PedalBoro's 15-passenger party bike received a fair share of attention on Tuesday (July 16) during the bike tour company's inaugural downtown tour from The Olde Stone Brewing Company to the Publican House Brewery before heading to Millennium Park. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW.com)
With a ‘We’re all in this together’ spirit at its centre, PedalBoro unveiled Peterborough’s first party bike on Tuesday (July 16) in downtown Peterborough.
Owned and operated by Hillary Flood and Peter Rellinger, the 15-passenger group pedalling experience went on its inaugural tour, travelling from The Olde Stone Brewing Company on George Street North to The Publican House Brewery on Charlotte Street before heading off to its final stop at Millennium Park.
All along the way, the eco-friendly transportation alternative drew the attention of motorists and pedestrians, many of them taking cellphone photos or offering a friendly wave.
PedalBoro owners and operators Hillary Flood and Pete Rellinger officially unveiled the 15-passenger party bike at the centre of their new business venture on Tuesday (July 16). Offering downtown tours in partnership with local pubs and eateries, PedalBoro offers an eco-friendly transportation alternative for exploring Peterborough’s core. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW.com)
According to Flood, initial PedalBoro tours will take participants to downtown core pubs for pub crawl “brew stops” featuring samplings of their beer, with the plan to expand that offering later this summer to include Dish Crawls to four restaurants for a “progressive” meal.
Current pub crawl partners are The Olde Stone Brewery Company, The Publican House Brewery, Next Door, and The Twisted Wheel.
“It’s kind of a crazy thing to have a spunky ginger pop up in a business and say ‘Hey, I want to bring a party bike here. There will be about 15 of us and, P.S., can you give us beer?'” said Flood.
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“There’s something to be said for our community and how lovingly receptive people are. They (PedalBoro’s partners) saw the value in this. When we work together, we’re able to build a destination eco-system as part of an enviable downtown where people want to be and want to be seen.”
According to Flood, the idea for PedalBoro first evolved about three years ago when she was working as a member of the team organizing Peterborough Pulse.
“We were trying to come up with solutions for getting folks from one end of the (Pulse) route to the other. I was checking out bike taxis and happened upon the party bike. I thought ‘What a wonderful idea’ and the next thing I know I’m thinking about it weekly, and then I’m thinking about it daily.”
“I pitched the idea to my partner. He thought I was crazy at first. Then he saw what I was talking about on the internet and was like ‘Yeah … maybe.’ I’m a contract worker. I was coming into a time when I wasn’t sure what was next, so I thought ‘Let’s do it.'”
ith seating for 15, the PedalBoro party bike was unveiled Tuesday (July 16) outside The Olde Stone Brewing Company on George Street North. Peterborough is now one of just five Canadian cities offering the eco-friendly transportation alternative. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW.com)
Through the Starter Company Plus program offered by the Business Advisory Centre at Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, Flood and Rellinger received mentoring and secured a $4,000 grant for their new venture. In addition, their PedalBoro pitch lifted them to a top-three finalist spot at the 2019 Bear’s Lair Competition, bringing another $1,000 their way.
“We connected to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, got all the support we could hope and dream for, and were able to activate this business in under a year,” noted Flood.
The party bike was manufactured in Europe according to specifications spelled out by Flood and Rellinger — “PedalBoro is a fun and cheeky business so we wanted something that reflects that” — and shipped to Halifax before travelling by train to Toronto and then by truck to Peterborough, a journey that took three weeks.
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With the launch of PedalBoro, Peterborough is just the fifth Canadian city offering the party bike experience, the others being Vancouver, Calgary, London, and Montreal.
“This is something you don’t see in a lot of downtowns … it’s extremely creative and animated and it has the fun factor,” lauded Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) executive director Terry Guiel.
“Kudos to Hillary and Pete for taking on this challenge. So many things are so overdone. Stepping outside the box is what you need to do in order to stand out. This is a perfect example of that. It’s hugely creative. I can’t wait to see the positive spin-offs for businesses because of what they’re doing.”
It was smiles all round Tuesday (July 16) on George Street outside The Olde Stone Brewing Company as participants readied for the inaugural PedalBoro ride. The eco-friendly transportation alternative for exploring Peterborough’s core, owned and operated by Hillary Flood and Pete Rellinger, offers pub and restaurant tours which can be booked online. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW.com)
For her part, Kelly Jessup, corporate marketing officer with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism, said “the immersive experience” PedalBoro offers is something that travellers are looking for, while Mayor Diane Therrien termed the group pedaling concept “super cool,” adding, “I can’t wait for the day when I can join in and have some beers.”
“We want to be that go-to spot where you celebrate milestones,” said Flood, noting the party bike experience is perfect for all get-togethers, from bachelorette parties to workplace team-building functions.
Due to Ontario liquor licensing regulations, no alcohol is permitted on the party bike itself and, as such, isn’t made available. That suits Flood just fine.
“I would much rather showcase the vibrant downtown businesses that are doing what they do best than slap a keg on the bike. It’s a stronger value proposition if we bring new faces into businesses.”
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Full details on PedalBoro’s Pub Crawl, Team Building, Dish Crawl and Private Pub Crawl tour packages are available at www.pedalboro.com where you can also register as an individual or group.
The Pub Crawl and Team Building rides are offered at $40 per person, the Dish Crawl cost is $75 per person, and the Private Pub Crawl tour costs $525 for the group.
The first stop during the inaugural PedalBoro ride held on Tuesday (July 16) was at the Publican House Brewery, where Bailey Brown welcomed participants with a generous, and most appreciated, sampling of the brewery’s products. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW.com)
The Cork & Bean, which opened in downtown Peterborough last fall, is one of several local eateries participating for the first time in the 2019 Paint The Town Red fundraiser for the United Way on Wednesday, July 17th. In all, 35 restaurants, cafes, and pubs will be donating 25 per cent of their net sales to the United Way on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of United Way of Peterborough and District)
Paint The Town Red, where local eateries donate 25 per cent of the day’s net sales to United Way Peterborough & District, returns on Wednesday (July 17).
For the 2019 event, 35 restaurants, cafes, and pubs are participating — the most since the annual fundraiser first began seven years ago, says United Way campaign chair David Goyette.
“I am thrilled be part of Paint the Town Red this year, and even more excited to see restaurants in the County of Peterborough participating for the first time, including Jack’s Restaurant in Lakefield and Rallis Burger Family Restaurant in Bridgenorth.”
Rallis Burger Family Restaurant in Bridgenorth in another restaurant participating for the first time in the 2019 Paint The Town Red fundraiser for the United Way on Wednesday, July 17th. In all, 35 restaurants, cafes, and pubs will be donating 25 per cent of their net sales to the United Way on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of United Way of Peterborough and District)
Since 2013, local businesses participating in the event have donated more than $75,000 to the United Way to support the community; last year’s event raised $16,000.
The event was founded in 2013 by Michael VanDerHerberg when he was co-owner of the popular Silver Bean Café in downtown Peterborough, which is participating in the fundraiser for the seventh straight year.
“When I think of Peterborough, the generous hearts, the passion to be inclusive, and the importance of breaking bread together, I thought it was a perfect partnership to have the restaurant community collaborate with the proud work of United Way in strengthening the place where we live,” VanDerHerberg said after founding the event.
Popular downtown Peterborough cafe The Only is also participating in the 2019 Paint The Town Red fundraiser for the United Way on Wednesday, July 17th. In all, 35 restaurants, cafes, and pubs will be donating 25 per cent of their net sales to the United Way on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of United Way of Peterborough and District)
You can help paint the town red by ordering food on Wednesday, July 17h at one or more of the 35 participating eateries.
While you’re there, make sure to thank the restaurant owners and staff for their generous support of the United Way of Peterborough and District, and share your experience on social media using #PaintPtboRed.
Map of Participating Restaurants
Here’s a map of all 35 restaurants participating in Paint the Town Red on July 17, 2019.
