Antique and classic cars and vintage motorcycles, as well as antique and vintage bicycles, will be on display at Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene during the 23rd annual Transportation Day Car & Motorcycle Show on Sunday, July 14, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Lang Pioneer Village Museum)
This Sunday (July 14), the 23rd annual Transportation Day Car & Motorcycle Show returns to Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene.
During the event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., you can view antique and classic cars and vintage motorcycles from enthusiasts across Ontario, which will be on display throughout the historic village, and vote for your favourites.
But Transportation Day isn’t just about cars and motorcycles — it’s also about alternative modes of transportation. Once again this year, the Antique Bicycle Collectors of Ontario will be showcasing their extensive display of antique and rare bicycles in and around the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building.
The CCM Flyte bicycle, introduced in 1936 and designed by company employee Harvey W. Pierce, was the only bicycle design for which Canada Cycle & Motor Ltd. sought a patent. The collector’s item is one of the bicycles that will be on display during the 23rd annual Transportation Day Car & Motorcycle Show at Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene on July 14, 2019. (Public domain photo)
More than 20 exhibitors will display bicycles from the 1890s to present day — including wooden wheel bikes, high wheel bikes, banana seat bikes, recumbent bikes, the world-famous CCM Flyte bike, and many more — as well as vintage cycling accessories, photographs and other paraphernalia. Mechanic Mike Taylor of Mike Fix My Bike will be demonstrating basic bicycle repairs and Pat Johnston of Bespoke Wheels will demonstrate wheel building and service.
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Classic car and motorcycle enthusiasts who want to show off their machines during the Transportation Day Car & Motorcycle Show can register on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a $10 fee that includes admission into the village. The first 200 participants will receive a complimentary dash plaque as a souvenir of their participation.
More than 50 trophies will be awarded, including the coveted People’s Choice and Lang’s Choice awards. You can listen to music from the ’50s to the ’80s, supplied by DJ Del, while browsing the vehicles and voting for your favourite.
As well as admiring the displays of cars, motorcycles, and bicycles, you can stroll or take a free horse-drawn wagon ride through the village, where you’ll learn more about how transportation has changed over the years and the roles that various 19th-century tradespeople played in the creation of transportation methods.
Car and motorcyle enthusiasts from across Ontario will be displaying their antique, vintage, and classic machines during the 23rd annual Transportation Day Car & Motorcycle Show at Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene on July 14, 2019. More than 50 trophies will be awarded, including the coveted People’s Choice and Lang’s Choice awards. (Photo courtesy of Lang Pioneer Village Museum)
Visit Milburn House to try a sample of the easy-travelling food Scottish Oak Cakes, discover the challenges of the journey from Britain to Canada at the Fife Cabin, and wait for the stagecoach in the Hotel. In the Transportation Barn, you will see 19th-century modes of transportation including sleighs, wagons, and milk carts.
In the Jacquard Loom Interpretive Centre, you can watch demonstrations on the Jacquard loom — known as the grandmother of modern computing as it used replaceable punched cards to control a sequence of operations. Treats and refreshments will be available at the Keene Hotel, or stop by the Cheese Factory for fresh Empire Cheese curds and bread.
The Lang Traditional Music Club will perform live music on the Village Green, there will be rug hooking demonstrations by members of the Northumberland Rug Hookers, and Helen and her border collie Mirk will demonstrate the centuries-old skill of herding sheep in the pasture.
The 23rd annual Transportation Day Car & Motorcycle Show, taking place at Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene on July 14, 2019, is a chance to look under the hood of some rarely seen antique and vintage automobiles. (Photo courtesy of Lang Pioneer Village Museum)
Once again, village barber Ryan from Hills Family Barbershop will be offering old-fashioned shaves and cuts in the Keene Hotel Bar Room ($24 for a hot shave, $15 for a regular shave, and $5 for a mock child shave).
The Lang Snack Shop will also be open throughout the day serving refreshments, snacks, and Kawartha Dairy ice cream, or you can enjoy fresh fries or poutine served by Reggie’s Hot Grill.
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Admission to the Transportation Day Car & Motorcycle Show is $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors (60+), $7 for youths (ages 5-14), and free for children under 5. Family admission is also available for $40 and includes two adults and up to four youths (ages 5-14). All taxes are included.
For more information on this and other upcoming events at Lang Pioneer Village Museum, visit www.langpioneervillage.ca.
Darren and Ryan Goldin of Etomo Farms in Norwood (right) receive an inaugural Excellence in Agriculture Award from Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Ernie Hardeman and Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini on July 4, 2019, in recognition of the company's innovation in producing food products from crickets. (Photo: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)
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 and organizational news includes Entomo Farms of Norwood receiving an inaugural Excellence in Agriculture Award from the Ontario government, the federal government investing $71 million in local cellular broadband and connectivity to tackle cellular dead zones across Eastern Ontario, Mercedes-Benz Peterborough donating $10,000 to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation, and a Toronto couple donating $50,000 to the Peterborough Humane Society’s new animal care centre.
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 new Farmhill Weddings wedding venue in Keene launching in 2020, Lakefield Youth Unlimited purchasing the Tribal Voices building in Lakefield, Peterborough filmmakers winning an award for their documentary on the Pig’s Ear Tavern, Venture13 in Cobourg hosting guests of the Tri-Association’s 15th Annual Manufacturing Conference in October, and Shaw Computer Systems Inc. rebranding as Shawcs IT.
New regional business events added this week include the Northumberland Chamber’s business networking event at Lorenz Conveying Products on July 11th, the Bancroft Chamber hosting Mineral Collecting Tours from July 11th to August 31st, Central Smith Creamery hosting an ice cream social fundraiser for PRHC Foundation on July 20th, and VentureNorth hosting a “Celebration of Collaboration BBQ” in Peterborough on July 26th.
Entomo Farms of Norwood receives inaugural Excellence in Agriculture Award from Ontario government
Entomo Farms president Jarrod Goldin leads Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Ernie Hardeman and Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini on a tour of the Norwood facility where the company produces cricket powder for food products for people, pets, and livestock. (Photo: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)
Last Thursday (July 4), Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Ernie Hardeman and Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini presented Entomo Farms of Norwood with an inaugural Excellence in Agriculture Award.
As a leader in cricket powder for food products for people, pets and livestock, Entomo Farms supplies over 50 companies with its products. In addition, the farm has begun harvesting the cricket castings as a super fertilizer, aiming to be a zero-waste facility. Since 2015, Entomo Farms has created 30 full-time jobs, with a planned expansion of an additional 28 full-time positions.
