Come experience a traditional pioneer Christmas this Saturday and Sunday night with Christmas by Candlelight at Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene. There will be horse-drawn wagon rides, carolling, Christmas treats, a Christmas market and, of course, Father Christmas himself. (Photo: Garry Barker)
Register for Business After Hours: Holiday Social at KLC on December 12th
Register online for the Chamber’s Business After Hours: Holiday Social. It’s on Wednesday, December 12th at Kawartha Lakes Construction (3359 Lakefield Rd.) from 5 to 7 p.m.
Kawartha Lakes Construction is holding an employee DIY Christmas tree contest so attendees can vote on their favourite tree.
Join the Chamber for a festive evening of networking and refreshments.
Welcome New Member
Lakeridge Property International Brokerage 391 Gifford Drive, Ennismore, 705-876-7858 or 1-888-978-8261, lakeridgeproperties.com
“Lakeridge Property International Brokerage is a boutique Real Estate firm that offers prestigious Real Estate Service to assist our clients in a smooth and effective process in the selling and marketing of their properties, buying their dream home, relocating to their dream lifestyle, and creating a strong portfolio in their property investments. We understand the value of Customer Service and are dedicated to excellence in every aspect of our business. With our eyes on the future, we continually strive to improve our customer service. We want our clients to know that we stand by them in the complex and tedious times as much as the happy and simple moments. ”
Upcoming New Venture Session – December 4th
Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development is holding a New Venture Session next Tuesday, December 4th from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
If you’re starting a new business, drop into the session to learn about:
The foundations of starting and running a business
The resources and programs available to entrepreneurs in Peterborough & the Kawarthas
Working with the Business Advisory Centre and building a plan of action for your business
Completing the start-up checklist.
Fall Economic Statement: Investing in Middle Class Jobs
Article by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce
On November 21, the Government of Canada released its 2018 Fall Economic Statement entitled “Investing in Middle Class Jobs”, which provides an update on the government’s finances and announces commitments to improve Canada’s competitiveness.
The government is projecting steady, moderate growth in Canada’s economy, with real GDP forecasted to rise by 2 percent in 2018. The Fall Economic Statement forecasts a deficit of $18.1 billion in 2018-19, down by $0.9 billion from the previous year. Growth is expected to be more modest over the next four years due to limited economic capacity, higher interest rates, and slowing US growth.
Left to right: Doug Hutton, Bev Matthews, Mary Smith, Ron Gerow, Dave Nelson. Not pictured: Terry Low, John Fallis, Rick Woodcock.
Last Wednesday, November 21st, Peterborough County said thank you to several outgoing members of County Council with a celebration at Elmhirst’s Resort.
The following outgoing members had over 100 years of combined service to County Council:
Doug Hutton, North Kawartha
Bev Matthews, Trent Lakes
Mary Smith, Selwyn
Dave Nelson, Otonabee-South Monaghan
Ron Gerow, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen
Terry Low, Asphodel-Norwood
John Fallis, Cavan Monaghan
Rick Woodcock, North Kawartha
The Kawartha Chamber is proud to work with various municipalities represented on County Council, including the Township of North Kawartha, Township of Selwyn, Township of Douro-Dummer, and the Municipality of Trent Lakes.
Lakefield Lioness Lions Club Annual Toy Drive is On Now Until December 18th
The Lakefield Lioness Lions Club has teamed up with Country 105/Energy 99.7 for the Annual Christmas Toy Drive in support of the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal for area children and families in need.
Donate new, unwrapped toys now until Saturday, December 8th. All toys will be picked up on December 8th and delivered on the new “Toy Bus” to Lansdowne Place in time for the Miracle Broadcast.
Listen to Country 105/Energy 99.7 for a list of locations or come in to one of over 25 locations the Village of Lakefield.
Congratulations To Dave Clifford For His 50 Years of Service
Dave Clifford is celebrating 50 years of employment at the Township of Douro-Dummer on December 1, 2018!
Clifford began working at Douro-Dummer Township (formerly Dummer Township) on December 1, 1968 as a clerk-treasurer, after which he became a municipal clerk in 1977 followed by CAO in 1998.
Congratulations, Dave!
Christmas By Candlelight at Lang Pioneer Village This Weekend
Enjoy twilight horse-drawn wagon rides through the lantern-lit village this weekend during Christmas by Candlelight at Lang Pioneer Village. (Photo: Larry Keeley)
Get into the holiday spirit with Lang Pioneer Village Museum.
Experience a traditional Pioneer Christmas at Christmas by Candlelight on Saturday, December 1st and Sunday, December 2nd from 5 to 9 p.m.
Sing carols, shop in the Christmas market, enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, take in “A Lumber Camp Christmas” production, meet Father Christmas, and more.
On Sunday, there will be a live nativity at 7 p.m.
Murray Tree Farm Opens This Weekend
Murray Tree Farm, located at 8786 Highway 28, is opening for the 2018 holiday season this Saturday, December 1st.
They will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until December 16th.
For more info, contact Murray Tree Farm at 705-656-4912.
Meet Santa Claus at Lockside Trading Co.
Meet Santa Claus at Lockside Trading Co. this Sunday, December 2nd as well as the following Sunday, December 9th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There is a minimum $10 per child/person donation. All proceeds are going to Jacks Journey and MPSII Research Fund.
Bring your letters to Santa and they will be mailed out to Santa through Canada Posts Santa program that replies back. Photos taken will be emailed.
Lakefield Lioness Lions Christmas Cake Fundraiser Is On Now
Don’t miss out: the Lakefield Lioness Lions Club’s annual Christmas Cake Fundraiser is on now!
Delicious, traditional Christmas Fruit Cakes make great gifts. This annual sale raises funds in support various needs in the community. Available now and until they are gone. $18 each.
Available at Salon Sorella & Day Spa (December 7th only) or you can order through Arlene Jessup at 705-933-9003.
Community Care Christmas Craft & Bake Sale
Community Care is hosting their Christmas Craft & Bake Sale next Wednesday, December 5th from 9:30 a.m. until 12 p.m. at 40 Rabbit St. in Lakefield.
Attending this event is the perfect opportunity to buy some baked Christmas goods as well as support Community Care.
Call 705-652-8655 for more details.
Win A $1,000 Shopping Spree With Christmas In Lakefield – November 17th to December 8th
Win a $1,000 shopping spree in Lakefield this holiday season!
Lakefield Herald is running the Christmas in Lakefield contest until December 8th.
The winner will receive the $1,000 prize in the form of $50 gift certificates to be redeemed at participating merchants.
The draw is taking place December 8th at 5:30 p.m. at the Lakefield Legion.
Buckhorn Festival Of Trees Continues This Weekh
The Festival of Trees continues this week at the Buckhorn Community Centre.
The trees will be set up until December 6th, so you can drop by anytime during the week to purchase tickets for the trees or to get into the Christmas spirit.
Christmas Storefront Decorating Contest
If you have a storefront in Lakefield and the 8th Line – Buckhorn Road Corner, decorate it this holiday season for the chance to win up to $300.
The Lakefield Lioness Lions Club are hosting their Christmas in the Village Initiative. Judging day is December 7th.
Let them know your business is competing by contacting Norma at 705-652-8242 or Merrilyn 705-652-7475.
Get Your Tickets For The Habitat & PKHBA Christmas Charity Auction Next Week
Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and Kawartha Region and the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Home Builders Association are holding a Christmas Charity Auction on December 6th at 6 p.m. at the Peterborough Curling Club.
Enjoy a meal, live and silent auctions, and network with the top home builders and renovators in the Peterborough & the Kawarthas, as well as key Habitat partners and donors.
Tickets are $50 per person + HST. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to Habitat. For tickets, contact Emily at 705-750-1456 ext. 226.
