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Canada’s secretary of state for children and youth touts child benefit increase during Peterborough visit

Peterborough MP Emma Harrison with Anna Gainey, Canada's secretary of state for children and youth, during a visit on July 17, 2025. The MP for the Montreal area riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-Westmount where she was raised is one of four children born to Peterborough native and former Montreal Canadiens great Bob Gainey and his wife Cathy. (Photo: Office of Anna Gainey)

Peterborough MP Emma Harrison welcomed a federal Liberal Cabinet member to the city on Thursday (July 17), who brought good news for Canadian families struggling to keep up with inflation.

MP Anna Gainey, Canada’s secretary of state for children and youth, arrived in Peterborough on the eve of yet another increase to the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payment.

Starting July 18, the maximum amount of the payment covering the period from July 2025 to June 2026 increases by $210 to $7,997 for each child under six years old, and by $178 to $6,748 for each child between the ages of six and 17 years old.

Those families with an adjusted family net income below $37,487 are eligible for the maximum amount. The benefit amount gradually decreases when the adjusted family net income is above $37,487.

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Gainey, the member for the Montreal area riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-Westmount, confirmed the CCB that “lands in the bank accounts of more than three million families” on July 18 will include the increase for those families eligible.

“It is a benefit that is pegged to inflation, which is important in that it will be increasing along with inflation to keep up with the costs families are facing,” she said. “This benefit is really meant to support people who need it with the additional costs of raising kids. It’s meant to take some of the pressure off.”

Gainey also outlined some of the other federal programs she says are intended to support families.

“The government recognizes that there are a lot of pressures on families — a lot of pressures that come with raising kids. This is an important part of a suite of commitments that we have delivered, including the Canadian Dental Care Plan. I think there’s more than 400,000 kids under 18 who are now getting dental care who weren’t previously, before the program existed.”

“We have the National School Food Program that’s backed by a billion-dollar investment to deliver nutritious lunches across the country. This kind of program can put as much as $800 back into the pockets of families that they would otherwise be spending on those nutritious lunches.”

All this, said Gainey, represents “a holistic and wrap-around approach to supporting families, and understanding that people work very hard and they want to be there and they want to provide for their kids and, in some cases, their grandkids.”

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Asked if these programs are a continuation of Trudeau-era policies, Gainey didn’t dispute that.

“We remain the Liberal Party of Canada. We have a new government and a new prime minister. The program is to remain committed to families. When families are strong and we raise healthy kids, we’re investing in our future. So, whether it’s child care, or dental care, or a national school food program, or this Canada Child Benefit, this government will continue to stand with families and support them. I think that’s we expect of a government, regardless of its stripes. As a Liberal, I feel very strongly these kinds of programs are very important.”

Gainey also touched on the progression towards $10-per-day child care, something that been a long time coming for families looking for a break from child care costs. She said full agreements between Ottawa and three provinces have yet to be reached, although Ontario has reached an agreement in principle.

“We’ve brought costs down by more than 50 per cent in the jurisdictions where these programs have come into place,” she said. “The roll-out is going well (but) these things have regional specialities and elements to them, so we do have to work with our provincial counterparts on addressing, region by region, how this is working and what was there before the program came in, and how we blend the two together.”

According to the federal government website, the goal remains bringing child care fees down to $10 per day on average across Canada by 2026.

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Prior to sitting down for this interview, Gainey and Harrison visited the Canadian Canoe Museum and the Silver Bean Café — both of which have benefited from Canada Summer Jobs, a government program that help employers create jobs for you people.

“It’s a great program and which is why, during our first meeting with (Jobs and Families) Minister (Patty) Hajdu, we asked for additional funds to expand that program for this summer, recognizing that we were seeing some challenges for young people to secure jobs,” Gainey said.

“When the House rose in June, we were still looking over 20,000 jobs available across the country through Canada Summer Jobs and that didn’t, at that point, include the extra 6,000 that we funded immediately when the House returned.”

“There was recognition more needed to be done and that was the tool the government had, at that moment in front of it, to expand the program and we did so. Hopefully those jobs have been scooped up and young people are going to the job bank to see what’s available in their communities.”

Asked why she was visiting Peterborough on the eve of the CCB payment increase, Gainey said “I don’t need an excuse to come to Peterborough.”

“Peterborough is my second home. I’m here every summer for some length of time. I’m happy to support Emma. I was here during the campaign. I’m very excited to have her as a colleague and I’m excited to work with her.”

As his number 23 jersey is retired during a NHL pre-game ceremony in Montreal on February 23, 2008, Montreal Canadiens general manager and Peterborough native Bob Gainey waves beside his daughter Anna and her husband Tom Pitfield. Gainey won five Stanley Cups during his career as well as the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the playoffs in 1979. (Photo: Andre Ringuette)
As his number 23 jersey is retired during a NHL pre-game ceremony in Montreal on February 23, 2008, Montreal Canadiens general manager and Peterborough native Bob Gainey waves beside his daughter Anna and her husband Tom Pitfield. Gainey won five Stanley Cups during his career as well as the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the playoffs in 1979. (Photo: Andre Ringuette)

One of four kids born to Peterborough native and former Montreal Canadiens great Bob Gainey and his wife Cathy, Gainey was raised in Westmount — the same riding she has represented since June 2023 when she came to Ottawa after winning a by-election forced by then MP Marc Garneau’s resignation.

Just this past April, she won re-election in the same riding, amassing a remarkable 64 per cent of the vote. Some two weeks later, Prime Minister Carney named her Secretary of State (Children and Youth).

Prior to being elected the first time, Gainey became close friends with then-future prime minister Justin Trudeau and, along with her husband Tom Pitfield, advised him during his campaign to become the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

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In February 2014, Gainey became president of the Liberal Party, and won re-election to that post in 2016 before stepping down at the end of that term. There things sat until the 2023 federal election campaign when she put her name forward as the Liberal candidate for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-Westmount.

“It’s such an honour to serve a community that you care so much about,” said Gainey.

“Emma and I were just talking about that over lunch. It’s that much more meaningful. You’re motivated because this is your home, this is your community and you really care. That’s certainly true for me, and I know it’s true for Emma.”

Donor-funded hybrid OR will revolutionize lifesaving vascular care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre

Vascular surgeon Dr. Heather Cox (left), deputy chief of surgery at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), and surgical nurses Kendra Kinsey and Debbie Kennedy in one of the hospital's two dedicated operating rooms for vascular surgery. Minimally invasive intervention, including a hybrid operating room where multiple operations can be performed on the same patient on the same day and in the same room, is one of the priority areas of care in the PRHC Foundation's Campaign for PRHC because it's critically important for PRHC patients who need complex, time-sensitive, life and limb-saving care. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)

With vascular disease being a leading cause of preventable death and disability in Canada, you want to know that access to time-sensitive care to save a life or a limb is always available close to home.

With the help of donor investments, reimagined vascular healthcare will be available at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) through the development of a hybrid operating room (OR).

A priority for the PRHC Foundation’s Campaign for PRHC, the hybrid OR means specialized clinical teams can perform multiple open and minimally invasive operations on the same patient on the same day and in the same room, allowing them to treat complex conditions with greater precision, less risk, and faster recovery.

“This is one of the most exciting opportunities for innovation in the hospital’s recent history, taking PRHC to the frontiers of minimally invasive surgical care,” says PRHC Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway. “Already a leader in delivering a wide range of minimally invasive services, PRHC continues to revolutionize its programs to better meet the needs of our growing and aging community.”

