Lesley Heighway, president and CEO of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation, received a standing ovation as she accepted the Business Citizen of the Year award at the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce's 23rd annual Peterborough Business Excellence s at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough on October 22, 2025. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Lesley Heighway, president and CEO of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation, took home the top honour at the 23rd annual Peterborough Business Excellence Awards at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough on Wednesday night (October 22) when she was named Business Citizen of the Year.
Organized by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, the well-attended event was hosted by chamber board chair Susan Dunkley and vice chair Ben vanVeen, with the awards handed out by various sponsors with the assistance of the chamber’s president and CEO Brenda Whitehead.
Heighway, who joined the PRHC Foundation in 2008 and has served as president and CEO for the last 14 years, leads a team of professionals and volunteers who raise millions of dollars every year for the regional hospital — more than $45 million over the past five years alone. She is currently leading the $70-million Campaign for PRHC, which was also recognized on Wednesday night with the chamber’s Marketing & Promotion award.
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In accepting the Business Citizen of the Year award, Heighway explained her passion for healthcare philanthropy is rooted in her family’s lived experience in her home province of New Brunswick. Her parents had to drive three hours from a small community to a hospital in Saint John for her father to receive cancer radiation treatment for five days a week over a six-week period.
“Over the years in the leadership roles I’ve held, I’ve learned that business and professional success is measured not just in dollars, but also enjoy in joy, in gratitude, and in the impact you have on others and on your community,” she said.
“I’m so appreciative of this recognition, but just as grateful for the chance to do the work that I love in a community that’s become my home with people I care about, who care so much about each other and our collective future. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.”
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Other notable recipients included the Peterborough Humane Society, which received both the Not-for-Profit and the Employer of the Year awards, and Wild Rock Outfitters, which received both the Entrepreneurial Spirit and Retail awards.
The evening concluded with Peterborough Examiner photojournalist Clifford Skarstedt receiving the President’s Award, a special non-annual award that recognizes a unique and inspiring example of excellence that does not fit within one of the regular categories.
A full list of the award finalists and recipients is provided below.
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Local Focus
Charlotte Products Ltd – Recipient
kawarthaNOW
OmniWorx Design
Entrepreneurial Spirit
JMD Hospitality
Peterborough Axe Club
Wild Rock Outfitters – Recipient
Health & Wellness
Dr. Meagan McLaren/Health Foundations
Dr. Nicole Loucks/Kawartha Family Chiropractic
Five Counties Children’s Centre – Recipient
Commercial Development or Renovation
Black Rock Developments – Recipient
East City Dental
Forest Hill Lodge
Skilled Trades
Black Rock Developments
Cardinal Home Services
Just Spray It – Recipient
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Retail
Dan Joyces Retailing Limited
Monaghan Lumber
Wild Rock Outfitters – Recipient
Micro Business
Couture Candy – Recipient
Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association
Smash Courts
Professional Services
Kawartha Drainscape
Matthews & Associates
OmniWorx Design – Recipient
Customer First
Monaghan Lumber
Paris Marine
Trent Valley Honda – Recipient
Tourism
Egan Houseboat Rentals – Recipient
Sanctuary Flower Fields
Shorelines Casino Peterborough
Hospitality
Agave by Imperial
Kawartha Gymnastics
Millbrook Mercantile – Recipient
Marketing and Promotion
kawarthaNOW
Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation – Recipient
PTBO Home, Garden & Cottage Show
Not-for-Profit
Five Counties Children’s Centre
Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Foundation
Peterborough Humane Society – Recipient
Employer of the Year
Charlotte Products Ltd
Peterborough Humane Society – Recipient
Trent Valley Honda
4-Under-40 Profiles, in Memory of Kathy Windrem
Adeilah Dahlke
Amy Muir
Meagan McLaren
Michael Riseley
Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year
Sammy’s Braids
Business Citizen of the Year
Lesley Heighway, Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation
An audience in Stratford watches a screening of "We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes", produced and directed by Colin Field with historical producer Bonnie Sitter, who wrote the 2019 book "Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes" with retired journalist Shirleyan English. (Photo via welendahand.ca)
Millbrook’s 4th Line Theatre and Lakefield College School have partnered to present a screening on November 26 of an award-winning documentary about a largely untold chapter of 20th-century Canadian history.
We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes tells the story of the 40,000 teenage girls who volunteered on Canadian farms during and after World War II and helped sustain the nation’s food supply while the young Canadian men who normally worked the farms were fighting overseas. Known as “Farmerettes,” the girls — many with no previous farming experience — came from different parts of Ontario and Quebec to many farms in southwestern Ontario.
If the story sounds familiar, it may be because 4th Line Theatre presented the world premiere of Onion Skins & Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes in 2024. The play was written by Alison Lawrence based on the book by Shirleyan English and Bonnie Sitter.
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A resident of Exeter north of London in southwestern Ontario, Sitter first became aware of the Farmerettes when she found an old photograph of three young girls dressed in farm work clothes with “Farmerettes 1946” written on the back.
