Veronica Nelson, president and CEO of Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, will be leading four community town halls in Coboconk, Pontypool, Fenelon Falls, and Lindsay in October 2026 on the topic of local cancer care and supportive services, along with updates on the hospital's master planning and major projects. (Photo: Ross Memorial Hospital)
Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay is hosting a series of free town halls in October for Kawartha Lakes residents on the topic of local cancer care and supportive services, along with updates on the hospital’s master planning and major projects.
“Cancer care involves a network of services and partnerships, with different organizations playing important roles in supporting patients throughout their journey,” Ryan Young, communications and public affairs officer at Ross Memorial Hospital, told kawarthaNOW.
“Through collaboration with the Central East Regional Cancer Program, Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes, and other regional partners, we want to help people better understand how these services connect and how patients can access the care and support they need.”
Advertisement - content continues below
The town halls, which take place in Coboconk, Pontypool, Fenelon Falls, and Lindsay, follow a series hosted by the hospital in the spring on the future of healthcare in Kawartha Lakes.
As in the spring, the fall town halls will be led by Ross Memorial Hospital president and CEO Veronica Nelson.
“These town halls are an opportunity for our community to learn about and help inform cancer care and supportive services available close to home, along with planning that will help shape the future of our hospital,” Nelson says.
“We encourage residents to join us, ask questions, and learn more about the services and partnerships that support the health and well-being of people across our region.”
The schedule of community town halls in Kawartha Lakes hosted by Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay. (Graphic: Ross Memorial Hospital)
The town halls take place at Coboconk Community Centre (9 Grandy Road) on Tuesday, October 20, at Pontypool Community Centre (254 John Street) on Wednesday, October 21, at Fenelon Falls Community Centre (27 Veterans Way) on Tuesday, October 27, and at Ross Memorial Hospital (10 Angeline Street North) on Wednesday, October 28.
Each town hall will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. The Lindsay session will also be available virtually via Zoom, with a meeting link provided around 48 hours before the event at rmh.org and the hospital’s Facebook page at facebook.com/RossMemorialHospital.
Each of the four town halls will feature presentations from the Central East Regional Cancer Program, Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes, and Ross Memorial Hospital. In addition, Haliburton Highlands Health Services will also participate in the sessions in Coboconk and Fenelon Falls.
Advertisement - content continues below
Providing healthcare, including cancer care, close to home is a priority of Ross Memorial Hospital so patients can remain near their loved ones and in familiar spaces and avoid the need to disrupt their lives even more by travelling long distances to receive treatment.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada, with two in five Canadians diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
Lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer account for almost half of all new cases, with prostate cancer the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men and breast cancer the most commonly diagnosed among women.
Advertisement - content continues below
“Our goal is to support a coordinated cancer care experience that puts patients and families first, makes the most of available regional resources, and helps people access appropriate care and supportive services as close to home as possible,” Young told kawarthaNOW.
Ross Memorial Hospital provides a range of cancer screening, diagnostic, surgical, and consultation services.
These include comprehensive breast screening, diagnostics, and coordinated follow-up care through the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP), high-risk breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), endoscopy and colonoscopy services, surgical pathology, cancer surgery including breast and bowel surgery, and more.
Trillium Lakelands Elementary Teacher Local president Mike De Rose (back left) with educators advocating for special education resources and supports from the Ontario government for the Trillium Lakelands District School Board, which operates 40 elementary schools in the Muskoka, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton regions. (Photo: Trillium Lakelands Elementary Teachers Local / Facebook)
The school year remains marred with uncertainty for elementary teachers, parents, and students as bargaining between the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and the Ontario government has stalled before it truly began.
“We would have liked to bargain earlier,” said Mike De Rose, president of the Trillium Lakelands Elementary Teacher Local (TLETL), in an interview with kawarthaNOW. “We would have liked to be further down the path.”
ETFO represents around 84,000 members that include public elementary teachers, occasional teachers, education support personnel, professional support personnel, and designated early childhood educators. Based in Lindsay, TLETL is an a local union affiliate of ETFO that represents around 700 qualified teachers working in kindergarten to grade eight in 40 elementary schools operated by the Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) in the Muskoka, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton regions.
Advertisement - content continues below
Dispute over provincial and local responsibilities stalls bargaining
In August, ETFO reported that bargaining stalled over which issues would be negotiated provincially and which would remain at local bargaining tables. Members’ contracts have since expired, students and teachers have returned to school, and bargaining is at a standstill with a strike vote looming.
Under the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act (2014), bargaining operates on a two-tier system where the central tables negotiate with the province and the local tables negotiate with the school boards they represent. The previous four-year collective agreement with the province expired on August 31.
ETFO maintains that issues with a genuinely local impact should continue to be addressed locally. Some of the issues being discussed include classroom sizes, special education programming, professional development funding, and staffing timelines related to transfer, surplus, and redundancy.
“Local bargaining allows us to be creative and have local homegrown solutions to problems that might be quite specific to Kawartha Lakes,” De Rose said.
He explained that TLETL and ETFO are particularly concerned about the negative impacts of centralizing decision-making and the limitation on the ability of their organizations and members to be proactive and reactive to unique local problems as they arise.
“The access to resources is different and therefore the internal procedures at a school or school board should look different,” De Rose said.
Advertisement - content continues below
Geography and school size create different staffing and student-support needs
TLETL highlights that one staff absence or one unexpected student-support need in a small school can affect schedules for the entire school. While a larger school has more staff, it may face crowded classrooms, greater enrolment pressures, and more complex supervision demands.
“Class size is not an abstract number when you are the child waiting for feedback, the parent hoping someone notices a change, or the teacher trying to reach every student before a small struggle becomes a larger one,” De Rose said. “Smaller, manageable classes give educators a better chance to know students well and respond early.”
