Premier Doug Ford welcomes Kawartha Lakes Mayor Andy Letham to a one-on-one meeting at Queen's Park in Toronto on December 10, 2018. (Photo: Office of the Premier)
City of Kawartha Lakes Mayor Andy Letham was one of seven mayors from across southern Ontario who had a one-on-one meeting yesterday (December 10) with Premier Doug Ford at Queen’s Park in Toronto.
Ford also met with Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie, London Mayor Ed Holder, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, Oro-Medonte Mayor Harry Hughes, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.
Each meeting, which ranged from 30 to 45 minutes, was also attended by Dean French, the premier’s chief of staff, and Steve Clark, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark, Premier Doug Ford, and Chief of Staff Dean French meet with Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens on December 10, 2018. (Photo: Office of the Premier)
According to a statement from the Premier’s Office, the purpose of the one-on-one meetings was to discuss “shared priorities” including the economy, transportation infrastructure, housing, and plans for the private retail sale of cannabis.
“It felt a little bit, when we got the call on Friday, that we were being called to the principal’s office,” Mayor Letham said in an interview today on CBC radio. “But in the end it turned out to be a very productive conversation.”
At his meeting with the premier, Letham says they discussed working together, the growth plan for Kawartha Lakes (including expanding highways, development, and affordable housing), natural gas, broadband, and long term care beds.
“The premier seemed quite impressed that we had gone to great lengths ourselves to reduce our council from 16 to eight in the last election,” Letham said.
Earlier this fall, the Ontario government had forced the City of Toronto to reduce its council from 47 to 25 seats.
Letham said he didn’t discuss the cancellation of the Basic Income Pilot program during his meeting with Ford.
“I’ve had that conversation with the minister several months ago when they announced the cancellation, so it didn’t come up yesterday.”
Lethan says the premier promised to follow through on the items discussed and have a follow-up meeting.
Seven Peterborough-area entrepreneurs have received $28,000 in grants as part of the sixth intake the Starter Company Plus program, funded by the Government of Ontario and administered by the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre. (Photo: Peterborough & The Kawarthas Economic Development)
This week’s round of regional business news includes Starter Company Plus grant recipients in Peterborough and the City of Kawartha Lakes, a new augmented reality app developed by Kavtek that helps Monaghan Lumber’s customers choose new flooring for their home, and a new co-working space to open in January at Venture13 in Cobourg.
Every week, our managing editor collects business-related news and events from across the Kawarthas. If you’d like us to promote your business news or event in businessNOW, please email business@kawarthanow.com.
Also featured is the release of Peterborough game company Bloom Digital Media’s LGBTQ+ inclusive dating game for the Nintendo Switch, the winner of the Pitch to the Chief competition in Cobourg, and the official opening of Bancroft’s new LCBO store.
New regional business events added this week include Camp Kawartha’s annual general meeting on December 11th and the Port Hope Young Professionals Christmas social on December 13th.
Seven Peterborough-area entrepreneurs receive $28,000 in grants to grow their businesses
Hillary Flood of PedalBoro is one of seven entrepreneurs who have received $28,000 in grants under the Starter Company Plus program. PedalBoro, which received a $4,000 grant, is a multi-passenger bike tour company that will take passengers on a pedal-powered discovery ride through downtown Peterborough’s restaurant scene. (Image: PedalBoro)
Last Thursday (December 6), the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre announced the latest round of Peterborough-area entrepreneurs to receive grants under the Starter Company Plus program.
Seven business owners received a total of $28,000 in grants as part of the sixth intake of the program, which is funded by the Government of Ontario and administered in Peterborough by the Business Advisory Centre. The recepients are:
Fraser Smith of F Smith Consulting: Sustainable Forest Management Service, which provides sustainable and ethical forest management services for conservation authorities, local governments, land trusts, woodlot owners, and primary and secondary forest producers.
Carly Eagles of Sweet Simple Nutrition, a holistic nutrition consulting practice specializing in women’s wellness. Eagles’ business integrates a holistic approach to wellness to help individuals discover optimal health through lifestyle adaptations.
Caitlin Jacobs of Conflict Transformations, a consultancy serving workplaces and other organizations in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Jacobs’ business helps clients understand conflict, how to work towards transformation, collaboration and creative problem solving.
Vanessa Brown of Direct Visual Care, a local mobile optician that supports vision care needs. From pop-up clinics to personal one-on-one house calls, Brown’s business offers professional, personal, and affordable service to correct vision accurately.
Hillary Flood of PedalBoro, a multi-passenger bike tour company providing an innovative, eco-friendly transportation alternative for exploring downtown Peterborough. PedalBoro takes passengers on a discovery tour of the city’s vibrant food scene.
Jenn Austin-Driver of Farmhill Weddings, a non-traditional wedding venue located in Keene in the rolling hills of Millen + Smith Acres. The focus is on providing a scenic farm experience with local farm-to-table menu options.
Jordan Ahee of Biosphere GPS, a software startup that makes it easy to explore nature, discover new places, and plan outdoor activities more intelligently.
Starter Company Plus supports entrepreneurs who are starting, growing, or acquiring a business. It offers a series of workshops to support the creation of a formalized business plan, culminating in the chance to pitch for competitive grant dollars. Since the program began in March 2017, the Business Advisory Centre has seen more than entrepreneurs participate and has awarded $170,000 in grants.
“This program is generating results for our community and strengthening our region as a destination for small business,” explains Madeleine Hurrell, the economic development officer at the Business Advisory Centre who oversees the program.
In the past two years, the program has resulted in the creation of 53 startups and has supported 37 business expansions. The program has also seen the opening of 12 bricks-and-mortar locations in the region, and has created 110 jobs in the local community.
Six entrepreneurs in Kawartha Lakes receive Starter Company Plus grants
Recipients of the Starter Company Plus grants in the City of Kawartha Lakes. (Photo: KLSBEC)
The Starter Company Plus program also runs in the City of Kawartha Lakes, where it is administered by the Kawartha Lakes Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre (KLSBEC).
Last Wednesday (December 5), KLSBEC hosted a reception and gallery in Lindsay to showcase some of the businesses that have benefited from the program and to announce the final grant recipients in 2018:
Jessica Shea of Wild at Heart Hair Studio.
