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businessNOW – June 25, 2019

By Bruce Head -
Central Smith Creamery Vice President/Marketing Jenn Scates (centre), pictured in 2018 with employees Allison Zoomer and Molly Strain at the Central Smith Creamery parlour store at 739 Lindsay Road in Selwyn. The creamery is planning an ice cream social on July 20, 2019 to raise funds for he Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation. (Photo: Amy Bowen / kawarthaNOW.com)

businessNOW™ is the most comprehensive weekly round-up of business and organizational news and events from Peterborough and across the Kawarthas.

This week’s business news include Central Smith Creamery in Selwyn hosting an ice cream social fundraiser for PRHC Foundation, Maar’s Music opening at its new Brookdale Plaza location after Canada Day, Northumberland Makers celebrating the one-year anniversary of MakerLab at Venture13 in Cobourg, the International Women’s Day Conference Peterborough making a donation to the Judy Heffernan Award Fund, local businesses invited to partner with Trent-Severn Trail Program, and the upcoming retirement of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton executive director Lynn Zimmer.

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.

Also featured this week is the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism welcoming three summer staff, the City of Kawartha Lakes launching a pilot of a new online resident engagement platform, Shantilly’s Place on Chandos Lake hosting its grand opening on the Canada Day weekend, Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce electing its 2019-2020 board of director, and Dream Cyclery bicycle shop now open in downtown Peterborough.

New regional events added this week include the Peterborough Chamber’s PBX Summer Social at Silver Bean Cafe in Peterborough on July 2nd, Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce hosting a Facebook for Business workshop in Campbellford on July 9th, the Peterborough Chamber hosting its Chamber AM breakfast meeting in Peterborough on July 9th, and the Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce hosting a business economic outlook breakfast meeting with MP Kim Russ and MPP David Piccini in Cobourg on July 11th.

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Central Smith Creamery in Peterborough hosting ice cream social fundraiser for PRHC Foundation

Central Smith Creamery's "Ice Cream Social" on July 20, 2019 is a fundraiser for PRHC Foundation. (Graphic: Central Smith Creamery / Facebook)
Central Smith Creamery’s “Ice Cream Social” on July 20, 2019 is a fundraiser for PRHC Foundation. (Graphic: Central Smith Creamery / Facebook)

Local dairy Central Smith Creamery is hosting an ice cream social fundraiser this summer in support of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation.

The event will take from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 20th — the day before National Ice Cream Day — at the creamery at 739 Lindsay Road in Selwyn.

The family-friendly event will feature a silent auction, a jumpy castle, games, a BBQ, face painting, an obstacle course, an ice cream eating contest, and an open mic.

All proceeds from the day will be donated to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation.

More details will be available closer to the event date. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.

On a related note, Central Smith Creamery will be featured in an upcoming issue of Milk Producer, the magazine of the Dairy Farmers of Ontario.

 

Maar’s Music opens at its new Brookdale Plaza location after Canada Day

A sign is up at Maar's Music new location at Brookdale Plaza, which opens on July 2, 2019. (Photo: Maar's Music / Facebook)
A sign is up at Maar’s Music new location at Brookdale Plaza, which opens on July 2, 2019. (Photo: Maar’s Music / Facebook)

Next Tuesday (July 2), Maar’s Music will open at its new location in Brookdale Plaza (869 Chemong Rd., Peterborough).

Owned and operated by Markus and Nicole Maar, Maar’s Music is the oldest locally owned music store in Peterborough.

It opened in 1993, and is moving from its current location at 360 George Street North in downtown Peterborough (under the Market Hall clock tower).

The new store is located in Unit 21, between Healthy Planet and the Bulk Barn, in Brookdale Plaza.

 

Northumberland Makers celebrates one-year anniversary of MakerLab at Venture13 in Cobourg

Northumberland Makers celebrated the one-year anniversary of MakerLab with an open house on June 22, 2019. (Photo: Venture13 / Facebook)
Northumberland Makers celebrated the one-year anniversary of MakerLab with an open house on June 22, 2019. (Photo: Venture13 / Facebook)

On Saturday (June 22), Northumberland Makers celebrated the one-year anniversary of MakerLab at a public celebration and open house at Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre (739 D’Arcy St., Cobourg).

Established in 2015, Northumberland Makers is a community of creators, innovators, and makers with a goal of improving equity of access to tools, technology and education within Northumberland County and are based out of Venture13.

As an anchor community partner of Venture13, Northumberland Makers have provided a transformative partnership to the group making the Venture13 MakerLab the organization’s home base.

“In our first year in the MakerLab we have been busy solidifying ideas and mapping out programming and have celebrated many successes, connections, and partnerships which will continue to grow as we enter our second year,” says Phil Mandryk, president of Northumberland Makers and director on Venture13’s board of partners.

Northumberland Makers has also launched MakerLab TV, a platform to keep Northumberland County informed on local high-tech innovations.

For more information on Northumberland Makers, visit www.northumberlandmakers.ca.

 

International Women’s Day Conference Peterborough makes donation to Judy Heffernan Award Fund

Louise Racine (right), founder and committee chair of International Women's Day Conference Peterborough, presents Jennifer DeBues, director of operations and granting at Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, with a $650 cheque for The Judy Heffernan Award fund on June 20, 2019. (Photo: John Good / Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough)
Louise Racine (right), founder and committee chair of International Women’s Day Conference Peterborough, presents Jennifer DeBues, director of operations and granting at Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, with a $650 cheque for The Judy Heffernan Award fund on June 20, 2019. (Photo: John Good / Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough)

Last Thursday (June 20), Louise Racine, founder and committee chair of International Women’s Day Conference Peterborough, presented a cheque for $650 to Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough.

The donation is from a portion of net proceeds from this year’s International Women’s Day Conference, and will go towards the Judy Heffernan Award Fund for future recipients.

Racine herself won the Judy Heffernan Award in 2016, which inspired her to launch the inaugural International Women’s Day Conference in 2017. Conference proceeds from previous years have supported Habitat for Humanity, Alternatives Community Services, and a girls’ soccer program.

The Judy Heffernan Award is named in honour of the well-respected leader of the local business community who passed away in 2013 at the age of 61 after a brief battle with cancer. She was widely known as a tireless promoter of the entrepreneurial dreams and passions of women, both young and old. The Judy Heffernan Award recognizes a female entrepreneur, mentor, or student who embodies Heffernan’s legacy of humbly helping others succeed.

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Local businesses invited to partner with Trent-Severn Trail Program

Trent-Severn Trail Program

Kawarthas Northumberland is inviting local businesses to be involved in Canada’s first-ever waterway “Trail Town” program, featuring the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site of Canada as the trail.

Similar programs elsewhere have created trail-friendly towns that successfully entice trail tourists into local business districts, generating millions of dollars in sustainable economic growth for small businesses.

“Benefits for participating businesses include the opportunity to increase revenue by engaging relatively low-impact trail visitors,” says Kawarthas Northumberland executive director Brenda Wood. “Participating businesses receive guidance on how to better serve paddlers, boaters, and land-trail users who seek to enjoy areas within two kilometres of the Trent-Severn Waterway.”

