Em Glasspool performing in their new work "Wreck Wee Em", which explores the artist's personal experiences with mental illness, trauma, and addiction. The show runs for four performances from September 27 to 30, 2018 at Evans Contemporary in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
From Thursday, September 27th to Sunday, September 30th, Mysterious Entity presents writer and performer Em Glasspool’s new work Wreck Wee Em at Evans Contemporary in downtown Peterborough.
Directed by Linda Kash, Wreck Wee Em is a very personal show dealing with Em’s own battles with addiction, abuse, and mental illness. Performed by Em with a powerful sense of conviction, Wreck Wee Em is a chance to see a side of the artist few have seen before.
A recognized and respected member of Peterborough’s arts community, Em has earned a prominence through their well-received productions such as My Gender Assignment, Queen of the Kawarthas, and Cock on a Hot Convent Roof.
Em Glasspool’s highly personal “Wreck Wee Em” covers themes of addiction, mental illness, sexual abuse, institutionalization, alienation, and redemption. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
Mysterious Entity presents Wreck Wee Em
When: Thursday, September 27 to Saturday, September 29, 2018 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, September 30, 2018 at 2 p.m. Where: Evans Contemporary (#2 Bankers Commons, Rear Unit at 383 Water St., Peterborough) How much: $15 at the door
A work exploring Em Glasspool’s own personal experiences with mental illness, trauma, and addiction. Written and performed by Em Glasspool. Directed by Linda Kash. Script development by Tomson Highway. Set design by Gabe Robinson. Sound Design by Jill Staveley. Stage Management by Esther Vincent and Wes Ryan. Relaxed (sensory friendly) performance on September 30th. Note: this show is rated as Restricted and is not recommended for anyone under 17 years of age due to graphic content and language. Mental health professionals will be on hand at each performance to speak to anyone affected by the work or who would like resources or information about any of show’s subject matter.
However, in Wreck Wee Em, Em peels back some very dark and personal layers, revealing to the audience the often hidden, and sometimes not so secret, realities of their life.
Themes of addiction, mental illness, sexual abuse, institutionalization, alienation, and redemption are explored in this fast-paced and fractured confessional in which Em reveals all to the audience in a no-holds-barred exploration of destructive behavior, mental scars, and emotional anguish.
The one word that best describes Em’s performance is “frenzied”. Em crashes through the narrative, which often risks becoming incoherent due to its rapid pace and quickly-changing displays of intense emotion. They present ideas, memories, and feelings so quickly that, before the audience can decipher what is happening, Em has moved on to the next disturbing vignette.
The result is a performance that brings the reality of psychosis to the stage, imparting to the audience what Em has themself experienced through their own battle with mental illness.
There is a special bravery when a person puts themselves into the public sphere by standing up in front of their community to reveal the dark moments of their past and bluntly discuss their history of mental illness.
Although society has become more understanding about mental illness, the stigma still remains, and those who reveal their past history — despite where they are in their present — still face the fear of rejection as well as discrimination.
In Wreck Wee Em, Em appears to have already hit rock bottom — and then falls even more. As a result, they become an artist with nothing left to lose, giving them the ability to share their personal story in a way that is brutally honest and often disturbing. This is the most compelling aspect of the show.
But after a frenetic performance, the real payoff is within the final moments of the show, when Em regains a sense of control and achieves self redemption. It’s an emotional payoff for a show that can often leave the audience numb.
Due to graphic content and language, Em Glasspool’s “Wreck Wee Em” is not recommmended for anyone under 17 years of age. Mental health professionals will be on hand at each performance to speak to anyone affected by the work or who would like resources or information about any of show’s subject matter. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
Em has an incredible supportive company of friends and colleagues that has allowed them to create this brave and passionate show. Director Linda Kash assists Em with voice work for additional characters, and the production is also supported by Tomson Highway, Jill Stavely, Gabe Robinson, Esther Vincent, and Wes Ryan.
A lot of honesty, pain, and guts has gone into the creation and performance of Wreck Wee Em, and once again Em proves themself to be a highly original performance artist.
Audiences should be warned that the show contains disturbing subject matter dealing with abuse and violence as well as strong language, and is not recommended for anyone under 17 years old. Members of Four County Crisis will be on hand at every performance for audience members who want to talk after the show.
Wreck Wee Em runs at Evans Contemporary (#2 Bankers Common, Rear Unit of 383 Water St., Peterborough) from Thursday, September 27th to Saturday, September 29th at 8 p.m., and Sunday, September 30th at 2 p.m. Sunday’s matinee will be a relaxed (sensory-friendly) performance to accommodate neurodivergent people and others not comfortable with conventional theatre settings.
Tickets are $15 and are available at the door. For more information, visit Mysterious Entity at mysteriousentity.com.
Em Glasspool’s “Wreck Wee Em” runs for four performances from September 27 to 30, 2018 at Evans Contemporary in downtown Peterborough. (Poster: Mysterious Entity)
Brightly coloured Rudbeckia flowers bloom in front of the gazebo at GreenUP Ecology Park at 1899 Ashburnham Drive in Peterborough. Enjoy a fall picnic, a stroll, or a bike ride through the trails and gardens at Ecology Park to take in the beauty of autumn. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
With the Autumn Equinox occurring this past weekend, the earth has tilted away from our hemisphere making our days shorter. We have officially moved into fall. For many of us, this is our favourite time of the year; fall colours, pumpkin-spiced drinks, and sweater weather is something to look forward to. It is also a great time to get outside and enjoy some ‘Vitamin N’!
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Danica Jarvis, GreenUP Environmental Education Coordinator.
This past summer we saw many new visitors at GreenUP Ecology Park at at 1899 Ashburnham Drive in Peterborough. Foxes were an exciting sight as they patrolled their territory in the early mornings. Giant Swallowtail butterflies returned, and we watched with excitement as they laid their eggs on our Hop trees. The landscape will change during this time of the year, but there are many sights to see!
Let’s take a walk through Ecology Park.
Monarch butterflies
A tagged monarch butterfly at GreenUP Ecology Park. (Photo: Samantha Stephens)
September through October marks the annual monarch butterfly migration. You may see one flutter by, about to embark on its long migration. It’s been a good year for monarch butterflies, a species considered as endangered in Canada. Collective data gathered by Journey North, a citizen science project spanning all of North America, shows their numbers rebounding.
The population is the largest we’ve seen in a decade, which is great news for all of us that are working to save them. We hope to see their numbers continue to grow through backyard conservation efforts like planting Milkweed, which is the Monarch host plant.
At Ecology Park you can look for monarchs fuelling up before their long migration of 3,000 miles to Mexico. The bright colours of the Zinnias, Rudbeckia and Tithonia some of the Monarchs’ favourites, and they are still in bloom at Ecology Park.
Squirrels
Squirrels are busy in the fall collecting and hiding caches of food for the winter. A single red squirrel, pictured here, can cache more than a bushel of food. (Photo: Robert Taylor / Flickr)
As you continue along the trail, take a moment to look up. You may see your favourite ‘nutkin’ building its winter home. We love to hate squirrels, but these animals are a sign of fall, busily running around and preparing for the cold months to come.
Squirrels build their nests, also known as dreys, high up in the trees. These winter homes are built of twigs and leaves, and are often mistaken for a bird’s nest. The inside of a drey is filled with feathers, moss, and human items (such as paper) for insulation. Squirrels usually have more than one drey to fool predators, or as a backup in case the other is damaged.
Right now, squirrels are also hiding caches of food, which they will eat during the winter. They can find this buried treasure under a foot of snow and know whether a nut has gone rancid, purely by smell.
According to Dylan Pond, a local squirrel enthusiast and former Ecology Park Nursery Assistant, red squirrels are much more like us then we realize.
“One in ten red squirrels are left handed, which is the same proportion of left handedness as humans,” he says. “We can tell by the hand they use to hold a spruce cone as they eat it.”
The next time you see a red squirrel, watch as it feeds. It will eat a cone similar to how we might eat a cob of corn, holding and spinning the cone in its dominant hand.
Honeybees
Honeybees at one of the hives at GreenUP Ecology Park. (Photo: Karen Halley)
As you walk by the meadow, follow the path to check in on our honeybee hives. During this time of year, beekeepers are preparing the hives for winter. As the flow of nectar comes to an end, beekeepers will provide fall feedings of sugar water for the bees. This gives the bees that extra push before the cold weather arrives.
You may notice some dead bees outside the hive. The hive will shrink from its size of around 60,000 bees in summer to only 10,000 over the winter. Worker bees will diligently remove the deceased from the hive to keep it clean.
At this time of year, it’s also possible to see a bee traffic jam near the entrance of the hive; beekeepers install reducers in the hive to minimize the use of the front door to the hive, which protects the bees from being robbed of their honey.
Humans are not the only ones with a taste for that delicious honey. Other animals such as mice, wasps, and other bees will take any opportunity to steal some of that liquid gold!
The queen bee has slowed down, laying very few eggs, and the colony will shrink.
Soon you will see our hives wrapped in their winter ‘cozy’ to protect them from freezing temperatures. The colony will then form a cluster to stay warm until next spring!
Flowers and trees
Volunteers plant a tree at GreenUP Ecology Park. The Ecology Park Little Autumn Tree Sale on Saturday, October 13th will feature many native and locally grown trees at the lowest prices of the year to make way for 2019 stock. Fall is the best time to plant a tree as the cool and wet autumn conditions provide optimum conditions for tree roots to establish themselves before winter. (Photo: GreenUP)
At this time of year, meadows are awash in the vibrant yellows and purples of goldenrod and asters. Take a close look at those bright yellow flowers while walking through Ecology Park. Beyond the goldenrod you will see tall sunflowers and grey-headed coneflowers, equally as bright.
The seeds of these flowers are a favourite for local birds such as the Black-capped Chickadees. If you are lucky, and quiet enough, you might find one feasting on these plants.
As you continue on your walk, admire the tree canopy. According to Vern Bastable, Manager of Ecology Park, “The landscape is truly brilliant at this time of year!” Painted with colours of copper and crimson, it’s a show that nature puts on annually.
Have you ever wondered where those fall colours come from? The short answer is they always exist! Each leaf has various pigments. Chlorophyll is green and is present for photosynthesis, the complex process by which trees make their food. During the summer months, the tree is busy gathering food, along with the sun, which is why leaves appear green. They are masking the other colours!
Near fall, when the days get shorter, trees begin to prepare for winter. They are no longer gathering energy in the way they did during the summer. This gives the other pigments, such as yellow, orange and red, a chance to finally show up.
This is a great time of year to plant a tree. Why not plant a tree in your own backyard and enjoy the benefits for years to come. Autumn Blaze and Black Gum are especially vibrant right now.
