Iconic Canadian rock band Lighthouse is performing at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough on October 10, 2019 as part of the band's 50th anniversary tour. Front row: Paul Hoffert, Doug Moore, Dan Clancy, Ralph Cole, and Don Paulton; middle row: Jamie Prokop (son of founding member Skip Prokop); back row: Russ Little, Chris Howells, Simon Wallis, and Steve Kennedy. (Photo courtesy of Hoffert Communications)
The ultimate Canadian rock music success story would have never been written had Paul Hoffert and Skip Prokop hopped aboard different flights in 1968 for their return home to Toronto from New York City.
Showplace Presents Lighthouse – 50th Anniversary Tour
When: Thursday, October 10, 2019 at 7 p.m. Where: Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: $43
Advance tickets are available in person at the Showplace box office, by phone at 705-742-7469, and online.
Hoffert was in The Big Apple for an off-Broadway show he had composed music for. Prokop, meanwhile, was playing a gig with his band The Paupers.
“I was in the audience and, at intermission, he (Prokop) actually recognized me and said hello,” recalls Hoffert, noting Prokop made the connection from seeing Hoffert perform in Toronto jazz clubs.
“The next morning he happened to be sitting next to me on an Air Canada flight back to Toronto. He was leaving The Paupers.”
“He was going to be putting together Janis Joplin’s new band, but was having some problems with the personnel. He wasn’t sure if it was going to work out. So he told me about this idea he had for a band with horns and strings.”
Lighthouse in a 1972 promotional photo. Seated front from left: Larry Smith, Skip Prokop, Dick Armin, Paul Hoffert, and Ralph Cole; standing rear from left: Don diNovo, John Naslen, Bob McBride, and Howard Shore. (Photo: John Rowlands)
On Thursday, October 10th at Showplace Performance Centre, Lighthouse will take to the stage for its 50th anniversary tour — an astounding half-century after the ‘fusion’ band made its performance debut.
Prokop’s idea was clearly a sound one.
“We chatted about the fact that The Beatles had to stop touring because all the records they were making had piccolo trumpets and symphony orchestras and everything, and they could not replicate what they had on their albums when they toured,” says Hoffert who, 50 years on, is still with the band as its keyboardist.
“We thought wouldn’t it be great if you had a band that had all the musical assets, all the musical resources, to do those fun kind of arrangements in the studio, and then go out and play that music just the way you recorded it?”
Lighthouse founding members Paul Hoffert and Skip Prokop with manager Vinnie Fuscoe at Expo ’70 Japan. (Photo courtesy of Hoffert Communications)
The course set, Hoffert and Prokop brought together top-flight musician friends, recorded a demo, and took it to New York City where the band was signed by MGM Records — the combination of a rock rhythm section combined with jazz horns and classical strings clearly worth exploring.
“We had a big American record deal before we actually had a band,” laughs Hoffert, adding, “We just had an idea and a bunch of guys who were in the studio and recorded some tunes.”
With manager Vinnie Fusco in the mix — he overturned the MGM deal and signed Lighthouse to RCA Victor — the 13-member band featuring Hoffert on the keyboard and Prokop on drums and lead vocals took to the stage at The Rockpile in Toronto on May 14, 1969.
Lighthouse founding members Skip Prokop (centre) and Paul Hoffert (right) with jazz legend Duke Ellington in the Green Room before the first Lighthouse concert at The Rockpile in Toronto on May 14, 1969. The Duke introduced the band, starting with “I’m beginning to see the Light … house”. (Photo courtesy of Hoffert Communications)
“Duke Ellington was performing with his orchestra in Toronto,” recounts Hoffert. “His promo guy offered him a limo to take him to airport after his show. Along the way he said ‘We have to make a stop. There’s this really great band. You’ll really like them.'”
“Skip and I were in the dressing room and in walks Duke Ellington. He said ‘I don’t have much time. Can I introduce you guys?’ and we said ‘Uh, ya.'”
To promote the band, manager Fusco went hard at it, singing the praises of Lighthouse’s unique orchestral rock sound. He secured the band big-time gigs, including appearances at Carnegie Hall, and the Monterey and Newport jazz festivals. A free concert at Toronto City Hall drew an estimated 25,000 people. Word was spreading and fast.
Lighthouse turned down an invitation to perform at Woodstock in 1969, but the following year they played the even bigger Isle of Wight Festival in England, sharing the stage with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, The Who, The Moody Blues, Joni Mitchell, and many more. From left: Keith Jollimore, Howard Shore, Pete Pantaluk, Bruce Cassidy, Larry Smith, Paul Hoffert, Bob McBride, manager Vinnie Fusco standing at back, Louis Yachnin, Skip Prokop, Ralph Cole, Don DiNovo, Paul Armin, and Dick Armin. (Photo courtesy of Hoffert Communications)
“Rock ‘n’ roll music was transitioning from the early Elvis Presley kind of rock-a-billy stuff to what we now called classic rock ‘n’ roll with a heavier rhythm section,” says Hoffert. “Young people all over North America were loving that kind of music and getting into it.”
“But in high school, which is where a lot of people develop their musical tastes, you have band instruments. You weren’t given electric guitars and basses and stuff to make rock ‘n’ roll music. Everybody was playing in the school band … wind instruments, brass instruments. They couldn’t participate in the rock ‘n’ roll thing because the music that was coming out didn’t have those instruments.”
“There seemed to be a real opportunity to make music that was rock ‘n’ roll but could include those people. That would give us a bigger audience.”
VIDEO: “One Fine Morning” – Lighthouse (Massey Hall, 1972)
Lighthouse did just that and that audience indeed grew. The band’s first three albums — Lighthouse, Suite Feeling, and Peacing It All Together — sold well enough, but 1971’s One Fine Morning and Thoughts Of Movin’ On took Lighthouse into a different stratosphere. Both albums were certified platinum and, in One Fine Morning, the band had its highest internationally charting single to date to go along with the top 10 placing of “Hats Off To The Stranger” from the same album.
A year later, Sunny Days, with its title track single, kept the momentum going. A string of subsequent singles, such as “Pretty Lady”, cemented the band’s place in Canadian rock music history.
“Our first three albums were not very successful commercially because they featured more of jazz solos and stuff … the songs were like four to six minutes long,” says Hoffert.
“Top 40 radio played songs that were two and a half minutes long. Our shortest song was four to five minutes long. We couldn’t get airplay. The one thing we changed, that all of those hit songs had in common, was that was they fit the AM radio stations’ format and had a lot more featured vocals than long instrumentals. Of those four, there was one rogue, One Fine Morning, which was four and a half minutes long. It didn’t hit number one but it got into the top ten.”
Industry accolades in those early years were many and significant, including Best Canadian Group of Year honours at the 1972, 1973, and 1974 Juno Awards.
VIDEO: “Take It Slow” – Lighthouse (circa 1972)
Citing a “friendly rivalry” between Lighthouse and equally horn-heavy bands Blood, Sweat and Tears and Chicago, Hoffert says Lighthouse stood apart due to its infusion of strings as an integral part of its sound.
According to Hoffert, Lighthouse’s current members, with just two exceptions, have been with the band at least 28 years. Prokop died in August 2017 — his son Jamie is the current drummer. Former lead vocalist Bob McBride, who won a Juno Award in 1973 for Outstanding Male Performance, passed in 1998.
Other band members have come and gone, others have also passed, but the band’s trademark sound remains as fresh as the day it first sprang forth.
Paul Hoffert, Bob McBride (standing), Skip Prokop, and engineer Phil Sheridan at Thunder Sound Recording Studio circa 1972. McBride passed away in 1998, and Prokop passed away in 2017. (Photo: John Rowlands)
As for Lighthouse’s longevity, Hoffert says the band’s culture has proven to be the tie that binds. And then there’s this thing called respect.
“A band is kind of like a family … you’re going to have fall-outs or disagreements,” he points out. “The only way to stop that is to have musical respect for each other. We’ve never lost that.”
“We’ve never had a disagreement on the musical direction because those discussions are never about ‘Why can’t I have the solo?’ It’s ‘What’s going to work best for the band?’ We’ve always been able to have a good consensus. That’s been key to keeping the band together and keeping the really great musicians that we have.”
Along with being a musician, Lighthouse founding member Paul Hoffert is a bestselling author, accomplished media music composer, university professor, and recipient of the Order of Canada. (Photo courtesy of Hoffert Communications)
On a personal level, Hoffert, at age 75, hasn’t lost his passion for playing live and, in particular, playing with his “family”. A bestselling author, accomplished media music composer, and university professor, the 2004 Order of Canada recipient has had but one focus the last 10 years: playing music, be it with Lighthouse or his jazz group.
