Liberal MP for Peterborough-Kawartha Maryam Monsef and former Liberal MP for Fredericton Matt DeCourcey celebrate their engagement at a family gathering in Peterborough on November 7, 2019. (Photo: Maryam Monsef / Facebook)
Liberal MP for Peterborough-Kawartha Maryam Monsef has announced her engagement to former Liberal MP for Fredericton Matt DeCourcey.
“I am happy to share that I am engaged to marry my love, Matt DeCourcey,” Monsef wrote on Facebook and Instagram on Thursday (November 7) — also her 35th birthday.
She and DeCourcey had shared the news earlier that day with her colleagues at a closed-door Liberal meeting in Ottawa for caucus and outgoing MPs.
“We’re very happy,” she said when leaving the meeting, according to CTV News.
Both Monsef and DeCourcey were first elected as Liberal MPs in 2015. Monsef was narrowly re-elected in last month’s federal election, while the 36-year-old DeCourcey lost his seat to the Green Party’s Jenica Atwin.
In her social media post, Monsef writes that DeCourcey’s family and friends came to Peterborough from Fredericton to ask her and her family “for my hand”.
“My family and our elders loved him and his,” she writes. “They have blessed the union and we are feeling mighty blessed.”
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During the engagement celebration, Monsef wore an Afghan dress from Fardin Fashion Inc. in Toronto with a catered Afghan meal from Silk Roots Fusion Cuisine, a Peterborough restaurant co-owned by Monsef’s sister Mina.
Monsef and her family fled Afghanistan in 1996 and arrived as refugees in Canada, where they settled in Peterborough.
When Monsef was elected in 2015, she was heralded as Canada’s first Afghan-born MP, although it was later revealed she was actually born in Iran.
Liberal MP for Peterborough-Kawartha Maryam Monsef and former Liberal MP for Fredericton Matt DeCourcey celebrate their engagement at a family gathering in Peterborough on November 7, 2019. (Photo: Jessica Melnik / Facebook)
Monsef is currently Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be unveiling his new cabinet on Wednesday, November 20th.
Drawing comparisons to Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa's The Mothers of Invention, self-proclaimed "mad composer from Oakville" Friendly Rich (Marsella) brings his experimental cabaret orchestra The Lollipop People to The Garnet in downtown Peterborough on Wednesday, November 13th. (Publicity photo)
Every Thursday, we publish live music and performance events at pubs and clubs in Peterborough and The Kawarthas based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, November 7 to Wednesday, November 13.
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.
The first commercial Christmas card was sold in Britain in 1843, after civil servant Sir Henry Cole decided he was too busy to write individual Christmas greetings and asked artist John Callcott Horsley to design a card he could fill out. The idea caught on, and mass-produced greeting cards soon replaced hand-written greetings in most of Europe and North America. Today, despite the ubiquity of the internet, the greeting card industry still produces seven billion physical cards each year with annual sales of $7.5 billion. It is estimated that producing and sending all these cards generates as many as 1.1 million tons of carbon dioxide. (Public domain photo)
I was recently preparing some thank-you cards at the GreenUP office, and one of my colleagues commented that she doesn’t like cards because they are not useful after you receive them.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Jenn McCallum, GreenUP Water Programs Coordinator.
With Halloween over and Christmas coming, this got me thinking. Why do we give cards? How do cards impact the environment? Is it best to send cards in the mail, use e-cards, or connect with loved ones in person somehow?
The tradition of card-giving is old. Allegedly, the ancient Chinese and Egyptians were the first to begin this practice.
During the celebration of the Chinese New Year, it is traditional to send greetings as a way to protect loved ones from evil spirits. Starting in the 1400s, Europeans exchanged rather costly handmade cards for New Year’s and Valentine’s Day greetings, usually delivering them by hand. These early greetings were often reused to create scrap books for children in hospitals and missions.
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Sir Henry Cole created the first commercially produced Christmas card in London in 1843. The card provided the fillable “To” and “From” fields that we are now very familiar with. The mass production of greeting cards began in the 1860s, and the advent of the postage stamp brought greeting cards to the masses.
Today, greeting cards are big business. Hallmark Cards Inc. takes about a third of this market in Canada and earned revenues of $401.7 million U.S. in 2016. But what happens to all of those cards when we are done with them?
First, the good news: most cards and envelopes are recyclable if they are made exclusively from paper, and some cards are made from entirely post-consumer recycled paper. There are now also cards with plant seeds embedded in the paper, so the card biodegrades in your garden, leaving only a gift of flowers!
If you prefer to give cards but want to reduce your environmental impact, consider buying cards made from recyclable paper materials without plastic adornments. You can also consider buying cards that support an environmental cause, such as these cards at the GreenUP Store that benefit Ecology Park programming. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
The bad news is that any adornments like shiny or glossy materials, music players, glitter, metallic ink, or metal charms must be removed before the card can go in the recycling bin. Unfortunately, glitter and music players contribute to plastic pollution globally.
There are not readily available studies of the environmental impact of the greeting card industry in Canada. A recent study by Exeter University in the U.K. showed that sending one card produces about 140 grams of carbon dioxide. With about two billion cards sold annually in the U.K., that carbon footprint is roughly equivalent to manufacturing 10,000 cars per year.
With that impact in mind, how and why should we send greeting cards?
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I consulted with some fellow GreenUP colleagues to find out their thoughts.
One enduring reason for sending cards is to symbolize how much you care about the person you are sending the card to.
“I like both sending and receiving greeting cards in the mail,” says Natalie Stephenson, GreenUP’s active school travel facilitator. “Sending a card shows a lot of thought and effort in this day and age.”
Ever since there have been commercialized cards, there have also been people who feel that mass-produced cards do not express their own unique sentiments.
“I am for the most part against spending any money on cards,” says Matthew Walmsley, GreenUP’s water education programs co-ordinator. “I always make my own cards, which have a mix of utilitarian design and personalized message, and they are well received.”
For people who prefer to give cards, the good news is that most cards and envelopes are recyclable if they are made exclusively from paper, and some cards are made from entirely post-consumer recycled paper. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
Recent technological advances allow people to create more customized cards.
“One of my friends makes postcards with a family picture instead of cards with envelopes,” said Karen O’Krafka, GreenUP water education programs coordinator. “That creates a bit less paper waste.”
Dawn Pond, GreenUP’s Depave and Vibrancy Project coordinator, prefers a minimalist approach to materials.
“I often use scraps of coloured card as gift tags,” she says. “I will write the messages on there, and omit the card from the gift altogether.”
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What about digital replacements for physical cards?
“My mom uses e-cards,” explains O’Krafka. “I love them when they include a personalization like a picture.”
E-cards do save paper, transportation, and postage costs. That said, for some people e-cards still do not seem to convey the same symbolism as physical cards.
“I never use e-cards anymore,” Stephenson says. “I find them a bit cheesy, and people get so much email nowadays. I really prefer a small treat, a food gift like a cupcake or cookie or something of that nature that costs the same or less than a card. From a long-distance friend, my preference is to get a personal text (or email if need be) asking for a good time to chat and catch up for a few minutes by phone.”