PRHC’s vascular program currently serves a population of more than 600,000 people, with patients coming from Peterborough City and County, City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, the Haliburton Highlands, and the Region of Durham. Many vascular patients face multiple serious conditions like ruptured aneurysms, blockages, or severe clotting and are unable to undergo multiple consecutive surgeries. This makes their care complex and time-sensitive.

“The vascular system is one of the most important systems within the body. It is a highly trained network that connects all the organs and all of our tissues so that we can function normally,” says Dr. Heather Cox, deputy chief of surgery at PRHC and also a vascular surgeon and the site lead for vascular surgery.

“The network includes the arteries, the veins, and the lymph nodes from head to toe, and this channel allows for all of the nutrients that we need to function, to think, to speak, to move, and to feel well and without pain.”

VIDEO: Some patients can’t wait for a second surgery … and they shouldn’t have to

While the technology to treat multiple vascular issues in a single surgery already exists, PRHC’s current operating rooms are unable to support it.

“Traditionally, if a patient with multiple, challenging vascular conditions were to have their care in a non-hybrid OR setting, they would have one procedure and recover, then have the second procedure and recover — extending the length of treatment longer than necessary, if their health would even allow it,” Heighway explains.

“Having a hybrid OR at PRHC will give vascular patients a chance to avoid life-threatening waits, difficult transfers, and repeated surgeries — right here, closer to home, with their support system nearby.”

A hybrid OR combines the strengths of a traditional operating room and an interventional radiology suite, supporting imaging, minimally invasive interventions and open surgery for the same patient at the same time.

“The benefit of having a patient in a hybrid OR includes having fewer procedures, having very high-risk procedures done in a safer or minimally invasive way, and having multiple experts at the table at the same time,” says Dr. Cox. “The patient gets the optimal care in the most efficient way.”

For example, with the appropriate technology in place, a patient who needs a procedure typically done in an interventional radiology suite, as well as a procedure typically done in a surgical suite, could have both procedures done at the same time, reducing overall risk and recovery time.

“A hybrid OR means you’d be able to do all of that in one setting, so you would minimize the number of procedures, the time it takes to care for the patient, and decrease the risk that would come with having to do all of that in the interventional radiology suite or all of that in the surgical suite,” Dr. Cox says.

Dr. Heather Cox is one of only four vascular surgeons at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) who collectively perform more than 1,000 vascular surgeries every year, which is the equivalent patient volume of six surgeons. By investing in a hybrid operating room where multiple operations can be performed on the same patient on the same day and in the same room, donors to the PRHC Foundation's Campaign for PRHC will help reduce operating times and inspire top healthcare professionals to bring their talents to the regional hospital and better assist with meeting the volume of vascular patients.  (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
Dr. Heather Cox is one of only four vascular surgeons at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) who collectively perform more than 1,000 vascular surgeries every year, which is the equivalent patient volume of six surgeons. By investing in a hybrid operating room where multiple operations can be performed on the same patient on the same day and in the same room, donors to the PRHC Foundation’s Campaign for PRHC will help reduce operating times and inspire top healthcare professionals to bring their talents to the regional hospital and better assist with meeting the volume of vascular patients. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)

By having multiple procedures done in a single intervention, the time spent setting up each operating room is reduced as well. This is crucial considering PRHC currently has only four vascular surgeons using two dedicated operating rooms to perform more than 1,000 vascular surgeries each year-the equivalent patient volumes for six surgeons.

“Our patients in particular are so ill that having the ability to do complete care in a timely fashion goes a long way,” says Dr. Cox. “It’s saving a life. It’s saving limbs. It’s avoiding a stroke. It’s avoiding an aneurysm rupture.”

The state-of-the-art hybrid OR will be the most technologically advanced operating room in the region, with cutting-edge tools and the ability to accommodate multiple specialists at the same time.

Given that the government does not fund hospital equipment or technology, Dr. Cox and her colleagues are counting on generous donors to fund the hybrid OR that will transform care for thousands of PRHC patients.

“I would like donors to know that they’re making a huge difference, not only in the individual care of each patient, but to our community as a whole. If we’re saving lives and saving limbs, our whole community is doing better.”

Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) vascular surgeon Dr. Heather Cox (left) and surgical nurses Kendra Kinsey (back right) and Debbie Kennedy (front right) in one of the hospital's two dedicated operating rooms for vascular surgery. Investing in a hybrid operating room through the PRHC Foundation's Campaign for PRHC will mean specialized clinical teams can perform multiple open and minimally invasive operations on the same patient on the same day and in the same room, allowing them to treat complex conditions with greater precision, less risk, and faster recovery. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) vascular surgeon Dr. Heather Cox (left) and surgical nurses Kendra Kinsey (back right) and Debbie Kennedy (front right) in one of the hospital’s two dedicated operating rooms for vascular surgery. Investing in a hybrid operating room through the PRHC Foundation’s Campaign for PRHC will mean specialized clinical teams can perform multiple open and minimally invasive operations on the same patient on the same day and in the same room, allowing them to treat complex conditions with greater precision, less risk, and faster recovery. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)

Since 2020, the PRHC Foundation has raised $52.9 million in support of the Campaign for PRHC, which has already begun to transform care and reimagine healthcare closer to home.

“It’s donors who will make it possible to bring a hybrid OR to PRHC for the first time,” says Heighway. “Minimally invasive intervention, including a hybrid OR, is one of the priority areas of care in the Campaign for PRHC because it’s critically important for some of PRHC’s sickest patients — people who need complex, time-sensitive, life and limb-saving care.”

“I think it’s really important that our donors appreciate that they are building a better community, building a stronger community, and that they’re investing in the people around them — their neighbours,” adds Dr. Cox. “It’s an investment in healthcare, but it’s also an investment in the community in which you live.”

To learn more about bringing a hybrid operating room to PRHC and to make a donation, visit the PRHC Foundation website at prhcfoundation.ca or call 705-876-5000.

 

This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.

‘The elder statesmen for Canadian pop punk,’ Gob performs at Peterborough Musicfest on Saturday night

Veteran Canadian punk band Gob (Gabe Mantle, Tom Thacker, Theo Goutzinakis, and Steven Fairweather) will perform a free-admission concert at Peterborough Musicfest in Del Crary Park on July 19, 2025. (Promotional photo)

When punk emerged in the mid 1970s as a new rock music genre, its staying power faced a challenge as it battled for both chart prominence and album sales in the face of the rising disco music tide.

Come later that decade, as disco withered on the vine only to peter out, punk hit its stride, with commercial success coming the way of the likes of The Ramones, The Clash, and The Sex Pistols. And then there was the distinctive “punk look” featuring T-shirts, ripped jeans, leather jackets, and boots, typically Doc Martens.

Over the years that followed, punk bands came and punk bands went, but the genre, and those who loved it, hung in there. The 1980s brought punk-inspired New Wave to the fore, and, with the help of MTV and the like, a number of singers and bands rose to prominence before that too ran its course.

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But there were punk purists and they weren’t quite ready to wave the white flag. Quite the opposite in the case of Tom Thacker and Theo Goutzinakis who, in 1993, formed Gob in Langley, BC.

With Patrick Paszana on drums and Kelly Macauley on bass, Gob released its self-titled debut album in 1994, serving notice that punk was indeed alive and well, and there was indeed still an audience for its rebellious, no-holds-barred sound and high-energy presence. “Soda,” a single from that inaugural studio effort, arguably remains the band’s most popular song.

