There's lots to do during August at The Canadian Canoe Museum, including the popular Voyageur Canoe Tour, a one-of-a-kind guided tour where you help paddle a 36-foot Montreal canoe along the Trent-Severn Waterway and through the Peterborough Lift Lock. (Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum)
Now that we’re halfway through summer, the kids might be looking for something new that’s fun and different (and maybe the grown-ups too). Or perhaps you have some family and friends visiting Peterborough and you’d like to show them a unique experience.
In either case, The Canadian Canoe Museum is encouraging residents and visitors alike to “make, paddle, play, and connect” at the museum during August by offering a range of activities for both individuals and families.
“This summer we’re thrilled to be welcoming visitors from near and far”, says the museum’s director of programs Karen Taylor. “And we’re rolling out the red carpet with an array of offerings for all ages.”
The Canadian Canoe Museum has a new collection of canoe-themed items including sheet music, records, and beautiful vintage postcards. (Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum)
There are ongoing events like a new drop-in-to-draw activity, a new interactive water station, and pop-up exhibits throughout the summer. The museum also has artisan workshops, paddling courses, meet and greets with artisans and authors, and more.
“Whether you’re visiting us for the first time, or already know and love the museum, there are so many new reasons to spend time with us this summer,” Taylor says. “Make, paddle, play, and connect right here.”
Here are some highlights of what’s going on at The Canadian Canoe Museum for the rest of the summer:
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Make at the museum
Draw something. Using an artist-quality kit, explore the artifacts and stories that connect us all by canoe. Drop-in-to-draw anytime during regular museum hours. The cost is $2 (free for members).
Create your own postcard. Discover a new collection of canoe-themed items including sheet music, records, and beautiful vintage postcards. Included with museum admission or membership.
Make a one-of-a-kind woodburned paddle at an artisan workshop on Saturday, August 17th at The Canadian Canoe Museum. (Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum)
Make a one-of-a-kind woodburned paddle. This artisan workshop runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 17th. The cost of the workshop is $180.
Help create a 14-foot wire and textile canoe. Beginning on Thursday, August 22nd, you can take part in a collaborative community art project led by Ottawa-based textile artist Vanessa Goldschiff. For ages 8 to adult. Included with museum admission or membership.
Make a cross-stitch bookmark. In this drop-in craft workshop on the Labour Day weekend, be inspired by designs and patterns on the canoes in the museum’s collection to create your bookmark. Workshops take place from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 31st and Sunday, September 2nd. Included with museum admission or membership.
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Paddle with the museum
Learn to paddle a canoe. The museum’s introductory-level safe canoeing evening program runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, August 12th. For ages 16 to adult, no experience is necessary, and all equipment will be provided. The cost for the course is $175.
Learn to paddle or hone your paddling skills at one of the on-water courses offered by The Canadian Canoe Museum. (Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum)
Hone your paddling skills. If you want to advance your paddling skills even more, take a Ontario Recreational Canoeing And Kayaking Association (ORCKA) course. An ORCKA Level 1 course takes place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on August 13th and 14th, with a Level 2 course on August 15th and 16th. For ages 16 to adult. Each course costs $185.
Experience the Peterborough Lift Lock by Voyageur Canoe. This is a 90-minute guided tour by canoe of this National Historic Site. No experience is necessary. The cost is $25 per person, of you can book the whole boat (up to 16 paddlers) for a private tour for $300. The tours runs every Sunday in August (except for August 18th).
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Play at the museum
Race canoes along the museum’s new interactive water station. Included with museum admission or membership.
The little ones can create a magnetic fishing rod and felted fish to play with in the museum’s “pool” in a s drop-in craft workshop on the Civic Holiday. (Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum)
Go ‘fishing’ on the Civic Holiday. In this drop-in craft workshop, kids can create a magnetic fishing rod and felted fish to play with in the museum’s “pool” and take them home after their visit. For ages 6+ or younger (with help). The workshop takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, August 5th. Included with museum admission or membership.
Go ‘retro camping’. Explore the museum’s collection of canoeing accessories in the interactive pop-up ‘Retro Camping’ exhibit, beginning Thursday, August 8th. Included with museum admission or membership.
Connect at the museum
Victoria Jason (1945 – 2000) was the first woman to kayak the Northwest Passage, a journey she described in her bestselling book “Kabloona in the Yellow Kayak”. In August, The Canadian Canoe Museum is re-installing a mini-exhibition featuring her story.
Connect with the museum’s collection. Make a connection with the world’s largest collection of canoes, kayaks, and paddled watercraft through the new interactive ‘Collection Highlights’ tours, which run daily at 2:30 p.m. Each tour is 45 minutes and is first come, first served (maximum of 10 people per tour).
Connect to a local canoe story. See see a unique canoe never before on display: Daniel Herald’s patent canoe from the Rice Lake Canoe Company, donated by Peterborough paddler Doris Vallery. Included with museum admission or membership.
Connect with the first woman to kayak the Northwest Passage. Learn about Victoria Jason’s incredible paddling story. Jason was known to help others whenever she could, including during her travels. Beginning Thursday, August 22nd, the museum is re-installing a mini-exhibition featuring her story. Included with museum admission or membership.
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Connect with Indigenous filmmakers. Wapikoni’s Cinema on Wheels, featuring award-winning short films directed by budding Indigenous filmmakers, is coming to the museum at 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 29th. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and admission is free.
Connect with local artisans, artists, and authors. The museum’s Tumblehome Shop presents Trading Post Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday evenings, where you can have one-on-one conversations, ask questions, and see the creative process in action.
On August 1st, meet Stephen Kitchen, an Oshawa-based artisan formally trained in woodworking and later specializing in wooden boat restoration. On August 8th, meet Cara Jordan, paddler, pyrographer, and long-time Tumblehome artisan. On August 15th, meet Andrew Boire, a Peterborough-based beekeeper and jack of all trades.
For more information about summer events at The Canadian Canoe Museum and to register for upcoming workshops or courses, visit canoemuseum.ca.