Personally, I like the tradition of giving out cards as a token of thanks and to recognize special events. But like my colleagues, I try to consider the environmental impact of cards, usually by focusing on using recyclable paper materials without plastic adornments.
If you enjoy sending greeting cards, consider supporting the community by choosing cards that have been made by local artists. These Christmas cards by local artist Josie Van Ryn are available at Watson & Lou in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Watson & Lou)
I like to add a handwritten message to store-bought cards that support a cause, such as the cards at the GreenUP Store that benefit Ecology Park programming, or cards made by local artists.
I do, however, find that when I receive cards they add to clutter in my space. Perhaps alternatives such as food, as Stephenson suggested, or a personal phone call, would create more authentic connections and add more to my emotional well-being than a card.
In the end, the tradition of sending cards is a personal choice, and our personal choices have global impacts.
How do you want to spread good will? As you prepare for the holiday season, share with @PtboGreenUP on social media what your environmental concerns and personal preferences are for giving and receiving cards. We look forward to hearing your perspective!
Lyndele Gauci as Rosie, Natalie Dorsett as Donna, and Christie Freeman as Tanya with the cast of "Mamma Mia!" as they perform ABBA's 'Dancing Queen' in the St. James Players production of the hit musical, which runs from November 8 to 16, 2019 at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Wendy Morgan)
On Friday, November 8th, St. James Players opens their highly anticipated production of Mamma Mia! at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough. Directed by Jacquie Butler, with musical direction by Dustin Bowers, Mamma Mia! brings the music of Swedish pop sensations ABBA to life in a fun and fabulous production that will bring the audience to its feet.
St. James Players presents Mamma Mia!
When: Friday, November 8 & Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, November 14 – Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2019 at 2 p.m. Where: Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: $27 adults, $23 seniors/students, $20 children/youth (plus fees)
Written by Catherine Johnson based on the songs of ABBA composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. Directed by Jacquie Butler, with musical direction by Dustin Bowers and choreography by Melissa Earle. Starring Natalie Dorsett, Gillian Dorion, Keevin Carter, Mark Gray, Warren Sweeting, Christie Freeman, Lyndele Gauci, and more. Advance tickets are available in person at the Showplace box office, by phone at 705-742-7469, and online.
There is something undeniably infectious about the music of ABBA. No matter what the show or where their music is heard, people everywhere will flock to sing and dance along. Always a perennial favourite, St. James Player is the first group within Peterborough to present Mamma Mia! in its entirety. With a well-casted ensemble of local musical favourites, and a strong supporting cast of singers and dancers, this is the ultimate showcase of local talent performing all of your favourite ABBA songs.
Mamma Mia! is the story of Donna Sheridan (Natalie Dorsett), who single-handedly built a resort on a Greek island while raising her daughter Sophie (Gillian Doiron). Once upon a time, Donna and her best friends Tanya (Christie Freeman) and Rosie (Lyndele Gauci) were in a musical trio called Donna and the Dynamos, but gave up show business when Donna got pregnant with Sophie. However, due to having three love affairs in a small amount of time, Donna has never been sure who Sophie’s father is.
Fast forward 21 years later to when Sophie is planning her wedding to Sky Rymand (Edward Sweeney). After finding an old diary of her mother’s, she has located the three men who may be her father: architect Sam Carmichael (Warren Sweeting), banker Harry Bright (Keevin Carter), and travel writer Bill Anderson (Mark Gray).
After Sophie invites all three men to her wedding without her mother’s knowledge, the potential fathers arrive on the island just as the wedding celebrations are beginning. Now, as her past is catching up with her, Donna begins to battle the walled-up emotions she has been pushing down for years, as Sophie tries to discover which one of the men is her real father.
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Wrapped around the music of ABBA, Mamma Mia! is a show full of celebration, emotion, laughter, and romance. The power in St. James Players production of Mamma Mia! is its well-cast leading ensemble. Made up of some of Peterborough’s most stalwart musical theatre performers, the leading ensemble is a total dream cast.
What is especially refreshing is that the actors bring their own spin to the characters, allowing the audience to see something a bit different than just a reproduction of previous stage shows or the 2008 film adaptation. Furthermore, amidst the songs and celebration, they succeed in creating a sense of emotional depth in their characters, adding to the dramatic potency of this production.
While watching the preview of the St. James Players production, I felt a powerful shift between the first and second act — albeit both acts are well executed.
Donna and the Dynamos (Christie Freeman as Tanya, Natalie Dorsett as Donna, and Lyndele Gauci as Rosie) in the St. James Players production of the hit musical “Mamma Mia!”. (Photo: Wendy Morgan)Donna and the Dynamos (Christie Freeman as Tanya, Natalie Dorsett as Donna, and Lyndele Gauci as Rosie) in their ’70s disco garb while singing “Super Trouper” in the St. James Players production of the hit musical “Mamma Mia!”. (Photo: Wendy Morgan)
In the first act, the focus is on the setup of the story, where the true strength is the large musical numbers that include the entire cast in big dance sequences excellently choreographed by Mellissa Beeby. The setup happens under the backdrop of huge numbers including “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme”, “Voulez Vous”, and “Dancing Queen”.
However, the first act isn’t without its share of emotional bits, including Gillian Doiron and Mark Gray’s performance of “The Name of the Game” and an absolute endearing performance by Gillian and all three potential fathers with “Thank You for the Music”.
But it’s really when the entire cast is together in the first act that the show really hits. It’s like a massive ABBA dance party filled with joy and exuberance.
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Things take a total shift in the second act when the drama really builds, and the show becomes more personal and emotional. One of the brilliant things about the St. James Players production is that the actors really take the time to make true connections with one another, and the relationships between characters become real instead of just superficial.
One of the best examples is seen in Keevin Carter and Natalie Dorsett’s performance of “Our Last Summer”, which illuminates the charming friendship between their characters Harry and Donna.
Natalie and Gillian also deliver an emotional performance of “Slipping Through Your Fingers”, about the bond between mother and daughter, while Warren Sweeting brings out his character’s inner turmoil in “Knowing Me, Knowing You”. All of this leads up to Natalie’s show-stopping performance of “The Winner Takes It All”, which left me with a lump in my throat so big I couldn’t breathe.
Keevin Carter as Harry and Gillian Doiron as Sophie performing ‘Thank You For the Music’ in the St. James Players production of the hit musical “Mamma Mia!”. (Photo: Wendy Morgan)Christie Freeman as Tanya and Keevin Carter as Harry in the St. James Players production of the hit musical “Mamma Mia!”. (Photo: Wendy Morgan)
The second act isn’t just about emotional anguish. Lyndele Gauci and Mark Gray become a surprisingly delightful pair in their performance of “Take a Chance on Me”, and Christie Freeman ignites the stage with Addison Wylie and the cast with “Does Your Mother Know”.
With all of the best character performances stuffed in the second act, the party in the first act becomes an emotional roller coaster in the second.
