Rose Wilton, founder of The Rose Project, in front of Sugar Dust Bakery on Walton Street in Port Hope where you can donate toiletries or warm gloves, mittens, and hats for people in need. You can also bring donations to The Rose Project's inaugural Holiday Craft Show at the Town Park Recreation Centre on November 23, 2019, which features vendors offering a selection of hand-crafted items for your holiday shopping. (Photo: April Potter / kawarthaNOW.com)
Are you looking for a unique gift for someone special this Christmas? If so, The Rose Project has got you covered. On Saturday, November 23rd from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Town Park Recreation Centre in Port Hope (62 McCaul St.), you can shop for the holidays while supporting a very worthy cause.
Approximately 30 vendors are signed on to sell locally made and handcrafted items at the show. Admission to the recreation centre is free of charge so that you can spend your hard-earned cash buying items at the sale, and/or purchase raffle tickets to support the project.
The Rose Project is an initiative that collects new, unopened, and unused toiletry donations to provide to people living on the streets, in shelters, and really any one in need of help who crosses their path. The goal is to restore dignity and confidence by assisting with basic personal hygiene needs.
“I don’t really see any other organizations focussed specifically on toiletries,” says The Rose Project founder Rose Wilton. “Many charities are focussed on food, shelter, and clothing. All of these things are very important, but if all that’s stopping someone from going to a job interview is because they smell bad or can’t wash their hair, toiletries can restore dignity, confidence and really help someone get their life back on track.”
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The primary goal of The Rose Project is to collect toiletry donations. As a result, during the holiday craft show if you bring a donation of a new bottle of full-sized shampoo, deodorant, or toothpaste (you can also donate a pair of new winter gloves), you’ll get a complimentary ticket for the show’s raffle (limited to one free ticket per family).
“Every kit we supply has to have shampoo, soap, toothbrush, and toothpaste as well as moisturizer,” explains Rose. “I don’t think any donation is too small. If all you have is one new toothbrush, you’ve helped one person.”
Raffle sales will raise funds to assist a couple of local families in the area who have recently suffered tragedy or illness. In addition to supporting these families during the holidays, the project intends to make donations to the Northumberland Centre for Independent Studies (CIS), an adult learning centre that creates Christmas baskets for students in need who are in the process of turning their lives around.
A couple used their grocery store reward points to purchase and donate these toiletries to The Rose Project. In addition to supporting local families during the holidays, The Rose Project intends to make donations to the Northumberland Centre for Independent Studies, an adult learning centre that creates Christmas baskets for students in need who are in the process of turning their lives around. (Supplied photo)
“We really wanted to help a couple of families in crisis this year,” explains Rose. “Christmas is stressful enough and you shouldn’t have to worry about providing gifts for your children while making sure you can cover your mortgage payment if you’ve recently experienced critical illness or some other type of misfortune.”
“We’ve also added CIS to the list of people that the craft show is helping this year, and we also provide them with toiletry kits that include full-size bottles of shampoo at the beginning of the school year every fall.”
Each vendor has donated a raffle prize, but there have been other donations from the community as well. Included in the prize pool is a very generous donation from popular local artist Paul Bailey.
At The Rose Project’s inaugural Holiday Craft Show at Port Hopes Town Park Recreation Centre on November 23, 2019, The Lady of Shallots will offer eco-friendly items. (Photo: April Potter / kawarthaNOW.com)
“We are very appreciative of Paul Bailey, who has donated a landscape painting valued at $300,” says Rose. “Because of the value of this prize, we may do something a little different and are considering a silent auction for this item.”
What else can you expect at the show? With so many vendors to choose from you are sure to find something of interest to at least one person on your shopping list. The Rose Project has made an effort to reach out to a variety of vendors in hopes of offering a selection of items to browse.
Vendors include Bonnie’s Vinyl Signs, a custom sign maker for all occasions, and Northern Revival Co, owned by home décor enthusiast Courtney Sutton, who creates functional and beautiful custom wood furniture and home accents.
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For the eco-conscious gift recipient, Sack It Up! and The Lady of Shallots will both be offering hand-crafted reusable items that help cut down on plastic waste such as reusable lunch bags in fun, unique prints.
Art lovers can explore the work of Brenda Sullivan of Dragon Clay Pottery Studio. Jules Wilton, Rose’s sister and founder of Dryad Artifacts, will also be showcasing her art. You can purchase unique wire, driftwood and upcycled art glass creations from her collection; photography art postcards will also be available. Dryad Artifacts will be debuting reusable gift tags and holiday ornaments at the craft show.
Peace, Love and Flowers by Joyce Lichtenberger will be bringing handmade seasonal centrepieces and decorations to help get your home ready for the holidays.
Cavan Street Candy Apples will be at The Rose Project’s inaugural Holiday Craft Show at Port Hopes Town Park Recreation Centre on November 23, 2019, selling gourmet and custom candy or caramel apples made from scratch. (Supplied photo)
For those with a sweet-tooth, Cavan Street Candy Apples will also be on site selling gourmet and custom candy or caramel apples made from scratch.
In addition to the vendors and raffle, holiday music will be provided by DJ Kevin.