The Voyageur Canoe Tour along the Trent-Severn Waterway and through the Peterborough Lift Lock runs evey Sunday in August (except for August 18). (Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum)
'#Nature', an installation by Toronto-based interdisciplinary artist and designer Sean Martindale that was part of a past Sunday Drive art project. This August, Sunday Drive is presenting its latest art project, 'Reunion', at a private farm near Lakefield. (Photo: Dustin Rabin / Sunday Drive Art Projects)
This August, the Art Gallery of Northumberland has two interesting shows on display featuring Op Art artist Victor Vasarely and Canadian-Chinese artist Xiaojing Yan, and the Art Gallery of Peterborough will partner with Finer Things to bring a fun summer show and sale to Del Crary Park.
The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington hosts its annual Kids Outdoor Art Festival, the latest paintings by Cynthia Fox will be featured at The Annex Gallery in Bancroft, and, on Friday and Saturday evenings during the month, there will be an immersive art project called ‘Reunion’ happening at a secret location just outside Lakefield,
Sunday Drive presents ‘Reunion’, a new immersive experience near Lakefield
Sunday Drive’s ‘Reunion’ will run during August at a secret location outside of Lakefield. (Graphic: Sunday Drive)
‘Reunion’ is the newest in a series of immersive art experiences in which contemporary art is presented to audiences in unconventional often rural settings.
The project remains a bit of a mystery so far — what we know is that it consists of a 90-minute show beginning at sundown in open fields and wooded areas on a private farm in the Douro-Dummer area, and that the artistic collaborators include Karl Skene, Max Streicher, Joseph Murray, Reza Nik, Sasha Leigh Henry, Tania Thompson, Garrett Gilbart, Jacob Irish, Julie Hall, Sam Shahsavani, Pavel Iodine, and Amina Moon.
So far, there are two dates scheduled — Friday, August 8th and Friday, August 16th — with more dates promised on Friday and Saturday evenings in August as shows get filled. Priced at $20, tickets are available online at www.universe.com/events/reunion-tickets-harcourt-1NWJ7F.
Six of the artistic collaborators participating in Sunday Drive’s Reunion show at a farm outside of Lakefield: Amina Moon, Pavel Iodine, Sasha Henry, Reza Nik, Max Streicher, and Karl Skene. Shows will take place on Friday and Saturday evenings in August. (Photo: Sunday Drive)
The show begins at 2 Smith Street in Lakefield where a bus, hosted by the farm’s owners, will take visitors to Reunion (10 minutes away).
“This short ride provides time for us to give visitors the full backstory of how Reunion came to be, to meet the artists who own the farm,and deepen the experience they are about to have,” explains Sunday Drive’s creative director Tania Thompson.
There is more in the works from Sunday Drive, which has been working with the Akin Collective and Parks Canada with the goal of eventually turning a decommissioned maintenance yard in Lakefield into an arts and culture hub! More information about this will be available at a later date.
To learn about Sunday Drive, call 416-985-3369, email media@sundaydrive.org, visit www.sundaydrive.org, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram @sundaydriveart.
‘A Wanderer’s Mind’ by Xiaojing Yan at Art Gallery of Northumberland
‘Marking’ (2016, bronze, 35″ x 25″) by Xiaojing Yan. (Photo courtesy of the artist)
This exhibit focuses on identity as Markham-based Chinese Canadian artist Xiaojing Yan explores her experience of ‘being’ both Chinese and Canadian, the ambiguity behind these notions and the immigrant experience.
In this collection of four series of work by Yan — ‘Face to Face’, ‘Marking’, ‘Morning Glory’, and ‘Naturally Natural’ — these themes are represented in various ways. Featuring painting, installation, sculpture, and ink paintings, this poetic body of work uses traditional Chinese techniques and presents them with a contemporary aesthetic.
The show, which opened in July, will be on display until Sunday, September 15th.
The Art Gallery of Northumberland is located at on the third floor of the west wing of Victoria Hall (55 King St. W., Cobourg). Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The gallery is closed on Mondays. For more information, visit www.artgalleryofnorthumberland.com.
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‘Op Art in Motion’, a series of work by Victor Vasarely, at Art Gallery of Northumberland
‘Vancouver Portfolio’ (1981, Serigraph, 30cm x 30cm) and ‘Koround’ (1966, Serigraph, 69.1cm x 65.2cm) by Victor Vasarely. (Photos courtesy of the Art Gallery of Northumberland)
Another exhibition currently on display at the Art Gallery of Northumberland featuring work by Hungarian-French artist Victor Vasarely (1906-1997), one of the progenitors of the Op Art movement.
The Op Art style is named for the optical and often psychedelic effects (optical illusions) achieved through meticulously planned and executed drawings and paintings. During the 1960s, Vasarely’s style became a universal vocabulary for graphic art.
The gallery has a large display of Vasarely’s work on display until Sunday, September 29th. The pieces are a combination of work from the gallery’s permanent collection and selections from a private collection, and feature the ‘Vegaseries’ in which it appears that pressure is being applied to the image from behind creating various effects as seen above.
If you are interested in creating your own Op Art work, the gallery is hosting a workshop with instructors Shelagh and Kyle Stewart from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 21st. Collage techniques will be demonstrated and supplies will be provided (participants are asked to bring a small pair of scissors, an exacto knife with cutting board if preferred, and a glue brush or two). The workshop costs $20, and registration is required as space is limited (email Victoria Towrie at vtowrie@agncobourg.ca).
The Art Gallery of Northumberland is located at on the third floor of the west wing of Victoria Hall (55 King St. W., Cobourg). Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The gallery is closed on Mondays. For more information, visit www.artgalleryofnorthumberland.com.
The Art Gallery of Peterborough partners with Finer Things for a summer show and sale
Karen Cameron of Bella Grey Jewellery Design combines Georgian Bay beach stones with colourful paper decoupage and lead-free silver solder. She is one of the vendors who will be participating in the Finer Things summer show and sale at Del Crary Park in August. (Photo courtesy of Finer Things)
Finer Things has been running a successful winter pop-up market in Peterborough for the last five years, and has now partnered with the Art Gallery of Peterborough to create a fun summer event in a similar style, promoting professional craftspeople and artists and fostering the local creative community.