I also want to make mention of the show’s most unusual, but possibly my favourite, ensemble number in the show. The second act opening features Gillian singing “Under Attack”, which was never a classic hit for ABBA, in a nightmare sequence that looks more like a scene from Ray Harryhausen’s Jason and the Argonauts than Mamma Mia!. This inventive macabre sequence really appealed to my spooky sensibilities and blew my mind.
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While I have said much about the lead cast, I also want to give a huge shout-out to the group ensemble. From tiny Lucy Dorsett who keeps up with the adult chorus to pure perfection in all the dance numbers, to the Jason Momoa-like Gord Costain who lends an imposing shadow onto the stage, this entire grouping includes players of multiple generations in all shapes and sizes, making up the complete colourful world of Mamma Mia!.
There are future superstars, who pop out during the performances, hiding within this group. It’s their spirit that fills the world of Mamma Mia! with life, and their individually shines through in every number.
Also a quick nod to Melissa Jones of MJ Designs who created the colourful disco costumes used in the show. Futuristic yet dated, they are incredible. I secretly wish I could pull off the red disco suit worn by Keevin Carter in the grand finale, but not very many people probably ever could.
Natalie Dorsett as Donna (front, far left) with Mark Gray as Bill, Warren Sweeting as Sam, and Keevin Carter as Harry in the St. James Players production of the hit musical “Mamma Mia!”. (Photo: Wendy Morgan)
The music of ABBA, the story of Mamma Mia!, and the vibrant energy of the St. James Players are a perfect equation for enjoyment and entertainment. While audiences are always sure to love ABBA, after all the ABBA shows I’ve seen during my time covering local theatre for kawarthaNOW, the St. James Players presentation is the best one.
Mamma Mia! is totally a passion project for the cast and crew. The love and care put into this show by the people creating it can be heard in every note and seen in every dance step. It’s a sure-fire hit for this theatrical season, and everyone will walk out of Showplace with an ABBA song in their heart.
Thank you for the music, St. James Players!
Natalie Dorsett as Donna, Christie Freeman as Tanya, and Lyndele Gauci as Rosie (sitting on the table) with the ensemble cast of the St. James Players production of the hit musical “Mamma Mia!”. (Photo: Wendy Morgan)
Although selling fast, there are still tickets available for every performance. Mamma Mia! opens on Friday, November 8th and runs for seven performances until Saturday, November 16th at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough).
Tickets are $27 for adults, $23 for seniors/students, or $20 for children/youth (plus fees) and are available in person at the Showplace Box Office, by phone at 705-742-7469, or online at showplace.org.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the southern regions of the Kawarthas — including Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland — for Thursday morning (November 7).
A developing low pressure system is expected to bring a messy mix of precipitation tonight into Thursday morning.
The precipitation is expected to begin as rain and then change over to light snow overnight or early Thursday morning.
Falling temperatures through the morning may also cause roads to become icy or slippery.
Prepare for hazardous driving conditions at times.
Insite, North America's first legal supervised consumption site, opened in 2003 in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, where there is a high number of long-term injection drug users. The facility includes a 12-seat injection room where users can inject their own drugs under the supervision of nurses and staff trained in overdose intervention. A group of local politicians, health organizations, and law enforcement are working to bring a consumption and treatment services site to the downtown Peterborough area as a response to the opioid crisis which has seen 26 confirmed and suspected opioid-related deaths so far in 2019. (Photo: Vancouver Coastal Health)
What do you think about having a consumption and treatment services (CTS) site — which will allow people to inject drugs under the supervision of a health professional and provide them with access to addiction treatment services and more — located in the area of downtown Peterborough?
That’s the question being posed to Peterborough residents in an online survey at surveymonkey.com/r/cts-engagement-survey. The survey, which takes around 10 minutes to complete, is available until Saturday, November 30th.
The survey comes from a group of local politicians, health organizations, and law enforcement working to bring a CTS site to Peterborough in response to the area’s ongoing opioid crisis. So far in 2019, according to the Peterborough Police Service, there have been 26 opioid-related deaths (10 confirmed and 16 suspected) in Peterborough.
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The group includes Peterborough MPP Dave Smith, Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien, Selwyn Township Deputy Mayor Sherry Senis (representing the County of Peterborough), Fourcast (Four Counties Addiction Services Team), Peterborough Public Health, Peterborough Police Service, Canadian Mental Health Association, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, the 360 Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic, and PARN – Your Community AIDS Resource Network. The group also includes private business White Path Consulting, a retired ER physician, and community members with experience in developing inclusive programs.
“We have an opportunity to do something for our community that will make a difference in the lives of so many families,” says Peterborough MPP Dave Smith. “I can’t express how fortunate we are to have this many organizations willing to work together to save lives. This is a great step forward.”
The group is now gathering community feedback about locating a CTS site in the downtown area of Peterborough through the online survey, as well as from public information sessions that will be scheduled later in November and consultations with people who have lived experience of using drugs.
A location for a CTS in Peterborough has not yet been confirmed. The public will be notified as soon as a location is identified, vetted, and finalized.
“We are committed to being part of the continuing efforts to bring a CTS site to Peterborough along with MPP Dave Smith and other partners,” says Peter Williams, chair of the Peterborough Drug Strategy, an initiative founded in 2009 by Peterborough Public Health, PARN, Fourcast, and the Peterborough Police Service.
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“This model, proven to save and change lives, is long overdue in Peterborough,” Williams adds.
North America’s first supervised consumption site, Insite in Vancouver, opened in 2003. Research from Insite and other CTS sites has shown they save lives, facilitate access to treatment and other health and social services, decrease transmission of blood-borne, and reduce costs to the entire healthcare system.
The sites also decrease public drug injection as well as reducing discarded needles, and studies have shown they do not result in an increase of drug-related crime in the areas where they are located — a common concern about the sites.
The number of consumption and treatment services sites in Canada, by province, as of October 2019. Research has shown that such sites reduce overdose deaths, help more people access addiction treatment services, reduce the rates of HIV/Hepatitis transmission, reduce public drug use, and reduce drug litter. (Graphic: Peterborough Drug Strategy)
“We are looking forward to moving into action after almost two years of working with people who struggle with addiction, and many who have lost loved ones to the opioid crisis,” says PARN executive director Kim Dolan.
“This crisis affects us all. It is time for us to put aside judgment and support the addition of a CTS to the existing, comprehensive response that Ontario has implemented over the past three years. I look forward to Peterborough shifting to an understanding that addictions are a disability not a character flaw and asking what else can we do to help.”
The contestants of the Peterborough Theatre Guild's production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee", running November 8th to 23rd at the Guild Hall in Peterborough. From left to right: Gillian Kunza as Olive, Meg O'Sullivan as Logainne, Kristen McConnell as Marcy, Andrew Little as Leaf, Rowan Lamoureux as William, and Will Smith as Chip. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
Beginning Friday, November 8th, the Peterborough Theatre Guild will stage one of the best comedies of 2019 when directors Brian MacDonald and Pat Maitland bring The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee to the Guild Hall.
