosting an information session on the Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario from 12 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29th at Fenelon Falls Community Centre (27 Veteran’s Way, Fenelon Falls).
Kawartha Lakes CFDC will be accepting applications for projects that support small and medium-sized enterprises to foster innovation, technology adoption and digital connectivity in Kawartha Lakes. Priority sectors include advanced manufacturing, clean tech, digital industries, and agri-food and food processing. Minimum project size is $50,000, with the ability of participants to provide a 50 per cent ($25,000) matched cash contribution.
Northumberland Chamber holds its annual general meeting and chair’s dinner in Cobourg on January 29
The Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual general meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29th at The Woodlawn Inn (420 Division St., Cobourg).
All members in good standing are invited to attend the meeting and hear an overview of the Chamber’s activities for the past year, including presentation of the Chamber’s audited year-end financial report. The 2020 executive will be introduced, and elections will be held to fill the available seats on the board of directors.
The annual chair’s dinner will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. following the meeting. For Chamber members and guests, the dinner features a four-course gourmet meal (vegetarian and vegan options are available). The cost is $69 per person.
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.
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 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.
Advertisement - content continues below
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.
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. 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.
Jon Kolodziej and Dana Beren Watts created this giant snowbear, which they call "Snowlar Bear", in the front yard on their home on George Street in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Jon Kolodziej)
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When life gives you snow, make an epic snowbear.
That’s what two local men did when they constructed a huge snowbear in the front yard of their home on George Street in downtown Peterborough on Sunday (January 28).
“This is the work of myself and one good friend, late on Sunday night when the local conditions were ideal,” Jon Kolodziej tells kawarthaNOW.
Advertisement - content continues below
Recent snowfall coupled with mild temperatures made for perfect snowman-making (and snowbear-making) conditions.
Kolodziej’s roommate Dana Beren Watts collaborated in the creation of the snowbear, which they call “Snowlar Bear 2020” or “Snowlar Bear #3” — meaning they’ve done it before.
According to Watts, the snowbear took around four hours to create, with Kolodziej spending a couple of hours on the initial sculpture before Watts joined him.
Several people noticed the snowbear on Monday, posting photos on Instagram.
Andrew Root paints during 'The Joy of Bob' at The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough in 2017. The event, where three guest painters are challenged before a live audience to follow an episode of 'The Joy of Painting', the instructional TV show hosted by late painter Bob Ross, returns on February 20, 2020. The guest painters will be Kathryn Bahun, garbageface, and a random audience member. (Photo courtesy of Andy Carroll)
This month’s artNOW features current exhibitions at the Art Gallery of Peterborough and the Art Gallery of Northumberland, the application deadline for artist proposals for Erring at King George, ‘The Hissing Folly’ by Cole Swanson at the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington, and wildlife photography by Dave Ellis at Boyd Heritage Museum in Bobcaygeon.
Also featured is First Friday Peterborough, Family Day fun at the Art Gallery of Northumberland, the return of the ‘The Joy of Bob’ competitive painting event at The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough, and the 5th annual Artspace Book + Zine Fest at the Peterborough Public Library.
Our regular artsNOW writer, Shannon Taylor, is on hiatus as she had a baby in January. Congrats to Shannon from all of us at kawarthaNOW!
Current exhibitions at Art Gallery of Peterborough and Art Gallery of Northumberland
“About Face” by Christopher Smith, currently on display at the Art Gallery of Northumberland in Cobourg, explores the role of drawing in portraiture, focusing in particular on the relationship between artist and sitter. Spanning three years, the drawings range from Smith’s self-portrait observing others in a waiting room to highly expressive sketches of familiar community faces. (Photos courtesy of Art Gallery of Northumberland)
Several exhibitions are continuing through February in Peterborough and Cobourg.
The Art Gallery of Peterborough is presenting three exhibitions: ‘locked in a way’ (a collaboration between filmmaker Matthew Hayes and dance artist Victoria Mohr-Blakeney), ‘217’ ( a series of graphite drawings and 3D printed objects by Sasha Opeiko based on images from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant), and ‘duet’ (an exhibit bringing together the work of the late abstract painter Jack Bush and Bush-inspired digital drawings by Francisco-Fernando Granados).
