Victoria Day, celebrating Queen Victoria’s birthday (May 24, 1819), was first declared a holiday in Canada in 1845. It was originally observed on May 24 every year unless that date was a Sunday, in which case it was celebrated on May 25. In 1952, the federal government changed the date to celebrate Victoria Day on the Monday preceding May 25. From sunset to sunrise on Victoria Day, the Royal Union Flag (the “Union Jack”) is flown alongside the Canadian flag at federal buildings, airports, military bases and other federal buildings and establishments across Canada.

The Victoria Day weekend is colloquially known as the May Two-Four weekend, referring both to the Queen’s birthday and Canadian slang for a case of 24 beers (a popular beverage during the weekend). It’s informally considered to mark the beginning of summer, and many people go camping, open their cottages, garden, or travel during the weekend. Victoria Day itself is traditionally celebrated with fireworks displays.

Since Victoria Day is both a federal and a provincial statutory holiday, government offices, post offices, libraries, and schools are closed, as are liquor stores and beer stores. Many grocery stores are open, as are some shopping malls, pharmacies, and large retail stores. Most tourist attractions, smaller stores, restaurants, museums, and theatres are usually open. Some stores that are closed on Monday have extended hours on Sunday (check with the store).

For your convenience, we provide this list of holiday hours for 265 selected businesses, services, and organizations across the Kawarthas. This information comes from their websites and social media accounts, which may or may not be up to date, so please always call them first to confirm their hours (we’ve included phone numbers), especially if you are travelling any distance. If your business or organization is listed and the hours are incorrect, please let us know by using our content feedback form. We do not include hours for restaurants, as there are too many to list!

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Here’s a sure sign summer is coming: the City of Peterborough switched on the Centennial Fountain for the season at 11 a.m. this morning (May 17).

When it gets turned on every the spring, the stream of water continuously shooting up to 75 metres in the air is a reminder that summer is on the way.

The majestic fountain in Little Lake in downtown Peterborough is a familiar sight to city residents, but a lot of people may not know the history of the fountain.

VIDEO: Peterborough Centennial Fountain is turned on for 2019 season

As most could guess from the fountain’s name, it was installed during Canada’s centennial year — 1967.

A few years ago, the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce discovered an old 16-millimetre film in a cupboard in their offices. Called Land of the Shining Waters, the Chamber digitized the 20-minute black-and-white documentary and posted it on YouTube.

The film is not only fascinating for its historical look at the origins of the Centennial Fountain, but because it’s narrated by well-known local musician and broadcaster Del Crary — after whom the park on the shores of Little Lake was named.

VIDEO: “Land of the Shining Waters” documentary

Crary, who died in 1978 at the age of 59, was CHEX radio’s morning announcer in the 1950s and, for 25 years, he hosted “Dance Party”, a show for teenagers on CHEX television. Named Peterborough’s Citizen of the Year in 1961, Crary was also the prime mover for many of Peterborough’s charity campaigns during the time. He created and organized The Timmy Show, an annual fundraising telethon for the Easter Seals.

Along with his friend Fred Anderson, Crary was also responsible for creating The Arts and Water Festival (now Peterborough Musicfest) which held its first event from a flatbed truck at Point St. Charles Park (renamed Del Crary Park in 1979 in his honour).

With a jazzy soundtrack (including the classic “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck), the documentary begins with a general introduction to The Kawarthas, which Crary describes as “a 70-mile section of languid lakes, busy locks, and lively interconnecting rivers.” He explains that the word “Kawartha” means “The Land of Shining Waters”, and the film continues with an explanation of why and how the fountain was created.

“Canada’s centennial celebrations sparked a worthy tribute to The Land of the Shining Waters,” Crary says. “The energetic citizens of Peterborough formed a planning committee to harness the water and build one of the world’s largest floating fountains. To create a graceful jet stream of water, 250 feet in the air, would truly be enhancing to the name Land of the Shining Waters.”

Although the fountain is now owned and maintained by the City of Peterborough, it was actually planned and built by a group of Peterborough businessmen, with local industry donating engineering skills and presumably all the materials for the fountain.

“In record time, the plans were transformed from the planning and drawing stage to 30 tonnes of concrete that was to float,” Crary explains. “The building yard was soon bustling with construction, forming and pouring a nine-sided fountain base, 23 feet wide. As a safety feature to provide permanent buoyancy, 54 steel drums and liquidized polyfoam were pumped and installed within the nonagon base.”

