The Ear Depot owner and operator Brenda Cowan with team member Matt Paige celebrating the 2019 Consumer Choice Award for business excellence, awarded to small and medium-sized businesses in Canada based on an in-depth consumer evaluation process. The Ear Depot's customer-first focus has been key to the success of the independent hearing centre, which now has locations in Peterborough, Bancroft, Barry's Bay, Peterborough, and Marmora. (Supplied photo)
When Brenda Cowan opened the sealed envelope announcing her business had won the Consumer Choice Award, she was truly amazed by the news and she was deeply moved that so many people had taken the time to support her growing business, The Ear Depot.
The Ear Depot is the only business in the Kawarthas region to win a 2019 Consumer Choice Award for business excellence.
“I mean, I didn’t enter the contest,” Brenda laughs. “I had no idea this had happened.”
Once the news sunk in and Brenda knew it was real, she took it as one more sign that helping people hear every conversation, better, is something she’s really good at.
Brenda owns and operates the Ear Depot, an independent hearing centre with locations in Bancroft, Barry’s Bay, Peterborough, and now also in Marmora. The business is thriving and growing — something Brenda attributes to trusting and empowering her team to deliver the best in technology and customer service.
“I was seeing that there was a lack of that old-fashioned service,” Brenda explains. “This is not just about the technology. We have the technology but without building a real relationship, there’s something missing.”
Hearing aid technology is challenging, and the device is only as good as the fine tuning that goes into it. And, according to Brenda, the fine tuning is a combination of understanding the technology and understanding the client’s needs.
Brenda works with her team to develop insightful and understanding relationships with each client. If they know where the client lives, what they do with their time, the different environments the client is going to need to hear in and have conversations in, that’s when the Ear Depot can make a significant difference in someone’s life.
“This all comes from within,” Brenda says. “You need to have that compassion for the client, and I love connecting people with people.”
Brenda Cowan began helping people return to healthy hearing in 1982 as a Hearing Instrument Specialist, and opened her own practice in 1991. Now, 28 years later, she and her team at The Ear Depot serve the communities of Peterborough, Bancroft, Barry’s Bay, and Madoc. (Supplied photo)
Clients at the Ear Depot feel that connection from the moment they call to book an appointment, or when they walk through the door at any of the clinics. Each team member has been carefully selected by Brenda because of their ability to make that connection.
“It’s in their heart, it’s in their eyes — you can’t fake that,” Brenda says. “This is what we hear from clients. This is what they feel.”
And when people have trouble hearing, they have already lost that special connection with others.
The first impression is huge for Brenda and her team. She insists that it must be genuine and that it must be positive. Then the relationship is built, staff get to know the client, their family, and their needs. Once a product is recommended, time is spent fine-tuning it, testing it, and training everyone on how it will be used.
Follow-up is also huge for the team. If a client is not enjoying the anticipated results, the team will do whatever is needed to make sure conversation gets easier for those who have been struggling with hearing loss.
And hearing loss is a struggle. With all levels of hearing loss, the disappearance of certain sounds can happen gradually. In very subtle ways, even the most common hearing impairment can unknowingly become a very real strain on a person’s quality of life.
The Ear Depot owner and operator Brenda Cowan, shown here speaking at the Peterborough International Women’s Day Conference, understands that developing insightful and understanding relationships with her clients is the most important step in helping them with their hearing needs. (Photo: IWD Peterborough)
When we don’t hear clearly what other people are asking or saying to us, Brenda explains, people pull away from social connection and conversation.
“Our passion at The Ear Depot is in helping people remove the barrier that hearing loss causes and bring folks back to confident and enjoyable conversation every day.”
Helping people get back to enjoying social interaction is what Brenda gets excited about. You can hear it in her voice and, with the Consumer Choice Award secured, she feels good about the positive changes she is empowering her whole team to make in an industry that is known for high-pressure sales and a lack of support.
“You can’t buy this vote,” Brenda laughs. “This comes from years of helping people and from all the five-star reviews that we have on the internet. This means so much to us.”
The Ear Depot is located at 236 Parkhill Road East in Peterborough (705-749-0707), 229 Hasting Street North in Bancroft (613-332-3754), 1 Madoc Street in Marmora (613-472-6134), and 12 Dunn Street in Barry’s Bay (613-756-9550). For more information, visit www.theeardepot.com or email info@theeardepot.com. You can also email Brenda Cowan at brenda@theeardepot.com and connect with The Ear Depot on Facebook and on Twitter.
From the Neck Up owner Frances Fourcaudot working on a client at her boutique in the Westmount Pharmacy building in Peterborough. Frances is a hair loss and trichology (hair and scalp health) specialist who offers a selection of full and partial custom-styled human hair wigs, synthetic wigs, and hair toppers, as well as wig repairs, for women, men, and children who experience temporary or permanent hair loss. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
Frances Fourcaudot’s job can get ‘hairy’ … but that’s a good thing in her business.
The owner of From the Neck Up is a hair loss and trichology specialist. She helps people look their best with nonsurgical hair replacements after they have lost their hair primarily due to chemotherapy, autoimmune diseases, alopecia, female pattern baldness, and other hair loss conditions. In many instances, she offers these people a new lease on life.
With skills obtained as a former hairstylist, Frances can style and customize wigs and toppers in a way that look natural in appearance, and understands why it’s important to create a natural-looking solution that make people look confident.
“Hair loss is not a topic that is readily discussed,” explains Frances. “When clients come to see me, it can be a very emotional time.”
“My goal from that first client consultation is that they sleep better at night knowing that there’s a solution and somebody to help them, because that alone is half the battle — when they don’t know what’s causing the hair loss or they’re so overwhelmed.”