The Art Gallery of Northumberland is presenting ‘Traces’ (a collaborative exhibit of drawings by Peter Large and fine art photography by Felicity Somerset) and “About Face” (self-portraits, portraits of family and friends, and more formal portraits by Christopher Smith).
The Art Gallery of Peterborough is located at 250 Crescent Street in downtown Peterborough and is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. It offers free admission, barrier-free access, and a gallery shop. Parking is available in the Del Crary lot. For more information, call 705-743-9179 or visit agp.on.ca.
The Art Gallery of Northumberland is located at on the third floor of the west wing of Victoria Hall (55 King St. W., Cobourg). Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The gallery is closed on Mondays. For more information, visit www.artgalleryofnorthumberland.com.
Deadline for Erring at King George proposals on February 2
Erring at King George is a multi-arts festival that takes the history of King George Public School in Peterborough’s East City into account. The deadline for submissions is February 2, 2020, with the festival scheduled to take place in May 2021. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
The deadline for proposals for Erring at King George — a multi-arts festival presented by Artspace in partnership with Public Energy Performing Arts and the Art Gallery of Peterborough which is planned for May 2021 — is Sunday, February 2nd.
Professional, emerging, mid-career and senior artists, along with curators and collectives working in all mediums, are encouraged to apply. They are looking for site-specific pieces that take the history of King George Public School in Peterborough’s East City into account.
Experimental and socially engaged proposals are encouraged. The proposals can be for one space or for multiple spaces inside King George Public School, or the exterior and the grounds around the building.
‘The Hissing Folly’ by Cole Swanson opens at the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington on February 2
Phragmites being harvested at Thickson[s Woods Land Trust of Durham Region in 2019 for Cole Swanson’s ‘The Hissing Folly’ installation at the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington. (Source: vac.ca / Photo: Jamie McMillan)
For the 2020 iteration of its Loft Gallery Commission Program, the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington is presenting ‘The Hissing Folly’, an installation by Canadian artist Cole Swanson at the Loft Gallery.
Curated by Sandy Saad, ‘The Hissing Folly’ looks at Durham Region’s ecological landscape and poses questions around human relationships with invasive species; namely phragmites (also known as European common reed), an invasive perennial grass that has been damaging ecosystems in Ontario for decades.
Working with the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, phragmites have been collected and removed from the Thickson’s Woods Land Trust of Durham Region to become part of Swanson’s multidisciplinary installation. Through the tradition of thatching, Swanson uses a low-cost and ecological method to build roofs out of the local vegetation for his structure.
Advertisement - content continues below
Designed primarily for decoration, the resulting structure also suggests a greater purpose through its appearance: phragmites as a historically valuable construction material with creative potential compared to its adverse effects on biodiversity in Canada.
The installation opens on Sunday, February 2nd, with an opening reception from 2 to 4 p.m. featuring the artist. The exhibition will continue until January 3, 2021.
The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington is located at 143 Simpson Avenue in Bowmanville. Hours of operation are 10 a.m to 9 p.m. from Tuesday to Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Friday to Sunday. Admission to exhibits and artist talks is free. For more information, visit www.vac.ca.
Wildlife photography by Dave Ellis at Boyd Heritage Museum in Bobcaygeon on February 6
Kawartha Lakes wildlife photographer Dave Ellis took this photograph of a bald eagle, which became the top post on kawarthaNOW’s Instagram in December 2019. (Photo: Dave Ellis @dave.ellis.photos / Instagram)
Kawartha Lakes wildlife photographer Dave Ellis will be showing his work on Thursday, February 6th at Boyd Heritage Museum in Bobcaygeon.
One of Ellis’ photographs of a bald eagle was featured on kawarthaNOW’s Instagram account in December 2019 and became the most-viewed and liked post for that month.
The exhibit takes place at 2 p.m. in the Sheila A. Boyd Art Room. Admission is by donation.