“The first time I thought I would retire was when Lighthouse split up many years ago. I thought ‘Okay, I have a little bit of money. I have a hobby … ten tropical fish tanks.’ After two weeks, I was totally bored and I started doing other things.”
“It’s not who I am to not be inquisitive and curious. Through all the various seemingly unrelated things that I’ve done, the thread that has run through it all is I have a very inquisitive mind. I like to do new things. I like innovation. I like to break new ground.”
The Lighthouse family spans the generations: Lighthouse co-founder and original drummer Skip Prokop (left) passed away in 2017; his son Jamie Prokop is now the band’s drummer. (Photos courtesy of Hoffert Communications)
“I think of my life as I’m riding on a train that has a lot of stops,” Hoffert adds. “Sometimes you get off at a station to see what might be there. Very frequently you’ll open some doors and behind those doors are things you think you can be passionate about. Find those things you have passion for, and spend as much time as you can doing them.”
Fifty years after breaking new ground with his friend and longtime bandmate Brokop, Hoffert’s passion for stepping on stage and taking up his oh-so-familiar perch behind his keyboard hasn’t lessened in the least.
VIDEO: “Sunny Days” – Lighthouse (2012)
“We take pride in the quality of the music. We like it when people come back stage and say ‘Oh my goodness, you guys are so tight. You sound like you’ve been playing together a long time.’ Well, we have.”
Lighthouse performs at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 10th. Tickets are $43 and are available in person at the Showplace box office, by phone at 705-742-7469, and online.
Local blues singer Jane Archer, pictured here with Brandon Humphrey at the "Love for Lydia" benefit concert at Showplace Performance Centre in 2015, performs with her band The Heart of Blues (Liam Archer, Brandon Humphrey, Tony Silvestri, and Andy Pryde) at the Black Horse in downtown Peterborough on Friday, September 13th. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW.com)
Every Thursday, we publish live music and performance events at pubs and clubs in Peterborough and The Kawarthas based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, September 12 to Wednesday, September 18.
If you’re a pub or club owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our Nightlife Editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com.
Saturday, October 12 9pm - James Clayton w/ Mary-Kate Edwards ($10)
Saturday, November 16 8-10pm - Emily Burgess & The Emburys "Never-Ending Fling" album release ($15 at door only)
Hot Belly Mama's
378 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 745-3544
Thursday, September 12
6-8pm - Live music
Coming Soon
Wednesday, September 23 7-10pm - Black Suit Devil
Junction Nightclub
253 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 743-0550
Friday, September 13
10pm - Nothing But the 90s hosted by DJ Bill Porter (no cover)
Coming Soon
Thursday, September 19 10pm - Wejam Ptbo, Peterborough Pride, & TCSA presents One Jungle ft house music by DJs Teebs, Shadlesky and Cody Mc ($5 in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4332090, $10 at door)
Lock 27 Tap and Grill
2824 River Ave., Youngs Point
705-652-6000
Coming Soon
Saturday, September 28 2-6pm - Closing Season Party ft Ryan/Williams
Marley's Bar & Grill
17 Fire Route 82 Catalina Bay, Buckhorn
(705) 868-2545
Saturday, September 14
7pm - Sonny and Cloudy's final show
McGillicafey's Pub & Eatery
13 Bridge St.. N., Hastings
(705) 696-3600
Coming Soon
Friday, September 27 8pm - Cindy & Scott
McThirsty's Pint
166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 743-2220
Thursdays
9pm - Live music hosted by Tony Silvestri and Greg Caven
Fridays
10pm - Live music with Brian Haddlesey
Saturdays
10pm - Live music with Brian Haddlesey
Sundays
8pm - Open stage hosted by Ryan Van Loon
Mondays
9:30pm - Trivia Night hosted by Cam Green
Wednesdays
9pm - Live music hosted by Kevin Foster
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Moody's Bar & Grill
3 Tupper St., Millbrook
(705) 932-6663
Coming Soon
Thursday, September 19 8pm - Weber Brothers Productions presents September Songwriters Sampler ft Tony Silvestri, Lance Isaacs, Tom Eastland (no cover, donations to musicians appreciated)
Saturday, September 21 2-5pm - Jazz, Pop and Soul ft Carin Redman w/ Rob Phillips, Howard Baer, and Curtis Conkwright (no cover, donations to musicians appreciated)
Murphy's Lockside Pub & Patio
3 May St., Fenelon Falls
(705) 887-1100
Tuesday, September 17
7-10pm - Halfway to St. Patrick's Day ft North Country Express & Jason Lynn
Next Door
197 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(647) 270-9609
Friday, September 13
9pm - Sly Violet
Coming Soon
Friday, September 20 9pm - Dylan Ireland
Oasis Bar & Grill
31 King St. E., Cobourg
(905) 372-6634
Sundays
5:30pm - PHLO
Pappas Billiards
407 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-9010
Thursdays
7-10pm - Open Mic
Saturdays
1-3pm - Shipwrecked Saturdays w/ Jacques Graveline
Publican House Brewery
300 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 874-5743
Friday, September 13
6-9pm - Joe Bulger
Saturday, September 14
6-9pm - Rob Phillips
Sunday, September 15
3-6pm - Ace and The Kid
Coming Soon
Friday, September 20 6-9pm - Shai Peer
Saturday, September 21 6-9pm - House Brand
Puck' N Pint Sports Pub
871 Chemong Rd., Peterborough
(705) 741-1078
Friday, September 13
7:30pm - Rod MacDonald, Dave Clark, Andy McDonald, Denton McConnell
Red Dog Tavern
189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 741-6400
Friday, September 13
10pm - Ian Kurz and friends (no cover)
Tuesday, September 17
9pm - Open mic
Coming Soon
Thursday, September 19 8pm - The Weber Brothers WE Thursdays Concert Series ft Nigel Wearne ($10); 10:30pm - Five Alarm Funk ($15, advance tickets at www.ticketscene.ca/events/25389/)
7:30-11pm - Peterborough Poetry Slam Pride Spoken Word Spectacular Double Feature and Open Mic ft Wes Ryan and Dixie Que
Sideways Bar & Grill
18-22 Bridge St. W., Campbellford
(705) 947-2333
Coming Soon
Friday, October 18 8:30pm - Ken Tizzard and Music For Goats
The Social
295 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 874-6724
Thursday, September 12
8pm - Yuk Yuk's Stand Up Comedy Series ft Jeff Paul, Marito Lopez, Jarrett Campbell ($10, $5 with student card)
Southside Pizzeria
25 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough
(705) 748-6120
Coming Soon
Saturday, October 26 9pm - In The Act Of Violence, After Sin, Price To Die & Doug Helle ($10 at door)
The Thirsty Goose
63 Walton St., Port Hope
Thursday, September 12
7pm - Bruce Longman
Friday, September 13
8pm - Cindy & Scott
Saturday, September 14
8pm - Steve O'Donoghue
The Twisted Wheel
379 Water St., Peterborough
Friday, September 13
9:30pm - Garbageface, Light Organ, Human Music Team, DJ Molly Millions ($10)
Sunday, September 15
9pm - Movie Night ft "Beetlejuice" (1988)
Wednesday, September 18
10pm - Karaoke w/ Cheyenne and friends
Coming Soon
Friday, October 4 2-5pm - Town Brewery Presents: Niall, Tijuana Jesus & The Effens ($10 at door)
The Venue
286 George Street North, Peterborough
(705) 876-0008
Saturday, September 14
6pm - PTBOStrong presents Warming Room benefit ft zumba and salsa dancing, Wes Ryan and Jon Hedderwick, Alphabreff, Kerry Jayne, Hillary Dumoulin, Tonya Bosch Band (by donation at door)
Port Hope police have charged Antonio Sarmiento with sexual assault and sexual exploitation following an investigation into several alleged encounters with a victim in 2017 and 2019. The Town of Cobourg hired Sarmiento earlier this year as an artistic and creative consultant. (Photo: Town of Cobourg)
Port Hope police have charged Cobourg resident Carlos Eduardo “Antonio” Sarmiento with seven counts of sexual assault and three counts of sexual exploitation.
The charges stem from an investigation the police launched following a complaint filed in August 2019, with allegations dating back to 2017.
The allegations involve several encounters of a sexual nature between Sarmiento and a single victim during the 2017 and 2018 calendar years.
The 49-year-old Sarmiento was arrested by police and charged on Thursday (September 12). He was released and will appear in court later in October.
Sarmiento was hired by the Town of Cobourg in May 2019 as an artistic and creative consultant to develop a strategic and operational plan for the Concert Hall at Victoria Hall in Cobourg.
Prior to that, Sarmiento worked as artistic director and general manager at Cameco Capitol Arts Centre from 2013 to 2018. He resigned from Cameco in December 2018, after the role of artistic director and general manager was split into two separate positions.