Peterborough Theatre Guild presents The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
When: November 8 & 9, 14 – 16, 21 – 23, 2019 at 8 p.m.; November 10 & 17, 2019 at 2 p.m. Where: The Guild Hall (364 Rogers St., Peterborough) How much: $25 adults, $22 seniors, $15 students
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman with additional material by Jay Relss, music by William Finn, and book by Rachel Sheinkin. Directed by Brian MacDonald and Pat Maitland. Starring Justin Boyd, Lisa Devan, Luke Gautier, Gillian Kunza, Rowan Lamoureux, Andrew Little, Kristen McConnell, Meg O’Sullivan, and Will Smith. Presented by special arrangement with Music Theatre International. Tickets available by calling the box office at 705-745-4211 (if not open leave a message) or online at theatreguild.org.
A fun and fast show filled with endearing characters and engaging story arcs, this clever low-key musical is guaranteed to become an audience favourite.
Opening Off Broadway in 2005, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was inspired by an improv show called C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E, conceived by actress Rebecca Feldman and performed by New York area improv group The Farm and then developed into a full production by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin. A surprise hit, the show quickly moved to the Circle in the Square Theater on Broadway, where it won the Tony Award for Best Book and Best Actor as well as the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical.
In The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee, the audience is introduced to six precocious kids and three eccentric adults who are assembled together to learn a bit about life, friendship and — of course — to spell big words.
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However, while the spelling bee is the reason they are all together, the play is in fact nine character studies that reveal the lives of the characters through vignettes and musical numbers.
“The spelling bee is just a delivery method for telling a story about a bunch of different kids,” says Kristen McConnell, who plays spelling contestant Marcy Park. “The spelling bee is why we are on stage. We go up to the mic, but then you go to what our daydream or our vision is. It segues into our imagination, and we sing a song and reveal more of our individual stories.”
“All the characters in this show have crosses to bear,” adds Lisa Devan, who plays the spelling bee’s moderator Rona Lisa Peretti. “They have something at home or in the past. The kids are all carrying something, which comes out. They are all in the spelling bee, but the show becomes about why they are here.”
In The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the roles of the children aged 10 to 12 are played by adult actors who manage to find a clever performance style that brings forth the innocence of childhood.
“The actors play their characters as being childlike, but they are not caricatures,” Lisa explains. “It’d be annoying to have an adult playing a kid, if they were doing all the idiosyncratic or over-generalized things trying to be cute or funny. These actors just are inhabiting the children that they are.”
“These kids are not mean. They are injured and you find out what their stories are and how they are overcoming them. You go through the range of emotions with these kids. You don’t think you’re going to, but you do.”
Kristen McConnell as Marcy with Justin Boyd as Vice Principal Douglas Panch, Lisa Devan as Rona Lisa Perretti and Luke Gauthier as ‘comfort counsellor’ Mitch Mahoney. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
It’s difficult not to root for the kids in the show, each with their own individual personalities, and perhaps even start rooting for one of them to win the bee. But the strength of the show is on the actors’ ability to create colourful and endearing characters that strike an emotional chord with the audience.
Will Smith plays Chip Tolentino who, after winning the previous year’s spelling bee, is maturing in unexpected and unfortunate ways during the 25th annual speeling bee.
“For a lot of characters this is a coming of age story, but for my character it is very literally a coming of age story,” Will says. “Chip was the previous year’s champion and he comes into the show very cocky and confident, but he gets knocked down a peg … or 10.”
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Meg O’Sullivan plays the show’s youngest character, uber-political (although it’s unclear if she always understands the politics) Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere. The daughter of two gay dads, Logainne is an over-achiever who isn’t used to failure.
“Logainne is very political, but you can tell she is still a child,” says Meg. “So the politics is all from what she is picking up from her parents, although she might not fully understand what it means. She’s very high strung, she’s very anxious, and she’s looking to lower the voting age to 10 years old. Her dads put a lot of pressure to be perfect, so her life is about that struggle. She also has an unfortunate lisp.”
The next contestant is Leaf Coneybear, played with great exuberance by Andrew Little. The happiest of all the kids in the competition, Leaf is an imaginative home-schooled kid frocked in a cape and helmet, who believes everyone is his friend if they know it yet or not.
Gillian Kunza as spelling bee contestant Olive with Lisa Devan as moderator (and former spelling bee champion) Rona Lisa Peretti. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
“Leaf’s just happy to be here,” Andrew says of his character. “He is home schooled and he got in the spelling bee on a technicality. He’s excited to be in a school for the first time, with children his own age who aren’t his siblings and cousins. He comes from a very big family of very intelligent, straight-laced, by-the-book kids and he’s the only one who is creative. He has an artistic side and his siblings call him stupid. He’s a free spirit.”
Bringing a strange and domineering element to the group is Rowan Lamoureux as the painfully awkward William Barfee. With a Tiny Tim (the singer, not the Dickens character) sort of vibe, there is something both creepy yet endearing about this outrageous character.
“William has an unfortunate sinus disorder and he struggles to make friends,” says Lisa of Rowan’s character. “His whole thing is that he’s defensive and pushes people away. But he develops friendships too in the bee — between telling people to shut up.”
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With perfect poise and acrobatic flair throughout many of the musical numbers is Kristen McConnell in the role of Marcy Park, the most enigmatic of all the children. All that is known is that she is a perfectionist, the most mature and, most likely, the smartest contestant in the bee.
“I relate in some ways to Marcy, but I think I’m somewhat less of a psycho than she is,” Kristin says. “She’s had expectations and behaviours imposed on her, and she’s quite open to the idea of letting them all go. I enjoy the kid thing, and I remember what it was like to be a kid very visibly, so I don’t feel it’s a big departure to play a kid although I’m an adult.”
Lastly is Gillian Kunza as Olive Oastrovsky. The most endearing and likeable of all the children in the bee, Olive is a relatively normal girl from a broken home with absentee parents, but to whom the most striking emotional arc belongs.
William Barfee (Rowan Lamoureux) at the mic as Vice Principal Douglas Panch (Justin Boyd), moderator Rona Lisa Perretti (Lisa Devan), and ‘comfort counsellor’ Mitch Mahoney (Luke Gauthier) look on. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
“Olive has some problems with Mom and Dad at home, and I think she lacks friendship,” Gillian says. “She would prefer to make friends with everyone, but part of her journey is really being a competitor.”
Although the kids’ stories make up most of the show, the funniest lines actually belong to adult characters: the spelling bee’s moderator Rona Lisa Perretti and Vice Principal Douglas Panch, played by Lisa Devan and Justin Boyd. Rona’s comments on the backgrounds of the contestants, and Vice Principal Panch’s lines when asked to “use the word in a sentence” are amongst the quirkiest moments in the show, and true laugh-out-loud treats.
An always wonderful performer to watch, Lisa dominates the stage as Rona, bringing a believable sense of joy to the stage.
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“Rona won the third spelling bee, and this is the 25th,” Lisa explains. “She’s been hosting it for nine years and when she won it was the pinnacle moment of her life. To her, this is like the World Cup. She’s rooting for everyone, but when someone gets out she is super enthusiastic about it. She definitely needs sensitivity training … and a life.”