“It’s a game changer when the thought ‘How am I going to get through the day with my hair?’ doesn’t become their number one fear in the morning.”
With a passion for hair, Frances became a licensed hairstylist. She moved to Durham Region at 22 and, while raising a family, spent decades making locals look their best.
It was during that time she decided to turn her life to helping transform women’s appearances with hair replacements, and she opened two wig salons in Pickering.
“I had a particular skill that could help women get through chemotherapy and there weren’t many places in the area that were educated in wig fitting and did it well.”
A few years ago, her decision to move back to her hometown of Peterborough to be closer to family also offered up the opportunity for Frances to open another boutique — but one that catered to women, men, and children.
From the Neck Up owner Frances Fourcaudot was a licensed hairstylist for years before deciding to help transform women’s appearances with hair replacements, particularly women going through chemotherapy. She opened two wig salons in Pickering before returning to her hometown of Peterborough, where she launched From The Neck Up in 2018. Frances helps women, men, and children look their best with nonsurgical hair replacements after they have lost their hair primarily due to chemotherapy, autoimmune diseases, alopecia, female pattern baldness, and other hair loss conditions. She has recently expanded her services to include people in the LGBTQ community who want to be their authentic selves. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
In 2018, From The Neck Up opened its doors in the lower level of the Westmount Pharmacy building on Victory Crescent in Peterborough. In a brightly lit, welcoming space that is private and confidential, Frances offers a selection of full and partial custom-styled human hair wigs, synthetic wigs and hair toppers, as well as wig repairs.
“Synthetic wigs are extremely low maintenance and economical,” she explains. “If you have temporary hair loss, I highly recommend synthetic.”
A human hair wig is more for long-term hair loss and it feels great on the skin, she notes.
“It does require more maintenance and you have to style it like you would with your own hair. But most people like to do that, as it’s what they miss most.”
A topper, which isn’t a full wig but a custom-made hairpiece, clips on top of the crown to mask the hair loss and blends naturally with remaining hair.
Rows of wig-coiffed mannequin heads in a variety of styles line the perimeter of the boutique. A long mirror hangs on the wall at the fitting station, furnished with a comfortable chair.
Frances notes she is dedicated to creating a space that will help clients look like the confident people they knew were always there.
After a free consultation, she works with each client to correctly distinguish the colour, quality, and length to simulate natural hair, and find the perfect wig style for them that is realistic and comfortable. She can also colour and cut the hair pieces to complement her client’s features.
“Clients come back to see me a year later and I don’t recognize them. Some have lost weight or have got a job promotion. Their newfound self-confidence has been life altering.”
“People aren’t in a hurry to tell others they’ve had a hair replacement as it’s relatively private. But when my clients go shopping or to the bank and get compliments, it affects everything about them — they walk different, they talk different, and they’ve got more confidence. They’re in control of their life again.”
At From the Neck Up, Frances Fourcaudot offers a wide selection of full and partial custom-styled human hair wigs, synthetic wigs, and hair toppers. She also does wig repairs. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
Frances has recently expanded her services to include people in the LGBTQ community.
For those identifying as transgender who choose to change their appearance like their hair and be their authentic selves, Frances says she can offer custom cut and colour services, wig management and recommendations — all in a safe, inclusive environment.
“They have a vision of beauty and I can help them find it, while giving them the privacy and dignity that they deserve,” Frances says.
In addition to her work, Frances is a proud supporter of the Angel Hair for Kids and The Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre. She also volunteers her time at Peterborough Regional Health Centre’s Look Good Feel Better program, where she helps women fit themselves with wigs and hair prostheses during cancer treatment.
Her positive energy and enthusiasm have directly benefited many patients. She thrives on sharing her knowledge of the beauty industry and solutions available for people to enjoy better hair days.
Frances’ favourite part of the process is when she sees the total transformation from the hair.
“I love to see the look on a person’s face and how good they feel,” she says. “It brings tears to my eyes every single time. Knowing that I’m able to contribute to someone’s wellbeing has been very rewarding.”
From The Neck Up is located on the lower level of the Westmount Pharmacy building (Unit 3, 768 Victory Crescent) in Peterborough. Appointments are highly recommended for privacy purposes. Free parking and wheelchair accessible parking is available.
Joanne Ilaqua is the founder and president of Mamasoup, a mobile app and blog that provides connections, support, and community for moms. The app is available for Android as well as iOS devices. (Photo: Karen Suggitt at the original Barn & Bunkie)
Joanne Ilaqua, founder and president of Mamasoup Inc., knows that fear and isolation are very real feelings for new and expecting moms.
As a labour and delivery/postpartum nurse, doula, and childbirth educator with 20 years of experience, she was inspired to get to work, creating an app and blog that would provide moms with connections, support, and community — all from a mobile device.
“I knew that moms usually felt better after talking through their challenges and that many were looking for help online,” Joanne says. “I wanted to help.”
Joanne knew that moms were frustrated when seeking support on social media platforms like Facebook because of how judgement-based the experience could be. Facebook also makes it hard to be anonymous, and some of the topics that new moms want help with are easier to discuss when there is at least some privacy — so Joanne made sure that the community using the Mamasoup App could be anonymous.
The free Mamasoup app is available for download on the Apple App Store of iPhones and iPads and on Google Play for Android devices. (Supplied photo)
The tireless efforts she had made to create a mobile resource space for women to connect, collaborate, and care have now started to show results, and Joanne is happy with the app’s initial progress.
“When I open my phone and look at this space I’ve created and I see women in Tennessee and they’re connecting, and sharing, and setting up play dates — the app is working,” Joanne says.