If you are unsure of how to plant a tree, or you want to buy one, Ecology Park is here to help. Join us on Saturday, October 13th for our annual Autumn Tree Sale! Knowledgeable staff will be available from 10am to 4pm at Ecology Park, 1899 Ashburnham Drive, to answer all of your tree questions. Parking is available at the Beavermead lot via Marsdale Drive.
For more information about Ecology Park, including our workshops and events, please contact Vern Bastable, Manager of Ecology Park at vern.bastable@greenup.on.ca.
Trinity College School in Port Hope has been named Canada's greenest school, along with a high school in Alberta, for its efforts at sustainability. One example is the school's "Farm Field Forest" initiative that enables students to build a greenhouse and shed and work on a half-acre farm that harvests vegetables for the school's dining room and the local community health centre. (Photo courtesy of Canada Green Building Council)
The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) and the Canada Coalition for Green Schools has named Trinity College School in Port Hope as the greenest school in Canada.
Trinity College School shares the title with Lacombe Composite High School in Lacombe, Alberta.
Launched in 2014, the Greenest School in Canada competition seeks to showcase kindergarten to Grade 12 schools across the country that exemplify how sustainability can be woven into the infrastructure, culture and curriculum of a school.
The competition’s jury, comprised of green building industry experts from across the country, were so impressed with the submissions that they were unable to choose just one winner. They determined that both Lacombe and Trinity College stood out from other submissions for their exemplary commitment to sustainability and impressive environmental awareness programs for students and staff.
Trinity College School has a five-year sustainability plan focused on reducing environmental footprint and the creation of a healthy, sustainable community, which provides opportunities for students to develop the knowledge and skills that foster sustainability literacy as part of academic and co-curricular activities. (Photo courtesy of Canada Green Building Council)
“On behalf of the students and staff of Trinity College School, I must say that we are thrilled to be recognized by the CaGBC with the awarding of the Greenest School in Canada 2018 award,” says Stuart Grainger, Headmaster of Trinity College School.
“We truly believe our success is due to our collective commitment to weaving sustainability initiatives into virtually every aspect of our learning community, including our curriculum, our campus and our school culture.”
Trinity College School was selected as a winner because of its efforts at sustainability, including physical building changes and upgrades and a comprehensive curriculum. Highlights include:
A five-year sustainability plan focused on reducing environmental footprint and the creation of a healthy, sustainable community, which provides opportunities for students to develop the knowledge and skills that foster sustainability literacy as part of academic and co-curricular activities.
A decrease in natural gas consumption by 23 per cent over five years, an achievement it attributes to window replacements and upgrades to its building automation systems and boilers.
Significant efforts to manage its annual energy consumption through: regular electricity audits, a major lighting retrofit, and a 220kW solar PV installation with another 180kW planned.
A “Farm Field Forest” initiative that runs three days a week, enabling students to build a greenhouse and shed and work on a half-acre farm that harvests vegetables for the school’s dining room and the local community health centre.
VIDEO: Trinity College School’s submission for Greenest School in Canada 2018
The school’s Trinity Environmental Action Club student leaders spearheaded the contest application by producing a short video of Trinity College School’s overall sustainability programs, with particular highlights of many student-led eco-actions and infrastructure improvements.
This video was submitted along with a lengthy written application detailing the specifics of the school’s various footprint reduction projects.
“I would like to congratulate Lacombe and Trinity College for being named the 2018 Greenest Schools in Canada,” says Thomas Mueller, President and CEO of the CaGBC.
“Both schools had impressive submissions that set them apart this year, incorporating both physical green building and curriculum changes. These schools set a great example for their peers and surrounding communities, and will positively impact the current cohort of students, as well as nurturing the next generation of green building leaders for years to come.”
October is fright month on Netflix Canada with a slew of scary movies including the Netflix original remake of "The Haunting of Hill House" based on the 1959 novel by Shirley Jackson. (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
October means Halloween, so naturally Netflix Canada is bringing a slew of scary movies to the streaming platform this month, including Dawn of the Dead (Oct 2), Malevolent (Oct 5), the Netflix originals The Haunting of Hill House (Oct 12) and Haunted (Oct 17), Halloween (Oct 20), the Scary Movie and Scream franchises (Oct 20), Sinister (Oct 20), and The Cabin in the Woods (Oct 20).
Lighter Halloween fare includes the Netflix originals Super Monsters Save Halloween (Oct 5), Gnome Alone (Oct 17) and the Archie spin-off Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Oct 26).
Returning series include season 7 of MeatEater (Oct 2), season 3 of Star (Oct 4), season 3 of Supergirl (Oct 9), season 3 of Riverdale (Oct 11), season 2 of Dynasty (Oct 13), season 2 of Black Lightning (Oct 16), season 2 of Travelers (Oct 16), and season 3 of Marvel’s Daredevil (Oct 17).
The 10-episode “Making a Murderer: Part 2” premieres on Netflix Canada on October 19th. (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
Also worthy of note is the the return of Making a Murderer to Netflix after almost three years. Part 2 of the Emmy-winning documentary series with 10 all-new episodes premieres on October 19th.
Here’s the complete list of everything coming to Netflix Canada in October (note: Netflix Canada did not provide a list this month of which shows are downloadable or what’s leaving Netflix in October).
VIDEO: New to Netflix Canada in October
October 1st
Anger Management
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
The Purge: Election Year
Warcraft
October 2nd
Joe Rogan: Strange Times (Netflix Original) – Comedian Joe Rogan takes on sexual politics, American politics, pro wrestling and vegans in a new stand-up special shot in Boston.
MeatEater: Season 7 (Netflix Original) – Steven Rinella returns for more hunting and cooking expeditions in rugged locales with friends that include the likes of comedian Joe Rogan.
October 3rd
Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein
Angela’s Christmas
Casper
Dawn of the Dead
Dune
Mr. Bean’s Holiday
Operation Finale (Netflix Film) – In 1960, Israeli spies undertake a daring mission to capture notorious Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann and bring him to justice. Based on real events.
Spy Game
October 4th
Star: Season 3 – streaming every Thursday
Violet Evergarden: Special: Extra Episode
October 5th
Big Mouth: Season 2 (Netflix Original) – Carnal urges and teen angst abound as Nick, Andrew and friends pursue new crushes, tangle with the Shame Wizard and sample pot for the first time.
Dancing Queen (Netflix Original) – Yes, he owns a successful dance studio. But Justin Johnson also slays onstage as drag superstar Alyssa Edwards. It’s a fierce, full and fabulous life.
Élite (Netflix Original) – When three working class kids enroll in the most exclusive school in Spain, the clash between the wealthy and the poor students leads to tragedy.
Empire Games (Netflix Original) – Interviews with scholars and dramatic reenactments bring to life the origins and history-making achievements of the world’s greatest ancient empires.
Little Things: Season 2 (Netflix Original) – More fun ensues as Kavya and Dhruvu’s relationship progresses amid conversations about their future and visits from family and friends.
Malevolent (Netflix Film) – A brother-sister team who fake paranormal encounters for cash get more than they bargained for when a job at a haunted estate turns very, very real.
Private Life (Netflix Film) – A couple coping with infertility struggles to keep their marriage afloat as they navigate the world of assisted reproduction and adoption.
Super Monsters Save Halloween (Netflix Film) – It’s Halloween, and the Super Monsters are ready to celebrate — with candy, costumes and music to get you in the mood!
Super Monsters: Season 2 (Netflix Original) – With curious new student Spike in the mix, the Super Monsters use their powers to solve problems — and conquer their fears about growing up.
The Rise of Phoenixes (Netflix Original, streaming every Friday) – When a secret from the past rears its head, a respected court scholar must choose between avenging her family and staying true to the prince she loves.
YG Future Strategy Office (Netflix Original) – K-pop star Seungri, BIGBANG’s youngest member, tries to lead a team of bumbling staff at YG’s Future Strategy Office in this mockumentary sitcom.
October 6th
Little Things: Season 1
October 8th
Mo Amer: The Vagabond (Netflix Original) – Arab-American comedian Mo Amer brings his worldly experiences to his debut Netflix Original stand-up special, Mo Amer: The Vagabond. Filmed at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, TX, Amer enlightens audiences about the truths of his first hand experiences as a refugee. From the American immigration policy and touring internationally without a passport to the time he went viral for sitting next to Eric Trump on a flight, this is Amer like you have never seen before.
October 9th
Inferno
Supergirl: Season 3
Terrace House: Opening New Doors: Part 4 (Netflix Original) – As Noah juggles his love triangle with Mayu and Yui, Shohei plans to confess to Seina — but Terrace House’s repeat member might have other options.
October 10th
22 July (Netflix Film) – After a pair of shocking attacks in Norway, survivors — and the country — rally for healing and justice. Based on true events.
October 11th
Riverdale: Season 3 (Netflix Original, streaming every Thursday) – After a riot and a season of high-stakes political warfare, the Riverdale gang continues to navigate high drama of surreal small town life.
Salt Fat Acid Heat (Netflix Original) – Chef and food writer Samin Nosrat brings her culinary manifesto of simple food rooted in tradition to the screen in a new cooking series.
October 12th
Apostle (Netflix Film) – In this thriller, a man travels to a remote island in search of his missing sister, who was kidnapped by a murderous religious cult.
Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil (Netflix Film) – A solitary blacksmith is locked in a vicious rivalry with the devil until a little girl appears in their lives by chance.
Feminists: What Were They Thinking? (Netflix Original) – Revisiting 1970s photos of women that captured a feminist awakening, this film explores those women’s lives and examines the continued need for change.
FightWorld (Netflix Original) – Actor and martial artist Frank Grillo explores and experiences the diverse fighting techniques found in cultures around the world.
ReMastered: Who Shot the Sheriff (Netflix Original) – In 1976, reggae icon Bob Marley survived an assassination attempt as rival political groups battled in Jamaica. But who exactly was responsible?
Tarzan and Jane: Season 2 (Netflix Original) – Tarzan and Jane embark on a heroic adventure in the Brazilian rainforest, rescuing animals from an evil scheme and uncovering an ancient secret.
The Boss Baby: Back in Business: Season 2 (Netflix Original) – There’s a new threat to baby popularity: old people. But a revolutionary “stinkless” serum could give Baby Corp a competitive advantage.
The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell (Netflix Original) – Wickedly talented baker and artist, Christine McConnell welcomes you into her terrifyingly delicious home to create delectable confections and hauntingly disturbing decor with the help of her colorful collection of creatures.
The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix Original) – Flashing between past and present, a fractured family confronts haunting memories of their old home and the terrifying events that drove them from it.
The Kindergarten Teacher (Netflix Film) – A devoted teacher takes interest in a young student’s creative potential after hearing his poetry. But she soon crosses the line into obsession..
October 13th
Dynasty: Season 2 (Netflix Original, streaming every Saturday) – In the wake of a calamitous fire that set their family home ablaze, the Carringtons sift through the rubble to rebuild their dynasty — and rise again.
