Both the northbound and southbound lanes of Highway 115 have been closed between Porter Road and Tapley Quarter Line while police document the second multi-vehicle collision in two days on the same stretch of the highway. (Photo: OPP)
For the second time in two days, a serious multi-vehicle collision has closed Highway 115 between Tapley Quarter Line and Porter Road.
Four people were injured in the collision. One driver was flown by air ambulance to a Toronto-area hospital with life-threatening injuries, and remains in critical condition, while the other three were transported to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
At around 6 a.m. Tuesday morning (February 26), a vehicle was travelling northbound on Highway 115 south Tapley Quarter Line when the driver lost control and went into the ditch.
TRAFFIC: All lanes of Highway 115 are shut down near Tapley 1/4 for a multi-vehicle collision involving several transport trucks, a garbage truck, a tanker trunk and several vehicles. One person has been airfield from the scene by @Ornge. Check back for updates #ptbonewspic.twitter.com/gdU9mEVEIT
Several other vehicles became involved in a collision when they attempted to avoid what had happened, including a jackknifed tractor trailer.
One of the tractor trailers was transporting potentially dangerous goods and the immediate area has been closed off until it can be deemed safe.
The truck carrying the dangerous goods is still being assessed. The products it is carrying are sodium nitrate, acetic acid, and emulsion. They are in three separate compartments on the truck and are used in the process of removing rock from quarries. Precaution is being taken to ensure the safest removal of the truck for the public and the emergency services personnel at the scene.
The northbound and southbound lanes of Highway 115 will remain closed for several hours.
A serious accident also closed the southbound lanes of Highway 115 in the same area on Monday (February 25), when more than 20 vehicles were involved in collisions during white-out conditions on the highway. No significant injuries were reported.
Sweet Beast Fine Meats & Fish is a new butcher shop opening soon in Peterborough's East City. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
This week’s round-up of business news includes a new butcher shop called Sweet Beast opening in Peterborough’s East City, 45 tech startups receiving almost $1 million in seed funding, Hastings Highlands entering into a deal for a cannabis production facility, the announcements that Payless Shoe Source and Home Outfitters retail stores in Peterborough are closing this year, the opening of nominations for the Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce 2019 Business Excellence Awards, Showplace Performance Centre’s new partner program with selected downtown Peterborough restaurants, and both the City of Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough County councils approving their municipalities’ 2019 budgets.
Every week, our managing editor collects business-related news and events from across the Kawarthas. If you’d like us to promote your business news or event in businessNOW, please email business@kawarthanow.com.
New regional business events added this week include Community Futures Peterborough hosting an Ignite100 information session on February 25th in Peterborough, Venture13 hosting a Fresh Food Mapathon on March 2nd in Cobourg, Kawartha Lakes Arts Council hosting a copyright workshop for creators on March 6th in Janetville, and the City of Kawartha Lakes hosting a public open house on downtown Lindsay reconstruction on March 7th in Lindsay.
A new butcher shop called Sweet Beast is opening in Peterborough’s East City
The signage at Sweet Beast Fine Meats & Fish promises Italian pork sausages and Kawartha beef. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
If you like your heritage vodka with a side of heritage pork, you’re in luck.
A new butcher shop is opening in Peterborough’s East City, in the same plaza as from Black’s Distillery.
Sweet Beast Fine Meats & Fish is located at 95 Hunter St. E., the storefront previously occupied the Heads of Hair salon.
Renovations of the interior are currently underway. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
The space is currently being renovated and the shop is expected to open by early spring.
kawarthaNOW has learned the new business is owned by Grant Slavin, the former head butcher at the Community Butcher Shop in downtown Peterborough (which closed in 2017 after two years of operation).
While they haven’t posted anything yet, you can follow Sweet Beast on Instagram @sweetbeastbutchershop.
More than 40 area tech startups receive almost $1 million in seed funding from N1M-2 program
Members of the Microfactory Co-operative, a producers’ co-operative located at Venture13 in Cobourg. The co-operative, which provides prototyping, design, and custom manufacturing services to help hardware startups scale up effectively, is one of 45 area tech startups receiving seed funding under the Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation’s expanded N1M program. (Photo: The Microfactory Co-operative)
Last Thursday (February 21), the Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) announced that 45 technology startups from across Northumberland County and rural Eastern Ontario will receive $952,500 in seed funding under the expanded N1M program (N1M-2).
In December 2019, FedDev Ontario invested $1.1 million in Northumberland CFDC to exapnd the N1M program, which provides high-potential idea and validation stage start-ups with seed funding, training, and mentoring to help accelerate the growth of their businesses.
The N1M-2 program matches private investment of up to $30,000. The performance-based seed funding is non-dilutive, meaning that the founders do not have to give up any equity in their companies in return for the funding.
Alex Papanicolaou of Hardware Solutions, a member of and the lead designer for the Microfactory Co-operative in Cobourg, mentoring youth makers at the Northumberland Makers space at Venture13. The Microfactory Co-operative is one of 45 tech start-ups in eastern Ontario that are receiving seed funding from Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation’s N1M program, which was recently expanded with FedDev Ontario funding. (Photo: The Microfactory Co-operative)
Of the 45 funded startups, 24 per cent are based in Northumberland County, 22 per cent are based in rural eastern Ontario, and 12 per cent are based in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Green tech startups make up 12 per cent of the total, and 24 per cent of the startups are led by women.
“With our second round of N1M, Northumberland CFDC is now powering some 75 technology startups across southern Ontario,” says Northumberland CFDC executive director Wendy Curtis. “We are inspired to see such a diverse group emerge in response to our call to action to accelerate women-led, green tech and rural Eastern Ontario-based ventures with renewed funding and support from FedDev Ontario.”
In addition to seed funding, the N1M program also provides entrepreneurial development and skills training opportunities for founders.
Here’s the complete list of the 45 startups receiving funding.