Port Hope police are continuing the investigation and are asking anyone with information to call the Port Hope Police Criminal Investigations Unit at 905-885-8123 ext. 222.
GreenUP's Depave Paradise Program and the Downtown Vibrancy Project continue working with community partners and volunteers to create new green spaces in downtown Peterborough. A new garden was planted at Euphoria Wellness Spa this summer and, in October, three "pocket parks" will be created. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Dawn Pond, GreenUP’s Downtown Vibrancy Project and Depave Paradise Program Coordinator.
GreenUP’s Depave Paradise Program has been busy this summer creating a new garden at Euphoria Wellness Spa (290 Water St., Peterborough) in partnership with the Downtown Vibrancy Project.
We are not yet winding down for winter though — we have another exciting Depave Paradise project coming up this October that is going to transform small pockets of downtown into green spaces.
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Depave Paradise removes underused areas of pavement and replaces them with green spaces. This increases the permeability of the ground and allows water to naturally trickle through the soil instead of running over the top of hard surfaces.
When water can soak through the soil like this, less litter and pollution wash into our water system. Research also shows that the addition of green space to urban spaces reduces the chance of flooding by up to 50 per cent, depending on the size and location of the garden.
When you hear people talking about the benefits of green spaces in cities, you might assume we are only talking about large areas like Del Crary Park or Jackson Park. Large green spaces like municipal parks are crucial in a city like Peterborough, but even small spaces can help reduce flooding and protect our water from pollution.
The Engage Engineering team lifting asphalt with gusto in preparation for creating a new garden outside Euphoria Wellness Spa in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)On a beautiful midsummer’s evening, the GreenUP Depave Paradise team joined forces with local residents, families, and members of the Alderville Black Oak Savanna to transform a paved area outside Euphoria Wellness Spa in downtown Peterborough into a rain garden. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
GreenUP has completed five Depave Paradise projects in Peterborough so far. Most of these projects are over 100 square metres. A garden of this size is not always realistic for downtown locations with limited space, but limited space shouldn’t mean no green space.
With that in mind, this fall we will make the most of our urban spaces: we will split the usual 100 square metres worth of depave area to create three “pocket park” projects.
Small pocket parks and gardens are becoming popular, especially in large cities. A pocket park is a small area of recreational green space built into a larger urban area dominated by hard surfaces and city infrastructure. These pocket parks have the potential to create rich ecological and community spaces in dense urban centres, where large city parks may be few and far between.
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There are some beautiful examples of pocket parks from San Diego’s Better Streets Project and the Industry City project in New York by Terrain NYC. An example closer to home is in downtown Toronto. The Wellesley-Magill Park was designed by Cornelia Oberlander and created in 2002. This park is located on the site of the demolished Wellesley Central Hospital.
Oberlander is a decorated landscaper designer and she has written many times about the importance of using urban spaces to create sustainable landscapes.
“Space is at a premium in our urban areas,” Oberlander observes in a 1996 article, “and the time has come for a full assessment of the uses of our open spaces.”
The Wellesley-Magill Park in Toronto, designed by Cornelia Oberlander, is located on the site of the demolished Wellesley Central Hospital. (Photo: Charles Birnbaum / The Cultural Landscape Foundation)
You can visit a pocket park right here in Peterborough in the garden behind Black Honey Cafe. This green space is a publicly accessible park that has many great sitting rocks nestled under shade trees. It is a lovely gathering place.
The new pocket parks to be added to downtown Peterborough this fall will bring more diverse animated spaces to the downtown. There will be a variety of features in these three Depave Paradise projects, including a living fence, public seating areas, permeable paving, and medicine gardens.
These spaces will inject vibrant and interactive features into areas that are otherwise rather utilitarian or underused.
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Depave Paradise projects are created by community volunteers, either as corporate teams or individuals. Volunteering with the depave portion of the project builds incredible social connections, while also replacing your daily gym workout with a fun opportunity to get your hands dirty.
The planting portion of the project is a great opportunity for families and gardeners to join together to create a shared memory that will be associated with a vibrant new space in our city. If you’d like to volunteer with us to create these gardens, email Dawn Pond at dawn.pond@greenup.on.ca for more details.
In partnership with the Downtown Vibrancy Project, GreenUP’s Depave Paradise Program has been creating a series of green spaces in downtown Peterborough. This program will continue with another large-scale project next year.
Depave Paradise volunteers plan the placement of plants in the new garden outside Euphoria Wellness Spa in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)Volunteers of all ages got involved with the GreenUP Depave Paradise project, creating shared memories and a shared community green space outside Euphoria Wellness Spa in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
The Downtown Vibrancy Project is led by the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) in partnership with GreenUP, and is supported by many local businesses and organizations, including Mortlock Construction, Engage Engineering, Lett Architects, Coco Paving, Accurex, Basterfield and Associates, the City of Peterborough, Tree House Timberworks, Wilson Brothers Construction, and many more. The Depave Paradise Program is funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
The project is always looking for additional support to help increase our impact. If you are interested in supporting the project by donating services or providing sponsorship, email Dawn Pond at dawn.pond@greenup.on.ca for more details.
Brad Brackenridge is Bernie (pictured here in the photograph) and Lindsay Unterlander is Nick in Ken Bolton's one-act comedy "Bernie and Nick", running from September 11th to 14th at The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
On Wednesday (September 11), The Theatre on King (TTOK) opens its 2019-2020 season by hosting the Peterborough debut of Park Street Productions’ Bernie and Nick.
Park Street Productions presents Bernie and Nick
When: Wednesday, September 11 to Saturday, September 14, 2019 at 8 p.m. Where: The Theatre on King (171 King St., Peterborough) How much: $15 or pay what you can
Written by Ken Bolton. Directed by Ken Bolton with assistance from Eryn Lidster. Starring Brad Brackenridge and Lindsay Unterlander. Made possible with the support of Theatre on King and funding from Theatre Trent.
Written and directed by Ken Bolton with assistance from Eryn Lidster, Bernie and Nick is a Faustian comedy — the play’s tagline is “The eternal struggle between evil and stupid” — starring TTOK regulars Brad Brackenridge and Lindsay Unterlander.
It’s a story about a final game of chance played between an ambitious loser and a devilish woman. Featuring big stakes and bigger chances, the one-act play is a clever comedy for winner and losers alike.
Bernie and Nick represents a return to directing for Ken, a semi-retired journalist and columnist, after a 50-year hiatus.
“Bernie is a loveable kind of guy, but he’s a bit of a loser,” Ken says, describing the story. “He’s a gambler and he’s facing mountains of debt. In fact, he is going to be at the Gulfstream racetrack in Florida with his last ten bucks. The sharks are circling. He owes over a hundred thousand bucks.”
“Then Bernie meets a woman named Nick. Nick is bright, articulate, and is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College — she’s no slouch. She’s in the collection business and she offers him a way out of his dilemma.”
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What follows is a lively game of wits and revealing conversation by a couple of wily characters played by two of Peterborough’s great performers. In an unusual and difficult bit of staging, Lindsay and Brad never look each other in the face once, yet are able to maintain the energy and chemistry between one another and the connection to the audience through comical patter and by giving their characters a sense of true depth.
“Brad and Lindsay may be dealing with characters that seem a little stock, in a way, but actually Bernie and Nick have a lot of depth and emotion and very interesting back stories,” Ken explains. “It’s so exciting to work with people who get it and are bringing everything to the table.”
This is the first time that Ken, who moved to Peterborough in July 2017, has had one of his plays produced here. He made his TTOK debut in Ryan Kerr’s production of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Mr. Icky in September 2017, which led to the production of Bernie and Nick almost exactly two years later.
Brad Brackenridge portrays Bernie, a gambler facing mountains of debt. He meets a woman named Nick (Lindsay Unterlander, not pictured) who offers him a unique way out of his dilemma. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
“I was a bit reclusive as a writer, and my wife saw an ad for auditions at TTOK but I was at first uninterested,” Ken recalls. “I said ‘I don’t do community theatre anymore.’ She said ‘Go, they do very innovative interesting stuff and you need to get out of the house.’ I think that was more for her sake and not mine.”
“So I went and got cast in this absurd F. Scott Fitzgerald show and thoroughly enjoyed it. I said to (director) Ryan Kerr that I had a few plays ready to be produced. I sent him two of them and he said yes to both. I’m not ready to produce the other one yet, but we decided to produce Bernie and Nick.”
For the staging of Bernie and Nick, Ken received funding from Theatre Trent, the Trent University student levy group that assists with production costs of locally produced theatre, such as space and costume rentals.