Kawarthas Northumberland provide a kit to partner businesses that includes trail information and history, a decal for their window, and an opportunity to participate in related retail promotions and tourism marketing as a “trail-friendly” business.

To date, the communities of Campbellford, Hastings, Lakefield, Buckhorn, Lindsay, Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Coboconk, Rosedale, and Kirkfield have confirmed interest in becoming designated as Trent-Severn Trail Towns. Businesses within these communities can apply for “Trent-Severn Trail Friendly” designation.

The program is voluntary and has criteria, including that staff be familiar with the waterway, provide friendly customer service, be knowledgeable of other businesses along the waterway, and maintain trail-friendly information.

The program is intended to help local businesses serve trail users and to encourage trail users to patronize the businesses that participate. There is no cost for businesses to participate.

Interested businesses can contact partner@rto8.com for an application.

 

YWCA Peterborough Haliburton executive director Lynn Zimmer is retiring

YWCA Peterborough Haliburton executive director Lynn Zimmer and Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Minister of International Development Maryam Monsef at the announcement of $1 million for YWCA Peterborough Haliburton's "Homeward Bound in Peterborough" project on March 5, 2019. Zimmer will be retiring on November 30, 2019. (Photo: Office of Maryam Monsef)
YWCA Peterborough Haliburton executive director Lynn Zimmer and Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Minister of International Development Maryam Monsef at the announcement of $1 million for YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s “Homeward Bound in Peterborough” project on March 5, 2019. Zimmer will be retiring on November 30, 2019. (Photo: Office of Maryam Monsef)

After 35 years of leading YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, Lynn Zimmer is retiring as executive director.

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Lynn Zimmer to retire from YWCA Peterborough Haliburton after 35 years

The news was shared at YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s annual general meeting last Thursday (June 20).

She will be retiring from the organization, which supports local women facing violence, poverty, and oppression, on November 30, 2019.

Zimmer has been working to prevent violence and promote equity for women for almost 46 years. She was one of the founding members of Toronto’s Interval House in 1973, Canada’s first shelter for women fleeing domestic violence.

 

Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism welcomes three summer staff

Shannon Shillinglaw, Vanessa Stark, and Callie Carroll-Shea have joined the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism for the summer months. (Photo: Kawartha Chamber)
Shannon Shillinglaw, Vanessa Stark, and Callie Carroll-Shea have joined the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism for the summer months. (Photo: Kawartha Chamber)

The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism recently welcomed three summer students to its team.

Callie Carroll-Shea is the Chamber’s tourism outreach assistant. The Ennismore resident and Queen’s University student will spend the summer welcoming tourists at the Buckhorn Welcome Centre.

Vanessa Stark, the Chamber’s marketing and tourism assistant in Lakefield, is an area resident and recent graduate of Trent University and Loyalist Collage.

Shannon Shillinglaw is the Chambers’ special event and tourism assistant. The Douro-Dummer resident is a Trent University graduate who also recently received her B.Ed from Queen’s University. She will be working in Lakefield, Buckhorn, and the surrounding communities.

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City of Kawartha Lakes launches pilot of new online resident engagement platform

Jump in, Kawartha Lakes"

The City of Kawartha Lakes has launched the “Jump in, Kawartha Lakes” website, a new online engagement tool for residents.

The platform offers information for residents and opportunities to provide feedback via surveys, polls, idea forums, and interactive maps.

The 2019 pilot of the platform will provide residents with the chance to engage in the municipality’s 2020-2023 strategic plan, which will guide and focus the direction of the municipality and its major projects over the next four years.

In the near future, the website will be expanded to include other projects.

“Jump In is an accessible, informative and fun way to get residents involved with the projects taking place across all areas of local government — from road repairs and budgeting to arts, culture and recreation initiatives,” says Cheri Davidson, the city’s manager of communications, advertising and marketing. “An online platform adds a convenient, 24-7 option for residents who can’t attend daytime council meetings or open houses to learn more and have their say on topics of interest.”

Visit www.jumpinkawarthalakes.ca to register for the platform. By signing up, you’ll receive email updates about ongoing municipal initiatives.

 

Shantilly’s Place on Chandos Lake to host its grand opening on Canada Day weekend

Yannick Bisson, who portrays William Murdoch on CBC television's award-winning series "Murdoch Mysteries", and his wife Shantelle Bisson at Shantilly's Place (formerly West Bay Narrows Marina) on Chandos Lake in North Kawarthas. Also pictured is artist Terri Butler (right), who gifted the couple a painting of the original West Bay Narrows Marina. The Bissons, who have a cottage on the lake, purchased the marina in 2018. Shantilly's Place opened for the summer season on May 17, 2019. (Photo: Shantilly's Place)
Yannick Bisson, who portrays William Murdoch on CBC television’s award-winning series “Murdoch Mysteries”, and his wife Shantelle Bisson at Shantilly’s Place (formerly West Bay Narrows Marina) on Chandos Lake in North Kawarthas. Also pictured is artist Terri Butler (right), who gifted the couple a painting of the original West Bay Narrows Marina. The Bissons, who have a cottage on the lake, purchased the marina in 2018. Shantilly’s Place opened for the summer season on May 17, 2019. (Photo: Shantilly’s Place)

As we reported in businessNOW in May, Toronto author and relationship expert Shantelle Bisson — the wife of Murdoch Mysteries’ leading man Yannick Bisson) — is the new owner and operator of the Chandos Lake marina.

Previously West Bay Narrows Marina and now called Shantilly’s Place, the renovated marina will hold its grand opening on the Canada Day weekend, with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony taking place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 29th.

There will be a grand opening barbecue all weekend long (including on Canada Day) and Shantilly’s will be serving cappuccinos, lattes, retro candies, igloos, and will feature a small arcade room. The marina is also running ta pop-up Pusateri’s grocery store.

Shantelle also plans to give back by collecting used blankets and towels to donate to local animal shelters, as well as collecting any food cottagers don’t want to pack up and donate it to the local food bank and women’s shelters.

 

Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce elects 2019-2020 board of directors

The 2019-2020 board of directors of the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce. (Photo: Haliburton Highlands Chamber / Facebook)
The 2019-2020 board of directors of the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce. (Photo: Haliburton Highlands Chamber / Facebook)

At its annual general meeting on June 4th at Rhubarb Restaurant in Carnarvon, the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce elected its 2019-20 board of directors.

The 2019-2020 board is: Andrea Strano (Parish & Strano, RE/MAX North Country Realty Inc. Brokerage), Stefan Bjelis (Vasey Insurance Brokers Ltd.), Greg Hebert (Oakview Lodge and Marina), Joe Cox (Thomas Contracting), Bram Lebo (The Highlander), Patrick Louch (Selbie Louch Law Office), Lisa Tompkins (Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation), Amanda Virtanen (County of Haliburton), Emily Keller (K. Brewer Financial Services Inc.), and Rob Berthelot (Sandy Lane Resort), and Dr. Jennifer Morrow (Minden Animal Hospital)

 

Dream Cyclery bicycle shop is now open in downtown Peterborough

Toronto bike enthusiast Linus Kwak (left) has opened a second location of premium bike shop Dream Cyclery in downtown Peterborough, in the former location of Christensen Fine Art. (Photo: Dream Cyclery / Facebook)
Toronto bike enthusiast Linus Kwak (left) has opened a second location of premium bike shop Dream Cyclery in downtown Peterborough, in the former location of Christensen Fine Art. (Photo: Dream Cyclery / Facebook)

Dream Cyclery officially opened earlier this month in downtown Peterborough.