Able Innovations ($30,000)
Agro For You ($30,000)
Alchemy Inc. (Neverfrost) ($30,000)
Audience GPS ($10,000)
Augmented Experiences ($4,750)
Authority Formula Consults ($20,000)
Biosphere GPS ($20,000)
BlushDrop ($20,000)
Bob Tonner Applied Research ($10,000)
Canuck Play Inc. ($20,000)
Char Technologies ($30,000)
ConnexHealth ($25,000)
Convictional Commerce ($30,000)
Eagle Areospace ($25,000)
Elemental Solutions ($25,000)
EmulGreen Labs ($30,000)
FanSaves ($25,000)
Foundation Cloud Systems ($25,000)
Frontier Labs ($25,000)
Gnowise ($17,250)
Grain Discovery ($25,000)
Greenlight Analytical ($30,000)
H2nano ($30,000)
Hops on Board ($25,000)
Intelline ($4,000)
Mero Technologies ($15,000)
Meta Innovation Technologies ($15,000)
MFMG ($20,000)
Microfactory Co-operative ($25,000)
Netmechanics ($25,000)
Open Ocean Apps ($25,000)
Phycus Biotechnologies ($30,000)
Pliant ($30,000)
ProPaintGear ($6,500)
Riverwood Acoustics ($30,000)
Simple Life Homes ($15,000)
SN Technologies ($25,000)
SpaceiShare ($10,000)
Suffuse ($10,000)
Treewell ($20,000)
Turnkey Aquaponics ($10,000)
U-Dimensions ($10,000)
UnLock Math ($20,000)
VR Headspace ($25,000)
Wavve Boating ($10,000)
Hastings Highlands enters into deal for cannabis production facility
The municipality of Hastings Highlands is partnering with AeroPonLeaf Canada to develop a cannabis production facility to be located north of Bancroft. AeroPonLeaf Canada uses a soil-less growing technique called aeroponics to produce cannabis, a method used by other cannabis producers such as Virginia Company in Spokane, Washington. (Photo: Virginia Company)
The Municipality of Hastings Highlands has entered into a deal with AeroPonLeaf Canada to develop a vacant property north of Bancroft to be used as a cannabis production facility.
The facility will be located on Y Road, about five kilometres north of the Town of Bancoft, on the property formerly occupied by GP Flakeboard.
The property has remained undeveloped since the particle board plant closed in 2003.
A public meeting with representatives from AeroPonLeaf Canada will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 28th at Emond Hall at the Hastings Highlands municipal offices (33011 Hastings County Rd 62, Maynooth).
Payless Shoe Source and Home Outfitters retail stores in Peterborough are closing
Hudson’s Bay Co. is closing all 37 Home Outfitters stores in Canada, including the one located at 821 Rye Street in Peterborough, in 2019. (Photo: Google Maps)
Peterborough’s retail sector suffered a double blow last week when both Payless ShoeSource and Hudson’s Bay Co. announced they were shutting down retail operations.
U.S. discount shoe retailer Payless ShoeSource, which filed for bankruptcy protection last Monday (February 18), announced it would be closing is 2,354 stores in North America.
This includes the Payless ShoeSource store at Lansdowne Place Mall in Peterborough.
All stores will be closed by the end of May 2019.
Then on Thursday (February 22), Hudson’s Bay Co. announced it is winding down its Home Outfitters housewares business in Canada, affecting 37 stores in Canada, including one in Peterborough located at 821 Rye Street, across from Best Buy.
The company expects to complete the store closures in 2019.
Both of the Peterborough stores are the only locations of Payless ShoeSource and Home Outfitters in the Kawarthas.
Nominations now open for Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce 2019 Business Excellence Awards
The Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for its 2019 Business Excellence Awards, which will be awarded at a ceremony on April 27th in Hastings.
Nominations are being accepted in the following nine categories: Excellence In Business (Retail-Based Business), Excellence In Business (Service-Based Business), Pride And Progress, Customer Experience Award (Service Business), Customer Experience Award (Retail Business), Community Impact, Non-Profit Organization, and the Chair’s Award.
All nominations must be submitted to the Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 22nd.
Showplace Performance Centre partners with downtown Peterborough restaurants
The Night Kitchen is one of several downtown Peterborough restaurants offering special discounts for patrons of Showplace Performance Centre. (Photo: The Night Kitchen)
Showplace Performance Centre is partnering with selected downtown Peterborough restaurants for its new “Dining pARTnership” program.
The program offers discounts on pre- or post-concert dining, drinks, and desserts at The Night Kitchen, The Food Forest, Silk Roots, Curry Village, Village of Thai, La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant, Le Petit Bar, and Publican House Brew Pub.
Present your ticket stub on the day of the concert for a 10 to 15 per cent discount. Showplace members can present their membership card at any time for a 10 to 20 per cent discount.
Only one discount applies per bill, beverages may not be included, and gratuities are extra. Check with the restaurant for any restrictions and black-out periods that may apply.
For more information, including a description of the participating restaurants, visit www.showplace.org/dining/.
City of Kawartha Lakes Council approves 2019 operating budget
The breakdown of the City of Kawartha Lakes’ $200 million operating budget for 2019. (Graphic: City of Kawartha Lakes)
The City of Kawartha Lakes Council approved the municipality’s $200 million operating budget for 2019 last Wednesday (February 20). The initially projected tax levy increase of 4 per cent was reduced to 2.85 per cent.
New programs, pilot projects, and service enhancements approved by council include: a $100,000 city-wide grant program under the Million Dollar Makeover initiative; an increase of $36,000 to the Kawartha Lakes Health Care Initiative to develop and deliver a Family Physician Professional Development program; allowing year-round leaf and yard waste drop-off, free of charge up to 250 kg (about 25 bags), in addition to existing curbside collection of leaf and yard waste; a new staff position to manage statutory heritage requirements under the Ontario Heritage Act; and funding a three-month Paramedic Community Outreach pilot program, at a cost of $25,000, to identify high-risk discharge patients from Ross Memorial Hospital and help bridge the transition from hospital to home.
Peterborough County Council approves 2019 budget
The County of Peterborough Council approved the county’s 2019 budget last Wednesday (February 20).