Deer Bay Electric in Buckhorn is looking to hire a full-time Journeyman Electrician for work in Peterborough ad the surrounding areas.
Apply by e-mail to jodi@deerbayelectric.com (.doc or .pdf formats) referencing Electrician in the subject line. In the body of the e-mail, please indicate your timeline of availability to start if hired.
Christmas In The Village Holiday House Tour This Weekend
The Lakefield Christmas in the Village Holiday House Tour 2018 is taking place this Friday, November 30th until Sunday, December 2nd.
Tickets range from day passes ($25/each) to a Friday Special Weekend Pass ($55/each). All ticket holders receive special offers and discounts at participating stores. Tickets available on Eventbrite, BALL Real Estate in Peterborough, and Stuff in Lakefield.
Friday Special Weekend Pass includes seeing the houses at night in a horse and wagon ride (sleigh if it has snowed) around Lakefield College School’s campus with mulled apple cider and cookies. Friday ticket holders can revisit any time on Saturday or Sunday.
Tree Lighting Ceremony at Christ Church Community Museum – December 7th
Lakefield Lioness Lions Christmas Bake Sale- December 9th
Business Fundamentals: Business Planning Workshop – December 10th
Candlelight Services of Remembrance in Lakefield – December 14th
Christmas Tea and Luncheon in Support of Cuddles for Cancer – December 15th
For more information about the businesses and events listed above, please visit the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism website at kawarthachamber.ca.
All photos supplied by Kawartha Chamber of Commerce except where noted.
The top 10 finalists have been chosen for the 2019 Win This Space competition, which includes a free year's lease for a downtown Peterborough storefront. One of the finalists is musician and promoter David Searle, who wants to create a new multi-purpose arts venue that would be a community space during the day and an event space in the evening for local musicians. (Screen capture from application video)
Ten finalists have been chosen for the 2019 Win This Space competition, with a chance to win a free year’s lease of a storefront in downtown Peterborough.
This is the third year of the competition, an initiative of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) in partnership with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, Community Futures Peterborough, and Shorelines Casino Peterborough.
The competition’s judges and sponsors met on Tuesday (November 27) at Providence at 131 Hunter Street West in downtown Peterborough to review all the application videos submitted (contestants were asked to submit a one to three minute video pitch).
Judges and sponsors of the 2019 Win This Space competition met on November 27, 2018 to review all the videos submitted by applicants and chose the top 10 finalists. The winner will be announced on March 5, 2019. Pictured is Terry Guiel, executive director of the Peterborough DBIA, which launched the initiative three years ago. (Photo: Peterborough DBIA)
In no particular order, the 10 finalists are Mink Magic, Knook and Cranny, The Rabbit Hole, Cozy Home; Designs by Lacey, The Food Shop, Statement House, Sustain, Sweat Happy Wellness, Moloko, and Studio Pineo.
Before the winner is announced on March 5, 2019 at The Venue in downtown Peterborough, the finalists will go through a series of workshops on building business plans, creating marketing plans, and learning financial forecasting.
The winner will also receive a grand prize package, valued at more than $40,000, that includes a free lease for a year of an available downtown space of the winner’s choosing, as well as thousands of dollars in donated prizes of office and computer supplies, marketing and financial services, and advertising and promotion.
Here are the application videos submitted by the 10 finalists:
Mink Magic
Knook and Cranny
The Rabbit Hole
Cozy Home; Designs by Lacey
The Food Shop
Statement House
Sustain
Sweat Happy Wellness
Moloko
Studio Pineo
Sponsors of the 2018 Win This Space competition are:
Monthly Adopters: Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, Community Futures Peterborough, Peterborough Community Savings, Ashburnham Realty, Shorelines Casino Peterborough, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, Inclusive Advisory, and Transit One
Gold Sponsors: StudioPTBO, WCKD, Birchview Design, LETT Architects, NV Media, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Sofie Andreou & Associates, Ontario Carpet Supermart, Red X Technologies, and Inclusive Advisory
Silver Sponsors: Publican House Brewery, MossWorks Photography, Women’s Business Network of Peterborough, Marketing.Ink, Brant Basics, and Commercial Press and Design
Media Sponsors: Moving Media, Oldies 96.7, 90.5 Extra, Snapd Peterborough, KawarthaNOW, The Wolf 101.5, Global Peterborough, Fresh Radio 100.5, PTBOCanada, Peterborough This Week, and Peterborough Examiner
Photographer Wayne Eardley took this iconic shot outside of Coronation Hall in Omemee, where Neil Young performed his "hometown concert" on December 1, 2017. (Photo: Wayne Eardley)
A year ago today (November 27), kawarthaNOW broke the news that musical icon Neil Young would in fact be performing a concert in his childhood home of Omemee on December 1, 2017.
Our story, which confirmed the rumours swirling around last November that Omemee might be the location, was shared over 11,000 times and quoted in national media including The Toronto Star.
On the night of the concert, photographer Wayne Eardley headed to Omemee to capture this once-in-a-lifetime event.
To mark the one-year anniversary of the concert, Wayne has shared with us selected photos along with his observations from that night. You can see more photos in Wayne’s original photo essay at www.wayneeardley.com/tonights-the-night.
When I heard Neil was really going to play Coronation Hall in his hometown I planned to spend the evening. I brought my bike just in case the road was blocked. I packed some leftover pizza, and a headlamp for the ride home.
Arriving late in the afternoon I walked a few of the backstreets — all seemed black and white and quiet.
As I neared the main street, the buzz of something really huge gave me whiplash. Staging trucks from Chicago, lighting trucks from Toronto, television trucks from … I’m not sure where.
People were gathering, lining up, singing songs, drumming and sharing their stories of the legend and his music. Someone’s uncle who went to school with Neil was telling stories about childhood days. Locals, teachers, and others who seemed from far and away had gathered on the main street with coffee mugs and hand-rolled cigarettes.
How amazing this was for the town, the country, Neil’s global fanbase, and the music department at Scott Young Elementary school. I envied my two friends who had tickets.
Security and police were everywhere; paramedics were giving oxygen to an older man who seemed overcome. Santa was getting ready to light the tree, Daryl Hannah was directing the cameraman, Randy Bachman was roaming around, and locals were drinking those mystery drinks out of thermoses.
I went into the convenience store and asked the young Korean family if they were Neil Young fans. The young father replied, “Oh yes, today, now we are Neil Young fans”. They were all smiles and I took their portrait.
There were finely dressed uber chics from the downtown of some city wearing leather pants and puffy jackets, standing next to locals with Canada toques and homemade signs.
There were kids and adults drumming on the skin-covered canoe. Old hippies arrived with fringed jackets and wrinkled smiles.
It was a sepia-toned circus.
There were two young guys up to no good being yelled at by a neighbour for trying to hop the fence into the blocked-off back lot area. They seemed on a mischievous mission.
It was appropriate that the moon was spectacular — it was Neil after all.
Around 7 p.m. the crowds came in, Omemee swelled, and the smell of soon-to-be-legal weed started to make its way all along the main street. The cops watched from the sidelines and left us all alone.
At the 8 p.m. hour the sound of Neil’s guitar was heard. It was fantastic how he completely silenced and focused the crowd. It wasn’t blaring outside; it sounded sweet and dreamy. Everyone listened.
A friend called and asked if I by chance I was in Omemee. Of course I was and, although he imagined it cold, I told him how I’d never felt warmer … or more Canadian.
This was the real deal, standing in the parking lot of a gas station watching Neil Young projected on the side of the Legion Hall!
About Wayne Eardley
Wayne Eardley is a Montreal-born award-winning professional photographer and filmmaker living in Peterborough.
As well as his commercial work, Wayne is well known for The Relative Project (featuring his portraits of people from around the world) as well as his photos of performances at 4th Line Theatre in Millbrook.