She did some research and wrote a story in 2018 that found its way to London resident and retired journalist Shirleyan English, who it turns out had worked as a Farmerette on the Sitter’s farm in Thedford and was planning to write her own book about the Farmerettes.
The two women eventually teamed up to write a book together, Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes, which features a collection of photos, letters, and memories from Farmerettes across the country.
VIDEO: “We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes” trailer
Filmmaker Colin Field, who directed and produced the documentary, first met Sitter in 2019. Inspired by her research, he wanted to bring the story of the Farmerettes to the big screen.
“I was privileged to collaborate with Bonnie on this extraordinary story of dedication and perseverance,” Field says. “I got to interview 20 Farmerettes — now in their late nineties — for the documentary, and after two years of work and with the help of sponsors and generous donors, the documentary is finally complete.”
The 49-minute documentary shares the experiences of the Farmerettes through reenactments and unique archival images. It was named best documentary at the 2025 Niagara Canada International Film Festival, best Canadian documentary at the 2025 Toronto Independent Film Festival of Cift, and the best film about women at the 2025 Toronto International Women Film Festival.
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Both Field and Sitter will be attending the screening of the documentary at the Bryan Jones Theatre at Lakefield College School at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26.
Following the screening, they will participate in a question-and-answer session along with 4th Line Theatre’s managing artistic director Kim Blackwell. Attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase autographed copies of Sitter and English’s book.
The film is being screened at Lakefield College School as 4th Line Theatre and the school have a long-standing partnership, including the school’s support for 4th Line’s young company. In addition, many of the school’s students are the same age as the Farmerettes were and the school is continuing to develop its farm at the Northcote Campus.
Shirleyan English and Bonnie Sitter with their 2019 book “Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes.” The book features letters, photos, and stories of young women’s experiences working on Ontario farms during the labour shortage of the Second World War. (Photo: Age Creatively website)
Tickets for the screening are $25, with a portion of ticket sales going to 4th Line Theatre’s 30 to the Future Endowment Fund and Lakefield College’s Northcote Farm Endowment.
In addition, a collection will be taken during the screening in support of victims of the recent fire in downtown Lakefield.
To purchase tickets, call the 4th Line Theatre box office at 705-932-4445. Tickets will also be available online at www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca
Take a stroll through the graveyard if you dare while visiting Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene for Spooky All Hallows' Eve from 6 to 9 p.m. on October 24 and 25, 2025. The family-friendly event offers a wide range of fun activities along with stories about the origin of modern-day Halloween traditions. (Photo: Heather Doughty Photography / Lang Pioneer Village Museum)
Did you know that the demand for cadavers to teach anatomy in the early 19th century far exceeded the legal supply, leading to the rise of “resurrectionists” — professional body snatchers who stole freshly buried corpses to sell to medical schools?
The history of body snatching is one of the eerie things you can learn at Spooky All Hallows’ Eve at Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene from 6 to 9 p.m. this Friday and Saturday (October 24 and 25).
But it’s not all macabre facts at Spooky All Hallows’ Eve, with a wide range of fun activities available for the entire family.
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Take a tractor and wagon ride or wander the village, where you’ll learn about the different origins of trick-or-treating and learn a rhyme for “soul-caking.” Watch out for the man-eating plant from Madagascar at the Fitzpatrick House, discover the history of coffins and body snatching at the Carpenter Shop, and stop by the Tinsmith Shop to feel what is lurking in the mystery crocks.
Participate in a class on poisons and potions in the School House, try a treat from the Botched Bakery, and listen to sea shanties and pirate jokes in the Cider Barn — if you can find all the items on their treasure map, you just might receive a piece of treasure for yourself.
Witness a traditional 1890s Halloween party and participate in some party games, meet Stingy Jack (played by Glen Caradus) who will tell you his sorry tale, take a stroll through the graveyard, hear about the story of werewolves, visit the witch’s lair to find out your witch’s name while swamp water bubbles in the cauldron over the fire, and find out what your future holds from Madam Fortune.
Meet the snake oil salesman, try some hula hooping in the Agricultural Barn, learn about the different origins of trick-or-treating, and hear the Michi Saagig people’s tale of the malevolent spirit Wendigo during Spooky All Hallows’ Eve from 6 to 9 p.m. on October 24 and 25, 2025 at Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene. (Photos: Heather Doughty Photography / Lang Pioneer Village Museum)
Learn about paranormal investigations undertaken at Lang Pioneer Village Museum by Paranormal Seekers ghost hunters and see some of the specialized equipment they use to make their “discoveries.” While Halloween is a settler custom, you can also learn about Indigenous traditions at Aabnaabin Camp, including the Michi Saagig people’s tale of the malevolent spirit Wendigo.
Take a trip to the stars on a magic carpet ride, visit the fairies at their lodge, try some hula hooping in the Agricultural Barn, and make sure not to get lost if you are brave enough to enter the maze. You can also warm up by the fire and learn about Samhain, a Celtic fire festival.
