Peterborough police have released further details about the arrest of a 34-year-old Peterborough man on Wednesday (September 17) after a large-scale search the previous day that involved the emergency response team, canine unit, and an OPP helicopter.
While some comments on social media had criticized the number of resources being used to capture a man who police had described as being accused of non-violent crimes, the additional details released by police describe the man’s history of criminal activity and the incident that led police to conduct the large-scale search.
At around 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, officers with the Peterborough police and the provincial Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (ROPE) squad were working to apprehend the man, who was wanted on a warrant for what police call “substantial” property-related crimes.
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When officers attempted to stop the suspect’s vehicle in the Simcoe Street and Aylmer Street area, it struck a police vehicle and fled from police. The man then drove to the area of Little Lake Cemetery before discarding most of his clothes and swimming across Little Lake. Once across the lake, he headed north along Ashburnham Drive toward Old Norwood Road.
Police then launched a large-scale search in the area of Old Norwood Road, Television Road, Maniece Avenue, and Ashburnham Drive, but were unable to locate the man.
At around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, police received a call about a suspicious man wrapped in a blanket in the area of Parkhill Road and Television Road. When officers arrived, they learned he had left in a vehicle.
Shortly after, the suspect was located on a property where he had been staying in Peterborough County. Police dog Gryphon found the man under a bed in a trailer and officers took him into custody.
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The accused man was originally arrested and charged on July 23 when police conducted a search warrant at a property east of Peterborough after an eight-month investigation. Police seized a range of equipment stolen over the previous three years as well as weapons and drugs. The total value of the stolen property was around $255,000.
At the time of his arrest in July, the man was already wanted on a warrant in another jurisdiction and was bound by a weapons prohibition order, several driving prohibitions, as well as a recognizance order to keep the peace and be of good behaviour and to not possess any weapons.
In addition to the original charges laid in July, the man has now also been charged with assaulting a peace officer with a weapon (striking a police vehicle with an officer inside), operation of a motor vehicle while prohibited, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from peace officer, failure to comply with a release order, breach of recognizance, and disobeying a court order.
The accused man appeared in court on Wednesday and remains in police custody. He will appear in court again on Friday (September 19).
The Town of Cobourg is inviting volunteers to hit the beach in September and participate in the inaugural Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup.
Cobourg is one of six communities in Ontario that will participate in the event organized by the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative and funded by the Ontario government.
The Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup takes place on Sunday, September 28, which is World Rivers Day — an annual global event founded by Canadian conservationist Mark Angelo celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September to recognize the importance of rivers, raise public awareness about their values, and encourage stewardship and conservation.
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“As co-chair of the Mayor’s Commission on Economic Transformation for the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence Cities Initiative, I am incredibly proud that the Town of Cobourg has been selected as a partner in the first-ever Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup,” said Town of Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland in a statement. “It is imperative that we all do our part to protect the Great Lakes and raise awareness about this irreplaceable natural resource.”
The Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup aims to help combat the large amount of waste that annually pollutes shorelines and waters. Pollution in the Great Lakes has a negative effect on natural ecosystems, wildlife, and clean water that is needed across Canada, a media release noted.
The Cobourg Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 28. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Cobourg marina building, located at 103 Third St., at 11 a.m. to sign-in, collect supplies, and have a coffee before embarking on the cleanup.
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The cleanup efforts will focus on Victoria Beach, Lucas Point Park, and the Waterfront Nature Park (west rocky beach). The Town of Cobourg will provide all the supplies needed for registered volunteers to pick up debris.
Volunteers can register for the cleanup online at www.cobourg.ca/coastalcleanup or by calling the mayor’s office at 905-372-4301 ext. 4305.
With funding from the Ontario government, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative will bring together volunteers in six Ontario communities to collect and catalogue litter at beaches, parks, and other shoreline areas of Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario, along with the St. Lawrence River.
