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.
The semi-finalist showcase for the 2018 Bears' Lair Entrepreneurial Competition at The Venue in downtown Peterborough. This year's showcase, where 24 semi-finalists will be displaying information about their businesses and how they operate, takes place on March 26, 2019. Six finalists for the final pitch event on April 30th will be announced at the end of the showcase event. (Photo: Bears' Lair)
This week’s round-up of regional business news includes the upcoming semi-finalist showcase for the Bears’ Lair entrepreneurial competition, the Ontario government’s announcement of $3.8 million in one-time funding for rural municipalities in Peterborough-Kawartha, the Innovation Cluster launching the H2O Makerspace to support clean technology research, and Rustically Signed opening a new store and workshop space at Pie Eyed Monk Brewery in Lindsay this May.
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.
Also featured is the Peterborough DBIA and GreenUP being nominated for an award for the Vibrancy Depave Project, Sarah Lazure leaving the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra as its general manager, Trent University raising $114,300 for United Way Peterborough, and the opening of nominations for the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism’s 2019 Business Awards of Excellence.
New regional events added this week include the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce’s Business & Community Achievement Awards Gala on March 30th in Haliburton, the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough’s Women in Business Award and the Judy Heffernan Award Dinner on April 9th in Peterborough, the Kawartha Lakes Arts Council’s community celebration and annual general meeting on April 17th in Omemee, the Haliburton Highlands Chamber’s breakfast meeting with MPP Laurie Scott on April 23rd in Haliburton, and the Trent Hills Chamber’s Celebration of Business Excellence Awards Ceremony on April 27th in Hastings.
Bears’ Lair finalists to be announced at semi-finalist showcase on March 26 in Peterborough
Members of the Bears’ Lair committee preparing final details for the semi-finalist showcase on March 26, 2019 at The Venue in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Bears’ Lair)
The Bears’ Lair entrepreneurial competition is hosting its semi-finalist showcase from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26 at The Venue (286 George St. N., Peterborough), where the six finalists will be announced.
Bears’ Lair is an annual competition for up-and-coming entrepreneurs in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
During the showcase event, 24 semi-finalists in two categories (Goods and Services and Innovation) will be displaying information about their businesses and how they operate.
The Goods and Services semi-finalists are Uff Eats, Zumbini with Amber, PtboDTS, Farmhill Wedding and Events, Electric Juice Factory, KEG for KCBF, Three Sisters, Direct Visual Care, You’re Welcome, Mink Magic Beauty Bar, PedalBoro, Solid Leather, Refreshingly New, Tiny Greens, Rasa Ayurveda, and Emily Mae’s Cookies & Sweets.
The Innovation semi-finalists are Netmechanics, AVROD, Alexander Optical, Biosphere GPS, Devout Fitness, Transit One, GWF, and Foreign Language 4 Life.
Attendees at the showcase event will have the chance to ask the semi-finalists entrepreneurship-related questions in a one-on-one Q&A session.
The Bears’ Lair committee judges, along with judges from the local business community, will select six finalists (three in each category) during the showcase and will announce the finalists at the end of the event.
The finalists will move on to the final pitch event on Tuesday, April 30th at The Venue, where they will compete for thousands of dollars in cash and business support services.
Ontario government announces $3.8 million in one-time funding for rural municipalities in Peterborough-Kawartha
Rural municipalities in the provincial riding of Peterborough-Kawartha will be receiving $3,783,351 from the Ontario government.
Last Wednesday (March 20), Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced $200 million in one-time funding for 405 small and rural municipalities, including $3,783,351 for municipalities in the provincial riding of Peterborough-Kawartha.
Funding is allocated based on the number of households in a municipality and whether the municipality is urban or rural. The breakdown of funding for Peterborough-Kawartha is as follows:
$725,000 for Peterborough County
$627,696 for Trent Lakes Municipality
$627,696 for Selwyn Township
$600,086 for North Kawartha Township
$611,047 for Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Township
$591,826 for Douro-Dummer Township
The funding is intended for municipalities to modernize and improve the delivery of services. Municipalities will decide how to best target funding to benefit their local communities, but some examples could include service delivery reviews, development of shared services agreements, IT solutions, capital investments, or other projects.