Watch the mind-bending magic show in the Weaver Shop, with performances at 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 p.m., but plan ahead as seating is limited. You can also witness a séance and a witch dance, learn about witch broom craft, meet the snake oil salesman, and watch performances by the Peterborough Scottish Country Dancers.
Stop by the Keene Hotel for some hot chocolate and sweet treats or visit the Bewdley Lions Club food truck for some BBQ goods (cash only). Ben’s Kettle Corn will be on-site popping up fresh kettle corn, and you can purchase candy and sweet treats in the General Store.
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Come disguised to blend in with the spirits and ghosts lurking in the village, or have your face painted in the Great Hall by Faces by 2. Children will receive treat bags at the end of the evening to enjoy on their way home.
While some of the origin stories of Halloween customs during this historical tour can be dark, Spooky All Hallows’ Eve is not a frightful experience and is suitable for the entire family.
Admission is $17 for adults, $12 for students and seniors 60 and older, $9 for children and youth aged two to 14, and free for children under two. Family admission is also available for $44 (for two adults and up to four youth ages two to 14). You can purchase tickets in advance, but advance tickets are not required. On-site parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Lisa Dixon (left) directs Gayle Fraser and David Russell during a rehearsal for the Peterborough Theatre Guild's production of "291" by Jade O'Keeffe, Dixon's daughter. The play, which tells the love story of American modernist painter and draftswoman Georgia O'Keeffe and American photographer and modern art promoter Alfred Stieglitz, runs for nine performances from November 1 to 15, 2025. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of Peterborough Theatre Guild video)
The family that (makes) plays together, stays together, and Lisa Dixon wouldn’t have it any other way.
As the director of 291, the second production of the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s 2025-26 season, Dixon is not only bringing to the Guild Hall stage an original work written in 2014 by her daughter Jade O’Keeffe, she’s also benefiting from the involvement of her brother Beau, an accomplished playwright, actor, and musician who is doing double duty as the play’s composer and sound designer.
Opening Saturday, November 1 at the Guild’s Rogers Street venue in East City, 291 invites the audience into the world of Georgia O’Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz. One of modern art’s most iconic couples — she an American modernist painter and draftswoman and he an American photographer and modern art promoter — their relationship in was characterized by the more than 5,000 handwritten letters they exchanged over three decades from 1915 to 1946.
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Billed as “a lyrical portrait of love, art and letters that defined a generation,” 291 captures both the passion and complexity of their relationship, and the blending of Stieglitz’s revolutionary photography with O’Keeffe’s groundbreaking abstract expressionism. The result is a celebration of artistic collaboration and a meditation on the lost art of letter writing.
“She knew of Alfred Stieglitz because she studied art,” says Dixon of Georgia O’Keeffe.
From 1905 to 1917, Alfred Stieglitz managed an art gallery at 291 Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan in New York City. Commonly called 291, the gallery’s exhibitions helped give art photography the same stature in America as painting and sculpture, and also introduced avant-garde European artists to the U.S.
“One of her colleagues, a student, brought her charcoal drawings to his attention. He saw (in her art) what he saw in Picasso and a lot of European artists, and invited her to come to the gallery. That’s when they became lovers. In one of his letters, he said he fell in love with her when he saw her drawings. That’s a bit of a red flag. What did he fall in love with? But they were they were very much in love and they had a long, beautiful relationship.”
David Russell as American photographer and modern art promoter Alfred Stieglitz and Gayle Fraser as American modernist painter and draftswoman Georgia O’Keeffe during a rehearsal for the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s production of “291” by Jade O’Keeffe, which runs for nine performances from November 1 to 15, 2025. (kawarthaNOW screenshots of Peterborough Theatre Guild video)
“When she did leave him, it was because he was with another woman. He probably was a few times — from the script we can see that — but she was also with other people. I think they are special people in that they couldn’t ride that kind of dogma life that a lot of us have, where you abstain and you stay truthful. There was too much going on in their brains. She saw colours with music. There was a lot going on with both of them that I think it was OK, but it must have been a real tough time. The (play’s) opening line is ‘Love is a complicated beauty.'”
Working with a story written by her daughter, admits Dixon, presented an added challenge.
“I knew she wasn’t going to be 100 per cent happy with me doing this,” says Dixon, adding “It’s her baby. She knew I would take it down a route that maybe she wasn’t happy with, but she has to learn to let go. This is a teachable moment. This is me learning more about her.”
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“We did a big table read with the creative team,” Dixon recalls. “One scene was really bothering me … I wanted to take it a bit further. It took me awhile to figure out how to ask her, but I asked her rewrite a whole scene. I told her why; how I wanted to pivot the story through a scene with the same text, but create a different vision. She did (the rewrite), and it was so smart the way she rewrote it. She got it. That’s pretty amazing.”
Dixon says her brother Beau also helped provide his niece with some creative direction.
“He sat with her and said ‘We need more movement. Your text is good, but it’s not going to pop.’ She was OK (with it). She learned that it’s OK to change something and then step back.”