Continuing its objective of satisfying the wants of all music fans, Peterborough Musicfest brings Gob to Del Crary Park on Saturday (July 19). Admission to the 8 p.m. concert is free, the summer concert series being supported by numerous sponsors, kawarthaNOW among them.

VIDEO: “Soda” – Gob

Following its studio album debut, Gob followed up with Too Late … No Friends in 1995, followed by How Far Shallow Takes You in 1998 and, three years later, The World According To Gob. The band’s most successful album to date featuring the singles “I Hear You Calling,” “For The Moment,” “That’s The Way,” and “No Regrets,” the album was Music Canada-certified gold for sales on it way to a peak Canadian chart position of 30.

The record received widespread acclaim, MTV play, and slots on major tours like the Vans Warped Tour. In addition, the video for “I Hear You Calling” was nominated for a 2002 Juno Award.

A tough act to follow, for sure, but Gob came through in 2003 with Foot In Mouth Disease. Also certified gold, it gave the band a hit single with “Give Up The Grudge” rising to number 11 on the Canadian rock chart.

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After a brief hiatus and side projects, Gob returned with Muertos Vivos in 2007, heavily influenced by hard rock and, in 2014, their sixth and latest record Apt. 13. While neither matched the commercial success of the prior releases, both albums’ songs provided the springboard for touring.

Gob arrives in Peterborough with Thacker and Goutzinakis still standing, joined by Gable Mantle, whose experience with Vancouver punk band Brand New Unit saw him replace Paszana in 1998, and Steven Fairweather who, after several bassists came and went, joined the Gob lineup in 2003.

Of note, Thacker found time to tour in 2009 with Ajax-based Sum 41 and was afterwards confirmed as a permanent member, contributing to the band’s final three albums. This past January, Gob performed at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena at the final show of Sum 41’s farewell tour.

VIDEO: “I Hear Your Calling” – Gob

Gob has made clear its intention to, at some point, record and release a seventh album. Where that project is at exactly is unknown, but the band still has a busy touring schedule.

Following its Musicfest appearance, a concert the next day at Festival Générations in Nicolet, Quebec will be followed by a European tour with stops in The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Slovenia, and Italy. Clearly, Gob’s catchy punk hooks and raw stage energy still have a sizable audience.

During a 2014 interview with Tori Bilcik of The Daily Slice, Thacker chatted about Apt. 13, which had just been released and remains the band’s last album to date.

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“Now that some years have gone by, I think it’s easier to see what’s good about our early records,” he said.

“Back then it was more apparent what we needed to improve about our music. We try not to overthink things. We just want to keep every new record fresh for ourselves and for our fans.”

“The most surprising reaction was when an interviewer asked if I took singing lessons,” Thacker replied when asked about the response to the record. “He said I sound like a proper singer now. Fair enough, I guess. I used to basically bark into a microphone.”

VIDEO: “Give Up The Grudge” – Gob

Thacker also reflected on the band’s beginnings on the West Coast.

“There’s a pretty rich punk rock history on the west coast: DOA, No Means No, Subhumans, SNFU, Dayglo Abortions, to name a few. But we weren’t really in a scene with those bands. They came before us. Back when we started our band, we were considered the shithead kids of the scene. Now, 20 years later, we are sort of considered the elder statesmen for Canadian pop punk. It’s a metamorphosis, if you will.”

More than a decade after this interview, Gob still retains that title, and the Musicfest audience will have a chance to find out why on Saturday night.

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Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission concerts during its 38th season, each staged on Wednesday and Saturday nights until Saturday, August 16th.

Overseen by executive director Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission remains “to provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”

For more information on this concert or the 2025 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.

 

kawarthaNOW is proud to be a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest’s 2025 season.

nightlifeNOW – July 17 to 23

Irish-Canadian indie folk duo Dandelion Highway (Kayleigh McGavock and Chris Sytnyk) performs at Jethro's Bar + Stage in downtown Peterborough on Saturday night. (Promotional photo)

Every Thursday, kawarthaNOW publishes live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that musicians provide directly or that venues post on their websites or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, July 17 to Wednesday, July 23.

If you’re a musician or venue owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, email our nightlifeNOW editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com. For concerts and live music events at other venues, check out our Concerts & Live Music page.

With the exception of karaoke, we only list events with performing musicians. Venues may also host other events during the week (e.g., dancing, DJs, comedy shows).

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100 Acre Brewing Co.

390 Ashburnham Dr., Peterborough
705-243-2444

Thursday, July 17

5-8pm - Ryan Forsythe (no cover)

Saturday, July 19

5-8pm - Camilo Restrepo (no cover)

Amandala's

375 Water St., Peterborough
(705) 749-9090

Sunday, July 20

6-8pm - Dinner & Jazz featuring Mike Graham and Victoria Yeh (reservations recommended)

Arthur's Pub

930 Burnham St., Cobourg
(905) 372-2105

Thursday, July 17

8-10:30pm - Open mic w/ Bruce Longman

Friday, July 18

8-11pm - Live music TBA

Saturday, July 19

8-11pm - Live music TBA

Monday, July 21

7:30-9:30pm - Local talent night ft musician TBA

Bancroft Eatery and Brew Pub

4 Bridge St., Bancroft
(613) 332-3450

Thursday, July 17

7pm - Andrew Irving

Friday, July 18

7-10pm - The Griddle Pickers (no cover)

Belly's Lakeside Bar + Restaurant

17 Fire Route 82B, Buckhorn
705- 931-4455

Friday, July 18

6-8pm - Lizeh Basciano

Saturday, July 19

6-8pm - Blue Hazel

Sunday, July 20

1-3pm - Davey Boy

Black Horse Pub

452 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-0633

Thursday, July 17

7-10pm - Jazz & Blues Night ft. Carling Stephen & Rob Phillips

Friday, July 18

5-8pm - Charlie Horse; 9pm - Still Picking Country

Saturday, July 19

5-8pm - The Colton Sisters; 9pm - High Waters Band

Sunday, July 20

4-7pm - Washboard Hank & The Wringers

Monday, July 21

7-10pm - Crash & Burn w/ Rick & Gailie

Tuesday, July 22

6-10pm - Open mic w/ Joslynn Burford

Wednesday, July 23

6-9pm - Colin Cutler & Sarah Greene

Coming Soon

Friday, July 25
5-8pm - Chris Devlin; 9pm - Pop Machine

Saturday, July 26
5-8pm - Derrick Seed; 9pm - The Hounds of Thunder

Sunday, July 27
4-7pm - Dennis O'Toole & Old Soul

Bonnie View Inn Dockside Patio

2713 Kashagawigamog Lake Rd., Haliburton
800-461-0347

Wednesday, July 23

5-8pm - Cam Galloway

Boshkung Social - Boshkung Brewing Co.