Looking at the direct impact of the stalled bargaining in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton, TLETL and De Rose highlight the disparate communities that make up the school board’s catchment area.
For example, a school in Dunsford in Kawartha Lakes may face challenges including long travel distances, access to specialized services and the difficulty of attracting substitute teachers or other qualified staff. For a larger Kawartha Lakes school, the challenge may be different, such as several students needing intensive support at the same time.
“We can come up with processes here that can better triage students or provide services in a way that accounts for our geography,” explained De Rose.
Advertisement - content continues below
Provincial oversight of school boards adds to concerns about local autonomy
ETFO says that the government’s push to centralize decision making during this round of bargaining is not a surprise given the province’s recent actions affecting school boards.
“We have seen the attempt to eliminate trustees altogether and certainly a clipping of their wings in legislation,” De Rose said. “That’s another mechanism to centralize and consolidate power out of Toronto, rather than allow local autonomy, local voice, and local conversation.”
Last August, education minister Paul Calandra said he would consider eliminating trustees from boards and the election ballot if it allowed the province to “deliver the product better.”
This came shortly after Calandra introduced Bill 33, which gave the minister the authority to replace a board with an appointed supervisor in cases of “public interest,” such as financial mismanagement and divisive student issues.
MPP Chandra Pasma, who is the education critic for the official opposition, has criticized Bill 33 as an attempt to “take over” the public school system.
To date, eight school boards have been placed under provincial supervision: the Toronto District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, Thames Valley District School Board, Near North District School Board, Peel District School Board, and York Catholic District School Board.
“Our fear is that if all this power is centralized, then that would take away the autonomy of local school boards,” De Rose said. “It prevents us as a whole system, not just as a union, but as a school board, as trustees, as community members, to really mobilize and make local changes.”
Advertisement - content continues below
November strike vote planned as unions await labour board ruling before any job action can take place
The teachers’ unions appealed to the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) for a ruling on what items will be on the central table and the local table. However, a ruling could be months away.
In the meantime, ETFO has announced a strike vote for members will take place in November.
Votes have also been announced by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association and Canadian Union of Public Employees’ Ontario School Board Council of Unions. The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation and the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens have not announced votes.
“Premature strike threats do not serve the interests of students and do nothing but create unnecessary panic for parents,” the Ontario Ministry of Education said in a statement after ETFO announced its intention to have a strike vote. “Our focus is where it should be — getting to the table and reaching a deal that keeps students in the classroom.”
Despite the strike votes, any job action cannot take place prior to the OLRB ruling. In its statement, the Ministry of Education says the unions’ OLRB appeal is the reason bargaining has stalled.
“We respect their right to do so, but this process has delayed the start of bargaining. Once the OLRB process has concluded, we will be ready and willing to negotiate whenever the unions are ready to begin.”
Although teacher strikes are not imminent, De Rose said he recognizes the uncertainty this can cause for students and families as they await information.
TLETL said it is not arguing that every education issue should be negotiated locally — noting that some matters require consistent provincial standards and provincial investment — but maintains that bargaining works best when decisions are made at the level where they can be understood and addressed most effectively.
“We want a constructive bargaining process that respects provincial responsibilities while still leaving room for local people to solve local problems,” De Rose said.
Pictured with director Bea Quarrie, Rebecca Birrell (left), Laura Lawson, and Emily Kelly perform as Canadian military nurses Bab, Maggie, and Christy in the Peterborough Theatre Guild's production of Vern Thiessen's drama "Bluebirds," which runs for 10 performances from October 30 to November 14, 2026. The play follows the three women as they care for wounded Canadian soldiers in 1918 France, gradually developing a friendship as they strive to stay hopeful while the dangers of the front draw closer to their hospital. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
As Remembrance Day draws nearer, we’re going to hear much about the sacrifice of thousands of Canadians who marched to war in Europe, to the Korean peninsula and, more recently, to Afghanistan.
What we won’t hear much about is the friendships forged and the dreams dashed, and the love and emotions experienced by those who answered the call. And we’ll hear even less about the courage, compassion, and resilience of the women who tended to the wounded.
Vern Thiessen’s play Bluebirds, which opens on Friday, October 30 for 10 performances at the Guild Hall on Rogers Street in East City, fills the void via its relation of the experiences of three women serving as Canadian military nurses during the First World War.
The second production of the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s six-play 2026-27 season, the award-winning Canadian playwright’s drama is set in Étaples, France where nurses Christy (Emily Kelly), Maggie (Laura Lawson), and Bab (Rebecca Birrell) toil during the final year of what was described at the time, failingly as things turned out, as “the war to end all wars.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
Finding moments of humour, companionship, and relief in each other, the three women — nicknamed “Bluebirds” for their strikingly bright blue nurse uniforms — form a deep connection.
Through conversations, letters home, and quiet reflection, we learn Christy wrestles with the expectations of her marriage and her sense of self, Maggie longs for the life and love she left behind, and Bab yearns for connection and a future that feels out of reach.
A sequel of sorts to Thiessen’s 2007 acclaimed play Vimy, about four wounded Canadian soldiers in 1917 France in the wake of the battle for Vimy Ridge who are recovering in a field hospital with the help of a young nurse from Nova Scotia as they wait to find out whether they will be sent home or back to the front, Bluebirds had its world premiere at Theatre New Brunswick in the fall of 2022 to sold-out shows.