In addition to Cobourg, The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is partnering with Thunder Bay, Chatham-Kent, Owen Sound, Collingwood, and Kingston to unite people from across the province who are passionate about keeping the lakes clean.
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The Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup website notes that every piece of litter removed helps restore vital habitats, protects wildlife, and ensures safe, swimmable, and drinkable water for over 40 million Canadians and Americans.
Over 10 million kilograms of plastic enter the Great Lakes each year, most of which is single-use plastic such as bottles, wrappers, and cigarette butts (one-third of the plastic in the Great Lakes is cigarette butts). The plastic eventually breaks down into microplastics, which can impact the health of both wildlife and humans. Fish, birds, and turtles can also ingest or get tangled in litter.
The data collected from the Great Lakes Coastal Cleanup will be entered into the TIDES (Trash Information and Data for Education and Solutions) public data system at www.coastalcleanupdata.org, managed by the Ocean Conservancy, and will also be shared with the Ontario government.
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According to the Ocean Conservancy, more than 19 million people at almost 230,000 locations around the world have collected over 395 million pounds of trash as part of the International Coastal Cleanup Initiative.
As for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, the binational coalition of more than 325 municipal and regional Canadian and American mayors and local officials is working to advance the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin.
Restoration Wednesday volunteers Stephanie Larstone (left) and Sophia Ibrahim (right) remove invasive common buckthorn and other undesirable plants with GreenUP landscape steward Andréanna Sullivan at Ecology Park. The crew cleared the area ahead of a restoration planting. (Photo: Yvonne Hollandy / GreenUP)
Imagine spending time outdoors, meeting new people, and helping to restore the health of local ecosystems … all before lunch. That’s what Restoration Wednesdays at GreenUP Ecology Park are all about.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Andréanna Sullivan, Landscape Steward, GreenUP Ecology Park.
Restoration Wednesdays are regular volunteer opportunities at GreenUP Ecology Park in Peterborough. Community members have met weekly since June to learn about a variety of ecological restoration topics, including invasive species management, native plant care, shoreline stabilization, and erosion control.
Due to popular demand, these weekly events will continue into the fall.
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In just a few short months, GreenUP volunteers have made significant contributions to the park’s ecological health.
Several events were spent learning about and removing invasive plant species, such as common buckthorn, garlic mustard, honeysuckle, and dog strangling vine. Park staff and volunteers removed invasive species from more than 1,300 square metres of parkland — roughly the size of three NBA basketball courts.
While invasive species removal is an important first step in enhancing urban green space, meaningful restoration lies in what is offered back. This season, volunteers planted nearly 100 native specimens — including brown fox sedge, rosy sedge, tall thimbleweed, woodland sunflower, bottlebrush grass, jack-in-the-pulpit, and red and white trilliums, among others — in areas previously occupied by invasive species.
Bottlebrush grass (Elymus hystrix) is one of the native species that Restoration Wednesday volunteers have begun to replant around GreenUP Ecology Park. This shade-tolerant native grass is a great addition to restoration plantings and is a larval host plant for another native species, the northern pearly eye butterfly. (Photo: Hayley Goodchild / GreenUP)
It is easy to feel overwhelmed in the face of climate change and systems that often feel too big to challenge, but local restoration work serves as a reminder that positive change is tangible.
Engaging in this work shifts the focus to what it is possible to influence: building relationships with the land, with one another, and creating pockets of resilience in a world that increasingly needs them. These actions may seem small, but they ripple outward.
Stephanie Larstone is one of GreenUP’s regular volunteers and lead gardener at Meyer’s Landscaping, a local landscaping company. Larstone shares how key learnings from Restoration Wednesdays have impacted her landscaping practice:
“My team has used what we learned during our volunteer work to immediately identify and remove baby buckthorn from a client’s garden, and the more we know about other invasive species, the better,” she says.
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“I love working with the earth almost more than anything else, and the opportunity to do something to physically help right what’s gone wrong aligns with my values in a way that gives me a deeper sense of purpose,” Larstone adds.