October 14th
A Taiwanese Tale of Two Cities (Netflix Original, streaming every Sunday) – Two brainy beauty queens — same heritage, on separate coasts — and one fateful decision that soon links their paths.
October 15th
Octonauts: Seasons 2-4
The Seven Deadly Sins: Revival of The Commandments (Netflix Original) – When a kingdom is taken over by tyrants, the deposed princess begins a quest to find a disbanded group of evil knights to help take back her realm.
October 16th
Black Lightning: Season 2 (Netflix Original, streaming every Tuesday) – Black Lightning may have survived, but his superpowers did not. Now, he must help his daughters harness their special abilities to continue the fight for good.
Ron White: If You Quit Listening, I’ll Shut Up (Netflix Original) – Ron “Tater Salad” White dishes out his signature brand of cynicism, riffing on sex, celebrity and the sinister habits of wild geese.
Travelers: Season 2
October 17th
Accidentally in Love (Netflix Original) – A popular singer decides to go back to school, becoming the center of attention there, and meets an ordinary female student with a dual personality.
Ask the Doctor (Netflix Original) – From exercise to infertility to sleep, a team of doctors share expert advice, bust medical myths and test the latest treatments.
Best.Worst.Weekend.Ever.: Limited Series (Netflix Original) – In this comedy series, teenage Zed and his pals face one ridiculous, hilarious predicament after another in their last weekend before high school.
Derren Brown: Sacrifice (Netflix Original) – Illusionist Derren Brown concocts a psychological experiment in which he tries to manipulate an ordinary person into taking a bullet for a stranger.
Distrito salvaje (Netflix Original) – A former guerrilla soldier tries to reintegrate into Colombian society and finds himself taking part in an entirely new kind of war.
Gnome Alone (Netflix Film) – A high-schooler teams up with living garden gnomes to stop tiny creatures from another world who want to eat everything in sight.
Haunted( Netflix Original) – From the Executive Producers of The Purge franchise and Lore, Haunted gives a chilling glimpse into the first-person accounts from people who have witnessed horrifying, peculiar, extraordinary supernatural events and other unexplained phenomenons that continue to haunt them.
Hip-Hop Evolution: Season 2 (Netflix Original) – Shad Kabango traces the growth of hip-hop subcultures in New York, the South and Oakland, California, in the ’80s and ’90s.
Illang: The Wolf Brigade (Netflix Film) – In 2029, a special unit of the South Korean police called Illang battles a terrorist group threatening to undo years of efforts to unify the two Koreas.
Larva Island (Netflix Original) – Stranded on a tropical island, two goofy larva buddies find slapstick fun in everything from discovering food to meeting new animal friends.
Making a Murderer: Part 2 (Netflix Original) – With a national profile and new support after the release of “Making a Murderer,” Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey continue to fight for exoneration.
Marvel’s Daredevil: Season 3 (Netflix Original) – With Wilson Fisk out of prison and back to corrupting Hell’s Kitchen, Matt Murdock must rise from the ashes.
The Night Comes For Us (Netflix Film) – After sparing a girl’s life during a massacre, an elite Triad assassin is targeted by an onslaught of murderous gangsters.
Wanderlust (Netflix Original) – A therapist tries to keep her spark with her husband alive after a cycling accident causes them to reassess their relationship. Toni Collette stars.
October 20th
Halloween
Scary Movie
Scary Movie 2
Scary Movie 3
Scary Movie 4
Scary Movie 5
Scream
Scream 2
Scream 3
Sinister
The Cabin in the Woods
October 21st
Robozuna (Netflix Original) – A boy and his homemade robot attempt to free their oppressed nation from an evil empire and its robot centurions in this exciting animated series.
The Cured
October 22nd
The Secret Life of Pets
October 23rd
ADAM SANDLER 100% FRESH (Netflix Original) – Adam Sandler takes his comical musical musings back out on the road, from comedy clubs to concert halls to one very unsuspecting subway station.
October 24th
Batman Ninja
Bodyguard (Netflix Original) – After helping thwart a terrorist attack, a war veteran is assigned to protect a politician who was a major proponent of the conflict he fought in.
October 25th
Great News: Season 2
Hell or High Water
October 26th
Been So Long (Netflix Film) – A single mother in London’s Camden Town hears music when she meets a handsome stranger with a past. But she’s not sure she’s ready to open her heart.
Castlevania: Season 2 (Netflix Original) – As Dracula and his legion of vampires prepare to rid the world of humanity’s stain, an unlikely trio of heroes dares to stand in their way.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Netflix Original) – As her 16th birthday nears, Sabrina must choose between the witch world of her family and the human world of her friends. Based on the Archie comic.
Dovlatov (Netflix Film) – An intimate portrait that captures six days in the life of influential Russian dissident writer Sergei Dovlatov.
Jefe (Netflix Film) – The story of a boss that everyone hates: some kiss up to him; nobody tells him the truth. He’s the successful entrepreneur about to fall off the cliff.
Shirkers (Netflix Original) – When she recovers stolen film of a movie she shot 25 years ago, novelist Sandi Tan revisits her time with the enigmatic man who swiped the footage.
Terrorism Close Calls (Netflix Original) – Law enforcement officials look back on attempted terrorist attacks that were thwarted in the nick of time.
October 27th
Girl from Nowhere (Netflix Original) – A mysterious, clever girl named Nanno transfers to different schools, exposing the lies and misdeeds of the students and faculty at every turn.
October 28th
Bridget Jones’s Baby
Certain Women
Collateral Beauty
Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj (Netflix Original, streaming every Sunday) – In this weekly show, Hasan Minhaj brings his unique comedic voice and storytelling skill to explore the larger trends shaping our fragmented world.
October 30th
Fate/EXTRA Last Encore: Illustrias Geocentric Theory (Netflix Original) – Having finally reached the seventh floor, Hakuno clings to the hope that he can somehow fix this defective war. But time is running out.
The Degenerates (Netflix Original) – A series of no-holds-barred comedy from the likes of rising comics like Big Jay Oakerson, Joey Diaz, Liza Treyger, Yamaneika Saunders, Christina P. and Brad Williams.
October 31st
GUN CITY (Netflix Film) – Set in Barcelona in 1921, a double agent infiltrates the local mafia to find out who is selling weapons and explosives to anarchist groups.
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism has announced the nominees for its 2018 Awards of Excellence. The awards will be presented at the 19th Annual Awards of Excellence and Social Gala, taking place on Thursday, November 8th at Lakefield College School.
Location Change For Selwyn Township All-Candidates Meeting – October 10th
Due to growing interest in the upcoming all-candidates meeting in Selwyn Township, the Chamber has decided to change the venue in order to accommodate more people.
The meeting will now be taking place at Bridgenorth United Church (832 Charles Street), located beside the original location of Bridgenorth Community Hall.
The time and date remain the same: Wednesday, October 10th from 7 to 9 p.m.
2018 Awards Of Excellence Nominee List
Congratulations to everyone who was nominated for the Chamber’s Awards of Excellence. The Chamber received over 80 nominations, and thanks nominators for taking the time to recognize businesses in the area.
Here is the full list of nominees:
Accelerated Technologies
Adventure Outfitters
BALL Real Estate Inc. Brokerage
Buckhorn District Tourist Association Welcome Centre
Rotary Club of Bridgenorth, Ennismore and Lakefield*
Brain Injury Association Peterborough Region
The Bridgenorth Deli
Buckhorn Community Centre
Canoe & Paddle
Celtic Connection*
Clearview Cottage Resort Ltd.
Community Care
Coyle’s Tire & Auto
Craftworks at the Barn
Cuddles for Cancer*
Greenbridge Celtic Folk Festival
Happenstance Books & Yarns*
Hard Winter Bread Company
Indian River Reptile Zoo
Jack’s Lake Lodge Cottage Rentals
Kawartha Home Hardware
Kawartha Lakes Construction*
Kawartha NOW.com*
Kinetic Therapeutics*
Lakefield Agricultural Society
Lakefield Bakery on Queen
Lakefield Dentistry
Lakefield Foodland
Lakefield Herald
Lakefield Literary Festival
Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Leguano Inc.
Lock Stop Café
Logan Tree Experts
MAD-CAT Electric Co.
Marlin Travel*
Maureen Tavener, Real Estate Sales Rep RE/MAX Eastern Realty Inc. Brokerage
Molly’s Acres
Nightingale Nursing Registry Ltd. and Nightgale Home Maintenance*
Niteowl Creative Inc.
Patio 27
Performing Arts Lakefield
Peterborough Disability Tax Service
Peterborough Humane Society
Salon Sorella & Day Spa*
Scott Concrete Products Ltd.
Shambhala B&B
Six Foot Bay Resort Inc.
Steve’s Auto Repair
Style Boutique
Sunshrine Day Spa & Salon*
The Art Shop*
The Cozy Home*
Regency Retirement Lakefield
The Village Inn
Thirteen Moons Wellness
Timberline Custom Homes
Trinkets and Treasures
Vetterview
Village Pet Food and Supply
Whetung Ojibwa Centre
Windover Plumbing Inc.*
Workforce Development Board
Businesses marked with an asterisk received more than one nomination.
The Chamber’s Awards of Excellence will be presented at the 19th Annual Awards of Excellence and Social Gala, taking place on Thursday, November 8th at Lakefield College School. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Due to the event’s growth over the past few years, the Chamber has changed the format for this year’s event. This year, the event features a hor d’oeuvres-style social event rather than a sit-down dinner. There will be both silent and live auction items, a cash bar, music from Rhythm & Grace, and time for socializing and networking before the awards.
Tickets for this year’s event are only $40, so bring along your staff and join the Chamber for an evening celebrating local businesses in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Tickets are available now.
The Chamber thanks its Social Gala Sponsor, Shorelines Casino Peterborough.
Upcoming Municipal All-Candidates Meetings: Selwyn And Douro-Dummer
The Kawartha Chamber is proud to be a partner on the following municipal All Candidates Meetings.
Township of Selwyn All-Candidates Meeting
Wednesday, October 10th at Bridgenorth United Church (new location)
The program begins at 7 p.m. Hosted by the Bridgenorth Business Association, Lakefield Herald, and the Kawartha Chamber.
Township of Douro-Dummer All-Candidates Meeting
Thursday, October 11th at Douro-Dummer Community Centre (2893 Hwy. 28, Douro-Dummer)
The program begins at 7 p.m. Hosted by Dummer News and the Kawartha Chamber.
Submit Your Questions
If you would like to submit a question for any of the meetings listed above, please email your question to info@kawarthachamber.ca. Please include the subject line “All Candidates Question: [Insert Township Name Here]”, and specify if the question is for a specific candidate, or directed at all candidates.