Actors Steven Gallagher and Juan Chioran, who performed in the original 2009 Toronto production of "A New Brain" produced by The Musical Stage Company, will be reprising their roles in the New Stages' concert version of William Finn's autobiographical musical at the Market Hall in Peterborough on December 1, 2018. Other performers include veterans of the Stratford, Shaw, and Toronto stages along with some Peterborough favourites. (Publicity photos)
On Saturday, December 1st, New Stages Theatre Company brings together performers from across Ontario’s biggest theatrical stages to present a concert version of William Fenn’s A New Brain at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre.
A potent and uplifting musical about cancer and mortality, A New Brain – In Concert is produced by New Stages’ Randy Read and features a spectacular cast of performers from the stages of Stratford, Shaw, and Toronto, joined by some Peterborough favourites.
New Stages Theatre Company presents A New Brain – In Concert
When: Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. Where: Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St. E, Peterborough) How much: $30 general admission ($15 students/arts workers/unwaged)
Music and lyrics by William Finn. Book by James Lapine and William Finn. Produced by Randy Read and featuring Steven Gallagher as Gordon, Shawn Wright as Roger, Gabrielle Jones as Mimi, Juan Chioran as Mr. Bungee, Kristi Frank as Rhoda, Troy Adams as Richard, Charlotte Moore as Lisa, Kate Suhr as Nancy, Dianne Latchford as the Doctor, and Carl Johann Christensen as the Minister, with musical direction by Ryan DeSouza.
Tickets available in person at the Market Hall Box Office or by phone at 705-749-1146 (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday) or online anytime at markethall.org.
First produced Off-Broadway in 1998, A New Brain is the most personal project for American composer and lyricist William Fenn, who has had Broadway success with the Tony award-winning Falsettos and The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee.
“This play is very personal and autobiographical,” Randy says. “William Finn was diagnosed by what they thought was an inoperable brain tumour and, upon being rushed to the hospital, his agent said ‘You should keep notes and write about this.’ His response was ‘What’s the point? They told me I won’t survive this.’
“Anyway, he kept notes. They got into his brain and found that it didn’t end up being a brain tumour after all. They were able to completely correct him and now he’s fine. But he came out and wrote a musical about this experience.”
A New Brain tells the story of composer Gordon Schwinn who has been reduced to writing songs for a kids’ show about a singing frog named Mr. Bungee.
When meeting his agent Rhoda for lunch, Gordon has a brain seizure and is rushed to the hospital where he discovers that he needs to have an MRI. The musical centres on Gordon’s journey through his illness as he faces various medical staff, family members, procedures, and his own mortality, as he realizes his biggest fear is dying before composing his greatest work.
“A New Brain – In Concert” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 1st at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough. (Graphic: New Stages)
For the Peterborough concert version, Randy is reuniting Steven Gallagher and Juan Chioran who played the roles of Gordon and Mr. Bungee in Toronto’s Musical Stage Company’s 2009 production of A New Brain, which was nominated for three Dora Awards.
“In the beginning of the show, Gordon’s trying to write songs for a kids’ show but Mr. Bungee is a despotic mean guy,” Randy says. “Gordon tries to be intelligent with the lyrics for the show, but the kids’ show host hates everything he writes. So he’s very unhappy working on the show.”
While the topics of brain cancer and facing death may seem like a depressing subject for a show, Randy explains that A New Brain is actually an uplifting show about hope and second chances.
“Through the course of the play, the piece becomes a show about getting a second chance,” Randy says. “Gordon comes through and has a renewed sense of the meaning of life. He starts off as a cynical guy, but ends hopeful. I never thought about it before, but we are doing it on December 1st and the show does have some Christmas carol overtones to it.”
Making up the rest of the players in A New Brain is a fantastic cast put together from Randy’s connections across Ontario’s theatre community.
In addition to Steven Gallagher and Juan Chioran, the other members of the cast are (left to right, top to bottom): Troy Adams, Carl Johann Christensen, Ryan DeSouza (musical director), Kristi Frank, Gabrielle Jones, Dianne Latchford, Charlotte Moore, Kate Suhr, and Shawn Wright. (Publicity photos)
Charlotte Moore (Lisa), Shawn Wright (Roger), and Gabrielle Jones (Mimi) have all been featured performers on the Stratford and Shaw Festival stages. Kristi Frank (Rhoda) played Sally Smith in Shaw Festival’s recent production of Me and My Gal, and Soulpepper Theater regular Troy Adams (Richard) returns to the Market Hall where he played Balize in last year’s New Stages’ production of Angels in America.
The cast will be rounded out by local favourites Dianne Latchford in the role of the Doctor, Kate Suhr in the role of Nurse Nancy, and Carl Johann Christenson in the role of the Minister.
Listening to some of the music from the show, I took note that the musical arrangements ranged from blues and ’50s-inspired doo-wop to the traditional musical theatre ballads.
“The music is so clever,” Randy comments. “Some of it is very beautiful, and some of it is so funny. It has many different kind of styles and genres in it. I love the score because it’s so eclectic. There is a beautiful song at the end where he’s supposed to write the kids’ song for the frog to sing, ‘There is so Much Spring Within Me,’ but he turns it around to reflect his own rebirth.”
“A New Brain” is an autobiographical musical by Tony award-winning American composer and lyricist William Fenn, based on his experience of discovering he had what was originally thought to be an inoperable brain tumour.
Similar to the staged readings for New Stages Page on Stage series, A New Brain will be presented in a concert format, with the performers singing and acting songs instead of presenting the show as a full musical.
However, as those who have attended the New Stages readings know, this format is not only highly entertaining but often the words of the pieces become more of the stars than the performers themselves.
It’s a format that allows the audience to focus more on the writing of the piece, and is a different way to experience incredible performers tackling often provocative pieces.
“I’m excited about this performance,” Randy says. “We tend to do pieces that not everybody is familiar with, and I tend to like musicals that have some guts to them — something that has a good storyline and tends to have something to say.”
Peterborough audiences love their musical theatre, and A New Brain – In Concert is an exciting chance to see something very different and very potent, performed by some of the best musical performers in Canadian theatre. It’s an event you shouldn’t miss.
A New Brain: In Concert will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 1st at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. General admission tickets are $30 ($15 for students, art workers, and the under waged) and are available in person at the Market Hall Box Office or by phone at 705-749-1146 (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday) or online anytime at markethall.org.
Maestro Michael Newnham leads the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, the Kawartha Youth Orchestra, and audience members in the PSO's annual holiday carol sing-along in 2017. The Kawartha Youth Orchestra and the carol sing-along return in this year's holiday concert, "Home for the Holidays", which will be performed on Saturday, December 9th at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Huw Morgan)
Every December, the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra (PSO) loves to kick off the festive season for Peterborough-area music lovers with a holiday-themed concert.
After last year’s Hollywood take on the concert, the PSO returns with “Home for the Holidays” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 8th at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough.
Sponsored by Swish, Home for the Holidays features a Boston Pops-style program sure to get the whole family into the spirit, along with members of the Kawartha Youth Orchestra and the PSO’s annual holiday carol sing-along.
At the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra’s “Home for the Holidays” concert, sponsored by Swish, over 80 musicians will be on the Showplace stage performing Christmas favourites and more.
PSO Music Director and Conductor Michael Newnham and the PSO musicians, who began rehearsals for this concert in mid-November, are already caught up in the Christmas magic of the music.
“If there is any concert that can be called ‘pure fun’, this is it,” Michael says.
“The PSO’s Home for the Holidays concert has become a Peterborough tradition. It is an opportunity to bring everyone together to celebrate the upcoming holiday season with our wonderful PSO players and the addition of the Kawartha Youth Orchestra.”