Meanwhile, Vice Principal Panch is only there because he was called in when the regular word caller got sick.
“He’s a bit of a mystery,” Justin grins, keeping some obvious secrets. “Something has happened in his life but nobody really knows what.”
Lisa and Justin are joined by one of the show’s strangest characters, ‘comfort counsellor’ Mitch Mahoney played by Luke Gauthier. Decked in black and out on parole, Mitch is about as comforting as a barracuda — or is he?
Three volunteers from the audience join the actors on stage in a scene from the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
“Mitch has a tough exterior with a soft centre,” Luke says of his character. “He’s an ex-con and is doing his community service in the spelling bee as the comfort counsellor. He gives the kids a hug and a juice box when they lose and sends them on their way. But Mitch wants to toughen the kids up a bit and teach them that the world is a hard place and, in the grand scheme of things, that losing a spelling bee is not so painful.”
One of the more unusual aspects of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is that the show brings four audience members up to the stage to participate in the spelling bee with the actors in the first act. However, don’t be alarmed. This is not a random selection: the audience members are picked before the show and given instructions. However, it is a quirky and fun element to the show that leads to lots of improvised moments and big laughs.
Although a musical comedy about a spelling bee might be an unusual concept, it really is the strength of the odd characters and the actors who play them that makes the show a success. Directors Brian and Pat have put together a strong cast that creates characters I came to care about, cheered for, and laughed with.
The Peterborough Theatre Guild’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” runs from November 8th to 23rd at the Guild Hall in Peterborough.
I adore Putnam County’s kids, and loved every moment of this marvellous show. While it may not be the biggest musical on the stage this season, it is the most delightful.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee opens at 8 p.m. on Friday, November 8th and Saturday, November 9th, and runs Thursdays to Saturdays until November 23rd, with 2 p.m. matinees on Sunday, November 10th and Sunday, November 17th.
Tickets are $25 ($22 for seniors, $15 for students) and are available by calling the box office at 705-745-4211 (if not open leave a message) or online at at theatreguild.org.
The new taproom at Fenelon Falls Brewing Co. is now open for business. To start, the taproom will feature five draught beers paired with an all-day menu. (Photo: Deborah Banks / Facebook)
businessNOW™ is the most comprehensive weekly round-up of business and organizational news and events from Peterborough and across the Kawarthas.
Every week, our managing editor collects news and events related to businesses and organizations from across the Kawarthas. If you’d like us to promote your news or event in businessNOW, please email business@kawarthanow.com.
This week’s business and organizational news features Fenelon Falls Brewing Co. soft opening its new taproom, Elmhirst’s Resort being named Tourism Employer of the Year at the 2019 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence, Electric City Works holding a grand opening of its new downtown Peterborough store and marketspace, and Culcherd’s dairy-alternative products now available in the Kawarthas.
Also featured this week is the Innovation Cluster launching its Electric City Talks speaker series with Canadian innovator Robert Lane , the grand opening of Sustain Eco Store in downtown Peterborough on November 7th, and other notable business and organization news from across the Kawarthas.
New regional business events added this week include the Northumberland Chamber’s “Meet and Greet” networking event in Cobourg on November 12th, the Trent Hills Chamber’s lunch-and-learn photography seminar in Campbellford on November 13th, the Peterborough Chamber’s financial wellness seminar in Peterborough on November 20th, the Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre’s tax seminar for small business in Lindsay on November 25th, the Kawartha Chamber’s cyber security session in Lakefield on November 27th, the Haliburton Chamber’s Inspiring Women’s Luncheon in Haliburton on November 28th, and the Brighton & Cramahe Chamber’s digital tools for small business seminar in Brighton on November 28th.
Fenelon Falls Brewing Co. soft opens its new taproom
The new taproom in Fenelon Falls Brewing Co.’s historic building at 4 May Street opened for business on November 5, 2019. (Photo: Deborah Banks / Facebook)
Craft brewery Fenelon Falls Brewing Co. (4 May St., Fenelon Falls) opened its new taproom for business on Tuesday (November 5).
The soft opening of the taproom showcases the brewery’s craft beers paired with an all-day menu, created using local and seasonal ingredients, including shared bites and charcuterie platters.
To start, the taproom will feature five draught beers: Vienna Lager, Red Ale, Kawartha Sparkling Ale, East Coast IPA, and Farmhouse Saison. The taproom will also have local Ontario wine available as well as non-alcoholic beverages.
The taproom showcases Fenelon Falls Brewing Co.’s craft beers paired with an all-day menu, created using local and seasonal ingredients, including shared bites and charcuterie platters. (Photo: Fenelon Falls Brewing Co.)
The taproom is open from noon to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Founded by husband and wife Vinh and Agatha Mac, Fenelon Falls Brewing Co. has transformed its historic building, previously a livery stable and then a blacksmith shop, into Kawartha Lakes’ newest craft brewery.
Elmhirst’s Resort named Tourism Employer of the Year at the 2019 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence
Staff at Elmhirst’s Resort in Keene celebrate the 2019 Tourism Employer of the Year from the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario. (Photo: Elmhirst’s Resort / Facebook)
Elmhirst’s Resort (1045 Settlers Line, Keene) was named Tourism Employer of the Year at the annual Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence Gala held last Wednesday (October 30) at the Blue Mountain Village Conference Centre
The Tourism Employer of the Year award recognizes an organization that has developed an admirable reputation as a great place to work, and that has established itself as an upstanding example of Ontario’s tourism industry.
According to a media release issued by the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario announcing the award:
“Elmhirst’s Resort is a year-round destination resort in the Kawarthas, that 50 years on, is still a family business committed to providing exceptional guest experiences. Human resource development is a priority at Elmhirst’s Resort, as the organization strives to maintain a high-standard of service through all of its operations, training is key to ensuring delivery remains consistent, current, and professional. Career development is encouraged and available on a regular basis and the Resort seeks to hire locally, with many of its seasonal workers being students that return year-over-year during the summer break.”
Electric City Works holding a grand opening of its new downtown Peterborough store and marketspace
Electric City Works’ new downtown Peterborough store and marketspace during renovations earlier this fall. The grand opening of the completed space, which houses 12 makers so far, takes place on November 15, 2019. (Photo: Electric City Works / Facebook)
Electric City Works is holding a grand opening of its new store and marketspace located at 200 Charlotte Street in downtown Peterborough.
The 5,000-square-foot space is run by Adam and Tara Genge of Chalk Therapy, a business that refinishes antique and vintage furniture and teaches others how to do it.
The grand opening takes place from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, November 15th, and will feature giveaways, contests, complimentary food and drinks, and live music from Peterborough band Paper Shakers beginning at 7 p.m.