The summer show and sale will begin at noon on Saturday, August 24th and run until 8 p.m. that evening, with live performances and refreshments beginning at 6 p.m. The event is free to the public until 6 p.m., when there will be a cover charge of $10 for performances by Rick Fines, Little Fire, and Justin Million and refreshments offered.
On Sunday, August 25th, the show will continue from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free to attend.
The summer show will be in Del Crary Park Adjacent to the Art Gallery of Peterborough. For more information, follow Finer Things on Instagram and Facebook.
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The Annex Gallery in Bancroft presents ‘Creations Alive’ by Cynthia Fox
Peterborough painter Cynthia Fox with her easel. (Photo courtesy of the artist)
Cynthia Fox’s large and lifelike paintings will be on display in a solo show at The Annex Gallery at A Place for The Arts in Bancroft beginning on Wednesday, July 31st and running until Sunday, September 1st.
Fox works from her home studio in Peterborough, which is open to the public by appointment. If you can’t make it out to this show, give her a call at 705-741-6674 or visit her website at www.cynthiafoxstudio.com.
You can also see her work on display in Peterborough at Amandala’s Restaurant, Ashburnham Ale House, Haaseltons Café, and J & J Kawartha Massage Therapy.
The Annex Gallery at A Place for the Arts is located at 23 Bridge Street West in Bancroft. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Wednesday to Sunday. For more information, visit www.apfta.ca.
Visual Arts Centre of Clarington hosts Kids Outdoor Art Festival on August 24
The Kids Outdoor Art Festival is a free event on August 24, 2019 at the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington in Bowmanville. (Graphic courtesy of Visual Arts Centre of Clarington)
The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington is hosting its eighth annual Kids Outdoor Art Festival (previously Picasso’s Picnic) on Saturday, August 24th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine.
The festival aims to encourage and connect young artists from the area. There will be lots to do and see including activities, workshops, a youth art market, and live performances.
The festival is a free event that accepts donations. The suggested donation is $10 per family or pay what you can (cash only). All donations are much appreciated.
For more information about the Kids Outdoor Art Festival, visit www.vac.ca/koaf.html.
The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington is located at 143 Simpson Avenue in Bowmanville. Hours of operation are 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Friday to Sunday. Admission to exhibits and artist talks is free. For more information, visit www.vac.ca.
Former Hey Rosetta! songwriter and lead vocalist Tim Baker and Iraqi-Canadian musician and multimedia artist Narcy (Yassin Alsalman) will perform at the Peterborough Folk Festival on August 17, 2019. Local musicians Missy Knott and Mayhemingways will also be performing. (Publicity photos)
Organizers of the Peterborough Folk Festival have announced the full lineup for the annual music festival, which runs this year on Saturday, August 17th and Sunday, August 18th at Nicholls Oval Park in Peterborough’s East City.
Joining already-announced headliners A Tribe Called Red, Kathleen Edwards, Matt Mays, and Fred Penner are Tim Baker (Hey Rosetta!) and Iraqi-Canadian hip-hop musician Narcy. Organizers also announced Missy Knott and Mayhemingways will be joining the list of local performers.
Tim Baker will be performing at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 17th at the Peterborough Subaru main stage, sponsored by kawarthaNOW.com. Baker was the principal songwriter and lead vocalist of Hey Rosetta!, a seven-piece indie rock band from St. John’s in Newfoundland.
After the band went on an “indefinite hiatus” in December 2017, Baker pursued his solo career, releasing his debut solo album Forever Overhead in April of this year. In June, the album was named to the initial long list for the 2019 Polaris Music Prize.
Baker will also be headlining the Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Festival Folk Festival the weekend before his Peterborough appearance.
VIDEO: “All Hands” – Tim Baker
Also performing on Saturday, August 17th is Narcy — the stage name of Iraqi-Canadian musician and multimedia artist Yassin Alsalman of Montreal. Presented by the United Way Peterborough & District Neighbourhood Fund, Narcy is considered a pioneer of the Arab hip-hop movement. He released his most recent album, SpaceTime, in November 2018.
Formerly known as the Narcicyst, Alsalman has done voice-over work for the video game Assassin’s Creed Origins, won Video of The Year at the 2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards for his directorial debut with indigenous electronic group A Tribe Called Red featuring Yasiin Bey, earned a Juno Nomination for Best Music Video in 2017, starred in the Ali F. Mostafa’s film City of Life in 2009, and has had his music featured in films including Fast and Furious 7. As well as being a musician, director, and actor, Alsalman is a professor of fine arts at Concordia University.
Narcy will perform at 8:45 p.m. on the Peterborough Subaru Main stage. Earlier in the afternoon, he will also be leading an open workshop on hip hop and social change.
VIDEO: “Animal” – Narcy
Other visiting performers at the free weekend festival include Hamilton alt-country and roots band The Redhill Valleys, Niagara folk rocker Katey Gatta, Yukon country-roots band The Lucky Ones, Victoria B.C. alt-folk singer-songwriter Kerry Jayne, and Peterborough-formed Toronto band I, The Mountain.
Along with Missy Knott and Mayhemingways, other local musicians performing at the festival are Peachykine, Say Ritual, Oberge, Cellar Door, Lauryn Macfarlane, a tribute to the late Joe Hall (hosted by Jay Swinnerton), Sista Jill & The Fam Jam, and Irish Millie.
Prior to the free portion of the festival, there are two ticketed kick-off concerts taking place at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre featuring two Juno Award-winning musicians: William Prince on Thursday, August 15th and Donovan Woods & The Opposition on Friday, August 16th. Both concerts begin at 8 p.m. and tickets can be purchased online at markethall.org.
Also as part of the festival, Rock Camp for Girls (RC4G) Peterborough is also hosting a “big show” from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, August 16th at Showplace Performance Centre.