“Ontario’s agri-food sector is a driving force for innovation and economic growth in our province,” Hardeman said. “Agri-food businesses like Entomo Farms are always pushing boundaries and expanding economic opportunities. Their bold approach to building and growing their business has resulted in them becoming the largest company in North America raising crickets for human consumption — and they did it in just four years.
The Excellence in Agriculture Awards recognize agri-food businesses, individuals, and organizations that have raised the bar for agri-food excellence, demonstrated leadership in their field, undertaken strategic product development benefiting their sector, or advanced technological innovation.
“We’re very honoured to be recognized by the province,” said Entomo Farms president Jarrod Goldin. “Producing crickets as food is new on many fronts, so we’ve been lucky to have strong support from Health Canada, OMAFRA, and especially the local communities in Peterborough and Norwood. Many other countries around the world already know how beneficial eating crickets can be for your health and we’re excited to bring this clean, nutritious food source to more people at home.”
The Excellence in Agriculture Award recipients were chosen by a committee of agri-food sector leaders. The awards recognize innovation for one primary producer, one processor, and one agri-food organization, and gives honorary mention to an additional six innovations.
Federal government invests $71 million in local cellular broadband and connectivity to tackle cellular dead zones across Eastern Ontario
Members of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus in Prescott and Russel when the federal government announced an investment of $71 million to improve cellular broadband and connectivity. (Photo: Eastern Ontario Regional Network)
On Thursday (July 4), the federal government announced it will provide the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) with $71 million for its share of funding to help fill gaps in mobile broadband coverage that are standing in the way of the region’s economic development.
EORN is a non-profit organization created by the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus.
The funding, combined with the Government of Ontario’s commitment of $71 million to the project, clears the way for a $213 million public-private partnership to improve both the reach and quality of mobile broadband services in the region.
The Eastern Ontario Regional Network, a non-profit organization created by the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, has been leading the charge to improve cellular broadband and connectivity in eastern Ontario. (Graphic: EORN)
All members of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus and most municipalities within the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus are contributing to the $10 million municipal share. Mobile carriers, who will be selected through a competitive bidding process, are expected to provide the balance of the funding.
The first phase of the project involves building 317 new telecommunications towers and an additional 32 local internet access points to improve overall mobile coverage for residents of Eastern Ontario. The second phase will identify the capacity gaps that result from heavy user traffic, upgrade equipment to reduce network overloads, and improve service quality in rural communities.
Once completed, the project will improve mobile coverage for over 1.1 million residents in 102 communities in Eastern Ontario, including the County of Peterborough, Curve Lake First Nation, and Hiawatha First Nation.
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“EORN is building on the investment we’ve already made in broadband infrastructure across the region to close the gap in mobile services and improve economic growth, quality of life, and public safety,” says EORN chair J. Murray Jones. “We welcome and appreciate the support of the federal government for this project. Combined with provincial and municipal funding, we can now proceed with the next steps to make improved connectivity a reality for our region.”
There are currently significant gaps in both the reach and capacity of mobile broadband networks across areas of rural Eastern Ontario, with 40 per cent of the area not having access to high-definition services that allows streaming high-definition video, 20 per cent of the area does not having access to standard definition video, used for typical mobile app use and video app calling, and 10 per cent not having voice call service.
Mercedes-Benz Peterborough donates $10,000 to Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation
Mercedes-Benz Peterborough with a $10,000 cheque Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
Mercedes-Benz Peterborough has donated $10,000 to Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation, the proceeds of the annual Mercedes-Benz Peterborough Father’s Day Car Show held on Sunday, June 16th.
The proceeds will be used to fund equipment and technology supporting patient care at PRHC.
Toronto couple donates $50,000 to Peterborough Humane Society’s new animal care centre
A rendering of the Peterborough Humane Society’s planned new Peterborough Animal Care Centre. (Illustration: Lett Architects)
An couple from the Toronto area, who wish to remain anonymous, have pledged $50,000 to the Peterborough Humane Society’s campaign to build a new state-of-the-art animal care centre in Peterborough.
The couple was were inspired to give because of their love of pets.
“Our wish is that all pets should receive nothing but the best care and a loving home, and this centre will be a massive step toward that goal,” the couple said. “We look forward to seeing the Peterborough Animal Centre becoming a reality.”
Designed by Peterborough-based Lett Architects, the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre will sit on 20 acres of land on Technology Drive and will set the standard for animal shelters in Canada. The purpose-built facility will house the Humane Society’s new Adoption and Education Centre and will allow for expansion of the Humane Society’s outreach, education, and advocacy programs, including plans for future youth programming and educational partnerships with both Trent University and Fleming College.
The Peterborough Animal Care Centre will also be home to Canada’s first Provincial Dog Rehab Centre (in partnership with the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society), and the region’s only High-Volume Spay/Neuter Clinic. The Humane Society anticipates that over 5,000 animals will benefit from this service each year, reducing the number of unwanted pets in our province, supporting other local rescue groups and helping animals become available for adoption sooner.
The Peterborough Humane Society has already received donations from local families and businesses, as well as an investment of $1.68 million from the City of Peterborough and $2 million from the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. The society is now over the halfway mark of its $10 million fundraising goal.
New Farmhill Weddings wedding venue in Keene to launch in 2020
A rendering of the new Farmhill Weddings venue in Keene. (Graphic courtesy of Farmhill Weddings)
Jenn Austin-Driver and Matt Smith are bulding a new wedding venue in Keene.
Farmhill Weddings, located at 2709 Dillon Road on the rolling hills of Millen + Smith Acres, is a non-traditional wedding venue focused on providing a scenic farm experience with local farm-to-table menu options.
The couple recently launched a new website at www.farmhillweddings.com and are taking bookings for 2020-21.
Austin-Driver and Smith have been photographers in the wedding industry for the last 10 years and have photographed over 200 weddings. That experience inspired them to create Farmhill Weddings, for which they received a grant last December through the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre’s Starter Company Plus program.
Farmhill Weddings will connect couples planning their wedding with vetted vendors, such as photographers, officiants, bands and DJs, florists, and local caterers and food suppliers.
The venue will be constructed and ready for operation in 2020.
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Lakefield Youth Unlimited purchases Tribal Voices building in Lakefield
Lakefield Youth Unlimited has purchased the Tribal Voices building in Lakefield and plans to move into the building in the fall of 2019. (Photo; Google Maps)
Lakefield Youth Unlimited, a satellite of Kawartha Youth for Christ, has purchased the Tribal Voices building beside the bridge in Lakefield.