The bicycle shop is located at 432 George Street, in the former location of Christensen Fine Art, beside Knock on Wood.

The shop is owned by bike enthusiast Linus Kwak, who opened the first Dream Cyclery on Eglinton West in Toronto in 2015, before expanding and relocating to its current location at 390 Queens Quay West.

The premium independent bike shop features bicycles from Garneau, Devinci, Specialized, BMC, and Yeti Del Sol as well as a wide range of cycling accessories, and provides tune-ups, custom wheel builds, and more.

Dream Cyclery is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, visit www.dreamcyclery.com

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Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre hosts business planning workshop in Peterborough on June 25

The Business Advisory Centre of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development is hosting “Business Planning” from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25th in the lower-level boardroom at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).

Part of the centre’s Business Fundamentals Workshop series, the session is designed to give you a strong foundation in business planning and to demonstrate the importance of a comprehensive business plan. The workshop will also share tools available for creating a business plan and top tips for creating a plan ready to share with banks and funding agencies to secure financing.

The workshop is free, but registration is required at peterboroughed.ca/event/business-fundamentals-business-planning-6/.

 

Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce hosts member breakfast meet-up in Lindsay on June 26

The Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce is hosting its next member-to-member (M2M) breakfast meet-up from 8 to 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 26th at Smittys Family Restaurant (370 Kent St., Lindsay).

Bring your business cards and chat with other like-minded people while enjoying breakfast. Each attendee has the opportunity to introduce themselves and their business or organization.

No registration is required, and just order what you want and pay for what you order.

 

Peterborough Chamber hosts employee termination seminar in Peterborough on June 26

The next Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Lunch Box Learning seminar takes place from 12 to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26th at the Chamber’s boardroom (175 George St. N., Peterborough).

Ryan Simms, business development manager of Peninsula Canada, will speak on the dos and don’ts of employee termination.

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.

To register, visit peterboroughchamber.ca.

 

Peterborough DBIA holds its 2019 annual general meeting in Peterborough on June 26

The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is holding its 2019 annual general meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26th in the Nexicom Studio at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough).

Networking begins at 5:30 p.m. with the meeting beginning at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting, although only DBIA members can vote.

 

Community Futures Peterborough holds annual general meeting in Peterborough on June 27

Community Futures Peterborough annual general meeting

Community Futures Peterborough is holding its annual general meeting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 27th at the Peterborough Rugby Club (725 Armour Rd., Peterborough).

The event, which also features a community barbecue, will include the announcement of the winner of Community Futures Peterborough’s ignite100 entrepreneurial competition, from among the three finalists: Goodwin Metals, Cottage Toys, and Cambium Inc. The winner receives a $100,000 three-year interest-free loan, with no payments in the first year.

The meeting is free and open to everyone. To RSVP, visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/annual-general-meeting-tickets-56671827963.

 

Hospice Peterborough holds annual general meeting in Peterborough on June 27

Hospice Peterborough is holding its annual general meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 27th at McDonnel Activity Centre (577 McDonnel St., Peterborough).

The meeting will be followed by a celebration of Hospice Peterborough’s volunteers.

To RSVP, call 705-742-4042 or email admin@hospicepeterborough.org.

 

Peterborough Chamber hosts PBX Summer Social at Silver Bean Cafe in Peterborough on July 2

The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is holding its next Peterborough Business Exchange (PBX) from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2nd at the Silver Bean Cafe (Millennium Park, Peterborough).

All are invited to attend the free networking event, described as a “summer social”. The Chamber is inviting food, beverage, and entertainment members to be showcased at the event.

For more information, visit www.peterboroughchamber.ca.

 

Kawartha Chamber hosts a Stoney Lake boat cruise on July 4

Business After Hour Stoney Lake Boat Cruise

The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism’s next Business After Hours event features boat cruise on Stoney Lake from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 4th at Stoney Lake Cruises (610 Mount Julian – Viamede Rd., Woodview).

Participants will board at 4:30 p.m. and the cruise will happen from 5 to 7 p.m. (rain or shine).

Appetizers will be provided by Burleigh Falls Inn (email info@kawarthachamber.ca if you have any dietary restrictions).

Tickets are $20 for Chamber members and $30 for non-members. Register at business.kawarthachamber.ca/events/details/stoney-lake-boat-cruise-with-the-kawartha-chamber-10422.

Note: This event has been rescheduled from June 20th due to high water levels on the Trent Severn Waterway has said the water levels.

 

Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce hosts Facebook for Business workshop in Campbellford on July 9

The Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce is hosting a “Facebook Business for Beginners” workshop from 8 to 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9th at the Chamber office (51 Grand Rd., Campbellford).

Chamber staff will provide tips and tricks on setting up your Facebook Page, creating your first post, and strategies for building a successful marketing tool on Facebook.

This small group session is open to Chamber members only. Register at business.trenthillschamber.ca/events/details/facebook-business-for-beginners-3937

 

Peterborough Chamber hosts Chamber AM breakfast meeting in Peterborough on July 9

The next Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Chamber AM breakfast meeting takes place from 7 to 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9th at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).

Networking begins at 7 a.m., with breakfast orders taken at The Edison at 7:30 a.m. At 7:45 a.m., you can make your best 30-second elevator speech to the room), followed by a mystery guest speaker at 8 a.m.

There is no cost for the event (order what you like and pay for what you order).

 

Summer Company Staples Day in Peterborough on July 10

Summer Company Staples Day takes place in Peterborough on July 10, 2019. (Photo: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre)

Summer Company Staples Day takes place in Peterborough on July 10, 2019. (Photo: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre)

Students participating in the Summer Company program will be showcasing their businesses on Wednesday, July 10th at Staples Peterborough (109 Park St. S., Peterborough).

Ontario’s flagship youth entrepreneurship program, Summer Company provides students aged 15 to 29 an opportunity to open and operate their own business during summer break. Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre has partnered with the program since 2001.

The 2019 program is currently underway, with seven students at the high school and post-secondary levels getting ready to start their first business. Students are in the process of receiving a grant of $1,500 from the Ontario government to spend towards their start-up expenses.

Summer Company Staples Day not only provides students with the opportunity to showcase their businesses to the public, but provides them with experience in networking, advertisement, and communicating their brand to the community.

All are welcome to attend. More information will be provided closer to the date of the event.

 

Northumberland Chamber hosts business economic outlook breakfast meeting with MP Kim Russ and MPP David Piccini in Cobourg on July 11

Northumberland County Economic Outlook

The Northumberland Central Chambre of Commerce is hosting “Northumberland County Economic Outlook”, a breakfast meeting from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 11th at The Mill Restaurant & Pub (990 Ontario St., Cobourg).