Innovation Cluster launches H2O Makerspace to support clean technology research
The Innovation Cluster launched “H2O Makerspace: Powered by Franklin Empire Inc.” on March 21, 2019. The makerspace will offer cleantech startup clients equipment to aid in the research and development of cleantech in water testing and more. (Photo: Innovation Cluster)
Last Thursday (March 21), the day before World Water Day, the Innovation Cluster Peterborough & the Kawarthas launched “H2O Makerspace: Powered by Franklin Empire Inc.” at the organization’s business incubator in the VentureNorth building in downtown Peterborough.
At the H2O Makerspace, startups specializing in clean technology (“cleantech”) will have access to more than 30 pieces of equipment to aid in the research and development of cleantech in water testing and more. The equipment includes culture incubators, a sample transport kit, a plan achromatic microscope, membrane filters, petri dishes, sterile glass pipets, and more.
The October 2018 issue of Water Canada named Peterborough as the first best place to launch a watertech startup in Ontario and the second-best in Canada.
“As Peterborough is ranked the best place in Ontario to launch a watertech startup, we couldn’t think of a better way to further the region’s innovative developments than by launching a makerspace for research and testing,” says Innovation Cluster CEO and president Michael Skinner. “The Innovation Cluster is always looking for new ways to help cleantech companies in Peterborough and the Kawarthas reach a global marketplace.”
Geographer and entrepreneur Jennifer Pate, known for her passion towards environmental sustainability and social accessibility to global waterways, was the keynote speaker at the H2O Makerspace event. She spoke about the affects of pollution on our bodies of water.
Following the launch, a showcase was held featuring cleantech clients supported by the Innovation Cluster (including Aclarus Ozone Water Systems, SGS, and Simbi H2O) as well as representatives from Trent University, Fleming CAWT, Noblegen, and Cleantech Commons.
Headquartered in Montreal with offices in Quebec and Ontario including in Peterborough, Franklin Empire Inc. is the largest independent electrical distributor in Canada. Founded in 1942, the company supply electrical components for new construction, renovation and the maintenance of industrial plants, residential and commercial buildings, and also specialize in automation systems for manufacturing processes.
Rustically Signed opening new store and workshop space at Pie Eyed Monk Brewery in Lindsay this May
Stephanie Buckley and Holly Suddick are the owners and operators of home décor business Rustically Signed, which will be opening a new store and workshop space on the third floor of Pie Eyed Monk Brewery in Lindsay on May 4, 2019. (Supplied photo)
Rustically Signed will be opening a marketplace and workshop space on the third floor of Pie Eyed Monk Brewery (8 Cambridge St. N., Lindsay) on May 4, 2019.
Holly Suddick of Little Britain and Stephanie Buckley from Lindsay started their home décor business in 2016 as a “side gig” three years ago, creating custom hand-crafted items, and it has since grown into a booming business.
They will be offering sign-making and woodworking DIY workshops in the new space, and are also looking for around 20 vendors selling unique handmade items to join the marketplace.
For more information on Rustically Signed and to become a vendor, visit rusticallysigned.com.
Peterborough DBIA and GreenUP nominated for award for Vibrancy Depave Project
Volunteers work in the fall of 2018 to remove 782 square metres of asphalt from Water Street in downtown Peterborough, as part of the Downtown Vibrancy project led by the Peterborough DBIA. The initiative has been nominated for an award from the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association. (Photo: Peterborough DBIA)
The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) and Peterborough GreenUP have been nominated for an “Streetscaping and Public Realm Improvements – Large” award from the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) for the Vibrancy Depave Project.