For a complete list of vendors, visit The Rose Project’s Facebook event page.
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The Rose Project has distributed over 3,000 kits to people in need all over Southern Ontario. The project also works with local business owners such as Blake Holton of Holton Flowers to provide support to people in need and sends support to communities overseas as well. The project scope is not limited by region and will always try to help someone in need regardless of geography.
Interested in getting involved? If you’d like to donate toiletries or warm gloves, mittens, and hats, Sugar Dust Bakery on Walton Street in Port Hope is the project’s local drop-off location.
“I was a social worker for about six to seven years in the Peterborough and Port Hope area,” says Rose. “I’ve always had an interest in helping the homeless population and I saw a need. As a child it was a really difficult concept for me that there were people who didn’t have anywhere to go, didn’t have a home.”
Northern Revival Co. will be at The Rose Project’s inaugural Holiday Craft Show at Port Hopes Town Park Recreation Centre on November 23, 2019. Owned by home décor enthusiast Courtney Sutton, Northern Revival Co. creates functional and beautiful custom wood furniture and home accents. (Supplied photo)
“If you don’t find something that you’d like to purchase at the craft show but want to be involved, come find me and we can talk about how you can help the project in other ways,” she adds.
Rose encourages the community to come out and support the event for many reasons, but the greatest message she has may also be the most important reason to attend.
“You’ll help numerous people,” she explains. “Not only are you helping local families — who may actually be your neighbours — but you’re also helping local students. If you do shop, by buying local you’re helping local businesses who need your support.”
“You’ll also get a unique gift and you’ll be able to say ‘Someone made this gift with great love and I thought of you!’ I think that’s better than giving something mass-produced from a big store.”
Jules Wilton of Dryad Artifacts, will also be showcasing her art at The Rose Project’s inaugural Holiday Craft Show at Port Hopes Town Park Recreation Centre on November 23, 2019. (Supplied photo)
Community activist and advocate Kathi Curtin-Williams has been named the recipient of the 2019 YMCA Peace Medal. (Photo: Colleges Ontario Premier's Awards)
Peterborough activist and advocate Kathi Curtin-Williams has been selected as the recipient of the 2019 YMCA Peace Medal.
The YMCA of Central East Ontario will honour Curtin-Williams in a ceremony from 9 to 10 a.m. on Friday, November 22nd at the YMCA’s Balsillie Family Branch (123 Aylmer St., Peterborough). The free event is open to the public and will include a pancake breakfast.
The presentation of the Peace Medal caps off YMCA Peace Week, which runs from November 16th to 23rd.
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During YMCA Peace Week, YMCAs across Canada present Peace Medals to recognize the achievements of people who — without any special resources, status, wealth, or position — demonstrate the values of peace through their contributions made within their local, national, or global community.
Peacemakers are recognized for promoting and inspiring participation, empathy, advocacy, community and empowerment.
Curtin-Williams is a community activist and advocate dedicated to the issues of homelessness, poverty, and food security in Peterborough. Born and raised in Peterborough, she has organized the Out of the Cold program, the Peterborough Pet Food Bank, as well as meals and supports she has offered to those in need.
“Kathi’s kindness and compassion shine through in the work that she does,” according to a media release from the YMCA of Central East Ontario announcing the 2019 recipient. “Kathi never looks down on others unless she is helping them up.”
Curtin-Williams has previously been recognized with two civic awards from the City of Peterborough for her volunteerism, an inaugural Peterborough-Kawartha Women’s Leadership Award in 2018, and was nominated for the 2018 Premier’s Award.
Previous recipients of the YMCA Peace Medal include Rosemary Ganley, Charmaine Magumbe, Gord and Heather Rodin with Hope Grows, Margaret Slavin, Janet McCue, Maryam Monsef and Jessica Melnik of the Red Pashmina Campaign, Goodith Heeney, Micky Renders, and Jean Koning.
Hydro One crews installing smart switches on lines in the Bancroft and Barry's Bay area in September 2018. The smart switches help to reduce the frequency and duration of power outages while limiting the number of customers impacted. Hydro One will be installing four smart switches in Haliburton County and replacing 24 wooden poles during a planned power outsage on November 24, 2019. (Photo: Hydro One / Instagram)
Hydro One is advising residents in the County of Haliburton to prepare for a planned power outage between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 24th.
Update – Nov 20, 2019
Hydro One advises that, while some customers in the Minden area will be affected by the planned outage, the Town of Minden/Minden proper will not be affected.
The outage is required to allow crews to safely complete much-needed upgrades to modernize the grid and replace aging infrastructure, according to a media release from Hydro One.
Approximately 5,815 residential and 5,509 seasonal customers will be affected in Monmouth, Glamorgan, Dudley, Dysart et al, Snowdon, Stanhope, Minden, Guilford, Harburn, and Havelock.
The work will involve around 100 Hydro One power line workers installing four smart-switches and replacing 24 end-of-life wood poles throughout the county. Crews will also complete maintenance work at multiple distribution stations in the area.
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Hydro One says the new smart switches will help to reduce the frequency and duration of power outages while limiting the number of customers affected. The switches detect a fault on the line immediately, such as a fallen tree, and allow Hydro One to dispatch a crew to the exact location.
