A rendering of a 17-storey residential-commercial development that TVM Mark Street Inc. is proposing be built beside Mark Street United Church in Peterborough's East City. The original proposal presented in 2024 was for a 10-storey building. (Image via City of Peterborough website)
A proposed 10-storey residential-commercial development in Peterborough’s East City, to be located west of Mark Street United Church at 90 Hunter Street East, has grown by another seven stories.
Toronto-based developer TVM Group, the company behind two other nearby East City developments — East City Condos and the St. Joseph’s Hospital redevelopment — is now proposing a 17-storey building be constructed at the location, according to a notice posted in the current development applications section of the City of Peterborough’s website.
Last year, TVM Group proposed a 10-storey, mixed-use building with commercial space on the ground floor, a parking garage on parts of the first and second floor, and 156 apartment units on the remaining seven floors. There would be with parking for 121 motor vehicles underground as well as at the rear of the ground floor and on the second floor.
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The new proposal for a 17-storey mixed-use building would have four levels of structured parking (one partially underground) and 205 units — 66 one-bedroom units, 110 two-bedroom units, and 29 three-bedroom units — on floors three to 17. There would be 205 motor vehicle parking spaces and 206 bicycle parking spaces.
As with the original proposal, the original church building would remain.
According to a 2024 report from the East Central Ontario Regional Council of the United Church of Canada, the board of trustees of Mark Street United Church entered into an agreement with TVM Group to exchange the church property for rental condominium units in the East City Condos development valued at $2 million, as well as the construction of a new hall on the north side of the church building at no cost to Mark Street United Church.
A rendering of the originally proposed 10-storey residential-commercial development beside Mark Street United Church in Peterborough’s East City, which was presented to area residents during an open house in June 2024. (Facebook photo)
Last June, TVM Group held an open house for area residents on the originally proposed 10-storey building.
During that meeting, former Peterborough mayor Daryl Bennett, the chair of the church’s board of trustees and its property development team, said a “couple” of area residents were “were worried that the sunlight they’re expecting in their backyard might not be as good as it should be.”
“Yes, it’s a big development,” Bennett added. “Yes, it’s a lot of new people coming into East City. Is that a good thing or is that a bad thing? From my standpoint, the city is deficient in buildings of this nature. It’s going to be a spectacular addition.”
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Also present at the June 2024 meeting was TVM Group president and CEO Amit Sofer.
“This is step one, where we are displaying to the community what we propose to bring to the city,” he said. “We are seeking comment from community members — maybe some suggestions of things that we have overlooked. We will go back, absorb some of those comments, make some adjustments and then, next month, we’re hoping to submit for a rezoning application from the city.”
Contrary to Sofer’s comment last June, the addition of seven storeys is a significant change rather than an adjustment to the original proposal presented during the open house, which was also attended by Ashburnham Ward city councillors Gary Baldwin and Keith Riel.
Renderings of a 17-storey residential-commercial development that TVM Mark Street Inc. is proposing be built beside Mark Street United Church in Peterborough’s East City. (Image via City of Peterborough website)
“I like to think we’re dealing with a reputable developer,” Baldwin said at that meeting. “They’re going to listen to the people. The project may change a little bit (or) it may not, but the fact they’re having this (open house), meeting with and hearing directly from people and answer their questions, is a good process.”
According to the City of Peterborough’s website, the city is currently reviewing an application from TVM Mark Street Inc. for a zoning by-law amendment for the proposed 17-storey building development.
A public meeting under the Planning Act on the proposed zoning by-law amendment will be held at an upcoming meeting of city council’s general committee, when members of the public will be able to make delegations.
With files from Paul Rellinger. This is a developing story and will be updated when more information is available.
Whiskey Jack in 1977, featuring Duncan Fremlin, Mac Pulling, Rocky Hill, and Peterborough's own John Hoffman. Hoffman, who co-founded the band with Fremlin, will join Whiskey Jack for a few numbers at Peterborough's Air Force Association Hall on June 8, 2025 during the "CBC TV Country Music Stars" show, which also features Donna Ramsay and LeRoy Anderson, who spent 17 years performing weekly on CBC's "The Tommy Hunter Show". (Photo courtesy of Duncan Fremlin)
Every dog may have its day, but who’s to say you can’t have close to five decades’ worth of days? That has certainly been the case for what arguably remains one of the most beloved and successful roots-country-bluegrass bands in Canadian music history.
Since forming in Toronto in 1977 — a time when Canadian rock bands ruled the city music landscape and the catchy disco sound was catching on — Whiskey Jack has won, and kept, the hearts of fans across Canada.
For several years, as host of the comedy segment The Ol’ Back Porch on The Tommy Hunter Show and later as the late Stompin’ Tom Connors’ tour band, Whiskey Jack’s musical prowess and fun stage persona was on full display, winning the band a sizable loyal following that remains to this day.
So it was that when the idea of bringing together stars of CBC TV’s long-running hallmark music program for a reunion tour was broached, Whiskey Jack’s being part of that cavalcade was as assured as it was fitting.
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On Sunday, June 8 at Peterborough’s Air Force Association Hall at 274 King Street, the aptly titled “CBC TV Country Music Stars” show will see Whiskey Jack headline alongside Donna Ramsay and LeRoy Anderson who, as Donna and LeRoy, performed weekly for 17 years on The Tommy Hunter Show starting in 1975 (the pair were inducted into the the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010).
Admission to the 2 p.m. show is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested price of $35. Featured will be a mix of favourite songs from Hunter’s TV show, some Stompin’ Tom standards, and a selection of Whiskey Jack songs.
The Peterborough show — the last of four scheduled, preceded by stops in Nobel (near Parry Sound), Sault Ste. Marie, and Toronto — will see John Hoffman join Whiskey Jack for a few numbers. In the mid-1970s, the Peterborough resident developed an interest in bluegrass music and come 1979, mandolin in hand, found himself a member of Whiskey Jack alongside co-founder Duncan Fremlin, Bob McNiven, and Greg Street.