Along with Chalk Therapy (which breathes new life into old, vintage, and antique furniture), other makers at Electric City Works include Coyles Cubby (handmade trendy clothing and accessories for babies and kids), Dwyer Art Studio (original abstract works), Kawartha Design Co. (handcrafted home decor), Bethany LeBlonc (a local artist working with watercolour, acrylic paint, found materials, and different fibre art techniques), The Rebel Crafter (repurposed vintage dinnerware), Victoria Rose Collection (handcrafted sterling silver and gemstone jewelry), Little Miss Knotty (wooden tables, bowls, and serving boards), Burnin Beads (handmade glass beads and jewelry), Wooden Alternatives (wooden spoons, spatulas, and serving ware), Fresh Essences (bath and body products), and Rainbow Jewelry Shop (jewelry and accessories made from tiny glass beads).
Culcherd’s dairy-alternative products now available in the Kawarthas
Culcherd’s dairy-alternative products include “It’s Not Butter”, which melts just like dairy butter and can be used as a one-to-one replacement. The Toronto company’s certified organic and vegan products are available in Peterborough, Lindsay, and Haliburton. (Photo courtesy of Culcherd)
Capitalizing on the plant-based foods trend, Toronto dairy-alternative company Culcherd has launched product line extensions and new sustainable packaging and is expanding across Ontario and the rest of Canada.
The company’s dairy-free artisanal cheeses and butters, which are certified as organic and vegan, are now available at Jo Ann’s Place in Lindsay and Peterborough, as well as Abbey Gardens, Nourished, and Mathew & Madlyn in Haliburton.
“Our offerings are focused on being both healthy and environmentally friendly,” says Culcherd co-owner Tim Donnelly. “We are extremely excited and proud because this new packaging accomplishes both, our products are certified organic, rich in probiotics, and packaged with completely plastic-free compostable materials.”
Culcherd’s product line extensions include a Turmeric Black Pepper Butter and Cinnamon Swirl Butter. The company also produces six flavours of artisanal cheeses. (Photo courtesy of Culcherd)
Chef-created by co-owner Liz Gallagher, Culcherd’s products include “It’s Not Butter”, which melts just like dairy butter and can be used as a one-to-one replacement. Cultured, organic, palm free, and soy free, the product also looks like butter, as it is sold in stick form rather than in a plastic tub. The “It’s Not Cheese” product line of artisanal cheeses, available in six flavours, are “aged” and have a natural rind, which sets them apart in the market.
“Our new products are really unique,” Gallagher says. “We now have a Turmeric Black Pepper Butter, Cinnamon Swirl Butter, and an Everything Bagel Cheese.”
Innovation Cluster launches Electric City Talks speaker series with Canadian innovator Robert Lane
Canadian innovator Robert Lane kicks off the Innovation Cluster’s Electric City Talks speaker series on November 19, 2019. (Graphic courtesy of Innovation Cluster)
The Innovation Cluster is launching “Electric City Talks”, a new speaker series that will bring global disruptors to Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
The inaugural talk, “An Evening With Robert H. Lane”, takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 19th — during Global Entrepreneurship Week — at The Venue (286 George St. N., Peterborough).
Robert Lane is a Canadian innovator and seasoned business executive who has worked at Commodore International, General Electric, Nortel, and Nedco. Commodore International was one of the world’s largest personal computer manufacturers, launching the Commodore 64 in 1982, the single most popular home computer system ever sold.
Other confirmed speakers so far include Pickering Nuclear Generating Station director of engineering Jason Wight in January, and social entrepreneur and WE founder Craig Kielburger in May.
Grand opening of Sustain Eco Store in downtown Peterborough on November 7
Jonathan MacKay of Sustain Eco Store accepting the grand prize for the 2019 Win This Space contest. Jonathan and his wife and co-owner Celine are hosting an official grand opening celebration of their new downtown Peterborough location on November 7, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
Jonathan and Celine MacKay of Sustain Eco Store, which won the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area’s 2019 Win This Space contest, will be hosting a grand opening of their store at 418 George Street North in downtown Peterborough on Thursday, November 7th.
Sustain is a retail store providing sustainable, nontoxic, and practical solutions for your home and body. As the Win This Space winners, the MacKays won a grand prize valued at more than $40,000, including free rent for a year.
“Since we opened our door on July 1, we have been met with support and encouragement and couldn’t be happier to be part of the amazing downtown business community,” says Celine MacKay. “Now having had time to polish the store, all the final details are in place. We would be thrilled if you would join us for an evening of celebration and gratitude towards all the organizers, sponsors and supporters of Win This Space and for our growing family of patrons.”
The grand opening begins with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. followed by a celebration from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. featuring food and refreshments.
Other notable business and organization news from across the Kawarthas
Nancy Wiskel is the new owner of Dan Joyce’s Classic Clothing in downtown Peterborough.
Here’s a summary of other notable business and organizational news from across the Kawarthas over the past week:
One-Eyed Jack Pub and Grill opening at former location of the Carousel restaurant on Lansdowne Street East in Peterborough
Nancy Wiskel is the new owner of Dan Joyce’s Classic Clothing in downtown Peterborough
Peterborough and the Kawarthas Association of Realtors (PKAR) announce implementation of electronic lockboxes on listings
Jeff Purvey’s Fish and Chips in Peterborough celebrates 100 years in business on November 9
Cobourg Downtown Business Improvement Area implements digital service squad through Digital Main Street.
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WDB/LEPC hosts information session for employers on managing different generations in Cobourg on November 6
The Workforce Development Board/Local Employment Planning Council (WDB/LEPC) is hosting “Managing Different Generations”, an information session for employers, from 8 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 6th at Venture13 (739 D’Arcy St., Cobourg).
The event features guest speaker Michelle Dagnino, executive director of the Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre in Toronto, who will be sharing best practices for employers to navigate the issue of managing different generations in the workplace.
For those unable to attend in person, a webinar opportunity is available.
Kawartha Chamber hosts speed networking event in Burleigh Falls on November 7
Kawartha Chamber members participate in a speed networking session. (Photo: Kawartha Chamber)
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism is hosting a speed networking event from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 7th at Burleigh Falls Inn (4791 Highway 28, North Kawartha).
With speed networking, you spend a few minutes of one-on-one time with another participant, and then rotate to the next person when the bell rings.
WDB/LEPC hosts Experiential Learning Fair in Peterborough on November 8
The Workforce Development Board/Local Employment Planning Council (WDB/LEPC) is hosting the Experiential Learning Fair from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, November 8th at the Holiday Inn – Waterfront (150 George St. N., Peterborough).
The event features a morning information session, where guest speakers will describe the benefits of experiential learning to employers, and an afternoon trade show where employers can connect with organizations offering funding for experiential learning opportunities.
Peterborough Chamber hosts Chamber AM breakfast meeting in Peterborough on November 12
The next Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Chamber AM breakfast meeting takes place from 7 to 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 12th at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
Networking begins at 7 a.m., with breakfast orders taken at The Edison at 7:30 a.m. At 7:45 a.m., you can make your best 30-second elevator speech to the room), followed by a mystery guest speaker at 8 a.m.
There is no cost for the event (order what you like and pay for what you order).
Northumberland Chamber hosts “Meet and Greet” networking event in Cobourg on November 12
The Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce’s next monthly Meet and Greet” business networking event takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12th at Venture13 (739 D’Arcy St., Cobourg).