Boyd Heritage Museum is located at 21 Canal Street in Bobcaygeon. For more information, visit www.theboydmuseum.com.
First Friday Peterborough returns on February 7
“Portraits of People I Like – Part One” features new work by Joe Stable, on display at Acme Art and Sailboat Company in downtown Peterborough during First Friday Peterborough on February 7, 2020. (Photo courtesy of Joe Stable)
After taking the month of January off, the First Friday Art Crawl returns to downtown Peterborough on the evening of February 7th.
As always, artists open their studios to the public, with galleries, art organizations, and other creative venues hosting special events.
Acme Art and Sailboat Company (129-1/2 Hunter St. W., 3rd floor) will be showing “Portraits of People I Like – Part One” by Joe stable, with new coloured copper drawings of dogs by Stable in the Copper Closet.
Advertisement - content continues below
Meta4 Gallery (64 Hunter St., Peterborough) will be hosting a free Valentine’s Day themed activity from 6 to 10 p.m. where you can create a colourful “Cupid’s Arrow”.
Family Day fun at the Art Gallery of Northumberland on February 17
The Art Gallery of Northumberland is open on Family Day 2020 for “Family Fun Day”. (Graphic: Art Gallery of Northumberland)
The Art Gallery of Northumberland is hosting a “Family Fun Day” from 1 to 3 p.m. on the Family Day holiday on Monday, February 17th.
You can create a masterpiece to take home, inspired by current exhibitions at the gallery, contribute your story to the gallery’s Family Story Wall, enjoy snakes, and check out an exhibition by the Art Gallery of Northumberland Youth Council.
The event is free.
The Art Gallery of Northumberland is located at on the third floor of the west wing of Victoria Hall (55 King St. W., Cobourg). Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The gallery is normally closed on Mondays, but will be open on Family Day. For more information, visit www.artgalleryofnorthumberland.com.
‘The Joy of Bob’ returns to The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough on February 20
Riley Hotrum, Lindsay Unterlander, and Samuelle May Weatherdon paint during ‘The Joy of Bob’ at The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough in 2018. The event returns on Feburary 20, 2020 featuring guest painters Kathryn Bahun, garbageface, and a random audience member. (Photo courtesy of Andy Carroll)
‘The Joy of Bob’ is returning for its 11th time to The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough from 8 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, February 20th.
In this unique and fun competition, a live audience watches as three guest painters are challenged to follow an episode of ‘The Joy of Painting’, the instructional TV show hosted by late painter Bob Ross from 1983 to 1994.
In each 30-minute episode, Ross taught techniques for landscape oil painting, completing a painting in each session. Over the course of the show’s 403 episodes, Ross completed more than 1,000 landscape paintings.
The late artist Bob Ross at his easel. Ross completed more than 1,000 landscape paintings during the 403-episode run of ‘The Joy of Painting’. (Publicity photo / Bob Ross Inc.)
Guest painters for the February 20th event are Kathryn Bahun, garbageface, and a random audience member.
The cost is $15 at the door, or pay what you can.
The Theatre on King is located at 171 King Street in downtown Peterborough.
5th annual Artspace Book + Zine Fest at the Peterborough Public Library on February 29
Attendees at the 2019 Artspace Book + Zine Fest. The 2020 event takes place at the Peterborough Public Library on Saturday, February 28th. (Photo courtesy of Artspace)
The 5th annual Artspace Book + Zine Fest is taking place in the Community Room at the Peterborough Public Library (345 Aylmer St. N. Peterborough) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, February 29th.
The event will feature artist-made zines, comics and graphic novels, letterpress prints and cards, the work of small presses, woodcuts, screen prints, handmade books, and other types of book and paper arts.
Participants include Heather L. Kelly of Aitchkay Books, Angela Hennessey, Bruce Gravel, bird, buried press, Black Panel Press, Jackson Creek Press, Cheryl Edwards, Marchens Landing Publishing, Melad Jajou Illustration, O Underworld! prints & press, Rob Niezen, The Penny Arcade, and many more.