Lori Mitchell of Kawartha Restorative Acupuncture.
Amanda Lewis of Mouthpiece.
Graham Bashford of Aging GPS.
Ally Boothroyd of Sarovara Yoga.
Terri Mathews of Mathew Madlyn.
Through Starter Company Plus, KLSBEC has provided training and business plan development to 63 new entrepreneurs and has awarded a total of $132,000 to 33 of these businesses, creating 78 new jobs in the community.
Peterborough augmented reality startup Kavtek’s app helps Monaghan Lumber’s customers choose new flooring for their home
An augmented reality mobile app developed by Kavtek helps customers of Monaghan Lumber in Cavan choose new flooring for their home. (Supplied photo)
Monaghan Lumber in Cavan is using augmented reality to help customers choose new flooring for their home.
The building material supplier’s new mobile app was developed by Kavtek, a Peterborough startup that specializes in augmented reality solutions for home design and renovation.
Using the camera on a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet, the app allows users — without leaving their own home — to overlay Monaghan Lumber’s flooring options on top of their existing floors to see how the room will look with the new flooring.
VIDEO: Monaghan Lumber app
Kavtek has already created partnerships with RE/MAX Integra, Wayfair, and Dulux Paints. Monaghan Lumber is one of the first building material suppliers in Canada to embrace augmented reality.
“Working with Sanu and the Kavtek team has been an excellent experience,” says Warren Rose, Director of Sales and Public Relations at Monaghan Lumber. “The immediate impact on our service and customer experience has been tremendous, and we look forward to using the new technology while we work closely with designers, builders, renovators, and do-it-yourselfers.”
The consumer market for augmented reality software is projected to reach over $13 billion by 2022.
“Monaghan Lumber believed in our vision and we are very excited to introduce augmented reality to their consumer base,” says Sanu Somaweera, Co-Founder of Kavtek. “The app caters to the Uberized generation of consumers that need instant gratification by empowering them to visualize products in their space effortlessly.”
The app is available to download for free on the Apple App Store and on Google Play (just search for “Monaghan Lumber”).
New co-working space to open at Venture13 in Cobourg in January
Venture13 Innovation Centre is located at 739 D’Arcy St. in Cobourg. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
Venture13, Northumberland County’s innovation and entrepreneurship centre, has announced a new co-working space designed for telecommuters and independent consultants.
Called the “VentureZone Inn”, the space will open in January 2019 within the VentureZone, a flexible work and accelerator space delivered by the Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation (NCFDC).
“Digital technology continues to advance allowing workers to be more mobile and flexible, providing employers the opportunity to offer remote work policies and solutions,” says NCFDC executive director Wendy Curtis. “At Venture13 we want to capitalize on this by giving our entrepreneurial community access to yet another cohort for collaboration, idea sharing, and diversification.”
At a cost of $125 per month, the VentureZone Inn will offer one dedicated seat in the co-working desk space, a high-speed fibre internet connection (wired and wireless), one dedicated locker and combination lock, access to private meeting space, and more. Anyone who signs up for a VentureZone Inn membership will receive their first month free for a trial period with no obligations or strings attached.
Peterborough game company Bloom Digital Media releases LGBTQ+ inclusive dating game for Nintendo Switch
Developed by independent game company Bloom Digital Media, LongStory is an LGBTQ+ friendly dating sim designed to foster stronger relationships and inclusivity. The game, which has been available for several years for PCs and iOS and Android mobile devices, is now available on the Nintendo Switch. (Supplied photo)
Based in Peterborough and Toronto, independent game company Bloom Digital Media in has released its LGBTQ+ inclusive dating game LongStory on the Nintendo Switch — the fastest-selling game console in U.S. history.
The dating simulation game, set at the weirdly lovable Weasel Heights Middle School, has an eight-episode story arc. It lets you pick your gender designation and pronouns, as well as whether you would like to date any of your friends. In addition to the pains and pleasures of romance, LongStory offers players the chance to reflect on complex issues including consent, coming out, social anxiety, and bullying — all in a safe environment.
Miriam Verburg, founder of Bloom Digital Media, an independent game company based in Peterborough and Toronto. (Supplied photo)
Originally published in 2014, the game is already available for PCs (Windows and Mac) and as a mobile app for iOS and Android mobile devices (it has been downloaded more than 1.4 million times). The game was released for the Nintendo Switch in North America and Europe on December 6, 2018.
The game won a Jury’s Honorable Mention at the 12th International Mobile Gaming Awards in 2016.
Bloom Digital Media was founded by Miriam Verburg, who has won several awards for the company’s innovative games, including a Jury’s Honorable Mention at the 12th International Mobile Gaming Awards in 2016 for LongStory.
VIDEO: LongStory Trailer – Bloom Digital Media
Verburg, who has been featured in publications such as VICE, Huffington Post, and the Globe and Mail, is a strong advocate for promoting female talent within Ontario’s game industry, through her participation in organizations like Dames Making Games, Interactive Ontario and as a sessional faculty member at Centennial and Humber College.
“Teens need a game that feels authentic,” Verburg says about LongStory. “They are living in the twenty-first century and they need a romantic game that reflects their reality. LongStory provides an opportunity for players to take control of their choices and their experience.”
According to the National Post, 10 per cent of young Canadians aged 18 to 34 identify as LGBTQ+, and according to the Canadian Mental Health Association, those who identify as LGBTQ+ face higher risks for some mental health issues due to the effects of discrimination and the social determinants of health.
Although other video game consoles like the Xbox and Sony Playstion have seen a decline in sales, the Nintendo Switch became the fastest-selling game console in U.S. history in 2018, selling 4.8 million units in its first 10 months of availability.
Northumberland County’s Amy Arthur wins Pitch to the Chief competition in Cobourg
Amy Arthur has won the second installment of the “Pitch to the Chief” competition in Cobourg for her hands-free personal safety device. (Photo: Venture13 / NCFDC)
Northumberland County resident Amy Arthur has won the second installment of the “Pitch to the Chief” competition in Cobourg for her hands-free personal safety device.
The competition, which was held in the Innovation Commons of Venture13 on November 28th, offers technology entrepreneurs the chance to pitch innovative products and services to the Chief of Police for Cobourg, in partnership with Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation (NCFDC).