GreenUP partnered with the Peterborough DBIA and the City of Peterborough in 2018 to bring the Depave Paradise project to downtown Peterborough, as part of the Downtown Vibrancy project led by the Peterborough DBIA. The first phase of the project saw 782 square metres of asphalt removed from an unused loop of road at the southern end of Water Street next to Millennium Park in downtown Peterborough.
The next phase of the project, to be completed in late spring, will see the creation of a rain garden on the site. More than 1,000 plants will be added to the garden, providing water management to help protect the water quality of the Otonabee River and to mitigate flooding in the downtown area.
The winner of the award will be announced on April 1, 2019 at the OBIAA Gala Awards Night in Ottawa.
Sarah Lazure is leaving the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra as general manager
Sarah Lazure is leaving the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra to pursue another career opportunity. (Supplied photo)
The board of directors of the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra (PSO) has announced that Sarah Lazure is leaving the organization in April to pursue another career opportunity.
Lazure has been the PSO’s artistic director since August 2015 and also held the role of general manager during the current season.
“Since joining us, Sarah has been on the ground floor of the PSO’s artistic and logistical planning,” says the PSO’s music director and conductor Michael Newnham.
“Her energy and commitment to excellence in everything she does has been a very large reason for the success that the orchestra has been experiencing in audience growth and expanding its profile in our community.”
The PSO is currently recruiting a new general manager. Until a new general manager is hired, the board of the PSO will guide the organization with the assistance of Newnham.
Trent University raises $114,300 for United Way Peterborough
Representatives from Trent University present a cheque for $114,328 to the United Way Peterborough. (Supplied photo)
Trent University faculty, staff, and retirees have raised $114,328 for United Way Peterborough & District’s 2018-19 campaign.
“We really challenged our faculty, staff and retiree’s by setting a $100,000 goal for the 2018 campaign, our highest ever,” says external relations and advancement vice-president Julie Davis “Trent University’s annual campaign is the largest corporate campaign in the community and it’s an important way for us to give back and support the Peterborough region.”
The funds were raised through payroll pledges and donations as well as many employee-led special events, including a chili cook-off, white elephant tables, and a gift basket raffle before the holidays.
Trent University has supported the United Way since 1965 and has raised more than $2 million for the organization.
Nominations now open for Kawartha Chamber 2019 Business Awards of Excellence
Nominations are now open for the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism’s 20th annual Business Awards of Excellence.
Any business, individual, or organization within Peterborough County or the City of Peterborough can be nominated in one of 10 categories: Citizen of the Year, Young Professional, Outstanding Business Achievement, Commercial Development or Renovation, Customer Service Excellence, Entrepreneur Innovation, Not-For-Profit Excellence, Retailer of the Year, Service Sector Excellence, and Tourism/Hospitality.
The awards will be presented at a gala event on October 10, 2019.
Peterborough Chamber hosts annual general meeting on March 26 in Peterborough
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 130th annual general meeting from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26th at The Venue (286 George St. N., Peterborough)
Guest speakers include Ashley Challinor, vice-president of policy with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, and Trevin Stratton, chief economist with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber members will be asked to approve the chamber’s audited financial statements and the actions of the chamber’s board for 2018.
The cost for the event, which includes lunch, is $30+HST for members and $40+HST for non-members. For mroe information and to register by March 19th, visit www.peterboroughchamber.ca.
Bears’ Lair entrepreneurial competition hosts semi-finalist showcase on March 26 in Peterborough
The Bears’ Lair entrepreneurial competition is hosting its semi-finalist showcase from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26 at The Venue (286 George St. N., Peterborough).
Bears’ Lair is an annual competition for up-and-coming entrepreneurs in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Six finalists in two categories (Goods and Services and Innovation) will be selected to pitch their business to a panel of judges and the local community for a chance to win a cash prize.
The competition’s semi-finalists will showcase their businesses in hopes of competing in the top six at the final pitch event on April 30th.
Kawartha Chamber hosts Business After Hours in Peterborough on March 26
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is hosting its first Business After Hours of 2019 from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26th at The Canadian Canoe Museum (910 Monaghan Rd, Peterborough).