Register Now: B.O.S.S. Team Building – October 2nd
The Chamber’s B.O.S.S (Business Owners Sharing Solutions) Team Building event is next week!
Join the Chamber on Tuesday, October 2nd at Camp Kawartha for a session on team building. This event is free so it is a great opportunity to bring your staff along and learn about team building. Refreshments will be provided.
Support the Chamber’s Women’s Build Team for the Curve Lake Habitat Build
The Kawartha Chamber has formed a Women’s Build Team for the Habitat for Humanity build in Curve Lake First Nation. The Women’s Build Team is comprised of Chamber staff, volunteers, and members.
The Chamber would like to extend a big thank you to its recent donors, Whelan’s Flooring Centre and C.I.B.C.
The Chamber is planning on doing its build day in October (the date is being finalized). If you would like to join the Chamber’s Women’s Build team, please email Stacey at membership@kawarthachamber.ca.
Standard Member Spotlights: Niteowl Creative Inc., Elmhirst’s Resort, Abbeyfield House Society Of Lakefield
Support Global Reforestation With Niteowl Creative Inc.
Niteowl Creative Inc. is working with One Tree Planted and donating a percentage of all revenue to reforestation to help recover from forest fires across the country, logging and other destructive situations which have caused a decrease in forestation all over the world.
Celebrate This Holiday Season With Your Team At Elmhirst’s Resort
Celebrate with your team at Elmhirst’s Resort this holiday season. Elmhirst’s Resort is offering their ‘Eat, Drink and Be Merry’ corporate group package, which includes:
Saturday night stay in a Deluxe Waterfront Cottage.
Cottages include a fireplace, whirlpool tub, free WiFi, and linens.
A traditional turkey dinner in the Hearthside Dining Room as well as a Sunday brunch.
Use of recreation facilities.
Free activities.
HST, service charge, and minimum rental apply. Read more.
Abbeyfield House Society Of Lakefield On The Go
Abbeyfield House Society of Lakefield is a not-for-profit affordable seniors retirement residence (currently in the concept stage).
Check out some of the recent events Abbeyfield House Society of Lakefield (AHSL) has participated in below:
Set up a booth at the Lakefield Sidewalk Sale in order to increase community education.
Christopher Tworkowski, a member of the Kawartha Chamber, AHSL and B.E.L Rotary Club, made a presentation for AHSL at a B.E.L Rotary Club meeting.
Dewi Jones, President of AHSL, made a presentation at a Probus Club meeting.
AHSL participated in Member of Parliament, Maryam Monsef’s “Seniors Strategy Town Hall” meeting.
AHSL met with MP Maryam Monsef to discuss funding sources and sites.
Currently, AHSL is finalizing its business plan to incorporate and register as a Not-For-Profit Society, and is also searching for an appropriate site. If you have a suggestion for a site, please contact AHSL at 705-652-3856. They appreciate any help with this.
North Kawartha’s Proposed Community Improvement Plan Public Meeting – October 2nd
The Township of North Kawartha is holding a public meeting on Tuesday, October 2nd.
The meeting will begin at 11 a.m. and take place at the North Kawartha Municipal Office in Apsley. The meeting will discuss the proposed Community Improvement Plan (CIP).
The meeting is open to all, and everyone is able to make written or verbal representation, either in support of or in opposition to the proposed CIP.
If you would like to make a submission or want to be notified of the adoption of the proposed CIP, please email planning@northkawartha.on.ca, drop by in person, or fax it to (705) 656-4446 by October 2nd at 11am!
Architect Christopher Z. Tworkowski Is Celebrating 50 Years
Lakefield architect Christopher Tworkowski is celebrating his 50th anniversary of becoming a professional architect.
Christopher graduated from De La Salle Oaklands College in Toronto and went on to obtain his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the School of Architecture at the University of Toronto in 1965.
On April 20, 1968, Christopher became a member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, and in June of the same year, he obtained his licence as a member of the Ontario Association of Architects.
From 1973 until 2006, Christopher practiced in Toronto. Then, in 2006, he moved to Lakefield, where he is presently located.
Christopher is active in local volunteer activities; he is a member of the Rotary Club of Bridgenorth Ennismore Lakefield, sits on the Steering Committee of Abbeyfield House Society of Lakefield, and received a Citation from Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett for his past volunteer work as a six year member of the Board of Directors of Sunshine Homes in Peterborough.
The Chamber congratulates Christopher on his 50th anniversary of being an architect.
Congratulations To Brian Bulger
Congratulations to Brian Bulger of Brian D. Bulger Insurance Services Ltd. & The Life Insurance Guy.
Brian has earned national recognition for his work as a leading representative of the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan at the program’s national conference in Quebec.
Brian has worked in the insurance services industry for over 40 years, and is the exclusive plan advisor in Peterborough and Northumberland Counties.
Otonabee Conservation is looking to hire a Watershed Biologist who is responsible for leading the development and delivery of science based monitoring programs related to water quality, water quantity and watershed health, including the development of data collection and management standards and protocols.
Selwyn Township is looking to hire a part-time Landfill Attendant/Scale House Operator to provide general labour, maintenance services and scale house duties at the Township landfill site.
Deadline to submit an application is 12pm on Monday, October 1st to Kim Berry, Township of Selwyn, 1310 Centre Line, Box 270, Bridgenorth, ON, K0L 1H0
Lakefield Herald – Advertising Sales Consultant
The Lakefield Herald is looking to hire a sales consultant.
Previous sales experience is an asset.
License and access to vehicle required.
Email your resume to tmcquitty@lakefieldherald.com or send to The Lakefield Herald, 74 Bridge Street, PO Box 1000, Lakefield, ON, K0L 2H0
The BCC is looking for a director to lead and implement changes to the festival to increase attendance and sales, as well as strengthen the community engagement.
If your business or organization has a job opportunity you would like to advertise, you can add it to the Chamber’s website through your Member Information Centre account (or submit the description to info@kawarthachamber.ca) and the Chamber will share it in its next Newsflash.
2018 Ontario Economic Summit: The Workforce Of Tomorrow – October 24-26
The 2018 Ontario Economic Summit is taking place October 24t to 26th at Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce just announced that Ontario’s Premier, Doug Ford, will be addressing delegates at the summit.
This year’s summit will be discussing:
Workforce demand/supply, and creating solutions to support broad economic transition;
The challenges businesses must face as we confront the future of work;
The changing nature of work (disruptions from AI, advanced robotics, and automation);
How companies, non-profits, and governments from around the world are addressing the skilling and re-skilling continuum.
The Opioid Information Session is taking place on Wednesday, September 26th.
The free event is at the Selwyn Outreach Centre starting at 7 p.m.
Hear from a panel of experts on the growing issue of opioid abuse in the Peterborough area.
Panelists are:
Dr. Rosana Salvaterra – Peterborough Medical Officer of Health
Dan Farrow – Paramedic Supervisor & Firefighter
im Carson – Retired Police Officer
Upcoming Events
Lakefield Farmers’ Market – Every Thursday until Thanksgiving.
Farmers’ Market at Craftworks at the Barn – Every Sunday until Thanksgiving.
Peterborough County Plowman’s Association Plowing Match – September 28-29th.
Gallery on the Lake Norman R. Brown Exhibit – Opens September 29th.
Lang Pioneer Village’s Applefest – September 30th.
Ennismore Scarecrow Contest – Contest begins October 1st.
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.
Peterborough & the Kawarthas is the best place in Ontario to launch a cleantech startup, not only because of the surrounding lakes and water systems, but because of the expertise, resources and facilities available through the Innovation Cluster, Fleming College, and Trent University, including the university's Trent Water Quality Centre (pictured), an innovative and award-winning research laboratory.
Water Canada Magazine has recently named Peterborough as the best place in Ontario and the second best place in Canada to launch a water technology startup.
This ranking doesn’t surprise Peterborough native John Gillis, Cleantech Innovation Specialist at the Innovation Cluster in downtown Peterborough.
“Peterborough and the Kawarthas is a great place to develop these kinds of startups,” says Gillis. “We have resources, space, and expertise in the community, as well as lakes and water systems that make Peterborough an ideal location for cleantech companies.”
VIDEO: Cleantech: Are You Ready to Shape the Future?
In addition to the Innovation Cluster, a great deal of the expertise in the area comes from Fleming College’s Centre for Advancement of Water & Wastewater Technologies (CAWT) and Trent University, which is a leading university in the cleantech field.
The Innovation Cluster — an organization that supports entrepreneurs in the formation and growth of their technology-driven companies — has also been heavily involved in the cleantech movement in Peterborough & the Kawarthas.
But you might be wondering: What exactly is cleantech?
“To qualify as a cleantech company, the business has to be doing something to address a significant environmental issue,” explains Gillis. “Two major issues which cleantech is seeking to address are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water source sustainability. Wastewater is a big focus for the Innovation Cluster.”
Are You Ready to Shape the Future?
Find out how the Innovation Cluster can help your cleantech startup, and how to contact Cleantech Innovation Specialist John Gillis.
In a similar manner, Gillis and the team at the Innovation Cluster look to identify issues and work towards solutions to ensure innovative ideas can be taken to the next level.
As an example, it became apparent that many water cleantech startups stall early in the development process because they are unable to afford the expensive equipment that is required by the industry.
“The H20 Cleantech Makerspace”, which is set to launch in November, is the Innovation Cluster’s solution to this roadblock.
The makerspace will provide resources for water and wastewater-focused cleantech companies. The Innovation Cluster has purchased the instruments that companies in the water industry typically aren’t able to afford.
Once operational, cleantech companies will no longer be required to take on the costly burden of purchasing equipment or suffer delays associated with sending samples to an external lab for testing. The makerspace will allow for on-site water analysis at the Innovation Cluster.
The Innovation Cluster already provides a 10,000-square-foot incubation and accelerator space for startups. This fall, the Innovation Cluster will launch “The H20 Cleantech Makerspace” to provide resources for water and wastewater-focused cleantech companies, particularly equipment that startups in the water industry usually can’t afford.
This forward-thinking attitude has allowed the Innovation Cluster to make significant impacts within the cleantech industry, as well as the local economy. The organization has an economic impact of over 10 million dollars in the local community.
The success of several cleantech companies that the Innovation Cluster has worked with is a testament to the invaluable support the organization offers to startups.
Since 2014, the Innovation Cluster has been working with Aclarus, a company in the water industry. Aclarus systems use ozone to produce clean water. Ozone acts as a disinfectant against bacteria, contaminants, and viruses, and also cleans water of minerals like iron and sulphur.
Aclarus provides these water treatment systems for residential use, small municipal operations, industrial and agricultural operations, and for the wastewater industry.
Another resource in Peterborough & the Kawarthas for cleantech startups is Fleming College’s Centre for Advancement of Water and Wastewater Technologies (CAWT), which provides a full range of services that assist and accelerate the development and commercialization of water and waste water related technologies.