VIDEO: Maple Sugar / Big John McNeil / St. Anne’s Reel Medley – Whiskey Jack (2015)
“There was a sort of a bluegrass revival that started in the early ’70s — The Good Brothers were the most famous part of that — but there were other bands we went around to see and I got interested in bluegrass,” recalls Hoffman, citing New Riders of the Purple Sage as an influence.
“Somebody put a notice up in a music store looking for someone to play in a bluegrass band. It was Duncan. We started jamming. I spent 1977-78 going to Trent (University), but I took the bus to Toronto every weekend to jam with Duncan and this other fellow, Paul Wickham. We started playing for money, trying to go full-time (as Whiskey Jack) early in 1979.”
Besides playing gigs wherever it could, Whiskey Jack recorded and released three albums — Uptown (1979), One More Time (1981), and Whiskey Jack (1983). The band’s first single, notes Hoffman, was penned by “a Peterborough guy,” Roy Mulder.
“We got a bit of a buzz and felt we were doing pretty good, but in 1981, we hit the doldrums,” says Hoffman. “The call to audition for The Tommy Hunter Show came at a particularly bad time. We had a gig booked at the Trent Inn (in Peterborough) and it cancelled. I was thinking ‘Are we going to be able to do this?’ In those days, when a gig was cancelled, that was your paycheque for the week.”
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But The Tommy Hunter Show audition went well, proving to be manna from heaven as Whiskey Jack secured a regular spot performing the musical backdrop for the show’s comedy segment The Ol’ Back Porch over three seasons, accompanying show guest performers as well.
“That was thing that really gave our career a huge boost,” says Hoffman.
Come 1986, however, getting to “the next level,” says Hoffman, meant touring across Canada full-time. With a small child at home, that, says Hoffman, “was a level I didn’t want to get to,” forcing his decision to call it a day with Whiskey Jack.
“I never had illusions that we were going to hit the really big time. At first, when we got on The Tommy Hunter Show, I thought maybe, but then it was like ‘No, it’s not going to happen.’ But it was a good run.”
LeRoy Anderson and Donna Ramsay with Tommy Hunter in the late 1980s. Donna and LeRoy were inducted into the the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010. (Photo courtesy of Duncan Fremlin)
While Hoffman moved on to play regularly with Washboard Hank, Fremlin stayed at it with the band, and after a few years that saw Whiskey Jack play a minimal number of shows, another Peterborough connection — in the form of promoter Brian Edwards of Rocklands Entertainment — led to the next big chapter: touring with Stompin’ Tom Connors from 1993 until his death in 2014.
Like Hoffman, Fremlin says The Tommy Hunter Show run was huge for the band, both then and now.
“If it wasn’t for Tommy Hunter, you and I would not be talking today — it just changed everything,” says Fremlin, adding “We milked it; we took advantage of it.”
“John and I were a good team. We had the drive, we had the smarts, we had the initiative. A lot of creative marketing went into it. I don’t think I could have done it without him, and I’m hoping he would say the same about me. We were brains and brawn of it, even though, in some ways, we were the least talented.”
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To this day, Fremlin shakes his head over the fact that Whiskey Jack was able to work well with as diverse personalities as Tommy Hunter and Stompin’ Tom Connors.
“If there are two Canadian performers who don’t belong in the same room, it’s Tommy Hunter and Stompin’ Tom. They were complete opposites in so many ways. I don’t think either one of them thought much of the other.”
“Here we are — Whiskey Jack, Stompin’ Tom’s band, and Donna and Leroy, Tommy Hunter’s duo — getting together for this show, and we all get along,” Fremlin adds. “I don’t think those two guys would have got along at all.”
Whiskey Jack co-founder Duncan Fremlin performing with Gordon Lightfoot. (Photo courtesy of Duncan Fremlin)
Speaking to the Peterborough show, Fremlin makes note of another local connection in the form of current Whiskey Jack member Douglas Cameron. Twice Juno Award-nominated, he lived in Peterborough for several years and was an original member of The CeeDees alongside another Peterborough resident, Curtis Driedger.
“How lucky was I to get hooked up with him about 12 or 13 years ago?” marvels Fremlin, noting Hoffman made that introduction.
“We just kind of hit it off. We’re both writing songs and performing at the highest level, and we’re both in our 70s. Besides the fact that he’s very musical, his performance is very theatrical and animated, in an industry where there’s not a whole lot of that.”
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Asked if getting together again with Hoffman on stage will fit like an old shoe, Fremlin points to the example of his jamming last summer with Donna and Leroy.
“I hadn’t seen them in 30 years. That part of it (playing music together) was like falling off a log. We traded songs, we knew the same songs, so that part was good. The idea of taking that, and making a show out of it, that’s an entirely different story.”
“Donna and I have spent countless hours on this. It’s been a hell of a lot of work. That’s not at all like riding a bike. We’re creating this show from scratch. We’ll see how it goes, but I’m confident that with those on stage, with so many decades behind them, the show is going to be very entertaining and very fun.”
In From The Cold co-founder John Hoffman performing on fiddle at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in Peterborough in December 2015. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW)
For his part, Hoffman, who’s best known in recent years for his hand in bringing the In From The Cold fundraiser for the YES Shelter for Youth and Families to Market Hall each December (with Driedger also a regular performer), is “looking forward to seeing what these guys come up with.”
“They’re all really good musicians. This is a new thing for them. These people are not young. It’s kind of inspiring that older musicians want to try new things. I can relate to that. I’m at ‘Let’s see what happens.'”
For more information about Whiskey Jack, which also features Billy MacInnis on fiddle and James McEleney on bass, visit whiskeyjackmusic.com.
A 42-year-old Lindsay man is facing multiple assault charges after stabbing a man in a wheelchair on Monday afternoon (May 19).
At around 4:08 p.m., Kawartha Lakes police responded to a report of a stabbing at Kent Street West and William Street North in downtown Lindsay.