Here’s a list of all 35 restaurants participating in Paint the Town Red on July 17, 2019, with links to their websites and Facebook and Twitter accounts. Please show your appreciation to these supporters of the United Way by visiting their websites and by following them on social media.
Carbonix president and CEO Paul Pede (third from left) and Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef (fourth from left) at an announcement of $3.1 million in federal funding on July 15, 2019 at Trent University for a clean technology pilot project led by Carbonix Inc., a Canadian indigenous technology company, that aims to use resources more efficiently to reduce pollution and water waste. (Photo: Office of Maryam Monsef)
businessNOW™ is the most comprehensive weekly round-up of business and organizational news and events from Peterborough and across the Kawarthas.
Every week, our managing editor collects news and events related to businesses and organizations from across the Kawarthas. If you’d like us to promote your news or event in businessNOW, please email business@kawarthanow.com.
This week’s business and organizational news includes the federal government investing $3.1 million in a clean tech pilot project led by indigenous technology company Carbonix, Peterborough and Northumberland Summer Company student entrepreneurs displaying their businesses at Staples Day on July 10th, and PedalBoro multi-passenger bike tour company about to launch in downtown Peterborough.
Also featured this week are Win This Space winner Sustain Eco Store open for business in downtown Peterborough, cosmetic teeth-whitening spa Illume Room in downtown Peterborough holding its grand opening, the Peterborough Professional Fire Fighters Association donating $5,000 to Hospice Peterborough, the Rotary Club of Peterborough donating $13,000 to Homeward Bound Peterborough, CARSTAR North Group in Lindsay, Haliburton, and Bancroft being named 2019 CARSTAR Canada Franchise Partner of the Year, and award-winning Olympus Burger in Port Hope celebrating its sixth anniversary on July 19th.
New regional business events added this week include the Trent Hills Chamber hosting a seminar on starting a business in Campbellford on July 23rd, Bobcaygeon Chamber hosting a networking event in Bobcaygeon on July 23rd, Port Hope Chamber hosting its Women in Business Breakfast Series in Cobourg on August 6th, FastStart Peterborough hosting a “Goodbye Summer, Hello Entrepreneurship” seminar in Peterborough on August 13th, the Innovation Cluster hosting “Hands-ON: Maintaining Mindfulness as an Entrepreneur” workshops in Peterborough starting on August 14th, and Venture13 hosting The Employer Event in Cobourg on August 20th.
Federal government invests $3.1 million in clean tech pilot project led by indigenous technology company Carbonix
Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef during the indigenous smudging ceremony at the July 15, 2019 announcement at Trent University of $3.1 million in federal funding for Canadian indigenous technology company Carbonix Inc., which is partnering with Trent University and SGS Lakefield to scale up a project that produces tailored activated carbons from sustainably sourced feedstocks and uses them to capture contaminants from industrial waste streams and mine tailings. (Photo: Office of Maryam Monsef
On Monday (July 15) at Trent University in Peterborough, Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, on behalf of Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources Amarjeet Sohi, announced an additional investment of $3.1 million in a clean technology pilot project led by Carbonix Inc., a Canadian indigenous technology company.
Carbonix is partnering with Trent University and SGS Lakefield to scale up a project that produces tailored activated carbons from sustainably sourced feedstocks, such as petroleum coke and wood waste, and uses them to capture contaminants from industrial waste streams and mine tailings. The project aims to accelerate the return of the water used during extraction processes back to the environment and accelerate land restoration.
Carbonix began research and development into the process in 2011. The $3.1 million in funding, which will help Carbonix scale up the process for commercial applications, is in addition to an initial investment of $120,000 provided by Natural Resources Canada’s Indigenous Forestry Initiative and Indigenous Services Canada’s Strategic Partnerships Initiative.
“Carbonix recognizes that Canada is a nation whose backbone of the economy and jobs is founded and largely based on the resource extraction industries of energy, mining and forestry,” says Carbonix president and CEO Paul Pede. “Carbonix supports these industries, and we wish them to flourish. Moreover, as an indigenous company, we wish to support their efforts to return the lands and waters back to their natural state.”
Peterborough and Northumberland Summer Company student entrepreneurs display their businesses at Staples Day on July 10
Staples Peterborough general manager Jeffrey Hopkins and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development entrepreneurship officer Madeleine Hurrell (far right) with Summer Company participants Michael Tucker of Tucker’s Lawn and Order, Samantha Hourie of Travelling Footcare Reflexology, Austin Murray of AGM Academics, Wesley Penney of NuFit Program, Kathir Puvendran of Kip’s Window Cleaning, and Dustyn McCready-DeBruin of Dusty Dives. Missing from the photo is Braeden Pitre of Pitre Property Maintenance. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
Last Wednesday (July 10), start-up businesses owned and operated by seven students in Peterborough and seven students in Northumberland were on display during the annual Summer Company Staples Day at Staples Peterborough and Staples Cobourg.
The Government of Ontario’s Summer Company program — delivered in Peterborough through the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre and in Northumberland through the Business and Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland — connects student entrepreneurs aged 15 to 29 with training, mentorship, and the funding needed to start a summer business.
In Peterborough, the seven student owners and their businesses are:
Dustyn McCready-DeBruin’s Dusty Dives, providing dock repair, underwater weeding, and retrieval dives for missing items.
Kathir Puvendran’s Kip’s Window Cleaning, providing window cleaning including interior and exteriors, window sills, screens, and eavestroughs and vinyl siding.
Braeden Pitre’s Pitre Property Maintenance, providing year-round outdoor services including lawn cutting, weeding, mulching, landscaping, snow removal, sanding and salting, and more.
Wesley Penney’s Nutfit Program, providing high-quality professional workout and fitness programing.
Samantha Hourie’s Travelling Footcare Reflexology, providing mobile foot reflexology to reduce stress, enhance circulation, and normalize metabolism.
Michael Tucker’s Tucker’s Lawn & Order, providing landscaping services focused on assisting seniors with manual labour and landscaping projects.
Austin Murray’s AGM Academics, assisting elementary and high school students with math and science by using incentive and tracking charts and lesson books to track and promote progressive learning.
Acting Northumberland County Warden Bob Sanderson (centre) and Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Kim Rudd (far right) with Summer Company participants Raid Hajhasan, Rohan O’Neill, Ella Scozzari, and Gryphon Nixon-Briard. (Photo courtesy of Northumberland County)
In Northumberland, the seven student owners and their businesses are:
Rohan O’Neill’s Baywater Forge in Campbellford, offering high-quality hand-forged tools specialized and custom made for hunters, anglers, gardeners, and campers.
Ella Scozzari’s neptune2Earth in Campbellford, offering tarot and astrology readings and reports to clients with online and video-based services.
Meaghan Herrington’s Early Morning Relief Milking & Farm Services in Brighton, offering help with various farming tasks such as cow clipping, barn cleaning, relief milking, and other chores.
Shanakay Hall’s S Kay Creative in Cobourg, offering web design, graphic design, and email marketing services to growing businesses and entrepreneurs in Northumberland.
Alexis Needs’s Breathe Safety in Cobourg, providing local small businesses an opportunity to implement health and safety into work environments through descriptive safety manuals.
Raid Hajhasan’s Rapid Raid Car Detailing in Cobourg, providing both interior and exterior auto detailing services.
Gryphon Nixon-Briard’s WeeBoba Bubble Tea in Port Hope, offering bubble tea and pop-up shop experiences at local festivals and events throughout Northumberland.
PedalBoro multi-passenger bike tour company about to launch in downtown Peterborough
PedalBoro, a multi-passenger bike tour company owned and operated by Hillary Flood and Pete Rellinger, is launching this summer in downtown Peterborough. The service will offer a 15-passenger bike to connect residents and tourists to pubs and restaurants in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of PedalBoro)
Hillary Flood and Pete Rellinger are about to launch their multi-passenger bike tour company, which provides an eco-friendly transportation alternative for exploring pubs and restaurants in downtown Peterborough.
Peterborough’s first 15-passenger party bike will be hosting its official unveiling outside the Olde Stone Brewery at a media event on Tuesday (July 16).