Venture13 brings together early-stage entrepreneurs with innovative partners to connect, empower, and accelerate new ventures. It is a place and a pathway for business growth synchronized with economic development and diversification. In addition to business networking, you’ll have an opportunity to see the facilities including the V13 Venture Zone, MakerLab, and Innovation Commons.
Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre presents marketing strategies and social media workshop in Lindsay on November 12
Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre is presenting a workshop on marketing strategies and social media from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12th in the downstairs meeting room at the Lindsay Library (190 Kent St. W., Lindsay).
Facilitated by Sandy Greenberg, established business coach and former business advisor at Centennial College Centre of Entrepreneurship, the workshop will cover topics including target marketing, developing your brand, reviewing your marketing channels, online and offline marketing strategies, and monitoring the effectiveness of your marketing activities.
Trent Hills Chamber hosts lunch-and-learn photography seminar in Campbellford on November 13
The Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce is hosting a lunch-and-learn photography seminar from 12 to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13th at Clock Tower Cultural Centre (36 Front St. S., Campbellford).
In this hands-on workshop, Laurie Anne King Photography will teach you how to take better portraits with your phone. The session begins with 15 minutes of networking, followed by a 30-minute presentation, and then a question-and-answer session.
Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland hosts marketing seminar in Cobourg on November 13
Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland (BECN) is hosting “Stand Out, Connect & Grow: Creating & Sharing Exceptional Marketing Messages” from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13th in the BECN boardroom (600 William St., Cobourg).
Kevin Bulmer will provide a fun and engaging group coaching session on crafting unique and effective marketing messages and creative online content to help attract, sustain and grow new sales to your business.
Port Hope Chamber hosts lunch seminar on managing stress in Port Hope on November 20
The Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce is hosting “Lunch and Learn: 10 ways to simplify the Holidays!” from 12 to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 20th at the Port Hope Public Library (31 Queen St., Port Hope).
Professional organizer Louise Nettleton of Simplify will discuss ways for you to lower stress during the holiday season.
Peterborough Chamber hosts financial wellness seminar in Peterborough on November 20
The next Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Lunch Box Learning seminar takes place from 12 to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 20th at the Chamber’s boardroom (175 George St. N., Peterborough).
David Nohora of BDO will provide information, tools, and resources on the subject of financial wellness and literacy.
The seminar is free to attend for members of the Chamber and members of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough. Bring your own lunch.
Haliburton Chamber hosts lunchtime bookkeeping seminar in Haliburton on November 21
The Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce is hosting a lunch-and-learn seminar from 12 to 1 p.m. on Thursday, November 21st at the Chamber office (195 Highland Ave., Haliburton).
Angelwings Solutions will lead the seminar, called “Bookkeeping 101”.
Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre hosts tax seminar for small business in Lindsay on November 25
Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre is hosting a tax seminar for small business from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Monday, November 24th at Kawartha Lakes Public Library (190 Kent St. W., Lindsay).
Presented by representatives from Canada Revenue Agency, the seminar is offered to owners of small businesses and self-employed individuals who need help in understanding their tax obligations. The presentation is geared towards unincorporated businesses and will provide participants with the basic principles and resources needed to navigate the tax system, and will cover common tax errors, general bookkeeping concepts and best practices, and more.
Kawartha Chamber hosts cyber security session in Lakefield on November 27
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism’s next B.O.S.S. (Business Owners Sharing Solutions) session takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27th at Beachwood Resort (3043 Beachwood Dr, Lakefield).
The event will feature a panel discussion and question-and-answer session about cyber security for you and your business. Panelists include Detective Sergeant Vern Crowley of the Ontario Provincial Police Cybercrime Investigations Team, marketing specialist Brendan Quigley of acorn30, and CIBC financial services representative Lisa Callaghan.
Bobcaygeon Chamber holds its AGM in Bobcaygeon on November 27
The Bobcaygeon Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual general meeting from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27th at the Bobcaygeon Municipal Service Centre (123 East St. S., Bobcaygeon).
The Chamber is currently accepting applications from members in good standing for new directors for 2020. The directors will be confirmed at the meeting.
For more information and to apply, download a PDF application at bobcaygeon.org.
Haliburton Chamber presents Inspiring Women’s Luncheon in Haliburton on November 28
Inspirational speaker and trainer Sharon Campbell Rayment is the keynote speaker at the inaugural Inspiring Women’s Luncheon in Haliburton on November 28, 2019. (Publicity photo)
The Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce is presenting the first annual Inspiring Women’s Luncheon from 12 to 2 p.m. on Thursday, November 28th at the Haliburton Legion (719 Mountain St., Haliburton).
The event features a keynote from inspirational speaker and trainer Sharon Campbell Rayment. She will speak about strategies and tools you can use to thrive in the midst of challenge and change, overcoming adversity and remaining focused, effective, and productive.
Brighton & Cramahe Chamber offers digital tools for small business seminar in Brighton on November 28
The Brighton & Cramahe Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland, is offering a “Free Digital Tools for Small Business” seminar from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 28th at King Edward Park Community Centre (75 Elizabeth St., Brighton).
This seminar is targeted at do-it-yourself business owners who want to know how to generate more business through their online presence without spending more money. Attendees will come out with knowledge search engine optimization techniques and skills that will help them attract more business.
The cost is $15 for Chamber members and $20 for non-members. To register, call the Chamber at 613-475-2775.
For more business-related events in the Kawarthas, check out our Business Events column.
An employee at Shoppers Drug Mart displays a fraud prevention card, supplied by the Kawartha Lakes Police Service, that retailers can share with customers who are at risk of falling victim to the gift card scam. (Supplied photo)
Here’s a great idea from the Kawartha Lakes Police Service to help prevent people from falling victim to gift card scams.
Earlier this summer, police provided retailers in Lindsay with fraud prevention cards that warn local shoppers about common scams, particularly gift card scams.
In a common version of this scam, fraudsters call victims and pretend to be someone in authority, such as the Canada Revenue Agency. They tell the victim they owe money for a debt and then demand payment in the form of gift cards.
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The victim purchases the gift cards — sometimes valued at thousands of dollars — from a local retailer. The victim then provides the PIN numbers of the gift cards to the fraudster, who redeems the value of the cards.
According to police, many businesses in Lindsay are handing out these fraud prevention cards to customers who are at risk of falling victim to the scam.
If you operate a business in Kawartha Lakes and would like to obtain copies of the fraud prevention to share with your customers, contact Sergeant Dave Murtha at the Kawartha Lakes Police Service at 705-324-5252 or dmurtha@klps.ca.
The fraud prevention card is available to local retailers from the Kawartha Lakes Police Service. (Supplied photo)
This week, police services across Ontario are marking Crime Prevention Week, with the theme “Preventing Crime, Protecting People”.
Online frauds and cyber crimes are among the fastest growing types of criminal activity taking place in Canada. Here are some you can take to protect yourself and your family, friends, and neighbours:
Take strict measures to keep personal information confidential and never share details like credit card, bank account numbers, or any other payment information over the phone or text.
Use caution when clicking on links sent to you via text from unknown senders.