The approved budget will see a tax rate increase of 3.95 per cent. This means an average home in the county assessed at $257,750 would pay approximately $29.91 more in county taxes.
Of the 3.95 per cent increase, 2 per cent will go to dedicated infrastructure levy for roads and bridges, 1.29 per cent will go to all other county departments (operating and capital), and 0.66 per cent will go to external boards and organizations.
Community Futures Peterborough hosts Ignite100 information session on February 25 in Peterborough
Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) is hosting an information session for the Ignite100 entrepreneurial competition from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday, February 25th in the lower level boardroom at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
If you wish to attend this free events, RSVP by calling 705-745-5434 or by emailing Pat Peeling at pat@cfpeterborough.ca.
Port Hope Chamber holds its annual general meeting in Port Hope on February 26
Port Hope & District Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual general meeting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26th in the Sculthorpe Theatre at Cameco Capital Arts Centre (20 Queen St., Port Hope).
Trevor McPherson, vice president of member services at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, will be the guest speaker.
The meeting will also feature the election of new board members, review and approval of by-law revisions, new style guidelines and marketing materials, and more.
Agilec hosting spring hiring fair in Peterborough on February 26
Employment services company Agilec is hosting a multi-employer hiring fair from 1 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26th at Northminster United Church (300 Sunset Blvd., Peterborough).
Numerous employers looking to hire part-time, full-time, and seasonal positions will be in attendance.
For more information, contact Arlayna Curtin at Agilec at 705-740-2577 ext. 5210 or acurtin@agilec.ca.
Trent University’s Entrepreneurship & Social Innovation Centre presents Drew Dudley in Peterborough on February 28
The Entrepreneurship & Social Innovation Centre (ESIC) at Trent University is presenting leadership guru Drew Dudley from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 29th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough).
Dudley is the founder and chief catalyst of Day One Leadership, Inc., which helps organizations around the world increase their leadership capacity. His clients have included some of the world’s most dynamic companies and organizations, including McDonald’s, Dreamworks Animation, JP Morgan Chase, and over 75 colleges and universities.
This event is run in collaboration with the Royal Bank of Canada and the Innovation Cluster.
Northumberland CFDC presents customer acquisition workshop featuring Sarah Stockdale on March 1 in Cobourg
Northumberland CFDC is presenting a one-day interactive workshop called “Innovating in Customer Acquisition for Tech Startups” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at on Friday, March 1st at Venture13 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centre (739 D’Arcy St., Cobourg).
The day will feature a morning session led by Chris Gillies (entrepreneur, venture catalyst, and manager of applied research and business development at Durham College) and an afternoon keynote from Sarah Stockdale, founder and CEO of Valkerie (a boutique growth consultancy for startups and innovation focused companies).
Peterborough Chamber presents Power Hour with local elected officials on March 1
Recheduled from the original date of February 12th because of weather, the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is presenting its annual “Power Hour” featuring Peterborough’s elected officials from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 1st at The StoneHouse Hall (2195 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough).
The Power Hour is a lively interactive dinner and question-and-answer session with Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones, and City of Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien.
Peterborough City and County councillors, along with the Chief Administrative Officers of the City and County of Peterborough and First Nations leaders, will be invited to join individual tables.
The event will be recorded for broadcast on Cogeco’s YourTV Peterborough/Lindsay.
Tickets are $65 per person or $450 for a table of seven for Chamber members, and $75 per person or $525 for a table of seven for non-members. REGISTRATION CLOSES 12:00PM FEBRUARY 26th 2019
Venture13 hosts Fresh Food Mapathon on March 2 in Cobourg
Innovation and entrepreneurship centre Venture13 is hosting the Fresh Food Mapathon from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 2nd at Venture13 (739 D’Arcy St., Cobourg).
The free event will challenge participants in a team to design a digital mapping solution that improves access to local fresh food to promote healthy eating and active lifestyles in Northumberland County.
No previous knowledge of digital mapping required, Geographical Information System (GIS) training will be provided by professional practitioners. You can bring your own devices or use on of the 12 laptops with access to OpenStreetMap and ArcGIS Online that will be available.
A $200 cash prize will be awarded for best use of digital technology in each of the following areas: surveying local needs through crowdsourcing, analyzing and improving local community food security, promoting healthy eating and an active lifestyle, and promoting technical and vocational entrepreneurship. A $600 prize will be awarded to the team with the best working prototype that integrates all four categories.
Harvest Haliburton hosts Food and Agriculture Economic Development Forum in Minden on March 5
Sustainable food association Harvest Haliburton is hosting the Food and Agriculture Economic Development Forum from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5th at the Minden Community Centre (55 Parkside St., Minden).
The forum is a chance for interested residents, food producers, farmers, retailers, restauranteurs, elected politicians, municipal staff, and others to learn about the exciting food and agriculture-related projects underway in Haliburton County. Participants can also discover how they can support and shape the future of the local food sector.
Staff from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will deliver a keynote address on the tools and strategies available to help the area’s local food sector thrive. There will also be discussion topics including selling and branding local food, culinary and food tourism, municipal food planning, and more.
The forum is free to attend and includes a lunch showcasing ingredients from many of the area’s primary food producers.
2019 Win This Space finale in Peterborough on March 5
The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is presenting the finale of the 2019 Win This Space competition from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5th at ARIA (331 George St. N., Peterborough).
The winner of the annual competition will be announced at the event. The grand prize package, valued at more than $40,000, includes a free year-long least of a storefront in downtown Peterborough and thousands of dollars in donated prizes including office and computer supplies, marketing and financial services, and advertising and promotion.
The top 10 contestants vying for the grand prize are Sheneese Wilkins of Mink Magic, Becky and Kent Sheehey of Sweat Happy Wellness, Sandra Young of Statement House Vintage, Anthony and Samantha Lennan of The Food Shop, David Searle of Moloko, Emma Pineo of Studio Pineo, Jonathan MacKay of Sustain Your Eco Living & Building Store, Laura and Dave Clark of Knook & Cranny, Lacey Klatt of Cozy Home Designs By Lacey, and Jules Diotallevi of The Rabbit Hole.