Crews will use both on-road and specialized off-road equipment, which includes a helicopter, to conduct the upgrades.
“We know that any outage causes a disruption for our customers, particularly outages of this length,” the media release states. “Hydro One works to reduce the impact on customers by bundling required work, so multiple outages are not required, while using all available crews. We appreciate everyone’s patience as our crews work as safely and as quickly to complete this important work.”
Hydro One customers requiring additional information can call 1-888-664-9376.
This map represents the affected areas (within the red boundary line) that will be affected by the November 24, 2019 outage. (Supplied map)
Get in the spirit of the season while supporting youth and families in need at the 20th annual In From The Cold Christmas concert, with performances on Friday, December 6th and Saturday, December 7th, at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW.com)
In From The Cold, “The Heart of a Peterborough Christmas”, returns for its 20th year on Friday, December 6th and Saturday, December 7th at 8 p.m. at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough).
In From The Cold
When: Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7, 2019 at 8 p.m. Where: Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough) How much: $20 adults, $15 students/children (includes all surcharges and taxes)
Note: If you can’t make it (or you can’t get tickets before they sell out!), you can listen to Trent Radio’s broadcast of the recorded concert throughout Christmas Day on 92.7 FM and at www.trentradio.ca/stream.htm.
Tickets for the annual concert, which raises funds Peterborough’s YES Shelter for Youth and Families, are $20 for adults and $15 for students and children (the ticket price includes all surcharges and taxes) and are available in person at the Market Hall box office, by phone at 705-749-1146, or online (December 6th performance, December 7th performance).
Launched in 2000 by a group of Peterborough musicians to celebrate the traditional music of the season while raising money for homeless youth, In From The Cold has become one of Peterborough’s most cherished Christmas concerts.
With two performances every year, In From The Cold offers an enchanting mix of Celtic-style carols and seasonal songs performed by some of Peterborough’s top folk and roots musicians.
Now in its 20th season, In From The Cold specializes in hidden musical Christmas gems that you won’t hear at other Christmas concerts, and has raised over $130,000 for the YES Shelter for Youth and Families over the years.
If you’ve never been to In From The Cold, watch the short film below and find out why so many people think of this concert as the real start of the Christmas season.
VIDEO: “In From The Cold” by Rodney Fuentes (2016)
As always, this year’s show will be anchored by the acts that developed the unique In From The Cold sound: folk/vocal group Carried Away, Enrique “Roy” Claveer (aka Curtis Driedger), The Convivio Chorus, fingerstyle guitarist Michael Ketemer, and Celtic harpist Tanah Haney.
Here’s what you will see and hear at this year’s concert:
Christmas carols and seasonal folk songs from Sweden, Ireland, Scotland, England, and Spain, presented in In From The Cold’s signature Celtic style
The lush harmonies of Carried Away and the Convivio Chorus, featuring original choral arrangements by Susan Newman and John Hoffman
Sweet sounds of instruments rarely heard at Christmas concerts: Celtic harp, hammered dulcimer, mandolin, concertina, tin whistle, fiddle, and bouzouki
Susan Newman’s gorgeous musical setting of Tennyson’s classic poem “Ring Out Wild Bells”
Enrique “Roy” Claveer and his ever-growing band of Claveer “cousins” are back again to charm and tickle the funnybone
Dayle Finlay’s gorgeous stage design and decoration, which sets a great atmosphere for the evening.
In the 20 years since Rob Fortin, Susan Newman, John Hoffman, and Curtis Driedger (not pictured) first launched the annual In From The Cold concert, it has raised over $130,000 for YES Shelter for Youth and Families. This year’s concert takes place on December 6 and 7, 2019. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW.com)
Here’s what audience members say about In From The Cold:
“Another heartfelt thank you for a wonderful concert once and for such a warm and joyful atmosphere to enter into the season. The two ladies sitting in front of us turned to each other at the end and said ‘Now Christmas can begin!’ In From The Cold has become such a well-loved tradition for so many!”
“Beautiful decorations and lovely, relaxed folksy music start the holiday on the right foot! Such wonderful talent!”
“Had a great time at the In From The Cold concert last night. The music was excellent, and passionately performed.”
Rob Fortin performing on the bodhrán (Irish drum) at In From The Cold at the Market Hall in Peterborough on Friday, December 11, 2015. In From The Cold features Christmas carols and seasonal folk songs from Sweden, Ireland, Scotland, England, and Spain, all presented in a signature Celtic style. This year’s concert takes place on December 6 and 7, 2019. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW.com)
Concert Sponsors
In From The Cold and the YES Shelter for Youth and Families are grateful for the continued generous support or businesses and organizations in the Peterborough community that help make the concert possible. The sponsors for this year’s concert are:
In From The Cold features the lush harmonies of Carried Away and the Convivio Chorus, with original choral arrangements by Susan Newman and John Hoffman. This year’s concert takes place on December 6 and 7, 2019. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW.com)
John Hoffman, co-founder and director of In From the Cold, with Meagan Hennekam, executive director of the YES Shelter for Youth and Families. Over the past 20 years, the In From the Cold concert has raised over $130,000 in support of YES. (Supplied photo)
If you live in Peterborough and your recycling isn’t picked up on your regular collection day, it may not be because you sorted it improperly.