The lineup for the 2019 Peterborough Folk Festival. (Poster: Peterborough Folk Festival)
While the four stages of live music at Nicholls Oval Park are the focus of the Peterborough Folk Festival, the family-friendly event has a lot more to offer. There will be food, a beer tent, more than 50 artisan vendors, workshops, a children’s village and lots of kid-friendly activities including family yoga, drum circles, face painting, and more.
There will also be after-parties at the Historic Red Dog in downtown Peterborough on Saturday and Sunday night at 11 p.m. following each day’s events. The after-parties feature performances by select festival musicians (to be announced).
For a full schedule of performances and events, check out the festival’s brand new website at www.peterboroughfolkfest.com.
Note that the festival is still seeking volunteers and sponsors. If interested, visit the website.
Tragically Hipp owner Evelyne Derkinderen and her partner Peter Osborne are the proud owners of 60 Queen Street in Lakefield. Derkinderen learned several months ago that the building was going to be sold, which could have potentially forced her to close her popular women's fashion shop at its iconic location. (Photo: Tragically Hipp / Facebook)
businessNOW™ is the most comprehensive weekly round-up of business and organizational news and events from Peterborough and across the Kawarthas.
This week’s business and organizational news includes Lakefield’s Tragically Hipp purchasing their building at 60 Queen Street, Port Hope’s Dancing Bee Inc. receiving $65,000 through the Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario fund, and Leora Berman of The Land Between and Sherri Owen of Camp Kawartha receiving Canadian Wildlife Federation awards.
Every week, our managing editor collects news and events related to businesses and organizations from across the Kawarthas. If you’d like us to promote your news or event in businessNOW, please email business@kawarthanow.com.
Also featured this week are local business and entrepreneurship being celebrated at VentureNorth in downtown Peterborough, the grand opening of Pedego Kawartha Lakes Lindsay, and the closure of Frank’s Pasta and Grill in Cobourg.
New regional business events added this week include Comfort Keepers Peterborough hosting its grand opening in Peterborough on August 22nd.
Boutique fashion shop Tragically Hipp Fashion Gallery has purchased its landmark building at 60 Queen Street in Lakefield.
Canadian singer-songwriter and musician Murray McLauchlan and his wife Denise Donlon (not pictured) dropped by Tragically Hipp on July 26, 2019. (Photo: Tragically Hipp / Facebook)
In the post, she explains that she learned four months ago the building was going to be sold and — with no lease or renewal option — Tragically Hipp would possibly lose the location and the business.
Derkindere goes on to say that, “with patience and persistence”, she and her partner Peter Osborne were able to secure financing and purchase the building.
To add icing to the cake, iconic Canadian singer-songwriter and musician Murray McLauchlan and his wife Denise Donlon (business executive, television producer, host, and member of the Order of Canada) dropped by Tragically Hipp last Friday (July 26).
Tragically Hipp, which offers affordable and everyday apparel and accessories for women who see themselves as unique and authentic, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday (closed on Sunday).
Port Hope’s Dancing Bee Inc. receives $65,000 through the Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario fund
Dancing bee founder and CEO Todd Kalisz with Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Kim Rudd during the announcement of $65,000 for the beekeeping equipment business in Port Hope on July 29, 2019. (Photo: Office of Kim Rudd)
Port Hope beekeeping equipment business Dancing Bee Inc. will receive $65,000 in funding through the Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario fund.
Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) and Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Kim Rudd made the announcement on Monday (July 29) at the company’s location at 3384 Loyalist Road.
In operation for nine years, Dancing Bee is the market leader for commercial and residential beekeeping equipment, medication, safety gear, and training.
The funding will support Dancing Bee’s purchase and installation of a new innovative extraction line, allowing the company to process a higher volume of honey more efficiently, and will create as many as four new full-time and two part-time jobs in Northumberland County.
“This expansion will be monumental in the next phase of Dancing Bee such as supporting the community with new jobs and attracting tourism to Port Hope, while delivering outstanding results that we can be proud of,” says Dancing bee founder, CEO, and master beekeeper Todd Kalisz.
“Expanding our business will allow increased opportunities to collaborate with and grow other small vendors within the community, along with our own business.”
Leora Berman of The Land Between and Sherri Owen of Camp Kawartha receive Canadian Wildlife Federation awards
Leora Berman of The Land Between has received the Roland Michener Conservation Award from the Canadian Wildlife Federation. (Photo: Canadian Wildlife Federation)
The Land Between founder and Chief Operating Officer Leora Berman of Haliburton and Camp Kawartha outdoor educator Sherri Owen of Lakefield have each been honoured with awards from the Canadian Wildlife Federation.
Berman received the Roland Michener Conservation Award, named after Canada’s former Governor General, which is awarded to “any individual who has demonstrated a commitment to conservation through effective and responsible activities that promote, enhance and further the conservation of Canada’s natural resources”. Berman shared the award with the Marine Animal Rescue Service (MARS), a charity established to rescue beached marine mammals on the east coast.
Along with The Land Between, a grassroots environmental non-governmental organization focused on a 12,000-square-kilometre bioregion in central Ontario, Berman is the founder of Turtle Guardians, a collaborative program to advance citizen science and conservation of species at risk. She has also worked for Ducks Unlimited Canada, Wildlife Habitat Canada, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Sherri Owen of Lakefield has received the Wild Educator of the Year Award from the Canadian Wildlife Federation. (Photo: Canadian Wildlife Federation)
Sherri Owen of Lakefield received the Wild Educator of the Year Award, which is presented to an educator who uses the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s education programming “to provide innovative and meaningful experiences for youth that focus on wildlife and the building of a conservation ethic.
Owen has been an outdoor educator for more than 20 years, including as an instructor at Camp Kawartha. As a wilderness guide, she has taught thousands of students about the pleasures and responsibilities of loving the wild. A a facilitator in the federation’s Project Wild teacher training, she has also shared her passion and creativity with hundreds of Ontario educators.
Berman and Owen, along with four other award recipients, are profiled in the July/August issue of Canadian Wildlife and Biosphère magazines available on newsstands and by subscription.