The Kawartha Youth Orchestra (KYO) is a charitable, not-for-profit, community-focused organization that takes pride in helping young people to develop and cultivate a love for music, and to share it with the community.
Under the leadership of Maestro Newnham, who founded the KYO in 2002, the youth orchestra offers young musicians between the ages of 12 and 24 the opportunity to work under the guidance of professional instrumental coaches and to have the experience playing in an orchestra with their peers.
VIDEO: Kawartha Youth Orchestra
The KYO musicians will join their PSO counterparts on stage for the second half of Home for the Holidays. It’s an exciting opportunity to bring the two orchestras together in one show, giving all the players a chance to combine their artistry, performing fun and familiar music, and giving the audience the thrill to hear it played by a very large symphony orchestra.
With all of the action on-stage, the audience won’t be able to help getting into the spirit, and they too will have a chance to take part.
“One of the highlights every year is the carol sing-along,” Michael explains. “With the full audience and more than 80 players on stage all taking part, this is for me always an unforgettable experience.”
Lyrics for the concert’s sing-along will be provided to audience members in the house program that evening.
In addition to the seasonal tunes audience members can expect at Home for the Holidays, Michael reveals that there is more to the program.
“The music ranges from very well-known orchestral showpieces, like Sibelius’ Finlandia and music by Bizet, Wagner and Glinka, through popular Christmas and holiday favourites,” he says. “Even though not every piece has a specific Christmas or holiday theme, they all are included because of the feeling of excitement and gladness they all contain.”
VIDEO: Russlan And Ludmilla (Overture) performed by Orchestra Of Mariinsky Theatre
Mikhail Glinka’s Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla is the best known music from the composer’s 1842 opera based on a poem by Alexander Pushkin. Richard Wagner’s Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg is also from an opera written by the composer, his only ‘comic’ opera.
Georges Bizet’s L’Arlesienne Suites No. 1 and 2 were orchestrated from music composed for a production of the play of the same name by Alphonse Daudet. Jean Sibelius, widely recognized as Finland’s greatest composer, created Finlandia in 1899 as a tone poem, which includes the serene Finlandia Hymn, one of the country’s most beloved melodies.
Home for the Holidays audience members are reminded that Michael Newnham does not present a “Meet the Maestro” pre-concert chat ahead of the PSO Christmas concert. “Meet the Maestro” will return in the New Year at February 2nd’s “Classical Roots” concert.
Concert tickets for Home for the Holidays are available from the Showplace box office at a cost of $35 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets are available in person at the box office (290 George St. N, Peterborough), by phone at 705-742-SHOW (7469), or online at www.showplace.org.
Lakefield College School's production of "Mamma Mia!" is a showcase for the huge talent of Catherine Kim in the leading role of Donna Sheridan. The jukebox musical featuring the hits of Swedish pop supergroup Abba runs from November 27 to December 1 at the Bryan Jones Theatre at Lakefield College School. Performances are free for the public. (Photo: Sara Connelly / SC Photography)
From Tuesday, November 27th to Saturday, December 1st, the students of Lakefield College School, under the direction of Geoff and Rachel Bemrose, present the musical Mamma Mia! at the Bryan Jones Theatre in Lakefield.
SOLD OUT
The entire run of Mamma Mia! is sold out.
Lakefield College School is one of the first groups to acquire the recently released rights to perform this musical theatre favourite that features the songs of the 1970s Swedish pop supergroup Abba, making this a very special entry into Lakefield College School’s roster of well-produced musicals.
The history of Mamma Mia! goes back to 1984, when Abba’s Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson met producer Judy Craymer while collaborating with Tim Rice on the musical Chess. Having parted ways with Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad two years earlier, thus dissolving Abba, Benny and Bjorn were looking for new horizons and Judy was convinced the music of Abba had a dramatic power that could become a stage musical all its own. Although Benny and Bjorn were slow to convince, they eventually gave Judy the green light for a musical project.
Judy hired Catherine Johnston to write the book for the show, and Mamma Mia! opened in London’s West End at the Prince Edward Theater in April 1999. Although it has changed theatres a number of times, the show continues to run today making it one of Britain’s longest-running musicals. The musical made its North American debut in Toronto in 2000, where it had a five-year hit run at the Royal Alexander Theatre. Mamma Mia! had a hard time transitioning to the US market, with brief runs in San Francisco, Los Angeles. and Chicago before premiering on Broadway at The Winter Garden in 2001, where it found its audience and ran for 15 years and over 5.000 performances.
In 2008, the original theatrical production team alongside producer Tom Hanks successfully brought Mamma Mia! to the big screen starring Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, and Pierce Brosnan, further popularizing the production far beyond the stage (and leading to the 2017 sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again). While Mamma Mia! has surprisingly never been won any major theatrical awards, the show has become a beloved favourite acquiring a cult following, popularizing the “jukebox musical” genre, and creating a second wave of Abbamania.
Catherine Kim and company perform “Money, Money, Money”. (Photo: Sara Connelly / SC Photography)
Mamma Mia! tells the story of Donna Sheridan (played by Catherine Kim in the Lakefield College School production), whose romantic entanglements from 20 years ago catch up with her when her daughter Sophie (Kate Bemrose) searches for the identity of her father on the eve of her wedding. Part of a pop trio in her youth, Donna gave up music when she got pregnant with Sophie while on tour in the Greek Islands in 1979. Settling down and creating her own successful holiday resort on the remote island paradise of Kalokari, Donna is a strong-willed business woman and mother who never looked for assistance from Sophie’s father.
In fact, Donna isn’t even sure who Sophie’s father is. Is he American architect Sam Carmichael (Liam Davidson)? The rugged writer and explorer Bill Austin (Zachary Chiagozie)? Or punk rocker turned British banker Harry Bright (Liam Cole)? Stealing her mother’s diary so that she might find out the identity of her father so he can walk her down the aisle, Sophie locates and invites all three men to her wedding. Now, as the island resort explodes with excitement of wedding celebrations, Donna’s past comes crashing down on her as old romantic wounds are reopened, secrets are revealed, and the definition of family is redefined.
There is no denying the popularity of Abba and Mamma Mia!, which is a guaranteed hit with any audience. Geoff Bemrose revealed to me that he and co-director Rachel had been waiting for the rights of this show to come up for 15 years and Lakefield College School is one of the first amateur companies to put on the show. With a team of 47 students (34 cast members and 13 crew) and five teachers working on the show for the past three months, Mamma Mia! is a true passion project for the school.
The cast performs “Voulez Vous”. (Photo: Sara Connelly / SC Photography)
One of the challenges in having this show performed by a very young company is that it has some very adult themes. As a result, the cast needs to find a fine balance between youthful energy and emotional maturity to make it work. As both theatrical professionals and respected educators, Geoff and Rachel and their team find that balance in their performers, and lead them in a fun — and sometimes provocative — musical journey through romance and Swedish pop.
Mamma Mia! becomes a showcase for the huge talent of Catherine Kim in the leading role of Donna Sheridan. Catherine first caught my attention in her small but mighty role of reporter Gloria Thorpe in Lakefield College School’s production of Damn Yankees last year. I described her as being a “spitfire” for her dancing and singing abilities.
Well, that performance was just the tip of the iceberg because Catherine proves herself to be a massive powerhouse in Mamma Mia! with her ability to dominate the stage, hit all the notes in her big musical numbers, and display a tremendous emotional maturity that allows her to transcend from student to middle-aged single mother.
Catherine Kim as Donna, Valetina Boren as Tanya, and Sierra Gibb as Rosie perform “Super Trouper”. (Photo: Sara Connelly / SC Photography)
Whether belting out fun pop numbers such as “Mamma Mia”, “Money Money Money” and “Super Trouper”, or emotional ballads such as “One of Us”, or her standout musical moment of the show “The Winner Takes It All”, Catherine proves herself to be one of the most impressive new musical theatre performers I have seen this year.