The City of Peterborough is advising residents they may experience delays in recycling collection until November 25th, due to challenges faced by the city’s new recycling collection and processing service provider.
Emterra Environmental became the city’s new service provider on November 1st. At that time, the city advised it would be enforcing a policy of proper sorting of recyclables, and that improperly sorted recyclables would not be collected.
However, since then, recycling collection on some streets and neighbourhoods has been missed entirely.
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Initially, delays were caused by the enforcement of the city’s policy for proper sorting of recyclables, which adds extra time during the collection process (including Emterra leaving a tag advising of improper sorting).
This process resulted in cumulative delays, as missed recyclables had to be collected on the following day, resulting in further delays for collection on that day, and so on.
According to a media release from the city, delays have been exacerbated because Emterra has been experiencing difficulties with the new recycling trucks it purchased for the city’s collection service.
Emterra is bringing in additional vehicles and staff while it deals with the delays.
The city is asking residents to be patient until the issues are resolved. If your recycling isn’t picked up by 7 p.m. on your regular collection day due to delays, leave your bins at the curb overnight or put your bins back out the next morning by 7 a.m. For recycling collection on a Friday, the next day of service is Saturday.
Emily Burgess & The Emburys will be releasing their new album "Never-Ending Fling" at the Gordon Best in Peterborough on Saturday, November 16th with special guests The Weber Brothers, Ryan 'Rico' Browne, Shai 'Cookie' Peer, and Blue Hazel. (Photo: Karol Orzechowski)
Every Thursday, we publish live music and performance events at pubs and clubs in Peterborough and The Kawarthas based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, November 14 to Wednesday, November 20.
If you’re a pub or club owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our Nightlife Editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com.
Thursday, November 21 7pm - Jackie w/ Low Life Lolas
Friday, November 22 5pm - Forselli Fridays w/ Not Much Fun; 9pm - May Have w/ Mary Kate Edwards ($10 or PWYC)
Saturday, November 23 9pm - The Discarded w/ Bow Tie Killers
Sunday, November 24 7:30pm - Dave McCann
Golden Wheel Restaurant
6725 Highway 7, Peterborough
(705) 749-6838
Saturday, November 16
7pm - Boots of Hazard ($25 dinner and music)
Coming Soon
Saturday, November 23 9pm - Doug Horner
Saturday, November 30 9pm - Rob Donaldson Band
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Gordon Best Theatre
216 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 876-8884
Friday, November 15
9pm - You're Welcome presents Y2GAY: A Big Gay Dance Party ($10)
Saturday, November 16
8pm - Emily Burgess & The Emburys "Never-Ending Fling" album release w/ guests The Weber Brothers, Ryan 'Rico' Browne, Shai 'Cookie' Peer, and Blue Hazel ($15 at door only)
VIDEO: "Black and Blue" - Emily Burgess & The Emburys
Coming Soon
Friday, November 22 10pm - HOLA (Organization for Hispanic and Latino Awareness) Party (18+, $7 pre-sale on Trent campus or $10 at door)
Saturday, November 23 8pm - Limestone ($10 at door)
The Grand Experience
177 Kent St. W., Lindsay
(705) 324-9444
Friday, November 15
9:30pm - Hitcher
Hot Belly Mama's
378 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 745-3544
Thursday, November 14
6-8pm - Live music
Kawartha Coffee Co.
58 Bolton St., Bobcaygeon
(705) 738-1500
Saturday, November 16
7pm - Karaoke w/ Dave Pearce
Local No90
90 Mill St. N., Port Hope
(905) 269-3373
Thursday, November 14
6-9:30pm - Darren Bailey
McGillicafey's Pub & Eatery
13 Bridge St.. N., Hastings
(705) 696-3600
Friday, November 15
8pm - Gunslingers
Coming Soon
Friday, November 22 8pm - Cindy & Scott
Friday, November 29 8pm - Jefrey Danger
Mckecks Tap & Grill
207 Highland St., Haliburton
(705) 457-3443
Friday, November 15
7-9pm - B n B Blues Band
McThirsty's Pint
166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 743-2220
Thursdays
9pm - Live music hosted by Tony Silvestri and Greg Caven
Fridays
10pm - Live music with Brian Haddlesey
Saturdays
10pm - Live music with Brian Haddlesey
Sundays
8pm - Open stage hosted by Ryan Van Loon
Mondays
9:30pm - Trivia Night hosted by Cam Green
Wednesdays
9pm - Live music hosted by Kevin Foster
The Mill Restaurant and Pub
990 Ontario St., Cobourg
(905) 377-8177
Thursday, November 14
7pm - Greg Hannah Band
Coming Soon
Thursday, November 21 7pm - Lotus Wight
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Murphy's Lockside Pub & Patio
3 May St., Fenelon Falls
(705) 887-1100
Coming Soon
Saturday, November 30 8pm - Open mic hosted by North Country Express
Next Door
197 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(647) 270-9609
Coming Soon
Thursday, December 12 9pm - The Musician Next Door ft Lindsay Barr
Oasis Bar & Grill
31 King St. E., Cobourg
(905) 372-6634
Sundays
5:30pm - PHLO
Pappas Billiards
407 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 772-9010
Saturdays
1-3pm - Shipwrecked Saturdays w/ Jacques Graveline; 3pm - Open mic hosted by Casey Bax
Pastry Peddler
17 King St., Millbrook
(705) 932-7333
Coming Soon
Friday, November 24 5:30pm & 7:45pm - Jazz Dinner Night ft Marsala & The Imports ($50 per person)
Tim Horgan of Cobourg with the Jack Russell terrier he rescued after she went under a 20-foot moving truck after running into traffic on Highway 28 south of Fraserville. Horgan took her to the Peterborough Humane Society where she is doing well and waiting to be reunited with her family. (Photo: Tim Horgan / Facebook)
For animal lovers, Tim Horgan of Cobourg is a hero.