“This is a safe space to connect and talk and it is working.”
The app is growing at a rapid pace since Joanne made it available for Android as well as iOS devices, and a new version is being developed for a fall re-launch. At this time, the app is still 100 per cent free.
“We’re going to use hashtags so the app will be more searchable,” Joanne explains.
“This will make it easier for users to find the people they need to connect with so that everyone can share advice.”
Joanne says the process has been extremely time consuming — developing an app is a tough thing to navigate. There are so many rules, reviews, and revisions that need to be done on a regular basis. Every day, there is new learning for Joanne.
While working on the app every day, Joanne has also been investing more time in creating content for the Mamasoup blog, an online resource for new moms and expecting moms, and there are resources for parents of teens as well. The blog is growing at a rapid pace and it has allowed for collaboration with other professionals — something Joanne loves.
“I get lonely working from home,” Joanne admits. “Collaborations are exciting, and I love teaming up with people who share this audience.”
The collaborations have allowed her to expand what she offers to her community, such as advice and guidance from a Pilates instructor, and now Joanne is also developing a virtual book club with renowned parenting expert and author Ann Douglas.
“Bringing people together is something I really enjoy,” Joanne explains. “In my family, I’m the one who organizes the parties. Through all of these projects, I’m trying to help people make more connections.”
And people are connecting. The Mamasoup app is showing big numbers and the Mamasoup blog is also getting tons of attention — giving Joanne the encouragement she needs to keep going with these projects.
As well as continuing to improve her Mamasoup app, Joanne Ilaqua is expanding the content and resources available on her Mamasoup blog, and she is also launching a virtual book club with renowned parenting expert and author Ann Douglas. (Supplied photo)
“I’m a nurse and here I am with an app and with this online business,” she laughs. “This can be very exhausting, but I can’t stop thinking of ways to bring people together with technology.”
Joanne says that nursing was completely collaborative, and the long hours and dedication were a great training ground for her current path. But she notes making an online business work can be a tough slog.
“I’ve had times where I’m trying to figure out what to do with the app or the blog, what direction to go in,” Joanne says. “But then I think about all the women I’m helping, and I know that this is my business and I can take it in whatever direction I want to. This makes me so charged up and it makes me want to keep going.”
Her continued development of online products is good news for the large number of women who connect 24-7 with the supportive environment that Joanne has nurtured over the past years.
“Not all moms need this space but enough do need it,” Joanne says. “When they use it and feel supported, this makes me feel incredible. That’s worth it.”
Rachel Northey is a project manager at the Peterborough office of Canadian environmental engineering consulting firm Pinchin Ltd. She and her team provide a variety of assessment, cleanup, and educational services to local businesses and homeowners. While Pinchin is a national organization, Rachel's local team can respond to emergencies in the area faster than many environmental services companies. (Photo: April Potter / kawarthaNOW.com)
Rachel Northey, project manager with environmental engineering consulting firm Pinchin Ltd., obtained her engineering degree at the University of Waterloo but she grew up in Peterborough.
Her family lives here, as do the members of her team at Pinchin’s office in downtown Peterborough. And, while Pinchin is a national organization, Rachel’s local team can respond to emergencies in the area faster than many environmental services companies.
As a Peterborough resident herself, Rachel takes great pride in keeping her neighbours safe from environmental dangers.
“Pinchin is a national firm with 40 offices and 900 staff,” says Rachel. “We were voted one of the best workplaces from 2006-2016 and were a finalist for the Chamber’s best employer in Peterborough award last year. I started out as a tech doing field work, asbestos assessments of buildings, mould surveys — working lots of evenings and weekends. Now I manage projects and work on business development. I’ve been here for five years.”
Offering a wide variety of services, Pinchin first opened its doors in 1981 and has since grown to have multiple branches across the country.
“Our local office is a group of six people — and we are pretty autonomous,” Rachel explains.
The Peterborough office provides a variety of assessment, cleanup, and educational services to local businesses and homeowners, with a lot of autonomy from head office to get jobs done quickly at the local level.
“We can run most of our main service lines through our office without requiring any sort of support from our head office,” Rachel explains. “We deal with a lot of mould and hazardous building assessments — searching for mercury, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), silica, and asbestos. We also do property due diligence for real estate transactions and provide occupational health and safety testing.”
Rachel says that having a local team means Pinchin can respond quickly when the need arises.
“Our people are local and within the community already, so we can be on site for an emergency faster than other companies who aren’t based in Peterborough.”
Rachel’s fellow project manager is also from Peterborough, so the company feels small to them both. Even though they recognize Pinchin as a national entity, being connected to the community on a personal level makes their local office feel like a small business.
“A smaller, local focus is really the people we want to be connecting with,” she explains. “We have our own labs and our own lab staff and our samples don’t have to cross the border or go out of province for testing. So, if you need results fast, we can turn them around pretty quickly and our ability to do this is definitely a benefit.”
Pinchin Ltd. is one of Canada’s largest environmental, engineering, building science, and health and safety consulting firms. Established in 1981 by Dr. Don Pinchin to provide consulting services to the asbestos abatement industry, the company now employs more than 900 staff in 40 offices across the country, including Peterborough.
Rachel has recently taken up running and will be participating in a half marathon in Hawaii this year. In her spare time, she is part of an axe-throwing league at a club in Peterborough. In addition to her client work at Pinchin, her team recently volunteered to work on a shoreline cleanup project and to assist with the 2019 MS Walk. She once volunteered with Scouts Canada, overseeing the greater Peterborough area, including 15 different chapters of Scouts.