The core of the fountain was a 3,200-pound canister, over 12 feet long and 15 inches in diameter, designed to pump a steady stream of water 250 feet into the air eight months of the year. At the time, this was the only pump of its kind designed in the world, featuring a water-lubricated and cooled motor with only three moving parts, and special nozzle to increase the pressure of the water leaving the pump.

After constructing the base, the organizers created three 1.5 tonne concrete anchors and, using a Trent Canal system barge and scuba divers, placed them at the intended site of the fountain in Little Lake. After the anchors were in place, the base with the pump was towed out — with a combined weight of 35 tonnes — to the location.

A large crowd watched the installation, which included an official ceremony featuring a demonstration by the Peterborough Waterski Club and live music by a youth orchestra. At the ceremony, the fountain was formally donated to the City of Peterborough. A 100-year-old man and 5-year-old girl, representing the older and younger citizens of the area, were chosen to accept the donation.

How much can humanity take? “Winter is coming” indeed. I’m talking about that long, long winter followed by the non-arrival of spring in March and April. I’m now writing this in May, wishing for the November-like temperatures and drizzle to disappear.

In cottage country, deep snow and ice cover on the lakes persisted well into April. In our top photos for last month, you’ll notice a couple lakes were solid ice late into April, although others opened up right on schedule. Mother Nature owes us a catapult into warmth and summer soon (but first — blackfly season!). At least the ice is finally out … but the Kawarthas do look stunning in all seasons.

Do you want to get on our top photographers list? All you need is an Insta account and to tag us using our hashtag #kawarthanow when posting your photo.

We share photos from across our readership area, which is the five-county area surrounding Peterborough which includes Peterborough, Northumberland, City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Hastings (we sneak in the occasional Algonquin Park picture as well, particularly if it’s by a Kawartha photographer).

To see our daily shares of photos, follow us on Instagram @kawarthanow and check out our feed’s highlight reels for recaps of every month in 2019.

#1. River otters in Buckhorn by The Highlands Cottages @thehighlandscottages

Posted April 7, 2019. 7,817 impressions, 3,345 views, 636 likes

It was Sunday Funday when the river otters came out to play at The Highlands Cottages just north of Buckhorn.

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Good Sunday morning our #kawarthapeeps! We hope your Sunday has as many #funtimes as the #riverotters do at @thehighlandscottages Video by @thehighlandscottages #wildandfreeinthekawarthas #riverotter #otter #mississaugariver #kawarthahighlands #kawarthahighlandsprovincialpark #buckhornON #buckhorn #trentlakes #ptbokawartha #thekawarthas #kawarthas #kawarthalakes #sundayfunday

A post shared by kawarthaNOW® (@kawarthanow) on Apr 7, 2019 at 3:52am PDT

#2. Fairy Lake Island by Ward Strickland @ward.strickland

Posted April 6, 2019. 7,048 impressions, 592 likes

It’s not spring (or summer) until Ward Strickland is back at Stony Lake capturing his favourite vistas from Fairy Lake Island … and that’s Stony without the ‘e’ (Ward says so). This was actually a repost throwback post from warmer days because so many of our followers had seen enough ice and snow!

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Good Saturday morning our #kawarthapeeps from #stonylake thanks to @ward.strickland This one is for all the cottagers, visitors, trekkers, paddlers, boaters who are patiently waiting for warmth and ice-out. #fairylakeisland #summerinthekawarthas #kawarthalakes #kawarthas #thekawarthas #ptbokawartha #northkawartha #ptbo #kawarthaclouds

A post shared by kawarthaNOW® (@kawarthanow) on Apr 6, 2019 at 2:31am PDT

#3. Easter jackrabbit by Linda McIlwain @lindamac11

Posted April 21, 2019. 7,044 impressions, 671 likes

It was a special Easter Sunday this year with this local jackrabbit.

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Happy Easter Sunday our #kawarthapeeps. It's the #easterbunny from @lindamac11 #easterweekend #springinthekawarthas #ptbo #peterboroughontario #ptbokawartha #thekawarthas #kawarthalakes #kawarthas #KNreshared #kawarthanow #wildandfreeinthekawarthas #rabbit #hare

A post shared by kawarthaNOW® (@kawarthanow) on Apr 21, 2019 at 3:18am PDT

#4. Eagles over the Otonabee by Dave Ellis @dave.ellis.photos

Posted April 17, 2019. 6,792 impressions, 529 likes

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Good Wednesday morning our #kawarthapeeps! Great #baldeagles capture by @dave.ellis.photos over the #otonabeeriver! #selwyn #baldeagle #ptbokawartha #kawarthas #thekawarthas #wildandfreeinthekawarthas #birdsofthekawarthas