A Baltimore resident and a former summer intern with the Ontario Provincial Police, Arthur is a McMaster University B.Sc. graduate who is currently finishing her Forensic Psychology degree at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). She previously invented a light therapy device, and demonstrated a prototype of her latest product — a hands-free personal safety device called Claxton — at the Pitch to the Chief competition
“In the market of personal safety devices, there is not one all-inclusive product that works for everyone and in all situations,” Arthur says. “I have taken on the task of solving this issue. I feel truly honoured to have had the opportunity to present my product idea and prototype to the Chief and his panel.”
Arthur’s prototype, was developed in-house at the Venture13 MakerLab — a collaborative prototyping, engineering and microfactory space created to support startups and makers — with fellow VentureZone member Alex Papanicolaou of Campbellford and with design input from Northumberland Makers.
Cobourg Chief of Police Kai Liu, Cobourg Police Services Board Chair Dean Pepper, and Inspector Jeff Sheils, along with NCFDC Board Member Pam Russell, formed the panel of judges. The presentation format was a 10-minute pitch including slides and demonstrations, followed by an interactive question and answer period. The entrepreneur pitches ranged from IoT sensors to robotics to connected and autonomous vehicle infrastructure to wearables.
The next Pitch to the Chief competition is set for the first half of 2019.
LCBO opens new store in Bancroft
If you’re in the #Bancroft area, make sure to stop in and check out their brand new beautiful #LCBO ?? tons of selection…
A new LCBO store in Bancroft officially opened last Wednesday (December 5).
Construction on the new building at 314 Hastings Street North (just south of the Canadian Tire and Foodland) began over the summer.
The new store is much larger than the previous location on Station Street in downtown Bancroft. It’s wheelchair accessible and features a Vintages corner, a cold beer room, and ample parking.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, 9;30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Peterborough Chamber breakfast meeting on attracting local shoppers on December 11 in Peterborough
The Peterborough Chamber’s next breakfast meeting takes place from 7 to 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 11th at Carousel Restaurant & Tavern (116 Lansdowne St. E., Peterborough).
Terry Guiel, executive director of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) will speak on the top “Santa Keeps it Local – How to Attract Local Shoppers”.
Networking begins at 7 a.m., with breakfast served at 7:30 a.m. (when you can make your best 30-second elevator speech to the room), followed by the guest speaker at 8 a.m.
The event is free (you only pay for whatever you order for breakfast).
Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce host a Holiday Open House in Haliburton on December 11
The Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Holiday Open House from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Demember 11th at the Chamber offices (195 Highland St., Haliburton).
The event will celebrate the past year and features treats and hot beverages.
Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce hosts Christmas Meet & Greet in Cobourg on December 11
The Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Christmas Meet & Greet from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Demember 11th at the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre (930 Burnham St., Cobourg).
This networking event is open to all local business people and is free both for Chamber members and non-members.
Camp Kawartha holds its annual general meeting on December 11
Camp Kawartha is holding its annual general meeting from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 11th at Camp Kawartha (1010 Birchview Rd, Douro-Dummer).
After networking and refreshments, the formal portion of the meeting gets underway at 6:40 p.m. The agenda includes annual reports, election of board members, and special presentations from Chris Magwood of the Endeavour Centre and Don Watkins from from the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha.
Magwood will speak about living buildings as the most sustainable building standard in the world and Camp Kawartha’s own unique living building project, and Watkins will talk about Adventure in Understanding, a program that brings First Nations and non-First Nations youth together through a canoe journey.
This is also an opportunity to learn about everything Camp Kawartha accomplished over the past year, and hear about future plans including the organization’s capital campaign.
Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre hosts small business workshop in Lindsay on December 12
Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre is hosting a “Building a Strong Small Business Community and Networking ” small business workshop from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 12th in the lower level meeting room at the Lindsay Public Library (190 Kent St. W., Lindsay).
Facilitated by Sandy Greenberg (serial entrepreneur, business coach, and former business advisor at Centennial College Centre of Entrepreneurship), the workshop will explore the benefits of creating a strong business community, including the importance of breaking down barriers to creating a collaborative environment, the value of strategic alliances, and creating buying programs, cross promotions, and shared resources with other community businesses.
Kawartha Chamber Business After Hours Holiday Social at Kawartha Lakes Construction on December 12
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is hosting its Business After Hours Holiday Social from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 12th at Kawartha Lakes Construction (3359 Lakefield Rd., Lakefield).
As part of the event, the team at Kawartha Lakes Construction will be again be running their employee contest for do-it-yourself Christmas trees, where they challenge staff to come up with creative Christmas trees and have guests vote on their favourite.
Kawartha Lakes Construction will also be collecting toys for the Lioness Club Toy Drive, as well as non-perishable food items for the Lakefield Food Bank.
Port Hope Young Professionals hosts a Christmas social in Port Hope on December 13
The Port Hope Young Professionals group is hosting a Christmas social from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, December 13th at Table+Loft (59 Walton St., Port Hope).
This free event will feature DJ Chris Martell and drinks and food will be available for purchase. Attendees are encouraged to dress in their “ugliest” festiva attire.
Bring a locally purchased and wrapped gift of a $10 value to participate in the buy local gift exchange.
The Southern Ontario Ice Climbing Festival (SOIce Fest) takes place from February 8 to 10, 2019 in Maynooth. Festival co-founder, photographer, and passionate climber Peter Hoang took this photo of an ice climber near Huntsville. Because of the granite rock walls of the Canadian Shield found in the area, northern and central Ontario is a popular destination for ice climbers. (Photo courtesy of Peter Hoang, peter-hoang.com)
For the fifth straight year, the Southern Ontario Ice Climbing Festival (SOIce Fest) is returning to Maynooth in 2019 from February 8th to 10th.
The town, located 22 kilometres north of Bancroft in Hastings Highlands, has hosted the annual festival since it was founded four years ago by climbers Andriy Kolos, Josh Smith, and Peter Hoang.
Originally an informal celebration of ice climbing, the non-profit festival is now led by the Ontario Alliance of Climbers (previously known as the Ontario Access Coalition).