20 Water St., Minden
705-809-0512

Thursday, July 17

6pm - Cam Galloway

Saturday, July 19

3pm - Beach Patio Party w/ Van Hillert

Sunday, July 20

2pm - Will Surphlis

Boston Pizza Lindsay

435 Kent St. W., Lindsay
705-328-0008

Thursday, July 17

8-11pm - Open mic and karaoke

Friday, July 18

8-11pm - Geordy Craig

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Capers Tap House

28 Bridge St. W., Campbellford
(705) 653-5262

Friday, July 18

8-11pm - Scott & Cindy

The Cheese Trap

13 Park Way, Campbellford
705-947-2232

Friday, July 18

5-8pm - Allan Vanderbogart

Sunday, July 20

5-8pm - Hounds of Thunder

Coach & Horses Pub

16 York St. S., Lindsay
(705) 328-0006

Thursday, July 17

9pm-1am - Karaoke w/ DJ Ross

Friday, July 18

8pm - Postman Dan

Saturday, July 19

2-5pm - Live music TBA; 10pm-2am - Karaoke w/ DJ Ross

Crook & Coffer

231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-876-0505

Thursday, July 17

7-9:30pm - Open stage w/ Diamond Dave (originals only, no covers)

Friday, July 18

7:30-10:30pm - Cam Fraser

Saturday, July 19

2:30-4:30pm - Sean Hully; 7:30-10:30pm - Chris Collins

Dominion Hotel

113 Main St., Minden
(705) 286-6954

Saturday, July 19

6-9pm - Bill Black

Sunday, July 20

4-7pm - North Country Express

Tuesday, July 22

5-9pm - Gary & The Rough Ideas

Coming Soon

Saturday, July 26
7:30pm - Ian Reid ($20 in advance at https://dominionhotel.gpr.globalpaymentsinc.ca)

Saturday, August 16
7:30pm - Ian Tamblyn ($30 in advance at https://dominionhotel.gpr.globalpaymentsinc.ca)

Ganaraska Brewing Company

33 Mill St., Port Hope
905-885-9029

Saturday, July 19

7-9pm - Chris Devlin

Sunday, July 20

2-5pm - Open mic w/ Garrett Graham

Ganaraska Hotel

30 Ontario St., Port Hope
(905) 885-9254

Saturday, July 19

2-6pm - Stone Slinger (no cover)

The Granite

45 Bridge St. W., Bancroft
613-332-1500

Saturday, July 19

5-8pm - Jimmy Covers

Graz Restobar

38 Bolton St., Bobcaygeon
705-738-6343

Friday, July 18

8pm - Jam Night

Saturday, July 19

7:30-9:30pm - TJ Shirk

Haliburton Highlands Brewing

15543 Highway 35, Carnarvon
705-754-2739

Friday, July 18

7-9pm - Bill Black

Saturday, July 19

2-4pm - Chris Smith

Sunday, July 20

2-4pm - Victor Morgado

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Jethro's Bar + Stage

137 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-931-0617

Thursday, July 17

8-10pm - Kelly McMichael w/ Absolute Losers ($20 suggested donation of free w/ merchandise purchase)

Friday, July 18

8-10pm - Michelle Möran and James Miranda; 10pm-12am - The Space Heaters

Saturday, July 19

8-10pm - Dandelion Highway; 10pm-12am - Tapes in Motion

VIDEO: "We Are Gold" - Dandelion Highway

VIDEO: "Home" - Dandelion Highway

Sunday, July 20

3-6pm - Blues jam

Wednesday, July 23

8-10pm - Rory Taillon; 10pm - The Space Heaters

The John at Sadleir House

751 George St. N., Peterborough
705-742-3686

Friday, July 18

8:30pm - Horseman Pass By w/ Connor Bennett, Sunny Malik ($20 in advance at https://www.ticketscene.ca/events/54606/)

Coming Soon

Friday, July 25
8:30pm - By Divine Right w/ Valleyspeak, Jenina MacGillivray ($20 in advance at https://www.ticketscene.ca/events/53278/)

Saturday, July 26
8pm - Shockwire w/ Pulsar, Mourning Wood ($20 in advance at https://www.ticketscene.ca/events/54605/)

Kawartha Country Wines

2452 County Road 36,, Buckhorn
705-657-9916

Sunday, July 20

1-4pm - Rick & Gailie Band (no cover)

Kelly's Homelike Inn

205 3rd Street, Cobourg
905-372-3234

Friday, July 18

7-10pm - Joe Bulger

Saturday, July 19

4-8pm - The Doncasters

The Light House Lounge & Grill

92 George St., Peterborough
705-957-8864

Sunday, July 20

1-5pm - Bob Butcher

The Locker at The Falls

9 Lindsay St., Fenelon Falls
705-887-6211

Thursday, July 17

7:30-10pm - Open mic w/ Rick Huges

Saturday, July 19

5:30-8:30pm - Mike Rewegan

Mainstreet Bar & Grill

1939 Lakehurst Road, Buckhorn
(705) 657-9094

Friday, July 18

8pm - Tami J Wilde

Saturday, July 19

8pm - Randy Avery

McThirsty's Pint

166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 743-2220

Friday, July 18

9pm-1am - Cale Crowe

Saturday, July 19

9pm-1am - Will O'Neill

Sunday, July 20

8pm - Karaoke and open mic

Tuesday, July 22

8pm - Joanna & Danny Bronson

Wednesday, July 23

8pm - Kevin Foster

The Mill Restaurant and Pub

990 Ontario St., Cobourg
(905) 377-8177

Thursday, July 17

6-9pm - Little Lake

Muddy's Pit BBQ

3247 County Rd. 2, Keene
(705) 295-1255

Sunday, July 20

3-6pm - Michelle Möran and friends

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Olympia Restaurant

106 Kent St. W., Lindsay
705-328-1444

Friday, July 18

5-8:30pm - Live music TBA (reservations recommended)

Pattie House Smokin' Barbecue

6675 Highway 35, Coboconk
(705) 454-8100

Saturday, July 19

7pm - Rock Showcase ft Connor Gains, Robin Benedict, The Band That Has No Name ($10 in advance at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1432411213499)

Pig's Ear Tavern

144 Brock St., Peterborough
(705) 745-7255

Saturday, July 19

9pm - JJ Swinn & The Swindlers w/ Colour TV in Every Room ($5)

Tuesday, July 22

9pm - Open stage

Wednesday, July 23

9pm - Karaoinke

Riverside Grill & Gazebo at Holiday Inn

150 George St, Peterborough
705-740-6564

Friday, July 18

6-10pm - Gunslingers (no cover)

Sunday, July 20

1-5pm - Chad Driscoll (no cover)

Rolling Grape Vineyard

260 County Rd 2, Bailieboro
705-991-5876

Thursday, July 17

5:30-8:30pm - Kevin Foster

Sunday, July 20

2-5pm - TJ Shirk

Royal Crown Pub & Grill

4 King St. E., Colborne
905-355-1900

Saturday, July 19

8pm - Nitetime Drive (no cover)

Scenery Drive Restaurant

6193 County Road 45, Baltimore
905-349-2217

Saturday, July 19

5-7:30pm - Mike Tremblay

The Social Pub

295 George St. N., Peterborough
705-874-6724

Saturday, July 19

1-4pm - PMBA presents Jane Archer & Friends w/ Jane Lamore (no cover, donations appreciated)

Springville Tap n' Grill

2714 Brown Line, Peterborough
(705) 876-9994

Friday, July 18

7pm - Karaoke Party

Tap & Tonic Pub & Bistro - Campbellford

18-22 Bridge St. W., Campbellford
(705) 947-2333

Thursday, July 17

7-10pm - Mike & Susanne

Tap & Tonic Pub & Bistro - Marmora

16 Forsyth St., Marmora
613-666-9767

Thursday, July 17

7-10pm - Bob Butcher

TheBack40 Smoke House

217 Fairbairn Rd., Bobcaygeon
705-928-0270

Friday, July 18

6-9pm - Live music TBA

The Thirsty Goose

63 Walton St., Port Hope

Friday, July 18

8pm-12am - Brian Bracken

Saturday, July 19

8pm-12am - Cale Crowe

Wild Blue Yonder Pub at Elmhirst's Resort

1045 Settlers Line, Keene
(705) 295-4591

Tuesday, July 22

7pm - Tuned Up Tuesdays ft Al Black & The Steady Band ($10 cover for show only, $39.95 for BBQ & show)

Coming Soon

Tuesday, July 29
7pm - Tuned Up Tuesdays ft Fewings & Son ($10 cover for show only, $39.95 for BBQ & show)

Kawartha Credit Union and Libro Credit Union announce plans to merge as of January 1, 2026

Peterborough-based Kawartha Credit Union and London-based Libro Credit Union have announced plans to merge into a single credit union as of January 1, 2026.