Catherine Kim musical superstar written all over her, and I can see a very big future for her in performance arts if she continues in that direction. If there’s one reason to see this production, it’s to take a first look at this emerging actress before she goes on to bigger roles on much bigger stages.
Although I have been aware of Kate Bemrose (who plays Sophie) for a number of years, Mamma Mia! is the first time I have seen this charming young performer in an acting role. Kate has a very unique and unconventional vocal style that doesn’t fit the traditional stage musical mold, but had me enchanted. Very gentle and fragile, with just a hint of vibrato, Kate’s voice is more in the line of Zooey Deschanel or Grace Vanderwall than Patti Lupone or Sarah Brightman, giving it that slightly unique flavour that stands out from other vocal artists.
Kate Bemrose performs “Under Attack”. (Photo: Sara Connelly / SC Photography)
From her opening lines in “I Have a Dream”, Kate exudes youthful optimism and a sense of romanticism, adding a layer of charm to the production. I don’t know if musical performance is something that Kate plans to pursue, but I know that I’d be interested in her potential as a singer beyond stage musicals.
I was very impressed with the casting of the three leading men in the show. For the three potential fathers, the production team chose three young men who couldn’t be more different from one another, and each maintaining their own sense of originality and charm. Liam Davidson, as Sam, has a sense of brash romanticism and real world sensibility; Zachary Chiagozie as Bill Austin is cool and worldly; and Liam Cole as Harry Bright is quirky and eccentric.
Each of the boys give his own outstanding musical performances, albeit it in the form of duets. Liam Davidson, who also has an unconventional yet powerful voice, gives a standout performance with Kate Bemrose with “The Name of the Game”. Liam Cole and Catherine Kim paint a charming picture of days gone by with “Our Last Summer” (I may be a bit biased because that is my favourite Abba song).
Zachary Chiagozic as Bill Austin, Liam Davidson as Sam Carmichael, Catherine Kim as Donna Sheridan, and Liam Cole as Harry Bright. (Photo: Sara Connelly / SC Photography)
Unfortunately, despite his great voice, Zachary doesn’t get very much vocal spotlight. However, he does have a great duet in the second act with supporting player Sierra Gibb with “Take a Chance on Me”. But watch Zachery closely in some of the big group numbers: he has some pretty killer dance moves when he lets loose.
I also want to give a shout-out to Sierra Gibb and Valentina Boren who play supporting roles as Donna’s former musical partners Rosie and Tanya. Armed with some of the funniest lines, they not only back up Catherine in some of the production numbers, but they provide an interesting vocal blend when they sing together on “Chiquita” and “Dancing Queen”. They also have their own outstanding moments, with Sierra’s above-mentioned “Take a Chance on Me”, and Valentina’s “Does Your Mother Know”. Performing in two fun character roles, Sierra and Valentina add a sense of spice to the show.
Beyond the story and the musical performances, the real strength of Lakefield College School’s production of Mamma Mia! lies in the giant production numbers choreographed by Rachel Bemrose. Rachel is one of the finest dance instructors in the area, and her big numbers are always the best of the best. Mamma Mia! is no exception to this. The big moments of the show are always when the entire cast is on stage: the more singers and dancers Rachel can pack into a number, the bigger and more electric it’s going to be.
Kate Bemrose as Sophie and Romano Watt as Sky. (Photo: Sara Connelly / SC Photography)
Production numbers like “Money Money Money”, “Gimme Gimme Gimme”, “Voulez Vous”, “Under Attack”, and “I Do I Do I Do” are very impressive. And only Rachel Bemrose could choreograph the male chorus of the show — led by Romano Watt as Sky, Alex Forde as Pepper, and Eric Xia as Eddie — in a number featuring them dancing in flippers while singing “Lay All Your Love on Me”.
At the preview performance I attended, the final post-curtain call finale was the rousing highlight of the show. As the cast assembled one more time for another trio of Abba favourites, the audience rose from their chairs, clapped, sang, and hollered while the Lakefield College School company exploded one last time on the stage.
Mamma Mia! is always going to be a crowd pleaser, as the entire world seems to be in love with the music of Abba. But the staff at Lakefield College School have really created something special in their arts program, and their theatrical productions are truly special.
Lakefield College School’s production of “Mamma Mia!” is co-directed by Geoff and Rachel Bemrose and choreographed by Rachel Bemrose. (Photo: Sara Connelly / SC Photography)
They not only provide a safe and positive space for young performers to flex their creative muscles, but become an arena for young talent to shine in the spotlight. Even more extraordinary, their productions are always free to the public. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Editor’s note: All five performances of Mamma Mia! at the Bryan Jones Theatre are sold out.
Peterborough musician Rick Young in 2017, before undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, holding a copy of "The Lost Album", his and his wife Gailie’s first record containing 16 original songs written by Rick. Almost a year to the date of a benefit concert to help Rick and Gailie with the costs of not performing while he underwent treatment, Rick is now back home recovering from recent surgery for skin cancer. (Photo: SLAB Productions)
“It’s me … I’m alive.”
With that brief but definitive confirmation, longtime Peterborough musician Rick Young made it clear Monday (November 26) that, despite yet another serious bout with cancer, he hasn’t lost his sense of humour or his optimism over what lays ahead in terms of his health.
Young, 66, is at home resting comfortably following surgery on November 22nd at Toronto General Hospital to deal with a new health threat — in the form of carcinoma.
“This is different than my lymphoma … it’s skin cancer,” says Young, who came home Sunday from the hospital.
“They did two surgeries here in Peterborough using a local anaesthetic. The third time, they sampled it and it was still there, so they said ‘Alright, we’re not horsing around anymore’ and sent me to Dr. (Jonathan) Irish at Toronto General (Hospital).
“This time I think they got it all out. They took some lymph nodes with it so it doesn’t spread anywhere. The incision is from behind my ear to across my neck down to my chest. I go for a follow-up in three weeks and they’ll let me know if anything else is needed or if I’m clear.”
It was in the fall of 2017 that Young began chemotherapy treatment at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of cancer that originates in the lymphatic system, the body’s disease fighting network. Come March 2018, a CAT scan revealed he was clear of that cancer.
The ‘I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends’ benefit concert was held at The Venue in Peterborough on November 19, 2018 after Rick Young was unable to make his living playing music following treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. (Photo: Catherine Bailie McGrath / Facebook)
Just more than a year ago to the day of his most recent surgery, Young, with his wife and longtime music collaborator Gailie, were the benefactors of a huge benefit held at The Venue to help them with costs incurred as a result of not performing.
The event, billed as ‘I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends’ — a nod to their trademark performance of Beatles music — saw 10 acts perform before a packed room, raising thousands of dollars to help them out while doing much to lift the couple’s spirits.
As was the case last year, Young prefers to keep a low profile when it comes to his personal health.
“Gailie said you were calling on the phone,” he says. “I said ‘Oh man, I don’t want any more publicity.’
“She said ‘Come on, people want to hear from you, they did the benefit for you and they have to know what’s going on.’ I appreciate that people are concerned. It’s kind of people to think of me, but after awhile it’s like ‘Geez…'”
Rick Young will be taking a break from singing while he recovers from his most recent cancer treatment, but his wife Gailie hopes he will be back on stage soon playing guitar. (Photo: SLAB Productions)
For her part, Gailie is “very positive” regarding her husband’s prognosis, adding “I know he’s going to get through this. I’m praying the third time’s a charm and they got the cancer out.”
On Monday, Gailie posted on Facebook that their regular gig at the Black Horse is on hold while Rick recovers. She will be at the George Street North pub tonight (Monday, November 26) for the weekly Crash & Burn event, joined by a number of musical friends.