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“I’m very grateful to receive some financial support from Theatre Trent,” says Ken. “It’s not something that I’m used to and I hope to god that what’s happening at the provincial level doesn’t destroy that. I don’t know if it’s unique, but it’s very important for student fees to be used to support the arts, and I know that it’s helped a lot of people in Peterborough.”
Although this is the Peterborough debut of Bernie and Nick, it’s actually the second time the play has been staged. However, as Ken bluntly admits, the first time it was produced didn’t go as well as he hoped, and this is the chance for the show to find its own sort of redemption.
“Bernie and Nick was produced before in 2015 in Saint John and it was appallingly bad,” Ken says. “It was so bad that my wife and I were almost in tears. The director did not understand comedy, and he had two actors who had never been on stage before. I wanted to sneak out.”
“Bernie and Nick” playwright and director Ken Bolton, a semi-retired journalist and columnist who moved to Peterborough in 2017. This is the first production in Peterborough of one of Ken’s plays. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
“This time, thank god, the play is in the hands of two very good actors,” Ken notes. “I’ve never worked with Brad and Lindsay before, but I’ve watched them many times. They both have really good instincts and their comic timing is superb. But they also have a kind of depth to them as well.”
It is that combination of comedic delivery and ability to create characters that have multiple dimensions that makes Bernie and Nick work. Without giving away too many surprises, the staging of the show is very unique, and for less-experienced actors would prove to be very challenging.
Both being excellent performers who have plenty of experience qith experimental and unorthodox stage situations, Lindsay and Brad manage to play off each other with just the sound of their voices. With little else to support each other’s performances, they somehow manage to make the magic work, creating an imaginative and fun performance.
“It’s been a gas … I’ve enjoyed doing it,” says Ken about the production. “I still laugh when I read this play and when I hear Brad and Lindsay find things that I might not realize are in there.”
Bernie and Nick is a strong start to TTOK’s upcoming season of exciting events and highly original productions. The play opens on Wednesday, September 11th and runs until Saturday, September 14th. Tickets are $15 or pay what you can and are available at the door, or by contacting TTOK at contact@ttok.ca. Shows start at 8 p.m.
Rare Grill House executive chef Tyler Scott and his wife Kassy have purchased Rare Grill House from former owners Brad and Katie Watt. (Photo: Rare Grill House / Facebook)
Tyler Scott and his wife Kassandra (Kassy) are the proud new owners of Rare Grill House in downtown Peterborough.
Tyler, who is the executive chef at the restaurant, was originally hired as a sous chef at Rare Grill House in August 2013 by former owner Brad Watt.
Watt and his wife Katie opened Rare Grill House, their first restaurant, in May 2007. Part owners of The Publican House Restaurant, which opened in August 2017, the Watts wanted to sell Rare Grill House to someone they knew would take care of the restaurant and who shared their belief in providing the best food and service experience possible for customers.
Tyler Scott, who has a life-long love for cooking, began working in restaurants as a teenager. (Photo: Rare Grill House / Facebook)
Tyler was born and raised in Peterborough and has a life-long love for cooking. As a toddler, he would watch cooking reality TV shows and began working in restaurants as a teenager. After graduating from Kenner Collegiate, he studied at Fleming College’s culinary management and business program and, after graduating in 2011, worked alongside Chef Evan Podd at the Old Bridge Inn in Lakefield to complete his apprenticeship.
In September 2011, he met his future wife Kassy and moved to Oakville, where he worked at three fine dining restaurants for two years before returning to Peterborough with Kassy. In 2013, he began working as sous chef at Rare Grill House under executive chef Brad Watt.
Since then, Tyler has become executive chef at Rare Grill House and won two back-to-back Iron Chef competitions (in September 2017 and again September 2018) at the Wednesday Downtown Farmers’ Market in Peterborough. This past summer, he launched his Kawartha Lakes Fried Chicken venture and could be found every Wednesday at the Downtown Farmers’ Market serving his signature dish.
Tyler Scott, a graduate of Fleming College, began working at Rare Grill House in 2013 as a sous chef under then-executive chef and former owner Brad Watt. (Photo: Rare Grill House / Facebook)
Tyler and Kassy, who recently celebrated five years of marriage and have two young girls, will be running Rare Grill House together.
This past summer, Tyler Scott launched his Kawartha Lakes Fried Chicken venture and could be found every Wednesday at the Downtown Farmers’ Market serving his signature dish. (Photo: Rare Grill House / Facebook)
Kassy, who has spent the last five years working for local entrepreneurs Mike and Shelby Watt (no relation to Brad and Katie Watt) at their three local retail boutiques in downtown Peterborough, will bring her customer service expertise and social media passion to the business.
“Katie and Brad started their business from scratch,” states an email Kassy shared with kawarthaNOW. “It brings them ultimate joy to be able to mentor Tyler and Kassy along the way. They believe in helping others reach their goals and that in order to close a chapter one must be successfully started.”
“Don’t be surprised if you see the four of them working together in the future! Brad and Katie Watt may be in the Rare hall of fame, but they will always be immediate family and at home when they walk through the back door.”
Tyler Scott with his wife Kassy and their two daughters Juliet (left) and Isabel. (Photo: Tyler Scott / Instagram)
Mickaël's Café Librairie serves a variety of baked goods from locations in Lindsay and Omemee. (Photo: Mickaël's Café Librairie)
This month, food writer Eva Fisher discovers Omemee boulangerie Mickaël’s Café Librairie, finds a diner with a kick at Copper Spoons, celebrates the harvest with Rolling Grape Vineyard, and has a sandwich at Sweet Beast Butcher Shop.
Mickaël’s Café Librairie opens a classic french boulangerie in Omemee
Mickaël Durant of Mickaël’s Café Librairie is looking to revitalize the tradition of the neighbourhood bakery in the Kawarthas. (Photo: Mickaël’s Café Librairie)
Mickaël’s Café Librairie (230 Kent St. W. #2, 705-341-4143) has opened a second location in Omemee, located at 26 King Street East. The classic french-style bakery sells bread, crepes, coffees, bagels, pretzels, cookies and more, all baked from scratch by baker and owner Mickaël Durand.
“I don’t sell it if I don’t make it myself,” Mickaël says. “We do everything ourselves.”
Mickaël discovered his passion for baking at an early age, during his childhood in France.
“You could say that I started to bake when I was four years old, when I was playing in my neighbour’s bake shop, or you could say I started to bake when I was 14 years old when I went to job shadow. Every time I had the opportunity to immerse myself as a young teenager into a place of work I would always aim for a bakery.”
At 19, he began a four-year apprenticeship, then went on to work in a variety of bakeries until he eventually landed in Lindsay, where he opened Mickaël’s Café Librairie in 2016.
The Omemee location opened in August of 2019. He says that he has had a lot of traffic already in the new location, with many people walking in from their homes nearby.
“I think the traffic and the welcoming of the locals is probably above average. You can see that there was a latent demand for baked goods.”
Mickaël’s Café Librairie offers fresh breads and baked goods, along with simple lunches and classic coffee beverages. Owner and baker Mickaël Durant sells his baked goods as they come out of the oven. (Photo: Mickaël’s Café Librairie)
Mickaël says that you may not be able to find a wide selection at his shops, but the quality and freshness will always be exceptional.
“It sells as it comes out of the oven. I experienced that for the first time in Toronto, where I worked in the distillery district, and I thought that’s the way to go. A little space, where everything sells out as it comes out of the oven.”
Does Mickaël have his sights set on further expansion?
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“Yes,” he says with no hesitation. He has noticed that Canadians embrace the small-town bakery, unlike in France, where he says that the trend has moved towards larger bakeries, located on the highway to get more traffic.
“I think here there is an opportunity to recreate that idea of the neighbourhood bakery.”
New restaurant Copper Spoons is a diner with a kick
Copper Spoons serves a variety of diner classics, including the turkey club, made with fresh ingredients. (Photo: Copper Spoons)
After years of preparation, Jessica Gillett opened her new breakfast and lunch restaurant Copper Spoons (540 Romaine St., Peterborough, 705-876-7048) on August 5th.
Born and raised in Peterborough, Jessica has a wealth of experience in the restaurant industry, and the timing was right for her to start her own business.
“I’ve always managed restaurants, I’ve always been a server in restaurants. My kids have gone to school and it was time to start my own thing.”
She describes Copper Spoons as “a diner but with a kick. It’s all fresh fruit, fresh turkey, fresh product.”
Copper Spoons is open for breakfast and lunch. The best-selling breakfast is the eggs benedict. (Photo: Copper Spoons)
The eggs benedict has thus far been the best-selling breakfast and the turkey clubhouse has been a popular pick for lunch.
Years of planning have gone into this venture. Jessica says that to create the menu, she just had to put it down on paper.