For decades, volunteers have been at the heart of GreenUP’s mission to inspire and empower environmentally healthy and sustainable action in the community.
Their energy and skills have supported everything from planting and maintaining community orchards to surveying for active transportation throughout the city and educating the next generation of environmental activists. Today, volunteers continue to step up with knowledge, in community, and with care.
GreenUP staff and volunteers enjoyed an educational field trip to Alderville Black Oak Savanna in August, where they learned about rare oak savanna ecosystems and their restoration. (Photo: Hayley Goodchild / GreenUP)
GreenUP remains committed to co-creating programs that amplify volunteer contributions and build a stronger, more engaged community rooted in care for the land.
GreenUP’s newest staff member, Christina Balint, is helping guide this work as volunteer program coordinator. Balint is building on the success of GreenUP’s existing volunteer initiatives in community spaces across the city and county.
As part of GreenUP’s commitment to inclusivity, she will coordinate volunteer orientation and training sessions, support volunteer events, and work to ensure that volunteers feel supported and valued.
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Restoration Wednesdays offer an opportunity to connect with like-minded volunteers, GreenUP staff, and local ecosystems in an educational and community-focused setting.
Volunteers enjoy many benefits, from the personal fulfillment of learning and contributing to a 10 per cent discount at the GreenUP Native Plant and Tree Nursery, as well as special appreciation activities and educational events.
Most recently, a group of regular volunteers joined GreenUP staff on a professional development field trip to Alderville Black Oak Savanna, an Indigenous-led ecological restoration site on the shores of Rice Lake.
Whether an experienced ecologist or a total beginner, there is a place for everyone at GreenUP. Visit GreenUP’s event calendar at greenup.on.ca/events/ to find your next volunteer opportunity or email volunteer coordinator Christina Balint at christina.balint@greenup.on.ca.
A rendering of Ashburnham Realty's proposed 17-storey apartment building to be located on Crescent Street in Peterborough, from EcoVue Consulting's notice of an open house about the proposed development to be held on September 23, 2025. The rendering includes what the notice describes as "the potential new location of the Art Gallery of Peterborough." (Graphic via EcoVue Consulting)
Less than two weeks after Peterborough city council approved a zoning by-law amendment to allow TVM Group to build a 17-storey high-rise on Hunter Street in East City, Ashburnham Realty is now proposing a 17-storey high-rise on Crescent Street behind the Art Gallery of Peterborough.
Both proposed buildings, which would be the tallest so far in Peterborough, follow changes to the city’s official plan made in 2023 and in 2024 by the Ontario government that removed the maximum height limitation for buildings in the downtown core area designation, and in advance of a proposed city-wide Community Planning Permit System that would replace the existing zoning by-law and could obligate developers to include affordable housing.
Although an application by Ashburnham Realty for an official plan amendment and a zoning by-law amendment for a 15-storey building is currently posted on the City of Peterborough’s website, a notice of a September 23rd public open house from EcoVue Consulting — the same consultant hired by TVM Group — states that Ashburnham Realty is now proposing a 17-storey building for the location.
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Ashburnham Realty originally announced in 2018 that it was planning a 12-storey development of luxury condos and rental apartments at the location, after purchasing a number of properties along Crescent Street and Lake Street.
In April 2025, that plan changed to the one posted on the city’s website, which proposes a 15-storey apartment building with 218 units and 231 parking spaces in a parking structure.
Nine existing properties located along Crescent Street, Lake Street, and George Street would be included in the development: 195, 199, 203, 215, and 223 Crescent Street, 131 and 137 Lake Street, and 362 George Street South.
Renderings of the original 2018 plan for a 12-storey luxury condo and rental apartment development on Crescent Street in Peterborough and the 2025 plan for a 15-storey apartment building at the location. (Graphics via Ashburnham Realty and Unity Design Studio)
In the notice for the open house, EcoVue Consulting states that Ashburnham Realty is now proposing a 17-storey mixed-use building with 231 rental apartment units and commercial space on a portion of the ground floor.