Advertisement - content continues below
In conjunction with the Book + Zine Fest, Artspace is hosting Bennett Bedoukian for a talk on writing, publishing, and operating O Underworld! prints & press of Havelock at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26th at Artspace (378 Aylmer St. N., Peterborough). The talk is free and everyone is welcome to attend.
Patricia Wilson, community conservation and stewardship technician with Kawartha Land Trust, explores the newly protected Fell Wetland property. Donated to Kawartha Land Trust by Allan Fell and his family in 2019, the 50-acre property is relatively untouched by human activity and is home to a forested wetland and cattail marsh. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Land Trust)
Kawartha Land Trust, the only non-government charitable organization committed to protecting land in the Kawarthas, recently announced its newest protected property: the Fell Wetland, donated by Allan Fell and his family in 2019.
Located southwest of Fenelon Falls, the 50-acre property has been in the Fell family since 1908. It is relatively untouched by human activity and is home to a forested wetland and cattail marsh.
Lying within a wetland complex, the property contains a portion of a Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW) — an official Ontario government designation for wetlands that have been identified as being the most valuable through a science-based ranking system known as the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System.
The wetland and forests on the newly protected Fell Wetland property serve as an important corridor for wildlife movement in the area. By linking together the fragmented natural areas near it, the Fell property contributes to the conservation and connectivity of habitats in and around its boundaries. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Land Trust)
Wetlands are among the most productive and biologically diverse habitats in the world, and the Fell property provides an excellent habitat for a biodiversity of flora and fauna.
Mitchell Creek runs through the property and leads to Cameron Lake, a part of the Trent Severn Waterway. This wetland system contributes significantly to the connectivity throughout the agricultural landscape, and is a major biodiversity hot spot in an otherwise highly disturbed area.
The wetland and forests on the Fell property also serve as an important corridor for wildlife movement in the area.
The cattail marsh on the newly protected Fell Wetland property, which contains a portion of a Provincially Significant Wetland — a designation by the Ontario government for wetlands that have been identified as being the most valuable through a science-based ranking system known as the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Land Trust)
By linking together the fragmented natural areas near it, the Fell property contributes to the conservation and connectivity of habitats in and around its boundaries.
The property shows excellent natural value with outstanding provincially significant features.
The Fell Wetland lies within an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest, an official Ontario government designation for an area containing significant natural landscapes or features that are important for natural heritage, protection, appreciation, scientific study, or education.
Wetlands are among the most productive and biologically diverse habitats in the world. The Fell Wetland property provides an excellent habitat for a biodiversity of flora and fauna, such as this blue flag iris. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Land Trust)
It also lies within the Kawarthas Naturally Connected (KNC) Preferred Scenario, a collaborative process that uses the best available science to identify sites that should be protected in the Kawarthas to ensure healthy and connected ecosystems.
The KNC Preferred Scenario identifies the Fell Wetland an ecologically significant and an integral piece of our natural landscape.
One of Kawartha Land Trust’s goals when protecting a property is to ensure public access, but only when it is compatible with the long-term protection goals of the property and its features and when it corresponds with the wishes of the land donor. Due to its environmentally sensitive nature, the Fell Wetland property is not open for public access.
The newly protected Fell Wetland property, located southwest of Fenelon Falls, lies with a Area of Natural and Scientific Interest and the Kawarthas Naturally Connected Preferred Scenario, and contains a portion of a Provincially Significant Wetland. Due to the ecologically sensitive nature of the property, it is not open for public access. (Map courtesy of of Kawartha Land Trust)
With the addition of the Fell Wetland property, Kawartha Land Trust is now protecting 18 properties covering more than 4,100 acres of diverse and significant land in the Kawarthas.
This project was undertaken with the financial support of Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and Wildlife Habitat Canada.
This story was created in partnership with Kawartha Land Trust.