“It was all in my brain for the last 20 years, things that I was going to put on my menu. I just put it on the paper, really.”
The food is prepared by chef Ray Wellington.
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Jessica says that the best part of owning her own restaurant is developing relationships with the customers.
“I’m here all the time so I’m really getting to know everybody.”
Copper Spoons is located in the spot previously occupied by the Hide-A-Way Restaurant.
Rolling Grape Vineyard celebrates the harvest with a party and pig roast
At the Rolling Grape Vineyards harvest party and pig roast, guests will be invited to help out with the grape harvest. (Photo: Ash Naylor)
Get ready to pick, taste, and be merry. Rolling Grape Vineyard (260 County Rd. 2, Bailieboro, 705-741-9758) is hosting a harvest party and pig roast at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 27th and again on Saturday, September 28th.
Tickets cost $60, and the event is being put on in partnership with the Fleming College Culinary program.
Jon Drew, owner of Rolling Grape Vineyard, says that the Harvest Party and Pig Roast marks an important season in the vineyard.
“It’s a celebration of the harvest for the year.”
Fleming College students and chefs will prepare appetizers and roast pork, and serve these along with wood-fired pizzas in the vineyard.
When people arrive at the event they are put to work. Everyone gets a pair of scissors and a bucket and is shown how to harvest the grapes. From there they can pick as many or as few grapes as they like.
“Some people will pick for ten minutes and some people will pick all day. It’s totally up to what people want to do.”
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There will be live music at the party. Those is attendance will also be entered to win prizes, including a weekend at Wildwood Cottages.
Rolling Grape Vineyard opened in June of 2018. They grow and make wines with northern hardy grapes including Marquette, Frontenac, Petite Pearl, and Vidal. Jon has recently begun planting Baco Noir and Cabernet Franc.
As a winemaker, Jon favours dry wines that are low intervention.
“We don’t do a lot of filtering or fining to our wine, so you’re going to get some more natural style wines: sometimes cloudy, but with just a little more flavour, a bit different from a traditional processed wine.”
Banh Mi in East City? Sweet Beast Butcher Shop now offers sandwiches
Sweet Beast Butcher Shop’s new sandwich menu includes a banh mi made with marinaded sous vide pork belly, house pickled carrot and radish, aioli and fresh cilantro. (Photo: Sweet Beast Butcher Shop)
Sweet Beast Butcher Shop (95 Hunter St. E., Peterborough, 705-874-5906) now offers a lunch menu.
Owner Grant Slavin has developed a sandwich menu featuring roast beef, pulled pork, an Italian meatball sub, apple with prosciutto and manchego, porchetta, and pork belly banh mi.
All of the meats are prepared in house except for the prosciutto, which is Italian.
The porchetta is prepared in house, then barbecued for deliciously crisp crackling. (Photo: Sweet Beast Butcher Shop)
Not sure which sandwich to try first? Grant recommends the banh mi.
“I’m pretty proud of the pork belly banh mi. We marinate the pork belly and sous vide it here for 24 hours. We make our quick pickle ourselves — it’s pickled carrot and radish, we make all the aioli, and it’s topped with fresh cilantro. I think that’s definitely one of the features on the menu.”
Did we lose you at cilantro? You may prefer the porchetta, which Grant describes as “a classic Italian pork loin and belly with lemon zest, sage, thyme and rosemary.”
The porchetta sandwich is seasoned with lemon zest, sage, thyme and rosemary. (Photo: Sweet Beast Butcher Shop)
“You roll it all up and wrap it in the pork skin for crackling. We do that on the barbecue here and then slice it up for sandwiches and it tastes amazing.”
You can take your sandwich to go, or dine in at the butcher shop. Sweet Beast Butcher Shop is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. You can get a sandwich between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.each day.
Dora award-winning actor Jonathan Wilson will perform as Arnold Beckoff in New Stages Theatre Company's staged reading of Harvey Fierstein's "Torch Song" at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough on September 15, 2019. Also pictured is
Toronto actor Tracey Hoyt, who will perform as Mrs. Beckoff. The other members of the cast are Jeff Miller as Ed, Megan Murphy as Laurel, and Quinlan Shearer as David. (Photo: Jonathan Wilson / Facebook)
This month, New Stages opens its 2019-2020 season, which is shaping up to be a very ambitious and different season for the Peterborough theatre company.
New Stages Theatre Company presents Torch Song
When: Sunday, September 15, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. Where: Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St. E, Peterborough) How much: $25 general admission ($15 students/arts workers/underwaged), all fees included
Written by Harvey Fierstein, directed by Randy Read, and featuring Jonathan Wilson, Jeff Miller, Tracey Hoyt, Megan Murphy, and Quinlan Shearer. Part of The Page On Stage Reading Series. Tickets available in person at the Market Hall Box Office or by phone at 705-749-1146 (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday) or online anytime at markethall.org.
Mixing visiting professional actors from some of the biggest stages in Ontario with local favourites, this year New Stages Theatre Company will be presenting two staged readings alongside three complete productions, beginning with a reading of Harvey Fierstein’s award-winning play Torch Song on Sunday, September 15th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre.
A show with a long history of different versions, Torch Song was originally known as Torch Song Trilogy, and was comprised of plays Fierstein had been developing as early as 1978. Torch Song Trilogy opened at the Richard Allen Center in New York City in October 1981, starring Fierstein as the show’s hero Arnold Beckoff, alongside notable co-stars Estelle Getty, Mathew Broderick, and Joel Crothers.
Over 117 performances the show became a massive success, and moved to Broadway in June 1982, where it earned both the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for best show and actor. In all, Torch Song Trilogy would run for 1,222 performances.
In 2017, the play was restaged for an Off-Broadway revival in which Fierstein completed a massive revision of the script, greatly shortening the show (which originally ran for over four hours) and compressing it from three acts into only two. No longer a “trilogy”, the new version was simply titled Torch Song, which is the version New Stages will be performing at the Market Hall.
“I went to New York and saw Torch Song Trilogy in 1985,” recalls New Stages artistic director Randy Read. “I had been married to a woman, my marriage had just ended, I was just coming out, and this was the play that I saw. It was a very seminal piece of theatre for me, because I was watching someone trying to get the respect they want despite not fitting in the box that society wants them to be in.”
Opening New Stages Theatre Company’s 2019-20 season is a staged reading of Harvey Fierstein’s “Torch Song” takes place at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough on September 15, 2019.
Torch Song follows the life and loves of Arnold Beckoff, a Jewish gay man, drag queen, and torch singer who lives in New York City in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
“Arnold opens the show with a monologue before he goes on to do his act,” Randy says. “He falls for this guy who is actually bisexual and is torn between Arnold and a woman he wants to marry. By the third act some time has passed, and Arnold has adopted a street kid and has become the kid’s father and mother. Arnold’s mother comes to visit, and she is kind of like the Jewish mother from hell. She can hardly deal with the fact that Arnold is gay, but when she realizes he has a son she really can’t cope with it.”
“The humanity of Torch Song keeps it relevant. Arnold is essentially looking for love and fulfillment and having a really hard time of it. But this is not just a play for gay people. Love and respect are something we are all searching for, so in that regard everyone can relate to it.”
Along with Jonathan Wilson and Tracey Hoyt, Toronto-based actor Jeff Miller and Peterborough actors Megan Murphy and Quinlan Shearer will perform in New Stages Theatre Company’s staged reading of Harvey Fierstein’s “Torch Song” at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough on September 15, 2019. (Supplied photos)
In the New Stages tradition, Randy has put together a cast combining visiting performers with local talent. Playing the role of Arnold is Jonathan Wilson, who won a Dora award for playing Timon in the original Mirvish production of The Lion King, and was nominated for a Gemini for the film version of his play My Own Private Oshawa.
Jonathan is joined by Toronto-based actors Tracey Hoyt (Soul Prints, Cottagers and Indians, Suits, The L.A. Complex) as Mrs. Beckoff and Jeff Miller (The Normal Heart, My Night with Reg, Taken, Queer as Folk) in the role of Ed.
Local favourites Meg Murphy (Between the Sheets, Our Town, Angels in America) and Quinlan Shearer (Late Company) perform as Laurel and David.
As part of Peterborough’s Pride celebration, New Stages is offering a special discount.
“Because our first event is in September, I always wanted to find something to go alongside Pride,” Randy says. “The show is being included as part of Pride week, and the theme this year is Unstoppable, so if you want to buy a ticket ahead of time and you quote the word ‘Unstoppable’, you get five dollars off.”