The notice also states that a portion of the second and third floor could be used “as the potential new location of the Art Gallery of Peterborough.”
The Art Gallery of Peterborough, located at 250 Crescent Street, is also the location for the drop-in open house, which takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday (September 23).
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The location of the proposed Crescent Street high-rise apartment building. (Graphic via EcoVue Consulting)
“The developer’s consulting team will be on hand to answer questions,” the notice states.
“There will be no formal presentation, and attendees may come and go as they please. Any member of the public may attend.”
The notice also indicates applications under the Planning Act for the proposed development as well as necessary technical reports have been submitted to the City of Peterborough, and that a statutory public meeting under the Planning Act at general committee will be held at a later date.
An OPP helicopter joined a large-scale Peterborough police search that began September 15, 2025 for a 34-year-old man wanted in connection with non-violent crimes. (Photo: Peterborough Police Service)
Peterborough police have arrested a 34-year-old man who was the subject of a large-scale search that began Tuesday afternoon (September 16) and involved the emergency response team, canine unit, and an OPP helicopter.
The OPP helicopter was seen and heard flying in circles over East City for several hours Tuesday afternoon, prompting questions and concerns on social media from area residents.
Police issued a media release late Tuesday afternoon indicating they were searching for the man in the area of Maniece Avenue and Ashburnham Drive. The man was described as white, 6’2″, with brown short hair, brown eyes, and a heavier build, and last seen wearing only socks and dark-coloured boxer shorts.
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According to a media release issued late Wednesday morning, police say they located and arrested the man at around 11:10 a.m. on Wednesday.
Police noted the man was wanted in connection with non-violent crimes, prompting additional questions on social media as to the reason for the investment of so many police resources to locate him.
Municipality of Port Hope councillor Claire Holloway Wadhwani has been appointed to the Green Municipal Fund Council as Ontario's municipal representative. (Photo: Municipality of Port Hope)
A Municipality of Port Hope councillor hopes to advance environmental efforts in tangible ways and make new connections through her participation on the national Green Municipal Fund Council.
Councillor Claire Holloway Wadhwani has been appointed to the council as Ontario’s municipal representative.
The Green Municipal Fund is a program of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), an advocacy group representing over 2,000 Canadian municipalities. The fund invests in innovative and effective environmental initiatives across the country including sustainable municipal buildings, community energy systems, municipal fleet electrification, organic waste-to-energy, net-zero transformation, and community buildings retrofit.
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“I’m looking forward to getting to work with and learn from colleagues from municipalities across the country, along with those representing federal departments and industry,” Holloway Wadhwani told kawarthaNOW.
“While I will not be able to vote on any applications coming from my home community, I believe this will be an incredible opportunity to broaden my knowledge about what other communities like ours are doing to address climate change and advance sustainability — whether through sustainable housing, retrofitting community buildings, investing in active transportation infrastructure, or embracing nature-based solutions in public spaces.”
The councillor stated in a media release she’s “proud to bring the perspective of smaller communities like ours to the table. I look forward to sharing what I learn through this role to advancing our goals here in Port Hope and to supporting projects that strengthen resilience, equity, and quality of life for all Canadians.”
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Members of the Green Municipal Fund Council represent a broad spectrum of expertise, with one-third being Government of Canada representatives, one-third being elected municipal officials appointed by FCM’s board of directors, and one-third being external members representing the public, private, academic, and environmental sectors.
Members help shape policies and programs that advance climate resilience and sustainability in communities of all sizes, according to the release.
Holloway Wadhwani said she took part in “a rigorous application, interview, and reference check process, which included a reference from (Municipality of Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky) about my work here in Port Hope. I was notified towards the end of August that I was selected.”
Her appointment was in response to a call for municipal councillors with a background in sustainability and climate action. The Green Municipal Fund was specifically looking for a representative from Ontario.