Rainmaker is another startup that has been working with the Innovation Cluster for the last few years. Rainmaker produces technology that pulls humidity from the air and turns it into clean water. This allows rural, island, isolated, and other locations that are threatened by water scarcity to have local, sustainable, and affordable access to clean water.
While a client of the Innovation Cluster, Rainmaker gained a large investment from the Peterborough Region Angel Network and is now a publicly traded company.
But it isn’t just the water and wastewater industry that the Innovation Cluster is focused on.
Noblegen was the first cleantech company the Innovation Cluster began working with. Noblegen produces unique proteins, oils and flours from an ancient, natural superfood. Protein sources from animals have long been known to be taxing on the environment. Noblegen’s products are a sustainable and environmentally friendly form of protein, which can be added to foods to enrich nutritional value.
The Innovation Cluster has been able to support Noblegen throughout the years to help the company get to where it is today.
Trent University’s Cleantech Commons is set to become Canada’s premier green technology research and innovation site, hosting a cluster of startups and companies, including the future Noblegen plant. Noblegen was the first cleantech company the Innovation Cluster began working with. (Rendering: Noblegen)
CCS Biogas is another cleantech company that is supported by the Innovation Cluster. Operating out of Cavan, CCS Biogas uses manure to produce methane gas, which is turned into electricity by a generator and fed back into the energy grid.
Newer to the Innovation Cluster is Horizon Aircraft, an aviation company located in Lindsay. Horizon Aircraft has developed a hybrid engine for aircraft, which allows for a 50 per cent reduction in fuel use and less noise during take-off.
The aircraft’s patented landing gear system allows the amphibious plane to land safely, even if the landing gear is deployed. The company is currently in development stages and is also working on developing the first personal-use aircraft vehicle.
Together these companies employ nearly 100 people in highly skilled jobs and these numbers are expected to increase.
Despite these successes, Gillis and the team at the Innovation Cluster are constantly seeking promising new ventures.
“Cleantech is growing and has been for a number of years now,” explains Gillis. “There will be a significant paradigm shift and it’s already happening. The industry is only going to grow.”
Gillis, an electrical engineer by trade who joined the Innovation Cluster in November 2017, says it’s been a rewarding experience to be part of the cleantech movement in Peterborough. Gillis has extensive experience in the cleantech industry, and also a strong background in entrepreneurship, having created his own business in process instrumentation and automation.
Peterborough native John Gillis, Cleantech Innovation Specialist at the Innovation Cluster, says two major issues in cleantech are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water source sustainability. Peterborough and the Kawarthas is a great place for cleantech startups trying to address these issues.
Gillis’ role at the Innovation Cluster has allowed him to give back to the community by strengthening the cleantech industry and helping to inspire young entrepreneurs to pursue their startup ideas.
“I’m fortunate to work with a team of individuals as passionate about cleantech and entrepreneurship as I am,” says Gillis. “Passing on my knowledge in this industry is my way of giving back to my hometown.”
Planet 12 Productions is recreating the first four episodes of the obscure 1977 Saturday morning live-action kids' television series "Space Academy" at The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough this fall. The original cast of the series, pictured here, included Jonathan Harris (best known for playing Dr. Zachary Smith in the original "Lost in Space") as Commander Gampu, a role that will be performed by Adam Martignetti. (Photo: Filmation / CBS)
Riding high on their summer success at the Toronto Fringe Festival, Planet 12 Productions returns to The Theatre on King (TTOK) this fall with the first of four installments of Space Academy on Friday, September 28th.
Planet 12 Productions presents Space Academy – Episode 1
When: Friday, September 28, 2018 at 8 p.m. Where: The Theatre on King (171 King St., Peterborough) How much: $15 at the door or pay what you can
Adapted and directed by Derek Weatherdon. Starring Adam Martignetti as Gampu, Emma Meinhardt as Christine Gentry, Abbie Dale as Laura Gentry, Sam Weatherdon as Tee Gar, Emily Keller as Adrien Price, George Knechtel as Pol Jer’ome, and Brad Brackenridge as Peepo. Also featuring special guest Robyn Smith as The Mind. Costumes by Kathryn Bahun. Make up by Hayley Montgomery-Griffin. Set construction by Amy Keller.
The brainchild of director/writer Derek Weatherdon, Space Academy has Planet 12’s young company pairing up with familiar Peterborough performers to recreate episodes of an obscure live-action kids’ TV series from 1977 that few people have heard of, and even fewer remember, in a series of “episodes” that aims to return audiences to the fun and creativity of 1970s-era Saturday morning television.
“Television today isn’t what it was like forty years ago,” Derek explains.
“Saturday morning was the mecca. My love for that Saturday morning ritual has never gone away. It was a magical time for television which wasn’t like any other time of the week. All the ads were for you. All the shows were for you.”
The writer of Planet 12’s first two productions, Boy Wonders and Incident on Gun Mountain, Derek has been drawing inspiration from the things he loved as a kid growing up in the late 1970s.
“One thing I’m doing artistically, and as a writer, is that I’m really going back and recreating things that I loved during my childhood,” Derek says.
“I fell in love with comic books at that age, which inspired Boy Wonders. Sasquatch was big at the time, and I went on my first hunting trips, which is where Incident at Gun Mountain comes from that place. So the next obvious place for me was to recreate Saturday morning television.”
Building on the success of previous hits like Shazam!, The Secret of Isis, The Ghost Busters, and Ark II, Filmation Studios under the guidance of producers Lou Shrimer and Norm Prescott jumped on board the Star Wars craze with their new series Space Academy in 1977.
Set in the year 3732, the Space Academy, under the watchful eye of Commander Isaac Gampu, assembled some of the brightest and best kids from earth and beyond to a school located on a faraway asteroid, to train them in space travel. Five good-looking teenagers, a mysterious alien boy, and a lovable robot named Peepo were featured in 15 futuristic episodes.
VIDEO: “Space Academy” TV Intro (1977)
Despite spawning its own action figure line and a memorable spin-off, Jason of Star Command, the series never gained the cult following of previous Filmation shows and faded into obscurity.
However, Derek feels that’s exactly why it’s perfect for the Planet 12 company to bring the series back.
“When I talk to people that are around the age of forty about Space Academy, I get a nodding acknowledgement by people who say ‘I remember that show, I’ve heard of that show,’ but they can’t place ever having seen the show,” Derek explains. “People can’t recollect it, but that’s fine. People know the 1970s, they know sci-fi, and they know Saturday morning television. They get those notions.
“Space Academy is basically Star Trek set in high school. It’s a great property that no one really knows about, so we get a lot of leeway. If we don’t do a note-perfect recreation, it’s okay. We have freedom to do homage and be creative a little bit. We have freedom to reimagine it. It’s going to go through the Planet 12 lens, but our goal is to recreate that Saturday morning experience.”
Planet 12’s company will recreate the roles from the original TV series: George Knechtel as Lt. P’ol J’erom, Emma Meinhardt as Captain Christine Gentry, Adam Martignetti as Commander Isaac Gampu, Abbie Dale as Lt. Laura Gentry, and Sam Weatherdon as Medical Officer Tee Gar Soom. (Photo courtesy of Planet 12 Productions)
Space Academy features Planet 12 veterans Emma Meinhardt, Abbie Dale, Emily Keller, and Samuelle Weatherdon, with new member George Knechtel alongside Adam Martignetti as Commander Gampu and Brad Brackenridge as Peepo the Robot.
The company will be doing a combination of episodes from the series over four consecutive months, with “guest stars” being made up of other familiar faces from the TTOK stage. For Episode 1, the guest star will be Robyn Smith in the role of The Mind.
Although the Planet 12 version of Space Academy will stand on its own, Derek does point out that full episodes of the series are available on YouTube for audience members to see it for themselves.
“People can enjoy the original version if they want, and then they can see how we interpret it,” Derek says. “They can see what we keep and what we discard, and the things we keep we are going to do as tight as we can. The tone is going to change.”
In Planet 12’s “Space Academy”, Adam Martignetti performs as Commander Gampu, sporting a costume designed by Kathryn Bahun and inspired by the Lando Calrissian character in Star Wars. Brad Brackenridge will perform as Peepo the Robot. (Photo courtesy of Planet 12 Productions)
Although the plan is to stay as faithful to the show in most ways, Derek does plan on making some changes to the Planet 12 episodes to make the series more interesting. One of those changes will be to Adam Martignetti’s character Gampu, originally portrayed by Jonathan Harris (best known for playing Dr. Zachary Smith in the original Lost in Space from the 1960s).
“We are reimaging Commander Gampu a little bit,” Derek explains. “I see Gampu as if Captain Kirk had lived to be three hundred years old and can’t really logically be commanding a starship anymore, so they just drop him on a high school on the edge of the frontier to train them, but secretly he wants to keep going out on missions. That’s where I want to go with the character.”
Derek also plans to include a storyline through the four episodes derived from the actual series that was never resolved. In the first episode of Space Academy, the crew discovers a mysterious orphan named Loki who they take to the school. However, after 15 episodes Loki’s true origins were never revealed. Derek plans to change that.
Each episode of Planet 12’s “Space Academy” will feature a “guest star”. The first episode stars Robyn Smith as “The Mind”. (Photo courtesy of Planet 12 Productions)
“Loki is a tough character to do because he doesn’t add much narratively and it’d have forced us to cast someone quite a bit younger than the rest of the cast,” Derek says. “So Loki is going to be used as more of a plot device that will interlock interface and can speak through Peepo. Loki’s story, and what it is and what it means, is going to be the underlying thread between all the shows, leading to a pay-off in the final episode.”
With special make up designed by Hayley Montgomery-Griffin, and set construction by Amy Keller (who created the brilliant set for Incident on Gun Mountain), Planet 12 is working with costume designer Kathryn Bahun for the first time.
“Kathryn Bahun is an artist who creates wearable art, so clothing is her medium,” Derek sayss. “She contacted us and she has a very science fiction-y mindset, and her design are great. We’re drawing in some iconic influences, so you’ll see some Lando Calrissian and Buck Rogers in her designs.
“We’ve lucked into some really cool stuff to build the costumes around. We’ve acquired a whole bunch of decommissioned Canadian military jumpsuits, which we can build the costumes around.”
Episode 1 will be staged on Friday, September 28th, with the following episodes being staged on Friday, October 19th, Friday, November 23rd, and Friday, December 21st.
Possibly one of the most brilliant things about the idea of Space Academy at TTOK is that it’s a property so obscure that nobody really ever asked for it, so this is a chance to rediscover something that you didn’t know you’d love.
“It’s not overburdened with expectation,” Derek says. “But if on the odd chance someone does come and says ‘This was my favourite show as a kid’, they are going to be so glad we’re doing it they’ll overlook any changes. I have faith in our group that we’ll do a good show. Our timeline is tighter than we usually do, but we need that challenge.”