Don’t respond to text messages from numbers that are not complete cell phone numbers or without verifying who the sender is. Text messages from scammers will often pretend to come from a common service such as Bell Canada, and sometimes will offer some kind of incentive such as a refund.
Have conversations with friends and family who are more vulnerable and possibly most at risk to fraud, such as elderly adults or teens.
Toronto-based Afro-Caribbean actor Khadijah Roberts-Abdulla reprises her lead role in the original 2018 Factory Theatre production of Kat Sandler's critically acclaimed play "Bang Bang" during a staged reading presented by New Stages Theatre Company at Market Hall Performing Arts in downtown Peterborough on November 10, 2019. She performs as Lila Hines, a former police officer who shot an unarmed black man and becomes the unwilling subject of a hit play that plays fast and loose with the actual facts. (Publicity photo)
On Sunday, November 10th, New Stages Theatre Company returns to Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough when director Randy Read presents a staged reading of Bang Bang by award-winning Toronto playwright Kat Sandler.
New Stages Theatre Company presents Bang Bang
When: Sunday, November 10, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. Where: Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St. E, Peterborough) How much: $25 general admission ($15 students/arts workers/underwaged), all fees included
Written by Kat Sandler, directed by Randy Read, and featuring Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah as Lila Hines, Andrew Chown as Tim Bernbaum, Tarick Glancy as Jackie Savage, Ordena Stephens-Thompson as Karen Hines, and Richard Zeppieri as Tony Cappello. Part of The Page On Stage Reading Series. Tickets available in person at the Market Hall Box Office or by phone at 705-749-1146 (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday) or online anytime at markethall.org.
A dark comedy dealing with complicated social issues including mental health, police brutality, and gun violence, Bang Bang also explores artistic responsibility and the pitfalls of creative license. For this special presentation, Randy brings together a superb cast of Toronto-based performers, including two members of the original critically acclaimed 2018 production at Toronto’s Factory Theatre.
Bang Bang is about playwright Tim Bernbaum (Andrew Chown), who reads a news story about a rookie police officer who shoots an unarmed black man. Without ever meeting the police officer (who is also black), Tim writes a play about the incident, although he changes multiple details to make the story more exciting. The play becomes a hit, prompting a film studio to option it for a film, but the producers want to change the main character from a woman into a man and have cast former teen idol Jackie Savage (Tarick Glancy) for the part.
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Feeling that he should finally meet the female police officer he immortalized in his script, Tim discovers that Lila Hines (Khadijah Roberts-Adbullah) has left the force and moved in with her mother (Ordena Stephens-Thompson), where she is suffering from depression and alcoholism triggered both from the trauma of the incident and the notoriety she received following the success of Tim’s play.
With Jackie Savage and his bodyguard, former cop Tony Cappello (Richard Zeppeir), on their way to interview the officer, Lila and Tim square off about artistic responsibility and the meaning of the phrase “based on a true story.”
“Bang Bang is quite dark but also quite funny,” says New Stages artistic director Randy Read. “It plays around with the idea of ‘inspired by true events’. I always get annoyed when I see a film that is supposed to be the story of something we know about, but they take liberties with it. I know sometimes it’s necessary, but it annoys me when they change the chronology or the characters.”
Randy says the humour in the play comes from the fact that playwright Sandler is such a good writer.
“She writes dialogue like people really speak,” he explains. “If we are in a tense situation, we don’t wait for the person speaking to finish. I love it when we go to the theatre and actors talk over each other.”
Along with Khadijah Roberts-Abdulla as Lisa Hines, other actors performing during the staged reading of “Bang Bang” include (left to right) Andrew Chown as Tim Bernbaum, Tarick Glancy as Jackie Savage, Ordena Stephens-Thompson as Karen Hines, and Richard Zeppieri as Tony Cappello (reprising his role from the original production). (Publicity photos)
For the role of fictional playwright Tim Bernbaum, Randy is bringing actor Andrew Chown to Peterborough. As well as from his stage credits including Shakespeare In Love, Romeo and Juliet, Vimy, and Merry Wives of Windsor, audiences might also recognize Andrew as Shane Crawford in the past season of CBC television’s Burden of Truth.
“What’s interesting about Tim is he feels that, as a dramatist, he is within his rights to change whatever he wants to make it more interesting or exciting,” Randy says of Andrew’s character. “It’s done all the time all around us — but sometimes people suffer because of it.”
For the roles of former police officer Lila Hines and her mother Karen, Randy secured actresses Khadijah Roberts-Adbullah (who reprises her role from the original Factory Theatre production) and Ordena Stephens-Thompson.
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Khadijuah’s previous roles have included Lady Macbeth in Hip Hop Macbeth and Laertes in Hamlet, while Odrena will recognized for her role as Frances the Martha in the critically acclaimed Hulu series The Handsmaid’s Tale and as Novelette “Letty” Campbell in the short-lived Canadian sit-com ‘Da Kink in My Hair.
Khadijah and Ordena are joined by Richard Zeppeir as Tony. As well as performing in the role in the original production of Bang Bang, Richard has also appeared on stage as Dr. Garbage in 6 Essential Questions, The Guard in My Fellow Creatures, and Lance in Beyond Mozambique, as well as appearances in TV series including Lost Girl, Rookie Blue, and Suits.
In the role of Jackie Savage, Randy has recruited Tarick Glancy, who most recently performed the role in a Thunder Bay production of Bang Bang.
Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah (centre) and Richard Zeppieri (far right) performing as Lila Hines and Tony Cappello in the original 2018 Factory Theatre production of “Bang Bang” by Kat Sandler. The two actors reprise their roles in the New Stages’ staged reading of the play at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on November 10, 2019, joined by Andrew Chown as Tim Bernbaum, Tarick Glancy as Jackie Savage, and Ordena Stephens-Thompson as Karen Hines. (Photo: Joseph Michael Photography)
“The part of Jackie Savage is hard to cast because he has to be believably mixed race — his mother is white but his father is black,” Randy says of Tarick’s character.
“It’s a fun role because Jackie is a movie star, but was a teen idol who had a big career and is now struggling to break out of that. He wants to play the cop, and the studio says he can. So he shows up to try to talk to Officer Hines and learn all about her and get in her head. Of course, she wants nothing to do with him at all.”
New Stages’ staged readings at the Market Hall are popular with audiences, providing an accessible and affordable way to watch professional actors from larger cities perform thought-provoking scripts in a setting where a larger production would not be possible. However, while staged readings normally make up much of New Stages’ yearly program, Bang Bang will be the final reading this season, making way for three full stage productions in 2020.
“Bang Bang” was written by Dora award-winning Toronto playwright Kat Sandler. (Publicity photo)
Don’t miss the opportunity to watch a fantastic line-up of professional actors perform this complex and topical show written by one of Canada’s premier female playwrights.
Bang Bang will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 10th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St. E, Peterborough). General admission tickets are $25 ($15 for students, art workers, and the under waged) and are available in person at the Market Hall Box Office or by phone at 705-749-1146 (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday) or online anytime at markethall.org.
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