Jade O’Keeffe, whose play “291” is about the 20th-century love story of Georgia O’Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz, said in a 2015 interview there’s a chance she is related to the late American modernist painter, but the connection is distant. The playwright is the daughter of Lisa Dixon, who is directing the Peterborough Theatre Guild production of “291”, which runs for nine performances from November 1 to 15, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Jade O’Keeffe)
With the cast comprised of just two actors — O’Keeffe is portrayed by Gayle Fraser and Stieglitz is played by David Russell — it would seem the task of directing is made easier. Actually, says Dixon, that task is more of a challenge.
“If there are only two people on stage, it’s because something happened between them,” she says, adding “Even if we put them in separate spaces, there’s a connection.”
“(Fraser and Russell) are both very strong and very experienced, so they’ve been able to get the nuance of Georgia and Alfred. They’re doing a lot of work being characters that are in love, but it’s complicated. We worked on ‘OK, you’re not going to be Georgia O’Keeffe; you’re not going to be Alfred Stieglitz. That’s going to be hard.’ Instead, what are the realities in the text that show who each person is? Give me some proof in this text or that text.”
“As a director, that’s how I work — ‘Stop. What did you just say?’ and what does that tell me about the behaviour of the next three lines? You can talk scene study of the characters as much as you want, but eventually (you have to decide) how do they move? What do they do with their hands?”
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On a more personal level, Dixon is thrilled to be back in a theatre environment as a director. She is best known to locals for having run the popular Black Honey cafe, bakery, and catering business in downtown Peterborough for 18 years, before selling the business in December 2023.
“When I sold Black Honey, Bea Quarrie — who’s very involved with the Guild — approached me and said ‘Do you want to get back in theatre?'” recounts Dixon.
“I did a bit of stage acting for some readings. It really felt good. Jade’s play was the source of a reading for the Guild years ago — a couple of people were walking around with her script. After I was assistant director for a play, more than one person suggested I submit it to the Guild’s play selection committee.”
“I had to ask Jade. She hesitated, but one of the reasons I knew it would be special to do is (because) the story is layered. She wrote it so well that it’s difficult to follow without it being performed. I liked that as a challenge. I thought, ‘If I’m going to get into directing, why not do it with something that difficult to do but also very meaningful to me?’ I’m just so proud of her writing. It’s stunning.”
Gayle Fraser as American modernist painter and draftswoman Georgia O’Keeffe and David Russell as American photographer and modern art promoter Alfred Stieglitz during a rehearsal for the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s production of “291” by Jade O’Keeffe, which runs for nine performances from November 1 to 15, 2025. Over three decades from 1915 to 1946, the couple exchanged more than 5,000 handwritten letters. (kawarthaNOW screenshots of Peterborough Theatre Guild video)
When Dixon took on the role of director for 291, she had no idea just how cathartic the experience would prove to be.
On October 12, her father, Reverend Canon Blair Dixon, died at age 89. Since his passing, Lisa, Beau, and their sibling Lance have been dealing with their grief. Meanwhile, the clock has been ticking toward opening night for 291, with much still to be fine-tuned.
“You can’t stop — you have to keep going,” Dixon reflects. “When my mother was dying, I had two weddings (to cater) every weekend that June. They needed me. I had to go to the weddings and then I would run off and sit with my mom. One thing I remember, and it’s the same now, I couldn’t wait to get back to work because there was a feeling of family.”
“The Theatre Guild has a really tight concept of protocol. If you need something, it’s there. If you can’t find it, you know who to call. So not being able to be here for a couple of rehearsals wasn’t a problem.”
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Now, like the director of any theatrical production, Dixon hopes those who see 291 take something away from the experience.
“What were they doing when she painted? What were they doing when he took a photo like that? They felt something so intense, they had to capture it. They weren’t worried about you as a viewer.”
“I really want that to happen for the audience member. I want you to understand what they were feeling — why that feeling was so intense that they had to project it.”
Alfred Stieglitz attached this photograph to a letter for Georgia O’Keeffe, dated July 10, 1929. Below the photograph he wrote, “I have destroyed 300 prints to-day. And much more literature. I haven’t the heart to destroy this…” (Photo: Yale Collection of American Literature / Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)
291 is produced by Kym Hyde and stage managed by Marilyn Robinson, with lighting design by Don White and set design by David Geene.
The play opens on Saturday, November 1 for nine performances, with evening shows at 7:30 p.m. on November 1, 6 to 8, and 13 to 15 and 1:30 p.m. matinee performances on November 2 and 9.
Tickets are $30 adults, $27 seniors, and $20 students, with a special two-for-one ticket offer available for opening night. For tickets, visit www.peterboroughtheatreguild.com.
VIDEO: “291” by Jade O’Keeffe promo – Peterborough Theatre Guild
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s 2025-26 season.