The festival has continued to grow each year, drawing ice climbers from across Canada and the northern U.S. Last year, more than 250 climbers attended SOIce Fest.
“It’s a real draw for both experienced ice climbers and for those who have never tried it before,” Kolos says. “We’re able to build on every past year’s success and bring an increasing number of ice climbing guides to the festival, so that we can continue to provide high quality instruction to an ever-growing number of people who want to get into the sport.”
Ice climbing grew out of the sport of rock climbing and mountaineering, as climbers often had to traverse icy sections on their way to the summit. Because of the thrill and challenge of climbing on ice, it soon developed as its own dedicated sport.
Climbers use crampons, ice axes, and ropes to climb on ice formations including frozen waerwalls, icefalls, and cliffs and rock slabs covered with ice from frozen flows of waters. The granite rock walls of the Canadian Shield in central and northern Ontario provides the perfect terrain for ice climbing, making it a popular destination for climbers.
At SOIce Fest 2019, most of the weekend’s climbing activity will take place at Diamond Lake near Combermere, about 34 kilometres west of Maynooth. Evening events will take place at The Arlington in Maynooth. The weekend will also feature clinics, demonstrations, and vendors.
The festival is supported by Mountain Equipment Coop, Arc’teryx, the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, and Yamnuska Mountain Adventures, as well as local businesses and members of the community of Maynooth.
“We’re ever appreciative for the warm welcome we see every year from the Maynooth community,” says Randy Kielbasiewicz, co-chair of the Ontario Alliance of Climbers.
“We thank them for the important role they play in making this festival a continued success. Ice climbing areas are scattered around small communities in rural Ontario, and the ice climbing community is grateful for the hospitality they receive throughout the province.”
VIDEO: Climbing for Community: Southern Ontario Ice Festival
As well as supporting local businesses by bringing hundreds of climbers into Maynooth, SOIce Fest also raises funds for local community initiatives.
Over the past four years, the festival has raised more than $5,500 for the Rural and Overland Utility Transit (TROUT) — a bus service that connects rural residents to the greater Bancroft area — and children’s community programming in Maynooth.
For more information about SOIce Fest and updates on clinics and registration, visit www.soicefest.com.
In "The Other: A Strange Christmas Tale", Leanne (Jalen Brink, left) is the daughter of Bill (Danny Waugh, second from left) and Judy (Naomi Duvall, right), who is estranged from her bigoted father Ebbie Krank (Robert Winslow, second from right). When a mysterious woman arrives in the Village of Millbrook, Ebbie is taken on a journey through his past, present, and future to understand the causes of his racism. (Photo: Wayne Eardley, Brookside Studio)
From December 7th to 14th, join 4th Line Theatre for a lantern-lit journey through the streets and history of Millbrook with the outdoor theatre company’s latest original production The Other: A Strange Christmas Tale.
4th Line Theatre presents The Other: A Strange Christmas Tale
When: Friday, December 7 (sold out); Saturday, December 8; Wednesday, December 12 to Friday, December 14, 2018 (all performances at 7 p.m.) Where: St. Thomas Anglican Church (16 Centre St., Millbrook) How much: $27.50
Written by Beverley Cooper and directed by Kim Blackwell. Starring Linda Kash, Robert Winslow, Danny Waugh, Naomi Duvall, Mosun Fadare, Mark Hiscox, and many more. Musical direction, composition, and arrangements by Justin Hiscox. Costume design by Meredith Hubbard. Tickets available by calling 1-800-814-0055 or 705-932-4445 or online at www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca.
Written by Beverley Cooper and directed by Kim Blackwell, The Other is not only 4th Line Theatre’s first-ever holiday play, but it’s an immersive experiment following the format established in their popular Halloween show The Shadow Walk of Millbrook. The streets and buildings of the town of Millbrook provide a sensual backdrop for a potent story that is extremely topical, but filled with glimpses into the township’s past.
With shades of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, mixed with plot devices from some old The Twilight Zone episodes, the play begins at a Christmas pageant held at St. Thomas Anglican Church in Millbrook. Community members Phyllis (Linda Kash) and Reggie (Mark Hiscox) are surprised when local curmudgeon Ebbie Krank (Robert Winslow) shows up with his granddaughter Leanne (Jalen Brink), sent to visit her grandfather by Ebbie’s estranged daughter Judy (Naomi Duvall) — who has not spoken to her father since her marriage 15 years earlier.
Unsure how to communicate with his granddaughter, Ebbie becomes frustrated with Leanne’s focus on her phone, and Leanne meets her grandfather’s demands with pure defiance.
Then, when a mysterious woman speaking in a foreign language (Mosun Fadare) shows up at the church and approaches Leanne, Ebbie violently pushes her away from his granddaughter while shouting prejudiced remarks at her about her ethnicity.
Upset and disgusted by her grandfather’s blatant racism, Leanne flees the church, prompting Ebbie to follow. What happens next is a journey through Millbrook’s past and future, as Ebbie travels through 1909 to 2019 and discovers his family’s legacy of bigotry and intolerance towards those who are different — “The Other” of the play’s title.
Robert Winslow stars as Ebbie Krank, a bigot who has been estranged from his daughter since she married a Haitian 15 years before. Also pictured is Mark Hiscox as Reggie. (Photo: Wayne Eardley, Brookside Studio)
From the Roma visitors who came to Millbrook in 1909, to transient people looking for work and food during the Great Depression, to the Protestant feud with Catholics, to Canada’s current aid to Syrian refugees, Ebbie takes a long hard look at his past, leading to the events that tore his daughter out of his life.
Mosun Fadare as Angela, the mysterious women who arrives in Millbrook on the night of the Christmas pageant. (Photo: Wayne Eardley, Brookside Studio)
Is it too late for an old bigot to change his ways, or will he lose his family forever? Only a Christmas miracle can show Ebbie Krank the error of his ways and put love in his heart.
While keeping to the local historical themes that 4th Line Theatre is famous for, The Other is a very modern tale that strums a powerful emotional chord. Although it is sad to admit, we currently live in a society where the political backdrop in the United States, as well as in Canada, has allowed xenophobia, bigotry, and intolerance to once again rear their ugly heads.