The announcement of the merger intention on Thursday (July 17) by the boards of the two Ontario credit unions comes after merger discussions in the first quarter of this year followed by the completion of due diligence, according to a website created for the proposed merger.

As a credit union is owned by its members, members of both credit unions will be asked to vote on the proposed merger later this year if regulators approve the merger. The merger will only proceed if members vote to do so.

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“The boards of both credit unions believe this merger is in the best interests of members/owners, employees, communities, and the credit union,” says Libro Credit Union board chair Garrett Vanderwyst in a media release. “By coming together, we can scale and be better prepared for the future, while at the same time maintain the benefits and advantages of a community-focused credit union.”

“Both credit unions have a long history of helping members/owners achieve their financial goals,” says Kawartha Credit Union board chair Allison Chenier. “By coming together, the merged credit union will focus on providing the products, services and advice our members/owners need, while continuing to invest in our local communities.”

If the merger proceeds, the new credit union would have around $11 billion in total assets, over 180,000 members, and 57 locations across Ontario — combining Kawartha Credit Union’s 58,000 members and 23 branches with Libro Credit Union’s 120,000 members and 34 branches.

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“No branch closures are planned as part of this merger,” states the merger website. “Kawartha and Libro have no geographic overlap in our branch networks.”

As for whether there will be any impact on employees, the website states that “Members will continue to work with the same familiar faces they are used to working with in our branches,” adding “With our larger branch network and larger merged credit union there will be many opportunities for employees to grow.”

The website also states that, following the merger, both the Kawartha Credit Union and Libro Credit Union brands “will continue to operate in their respective regions for the foreseeable future, so you will still see the credit union name you recognize.”

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Existing membership accounts and services at each credit union, as well as banking arrangements including direct deposits, automatic payments, and cheques, will be maintained immediately after the merger. Any future changes “will be clearly communicated in advance,” according to the website.

The credit unions will prepare a merger application over the summer to be submitted to the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, with regulatory review expected to take place in the fall followed by a “democratic voting process” by members. The results of the membership vote would be announced in December and, if the merger proceeds, the new credit union would officially launch on January 1, 2026.

More information about the proposed merger is available at goforwardtogether.ca.

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Mergers are nothing new for either Kawartha Credit Union or Libro Credit Union.

Formed in 1952 as Cangeco Credit Union by employees of Canadian General Electric in Peterborough, the credit union’s name changed to Kawartha Credit Union in 1978 when it was opened up to anyone living and working in Peterborough. In 1985, a Lindsay branch opened after a merger with Lindsay Community Credit Union. In 1992, branches were opened in Bancroft and Coe Hill after a merger with North Hastings Credit Union. In 2001, branches were opened in Huntsville, Bracebridge, Magnetawan, Emsdale, South River, Burk’s Falls, and Parry Sound after a merger with Parry Sound Muskoka Credit Union. Other mergers included the Peterborough Industrial Credit Union as well as Mariposa Credit Union in 2007, Unity Savings and Credit Union in 2012, and Smiths Falls Community Credit Union in 2024.

Formed in 1951 in London by Dutch Catholic immigrants, Libro Credit Union was renamed as St. Willibrord Community Credit Union in 1953 and as Libro Financial Group in 2006. The credit union has grown and expanded across southwestern Ontario through mergers with other credit unions in London, Blenheim, Kitchener-Waterloo, St. Thomas, and Wingham. In 2014, Libro merged with United Communities Credit Union, one of Ontario’s largest credit unions at the time. Other mergers included the Kellogg Employee Credit Union in 2014, following the closure of the Kellogg cereal plant in London, and the Hald-Nor Credit Union and its four branches in Haldimand and Norfolk counties in 2015.

Community campaign raises over $189,000 for Port Hope Walk-In Clinic

Port Hope mayor Olena Hankivsky speaks outside the Port Hope Walk-in Clinic at 99 Toronto Road on July 16, 2025, announcing the results of a recent 10-day fundraising campaign to support the clinic that raised more than $189,000, including a matching donation from the Port Hope & District Healthcare Foundation. The funds will allow for the hiring of nurse practitioners to increase the hours and days the clinic is open and also provide mental health services. (Photo: Municipality of Port Hope)

From hiring nurse practitioners to extend its hours to providing some mental health supports, the Port Hope Medical Walk-in Clinic has received a dose of the best medicine in the form of more funding thanks to the local community.

The Municipality of Port Hope announced Wednesday (July 16) that a recent 10-day fundraising drive to support the Port Hope Medical Walk-in Clinic was a big success, generating a total of $189,280.42, including a matching donation from the Port Hope & District Healthcare Foundation.

Through a campaign spearheaded by Port Hope mayor Olena Hankivsky, with support from councillors Les Andrews and Adam Pearson, and launched in partnership with the Port Hope & District Healthcare Foundation, the call issued in late June asked for the community to help support the ongoing operation of the clinic at 99 Toronto Road in Port Hope.

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“This incredible result reflects the strong spirit of collaboration and care in our community,” Hankivsky said in a statement. “It has truly been a grassroots effort, from the (Port Hope & District Healthcare Foundation) to the many volunteers, donors, and local businesses who stepped forward to contribute.”

The mayor gave a shout-out to summer student Daniel Diamond and municipal staff for their assistance. “I express my heartfelt appreciation to all those in Port Hope and Cobourg who rallied behind this important cause.”

The money raised will allow for the hiring of nurse practitioners to increase the hours and days the clinic is open. The clinic will also be introducing some mental health supports and services in the coming months, according to a media release.

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The campaign received “outstanding support” from local businesses and organizations, including contributions of $10,000 each from Trade Tech Industries, Dancing Bee Equipment, Santos Auto Group, Mason Homes, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and partners, Ontario Power Generation, and Enbridge.

Community-driven events in Northumberland County such as book sales, donation boxes at storefronts, and a successful charity car wash organized by the Port Hope Police Service and Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services, helped raised money for the cause. The campaign was also supported by a donation from Show and Shine for Spencer Devine, which will enable the mental health awareness and services at the clinic.

“The clinic provides timely access to care, fills gaps in access to primary care, leads to the avoidance of unnecessary emergency room visits, and plays an integral role in the local health care infrastructure,” Hankivsky said.

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Matthew Clayton, president of the Port Hope & District Healthcare Foundation, shared his thoughts about the community response to the campaign.

“A couple of months ago, when we were discussing this proposal, we wondered whether we would get a response,” Clayton said. “What has happened since then has rendered me almost speechless. This is a shining light for our foundation: a community that comes together and watches each other’s back.”

The Port Hope & District Healthcare Foundation will manage the matched funds “to ensure they are directed to clinic operations that support sustainable, long-term access to care,” the release stated.

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The Port Hope Medical Walk-in Clinic opened in August 2024 as a one-year pilot project of Northumberland County, delivered in partnership with the Community Health Centres of Northumberland (CHCN).