VIDEO: New Stages Subscription & 2019-20 Season Promo
Torch Song is the first in what will prove to be a powerful and unique season for New Stages. In the months to follow, New Stages will be presenting the following productions:
Bang Bang by Kat Sandler (November 10, 2019)
The only other reading this year, Bang Bang is a 2018 play dealing with subjects of race, police violence, and fiction versus reality in the aftermath of the shooting of an unarmed black man by a black police woman.
When a white male playwright finds fame via a play he wrote about the event, he faces the officer for the first time when his script is opted for a movie.
“Bang Bang has some very important things to say about our society, but most importantly about the phrase ‘inspired by true events’ and what we are brought to believe,” says Randy.
Every Brilliant Little Thing by Duncan MacMillan and Jonny Donahoe (January 16 to 25, 2020)
New Stages leaves its usual home at Market Hall and takes over The Theatre on King (TTOK) in January for nine performances of Every Brilliant Little Thing, co-directed by Randy Read and Linda Kash.
Steve Ross stars in this funny and moving one man show about a young man caring for his mother.
“It is brilliant,” Randy tells. “It may be the most brilliant one-person show I’ve ever seen.”
Canadian Rajah by Dave Carley (March 8, 2020)
New Stages presents something truly special when they welcome the cast and crew of the Toronto production of Canadian Rajah, who will be recreating the show at Market Hall for a one-night performance.
The play is about the true life story of Esca Brooke, born in Malaysia as the son of “White Rajah” Charles Brooke of Sarawak, who fought for recognition of his royal title from his home in Madoc, Ontario.
Iceland by Nicholas Billion (April 28 to May 2, 2020)
New Stages returns to TTOK for their final production of the 2019-2020 season with Nicholas Billions’ award-winning play Iceland.
The winner of the 2013 Governor-General’s Literary Award for Drama, Iceland is a story of greed, capitalism and gentrification. Iceland will mark New Stages third full production of the season.
Tickets for each performance can be purchased individually, or you can buy a season subscription to all five plays for $110. For more information on New Stages entire season and season tickets, visit www.newstages.ca.
Torch Song will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 15th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St. E, Peterborough). General admission tickets are $25 ($15 for students, art workers, and the under waged) and are available in person at the Market Hall Box Office or by phone at 705-749-1146 (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday) or online anytime at markethall.org.
The Smart City Readiness Project is kicking off its campaign to help the City of Peterborough enter the federal government's Smart Cities Challenge with a free public information summit at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough on September 18, 2019. (Photo: Smart City Readiness Project)
businessNOW™ is the most comprehensive weekly round-up of business and organizational news and events from Peterborough and across the Kawarthas.
Every week, our managing editor collects news and events related to businesses and organizations from across the Kawarthas. If you’d like us to promote your news or event in businessNOW, please email business@kawarthanow.com.
This week’s business and organizational news includes the Smart City Readiness Project aiming to help Peterborough become a “Smart City”, the federal and provincial governments investing $134,000 in Berry Growers of Ontario, the Innovation Cluster partnering with Peterborough Utilities Group to expand cleantech in Peterborough, SGS Lakefield raising $1,250 for Hospice Peterborough, and Church Key Brewing owner John Graham selling Church Key Pub & Grindhouse in Campbellford.
Also featured this week are Millbrook apiary Hunnabees Honey & Co.’s new extraction system, Heather Doughty Photography’s new studio in downtown Peterborough, Fenelon Falls Brewing Co. temporarily closing its Bottle Shop to focus on construction of brewhouse and taproom, and the Haliburton Chamber announcing a change to senior staff leadership.
New regional business events added this week include Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre presenting business information sessions in Lindsay, Fenelon Falls, and Bobcaygeon from September 10th to 24th, the Peterborough DBIA breakfast network with Su Ditta in Peterborough on September 18th, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce presenting “Scaling Up Small Business” in Peterborough on September 27th, and Venture13 presenting a Fireside Chat on Technology Adaptation and Healthcare in Cobourg on October 7th.
Smart City Readiness Project aims to help Peterborough become a “Smart City”
A working group called the Smart City Readiness Project has been established to help the City of Peterborough enter the Smart Cities Challenge, a competition held by Infrastructure Canada that is open to all municipalities, local or regional governments, and Indigenous communities across Canada.
The Smart Cities Challenge empowers communities to address local issues such as sustainability and economic growth through new partnerships and a smart city approach. A smart city is a municipality that uses information and communication technologies to increase its operational efficiency, share information with the public, and improve both the quality of government services and the welfare of its residents.
Smart Cities Challenge finalists will receive support to develop their smart cities proposals, with winning communities awarded up to $50 million to help implement their programs.
The Smart City Readiness Project working group includes the City of Peterborough, Ashburnham Realty, Lett Studio, Outpost379, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development, Trent University, CAEH, Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), Evergreen, and Future Cities Canada.
Peterborough DBIA is hosting an information summit to kick off the project from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough). The summit features leading minds in urban innovation and city building, including Paul Bedford (former chief planner for the City of Toronto), Alex Speigel (partner, Windmill Development Group), and Anthea Foyer (Project Lead Smart Cities, City of Mississauga).
For more information about the Smart City Readiness Project, visit smartcityptbo.ca.
Federal and provincial governments invest $134,000 in Berry Growers of Ontario
McLean Berry Farm in Lakefield is a member of the Berry Growers of Ontario, in which the federal and provincial governments has invested more than $134,000 in funding. (Photo: McLean Berry Farm / Facebook)
The federal and provincial governments have announced more than $134,000 in funding to help the Berry Growers of Ontario access markets, monitor soil health, and expand their knowledge of crop production.
Funded through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the governments are investing in three projects: $111,619 to create a website, promotional videos and marketing materials to promote the Ontario berry industry and increase awareness of their products; $20,800 to test drone technology to measure acreage of berry crops and gather plant health information; and $2,000 to develop, promote and host a strawberry production workshop for growers in Ontario to help build their knowledge.
“The Berry Growers of Ontario are glad to hear that the Governments of Canada and Ontario have offered to support our industry through the partnership,” says Berry Growers of Ontario vice chair Morris Gervais. “The funding will be welcome in support of our website and marketing, as well as our spring production workshop and our innovative research into drone technology.”
Berry Growers of Ontario represents more than 200 growers in the berry industry, including five growers in the Kawarthas: McLean Berry Farm in Lakefield, Moore Orchards in Cobourg, Brouwer’s Strawberries in Oakwood, Lindsay Berries in Reaboro, and The Berry Patch in Cavan.
Innovation Cluster partners with Peterborough Utilities Group to expand cleantech in Peterborough
Pat Devlin of Peterborough Utilities Group and John Gillis of Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas. (Photo courtesy of Innovation Cluster)
Peterborough Utilities Group Services Corporation vice president Pat Devlin and Innovation Cluster president and CEO John Gillis have signed an agreement to work together in a partnership to help bring in new technologies and startups for the water/wastewater market in the Peterborough community.
The two organizations will bring together a network of private industries, municipalities, and startups in the water/wastewater market in Ontario.
“Through this partnership, we are looking forward to attracting more startups into the Peterborough community,” Gillis says. “Peterborough is becoming more recognized for its available cleantech resources, such as research laboratories and mentors that new companies search for.”
The Innovation Cluster has been focusing on supporting startups in the clean technology sector, recently launching its H2O makerspace that provides resources for water and wastewater-focused companies. The organization was also highlighted in the 2018 Water Canada Magazine feature that named Peterborough as the best place in Ontario and the second best place in Canada to launch a water technology startup.
“Peterborough Utilities is dedicated to providing the Peterborough area with safe and reliable water and wastewater services, and we are excited to be partnering with the Innovation Cluster to further our support to the water market,” Devlin says.
SGS Lakefield raises $1,250 for Hospice Peterborough
Hospice Peterborough executive director Hajni Hos (second from left) accepts a $1,250 cheque from Ella Mihailescu, Tom Rowden, and James Brown. The funds were raised at SGS Lakefield’s Hydrometallurgy Group BBQ. (Photo courtesy of Hospice Peterborough)
SGS Lakefield employees have donated $1,250 to Hospice Peterborough, representing funds raised through the Hydrometallurgy Group BBQ.
This gift was to support their supplier and friend Tom Rowden, in honour and memory of his wife Pauline Rowden, who recently passed away at Hospice Peterborough in the end-of-life residence.
“We are so fortunate to have this kind of a facility in our community,” says Rowden. “It was like we were being welcomed by family. We were treated with such kindness and dignity, the staff were all wonderful and comforting to our family during the worst time. My wife Pauline, was treated with the respect she deserved. Hospice continues to help me deal with my grief and I feel a strong bond here.”
SGS Lakefield is part of a global network and the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, with more than 97,000 employees operating in over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.