“This is a proud moment for our community,” Hankivsky said in the release.
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Holloway Wadhwani’s appointment to the Green Municipal Fund Council “highlights the leadership and innovation happening in Port Hope and ensures our community’s voice is represented on a national stage. The insights gained through this role will directly support our local sustainability goals and reinforce our commitment to building a resilient and thriving future,” Hankivsky said.
Holloway Wadhwani is serving her first term on Port Hope council. She chairs the municipality’s environmental advisory committee, through which she championed the development of Port Hope’s first Community Climate Action Plan and is working with staff and residents to lead its implementation.
She also serves as the board chair of Community Power Northumberland, a renewable energy co-op advancing community-owned sustainability projects and public engagement, the release noted. With more than 15 years of experience as a consultant to non-governmental organizations and international organizations, she supports initiatives “grounded in equity, environmental sustainability, and community-led development.”
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The councillor is heading to Ottawa this week for her first in-person council meeting.
“It’s an exciting time at the Green Municipal Fund as they have just announced a significant investment in municipal housing projects using green technologies and working towards net zero builds and are expanding their focus on community engagement, adaptation, and resilience as core strategies to complement infrastructure initiatives,” Holloway Wadhwani said.
“I look forward to bringing home inspiration, connections, and tangible ideas that we can use to strengthen our resilience as a community and incorporate sustainability thinking throughout our municipal operations.”
Located in the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen in Peterborough County, Kawartha Ethanol is a leading producer of fuel-grade ethanol and premium alcohol products that it distributes to companies across Canada. As Canadian businesses look for local suppliers to avoid tariffs, the company's dedication to producing in and distributing within Canada has led to an increase in its fuel-grade ethanol sales. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Ethanol)
With the shifting trade economy driving Canadians to support local, businesses that manufacture and sell within the country are being rewarded. That has been proven locally with the success of Kawartha Ethanol, a company that has made major waves in The Kawarthas.
Under its parent company Drain Bros, owned by Darryl Drain, Kawartha Ethanol is a leading producer of fuel-grade ethanol and high-quality alcohol products located in the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, one of eight townships in Peterborough County. The parent company, which is the leading provider of aggregates, asphalt, and professional site construction services in the Kawarthas, was founded in 1971 and employs a team of more than 400 employees across several associated companies.
Kawartha Ethanol began construction of its plant just east of Havelock in 2007 and began producing environmentally friendly fuel-grade ethanol by 2010. The ethanol is sold and distributed through major oil and fuel companies in Ontario and Quebec, including many local businesses.
In 2020, Kawartha Ethanol expanded the plant and, in 2022, began producing high-quality alcohol and grain natural spirit (GNS), which is now marketed under the Kawartha Premium Alcohols brand. This high-quality alcohol is shipped around the world, though the majority of sales are within Canada.
To optimize efficiency and ensure consistency in the product, Kawartha Ethanol controls all aspects of the production process. Corn is grown both directly through Kawartha Ethanol and acquired through an affiliated company, St. Lawrence Grains & Farm Supply Ltd. in Stouffville, which is a fully licensed grain elevator and dealer that sources corn from several local farms.
Kawartha Ethanol is a fuel-grade ethanol and premium alcohol producer under its parent company Drain Bros, which own a number of companies and employs more than 400 people. There are currently 46 people employed at Kawartha Ethanol alone, who all reside within an hour of the plant located just east of Havelock. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Ethanol)
For many years, Kawartha Ethanol has also worked closely with Siemens Canada in Peterborough to leverage their cutting-edge automation, instrumentation, and digitalization technologies. The company works with several other local contractors and vendors for maintenance, supplies, spare parts, and third-party testing.
Kawartha Ethanol also works alongside local farmers by selling all co-products of the distillation process, especially the wet and dry distiller grains that stay in The Kawarthas to provide a high source of protein to livestock.