Lakefield Career Fair and and Community Information Session on March 6
The City and County of Peterborough, Agilec, the Municipality of Trent Lakes, and the Township of Selwyn have organized the Lakefield Career Fair and Community Information Session from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6th at the Lakefield Legion (10 Nicholls St., Lakefield).
The free event is for job seekers of all ages, and will feature employers offering include year-round and seasonal positions including skilled and general labour, nursing, food service, cleaning, and more.
Employers at the event will include AGTA Home Health Care, Burleigh Falls Inn, Cameron Steel Inc., Canadian Armed Forces, Concentrix, Katchiwano Golf & Country Club, Lockstop Café\Coons Cottage Care, Nightingale Nursing, Ontario Provincial Police, Otonabee Conservation Authority, R&J Machine, Savage Arms, SGS Canada, Six Foot Bay Resort, and Regency Retirement Lakefield.
Kawartha Lakes Arts Council hosts a copyright workshop for creators on March 6 in Janetville
Kawartha Lakes Arts Council is hosting the “Copyright for Creators” workshop at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6th at Janetville Community Centre (693 Janetville Rd., Janetville).
Writers, visual artists, graphic designers, musicians and composers, actors, producers, filmmakers, and game designers can learn about copyright, trademarks, trade secrets, and licensing. You will find out how to protect original creative ideas, understand the rules about public domain, and ask questions about infringement, reproduction, and transformative use.
Panelists include Penni Holdham (master prop builder, designer, and muralist), Dwayne Collins (digital scholarship librarian), and Catherine Jones (music and media rights specialist) and the evening will be moderated by Dianne Lister (photographer and chair of Kawartha Lakes Arts Council).
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the evening will begin with a presentation at 7 p.m., followed by a Q&A session at 8 p.m. and refreshments at 8:30 p.m.
The cost is $10 for members of the Kawartha Lakes Arts Council and $15 for non-members and guests. Cash or cheque will be accepted to the door.
Lindsay Chamber hosts its annual general meeting in Lindsay on March 6
The Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual general meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6th at The Auk’s Lodge on Fleming College’s Frost Campus (200 Albert St. S., Lindsay).
You can view the Chamber’s activities and successes of the past year, learn about Chamber initiatives for the year ahead, and review the 2018 financial statement. A motion will be passed for member to accept the next slate of board members.
Refreshments will be provided by The Olympia Restaurant and a cash bar will be available.
City of Kawartha Lakes hosting public information centre on downtown Lindsay reconstruction on March 7 in Lindsay
The City of Kawartha Lakes is hosting a public information centre on the design project for the reconstruction of downtown Lindsay from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 7th at the Victoria Park Armoury (210 Kent St. W., Lindsay).
The information centre will present the proposed streetscape plans, building on previously completed planning and design studies and incorporating public feedback and input from stakeholder groups including the Lindsay Downtown BIA, the Downtown Revitalization Working Group, and Heritage Committee and Accessibility Committee.
Drop in between 6 and 8 p.m. A formal presentation will take place at 6:30 p.m.
Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting in Campbellford on March 7
The Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual general meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 7th at the Clock Tower Cultural Centre (36 Front St. S., Campbellford).
The event will include networking, light refreshments, and a review of Chamber events, activities, and programs over the past year.
FastStart Peterborough presents E-Connect: International Women’s Day – Female Founders on March 7
FastStart Peterborough’s next E-Connect session, “International Women’s Day – Female Founders”, takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 7th at The Venue (286 George St. N., Peterborough).
The event features a panel discussion with Dana Empey (Carlson Wagonlit Stewart Travel Services), Gwyneth James (Cody & James Chartered Professional Accountants), and Michelle Ferreri (Michelleferreri.com and MF Media Group).
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development hosts inaugural Business & Entrepreneurship Conference in Peterborough on March 28
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development is bringing together business owners from across Peterborough & the Kawarthas for the inaugural Business & Entrepreneurship Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 28th at the Peterborough Golf & Country Club (1030 Armour Rd., Peterborough).
This is a must-attend event for entrepreneurs looking to learn from industry thought leaders, network with like-minded professionals to develop partnerships and collaboration, and grow and improve their business. Keynote speakers are Nikki Pett on the topic “Relationship Marketing” and Darrell Keezer on the topic “Digital Disruption”, wiht special guest speaker George Anastasopoulos.
There will be an afternoon panel on customer service in the digital age features local business people include Katie Dempsey of Blind Ambition, Bob Gauvreau of Gauvreau & Associates, Mike Watt of Providence/S.O.S./Flavour Fashion, Scott Murison of Wild Rock, and Nicole Truman of Fox Law.
Early bird tickets $40+HST until February 15th ($55 after February 15th) and include breakfast and lunch.
Peterborough Emergency Management and Safety Forum on April 4 and 5
The Peterborough Emergency Management and Safety Forum is taking place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 4th and Friday, April 5th at Stonehouse Hall (2195 Lansdowne St. Peterborough).
This two-day event is an opportunity to learn from leading experts in the field of emergency management and safety planning and execution. The forum will cover incident management and mitigation, emergency planning and responses, public safety, business continuity planning, interoperability in times of crisis or serious event, and coordinated collaborative response.
There will be guest speakers from Orlando, Florida speaking on lessons learned from the Pulse Night Club shooting, Peterborough Police Chief Scott Gilbert speaking on the 2018 Toronto van incident, Sgt. Kerry Schmidt of the O.P.P. speaking on communications and the media in a crisis, Tom McKay (President of the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners), and an expert panel on cyber security.
Toronto comedian, playwright, and author Deborah Kimmett will deliver the closing keynote, "That Which Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Funnier", at the International Women's Day Conference in Peterborough on March 8, 2019. (Photo: Sam Gaetz Photography)
Thirteen Moons Wellness hosts International Women’s Day Conference
When: Friday, March 8, 2019 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Where: Ashburnham Reception Centre (840 Armour Rd., Peterborough) How much: $145
Featuring keynote speakers Rebecca Thomas and Deborah Kimmett and six 75-minute workshops. Ticket price includes two keynote speakers, your choice of one morning workshop and one afternoon workshop, and lunch and refreshments. For more information and to register, visit www.iwdptbo.ca.