Director Bea Quarrie during a rehearsal of Vern Thiessen’s drama “Bluebirds,” which runs at the Peterborough Theatre Guild for 10 performances from October 30 to November 14, 2026. Quarrie says she was drawn to the play because of the way Thiessen captures the essence of the three young women who remain hopeful about their future despite facing the horrors of war. (Photo: Jordan Lyall)
Noting the play is based on three real-life nurses who died when the hospital they toiled in was bombed, director Bea Quarrie says Thiessen “has taken that and fictionalized it.” The result, she adds, “is about the joy of survival, the need to live … to want to win over all of the difficulties and still have a reasonably normal life.”
“It’s this desire, the way he captures the essence of young women wanting to go on in life and not be defeated by all the obstruction that’s in front of them and all the things that are standing in their way, that attracted me,” says Quarrie of her desire to direct the Peterborough Theatre Guild production.
“He did the same thing with Vimy,” she adds. “He took archetypal characters and made them into really lovable human beings who struggle. It’s about the struggle, not the capitulation, and not about the fact that they died. It’s not a war story as such. It’s about their overcoming that, or at least to whatever degree they could.”
Quarrie notes Thiessen’s story also brings to light the contributions of Canadian women to the war effort, and the fact that nurses were very well trained in comparison to their colleagues.
“Most of the nurses from the other continents didn’t have a three-year nursing degree. (The Canadian nurses) had studied their subject. They knew more than what to do with a scraped knee. Canada was ahead of the curve in that sense.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
Quarrie terms the work and commitment of her three actors as “extraordinary.”
“It’s a gift to a director when actors come as curious human beings; as people who are empathetic, as people who want to do the best job that they can, and as people who do everything that they can in order to be here and be present in the moment and create,” she says.
“The three of them bring such a totally different kind of background and yet they’re all at the same level when it comes to the intensity of defining these characters and making it work on stage in a way that challenges them.”
“My job is to make it possible for them to feel safe so that they can do that; they can do a face flop on stage and not feel bad about it. When a play opens, the director disappears if they’ve done their job properly.”
Actors Emily Kelly, Laura Lawson, and Rebecca Birrell during a rehearsal of Vern Thiessen’s drama “Bluebirds,” which runs at the Peterborough Theatre Guild for 10 performances from October 30 to November 14, 2026. The three women portray Canadian military nurses caring for wounded Canadian soldiers in 1918 France. (Photo: Jordan Lyall)
The story’s sometimes heavy subject matter, says Quarrie, has the potential to weigh heavily on each of her actors. That has made her especially cognizant of countering that.
“You can’t have light if you don’t have darkness. They’re seeing the darkness, but I remind them to not let that weigh them down. So, they tackle the scenes that are full of effervescence and discovery and ‘Oh, they’re in love.’ It makes all the difference in the world when they lose that, or there’s the potential that they might lose that.”
“As I’ve grown through the rehearsal process, I’ve seen them grow as well. We have different insights on things. We have different challenges. It’s not a smooth road to get to the top, but we’re helping each other.”
Of note, the set for Bluebirds is abstract as opposed to the more common box set that has three walls with the audience’s view being the fourth wall.
“It’s not confining — it’s representational,” explains Quarrie. “The characters in the play put boxes together to make a bed. Then they change something and it becomes a screen, and then they change something else and it becomes a podium.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
From a lighting and sound viewpoint, Quarrie describes the set as “a dreamscape.”
“The three characters are actually ghosts. They’re coming back and landing here, telling us their story, and they evanesce again. They start the whole thing by saying ‘Here we are, here we are, here we are again, here we go … we haven’t learned a damn thing.'”
“That’s to remind us we haven’t learned anything from wars. When I submitted this play to the Guild last year, they were bombing hospitals in Gaza. Have we learned anything? No, we haven’t. We’re the stupidest species on the Earth.”
Actors Emily Kelly, Laura Lawson, and Rebecca Birrell during a rehearsal of Vern Thiessen’s drama “Bluebirds,” which runs at the Peterborough Theatre Guild for 10 performances from October 30 to November 14, 2026. Given the play’s sometimes heavy subject matter, director Bea Quarrie says it was important to remind the actors not to let themselves be weighed down by the darkness. (Photo: Jordan Lyall)
Quarrie is hopeful that audiences will come away from Bluebirds with plenty of food for thought.
“One of the signs of a really good production is when people walk away and talk about their lives, and talk about what they saw and heard and how it affected them,” she says, adding “Then there’s a connection.”
“Reflect, think, cogitate, but not dismiss as ‘Oh, that was nice’ and then go on to the next thing. I don’t want it to be consumerist theatre, where they just chew up the whole thing and digest it and, that’s it, done. I want it to get to the point where the audience feels that something has changed.”
“You’re paying money to be taken on an experience that somehow will help you. Sometimes social change can happen through this kind of thing. I’m all for entertainment with no T for theatre. People love it. They come back feeling better about themselves and the world. Fair enough, but not something I’m interested in being involved with. I want something more. I want something that will set me to thinking about the world in general. That’s what fires me.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
Produced by Diane Théberge, Bluebirds runs for 10 performances with evening shows at 7:30 p.m. on October 30, November 5 to 7, and November 12 to 14, and 1:30 p.m. matinee shows on October 31 and November 1 and 8.
Tickets are $30 ($27 for seniors and $20 for students) and are available at www.peterboroughtheatreguild.com/upcoming-plays/bluebirds. A special two-for-one ticket promotion is available for opening night on October 30 and the matinee performance on October 31.
Other members of the creative team are stage manager Lyn Braun, set designer David Geene, sound designer Esther Vincent, projections and lighting designer Nate Axcell, costume designer Gwen Hope, hair and makeup designer Hayley Griffin, and director assistants Kory Gavin and Francine Kelly.