Where once bigots stayed quiet in their beliefs, the politics of hate and intolerance has become dominant once again and racists now feel comfortable letting their slanted world view be aired out in the open.
The Other addresses this disturbing current trend head on by introducing the audience to a bigot. But instead of simply vilifying him, the play seeks to understand what elements in his life brought him to this point, exposing that history repeats itself. Playwright Beverley Cooper puts forth the idea that intolerance is generational and it is passed down from grandparents, to parents, to children.
The Other doesn’t hold back, and packs a powerful and potent punch when dealing with this sensitive subject. It’s refreshing to see such sensitive subject matter being dealt with in a Christmas story.
“The Other: A Strange Christmas Tale” takes the audience through the streets and history of Millbrook, from porches to parks. Pictured is Robert Winslow with Emma Khaimovich and Hilary Wear. (Photo: Wayne Eardley, Brookside Studio)
Robert Winslow gives another commanding performance as Ebbie Krank. Krank is a difficult character to play: he is insufferable, explosive, and intolerant. While playing a racist is never easy, Robert shows a very human side of his character. Despite his character’s reprehensible behaviour, Rob creates a character who becomes more and more sympathetic as he moves through the different vignettes.
When the audience first leaves the church, they witness Robert pacing the street frantically, up and down the asphalt and through the crowd as he searches for his granddaughter. In the process, he envelops himself in a frantic nervous energy that rips through the audience. It’s an interesting performance by a talented actor.
Robert is joined by a strong supporting cast of performers making up his past, present, and future. He meets his match in Naomi Duvall as his daughter Judy, who breaks the circle of hate when she falls in love with Haitian-born student Bill Toussaini (Danny Waugh).
Robert Winslow as the bigoted Ebbie Krank, with Mosun Fadare as the mysterious woman Angela who sets the play’s events into motion. Riffing on “A Christmas Carol”, Beverley Cooper’s script is ultimately a Christmas tale of redemption. (Photo: Wayne Eardley, Brookside Studio)
One of my favourite local performers, Naomi shows a heroic defiance as she chooses the man she loves over the legacy of bigotry that her family has tainted Millbrook with for over a century. Naomi and Danny are a charming pair, making a statement that love is colour blind and knows no boundaries.
One of the most important elements of this show is the performance by Mosun Fadare. With an unearthly beauty about her, Mosun has an otherworldly presence that creates the air of mystery to make the mysticism of this show work. Mosun is the embodiment of Christmas magic.
But the real star of The Other is Millbrook itself. The locations used for the backdrop of the show are very well chosen. From the church, to home porches, to parks, to the front of the Nexicom building, to dead-end streets, the production team makes clever use of space, and the old-fashioned small town architecture of Millbrook’s scenic downtown core believably takes you back in time.
Some performers are only seen in the shadows, while others disappear into the darkness. A roaming choir of familiar theatrical faces goes from location to location, creating a beacon of light and song to lead the roaming audience to the next location. A horse and a dog help bring the illusion of reality to the show. The journey through Millbrook is scenic, beautiful, and well done.
While the trek through the streets of Millbrook is the point of this theatrical experiment, it also becomes a burden for the drama of the play. Each scene in The Other contributes a powerful piece of the story, dealing with some very emotional material that has the potential to trigger audience members. However, as the audience listens to the comical banter of Linda Kash and Mark Hiscox while travelling to the next location, the audience is momentarily taken out of the drama and some of the power of those scenes is lost.
Once at the next location, the company starts all over again. Through the drama and performance, they eventually recapture the audience, but are at risk of losing them once again as the journey continues.
Linda Kash and Mark Hiscox (not pictured) provide comic relief between the dramatic scenes of the play, while the audience travels to the next scene location. (Photo: Wayne Eardley, Brookside Studio)
I would be interested to see how The Other would work as a conventional production done on a traditional stage. I wonder if the material would be even more potent with shorter scene transitions and less comical banter.
However, what would be lost would be the irreplaceable scenic backdrop of the Village of Millbrook. The journey through the streets is truly the magical element of the show. Trying to mesh together the journey and the story is a complicated theatrical experiment that works on most levels, and successfully creates a memorable and unique experience.
But in the end this is a holiday story. Although there were only one or two young people in the audience at the show I attended, The Other is a perfect story to start a discussion with your children about the perils of bigotry and hatred for families and communities. It is a story simple enough to understand and engaging enough for audience members of all ages, without softening the blow of the material. Beverley Cooper shows a remarkable balance in her script.
The play is supported by musicians Rita Dottor, Justin Hiscox, and Mark Hiscox and a choir consisting of Nate Axcell, Rosemarie Barnes, Taylor Beatty, Sophie Botting, Katherine Carleton, Elaine Day, Natalie Dorsett, Tyler Evans Knott, Christie Ferguson Freeman, Keith Goranson, Brandon Grant Remmelgas, Gillian Harknett, Tim Jeffries, Heather Knechtel, Rowan Lamoreaux, and Darcy Mundle. (Photo: Wayne Eardley, Brookside Studio)
There are many holiday theatre options in the Kawarthas, but The Other: A Strange Christmas Tale is a definite winner in regards to material, originality, and in creating a memorable theatrical experience. It combines the warmth and mystery of the Christmas season with an important message of acceptance and tolerance in a world that seems to be full of hate.
The play includes fear, pathos, history, joy, and redemption. But most of all, it features the town of Millbrook in a majestic journey through its colourful past and beautiful streets.
The Other: A Strange Christmas Tale will be performed on Friday, December 7th and Saturday, December 8th, and through Wednesday, December 12th to Friday, December 14th. While the December 7th show is sold out, tickets are still available for the other performances. Each show begins at 7 p.m. at St. Thomas Anglican Church (16 Centre St., Millbrook). Tickets are $27.50 and can be purchased by calling 1-800-814-0055 or 705-932-4445 or online at www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca.
Note: Dress warmly and prepare for the elements. The outdoors portion of the show last approximately an hour and, even if it’s a mild winter’s night, it gets nippy after a while.
Karen Scott of Apsley has spun her way to $400,000.
She won the top prize in OLG’s The Big Spin Instant game, a $5 game that combines scrach play with prizes revealed in-store by an animated spinning wheel on the lottery terminal screen.