“If you can make an impact where you physically are located, that sometimes is just as good — if not better — than trying to make an impact on a larger scale,” Rachel says, “We supported the MS walk this year. I volunteered and got to meet some interesting people in the city. We did a shoreline clean up and removed 60 to 70 kilograms of garbage from Roger’s Cove. We’ve also done a few Habitat for Humanity builds in the past.”
As well as investing in her community, Rachel keeps people safe and helps building owners to avoid the negative consequences of ignoring environmental issues — consequences that can include sick employees, costly physical or reputational damages, and even government fines.
“We try really hard to put the client first,” Rachel says. “If they need someone quickly, we’ll find someone quickly who can be there to do the work. We target our service to who you are and what you need. Keeping people safe by getting in quickly is important.”
To the broader community who may never know how close they may have come to encountering something hazardous like asbestos or mould, Rachel and her team could be considered unsung heroes. To Rachel, it’s all just part of keeping Peterborough safe.
“We’re all local and we spend time here,” Rachel says. “It’s nice to make a difference.”
Teal Troopers, one of the top fundraising teams at the 2018 Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope in Peterborough. This year's walk talkes place on September 8, 2019 at Nichools Oval Park in Peterborough. The Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope is the only walk in Canada to direct all attention and fundraising towards helping women with ovarian cancer live fuller, better, and longer lives. (Photo courtesy of Marilyn Robinson)
While it’s often said that numbers don’t tell the whole story, the numbers associated with ovarian cancer do tell the whole story … and it’s a frightening tale indeed.
Some 2,800 Canadian women receive an ovarian cancer diagnosis annually. One of every two women diagnosed is given less than five years to live. Five Canadian women die of ovarian cancer every day. And then there’s zero — as in there currently being no reliable screening test for ovarian cancer.
But as discouraging as the numbers around the most deadly of women’s cancers are, there’s another number and it offers abundant hope. Since 2002, the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope has raised more than $27 million for research, advocacy and support efforts.
On Sunday, September 8th at Nicholls Oval Park at Armour and Parkhill roads, the Peterborough edition of the annual fundraiser will again be held, coming at the conclusion of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Week as declared by Mayor Diane Therrien.
After raising more $3,700 in pledges so far for the 2019 Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope in Peterborough, Paul Plant will be carrying this canoe on his shoulders for five kilometres in honour of his wife Karen Hoffman, who passed away from ovarian cancer this summer after being diagnosed in 2016. (Photo courtesy of Paul Plant)
According to Marilyn Robinson, the chair of the local walk’s organizing committee and a 43-year ovarian cancer survivor (she was diagnosed at age 11), the event was initially held at Trent University in honour of a university staff member diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Along with her husband, she got involved in 2014 when a search for new committee members was launched.
“We try to keep it as positive as possible … we’re there to honour the people who are dealing with it (ovarian cancer),” says Robinson about the walk, admitting the numbers associated with the disease are discouraging.
“Breast cancer is more common, but ovarian cancer has the highest death rate. Treatment hasn’t really advanced in 50 years. You still have the same chance of dying from it now as you did when I was diagnosed. Up until about two years ago, if you look at where money goes for cancer research, it was the lowest funded.”
A big step in overcoming that funding deficiency was realized this year when Ottawa provided $10 million to Ovarian Cancer Canada for research — a first-ever investment that came after years of lobbying by women living with the disease and others advocating on their behalf. And then there’s the dollars raised by the Walk of Hope in 35 communities nationwide — close to $20,000 last year in Peterborough. The goal of this year’s walk is $25,000.
Not unlike any one of the similar fundraisers held annually, each Walk of Hope participant has a clear reason for taking part.
Paul Plant canoeing with his wife Karen Hoffman, who is wearing a Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope hat. Hoffman, a long-time teacher with the KPR School Board and a volunteer with St. James Players, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2016. She participated in her first Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope in 2018, and passed away from the cancer in July 2019. Plant is participating in the 2019 Walk of Hope in memory of his late wife. (Photo: Karen Hoffman)
For Paul Plant, his motivation is as personal as it gets. On July 26th, his wife Karen Hoffman (sister of local musician John Hoffman) died after a determined battle with the disease. To honour Karen, and bring on more donations, Plant will walk the five-kilometre route carrying a canoe upon his shoulders.
“Karen and I enjoyed canoeing together, but the honest answer is I don’t know where the idea came from,” says Plant.
“I did say to people after her Celebration of Life that I was going to be on this walk. I later looked on the website and saw that I had about $1,000 (in pledges). I thought maybe I could motivate people to give more.”
Pledging to portage his way along the route if $2,061 in pledges came in, the total amount pledged to date is over $3,700.
“Many donated $61 based on how old Karen was when she died … that’s how I ended up with that funny number,” explains Plant.
“That (the total to date) speaks to how much people in this community cared about Karen. She was very well connected in many different ways. It’s an outpouring of support for her. People are contributing based on who she was and how she managed her cancer.”
“She was updating people constantly on Facebook. For a lot of people, that was surprising and some felt she was being very brave for doing that. Karen didn’t think of it that way. She was really good at separating the disease from who she was. It didn’t become her identity. It wasn’t ‘I’m Karen Hoffman, a cancer victim.’ It was ‘I’m Karen Hoffman, who happens to have cancer.'”
Admitting “I can’t deny I’m looking for any distraction” in the wake of his loss, Plant says “something good” has to result from the tragedy of Karen’s death. As he sees it, “making the point that this is a terrible disease that affects a lot of women and is extremely hard to diagnose” is the Walk of Hope’s purpose, raised dollars aside.