An anonymous lender provided a no-interest and no-payment loan for as long as the organization owns the building, which Lakefield Youth Unlimited plans to move into by this fall.
Lakefield Youth Unlimited has been part of the Lakefield community for 15 years, working together with local residents, businesses, churches, schools, and government for local youth of our community. The organization currently offers a Junior High Gym Night, provides employment and mentoring to several youth in its Garden Project, helps host Kindness Club and Ping Pong Club at local elementary school, and offer school support in classrooms.
In its new space, the organization plans to offer shared meeting rooms, life skill programs for youth, junior and senior high school programs, gathering spaces for families, and after-school programming.
While Lakefield Youth Unlimited was supplied with the resources to purchase the Tribal Voices building, the organization is raising $20,000 by August 14th to pay off the remainder of short-term loans, as well as an additional $55,000 by October 1st to begin renovations in the fall. To make a donation, visit youthunlimitedkaw.com/lakefield/donate/
Peterborough filmmakers win award for documentary on the Pig’s Ear Tavern
“Last Beer at the Pig’s Ear” has received a Gold Award from Spotlight Documentary Film Awards. (Graphic: Spotlight Documentary Film Awards)
Local documentary film Last Beer at the Pig’s Ear has won a gold award from the Spotlight Documentary Film Awards.
The documentary on the historic Pigs’ Ear Tavern, which closed in April 2017 after 152 years of operation, was written and directed by Peter blow and produced by Malcolm Byard, with editing and cinematography by Rob Viscardis.
VIDEO: “Last Beer at the Pig’s Ear” promo trailer
It was the final film screened at this year’s ReFrame Film Festival in downtown Peterborough.
The Spotlight Documentary Film Awards promote experienced and new documentary filmmakers through an international film competition.
Venture13 in Cobourg to host guests of Tri-Association’s 15th Annual Manufacturing Conference in October
The Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre in Cobourg will be hosting guests of the Tri-Association’s 15th Annual Manufacturing Conference this October.
The conference takes place on Thursday, October 24th at the Cobourg Community Centre, directly across from Venture13. Throughout the day, conference guests will have the opportunity to choose up to four workshop activities located in the Northman Industrial Park, including two plans tours (Cameco/Graphic Packaging), a workshop with the Cobourg Police Service on cybersecurity, and a workshop encompassing interactive demonstrations at the Venture13 TechZone.
The guests who attend the interactive demonstrations workshop offered at the Venture13 TechZone will see robotic demonstrations, interact with virtual reality training, observe the MicroFactory Co-op (Canada’s only manufacturing co-op) in action, exchange insight with the Durham College Hub for Applied Research in Artificial Intelligence for Business Solutions, and participate in a workshop explaining the many funding opportunities for everything guests enjoyed in the Venture13 TechZone.
The Tri-Association group consists of the Kawartha Manufacturers’ Association, the Quinte Manufacturers Association, and the Northumberland Manufacturers Association. For more information and to register for the conference, visit www.themanufacturingconference.ca.
Shaw Computer Systems Inc. is now Shawcs IT
Shawcs IT is located at 236 King Street in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Shawcs IT)
Shaw Computer Systems Inc. is now Shawcs IT.
The technology services company, locally owned and operated by business partners Martin Boruta and Carlye Mongraw, has rebranded and moved from its location in the north end of Peterborough to 236 King Street in the AON City Centre building in downtown Peterborough.
Shawcs IT is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (with emergency contract support available 24/7).
For more information, visit the company’s new website at www.shawcsit.com
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Fireside chat on artificial intelligence in the workplace at Venture13 in Cobourg on July 9
Venture13 is hosting the fourth instalment in its Fireside Chat series from 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9th at Venture13 (739 D’Arcy St., Cobourg)
“Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace: The Human-Machine Connection” will focus on using AI technology in the workplace and how businesses are making the most impact with AI. You can learn about the human-machine connection in the workplace, process automation, Internet of Things (IoT) and analytics, augmented and virtual reality, AI and sentiment analysis on social media, autonomous vehicles, and more.
Guest speakers at the event are Alex Papanicolaou (Director and Lead Designer at the Microfactory Coop at Venture13), Aman Bhargava (a University of Toronto Engineering student specializing in machine intelligence and design), and Joseph Boggard (Trent University instructor from the Computing & Information Systems Degree Program).
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)
Students participating in the Summer Company program will be showcasing their businesses from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 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.
This event is open to all members of the public and is a great opportunity to support the area’s young business owners.
Northumberland Chamber hosts business economic outlook breakfast meeting with MP Kim Russ and MPP David Piccini in Cobourg on July 11
The Northumberland Central Chamber 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.
Northumberland Chamber hosts business networking event at Lorenz Conveying Products on July 11
The Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce is hosting its monthly “Meet and Greet” business networking event from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 11th at Lorenz Conveying Products (75 White St., Cobourg).
Lorenz Conveying Products — North America’s leading manufacturer of pneumatic conveying components, parts, and accessories — is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
Bancroft Chamber hosting Mineral Collecting Tours from July 11 to August 31
The Bancroft & District Chamber of Commerce is hosting Mineral Collecting Tours from Thursday, July 11th to Saturday, August 31st at various locations in Hastings County.
Registration is held at 9 a.m. at the Chamber office (51 Hastings St. N., Bancroft) on the day of each tour, with tours departing at 9:30 a.m. The tours take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with each tour lasting around five hours.
Participants are responsible for their own equipment (mandatory safety glasses and closed-in footwear and rockhounding equipment) and transportation. The cost is $17 for adults, $12 for youth aged 16 and under, or $50 for a family of up to five people. Additional fees are required for specific sites.
Peterborough Chamber hosts environmental practices seminar in Peterborough on July 17
The next Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Lunch Box Learning seminar takes place from 12 to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17th at the Chamber’s boardroom (175 George St. N., Peterborough).
Rachel Northey of Pinchin will speak on the topic “Environmental Practices to Manage your Property”.
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.
Central Smith Creamery hosting ice cream social fundraiser for PRHC Foundation on July 20
Central Smith Creamery is hosting an ice cream social in support of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 20th at the creamery (739 Lindsay Rd. 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.