Horgan — who owns the two ZAP Records locations in Cobourg and Peterborough — was on his way to work on Wednesday (November 13) when he saw a dog run into traffic on Highway 28 south of Fraserville.
He turned around to stop and help the dog, when he saw her go under a 20-foot moving truck.
“It seems the bottom of the truck clipped her,” he writes on Facebook. “She did about 6 rolls and just laid there.”
***UPDATE: I have just conversed with the Humane Society and this doggie has not been reunited with her family as of…
Horgan picked her up off the highway and drove her to the Peterborough Humane Society. He says it was a “miracle” she was still alive and appeared relatively unscathed by the experience.
Horgan says the Jack Russell terrier has no collar and is not microchipped.
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As of the date of this story, no one has yet claimed the dog from the Peterborough Humane Society, where “she’s safe and warm” and “getting lots of snuggles from the office staff” according to Humane Society employee Heidi Wilkins, who posted a photo on Facebook.
The Jack Russell terrier is safe and sound at the Peterborough Humane Society, where she is “getting lots of snuggles from the office staff”. (Photo: Heidi Wilkins / Facebook)
As for the truck that ran over the dog, Horgan has a message for the driver.
“There was nothing you could have done differently, it all happened way too quick to react.”
If you recognize the dog, please contact the Peterborough Humane Society at 705-745-7676. You can also contact Hogan via his Facebook page, as he is in contact with the Humane Society.
Personal care products can contain ingredients such as phthalates, triclosan, and micro-beads that, when washed down the drain, can result in negative health and environment impacts. You can choose all-natural personcal care products that are free of harmful chemicals. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
I narrowly averted a crisis the other night. My toilet was quite close to overflowing. I discovered a number of cotton swabs my toddler, Leif, had attempted to flush.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Heather Ray, GreenUP’s Manager of Water Programs.
Eventually, I removed all of the cotton swabs and things flushed as they should. As I inspected the other drains within the bathroom (the sink, the bathtub), I thought about how many of us, myself included, may be unknowingly contributing to a bigger problem by flushing items that we shouldn’t be putting into our water system.
I usually tell Leif that “bathroom talk” belongs in the bathroom — but in this case, I feel like we need more public bathroom talk about what should and shouldn’t go down the drain.
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Personal care products (PCPs) is a term used to include a wide range of products that we all use daily, most often in our bathrooms. PCPs include, but are not limited to, shampoos, cosmetics, cotton swabs, deodorants, wet wipes, and soaps.
While pharmaceuticals are technically not defined as a PCP, these are often included in the broader definition. For example, the Government of Canada refers to both PCPs and pharmaceuticals as any product used by individuals for personal health or cosmetic reasons.
Common sense isn’t always enough to guide our decisions about what we do and do not allow down the drain. Larger items that can cause clogging, like cotton swabs or tampons, are clearly not meant for the drain. Some items are even promoted as “flushable” when in reality they are not.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) offers an online searchable database where you can check to see if a personal care product contains potentially harmful ingredients. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
Wet wipes are one of these confusing products — they appear to fall into the same category as toilet paper, and many of them are labelled as flushable. Even flushable wipes, however, can wreak havoc on plumbing by causing clogs.
A clogged pipe or toilet is stressful, but a mess like that is quickly recognized and prompts action because its impact is felt immediately. When it comes to some other PCPs, the negative health and environment impacts such as degradation of water quality are not fully recognized in the moment, thus making it more difficult to know if they should or shouldn’t go down the drain.
“Our daily personal care routine involves up to a dozen or more products, from shampoos to concealers, that contain chemicals that can adversely affect our health,” says Muhannad Malas, toxics program manager with Environmental Defence. “When washed down the drain, ingredients such as phthalates and siloxanes escape our wastewater filtration systems, spread through the beautiful waterways that surround us, and pose serious risks to fish and other aquatic animals.”
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Part of the challenge of avoiding these PCPs is interpreting their ingredients. When determining if a PCP should or shouldn’t go down the drain, the product ingredient list is a helpful place to seek answers — but only if you know what to look for. When ingredient lists seem incomprehensible, it can be difficult to determine if a product I am buying or using may contain a harmful ingredient that should not escape into the waterway (or onto my skin for that matter).