Space Academy will be performed in four one-night-only performances over four consecutive months this fall. Episode 1 will be staged on Friday, September 28th, with the following episodes being staged on Friday, October 19th, Friday, November 23rd, and Friday, December 21st. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $15 at the door or pay what you can.
Kawartha Wildlife Centre is one of five organizations in the Kawarthas competing for online votes in the 2018 Aviva Community Fund. The organization is developing an immersive campaign called the Kawartha Wildlife Coexistence Initiative to educate the public in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough, and Peterborough County on the benefits of wildlife coexistence. (Photo: Kawartha Wildlife Centre / avivacommunityfund.org)
The Aviva Community Fund is back for another year and five organizations in the Kawarthas region are vying with almost 500 other organizations for some of the $1 million in funding: Millbrook Christian Assembly, John Howard Society of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton, Kawartha Conservation, Kawartha Wildlife Centre, and Women’s Resources of Kawartha Lakes.
Created by insurance group Aviva Canada, the Aviva Community Fund has awarded $8.5 million to hundreds of charities and community groups across Canada since its inception in 2009.
For its 10th year, the Aviva Community Fund is doing things a bit differently. A total of 50 prizes of $10,000 each will be awarded to organizations with “small ideas” to bring people in their community together, and three prizes of $100,000 will be awarded to organizations with “big ideas” that also bring people in their community together but with a long-lasting impact.
Earlier this month, the Aviva Community Fund also gave away 100 prizes of $1,000 each for organizations to host events celebrating communities coming together.
Voting opened today (September 26) for the ideas in the competition and continues until Thursday, October 4, 2018. Each person who registers at the Aviva Community Fund website receives 10 online votes they can use at any time to vote for their favourite ideas; you can spread them around or use them all to support a single idea.
The 50 ideas in the “Small Ideas” category that receive the highest number of votes will each receive a $10,000 prize. The 10 ideas in the “Big Ideas” that receive the highest number of votes will progress to the judging round, where the three ideas with the highest score will each receive a $100,000, with the remaining seven ideas each receiving a consolation prize of $15,000.
With the exception of Women’s Resources of Kawartha Lakes, which is seeking $100,000 for its idea, all the organizations in the Kawarthas are competing for the $10,000 prizes.
Here are the five projects in the Kawarthas entered in the 2018 Aviva Community Fund competition, with photos and descriptions of the projects as provided at the Aviva Commmunity Fund website and voting links:
Harvest Community Park – Millbrook Christian Assembly (Small Ideas: $10,000)
Millbrook has a lack of community playgrounds, especially ones that are accessibility focused. Our village is a growing community (population expected to double within 5 years) due to a new housing development that has started. We eagerly desire to meet the need of providing safe and exciting playground equipment. Being aware of some of the challenges that impact children with disabilities, we have focused on creating a playground that would be accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
We believe Millbrook Christian Assembly is uniquely positioned in the village to be home to such a park. By being located in the west end of the village, this would encourage new families coming into town to connect with the older side of Millbrook – an easy way to make connections.
This vision started with a tree that was naturally uprooted during the last winter storm of 2018. Once down and lying across the lawn, it organically became a playground for 15 or more kids on any given afternoon. Recognizing the tree was not the safest playground, we knew we needed to act swiftly in providing a playground the children would be proud to call their own.
Partners in Education and Crime Prevention – John Howard Society of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton (Small Ideas: $10,000)
Providing crime prevention services for over 30 years, the John Howard Society of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton is a non-profit, multi service organization with offices located in Lindsay and Minden. Through prevention, education, and interventions JHSCKLH works with at-risk youth and adults through a variety of programs and services. The John Howard Society believes that crime can be reduced and prevented through social and educational programs, and the active involvement of an informed community; we operate under a mandate of “Effective, just, and humane responses to crime and its causes.”
Working in partnership with our local police force, the John Howard Society intends to provide education on crime prevention to members of our community. Our Agency believes that addressing crime and its causes should be a community-driven process, and so we will actively involve our community in various ways.
In 2017, the Kawartha Lakes Police Services documented 819 reports of violent crimes and 1,054 reports of property crimes. Through community engagement, we will speak to the concerns and impact of crime in our towns, and brainstorm ways in which to address it. The Agency will address the stigma that is present when an individual is convicted of a crime, and the ways in which the community can support reintegration to reduce recidivism rates and social isolation.
By educating our community and bringing the result of crime and its causes to the forefront of people’s minds, our Agency and local partners will aid in crime prevention, stigma, and recidivism rates through the power of an informed community.
Funding will be used to:
Bring our community together in various public forums to discuss crime rates, prevention, and stigma within our catchment area;
Create programming that addresses these issues, and highlights areas that are pertinent to our community, such as how the emergence of youth crime is impacting our town;
Work in conjunction with our local police force to identify gaps in services that pertain to crime and it’s prevention;
Create change within our community (and with our community’s assistance) by working together to facilitate positive change;
Work with local community partners in identifying issues that impact crime and it’s causes, and encourage positive change through the creation of pertinent programming that addresses these needs.
For example, our Agency has recently addressed the issue of homelessness in our community through the creation of a Transitional Housing program. Using the same reasoning, we aim to create programming that both addresses crime and it’s causes, while working with our community to create positive change by addressing stigma and crime prevention techniques with the power of an active, involved community.
The John Howard Society believes in education and involvement as a means to address community-wide issues. By focussing on crime and it’s causes, and how we can prevent further victimization, we will use this funding to create positive, community-wide change through the development and implementation of programming, education, and partnerships.
Ken Reid Community Christmas – Kawartha Conservation (Small Ideas: $10,000)
Our idea is to bring people together from different backgrounds, ages and economic circumstances to enjoy a day of family, friends and companionship at a time of year that can be extremely difficult for some people, while at the same time celebrating and embracing nature – a scientifically proven outlet that has positive health effects by simply viewing or being active in natural settings.
For many people in our community, the holidays can be a difficult time. Whether someone is alone, or has financial challenges, has recently lost a family member, or even if family is away and can’t be home for the holidays.
In Lindsay, one in ten residents lives in poverty adding to the stress people can experience during the holiday season.
We want to create a free, inclusive community event that brings people together regardless of backgrounds or circumstance. A day where people can be free of their stresses, where children can play, enjoy horse drawn sleigh rides, create and keep crafts, enjoy trails, roast marshmallows, listen to carollers. An event where parents and grandparents can enjoy companionship and comradery in an outdoor setting with the sounds, sights and smells of the holidays.
We want to create happiness for individuals and families who may not enjoy much during this difficult time of year.
Kawartha Conservation is a watershed-based, non-profit organization that balances environmental capacity and human need, while managing natural resource features that are essential for sustaining water quality and quantity, through watershed planning, stewardship, environmental monitoring and research, and management of conservation and natural areas.
Through our Stewardship, Education and Conservation Areas departments we provide natural spaces and programs to support youth, adults, seniors and families.
Rates of depression and other stress-related chronic diseases continue to climb, adding to our increasing health care costs. There is urgency everywhere to find ways to cut costs and stem the tide. The facts are:
Total annual health care spending in Canada is now over $200 billion (CIHI, 2012); in Ontario, health care spending consumes over 40 percent of the provincial budget. Finding ways to contain health care spending is a priority.
Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide (WHO, 2012) and a leading contributor to the economic burden of disease.
Chronic stress is pervasive, and related to depression and the development of chronic disease.
Research findings suggest that natural settings such as parks, wilderness areas, urban green spaces and gardens may be just what the doctor ordered to improve both physical and mental health and reduce the load on our health care system.
There is a growing collection of evidence suggesting that exposure to natural settings has direct positive effects, independent of physical activity, on reducing stress levels and enhancing mental well-being. The capacity of the natural environment to improve the physical and mental health of the population and reduce health care expenditures is attracting the interest of health practitioners and policy-makers everywhere. Such a prescription for health also empowers citizens to take greater control of their own health and well-being, most often with few costs attached.
The research literature on the relationship of nature to physical and mental health is extensive and growing.
The idea that nature and healing are linked is an ancient one, as reflected by expressions such as “Communing with nature is good for the soul.” An emphasis on the spiritual and emotional strength available through a close relationship with nature is still embraced by First Nations and aboriginal communities, and retains an intuitive appeal with deep resonance across time and cultures.
Kawartha Wildlife Centre (KWC) is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured or orphaned native wildlife species. KWC was founded in 2017 with a mission to establish a full-service rehabilitation and treatment centre, as well as to educate the public on coexistence with wildlife.
Kawartha Wildlife Centre is developing an immersive campaign called the Kawartha Wildlife Coexistence Initiative (KWCI) to educate the public in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough and Peterborough County on the benefits of wildlife coexistence. KWCI is built on the premise that wildlife not only has intrinsic value but provides real and tangible benefits in the form of a balanced ecosystem and bringing together the local and regional community of all people.
KWCI focuses on three groups: children, adults, and seniors. We believe that all generations provide value in the protection of wildlife, both in providing opportunities for our newest generation to become involved in wildlife conservation activities, but relying on the active support of our older generations and the wealth of heritage of stories, memories, and experiences that make up the rich connections between wildlife and our local community.
Everyone has a stake in a healthy environment. We need fish in our lakes; animals in our forests, and birds in our skies. The local recreational fishing, forestry, and outdoor tourism industries depend on a healthy balanced ecosystem and everyone from all walks life, regardless of faith, cultural background, and social-economic groups can share in this initiative.
KWCI will involve a multi-effort approach in its educational mandate. We will be:
Expanding our summer educational camps, specifically dedicated to bring a diverse group of children together to explore and experience wildlife conservation through wildlife rehabilitation projects. We want to create the next generation of passionate and dedicated wildlife coexistence agents.
Build an immersive training program for local organizations and businesses that are keen to decrease their impact on local wildlife.
Developing a comprehensive training session for Kawartha Wildlife Centre Volunteers to responsibly and carefully handle injured Ontario wildlife.
Designing a suite of educational programming dedicated to target to classrooms, libraries, and other youth organizations to promote the essential concept of wildlife coexistence.
Empowering our most senior generation by Capturing the heritage, stories, and experiences through art, music, multimedia to personalize the wildlife passion for those who cannot have those experiences at our summer camp and other educational events.
Amy’s – Living Without Fear – Women’s Resources of Kawartha Lakes (Big Ideas: $100,000)
For abused women and their children to have the opportunity to continue lives free of violence, they need to be able to access affordable, safe housing within a reasonable time frame. Without this, women are often forced to return to their abusive partners, resulting in escalated violence and sometimes even death. In the City of Kawartha Lakes (CKL), the wait list for appropriate housing is 3 to 5 years; currently, there are 1,500 people on that list.