After arriving on the scene, officers learned two men were having an argument that escalated into a physical altercation, with one of the men producing a knife and stabbing the other man — who required the use of a wheelchair — multiple times. The suspect then fled on foot, and witnesses observed him discard an item on the roof of a nearby building.
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The victim was transported to Ross Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Officers searched the area and located the suspect a short distance away in a wooded area as he was attempting to change clothes. He was taken into custody without incident.
Officers also gained access to the roof of the business where witnesses had observed the suspect discard an item, and found and seized a folding-blade knife.
David Grozelle, 42, of Lindsay has been charged with assault, assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
The accused man was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
encoreNOW for May 19, 2025 features (from left to right, top and bottom) Skydiggers at Peterborough's Market Hall, Peterborough Symphony Orchestra at Emmanuel United Church, O Canada! benefit concert at Lindsay's Academy Theatre, Trent Valley Archives Theatre's "Crossing Over" at Peterborough's Market Hall, Globus Theatre's "Desperate to be Doris" in Bobcaygeon, and Kyle Golemba's "Handsome but Charmless" at Port Hope's Capitol Theatre. (kawarthaNOW collage)
encoreNOW is a bi-weekly column by Paul Rellinger where he features upcoming music, theatre, film, and performing arts events and news from across the Kawarthas.
This week, Paul highlights highlights the return of Skydiggers to Market Hall, the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra’s season-closing concert, a celebration of Canadian music at Lindsay’s Academy Theatre, Trent Valley Archives’ staged tribute to the Peter Robinson emigrants, Globus Theatre’s premiere of one man’s infatuation with Doris Day, and Kyle Golemba’s theatre journey bared at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre.
Skydiggers staying power on full display at Market Hall
VIDEO: “A Penny More” – Skydiggers (2018)
Whether you love a band, can do without it, or are indifferent, you have to admire longevity. The music business is tough; remaining together as a unit, and staying relevant and fresh, is even tougher.
Close to 40 years after forming in Toronto, Skydiggers has checked all those boxes and more, retaining and still building on its hard-earned status as one of Canada’s most hailed and successful roots-rock bands.
Better still, singer Andy Maize, who co-founded the band with lead guitarist John Finlayson, are still at it and producing new music, Skydiggers’ newest release Dreams & Second Chances marking 20-plus studio albums/EPs for the band.
While the early 1990s brought Skydiggers its most commercial success — with their self-titled debut in 1990 producing the singles “Monday Morning” and “I Will Give You Everything,” 1992’s Restless spawning the band’s biggest hit in “A Penny More,” and the follow-up album Just Over This Mountain earning Maize, Finlayson, et al a Juno Award for Most Promising Group — the band never stopped recording or touring, winning new fans while satisfying the taste of fans who were hooked on day one.
Dreams & Second Chances gives full evidence that Skydiggers haven’t missed a beat. In fact, it could be argued it’s mistitled, considering the band is still making the most of its first chance.
Full evidence of that will be provided on Thursday (May 22) at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough when Skydiggers performs in concert, its blend of rock, folk and country influences, melodic songwriting, and heartfelt lyrics continuing to resonate.
Season finale sees the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra Step Into The Light at Emmanuel United Church
VIDEO: Mahler’s Symphony no. 4, IV featuring Sabine Devieilhe
For the finale of its 2024-25 season, the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is returning to Emmanuel United Church in downtown Peterborough on Saturday (May 24) to present ” Step Into The Light,” which was also the theme of the five-concert season now winding down.
A finale deserves a rousing selection of music. To that end, the PSO is delivering Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, a widely hailed symphonic masterpiece that sees its creator take us on his personal journey, culminating in a child’s vision of heaven.
If that’s not enough, the program will also welcome back cellist Stephen Tétreault and harpist Valérie Milot as soloists in Kelly-Marie Murphy’s award-winning Double Concerto. Also featured is soprano Christina Raphaëlle Haldane, who will join the orchestra for the final movement of Mahler’s Fourth Symphony.
At the conductor’s stand, as always, is maestro Michael Newnham, who will give his usual pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m.
Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. performance are $33, $48, or $55, depending on the seat you choose, with student tickets costing $12 for all seats. They are available online at thepso.org/step-into-the-light.
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Canadian pride a treat for the senses at the Academy Theatre
VIDEO: “Hold Me” – The Strumbellas
Hard as it may be, we have to give the 47th president of the United States — yeah, you know who I’m referring to — credit for bringing together Canadians on a scale few times seen prior.
Due to his tariff bullying and 51st state pipe dream, immense pride in all things Canadian has extended well beyond the hockey ice surface to homes, businessese, and organizations from coast to coast to coast. You can count on one hand the number of times politicians of all stripes have spoken with one voice on anything.
Our treasured Canadian identity extends well beyond maple syrup and poutine. Take, for very good example, the Canadian music industry. Long is the list of Canadian recording artists who have gifted the world with great music, and all of it tariff-free to boot.
That’s well worth celebrating at any time, but especially now, and on Sunday (May 25) at Lindsay’s Academy Theatre, that’s exactly what will happen.
Billed as “a uniquely Canadian concert featuring Canadian artists celebrating Canadian music,” the aptly titled O’ Canada concert will feature a stage lineup that delivers on that promise.
Hosted by former MuchMusic VJ Erica Ehm, the celebration will bring The Strumbellas, Dwayne Gretzky members Tyler Kyte and Nick Rose, Russell deCarle of Prairie Oyster, Melissa Payne, Cassie Noble, Dale Crowe, Gamekeeper and Mis-Hap to the stage, where a house band comprised of Frazer Turk, D’Arcy Mason, Graeme Morrison, and Andy McNeilly will round things out.
Now the best part. The concert is fundraiser for BGC (Boys and Girls Club) Kawartha in support of its music and arts programs — the future of Canadian-made and supported entertainment, if you will.