In March 2025, Northumberland County announced a 33-member coalition called Prosper in Northumberland to promote and bolster the local economy in response to U.S. trade tariffs, which included the launch of a "Buy Local" campaign over the summer as well as a survey of local residents and businesses. (Photo: Northumberland County)
Northumberland County is celebrating Small Business Week by sharing the results of surveys about community support for the local economy and by continuing to promote the importance of shopping close to home, calling small business “the backbone of our community.”
Along with the Prosper In Northumberland initiative, a coalition comprised of area businesses, associations, municipalities, and community members, the county is highlighting the important role of locally owned businesses while marking Small Business Week from October 19 to 25. The annual celebration of entrepreneurship was launched by Business Development Bank of Canada more than 45 years ago.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our community,” said Rob Day, Northumberland County’s manager of economic development and co-chair of the Prosper In Northumberland operating group, in a statement.
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“They don’t just keep our local economy running, they also shape the character of our community, enhance the vitality of our downtowns, provide local jobs to our neighbours, friends and family, and support our local community programs,” Day said. “These businesses may be small, but they are mighty. Small Business Week is a time to celebrate all they do for our community and give back by supporting them in turn.”
This past summer, Prosper In Northumberland conducted surveys of residents and local business owners as part of a community-wide Northumberland “Buy Local” campaign. The purpose of the surveys was to gather insights around how the community can better support local businesses and to encourage residents to redirect spending to businesses in Northumberland.
Completed by more than 350 Northumberland business owners and residents, the surveys revealed “a strong community desire to support local businesses and a shared understanding of the challenges local businesses face.”
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Findings of the surveys include these highlights:
71 per cent of surveyed businesses have up to 10 employees
66 per cent of surveyed businesses have operated for over a decade
68 per cent of surveyed businesses anticipate rising costs in 2025
66 per cent of surveyed residents make supporting locally owned businesses a priority
At 91 per cent, tight-knit community connections through word-of mouth is the primary influence on surveyed residents’ decisions about where they shop.
The findings from these surveys have been shared with the local business network through chambers of commerce, with the goal of helping inform those groups how they can continue to meet the evolving needs of local consumers.
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Meanwhile, Prosper In Northumberland said it will be using these insights to help guide future supports and highlight opportunities for residents, businesses, and community partners to work together in strengthening Northumberland’s economy.
The county encourages residents “to show their local love” during Small Business Week by joining the Northumberland Buy Local movement at buynorthumberland.ca and taking the Buy Local pledge, which involves making a commitment to redirect anywhere from $10 to $100 of their average monthly spending from elsewhere to local businesses in Northumberland.
Those who are already completing the bulk of their shopping in Northumberland are also encouraged to sign the pledge to reaffirm their commitment to the cause.
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Earlier this year, Northumberland County announced the launch of Prosper in Northumberland, a 33-member coalition charged with promoting and bolstering the local economy amidst growing economic challenges due to the ongoing tensions around international trade. Dubbing the initiative as “a movement,” it encompasses the commitment to making purchases locally, investing in homegrown businesses, and, ultimately, supporting the livelihoods of fellow Northumberland residents through those actions.
Kate Campbell, Northumberland County’s director of communications, earlier told kawarthaNOW the impetus for the coalition stemmed from meetings with multiple municipal CAOs and economic development officers from all seven of Northumberland’s municipalities to develop a co-ordinated response to the trade developments, particularly the U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods that were introduced in March.
“Prosper in Northumberland is not just an initiative, it’s a movement. Together, Northumberland organizations and residents will take action to build resilience and empower our community to thrive,” Campbell said.
Adam Morrison of the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, Jen Johnstone of the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton, and Jill MacPhee of Kawartha Centre are the speakers at the "Dementia on the Front Lines" event on October 20, 2025 at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club. (kawarthaNOW collage of supplied photos)
With the rate of dementia on the rise in the greater Kawarthas region, the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton (PKLNH) is hosting a special event on Thursday, October 30 to explore issues related to research, advocacy, and more.
“Dementia on the Front Lines” will bring to light the state of dementia in the region and feature experts on a variety of subjects. Subtitled “The truth about where we stand and what’s next,” the event runs from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club at 1030 Armour Road.
While the event is free to attend, space is limited and advance registration is required at dementiatalk.ca.
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According to the Alzheimer Society of PKLNH, approximately 15,000 people are living with dementia in the four-county region the organization supports. Expert speakers at the October 30 event will spotlight specific aspects of dementia from the front lines of research, treatment, advocacy, and delivery of services and supports.
Alzheimer Society of PKLNH executive director Jen Johnstone told kawarthaNOW she hopes the event will help the community begin “to really understand the landscape of dementia in our region.”
“This isn’t something far away. It’s here. It touches families, friends, neighbours, and workplaces across our four counties,” she said
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“Through this event, we want people to see both the challenges and the hope,” Johnstone added, noting that the society “is working hard to respond to rising rates of dementia.”
She said the society is building partnerships, expanding its programs, and fundraising to make sure people receive help when needed. The Alzheimer Society of PKLNH is also a part of provincial advocacy and research efforts that are shaping what care will look like in the future, she added.