To fill this housing need, Women’s Resources of Kawartha Lakes purchased Amy’s apartments in Fenelon Falls in 1992 with one time government funding. It was named after a resident of Fenelon Falls, Marion Amy White, a lifelong advocate for women’s issues. Amy’s was renovated in 1993 and since then the program provides short-term, rent geared to income housing. It is open for any women in the CKL and surrounding area experiencing abuse, with or without children, who need a safe, supportive place to live while rebuilding their lives. Amy’s receives only a small amount of municipal funding and manages primarily through rent, community donations, grants and bequests.
In 2017 we updated the bathrooms, the only major renovation completed in the 25 years since Amy’s was acquired. Now it is time for the 8 kitchens to be renovated, a project that is desperately needed to ensure the accommodations are clean and well-kept for the women who call Amy’s home. Every year the kitchens deteriorate a little more with worn out flooring; stained, cracked and even burned counter tops; broken hinges; outdated taps and plumbing; and inadequate lighting. Lack of funding has meant that we have only been able to do ‘band-aid’ repairs in the kitchens. The quote for these renovations is $110,000 for the 8 units.
VIDEO: Amy’s Next Step Housing
With an average occupancy rate of 100%, this year 15 women and 18 children have been housed safely and securely. Since 1993, 392 women and 434 children have lived there and been supported through Amy’s programs, eventually moving on in positive ways, becoming productive members of the community. For example, a teen currently living at Amy’s with his mom has a job at the local hardware store. One of the women is working for a local golf course and another is attending courses as a mature student to graduate from grade 12, a dream she has had for many years. The women living at Amy’s also create a community, in and of themselves, participating in weekly resident meetings, attending functions together, helping each other with meals and childcare as well as light maintenance of the grounds through gardening and simple painting projects. It is a true home in every sense, and for many, the first time they have felt safe in years. See Women’s testimonials attached.
Women who leave domestic violence are often thrown into a life of poverty with no immediate source of income or employment skills as they have been isolated from the workforce, forcing them to go on social assistance in order to survive. Living daily with fear and the trauma of being abused, their self-esteem has been eroded for years. They blame themselves and feel they deserve nothing. In order to heal, a safe, warm and welcoming environment is needed. At Amy’s, we work hard to ensure that their ‘new homes’ are safe, clean and in good repair. We help the women to understand that they are worthy of having a nice home and deserve to raise their children in an environment free from terror, fear and violence.
Although Women’s Resources Emergency Shelter is there when needed, it is only the beginning of the healing process. Without community programs in place like Amy’s Next Stage Housing, many women and their children would return to their abusive partners and not be where they are today in safe recovery.
When you vote for Amy’s – Living Without Fear, you are choosing a lasting and permanent “bricks and mortar” project that will save lives and help many women and children in our community for years to come.
Pterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation President & CEO Lesley Heighway (right) accepts a cheque for $211,238.32 from volunteers from Survivors Abreast and representatives of the Peterborough's Dragon Boat Festival organizing committee on September 25, 2018. The funds raised by the annual festival will be used to support fast and accurate breast cancer diagnosis through innovation in PRHC's laboratory. (Photo: Peterborough's Dragon Boat Festival / Twitter)
Earlier today (September 25) at Del Crary Park in Peterborough, volunteers from Survivors Abreast and the Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival organizing committee presented representatives from Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) and th PRHC Foundation with a cheque for $211,238.32.
The cheque represents the proceeds of the 2018 Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival, which was held on June 9th at Del Crary Park.
Joined by the festival’s dragon mascot, representatives from the festival’s 2018 community teams, sponsors, and volunteers used paddles to spell out this year’s donation to the PRHC Foundation. Festival chair Michelle Thornton told attendees it was symbolic of the community’s tremendous response to the festival’s 2018 call to action.
“In 2018, our 18th year, we challenged participants, sponsors, donors and volunteers to ‘get in the boat’ and help make the festival even better than ever,” Thornton said.
“As you can see, not only did they meet the challenge, they absolutely blew it out of the water. By paddling together, we are having an incredible impact on the lives of those women and men in our region who are facing this terrible disease.”
Representatives from the Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival community teams, sponsors, and volunteers gathered used paddles to spell out this year’s donation to the PRHC Foundation. (Photo: Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival / Twitter)
Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women in her lifetime. The proceeds of the 2018 Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival will be used to support fast and accurate breast cancer diagnosis through innovation in PRHC’s laboratory.
PRHC Foundation President & CEO Lesley Heighway said many people are surprised to learn that, without the lab, there would be no cancer care at PRHC.
“For a cancer patient and their loved ones, two of the hardest things to deal with are waiting and uncertainty,” Heighway said. “Doctors rely on lab results to determine and confirm 100 per cent of cancer diagnoses and treatment decisions.”
Heighway explained that the hospital is investing in new laboratory automation technology for the efficient processing of tissue samples taken during cancer biopsies and surgeries. This means lab technologists can provide pathologists with the materials they need to make accurate breast cancer diagnoses even sooner.
She also said the technology is used for other cancers as well.
“PRHC’s lab processes more than 20,000 cancer-related cases annually,” Heighway said. “That number represents thousands of additional people who will benefit from the festival and its donors’ investment every single year. We’re so grateful for the support of our partners Survivors Abreast and Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival, and to every one of the paddlers, donors, volunteers and sponsors who helped make this amazing event such a success.”
Host team Survivors Abreast President Peggy Quirion says that they’re incredibly proud of the impact the festival has had on patient care at PRHC since its inception in 2001.
“The 2018 donation brings the festival’s 18-year fundraising total to more than $3.3 million,” Quirion said.
“Teams that have been with us since the beginning continue to come out year after year and now their children and grandchildren are joining them or creating their own teams. It’s both inspiring and humbling to think of the impact we’re going to be able to have on the quality of breast cancer care available in our region, now and into the future.”
2018 also marked Kawartha Credit Union’s 17th year as the festival’s Platinum sponsor, demonstrating a remarkable commitment to both their community and the cause.
“At Kawartha Credit Union, we are passionate about contributing to the well-being of the communities we serve,” said Crystal Dayman, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications.
“Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival is a wonderful example of the impact we can have when we come together as a community to improve the quality of life. We are very proud to continue our support of an event that unites our community in common purpose and spirit year after year.”
Planning is already underway for the 2019 event scheduled for Saturday, June 8th at Del Crary Park.
VIDEO: Grand total announcement at Del Crary Park (September 25, 2018)
Watch the 2018 Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival grand total announcement, filmed live this morning at Del Crary Park!
The Canadian Cyclocross National Championships are being held at Nicholls Oval in Peterborough from November 9 - 11, 2018. The title sponsor of the event is Shimano Canada, with Trek Canada and Peterborough's Wild Rock Outfitters as presenting sponsors.
(Photo: Kris Sieber)
This week’s round-up of business news features Wild Rock Outfitters as a presenting sponsor of the Canadian Cyclocross Championships in Peterborough this November, Water Canada Magazine ranking Peterborough as the best place in Ontario for watertech startups, Random Acts of Green launching its new mobile app in October, the City of Peterborough converting 7,205 streetlights to smart technology LEDs, 100 Women Peterborough donating over $11,000 to The Warming Room, and the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce releasing its platform for the municipal election.
New business events added this week include Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre hosting a business fundamentals workshop in Peterborough on October 2nd, Scotia Wealth Management hosting a town hall informative session in Peterborough on October 2nd, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development hosting a New Venture Session in Peterborough on October 10th, and Community Futures Peterborough and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development hosting the Rural Business Summit 2018 in Fraserville on October 16th and in Burleigh Falls on October 17th.
We publish businessNOW every week. If you’d like us to promote your business news or event in businessNOW, please email business@kawarthanow.com.
Wild Rock Outfitters a presenting sponsor of 2018 Canadian Cyclocross Championships this November
A cyclist navigates an obstacle during a cyclocross race in Abergavenny, Wales. A cyclocross course consists of many short laps on a course featuring pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills, and obstacles. Peterborough is hosting the Canadian championships in 2018 and again in 2019. (Photo: Ray Tyler / Flickr)
Peterborough outdoor adventure and bike shop Wild Rock Outfitters is a presenting sponsor of the 2018 Canadian Cyclocross National Championships, which take place from November 9th to 11th in Peterborough, along the Canadian branch of global bicycle manufacturer Trek Bicycles.
“Wild Rock views Cyclocross Nationals as an important marketing element to help elevate Wild Rock in the minds of cyclists, cyclocross in the minds of our community and Peterborough, and in the minds of active people nation-wide,” says co-owner Scott Murison. “We are investing money and energy in this event because we know it will pay dividends for both Wild Rock and our community.”
The venue for the event, Nicholls Oval in Peterborough, has its own cycling history, being a host venue in the early 20th century for criterium cycling races (consisting of several laps around a closed circuit). For the Peterborough Cyclocross National Championships, it will provide a challenging circuit for the nation’s best cyclocross racers. Using the steep natural banks of the Otonabee River, cyclists will race on a three-kilometre circuit featuring asphalt and grass, challenging slopes, and obstacles.
Cyclocross consists of many laps of a short course featuring pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills, and obstacles that require the rider to quickly dismount, carry the bike while navigating the obstruction, and remount.
It’s a highly entertaining spectator sport that has been very popular in Europe for years. The Peterborough event, which is free for spectators, is sure to draw crowds both locally and from across Ontario.
Shimano Canada, whose head office is located in Peterborough, is the title sponsor for the event.
“Shimano has always been about being at the front of the pack,” says David Blondel, Marketing Manager at Shimano Canada. “Cyclocross is exploding in popularity and we wanted to show our support for such an exciting event.”
Other local sponsors include Peterborough Volkswagen, Medallist Design, and the Peterborough Cycling Club.
The Canadian Cyclocross Championships were previously held in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Next year’s championships will also be held in Peterborough.
For more information about the Shimano Cyclocross National Championships, visit ptbocx.com.
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Kris Sieber (Communications Director, PTBO CX / 20187 Shimano Canadian Cyclocross Championships presented by Trek / Wild Rock) at kris.sieber@ptbocx.com.
Water Canada Magazine ranks Peterborough the best place in Ontario for watertech startups
The most recent issue of Water Canada Magazine has ranked Peterborough as the first place in Ontario for a water technology (“watertech”) startup to thrive, and the second in Canada after Sherbrooke, Quebec.
Water Canada Magazine ranked Peterborough as the second best location in Canada for a watertech startup to thrive, and the best place in Ontario. (Photo courtesy of Innovation Cluster)
One of the reasons is the number of business and organizational resources available to support companies in the clean technology (“cleantech”) sector, including the Innovation Cluster, Peterborough Region Angel Network, VentureNorth, Trent University’s Trent Makerspace and coming Cleantech Commons, Fleming College’s Centre for Advancement of Water and Wastewater Technologies, and Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development.