Trent Valley Archives pays homage to the Peter Robinson settlers
In a scene from “Crossing Over”, John Keleher (Hugh Foley, right) brings petty thief Tim Ryan (Kaza Hesselink, second from right) to the John Barry surgeon-superintendent William Burnie (Ashley Parker, left) for ship board justice. Mr. and Mrs. Hagarty (Lucas Pronk and Cathy Brand, centre) are worried, having their own secrets to keep. (Photo courtesy of Trent Valley Archives Theatre)
With this year marking the bicentennial of the Peter Robinson emigration of Irish settlers to the Kawarthas region, there’s a gold pot at the end of the rainbow, and that pot is chock full of events marking the emigrants’ arduous crossing of the Atlantic Ocean for a new life in a new land.
We’ve already heard that Peterborough Musicfest is presenting back-to-back-to-back performances in early August by U2 tribute band Acrobat, The Mudmen (with Irish Millie opening), and The Celtic Tenors. And there’s 4th Line Theatre, which is bringing the world premiere of Megan Murphy’s Wild Geese to the Winslow farm.
Add Trent Valley Archives’ original historical play Crossing Over to the commemorative mix. Being staged May 29 to 31 at Market Hall in Peterborough, it’s a fictionalized account of the six-week Atlantic voyage of the emigrant ship John Barry, which departed from Cobh Harbour in Ireland on May 25, 1825. Family surnames on the passenger list included Hagerty, Nagle, Owen, Regan, Ryan, Slattery, Sullivan, and Young.
Narrated by John Keleher, an experienced seaman and Peter Robinson settler (played by storyteller extraordinaire Hugh Foley), this is a tale of tremendous courage in the face of so very many unknowns. Just the fortitude alone it took to say goodbye forever to relatives in Ireland is quite something. This play will have an Irish music soundtrack, courtesy of music director Michael Ketemer backed by the Crossing Over Chorus.
A fundraiser for Trent Valley Archives, the play is a sequel to last year’s inaugural production Tide of Hope, which told the story of David Nagle, an Irish land agent for a wealthy British landowner who eventually fled Ireland on the John Barry after being branded a traitor by Irish rebels.
During the year when we’re all Irish, if even for a bit, we can comfort in the fact that those who really are Irish are welcoming us in with open arms. Few are more welcoming when it comes to sharing their traditions and heritage.
Curtain is 7:30 p.m. from May 29 to 31, with a 2 p.m. matinee performance on May 31. Suitable for all ages 14 and up, tickets cost $30 ($40 for cabaret seating) and are available at www.markethall.org.
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Globus Theatre opens its 22nd new season in spirited fashion
VIDEO: Ephraim Ellis introduces “Desperate To Be Doris” at Globus Theatre
Professional theatre is very much alive and well in Bobcaygeon, with Globus Theatre staging 10 productions this year at its home at 2300 Pigeon Lake Road.
The season lid lifter is the Canadian premiere of Desperate To Be Doris, a comedy penned by the British duo of Sue Ryding and Maggie Fox and starring professional actors Ephraim Ellis, Elana Post, and Globus Theatre’s own artistic director Sarah Quick. Quick’s husband and Globus artistic producer James Barrett is directing.
The story centres around Dean (Ellis), who spends his days working at a mail-order pajama company but, come nightfall, is a legend in his living room by singing the songs of Doris Day. When his operatic society decides to stage a theatrical version of Day’s 1953 film Calamity Jane, Dean ponders if his big moment has finally arrived. With a backdrop of some of Day’s greatest hit songs — performed by a community chorus of local residents recruited by Globus — this is a tale of self-discovery and the courage and power of following your dreams.
Now in its 22nd season, Globus Theatre was founded by Quick and Barrett to bring professional theatre to the Kawarthas, annually staging productions from May through December from a former cattle barn converted to a 150-seat theatre and attached restaurant.
Desperate to be Doris will be performed at 8 p.m. from May 29 to 31 and June 5 to 7 and a 2 p.m. matinee performance on May 31. An optional dinner is available before the evening performances.
Tickets are $50 for the show only, or $100 for dinner and the show (plus tax and fee). For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.globustheatre.com or call the Globus Theatre box office at 705-738-2037.
An actor’s journey takes centre stage at the Capitol Theatre
Kyle Golemba (left) with Amir Haidar in the 2024 production of “Bed and Breakfast” by Mark Crawford. (Photo: Tracey Allison)
If turning a negative into a positive is truly a gift, Kyle Golemba is on top of his game.
After a reviewer described the actor as “handsome but charmless,” Golemba didn’t sulk. Far from it, instead penning a delightful musical that’s brimming with hilarious stories and reflections on the ups and downs of theatre life.
Handsome But Charmless opens June 3 in the intimate Sculthorpe Theatre at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre. Front-and-centre, poking good fun at himself, and no doubt his very honest reviewer, this has fun and music — never a bad combination — at its centre.
And as befitting a one-man show, it features a huge talent in Golemba, whose list of stage credits is long and impressive, including his performance as Brett in the 2024 staging of Mark Crawford’s Bed and Breakfast at the Capitol Theatre.
Curtain is 7:30 p.m. June 3 to 7, with added 2 p.m. matinees on June 4, 7, and 8. Tickets cost $45, $35 for those under 30, and are available at capitoltheatre.com.
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Encore
What a difference a few months, and funding, makes. You’ll recall that during the Peterborough’s budget deliberations, a number of Peterborough groups — the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) among them — were faced with the loss of city funding. After much outcry, that funding was kept in place … for now. EC3 is now back from the brink, not only hosting and presenting the Peterborough Arts Awards’ presentation on June 12 at the Canadian Canoe Museum, but also accepting performance submissions for the biannual Artsweek arts festival in the fall. Now we get word that fusion violinist Victoria Yeh — no stranger to local audiences — has been added to EC3’s board. When we think what would have been had EC3 lost its city dollar support, this activity is all the more worth celebrating, and supporting.