She says that while Rick won’t be able to sing, it’s hoped that he will be back onstage next week at some point playing guitar.
“Since I posted on Facebook, many people have been sending love and hugs and healing thoughts,” Gailie says.
“It’s amazing. I’m just God smacked over the response.”
Watson & Lou, the contemporary gift boutique and creative hub in downtown Peterborough, is now offering private studio space to artists. The 1,300-square-foot space, which includes three private studios and an open-concept screen printing facility, features white walls, original wooden flooring, LED lighting, and large windows. (Photo: Watson & Lou)
While the dominant business news this week is the devastating announcement that General Motors is closing its Oshawa assembly plant, putting thousands of people out of work, there are also some positive business news stories we are highlighting this week.
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.
Featured this week is arts retailer and creative hub Watson & Lou in downtown Peterborough expanding to include private studio space for artists, Peterborough video game company Canuck Play landing legendary quarterback Doug Flutie as the brand ambassador for its latest football game, and Trent University student Jeremy Brooks winning the 2018 Cubs’ Lair entrepreneurial competition with his virtual reality platform for archaeological sites.
Also featured is Peterborough’s Michael Konopaski presenting a donation of $10,000 from Aligned Capital to YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, Fleming College business and tech students available to private and public sector organizations for applied projects, Peterborough heavy equipment manufacturer Quickmill celebrating its 100th ‘Intimidator’, and uranium processing supplier Cameco (with facilities in Port Hope and Cobourg) the runner up for the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s Corporate Citizen Award.
New regional business events added this week include a WHMIS 2015 certification training workshop in Lindsay on November 30th, a customer service workshop for small business in Lindsay on December 4th, a Christmas celebration at VentureNorth and Innovation Cluster Knowledge Partner and Client Showcase Party in Peterborough on December 4th, the Peterborough Chamber PBX Christmas Social on December 4th, and the Peterborough Chamber breakfast meeting on attracting local shoppers on December 11th.
General Motors is closing its Oshawa assembly plant
General Motors is closing its Oshawa assembly plant as part of a global restructuring to focus on the production of electric vehicles. The Oshawa plant assembles the Chevrolet Impala, Buick Regal, Cadillac XTS, and Chevrolet Equinox, and completes final assembly work on Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks. (Photo: GM Canada)
General Motors confirmed on Monday (November 26) that it will be ceasing operations at its Oshawa assembly plant in 2019, which is also the location of its Canadian headquarters.
The decision is part of a global restructuring plan by the U.S. auto giant to focus on the production of electric vehicles. Along with the Oshawa plant, GM will be closing plants in Michigan (Detroit and Warren), Ohio, and Maryland, along with two unnamed plants outside North America.
GM’s Oshawa plant — which produces gas-powered cars and trucks — employs just over 2,600 people, including 2,522 unionized workers, many of whom commute from communities outside of Oshawa including Peterborough, Cobourg and Port Hope, and the City of Kawartha Lakes.
In addition to the job losses in Oshawa, the closure of the Oshawa plant will have downstream impacts on the auto parts sector and businesses that supply products and services to the workers.
Watson & Lou in downtown Peterborough expands to include private studio space for artists
In addition to private studio space, Watson & Lou features the work of local artists such as Laurel Paluck (who created the piece in the window display), sells locally crafted gifts, provides shared studio space, and offers regular workshops. (Photo: Watson & Lou)
Contemporary gift boutique and creative hub Watson & Lou (383 Water St., Peterborough) recently completed an expansion to include a 1,300-square-foot studio space for emerging and established artists.
The space includes three private studios and an open-concept screen printing facility with white walls, original wooden flooring, LED lighting, and large windows.
Watson & Lou was launched in 2017 by owners and operators Erin Watson and Anna Eidt. The store sells prints, ceramics, stained glass, textiles, handmade jewellery, all-natural body products, kids items, home decor, and small furniture pieces.
In addition to the private studio space, Watson & Lou hosts a wide range of workshops in its main floor shared studio space.
Watson & Lou is currently accepting applications for one private studio available on December 1st. Interested artists can email hello@watsonandlou.com for details.
Peterborough video game company lands legendary quarterback Doug Flutie as brand ambassador
Former quarterback Doug Flutie is the brand ambassador for Peterborough video game comapny Canuck Play’s latest game franchise, Maximum Football. (Photo: Flutie Foundation / Facebook)
Peterborough-based Canuck Play, a video game company that developed the first Canadian football game on the market in 2017, has announced former quarterback Doug Flutie will be a brand ambassador for the company’s latest game franchise.
Maximum Football is the only video game me on the market that allows gamers to play with US College, Canadian, and U.S. professional styles of play. Doug Flutie’s Maximum Football will feature Flutie as a playable character and include multiple new game play features.
“We’re extremely excited to have Doug on board,” says David Winter, President of Canuck Play. “His accomplishments at all levels and styles of gridiron football are well known, and he is the obvious natural fit for our title.”
Doug Flutie’s Maximum Football will feature Flutie as a playable character and include multiple new game play features. (Screenshot: Canuck Play)
Flutie is a former quarterback in the NFL, CFL, and United States Football League. He first rose to prominence during his college football career at Boston College, where he received the Heisman Trophy and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award in 1984. He played for the CFL in the 1990s, when he led the Calgary Stampeders to a Grey Cup victory in 1992, and the Toronto Argonauts to back-to-back Grey Cup victories in 1996 and 1997. He returned to the NFL in the late 1990s until his retirement in 2006, after which he served as an analyst and colour commentator for American television networks.
“I’m basically a kid at heart, who lives for playing sports in person or on the screen,” Flutie says. “This partnership gives me the chance to join the video game space and I’m looking forward to helping grow the Maximum Football brand. What drew me to Maximum Football was the innovative concept of including three different styles of football in the game.”
Published by Hamilton-based indie game publisher Spear Interactive, Maximum Football 2018 is now available on PlayStation and Xbox digital download stores. and partner Spear Interactive, an indie game publisher based in Hamilton,
Trent University student Jeremy Brooks wins 2018 Cubs’ Lair
Trent University archaeology grad student Jeremy Brooks won a prize package valued at more than $10,000 at the 2018 Cubs’ Lair entrepreneurial competition held in Peterborough on November 22, 2018. Brooks has created an archaeological virtual reality online database (AVROD) that allows students to virtually interact with remote archaeological sites. (Photo courtesy of Innovation Cluster)
Jeremy Brooks, an archaeology graduate student at Trent University, has won the 2018 Cubs’ Lair entrepreneurial competition, held last Thursday (November 22) at the Gordon Best Theatre in downtown Peterborough.
Brooks won the grand prize package, valued at more than $10,000, for AVROD (Archaeological Virtual Reality Online Database), which turns remote archaeological sites into an interactive virtual reality experience for students.
The runners up were Dylan Trepanier of Alexander Optical, a health care service provider that organizes pop-up mobile exams clinics, and Noah Latendre of Dillon Ahola of Opened Minds, an inclusive clothing line.
Peterborough’s Michael Konopaski presents donation of $10,000 from Aligned Capital to YMCA Strong Kids Campaign
Michael Konopaski, CFO of Burlington-based Aligned Capital Partners Inc. and managing director of Inclusive Advisory in Peterborough, will be presenting a cheque for $10,000 on behalf of Aligned Capital to the YMCA of Central East Ontario on November 23, 2018. to support the charity’s local Strong Kids Campaign. (Photo: Barb Shaw / kawarthaNOW.com)
Peterborough’s Michael Konopaski, CFO of Aligned Capital Partners Inc., presented a cheque for $10,000 on behalf of Aligned Capital to the YMCA of Central East Ontario last Friday (November 23).
Aligned Capital Partners Inc. is an investment firm based in Burlngton that has its roots in a Peterborough company co-founded by Konopaski and his father.