With the launch of PedalBoro, Peterborough will become only the fifth city in Canada to host this new form of cycle tourism.
Flood and Rellinger believe the PedalBoro tours will become a powerful economic driver as part of the city’s high-value cycle tourism industry, by connecting residents and tourists alike to Peterborough’s culinary creators and beverage makers.
PedalBoro was one of three finalists in the Goods and Services category of the 2019 Bears’ Lair entrepreneurial competition.
Win This Space winner Sustain Eco Store is now open in downtown Peterborough
Jonathan and Celine MacKay, owners of Sustain in downtown Peterborough, with their children. (Photo: Joon Kim / Peterborough DBIA)
Sustain Eco Store at 418 George Street North in downtown Peterborough is now open for business.
The store is owned and operated by Jonathan and Celine MacKay, who also own an eco-lifestyle retail store in Huntsville. The couple won a free year-long lease to the downtown storefront in Win This Space 2019 entrepreneurial competition.
Sustain sells environmentally friendly products for your home. (Photo: Joon Kim / Peterborough DBIA)
Sustain sells sustainable and non-toxic products that are chosen with careful consideration to their environmental impact.
The MacKays will be holding an official grand opening at a later date, but the store is now open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Cosmetic teeth-whitening spa Illume Room holds grand opening in downtown Peterborough
Illume Room owner and operator Emma Pineo with her family. The cosmetic teeth whitening spa is now open at 414 George Street North in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Illume Room)
Illume Room, Peterborough’s first cosmetic teeth whitening spa, held its grand opening in downtown Peterborough last Thursday (July 11).
Located in the former location of The Spill at 414 George Street North, Illume Room specializes in safe and pain-free instant teeth whitening.
Owned and operated by Emma Pineo, Illume Room was one of the top 10 contestants in the Win This Space 2019 entrepreneurial competition.
Peterborough Professional Fire Fighters Association donates $5,000 to Hospice Peterborough
The Peterborough Professional Fire Fighters Association presents a cheque for $5,000 to Hospice Peterborough in June. (Photo courtesy of Hospice Peterborough)
Members of the Peterborough Professional Fire Fighters Association (PPFFA) have donated $5,000 to Hospice Peterborough.
The donation, which was made in June, has allowed Hospice Peterborough to purchase two specialized mattresses that provide optimal comfort for the organization’s residents at end-of-life.
The new Hospice Peterborough facility, located at 325 London Street, provides palliative care and support services to those who are seriously ill, those who are dying, and those who are grieving.
“We are very fortunate to have such a great organization in our community as Hospice Peterborough,” said PPFFA vice president Jim Woodley. “PPFFA would like to congratulate them on their beautiful new facility. The fire service has a 50 per cent cancer rate and we recognize the importance of palliative care. If we can help provide comfort to those residents who are struggling, it is our honour.”
Rotary Club of Peterborough donates $13,000 to Homeward Bound Peterborough
Rotary Club of Peterborough immediate past president Ken Tremblay (left) and Rotarians and auction co-chairs Amy Simpson and Bruce Gravel auction co-chairs (right) present a cheque for $13,000 to Maisie Watson and Lisa Smith from Homeward Bound Peterborough at the club’s July 8, 2019 meeting at the Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront. (Photo courtesy of Rotary Club of Peterborough)
The Rotary Club of Peterborough has donated $13,000 to Homeward Bound Peterborough.
The funds were raised at the club’s annual dinner and auction fundraiser in January 2019. The Rotary Club of Peterborough will be donating another $13,000 next year, as part of the club’s two-year commitment to Homeward Bound.
Originally developed by WoodGreen Community Services in Toronto, Homeward Bound Peterborough is an innovative wrap-around service helping inadequately housed or homeless mother-led families earn college diplomas, start careers, and achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Homeward Bound Peterborough is a partnership between Peterborough Housing Corporation and YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, funded in part by the federal government’s Department for Women and Gender Equality.
CARSTAR North Group in Lindsay, Haliburton, and Bancroft named 2019 CARSTAR Canada Franchise Partner of the Year
Paul Cross, owner of CARSTAR North Group in Lindsay, Haliburton, and Bancroft, accepting the 2019 CARSTAR Canada Franchise Partner of the Year at CARSTAR’S annual conference in Chicago. (Photo courtesy of CARSTAR North Group)
CARSTAR North Group was named as the 2019 CARSTAR Canada Franchise Partner of the Year at CARSTAR’S annual conference hosted in Chicago on July 10th to 12th.
Owned by Paul Cross, CARSTAR North Group provides collision and glass services at its locations in Lindsay, Haliburton, and Bancroft.
Cross and general manager Sean Martin were on hand in Chicago to accept the award from CARSTAR president Michael Macaluso. In addition to accepting the award, Cross and Martin were invited on-stage for a live question-and-answer session to discuss their achievements and success stories, alongside the CARSTAR US Franchise Partner of the Year Jamie White.
For Canada, the 2019 CARSTAR Canada Franchise Partner of the Year award is based on exponential growth, network leadership, commitment to excellence, strong key performance indicators, and a strong commitment to the CARSTAR brand.
Award-winning Olympus Burger in Port Hope celebrates its sixth anniversary on July 19
Olympus Burger (55 Mill St. S., Port Hope) is celebrating its sixth anniversary on Thursday, July 19th.
The popular restaurant, owned by Giorgos Kallonakis, was named in 2017 as having the best burger in Canada by Canadian Living magazine, and in 2019 as the ninth best burger restaurant out of 50 in Canada by Big 7 Travel.
The celebration on July 19th will feature surprises, specials, giveaways, and cake.
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.
Peterborough Chamber hosts environmental practices seminar in Peterborough on July 17
The next Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Lunch Box Learning seminar takes place from 12 to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17th at the Chamber’s boardroom (175 George St. N., Peterborough).
Rachel Northey of Pinchin will speak on the topic “Environmental Practices to Manage your Property”.
The seminar is free to attend for members of the Chamber and members of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough. Bring your own lunch.
Central Smith Creamery hosting ice cream social fundraiser for PRHC Foundation on July 20
Central Smith Creamery’s “Ice Cream Social” on July 20, 2019 is a fundraiser for PRHC Foundation. (Graphic: Central Smith Creamery / Facebook)
Central Smith Creamery is hosting an ice cream social in support of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 20th at the creamery (739 Lindsay Rd. Selwyn).
The family-friendly event will feature a silent auction, a jumpy castle, games, a BBQ, face painting, an obstacle course, an ice cream eating contest, and an open mic.
All proceeds from the day will be donated to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation.
Trent Hills Chamber hosts seminar on starting a business in Campbellford on July 23
The Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce is hosting “Thinking about starting a business?” from 8 to 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23rd at its offices (51 Grand Rd., Campbellford).
Join Chamber staff for an informative discussion on the things you need to consider before starting up a business.
Bobcaygeon Chamber hosts networking event in Bobcaygeon on July 23
The Bobcaygeon and Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting “Coffee Connection”, a networking event, from 8 to 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23rd at Kawartha Mediums Zen Den (49 King St. E., Bobcaygeon).
The event will feature coffee, networking, and sharing of ideas.
VentureNorth hosts “Celebration of Collaboration BBQ” in Peterborough on July 26
VentureNorth is hosting a “Celebration of Collaboration BBQ” from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, July 26th at the VentureNorth building (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
The business hub in downtown Peterborough is home to various local economic development organizations including the Innovation Cluster, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, and Community Futures Peterborough. Ashburnham Realty, Junior Achievement Peterborough, Lakeland, Muskoka, the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, and the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce will also be participating in the event.
The open house event is an opportunity to learn more about these organizations and more, and will feature a BBQ catered by Franz’s Butcher Shop & Catering with samples from Publican House Brewery, live music from Paper Shakers, and prizes.
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).
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.
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.