I’m wishing a number of homegrown country music artists nothing but good things when the Country Music Association of Ontario’s 2025 CMAOntario Awards are presented on June 1 at The Music Hall in Hamilton. Elyse Saunders, Tebey, Sacha, and Jesse Slack and Daryl Scott are nominated in multiple categories and hoping to hear their names called at least once. I’m also thinking good thoughts for local singer-songwriter Dan Hick who is up for a remarkable five awards at the New Music Awards being hosted by Pet Rock Radio May 24 at the 100 Acre Brewing Company. Dan will also perform at the event, which will also see Washboard Hank presented with a legacy award.
Peterborough and area women interested in golf can check out Women's Adventures in Golf, which aims to offer a more relaxed game with social opportunities while raising money for local non-profit organizations that support women and children. The group is hosting monthly themed golfing events during the summer. (Photos: Women's Adventures in Golf)
Peterborough-area women can tee off this summer and support non-profit organizations for women and children at the same time.
Women’s Adventures in Golf (WAG), a group that aims to offer fun themed golfing opportunities for Peterborough women of all skill levels while raising money for charity, is kicking off its second season. Golfers can register as singles, twosomes, or foursomes for a laid-back, accessible game of golf and fundraising each month.
In its inaugural 2024 season, WAG raised more than $5,000 for local organizations that support women and children.
“We are excited for our second season of bringing women together for a relaxed game of golf, no matter their skill level,” WAF founder Susan Williamson told kawarthaNOW. “Women can choose to just golf, or golf and stay for a meal to experience the camaraderie and community spirit.”
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All foursomes work together in a scramble format — where all players hit from the same spot, choose the best shot, and then all play their next shots from that position, continuing this process until the hole is completed — and they’ll be vying for small prizes based on the event’s theme, not on skill.
For every event, golfers make a donation to a particular local non-profit organization to get an advantage in the game.
Having just celebrated its pre-season social at Rolling Grape Vineyard in Bailieboro in support of The Super Sophia Project, WAG is hosting its first golf event on Saturday (May 24) at the Warkworth Golf Club with the theme of “Jailbreak” in support of Five Counties Children’s Centre.
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While registration for the season opening event is already full, spots are still available for “She CAN” on Sunday, June 22 at the Liftlock Golf Club at 2320 Ashburnham Dr. in Peterborough. From sports to politics to the world of creative arts, this day’s theme will “celebrate the amazing accomplishments of Canadian women.”
During this event, women can golf to play the trivia game as a group so they’re never on their own, Williamson noted. Participants who make a donation to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s Crossroads Shelter will get an advantage in the game.
Next up is a tournament on Sunday, July 13 at Katchiwano Golf Club at 1730 Youngs Point Rd. in Lakefield. The theme is “Wheel of Life,” where women can play The Game of Life and join fellow participants afterwards at Cheeky Duck Vineyard in Lakefield for a meal. This event will support Peterborough Child and Family Centres.
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On Sunday, August 24, golfers can take part in “Jetsetter” at Heron Landing Golf Club at 2361 Lansdowne St. W. in Peterborough. Participants will “travel Europe” while golfing as a team. This day will support Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services.
For the WAG season finale on Sunday, September 14, women can join the fun at Katchiwano Golf Club in Lakefield for “Mystery at the Club.” During this event, “GM Mavis Mustard” will have a mystery to solve at her golf club. Participants will play to get clues to solve the mystery.
Those who make a contribution to Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre will secure an advantage in the game. The group will gather after golfing at Cheeky Duck Vineyard to mark the finale of the season.
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“WAG is all about bringing women together to enjoy the game of golf in a fun and relaxed environment,” Williamson told kawarthaNOW in 2024 about the impetus for forming the group. “Our themed events are designed to create lasting memories and friendships while supporting great causes.”
She also hopes WAG encourages women to participate in golf.
“Golf has traditionally been a male-dominated sport, but initiatives like WAG are changing the game by making it more accessible and enjoyable for women. Studies have shown that women who participate in sports like golf experience numerous benefits, including increased confidence, improved mental health, and expanded social networks.”
For more information about Women’s Adventures in Golf and to register for upcoming events, visit www.golfwithwag.ca.
Ephraim Ellis, Elana Post, and Sarah Quick star in the Canadian premiere of the British musical comedy "Desperate to be Doris" at Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon from May 29 to June 7, 2025, which also features a community chorus of local residents who will perform the songs of Doris Day. (kawarthaNOW collage of supplied photos)
Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon is kicking off its 22nd season this spring with the Canadian premiere of a musical comedy show originally written and performed by a popular British comedy duo, which features a community choir of local residents joining the cast of three professional actors to perform the songs of Doris Day.
Desperate to be Doris, which runs from May 29 to June 7, is a celebration of the iconic American actress and singer that was written and performed over a decade ago by Sue Ryding and Maggie Fox of LipService Theatre. It premiered at the York Theatre Royal in the U.K. in 2010.
Over nearly 40 years, Ryding and Fox wrote and performed more than 22 original comedy shows from a distinctly female perspective, touring them throughout Britain as well as in Europe and the U.S. Also known for her roles in Coronation Street, Shameless, and The Forsyte Saga, Fox died at the age of 65 in 2022 after a tragic car accident.
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Desperate to be Doris follows Dean, who works in the office of a nightwear retailer called The Pyjama Game and harbours a secret love for singing the songs of Doris Day. A new manager arrives on the scene, not only with her own ideas for remaking the business, but also for directing a local amateur theatre society’s production of the musical western Calamity Jane, based on the 1953 musical Western film of the same name that starred Doris Day. Will Dean dare to share his Calamity Jane with an unsuspecting world?
Taking on the role of Dean in the Globus Theatre production is Ephraim Ellis, best known for playing Rick Murray on Degrassi: The Next Generation and Danny Ellis on Falcon Beach. Joining him on stage to perform a variety of hilarious characters are Elana Post (who performed in the 2024 Globus production of Norm Foster’s The Ladies Foursome and in the 2023 Globus production of Kristen Da Silva’s Hurry Hard) and Globus Theatre’s own artistic director Sarah Quick.
“This play is exactly the style of theatre that Globus Theatre is known for — a fast-paced comedic story brought to life through various zany characters played by talented actors,” says Globus Theatre’s artistic producer James Barrett, who is directing the play.