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Local business and entrepreneurship celebrated at VentureNorth in downtown Peterborough
Innovation Cluster client Chimp Treats serves up its dairy-free frozen dessert products to people attending the July 26, 2019 open house at VentureNorth in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
Local business and entrepreneurship was celebrated at an open house last Friday (July 26) at VentureNorth in downtown Peterborough.
The open house provided an opportunity for the public to explore the building at 270 George Street North, which is a business hub for economic development organizations including the Innovation Cluster, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, Community Futures Peterborough, and Junior Achievement for Peterborough, Lakeland, Muskoka.
“This event was a great opportunity for the public to get an idea of what goes on in the VentureNorth Building,” says Innovation Cluster president and CEO John Gillis.
“It’s important for the community to see the organizations and startups that work to make Peterborough and the Kawarthas a thriving place for business.”
Following the open house, a BBQ was held in the VentureNorth parking with live music provided by Peterborough band Paper Shakers.
Pedego Kawartha Lakes Lindsay held its grand opening on July 27
Pedego Kawartha Lakes is located at 66 William Street North in Lindsay. (Photo: Pedego Kawartha Lakes / Facebook)
Lindsay electric bike business Pedego Kawartha Lakes hosted its grand openeing last Saturday (July 27).
Owned by Allen Hussey, Pedego Kawartha Lakes Lindsay (66 William St. N., Lindsay) is a franchise of the company originally founded in California in 2008 and in Canada two years later. Hussey also runs a Pedego location at 47 William Street in Bobcaygeon that he opened in 2018.
City of Kawartha Lakes Police Chief Mark Mitchell (left) and Constable Kevin Walden (right) with an electric mountain bike donated by Allen Hussey of Pedego Kawartha Lakes (centre). (Photo: Kawartha Lakes Police Service)
Attending the grand opening, which included a group ride, was a constable from Kawartha Lakes Police Service. Earlier this summer, Hussey donated a high-performance electric mountain bike to the police service to assist police in patrolling the community while reducing their carbon footprint.
Frank’s Pasta and Grill in Cobourg. (Photo: Frank’s Pasta and Grill / Facebook)
After seven years, Frank’s Pasta and Grill in Cobourg has closed for good effective July 20th.
The popular family-owned restaurant located at 426 King Street East also featured live music every week.
The closure of Frank’s came one day after the closure of another popular Cobourg restaurant, The Cat & Fiddle.
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Lindsay Chamber hosts breakfast networking meeting in Lindsay on July 31
The Lindsay & District Chamber Chamber of Commerce is hosting its next M2M Breakfast Meet Up from 8 to 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 31st at Smittys Family Restaurant (370 Kent St., Lindsay).
Bring your business cards and chat with other like-minded people while enjoying a breakfast you order from the Smitty’s menu.
No registration required and this is a free event (just pay for what you order).
Port Hope Chamber hosts Women in Business Breakfast Series in Port Hope on August 6
The Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce is hosting the next seminar in its Women in Business Breakfast Series from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Jack Burger Sports Complex (60 Highland Dr., Port Hope).
Local women in business are invited to attend the session, which will focus on the importance of self care and resources available locally.
The cost for the session is $5 per person, in advance or at the door.
Peterborough Chamber hosts Chamber AM breakfast meeting in Peterborough on August 13
The next Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Chamber AM breakfast meeting takes place from 7 to 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 13th at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
Networking begins at 7 a.m., with breakfast orders taken at The Edison at 7:30 a.m. At 7:45 a.m., you can make your best 30-second elevator speech to the room), followed by a mystery guest speaker at 8 a.m.
There is no cost for the event (order what you like and pay for what you order).
Rebound Child & Youth Services hosts Northumberland Chamber’s next networking event in Cobourg on August 13
The Northumberland Central Chamber Of Commerce’s next Meet and Greet event takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 13th at Rebound Child & Youth Services Northumberland (700 D’Arcy St. N., Unit 20).
The monthly business networking events are hosted by Chamber members on the second Tuesday of every month. This is an opportunity both for networking and to learn more about the services provided by the host Chamber member.
FastStart Peterborough hosts “Goodbye Summer, Hello Entrepreneurship” seminar in Peterborough on August 13
The next FastStart E-Connect seminar, “Goodbye Summer, Hello Entrepreneurship!”, takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 13th at the Silver Bean Cafe in Millennium Park (1130 King St., Peterborough).
Donna Floyd, founder and CEO of Cottage Toys, and Jillian Scates, sales and operations analyst with Central Smith Creamery, will discuss family business and working in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
FastStart Peterborough is a partnership between Trent University, Fleming College, and the Innovation Cluster.
Innovation Cluster hosts “Hands-ON: Maintaining Mindfulness as an Entrepreneur” workshops in Peterborough starting on August 14
On Wednesdays in August, the Innovation Cluster is hosting “Hands-ON: Maintaining Mindfulness as an Entrepreneur”, a three-part series emphasizing mindfulness for entrepreneurs.
“No Stress Zone: Pilates with the Healthy Sweet Potato” is a Pilates class at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough) on August 14th, followed by “Managing Stress and Burnout with Legendary Coaching” on August 21st, and “Pause for Paws – Therapy Dogs” on August 28th, when East Central Therapy Dogs will bring in volunteers to do an hour of de-stressing with their dogs.
All workshops will have a limited amount of space and registration is mandatory. Registration for the series will open in August, and businessNOW will have all the details when available.
Port Hope Young Professionals and Port Hope Chamber host a “house party” in Port Hope on August 16
Port Hope Young Professionals and the Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce are hosting a “house party” starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, August 16th at the Penryn Park at the Port Hope Golf & Country Club (82 Victoria St. S., Port Hope).
The event for the Port Hope business community will feature live music by the Brown Bag Tour Company, local food, a cash bar, and more.
More details will be available closer to the event date.
Venture13 hosts The Employer Event in Cobourg on August 20
The Community Employment Resource Partnership, Northumberland County, and the millennial team of Canada Summer Jobs students at the Community Training and Development Centre are presenting “The Employer Event” from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20th in the lecture hall at Venture13 (739 D’Arcy St., Cobourg).