If the animated wheel stops on “Big Spin”, the player wins an in-person spin at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto, for a guaranteed prize of $100,000 to $500,000.
Scott took the spin in Toronto on Wednesday (December 5) and claimed a prize of $400,000.
The winning ticket was purchased at Foodland on Elgin Street in Madoc.
Serena Ryder's new video for the title track from her new record "Christmas Kisses" supports the Ontario SPCA by featuring more than 20 dogs, with some dressed in festive outfits and some giving kisses to their humans. Several dogs and their owners from the Kawarthas appear in the video. (Screenshot)
Millbrook native Serena Ryder has released a new video to promote the eponymous single from her new record Christmas Kisses and to support the Ontario SPCA — and the video includes a few Kawarthas pooches and their owners.
Directed by Lisa Mann, the video for the song “Christmas Kisses” features more than 20 dogs, with some dressed in festive outfits and some giving kisses to their humans.
Susan Dunkley, Manager of Development and Outreach at the Peterborough Humane Society, appears in the video with her dog Zoey. Sadie and Archie, who belong to Rhonda Barnet and Don Barnet of Steelworks Design Inc. in Peterborough, also make an appearance.
The Peterborough Humane Society’s Susan Dunkley gets a kiss from her dog Zoey. (Screenshot)Archie and Sadie, who belong to Rhonda Barnet and Don Barnet of Peterborough, appear in the video. (Screenshot)As Lisa Besseling looks on, Owen the Griff gives Marlon Hazlewood a kiss. (Screenshot)His quirky cuteness is one of the reasons why Owen the Griff has more than 75,000 followers on Instagram. (Screenshot)
So do Lisa Besseling and Marlon Hazlewood with their pup Owen the Griff. Like many of the other dogs featured in the video, Owen the Griff is a “dog influencer” on Instagram (he now has more than 73,000 followers @owenthegriff).
At the end of the video, viewers are encouraged to support local animal shelters and rescue centres. There’s a link to ontariospca.ca/serena where you can make a donation to the Ontario SPCA.
Currently the number one holiday song in Canada right now, “Christmas Kisses” was penned by Serena and songwriter Simon Wilcox. It is the only original song on Serena’s new record, which is a jazz treatment of holiday favourites including “Let It Snow”, “White Christmas”, “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”, “Blue Christmas”, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, “Jingle Bell Rock”, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, “Santa Baby”, and “Christmas Song”.
“Christmas Kisses”, Serena Ryder’s first-ever Christmas record, is a jazz treatment of nine holiday favourites along with the title track. It was produced by Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Bob Ezrin. (Publicity photo)
Christmas Kisses is Serena’s first-ever Christmas record. She says she was encouraged to make it by producer Bob Ezrin, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee who has worked with Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Pink Floyd, Deftones, 30 Seconds To Mars, and many more.
“When the man who produced Pink Floyd’s The Wall asks you to do a Christmas album, you just say yes,” Serena says in an interview with Jordan Parker of Halifax Today.
“He’s one of the most legendary, magical men on the planet. He asked me what Christmas made me feel, and I thought of the spirit of togetherness, and family.
“But something I loved as a kid was jazz music, like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. I always wanted to do a jazz record, and here it is.”
The new record and video is also something of a birthday present for Serena, who turns 36 on Saturday (December 8).
Amy Semple got the worst news of her life when she was 32 years old: she had breast cancer. But thanks to the expert and compassionate staff at Peterborough Regional Health Centre and equipment and technology funded by donors like you, she is a breast cancer survivor. (Photo: Jeremy Kelly)
There are few things in life as terrifying as hearing the words “you have cancer.” Those three little words change everything.
They certainly did for Amy Semple, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32. But thanks to timely access to advanced diagnostic tools and targeted, technologically advanced treatment options at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), Amy is alive to tell her story.
With almost 26,000 cancer care visits last year, PRHC’s ability to provide cancer care excellence goes hand in hand with access to new, urgently needed equipment. Our hospital has identified $6.2 million in cancer equipment and technology that must be purchased in the next three years.
Many people don’t realize government funding only covers a portion of what hospitals need to meet the best practices in patient care. It’s private donations from people like you that allow PRHC to purchase the technology and equipment to advance patient care — both in cancer care and throughout the hospital.
Please read Amy’s story and watch her video below, and read a message from PRHC Oncologist Dr. Neera Jeyabalan. And then please consider giving more families the Gift of Hope by making a donation to the PRHC Foundation to fund the equipment and technology to make world-class cancer care possible at your hospital.
This is the third of a series from the PRHC Foundation to show how your donations to our hospital make a real difference in the lives of real people. Over the next three weeks, kawarthaNOW will be sharing these stories of hope from patients, doctors, and parents. This week’s story is how donations help advance cancer care at our hospital.
Amy Semple’s story
Amy Semple with her husband and their dog Angus. (Photo: Jeremy Kelly)
Hi. I’m Amy Semple.
Wife. Daughter. Teacher. Nature Lover. Dog Mom. Breast Cancer Survivor.
I don’t remember the words, just the feeling. Everything just stopped.
The last thing I ever expected was to be sitting in my doctor’s office getting the worst news of my life. 32 years old and I was a statistic. I was one of the 1 in 8 women diagnosed with breast cancer every year.
In my head, I started pleading for this not to be my reality. But for me, and so many women in our region, it is. And it’s terrifying.
I couldn’t change my diagnosis, but my hospital was here for me when I needed it most.
When I started my cancer journey at PRHC I was quickly made aware of all of the different areas of the hospital that were going to be used to support my survival. From the Breast Assessment Centre and the Cancer Care Unit, to the Operating Room, Diagnostic Imaging and the Lab — my diagnosis and treatment were supported from beginning to end, close to home.
Cancer can break you. It almost broke me. It was my family, my friends, my students, and everyone at PRHC who got me through it and I’m so grateful. If you’ve ever made a donation to the PRHC Foundation, you were with me too. Thank you.
Today I’m lucky to have a good prognosis for a long, healthy life. I support the PRHC Foundation because I know firsthand how much it means not to have to travel for cancer care. It was the expert, compassionate staff, and the donor-funded equipment and technology that kept me alive. Now I want to do my part for the many people facing their own cancer journey.