As Bluebirds includes themes of war, injury, and loss, it is recommended for those aged 16 and up.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s 2026-27 season.
For Small Business Week 2026, the Innovation Cluster is opening its downtown Peterborough workspace to local entrepreneurs, professionals, and small business owners for a free day of coworking on Wednesday, October 21. Participants can use hot desks, high-top tables, and shared work areas, with coffee and light snacks provided, while learning more about the Innovation Cluster’s workspace and membership options. (Photo: Bryan Reid for Innovation Cluster)
Small businesses across Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas will be in the spotlight from October 19 to 25 as local economic development organizations and chambers of commerce mark Small Business Week with workshops, networking, and celebrations.
Organized nationally by the Business Development Bank of Canada since 1979, Small Business Week brings together entrepreneurs each October to learn, make connections, and celebrate the contributions of small businesses to their communities and the Canadian economy.
Across Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County, this year’s programming ranges from workshops about artificial intelligence, cash flow, business succession, and storytelling to networking opportunities, annual general meetings, and business awards.
Here are some of the Small Business Week events happening in the greater Kawarthas region.
Advertisement - content continues below
Monday, October 19
From Startup to Succession – 4 to 6 p.m.
Canadian Canoe Museum (2077 Ashburnham Dr., Peterborough)
Kawartha Financial Services senior strategist John Kehoe will lead a free discussion about financial considerations throughout the business lifecycle, from launching and growing a company to preparing for succession. The session will look at how financial planning can help entrepreneurs build, manage, and protect their wealth. Details are available at kawarthacu.com/events.
Small Business Week Kick-Off – 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Gordon Yacht Harbour Marina (81 Front St. E., Bobcaygeon)
The Kawartha Lakes Small Business Centre kicks off Small Business Week with an evening of food, trivia, conversation, and connections among local entrepreneurs and business owners. The event includes a sandwich and salad dinner from a local business, trivia, networking, and a surprise announcement from the Small Business Centre. Registration is required at eventbrite.ca/e/small-business-week-kick-off-tickets-2003001680947.
Advertisement - content continues below
Tuesday, October 20
AI for Retail: Work Smarter, Market Better & Get Holiday Ready – 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Venture13 (739 D’Arcy St., Cobourg)
The Town of Cobourg’s Economic Development Department is hosting a hands-on workshop with AI strategist and educator Sofie Andreou aimed at retailers preparing for the holiday season. Participants will use AI to develop social media posts, promotional emails, product descriptions, campaign themes, and other marketing material while learning how to maintain their business’s brand voice and protect sensitive information. Participants should bring a laptop. Register at eventbrite.ca/e/ai-for-retail-work-smarter-market-better-get-holiday-ready-tickets-1999397624116.
The Modern Entrepreneur Experience – 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Roy (380 George St. N., Peterborough)
Community Futures Peterborough and its Business Advisory Centre are bringing back their twice-sold-out Modern Entrepreneur Experience for a third year. The free choose-your-own-adventure event features three workshops, a catered lunch, and networking, with participants able to attend individual sessions or the full program.
Peterborough storyteller, actor, filmmaker, and broadcaster Megan Murphy will lead a session on using storytelling to build connection and make a business memorable. Jesse Bateson, who operates Solid Leather, will share lessons from building an e-commerce business around the lifestyle he wants. Peterborough entrepreneur Susan Tung, whose businesses have included Mei Mei, Hanoi House, and Electric City Catering, will deliver a keynote on turning being local into a competitive advantage.
Murphy’s session runs from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., followed by lunch, networking, and an entrepreneurial ecosystem panel from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bateson’s workshop runs from 1 to 1:45 p.m., with Tung’s keynote beginning at 2 p.m. While the event is again sold out, you can join the waitlist at eventbrite.ca/e/2000604201020.
Planning Your Exit with Succession Ontario – 11 a.m. to noon
Online
Entrepreneurs thinking about eventually selling their business, passing it to family, or transferring ownership to employees can join a free webinar led by Sarah Gobeil of Succession Ontario. The session will cover when succession planning should begin, different ownership-transfer options, and steps entrepreneurs can take to prepare a business for its next owner. Register at eventbrite.com/e/planning-your-exit-with-succession-ontario-tickets-2002576802123.
Record Keeping Essentials: Keeping Your Business on Track – 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Online
Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland is hosting a free workshop with business advisor and entrepreneur Carey McMaster of TRAICON on the fundamentals of record keeping. Topics include recording business income and expenses, GST/HST and payroll obligations, common business expenses, separating business and personal finances, and using well-organized financial information to make better business decisions and meet Canada Revenue Agency requirements. Details and registration are available at becn.ca/seminars-workshops-and-conferences.
Advertisement - content continues below
Wednesday, October 21
Workday Upgrade: Small Business Week Edition – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Innovation Cluster (270 George St. N., Unit 102, Peterborough)
The Innovation Cluster is opening its downtown Peterborough workspace to local entrepreneurs, professionals, and small business owners for a free day of coworking during Small Business Week. Participants can use hot desks, high-top tables, and shared work areas, with coffee and light snacks provided, while learning more about the Innovation Cluster’s workspace and membership options. Space is limited, registration is required, and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Register at luma.com/9fv49oxx.
How to Build a More Resilient Business – noon to 1 p.m.
Online
The Innovation Cluster is hosting a free workshop examining how small businesses can adapt as artificial intelligence changes the way customers research, compare, and choose products and services. Brandy Old and Craig Elias will focus on practical strategies for finding new customers faster, retaining existing customers longer, and generating more revenue from existing customer relationships. Register at luma.com/dtfo2cif.
Coboconk, Norland and Area Chamber of Commerce AGM – 5:30 p.m.