The evening features networking, learning about some of the non-profit organizations in the area, and exploring The Canadian Canoe Museum. Non-profits with small displays at the event will include Abbeyfield House Society of Lakefield, Camp Kawartha, Community Care, Cuddles for Cancer, Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region, Indian River Reptile Zoo, Peterborough Humane Society, and the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation.
To register for the free event, visit a href=”http://business.kawarthachamber.ca/events/register/10128″ rel=”noopener” title=”Business After Hours Registration – kawarthachamber.ca” target=”_blank”>business.kawarthachamber.ca/events/register/10128.
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.
The conference registration also includes the opportunity to participate in the “Headshot Photo Booth”, where business owners can get a professional photo taken.
Tickets are $55+HST ($40+HST for members of the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce) and include breakfast and lunch.
This event is being presented with the support of Kawarthas Northumberland, Canada Business Ontario, and the Peterborough Region Angel Network.
Northumberland Chamber hosts 2018 Business Achievement Awards in Cobourg on March 29
The Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Business Achievement Awards from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, March 29th at the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn and Convention Centre (930 Burnham St., Cobourg).
The annual awards recognize excellence and honour high achievers in the local business community.
Tickets for the gala, which includes a multi-course dinner, are $90+HST. Purchase tickets by March 25th by phone at 905-372-5831 or online at nccofc.ca/events/register/1364
Haliburton Highlands Chamber hosts Business & Community Achievement Awards Gala on March 30 in Haliburton
The Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 13th Annual Business & Community Achievement Awards Gala at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 30th at Pinestone Resort & Conference Centre (4252 Haliburton County Rd. 21, Haliburton).
Awards will be presented in the following categories: Business Achievement, Customer First – Business, Customer First – Employee, Entrepreneur of the Year, Highlander of the Year, Innovation & Creativity, New Business, Not-for-Profit of the Year, Skilled Trades & Industry, Tourism & Hospitality, and Young Professional of the Year.
The event will feature a reception with live entertainment and cash bar along with a dinner and awards ceremony emceed by Mike Jaycock.
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.
Women’s Business Network of Peterborough presents Women in Business Award and the Judy Heffernan Award Dinner on April 9 in Peterborough
Gwyneth James of Cody & James Chartered Professional Accountants (middle) was named the Business Woman of the Year at the 2016 Peterborough Examiner Women in Business Awards, with Bridget Leslie of My Left Breast (left) and Betty Halman-Plumley of Investors Group (right) as finalists. Now known as the Women in Business Award, the award is being presented in 2019, along with the Judy Heffernan Award, by the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough. (Supplied photo)
The Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN) is presenting the Women in Business Award and the Judy Heffernan Award at an awards dinner beginning at 5:30 p.m on Tuesday, April 9th at Personal Touch Banquet Hall (1135 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough).
The Women in Business Award will be awarded to a women showing exceptional business leadership. The Judy Heffernan Award will be awarded to a women who demonstrates the empowerment of other women. Enjoy cocktails at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m., speaker at 7:30 p.m. and the awards celebration at 8 p.m.
Rhonda Barnet, Chief Operating Officer of Steelworks Design and past chair of the National Board of the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, will be the keynote speaker.
Cocktails and networking begins at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m., the keynote speaker at 7:30 p.m. and the awards celebration at 8 p.m.
Tickets for the awards dinner are available at a cost of $65 for WBN members or $75 for non-members (tables are also available). For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit www.womensbusinessnetwork.net/awards-event/.
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism hosts second annual Rural Tourism Symposium on April 11 in Keene
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism is hosting the second annual Rural Tourism Symposium from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 11th in the Agriculture Heritage Building at Lang Pioneer Village Museum (104 Lang Rd., Keene).
