We’re not quite there yet, but it’s almost time to start cleaning up the yard and garden.
If you live in the City of Peterborough, you put out your green waste for weekly collection beginning the first week of April on your regular garbage and recycling day.
In the County of Peterborough, curbside collection is offered in 10 communities in late April and May.
In Northumberland County, monthly curbside green waste collection begins in mid-April.
In the City of Kawartha Lakes, there are two dates for curbside collection in June (you’ll have to take your green waste to a landfill before then).
In Hastings and Haliburton counties, you’ll need to check with your local municipality to see if curbside collection is offered.
The City of Peterborough’s green waste collection begins on Tuesday, April 2nd. Leaf and yard waste will be collected at the curb on your regular garbage and recycling collection day.
Green waste must be in paper yard waste bags, bushel baskets, or a garbage bin labelled with a city-issued “Green Waste” stickers. The stickers are free and are available at City Hall, Peterborough GreenUP, and local Home Hardware stores (Merritt on Lansdowne Street and Kingan on Simcoe Street).
While there are no limits on the amount of green waste you can put out for collection, plastic bags will not be accepted.
Weekly green waste collection will continue in Peterborough through until the last week of November.
Curbside collection of yard waste is available in 10 communities in the County of Peterborough: Bridgenorth, Donwood, Havelock, Keene, Lang, Lakefield, Millbrook, North Monaghan, Norwood, and the Terraview Heights and Woodland Acres areas.
Spring collection begins in late April, but specific dates for each community are not yet available. Check the County of Peterborough website at www.ptbocounty.ca.
Place all yard waste in paper bags or reusable containers and bundle branches, and place at the curb before 7 a.m. on your collection day. There are no limits and no tags required for leaf and yard materials.
Drop-off programs are available for all other locations in the county. Contact your local township for more information on the Leaf and Yard Drop-Off Program in your area.
City of Kawartha Lakes
If you live in the City of Kawartha Lakes, there isn’t regular curbside collection of green waste. Instead, there are two dates in late spring when the city will collect green waste.
This spring’s dates are Friday, June 7th (if your regular collection day is Tuesday or Thursday) and on Friday, June 21st (if your regular collection day is Tuesday or Thursday). All leaf and yard waste must be set out in paper bags or neatly bundled, and plastic bags are not allowed. Grass clippings, sod, and soil will not be collected.
If you don’t want to wait until June, or if you have green waste that isn’t allowed at curbside collection, you can take it to a city waste management facility (landfill) yourself. For more information about landfill locations and hours, visit www.city.kawarthalakes.on.ca.
Northumberland County
For residents of Northumberland County, curbside leaf and yard waste is collected every month from mid-April to mid-December, on a different specific week depending on where you live.
Green waste is not collected on your regular garbage and recycling day. Instead, put your green waste at the curb by 7 a.m. on the Monday of your collection week and it will be collected sometime during that week.
Green waste must be put in paper bags and brush must be tied in small bundles. There is no limit on the number of bags or bundles you can put out for collection, but each bag or bundle must weigh less than 18 kg (40 lbs). Materials placed in plastic bags will not be collected, and garbage, litter, pet waste or soil is not accepted.
While there is no county-wide collection of green waste in Hastings and Haliburton Counties, some municipalities may provide curbside collection while others may require you to take green waste to a landfill. Contact your municipality to find out what services are available, if any, and collection dates.
GreenUP's Taylor Wilkes prepares to plant creeping juniper, a drought-tolerant ground cover, at a home in the Kawartha Heights neighbourhood of Peterborough where the conventional lawn was removed in order to install a water-wise garden. (Photo: GreenUP)
The season for mowing lawns is still ahead of us, but now is a great time to start thinking about how we use and maintain our yards.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Jenn McCallum, Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods Water Program Coordinator at GreenUP.
Specifically, let’s talk about something that we all know, and may or may not love: grass.
Whether you love mowing the lawn or would prefer to not have grass at all, there are certain practices that homeowners can do to reduce water use and mower emissions. There are also alternatives to grass that can add curb appeal and habitat for pollinators.
Conventional lawn grasses are typically a mix of three main species: Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and creeping red fescue. These grasses are native to Europe and Northern Asia, and were introduced to North America as pasture for livestock. During this time of settlement, cattle, goats, and sheep would nibble these grasses and fertilize them with their manure, maintaining a lush low pasture.
As part of the GreenUP Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods (SUN) program, this Swanston Street home in Peterborough removed a portion of the lawn to install a rain garden full of native and locally adapted plants. (Photo: GreenUP)
For the modern homeowner, maintaining the lushness of a lawn can be laborious, with all the mowing, watering, and fertilizing. These practices can have negative impacts on the environment.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a single new gas-powered lawn mower in use for one hour produces the same amount of emissions as 11 new cars being driven for an hour. Additionally, fertilizers can run off of lawns and into waterways when it rains, causing problems for fish and other species.
“During the summer months water use can increase by 50 per cent, mostly due to outdoor water use,” says GreenUP water programs manager Heather Ray.
“Common lawns have short root systems, which means they are not tolerant to periods of drought and therefore require a lot of water to maintain their health. There are ways to promote a water-wise lawn by increasing aeration, de-thatching so water can get to the roots, and mixing in more drought-tolerant species. Keep in mind that lawns bounce back so, in severe drought situations, you can skip the watering and leave your lawn to turn brown.”
If you would like to maintain a lawn in a more environmentally responsible way, consider trying some of these strategies:
Use a hand mower. Since the only energy inputs for a hand mower are from moving your body, there aren’t any harmful emissions involved. Other options for reducing emissions include using battery powered or electric mowers.
Mow high. Mowing your grass no shorter than six to eight centimetres (2.5 to 3 inches) will ensure that its root system stays healthy and strong.
Leave grass clippings on the lawn. Clippings will decompose and provide nutrients to your lawn.
Keep your mowing blade sharp. A sharp blade cuts grass more cleanly, and helps keep the grass healthier. Check the blade of your mower approximately every 8-10 hours of use.
Add compost. You can add up to a 1.3 centimetres (1/2 inch) of finely screened compost (either homemade or purchased) to your lawn in the early spring and early fall. As a natural fertilizer, it will provide nutrients to your grass, will help retain moisture, and won’t run off as easily as artificial fertilizers.