The YMCA Strong Kids Campaign helps children, teens, and young adults participate in local YMCA programs they typically wouldn’t have access to due to limited financial resources. Aligned Capital’s $10,000 donation to the YMCA of Central East Ontario edges the local 2018 campaign much closer to its $267,000 goal.
Konopaski is also Managing Director of Inclusive Advisory, a multi-disciplinary partnership of accountants, financial advisors, and lawyers based at 521 George Street North in downtown Peterborough.
Fleming College business and tech students available to public and private sector organizations for applied projects
The Applied Projects program at Fleming College is looking for private and public sector organizations who can provide experiential learning projects to senior students in its business and technology programs.
Examples of projects could include developing marketing plans, international and global business strategy, project management, event planning and management, sporting goods management, blogging and social media, database management, website development, mobile app development, and more.
While there are no fees charged for student work, the sponsoring organization must cover other costs associated with the project (tools, materials, software) and operational expenses (travel, printing, communications).
The projects would ideally start in January and be completed in April.
The deadline for proposals is November 29, 2018. For more information and to submit a proposal, visit flemingcollege.ca/applied-projects.
Peterborough heavy equipment manufacturer Quickmill celebrates its 100th ‘Intimidator’
Quickmill has built and sold its 100th ‘Intimidator’ machine centre. (Photo courtesy of Quickmill)
Large-part gantry milling and drilling machine builder Quickmill (760 Rye St, Peterborough) is celebrating the 100th build and sale of its ‘Intimidator’ large part machining centre.
Quickmill president and CEO Jeff Driscoll is hosting a special celebration today (November 24) at the company’s Rye Street head office and production facility to recognize the team of 30 engineers and technicians who produce the company’s machining centres.
“This is a proud moment for the Quickmill team, both past and present,” says Driscoll. “This milestone is a testament to the engineering and quality of our company’s machining centres.”
At the celebration, the company will hand over the machine to its new owner — an expanding Canadian company — and a 100th machine decal will be affixed to the actual machine.
Quickmill’s origins began in 1984 when founder David Piggot, inspired by a need for innovation in his small machine shop, designed and manufactured a heavy-duty large table gantry drilling machine, now trademarked as The Intimidator.
The machining centre is used for applications such as large heat exchanger manufacturers, where millions of holes are drilled on manual radial arm drills. Each Intimidator is valued at between $500,000 and $750,000, and is used in other industry sectors including oil and gas, structural steel service centres, and bridge construction.
VIDEO: Quickmill Intimidator – Large Part Machining Centrer
Cameco runner up for Corporate Citizen Award at Ontario Business Achievement Awards
Cameco, a major supplier of uranium processing services with facilities in Port Hope and Cobourg, was a finalist for the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s Corporate Citizen Award. (Photo: Ontario Chamber of Commerce)
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) hosted its annual Ontario Business Achievement Awards in Toronto last Wednesday (November 21).
The OCC received over 350 nominations in seven categories, and one of the finalists in the Corporate Citizen Award was Cameco, a major supplier of uranium processing services required to produce fuel for the generation of clean electricity.
Cameco, which has a conversion facility in Port Hope and a fuel manufacturing operation with locations in Port Hope and Cobourg, was nominated by the Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce.
Cameco focuses on local spending in the locations where it operates, with 70 per cent procured from local Ontario-based businesses.
The OCC Corporate Citizen Award, which recognizes a large business that has a sustained and long-term commitment to investing in the community in which it operates, was awarded to Hydro Ottawa with Cameco the runner up.
Seminar in Peterborough on emerging issues in human resources law on November 27
Local consulting firm Laridae is hosting a free seminar on emerging issues in human resources law at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, November 27th at the Peterborough Golf & Country Club (1030 Armour Rd., Peterborough).
The seminar, exclusively for local non-profit and public sector leaders in Peterborough, will feature guest presentations from Kingston-based law firm Cunningham, Swan, Carty, Little & Bonham LLP.
The spotlight will be on the latest in workplace issues, including cannabis, the #MeToo movement, and employee terminations.
The seminar is free to attend and will include a continental breakfast. For more information and to RSVP, visit laridaemc.com/workshops.
Bobcaygeon Chamber holding annual general meeting on November 27
The Bobcaygeon Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual general meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 27th in the upper level meeting room at the Bobcaygeon Service Centre (123 East St. S., Bobcaygeon).
Join the Chamber for a review of 2018 and to find out what’s being planned for 2019. There will be guest speakers from Kawartha Lakes Economic Development, City Council, and Impact 32.
Light refreshments will be included. Member and non-members are welcome to attend.
Peterborough Chamber hosts Business Summit in Peterborough on November 28
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is hosting Business Summit 2018, a half-day conference focused on strengthening business, from 7 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 28th at Ashburnham Funeral Home (840 Armour Rd., Peterborough).
The summit will include opening remarks from Peterborough Mayor-elect Diane Therrien, who will then participate in a panel discussion on planning for the future along with Paul Bennett of Ashburnham Realty and Dave Haacke of DNS Realty.
Attendees can then participate in two of four workshops: “Challenges, Opportunities, and Innovations” on the labour shortage or “Building a Cyber Resilient Business” and “Digitize Now – Transforming Your Business” or “Building a Marketing Plan”.
The cost is $25 for Chamber members or $35 for non-members, and includes a breakfast buffet.
WHMIS 2015 certification training workshop in Lindsay on November 30
The Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce and Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Enterpreneurship Centre are hosting a Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) 2015 certification training workshop from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, November 30th at the Lindsay Public Library (190 Kent St. W., Lindsay).
Lavender Health & Safety Consulting will be providing a comprehensive WHMIS 2015 certification course developed in accordance with the Government of Canada’s 2015 Hazardous Products Act for the training of anyone who manufactures, works with, or is in proximity to hazardous materials in the workplace.
Taking the course will provide you the information needed to learn about the WHMIS 2015 standard and work safely while handling hazardous materials in the workplace.
The cost for the workshop is $25 per person. To register or for more information please, contact Manley Lavender of Lavender Health & Safety Consulting at 905-447-6226 or alavender64@gmail.com.
Port Hope Chamber hosts coffee break event with MPP David Piccini on November 30
The Port Hope Chamber of Commerce is hosting a coffee break event with Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini from 12 to 1 p.m. on Friday, November 30th in the council chambers at Port Hope Town Hall (56 Queen St., Port Hope).
MP Paccini will be updated Chamber members on the repeal of Bil 148 and Bill 47, the new “Making Ontario Open for Business Act”.
This free event is only open to Chamber members.
Haliburton Highlands Chamber hosts breakfast and networking event with MP Jamie Schmale on December 4
The Haliburton Highlands Chamber Chamber of Commerce is hosting a breakfast and networking event with Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MP Jamie Schamle from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Tuesday, November 4th at Camp Medeba (1270 Kennisis Lake Rd., West Guilford).
The cost is $20 for Chamber members and $25 for non-members.
Customer service workshop for small business in Lindsay on December 4
Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre is hosting a “Creating a Positive Customer Experience” small business workshop from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 4th 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 cover customer relations best practices, including knowing how to identify what the customer wants and expects, understanding the benefits of a strong brand that all employees feel connected to, and how to surprise customers with an unexpected and positive experience in every situation.
Christmas celebration at VentureNorth and Innovation Cluster Knowledge Partner and Client Showcase Party in Peterborough on December 4
VentureNorth — home to the area’s economic development organizations and more — is hosting a Christmas celebration from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 4th at 270 George Street North in downtown Peterborough.
There will be a decorated Christmas tree in the main lobby, Christmas music, and refreshments and beverages catered by “The Edison” by Amuse Coffee Co.
Following the celebration, the Peterborough Region Angel Network, will also be hosting an Innovation Cluster Knowledge Partner and Client Showcase Party from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Venue (286 George St. N., Peterborough).