Northumberland—Peterborough South MP Kim Rudd and MPP David Piccini, along with Northumberland County Director of Economic Development & Tourism Dan Borowec, will each provide an overview of initiatives, objectives, challenges, and opportunities affecting economic development in Northumberland.

Registration and networking begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by breakfast and presentations at 8 a.m. and a question-and-answer session at 8:30 a.m.

The cost is $15 for Chamber members and $20 for non-members. Registration and payment is required by Tuesday, July 9th.

For more information and to register, visit nccofc.ca/events/details/northumberland-county-economic-outlook-1607.

 

Innovation Cluster hosts open house in Peterborough on July 26

Innovation Cluster Peterborough & the Kawarthas is hosting an open house from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, July 26th at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).

Member of the public are invited to attend to find out more about the Innovation Cluster.

More information will be available closer to the date of the event.

 

For more business-related events in the Kawarthas, check out our Business Events column.

Globe and Mail reports Canada Infrastructure Bank to support VIA Rail’s plan for high-frequency rail line

By kawarthaNOW -
A Via Rail passenger train. (Photo: Magnolia677 / Wikipedia)

The Globe and Mail is reporting that the Liberal government will announce on Tuesday (June 25) that the Canada Infrastructure Bank is supporting VIA Rail’s plan to build a new high-frequency rail line from Quebec City to Toronto — including through Peterborough.

Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef will be in Peterborough on Tuesday to make an announcement at 11 a.m. on behalf of federal Minister of Transport Marc Garneau. At the same time, Garneau and Infrastructure Minister François-Philippe Champagne will be in Trois-Rivieres in Quebec, along with Canada Infrastructure Bank president and CEO Pierre Lavallée, to make an announcement.

Both announcements are described as “related to the advancement of VIA Rail Canada’s proposal for High Frequency Rail in the Quebec City-Toronto Corridor.”

The Canada Infrastructure Bank is an “arm’s length” Crown corporation that was created by the current Liberal government and is accountable to the Minister of Infrastructure. It has a budget of $35 billion to invest in infrastructure projects including public transit systems, trade and transportation corridors, and green infrastructure projects.

To date, the bank is investing $1.28 in Réseau express métropolitain to expand transit in Montréal and $2 billion to expand GO Transit’s rail network in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area.

The Globe and Mail story states that anonymous government sources have confirmed that the Canada Infrastructure Bank will be providing funding for further study on how to “de-risk” the project, but that the announcement “does not represent the final green light for the project to proceed.”

VIA Rail’s initial plan was to build an exclusive high-frequency rail line from Montreal to Toronto through Quebec City and Peterborough at a cost of at least $4 billion, with an additional $2 billion for electric trains.

According to the Globe and Mail report, the route from Ottawa to Peterborough would mean converting a previously abandoned rail line which is currently a recreational trail and, for the stretch from Peterborough to Toronto, purchasing and upgrading an existing Canadian Pacific Railway line.

Monsef’s Tuesday announcement will take place at the office of the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce. Chamber president and CEO Stuart Harrison has been a long-time advocate of bringing passenger rail service back to Peterborough. He was involved in the non-profit Shining Waters Railway corporation, which produced a 2011 study that inspired VIA Rail’s plan.

Heavy rain for the Kawarthas on Monday night

By kawarthaNOW -

Environment Canada has just issued a special weather statement for most of the Kawarthas — including Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Northumberland — for heavy rain on Monday night (June 24).

Showers and thunderstorms are forecast to develop this evening and then sweep across the area late this evening and tonight.

Locally heavy rainfall accumulations of 35 to 45 mm will be possible with these thunderstorms before they move out of the area late tonight.

Localized flooding in low-lying areas will be possible as a result of the rain.

Downtown Peterborough businesses to be equipped with naloxone kits to respond to opioid crisis

By kawarthaNOW -
Naloxone is a medication used to block the effects of opioids, especially in overdose, and is available as a nasal spray (pictured) or as an injection. The kits to be provided to downtown Peterborough businesses will be the nasal spray versions.

With the increase in opiod-related overdoses in Peterborough, the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) has partnered with Peterborough Public Health and Harm Reduction Works @ PARN to provide naloxone kits, at no cost, to a number of strategically located downtown businesses.

Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan among others, is a medication used to temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, buying time for a person to get the necessary medical attention they may need. Naloxone has been successfully used to save lives in Peterborough and around the world.

Naloxone kits come in two versions: administered by injection or by nasal spray; the kits to be provided to downtown Peterborough businesses will be the nasal spray versions.

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Staff at the downtown businesses that have naloxone kits on site will be trained on how to identify and respond to an opioid poisoning or overdose. As well as DBIA members, the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is inviting its members to be trained and equipped with naloxone kits.

“We’re in the midst of an opioid crisis in Peterborough,” says DBIA executive director Terry Guiel. “We see first-hand people struggling with addiction and sadly, we’ve already lost too many members of our community. If helping local businesses know what to do when they see an opioid poisoning saves one life, it’s worth it.”

Peterborough Public Health and PARN will be providing brief training sessions along with the free kits in the front lobby of VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough) from 8 to 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 27th and Friday, June 28th, and from 8 to 10 a.m., 12 to 2 p.m, and 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 4th and Friday, July 5th.

“Having been in business for 43 years downtown, we see a crisis at the moment with overdoses and addiction and we feel we need to help the community and those in need of help anyway we can,” says Andrew Damiany, manager of Gentry Apparel.

Stickers will be available for any business that would like to display one in their window, to let people know they are trained on how to respond to an opioid poisoning.

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“We know that people working downtown are experiencing the impact of the opioid crisis on a daily basis and want to do what they can to help,” says PARN executive director Kim Dolan. “This initiative increases our collective response to opioid poisonings in our community and sends a strong message that people in Peterborough are prepared to step up and save lives.”

“This program reflects the caring attitude of the local business community towards people with addictions and the growing awareness that this issue affects us all,” adds Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health at Peterborough Public Health.

“In some ways, this demonstration of compassion is just as effective as the naloxone itself because it reduces the terrible stigma faced by people who struggle with addictions. Stigma remains one of the biggest barriers preventing people from seeking treatment. Kindness, as well as clinical interventions, are the key ingredients to solving this issue.”

The kits are being provided by the DBIA, PARN, Peterborough Public Health, and the City of Peterborough.

VIDEO: Saving people from opioid overdoses with naloxone

“The litmus test of a caring and compassionate community is how we treat our most vulnerable,” says Peterborough Police Service deputy chief Tim Farquharson.

“Addiction is not a moral failure; it is a medical disorder. We are all in this dilemma together and it will take us all, as a community, working collaboratively to reverse this tragic tide of needless death. Thanks very much to our Downtown Business Improvement Area group for taking a leadership role in this epic challenge.”

For interested in receiving thorough and no-cost overdose response training, Question of Care Peterborough offers training sessions throughout the year. Visit questionofcare.com for information on upcoming sessions.

Pickup truck rammed, passenger assaulted during road rage incident in Lindsay

By kawarthaNOW -
The City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service in Lindsay. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)

The City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service is investigating a road rage incident that happened on Friday (June 21).

Police report that, at around 6:30 p.m. on Friday evening, the occupants of a pickup truck travelling north towards Lindsay on Highway 35 South became involved in a dispute with the occupants of a black four-door Honda Civic that was following them.