“I hope people leave this event more informed, more connected, and ready to take part in building a more dementia-friendly community,” Johnstone said.
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At the event, Jill MacPhee, director of clinical operations at Kawartha Centre, will provide an update on dementia research happening in Peterborough.
Adam Morrison, senior director of public policy and partnerships at the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, will provide insight into the work the Alzheimer Society is doing to further Ontario’s provincial dementia advocacy plan.
In addition, Johnstone herself will share more about dementia care and support at a local level and what this will mean for the future.
More than 770,000 Canadians currently live with dementia, according to the Alzheimer Society, with that number expected to be close to one million by 2030.
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“The best outcome would be that people walk away feeling moved to do something,” Johnstone said.
“We want them to see that everyone has a role to play. It might mean supporting a friend or neighbour living with dementia, speaking up for better local services, or helping us raise funds to meet growing demand. Knowledge is powerful, but action is what changes lives. If this event inspires even a few people to take that next step, that would be a success.”
The Alzheimer Society of PKLNH provides free, direct support to families and individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. A diagnosis of dementia is not needed to reach out to the organization for assistance. Supports include dementia coaching and counselling, healthcare navigation support, educational workshops, and social recreation programs.
For more information about the Alzheimer Society of PKLNH, visit alzheimer.ca/pklnh/.
Karen Coughlin and Aaron Solomon perform as June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash in a production of "Johnny & June" at Hudson Village Theatre in Quebec in 2023. The jukebox musical comes to Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon for five performances from October 23 to 25, 2025. (Photo: Hudson Village Theatre)
Tickets are still available for Johnny & June at Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon, running for five performances from Thursday (October 23) to Saturday.
Created by Chris McHarge and the late Colin Stewart, the jukebox musical tells the story of iconic American country music legends Johnny “The Man in Black” Cash and June Carter Cash.
The first act covers Cash’s famous 1968 visit to Folsom State Prison in California. Although Cash wrote his song “Folsom Prison Blues” in 1955 and began performing concerts at American prisons in the late 1950s, he didn’t perform at Folsom State Prison until 1968. The subsequent live album At Folsom Prison received rave reviews and revived Cash’s flailing career after years of drug and alchohol addiction.
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The set list for the first act includes “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Joe Bean,” “Flushed From The Bathroom of Your Heart,” “Jackson,” “I Got A Woman,” and “Greystone Chapel.”
The second act heads further back in time to cover Cash’s courtship of Carter, who would become his second wife, including his legendary onstage marriage proposal at a 1968 concert in London, Ontario, and features hits including “I Walk The Line,” “Ring of Fire,” and “A Boy Named Sue.”
Musician and performer Aaron Solomon, who has taken on the role of Cash since Johnny & June was first staged in 2010 at Port Dover’s Lighthouse Theatre, will be joined by Karen Coughlin as June Carter Cash.
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As well as having performed with artists including Shania Twain, Big Sugar, and Jeff Healey, Solomon regularly performs in other tribute shows as Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra. Globus Theatre audiences will recognize him from his performances with Leisa Way, as well as with his own band at one of Globus’s New Year’s Eve parties.
A versatile singer and actor, Coughlin recently toured her acclaimed tribute production The Linda Ronstadt Show – Her Songs, Her Story and has appeared on stage in leading roles in Beauty and the Beast, Guys and Dolls, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline.
For the Globus Theatre show, Solomon and Coughlin will be backed by a live band featuring Doug Eyre on bass, Chris Norley on guitar, and Don Reid on drums.
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Evening performances at Globus Theatre at 2300 Pigeon Lake Road in Bobcaygeon take place at 8 p.m. from October 23 to 25, with 2 p.m. matinee performances on October 23 and 25.
Tickets are still available for all performances, although the optional dinners before evening performances are now sold out (you can call the Globus box office at 705-738-2037 to be placed on a dinner wait list).
Tickets are $50 for the show only ($100 for dinner and the show) plus tax and a $2 ticketing fee. For tickets, call the box office or visit www.globustheatre.com.
Port Hope once again stands in for the fictional town of Derry, Maine in the new HBO supernatural horror series "It: Welcome to Derry," a prequel to the two "It" films based on Stephen King's novel that were also partly filmed in Port Hope. Free tickets for a special "red carpet premiere" screening of the first two episodes of the series, which is set in 1962, at the Capitol Theatre on October 29, 2025 were snatched up within an hour of when they became available. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of trailer)
More than a few people were disappointed on Tuesday morning (October 21) when they tried to reserve free tickets for an upcoming special screening at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre of the new HBO supernatural horror series It: Welcome to Derry, which was partly filmed in Port Hope.
It took less than an hour for the event at the 380-seat theatre to sell out, with many people reporting they were unable to access the venue’s website or get through to the box office on the phone.
“The Capitol Theatre’s website was unable to keep up with the demand,” reads a post on the Capitol Theatre’s Facebook page. “We were lined up all the way down the street, and the phones were ringing off the hook.”