Few people can use their own tough times to comedic effect as well as Deborah Kimmett.
During some turbulent times in her life, notably giving birth to a premature baby and witnessing her brother battle cancer, the Toronto-based comedian turned to playwriting and humour as emotional medicine.
Dealing with those moments through a comedic lens was a necessary prescription to stay resilient in the face of life’s challenges, Kimmett says.
“My daughter was born prematurely. The medicine that was available then wasn’t the same [as it is today], so I turned to writing and wrote a play out of my own heartbreak of having to be a mom of a premature baby — but it ended up being really funny as well.”
That play, Miracle Mother, was written in 1984 and earned her national recognition and a nomination for the Governor General’s Award in 1995.
More recently, Kimmett wrote her acclaimed monologue The Year of the Suddenly, based on her relationship with her younger brother, who she only got to know after he was diagnosed with cancer. She has toured the show throughout Ontario since its debut at Toronto’s Second City in June 2017.
She has been able to turn her stories into something she can share and, as it turns out, something that can help others heal. It’s her ability to use humour as a valuable tool in the best and worst of times that has allowed Kimmett to make others laugh on the national circuit for four decades.
Having spent most of her young life being told that she was funny, the Napanee native moved to Toronto in her early twenties to enrol in a Second City improv class, which eventually turned into a new career path for the comedian.
“After I took the [improv] class, I got hired very quickly to work at Second City. I was there for a few years performing onstage. I started writing and creating my own material and doing stand-up using my own stories throughout the years.”
VIDEO: “That Which Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Funnier” – Deborah Kimmett
Kimmett then begun teaching at the mecca of improv and helped co-develop a corporate training program to take the basic idea of improv out into the business world, teaching corporations how to deal with change. During that time, she also performed her one-woman comedy shows.
“Somewhere about 20 years ago, it all came together. Now I speak at companies and events blending humour and inspiration. I’m not doing stand-up; I’m telling stories about the life lessons I’ve learned over the years,” Kimmett says.
She’s made memorable appearances at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and has appeared regularly on CBC Radio’s The Debaters. She’s written two books of comedic essays (Reality is Over-Rated and That Which Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Funnier) and one novel (Outrunning Crazy).
For two decades, she’s racked up a sizable list of acting and directing credits and has taught writing workshops for creative writers and aspiring comedians looking to find their funny. Kimmett is also a motivational speaker for women’s organizations, businesses, associations, and foundations.
Using laughter to deal with the challenges of work-life balance is one of the goals of Kimmett’s hilarious keynote based on her book of the same name, That Which Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Funnier, to be delivered at the third annual Peterborough International Women’s Day Conference, hosted by Thirteen Moons Wellness, on Friday, March 8th.
The flavour of her topic will be “humour and inspiration,” she says. Her material will be intergenerational, so the entire audience can relate. Expect a ton of laughs from her blend of trademark stand-up comedy with poignant moments from her own life sprinkled into the performance.
Bring the waterproof mascara. Side effects include group hugs.
Along with being a stand-up comic, a playwright, and author, Deborah Kimmett is a renowned speaker who blends humour and inspiration. (Photo: Sam Gaetz Photography)
Having a genuine laugh together, Kimmett notes, is a way to make a quick connection. A good chuckle can make people healthier and better able to cope with trials and tribulations of the world.
“Humour can help dial down your stress and laughing together can have this connectivity that often we forget about. At times, you might feel isolated by the work you’re doing, the family you’re raising, or a sick family member — or maybe you have all three going on. Sometimes, we go through really dark times and need other people to give us a different perspective. There’s seven billion people in the world, so let’s connect to a couple that can support us.
“I think when you lose your sense of humour, you know that is the first sign of stress,” she says. “By laughing, you open yourself up to interrupting your thoughts.”
There are few tickets left for the International Women’s Day Conference in Peterborough. For more information about the conference and to register, visit www.iwdptbo.ca.
Environment Canada has already issued a wind warning for all of southern Ontario for Sunday and — depending on where you live in the Kawarthas — a freezing rain warning (Haliburton and Hastings), a snow squall watch (Kawartha Lakes), and a special weather statement for heavy flurries (Peterborough, Northumberland).
Now Hydro One also issued a media release today (February 23) stating they are getting ready for Sunday’s wind storm that could cause hundreds of outages across southern, central, and eastern Ontario.
Environment Canada is forecasting very strong wind gusts near 100 kilometres per hour beginning late Sunday morning into continuing Sunday night. A few locations along the shorelines of Lake Ontario may gust to 110 kilometres per hour at times late in the morning or in the afternoon.
The strong winds will continue through Sunday evening and become westerly with the onset of flurries and reduced visibility in blowing snow. Damage to buildings, such as to roof shingles and windows, may occur. Loose objects may be tossed by the wind and cause injury or damage. Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions due to high winds. The threat of damaging winds continue until Monday morning.
Hydro One says it is preparing its “damage assessors” along with lines and forestry crews to respond to any outages and emergencies that may occur from the damage that may be caused due to sustained high winds. Crews are being moved into position to assess damage and quickly and safely restore power to affected customers.
The provincial utility will determine an estimated time of restoration for each outage once damage has been assessed. Hydro One’s outage tools — including its storm centre website at stormcentre.hydroone.com and its free mobile app — will be updated every 10 minutes as information comes in from the crews on-site.
Customers can also sign up in advance for text or email notifications at www.hydroone.com/outages.
Hydro One is reminding everyone to stay clear of any fallen power lines. If you spot a fallen line, keep at least 10 metres back, even if it does not appear to be live. Report it to the police and call Hydro One at 1-800-434-1235.
The utility is also encouraging people to always be prepared in case of an extended power outage caused by severe weather by assembling an emergency preparedness kit including lots of water, canned or dried food, a flashlight and radio, blankets, candles and matches, a first aid kit, and a fully charged cellphone and portable power bank chargers.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for all of the Kawarthas, forecasting a major late winter storm with freezing rain on Saturday night (February 23) and damaging winds and blowing snow on Sunday night.