Coboconk Legion (2916 Highway 28, Coboconk)
BECN Peer-to-Peer Connect: Your Business Is Making Money … So Where Is the Cash? – 9:30 to 11 a.m.
BECN Boardroom (600 William St., Cobourg)
Northumberland entrepreneurs, business owners, and other professionals can take part in a free roundtable and networking session featuring Shaelene McInnis of Books In Line Professional Services Inc. McInnis will discuss why businesses can have customers, sales, and profits but still encounter cash-flow problems, including how to plan for regular expenses and slower periods, identify warning signs, and develop better financial habits. The first half of the session will use a facilitated roundtable format, followed by open networking. Details and registration are available at becn.ca/seminars-workshops-and-conferences.
Business Excellence Awards Gala – 5:30 p.m.
Kawartha Downs (1382 County Rd. 28, Fraserville)
Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce will celebrate local businesses, entrepreneurs, and organizations at its annual Business Excellence Awards. The sold-out gala begins with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by a locally sourced awards dinner prepared by Chemong Lodge beginning at 6:30 p.m. The awards recognize achievement in areas including innovation, leadership, resilience, and community involvement. More information is available at pkcc.awardify.io.
Bobcaygeon & Area Chamber of Commerce AGM – 5:30 p.m.
Bobcaygeon Legion (96 King St. W., Bobcaygeon)
Fenelon Chamber Cocktails and Conversations – 6 p.m.
The Workout Shed (65 Lindsay St. S., Fenelon Falls)
The Fenelon Falls & District Chamber of Commerce will host Cocktails and Conversations, offering an informal opportunity for local business owners and professionals to meet and make connections during Small Business Week. More information is available at kawarthalakes.ca/business-development/small-business-centre-sbc/small-business-week.
Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal presents a certificate of recognition of five years of family ownership from the City of Peterborough to The Venue owners April Sendel (left) and Kevin Sendel (second from right) and general manager Tiffany Daskewich (right) during a celebration at the downtown Peterborough event space on October 13, 2026. (Photo: Joshua Gillis)
The Venue in downtown Peterborough is celebrating five years of family ownership by local event and catering professionals Kevin and April Sendel.
The couple marked the milestone Tuesday evening (October 13) with a celebration at the 286 George Street North event space that was attended by Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal, members of the business community, local organizations, clients, friends, and supporters. Several candidates in Peterborough’s October 26 municipal election also attended the celebration.
The mayor presented the Sendels with a certificate from the city recognizing the anniversary, with representatives from Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce also presenting the couple with a certificate of recognition.
Advertisement - content continues below
Bringing years of experience in catering and event management through their ownership of Personal Touch Catering and the now-closed Personal Touch Banquet Hall, the Sendels purchased The Venue in 2021 from Michael and Catia Skinner.
The Skinners had purchased the downtown building in 2006, when it operated as The Vibe nightclub, before completing a $1-million renovation and reopening it as The Venue in 2010.
When the sale to the Sendels was announced, Michael Skinner said he and Catia were pleased the business would remain in experienced local hands.
The Venue owners April and Kevin Sendel with a certificate of recognition of five years of family ownership presented by Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce member engagement coordinator Liam O’Connor during a celebration at the downtown Peterborough event space on October 13, 2026. (Photo: Joshua Gillis)
“Catia and I could not be happier that The Venue’s new owners are not only highly experienced event and catering professionals, but they are locally based with an intimate understanding of what makes Peterborough’s people and organizations so special,” Skinner said at the time.
The Sendels took ownership while the events industry was still facing considerable uncertainty and financial pressures because of the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns.
Despite the challenges, the Sendels persevered. Over the following five years, The Venue has continued to host weddings, corporate functions, fundraisers, galas, concerts, celebrations of life, and community gatherings.
Advertisement - content continues below
“Reaching five years is a significant milestone for any business,” said The Venue general manager Tiffany Daskewich in a media release. “The support Kevin and April have received from the Peterborough community has been incredible, and it was wonderful to see so many people come together to celebrate their success.”
Daskewich said the business is looking ahead to continuing its role as a downtown gathering place.
“We are excited for what the future holds and look forward to continuing to host memorable events for our community.”
The Venue owners Kevin and April Sendel during a celebration on October 13, 2026 recognizing the couple’s five years of ownership of the downtown Peterborough event space. (Photo: Joshua Gillis)
Tuesday’s anniversary celebration featured décor by Stacey of Practically Perfect Events, The Venue’s in-house decorator, with event photography by Joshua Gillis.
The Sendels thanked the clients, partners, employees, friends, and community members who have supported The Venue since they took ownership.
More information about The Venue, including upcoming events, is available at venueptbo.ca.
Colin McMahon has been appointed the new executive director of the Kawartha Youth Orchestra (KYO). Pictured at the KYO's home at the New Canadians Centre, McMahon has served as program manager and artistic director of Upbeat!, KYO's subsidized after-school music education program, for the past three years. (Photo: Samantha Haggstrom / KYO)
The Kawartha Youth Orchestra (KYO) has appointed Colin McMahon as its new executive director, with the Peterborough-based organization beginning a new season of music education for young people.
McMahon has spent the past three years as program manager and artistic director of Upbeat!, KYO’s subsidized after-school music education program.
“Since joining the KYO, Colin has proven his potential for leadership and demonstrated his passion for and ability to create exceptional music education programs,” said KYO board chair Bryce Porter in a media release.
“His understanding of KYO’s programs, relationships with faculty and families, and operational instincts make him an excellent choice to lead this next chapter of the organization.”
Advertisement - content continues below
McMahon holds a doctorate in composition from the University of Toronto and has composed operas and chamber music. He has also produced two albums with folk band Lo & the High Road while working as a music educator and administrator.