With so many aspects to the business, Kawartha Ethanol provides employment to many local residents in The Kawarthas. Currently there are 46 employees within the company who each reside within an hour of the plant.
By partnering with local suppliers and customers, Kawartha Ethanol is in the unique position of benefiting from trade tariffs. As Canadian companies look locally to avoid import duties, Kawartha Ethanol has gained more customers across the country who are seeking to acquire locally produced ethanol. This gain proves the success that can be achieved when businesses grow in partnership with their local community.
The Local Advantage in Peterborough County is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in Peterborough County, created in partnership with Peterborough County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.
As part of its response to the impact of U.S. tariffs, Peterborough County is showcasing the many unique businesses located in the county, both by sharing their stories of success and how they support both residents and other businesses in their communities.
Whether by shopping at local businesses, dining at local restaurants, staying at local accommodation, or enjoying local experiences, residents and visitors can enhance the economic resilience of Peterborough County during these challenging times and help establish a sustainable foundation for the future.
For more information about economic development and tourism in Peterborough County, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev and The Kawarthas Tourism at thekawarthas.ca.
Drag performer Sahira the Djinn, Public Energy managing director Eva Fisher, and Public Energy programming director Kate Alton at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough on September 16, 2025 during an announcement of the contemporary performance arts presenter's 2025-26 season. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
As Public Energy Performing Arts in Peterborough readies to open its 32nd season on September 25, it’s difficult not to be excited for programming director Kate Alton.
Named to that position in the wake of Bill Kimball’s retirement last season — he had led Public Energy since founding the contemporary performance arts presenter in 1994 as Peterborough New Dance — Alton is embarking on her first full season in that role.
Alton, an award-winning dancer, choreographer, and multi-disciplinary theatre creator, is well past the big-shoes-to-fill phase. She is now fully in charge of programming and, based on what the 2025-26 season holds, is well on her way to making her own mark.
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Alton, joined by Public Energy managing director Eva Fisher, revealed details of Public Energy’s upcoming season on Tuesday (September 16) at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. The launch also featured a performance by drag performer Sahira The Djinn.
From September to April, Public Energy is presenting six main stage performance works, four at the Market Hall, one at the Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space at Trent University, and one at the Art Gallery of Peterborough in downtown Peterborough. The titles and descriptions for all six shows are listed at the end of this story.
Ticket prices for each show are flexible to accommodate all income levels, with pay-what-you-can and sliding scale pricing starting as low as $10. Visit publicenergy.ca to order tickets.
A promotional photo for “Finding Home: A Salmon Journey Upstream”. (Photo: Kathryn Hanson)
In addition to the six main stage shows, Public Energy is presenting children’s programming on Friday, May 8 at Queen Mary Public School in Peterborough in the form of Finding Home: A Salmon Journey Upstream, courtesy of Theatre Direct and the Animacy Theatre Collective. Created and performed by Alexandra Simpson and Morgan Brie Johnson, the Dora award-winning play features puppetry, clown, and live music as it explores friendship, growing up, and the annual salmon run.
And a new initiative called Rough Cuts will be presented at The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 24 and again in March on a date to be determined. It will see local artists present excerpts of in-progress works of any genre — from readings to dance to circus to songs — in a “low-tech, low stakes environment.” The program will also include a slot for one out-of-town artist to foster creative exchange.
Asked by kawarthaNOW about the process that leads to the putting together a season of performances, Alton said “A puzzle is a good analogy.”
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“I think of puzzles when I create a new dance piece as well, or a new theatre piece or anything I do,” Alton explained. “How do all the elements that I have work together to create a whole that is cohesive and easy to interpret?”
“There are so many factors. We’re trying to space out our shows in a way that makes sense for our capacity to market appropriately, given our limited number of employees — which is Eva and me. Then there’s the shows you want, versus the shows that are available to tour in the time frame that fits into your specific schedule, and marketing and capacity needs.”