Glenn Dees, Northumberland County’s director of health and human services, recently shared with kawarthaNOW a few insights into the clinic’s use.

Dees said people are visiting the clinic for ailments such as fever and systemic infections, respiratory issues, injury issues, and skin allergies, which he called “the typical things people would go to see their primary care provider for, for the most part, if they have a primary care provider.”

“That’s really the intent of the clinic: to provide primary care services to those individuals who are not attached to a doctor,” he added.

For almost 20 years, a medical walk-in clinic was available to the community at 99 Toronto Road until it closed in 2020, which prompted the county to get involved.

Cobourg police searching for suspect in serious assault

Cobourg police have a warrant for the arrest of 44-year-old Jason Robitaille of Cobourg in connection with a serious assault on July 15, 2025. Police have arrested and charged another suspect in the assault and Robitaille, who remains at large, is facing the same charges as well as five counts of failing to comply with a probation order. (Photo supplied by Cobourg Police Service)

Cobourg police are searching for a suspect in connection with an assault on Tuesday (July 15) that left one victim with serious injuries.

At around 7 a.m. on Tuesday, officers responded to a report of assault in the wooded area south of Fisher and Kerr streets in Cobourg.

Two men dressed in dark clothing and wearing face coverings had entered the wooded area, where they assaulted two people in a tent with bear spray and a baseball bat and fled on foot. One victim sustained minor injuries and was cleared on scene, while the other victim was transported to hospital with serious injuries.

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Through investigation, police confirmed the two victims and two suspects were well known to each other, and confirmed the identities of the two suspects.

On Wednesday (July 16), police arrested 50-year-old Kevin Oakely of Waterloo and charged him with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, disguise with intent, and administering a noxious thing (bear spray).

Oakely was held for a bail hearing and remains in police custody.

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The second suspect, who has been identified as 44-year-old Jason Robitaille of Cobourg, remains at large and police have obtained a warrant for his arrest. Robitaille is facing the same charges as Oakely, as well as five counts of failing to comply with a probation order.

Anyone with information on Robitaille’s whereabouts is asked to call Cobourg police at 905-372-6821. If you prefer to remain anonymous, leave a tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS or visiting stopcrimehere.ca. Tips received through Crime Stoppers may be eligible for a cash reward.

Police are advising anyone who sees Robitaille not to approach him but to call 9-1-1 immediately.

Despite some growing pains, City of Peterborough organics program continues to succeed

In the first five months of 2025 alone, the City of Peterborough's organics program has diverted almost 600 tons of organic waste from the landfill. Finished compost produced at the Peterborough Organics Facility, which meets the highest quality standard, is now available for purchase at the Bensfort Road landfill site and at GreenUP's Ecology Park. (Photo: Barry Campbell / City of Peterborough)

What goes around truly comes around, now that Peterborough’s municipal organics program offers finished compost produced from the community’s curbside organic program back to the community.

In the fall of 2023, the community accepted the invitation to divert household organics from the city and county-owned landfill with open arms.

Through the second year of the program, the organics diversion rate has continued to grow. This year, from January to May, almost 600 tons of organic material was processed monthly at the Peterborough Organics Facility. This represents a three per cent increase over the same five-month period last year.

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Last summer, residents shared their enthusiasm for the program at the city’s waste diversion booth at the Peterborough Folk Festival, boasting, “We only have ONE bag of garbage every TWO weeks!” and “I hardly throw anything out anymore.”

This positive feedback and the sheer volume of organic material being collected reflects the community’s commitment to waste diversion. About 95 per cent of the organic material processed at the Peterborough Organics Facility is collected from the city’s curbside program.

Amid the successes of this program, one of the challenges that persists is contamination — specifically plastic contamination.

Textiles disposed in organics are another challenge for the City of Peterborough's organics program, as they get tangled around the processing machinery, causing damage and processing delays. It is important to ensure careful sorting of material before placing it in the green bin. Reusable grocery bags are not suitable for collecting and disposing of organic material for composting. (Photo: Barry Campbell / City of Peterborough)
Textiles disposed in organics are another challenge for the City of Peterborough’s organics program, as they get tangled around the processing machinery, causing damage and processing delays. It is important to ensure careful sorting of material before placing it in the green bin. Reusable grocery bags are not suitable for collecting and disposing of organic material for composting. (Photo: Barry Campbell / City of Peterborough)

While plastic has become almost unavoidable in food packaging, even glass and other obviously non-compostable materials turn up in the green bin. These things negatively affect the processing of organics and the final quality of compost.

Materials like textiles and reusable grocery bags get wrapped around screening and shredding machines, causing processing delays and equipment damage. All of this can be avoided with a bit of careful sorting on waste day.

That mouldy jar of salsa at the back of the fridge? Dump the contents into the green bin and recycle the jar (after a quick rinse, of course). Did those grapes — now raisins — spend too long in the crisper drawer? Make sure they come out of the bag before going into organics. Has that cucumber gone soggy in the wrapper? Peel the plastic off into the garbage before putting the cucumber in with organics.

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Plastic is the most common contaminant found with organics because it is so widely used in food packaging, and it’s problematic in the composting process because it breaks down into tiny pieces that are very difficult to separate.

Not only that, but many products also brand themselves as “green” or “biodegradable” or “100% natural,” making it hard for consumers to know what really can and can’t go in the green bin. BPI-certified compost bags are the only approved compostable plastic product that the Peterborough Organics Facility can accept, and all other plastic should be disposed of in the garbage or blue box.

Residents of Peterborough have done a great job with a new waste diversion program that required changes to a lot of practices, all at once. Growing pains like this are expected with new programs, and to help address the issue of contamination, city staff will be launching a media campaign followed by a curbside engagement campaign this summer.

Despite the success of the City of Peterborough's organics program, contamination of organic waste continues to be an issue. Glass and metal are some of the worst contaminants in organics because sharp fragments can reduce the quality of the entire batch of finished compost and can pose a hazard to end users. Pictured are some of the glass bottles and jars pulled from organics at the Peterborough Organics Facility during various stages of processing. (Photo: Barry Campbell / City of Peterborough)
Despite the success of the City of Peterborough’s organics program, contamination of organic waste continues to be an issue. Glass and metal are some of the worst contaminants in organics because sharp fragments can reduce the quality of the entire batch of finished compost and can pose a hazard to end users. Pictured are some of the glass bottles and jars pulled from organics at the Peterborough Organics Facility during various stages of processing. (Photo: Barry Campbell / City of Peterborough)

The goal is to identify contamination at the curb before it’s all mixed in and to educate residents on what can and can’t go in the green bin. Hopefully, understanding that the sorting decisions made at home have a huge impact on the quality of the finished compost will lead residents to be extra careful with what goes in the green bin.

Another great tool is the City of Peterborough Waste app that residents can download for free at www.peterborough.ca/garbage to search for items and where they should be disposed.

All finished compost produced at the Peterborough Organics Facility meets the AA quality standard under the Ontario Compost Quality Standards, which is the highest quality rating. To meet the AA standard, there must be no sharps (broken glass, metal shards) greater than 3mm in size. It is with quality and safety in mind that all this work goes into collecting, screening, shredding, and composting household organics.

 

Finished compost produced from the Peterborough household organics program is available for purchase by weight (4.5 cents per kilogram) at the Bensfort Road site or at GreenUP Ecology Park on Ashburnham Drive. For more information, visit www.peterborough.ca/landfill.