Water responsibly. In the heat of the summer, your lawn may go dormant. This is normal, and it will return to its lush green colour with rain in the fall. When your lawn is dormant, watering will do more harm than good.
Alternatively, if you aren’t that keen on conventional grass to begin with, there are other options you can pursue. For example, buffalo grass is native to the central North American prairies, and can tolerate hot and dry weather better than conventional lawn species can.
As part of the GreenUP Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods (SUN) program, a resident at a Beverly Street home in Peterborough plants native wildflowers on their front yard in place of grass in order to reinforce the hill, reducing long-term watering requirements and lawn maintenance time. (Photo: GreenUP)
White Dutch clover, white yarrow, and creeping thyme are three great ground covers that can be used as lawn alternatives. These species are low growing, can be mowed if desired (or not — they don’t grow that tall), and produce flowers that provide food to pollinators. These plants can even be added to existing lawns if you wish to diversify your lawn.
Consider starting small. Try replacing your grass by adding one square foot of clover at a time. This will provide more food for pollinators and wildlife habitat.
If you are interested in creating an even more diverse landscape on your property, there are many native plants that provide colour and interest, and once established, they can tolerate our summer’s typical drought conditions.
“Dogwood, New Jersey tea, coneflower, bee balm, milkweed, aster, and black-eyed Susan provide pollen and nectar for native pollinators throughout the growing season,” explains Carlotta James from Three Sisters Natural Landscapes. “Converting your lawn into healthy pollinator habitat is an important step to help reverse the decline of pollinator populations around the world.”
For more ideas about native plants that can be used to add appeal and habitat to your property, check out GreenUP Ecology Park’s Plant Sale on Saturday, May 18th, or throughout the season from May to October.
To see what Peterborough residents are doing to reduce water use around their homes, visit greenup.on.ca/waterwise to view photos and garden profiles for more than 20 gardens nominated through the GreenUP Water Wise program, as funded by Peterborough Utilities Group.
GreenUP Water Wise program also has a Water Wise garden starter kit, including a garden design, which is available at GreenUP Ecology Park. Quantities are limited, so get yours early in the gardening season.
If you would like to buy some vegetable seeds for your garden, or a rain barrel for conserving water on your property, stop by the GreenUP Store at 378 Aylmer Street North in downtown Peterborough. The GreenUP Store also carries composters, which you can use to divert some of your household waste and create your own compost.
After almost nine years of operation, the Havelock Family Drive-In is officially closed for good. (Photo: Gordon Henderson)
Sad news for drive-in theatre fans: the Havelock Family Drive-In is no more.
On Monday (March 25), owner Gordon Henderson announced on the drive-in’s Facebook page (which is now a drive-in and movie memories page) that the property has been sold.
He also confirmed that the new owners will not be taking over operation of the drive-in theatre.
Owner Gordon Henderson opened the Havelock Family Drive-In in 2010, fulfilling a lifelong dream. (Photo: Gordon Henderson / Facebook)
The 65-year-old Henderson first opened the drive-in in 2010 after purchasing the property at 800 Belmont 11th Line in Havelock. He had a galvanized steel screen custom made with a 14-foot base, and later purchased a digital projector.
Henderson had been experiencing challenges operating the drive-in since at least the fall of 2017, when he launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking $75,000, stating that he was “in a very hard situation” and “faced with the devastating news that I am in jeopardy of losing my lifelong dream my beloved drive-in.” The campaign, which was not widely promoted, raised a total of $4,820.
In 2018, the drive-in did not open in April as originally scheduled and remained closed over the summer “due to various issues”, according to Henderson (one of which was reportedly that the projector was stolen).
The snack bar at the Havelock Family Drive-In. (Photo: Gordon Henderson)
The drive-in eventually opened for a few weekends in late fall 2018 — well after drive-in season was over.
The Havelock Family Drive-In joins the Mustang Drive-In in Peterborough, which closed in 2012 when the owner was unable to afford the switch to digital projection.
Two drive-in theatres still operate in the Kawarthas: the Lindsay Drive-In (229 Pigeon Lake Road, Lindsay) which opens for the season on April 26th, and the Port Hope Drive-In (2141 Theatre Rd. S., Cobourg) — Canada’s oldest continuously operated drive-in — which will be announcing its opening date within the next week (in 2018 it opened on March 30th).
A brief history of drive-in theatres
Invented by Richard Hollingshead of Camden, New Jersey, the first drive-in theatre opened in 1933.
The concept of the drive-in theatre was invented in the late 1920s by Richard Hollingshead of Camden, New Jersey. The story goes that his overweight mother couldn’t get comfortable in regular movie theatre seats, so Hollingshead came up with the idea of an open-air theatre.
He mounted a 1928 Kodak movie projector on the hood of his car, projected the film onto a screen made of two sheets nailed between two trees, and placed a radio behind the screen for sound. Eventually he developed a ramp system so cars could park at different heights to see the screen without being unobstructed by other vehicles.
In 1933, Hollingshead received a patent for the concept, formed Park-In Theatres, Inc. and opened “Automobile Movie Theater” — the very first drive-in theatre. He charged 25 cents per person and 25 cents per car, with a maximum cost of $1. Park-It Theaters later licensed the concept to Loews Drive-In Theaters, Inc. (the origin of the phrase “drive-in theatre”), but drive-ins didn’t become popular until the advent of in-car speakers in the early 1940s. In 1946, Skyway Drive-In in Stoney Creek, Ontario (since closed) was the first drive-in theatre to open in Canada.
After some legal issues between Park-In Theaters and Loews Drive-In Theaters, Hollingshead’s original patent was overturned in 1950, and drive-ins began popping up everywhere. They were popular because they offered affordable family entertainment. People could bring their babies and kids and amorous teenagers could find some privacy from their parents in what became known as the “passion pit”.
During their peak in the late 1950s and early 1960s, there were more than 4,000 drive-in theatres in the U.S. and 250 in Canada. Drive-ins were popular because they offered affordable family entertainment.