The occupants of both vehicles made gestures towards each other, until the vehicles stopped at the intersection of Highway 36 and Weldon Road in Lindsay.

Before the vehicles could move through the intersection, an occupant from the Honda Civic exited his vehicle and assaulted a passenger in the pickup truck.

Another occupant in the Honda Civic then drove towards the pickup truck, ramming the truck and causing damage to the front and rear passenger side doors of the truck.

As the occupants of the pickup truck called 9-1-1 to report the incident to police, the Honda Civic and its occupants fled the scene.

The City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service is asking that anyone who may have information about this incident to contact them at 705-324-5252.

If you wish to provide information anonymously, you can do so by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Rapid growth to put severe strains on Peterborough’s East City community

By Donald Fraser -
The Skyline Group of Companies is planning a residential development in East City with 259 units in total in an 11-storey, eight-storey, and four-story building. The new development would be located at 380 Armour Road behind the existing Time Square complex of 152 apartments, which is also owned by Skyline Group. It is one of four separate residential developments planned for East City over the next two years, in addition to the new Canadian Canoe Museum and the new East City School. (Rendering: Skyline Group)

At first glance, the announcement of several major residential construction projects in the City of Peterborough’s east end is bound to be greeted with some sense of excitement.

After all, housing is among the City’s most pressing issues, and it has become more and more obvious that we need to address the current occupancy and rent price crisis that is making housing in Peterborough so difficult for renters.

With nearly zero percent vacancy and entry-level price points for rental units being unaffordable for many residents, things have, indeed, become dire for much of our population when it comes to securing a place to live.

A closer look, though, reveals both a lack a foresight and a lack of units targeted for existing renters.

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As it grows, a municipality has to plan for and supply sustainable and affordable housing. And I am most concerned that the City of Peterborough is not making this a priority as construction projects are green-lit. I also fear that, with the announcement of yet more development along the Lift Lock, the “village” of East City will be a major casualty in this lack of planning.

Should we move forward with the announced development, East City, as a community, is done. It will become an area stretched past capacity in both infrastructure and services for existing and new residents. Parts of it will be unrecognizable to how current residents currently experience and use it. In short, it will be an absolute urban planning failure.

As it currently stands, there are three major apartment/condo complexes and a subdivision all planned to straddle the Lift Lock and reach down Armour Hill on Hunter Street East. That’s something like 1,200 houses and condominium/apartment units on an already overstretched (and severely limited) transportation corridor.

YiZheng Ltd. is developing a 707-home subdivision east of the Liftlock Golf Club which will include 501 single detached homes, 56 townhouses, and 150 apartments. (Graphic: ZSM Development Group)
YiZheng Ltd. is developing a 707-home subdivision east of the Liftlock Golf Club which will include 501 single detached homes, 56 townhouses, and 150 apartments. (Graphic: ZSM Development Group)

With our current and expected occupancy rate per unit, that translates into more than 3,000 additional people — which, I’m willing to estimate, is roughly the population of East City’s traditional boundary of Parkhill Road/the Canal/Maria Street/the River.

No community can handle that kind of immediate densification. Particularly one the size of East City.

We can throw the new Canadian Canoe Museum into this area of growth for good measure. And a 600-student elementary school.

We’re looking at way more people and vehicles than can be accommodated.

What’s worse, the builds don’t even meet community needs.

Neither the Ashborough Village subdivision nor the TVM Group condos will be priced anywhere near affordably for renters or first-time home buyers — at least not in the Peterborough job market. The Skyline Group apartment complex, representing only a small part of this overall growth, will be charging “market rate,” which will push the prices beyond what many students, young workers, and lower-income people can afford.

The TVM Group is planning a nine-story building with 91 luxury condominiums at the southwest corner of Hunter Street East and Armour Road in Peterborough's East City. The building will be located beside the former St. Joseph's Hospital, which TVM Group also owns and is converting into rental units as well as office space. (Photo: The TVM Group)
The TVM Group is planning a nine-story building with 91 luxury condominiums at the southwest corner of Hunter Street East and Armour Road in Peterborough’s East City. The building will be located beside the former St. Joseph’s Hospital, which TVM Group also owns and is converting into rental units as well as office space. (Photo: The TVM Group)

Just listen to renters now: the Peterborough job market and cost of living do not allow for the prices being charged for rent.

The Ashburnham Realty units planned for along the Rotary Trail certainly don’t look like they’re going to be affordable to many existing Peterborough renters either.

An affordable housing strategy needs to be part of an overall effective master plan. And not just “affordable housing” in a subsidized manner, but housing that is affordable to those struggling to survive on lower wages.

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That plan also has to include complete streets transportation planning and health/lifestyle/social infrastructure.

Planning needs to happen before builds are announced. But, so far, there’s been no word on how the City will accommodate this pace of growth, the needs of the existing community, the needs of new residents, or the strain it will put on an infrastructure that is already stressed.

In short, we’re building a city on a village footprint with village infrastructure.

Which just won’t work.

For anyone.

Ashburnham Realty is planning to build a new series of four residential buildings with apartments and townhouses in East City, across from Ashburnham Ale House on Hunter Street East and along the Rotary trail south of Hunter. The total number of units is not yet known. This development is one and a half blocks south of TVM Group's proposed luxury condo building on Hunter Street East. (Rendering: Ashburnham Realty)
Ashburnham Realty is planning to build a new series of four residential buildings with apartments and townhouses in East City, across from Ashburnham Ale House on Hunter Street East and along the Rotary trail south of Hunter. The total number of units is not yet known. This development is one and a half blocks south of TVM Group’s proposed luxury condo building on Hunter Street East. (Rendering: Ashburnham Realty)

Moving traffic in/out/through East City is going to be a major, major challenge. Your access points are the Lift Lock, the Maria Street swing bridge, and the single lane McFarlane bridge. Two of those are residential. Two of those are one way. And your main intersection will be the hilltop Armour Road and Hunter Street East.

Just imagine.

Traffic will spill into side streets, affecting lifestyle, quality of life, and pedestrian safety. As it is, the Nicholls Oval park and Armour Hill areas are dangerous pedestrian zones. Expect more traffic/traffic safety/pedestrian safety hotspots to develop. The Maria Street area in particular.

It will become common for cars to race through narrow residential streets to avoid the non-arterial routes that will now be major traffic corridors.

In fact, it’s already happening, with vehicles avoiding the McFarlane Street/Armour Road and Parkhill Road/Armour Road intersections and using Swanston Avenue, Euclid Avenue, and Caddy Street. Similarly, Douro, Mark, and Rogers Streets are already busy with much of the relief traffic from Armour Road and Hunter Street.

Looking south towards the planned new Canadian Canoe Museum facility at the Peterborough Lift Lock in East City. The new Ashborough Village development will be located to the east and the new East City Condos and Time Square developments will be located to the west. The tunnel under the Lift Lock is only one of three access points to reach East City, and to reach downtown Peterborough via East City. (Rendering: Heneghan Peng Architects and Kearns Mancini Architects)
Looking south towards the planned new Canadian Canoe Museum facility at the Peterborough Lift Lock in East City. The new Ashborough Village development will be located to the east and the new East City Condos and Time Square developments will be located to the west. The tunnel under the Lift Lock is only one of three access points to reach East City, and to reach downtown Peterborough via East City. (Rendering: Heneghan Peng Architects and Kearns Mancini Architects)

This is going to get dramatically worse. And it’s going to spread.