Paul Plant and Karen Hoffman with their daughters Keegan and Carmen Plant. Karen passed away from ovarian cancer in July 2019 at the age of 61 after a three-year battle against the disease. (Photo: Carmen Plant)
According to Ovarian Cancer Canada, all women are at risk of developing the disease but one is at higher risk if she is more than 50 years old, has a family history of certain types of cancer such as ovarian, breast, endometrial and colorectal, is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and/or has a genetic mutation linked with ovarian cancer.
Plant says his wife had abdominal pain in conjunction with bloating, prompting her to see her doctor. After her tests came back, she was sent to Kingston for a hysterectomy. It was during that surgery that her cancer was discovered. What followed was a six-month clinical trial at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto that involved the administering of two drugs together.
“When Karen was back in Peterborough and feeling well, we would go canoeing or go for a walk or whatever. She didn’t let her cancer diagnosis stop her from doing things.”
For her part, Robinson is hopeful that same determined spirit is clearly evident at the Walk of Hope event. Not lost on her is how very fortunate she has been to be gifted so many years after her own diagnosis.
“I was so young that I didn’t understand; I didn’t know what cancer was. It was harder on my parents. Here they are with an 11 year old and not sure if she’s going to survive. At that time we were told I was only one under 21 in Canada to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It’s still not common (under age 21), but it’s much more common than it was then.”
“When I was diagnosed, it was automatic that you were not having a family. Now the prognosis for that is a lot higher. They have found ways to protect ovaries when you’re having treatment. There are more people going on to have a family afterwards.”
When Marilyn Robinson was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1974 at the age of 11, she was the first person in Canada under the age of 21 to be diagnosed with the disease. Following the removal of a tumour from an ovary, she underwent 22 courses of radiation and two years of chemotherapy while her family travelled between Peterborough and Toronto. Here she is pictured in 1978, when she was in Grade 8, and today as chair of the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope in Peterborough. The 2019 walk takes place on September 8th at Nicholls Oval Park in Peterborough. (Photos courtesy of Marilyn Robinson)
Registration for the Walk of Hope begins at 10 a.m. followed at 11 a.m. by the opening ceremony and warm-up. The walk begins at 11:45 am. Post-walk there will be food and entertainment as well as the awarding of draw and top fundraising prizes.
The event will be held rain or shine with a shorter 2.5-kilometre walk option available. You can register as an individual or team, or pledge an individual or team, at noca.convio.net/site/TR?fr_id=1502.
For more information on ovarian cancer, visit the Ovarian Cancer Canada website at ovariancanada.org.
A three-year-old child is dead following an accident on an ATV on Sunday morning (September 1), according to the Kawartha Lakes OPP.
The accident happened at around 11:30 a.m. on private property near the hamlet of Glenarm, between Lindsay and Kirkfield in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Police say the child was operating a beginner-sized ATV, without permission, on the property when the bike rolled.
The child was pronounced deceased at an area hospital.
OPP members trained in collision reconstruction were on the property for several hours collecting evidence. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.
The name of the deceased is being withheld pending the notification of next of kin.
Peterborough-based singer-songwriter Evangeline Gentle's self-titled debut full-length album will be released on Rae Spoon's label Coax Records on September 13, 2019. (Photo: Samantha Moss)
Peterborough-based singer-songwriter Evangeline Gentle has just released the latest single, “Drop My Name”, from their forthcoming debut full-length album.
The self-titled LP comes out on Rae Spoon’s label Coax Records on Friday, September 13th.
“It showcases a talent to be watched carefully,” writes Kerry Doole of FYIMusicNews about the latest single, which is also the opening track on the new album.
VIDEO: “Drop My Name” – Evangeline Gentle
“Gentle’s voice grabs you instantly with its purity and expressiveness,” Doole adds, “and the lyrics boldly promote self-worth, with lines like ‘I’m nobody’s toy, nobody’s second-best.'”
The 22-year-old Gentle, self-described as queer and a social activist, is about to head out on tour this fall to support their new record.
In August, Gentle opened for Juno award-winning roots singer-songwriter Donovan Woods at a concert presented by the Peterborough Folk Festival at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre. Gentle performed several songs from the new record and, despite the lingering effects of a bad cold, wowed the crowd with their powerful voice and evocative lyrics.
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Gentle was born in Peterhead, a small fishing town in Aberdeenshire on the northeast coast of Scotland, and emigrated to Peterborough with their family at 11 years old. Gentle was involved in the integrated arts program at PCVS in Peterborough and participated in Rock Camp for Girls, and honed their musical chops playing at venues in downtown Peterborough including The Spill (now closed).
Since then, Gentle has released two EPs (including What’s Golden is Good in 2016) and has shared the stage with musicians such as Basia Bulat, Craig Cardiff, Matt Andersen, and Terra Lightfoot. In 2015, Gentle was named the Peterborough Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist.
Three years in the making, Gentle’s 10-track LP was produced by Jim Bryson at his Stittsvile studio Fixed Hinge and mastered by Grammy-nominated Philip Shaw Bova, with musical support by percussionists Pascal Delaquis and Matt Greco and vocalist Carleigh Aikins.
VIDEO: “Sundays” – Evangeline Gentle
Gentle’s musical career hasn’t been an easy journey. As a descendant of the Codona family, the greatest circus stars of the first half of the twentieth century, Gentle seemed predestined for a career as a performer. However, they began to question that future recently and almost didn’t see the latest record through to completion.
“During the three years I spent writing this LP, I trudged through periods of deep self-doubt, often wondering if I should give up,” Gentle says. “As a child I believed performing was my inevitable fate.”