During the drive-in peak of the late 1950s and early 1960s, there were more than 4,000 drive-in theatres in the U.S. and 250 in Canada. Today, there are fewer than 350 drive-ins left in the U.S. and fewer than 50 in Canada.
The decline of the drive-in began in the 1970s, with the rise of home entertainment options — colour television, cable, VCRs, and video rentals — that encouraged families to stay in the comfort of their homes. The energy crisis of the 1970s also had an impact, as did the widespread adoption of Daylight Saving Time (which forced movies to start an hour later, making them less family friendly).
To supplement their declining revenues, some drive-ins (which were already showing B movies rather than first-run movies, due to restrictions from movie studios) began screening mature films and adult films. However, this created a negative image and further discouraged families from attending.
The growing real estate market and increasing property taxes also affected the viability of drive-in theatres, many of which were located in the suburbs or in rural areas. Theatre owners ended up selling to developers who built shopping malls or residential housing developments on the properties.
The Mustang Drive-in in Peterborough closed in 2012 when the owner was unable to afford the switch from film to digital projection. The Owen Sound Twin Drive-In Theatre at Springmount, which opened in 1950, closed permanently this year. Toronto’s only drive-in at The Docks will also not be opening this season. (Photo: Jay Callaghan)
Despite the decline in attendance that shuttered many theatres, the quality of the drive-in experience continued to improve. In the 1970s, the original sound system used for drive-in theatres (an external speaker hung inside a car’s window) was replaced by low-power AM broadcasts to car radios and, in the 1980s, by higher-quality FM radio broadcasts.
In the early 1990s, movie studios began offering first-run movies to drive-ins, and the drive-in theatre had somewhat of a resurgence. People could now see new and popular movies at drive-ins instead of going to a regular movie theatre.
The resurgence was short lived, however. In the 1990s and the 2000s, even more home entertainment options became available, including DVDs, larger and cheaper high-definition flat-screen televisions, and streaming internet video including Netflix. The final nail in the coffin for some drive-ins came in the early 2000s, when movie studios began to move away from producing 35mm film prints to digital, with an ultimatum issued to theatres to switch to digital in 2013.
This meant that drive-ins had to purchase high-definition digital projectors if they wanted to screen new movies. The conversion cost was $75,000 to $100,000 per screen — a difficult expense for drive-in theatres to justify with a limited number of daily screenings, and particularly for Canadian drive-in theatres that only operate for part of the year.
Still, even facing all these obstacles, drive-ins continue to make a go of it. But if you want to keep your local drive-in in business, make going to a drive-in movie a regular outing during the season.
The Lindsay Drive-In is the only two-screen drive-in in the Kawarthas. (Photo: Lindsay Drive-In)
More than three million visitors visit Peterborough & the Kawarthas every year, including rural destinations such as Stoney Lake. Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development is hosting tourism industry professionals from across Ontario on April 11, 2019 for the second annual Rural Tourism Symposium in Keene. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
Tourism industry professionals from across Ontario will gather at Lang Pioneer Village in Keene this April for the second annual Rural Tourism Symposium.
The one-day conference, with the theme “Redefining Success”, takes place 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 11th at the Peterborough County Agriculture Heritage Building at Lang Pioneer Village (104 Lang Rd., Keene).
Hosted by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) in partnership with Chatham-Kent Tourism, the event is also supported by Grey County Tourism, Simcoe County Tourism, Headwaters Tourism, Kawartha Lakes Tourism, and Kawarthas-Northumberland (Regional Tourism Organization 8).
The Rural Tourism Symposium will provide insights on how rural tourism stakeholders, destination marketing organizations, and tourism businesses can leverage tourism efforts at the provincial and national level, capitalize on opportunities, and create partnerships for success. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
There’s no question that tourism is an important economic driver in Ontario, particularly for rural communities. According to PKED’s director of tourism and communications Tracie Bertrand, Peterborough & the Kawarthas alone draws around three million visitors every year who contribute approximately $300 million to the local economy.
“Part of our region’s competitive edge is that we offer the best of vibrant city, complemented by rolling hills of farmland and famed Ontario cottage country,” Bertrand says. “There are more than a thousand tourism businesses located in our region, ranging from retail to restaurants and from accommodations to attractions.”
But the April 11th symposium is not just limited to Peterborough & the Kawarthas: it’s been specifically designed to raise the profile of tourism in rural Ontario, and will attract rural tourism stakeholders, destination marketing organizations, and tourism businesses from across the province.
“We’re hoping this event sparks conversation and builds momentum for rural tourism in the province of Ontario,” Bertrand explains. “Industry professionals, both locally and from away, will gain insight from our expert speakers to leverage efforts at the provincial and national level, capitalize on opportunities, and create partnerships for success.”
The symposium begins with a keynote presentation entitled “Leverage Your Reach with Destination Ontario” by Lisa LaVecchia, president and CEO of Destination Ontario.
Lisa LaVecchia is president and CEO of Destination Ontario, a provincial government agency that promotes Ontario internationally as a tourist destination. LaVecchia will deliver the keynote presentation at the Rural Tourism Symposium on April 11, 2019. (Supplied photo)
Legally known as the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation, Destination Ontario is an agency of the Government of Ontario that markets the province as a preferred four-season tourist destination in a globally competitive tourism market. Under LaVecchia’s leadership, Destination Ontario has produced innovative and award-winning brand campaigns, including the ‘Epic Is ON’ campaign for the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games and the ‘Where Am I?’ campaign.
The symposium also includes:
A presentation by Beth Potter, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, entitled “Stronger Together. Presenting a United Front for Rural Tourism” on how tourism industry professionals can collaborate with the association to achieve success.
An “Agritourism Farm Table Chat” led by the Culinary Tourism Alliance’s director of food tourism innovation Trevor Benson who, along with special guests, will discuss how to build bridges between the agriculture and tourism industries.
A presentation by Jewel Cunningham, director of Ontario Waterways with Parks Canada, called “Partnering for Success”. Cunningham will describe how partnerships can create exceptional visitor experiences and powerful economic impact in even the smallest of communities.
A presentation entitled “Showcasing Rural Ontario to National & International Visitors” by David Robinson of Destination Canada (formerly the Canadian Tourism Commission), a federal crown corporation that helps the Canadian tourism industry reach international markets. Robinson will explain how Canada measures up as a competitive hot spot for international travellers.