This symposium for tourism industry professionals will include a keynote presentation from Lisa LaVecchia, president and CEO of Destination Ontario, as well as presentations by: Beth Potter, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario; Trevor Benson, director of food tourism innovation with Culinary Tourism Alliance; Jewel Cunningham, director of Ontario Waterways with Parks Canada; and David Robinson of Destination Canada.
There will also be a tourism town hall by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, one of a series presented by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, Destination Canada, and local industry partners.
The cost of $125, which includes a continental breakfast and a market-style lunch. For more information and to register, visit ruraltourism.biz.
Kawartha Lakes Arts Council hosts community celebration and annual general meeting on April 17 in Omemee
The Kawartha Lakes Arts Council is hosting its 4th annual community celebration and annual general meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17th at Coronation Hall (1 King St. W. Omemee).
The annual general meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed at 7 p.m. by a tribute to artist Michael Poulton, a live auction of original artworks and creative experiences, a Neil Young tribute by Gerald Van Halteren, and more.
The Kawartha Lakes Arts Council is a not-for-profit volunteer organization of volunteers dedicated to serving the arts community in Kawartha Lakes by advocating for artists and the arts, promoting a vibrant arts community, fostering professional development and educational training, and cultivating investment and support of the arts in the community.
Haliburton Highlands Chamber hosts a breakfast meeting with MPP Laurie Scott on April 23 in Haliburton
The Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce is hosting The Breakfast Club with MPP Laurie Scott from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23rd at Mckeck’s Tap & Grill (207 Highland St., Haliburton)
Scott, who is MPP for Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, will talk about her role as Ontario Minister of Labour and what she is planning on for 2019.
Trent Hills Chamber hosts Celebration of Business Excellence Awards Ceremony on April 27 in Hastings
The Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its Celebration of Business Excellence Awards Ceremony from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 27th at The Grand Maple (19 Abert St. E., Hastings).
Awards will be presented in the following 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.
A fixture of the Queen Street scene in Toronto in the 1970s with his band The Continental Drift, Joe Hall's music was compared to that of Frank Zappa and Tom Waits. Hall, who lived in Peterborough for the last 30 years, died on March 22, 2019 after a lengthy illness. (Photo: Joe Hall / Facebook)
Already reeling from the news of the sudden passing of club owner, DJ, and Hootenanny On Hunter founder Jonathan Hall, the Peterborough music community is now coming to grips with the loss of revered musician and highly respected mentor Joe Hall (no relation).
Longtime Toronto-based musician and 1998 Juno Award recipient Tony Quarrington posted news of Hall’s passing on Facebook.
“It is with profound sadness that I have to announce the death on Friday (March 22) of my dear old friend and collaborator Joe Hall,” wrote Quarrington.
“We just brought out a new recording in December; in his opinion and mine, the best ever. He will be missed. He was unique. He was the only Canadian songwriter I would seriously compare to Leonard Cohen.”
Joe Hall (left) on the cover of his 1972 album “Joe Hall and the Eyeball Wine Company”.
A fixture on the Toronto music scene for years with his band The Continental Drift, Hall called Peterborough home for the last 30 years. As highly regarded for his encouragement of, and inspiration to, young musicians as he was for his own talent, Hall worked with a number of local acts, including The Silver Hearts.
Hall recorded three albums with The Continental Drift — whose members included Tony Quarrington and his brother, the late Paul Quarrington — the first being 1976’s HJ Boenke recorded by brothers Bob and Daniel Lanois. The follow-up, On The Avenue, was recorded at the brothers’ Grant Avenue Studio in Hamilton.
Later, Hall turned more frequently to recording and producing other musicians’ work.
The cover of Joe Hall and The Continental Drift’s 1976 album “HJ Boenke”, recorded by brothers Bob and Daniel Lanois.
Reached at his home on Sunday, bassist and Tonemasters member JP Hovercraft termed Hall’s passing “an incredible loss personally … he’s been family for years and years.”
“He wasn’t just a lyricist — he was a poet cutting right to the essence, whether it was deadly serious or insanely funny. He was not afraid to put anything into words. No social pressures kept Joe from saying what he intended to say. Absolutely one of the highlights of my career in music has been the work I was able to do with Joe.”