4th Line Theatre in Millbrook stages the world premiere of Peter Robinson emigration play ‘Wild Irish Geese’

"Wild Irish Geese" playwright and actor Megan Murphy and director Kim Blackwell (left) on July 16, 2025 with some of the cast of 29 professional and volunteer actors/musicians who are performing in the world premiere play at 4th Line Theatre that tells the story of the Peter Robinson emigration of Irish settlers in 1825: Jasper Chesser (third from left), M. John Kennedy (behind Jasper), Paul Crough, Darragh O'Connell, Lindsay Wilson, Indigo Chesser, Sebastian Sage (behind Indigo), and Padrick Wilson. The play runs from July 29 to August 30 at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNOW)

Imagine, for a moment, being herded onto a ship for a crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, with no prospect of ever seeing your family or friends again.

Now imagine it’s 1825, and your ultimate destination is a foreign land far removed from anything you know or think you know. To have survived the ocean crossing is one thing, but to survive what lies ahead is quite another.

The Peter Robinson emigration of 1825 saw 2,024 Irish settlers, including 234 families, leave behind the abject poverty and social unrest of their homeland for a new start in a new land, specifically designated settlement areas in what is now Peterborough County.

The brainchild of prominent Upper Canada politician Peter Robinson, the emigration “experiment” saw nine ships undertake a perilous six-week ocean crossing, making landfall at Quebec City before their human cargo proceeded by river and land, via Kingston and Cobourg, to their new home in and around Scott’s Plains, later named Peterborough.

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With this year seeing a number of events commemorating the bicentennial of the Robinson emigration taking place, most all of them organized, coordinated, or supported by Nine Ships 1825 Inc., one of the most anticipated is Wild Irish Geese, a play making its world premiere from July 29 to August 30 at 4th Line Theatre in Millbrook.

Directed by 4th Line managing artistic director Kim Blackwell, Wild Irish Geese is the debut full-length play by Peterborough’s Megan Murphy, who is already a filmmaker, actor and performer, writer, storyteller, and more. Murphy also performs as the play’s seanchaí — a traditional Irish storyteller.

The play relates the story of the Robinson emigrants, including their hopes and dreams and their anguish over leaving behind the only life they knew for the uncertainty and challenge of building a new life in a harsh environment.

During a media event held Wednesday (July 16) at 4th Line Theatre’s Winslow Farm venue, Murphy explained how being tasked with writing the play some five years ago by 4th Line Theatre founder Robert Winslow marked the start of a creative process that challenged her like never before.

"Wild Irish Geese" playwright Megan Murphy chats with kawarthaNOW writer Paul Rellinger during a media event at 4th Line Theatre's Winslow Farm on July 16, 2025. Murphy also performs as a seanchaí (a traditional Irish storyteller) in the play that runs from July 29 to August 30 at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNOW)
“Wild Irish Geese” playwright Megan Murphy chats with kawarthaNOW writer Paul Rellinger during a media event at 4th Line Theatre’s Winslow Farm on July 16, 2025. Murphy also performs as a seanchaí (a traditional Irish storyteller) in the play that runs from July 29 to August 30 at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNOW)

“Thinking ahead, they were looking to the bicentennial celebration of the Irish coming to this area,” recounts Murphy, referring to 4th Line’s motivation for asking her to write the play.

“I had never done a huge play like that. I thought ‘How hard could this be?’ And then I realized, ‘Really hard.'”

The research process, says Murphy, saw the local community “come out in droves, and give me huge bins full of material. I went to Ireland and fell in love with it. I knew the story (of the emigration) but I didn’t know all of it.”

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Of note, Murphy had ancestors on one of the ships that made the crossing, noting “Part of the reason our family is in this area is because of the Robinson emigration.”

Murphy admits to having been “overwhelmed” by the breadth of the story, which has layers upon layers of themes — survival in the face of great hardship among them.

“I live in this community and I know so many of the (family) names. I was trying to honour everybody’s story, but then you realize that’s impossible. I was trying to make everybody happy, and that also isn’t possible.”

“Eventually I stumbled across Paul Hickey,” Murphy says. “He owned (advertising agency) Outpost 379 in downtown Peterborough. He didn’t know all that much about his family story, but one of his ancestors was a vigilante in Ireland, so that gave me one side of it, allowing me to write about the political climate. His fifth great grandmother came over with their eight children, but he (the vigilante) didn’t. I thought ‘This is an interesting story.'”

“Another family I followed was that of Nancy Towns, a good friend of mine who is also in the play. Her family story is also fascinating, and they have records,” Murphy says, adding “People generously allowed me to use their ancestry and I flushed the rest out.”

Actor M. John Kennedy as Upper Canada politician Peter Robinson in a scene from "Wild Irish Geese" at a media event at 4th Line Theatre's Winslow Farm on July 16, 2025. In 1825, Robinson administered the emigration of 2,024 Irish settlers, including 234 families, who were carried aboard nine migrant ships that sailed to Canada, with many of the emigrants settling in the Peterborough region. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNOW)
Actor M. John Kennedy as Upper Canada politician Peter Robinson in a scene from “Wild Irish Geese” at a media event at 4th Line Theatre’s Winslow Farm on July 16, 2025. In 1825, Robinson administered the emigration of 2,024 Irish settlers, including 234 families, who were carried aboard nine migrant ships that sailed to Canada, with many of the emigrants settling in the Peterborough region. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNOW)

Murphy notes that many of those who made the overseas journey had Irish wakes held in their honour before they left, as all in attendance knew they would never see the emigrants again.

“They’d have a living wake, and then they’d walk them to the boats,” she says.

“What struck me was just how hard it was. They were refugees. They were desperate. They had no rights. They couldn’t own land. They couldn’t vote. They couldn’t speak their own language. They couldn’t celebrate their religion. They couldn’t educate their children. They had no food. They had no options. Fifty thousand applied for 2,000 spots. That shocked me.”

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Immensely proud of her Irish roots, Murphy says the opportunity to delve deep into the Robinson emigration story was nothing short of a privilege.

“Initially, it stymied me,” she says of writing the play. “I put a lot of pressure on myself to honour my ancestors, thinking ‘How do I make them proud?'”

“When I went to Ireland (for the filming of her feature documentary Murphy’s Law) following in my dad’s footsteps, there was a piece of me looking for where I belong. Some piece of me is Irish. Some piece of me is Canadian. I kind of exist somewhere over the Atlantic.”

“When my life fell apart for a while, this community rose up to meet me and saved me in many ways, reminding me of who I am and where I belong,” recalls Murphy, referring to the time when she had both lost her mother and ended a romantic relationship. “So some of this (play) is a love letter to my community.”

Veteran local actor Paul Crough carries Jasper Chesser in a scene from "Wild Irish Geese" at a media event at 4th Line Theatre's Winslow Farm on July 16, 2025. Making his 4th Line Theatre debut, Crough plays John Hickey, the patriarch of the Hickey family who is "fighting" for Ireland while also trying to be a good father who makes sure his family is safe and provided for. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNO
Veteran local actor Paul Crough carries Jasper Chesser in a scene from “Wild Irish Geese” at a media event at 4th Line Theatre’s Winslow Farm on July 16, 2025. Making his 4th Line Theatre debut, Crough plays John Hickey, the patriarch of the Hickey family who is “fighting” for Ireland while also trying to be a good father who makes sure his family is safe and provided for. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNO

Making his 4th Line Theatre debut is veteran local actor Paul Crough, who plays John Hickey, the patriarch of the Hickey family who is “fighting” for Ireland while also trying to be a good father who makes sure his family is safe and provided for.