The focus of the event is how to recruit, retain, and train millennials (employees aged 20 to 45) who, by 2025, will make up 75 per cent of the workforce. You will learn information from experts in recruitment, retention, and training, explore a variety of techniques and resource, and discover innovative ideas, insights, and strategies.
Comfort Keepers Peterborough hosts its grand opening in Peterborough on August 22
Corey and Alyssa Rowe are the owners of Comfort Keepers Peterborough. (Photo: Comfort Keepers Peterborough)
Comfort Keepers Peterborough will be hosting a grand opening from 2 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 22nd at Peterborough Business Hub (398 McDonnel St., Peterborough).
Corey and Alyssa Rowe are the owners of the local franchise, which offers senior care, dementia/Alzheimer care, personal care and grooming, meal preparation, transportation services, palliative and end-of-life care, new mother services, brain injury support, post-surgery or car accident support, and more.
There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony and light refreshments will be available.
Bancroft Chamber hosting Mineral Collecting Tours now until August 31
The Bancroft & District Chamber of Commerce is hosting Mineral Collecting Tours now until Saturday, August 31st at various locations in Hastings County.
Registration is held at 9 a.m. at the Chamber office (51 Hastings St. N., Bancroft) on the day of each tour, with tours departing at 9:30 a.m. The tours take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with each tour lasting around five hours.
Participants are responsible for their own equipment (mandatory safety glasses and closed-in footwear and rockhounding equipment) and transportation. The cost is $17 for adults, $12 for youth aged 16 and under, or $50 for a family of up to five people. Additional fees are required for specific sites.
Iconic Canadian alt-rockers 54-40 (Dave Genn, Neil Osborne, Brad Merritt, Matt Johnson) are performing from their extensive catalogue of songs from the past 38 years at Peterborough Musicfest at Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough on July 31, 2019. (Publicity photo)
With eight Juno Award nominations listed on its resumé, including two for Group of the Year, but no wins, it would be easy to label Canadian alt-rock band 54-40 a bridesmaid and never a bride.
Peterborough Musicfest presents 54-40
When: Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at 8 p.m. Where: Del Crary Park (100 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: Free admission
Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets (lawn chairs are available to rent for $4/chair). VIP seating available for sponsors. No smoking, alcohol, or pets permitted. There’s no public parking at Del Crary Park, but there’s neighbourhood street parking nearby and ample parking in downtown Peterborough.
But 38 years and 14 studio albums after its first gig in Vancouver, other more telling benchmarks have served to remind us that 54-40 has been, and remains, a tour de force on the Canadian music scene.
Take, for example, 54-40’s three consecutive platinum-certified albums in the 1990s or any one of its Top Ten singles and it becomes abundantly clear that while bestowed honours are sweet, they’re not definitive validation of a band’s success.
The people have something to say about that and countless 54-40 followers have spoken loud and clear for close to four decades now.
On Wednesday, July 31st at Del Crary Park, 54-40 returns once again to the Fred Anderson Stage, headlining Peterborough Musicfest. Admission to the 8 p.m. concert is, as always, free.
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While selling records and getting radio airplay was the name of the game in the early 1980s when 54-40 was finding its way, founding member and bassist Brad Merritt, in an October 2018 interview with the Prince Albert The Daily Herald, nots “artistic integrity” is now the name of the game for him and band mates Neil Osborne, Dave Genn, and Matt Johnson.
“It’s all about creating this piece of work, or body of work, which reflects your state, just like any artist would — doing a painting, choreography or creating a symphony that pleases us as creators,” he explains. “Then it’s about making a connection with the thousands of people who still care about what it is that we do.”
54-40 certainly has the body of work part of that equation well covered.
VIDEO: “Baby Ran” – 54-40
VIDEO: “I Go Blind” – 54-40
High school friends Merritt and Osborne formed 54-40 in 1981, with their first gig an opening spin for D.O.A. at a Vancouver club. Three years later, the band released its debut album Set The Fire and then followed that up in 1986 with a self-titled release that featured the songs “Baby Ran” and “I Go Blind”. While neither charted, those two songs resonated with music fans and today are popular staples of their live performances.
Show Me, released in 1987, produced the single “One Day In Your Life” that cracked the Canadian singles chart, a commercial breakthrough for the band that was fully realized in 1992 with Dear Dear. That album was certified platinum — a success repeated in 1994 and again in 1996 by the albums Smilin’ Buddha Cabaret and Trusted By Millions.
During that period, high-charting singles “Nice To Luv You”, “She La”, “Ocean Pearl”, “Love You All”, and “Lies To Me” cemented 54-40’s position as a first-rate Canadian music act.
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Since 1998’s gold-certified Since When and its hit title track, 54-40 has recorded six albums, the latest being 2018’s Keep On Walking.
“There’s continuity when you look at our records,” Merritt says.
“We’ve quite often put something out and then the next thing we do is turn 180 degrees and say ‘This is a rock record. We’re going to do something a little more personal singer-songwriter style. This one we’re going to heavy jams and build it up that way and the next is going to be an eclectic thing just to see where the music takes us.”
VIDEO: “One Day In Your Life” – 54-40
VIDEO: “Nice to Luv You” – 54-40
While 54-40 has taken different approaches on its albums, performing live isn’t something the quartet has messed around with.
“We figure there are about 10 or 11 songs we have to play no matter what,” says Merritt.
“Generally we’re doing at least 50 per cent more than that, if not twice as many songs. We certainly pull songs from various records that reflect the way we’re thinking, the way we represent ourselves, and what we want to do.”
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“Rock has become a sub-genre … a sub-culture,” Merritt adds. “It’s not the music of the day. It’s not pop culture music anymore. Because of that, there are young people who appreciate rock or rock and roll or classic rock or punk or post-punk — whatever it is — and they like what 54-40 does. They don’t care that we’ve around 30-odd years. They think that’s really cool.”
In an April 2018 interview with The Cascade, Genn notes 54-40’s staying power is rooted in extensive catalogue of music.