A post shared by kawarthaNOW® (@kawarthanow) on Apr 17, 2019 at 3:20am PDT

#5. Easter Monday (and Earth Day) on Big Bald Lake by Joe Yusiw @kawarthajoe

Posted April 22, 2019. 6,136 impressions, 478 likes

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Good Monday morning our #kawarthapeeps from #bigbaldlake thanks to @kawartha_joe Ice is out on most lakes south of the shield. Lakes to the north – not quite there yet. #easterweekend #eastersunset #springinthekawarthas #iceout #kawarthalakes #kawarthas #buckhorn #bobcaygeon #trentlakes #thekawarthas #ptbokawartha

A post shared by kawarthaNOW® (@kawarthanow) on Apr 22, 2019 at 3:07am PDT

#6. Sunday morning, all quiet over Peterborough by Brian P. @bparypa73

Posted April 14, 2019. 5,852 impressions, 363 likes

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Good Sunday morning our #kawarthapeeps from #peterboroughontario thanks to @bparypa73 #ptbo #ptbosunrise #ptbokawartha #kawarthas #thekawarthas #sundayfunday #springinthekawarthas

A post shared by kawarthaNOW® (@kawarthanow) on Apr 14, 2019 at 3:14am PDT

#7. Easter Weekend ice and snow on Gold Lake by Cindy Bartoli @cbart03

Posted April 20, 2019. 5,845 impressions, 393 likes

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Beautiful #easterweekend views our #kawarthapeeps from @cbart03 #goldlake #kawarthahighlands #kawarthahighlandsprovincialpark #ptbokawartha #northkawartha #kawarthas #april #springinthekawarthas #springmelt

A post shared by kawarthaNOW® (@kawarthanow) on Apr 20, 2019 at 3:34pm PDT

#8. Ready for the Easter long weekend on Big Bald Lake by Gilstrof & Gray @gilstorfandgray

Posted April 18, 2019. 5,777 impressions, 310 likes

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Long. Weekend. Ready. How about you? Double tap. From @gilstorfandgray but we think maybe @kawartha_joe had something to do with this too. In any event a great weekend to visit #bobcaygeon and @gilstorfandgray #bigbaldlake #bobcaygeon #buckhorn #kawarthalakes #kawarthas #thekawarthalakes #iceoutwhen #cokl #cityofkawarthalakes #thekawarthas #trenthills

A post shared by kawarthaNOW® (@kawarthanow) on Apr 18, 2019 at 2:06pm PDT

#9. Orange Corners trestle bridge by Julia Luymes @julialuymesart via @joannesplace

Posted April 4, 2019. 5,705 impressions, 321 likes

Everyone loves the view at Orange Corners!

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Good Thursday morning our #kawarthapeeps from #orangecornerstrestlebridge thanks to @joannesplace ?? by @julialuymesart #kawarthatrails #orangecorners #springinthekawarthas #kawarthanature #kawarthalakes #kawarthas #ptbokawartha #cityofkawarthalakes

A post shared by kawarthaNOW® (@kawarthanow) on Apr 4, 2019 at 3:14am PDT

If you were planning to put your boat in for the Victoria Day weekend, be advised the Trent-Severn Waterway will not be open for navigation.

For safety reasons, Parks Canada is delaying the opening of the 2019 navigation season on the Trent-Severn Waterway by one week, until Friday, May 24th.

The waterway normally opens on the Friday of the Victoria Day weekend. In 2017, Parks Canada also delayed the opening of the season by one week due to high water levels and flows.

Above normal snow pack in some areas and significant precipitation system-wide have resulted in extreme high water levels and flows throughout the Trent-Severn Waterway, which causes unsafe boating conditions. Parks Canada is delaying the opening of the system for the safety of the public and visitors.

The Trent-Severn Waterway will remain closed to all boat traffic until May 24th and all forms of water-based activities are discouraged. This closure will ensure boater safety, and help to mitigate shoreline erosion and property damage experienced by local residents and businesses.

During this week, Parks Canada will continue to make adjustments to water flows in order to restore safe conditions in preparation for the navigation season.

While lock stations will be closed to boats, land-based visitors are welcome to visit the lock stations effective Friday, May 17th, where staff will be on hand to welcome them.

Parks Canada advises that the Murray Canal will open as scheduled on May 17th.

With the official dedication of The Martin and Denise Pick Learning Centre yesterday (May 14), the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) is well on the way to its goal of becoming a learning hospital.