Musicians Kate Suhr, Griffin Clark, and Owen Stahn, who are currently starring in Beau Dixon's "Bloom: A Rock 'n' Roll Fable" at 4th Line Theatre, will be performing their own music at 4th Line's Midsummer Night's Music concert at St. Thomas's Anglican Church in Millbrook on July 20, 2019. The line-up also includes fellow performers and musicians Justin Hiscox, Mark Hiscox, and Geoff Hewitson, as well as Melissa Payne, who will be making her 4th Line Theatre debut in "Carmel" in August. (Photo: Wayne Eardley / Brookside Studio).
If you’ve seen 4th Line Theatre’s production of Beau Dixon’s Bloom: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fable, you’ll know that music — particularly the original songs written by Beau Dixon and Dave Tough — figures prominently in the play.
But some of the key roles in the play are also performed by actual musicians, including Kate Suhr, Griffin Clark and Owen Stahn (who have their own Toronto band The Slivers), Justin and Mark Hiscox, and Geoff Hewitson. So 4th Line Theatre has decided to highlight the musical talent in the play in the first of two Midsummer Night’s Music concerts this summer.
The first concert will take place on Saturday, July 20th at St. Thomas’s Anglican Church (16 Centre St., Millbrook), immediately following that evening’s performance of Bloom at the Winslow Farm.
“When we realized the level of musical talent we had at the farm this summer, we knew we had to harness these amazing artists to perform their own music this summer,” says Kim Blackwell, 4th Line Theatre’s managing artistic director and the director of Bloom.
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Described as “an extraordinary and intimate night of music”, doors open at 8:30 p.m. with the concert beginning at 9:30 p.m. There will be a cash bar and snacks.
Along with the aforementioned musicians, the concert will also feature Ennismore musician Melissa Payne, who is making her 4th Line Theatre debut as Audrey Barstow this August in the world premiere of Ian McLachlan and Robert Winslow’s Carmel, the third in the Barnardo children series of plays (Doctor Barnardo’s Children and Wounded Soldiers).
Musician Melissa Payne, who is making her 4th Line Theatre debut in the August world premiere of Ian McLachlan and Robert Winslow’s “Carmel”, will also perform at 4th Line’s Midsummer Night’s Music concert at St. Thomas’s Anglican Church in Millbrook on July 20, 2019. (Publicity photo)
Tickets for the July 20th concert are $15 and can be ordered online at 4thlinetheatre.on.ca and by calling 705-932-4445. Seating is limited. Tickets will also be available at the door on the night of the performance.
Tickets are also available for the second Midsummer Night’s Music concert, taking place on Saturday, August 24th during the run of Carmel. Performers at that concert will be announced closer to the date.
Bloom: A Rock n’ Roll Fable runs from Tuesdays to Saturdays until July 27th at the Winslow Farm near Millbrook, with an additional performance on Monday, July 22nd. Advance tickets can be purchased by phone at 705-932-4445, online at www.4thlinetheatre.ca, at 4th Line Theatre’s box office in Millbrook at 4 Tupper Street and in Peterborough at the Peterborough Museum and Archives at 300 Hunter Street East (atop Armour Hill).
Tickets can also be purchased from 4 to 6 p.m. on performance nights at the Winslow Farm (779 Zion Line, Millbrook) but are subject to availability.
Peterborough wheelchair rugby athlete Cody Caldwell (right) competing in his first Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in 2016. Caldwell is one of 12 athletes selected by Wheelchair Rugby Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee to represent Canada at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games in August. (Photo: Wheelchair Rugby Canada)
Peterborough athlete Cody Caldwell is one of 12 athletes selected by Wheelchair Rugby Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee to represent Canada at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games in August.
Currently ranked fifth in the world, Canada travels to Lima looking to defend its gold medal from the 2015 Parapan American Games in Toronto. Four years ago, the Canadian team defeated arch-rivals the United States 57-54 in the final. Seven members of that team, all of whom are also Paralympians, are returning to the squad. Five players will be making their major games debut.
“The team selection for Lima 2019 has been the hardest process, since Dave (Willsie, assistant coach) and I joined the national team program as coaches,” says head coach Patrick Côté.
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“We are confident that the team we have selected will give us the best chance to succeed, in what will be a difficult competition with highly competitive opponents. Ultimately, our goal is to win gold in Lima, which will automatically qualify Canada for Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.”
Along with Caldwell, the other selected athletes are Patrice Dagenais (Embrun, Ontario), Eric Furtado Rodrigues (Mississauga, Ontario), Trevor Hirschfield (Parksville, B.C.), Mélanie Labelle (St-Hubert, Quebec), Zak Madell (Okotoks, Alberta), Travis Murao (Richmond, B.C.), Benjamin Perkins (North Augusta, Ontario), Patrice Simard (Quebec City, Quebec), Shayne Smith (Toronto, Ontario), Branden Troutman (Lloydminster, Alberta), and Mike Whitehead (Windsor, Ontario).
Caldwell, Dagenais, Hirschfield, Madell, Murao, Simard, and Whitehead are Paralympians who also competed at the 2015 Parapan American Games.
Along with Cody Caldwell, Mike Whitehead (centre) and Trevor Hirschfield (back) are two of the 12 athletes named to the Canadian wheelchair rugby team for the Lima 2019 Parapan Am Games. (Photo: Wheelchair Rugby Canada)
Caldwell began his wheelchair rugby career in 2008 at the age of 20, after becoming a quadriplegic following a diving accident in Alberta. Just a week after his accident, he saw the documentary Murderball and immediately decided to play the wheelchair rugby.
Cody Caldwell competing at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in 2016. (Photo: Wheelchair Rugby Canada)
The former Peterborough Petes AAA goalie and soccer player quickly adapted to the sport and earned himself a strong reputation for his mix of intelligence and speed. It would ultimately lead to Cody making the Canadian national wheelchair rugby team in 2013 and, shortly thereafter, winning gold at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games.
He would go on to participate in his first Paralympic Games in 2016, just missing a medal with Canada finishing fourth. In June, Toyota announced Caldwell as one of 10 Canadian athletes to join Team Toyota, a sponsorship for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
The wheelchair rugby competition in Lima, Peru will begin on Friday, August 23rd and conclude with a gold medal match on Tuesday, August 27th.
Canada will compete in a round-robin against the United States (world No. 2), Brazil (No. 9), Colombia (No. 13), Argentina (No. 20) and Chile (No. 21). The top four teams will then begin a knockout stage, consisting of two semifinals and a final.
The schedule of Canadian games is Canada vs. Argentina on August 23, Canada vs. Brazil and Canada vs. Colombia on August 24, and Canada vs. Chile and Canada vs. USA on August 25. The semifinals will take place on August 26 with the gold and bronze medal games on August 27.
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“Our Canadian team has experience and they are determined, and I have no doubt they will put forth an amazing performance in Peru,” says Stephanie Dixon, chef de mission of the Lima 2019 Canadian Parapan Am Team. “Wheelchair rugby is such a thrilling, fast-paced, and demanding sport and it will definitely be a highlight of the Games.”
If the team wins gold in Lima, Canada will qualify directly for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Any other result means Canada, to qualify for Tokyo, would have to compete at the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation 2020 Paralympic Qualification Tournament and finish in the top two positions.
The Lima 2019 Parapan American Games will take place August 23rd to September 1st in Peru and will surpass Toronto 2015 as the largest Parapan Am Games ever, with a record 1,850 athletes set to participate.
Canada is expecting to send a team of approximately 152 athletes and competition partners in 13 sports. The Canadian Paralympic Committee will announce the official full team heading to the Games later this month.
Vancouver alt-rock trio Said The Whale (Ben Worcester, Jaycelyn Brown, and Tyler Bancroft) are headlining Peterborough Musicfest at Del Crary Park on July 17, 2019 with Peterborough alt-rock quintet and 2019 Peterborough Folk Festival Emerging Artist Paper Shakers opening. (Publicity photo)
There’s something to be said for throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks.
Peterborough Musicfest presents Said The Whale with Paper Shakers (opener)
When: Wednesday, July 17, 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.