“We had a meeting in Toronto years back where we were looking for different ways to market and brand the band,” he recalls. “We met with a branding expert who worked outside of the music industry. He was talking about how important it is to have a short, concise statement about your brand. So he said we have to come up with a statement about 54-40 that sums up the essence of our brand.”
VIDEO: “She-La” – 54-40
VIDEO: “Ocean Pearl” – 54-40
VIDEO: “Lies To Me” – 54-40
“We thought about what people say when they come to our shows and the thing we hear the most is ‘I had no idea you guys played so many songs that I know.’ It’s kind of a blessing and a curse. It’s testament to the fact that we have this catalogue and so many songs that people are familiar with and that people love. On the other hand, they haven’t necessarily put a band name or a face to those songs.”
As for that elusive Juno Award, yes, 54-40 has been down the aisle eight times and come away empty-handed. But many recipients of that honour have come and gone while Genn et al continue to tour, record new music, and win new fans close to 40 years on.
One thing about being a bridesmaid — there’s no threat of a pending divorce.
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Win VIP passes to MusicFest!
As a returning sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest, kawarthaNOW.com will be giving away VIP seats to every one of this summer’s concerts again this year.
While the concerts are free to all, VIP seats are not available to the general public — only to festival sponsors. You are guaranteed a chair near to the stage for the best view.
The giveaways are exclusive to subscribers to our weekly e-news. For your chance to win, sign-up to our weekly e-news at k-n.ca/subscribe.
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission, sponsor-supported concerts featuring a total of 21 acts during its 33rd season — each concert staged on Wednesday and Saturday nights at Del Crary Park.
Overseen by general manager Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission is to “provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”
For more information on this concert or the entire 2019 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
Highway 28 is closed between Mt. Julian Viamede Road and Northey’s Bay Road in Woodview as police investigate a fatal accident on July 29, 2019. Pictured is a closure of Highway 28 following another head-on collision in February 2019 on the same stretch of highway. (Photo courtesy of Geri-Lynn Cajindos)
One person is dead following an accident on Highway 28 near Butler Drive between Mt. Julian Viamede Road and Northey’s Bay Road in Woodview, north of Burleigh Falls.
The accident happened at around 7:45 a.m. on Monday (July 29). Police say a northbound cement truck struck and killed a pedestrian who was walking along the roadway. No other injuries were reported.
Highway 28 was closed between Northey’s Bay Road and Mt. Julian-Viamede Road for most of the day while OPP members trained in collision reconstruction measure and document the scene.
Police have identified the victim as 40-year-old Aaron Leveck of Peterborough. His body has been transported to Toronto for a post-mortem examination.
There have been several serious accidents on this stretch of highway this year alone: a head-on collision on February 3, another head-on collision on March 13 (killing a woman), and, most recently, a head-on collision on July 24 that sent two people to hospital.
An earlier version of this story indicated that Leveck was “walking on the highway”. This has now been corrected to match the wording from the police media release, which states he was “walking along the roadway”. The story will be updated with further details about the accident if or when they are released by the police.
Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Sunday (July 28) for much of the Kawarthas, including Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland.
A weak cold front slowly moving in from the north may trigger severe thunderstorms with torrential downpours and local rainfall amounts of 50 mm in an hour or less and wind gusts to 90 km/h this afternoon into Sunday evening.
Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles. Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads.
Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!
Environment Canada issues severe thunderstorm watches when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall.
The Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management recommends that you take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches.
Egyptian rescue dog Layaly was successfully trapped on July 27, 2019 after more than a week after escaping from her foster home near Cavan. Layaly was brought to Canada to receive additional medical treatment for her throat and lymph nodes, which were damaged by a string that had been tied around her neck so long it caused her neck to swell greatly. (Photo: Anette Targowski / Facebook)
Layaly, the Egyptian rescue dog, has been found more than a week after she escaped from the Cavan-area foster home where she had been staying.
She was trapped on Saturday night (July 27) by a team of volunteers.
Layaly, a lab-malinois mix, was brought to Canada from a shelter in Egypt where she had been rescued seven months ago.
Layaly in an Egypt animal rescue shelter where she had been recuperating from her physical and psychological health issues for seven months. She was brought to Canada on July 15, 2019 to receive additional medical treatment and escaped from her foster home near Cavan three days later. (Photo: Facebook)
In Egypt, Layaly was a stray dog who had had a string tied around her neck for so long it caused her neck to swell, creating serious damage to her throat and lymph nodes. It took Egyptian rescuers 10 nights to rescue her, so they named her Layaly (her name in Arabic is the plural form of “night”).
She was treated for her health issues while at the Egypt shelter and, while her wounds healed, she needed additional medical treatment unavailable in Egypt. She also had severe emotional and psychological issues as a result of the cruelty she suffered.
Through the efforts and donations of volunteer organizations including Omemee’s Furry Family Animal Rescue, founded by Anette Targowski, Layaly was brought to Canada on July 15th to receive medical treatment.
VIDEO: Layaly’s struggle to live
Layaly has been staying in a foster home near Cavan when she broke through a screen door on July 18th and disappeared. Despite the efforts of volunteers and several reported sightings, she remained on the loose until July 27th.
After being successfully trapped on July 27th, Layaly was taken to a vet.
Every Friday during swimming season, we post The Beach Report™, our weekly report of the results of water quality testing at beaches in the Kawarthas, and then update it throughout the week as conditions change.
As of July 31, 2019, the following beaches are posted as unsafe for swimming:
Squirrel Creek Conservation Area – Peterborough County
Bewdley Beach – Northumberland County
Harwood Beach – Northumberland County
Here are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County.
In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White’s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.
During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E. coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like the beach at Roger’s Cove in Peterborough’s East City, are tested every business day while most other beaches are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Important note
The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.
You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.
While we strive to update this story with the current conditions, you should confirm the most recent test results by visiting the local health unit websites at Peterborough Public Health and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. As noted above, the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead are tested every business day so the results listed below may not be current.