A popular attraction in Ontario is the annual agricultural fair, held in almost every rural community. Building bridges between the agricultural industry and the tourism industry is the subject of one of the presentations at the Rural Tourism Symposium on April 11, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
Finally, the symposium is also a stop on Canada’s national series of Tourism Town Halls, a partnership between the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, Destination Canada, and local industry partners. The Tourism Town Halls provide an opportunity for small and medium-sized tourism businesses across Canada to better understand efforts being made on national tourism issues.
“This tourism town hall will be especially important given the announcement of last week’s federal budget and the importance it placed on tourism as a high-growth sector,” Bertrand says.
The Tourism Town Hall includes a panel discussion with representatives from Destination Canada, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism, moderated by Michele Harris, director of economic and community development with the Municipality of Grey Highlands.
The second annual Rural Tourism Symposium will take place at the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building, a unique space Modelled after an early 20th century barn that blends in well with the historical setting at Lang Pioneer Village in Keene. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough County)
Reducing the negative impact on the environment is an important element of tourism, particularly in rural destinations, so sustainability is a focus of this year’s symposium. Rather than having print materials available at the symposium, information will be delivered digitally through a downloadable app. Waste, especially food waste, will be limited throughout the day and attendees will be encouraged to bring reusable water bottles and their own notepads or devices for making notes.
“We are excited to welcome tourism stakeholders from across the province and show them how we are redefining success in tourism in our communities,” Bertrand says. “We are equally excited to have our tourism operators come out and celebrate what makes our industry unique, right here in our own backyard at the Agriculture Heritage Building at Lang Pioneer Village.”
The cost for the second annual Rural Tourism Symposium is $125+HST, which includes a continental breakfast, a market-style lunch, and entry to the Tourism Town Hall. Tickets are available online at ruraltourism.biz.
For out-of-town visitors looking for accommodation, special rates are available at both the Best Western Otonabee Inn (705-742-3454) and Motel 6 (705-748-0550) in Peterborough. Call and ask for the block under “Rural Tourism Symposium” to take advantage of the special rates.
The six recipients of the 2018 Peterborough Arts Awards: Robert Winslow, Melody Thomas, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Krista English, Beth McMaster, and Brad Brackenridge. Nominations are now open for the second annual awards, which will be presented on May 24, 2019, at The Mayor's Luncheon for the Arts in Peterborough. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
Do you know a local artist or an arts supporter who should be recognized for their achievements?
Nominations are open for the second annual Peterborough Arts Awards, presented by the Electric City Culture Council (EC3).
The nomination deadline for the 2019 awards is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9th.
EC3 — a not-for-profit organization serving the arts, culture, and heritage sector in Peterborough and the surrounding region — established the awards in 2018 to honour and recognize excellence and outstanding achievement of professional artists, arts organizations, and arts supporters living and working the city and county of Peterborough.
“Peterborough has one of the most vibrant arts communities anywhere in the province,” says EC3 president Bill Kimball. “These awards recognize that work: the outstanding achievements of our artists, arts organizations and arts supporters. This is an opportunity to come together and applaud the extraordinary talent and hard work of the local arts community and all that it contributes to our lives in this city.”
The nomination deadline for the 2019 Peterborough Arts Awards is April 9th. The shortlist of finalists will be announced on Monday, April 29th, and the awards will be presented on Friday, May 24th. (Graphic: EC3)
Six awards of $2,000 each will be presented to the winners at the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts, which takes place on Friday, May 24, 2019 at McDonnel St. Activity Centre (577 McDonnel St, Peterborough).
Each of the awards is supported by a sponsor, who committed to funding the award for five years thanks to the sponsorship efforts last year of Bill Lockington, a photographer and founding partner of LLF Lawyers.
The following six awards will be presented:
Outstanding Emerging Artist, sponsored by Tim and Shelley Barrie of Merit II Realty Limited
Outstanding Mid-Career Artist, sponsored by Betty and Bill Morris
Outstanding Senior Artist, sponsored by Paul Hickey of Outpost379 (previously known as BrandHealth)
Outstanding Achievement by an Indigenous Artist, sponsored by LLF Lawyers
Arts Champion, sponsored by Paul Bennett/Ashburnham Realty
Arts Catalyst, sponsored by Kate and Alex Ramsay
The winners of the inaugural awards in 2018 were Melody Thomas (Outstanding Emerging Artist), Brad Brackenridge (Outstanding Mid-Career Artist), Robert Winslow (Outstanding Senior Artist), Leanne Betasamosake Simpson (Outstanding Achievement by an Indigenous Artist), Krista English (Arts Catalyst), and Beth McMaster (Arts Champion).
Local playwright and author Beth McMaster (pictured here with Danny Bronson and Len Lifchus in 2017) is best known for her work with the Peterborough Theatre Guild and with Showplace Performance Centre, notably the popular Spring Tonic services and the Legendary Icon Series which she presented with her late husband Stuart. Beth was instrumental in the creation of both the Peterborough Theatre Guild in 1964 and Showplace Performance Centre in 1996. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
“So many wonderfully creative people give their time and energy to the arts in this city,” says Beth McMaster, who was recognized in 2018 for her long-time work both at Showplace Performance Centre and the Peterborough Theatre Guild.
“I could ask for nothing more than to be acknowledged as a person who has gained the gratitude and respect of others, who, like me, find the arts a rewarding part of their lives. And the monetary prize that came with the award allowed me to share my good fortune with some of the organizations that have shaped my life.”
Professional artists in any discipline — including visual arts, media arts, performing arts (including theatre and circus), dance, music, literary arts, and interdisciplinary and community-based arts — are eligible for the artist awards.
A nominee must by 18 years or age or older, a practising professional artist, and living in the city or county of Peterborough for at least two years. Self-nominations, posthumous nominations, and nominations for family members, employees, or students are not eligible.
The sponsors of the Peterborough Arts Awards.
To be eligible for the Arts Champion Award, a nominee must have provided outstanding support and encourage for the development of the arts through philanthropy, volunteerism, or the development of partnerships and collaborations for at least 10 years.