Long before Vancouver-based indie alt-rock band Said The Whale became a Juno Award-winning chart-topping sensation, high school pals Tyler Bancroft and Ben Worcester threw stuff at the wall in the form of what they recall as an “exploratory songwriting experiment.”
From that trial by error venture, good things flowed in the form of Said The Whale’s formation in 2007 and the band’s debut album Taking Abalonia.
Originally a quintet — bassist Nathan Shaw and drummer Spencer Schoening left the band in recent years — Said The Whale’s current configuration features guitarists Bancroft and Worcester alongside keyboardist Jaycelyn Brown, but the trio’s “big-hearted” layered sound remains anything but downsized.
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On Wednesday, July 17th at Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough, Peterborough Musicfest welcomes Said The Whale to the Fred Anderson Stage, with Peterborough’s own alt-rockers Paper Shakers opening. Admission to the 8 p.m. concert is free.
Arriving in Peterborough on the heels of the February release of its sixth studio album Cascadia, Said The Whale’s music continues to highlight the contrast between Bancroft’s eclectic rock influences and Worcester’s folksiness, the two distinct styles coming together to form the band’s distinctive harmony-infused sound. Lyrically, references to water and mountains abound, an indication that, while the band has come far, home is always close.
Following that initial release in 2007, three albums — Islands Disappear (2009), Little Mountain (2012), and hawaiii (2013) — cemented Bancroft and Worcester’s reputation as exceptional songwriters.
VIDEO: “Heavy Ceiling” – Said The Whale
VIDEO: “Mother” – Said The Whale
VIDEO: “I Love You” – Said The Whale
The singles “Heavy Ceiling”, “Mother”, and “I Love You” charted high on the Canadian alt-rock chart with the latter nailing down the #1 spot. In the midst of that productive run was validation from the Canadian music industry in the form of New Group of the Year honours at the 2011 Juno Awards.
Come 2017 and the release of Said The Whale’s fifth album, As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide, Bancroft and Worcester were in a different place due to personal losses, the result being lyrics that were thematically heavier than anything written prior. Still, the music arrangements still feature the trademark layered sound and soaring melodies that the band is known for.
More notably, As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide heralded a revival of the spontaneous creative process that Bancroft and Worcester heavily relied on when they first started making music together, the duo freely experimenting with sound without any expectations. That “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach worked well as three songs from that album — “Step Into Darkness”, “I Will Follow You”, and “Nothing Makes Me Happy” — performed well on the Canadian alt-rock chart.
VIDEO: “Step Into The Darkness” – Said The Whale
VIDEO: “I Will Follow You” – Said The Whale
VIDEO: “UnAmerican” – Said The Whale
“We started booking studio time with the idea that Ben and I wanted to work together as we had always done, but we also weren’t going to be upset if this ended up being just two solo records,” says Bancroft in a March 2017 interview with Yasmine Shemesh of Daily Hive Vancouver.
“Just going in with just the express goal of making every song as good as it could be I guess somehow resulted in the most cohesive record we’ve ever made.”
“I like to think that we’ve grown as songwriters. Songwriting is a craft that nobody, I think, can perfect and so, for that reason, it’s exciting. You’re always trying to better yourself and write a song that makes you feel more and is more enjoyable to perform and more enjoyable to write. I think we’ve embraced collaboration more than we ever have in the past.”
The recently released Cascadia has already produced two singles: “UnAmerican” and “Record Shop”, the former peaking at #9 on the Canadian rock chart.
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Opener: Paper Shakers
David St. Pierre, Jack Sole, Whitney Hall, Michael Hall, and Luke Benjamin are the members of Peterborough alt-rockers Paper Shakers. (Photo: Paper Shakers)
Peterborough band Paper Shakers is already having quite the summer.
Less than a month after being announced as the opener for Said The Whale at Peterborough Musicfest — a relative rarity for a local band — the alt-rock quintet was also announced as the recipient of the Peterborough Folk Festival’s 18th annual Emerging Artist award.
Previous recipients of the prestigious award include Serena Ryder, James Mckenty, Missy Knott, and Beau Dixon.
VIDEO: “Mona Lisa – Paper Shakers
VIDEO: “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac performed by Paper Shakers
Formed in 2017 by Michael Hall and Whitney Hall, the other members of Paper Shakers are Jack Sole, Luke Benjamin, and David St. Pierre. The band has become known for consistently delivering dynamic performances of energetic alt-rock anthems that hook audiences with a heart-thumping beat, including the singles “Mona Lisa” and “Don’t Stop”.
If you miss Paper Shakers at Musicfest, the band will also be performing at the VentureNorth open house and BBQ in downtown Peterborough on July 26th, at The Hootenanny on Hunter Street in downtown Peterborough on August 10th, and at the Peterborough Folk Festival at Nicholls Oval Park the following weekend.
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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.
Between July 14 and 15 in 2004, as many as 240 mm (9.5 inches) of rain fell on Peterborough, with much of the rain falling in a five-hour period on July 15. In all, 14 billion litres of rain fell on Peterborough in a single day: the same amount of water that flows over Niagara Falls in about 40 minutes.
It was 15 years ago today (July 15, 2019) that Peterborough experienced what has become known as the Great Peterborough Flood.
From the evening of Wednesday, July 14, 2004 to the morning of Thursday, July 15, 2004, as many as 240 millimetres (9.5 inches) of rain fell in Peterborough, with much of it falling within a five-hour period on the morning of July 15th.
In all, 14 billion litres of rain fell on Peterborough in a single day — the same amount of water that flows over Niagara Falls in about 40 minutes.
Due to the flood waters, 25 people who were trapped in or on cars needed to be rescued.
The origins of the 2004 Peterborough flood came from a weather system in Alberta three days before. On Sunday, July 11, 2004, the City of Edmonton experienced a small but spectacular storm that dumped more than 150 mm of rain in parts of the city in less than an hour.
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Mud and water poured down streets and through windows. A record flash flood washed out roads, filled underpasses, flooded basements, turned streets into rivers and intersections into lakes. Enormous water pressure in the sewer system blew hundreds of manhole covers into the sky.
That same storm system slowly worked its way east across Canada, travelling 2,700 kilometres until it reached Peterborough on Wednesday, July 14th. There, fed by cool air from the north and moist air from the south, the system produced intense rainstorms that began on Wednesday evening and continued for five hours during the early morning hours of Thursday, July 15th.
Organizations such as the Peterborough Public Library, the Peterborough Museum and Archives, and Artspace and the Peterborough Arts Umbrella (pictured here) experienced significant flood damage.
The amount of rain that fell on Peterborough during the storm varies, from 100 mm (4 inches) recorded at the Peterborough Airport to 240 mm (9.5 inches) recorded at Trent University. Much of the rain fell in less than five hours early Thursday morning, with 78.8 mm (3 inches) falling between 3:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. alone.
Peterborough’s drain and sewer system was unable to cope with that much storm water. Normally, the city’s sewage system deals with about 1.3 million gallons per day; during the storm, the sewage treatment plant measured a peak flow of 7 million gallons of waste water.
At the time of the storm, over 80 per cent of the pipes in the city’s storm water system were undersized and didn’t meet modern standards (some had been built in the prior century), creating bottlenecks in moving the flood water.
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Downtown Peterborough, where the rainfall was concentrated, consists of largely impervious paved surfaces, including streets that are not well designed to convey flood water over land. In addition, groundwater that seeped into cracked or misaligned sewer pipes created excess water in the system, leading to back-ups and basement flooding.
It was the perfect storm for a perfect storm. The city’s sewer system couldn’t deal with the volume of water, resulting in sudden and severe flooding.
“As I neared downtown — one of the low-lying areas of a city built around seven hills — it became apparent all was not well,” recalled Peterborough broadcaster and author Gordon Gibb in a story he wrote for the Toronto Star, as he travelled to the former Kruz FM’s newsroom in downtown Peterborough on the morning of the flood. “There were small lakes where the pavement was supposed to be, confusing traffic and causing a few people to abandon their cars.”