The new 4,300-square-foot centre will support multidisciplinary healthcare training and education initiatives at the hospital, by offering a 100-person capacity area that can be converted into two smaller spaces, as well as a dedicated clinical training area with a wide range of state-of-the-art training tools and equipment in a simulated patient care environment.

It also comes equipped with sophisticated information technology tools and services for clinical and support service training at the hospital.

The $3.1 million learning centre, which was originally approved by the hospital’s board of directors in early 2015, was funded by community donors to the PRHC Foundation.

In particular, the support of the Pick family through the Otto and Marie Pick Charitable Foundation of Lindsay — which supports many local organizations — was essential to the foundation’s fundraising efforts.

“My father Otto Pick died from his third heart attack in 1959 at the age of 54,” said Martin Pick, a former PRHC Foundation board member and representative of the Otto and Marie Pick Charitable Foundation, who attended the opening with his wife Denise and son Charles.

“In his short life, he and his amazing wife Marie laid the foundation for a seed enterprise that’s now a global presence in the industry. The last years of his life, however, lacked any quality. Had he lived today in the period of bypasses and stents, his life would likely have been much longer and a great deal more comfortable.”

The learning centre has been named after Martin and Denise Pick, who chose to donate to the PRHC Foundation both to honour their parents and to demonstrate that advances and innovation at the hospital need the support of the community.

“Your transformational support will enable the continuous learning that is essential to fostering innovation and excellence in patient care and help PRHC’s healthcare professionals reach their full potential,” said PRHC Foundation President and CEO Lesley Heighway, in thanking the Pick family for its support.

Heighway also thanked all the other many donors who contributed to the learning centre.

“Thanks to your generosity, our hospital’s most valuable asset — its doctors, nurses and staff — now have access to the space and technology they need to further develop their skills and deliver world-class care to patients from across our region,” she said.

PRHC President and CEO Dr. Peter McLaughlin also thanked the Pick family and the other PRHC Foundation donors.

“We are thrilled to announce the opening of our new Martin and Denise Pick Learning Centre after years of planning, fundraising and construction,” he said.

“By supporting our staff with leading-edge educational space, technology and equipment, we continue to champion and promote the continuous growth and development of our people, ultimately improving the quality of care we provide for patients in Peterborough and across the region.”

In recognition of the increased risk of flooding due to climate change, Kawartha Conservation has received $187,000 from the Government of Canada and the City of Kawartha Lakes to help map out floodplains within the Kawartha watershed.

Over the next 18 months, Kawartha Conservation will update and establish floodplain mapping for 9.5 kilometres of McLaren’s Creek and 6.5 kilometres of Fenelon Falls South.

Once complete, the mapping will help guide land use decisions in the two areas for the foreseeable future. With improved technology, data provided from the two floodplain mapping projects will allow the City of Kawartha Lakes and Kawartha Conservation to be more prepared for potential threats from flooding.

“As the frequency and intensity of severe weather events continue to grow, updating and establishing floodplain mapping is critical to the safety of people and property,” explains Kawartha Conservation CAO Mark Majchrowski. “These two projects continue to better position Kawartha Conservation and the City of Kawartha Lakes to provide added surety in protecting people and their property from flooding events, and will be used in our planning and permitting activity.”

Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef announced the federal funding today (May 15) on behalf of the federal Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. The Government of Canada is providing $100,150 in funding to the Province of Ontario to support the two projects.

The funding comes from the National Disaster Mitigation Program, established in 2015 to address rising flood risks and costs and to mitigate the effects of flood events. Under the program, the federal government cost-shares up to 50 per cent of eligible expenses for provincial projects.

“Canadians are increasingly experiencing the costly effects of climate change through extreme weather events,” Monsef says. “Today’s announcement will provide Kawartha Conservation with some of the tools required to protect communities in our region from flooding.”

The City of Kawartha Lakes has also contributed $87,086 to the two projects.

“The city is very pleased to have Kawartha Conservation receive the National Disaster Mitigation Program funding from the Federal government,” says Richard Holy, the city’s manager of policy planning. “The floodplain mapping for these two areas will improve our understanding of the watercourses and better guide land use decisions in the future.”

Flooding damage has accounted for 80 per cent of federal disaster assistance payments over the past 20 years. Studies have demonstrated that every dollar invested in mitigation generates a savings of six dollars in future disaster costs.

For more information about Kawartha Conservation’s flood plain mapping work, visit kawarthaconservation.com/permits-planning/flood-plain-mapping-studies.