To be eligible for the Arts Catalyst Award, a nominee must have made a significant contribution to the development and ongoing vitality of the arts for at least five years. Nominees can include arts administrators or managers, critics, curators, educators, programmers, or producers.
The six finalists of the 2019 Bears' Lair entrepreneurial competition are Transit One, AVROD, Alexander Optical, Electric Juice Factory, Emily Mae's Cookies & Sweets, and PedalBoro. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
The six finalists for the Bears’ Lair entrepreneurial competition were announced on Tuesday night (March 26) at the semi-finalist showcase at The Venue in downtown Peterborough.
During the showcase event, 24 semi-finalists in two categories (innovation-based businesses and businesses with a focus on goods and services) displayed information about their businesses and how they operate.
The Bears’ Lair committee judges, along with judges from the local business community, selected six finalists (three in each category) during the showcase. As the end of the event, the six finalists were announced.
Mike Skinner and John Gillis of the Innovation Cluster Peterborough & the Kawarthas announced the three finalists in the Innovation category:
Transit One – Husayn Dharshi founded Transit One to promote public transit by providing bus information to riders and by connecting businesses and organizations with transit riders.
AVROD – Trent University student Jeremy Brooks created the Archaeological Virtual Reality Online Database (AVROD) to advance the way archaeologists work and learn, for which he won the 2018 Cubs’ Lair entrepreneurial competition.
Alexander Optical – Dylan Trepanier created Alexander Optical to organize pop-up clinics with eye care professionals on site to perform comprehensive eye exams, to find eye wear solutions, and to provide an option for people to finance their eye care, for which he won the 2019 Slingshot program pitch challenge.
Madeleine Hurrell of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development and Gail Henderson of Community Futures Peterborough announced the three finalists in the Goods and Services category:
Electric Juice Factory – Based in Port Hope with a retail location in downtown Peterborough, Cheryl Gould and Will Harvey founded Electric Juice Factory to manufacture organic, raw, cold-pressed juices and “super food” smoothies.
Emily Mae’s Cookies & Sweets – In her home-based business, owner Jen Wight specializes in creating unique decorated and personalized sugar cookies.
PedalBoro – Hillary Flood and Pete Rellinger founded this multi-passenger bike tour company to provide an eco-friendly transportation alternative for exploring pubs and restaurants in downtown Peterborough.
Jesse Bateson of Solid Leather displaying his business at the Bears’ Lair entrepreneurial competition’s semi-finalist showcase at The Venue in downtown Peterborough on March 26, 2019. (Photo: Samantha Moss / MossWorks Photography)
The other Goods and Services semi-finalists were Uff Eats, Zumbini with Amber, PtboDTS, Farmhill Wedding and Events, KEG for KCBF, Three Sisters, Direct Visual Care, You’re Welcome, Mink Magic Beauty Bar, Solid Leather, Refreshingly New, Tiny Greens, and Rasa Ayurveda.
The other Innovation semi-finalists were Netmechanics, Biosphere GPS, Devout Fitness, GWF, and Foreign Language 4 Life.
The six finalists will now prepare to pitch their businesses to a panel of judges on Tuesday, April 30th at The Venue, where they will compete for thousands of dollars in cash and business support services. Two winners will be chosen, one in each category. The event is open to the public.
The young actors in the Lindsay Little Theatre stage production of "The Breakfast Club" mimic the original theatrical poster for the 1985 film, with Brooklyn Currins as outcast Allison Reynolds, Tyrnan O'Driscoll (back) as rebel John Bender, Ce'nedra Goswell (centre) as nerd Brian Johnson, Colin Dussome as jock Andrew Clark, and Sophie Ballam (front) as the pampered Claire Standish. (Photo: Lindsay Little Theatre)
On Friday, March 29th, Lindsay Little Theatre brings John Hughes’ cult classic The Breakfast Club from the big screen to the small stage.
Adapted by playwright Altaire Gural, The Breakfast Club features a company of talented young local performers who bring to life the iconic characters from the famous 1985 film.
Lindsay Little Theatre presents The Breakfast Club
When: Friday, March 29 and Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 2 p.m. Where: Lindsay Little Theatre (55 George St., Lindsay) How much: $15
Written by John Hughes. Adapted for the stage by Altair Gural. Directed by Nate Copeland and Logan Gerzymisch. Starring Sophie Ballam, Colin Dussome, Tyrnan O’Driscoll, Brooklyn Currins, Ce’nedra Goswell, Sophie Kourtsidis, and Nate Copeland. Tickets available in person or by phone at the Academy Theatre box office (2 Lindsay St. S., Lindsay, 705-324-911), online at ticketmaster.ca, or at the door the night of each performance.
As one of the most important films in the history of motion pictures, most audiences are familiar with The Breakfast Club. Quietly released in 1985 to an unsuspecting public, the film became one of the biggest hits of the decade, and launched the careers of Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Michael Hall, and Judd Nelson, who became affectionately known to audiences as the Brat Pack.
The story of five misfits from different social cliques who are forced to spend a Saturday in detention together along with their strict principal made an emotional impact on viewers.
It revealed that outward perceptions may not be reality and that, despite coming from different social groups, people share a collective human condition.
The most unique aspect of The Breakfast Club and its characters is that they have a timeless appeal. Despite the film being more than 30 years old, it still manages to resonate with generation after generation of audiences, staying remarkably fresh and still having the same message and impact now as when it was first released.
“The film has stayed relatable,” states Logan Gerzymisch, who at age 16 is making her directorial debut as co-director of the production.
“As a teenager I watch it and I understand why the characters are feeling the way they do. Principals can be mean and irritating bullies, and then your home life is built into who you are during your time in high school. I think it’s important for teenagers to see that how they can relate to this old movie now, and see how even then kids were feeling alone and isolated and that they get it.
“The classic stereotypes are still in high schools, but I think they’ve mellowed out since the 1980s. I’m a preppy kid, but I know who the band kids, or the smart kids, or the sports kids are. We see it, but we all get along. Our friend groups don’t intersect as much, but it’s nice to see that we all hang out together and be friends a little bit.”