The newsroom of the former Kruz FM a week after the 2004 Peterborough flood. (Photo: Brian Ellis)
“My own destination turned out to be one of the worst-hit areas. King Street crosses over Jackson Creek, which had swelled into the thoroughfare, adding to the chaos. My four-wheel-drive Jeep, in spite of a healthy ground clearance, proved no match for the water, leaving me to wade against a raging river that, until an hour before, had been a city street.”
“Grabbing light standards along the sidewalk for support, I made my way to the entrance of our ground-floor offices, and began to digest the seriousness of the situation. I have seen floods before, the result of a sudden and dramatic rainfall. But this was something else again. This was a disaster movie, unfolding before my very eyes.”
Peterborough’s Fire Department was inundated with calls from across the entire city, ranging from flooded basements to fire alarms. City utility and social services were overburdened with responding to the consequences of the flooding.
Peterborough’s Fire Department was inundated with calls from across the entire city, ranging from flooded basements to fire alarms.
The City of Peterborough declared a state of emergency after the storm, which stayed in effect for two weeks. Many city staff worked 18- to 20-hour days until the state of emergency was lifted on July 29th.
Here are some interesting facts about the impact of the flood:
171 long-term care residents were evacuated from Extendicare Nursing Home to the Evinrude Centre
500 homes and businesses had hydro meters pulled from flooded basements
Hundreds of flood-damaged water heaters required replacement
1,000 homes had gas lines disconnected
498 electrical systems were disconnected
There were 28 motor vehicle accidents
The city issued emergency clothing to more than 1,300 people and emergency food to more than 1,000 households
The Salvation Army served over 10,000 meals
Firefighters pumped out over 1,868 basements, garages, and backyards
25 people who were trapped in or on cars needed to be rescued
Cleaning up flood-related garbage and debris was a major undertaking. Around 12,500 tons of materials were placed in the landfill in the two weeks following the flood (four times the normal amount)
Both the Peterborough Public Library and the adjoining Peterborough Museum and Archives were flooded, with 10 per cent of documents, photographs, and negatives in the conservation area and storage vault under water for 24 hours.
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In the end, the flood resulted in $95 million in insured losses in Peterborough, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. Overtime and expenses for city staff responding to the flood amounted to $1.4 million.
Costs of repairs and restoration (including roads, bridges, culverts, buildings, and the Museum photo archives) equalled $21 million. In addition, the Province of Ontario provided $25 million for emergency repair and restoration costs for city infrastructure. The amount of revenue and productivity that businesses and residents lost because of the flood can only be estimated.
The flood also resulted in significant damage to area roads.
Making matters worse, the 2004 flood came only 25 months after another major flood in June 2002, when Peterborough suffered through a severe summer storm that generated more than 70 mm (3 inches) of rain in a 24-hour period. Many Peterborough residents and business owners had just recovered from damages caused by the 2002 flood when they were hit again by the 2004 flood.
Shortly after the 2004 flood, the City of Peterborough hired UMA Engineering Ltd. (now known as AECOM Ltd.) to prepare a Flood Reduction Master Plan (FRMP). Since the completion of the plan in 2005, the city has undertaken a series of studies to assess vulnerability and has begun to take action, updating stormwater management designs and infrastructure to protect the city from future flooding damage.
Following the flood, the city completed numerous projects, including studies recommended by the FRMP, diversion projects, storm sewer retrofits, and culvert replacements.
Around 12,500 tons of materials were placed in the landfill in the two weeks following the flood (four times the normal amount).
In addition to upgrading infrastructure, the city offered financial incentives to encourage the disconnection of foundation drains from the sanitary sewer system, use of rain barrels, and the installation of backwater valves in previously affected areas.
For more information on how the City of Peterborough now prepares for flooding, and mitigates the potential for flooding, visit the Emergency Services – Flooding and Water and Sewers – Flood Reduction pages on the city’s website, with the latter including information about the city’s Flood Reduction Subsidy Program and Flood Reduction Master Plan.
All photos courtesy of City of Peterborough Emergency & Risk Management Division except where noted.
As more and more people retire and join clubs and groups with people who share the same interests, they also discover they want and have the time to travel with like-minded friends. DeNureTours of Lindsay can plan and design a customized tour tailored to the needs of your specific group. (Supplied photo)
Who wouldn’t want to travel with a group of like-minded people? It’s an opportunity to make a social connection and share the excitement of discovering a new destination or a new culture with people you share common interests with.
A rising travel trend, customized tours are planned and designed with the thoughts and needs of a specific group in mind. It ensures a group will get an exclusive, unique experience while participating in the planning stages.
“We have discovered that people are retiring, joining community groups like PROBUS clubs, book clubs, quilting groups, et cetera, and realizing that they want and have time to travel with like-minded friends,” says Mandy Morrison, Groups Travel Specialist with DeNureTours of Lindsay.
This is where DeNureTours steps in. The Groups Department at DeNureTours was established after realizing there was a need for people who wanted to travel with their clubs on unique tours, and who had specific itinerary requests.
Since 2005, DeNureTours has been creating custom group tours — for as few as eight people to as many as 56 — with itineraries wholly tailored to special interest parties, tour leaders, church groups, schools, and groups of family and friends.
Since 2005, DeNureTours has been creating custom group tours with itineraries wholly tailored to special interest parties, tour leaders, church groups, schools, and groups of family and friends. Pictured is a group of students from St. Paul Catholic Secondary School touring the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in Vancouver, B.C. (Supplied photo)
“We work with a lot of groups — many who are loyal, repeat customers — who want everything customized,” Morrison says, noting the company has had requests from guests who have wanted to do everything from hiking in Newfoundland and seeing whales in Saguenay, to participating in music festivals and visiting charming villages and sights of the Eastern Townships in Quebec — including a literary tour inspired by author Louise Penny.
“If a group leader comes to us and asks for something that is unique and special for their group, we work together with them on what the group wants to do within their budget, the theme of the trip, and if they want an upscale tour or a budget-friendly tour.”
The DeNureTours team fully immerses themselves into a tour and takes pride in researching all aspects of an itinerary.
“When the request came in to customize a Louise Penny Tour, we started reading her novels to understand how her fans think and to discover ideas that we could include that would bring Ms. Penny’s work to life,” Morrison explains.
DeNureTours has designed custom tours for groups that have wanted to do everything from hiking in Newfoundland and seeing whales in Saguenay, to participating in a music festivals and visiting charming villages and sights of the Eastern Townships in Quebec. (Supplied photo)
She notes that, for the past nine years, DeNureTours has worked with multiple school boards in the Peterborough and Kawarthas region on a range of tours for elementary and high school students, and has taken students to destinations throughout Canada, the US, and Europe.
“We do plenty of research around the school’s curriculum to make sure the tour is relevant and fun,” Morrison points out. “I think what makes us popular with the schools is that we really work with a select few who have gotten to know us, and we pay attention to the details.”
A student group on a custom tour to Washington, D.C. For school trips, DeNureTours pays attention to the details, including reviewing the school’s curriculum to ensure the tour is both relevant and fun. (Supplied photo)
Testimonials
“I have said this to many people, that my biggest regret about DeNure is that I didn’t find them years ago for all our other band trips. The planning and attention to detail makes for a stress free trip for me.” – St. Peter Catholic Secondary School
“The tour was a success due to your professional support through the planning and execution of their visit. The result of your hard work has given the delegation an amazing Canadian experience they will not forget” – Co-Chairs of the Canada Korea Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group
Morrison provides an example of this attention to detail from a past tour.
“We found a prestigious music school in Paris, who paired up with one of the local schools with the idea that each school would perform individually, as well as learn one song that both schools would perform together. When the two bands came together as one, the performance was magical.”
When planning a trip, every detail is important to DeNureTours as it is for your group. You can travel hassle-free knowing that a DeNureTours representative has taken care of the initial logistics and scheduling, and are on-hand to ensure that everything runs to plan — leaving your group to rest easy as you travel.
With 60 years of tour planning under their belt, DeNureTours seeks out unique tourism experiences in destinations throughout Britain, Europe, and North America.