Precipitation associated with a winter storm may begin as patchy freezing rain Saturday evening before becoming rain overnight or early Sunday morning.
Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery.
Damaging westerly winds with gusts of 90 to 110 km/h are expected to develop Sunday. Areas near the Great Lakes are more likely to experience winds at the higher end of this range. The strong winds will persist through Sunday night and gradually diminish Monday.
Damage to buildings, such as to roof shingles and windows, may occur. Power outages are also possible.
In addition, flurries and blowing snow will develop Sunday afternoon. Local snowfall amounts in the 5 to 10 cm range are possible by Monday morning. Any fresh snow that falls will be whipped up by the very strong winds creating whiteout conditions at times.
Travel will become hazardous due to significant and sudden reduction to visibility.
Freezing rain warnings may be required. Wind warnings will likely be required for some areas.
The tree in the background is one of five 'dead and unsafe' Carolina Poplars that Parks Canada is having removed from along its access road alongside the Trent Canal at Lock 20 Ashburnham. The tree removal will take place between February 25 and March 1, 2019, and the access road will be closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic during this time. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Parks Canada is about to have five longstanding trees cut down alongside the Trent Canal at Lock 20 Ashburnham, beside Rogers Cove in Peterborough’s East City.
The five large Carolina Poplar trees are located along the 180-metre access road that runs from just west of the Maria Street swing bridge south to the pedestrian walkway at Rogers Cove.
The access road is located completely on Parks Canada property, but is often used by vehicles and pedestrians to access the park at Rogers Cove.
The five Carolina Poplars pictured have been marked for removal. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
A media release from Parks Canada issued on Friday (February 22) states “The removal of a cluster of dead and unsafe Carolina Poplar trees is required to ensure the safety of those that utilize this area.”
Five trees been marked with red spray paint for removal. Two of the trees in located across from each other on the access road, and the remaining three are spread along the entire length of the access road.
kawarthaNOW.com contacted Parks Canada for clarification on whether bore testing was completed to evaluate the health of the five trees.
The first two trees to be removed are near the entrance of the access road at Maria Street. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)Three of the trees (including the one in the distance with the yellow sign attached to it) are located along the length of the access road. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)One of the trees marked for removal. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Aarin Crawford, a public relations and communications officer with the Ontario Waterways Unit of Parks Canada, provided a response from Treescape Canada, the Peterborough arborist that Parks Canada has contracted to complete the tree removal work.
Treescape Canada, thearborist that Parks Canada has contracted to complete the tree removal work, used a visual inspection to determine the trees pose a danger to the public both for pedestrians and vehicles. Treescape says there is significant evidence of dead wood within the crown that indicates the trees are at the end of their life span. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
“Bore testing on Carolina Poplars is not an effective method to evaluate stability, as they are usually solid at the base of the tree and the cavities tend to be higher up into the crown where it is difficult to test,” reads the Treescape response.
“From a visual inspection, it was easy to establish that the trees pose a danger to the public both for pedestrians and vehicles, public safety being our number one priority. There was significant evidence of dead wood within the crown that indicates the trees are at the end of their life span.”
Parks Canada says the tree removal will begin on Monday, February 25th with completion by Friday, March 1st.
During this time, the access road will be closed and there will be limited access to the walking path that runs from Rogers Cove in the west, across the bridge at Lock 20, and continues east to the Trent-Severn Waterway headquarters.
Parks Canada says the site will be well marked with warning signs, and flagging people will be in place to help direct the flow of traffic.
The area where the tree removal work will be completed. (Graphic courtesy of Parks Canada)
Two members of the Newcomer Kitchen in Peterborough on the first day at the winter location of the Peterborough Regional Farmers' Market in Peterborough Square. The market is donating vendor space for the group of Syrian refugees, who formed the Newcomer Kitchen to sell food including spinach pies, smoky baba ghanoush, and their very popular zaatar bread. (Photo courtesy of New Canadians Centre)
From incubating a new food business run by Syrian refugees to making products and produce more accessible through a special currency that can be exchanged for food, the team at the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market (PRFM) has been busy building new partnerships through the long winter months at their indoor location at Peterborough Square.
Wesal Hamatti and Nawaem Moussa of the Newcomer Kitchen at the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market in Peterborough Square. (Supplied photo)
With free space donated by the PRFM to help incubate their new business, a group of Syrian refugees — who have formed the Newcomer Kitchen to sell spinach pies, smoky baba ghanoush, and their very popular zaatar bread — say joining the market has been life-changing.
Reem Ali, a community development worker with the New Canadians Centre, has provided support to the Newcomer Kitchen group since they started skills training with the Nourish Project in November 2017. The project is a collaboration between many partners, including the New Canadians Centre, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, and, Peterborough Public Health.
Last fall, four women in the program decided to work together on the market project, quickly recognizing the benefits provided by the PRFM environment. A few short months after joining the market in December, the women are thriving.
“It has been an enriching experience for these women,” Ali explains. “They have had a chance to put all of their new learning into practice in a supportive, welcoming, low-pressure environment with a steady flow of customers.”
Ali says the women have developed a great rapport with clients and they are already able to anticipate how much food needs to be prepared each week when they meet at a kitchen provided, for free, at the Jewish Community Centre. The regular schedule of the PRFM also lets the women manage their busy lives, including raising their families and keeping up to date with their English language classes.
VIDEO: The Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market
“Community support is key and the market is their community,” Ali says. “Relationships are being developed with other vendors and, like a true incubator experience, support and encouragement is always available.”
Ali says the women have new skills and new confidence, and now they have enough experience to make decisions on the spot about their business. They’re even learning from observing other vendors when it comes to marketing.
“The women say they are no longer the same people — in a good way,” Ali notes.
The indoor winter location of the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market in Peterborough Square has become a popular destination with shoppers who want to support local producers. (Supplied photo)
Neil Hannam, chair of the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Network, says he is proud of how this partnership has blossomed.