VentureNorth hosts “Celebration of Collaboration BBQ” in Peterborough on July 26
VentureNorth is hosting a “Celebration of Collaboration BBQ” from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, July 26th at the VentureNorth building (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
The business hub in downtown Peterborough is home to various local economic development organizations including the Innovation Cluster, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, and Community Futures Peterborough. Ashburnham Realty, Junior Achievement Peterborough, Lakeland, Muskoka, the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, and the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce will also be participating in the event.
The open house event is an opportunity to learn more about these organizations and more, and will feature a BBQ catered by Franz’s Butcher Shop & Catering with samples from Publican House Brewery, live music from Paper Shakers, and prizes.
For more business-related events in the Kawarthas, check out our Business Events column.
Highway 28 at Centre Road in Douro-Dummer Township was closed in both directions on Monday night (July 8) as police investigated a serious accident.
At around 6 p.m., a car was travelling westbound on Centre Road at Highway 28 when it was struck by a truck travelling southbound on the highway.
Emergency services arrived to free two people who were trapped in the heavily damaged car. The two people were subsequently transported by Ornge air ambulance to trauma centres in Ottawa and Toronto.
A person who was in the southbound truck was transported to a local hospital.
Peterborough County OPP closed Highway 28 while members trained in collision reconstruction measured and documented the scene. Detours were in place at Centre Road and County Road 4.
Highway 28 was closed for the police investigation until around 2 a.m. on Tuesday (July 9).
The 17th annual Kawartha Rotary Ribfest runs from July 12 to 14, 2019 at Millennium Park in downtown Peterborough. The event is a fundraiser for Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
The 17th annual Rotary Ribfest returns to Millennium Park in downtown Peterborough from Friday, July 12th to Sunday, July 14th.
A fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha, Ribfest features food and beverages from both local restaurants and out-of-town ribbers and vendors.
“Ribfest is three days of live music, delicious food, and cold drinks,” says Terry Guiel, executive director of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), which is co-presenting the event.
The annual Kawartha Rotary Ribfest is a family-friendly event. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
“The ribbers are always a big draw and our local restaurants do a great job of showcasing all kinds of food from around the world, including vegetarian options,” Guiel adds. “It’s a fun, family-friendly event.”
Participating local restaurants this year are Dr. J’s BBQ & Brews, BrickHouse Craft Burger Grill, Island Cream Caribbean Cuisine, Caribbean Sizzle, McThirsty’s Pint, La Mesita, and Curry Mantra.
Out-of-town ribbers and food vendors, located along so-called “Ribber’s Row”, include Boss Hogs BBQ, Fat Boy’s BBQ, Smokehouse Bandits, Jack The Ribber, Ontario Corn Roasters, and Summer Fun Funnel Cakes.
Live music runs every afternoon during the three-day fundraising festival. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
Smithhavens Brewing Company and the Publican House Brewery are local craft brewery sponsors, with Labatt sponsoring the live music stage. Here’s the line-up for live music, which runs all weekend long:
Friday, July 12
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. – Pat Temple and the HiLo Players
1:45 – 3:15 p.m. – House Brand
3:30 – 5:00 p.m. – Al Black & The Steady Band
5:15 – 6:45 p.m. – The Cadillacs
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Jesse Slack
8:45 – 10:15 p.m. – Lindsay Barr
Saturday, July 13
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. – John Curtis
1:45 – 3:15 p.m. – Water’s Edge
3:30 – 5:00 p.m. – Tonya Bosch
5:15 – 6:45 p.m. – Rye Street
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Rikki Nicks
8:45 – 10:15 p.m. – Weber Brothers
Sunday, July 14
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. – Latest Version
1:45 – 3:15 p.m. – Sticks ‘n’ Tones
3:30 – 5:00 p.m. – Out on Bail
The 17th annual Kawartha Rotary Ribfest takes place at Millennium Park in downtown Peterborough from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, July 12 and Saturday, July 13, 2019 and from 12 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 14, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 12 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Admission to the festival is free — you just pay for what you eat and drink. All of the funds raised at Kawartha Rotary RibFest go to support humanitarian projects locally and internationally.
Sarah Susnar, owner and operator of family activity studio Play Cafe, meets with Waleed Dabbah of Dabbah Corp. Sussner says Dabbah is not only knowledgeable, responsive, and friendly, but he saved her business 40 per cent over the best rate the banks offered for a point of sale system. (Photo: 705 Creative / kawarthaNOW)
There’s a lot of risk involved in running your own business. Waleed Dabbah knows this — he’s been through the process himself.
Previously of Hampton Financial, Dabbah has spent the last five years developing a client base in Peterborough, where he has firmly established himself in the local business community.
Now Dabbah has launched Dabbah Corp, his own financial services company.
Through Dabbah Corp, Dabbah acts as a broker for payment processing machines, otherwise known as point of sale (POS) systems. Whether you’re a start-up or an established business looking to switch providers, Dabbah says he can help you.
VIDEO: Why work with Dabbah Corp?
The owners and operators of three Peterborough businesses — John Robert Clothiers, The Venue, and Play Cafe — explain why they chose to work with Dabbah Corp for their businesses’ payment processing needs. More in-depth videos from each of the businesses are available later in this story.
While the work may be complex, Dabbah’s goals are simple: to help businesses receive payment for their goods and services. He does this by helping his clients with the difficult process of setting up and managing their POS systems at the lowest cost possible.
“Businesses have a lot to manage,” Dabbah says. “Their POS systems can be one thing they don’t have to stress about.”
There are a variety of options to choose from when looking to set up a POS system, but Dabbah prides himself on providing a personalized service that clients don’t often get when dealing with larger financial services companies.
VIDEO: Why work with Dabbah Corp? The Venue
“I give each of my clients my cell phone number,” he explains. “If there’s an issue, my clients can call me directly.”
“I’ll take as long as needed to walk them through the issue on the phone, or I will visit them. That’s the advantage of working with someone local. I care about my clients’ businesses doing well. If they thrive, our community thrives.”
Dabbah’s customer service is a big draw for The Venue in downtown Peterborough. The multi-function event space has three wireless POS terminals and, the one time they experienced a glitch, Dabbah Corp responded immediately to resolve the issue.
This personal and community-focused approach is what sets Dabbah Corp apart from competing companies — this and Dabbah’s strong background in business and marketing.
Dabbah’s education and experience in the financial services industry allows him to offer more well-rounded advice. In addition to financial services, Dabbah is happy to offer general business advice to his clients where needed, as well as tips on social media marketing.