As the former chair of Active and Efficient Community Routes Peterborough and Active and Safe Routes to School Peterborough, I remain alarmed at some of the pedestrian dangers in the current East City neighbourhood. As the former Air Quality/Transportation manager for GreenUP, I’m concerned about our already existing inability to deal with infrastructure needs around some of our most frequently used pedestrian areas.

During recent Curtis Creek neighbourhood environmental focus groups with community members and stakeholders, traffic reduction and traffic calming were both cited at primary needs of the community. In short, areas such as Armour Road are already failing us as mixed-use transportation zones. And we’re planning on adding thousands of more residents — and their vehicles — into this already overburdened residential neighbourhood.

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As for services, the new East City school is being planned for the middle of this already-stressed area — and directly across the street from 500 new housing units. An already very large school, its capacity does not allow for this unplanned growth; these builds will push the school past its capability to meet enrollment numbers, and ground hasn’t even been broken in constructing it yet.

It is also going to be surrounded by extremely high volumes of traffic. This is definitely a situation where the kids attending the school are in tough.

Where, I wonder, will all of these residents go for a doctor? And how the heck will they get there?

The new East City/Ashburnham public school, located beside the King George Public School on the northeast corner of Hunter Street East and Armour Road, will house around 675 elementary school students and a community child care centre. (Rendering: Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board)
The new East City/Ashburnham public school, located beside the King George Public School on the northeast corner of Hunter Street East and Armour Road, will house around 675 elementary school students and a community child care centre. (Rendering: Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board)

And, again, what’s worse is that these builds are doing little to address the current housing crisis. With the existing development master plan looking at an increase of population of 31,000, and with the access price for all of these units being as high as they are, it is very apparent that developers are not looking to produce dwellings that will reduce the housing crisis in Peterborough. The bulk of these properties just aren’t meant to attract the existing population of people living here.

In short, we’re adding all of the problems of unplanned densification while doing little to address the glaring needs of our existing housing crisis.

And it is definitely unplanned. After all, this area is not classified as one of the “intensification nodes” listed in our current master plan, nor is it in one of the established “intensification corridors.” That in itself speaks volumes. The area was just never meant to house thousands of potential residents.

I always hoped that Peterborough would be different than other Ontario communities that put growth before planning. We aren’t. We haven’t.

And we’ll feel the consequences. Sooner rather than later.

Right now, the future of Peterborough — including the fate of East City — rests with our current council. We have passionate progressive leaders. We need planning policies that reflect that.

But they need to act. And they need to act now.

Before it is just East City that is lost.

Kawartha Land Trust receives $215,000 in federal funding for newly opened Cation Wildlife Preserve

By kawarthaNOW -
Kawartha Land Trust (KLT) has received $215,000 in funding from the Canadian government's Canada Nature Fund to support the continued protection of the Cation Wildlife Preserve near Coboconk. Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef announced the funding during the grand opening of the preserve on June 22, 2019. Pictured (left to right): Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MP Jamie Schmale, KLT development manager Tara King, land donor Sharon Cation, KLT executive director John Kintare, land donor Dave Cation, and MP Monsef. (Photo: Office of Maryam Monsef)

On Saturday morning (June 22), Kawartha Land Trust (KLT) officially opened the Cation Wildlife Preserve near Coboconk to the public — and received $215,000 in funding from the federal government to support its work in protecting the preserve.

Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, who attended the grand opening celebration along with Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MP Jamie Schmale, made the funding announcement on behalf of Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna.

“The protection of the Cation Wildlife Preserve is part of our government’s plan to double the amount of nature protected in our lands and oceans,” Monsef said.

Related story

New wildlife preserve with public trails opens near Coboconk

The funding comes from the federal government’s Canada Nature Fund, a $500-million investment to support the protection and conservation of Canada’s ecosystems, landscapes, and biodiversity, including species at risk. Federal contributions are matched by philanthropic foundations, corporations, not-for-profits, provinces, territories, and other partners, raising up to $1 billion for conservation initiatives.

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The 669-acre Cation Wildlife Preserve is located on French Settlement Road north of Indian Point Provincial Park on Balsam Lake, around 45 kilometres north of Lindsay. The property wsa donated to KLT by David and Sharon Cation, who wanted to ensure the property remains protected in perpetuity.

Dave and Sharon Cation speak at the grand opening of the Cation Wildlife Preserve near Coboconk on June 22, 2019. The Cations donated the 669-acre to Kawartha Land Trust to ensure the property remains protected in perpetuity. (Photo: Office of Maryam Monsef)
Dave and Sharon Cation speak at the grand opening of the Cation Wildlife Preserve near Coboconk on June 22, 2019. The Cations donated the 669-acre to Kawartha Land Trust to ensure the property remains protected in perpetuity. (Photo: Office of Maryam Monsef)

The preserve includes marked trails for passive recreational use by the public, including hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The official opening included guided walks of the trails on the property.

“We are grateful for the federal government’s contribution to support the protection of the Cation Wildlife Preserve,” said KLT development manager Tara King. “And also Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Ecological Gift program that provides tax incentives to land owners to protect private lands in perpetuity.”

King went on to describe some of the features of the protected property.

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“This landscape is vibrant and so full of life. A trail system passes through the grasslands and meadows that are filled with different butterflies and moths. The air is filled with the songs of different grassland bird species including eastern towhees, American goldfinches, and field sparrows that are foraging through the shrubs and trees.”

Land donor Dave Cation participates in a guided walking tour during the grand opening of the Cation Wildlife Preserve near Coboconk on June 22, 2019. The preserve includes marked trails for passive recreational use by the public, including hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. (Photo: Office of Maryam Monsef)
Land donor Dave Cation participates in a guided walking tour during the grand opening of the Cation Wildlife Preserve near Coboconk on June 22, 2019. The preserve includes marked trails for passive recreational use by the public, including hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. (Photo: Office of Maryam Monsef)

The Cation Wildlife Preserve is in a natural conservation corridor that sits right in the middle of several important protected areas, including Balsam Lake, Indian Point, and Queen Elizabeth Wildlands Provincial Parks, as well as the Altberg Wildlife Sanctuary Nature Reserve and the Carl Sedore Wildlife Management Area.

KLT currently protects 17 properties totalling 4,101 acres, and assists in the management of five additional properties.

“Canadians like the leaders at Kawartha Land Trust asked our government to introduce a program to incentivize more conservation,” Monsef said. “We listened. Working together, we will ensure the wealth of our region is protected for our kids and grandkids.”

Alt-rocker City and Colour will launch 33rd season of Peterborough Musicfest on Canada Day weekend

By Paul Rellinger -
On the heels of releasing the latest single from his upcoming record, City and Colour (a.k.a. Dallas Green) opens the 33rd season of Peterborough Musicfest with a solo acoustic show at Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough on Saturday, June 29, 2019. The sponsor-supported outdoor concert is free for the public to attend. (Publicity photo)

For all the 600-plus music genre-ranging acts that Peterborough Musicfest has brought to Del Crary Park since July 1987, opening the annual sponsor-supported summer concert series with a “big name” artist has been a constant.