“I have a deep love of community music-making — it brings people together like nothing else,” McMahon said.
“In my new role, I look forward to expanding the KYO’s exceptional range of programming and building a deeper relationship with Peterborough’s vast community of musicians for the benefit of our talented young musicians.”
Advertisement - content continues below
A registered charitable non-profit organization, KYO provides music and orchestral training for students ranging from elementary school to post-secondary age from Peterborough and other communities across the Kawarthas.
Its orchestral program, led by lead conductor Murray Lefebvre, provides a progression from beginner to advanced musicians through junior, intermediate, and senior orchestras and group lessons. KYO also offers specialized programs including jazz and folk ensembles.
The organization describes its approach as centred on the belief that music should be accessible to everyone, with financial assistance, bursaries, and an instrument lending library intended to reduce barriers to participation.
One of KYO’s major accessibility initiatives is Upbeat!, which was launched five years ago as a barrier-free after-school program for children, with no previous musical experience required.
The program provides opportunities for young people to learn to play violin, viola, and cello while developing their skills in a group setting. More than 300 children have participated in Upbeat! since its launch.
Advertisement - content continues below
According to KYO, demand for accessible music education has continued to increase, with the organization’s move to the New Canadians Centre last year providing additional space for its programs.
McMahon said the benefits of ensemble music extend beyond learning to play an instrument.
“I am so grateful that here at the KYO we can make a real measurable impact on young lives,” he said.
“Young folks today are up against many challenges. Increasingly, they struggle to focus, feel isolated, and are pessimistic about the future. Playing music in an ensemble offers the perfect antidote to these struggles and I see the positive effects every day.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Porter said McMahon will also be responsible for strengthening the sustainability of the volunteer-driven organization, which is mainly supported by federal, provincial, and municipal grants as well as by community donors and sponsors.
“As executive director, Colin will continue strengthening KYO’s long-term organizational health and commitment to sustainability,” Porter said. “We know he will nurture a lasting love of music in young musicians, inspiring them to pursue their craft with ambition, expression, and pride.”
Registration for KYO’s 2026-27 season is underway, with auditions for its orchestras and ensembles still open.
Slow Leaves, the project of award-winning Winnipeg folk and psych-rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Grant Davidson, performs at the Black Horse in downtown Peterborough on Wednesday night (October 21, 2026) with Peterborough's own Matthew Holtby opening. (Photo: Matt Horseman)
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, October 15 to Wednesday, October 21.
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).
One of the region's largest suppliers and processors of steel, aluminum, brass, and plastic materials, Kawartha Metals Corp. in Peterborough is receiving $500,000 from the federal government toward a $1-million project to expand its advanced steel-processing capabilities through specialized equipment. The company is one of 10 in Eastern Ontario receiving a total of nearly $6.6 million from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to modernize operations, strengthen competitiveness, and expand products and services. (Photo: Kawartha Metals Corp.)
Five businesses in the greater Kawarthas region are among 10 receiving nearly $6.6 million from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to modernize operations, strengthen competitiveness, and expand products and services.
The five local recipients — Grayler Metals Corp., Kawartha Metals Corp., Merit Precision Ltd., Soluroc Cobourg Inc., and Thunderbird Farm — are receiving a combined $2.528 million in federal funding toward projects worth more than $5.36 million.
Peterborough MP Emma Harrison announced the funding on Thursday (October 15) on behalf of Evan Solomon, federal minister responsible for FedDev Ontario.
Advertisement - content continues below
Three of the five businesses are located in the City of Peterborough.
Kawartha Metals Corp. is receiving $500,000 toward a $1-million project to expand its advanced steel-processing capabilities through specialized equipment.
Founded in 1994, the Peterborough company is one of the region’s largest suppliers and processors of steel, aluminum, brass, and plastic materials, serving customers in construction, manufacturing, and retail.
“This Kawartha Metals Corp. project, supported by FedDev Ontario, is key to reducing our production costs,” said company founder and owner Tom Elliott in a media release.
“In turn, it helps our manufacturing customers strengthen their operations, improve cost-effectiveness, and compete more successfully on the global stage.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Grayler Metals Corp. is receiving $500,000 toward a $1.039-million project to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities through new equipment. The Fisher Drive company, which traces its history to 1990, supplies structural steel products and provides services including cutting, welding, sandblasting, drilling, and punching.
Merit Precision Ltd. is receiving $600,000 for a $1.385-million project to modernize its manufacturing operations while supporting the commercialization of new products and expansion into new markets.
The locally owned Fisher Drive manufacturer specializes in custom injection moulding and related engineering and tooling services, producing components for sectors including automotive, electrical, industrial, and sporting goods.
Advertisement - content continues below
In Northumberland County, Soluroc Cobourg Inc. is receiving $700,000 toward a $1.713-million project to modernize and expand its domestic manufacturing capabilities. The company operates a facility on Brook Road North in Cobourg.
In the City of Kawartha Lakes, Thunderbird Farm in Woodville will receive $228,000, covering the full cost of its $228,000 project to expand its agri-tourism operations by introducing new year-round services and experiences.
A family-owned Indigenous business, Thunderbird Farm operates from a rural property on McIndoos Cemetery Road, where owners Brooks Johnson and Laurie Zacour have been developing the property as a destination for weddings, events, overnight stays, and other farm experiences since purchasing it in 2022.
The five businesses account for almost 40 per cent of the nearly $6.6 million being distributed through Thursday’s announcement.
“The City and County of Peterborough are home to innovative businesses and organizations that play an important role in strengthening our regional economy and supporting vibrant communities,” Harrison said.