“We’ve got a great reputation and we really try to exceed people’s expectations,” says Morrison.
Customize your group tour, your way
Easy, effortless and memorable is how all experiences of coordinating a group tour should be, states DeNure’s website. Here are few steps to get you planning.
Choose your experience
Choose from one of DeNureTours’ tour itineraries or create something unique that is customized to your group’s needs. Select a date that works for you, and leave the small details of organizing a trip to DeNureTours while you retain full control of the itinerary details.
Whatever your interests are (from hobbies to hiking) or your trip duration is (one day or a week), DeNureTours can work with you to plan the best trip possible within your group budget.
With 60 years of tour planning under their belt, DeNureTours seeks out unique tourism experiences in destinations throughout Britain, Europe, and North America. Your group can travel hassle-free knowing that a DeNureTours representative has taken care of the initial logistics and scheduling, and are on-hand to ensure that everything runs to plan. (Supplied photo)
Recruit travellers
DeNureTours will help set you up for success by creating your flyers, itineraries, and any other promotional materials to advertise your tour.
A DeNureTours representative can even meet with your group for a presentation.
Have an exclusive, intimate experience
Once your group is on tour, an expert DeNureTours tour director and experienced driver will take care of all the details, which means your only responsibility is to sit back, enjoy the adventure, and make memories.
Interested in designing your own group itinerary? You have so many possibilities when it comes to custom travel planning — whether you want to include excursions into an existing tour or dream up an entirely new itinerary.
DeNureTours also offers negotiated group rates in all the destinations where they operate.
DeNureTours Ltd. is located at 71 Mount Hope Street in Lindsay. For more information, call toll-free 1-866-967-9909, email info@denuretours.com, or visit denuretours.com. You can also follow DeNureTours on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
This story was created in partnership with DeNureTours.
Kawartha Montessori School (KMS) is an independent not-for-profit school, located at 2247 Burnham Line, a short drive from downtown Peterborough. Established in 1982, KMS is different from a traditional school, as it is fully committed to the Montessori Method, a scientifically proven educational philosophy founded in the early 20th century by Maria Montessori. (Supplied photo)
A young girl sits next to a mat on the floor, focused intently on a complex math question using Montessori materials to complete her answer. At a table, a small group of boys practice cursive handwriting while talking quietly. Across the room, a teacher works one-on-one with a student. There’s a quiet “hum” of activity as the children move freely throughout the Lower Elementary classroom.
This calm, well-ordered environment is a glimpse into the world of Kawartha Montessori School (KMS).
The independent not-for-profit school, located at 2247 Burnham Line, a short drive from downtown Peterborough, looks different from a traditional school.
The school’s non-traditional classrooms are well prepared for learning. Open spaces and circular tables promote independence and student collaboration. The furniture is carefully and thoughtfully arranged, creating a comfortable learning atmosphere. There are no blackboards onsite, and no computers in the Casa and Lower Elementary (up to Grade 3) classrooms.
Students in Upper Elementary and Middle School (Grades 4 to 8) use computers moderately for research, but respect the school’s culture — which is absent of phones, tablets and other personal screens. Each classroom has a door that opens to the school’s 10-acre property.
In the classrooms at Kawartha Montessori School, objects that might seem arbitrary serve a specific purpose and are central to the curriculum. The founder of the Montessori educational method, Maria Montessori spent years designing and perfecting the materials that are now requirements of an authentic Montessori classroom. These experiential materials are the first part of any lesson: teaching a student a particular concept. For example, blocks of different shapes and sizes can be used during a geometry lesson. (Supplied photo)
Unlike a conventional classroom curriculum that focuses on children all learning the same thing in the same way and at the same time, the Montessori curriculum emphasizes learning as an individualized process — not determined by a child’s age, but rather by exactly where they are academically and socially. This approach provides each child with an opportunity to excel at their own pace.
This is why it’s not uncommon to see multi-age groups in authentic Montessori classrooms at KMS, where the children are encouraged to interact and learn from one another. Older kids often help younger ones learn new skills.
Montessori environments are purposefully designed to foster concentration, collaboration, imagination, and community, explains Ugette Vanderpost, the school’s principal for the past 14 years.
“The small class sizes, along with group and one-on-one lessons, foster a child’s learning development in our indoor and outdoor classroom spaces. It’s all been created intentionally.”
The Montessori education at KMS is offered at the Casa (Pre-school, Junior Kindergarten and Senior Kindergarten), Elementary (Grades 1 to 6), and Middle School (Grades 7 and 8) levels, with each classroom having multiple highly trained, educated, and experienced teachers.
Each level is grounded in the guiding principles of order, respect, responsibility, and freedom within limits.
Students of Kawartha Montessori School during a camping trip. In the Montessori educational philosophy, the outdoor classroom is just as important as the indoor prepared environment. Research shows outdoor learning and outdoor free play is important during a child’s education. (Supplied photo)
The goal of a Montessori education is to encourage a child’s desire to be independent and to develop their confidence socially and emotionally while learning at their own pace. Lessons are taught individually or in small groups where the teachers — called “guides” — can assess the individual needs of a student continuously.
Various materials adorn the classroom shelves. Objects that might seem arbitrary serve a specific purpose and are central to the curriculum.
The founder of the Montessori educational method, Maria Montessori spent years designing and perfecting the materials that are now requirements of an authentic Montessori classroom. These experiential materials are the first part of any lesson: teaching a student a particular concept. For example, blocks of different shapes and sizes can be used during a geometry lesson.
“There is meaning behind everything in the classroom,” explains Kristi MacMillan, Director of Admissions and Communication at Kawartha Montessori School. “Montessori educates the whole child, including emotional, physical, and intellectual well-being. At KMS we are committed to Montessori — fully. We believe with an authentic Montessori education we are preparing students to be capable, compassionate citizens in the world.”
Learning strategies are also a key aspect of the curriculum at KMS. Guides teach organization, time management, goal setting, and good work habits. There is also a strong focus on fostering multisensory learning and curiosity. These are important components of self-directed learning.
Montessori views class time as an opportunity for students to pursue ideas and subjects that interest them for long, uninterrupted blocks of time. It’s about what the student is learning, not what the teacher is telling them, explains MacMillan.
“One of the fundamental Montessori philosophies is to follow the child. If a child loves dinosaurs, we can guide them toward lessons or materials that provide geography context for example, or we can show them how to classify dinosaurs according to a period of time. If a child is really interested in this topic, we’re going to explore that with them. It’s called structured freedom. There is a misconception about Montessori that there isn’t a set curriculum, but there absolutely is.”
Maria Montessori, founder of the Montessori Method, believed that nature plays a critical role in the education of children. Kawartha Montessori School sits on 10-acres of beautiful natural space, including a wetland, and is surrounded by trees and adjacent to the 100-acres of Mark S. Burnham Provincial Park, just a few steps away. Outside each classroom, there’s an outdoor learning environment which is part of the work cycle. Students can move freely between the outdoor space and indoor space. (Supplied photo)
Kawartha Montessori School was established in 1982. After 33 years of growing, they had an incredible opportunity to move to a campus like no other. Ten acres of beautiful natural space, including a wetland, is surrounded by trees and is adjacent to the 100 acres of the Mark S. Burnham Provincial Park, just a few steps away.
The newly renovated building is aesthetically appealing, with light-filled classrooms and contemporary designs, including a beautiful student kitchen. Inside and out, the campus creates the perfect atmosphere for curiosity and learning.
“The outdoor classroom is just as important as the indoor prepared environment,” explains MacMillan. “Maria Montessori asked, ‘Why would you ever look at something in a book when you could see it in nature?'”
“There is a lot of research showing how important outdoor learning and outdoor free play is for children,” adds Emily Root, who will be replacing Vanderpost as incoming head of school and principal in September. “Outside each classroom, there’s an outdoor learning environment which is part of the work cycle; students can move freely between the outdoor space and indoor space.”
Inside, the classrooms are airy, well-lit spaces for teaching and learning. Near the main entrance is a library and specialist room where the students are taught a range of subject areas such as music, art, and French.