VIDEO: Why work with Dabbah Corp? John Robert Clothiers
Since starting in the financial services industry, Dabbah has personally helped hundreds of businesses process tens of millions of dollars in sales. He uses his expertise to help businesses of various sizes and with diverse needs.
Some clients, such as prominent downtown clothing business John Roberts Clothiers, need help understanding the fee structure associated with their POS system.
Dabbah puts his financial literacy to work to break down clients’ bills in a straightforward, easy to understand way.
For small businesses, Dabbah recognizes that every dollar matters. Another client, Play Cafe, located in the Brookdale Plaza, was not able to spend any more than necessary on their POS system. Dabbah did what he does best: he got his client the lowest deal possible and saved them the trouble of going through the process themselves.
And some businesses simply don’t have time to explore their options. Downtown restaurants, such as Two Dishes, have been clients Dabbah has helped to find the best deal. He takes on that responsibility, so they can focus on serving great food.
VIDEO: Why work with Dabbah Corp? Play Cafe
At the same time that Dabbah is managing his clients’ POS systems, he is also an active member of the Peterborough community and committed to improving the downtown core.
Dabbah recently became a member of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) and wants to do his part to help the downtown thrive for both businesses and shoppers. His goal is to make it as easy as possible to shop downtown.
“We have so many unique and amazing businesses in downtown Peterborough. A unified POS system in the downtown core would make it more convenient for shoppers and merchants,” says Dabbah, explaining a unified system would incentivize shoppers to use the DBIA’s downtown passport program.
Dabbah Corp is a payment processing brokerage owned and operated by Waleed Dabbah.
But it’s not all business for Dabbah, who is also committed to supporting the community. He has been deeply involved with the Peterborough Humane Society, donating over $10,000 to the animal shelter and assisting with numerous other fundraising events.
Dabbah is also sponsoring the Nels You Are Not Alone project, created by Andrew Nelson in the winter of 2018/2019. Years ago, Nelson had reached a breaking point with mental illness after experiencing some rough patches in his life. He wanted to turn to suicide to escape the pain, but was lucky enough to be stopped in time by friends.
Nelson then became an advocate for mental illness and decided to create a campaign where he would plaster posters with inspiring messages around Peterborough to help anyone who was also struggling. When he ran out of funds, Dabbah came to the rescue and single-handedly sponsored Andrew’s campaign. With Dabbah’s sponsorship, Nelson has been able to print hundreds of posters in the hopes of helping someone in need.
“I’m committed to this community and the people here.” Originally from Dubai, Waleed Dabbah settled in his wife’s hometown of Peterborough where they are now raising a family. (Photo: 705 Creative / kawarthaNOW)
Leaving Hampton Financial to start his own business has been a risk, but Dabbah is used to taking risks.
Five years ago, he met his wife and together they travelled around the world before deciding to settle in her hometown of Peterborough. Last year, they welcomed a son.
Originally from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, it was a risk for Dabbah to settle in Peterborough and start his own business here. However, he’s found the community to be welcoming and supportive.
VIDEO: Every dollar counts — Dabbah Corp, a payment processing brokerage
“I’m growing my family in Peterborough,” Dabbah says. “I’m committed to this community and the people here. I want to do everything I can to help my clients and the city.”
“Starting a business or switching POS providers might be a risk, but I promise my clients that I’ll be there to help them manage in any way that I can.”
Dabbah Corp is located at 398 McDonnel Street, Unit 4, in Peterborough. For more information, call 705-761-2672, email wdabbah@dabbahcorp.com, or visit dabbahcorp.com. You can also follow Dabbah Corp on Facebook.
This story was created in partnership with Dabbah Corp.
A Haliburton man has been charged with second-degree murder as police investigate a weekend homicide in Highlands East.
Members of the Haliburton Highlands detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), along with the Haliburton Highlands OPP Crime Unit and OPP Forensic Identification Service, are investigating a homicide that took place in the township of Highlands East in Haliburton County in the early morning hours of Saturday (July 6).
According to a media release, the OPP has arrested and charged 58-year-old Robert Ferguson of Highlands East with the second-degree murder of 29-year-old Dylan Robert Dahlke of the township of Dysart Et Al in Haliburton County.
Police say there is no concern for public safety.
A post-mortem examination of Dahlke is scheduled in Toronto for Monday (July 8), which is also when Ferguson will appear for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in City of Kawartha Lakes.
Detective Inspector Jim Gorry of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch is directing the homicide investigation. Further details will be released when they become available.
The Reklaws (brother-and-sister duo Stuart and Jenna Walker) return to Peterborough Musicfest for the third time on July 10, 2019, this time headlining the outdoor concert series with special guest opener Emily Reid. (Photo: Ryan Nolan)
Oh what a difference a year makes.
Peterborough Musicfest presents The Reklaws with Emily Reid
When: Wednesday, July 10, 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.
When country music act The Reklaws — brother-and-sister duo Stuart and Jenna Walker — took to the Fred Anderson Stage last summer, they did so amidst the attention and excitement surrounding Peterborough native Tebey’s headline performance.
On Wednesday, July 10th, the recently Juno Award-nominated pairing returns to Del Crary Park, this time front and centre, to headline Peterborough Musicfest with quickly rising pop-country recording artist Emily Reid opening. Admission to the 8 p.m. concert is free.
This performance actually marks The Reklaws’ third Musicfest appearance, the first coming in 2016 when they opened for Cold Creek Country.
VIDEO: “Long Live The Night” – The Reklaws
Still riding high the success of Feels Like That, their second studio EP released late last August, The Reklaws have seen two singles from that album — the title track and “Long Live The Night” — crack the top 10 on Canadian country music charts, with the former attaining #1 and the latter certified gold by Music Canada.
On the crowded Canadian country music landscape, that album’s success didn’t go unnoticed, evidenced by its Country Album of the Year nomination at the 2019 Juno Awards and, prior to that, the Rising Star Award nod from the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA).
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Raised in rural Ontario near Cambridge, Jenna and Stuart (two of seven siblings) first performed for visitors to the family’s Yee Haw Adventure Farm. Adopting the stage name The Reklaws — a take on Walkers spelled backwards — they honed their sound.
That paid off handsomely in 2012 when the CCMA Discovery Artist Award came their way, followed the next year by the Emerging Artist Showcase title from the Boots and Hearts Music Festival in Oro-Medonte.