To prevent the purchase or release of harmful ingredients, I trust a few handy resources to guide my decision making:
The Toxic Ten Pocket Guide, offered as a printable wallet guide by Environmental Defence, provides a general overview of toxic chemicals (such as phthalates) to avoid in household products, including PCPs.
The David Suzuki Foundation offers a Sustainable Shopper’s Guide to help you dive deeper into what you can avoid when purchasing or flushing cosmetics, such as sodium lauryl sulfate and cyclomethicone, which are both harmful to fish and other wildlife.
If an online tool is more convenient, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) offers an extensive, searchable database of products. EWG has evaluated (and verified) thousands of products, solving much of the ingredient-reading struggle.
If you are ever unsure whether you should flush or wash something down the drain, aim for the wastebasket instead.
“Dispose of unused portions appropriately,” advised Kent Keeling, chief environmental officer with the City of Peterborough. “The Household Hazardous Waste Depot accepts cleaners, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and many pharmacies will accept unused medications.”
“Pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and micro plastics are not things that wastewater treatment plants were designed to remove. The wastewater industry likes to use the phrase ‘the three Ps — pee, poo, and toilet paper’. These are the only things that should be flushed down the toilet.”
The GreenUP Store offers a number of all-natural, chemical-free personal care product (many locally made) that you can use instead in your daily hygiene routine. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
I will be telling Leif to only flush the three Ps, and I will be mindful to prevent potentially harmful PCPs from going down the drain and into waterways.
Purchasing all-natural products can help to ensure that no harmful chemicals are entering the bathroom in the first place. The GreenUP Store offers a number of all-natural, chemical-free PCPs that you can swap out in your daily routine.
The Precarious2 ArtsWork festival is running in November and December in downtown Peterborough, featuring more than 50 artists creating and presenting new works in theatre, visual art, music, spoken word, literary arts, film, and performance, as well as workshops, artistic mentorships, and panel discussions revolving around the theme of precarity in the arts. The rat masks derive from the first Precarious festival in 2017, when artistic director Kate Story presented "Festivus Rattus 2035", a post-apocalyptic retelling of the Pied Piper of Hamelin as a metaphor for the underpaid and undervalued artist. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
On now and continuing into December, Precarious2: Peterborough ArtsWork Festival is dominating the downtown Peterborough arts scene with new works in theatre, visual art, music, spoken word, and more, along with workshops and panel discussions that examine the continuing difficult economic situation faced by local artists living and working in Peterborough.
Presented by Fleshy Thud in partnership with Public Energy, Precarious2 is spearheaded by artistic director Kate Story, festival director Ryan Kerr, and Indigenous programming director Jenn Cole, who started the conversation back in 2017 with the original Precarious festival.
Since that first festival, life for local artists has become even more challenging, prompting the need for a continued conversation.
“Things are much more precarious,” Ryan says. “There have been funding cuts to the arts since the last festival. We’ve had a different government come in. University levies have been slashed.”
“Which directly affects places like The Theatre at King, because Theatre Trent used to be a fairly constant and reliable source of funding,” Kate adds, referring to the student levy group of Trent University that supports theatrical endeavours throughout the community. This past September, the Ontario government allowed students to opt out of fee levies for levy groups that — at Trent University — include Theatre Trent, Arthur Newspaper, Trent Radio, and many more.
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“A lot of artists we know are in jobs that have directly been affected because of the Ford government cuts — teachers, and minimum wage precarious work,” Kate explains. “Those people are living to the bone now, not that it was great before. So a lot of our core artists in this town are in a much worse situation in direct result to the Ford election.”
“I have a constant sense of worry now. A huge amount of energy suddenly went into various types of activism and attempts to alleviate the effect of some of the Ford cuts that were fairly useless. So I’m going into this festival really exhausted because there is a lot of extra work, with a sense of hopelessness — but you have to try.”
Many ongoing projects and connections were made during the first Precarious festival in 2017, which was hugely successful and well attended. For the most part, in the two years that have followed, many of the conversations have remained the same.
The Precarious2 ArtsWork festival asks artists and non-artists alike to investigate precarity in all its expressions: physical, emotional, economic, and social. The festival explores, forges, and celebrates the many connections between art and labour in the community.
“The response last time was interesting,” Ryan observes. “When you start talking about precariousness, it brings up an awful lot of emotions and ideas from a lot of different people. It means different things to different people.”
“I think in the first festival we created a lot of discussion around the idea of precarity, and I think in this one we’d like to continue that discussion and take it way further and actually make it a big deal. People need to know that life in this city is precarious — not just for artists but for everybody.”
“The public health study came out that over two thirds of the workers in Peterborough are precariously employed, which we already knew,” Kate points out. “But that’s news for what was a blue collar town. Peterborough is still trying to reinvent itself and we have a lot of questions about what direction that is going in.”
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For this year’s festival, a number of artist residencies have been established, including work and research by Jon Hedderwick, Ann Jaeger, Victoria Ward, Justin Million, Laurel Paluck, and Hilary Wear, who add an importance presence to the festival.