Danny Bronson, pictured here performing the music of John Denver at Showplace Performance Centre in April 2019, will be hosting the United Way of Peterborough & District's first-ever "streamathon" on Facebook. The live concert, which also features several other Peterborough-area musicians, begins at 8 p.m. on January 30, 2020. (Photo courtesy of Laszlo Prising Photography / laszloprisingphoto.com)
What do you call a telethon that doesn’t depend on television or telephones? For the first time ever, the United Way of Peterborough & District is presenting a “streamathon” on Facebook at 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 30th.
The free Facebook Live concert will be hosted by Peterborough musician Danny Bronson, who will be joined by other local musicians over the course of the evening, including Bridget Foley, Theresa McMullen, Ken DesChamps, Victoria Pearce, Kait Dueck, Carling Stephen, David Goyette, Kryn Vandermey, and Andrew Vatcher.
“I’m really looking forward to sharing the stage with these terrific performers and giving viewers an exciting event worth watching while supporting a great cause,” Bronson says.
Advertisement - content continues below
You can watch the live-streamed event at 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 30th by searching for “Danny Bronson Live” on Facebook — or by visiting the United Way’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/UnitedWayPtbo/ or the Facebook event page at www.facebook.com/events/602003607214536/ — and, if you like, donate to the United Way during the event.
Unlike telethons of the past, the event will be available to anyone around the world from their mobile device or computer, so both area residents and expatriates can support the United Way, and viewers can interact with the performers in real time.
“We’re excited to offer this innovative online experience that updates the dynamics of a traditional telethon,” says 2019 United Way campaign chair David Goyette.
The United Way of Peterborough & District’s Facebook Live event begins at 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 30th. (Poster: United Way of Peterborough & District)
This is the first time the United Way of Peterborough & District is using a live-streamed event for fundraising.
“With such an amazing collection of local talent performing great music all evening, it will be like watching the ultimate kitchen party from your phone,” said Brittany Cadence, volunteer member of the United Way campaign cabinet.
“We think viewers will have fun interacting with the live stream on Facebook and help create an entirely new telethon experience to support the community.”
Peterborough Police Service headquarters on Water Street in Peterborough. (Photo: Pat Trudeau)
Police have charged a 60-year-old Peterborough man with an additional six counts of sexual assault in an ongoing investigation involving incidents at a local spa.
Gerard Sylvester Rodrigues, 60, of Parkhill Road West, had been previously charged with two counts of sexual assault following two incidents that occurred on December 6, 2019, when Rodrigues was employed as a registered massage therapist at a local spa. When police reported the charges laid against Rodrigues, they also indicated there may be additional victims.
Since that time, six new victims have come forward to police.
As a result of that further investigation, Rodrigues attended the Peterborough police station on Friday (January 24), where he was charged with an additional six counts of sexual assault. He is scheduled to appear in court later the same day.
Police have not released the name of the spa where the incidents took place.
This investigation is ongoing and police believe there are further victims. Anyone with further information is asked to call the Peterborough Police Service at 705-876-1122 ext. 261, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or visit the Crime Stoppers website at stopcrimehere.ca.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for all of the Kawarthas, with a risk of freezing rain late on Friday night (January 24) followed by potentially heavy snow on Saturday.
Precipitation will move into the area after midnight on Friday.
With temperatures hovering near the freezing mark, some of this precipitation may begin as rain in areas where temperatures are above zero, or as freezing rain where temperatures are at or just below zero.
Advertisement - content continues below
A period of freezing rain is then expected through the night before a transition to snow by late Saturday morning or early Saturday afternoon.
A period of heavy snow is then forecast, with accumulations near 10 cm possible by Saturday night.
Environment Canada may issue freezing rain or snowfall warnings as details of the system become clearer.
Etobicoke indie folk singer-songwriter Andrew Sherriff is performing at The Garnet in downtown Peterborough on Sunday, January 26th, with support from Erica Knox and Nathan Truax. He'll also be performing at Boiling Over's Coffee Vault in Lindsay on Friday, January 31st. (Photo: Andrew Sherriff / 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, January 23 to Wednesday, January 29.
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.
Sunday, February 9 2-9pm - Peterborough United For Australia presents benefit the Queensland Koala Crusaders 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)
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.