“The Innovation Cluster staff and client companies have worked tirelessly to set our region apart as a watertech hub and is proud to compass a prominent role in providing cleantech support through company mentorship and acceleration,” says Michael Skinner, President & CEO of the Innovation Cluster. “We have helped push multiple startups to market success and are excited to see that Canada is beginning to take notice.”
The feature in Water Canada notes the previous cleantech companies that have thrived in the Peterborough area — including Aclarus, Noblegen, and Rainmaker Worldwide — and references the affordability of living in the area, a close-knit business community, and being surrounded by bodies of water as just a few of the factors that led to the decision.
Random Acts of Green launching mobile app in early October and annual Halloween challenge
Jessica Correa, founder and CEO of social enterprise Random Acts of Green, is launching the company’s new mobile app in early October. (Photo: Random Acts of Green)
Social enterprise Random Acts of Green plans to release its mobile app in early October, and is also launching its third annual “Hallowgreen” Challenge.
The business is encouraging citizens, school boards, classrooms, offices, and businesses to take the 31-day HallowGreen Challenge during the month of October to inspire more people to make behaviour changes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
CEO Jessica Correa says she was inspired by the popularity of Halloween throughout the years and thought the meaning could be extended to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Our HallowGreen Challenge is getting better every year,” says CEO Jessica Correa. “It encourages people to have fun while making lifestyle changes that positively impact our environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Our new app is making it easier for people to understand what they can do and rewards them for participating in more sustainable choices.”
When the new app is available, you will be able to log your HallowGreen acts.
The app will provide people with different behaviour-based approaches that reduce greenhouse gases — including waste, transportation, energy, food, and water — and will quantify the amount of greenhouse gas reduced by each act. Every act will be assigned a “green point” value and Random Acts of Green will partner with sponsors who will provide products and services that can be cashed in for accumulated green points.
If you sign up at raog.ca/app to be one of the first 1,000 users on the app, you can get an extra 250 green points.
City of Peterborough to convert 7,205 street lights to LED
The City of Peterborough will begin converting 7,205 street lights to smart technology Light Emitting Diode (LED) street light fixtures this month.
The city estimates the conversion to smart technology LED fixtures will reduce annual electricity costs by 54 per cent ($650,000), reduce maintenance costs by 80 per cent ($187,000), and reduce the city’s annual electricity consumption for street lights by 70 per cent (3.6 million kilowatt hours).
“That’s a substantial savings in terms of costs and energy use,” says Bruno Bianco, Infrastructure Planning Manager with the City of Peterborough.
LED street light fixtures are energy efficient, virtually maintenance-free, environmentally friendly, and last up to four times longer than traditional High Pressure Sodium street lights.
LED lighting is also able to be targeted in a more precise manner than traditional street lighting, reducing glare and lighting only targeted areas. The improved lighting quality enhances safety for both vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
In addition, the Smart technology being added to the lights will automatically inform the city when a light is out or malfunctioning to allow a crew to be dispatched to repair the fixture.
The city expects the LED street light conversion project to be completed by the end of December 2018.
100 Women Peterborough donates over $11,000 to The Warming Room
Members of 100 Women Peterborough present a donation of more than $11,000 to Christian Harvey of The Warming Room. (Photo courtesy of 100 Women Peterborough)
At its meeting last Tuesday (September 18), the 100 Women Peterborough group raised over $11,000 in under one hour for The Warming Room/One Roof.
100 Women Peterborough consists of 157 members who contribute to different organizations, selected by the membership, on a quarterly basis. Members commit to donate one hundred dollars at each of the four events hosted throughout the year.
The aim is to help women learn about the multitude of different causes in the community, help people in need, and join other like-minded women to empower and multiply the impact of their contributions.
“It was incredible to see how quickly we were able to impact The Warming Room with even more members than the last meeting,” says Rose Terry, one of the founding members of 100 Women Peterborough. “We are so grateful for the people in our community that continue to spread the word.”
Warming Room Community Ministries is an organization that works to challenge homelessness, food insecurity, and social exclusion through four main programs: the Warming Room Emergency Winter Shelter, which provides shelter for an average of 30 individuals who suffer from homelessness; One Roof Community Centre, which serves over 8,500 meals a month; the HOME program, which provides supportive housing for those suffering from chronic homelessness; and One City Peterborough, a partnership with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area that provides outreach to the downtown core as well as jobs for those with traditional barriers to employment.
Youth Unlimited received $12,500 from 100 Women Peterborough its June meeting, allowing Youth Unlimited to renovate it Brock Street location including a brand new kitchen, garage door, and other updates to the space.
Women who are interested in joining the group are encouraged visit www.100womenptbo.ca
Peterborough Chamber of Commerce releases business platform ahead of municipal election
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Building a Community Outside the Ordinary’ platform. (Photo: Peterborough Chamber of Commerce)
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce has released “Building a Community Outside the Ordinary”, its platform for the upcoming municipal election. The platform includes 10 recommended actions the Chamber says are needed to support the development of opportunities for everyone in the City and County of Peterborough.
The platform was developed through consultation with Chamber member businesses, who identified several factors that are limiting opportunities for Peterborough’s competitiveness, economic growth, and job creation.
Some of the recommendations include developing official plans with the most flexible zoning possible, investing in areas of economic growth, building resilient infrastructure, increasing housing stock, developing long-term strategies for addressing mental illness, addiction, and crime, and more.
“We are asking all candidates for City and County Councils to endorse our ‘Building a Community Outside the Ordinary’ platform,” says Stuart Harrison, President & CEO of the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce.
“We believe that by adopting the pillars of strengthening Peterborough’s competitiveness, economic growth and job creation, building whole communities, and improving government accountability, our next Councils can build a community outside the ordinary for everyone.”
Workshops on new regulations under Safe Food for Canadians Act in Peterborough on September 25
Diatom Consulting is offering two workshops to help local businesses prepare for new regulations under the federal Safe Food for Canadians Act that come into effect in January 2018.
The new regulations will result in potential changes for local food manufacturers to record keeping, facility licenses, and oversight from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
The two workshops, entitled “Safe Food for Canadian Regulations – What You Need to Know” and “Safe Food for Canadian Regulations – Building a Compliant PCP Process”, take place from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, September 25th at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough). Each workshop costs $199 or $269 for both.
New Venture Session on September 26, 2018 is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs or startups looking for support in the business community. (Photo: Peterborough & The Kawarthas Economic Development)
Peterborough & The Kawarthas Economic Development is hosting a workshop for entrepreneurs from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 26th at St. Matthew – St. Aidans Church (1946 Lakehurst Rd., Buckhorn).
The “New Venture Session” is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs or startups looking for support in the business community. The session will provide an overview of the foundations of starting and running a business, resources and programs that are available for entrepreneurs in Peterborough & the Kawarthas, the business model canvas exercise, how to access support from the Business Advisory Centre, and getting started on the “Startup Checklist”.
Leaders Lunch Series on Strategic Planning in Peterborough on September 27
The third event of the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce’s Leaders Lunch Series for 2018 takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 27th at Personal Touch Banquet Hall (1135 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough).
Ali Lajevardi, Director of BDC Advisory Services, will deliver a keynote address on “The Benefits of Strategic Planning” followed by a question-and-answer session featuring panelists Rhonda Barnet, Jonathan Bennett, and Matt Tanguay.
The cost is $20 and includes networking and lunch. For more information and to register, visit peterboroughchamber.ca.
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre hosts business fundamentals workshop in Peterborough on October 2
The Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre is hosting “Business Fundamentals: Business Planning” from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 2nd at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
Part of the organization’s Business Fundamentals Workshop series, this session is designed to give you a strong foundation in business planning, and the importance of a comprehensive business plan. Tools will be available for creating a business plan and its top tips for creating a plan ready to share with banks and funding agencies to secure financing.
You will leave the section with a completed Business Model Canvas covering customer segments, value proposition, channels to market, customer relationships, revenue streams, key activities + resources, key partnerships, and cost structures.
Next Kawartha Chamber B.O.S.S. session takes place on October 2
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism’s next B.O.S.S. (Business Owners Sharing Solutions) session is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 2nd at Camp Kawartha (1010 Birchview Rd., Douro-Dummer).
The session will explore team building programs, practices, and activities, and discuss the importance of establishing trust, setting goals, and honouring the goals of others. Refreshments will be provided.
Scotia Wealth Management Town Hall in Peterborough on October 2
Scotia Wealth Management is hosting a town hall informative session from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, October 2nd at the McDonnel Street Activity Centre (577 McDonnel St., Peterborough).
The company hopes the evening will provide unique insights and benefits to business owners and members of the community. This is the first event of its kind hosted by Scotia Wealth Management and ScotiaMcLeod, and will feature its internal partners and advisors sharing the stage to talk about their specialities and to take questions from the audience.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and refreshments will be served.
The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce’s Love Local Business Expo will take place this year from noon to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 3rd.
The region’s largest business showcase, in previous years the Expo took place at the Morrow Building during September. While spacious, the location was also somewhat uncomfortable during the heat of late summer and required a lot of carpets to cover up the concrete floor.
This year’s Expo is taking place at the Envinrude Centre, which features air conditioning and hardwood floors.
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development hosts New Venture Session in Peterborough on October 10
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development is hosting New Venture Session from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 10th at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
The New Venture Session is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs or startups looking for support in the business community. The session will provide an overview of the foundations of starting and running a business, resources and programs that are available for entrepreneurs in Peterborough & the Kawarthas, the business model canvas exercise, how to access support from the Business Advisory Centre, and getting started on the “Startup Checklist”.
Rural Business Summit 2018 in Fraserville on October 16 and in Burleigh Falls on October 17
Community Futures Peterborough and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development are hosting a Rural Business Summit in two locations this October.
The Rural Business Summit is for entrepreneurs, leaders, and movers and shakers who have big aspirations for their small communities in Peterborough & the Kawarthas. It will include “Marketing your Small Town Business” with WorkCabin.ca Founder Gregg McLachlan, and a Succession Planning Panel Discussion with local experts Darryl Wade from Farm Life Financial, Matthew Savino from Savino HR Professionals, and Nicole Truman of Fox Law.
The summit will also feature the opportunity for round table discussion with other rural business leaders from Peterborough & the Kawarthas, to explore challenges being faced by rural businesses, followed by a discussion of opportunities and objectives moving forward.
The Rural Business Summit in Fraseville takes place from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 16th at Baxter Creek Golf Club (1702 Cedar Valley Rd, Fraserville), and in Burleigh Falls from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 17th at the Burleigh Falls Inn (4791 Ontario 28, Lakefield).
Both events are free and include lunch, but seating is limited. Register in advance on Eventbrite (Fraserville or Burleigh Falls).
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