VIDEO: The Breakfast Club (1985)
“I think having a teenage co-director and mainly teenage actors in a play about teenagers is important for this show,” adds co-director Nate Copeland, who is acting as a mentor to Logan in her directorial debut.
“I think you need a young person’s perspective to do this show. The actors have been incredibly focused. We did have a rough start having to cancel rehearsals due to weather, so we are working on a shorter time frame. But everyone is coming to each rehearsal with personal character development and they know their lines. They’ve been building relationships with one another and they come to us with ideas.”
With one of the strongest youth communities of any theatre company in the Kawarthas, Lindsay Little Theatre’s production of The Breakfast Club is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the talents of young performers. The play features Sophie Ballam as Claire Standish, Colin Dussome as Andrew Clark, Tyrnan O’Driscoll as John Bender, Brooklyn Currins as Allison Reynolds, and Ce’nedra Goswell as Brian Johnson, with Sophie Kourtsidis as Principal Vernon and Nate Copeland as Carl the Janitor.
The original movie poster for the 1985 film “The Breakfast Club”, which launched the careers of Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall, Emilio Estevez, and Molly Ringwald.
While they are portraying the same characters from the film, the actors have been encouraged to fill in the back stories of the characters more so than in the movie, which has led them to find new depths in the familiar characters.
“In the movie you get some back story on the characters, but you don’t get very much,” Logan points out. “We asked the actors what they think their back story would be if they would go deeper.”
“I’m still playing a teenage criminal, but I’m bringing my own take on his emotions,” says Tyrnan O’Driscoll, who takes on the role of ‘social deviant’ John Bender. “Ultimately Bender is a damaged person. People put their thumb over him and treat him like scum, so he just plays the role. But he really wants to connect, and he doesn’t know how to do it. He wants to be your friend, but he pushes you away before you push him away.”
“I feel like I already relate to Allison, so I’m not changing it a lot from the movie,” says Brooklyn Currins of ‘goth girl’ Allison Reynolds. “She’s pretty quiet and I can relate to a lot of her problems. I don’t talk a lot either, unless I trust someone. But at school I just don’t talk. If I was stuck in a detention room with a bunch of strangers, I’d probably sit at the back and be weird.”
Meanwhile, Ce’nedra Goswell is taking the task of playing the nerdy Brian despite the fact that she is a different gender than the original character in the film. Although she says she’s playing the character much the same as Anthony Michael Hall did, she is tweaking the character in other ways.
“I’m trying to be similar to the movie, but trying to do a different kind of nerd character,” Ce’nedra says. “Instead of being prim and proper, my version of Brian is more manic. He’s more concerned with getting As than with his appearance. He’s very academic based and doesn’t worry about how he looks.”
The cast of the 1985 film “The Breakfast Club”. The young actors in the Lindsay Little Theatre production are bringing their own interpretations to the familiar characters.
But not all of the performers in The Breakfast Club have actually seen the film. As Colin Dussome reveals, he’s never seen the movie, and now that he is in the stage show he is even staying further away from seeing it.
“I’ve never watched the movie, so I don’t know what’s different in what I’m doing,” Colin says. “I want to bring my own spin to the character, and I feel if I watch the movie at this point I’m just going to give out too much of Emilio Estevez instead of myself. I want to play me being Andrew, instead of me being Emilio being Andrew.”
“I tried to base Andrew after the kids I went to school that were athletes,” Colin continues. “They seemed to have a better posture than I did, because they were confident and because they played sports. They got the girls, and got whatever they wanted because they were athletes and thought they were more popular. I’m just carrying myself the way they would when they walked into the room. Everyone would look at them. I try to bring that to the character.”
Each member of the vibrant case brings something unique to the table, much like each of the characters they portray brought their own important element to the narration of the story. Together, they are rediscovering the depth of the characters, and the powerful meaning within the source material that has spoken to audiences for over three decades.
“When they first come on the stage the characters are all portrayed as stereotypes,” Tyrnan points out. “They are the criminal, the athlete, the brain, the weird girl, and the beautiful girl. But they are obviously not that at all. They are much more, and you see that through the course of the play.
“The characters feel that they have to be those stereotypes because society tells them they have to, but by the end of it they realize that, no, they don’t need to be. They can be more than the rich pretty girl, the brain, or the criminal. All of us are more than that when we walk in.”
“The feeling of not belonging in youth is never going to go away, and that’s a big part of this script of misfits being forced together,” Ce’nedra adds. “Society puts stereotypes on people, and you have to go out of your way to break those stereotypes in the way you act.”
No matter who you are and when you first saw it, The Breakfast Club remains a potent and important story about alienation, social constructs, and understanding that manages to speak to people of all ages, no matter the era they were teenagers in. This already ensures that The Breakfast Club will be a hit.
However, there is something special going on at Lindsay Little Theatre within its youth culture, and the young actors coming out of that theatre are among the most impressive in the area. Come to see The Breakfast Club to relive the story and the characters that you love, but stay to see it created by an exceptional company of players. Lindsay Little Theatre’s real-life Brat Pack make up some of the most dedicated and professional young talent in the area.
The Breakfast Club runs from Friday, March 29th to Sunday, March 31st. Friday and Saturday shows start at 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday afternoon. Tickets are available in person or by phone at the Academy Theatre box office (2 Lindsay St. S., Lindsay, 705-324-911), online at ticketmaster.ca, or at the door the night of each performance.
The front cover of the 2019 SPARK Photo Festival catalogue demonstrates one of the photographic trends of this year's festival. Using image-editing software, Laura Berman meticulously paints over sections of a captured image pixel by pixel, creating a fusion of photography and painting. Berman's work will be on display at The Old Oriental Hotel in Castleton, with a reception on April 6, 2019. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
The SPARK Photo Festival is back for its seventh year for the month of April.
Founded in 2013 by Robert Boudreau, Bill Lockington, and Micky Renders, the annual celebration of photography and of those behind the camera lens has quickly grown to become one of Ontario’s preeminent photography festivals, with exhibits and events in locations throughout Peterborough, Northumberland, and the Kawartha Lakes.
“Since the first festival in 2013, SPARK has germinated a total of 351 photographic exhibits, representing hundreds of photographers and over 8,000 photographic works,” festival director and photographer Robert Boudreau writes in his introductory message in the 2019 SPARK catalogue.