“We aren’t paying the residencies what they deserve by a long shot, but they are all invited to just investigate precarity,” Kate says. “It’s so interesting. Some people are looking at emotional precarity, some people are looking at political precarity, and environmental precarity, the music industry and how it’s changed, and every kind of way you can imagine.”
“They are meeting together throughout the festival to offer support to each other and to share notes. That’s something I’m very excited about.”
“It’s a very wide range of artists from different mediums,” Ryan says. “They are all really supportive of each other and tossing around ideas. They are all working at different art forms, and presenting at the end of festival.”
Precarious2 artist in residence Ann Jaeger, Precarious2 volunteer coordinator and theatre production mentee Shannon McKenzie, Precarious2 artist in residence Victoria Ward, Precarious2 festival director Ryan Kerr, Precarious2 artistic director Kate Story, and (in the rat mask) artist and advisor Gary Blundell. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
Precarious2 has also created some mentorship opportunities — including a bittersweet opportunity for artist/actress/writer Eryn Lidster, who is one of the final individuals to receive funding from Theatre Ontario to put together her brand new one-act play Rejoinder, which makes its debut at The Theatre at King on Friday, November 29th.
“Eryn is being mentored under the Theatre Ontario professional training program, which has been axed as a result of the Ford cuts,” Kate says, “She’s in the last wave. That program has been around for years, and the list of people who have been mentored there is long. So many prominent people have been mentored through them. We’re happy we got the funding, but it’s a huge heartbreak.”
With numerous events throughout the downtown core throughout November and December, there is plenty of opportunity for everyone to find something that speaks to their own interests and situations, and to participate in events that range in cost from free to pay what you can.
“As things start to happen, it’s amazing what people are starting to present,” Ryan says. “Because the festival goes on for so long, it kind of depends on people’s connections to the theme. So even if they come for only four of the events, they still have a feeling they’ve participated in the festival — more than if the festival has only gone on for a week.”
“There is this feeling, as an artist, that we are used to living a little bit more precariously,” Kate says. “Not that that’s good thing. The argument we’ve been making for years is that artists shouldn’t have to live precariously. It’s labour and important work. It’s not a grant — it’s an investment.”
“We all know the stats. Now that it’s more mainstream to have precarious labour, we have something to offer: we’re investigating it as much as any other field is investigating it. We have a leg up on it.”
For a full schedule of events visit ttok.ca/precarious-events/. In the meantime, here is a list of some of the highlights of the festival happening in the coming weeks.
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Panels
Seeding Possibility in a Precarious Landscape – Tuesday, November 19th at 7 p.m. at The Theatre on King (171 King St., Peterborough)
We live in an increasingly precarious world. To move beyond survival, we need to better understand what precarity looks like in our community and assess avenues to transform this reality. Arts worker Anne White will speak from her lived experience, City staffer Nancy Fischer will share the Precarious Employment Research Initiative’s findings, and Nourish’s JoÎlle Favreau will highlight the impacts of precarity on food insecurity, as well as possible policy solutions, including a basic income. Co-presented by Nourish Peterborough. Free.
Why We Do This Work, Here and Now – Monday, November 25th from 5 to 7 p.m. at Artspace (378 Aylmer St. N., Peterborough)
A conversation moderated by Jenn Cole (mixed-ancestry Algonquin) with Jill Carter (Anishinaabe/Ashkenazi) and William Kingfisher (Anishinaabe), whose artistic practices explore relationships at the edge of the woods and in the gitigaan/garden. Why do this work at this time? Moderated by Jon Lockyer. Presented by Artspace. Free.
I’m Still Here: Precarity, Aging and Life with Art – Tuesday, November 26th at 7 p.m. at The Theatre on King (171 King St., Peterborough)
What is precarious about old age? Speakers will talk from their lived and work experiences about connection, laughter, exploring, and care, challenging expectations about precarity and aging. Join in a conversation about how the arts without ignoring the grit. Open up avenues to connect, laugh, delight, and offer ease in late life. Hosted by Sally Chivers, Director of the Trent Centre for Aging & Society, with panelists Susan Braedley (Carleton University), Shelley King (Artful Connections), Janna Klostermann (Carleton University), and Shannon McKenzie (TTOK). Co-presented by Trent Centre for Ageing and Society. Free.
WORK, WORK, WORK X2: A Roundtable Discussion on EC3’s Stats of the Artist Research Project – Tuesday December 10th at 7 p.m. at The Theatre on King (171 King St., Peterborough)
What is life like for artists living in Peterborough? This EC3 Cultural Incubator breaks down and contextualizes the results of the Status of the Artist survey, conducted during Precarious Festival 2017. With panelists Su Ditta (EC3); Anna Currier (Research Lead); Kate Story (EC3 Board and Project Advisor); Annie Jaeger (Culture Critic), and more! Co-presented by the Electric City Cultural Council (EC3). Free.