Elana Post, Ephraim Ellis, and Sarah Quick rehearsing a scene from the Globus Theatre production of the British musical comedy “Desperate to be Doris”, which runs in Bobcaygeon from May 29 to June 7, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Globus Theatre)
Featuring some of Doris Day’s greatest hits including “Secret Love,” “Que Sera, Sera,” “Steam Heat,” “The Deadwood Stage,” and “Enjoy Yourself,” Ryding and Fox’s original tours of the show integrated local choirs from the communities where it was staged — something that Globus Theatre is replicating for the Canadian premiere.
“Desperate to be Doris was touring the UK at the same time as I was many years ago,” Quick recalls. “It delighted audiences at every theatre it played at, and I loved the concept of using a community choir in each location. I thought doing this sort of collaboration in Bobcaygeon was a perfect way to kick off our season. I am thrilled to bring this show to Canadian audiences for the first time.”
After an initial call in March for performers for the community choir, Globus Theatre has established two choirs of local singers who have been rehearsing the Doris Day songs in the show under the direction of Kelly Burrows.
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“It has been such a joy and privilege working on these Doris Day songs with our amazing community choir,” Burrows says. “The fact that all of these singers wanted to come together and participate in what’s sure to be an incredible season opener shows just how much talent there is on our community, and how much we all love Globus Theatre’s productions. We are very excited to showcase our hard work and cannot wait for everyone to come out and see Desperate to be Doris.”
Desperate to be Doris will be performed at 2300 Pigeon Lake Road in Bobcaygeon with evening performances at 8 p.m. from May 29 to 31 and June 5 to 7 and a 2 p.m. matinee performance on May 31. An optional dinner is available before the evening performances.
Tickets are $50 for the show only, or $100 for dinner and the show (plus tax and fee). For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.globustheatre.com or call the Globus Theatre box office at 705-738-2037.
Some of the local residents who will be performing in the community chorus for the Canadian premiere of the British musical comedy “Desperate to be Doris” at Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon from May 29 to June 7, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Globus Theatre)
The YMCA Northumberland is kicking off Pride month with its annual "Rainbow Run" in Cobourg on June 1, 2025. The 2.5 or five-kilometre run/walk that goes along the waterfront and through downtown raises money and awareness for YMCA Northumberland's Strong Communities campaign while also celebrating diversity and supporting the 2SLGBTQ+ community. (Photo: YMCA Northumberland)
The YMCA Northumberland is inviting community members to “stride into Pride month” by taking part in the organization’s annual “Rainbow Run” in Cobourg.
Now in its third year, the run takes place along the waterfront and in the downtown area on Sunday, June 1. Registration for the day begins at 8:30 a.m. and the run starts at 9:30 a.m.
It’s a kick-off for Northumberland County activities for Pride month in June and has a few other important aspects, said Zoey Read, YMCA Northumberland’s manager of philanthropy.
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“The ideology behind the annual Rainbow Run event is to create a visible show of support for those in the 2SLGBTQ+ community and host a celebration in honour of Pride month,” Read told kawarthaNOW.
“At the YMCA Northumberland we strive to create an inclusive and welcoming space for all,” Read added. “The Rainbow Run is one of our annual events that raises money for our YMCA Strong Communities campaign, which provides the necessary funds to create a diverse and welcoming YMCA regardless of socioeconomic background.”
The event encompasses a 2.5 or five-kilometre run/walk that begins at the Cobourg Yacht Club and goes along the waterfront and through downtown. Whether walking or running, the Rainbow Run makes “a powerful statement” about love, acceptance, and support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and its allies, according to a media release.
“By combining exercise with social awareness, the event creates a unique platform for community engagement, health promotion, and social change,” the release states.
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Participants are encouraged to dress in vibrant, colourful outfits to contribute to the celebratory atmosphere and add to the visual representation of diversity.
“The Rainbow Run is a powerful reminder that when we come together — each bringing our own colour, energy, and spirit — we can create something truly extraordinary,” said Eunice Kirkpatrick, YMCA Northumberland president and CEO. “It’s an event that uplifts our community and reflects the strength found in unity and hope.”
Funds raised will support YMCA Northumberland’s Strong Communities campaign, which helps provide access to life-changing programs and services to empower people and groups of all ages across Northumberland with greater equality and wellness.
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It also includes support for initiatives that ensure the YMCA Northumberland’s spaces are welcoming and safe for 2SLGBTQIA+ community members.
“We want our community YMCA to be a space for everyone,” Read said.
The 2024 Rainbow Run event drew nearly 200 participants and raised more than $8,000. For the 2025 event, the registration fee is $25 for adults, $10 for youth ages five through 12, and free for children aged four and under. Pets can also accompany their owners on the route for no extra charge.
There will also be an online auction, featuring items donated by local businesses.
The first 250 people to cross the finish line will walk away with a “finisher” medal. Registrants who raise more than $75 will receive a complimentary pair of Rainbow Run socks. The socks, as well as a limited supply of T-shirts, will also be available to purchase for $20 each.
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“We encourage participants to fundraise by inviting friends, family, and supporters to contribute directly to their fundraising page, ensuring all donations are processed securely and transparently through our approved YMCA fundraising platform,” the YMCA stated in the release.
The event is supported by community partners Linmac, SMM Law Professional Corporation, Pentel Ltd. Brokerage and Vandermeer Toyota, as well as event sponsors Arthur’s Pub, Best Western PLUS Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre, Burnham Family Farm Market, Cameco, Part Time CFO Services LLP, ParticipACTION, and STADTKE Plumbing & Heating Ltd..
As a charity, the YMCA Northumberland strives to provide vital community services that have a positive impact on pressing social issues from chronic disease to unemployment, social isolation, poverty, inequality, and more. It is part of YMCA Canada, one of the longest standing and largest national charities, with a presence in Canada since 1851 and now serving more than 2.1 million people annually across 1,700 program locations.