Church Key Brewing owner John Graham sells Church Key Pub & Grindhouse in Campbellford
Church Key Pub & Grindhouse in Campbellford is under new ownership. (Photo: Church Key Pub & Grindhouse / Facebook)
Last Wednesday (September 4), Church Key Brewing founder John Graham announced on Facebook that he is turning over Church Key Pub & Grindhouse to restaurateur Mark Andrade.
Graham, who has owned the pub for the past 11 years, says the change will “let us focus on the Church Key Brewery and evolving beer scene.”
The new owner will honour all previously booked musicians, according to Graham.
“I would like to thank all the patrons and musicians that have warmed our wee pub over the years,” Graham writes.
Graham started brewing in 1989 in Aurora and went on to become a shift brewer and filter operator at Amsterdam Brewery in Toronto. In 1999, he purchased an 1878 Methodist church in Campbellford and founded Church Key Brewing Company.
Millbrook apiary Hunnabees Honey & Co. has new extraction system
The new extraction room at Hunnabees Honey & Co. in Millbrook. (Photo: Hunnabees Honey & Co. / Facebook)
Millbrook apiary Hunnabees Honey & Co. has completed their new extraction room, with extraction line installed and operating.
This means they can now extract, bottle, label, ship, and produce wax product in the same location.
The company is now booking limited honey extractions for the season. If you need honey extracted, you can use their 52-frame extraction line, featuring a deboxer, jiggle knife uncapper, a settling clarifier, and two frequency pumps running on a float system.
A minimum of 60 boxes of honey is required (smaller quantities can be processed on their 20-frame extration line).
Email them now at info@hunnabees.com for more information about pricing, as the system will only be operational for the next few weeks.
Hunabees is now also working to complete its storefront so it can soft open soon.
Heather Doughty Photography has a new studio in downtown Peterborough
Heather Doughty at her new studio in the Commerce Building in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Heather Doughty)
Heather Doughty of Heather Doughty Photography has a new studio in downtown Peterborough.
The studio is located in the Commerce Building at the northwest corner of Water and Hunter streets.
The Commerce Building, which was purchased in 2017 by Paul Bennett of Ashburnham Realty, houses the studios of many Peterborough artists and artisans and is a regular stop of the First Friday Art Crawl.
Doughty is the founder of and photographer for Inspire – The Women’s Portrait Project.
Fenelon Falls Brewing Co. temporarily closes Bottle Shop to focus on construction of brewhouse and taproom
Fenelon Falls Brewing Co. has temporarily closed its Bottle Shop to focus on completing construction of the new brewhouse and taproom. (Photo: Fenelon Falls Brewing Co.)
Fenelon Falls Brewing Co., which recently opened a Bottle Shop retail store, has announced it is temporarily closing the store to focus on finishing construction of the new brewhouse and taproom.
“With a crew of only four, working hard to realize our vision for the community of Fenelon Falls, we’re committed to bringing you the complete Fenelon Brew Co. experience — not just the Bottle Shop — as soon as possible. We decided to pick up the construction pace and to ensure the safety of our customers we need to temporarily close the retail Bottle Shop.”
While the brewhouse vessels are in place, steam pipes and fermentor pipes still need to be installed as well as other components to support the brewing process.
Haliburton Chamber announces change to senior staff leadership
Jennifer Locke’s new title is executive director of Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce. (Photo: Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce)
The Board of Directors of the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce has announced a change to the title and job description of the chamber’s staff lead.
Jennifer Locke, previously manager, is now executive director.
“This change will bring a modern and strategic focus to the organization and will represent a level of professionalism that better reflects the scope of work required to maintain relevancy and value to its membership,” the board states in a media release.
The Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve the change at its September 3rd meeting.
Locke joined the Chamber in May 2018 after earning Master’s degrees in sustainability in both Ontario and Saskatchewan, where she specifically focused on Canadian corporate sustainability. She is a graduate of the Haliburton Highlands Secondary School, and an alumni of Western University and the University of Saskatchewan.
The Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce has over 270 active member organizations across the Haliburton Highlands.
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Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre presents business information sessions in Lindsay, Fenelon Falls, and Bobcaygeon from September 10 to 24
Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre is presenting a series of free business information sessions in Lindsay, Fenelon Falls, and Bobcaygeon from September 10 to 24.
The sessions are for budding entrepreneurs considering opening their own small business, existing business owners looking at expansion, or those planning on purchasing a business in Kawartha Lakes. You will also have the opportunity to learn about the new Starter Company Plus program that will be launching in Kawartha Lakes in October 2019. The Starter Company Plus program provides business training, mentoring, and the opportunity of qualify for a small business grant of up to $4,000.
The sessions takes place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10th at the Lindsay Library, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 17th at the Fenelon Falls Community Centre, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 19th at the Bobcaygeon Municipal Office, and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 24th at the Lindsay Library
Substance abuse and addiction information session for employers in Peterborough on September 11
The Workforce Development Board/Local Employment Planning Council is hosting an employer education information session about substance abuse and addiction from 8 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, September 11th at the Peterborough Chamber Of Commerce (175 George St. N., Peterborough).
The free information session will feature guest speaker Paul Schauber, the case management and intake program manager for the Canadian Mental Health Association in Peterborough location. He will be delivering a presentation that highlights best practices for employers to navigate the issue of substance abuse and addictions in the workplace.
A webinar will be available for those unavailable to attend in person (details will be provided upon registration).
Agilec hosts a multi-employer hiring event in Peterborough on September 11
Agilec is hosting a multi-employer hiring event from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11th at Northminster United Church (300 Sunset Blvd., Peterborough).
If you are an employer and would like to register, contact Arlayna Curtin at 705-740-2577 x5210 or acurtin@agilec.ca.
Enactus Fleming College presents entrepreneur Richard L’Abbé in Peterborough on September 11
Entrepreneur Richard L’Abbé.
Enactus Fleming College, a non-profit organization that encourages youth entrepreneurship in the community, is presenting entrepreneur Richard L’Abbé from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11th at Fleming College (599 Brealey Dr., Peterborough).
L’Abbé, winner of 2003 CEO of the Year by the Ottawa Business Journal and 2008 Business Person of the Year by the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, began his company Med-Eng in 1981 and since then has held over 80 per cent of the global share market within his industry. He will speak on the topic “How to Grow a Startup into a Multi-Million-Dollar Business.”
Fleming College’s VP of Academic Experience Tom Phillips will provide opening remarks, and there will be a question-and-answer period as well as a networking portion for attendees. Light refreshments will be provided.
Community Futures Peterborough hosting business focus groups in Peterborough on September 12
Community Futures Peterborough is hosting focus groups for business owners and entrepreneurs in the City and County of Peterborough on Thursday, September 12th in the boardroom at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
The goal is to find where gaps exist in business supports, services, and programming.
The first focus group, for business startups and those operating for fewer than five years, takes place from 9 to 10:30 a.m. The second focus group, for businesss operating more than five years, takes place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Lindsay Chamber of Commerce presents networking event at Habitat for Humanity Lindsay ReStore on September 12
The Lindsay & District Chamber Of Commerce is presenting a networking event from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 12th at Habitat for Humanity Lindsay ReStore (55 Angeline St. N., Lindsay).
Enjoy an afternoon of networking while you learn about Habitat for Humanity and the ReStore in Lindsay. Refreshments will be available.
Peterborough DBIA breakfast network with Su Ditta in Peterborough on September 18
The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is hosting its next breakfast network meeting from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 18th at Empress Gardens (131 Charlotte St., Peterborough).
Guest speaker Su Ditta, executive director of Electric City Culture Council (EC3), will bring an illustrated talk offering a behind the scenes look at the arts scene in Peterborough and its impact on our social, economic, and cultural vitality.
Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. with the guest speaker at 8 a.m.
The event is open to everyone. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Peterborough Chamber hosts digital marketing seminar in Peterborough on September 18
The next Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Lunch Box Learning seminar takes place from 12 to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18th at the Chamber’s boardroom (175 George St. N., Peterborough).
Toby Macleod of Stradegy.ca will speak about implementing your business’s digital marketing strategy.
The seminar is free to attend for members of the Chamber and members of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough. Bring your own lunch.
Kawartha Chamber hosts Business After Hours in Apsley on September 19
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is hosting its next Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 19th in Apsley.
Stops so far include Anstruther Marina (Highway 28 & McFadden Rd.), Four Seasons on Wellington (next to Apsley Home Hardware), and North Kawartha Community Centre (340 McFadden Rd.).
Bobcaygeon Chamber hosts Stoney Lake evening cruise for members in Woodview on September 23
The Bobcaygeon & Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting an evening cruise for its members from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, September 23rd at Stoney Lake Cruises (610 Julian Viamede Rd., Woodview).