Everyone has a reason to give. This is mine.
Please join me. Your donation today will make an impact in the lives of cancer patients from across the region. At the most frightening time they can imagine, help me give them the Gift of Hope this holiday season.
With sincere gratitude,
Amy Semple
PRHC Patient and PRHC Foundation Donor
Breast cancer survivor Amy Semple shares how PRHC Foundation donors helped save her life
A message from Dr. Neera Jeyabalan, PRHC Oncologist
We’re seeing more cancer patients at PRHC than ever before: from 4,500 patient visits in 2008 to almost 26,000 visits last year. But our ability to provide the care our patients need goes hand in hand with access to state-of-the-art equipment.
Dr. Neera Jeyabalan, PRHC Oncologist. (Photo courtesy of Heather Doughty Photography)
That’s why I’m so grateful for donor support. You’re there when we diagnose cancer early, when we provide patients with quality treatment close to home, and when we give them the innovative, compassionate and personalized care they need for their best chance of recovery.
So thank you for supporting the 2018 Gift of Hope campaign. With your support, we can give more cancer patients the gift of time — years, even decades, to embrace life and create special memories with friends and family.
The Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation works with donors to fund the equipment and technology that form the backbone of patient care at PRHC — bringing new lifesaving services to our region, and helping attract and retain expert doctors, nurses, and staff. For more information, visit www.prhcfoundation.ca or call 705-876-5000. You can also follow the PRHC Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Alberta's Juno and CCMA award-winning country musician Gord Bamford is performing at The Venue in downtown Peterborough on Tuesday, December 11th, with special guest opener JoJo Mason. (Publicity photo)
Every Thursday, we publish live music and performance events at pubs and clubs in Peterborough and The Kawarthas based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, December 6 to Wednesday, December 12.
If you’re a pub or club owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our Nightlife Editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com.
8:30pm - An Evening of Punk and Metal ft The Albino Structure w/ Bsement Dweller & A Day on Mercury ($10 at door)
Tuesdays
9am-12pm - Open mic hosted by Art Lajambe
Turtle John's Pub & Restaurant
64 John St., Port Hope
(905) 885-7200
Coming Soon
Saturday, December 29 10pm - Joker
The Twisted Wheel
379 Water St., Peterborough
Coming Soon
Saturday, December 15 8pm - Johnny Pandora from Tokyo Japan w/ special guests The Dreamboats ($10, tickets available at Twisted Wheel, Providence, and Bluestreak Records)
The Venue
286 George Street North, Peterborough
(705) 876-0008
Thursday, December 13 7:30pm - Fourth Annual Warming Room Christmas Concert ft Kate Suhr, Melissa Payne, Kate Brioux, Paper Shakers (19+, PWYC, all proceeds to Warming Room Community Ministries)
Saturday, December 15 7pm - The Headstones w/ Matchstick Skeletons ($42.50, available at www.ticketmaster.com)
In "Youth Unstoppable", filmmaker Slater Jewell-Kemker documents her decade-long involvement in the youth climate movement, as well as her efforts to give young people a voice in the fight to combat climate change. The film will headline the opening night of the 2019 ReFrame Film Festival on January 24th at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Supplied photo)
A documentary film about the youth environmental movement by a former Peterborough high school student is headlining the 2019 ReFrame Film Festival.
Filmmaker Slater Jewell-Kemker made Youth Unstoppable to amplify youth voices against climate change. The film will screen on ReFrame’s opening night at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 24th at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough.
Born in Los Angeles to filmmaker parents, Jewell-Kemker moved to Kawartha Lakes when she was 10 years old. While still a student at PCVS in Peterborough, she began her work as a filmmaker-activist chronicling the global youth movement, and most of her early work was made right here in Peterborough.
Born in Los Angeles to filmmaker parents, Slater Jewell-Kemker (right) moved to Kawartha Lakes when she was 10 years old. She attended PCVS in Peterborough, but dropped out of high school when she was 16 to pursue her passion to document the global youth environmental movement. (Supplied photo)
“One of my very first short films, Peace Begins, screened at the ReFrame Film Festival around the time I started this documentary,” she says. “It always kind of stuck in my mind … wouldn’t it be great to come back here when I’m done with this film, to come back to my home area where I can bring my friends and have them see what I’ve been doing for the past ten years?”
At 16, Jewell-Kemker dropped out of high school to pursue her passion for filmmaking. Now 26, her work has been covered by national media including The Toronto Star and in Flare’s 30 Under 30 list. The UN, TIFF, Forbes.com’s “Millennials on a Mission”, Mountainfilm, and SilverDocs have all recognized Jewell-Kemker for her activist filmmaking.
Youth Unstoppable documents Jewell-Kemker’s decade-long involvement in the youth climate movement, as well as her efforts to give young people a voice in the fight to combat climate change.
“Young, passionate activists are attempting to save the planet and humankind,” she says. “I wanted to help give them a voice and document our struggle, one that gives me hope that we might just be able to save ourselves.”
Youth Unstoppable is produced by Daniel Bekerman of Scythia Films and Wendy Jewell (Slater’s mother). Adrian Grenier, best known as the former star of Entourage, is an executive producer of the film.
The film screened in May 2018 in Cannes as part of the World Bank Group’s global climate communications and partnership program Connect4Climate.
VIDEO: Slater Jewell-Kemker talks about her film ‘Youth Unstoppable’
“Youth Unstoppable is an inspiring film,” says ReFrame creative director Amy Siegel. “It’s the perfect celebration of our fifteenth anniversary. ReFrame showcased the work of this local teenager, and within a decade she’s back to screen the opening night feature film.”
“Slater’s story shows us a way forward in a global crisis that often seems impenetrable, and I know it will foster critical discussion, action, and change amongst all who see it.”
Tickets for ReFrame’s opening night, as well as festival passes, are available online now at reframefilmfestival.ca.
Beginning Friday, December 7th, tickets and passes will also be available at the GreenUP Store (378 Aylmer St. N., Peterborough, 705-745-3238), Watson & Lou (383 Water St., Peterborough, 705-775-7568), Happenstance Books and Yarn (44 Queen St., Lakefield, 705-652-7535), and at the Pastry Peddler (17 King St. E., Millbrook, 705-932-7333).