VIDEO: “Hometown Kids” – The Reklaws
Come 2017, after performing anywhere and everywhere — the pair have opened for the likes of country superstars Dierks Bentley and Blake Shelton — The Reklaws hit the studio to record their debut EP Long Live The Night, from which the single “Hometown Kids” peaked at a very respectable #15 on the Canadian country music charts.
“The opportunity to release Hometown Kids was a battle for many years,” they recount in a March 2018 interview with Country Startpage.
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“We released a couple of songs before that and fought for this dream for a long time. It wasn’t until someone who means the world to us saw how hard we had worked and the effort that we put into everything that he decided to take a chance on us.”
“He helped us to get signed to Universal Music Canada, and put us in rooms with writers who took the time to ask us who we were and what we wanted to say.”
VIDEO: “Feels Like That” – The Reklaws
What The Reklaws wanted to say clearly resonated with Canadian country music fans.
“Country music has always been it for us. I remember our parents saying, ‘Well, we have to play country music because we are from the country’ and it never really stopped. Once we all began to fall in love with the sound and the stories there was no turning back.”
Now, with their second EP Feels Like That continuing to draw serious attention via the singles it has spawned, Jenna and Stuart point to the Boots and Hearts’ Emerging Artist Showcase win as being the turning point from which all good things subsequently flowed.
VIDEO: “I Do Too” – The Reklaws
“It’s crazy to see that every person who has a hand in who we are today came out of that festival. The connections we were making seemed so minuscule at the time but, looking back, they were connections that would change our lives forever. Be kind to everyone you encounter because they could change your life one day.”
With the SiriusXM Rising Star Award from the CCMA now also in their possession, The Reklaws are continuing to enjoy commercial success as they make their way back to Peterborough, their latest single “I Do Too” receiving regular radio air play which, at last count, had it positioned at #12 on the Canadian country music chart.
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Opener Emily Reid
Emily Reid. (Photo: Ryan Nolan)
On her website at www.emilyreid.com, Emily Reid describes her music as “bold, energetic, and indie-fun-cool.”
Upon graduating from college in 2012, the Victoria BC native split her time between Nashville and Toronto. After she co-wrote the song “Two in a Million” for the series finale duet of Disney’s award-winning comedy television series Austin & Ally,
BMG signed her in 2015. Now with Universal Music Canada, Reid recorded an EP with Cameron Jaymes, releasing her debut single “Good Time Being A Woman” just this past April.
VIDEO: “The River” – Emily Reid
“As a little girl, I wasn’t very good at processing my emotions but they always tended to come out in song,” says Reid, noting her first trek to the widely considered capital of country music was an eye opener.
“I thought Nashville was going to be people in overalls but when I got down there, it was a bunch of people like me who also loved songs and wanted to be artists for a living.”
“We tested things out and put it on the internet, seeing what people thought of it. Slowly but surely I started to get better and better and started playing shows and realized this is the only career path for me.”
VIDEO: “Good Time Being A Woman” – Emily Reid
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.
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.
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.
Gardens Plus owner Dawn Golloher is the local queen of easy-care perennials including daylilies and hosta. The garden and greenhouse at Gardens Plus is a great place to visit and get inspired for your own garden expansion. July is a perfect time for a tour, with over 900 daylilies and 600 hosta on display, and more than 200 varieties of hosta for sale. (Photo: Gardens Plus)
Finding time to garden these days can challenging, with environmental and weather conditions changing every year and our busy lifestyles.
One of my saviours in these challenges is Dawn Golloher, owner of local gardening retailer Gardens Plus, located in Donwood just east of Peterborough.
Dawn has been my go-to for many years when I need to expand my daylily selection with different heights and colours, or expand my garden with greenery including textured grasses, ferns, and hosta. She is the local queen of easy-care perennials.
July is a peak time for Gardens Plus. With over 900 daylilies and 600 hosta on display, and more than 200 varieties of hosta for sale, Gardens Plus is a great place to tour and get inspired for your own garden expansion.
kawarthaNOW recently spoke to Dawn about embracing easy-care perennials. She shared with us her update on new hosta varieties, growing tips, and adding texture and colour to your shade gardens.
You can still add to your perennial garden in July, especially in part shade: the ideal location for the easy-to-grow perennial hosta. As well as the common green and green-and-white hosta, Gardens Plus has many new varieties with different textures, colours, and leaf shapes and sizes to enhance your garden. (Photo: Garden Plus)
July isn’t too late to add to your perennial gardens, especially where it is cooler in the part shade.
We all have the common green and green-and-white hosta, but have you seen some of the newer varieties? Textures like quilted and colours like blue and gold, and so many leaf shapes and sizes!
Remember the Blue Mouse Ears Hosta? It’s still very popular, along with many other smaller varieties.
Popular smaller varieties of hosta (clockwise from top left): Blue Mouse Ears Hosta, Lakeside Paisley Print Hosta (hosta of the year), Abiqua Drinking Gourd Hosta, and the Cathedral Windows Hosta. (Photos: Garden Plus)
The hosta of the year this season is Lakeside Paisley Print, with an amazing pattern and only 10 inches tall. There’s also the Abiqua Drinking Gourd Hosta, whose cupped leaves they say will hold enough water that birds will bathe in them, and the Cathedral Windows Hosta, with its white fragrant blooms that smell like gardinias.
If giant hosta are your thing, move over Sum and Substance: the newer kids in town are Komodo Dragon and Empress Wu. Also check out Wu-La-La, a brand new giant hosta this year that’s related to Empress Wu — the largest hosta to date.
Giants not just large anymore — they also make great statements. My favourite giant hosta varieties for curb appeal are Liberty and Montana Aureomsarginata. They are great if you have less room in your garden, as they are more vase-shaped than mounding so you can under plant closely together.
Giant hosta varieties (clockwise from top left): Komodo Dragon, Empress Wu, Wu-La-La, and (for great curb appeal) Montana Aureomsarginata. (Photos: Garden Plus)
There are something like 10,000 different hosta varieties, and I love mixing outer edges with contrasting solid colours.
Growing hosta is easy, but they do need a break from afternoon sun — so plant them in the north or east. If you have a structure or tree in another area giving them filtered light, this works as well.
Gardens Plus carries hundreds of hosta varieties, including recently introduced varieties such as Lakeside Paisley Print and Wu-La-La. (Photo: Gardens Plus)
When planting hosta, this is the time to add compost to the hole. Rain once a week is key, so if there’s not much rain for the first season or two, give them a good deep drink here and there.
Although planting a whole garden of hosta is nice, your space would would be “blank” until they leaf out in the the warmer weather. So think about all the seasons.