At the core of the school is a large, bright, inspected kitchen where a daily cooking program teaches middle school students (Grades 7 and 8) “practical life skills,” notes Vanderpost. Each week, head chefs and their team of sous chefs plan and execute a lunch program.
“We encourage the students to think about budget, the environmental footprint, healthy food, as well as diet restrictions and allergies,” says Root.
The middle school students are also responsible for taking stock of the kitchen, picking food items up at the grocery store, and cooking nutritious meals for all students in their class — every day.
“I’ve seen them cook stir fry, roast salmon with potatoes, mac and cheese, and even lasagna from scratch,” adds Root. The kitchen is also well-used by other grades during the Casa Cooks program, and Lower Elementary class’s Pancake Day, for example.
Montessori environments are purposefully designed to foster concentration, collaboration, imagination, and community. Small class sizes, along with group and one-on-one lessons, foster a child’s learning development in the indoor and outdoor classroom spaces at Kawartha Montessori School. (Supplied photo)
Another part of the middle school curriculum is called micro-economies. It is an integrated hands-on experience that combines math, culture, social studies, and business.
This school year, students created a small café and were tasked with testing recipes, designing a menu, creating prices, and staffing a coffee counter twice a week for parents to purchase beverages and food. The money raised from the business is either put back into to further develop the business or put towards school excursions and field trips, which are designed and coordinated by the students.
One of the fundamental Montessori philosophies is to follow the child. At Kawartha Montessori School, class time as an opportunity for students to pursue ideas and subjects that interest them for long, uninterrupted blocks of time. It’s about what the student is learning, not what the teacher is telling them. This approach to the set curriculum is called “structured freedom”. (Supplied photo)
Today, the Montessori method has grown to be among the most popular forms of early childhood and adolescent education, attracting many families and inspiring many educators across the globe.
Since 1982, Kawartha Montessori School has been the only accredited Montessori school in the Peterborough region. The accreditation process is rigorous and the requirements must be met each year.
Montessori accreditation is not a membership that can be purchased, nor can practices be partial; each teacher must be trained at an accredited institute, each classroom must have the complete set of Montessori materials, work cycles must be honoured, and classes must be grouped in multi-ages.
Only schools meeting all requirements are acknowledged as providing an authentic Montessori education. Accreditation is completed every five years through the Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators (CCMA).
Kawartha Montessori School can accommodate children two-and-a-half to 14 years of age. Most of the 19 staff members, many who have been there between 15 and 30 years, have multiple degrees or diplomas and extensive lived experience, which elevates the quality of classroom education.
Staff members bring a diverse variety of skills with backgrounds in athletics, history, music, outdoor education, communication, child development, and languages, notes Vanderpost.
“Our staff members are deeply committed to this place; the school is of the highest quality because of that.”
There are about 964 Montessori schools across Canada, with 535 in Ontario alone, among some 22,000 in the world.
The Montessori educational philosophy was founded by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori, pictured here in Rome in 1913, the same year she ran the first international training course in the Montessori Method in response to many requests from all over the world, particularly the United States. (Public domain photo)
The program follows the philosophy of founder Maria Montessori, the first female to graduate from medical school in Italy. In 1907, working in a poor part of Rome, she opened a “children’s house” and built a school program on the idea that all children learn by working independently.
This Montessori Method, now more than 100 years old, remains one of the most scientifically proven education methods and is still highly relevant today.
“We’re using the same materials that Doctor Montessori developed over 100 years ago,” explains Vanderpost. “The fundamental curriculum teaches a process of learning that remains current in today’s changing world. That in and of itself should be proof that we don’t need to augment it. The authentic part is articulated in that manner.”
If you’re interested in Kawartha Montessori School for your child, you are welcome to visit the school for a tour.
“It’s important for families to see the school for themselves to fully appreciate what we do and how committed we are to educating children,” says MacMillan, who conducts the school tours and classroom observations.
Admission into the Casa, Elementary, or Middle School programs can begin at any time during the year at Kawartha Montessori School.
The beach at the Selwyn Beach Conservation Area. (Photo: Township of Selwyn)
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 update it throughout the week as conditions change.
As of July 18, 2019, the following beaches have been posted as unsafe for swimming:
Omemee Beach – City of Kawartha Lakes
Bewdley Beach – Northumberland County
Harwood Beach – Northumberland County
and the following beach has been closed:
Port Hope Beach East (closed) – 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 16 – SAFE
Beavermead (2011 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough) – sample date July 16 – SAFE
Peterborough County Beaches (sampled weekly)
Back Dam Beach (902 Rock Rd., Warsaw, Township of Douro-Dummer) – sample date July 15 – SAFE
Buckhorn (John Street, Buckhorn) – sample date July 16 – SAFE
Crowe’s Line Beach (240 Crowe’s Line Rd, Harvey) – sample date July 16 – SAFE
Curve Lake Lance Woods Park (Chemong St S, Curve Lake) – sample date July 16 – SAFE
Curve Lake Henry’s Gumming (Whetung St E, Curve Lake) – sample date July 16 – SAFE
Douro (205 Douro Second Line, Douro-Dummer) – sample date July 15 – SAFE
Ennismore (1053 Ennis Road, Ennismore) – sample date July 15 – SAFE
Hiawatha (1 Lakeshore Rd, Hiawatha) – sample date July 16 – SAFE
Jones Beach (908 Jones Beach Road, Bridgenorth) – sample date July 15 – SAFE
Lakefield Park (100 Hague Boulevard, Lakefield) – sample date July 15 – SAFE
Norwood (12 Belmont St, Norwood) – sample date July 15 – SAFE
Sandy Lake (1239 Lakehurst Road, Municipality of Trent Lakes) – sample date July 16 – SAFE
Selwyn (2251 Birch Island Road, Selwyn) – sample date July 15 – SAFE
Squirrel Creek Conservation Area (2445 Wallace Point Rd, South Monaghan) – sample date July 16 – SAFE
Warsaw Caves (289 Caves Rd, Warsaw) – sample date July 15 – 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
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City of Kawartha Lakes
Bexley Township Area
Blanchard’s Road Beach – to come
Bobcaygeon Area
Beach Park – to come
Riverview Beach Park – to come
Eldon Township Area
Centennial Park West – to come
Emily/Omemee Area
Omemee Beach – POSTED
Fenelon Falls Area
Birch Point – to come
Bond Street – OPEN
Sturgeon Point Beach – to come
Laxton Township Area
Head Lake – to come
Norland Bathing Area – to come
Mariposa Township Area
Valentia Beach (aka Sandbar Beach) – to come
Somerville Township Area
Burnt River Beach – Somerville – to come
Burnt River Four Mile Lake – to come
Verulam Township Area
Centennial Beach – to come
Verulam Recreational Park – to come
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Haliburton County
Algonquin Highlands Area
Dorset Parkette – to come
Elvin Johnson Park (aka Stanhope Beach) – to come
Dysart et al Area
Eagle Lake Beach – OPEN
Haliburton Lake South Bay – to come
Sand Point (aka Indian Point) – to come
Pine Lake Beach – to come
Sandy Cove Beach – to come
Silver Lake (aka Kashawigamog Lake) – to come
Highlands East Area
Gooderham Beach – to come
Paudash Lake Beach – to come
Lake Wilbermere Beach – to come
Glamour Lake Beach – to come
Minden Hills Area
Bissett Beach – to come
Forsters Beach – to come
Little Horseshoe Lake Beach – to come
Minden Rotary Lagoon Beach – to come
Minden Rotary Main Beach – to come
Twelve Mile Lake Beach – to come
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Northumberland County
Brighton Area
Cedardale – OPEN
Little Lake – OPEN
Campbellford Area
Crowe Bay Fun Park – OPEN
Hastings North – OPEN
Hastings South – OPEN
Seymour Conservation Area – OPEN
Port Hope/Cobourg Area
Bewdley Beach – POSTED
Harwood Beach – POSTED
Port Hope Beach East – CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO SEWAGE SPILL
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