Crough, who is making his 4th Line Theatre debut with Wild Irish Geese, has ventured to Ireland a few times to trace his family history and learn more about “that decision to pack into a wooden crate and go across the ocean.”

“It’s a reminder of the innate resiliency that the Irish are famous for,” he says. “I grew up in Ennismore. To this day, there’s still a real connection to our Irish roots and history. Growing up in that environment, a small farming community where people depended on others for survival, that’s a trait that has been passed on for generations.”

“There’s a line in play that says ‘It’s in me bones.’ There’s this underlying current, always in me, that there’s some type of greater force or power or spirit that we draw on to push us forward.”

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For her part, Blackwell is “jazzed” to again bring an “epic” story to the Winslow farm.

“This is really within my wheelhouse,” she says. “It’s that beautiful melding of a large cast, music, choreography.”

“It’s probably most similar to Hero of Hunter Steet and The Cavan Blazers — a large, epic community-based play. I’m deeply thrilled and honoured to be working on it. It is one of the most beautiful companies I’ve worked with.”

Actors Lindsay Wilson and Indigo Chesser perform a scene from "Wild Irish Geese" at a media event at 4th Line Theatre's Winslow Farm on July 16, 2025. Written by Megan Murphy and directed by Kim Blackwell, the play runs from July 29 to August 30 at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook, coinciding with a number of other events in August commemorating the bicentennial of the Robinson emigration. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNOW)
Actors Lindsay Wilson and Indigo Chesser perform a scene from “Wild Irish Geese” at a media event at 4th Line Theatre’s Winslow Farm on July 16, 2025. Written by Megan Murphy and directed by Kim Blackwell, the play runs from July 29 to August 30 at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook, coinciding with a number of other events in August commemorating the bicentennial of the Robinson emigration. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNOW)

Both Blackwell and Murphy hope audiences come away with a better understanding of the Robinson settlers and how they put down roots in the region.

“I hope that people see themselves in it a little bit,” says Murphy.

“This is a story of the past, but it’s actually very universal — it’s very present. People are people are people are people. No matter when it happened, the struggles are the same. I also hope it makes people realize how lucky we are and perhaps ask themselves ‘What is the mark you’re leaving on the planet?'”

The cast of 29 professional and volunteer actors/musicians in Wild Irish Geese also includes M. John Kennedy (who starred in the 4th Line Theatre productions of The Great Shadow and The Tilco Strike) as Peter Robinson, Toronto-based actor Sebastian Sage (who is returning to theatre for the first time since the pandemic), Lindsay Wilson (who also appeared in The Tilco Strike as well as Jim Watts: Girl Reporter), Indigo Chesser (whose 4th Line credits include The Cavan Blazers, The Great Shadow, and Jim Watts: Girl Reporter) and Darragh O’Connell (who performed in The Cavan Blazers and Jim Watts: Girl Reporter).

Actor M. John Kennedy and actor/playwright Megan Murphy perform a scene from "Wild Irish Geese" at a media event at 4th Line Theatre's Winslow Farm on July 16, 2025. Both Kennedy and Murphy are descendants of the Irish settlers who emigrated to the Peterborough area in 1825, as are other actors performing in the play and likely some members of the audience who will come to see the play that runs from July 29 to August 30 at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNOW)
Actor M. John Kennedy and actor/playwright Megan Murphy perform a scene from “Wild Irish Geese” at a media event at 4th Line Theatre’s Winslow Farm on July 16, 2025. Both Kennedy and Murphy are descendants of the Irish settlers who emigrated to the Peterborough area in 1825, as are other actors performing in the play and likely some members of the audience who will come to see the play that runs from July 29 to August 30 at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNOW)

Behind the scenes, assistant direction is by Mikayla Stoodley with musical direction by Justin Hiscox, costume design by Bonnie Garland, choreography by Monica Dottor, original set design by Michelle Chesser, fight direction by Edward Belanger, Indigenous story consultation by Patti Shaughnessy and, handling intimacy direction, Greg Carruthers.

Sponsored by Pyle Wealth Advisory – CIBC Private Wealth Wood Gundy with support from The Hickey Family Bursary, Wild Irish Geese runs at 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays from July 29 to August 30, with preview nights on July 29 and 30, opening night on July 31, and an additional Monday performance on August 25.

Tickets are $52 for adults and $45 for youth, with a discounted price of $38 for both adults and youth on preview nights, plus tax and fee.

Tickets, season subscriptions, and gift certificates are available by phone at 705-932-4445 (toll-free at 1-800-814-0055), online at 4thlinetheatre.on.ca, and at 4th Line Theatre’s box Office location at 9 Tupper Street in Millbrook.

 

kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of 4th Line Theatre’s 32nd season.

Healthcare in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County gets $3.5 million boost from province

Provincial and municipal politicians and healthcare representatives gathered at the Summit Wellness Centre under construction in Coboconk on July 15, 2025 for an announcement of $3,493,400 in funding from the Ontario government to the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Ontario Health Team for the Kawartha North Family Health Team to expand interprofessional primary care teams to Coboconk, Woodville, and Minden so that up to 6,902 people have access to primary healthcare. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)

Healthcare in the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County is getting a boost of almost $3.5 million from the provincial government.

The Ontario Ministry of Health will provide $3,493,400 to the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Ontario Health Team for the Kawartha North Family Health Team to expand interprofessional primary care teams to Coboconk, Woodville, and Minden so that up to 6,902 people have access to primary healthcare.

The funding announcement was made on Tuesday (July 15) by Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott at the $16-million Summit Wellness Centre, currently under construction off Highway 35 in Coboconk, which aims to be a community hub that will include doctors and nurse practitioners, a walk-in clinic, pharmacy, lab services, dental services, and more.

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“By building on existing infrastructure and supporting all healthcare providers across the system, this initiative will strengthen team-based care and enhance access to publicly funded high-quality primary healthcare in underserved communities,” MPP Scott said in a media release.

While the expansion will be led by the Kawartha North Family Health Team, the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton-Ontario Health Team will establish a process to accept new patients and will communicate that process to local communities.

The Ontario government introduced Ontario Health Teams in 2019 as a new integrated model for healthcare that brings healthcare providers in a region together as one collaborative team, with the aim of making it easier for patients to move from one provider to another to access the healthcare services they need.

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“This is a significant milestone in our journey towards fully integrated, team-based care for the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton region,” said Dr. Jacquelyn Choi, the primary care lead for the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton-Ontario Health Team.

“The new interprofessional team hubs will expand the geographical reach of our primary care providers by working collaboratively with other health professionals, ensuring that every patient receives the right care from the right provider at the right time.”

Interprofessional primary care teams connect people to a range of health professionals that work together under one roof, including registered and registered practical nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, and pharmacists.

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“This funding enables us to deliver on our community’s long-standing need for equitable, local access to high-quality primary care,” said Kawartha North Family Health Team executive director Marina Hodson.

“It’s a game changer for patients, especially in our rural and underserved communities. We are especially proud of the collaborative effort that this proposal represents — the collective focus on improving access to care in our community will be highly impactful.”

The Kawartha North Family Health Team was approved for provincial funding in a recent call for proposals as part of the Ontario government’s $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan to add over 300 new primary care teams across the province.

The plan includes $235 million in 2025-26 for over 130 new and expanded primary care teams to help connect 300,000 people to primary care this year, with the initial round of funding focused on communities, identified by postal codes, that have the highest number of unattached patients.

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