Peterborough Chamber PBX Christmas Social on December 4
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce’s PBX (Peterborough Business Exchange) is hosting a Christmas social from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 4th at the Holiday Inn – Peterborough Waterfront (312 George St. N., Peterborough).
The PBX event is a great opportunity for the business community, employers, consumers, and community agencies to make valuable connections.
The event is free and everyone is invited to attend.
Peterborough Chamber breakfast meeting on attracting local shoppers on December 11
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).
Kawartha Chamber 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.
General Motors' Oshawa assembly plant assembles the Chevrolet Impala, Buick Regal, Cadillac XTS, and Chevrolet Equinox, and completes final assembly work on Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks. (Photo: GM)
General Motors has confirmed it will be closing its assembly plant in Oshawa, sending ripples through surrounding communities like Peterborough.
“Not every auto worker that’s in the plant lives in Oshawa,” said outgoing Oshawa mayor John Henry in an interview Sunday evening (November 25) with the Globe and Mail. “It will affect a lot of communities, Port Hope, Cobourg, Peterborough, Lindsay, City of Kawartha Lakes and then all of Durham region.”
GM’s Oshawa plant employs just over 2,600 people, including 2,522 unionized workers. Many of those workers commute from communities outside of Oshawa.
The U.S. auto giant confirmed on Monday (November 26) it is closing five facilities in North America, eliminating 15 per cent of its salaried staff, to focus on the production of electric and autonomous (self-driving) vehicles. Assembly plants in Oshawa, Detroit, and Warren (Ohio) will be “unallocated” in 2019, according to the announcement, along with propulsion plants in White March, Maryland and Warren, Michigan. Two unnamed plants outside North America are also affected, as well as an assembly plant in South Korea whose closure was previously announced. Read the complete announcement.
Workers at the Oshawa plant walked off the job on Monday morning in protest of the announcement.
GM’s Oshawa assembly plant employs just over 2,600 people, including 2,200 unionized workers. Many of those workers commute from communities outside of Oshawa. (Photo: GM)
Unifor, the union representing the auto workers, is scheduled to hold a discussion with GM on Monday afternoon.
“Unifor does not accept the closure of the plant as a foregone conclusion,” says Unifor president Jerry Dias. “Oshawa has been in this situation before with no product on the horizon and we were able to successfully make the case for continued operations. We will vigorously fight again to maintain these good-paying auto jobs.”
The GM plant in Oshawa assembles the Chevrolet Impala, Buick Regal, Cadillac XTS, and Chevrolet Equinox, and completes final assembly work on Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks.
Oshawa is also GM’s Canadian headquarters and where one of its two Canadian Technical Centres is located. The Oshawa centre focuses on chassis and body sub-systems, alternate fuels, specialty vehicles, cold weather development, and complex project delivery.
In addition to the assembly plant, GM operates one of its Canadian Technical Centres in Oshawa, focusing on chassis and body sub-systems, alternate fuels, specialty vehicles, cold weather development, and complex project delivery. (Photo: GM)
The announcement of the closure comes after GM recently completed a $500 million transformation of the assembly line at the Oshawa plant, making it the only one in North America capable of building both cars and trucks.
Ontario premier Doug Ford issued a statement on Monday regarding General Motors’ decision to close the Oshawa plant:
“Today is a difficult day for the workers at the General Motors Oshawa Assembly Plant,” Ford says. “It is a difficult day for the thousands of workers at hundreds of Ontario auto part suppliers that depend on the GM Oshawa Assembly Plant for much of their business, as well as for workers and small business owners throughout Oshawa and the wider Durham region.”
Ford says the Ontario government is “exploring measures to help impacted workers, businesses and communities cope with the aftermath of this decision.”
This includes authorizing Employment Ontario to deploy its Rapid Re-Employment and Training Services program to provide workers with targeted local training and job services. Ford will also bea sking the federal government to immediately extend Employment Insurance (EI) eligibility to ensure impacted workers in the auto sector can fully access EI benefits.
Production first began at the Oshawa plant in 1953 and, by the the 1980s, the plant employed around 23,000 people.
In addition to the 2,600 people currently directly employed by the Oshawa plant, thousands of other people employed by businesses in the auto parts sector would also be negatively affected by the closure, as well as businesses that supply products and services to the workers who will be losing their jobs.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Mike Melnik, former radio host and owner of Impact Communications in Peterborough, with his dog Rosie. One winter, Mike was out walking Rosie when he had a serious fall, requiring a trip to the emergency room at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) and five days of treatment and recovery at the hospital. Private donations from people like you allow PRHC to purchase the technology and equipment to advance patient care, both in the emergency room and throughout the hospital. (Supplied photo)
When Mike Melnik, former radio host and owner of Impact Communications in Peterborough, was out walking his dog one winter, he had no idea he’d end up in the emergency room at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) and spend Christmas at the hospital. Read Mike’s story in his own words below.
This is the first 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 five weeks, kawarthaNOW will be sharing these stories of hope from patients, doctors, and parents. This week’s story is how donations help advance emergency care at our hospital.
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 the emergency room and throughout the hospital.
Please read Mike’s story, watch a video featuring PRHC’s Chief of Emergency Medicine Dr. Mark Troughton, and hear from PRHC Emergency Department physician Dr. Alex Weiler. And then please consider giving more families the Gift of Hope by making a donation to fund urgently needed equipment and technology that makes world-class care possible at your hospital.
Mike Melnik’s story
Mike Melnik with his dog Rosie, an eight-year-old Golden Retriever. (Photo: Mike Melnik / Twitter)
Do you have a minute? I’d like to tell you about the time Rosie and I went for a walk and I ended up spending Christmas in the hospital. Not the holiday I was expecting.
It happened in the blink of an eye. One minute we were walking down the hill, the next I hit the ground and heard a sharp crack. I knew right away it wasn’t good.
I headed over to the Emerg at Peterborough Regional Health Centre where they took some X-rays that showed I had three broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung. Not going to lie. It hurt. I ended up spending five days in the hospital. Definitely the last thing I was expecting when Rosie and I headed out the door that day.
That’s the thing about emergencies. They happen when you least expect it. When they do, you want your doctors and nurses to have the equipment they need to do their job so you can feel better and go home as quickly as possible.
Looking back, I’m so grateful to everyone at PRHC. I had great care that led to a speedy recovery. But I’m also really grateful to the donors who funded the equipment and technology that made that care possible.
That’s why I support the PRHC Foundation and why I agreed to share my story. It’s donors who fund the equipment that makes up the backbone of patient care and supports quick, accurate diagnosis and treatment. Not only in the Emergency Department, but throughout the rest of our hospital.
We all have our reasons to give. This is mine. Please join me this holiday season by donating now and making great care possible for someone else.
Wishing you a safe and happy holiday,
Mike & Rosie
P.S. Rosie was totally fine and had a great Holiday at home! : )
Donor-funded technology and equipment advances emergency care
Dr. Mark Troughton, Chief of Emergency Medicine at PRHC, shares why he and his colleagues need state-of-the-art equipment in order to deliver world-class emergency patient care at your hospital.
Emergency Department physician Dr. Alex Weiler thanks donors
Dr. Alex Weiler, Emergency Department physician at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. (Supplied photo)
My name is Dr. Alex Weiler. As an Emergency Department physician at PRHC, I know my patients are never really ready for a medical emergency like the one that brought Mike through our doors.
And yet, the Emergency Department at PRHC is ready for the thousands of patients who turn to us each year, including those who will need our help this holiday season.
Our ED is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And every person who comes through our doors deserves access to the latest equipment to quickly diagnose their illness or injury.
Help us be ready for the 87,000+ patients who will need us this year.
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.
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