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“Somewhere along the road to adulthood I internalized a lot of messaging about my queerness as something that made me inherently less gifted and valuable as an artist,” Gentle explains. “Each song on this record is a landmark on the journey toward re-establishing my childlike ambition and spirit.”
Labour Day celebrates worker solidarity, as pictured in this memorial for workers at Millennium Park in Peterborough erected by the Peterborough and District Labour Council. The council is hosting a Labour Day Celebration on September 2, 2019 from noon to 3 p.m. at Nicholls Oval Park in Peterborough featuring children's entertainment and live music. (Photo: Peterborough and District Labour Council)
Labour Day is a federal statutory holiday falling on the first Monday of September. Since Labour Day is a statutory holiday, all government offices and services and liquor and beer stores are closed. Most grocery stores, tourist attractions, and recreational services remain open, as do some malls and big box stores.
The origins of Labour Day in Canada can be traced back to 1872, when the Toronto Printers’ Union went on strike for a 9-hour work day and 10,000 workers marched in a parade in support of the strikers. Outdated laws criminalising union activity were still on the books in Canada, and police arrested 24 strike leaders. Other labour leaders organized a demonstration in Ottawa to protest the arrests, prompting Canadian Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald to repeal the “barbarous” anti-union laws.
Today, unions still celebrate worker solidarity on Labour Day with parades and picnics, while many Canadians simply consider it to be part of the last long weekend of summer.
For your convenience, we provide this list of holiday hours for 264 selected businesses, services, and organizations across the Kawarthas. This information comes from their websites and social media accounts, which may or may not be up to date, so please always call them first to confirm their hours (we’ve included phone numbers), especially if you are travelling any distance. If your business or organization is listed and the hours are incorrect, please let us know by using our content feedback form. We do not include hours for restaurants, as there are too many to list!
Bewdley Community Recycling Centre 7650 County Rd. 9, Hamilton 905-342-2514
CLOSED
Brighton Community Recycling Centre 1112 County Rd. 26, Brighton 613-475-1946
CLOSED
Canada Post Mail Delivery / Offices (Note: post offices operated by the private sector will be open according to the hours of service of the host business
No collection / delivery
City of Kawartha Lakes City Hall, Municipal Service Centres, and Administration Offices 26 Francis St., Lindsay 705-324-9411
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Parks, Recreation and Culture facilities, arenas, and pools Various locations, City of Kawartha Lakes 705-324-9411
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Public Libraries Various locations, City of Kawartha Lakes 705-324-9411 x1291
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Waste and Recycling Collection 26 Francis St., Lindsay 1-888-822-2225
Mon Sep 2 collection moves to Sep 3, Sep 3 to 4, Sep 4 to 5, Sep 5 to 6
City of Peterborough Day Cares Peterborough 705-748-8830
CLOSED
City of Peterborough Garbage Pickup Peterborough 705-745-1386
No change
City of Peterborough Green Waste Pickup Peterborough 705-876-1600
No change
City of Peterborough Recycling Pickup Peterborough 705-876-1600
No change
City of Peterborough Social Services Peterborough 705-748-8830
CLOSED
County of Haliburton Administration Offices 11 Newcastle St., Minden 705-286-4085
CLOSED
County of Northumberland Waste and Recycling Collection 555 Courthouse Rd., Cobourg 1-866-293-8379
Mon Sep 2 collection moves to Sep 3, Sep 3 to 4, Sep 4 to 5, Sep 5 to 6
County of Peterborough Administration Offices 470 Water St., Peterborough 705-743-0380
CLOSED
County of Peterborough Garbage Pickup Peterborough 705-745-1386
Check your township at ptbocounty.ca or install Recycle Coach app
County of Peterborough Recycling Pickup Peterborough 705-775-2737
Peterborough-born indie folk-pop band I, The Mountain, who just successfully crowd-funded their debut full-length album, is performing at The Church-key Pub & Grindhouse in Campbellford on Saturday, August 31st. (Photo: Bryan Reid)
Every Thursday, we publish live music and performance events at pubs and clubs in Peterborough and The Kawarthas based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, August 29 to Wednesday, September 4.
If you’re a pub or club owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our Nightlife Editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com.
Friday, September 6 8:30pm - Open mic w/ John Dawson
Saturday, September 7 7pm - Custom Blend
Dreams of Beans
138 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 742-2406
Thursday, August 29
8pm - Open mic hosted by Jacques Graveline
Friday, August 30
9pm - GoldWing Jazz Trio ($5)
Ganarascals Restaurant
53 Walton St., Port Hope
905-885-1888
Coming Soon
Friday, September 6 7:30-10:30pm - Terry Wilkins ($15, email to reserve)
Sunday, September 15 2-5pm - Pat Temple & the HiLO Players
Ganaraska Hotel
30 Ontario St., Port Hope
(905) 885-9254
Saturday, August 31
2pm & 10pm - Broken Harmony
Coming Soon
Saturday, September 7 2pm & 10pm - Marty and the Mojos
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The Garnet
231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 874-0107
Friday, August 30
5-7pm - Geoff Holt and Matt Gunn ; 9pm - Juice Girls, Peachykine, Shirazi, Teleri ($8)
Saturday, August 31
9pm - Tree Museum, People You Meet Outside of Bars, Adam Ferris ($10 or PWYC)
Coming Soon
Sunday, September 8 8pm - Gurth, Norescue, Telomere, and more ($10)
Wednesday, September 11 9pm - Belly Flop, Binoculars, Hymn Villa ($10 or PWYC)
Golden Wheel Restaurant
6725 Highway 7, Peterborough
(705) 749-6838
Coming Soon
Saturday, September 28 9pm - Them Crooked Craigs
Gordon Best Theatre
216 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 876-8884
Saturday, August 31
9pm - Rogue Tenant, Nikki Fierce, Nick Procyshyn & The Bad Milk
Coming Soon
Saturday, September 7 7pm - Marksman Entertainment presents "Going Green" ft Taylor Landry, The Back Row Society, DJ Taktikill, Champagne, Billy Marks, DJ Hooked on Cronic, Empress, Maceo, S-Ka Paid, 3llls, 420 Klick ($15)
Saturday, October 12 9pm - James Clayton w/ Mary-Kate Edwards ($10)
Hot Belly Mama's
378 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 745-3544
Thursday, August 29
6-8pm - Live music
Coming Soon
Wednesday, September 23 7-10pm - Black Suit Devil
Junction Nightclub
253 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 743-0550
Friday, August 30
10pm - Country Night hosted by DJ Bill Porter ($5 cover)
Kawartha Coffee Co.