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Peterborough City/County
City of Peterborough Beaches (sampled each business day)
Roger’s Cove (131 Maria St, Peterborough) – sample date July 30 -SAFE
Beavermeade (2011 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough) – sample date July 30 – SAFE
Peterborough County Beaches (sampled weekly)
Back Dam Beach (902 Rock Rd., Warsaw, Township of Douro-Dummer) – sample date July 29 – SAFE
Buckhorn (John Street, Buckhorn) – sample date July 29 – SAFE
Crowe’s Line Beach (240 Crowe’s Line Rd, Harvey) – sample date July 30 – SAFE
Curve Lake Lance Woods Park (Chemong St S, Curve Lake) – sample date July 30 – SAFE
Curve Lake Henry’s Gumming (Whetung St E, Curve Lake) – sample date July 23 – SAFE
Douro (205 Douro Second Line, Douro-Dummer) – sample date July 29 – SAFE
Ennismore (1053 Ennis Road, Ennismore) – sample date July 30 – SAFE
Hiawatha (1 Lakeshore Rd, Hiawatha) – sample date July 30 – SAFE
Jones Beach (908 Jones Beach Road, Bridgenorth) – sample date July 29 – SAFE
Lakefield Park (100 Hague Boulevard, Lakefield) – sample date July 29 – SAFE
Norwood (12 Belmont St, Norwood) – sample date July 29 – SAFE
Sandy Lake (1239 Lakehurst Road, Municipality of Trent Lakes) – sample date July 30 – SAFE
Selwyn (2251 Birch Island Road, Selwyn) – sample date July 29 – SAFE
Squirrel Creek Conservation Area (2445 Wallace Point Rd, South Monaghan) – sample date July 30 – UNSAFE
Warsaw Caves (289 Caves Rd, Warsaw) – sample date July 29 – SAFE
Peterborough County Beaches (sampled monthly)
Belmont Lake (376 Miles of Memories Road, Belmont) – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Chandos Beach (Hwy 620, North Kawartha) – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Kasshabog Lake (431 Peninsula Road, Methune) – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Quarry Bay (1986 Northey’s Bay Rd, Woodview) – sample date July 11 – SAFE
White’s Beach (Clearview Drive, Galway) – sample date July 4 – SAFE
Charlene "Charlie" Earle belting out a tune with Little Fire in April 2014 at the former Barbeside Salon, with Aaron Cavon on bass, Dave Tough on guitar, and Brandon Root. Two celebrations of the life of Earle, who passed away suddenly at the age of 33, are taking place on July 27 and 28 in Peterborough. (Photo: Esther Vincent / evmustang.ca)
Two events are happening this weekend to commemorate the life of Peterborough musician Charlene Earle — one organized by Peterborough’s musical community and the other by her family and friends.
The 33-year-old vocalist, who performed under the names Charlie Earle and Charlie Maine, passed away suddenly sometime last Friday (July 19).
Police discovered her body in the Otonabee River in Peterborough and the Ontario coroner is now investigating her death.
Peterborough musicians Rob Foreman (The Lohrwoods, The Quickshifters) and Ryan Weber (The Weber Brothers), who were friends and musical collaborators with Earle, were interviewed on CBC Radio’s Here and Now on Tuesday (July 23).
They discussed the upcoming celebration of life taking place on Sunday (July 28) at the Historic Red Dog in downtown Peterborough — the same venue where, the night before she died, Earle had delivered the final performance of her life.
“Getting the news this had happened was not even 24 hours from the concert that she had just done,” says Weber, who had invited Earle to perform at the weekly music series presented by his and his brother Sam’s music production company.
“Her concert was nothing short of triumphant. She obliterated the room (and received) a standing ovation — I actually call it a jumping ovation because it really was. That’s the kind of performer and singer she was, from her first note it was game over. You could really feel what she felt.”
“After the way that that night went, I thought she’ll be selling out theatres in no time … She was feeling pure joy up on stage and pure joy afterwards. She was really glowing afterwards.”
Earle was best known for her powerful voice, and was particularly fond of singing blues and rhythm and blues in the style of some of the musicians who influenced her, including Etta James, Aretha Franklin, and Tina Turner. She also wrote and sung her own original songs, “reminiscent of the blues and of jazz and folk in a way”, according to Foreman.
In the CBC interview, Weber says Earle’s final performance at the Red Dog was recorded, so the Peterborough music community will be able to come together and “make the album she would have wanted to make with this concert.”
As for Sunday’s celebration of Earle’s life at the Red Dog (189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough), which runs from 1 to 11 p.m., many of the musicians with whom Earle collaborated and performed will be on stage. While there are already set times for those musicians, a sign-up sheet is available so that anyone who wants to perform will have the opportunity.
Charlene Earle as a child and as an adult. (Photo via Facebook)
While the Red Dog event will celebrate Earle’s contributions to Peterborough’s music community, her family and friends are also hosting an event at 7 p.m. on Saturday (July 27) at Confederation Park in downtown Peterborough.
The “ancestral candlelight vigil” will honour and celebrate Earle’s entire life.
“Charlene was a beautiful black woman who always showed up in support of her community whenever needed,” the Facebook event reads. “She was a talented singer painter and all around good human who will be missed greatly by many.”
“This night is about connecting with Charlie’s ancestors, we ask for her safe passage, for her easy rest, for her to never yearn for anything in the afterlife. There will be different performers, rituals, and art pieces done in order to honour her memory. She will know that it is safe to join her ancestors in the afterlife.”
“There will be a space for BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of colour) folx to perform a piece to honour her memory or share a ritual that is traditionally done in your culture to honour a person’s passing, or help them move on to the next life.”
“Please bring candles, flowers, pictures, her paintings or food offerings for her and her ancestors to help aid her in her journey.”
In addition to the vigil, Earle’s mother has set up a crowdfunding campaign so the family can lay Earle’s spirit to rest in British Columbia.
“Our family plans to take Charlene to the top of Mount Albert Edward in BC. She was so proud of that climb. She was on top of the mountain there and that’s where she will be set free.”
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