Families attending Five Counties Children's Centre's 'Ready for School' event in Cobourg in August 2024 prepare to board a school bus to see what the ride entails. Offering supports for children who may face greater challenges due to physical, developmental, or communication needs, the events are returning in Peterborough, Cobourg, and Lindsay in spring 2025 to provide families with even more time to prepare. (Photo: Five Counties)
When children with disabilities or exceptionalities head to school this fall, Five Counties Children’s Centre is aiming to set them up for success well in advance.
The regional centre for children with physical, developmental, or communication needs, is offering — for the second year in a row — three “Ready for School 101” family information fairs for kids and their parents in Cobourg, Lindsay, and Peterborough.
Unlike last year’s Ready for School events, which took place in August, this year’s events are taking place in the spring to provide ample time and opportunities for families to prepare for the start of school.
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“That was part of the feedback we heard from last year, so Five Counties is pleased to make adjustment and improvements to make the 2025 Ready for School events even more of a success,” Five Counties spokesperson Bill Eekhof told kawarthaNOW.
The Ready for School events evolved out of conversations that Five Counties had with its staff, families, and partners, he said.
“We know that starting school is a milestone moment for young children and their parents, but getting ready for school can be a greater challenge for children who may have physical, developmental, or communication needs,” Eekhof explained.
“There are many excellent Road to Kindergarten events and preparation for school resources, but there was a sense that there might be a need to tailor an event specifically for families who have children with disabilities or exceptionalities.”
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With that in mind and based on the success and positive responses from participants who attended the first Ready for School events in 2024, “it seemed like a natural (decision) to bring it back again in 2025,” Eekhof added.
This year’s Ready for School events take place at Five Counties’ sites in Peterborough on Saturday, May 31, in Cobourg on Saturday, June 7, and in Lindsay on Saturday, June 14.
Their aim is to help children with disabilities or exceptionalities from junior kindergarten to Grade 3 be less anxious about returning to class or adjust to starting school for the first time. The Ready for School events are also opportunities for families to understand what resources and supports are available for their child and how they can better advocate for them.
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“We want to help reduce that stress for kids and parents by inviting families to attend our Ready for School events,” said Hayley Hodges, client and family engagement lead at Five Counties, in a media release.
Attendees will be able to hear from other parents whose kids with disabilities or exceptionalities have successfully made the transition to school, ask questions of Five Counties clinicians and other professionals who support students, meet local school board representatives and learn about school-based resources available to assist new students, access resources including the 6Fs of child development that can help introduce a child with unique needs to their new school setting, board a school bus to see what the ride entails, and enjoy snacks, lunch and welcome packages, including tools, toys, and tips.
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To ensure kids at the events are kept busy when their parents or caregivers are learning, Five Counties will be offering “All-Day Play” activities that will be led by registered early childhood educators.
“While adults take part in the informative part of the Ready for School event, children can explore and enjoy a variety of age-appropriate activities at five interactive, supervised play stations,” Hodges noted.
She wants families attending the events to feel more confident and positive about their children starting class.
“Going to school for the first time should not cause fear and anxiety — it’s a milestone achievement that opens new doors for a child to learn and grow,” Hodges said.
“That’s why we want parents and caregivers attending this event to gain knowledge, understanding and confidence to know there are supports available to make the transition to school easier for everyone.”
Celebrating Queen Victoria's birthday on Monday, May 24, 1819, Victoria Day is a Canadian holiday always observed on the Monday preceding May 25. Informally considered the start of the summer season in Canada, the Victoria Day long weekend is when many people open their cottages, put their boats in the water, or go camping. (Stock photo)
As Victoria Day on Monday (May 19) is both a federal and a provincial statutory holiday, all government offices and services are closed. All liquor stores and all beer stores are closed, except for two beer stores in Peterborough and one in Lindsay. Many grocery stores and big box stores are open, except in Peterborough where most are closed. Most drug stores and pharmacies are open.
For your convenience, we provide this list of holiday hours for 293 selected businesses, services, and organizations across the Kawarthas. This information comes from their websites and social media accounts, which may or may not be up to date, so please always call them first to confirm their hours (we’ve included phone numbers), especially where you see “call” or “call to confirm” (which means we couldn’t find or confirm holiday hours) or if you are travelling any distance.
If your business or organization is listed and the hours are incorrect, please let us know by using our content feedback form. We do not have the hours for restaurants in this list as there are far too many to include.
Bewdley Community Recycling Centre 7650 County Rd. 9, Hamilton 905-342-2514
CLOSED
Brighton Community Recycling Centre 1112 County Rd. 26, Brighton 613-475-1946
CLOSED
Canada Post Mail Delivery / Offices (Note: post offices operated by the private sector will be open according to the hours of service of the host business
No collection or delivery
City of Kawartha Lakes City Hall, Municipal Service Centres, and Administration Offices 26 Francis St., Lindsay 705-324-9411
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Parks, Recreation and Culture facilities, arenas, and pools Various locations, City of Kawartha Lakes 705-324-9411
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Public Library Branches Various locations, City of Kawartha Lakes 705-324-9411 x1291
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Waste and Recycling Collection 26 Francis St., Lindsay 1-888-822-2225
Mon May 19 collection moves to Tue May 20, May 20 to 21, May 21 to May 22, May 22 to May 23
City of Peterborough Day Cares Peterborough 705-748-8830
CLOSED
City of Peterborough Garbage Pickup Peterborough 705-745-1386
Not applicable
City of Peterborough Green Bin Pickup Peterborough 705-745-1386
Not applicable
City of Peterborough Recycling Pickup Peterborough 1-888-597-1541
Not applicable
City of Peterborough Social Services (for emergency shelter services call 705-926-0096) Closed, Peterborough 705-748-8830
CLOSED
City of Peterborough Yard Waste Pickup Peterborough 705-742-7777
Not applicable
Cobourg Public Library 200 Ontario St., Cobourg 905-372-9271
Toronto-based filmmaker Rebeccah Love consults with cinematographer Eric Rowe on a scene from her debut feature-length "Fortescue", which was shot at her family cottage on Fortescue Lake just east of Kinmount in the Haliburton Highlands. Love will be attending all four screenings of the film at Highlands Cinemas in Kinmount over the Victoria Day long weekend. (Photo: Eli Meadow Ramraj)
In the Canadian indie film Fortescue, on the quiet shore of a lake in cottage country, a performance collective celebrates the acclaim their fearless writer/director has received for her contemporary revision of Rapunzel.