“We wanted to help newcomers incubate a business model and develop skills for success in their new home as another way to build our community,” he explains. “Now these women are gaining confidence every week while also strengthening our family of vendors.”
Nourish Market Dollars are a special currency that can be exchanged for produce at the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market, connecting local people to local food and stimulating the local economy. (Poster: Nourish Project)
While PRFM is supporting the Newcomer Kitchen project through a donation of space and lots of encouragement, all PRFM vendors are also benefitting from another partnership: the Nourish Market Dollars project.
Now run as a year-round initiative, the Nourish Market Dollars program provides special currency that can be exchanged for produce at the market — making healthy, organic, local produce and products more accessible.
Joëlle Favreau works with the Nourish Project and she notes that, while addressing food inequities is at the heart of all their work, their programming is grounded in the premise that dignity of access is key.
So, when participants complete workshops or come to events, they are gifted Nourish Market Dollars.
The Nourish Market Dollars can be spent at different locations, including at the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market, providing a dignified way for local people to access healthy food.
“Our workshops and activities are open to all,” Favreau says. “Our market dollars are derived from this approach and they help us support people of all income brackets with greater connections to good local food and amazing local producers.”
Favreau notes that, in addition to receiving Nourish Market Dollars at workshops, people can also buy the special currency. It’s also becoming popular with people who purchase the currency to give as gifts.
The Nourish Project also offers cooking classes, canning workshops and they offer a Market Meal program where a facilitator helps to shop, prepare, and eat a meal prepared with items found at the market.
“We’re growing access to local healthy food and local food is at the centre of this focus,” Favreau says. “We’re using food as an avenue to bring people together.”
With such a focus on building these community partnerships, the PRFM is continuing to build on its mission to build relationships with the city, rural counties, and the community, and to promote the economic, social and cultural value of agriculture within the region — all while increasing access to local food that all members of the community can trust.
Sam McLean of McLean Berry Farm in Buckhorn and Trevor Riel of Riel Acres Farm north of Lakefield chat during market day at the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market in Peterborough Square. The market runs at its winter location from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday until April. (Supplied photo)
“Our goal is to build community around food, and Nourish Dollars open doors for more people in the community to access food that they know is grown by local farmers,” Hannam says. “This program also puts money back into local farms and adds value to the successes of our vendors. We are excited to join the Peterborough Wednesday Farmers’ Market and the Lakefield Farmers’ Market in supporting Nourish Dollars.”
Sixty per cent of PRFM vendors are primary producers who have gone through a third-party inspection process to verify they grow 100 per cent of what they sell, with the remaining 40 per cent including bakers, artists, community groups, and food vendors like the Newcomer Kitchen.
The Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market runs at its winter location in Peterborough Square at 340 George Street North in downtown Peterborough from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday until April. The market is located in the lower south level by Princess Gardens.
You can easily access the market from the mall’s underground parking; simply take the Galaxy Cinema elevator or stairs and exit at the first level into the mall. You can also enter from lower Charlotte Street by Princess Gardens, or at the food court; take the escalator downstairs and head to the south end of the lower mall. The farmers’ market is well marked from all of the mall entrances.
Canadian singer-songwriter Roch Voisine will perform an "unplugged and intimate" concert at Showplace Performance Centre in Peterborough as part of his 2019-20 Acoustic Tour. (Publicity photo)
When one reflects on the circumstances that have brought him or her to their current lot in life, one question inevitably pops up: what if?
For singer-songwriter Roch Voisine, a serious baseball-related injury suffered in 1981 derailed his ambition to play professional hockey. It was no doubt a shattering blow for the then 18-year-old.
Showplace presents Roch Voisine – An Unplugged and Intimate Evening
When: Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at 8 p.m. Where: Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: $47
The Canadian singer-songwriter will perform acoustic versions of his greatest hits accompanied by two other musicians. Tickets are available in person at the Showplace box office (290 George St. N., Peterborough), by phone at 705-742-7469, or online at www.showplace.org.
What if Voisine had realized his hockey dream? Chances are the 55-year-old would have by now long hung up his skates, his scoring statistics relegated to the endless lists of numbers that provide daily fuel for hockey trivia buffs. But if Voisine possesses any lingering disappointment over what could have been and wasn’t, that’s more than offset by the success he’s achieved in his musical career.
On Tuesday, March 5th, Voisine brings his Canadian acoustic tour to Showplace Performance Centre (290 George Street North, Peterborough), promising an “unplugged and intimate evening” where he will be accompanied by two guest musicians to perform the hit songs that have formed the basis for an impressive 22 albums to date and endeared him to million of fans across Canada and Europe.
Tickets to the 8 p.m. Showplace Presents concert cost $47 and are available in person at the Showplace box office (290 George St. N., Peterborough), by phone at 705-742-7469, or online at www.showplace.org.
It was while studying for a degree in physiotherapy at the University of Ottawa that Voisine, having picked up the guitar to fill the void created by his dashed hockey dream, dabbled in songwriting. It was during the same period that he co-wrote the song “Hélène” with his hockey pal Stéphane Lessard.
VIDEO: “Hélène” – Roch Voisine
While his performance debut came before 50,000 people gathered for Canada Day in Montreal in 1986, it was that ballad of love found and lost — the title track on his 1989 album of the same name — that propelled Voisine into the musical stratosphere.
“Everything just went boom,” recalls Voisine in a 1992 interview with Barry Came of Macleans.
Boom indeed. The album — it was actually Voisine’s third after two earlier recordings — spent 40 weeks in the top 10 albums listing in France, achieving Diamond status for more than one million units sold.
Roch Voisine performing in Cagnes-sur-Mer, France in February 2019. (Photo: Bruno Scorpionudo / YouTube)
In Canada, Hélène was certified three-times Platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA). The single, meanwhile, remains Voisine’s top-selling song, spending nine weeks at #1 on the singles chart in France, making him the first Canadian to attain #1 on that chart, well before Bryan Adams, Céline Dion, and Garou did likewise.
“I think we managed to put together some good lyrics with some good music that just happened to catch the public mood,” says Voisine of the album’s huge popularity.