58 Bolton St., Bobcaygeon
(705) 738-1500
Saturday, August 31
7-11pm - A Haus of Accounting Drag Show & Dance ($10)
Local No90
90 Mill St. N., Port Hope
(905) 269-3373
Thursday, August 29
7pm - Brian Bracken
Lock 27 Tap and Grill
2824 River Ave., Youngs Point
705-652-6000
Monday, September 2
2-6pm - J 'n R Acoustic Duo
Coming Soon
Saturday, September 28 2-6pm - Closing Season Party ft Ryan/Williams
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Marley's Bar & Grill
17 Fire Route 82 Catalina Bay, Buckhorn
(705) 868-2545
Friday, August 30
7-10pm - Kayla Howran
Saturday, August 31
7-10pm - Ace & The Kid
McGillicafey's Pub & Eatery
13 Bridge St.. N., Hastings
(705) 696-3600
Thursday, August 29
7-11pm - Karoake w/ host Jefrey Danger
Friday, August 30
4-5pm - Hastings Ukulele Band; 8pm - Doug Horner
Saturday, August 31
8pm - Shaun Savoy
McThirsty's Pint
166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 743-2220
Thursdays
9pm - Live music hosted by Tony Silvestri and Greg Caven
Fridays
10pm - Live music with Brian Haddlesey
Saturdays
10pm - Live music with Brian Haddlesey
Sundays
8pm - Open stage hosted by Ryan Van Loon
Mondays
9:30pm - Trivia Night hosted by Cam Green
Wednesdays
9pm - Live music hosted by Kevin Foster
Murphy's Lockside Pub & Patio
3 May St., Fenelon Falls
(705) 887-1100
Tuesday, September 3
7-9pm - North Country Express (patio)
Next Door
197 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(647) 270-9609
Thursday, August 29
9pm - The Musician Next Door hosted by Kerry Jayne and Stephen Stamp w/ musical guest Lauryn Macfarlane
Oasis Bar & Grill
31 King St. E., Cobourg
(905) 372-6634
Sundays
5:30pm - PHLO
Pappas Billiards
407 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-9010
Thursdays
7-10pm - Open Mic
Saturdays
1-3pm - Shipwrecked Saturdays w/ Jacques Graveline
Publican House Brewery
300 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 874-5743
Friday, August 30
6-9pm - Joe Bulger
Saturday, August 31
6-9pm - Rob Phillips
Sunday, September 1
3-6pm - Ace and The Kid
Coming Soon
Friday, September 6 6-9pm - Al Lerman
Saturday, September 7 6-9pm - House Brand
Sunday, September 8 3-6pm - Ace and The Kid
Red Dog Tavern
189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 741-6400
Thursday, August 29
8pm - The Weber Brothers WE Thursdays Concert Series ft Missy Knott ($10)
Friday, August 30
9pm - Zack Weston
Saturday, August 31
9pm - Latin Dance
Tuesday, September 3
9pm - Open mic
Wednesday, September 4
8:30pm - Vortexans, Road Waves, St. Homer ($10 or PWYC)
Coming Soon
Thursday, September 5 8pm - The Weber Brothers WE Thursdays Concert Series ft Brooke Wiley ($10)
Friday, September 13 10pm - Ian Kurz and friends
Thursday, September 19 8pm - The Weber Brothers WE Thursdays Concert Series ft Nigel Wearne ($10); 10:30pm - Five Alarm Funk ($15, advance tickets at www.ticketscene.ca/events/25389/)
Saturday, September 21 9pm - Paper Shakers and Love Wagon w/ Nathan Truax ($10)
Riley's
257 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 750-1445
Thursdays
Travis Berlinbach
Fridays
Travis Berlinbach
Saturdays
Josh Gontier
Sundays
Josh Gontier
Mondays
Josh Gontier
Tuesdays
Josh Gontier & Cale Gontier
Wednesdays
Guest performers
Sapphire Room
137 Hunter St., Peterborough
(705) 749-0409
Coming Soon
Friday, September 6 8pm - 22nd anniversary weekend party ft. The Calrizians
Southside Pizzeria
25 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough
(705) 748-6120
Friday, August 30
9pm - Punks on Pizza presents Deviants and The Odd Man Out, Last Chance Marie, Death Before Art School, Sarah Tohnin, Röckbitür
The Twisted Wheel
379 Water St., Peterborough
Wednesday, September 4
10pm - Karaoke w/ Cheyenne and friends
Coming Soon
Friday, September 6 5-8pm - Women's Quarterly ft open mic, Marsala Lukianchuk, Kerry Jayne, Hardwood Cat, Kristen Addis of Dub Trinity, Little Fire Collective
Friday, September 13 9:30pm - Garbageface, Light Organ, Human Music Team, DJ Molly Millions ($10)
The Venue
286 George Street North, Peterborough
(705) 876-0008
Saturday, September 14 6pm - PTBOStrong presents For the Love of Community Warming Room Community Ministries ft zumba and salsa dancing, Wes Ryan and Jon Hedderwick, Alphabreff, Kerry Jayne, Hillary Dumoulin, Tonya Bosch Band (by donation at door)
Peterborough GreenUP's Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods (SUN) program planted more than 2,400 native species of plants in 2018 and 2019. Many of these species have a low-water need and help to alleviate stress on Peterborough's water system during the peak seasons. (Photo: GreenUP)
Over the past three years, Peterborough GreenUP’s Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods (SUN) program has worked collaboratively with residents and community partners to identify priorities for sustainable actions and infrastructure in the Kawartha Heights and East City’s Curtis Creek neighbourhoods of Peterborough.