“He enriched the Peterborough music scene incredibly. He just loved that there was music everywhere. He wanted a life full of music, not just necessarily a life full of making music. That really was a bit of humbleness on his part because he was frigging giant.”
Joe Hall (centre) performing with Tony Quarrington and JP Hovercraft at JP’s 60th birthday celebration at the Gordon Best in Peterborough in 2012. (Photo: SLAB Productions)
Hovercraft learned of Hall’s passing on Friday (March 22nd) from Hall’s son. According to Hovercraft, he had been ill for quite some time.
“We were expecting it but it wasn’t supposed to be so soon. I wanted more time or even one more gig or something. We always think there’s going to be more time but that’s not necessarily so.”
“He put an awful lot of miles on his liver. He got into AA and got dry and had been that way for 20 years but it still caught up with him.”
“There’s this video that was made in Lee Morgan’s backyard. It was a party and some of the locals came and played music. There was Buzz Thompson playing Stand By Me with Lee on drums and Joe playing guitar and me on bass and Phil Marshall too was there. Here I am, the only one left from that. That’s spooky.”
Joe Hall with musician David Essig in Peterborough in 2013. (Photo: David Essig / Facebook)
To this day, Hovercraft clearly remembers the first time he heard Hall play.
JP Hovercraft with Joe Hall in an undated photo.
“In a musician’s life, you get these experiences where somebody says ‘Go see this band,’ so you take their word for it and you go,” he says.
“Sometimes you walk in and there’s something going on that’s just so incredible that you’re left dumbfounded, thinking ‘Holy shit, I wish I was in that band.’
“That was my experience the first time I saw Joe Hall and the Continental Drift somewhere on Queen Street (in Toronto).
“I was like ‘What the hell is this and why aren’t I part of it?’ The crowning moment in my career was when I got to join that band (The Continental Drift). I was excited and I was nervous. I got to keep doing it and it was wonderful every time. It was absolute magic.
“That’s what I’m really going to miss. I’m awfully blessed to have had that happen but it’s not going to happen again.”
VIDEO: Nos Hablos Telephones – Joe Hall & The Continental Drift
According to Hovercraft, a private family service will be held for Hall, although he suggests the local music community may come together at some point to honour him in some way.
“Joe would walk down the street and there would be somebody there with their hand out. He would go out of his way to give as much as he could. It was suggested to me that if anybody asks what can they give (in Hall’s memory), just walk down George Street and give to the first person that’s looking for a helping hand.”
kawarthaNOW also reached out to Hall’s long-time friend, local artist Joe Stable, but was unable to connect with him in time for this story.
VIDEO: Joe Hall at The Joe Show at Acme Art & Sailboat Company on November 2, 2018
Looking back at First Friday in November. Will the Xmas Frist Friday be as musical? Only way to know is by going out.
Posted by Bill Kimball on Friday, December 7, 2018
At the First Friday Art Crawl in November 2018, Stable held an exhibit called “The Joe Show”, featuring Stable’s artwork based on photographic portaits of Hall, with half of the proceeds going to help produce Hall’s final album.
Hall also performed at the exhibit, along with Tony Quarrington and Hovercraft.
Earlier today (March 24), Stable posted a simple message on his Facebook page, accompanied by one of his portraits of Hall:
“Mr. Joe Hall, we love you and will miss you so much.”
A portrait of Joe Hall by his long-time friend, local artist Joe Stable. (Photo: Joe Stable)
Others shared similar sentiments on Facebook upon learning of Hall’s death.
“Such a great artist,” wrote singer-songwriter and visual artist Kurt Swinghammer. “Wish I could see him play again.”
“Whenever I bumped into him, he never failed to say something memorable, meaningful, and hilarious,” wrote local musician and artist Robert Atyeo. “He was a mentor to me, introduced me to his friend Willie P. (Bennett) one day which changed my life.”
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