“These investments will drive growth, foster innovation and support a strong future across our community.”
Advertisement - content continues below
The other five Eastern Ontario recipients are CABN Co. Ltd. in Brockville, Continental Conveyor Ltd. in Napanee, FDF Race Shop in Trenton, Scapa Tapes North America ULC in Renfrew, and ZipGrow Inc. in Cornwall.
Brockville-based CABN, which manufactures prefabricated net-zero-ready homes, is receiving $521,500 toward a $1.477-million project to expand its on-site shipping and receiving infrastructure.
Continental Conveyor is receiving $1 million toward a $2.875-million project at its Napanee operation to adopt advanced manufacturing technologies and diversify into new markets.
Trenton-based FDF Race Shop, which designs and manufactures performance automotive components, is receiving $200,000 toward a $400,000 project to strengthen its supply chain and diversify into industrial manufacturing.
Scapa Tapes North America is receiving $2 million toward a $10.5-million project involving new advanced equipment and technologies at its Renfrew manufacturing operation.
Cornwall-based ZipGrow Inc. is receiving $300,000 toward a $600,000 project intended to diversify markets and improve productivity. The company develops vertical farming systems and technology.
According to FedDev Ontario, the 10 investments are intended to help the businesses adopt technology, increase production, strengthen supply chains, and move into new markets.
“Eastern Ontario’s businesses and organizations are driving innovation, economic growth and providing opportunities across southern Ontario,” Solomon said.
“Through today’s investments for these 10 businesses and organizations, the Government of Canada is supporting projects that will strengthen competitiveness, foster innovation and help pursue new opportunities for growth and success as we build Canada strong.”
Part of the "Where Change Takes Root" photo exhibit on display at the Peterborough Public Library in downtown Peterborough until October 31, 2026. Presented by Inter Pares in collaboration with the Kawartha World Issues Centre (KWIC), the exhibit shares how women in communities in Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Togo are finding ways to grow food, sustain livelihoods and care for the land in the face of a changing climate. (Photo: Inter Pares / Facebook)
A travelling photo exhibition that highlights the impacts of climate change through images and stories featuring women from countries in West Africa is visiting Peterborough until the end of October.
Where Change Takes Root is on display at the main branch of the Peterborough Public Library at 345 Aylmer Street North in downtown Peterborough until Saturday, October 31.
Presented by Inter Pares in collaboration with the Kawartha World Issues Centre (KWIC), the exhibit shares how women in communities in Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Togo are finding ways to grow food, sustain livelihoods, and care for the land in the face of a changing climate.
Advertisement - content continues below
“That’s what’s really highlighted through this exhibit — it gives a peek into what things look like in real time,” said Ashley Armstrong, communications co-director for Inter Pares, in an interview with kawarthaNOW.
Inter Pares is an international feminist charity based in Ottawa that works with frontline counterpart organizations in countries across West Africa to provide support and advocacy rooted in local knowledge and community leadership. KWIC is a grassroots Peterborough-based charity that connects global issues to local initiatives and provides educational programs for youth and community members.
Both KWIC and Inter Pares said they take an intersectional approach to social and climate justice, recognizing the disproportionate impact of environmental change on women both those working in the agricultural space and on a day-to-day basis.
“Climate change impacts women livelihoods across the world in different ways, and gender equality impacts power dynamics within situations when women are not put in a position to lead,” said KWIC executive director Margaret Zou.
In the community of Tendouk in Senegal in West Africa, Diatty Fofana rinses papayas grown in a community garden. The photo is part of the “Where Change Takes Root” photo exhibit on display at the Peterborough Public Library in downtown Peterborough until October 31, 2026. (Photo: Cherif Khoury / Inter Pares)
Armstrong said that female farmers are acutely affected by the impacts of climate change, in addition to structural imbalances and social norms.
While women are largely responsible for growing and preparing food and managing the natural resources that sustain their families and communities, she explained, women often have less access to land and other resources and less say in decisions that shape their environment.
“Intersectional feminism is all about who has power and who doesn’t,” Armstrong added.
“When we’re looking at work against climate change, or communities that are struggling with climate change, and they’re primarily farming communities, we’re looking at who has access to land. Who has control of the land? Who makes the decisions in the communities? Who doesn’t? Who doesn’t even have a seat at the table to be contributing to those conversations?”
Advertisement - content continues below
At the heart of these photographs are women whose knowledge, leadership, and collective action are helping shape more just and sustainable food systems, Armstrong said.
From restoring mangroves to protecting local seeds to beekeeping, community gardens, and sustainable harvesting, the exhibit explores how women are drawing on their knowledge of the land while finding new ways to respond to the challenges around them.
The exhibition launched at Saint Paul University in Ottawa on September 15 for a 10-day stint before travelling to Peterborough for the whole month of October. It’s third location will be in Montreal.
Armstrong said that Inter Pares will continue to tour the exhibition in 2027 to new cities. Where Change Takes Root will also return to Peterborough on March 12 for a one-day exhibit at Trent University (1600 West Bank Drive).
Women farmers from Guinea-Bissau in West Africa learn how to harvest honey during a learning exchange in Senegal. The photo is part of the “Where Change Takes Root” photo exhibit on display at the Peterborough Public Library in downtown Peterborough until October 31, 2026. (Photo: Cherif Khoury / Inter Pares
“The point of this tour is to help people see that these issues are not only happening overseas — climate change is happening here,” Armstrong said. “People are having a hard time affording food, buying food, and growing food here too.”
KWIC partnered with Inter Pares to bring the exhibit to Peterborough after a year of internal transition that welcomed Zou into the executive director role. Zou told kawarthaNOW that there is strong alignment between Inter Pares and KWIC’s mission to connect global issues to local initiatives, and indicated that their relationship would be an ongoing one.