Network with fellow members while enjoying the spectacular scenery of Stoney Lake from Stoney Lake Cruises’ Spirit of the Kawarthas.
Snacks will be provided and a cash bar will be available.
Community Futures Peterborough hosts financial workshop in Peterborough on September 24
Community Futures Peterborough is hosting “Financial Foundations”, a workshop from 8:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 24th in the boardroom at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
At this workshop, entrepreneurs and those interested in starting a business will learn about federal and provincial funding, local resources available, and how to enter the Company Startup Plus program. Keynote speaker Marie Dietrich, partner at Grant Thorton, will discuss the top five common mistakes young companies make.
Diversity and inclusion in the workplace information session in Lindsay on September 26
The Workforce Development Board/Local Employment Planning Council, in partnership with the Lindsay DBIA and the Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce, is hosting an information session on diversity and inclusion in the workplace from 8 to 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 26th at Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lindsay (134 Angeline St. S., Lindsay).
The free session will feature guest speaker Lindsay Kretschmer, executive director of the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council. Her areas of expertise include Indigenous social justice issues and well being, provincial and federal negotiations, program and training development, research and evaluation, policy and advocacy, and capacity and partnership building.
A webinar will be available for those unavailable to attend in person (details will be provided upon registration).
FLEX Fitness and AW Media Consulting host fall refresh women’s networking event in Lindsay on September 26
Cathy Steffler of FLEX Fitness and Ashley Webster of AW Media Consulting are hosting a fall refresh women’s networking event from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 26th at FLEX Fitness (66 William St. N., Lindsay).
The event features networking and conversation with like-minded business women along with wine and chocolate. Ashley Webster owner of AW Media Consulting will provide a 45-minute hands-on social media workshop focused on Instagram and Facebook, covering social media best practices, handling negative comments and reviews, social media advertising, building your brand online, and technical tips.
FLEX Fitness is a child-friendly space with a play area, so children are welcome.
Ontario Chamber of Commerce presents “Scaling Up Small Business” in Peterborough on September 27
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is presenting “Scaling Up Small Business”, a regional panel discussion and report launch event, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, September 27th at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
The event will bring together private and public sector stakeholders to discuss the opportunities and challenges related to growing a business in Ontario. Ontario Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction Prabmeet Sarkaria will make remarks, followed by a keynote presentation by Diane Richard, Director of Product Development, Charlotte Products. A panel discussion moderated by Derek Newton (Assistant Vice President, Innovation Partnerships and Entrepreneurship, University of Toronto) will feature Rhonda Keenan (President and CEO, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development), Dylan Trepanier ( CEO, Alexander Optical), and John Porter (President and CEO, BarterPay).
Local business organizations host members-only all-candidates debate on economic growth and development in Peterborough on September 30
Local business organizations are hosting a members-only all-candidates debate on economic growth and development from 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Monday, September 30th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough).
This event is hosted by the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Association of Realtors, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Homebuilders Association, Kawartha Manufacturers’ Association, Women’s Business Network of Peterborough, and the Peterborough and District Construction Association.
Venture13 hosts TechXpo Cybersecurity Challenge in Cobourg on October 5
The TechXpo Cybersecurity Challenge takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, October 5th at Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre (739 D’Arcy St., Cobourg).
This event is part of the global CyberLympics, sponsored by SiberX, Durham College AI-Hub, and Venture13. The purpose of the event is to encourage developers to bring forward innovative ideas for cybersecurity applications that are technically feasible and commercially viable.
Teams will have one day to advance their concepts and pitch them to a panel of experts. Mentors and advisors will be available to help teams rapidly iterate their concepts and prepare a pitch presentation to the judges. The winner of the TechXpo Cybersecurity Challenge and the $1,000 cash team prize will be announced at the Cyberlympics finale at Durham College on October 26th, 2019.
TechXpo is sponsored by Venture13 VentureZone Members Eagle Aerospace and ConnexHealth Inc. and the Cobourg Police Service.
Venture13 presents Fireside Chat on Technology Adaptation and Healthcare in Cobourg on October 7
Venture13 is presenting its next Fireside Chat, on the topic “Technology Adaptation and Healthcare”, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, October 7th in the Innovation Commons at Venture13 (739 D’Arcy St., Cobourg)
Sponsored by ConnexHealth, the free event features a keynote by Dr. Mukesh Bhargava (Chief of Staff, Northumberland Hills Hospital) and a panel discussion led by practitioners, innovators, and policy leaders, moderated by Rhonda Cunningham (Director, Northumberland CFDC and Executive Director, Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation).
Business & Entrepreneurship Conference Northumberland in Cobourg on October 10
The second annual Business & Entrepreneurship Conference Northumberland takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 10th at the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre (930 Burnham St., Cobourg).
Presented by Northumberland County, Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland, Destination Ontario, and Kawarthas Northumberland, the one-day high-level business growth conference is designed to educate, motivate, and promote collaboration.
Keynote speakers include Ron Tsang on the topic “Influential Communication for Entrepreneurs” and Andrew Patrico on the topic “How to Cost and Price Your Products and Services Profitably”.
The cost is $45+HST, which includes breakfast and lunch.
Kawartha Chamber hosts Awards of Excellence and Social Gala in Lakefield on October 10
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is hosting its 20th Annual Awards of Excellence and Social Gala from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, October 10th at Lakefield College School (4391 County Rd. 29, Lakefield).
There will be a silent and live auction, light hor d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and a social hour for networking in Upper Hadden Hall before the presentation of the awards in the Bryan Jones Theatre.
Rod Coneybeare (second from right), the puppeteer behind Jerome the Giraffe and Rusty the Roster on the long-running CBC children's program "The Friendly Giant", died in Lindsay on September 5, 2019 at the age of 89. (Photo: CBC Still Photo Collection)
Rod Coneybeare, best known as the voice of Jerome the Giraffe and Rusty the Rooster on the long-running CBC children’s program The Friendly Giant, passed away at the age of 89 in Lindsay last Thursday (September 5).
In addition to supplying the voices of the puppets on The Friendly Giant, which ran from 1958 to 1985, Coneybeare collaborated with Charles Winter on the radio program The Rod and Charles Show and, with Robert Gibbons (producer of Mr. Dressup), created the short-lived CBC TV series The Bananas.
Born in Belleville, Coneybeare also worked as a voice actor for several cartoons, including the voice of Avalanche in X-Men and several characters in The Adventures of Tintin, Babar, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, The Busy World of Richard Scarry, Blazing Dragons, Dog City, The Magic School Bus, Little Shop, and The Adventures of Super Mario Bros.
VIDEO: Friendly Giant with Jerome the Giraffe and Rusty the Rooster
According to his son, writer/filmmaker Wilson Coneybeare, Rod Coneybeare began his career in 1945 at the age of 15, performing bit parts on CBC radio dramas and serials. In 1959, he became the editor-in-chief and host of Radio for Men, the first nnd only CBC radio show intended for men.
Rod Coneybeare began his career in radio at the age of 15 when he began performing bit parts on CBC radio dramas and serials. He won two ACTRA awards in radio, one in documentary and one for original dramatic writing.
While he was best known for his work in The Friendly Giant, Coneybeare’s true passion was radio, for which he would win two ACTRA awards, one in documentary and one for original dramatic writing.
“His oldest friend was Elwy Yost,” Wilson Coneybeare writes on his website in a tribute to his father. “They met on a streetcar when dad was fifteen. Elwy and Lila Yost were witnesses at my parents’ marriage ceremony in a registry office in 1952. He and Elwy made amateur home movies and invented a board game about big business that probably would have made them money had they just managed to focus on — you guessed it — the business side of things for twenty seconds.”
Rod Coneybeare was also a close friend of Bob “The Friendly Giant” Homme (who passed away in 2000) and, according to Wilson Coneybeare, they shared many interests, including collecting classic American radio shows.
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“The program started out with another puppeteer,” Rod Coneybeare says, probably referring to Ken Ohst, the puppeteer when the program originally aired in 1953 in Wisconsin before moving to Canada. “This man was not tall. He didn’t have a long enough arm to make Jerome appear as a giraffe. Jerome would come up to the window, slump down, and look more like a horse or a cow.”
Homme and Coneybeare largely ad libbed each episode of the The Friendly Giant, which was known for its slow pace and gentle nature, usually based around a one-page plot summary.
More than 3,000 episodes of the series were produced by 1985, when it was cancelled due to federal government cuts to CBC’s budget.
Rod Coneybeare with Jerome the Giraffe on the set of “The Friendly Giant” on May 30, 1965. (Photo: CBC Still Photo Collection)
Rod Coneybeare leaves behind his wife Moira, four children, and seven grandchildren. There will be a private family service, with a public memorial to be announced.
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