We have heard from both residents and municipal partners that sustainable landscaping is needed to help mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Brittany Harding, SUN Education and Outreach Coordinator, GreenUP.
The SUN program has tangibly increased opportunities for sustainable landscaping, directly supporting the installation of over 1,600 square metres worth of gardens and trees across both of these neighbourhoods (755 square metres in Kawartha Heights and 855 square metres in Curtis Creek). The surface area of these gardens is equivalent to 3-3/4 NBA-sized basketball courts!
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In 2018 and 2019, we installed more than 2,400 native plants in these two neighbourhoods. We have planted trees — as well as pollinator, community food, and rain gardens — on public, school, church, and private properties. Rain gardens are designed to help prevent flooding by taking in rainwater that runs off of impermeable surfaces like rooftops or roads. We have also removed many invasive species, replacing them with native ones.
Along with reducing flooding, these projects will alleviate stress on local drinking-water resources by limiting the need for watering. They will also support pollinator species like bees and butterflies, reduce heating and cooling demands as we face a more extreme climate, and even support the availability of locally available fresh fruits and vegetables. Individual projects have ranged in size from 10 square metres to 400 square metres, depending on the needs and interests of residents and property owners.
Even the smallest actions taken on an individual level can have far-reaching benefits for our neighbourhoods and for the Peterborough community as a whole.
GreenUP’s Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood (SUN) program has been working in the East City—Curtis Creek and Kawartha Heights Neighbourhood since 2017 to build more sustainable neighbourhoods. (Photo: GreenUP)
“We have long wanted to transform our front yard into something more useful. Ditching the traditional grass lawn seemed a more practical and environmentally responsible use of the space,” says Tracey Boyd, a Kawartha Heights resident who replaced her front lawn with a drought-tolerant pollinator garden.
“We have enjoyed spending more time in our front yard and chatting more with our neighbours as a result. We are happy to chat about the benefits like food for pollinators, reduced water usage, and the importance of avoiding the use of pesticides and herbicides.”
SUN planting projects demonstrate the potential for neighbourhood-scale adaptations that help us to thrive and to reduce our impact in an increasingly extreme climate. Adaptation in the Peterborough area means acclimatizing to hotter summers and colder winters, and to drought in the summer and heavy rainfall in the spring and fall.
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This can sound daunting, but it may be easier than you think. Chances are you have already made adaptations to climate change on your property. By strategically planning your future landscaping projects, you can make changes to your property that benefit your household, your neighbourhood, and your city.
For example, planting trees can help us adapt to more extreme temperatures by shading our homes in the summer. The cooling effect caused by shading can reduce the use of air conditioning, which will mitigate climate change through reduced emissions. This is a small and manageable approach to sustainable landscaping that you could consider for your property.
The SUN program is excited to announce its expansion into the Hamlet of Warsaw. Through funding from RBC, we will be installing 500 square metres of sustainable landscaping to reduce flood risk and enhance water quality in Warsaw.
Planting trees around your property is a manageable way to sustainably and strategically landscape. As they mature, the trees shade your home and help to keep it cooler during the summer months, reducing the use of air conditioning and mitigating climate change through lower emissions. (Photo: GreenUP)
We will also be connecting with residents and partners this fall to learn about uses of water in Warsaw, as well as to identify priority actions for the protection and management of water.
Within the City of Peterborough, we are looking forward to two upcoming landscaping events that will see the restoration of vital shoreline habitat: on Thursday, September 24th at 4 p.m., we will be planting shade trees in Toby’s Bay in East City; and on Saturday, October 5th at 12:30 p.m., we will be planting near the playground of Kawartha Heights Park (with a rain date of October 6th).
We invite you to join us to participate, to learn more about the SUN program, and to learn more about what you can do to support climate change adaptation on your property.
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Interested in learning more about sustainable landscaping?
SUN will be hosting a two-part workshop series that will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to plan, design, install, and maintain a sustainable landscaping project of your own. Part 1, “Planning to Plant” takes place on Saturday, September 7th and Part 2, “Garden Installation”, takes place on Sunday, September 22nd. Both workshops run from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will be held at the Camp Kawartha Environment Centre (2505 Pioneer Rd., Peterborough).
For more information on sustainable landscaping, the SUN program, or upcoming events, please contact SUN education and outreach co-ordinator Brittany Harding at brittany.harding@greenup.on.ca or 705-745-3238 ext. 224.
GreenUP’s Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood (SUN) program relies on volunteers who help accomplish the program’s ambitious sustainable landscaping goals. You can learn about, and participate in, sustainable landscaping at several events during September. (Photo: GreenUP)
SUN is generously supported by funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and is delivered in partnership with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan program, the City of Peterborough, Otonabee Conservation, and Nourish.
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