Peterborough Musicfest presents
City and Colour

When: Saturday, June 29, 2019 at 8 p.m.
Where: Del Crary Park (100 George St. N., Peterborough)
How much: Free admission

Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets (lawn chairs are available to rent for $4/chair). VIP seating available for sponsors. No smoking, alcohol, or pets permitted. There’s no public parking at Del Crary Park, but there’s neighbourhood street parking nearby and ample parking in downtown Peterborough.

Last year saw 1980s hit making pop-rock band Starship get things underway, preceded in 2017 by perennial Canadian rocker Kim Mitchell and, in 2016, by six-time Juno Award winner Serena Ryder.

So, when the 2019 concert lineup was revealed in May, anticipation was high over who would take to the Fred Anderson Stage for the festival’s 2019 opening concert.

True to form, Musicfest stayed with its “go big or go home” approach for its kick-off presentation, announcing to much fanfare that Canadian chart-topping acoustic alt-rock sensation City and Colour (a.k.a. Dallas Green) will headline the Saturday, June 29th series opener.

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With three Juno Awards culled from 10 nominations, City and Colour is one of the biggest groundswell stories to emerge from the Canadian music wilderness; a tour de force that saw its first four albums — Sometimes (2005), Bring Me Your Love (2008), Little Hell (2011) and The Hurry and The Harm (2013) — certified platinum for at least one million units sold.

VIDEO: “Strangers” – City and Colour (new single)

VIDEO: “Astronaut” – City and Colour

The fifth studio album, 2015’s If I Should Go Before You, debuted at #1 on the Top 200 Soundscan chart — City and Colour’s third consecutive chart topper in Canada.

Win VIP passes to MusicFest!

As a returning sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest, kawarthaNOW.com will be giving away VIP seats to every one of this summer’s concerts again this year.

While the concerts are free to all, VIP seats are not available to the general public — only to festival sponsors. You are guaranteed a chair near to the stage for the best view.

The giveaways are exclusive to subscribers to our weekly e-news. For your chance to win, sign-up to our weekly e-news at k-n.ca/subscribe.

When City and Colour opens Peterborough Musicfest’s 33rd season, it will be just a week after the release of his latest single, “Strangers”, and less than a month since the debut of “Astronaut” (see videos above).

Both singles are from his upcoming album to be released in the fall, the second on Green’s new label Still Records.

In 2018, he released of Guide Me Back Home, an intimate live collection of songs recorded during a 2017 Canadian tour, on Still Records.

“I see Still Records as a way to draw attention to projects that are important to me,” says Green in an October 2018 interview with Adam Wallis of Global News.

“Dine Alone (Green’s label since 2005) was started to put out my first album. It has been very successful and grown into something really special since then. Still Records is an extension on those ideals and a place where I’m able to curate a collection of things that I think deserve to be heard and enjoyed.”

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Being “heard and enjoyed” isn’t new for Green. Playing piano at age eight and writing his own songs by age 14, the St. Catharines native was a sponge very eager to listen and learn, as he recalled in a December 2018 interview with Debbie Carr.

“I was lucky enough to see Neil Young, with Pearl Jam and Soundgarden opening, when I was really young,” says Green, referring to an August 1993 concert at the CNE in Toronto.

VIDEO: “The Lonely Life” – City and Colour

VIDEO: “Thirst” – City and Colour

“My friend’s father took us. I was a grunge kid and didn’t really know much about Neil Young — I just knew that these guys that I loved worshipped him — but I was 12, 13 years old and hadn’t really discovered it yet. [I remember] really just going like ‘Wow.’ That stuck with me.”

Come 2001, Green was enjoying success as a member of Alexisonfire, a post-hardcore quintet that enjoyed considerable success with the release of four studio albums — the debut album achieved gold status in Canada — augmented by a Juno Award in 2005 for New Group of the Year.

By the time Alexisonfire disbanded in 2011, Green had been releasing songs on the Internet as City and Colour for six years. According to Green, that “organic approach” to making and releasing music was appealing to him as an independent artist.

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“I’ve always loved that it seems to be more about the music than anything else, and it always seems to be the songs that find people, not the big machine shoving it in people’s faces.”

City and Colour struck a chord with the masses and earned critical acclaim from the get-go, evidenced by debut album Sometimes winning a 2007 Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year as well as bringing Green the Songwriter of the Year statue — a win he would repeat at the 2009 Juno Awards.

Now, with Guide Me Back Home more than holding its own and live shows continuing to draw great reviews — City and Colour opened for Alice In Chains’ Canadian tour just this past April — Green admits he’s taken aback by all the fuss.

VIDEO: “Fragile Bird” – City and Colour

VIDEO: “Sleeping” – City and Colour

“I’m still pretty surprised by the whole thing, even this many years later,” he tells Debbie Carr.

“I’ve always just wanted to make music and hope that someone, somewhere, relates to it. The fact I’ve been able to continue doing that has always been my measure of success.”

With the spontaneity that a live album generally brings to the table, Take Me Back Home, says Green, is the right album at the right time.

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“My songs are a pretty open book. It’s not like I’m hiding behind a lot, so I think the openness on stage is just an extension of that. If these people are comfortable enough with me to listen to these songs about whatever they might be about, they’ve already found out what I’m about.”

“Plus I have to kind of take the edge off. I’m usually singing about death or something like that, so part of me just wants to crack the joke to lighten the mood maybe.”

Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission, sponsor-supported concerts featuring a total of 21 acts during its 33rd season — each concert staged on Wednesday and Saturday nights at Del Crary Park.

VIDEO: “Comin’ Home” – City and Colour

Overseen by general manager Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission is to “provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”

For more information on this concert or the entire 2019 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.

Eight Kawartha Lakes residents honoured as Good Samaritans

By kawarthaNOW -
At a ceremony at Kawartha Lakes City Hall in Lindsay on June 21, 2019, Colleen Brandse, Kevin Bell, Shane Troyan, Heather Lively, Patricia Bell, Jack Faulkner, Lynne Johnston, and Mary Dowzer-Verbruggen were recognized for their efforts to help an elderly man who collapsed in Cambray in May. (PHoto courtesy of City of Kawartha Lakes)

Eight residents of Kawartha Lakes were honoured by Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service at City Hall in Lindsay on Friday (June 21) for their efforts to help an elderly man who collapsed in Cambray in May and for assisting the two paramedics who responded to the 9-1-1 call.

Good Samaritans Colleen Brandse, Kevin Bell, Shane Troyan, Heather Lively, Patricia Bell, Jack Faulkner, Lynne Johnston, and Mary Dowzer-Verbruggen were all given a certificate of appreciation for their help during the medical emergency.

When paramedics Bruce Mackay and Francine Scott arrived on the scene in Cambray in May, they found a crowd of residents, some of whom had already started CPR on the elderly man.

While Mackay and Scott set up a defibrillator, the residents continued CPR while being instructed by the two paramedics. Other residents located the man’s identification to call his family, directed traffic, and otherwise assisted the paramedics.