The production is a vulnerable effort from its playwright, Lea (Kelsey Falconer), that incorporates themes of loneliness and mental health that mirror her own experience. She’s proud of herself and her cast (Chelsea Preston, Tyson Coady) and anticipates performing an excerpt for locals including a vacationing representative from Stratford (Jacqueline Greer Graham).
Having toured with Fortescue last year and continuing with screenings at schools and rep theatres, Toronto-based filmmaker Rebeccah Love’s next stop for her debut feature-length film is Kinmount’s Highlands Cinema, a cherished “DIY multiplex” that is now world-renowned thanks to Matt Finlin’s hit documentary The Movie Man about owner Keith Stata, where the film is screening over the Victoria Day long weekend.
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Love shot the film at her family cottage on Fortescue Lake, just east of Kinmount in the Haliburton Highlands.
This proposes an interesting, and possibly deliberate, self-referential angle for Fortescue: a film about independent artists putting on a performance in the woods for the community is being screened, courtesy of its independent artists, at a movie theatre that’s, essentially, in the woods.
This is, however, myself putting too much thought into the origin of the film. The choice of venue boils down to Love’s personal admiration for Kinmount’s hidden gem.
“The Highlands Cinemas carries a very special place in my heart,” says Love. “I grew up coming to this movie theatre as a kid. This is where I learned about cinema. There is something very special and magical about going into the middle of the woods to either make or consume art.”
VIDEO: “Fortescue” trailer
That creative parallel is evident in Fortescue, as the film’s cottage serves as a creative hub, allowing Lea and actors Gabby and Kevin to re-centre themselves. Tensions arise, at first, when the friendly dynamic between Lea and Gabby is altered by Kevin’s arrival. The trailer suggests a story about a potential love triangle, but it’s quickly established how Kevin’s sanctimonious comments can rattle Gabby’s nerves.
Fortescue is a drama that relies heavily on character work and, thankfully, the cast are up to the challenge.
“A lot of the dynamics at play in this story are not really based on any real-life relationships, but are loosely inspired by my experience as a millennial woman living with chronic illness,” explains Love, who lives with three chronic health conditions including bipolar I disorder.
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“My cast was made up of some pretty extraordinary actors who carried within them a wealth of experience both on the stage and on camera,” Love says. “I like to give actors a ton of freedom to make their own choices. Many of the creative decisions that made Fortescue so special came directly from the actors and their unique visions of the characters they portray. I felt very fortunate to be able to collaborate with them and learn from them.”
Does a process this intimate invite elements of improvisation?
“All of our actors engaged with some level of improvisation to bring their characters to life,” Love says. “The montage scenes are built entirely off of improvisations, but there were many other moments where our actors made specific choices about their character. These choices led to a specific kind of magic that I had not anticipated.”
Rebeccah Love’s debut feature-length “Fortescue” follows two friends, playwright Lea (Kelsey Falconer) and her actress friend Gabby (Chelsea Preston, pictured) who retreat to a lakeside cottage to stage a reimagined version of Rapunzel. Their idyllic summer is disrupted by the arrival of Lea’s boyfriend Kevin (Tyson Coady), leading to tensions and, when Lea runs out of her medication, her descent into psychosis. (Photo: Eric Rowe)
Because of the cast’s confidence and Love’s trustworthy direction, Fortescue sticks its landing as a genuinely mature drama.
The stakes are raised when Lea’s medication runs sparse and the visionary gradually loses her grip, prompting those around her to act on their instincts regarding how to treat and support someone going through a personal mental health crisis.
The movie is immaculately measured as Lea’s condition worsens and the atmosphere grows more shallow in the cottage. The rising action almost resembles that of a bottled thriller or an “elevated horror,” except Love isn’t trying to disguise issues or feelings with allegories or metaphors. Instead, the filmmaker would rather look at Lea’s situation head-on.
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“It is very challenging to discuss mental health in any medium without turning to harmful archetypes or sappy storylines,” Love explains. “We were seeking to portray a believable if slightly stylized depiction of psychosis, in hopes of reminding our audiences that every day, people across the country struggle with emotional dysregulation, delusions, mania, psychosis, suicidal depression, (and) paranoias.”
“Those who are struggling in their illnesses are still lovable, but also those who partake in caregiving never have the truth of their reality depicted on screen. It is challenging to strike a perfect balance in a dramatic narrative, where you are touching your audience but not in any kind of public service announcement tone.”
“With each passing day we are getting closer to normalizing these conversations,” she adds. “Narrative features have an important role to play in shifting public conversations around the great traumas of being alive.”
The crew for Toronto-based filmmaker Rebeccah Love’s debut feature-length “Fortescue” shoots a swimming scene with actors Kelsey Falconer and Chelsea Preston in Fortescue Lake in the Haliburton Highlands. (Photo: Eli Meadow Ramraj)
Fortescue is an excellent achievement as an independent film choosing to climb mountains. Love’s presentation of what happens to Lea as she descends into psychosis is effective and truly pulls at our heartstrings, and the audience is still able to relate to the worried attitudes of Lea’s support circle. As attempts are made to earn a connection to their desperate friend, they start to feel a different type of helplessness that will weigh on their will.
Finding compassion at camp, Fortescue is an essential work about what it means to be human.
The film screens at Highlands Cinemas at County Road 121 in Kinmount at 7:15 p.m. from Friday, May 16 to Monday, May 19, with writer/director Rebeccah Love in attendance for all four screenings.
Cash-only admission is $13 for adults and $11 for seniors and children, with a $9 admission price on Monday nights.
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