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The “red carpet premiere” of the first two episodes of It: Welcome to Derry at the historic venue at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, October 29 — two days before Halloween — was announced by Port Hope Tourism on its Facebook page last Friday.
With advance tickets available starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, the Capitol Theatre’s website was inaccessible within minutes due to the online demand for tickets.
People who visited the box office in person were able to get tickets, along with those who managed to get through on the phone.
VIDEO: “It: Welcome to Derry” official trailer
The screening is being presented by Port Hope Tourism in partnership with HBO Max, Crave, Ontario Creates, and Warner Bros. Discovery.
While the first episode of It: Welcome to Derry is scheduled to premiere on HBO (and on Crave in Canada) on Sunday, October 26, the Capitol Theatre event also includes an exclusive screening of the second episode, which will only be available to the general public the following Sunday.
Based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel It, the HBO series serves as a prequel to the films It (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019), both of which featured Port Hope as a stand-in for the fictional town of Derry, Maine.
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Set in 1962, It: Welcome to Derry tells the story of a couple and their son who move to Derry just as a young boy mysteriously disappears. With their arrival, very bad things begin to happen in the town.
The series stars Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Clara Stack, Amanda Christine, and Mikkal Karim-Fidler, with Bill Skarsgård reprising his role as Pennywise the Clown from the films.
Principal photography on the series began in Toronto, Hamilton, and Port Hope in May 2023, under the shooting title Greetings from Fairview, and continued in 2024.
As downtown Lakefield recovers from the recent fire that destroyed Queen Street's historic Kawartha Home Hardware building, local businesses need the community's support now more than ever. The Township of Selwyn and Peterborough County are working together to encourage residents and visitors to come to downtown Lakefield and rediscover what makes the charming village so special, from boutique shopping to dining to fun-filled community events hosted by local businesses. (Photo courtesy of Selwyn Township)
Though the Village of Lakefield has suffered a blow with the recent fire that destroyed Queen Street’s historic Kawartha Home Hardware building, downtown businesses have shown incredible strength and resilience and need the support of the community more than ever.
That’s the message from the Township of Selwyn and Peterborough County, which are working together to encourage residents and visitors to come to downtown Lakefield and experience all the warmth and hospitality the charming village has to offer.
While Queen Street will be closed to traffic until demolition of the fire-devastated building is completed, the downtown core is still open for business. From boutique shopping to dining to fun-filled community events hosted by local businesses, there is much to discover — and rediscover — in downtown Lakefield.
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Stay tuned for a special announcement coming soon about a new interactive experience in downtown Lakefield that will offer fun, exploration, and discovery by inviting people to explore local shops and rediscover familiar places in an entirely new way.
There are also two more regular market days for the Lakefield Farmers’ Market, which runs Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. until October 30 in the parking lot behind the Lakefield arena. Now in its 16th season, the market showcases up to 25 vendors every week, bringing together products grown by local farmers, unique pieces created by talented artisans from across the region, and baked goods and meals made using regional ingredients.
If you can’t make it to a regular Thursday market in October, you can pick up locally made gifts on Sunday, November 30 at the Lakefield Farmers’ Market’s annual Holiday Market, a special pop-up market that runs in the parking lot next to The Village Inn from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Township of Selwyn and Peterborough County are teaming up for a social media campaign that will spotlight local small businesses, community groups, and stories while encouraging residents and visitors to rediscover Lakefield and the people who make it special. In addition, the township will soon be announcing a new interactive experience in downtown Lakefield that will offer fun, exploration, and discovery by inviting people to explore local shops and rediscover familiar places in an entirely new way. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough County)
Another way to show your support and get a head start on your holiday shopping is during Ladies Night Out in Lakefield, running on Tuesdays and Thursdays from November 13 to December 2 between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Ticket holders will have exclusive access to promotions at participating downtown shops, including Sunshrine Day Spa, Lakefield Pantry, The Cozy Home, The Refillery on Queen, Stuff Store, Classy Closet by Sue, Happenstance Books & Yarn, and many more.
From clothing and chocolate to skin care products and home décor, you’ll have no problem finding something for everyone on your shopping list — and maybe a little something for yourself as well. Participants of the events will also have the chance to win door prizes that were donated by the businesses and community organizations and enjoy a post-shopping gathering at Canoe & Paddle for exclusive specials.
This year, proceeds from every ticket sold will support families who were displaced by the fire. Priced at $10, tickets are selling fast and can be purchased at ladiesnightoutlakefield.com.
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For some festive holly jolly cheer, come to downtown Lakefield for the annual Santa Claus Parade, a beloved tradition being held this year on Saturday, November 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. The parade route begins at the Lakefield Legion and travels along Nicholls Street to Concession Street and then to Queen Street before returning to the legion. After the parade, kids are invited for a visit with Santa at the legion.
It’s not too late to be part of the fun, either! To enter a float into the parade, call Don Parsons of the Lakefield & District Lions Club at 705-652-1448.
Families are encouraged to come early or stay late following the parade to shop from the downtown boutique stores, sit down for a meal, or otherwise enjoy the holiday festivities. Along the parade route, donations for the food and toy drive will be collected.