Robert Boudreau, who will be departing as SPARK’s festival director after seven years, presents his “Let’s Dance” individual exhibit at Hunter Street Books in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
“But this is simply the numbers. Festivals also radiate positivity, a sense of belonging and identity achieved through a shared experience. SPARK is a great experiment by local lovers of photography asking the question ‘What if…?’ What if we had a local photo festival?”
Boudreau — who will be departing as festival director after this year to pursue personal projects — goes on to say that “what if” question has also guided the festival’s activities since it was founded: from the 2013 exhibit of the Balsillie Collection of Roy Studio Photos at Peterborough Museum and Archives as selected by photographers, to using photography at last year’s festival to integrate newcomer youth into the community.
Boudreau also points out that this year’s festival reflects current and future photographic trends, many of which are driven by technological advances.
‘Autumn Fence Lines’, a photograph by Tim Bellhouse, whose featured exhibit “Close to Home” is on display at the Kawartha Art Gallery in Lindsay. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
While everyone now carries a digital camera in their pocket or purse and can widely share their photographs on social media, Boudreau notes that artificial intelligence is threatening to transfer creative control from the human to the machine. On the other hand, post-processing software allows photographers to more easily manipulate their images, providing the tools to fully realize their artistic vision.
Some photographers are eschewing digital cameras to return to film-based photography, while others are embracing instant photography for its visual artistry.
Another trend is what Boudreau calls “collaborative portraiture”, where the photographer collaborates with rather than directs the subject, as evidenced in one of this year’s exhibits: Heather Doughty’s “Inspire: The Women’s Portrait Project”.
One of Bill Lockington’s photographs in his “Out of Africa” individual exhibit at the main branch of the Peterborough Public Library in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
As in previous years, this year’s festival features a wide range of featured exhibits, individual exhibits, group exhibits, community exhibits, and student exhibits.
The 2019 SPARK catalogue, pocket guide, and SPARK SPiN walking and cycling maps can be found at most exhibit locations, at Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism at VentureNorth, at the Art Gallery of Peterborough, and at other locations around Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
Family Life 2019 Exhibit and 2018 SPARK Juried Exhibit Results
‘Centre of Attention’ by Tere Deslippe won first place in the 2018 SPARK juried exhibit entitled “Reflections”. Results of the 2018 juried exhibit will be on display, along with photographs selected for the 2019 juried exhibit entitled “Family Life”, at the Peterborough Public Library in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
The official launch of the 2019 SPARK Photo Festival takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 5th at the Peterborough Public Library (345 Aylmer St. N.), where this year’s juried exhibit takes place.
The 2019 juried exhibit theme, “Family Life”, is an invitation for photographers to look both inward and outward to define what family life means to them through their photographs. A panel of expert judges will select up to 30 images from all submissions to be printed, matted, and framed by SPARK for the exhibit. First, second, and third place awards along with the best in show award will be presented during the official launch.
The Peterborough Public Library will also host the results of the 2018 SPARK juried exhibit, which was entitled “Reflections”.
Best of High School Photography: 2018 Winners and 2019 Exhibit
Hayden-Grace Mann was awarded “Best in Show” for this photograph at the 2018 Best of High School Photography exhibit. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
This year’s 2019 Best of High School Photography exhibit, entitled “Person, Place, Or Thing”, will be shown at Peterborough Alternative & Continuing Education at Peterborough Collegiate (201 McDonnel St., Peterborough).
A reception and awards presentation takes place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9th.
Along with the 2019 exhibit, the results of the 2018 exhibit will also be on display.
Featured Exhibits
“Transcendent Sky” by Andy Christopher, part of his “Victoria Beach” featured exhibit at Alypsis Inc. in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
Andy Christopher at Alypsis Inc.
Absolute Eye Collective at City of Kawartha Lakes Gallery
Christopher Thorpe at The Natural
Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio (KAGS)
Peter Curley at Frameland Frame It For U Gallery
Nigel Dickson at Ah! Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth
Peggy and Walter Cracknell and Beverley and Paul Williams at Williams Design Studio
Heather Doughty and Katie Ellement at Art School of Peterborough
Geoff Fitzgerald at Colborne Street Gallery
Kathryn Grierson and Justin Sharp at Nancy’s Art & Framing Gallery
Roy T. Bowles at Douro Dummer Public Library Art Gallery
Tim Bellhouse at Kawartha Art Gallery
Individual Exhbitis
Educator, journalist, and activist Rosemary Ganley in Heather Doughty’s Inspire: The Women’s Portrait Project at VentureNorth in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
Barb Callander at Ashburnham Ale House
Robert Boudreau at Hunter Street Books
Bill Lockington at Peterborough Public Library
Heather Doughty at Venture North
Ken Powell at Peterborough Public Library
Laura Berman at The Old Oriental Hotel
Linda Cardona at Empress Gardens
Margaret Hamilton at Elmhirst’s Resort
Paul Hudson at Jo Anne’s Place Health Foods
Peter Hanmore at Cork and Bean Café
Patricia Calder at The Monaghan Café
Group Exhibits
One of the photos in the Kawartha Camera Club group exhibit at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
Kawartha Camera Club at Peterborough Golf and Country Club
The Absolute Eye Collective at Wash-O-Mat Express
Garry Barker, Steve Brittain, Ralph Colley, and Jennie Versteeg at Bridgenorth Library
Peter Clute and Ann Hilborn at Canterbury Gardens
Michael Harris and Dianne Lister at Hobart’s Steakhouse
Peterborough Photographic Society at YMCA Balsillie Family Branch
Community Exhibits
International Jazz Day Peterborough is presenting the photography of Bill Lockington in the lobby of Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
Brain Injury Association Peterborough Region
Aspire Program: John Howard Society of Peterborough
International Jazz Day Peterborough presents the photography of Bill Lockington
YES Shelter for Youth and Families at Pappas Billiards
Student Exhibits
One of the photographs in the “Capture the Moment” exhibit by Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School Digital Photography Students at Brant Basics in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
Thomas S. Stewart Secondary School: Digital Photography at Brant Basics
Thomas S. Stewart Secondary School: Film Photography at Nateure’s Plate
Brileigh Hardcastle at The Sapphire Room
David Bigg at Black’s Distillery
Cassandra DeFrancesco, Victoria Durrett, and Rishabh Sarswat at Trent Student Centre
SPARK Receptions
This photo of Bronson and Cole, a girl and her dog, is an ongoing collaborative effort between local photographers Katie Ellement and Heather Doughty. The photo forms the back cover of the 2019 SPARK Photo Festival catalogue. Doughty and Ellement’s work will be on display at the Art School of Peterborough, with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 12th. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
Follow the links to the SPARK Photography Festival website for more information on each exhibit.