“And it might have had something to do with the fact that they find me a little exotic in France in that I’m a North American who speaks French. To tell you the honest truth, I don’t really have an adequate explanation beyond all of the usual tired old clichés about having the right stuff at the right time.”
VIDEO: “Catch Me” – Roch Voisine
Voisine would have a treasure of “right stuff” for years to follow.
In the aftermath of the success of Helene, which brought him Francophone Album of the Year honours at the Victoires de la Musique Awards in France and honorary title of the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres as awarded by the French government, Voisine embarked on his second European tour, appearing before thousands.
On Canadian soil, enthusiasm for his singing and songwriting talent was no less over the top, highlighted in 1992 by his July 1st performance in Montreal before Queen Elizabeth II.
VIDEO: Roch Voisine – An Unplugged and Intimate Evening
Recording and performing in both French and English, Voisine has had, and continues to enjoy, the advantage of appealing to a huge dual audience, with his English-language recordings remaining a popular staple of Canadian adult contemporary radio.
Made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1997 as well as a Member of the Order of New Brunswick in 2014 — he was born in Edmunston and raised in Saint-Basile and currently divides his time between Montreal and Paris — Voisine has enjoyed consistent commercial success on both sides of the Atlantic.
His subsequent albums Double (1990), Roch Voisine (1990), I’ll Always Be There (1993), Coup de Tete (1994), Kissing Rain (1995) and Americana (1995) have attained Platinum and multi Platinum status as awarded by the CRIA. In 1994, he claimed the Male Vocalist of the Year prize at the Juno Awards.
VIDEO: “Tant Pis” – Roch Voisine
In November 2017, Voisine’s most recent album Devant Nous was released, marking a much heralded return to the pop music genre he had abandoned for the better part of 10 years.
“I realized that if I wanted to make something meaningful, that will reach people where they’re at right now, I needed to go back to pop … life changes and we no longer touch people in the same way,” he tells Claude Côté in a 2017 interview for SOCAN Words & Music.
“One thing I knew for sure was that there weren’t going to be a lot of ballads or sappy love songs. I had a head full of songs that make you want to move. My problem wasn’t that I’d lost my drive to write songs, but rather that I wanted a more meaningful musical format.”
In addition to his acoustic tour, Roch Voisine (left) is also touring with fellow singers Corneille and Garou. (Photo: Forever Gentlemen)
“You get to a point in life where you want to reach out to more than a small group of people with your songs…more universal themes and looking to the future. It’s possible to make intelligent pop songs and I believe these 10 songs are proof of that.
“If you want radio play but don’t do pop songs, well, good luck. Markets are different from one country to the next, and at the centre of the Francophonie. What I want is to play everywhere. Radio in France is transforming, looking for an identity, while here (in Canada) we’re lucky because there’s still adult-oriented radio that gives some space to its artists.”
In addition to his acoustic tour, Voisine is also touring with fellow singers Corneille and Garou as “Forever Gentlemen”, where the trio perform classic crooner tunes from the ’50s and early ’60s.
For more information about Roch Voisine, visit rochvoisine.com.
Peterborough police seized almost 11 grams of blue heroin on February 21, 2019. Blue heroin is heroin mixed with the much stronger synthetic opiod fentanyl. (Photo: Peterborough Police Service)
A 38-year-old Peterborough man is facing charges including trafficking blue heroin following a drug investigation.
As a result of an ongoing investigation by the Peterborough Police Service’s ICAD (Intelligence, Crime Analyst, Asset Forfeiture and Drug) Unit, on Thursday (February 21), officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in the area of Hunter and Rubidge Streets.
During the investigation, Edward Travis Pafford of Wallis Drive, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was found to be in possession of approximately 10.6 grams of blue heroin — heroin mixed with fentanyl — and an amount of Canadian currency.
Pafford as arrested and charged with trafficking in a schedule I substance, possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000.
The accused was held in custody and is scheduled to appear in court later today (February 22).
On the left is a lethal dose of heroin, equivalent to about 30 milligrams; on the right is a 3-milligram dose of fentanyl, enough to kill an average-sized adult male. (Photo: New Hampshire State Police Forensic Lab)
On February 8th, Peterborough Public Health issued an alert that it had received reports blue heroin was circulating in the community.
Regular heroin ranges in colour from black to brown to white, depending on how it’s processed; heroin that is laced with fentanyl is dyed with different colours, including blue, purple, and pink.
Both heroin and fentanyl are opiods. Fentanyl, a synthetic opiod, is more potent than heroin and can cause a toxic buildup and lead to overdose faster and in lower doses.
Hudson's Bay Co. is closing all 37 Home Outfitters stores in Canada, including the one located at 821 Rye Street in Peterborough, in 2019. (Photo: Google Maps)
Hudson’s Bay Co. (HBC) announced on Thursday (February 21) it is closing down its Home Outfitters business in Canada.
The housewares chain operates 37 stores in Canada, including one in Peterborough.
In a statement, the company says the decision is part of a “strategic plan to reduce costs, simplify the business and improve overall profitability.”
The company expects to complete the closure in 2019. The company is also performing a “fleet review” of Saks OFF 5TH’s 133 stores, with an estimate of closing up to 20 locations in the U.S.
“Further streamlining our retail portfolio enables even greater focus on our businesses with the strongest growth opportunities,” says Helena Foulkes, HBC’s Chief Executive Officer. “We know this news is difficult for our associates. We are grateful for their ongoing efforts to serve our customers and we will work to find opportunities within HBC for impacted team members where possible.”
The company did not indicate the number of employees who would be affected by the closures.
The Peterborough location at 821 Rye Street, across from Best Buy, is the only Home Outfitters store in the Kawarthas.
The announcement comes four days after U.S. discount shoe retailer Payless ShoeSource announced it would close its 2,354 stores in North America, including its only store in the Kawarthas, located at Lansdowne Place Mall in Peterborough.
kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.
Submit your event for FREE!
Use our event submission form to post your event on our website — for free.
To submit editorial content or ideas, please contact us.