Rethinking your gift wrapping to include natural, recyclable, compostable, and reusable items like pine cones, twine, and kraft paper will help you to reduce holiday waste and your environmental impact this holiday season.
Household waste can increase more than 25 per cent over the holidays. The majority of nearly half-a-million tonnes of holiday waste that goes to Canadian landfills each year is made up of discarded gift wrapping and shopping bags.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Karen Halley, GreenUP Communications & Marketing Specialist.
In Peterborough and many other municipalities, plastic and foil wrapping paper, bubble wrap, ribbons, and gift bows go into the garbage over the holidays and are trucked off to our landfill.
Rethinking gift wrapping does not mean you have to forgo the excitement, anticipation, and surprises.
In fact, it’s actually an opportunity to personalize your gifts, to have some fun, and be creative in the process.
The GreenUP Store is hosting an open house and wrapping party on Saturday, December 8th which will showcase natural, environmentally friendly wrapping options and provide samples, demos, and ideas to wrap your gifts the green way this holiday season. (Photo: GreenUP)
Join us at the GreenUP Store at 378 Aylmer Street in downtown Peterborough from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 8th for an open house and wrapping party.
We will showcase natural, environmentally friendly wrapping options and provide samples, demos, and ideas to wrap your gifts the green way this holiday season.
To get you started, here are a few gift-wrapping items that are definitely on the naughty list and should be avoided.
1. Glitter
Glitter seems to be everywhere during the holidays but, if you’re someone who lights up with excitement for all things sparkly, you’ll want to read on and reconsider.
Why is glitter on the naughty list? Almost all glitter is considered to be a microplastic. This means that those tiny sparkly gems are actually very small fragments of plastic that can’t break down in the environment. They are easily washed down our drains polluting our waterways.
Microplastics are then consumed by filter-feeding aquatic life that mistake these tiny pieces of plastic as zooplankton, their primary food source. These tiny microplastics actually end up bio-accumulating or building up along the food chain and end up in the fish we eat too.
Even though products containing microbeads and microplastics are being banned in many areas of the world, we still see glitter on the store shelves — and glued to everything from wrapping paper to holiday bobbles and ribbons.
Skip the glitter! Glitter is a very small part of the worldwide microplastics problem, but if you think that giving up glitter this Christmas won’t make a difference, think again. We can re-think non-essential decorative, holiday items and replace them with more eco-friendly options that won’t harm the planet. Consider minimizing your plastics footprint overall. Glitter is something we do not need.
A quick Google search will bring up many alternatives, such as eco-friendly and biodegradable glitter brand options that are made from plant cellulose and claim to break down in the environment. This might be a better option for those who are just not ready to give up the sparkle. Or, go one step further and decorate with birdseed, rice, coloured salts, or LED twinkle lights, instead.
2. Plastic Ribbon
Here’s a single-use plastic item that you may not have considered before: plastic ribbon.
Kids of all ages marvel at its ability to curl under the scissor blade into lovely celebratory tendrils, but plastic ribbon is simply another one of those items that all too commonly gets discarded, washed into storm drains, and then into our waterways.
Before they turn into microplastics, these ribbons can be hazardous to wildlife, as they become tangled in gills, around legs, or in the throats of animals. Along with disposable cutlery, balloons, and plastic bags, ribbon is very hazardous, in particular for aquatic life.
The good news is there are many alternatives to plastic ribbon that are readily found on the store shelves. Beautiful fabric ribbons can be reused over and over again to tie around gifts, hang a wreath, or decorate the tree.
String is also a simple yet lovely addition to any holiday package, and you may already have some in your kitchen cupboard.
3. Metallic Wrapping Paper
Metallic wrapping paper and gift bags are not recyclable.
Foil, shiny, and glittered wrapping must be discarded via the landfill so, to reduce your holiday waste, avoid these wrapping items altogether. Don’t forget to avoid wrapping paper adorned with glitter, as mentioned above, or any papers that are metallic.
Traditional wrapping paper and cards can be placed in the recycling bin, as long as they aren’t glittery or made of foil or plastic. There are some great inexpensive wrapping paper options including brown kraft paper, newspaper, and pages from old books, which are the most recyclable options.
Rolls of brown kraft paper are available at postal outlets and many dollar stores. Personalize plain paper with seasonal stamps or set the kids up with markers and paint to add some artwork to their wrappings.
Old books can be repurposed into decorative envelopes for smaller gifts. Simply pull out some of the pages from a book you might otherwise donate, or pick up some large-paged coffee table books from the thrift store. Fold and glue pulled-out page edges, punch a hole in the top, thread a ribbon through, and you have a lovely envelope for a card, or a piece of jewelry. An added bonus: it can be hung on a Christmas tree.
While shopping for wrapping paper or cards, check the recycled content before you commit. The higher the percentage of post-consumer recycled material, the better; this really makes a difference when you consider that Canadians purchase 2.6 billion Christmas cards each year.
With a bit of planning, you can actually make your wrapping out of a reusable item such as a tea towel, scarf or t-shirt, which makes it completely waste-free.
Have an empty box ready when it’s time to open gifts so that you can toss reusable items in the box for use next year. A reusable option is even better than a recyclable one.
4. Tape
Plastic tape is just another form of plastic that ends up in our waterways. And the hard plastic dispenser that it comes in is not recyclable.
According to Zero Waste Canada, a non-profit organization that advocates for a zero waste future, Canadians purchase six million rolls of tape during the holidays. Clear sticky tape can be replaced with paper tape, such as masking tape.
Remember, you can skip tape altogether if you’re using ribbons or string to wrap around your gifts. Scoring the edges of your wrapping paper first can make getting that string around the box so much easier. You also don’t need tape if you use reusable fabric or paper bags to wrap your gifts.
VIDEO: DIY Holiday Paper Gift Bow
This holiday season, and beyond, avoid bringing items into your home that are not recyclable, compostable, or reusable. Give the gift of an experience at a local attraction or theatre performance, or the gift of your time. Most of all, the best gift is to conserve resources and support a healthy planet for the future.
For more ideas, join us for our open house and wrapping party at the GreenUP Store at 378 Aylmer Street in downtown Peterborough from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 8th.
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