The Township of Selwyn and Peterborough County are also partnering for a social media campaign that will spotlight local small businesses, community groups, and stories while encouraging residents and visitors to rediscover Lakefield and the people who make it special.
Five Counties Children's Centre was one of six Peterborough-area organizations that benefited from donations from the second season of Women's Adventures in Golf, a women-led volunteer group that offers fun, themed golfing opportunities once a month for Peterborough women of all skill levels while also raising funds for local charities. In 2025, the group raised more than $5,200, bringing its two-year total to more than $10,000 in support of local women, children, and families. (Photo: Five Counties Children's Centre)
Women’s Adventures in Golf’s 2025 season has come to a close, hitting a long drive for six Peterborough and area charities and drawing more women to the sport.
A non-profit group of women who take part in themed golf events, Women’s Adventures in Golf (WAG) has announced its 2025 season generated $5,248.50 for Super Sophia Project, Five Counties Children’s Centre, YWCA Crossroads Shelter, Peterborough Child & Family Centres, Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services, and Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre.
Formed in 2024, WAG offers fun, themed golfing opportunities once a month for Peterborough women of all skill levels while also raising funds for charities. The money generated this year brings WAG’s total contribution to more than $10,000 for local women, children, and families.
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WAG organizer Susan Williamson told kawarthaNOW that word of mouth and media publicity have helped the organization make such a big impact in Peterborough and area, both in terms of fundraising and attracting women to the game. Close to 300 women took part in WAG events in 2025.
“Word is getting out that WAG events are not tournaments or a league,” Williamson said. “Those two words are very intimidating to many women golfers, let alone those who are considering taking up the sport.”
Williamson’s goal when she founded WAG was to offer a golf experience that was fun and without pressure, and an outlet for connection and community-building to flourish.
She pointed to a testimonial from Cheryl Mahony on WAG’s website that “encapsulates how women feel and what WAG offers.”
“I just started golfing three years ago and am really loving the game but find most aspects of golf rather intimidating,” Mahony states. “Enter WAG — a fantastic way to learn the ropes, play in a non-stressful setting and make new golf friends in the process. Each event I have attended has been so much fun and my only regret is that I didn’t sign up sooner.”
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Williamson said women don’t have to identify as golfers to be a part of WAG — they just have to show up and be ready to have fun.
“We had an amazing mix of returning golfers and golf-curious women who decided to give the game a try,” she explained. “Seeing that confidence grow, especially among women who started the season as beginners, is exactly what WAG is all about.”
“Many women signed up as singles and came back because they had so much fun and immediately felt the WAG community spirit.”
While WAG offered enjoyable themed events like “Jetsetter” and “Mystery at the Club”, Williamson said “What truly stands out for me is watching friendships form and confidence build. That’s the heart of WAG.”
When she considers other highlights of the year, she’s “incredibly proud of the community support behind the scenes. Our sponsors — all local, women-led businesses and golfers themselves — have been amazing, showing such belief in what WAG is building.”
“Giving back through our charitable partnerships is at the heart of what we do. Together, our participants have raised over $10,300 for local women’s causes in just two years — something we’re all deeply proud of.”
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WAG gave a shout-out in its newsletter to several people, including Yvonne Reid from TransCanada Nissan who provided two full car-detailing certificates and golf balls for WAG’s “bring a friend” promo for one of WAG’s events, WAG’s community partnership lead Anne Ondercin who introduced WAG’s new and successful promo “Bring a Friend, Make Memories – Tag Along & Tee Off” that helped increase new participation by 25 per cent, and Cheryl Heaton for providing golf balls, water, tees, and ball markers for every participant for one of WAG’s events.
WAG also thanked the golf courses where events were held, including Heron Landing Golf Club, Katchiwano Golf Club, Liftlock Golf Club, and Warkworth Golf Club.
“We couldn’t do it without our incredible golf club partners, who provide the space, support, and flexibility that allow us to host shotgun starts,” Williamson said. “Finishing together and socializing afterwards transforms golf from an individual sport into a shared experience, and that’s what makes it special.”
Williamson thanked WAG’s 2025 sponsors for their “vital role” in the season’s success: Bestard Income Tax and Schilling Financial along with Full Sail Fundraising, Meredith Pilley Counselling Services, Sunshine Solutions, and JP Rowland Construction.
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Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Williamson said she would love to see even more women participate in a WAG event.
“What makes WAG successful is our wonderful group of women who remember how intimidating it can feel as a beginner. They’ve become natural mentors, helping others feel comfortable and confident on the course. We’ll always stay focused on creating that social, judgment-free atmosphere, but we’re also reaching out to our community with a survey to explore new formats and ideas for next season.”
Most of all, Williamson hopes to continue introducing women to the game who haven’t before considered themselves as golfers.
“There’s something so powerful about watching someone pick up a club for the first time and realize, ‘I can do this,'” she said.
For more information about WAG and updates on its 2026 season, visit www.golfwithwag.ca.
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