Peterborough City Hall is located at 500 George Street in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
At its meeting on Monday (March 25), Peterborough City Council approved a staff recommendation for $229,550 in grants to community organizations, as well as a separate $5,000 for an organization originally denied funding under the grant program.
In addition, council approved $21,450 in funding for the Peterborough Folk Festival.
The $229,550 in funding includes $209,500 in Community Investment Grants and $20,050 in Community Project Grants for various local charitable, non-profit, and community groups. The city provides grants to organizations in the fields of arts, culture and heritage, environment, health and social services, and recreation and sport.
See the full list of organiizations approved for 2019 grants below.
At the meeting, council also approved $5,000 for Bedford House, a community organization that works to address poverty. The organization had applied to the City of Peterborough for a $9,190 Community Investment Grant to create guidebooks for its Building Bridges Out of Poverty volunteer teams, but was denied funding.
Bedford House board member Mary Gordon addressed council to appeal the decision, explaining the organization had been denied funding due to a misunderstanding. Councillor Keith Riel then requested that Bedford House be granted $5,000 from the city’s contingency fund, as no more funds were available in the Community Investment Grant program, and the motion was approved.
Council also approved a $21,450 Service Grant for the Peterborough Folk Festival, comprised of $20,500 in unallocated funding under the Community Investment Grant program, along with $950 of unallocated funding from the Community Project Grant program.
The Peterborough Folk Festival has been a long-standing recipient of multi-year funding through the Community Investment Grant program, but had reached the maximum funding of $15,000 under the program in 2018.
Moving the festival to the Service Grant program recognizes that the festival provides a significant economic benefit to the city through tourism. It allows for a higher level of city funding for the festival as well as stable funding, since the organization does not have to re-apply for the grant every year.
2019 Community Investment Grant Funding
Artisans Centre Peterborough ($3,500)
B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop ($6,000)
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough ($5,000)
Camp Kawartha for the Camp Kawartha Environment Centre ($4,000)
Down Syndrome Association of Peterborough ($8,500)
Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough ($15,000)
Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region ($7,000)
Heads Up for Inclusion ($5,000)
Junior Achievement of Peterborough Lakeland Muskoka ($3,000)
Kawartha Komets Special Needs Hockey Program ($7,500)
Kawartha Potters’ Guild ($3,500)
Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre ($13,000)
Kawartha World Issues Centre ($3,500)
Kawartha Youth Orchestra ($15,000)
Kawartha Youth Unlimited / Youth for Christ ($2,000)
Mysterious Entity Theatre ($3,500)
New Stages Peterborough ($8,000)
PARD Therapeutic Riding ($4,000)
Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee ($2,000)
Peterborough Chapter of the Ontario Archaeological Society ($2,500)
Peterborough Children’s Chorus ($5,000)
Peterborough New Horizons Bands ($7,000)
Peterborough Symphony Orchestra ($15,000)
Peterborough Theatre Users Group ($4,000)
PR Community & Student Association ($1,000)
Public Energy ($13,000)
ReFrame Film Festival ($12,000)
SPARK Photo Festival ($7,000)
Telecare Distress Centre Peterborough $7,000)
The Art School of Peterborough ($2,500)
The Peterborough Academy of Circus Arts ($4,000)
The Peterborough Singers ($6,500)
Transition Town Peterborough ($3,000)
Trent Radio ($1,000)
More details of the applicants for the 2019 Community Investment Grant Funding.
2019 Community Project Grant Funding
Autism Ontario, Peterborough Chapter ($750)
Borderless Records ($1,000)
Canadian Council of the Blind Peterborough Chapter ($500)
Gobi, the Bactrian camel at the Riverview Park and Zoo, has unexpectedly died at the age of 10. Here he is pictured with his winter coat. (Photo: Riverview Park & Zoo)
Gobi, the Bactrian camel at the Riverview Park and Zoo, has unexpectedly died at the age of 10.
“It is with great sadness that the staff of Riverview Park and Zoo announce the death of our male Bactrian camel,” the zoo announced in a media release on Monday (March 25). “Gobi came to the Park and Zoo from the Elmvale Zoo in the summer of 2009. With his large size, expressive face, and inquisitive and engaging nature, Gobi was a favourite with many of our visitors.”
Gobi, who had previously been in good health, was found to be very ill when animal care staff arrived at the zoo on Saturday morning (March 23).
Although the zoo’s consulting veterinarian and animal health team provided Gobi with treatment and care through the day, he passed away overnight on Saturday night.
Gobi came to the Riverview Park and Zoo from the Elmvale Zoo in the summer of 2009. Bactrian camels, native to Mongolia and China, usually live between 20 and 30 years in captivity. Gobi died at the age of 10 from an unknown illness. (Photo: Riverview Park & Zoo)
Gobi’s remains have been sent to the animal health laboratory at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph for determination of the cause of death.
“Although he could be challenging to manage at times, Park and Zoo employees had formed a close bond with Gobi,” the media release states.
“His sudden death was an especially difficult loss for staff. We would like to thank our staff, staff from the Water Treatment Plant, and Dr. John Sallaway for their assistance in responding to Gobi’s sudden illness.”
Gobi’s death at 10 years old was unexpected. The normal lifespan of a Bactrian camel is 15 to 20 years in the wild, and 20 to 30 years in captivity.
Bactrian camels are native to Mongolia and China (Gobi was named after the Gobi Desert in northern China and southern Mongolia).
They are a critically endangered species, with fewer than 1,000 Bactrian camels left in the wild. Their population has been reduced by hunting (they compete with agricultural livestock for food) and because of mining and pipeline development through their habitat.
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