“These individuals gave this man a fighting chance, and they did so with compassion, solidarity and skill,” Mackay said during the Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service graduation ceremony where the Good Samaritans were recognized. “Today we celebrate humanity, resilience, teamwork and strangers who came together to help a member of their community.”

“I’ve been a paramedic for more than 20 years and have had many encounters with bystanders,” Scott added. “But this was an incredible moment that stood out above all. Thank you to these individuals for their heartfelt kindness.”

While the paramedics at the scene were able to restore the elderly man’s pulse, he passed away at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay a few days later.

However, thanks to the efforts of the residents and the paramedics, the man’s family members — who were also in attendance during the recognition ceremony — were able to connect with him and he passed away pain-free and with dignity.

“Bystander CPR can more than double a person’s chance of survival,” said paramedic superintendent Autumn Campbell. “If bystander CPR is not provided, chances of survival can fall as much as 10 per cent for every minute it is not administered.”

The identities of the Good Samaritans were initially not known. However, the City of Kawartha Lakes issued an appeal to the community through a media release and on social media and the eight residents were identified.

The Beach Report for June 21 to 27, 2019

By kawarthaNOW -
Published every Friday during swimming season, The Beach Report™ lists the the results of water quality testing at beaches in the Kawarthas. In Peterborough, the water at Roger's Cove Park beach and Beavermead Park beach (pictured) is tested every business day. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)

Every Friday during swimming season, we post The Beach Report™, a weekly report of the results of water quality testing at beaches in the Kawarthas, and update it throughout the week as conditions change.

As of June 27, 2019, all beaches in the City and County of Peterborough are safe for swimming.

Water quality testing for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County will begin soon. Testing has been delayed in Northumberland as some beaches are still under water due to high waters along the Lake Ontario shoreline.

Here are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County.

Peterborough City/County
City of Kawartha Lakes
Haliburton County
Northumberland County

In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White’s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.

Peterborough Public Health samples the water quality of popular city beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day during the summer. The health unit will post signage if a beach is unsafe for swimming, such as this sign at Rogers Cove from last year. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Peterborough Public Health samples the water quality of popular city beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day during the summer. The health unit will post signage if a beach is unsafe for swimming, such as this sign at Rogers Cove from last year. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)

Important note

The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.

You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.

While we strive to update this story with the current conditions, you should confirm the most recent test results by visiting the local health unit websites at Peterborough Public Health and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. As noted above, the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead are tested every business day so the results listed below may not be current.

 

City of Peterborough Beaches (sampled each business day)

Roger’s Cove (131 Maria St, Peterborough) – sample date June 26 – SAFE

Beavermead (2011 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough) – sample date June 26 – SAFE

Peterborough County Beaches (sampled weekly)

Back Dam Beach (902 Rock Rd., Warsaw, Township of Douro-Dummer) – sample date June 24 – SAFE

Buckhorn (John Street, Buckhorn) – sample date June 24 – SAFE

Crowe’s Line Beach (240 Crowe’s Line Rd, Harvey) – sample date June 24 – SAFE

Curve Lake Lance Woods Park (Chemong St S, Curve Lake) – sample date June 25 – SAFE

Curve Lake Henry’s Gumming (Whetung St E, Curve Lake) – sample date June 25 – SAFE

Douro (205 Douro Second Line, Douro-Dummer) – sample date June 24 – SAFE

Ennismore (1053 Ennis Road, Ennismore) – sample date June 25 – SAFE

Hiawatha (1 Lakeshore Rd, Hiawatha) – sample date June 26 – SAFE

Jones Beach (908 Jones Beach Road, Bridgenorth) – sample date June 26 – SAFE

Lakefield Park (100 Hague Boulevard, Lakefield) – sample date June 25 – SAFE

Norwood (12 Belmont St, Norwood) – sample date June 24 – SAFE

Sandy Lake (1239 Lakehurst Road, Municipality of Trent Lakes) – sample date June 24 – SAFE

Selwyn (2251 Birch Island Road, Selwyn) – sample date June 25 – SAFE

Squirrel Creek Conservation Area (2445 Wallace Point Rd, South Monaghan) – sample date June 26 – SAFE

Warsaw Caves (289 Caves Rd, Warsaw) – sample date June 24 – SAFE

Peterborough County Beaches (sampled monthly)

Belmont Lake (376 Miles of Memories Road, Belmont) – sample date June 20 – SAFE

Chandos Beach (Hwy 620, North Kawartha) – sample date June 20 – SAFE

Kasshabog Lake (431 Peninsula Road, Methune) – sample date June 20 – SAFE

Quarry Bay (1986 Northey’s Bay Rd, Woodview) – sample date June 20 – SAFE

White’s Beach (Clearview Drive, Galway) – sample date June 18 – SAFE

 

City of Kawartha Lakes

Bexley Township Area

Blanchard’s Road Beach – Unavailable

Bobcaygeon Area

Beach Park – Unavailable

Riverview Beach Park – Unavailable

Eldon Township Area

Centennial Park West – Unavailable

Emily/Omemee Area

Omemee Beach – Unavailable

Fenelon Falls Area

Birch Point – Unavailable

Bond Street – Unavailable

Sturgeon Point Beach – Unavailable

Laxton Township Area

Head Lake – Unavailable

Norland Bathing Area – Unavailable

Mariposa Township Area

Valentia Beach (aka Sandbar Beach) – Unavailable

Somerville Township Area

Burnt River Beach – Somerville – Unavailable

Burnt River Four Mile Lake – Unavailable

Verulam Township Area

Centennial Beach – Unavailable

Verulam Recreational Park – Unavailable

 

Haliburton County

Algonquin Highlands Area

Dorset Parkette – Unavailable

Elvin Johnson Park (aka Stanhope Beach) – Unavailable

Dysart et al Area

Eagle Lake Beach – Unavailable

Haliburton Lake South Bay – Unavailable

Sand Point (aka Indian Point) – Unavailable

Pine Lake Beach – Unavailable

Sandy Cove Beach – Unavailable

Silver Lake (aka Kashawigamog Lake) – Unavailable

Highlands East Area

Gooderham Beach – Unavailable

Paudash Lake Beach – Unavailable

Lake Wilbermere Beach – Unavailable

Glamour Lake Beach – Unavailable

Minden Hills Area

Bissett Beach – Unavailable

Little Horseshoe Lake Beach – Unavailable

Minden Rotary Lagoon Beach – Unavailable

Minden Rotary Main Beach – Unavailable

Twelve Mile Lake Beach – Unavailable

 

Northumberland County

Brighton Area

Cedardale – Unavailable

Little Lake – Unavailable

Campbellford Area

Crowe Bay Fun Park – Unavailable

Hastings North –

Hastings South – Unavailable

Seymour Conservation Area – Unavailable

Port Hope/Cobourg Area

Bewdley Beach –

Harwood Beach – Unavailable

Port Hope Beach East – Unavailable

Port Hope Beach West – Unavailable

Sandy Bay Park – Unavailable

Victoria Beach (Cobourg) – Unavailable

Wicklow Beach – Unavailable

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