Add some bulbs in the fall to come up first with lungwort, Brunnera, pasque flower, and natives like hepatica.
Coral bells will give you all-season foliage in so many different colours. Some of the newest varieties of coral bells are Wild Rose, Eye Spy, Mahogany Monster, Timeless Glow, and Spearmint with its red blooms.
Or make a bold statement with Ligularia “Little Rocket” and its long spikes of bright yellow flowers.
Then add some ferns for texture. There are so many varieties to choose from, such as Godzilla — a new Japanese Painted Fern on steroids — or the glowing iridescent Ghost.
Fill out your garden with all-season foliage (clockwise from top left): Coral bells, Ligularia “Little Rocket”, Godzilla Fern, and Ghost Fern. (Photos: Garden Plus)
Part shade is my favourite part of the garden to design and fill. Keep in mind as well that gardening in part shade has its rewards too: you can garden all season long, the temperature is better for us, there are fewer weeds, and there is less evaporation of moisture, all due to the lack of the sun.
The only problem with shade for me is the lack of it!
My collection of hosta is now over 600, and I add about 40 different ones each year. Hosta can create quite the tapestry of colour and textures — the combinations are endless.
Feel free to come for a tour, as my garden is open for viewing and other events.
Gardens Plus is located at 136 County Road 4 in Donwood, about two minutes east of Television Road and Parkhill Road. The display gardens are located in the front, and the greenhouse is in the back — just follow the signs.
The garden and greenhouse is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday (to 7 p.m. on Fridays) until the last Sunday in July (July 28th). July is a perfect time for a tour, with hundreds of daylilies peaking.
A heat warning remains in effect on Saturday (July 6) for most of the Kawarthas, including Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Hastings, and Northumberland.
A hot and humid air mass is expected to remain in place, with temperatures near 30° C with humidex values in the upper 30°s to 40° C.
With the passage of a cold front on Saturday evening, cooler temperatures and lower humidity is expected for the remainder of the weekend.
As the cold front moves in, there is a risk of a thunderstorm.
Environment Canada issues heat warnings when very high temperatures or humidity conditions are expected to pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
The risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors.
Drink plenty of water even before you feel thirsty, stay in a cool place, and never leave people or pets inside a parked vehicle.
In Beau Dixon's "Bloom: A Rock 'n' Roll Fable", Owen Stahn (left) is Neph Burnstall and Eli Tanner (right) is Griffin Clark, two childhood friends who grow up to form the 1960s Canadian rock 'n' roll band The Spruce Street Ramblers, which rises to fame only after Tess Wilson (played by Kate Suhr, centre) joins the band. Directed by Kim Blackwell, the play runs every Tuesday to Saturday at 4th Line Theatre in Millbrook until July 27, 2019. (Photo: Wayne Eardley / Brookside Studio)
4th Line Theatre presents Bloom: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fable
When: Performances at 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays (July 2-6, July 9-13, July 16-20, July 23-27, 2019) with additional performance at 6 p.m. on July 22, 2019. Where: The Winslow Farm (779 Zion Line, Millbrook) How much: $40 adults, $34 youth, $70 season subscription (adult), $60 season subscription (youth)
Written by Beau Dixon and directed by Kim Blackwell. Starring Owen Stahn as Neph Burnstall, Griffin Clark as Eli Tanner, Kate Suhr as Teresa “Tess” Wilson, and many more. Original songs by Beau Dixon and Dave Tough.
Tickets available by calling 1-800-814-0055 or 705-932-4445, online www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca, emailing boxoffice@4thlinetheatre.on.ca, at in person at 4th Line Theatre’s box office (4 Tupper St., Millbrook) or at the Peterborough Museum and Archives (300 Hunter St. E., Peterborough).
On Thursday, July 4th, Millbrook outdoor theatre company 4th Line Theatre opened its 2019 summer season with the world premiere of Bloom: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fable.
Written by Beau Dixon and directed by Kim Blackwell, with songs by Dixon and Dave Tough, Bloom is a musical odyssey that doesn’t just pay homage to the Canadian music industry, but also the special relationship the Kawarthas has with the music scene.
Whether you’re a hard-core music fan or just someone looking for good summer theatre, you’ll find magic in the play’s musical mythos.
Get ready to embrace the musical legacy of The Spruce Street Ramblers, the greatest Canadian rock ‘n’ roll band you’ve never heard before. The band’s story is told in two main timelines: one on the eve of a one-shot reunion appearance in 1976 in which the group is reunited seven years after their break up, and the other in flashbacks starting in 1956 through to the explosive events of the 1969 Gatineau Hills Festival in Quebec when the band fell apart.
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In this musical journey, playwright Dixon has perfectly woven all the classic themes of a rock ‘n’ roll band into the story: joy and passion, ambition and greed, jealousy and betrayal, and — most importantly — the exhilaration and the love of making music.
Bloom tells the story of Neph Burnstall (Owen Stahn) and Eli Tanner (Griffin Clark), two young men from the farming community of Assumption, Ontario (a “blink and you’ll miss it” community between Peterborough and Keene) who grew up together with rock ‘n’ roll dreams of forming their own band and leaving the Kawarthas far behind.
The audience gathers for the opening night performance of Beau Dixon’s “Bloom: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fable” at 4th Line Theatre in Millbrook on July 4, 2019. Video and photographs during the performance are prohibited. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
In 1959, the two best friends join forces with pals Huff, Happy, and Tilson (Justin Hiscox, Sebastian Sage, and Mark Hiscox) to form The Spruce Street Ramblers.
For the next seven years, the boys find themselves playing cover songs at dive bars and hotels between Peterborough and Kingston. Unsatisfied with the lack of audience interest in their original material, Neph and Eli travel to The Embassy Bar in Toronto to meet music manager Richard Brockton (Matt Gilbert), in the hopes that he’ll give their music a chance.
That’s where they hear a song performed by Huff’s cousin Tess (Kate Suhr), who they haven’t seen since they first met as children at a Peterborough talent show hosted by Del Crary. The song-writing duo soon becomes a trio, igniting the interest of Brockton who gets the band on a music show filmed in Montreal.
Armed with their original song “Flower Man”, The Spruce Street Ramblers quickly rise to the top of the charts. But as their fame continues to soar, it soon becomes clear that the star of the group is Tess. As the band becomes famous throughout Canada, cracks begin to form within the group, threatening to turn their musical dreams into a rock n’ roll nightmare.