Precarious Panel II: Life Under Ford – Thursday December 12th at 7 p.m. at The Theatre on King (171 King St., Peterborough)
Doug Ford, elected on a promise of government for the people, has cancelled a planned increase in the minimum wage, cut short the basic Income pilot project, and made damaging cuts to student aid. The panel will feature a diverse set of speakers tracing the ways Ford’s policies affect a wide range of people and communities: Ethel Nalule (TCSA Vice President of Health and Wellness), Leina Amatsuji-Berry (co Editor-in-Chief of Arthur), Jason Hartwick (Chair of Basic Income Peterborough Network) and David Tough (VP Unit 1 CUPE 3908). Co-presented by CUPE 3908. Free.
The Residents: What We Found – Friday December 13th at 8 p.m. at The Theatre on King (171 King St., Peterborough)
Precarious Artistic Residents Jon Hedderwick, Ann Jaeger and Victoria Ward, Justin Million, Laurel Paluck, Hilary Wear, and garbageface present their findings after deep dives into investigating precarity over the course of the festival. Come witness and participate in their results! $15 or Pay what you can.
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Theatre
A Little More Red – Thursday, November 14th at 8 p.m. at The Theatre on King (171 King St., Peterborough)
Public presentation by Victoria Ward, part performance/part findings from Victoria Ward and Ann Jaeger’s week-long residency. Performance features Kate Story and Ryan Kerr. Pay what you can.
Sussing the Scales – Works in Progress and Tips for the Late Shift – Friday, November 22nd at 8 p.m. and Saturday, November 23rd at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at The Theatre on King (171 King St., Peterborough)
Two brand new original theatre pieces by Hilary Wear, and by Naomi Duvall and Anne White. $15 or pay what you can.
Waiting for Real Jobs and Rejoinder – Friday, November 29th at 8 p.m. and Saturday, November 30th at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at The Theatre on King (171 King St., Peterborough)
Two brand new original theatrical pieces by Elisha May Rubacha and Eryn Lidster. $15 or pay what you can.
Music, spoken word, film, and more
Down n’ Out Revue – Monday November 18th at 8 p.m. at The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough)
A music and poetry revue of celebrated and unsung working class singers, songwriters, poets. Chris Conway and Justin Million will also be improvising songs and spoken-word pieces throughout the event. Free.
Art for Introverts – Monday, November 25th at 8 p.m. at The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough)
Calling all introverted socially awkward, anti-social, occasionally misanthropic creative types! Extroverts are welcome, but should be accompanied by an introvert! Music, craft, and gentle social interaction available, but feel free to bring your own artistic apparatuses. Free.
Pushback film screening – Monday December 2nd at 7 p.m. at The Theatre on King (171 King St., Peterborough)
ReFrame Film Festival and GreenUP’s NeighbourPLAN Program present Pushback directed by Matthew Hayes and produced by Jon Hedderwick. Against the backdrop of the coming winter, this documentary intimately chronicles the lives of five people connected to the Warming Room — a homeless shelter of last resort — as they search for housing, security, and new hope. A discussion with the filmmaker and special guests will follow. Free.
Bawaajigan ~ Stories of Power book launch – Thursday December 5th at 7 p.m. at The Theatre on King (171 King St., Peterborough)
Featuring dream stories by Indigenous writers, Bawaajigan ~ Stories of Power is a new anthology from Exile Editions edited by Nathan Niigan Noodin Adler and Christine Miskonoodinkwe Smith. Readings from Lee Maracle, Katie Jo Rabbit, Nathan Niigan Noodin Adler, Christine Miskonoodinkwe Smith, and Karen Lee White followed by a Q&A and music, with food and soft drinks from Pow Wow Café. Presented by Exile Editions and the Pow Wow Café. Free.
Keyboards! Family Christmas – Monday, December 9th at 8 p.m. at The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough)
Justin Million’s live-typewriting poetry show continues its tradition of hosting a Christmas poetry-vaganza, and he’s bringing lots of friends with him. A yule experience unlike any other! Free.
Scribe, Speak, Share: Spoken Word Mentorship Showcase – Wednesday December 11th at 7 p.m. at The Theatre on King (171 King St., Peterborough)
Eight aspiring youth writers and four professional spoken word artists. Through a mentorship program offered in partnership with the Aspire Program, youth writers learn to give emotional and spiritual shape to abstract ideals, explore deep meaning in the mundane, and hone their craft. This program supported by the City of Peterborough. Co-presented by the Peterborough Poetry Collective. $10 or pay what you can.
Chase and Isaac of the Peterborough Police Service's Canine Unit are now on Instagram @peterboroughpolicek9. (Photos courtesy of Peterborough Police Service)
You can now follow the exploits of police service dogs Chase and Issac on Instagram.
The Peterborough Police Service’s Canine Unit recently launched its own Instagram account @peterboroughpolicek9.
The official account will give a behind-the-scenes look at the Canine Unit, as well as Police Service Dog (PSD) Chase and Isaac along with their handlers.
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Both dogs are Belgian Malinois and Shepherd crosses, and are early in their careers. PSD Isaac was acquired and trained last year thanks to proceeds raised by the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha’s 2018 Christmas auction.
PSD Chase is two-and-a-half years old and is partnered with police constable Kyle Adey, while two-year-old PSD Isaac is partnered with police constable Bob Cowie.
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