“This exhibition brings together global issues and local issues,” Zou pointed out. “That brings people together to have these conversations, and then we can find solutions.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Speaking further to the timing of this exhibition, both Armstrong and Zou mentioned the recent history of funding reductions to international aid programs in Canada, Europe, and especially the the United States.
In 2025, Mark Carney’s federal Liberal government announced a $2.7 billion cut to international aid programs over four years.
This followed the elimination of almost all contracts and programs of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by the Trump administration, amounting to a reduction of around $60 billion in aid.
“These cuts are really gutting local organizations that are working to kind of address these issues (climate change),” said Armstrong.
Advertisement - content continues below
Armstrong and Zou said that the exhibit aims to have attendees ask themselves questions about how local action in Peterborough can impact global issues in West Africa.
“My hope is that people come through this exhibit, see these beautiful photos, and leave thinking more deeply about how climate change is affecting their own environments, and what work is happening locally to make sure that people have access to food,” Armstrong noted.
The work featured in Where Change Takes Root is being carried out in partnership with SUCO and with financial support from Global Affairs Canada.
October is Walktober - a month to highlight the benefits of walking - as well as the month in which municipal elections are happening. Ensuring safe conditions support active transportation around schools, hospitals, recreation centres, and retirement homes are often the responsibilities of the local government. (Photo: Pete Rellinger)
October is Walktober — a month to celebrate walking and to recognize the many benefits of getting around on foot. For families walking to school, seniors heading to an appointment, or anyone choosing to leave the car at home, walking can be one of the simplest ways to get around.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Ashley Burnie Seeds, Education and Active Transportation Program Manager, GreenUP.
“Active transit supports our mental and physical health, as well as the health of the environment,” says Dr. Thomas Piggott, medical officer of health and CEO of Lakelands Public Health. “I personally am grateful for the opportunity to walk, scooter, or bike with my kids to school and to my work every day, and wish everyone in our community had this beautiful opportunity.”
Whether walking feels like an appealing daily transportation choice has surprisingly little to do with the motivation of the person doing the walking. It has much more to do with decisions made at City Hall.
Advertisement - content continues below
This year, Walktober arrives at an interesting moment: Peterborough is in the middle of a municipal election, with voting underway ahead of Election Day on October 26. That makes this a good time to remember just how much local government has to do with the experience of walking and biking.
Consider a typical trip to school. Whether a child can safely walk or bike may depend on the speed limit of the road, whether there is a sidewalk, where a crossing is located, how visible that crossing is, whether pavement markings are maintained, how much traffic is moving through the neighbourhood, and whether vehicles are allowed to stop or park in a particular location.
However, a resident does not have to cycle to work every day to care about whether a neighbourhood has a safe crossing. A parent does not have to walk their children to school every morning to care about vehicle speeds around schools. Someone who drives most of the time still benefits from streets where people walking, cycling, or taking transit can move safely alongside one another.
Safety for kids walking and biking to school depends on the built environment around them. Sidewalks, signalized crossings, and pavement markings all contribute to increased safety and ease getting around. (Photo: Pete Rellinger)
“From a public health perspective, the onus should be on our communities designing safer infrastructure and ensuring drivers pay keen attention to the safety of those using active transit when behind the wheel,” says Dr. Piggott.
In recent years, the City and County of Peterborough have reduced speed limits in school areas, established community safety zones, and introduced additional road safety treatments which are now rolling out on a wide scale.
Beyond school zones, municipal decisions shape the wider transportation network that people use every day: sidewalks, trails, pedestrian crossings, bike infrastructure, road design, transit connections, traffic-calming measures, snow clearing, and maintenance. Council decisions about budgets and priorities determine not only what gets built, but what gets maintained and what gets considered for the future.
Advertisement - content continues below
One of the most cited factors for safety is speed; even small reductions are significant.
According to Parachute Canada, for each 1.6 km/h reduction in average speed, collisions are reduced by five per cent. Pedestrians who are struck by vehicles travelling at 50 km/h are almost six times more likely to die of their injuries than a pedestrian stuck at 30 km/h.
Speed is almost always a factor in unsafe walking or biking conditions, and local roads that pass our schools, hospitals, recreation centres, and retirement homes are often the responsibilities of the municipal government.
Decisions on what infrastructure gets funded depends on local government. The October 26 municipal election will provide an opportunity to vote for candidates that support transportation infrastructure that is safe for everyone. (Photo: Alex Karn / GreenUP)
Walktober is therefore a useful prompt not just to lace up a pair of shoes, but to take a closer look at the decisions (and the people making them) that shape the walking and biking networks in a city — namely, the local city council.
What does a candidate say about pedestrian safety? What are their priorities for sidewalks, crossings, cycling infrastructure, and traffic calming? How do they think about school-zone safety? What role do they see for enforcement, engineering, and education? How will they balance transportation priorities laid out in the city or region’s active transportation master plans?
Those are questions residents can ask candidates directly, regardless of whether they intend to walk, bike, drive, or take transit most of the time.
So this Walktober, the invitation is to do two things: walk a little more, and pay a little more attention to the streets along the way.
Advertisement - content continues below
Notice where the route feels comfortable and where it does not. Notice where children have to cross, where sidewalks disappear, where cars move quickly, and where a simple design choice makes a street easier to navigate.
Then, as the municipal election approaches, consider asking the people seeking local office how they would approach those issues. Because when it comes to the everyday experience of walking and biking, the ballot is closer to the sidewalk than it might seem.
kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.
Submit your event for FREE!
Use our event submission form to post your event on our website — for free.
To submit editorial content or ideas, please contact us.