“Bloom: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fable” features nine original songs written by Beau Dixon and Dave Tough (with one song also co-written by Sean Moran). Portions of each song are played live by the real-life musicians who portray members of The Spruce Street Ramblers: Owen Stahn, Griffin Clark, Kate Suhr, Mark Hiscox, Sebastian Sage, and Justin Hiscox. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Bloom is not only a delight for theatre-goers who will become instantly engaged in the story, but for music geeks who love the history of Canadian rock ‘n’ roll. While Dixon based the play on his real-life experiences as a touring musician, the story of The Spruce Street Ramblers is pure fiction. However, the history of the Canadian music industry and how it has impacted the Kawarthas is so lovingly portrayed that it’s difficult to believe the band’s story is not a true one.
Like the Monkees, The Partridge Family, The Carrie Nations, and The Commitments before them, The Spruce Street Ramblers are a fictional band, but with a sound and energy so real to the audience that you too will believe they really exist.
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What makes the story so realistic are the powerful performances, both musical and emotionally, given by the show’s leads. Griffin Clark plays Eli as a passionate dreamer who believes that music is his destiny. On the other hand, Owen Stahn plays Neph as a tortured dark horse, looking for artistic fulfillment and a respect that he is forever chasing. Kate Suhr’s character Tess sends the boys to their highest heights while trying to find her own meaningful relationship with music, while constantly battling for respect in the male-dominated music industry.
Together, the three actors perform Dixon’s story so passionately and convincingly that you feel you are witnessing actual Canadian musical history instead of fiction.
“Bloom: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fable” set and propos designer Esther Vincent collected local and Canadian rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia to decorate the set at the Winslow Farm. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Part of the realism comes because the actors portraying the members of The Spruce Street Ramblers are all musicians in their own right. In fact, 4th Line Theatre has created their own supergroup with the performers they’ve pulled together for the show.
For example, Owen and Griffin front their own Toronto band called The Slivers, Kate Suhr has become a local musical icon via her success on the musical stage as well as her own musical contributions as a songwriter and solo artist, and Mark and Justin Hiscox have become local legends for their musical contributions to the local stage.
Bloom: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fable’s original songs
Hangin’ On (Beau Dixon and Dave Tough)
Otonabee Blues (Beau Dixon)
Flower Man (Dave Tough)
King Solomon’s Seal (Beau Dixon and Dave Tough)
Blue Jean Heather (Beau Dixon)
Groovy Day (Beau Dixon and Sean Moran)
Royal Tavern (David Tough)
Watch Your Step (Beau Dixon and Dave Tough)
Your Love Will Carry Me (Beau Dixon)
Together they create a sound that is difficult to define. A hybrid of rock and country, The Spruce Street Ramblers really don’t sound like anybody else — they just sound like The Spruce Street Ramblers. The joy and electricity of their performance is felt in every musical number.
Dixon and Tough’s original songs, including “Flower Man”, “Groovy Day” (written by Dixon and Sean Moran), “Royal Tavern”, and “Your Love Will Carry Me” are too good to just be heard in this show.
These songs need to be recorded on a soundtrack album (preferably on vinyl) and be heard by the far-reaching public. I want recordings of these songs that I can listen to over and over again.
As a music lover and record collector, I also really appreciate the through-line that Dixon incorporates into the story, following rock music all the way from Elvis Presley to Rush. While the show is about the unique Canadian music experience, it goes beyond being about powerhouses like Paul Anka, Ronnie Hawkins, The Guess Who, and Ian and Sylvia (although all four play their own parts in the narrative).
The cast and crew of “Bloom: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fable” during a standing ovation after the performance of “Bloom: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fable” at 4th Line Theatre in Millbrook on opening night on July 4, 2019. Director Kim Blackwell and playwright Beau Dixon are holding up bouquets of flowers they were gifted in recognition of the play’s success. Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Bloom also pays tribute to the Canadian groups that found minor success in an era where the CRTC barely supported Canadian music.
The Spruce Street Ramblers is an homage to groups such as The Sugar Shoppe, The Bells, The Original Caste, Edward Bear, and Mashmakhan — groups that burned bright with regional hits, crossed the country multiple times, and opened for bigger American bands but, despite being remembered and beloved by Canadian fans, remained ignored by international audiences.
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Beyond the wonderful music, Bloom is just good storytelling, filled with the joy and pain needed for creating art and music, and the triumph and tragedy necessary to create rock ‘n’ roll legends. It could only have been written by a musical insider like Beau Dixon.
Additional performance highlights are from Shelly Simester as Eli’s mother Rose Tanner and JD Nicholson as Neph’s uncle Jack, who support the boys’ musical dreams with their guidance and wisdom, and from Liam Davidson as Clive Butler, a young man making a documentary on The Spruce Street Ramblers.
“Bloom: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fable” playwright Beau Dixon (second from right) with audience members Randy Read (left, artistic director of New Stages Theatre Company), kawarthaNOW.com theatre reviewer Sam Tweedle, and kawarthaNOW.com publisher Jeannine Taylor. kawarthaNOW.com is proud to be a media sponsor of 4th Line Theatre. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
I also want to give special praise to the cast’s young performers (Orion Adams, Kaleigh Castell, Rhys Morgan McClean, Jack Newton, Aiden Playford, and Lucas Pronk) who play the members of The Spruce Street Ramblers as kids in the early part of the show. They create a vivid sense of history for the group, especially the friendship between Eli and Neph that is so important later in the play.
Bloom is another entry into 4th Line Theatre’s stable of hit plays that have made them one of the most important theatrical institutions in Ontario. The team of Kim Blackwood and Beau Dixon is a brilliant one, and the drama and music of Bloom make this show a surefire hit.
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Come be seduced by this rock ‘n’ roll story. This is a summer show that will leave you with a song in your soul. You’ll wish that the music never stops.
Bloom: A Rock n’ Roll Fable runs from Tuesdays to Saturdays until July 27th at the Winslow Farm near Millbrook, with an additional performance on Monday, July 22nd. Advance tickets can be purchased by phone at 705-932-4445, online at www.4thlinetheatre.ca, at 4th Line Theatre’s box office in Millbrook at 4 Tupper Street and in Peterborough at the Peterborough Museum and Archives at 300 Hunter Street East (atop Armour Hill).
Tickets can also be purchased from 4 to 6 p.m. on performance nights at the Winslow Farm (779 Zion Line, Millbrook) but are subject to availability.
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