“Then there’s our budget. While we would love to present shows on as grand a scale as Murmuration (last season’s closing performance at the Memorial Centre) every year, we have to plan around our funding limitations. And then there are the needs of the artists and the shows in terms of our technical capacity.”
Kate Alton, programming director of Public Energy Performing Arts in Peterborough, speaks about the 2025-26 season lineup for the contemporary performance arts presenter at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough on September 16, 2025, with a poster of Public Energy’s 2025-26 sponsors in the background. An award-winning dancer, choreographer, and multi-disciplinary theatre creator, Alton assumed responsibility for programming for Public Energy following founder Bill Kimball’s retirement last season. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
Not lost on Alton are two things: that she’s fortunate to be where she is after moving to Peterborough three years ago to be closer to family, and that Peterborough’s cultural landscape is blessed to have Public Energy.
“I hoped I would be able to play a meaningful role in the local arts community, which I saw as really dynamic, engaging and interesting,” said Alton, adding that her position at Public Energy is “so perfect for me.”
“I didn’t know — at this stage of my life and with my history with Public Energy and as an artist in Canada — that all of my needs and desires at this stage of my career could be met by a position that existed right here in Peterborough.”
“Bill was remarkable in being able to do this here. Not every small city can create and sustain an organization like this … the number of artists that have come through here, the people whose careers started here — including my independent career that began here because Bill was the first presenter to present my work outside of Toronto. I receive a lot of submissions from artists, those at the beginning of their careers and those tremendously well established, wanting to perform here.”
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A member of Toronto Dance Theatre from 1989 to 1995, Alton toured nationally and internationally before founding Overall Dance in 1998 to showcase her choreography as well as to commission work by leading creators.
Tributes that have come her way include four Dora Mavor Moore Awards for The Four Horsemen Project she co-created with Ross Manson. In 2001, Peterborough New Dance presented an early version of that piece before it went on tour.
In her new role at Public Energy, Alton says connections made will serve her well and, by extension, Public Energy.
“In terms of artists approaching me, even if it’s an artist I don’t know, if I know the person they’re working with, or I know the institution they trained at, or I know other people that they performed with, I can have a great idea of what the quality of the work might be. There are so many connections on so many levels that I’m able to bring to this position.”
Eva Fisher, managing director of Public Energy Performing Arts in Peterborough, describes one of the upcoming performances in the 2025-26 season lineup for the contemporary performance arts presenter at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough on September 16, 2025. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
A new season, meanwhile, isn’t possible without sponsors.
To that end, V Formation, Jo Pillon (Royal LePage Frank Realty), Hi Ho Silver, Vandermeulen Plumbing, WE Design Group, and the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough have stepped up, with kawarthaNOW returning as a long-time media sponsor.
Add to that government operating grants. Still, like many cultural event providers, Public Energy is never assured of the next operating dollar.
That, says Fisher, requires flexibility and a willingness to adapt to changing audience needs and wants.
“I think to be sustainable you have to embrace change and embrace the new,” Fisher points out. “That’s something Public Energy has done through the years.”
“We began as Peterborough New Dance, which was exclusively a dance presenter, and moved into a broader performing arts space. Continually learning, continually looking for new things, and embracing new things in our work should, we hope, keep us resilient.”
“I think something that makes us strong is people love their performing arts … there’s a need for that. I think that need will continue in Peterborough.”
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Public Energy’s 2025-26 Season
YEBO – Pulga Muchochoma
Thursday, September 25 at 7:30 p.m. (Market Hall Performing Arts Centre)
Mozambican-Canadian dancer and /choreographer Pulga Muchochoma of Pulga Dance. (Photo: Allison Caroline Smith)
A compelling double bill by acclaimed Mozambican-Canadian dancer and choreographer Pulga Muchochoma of Pulga Dance. NGOMA, a solo show rooted in Pulga’s ancestral lineage, takes its name from the Chuabo word for drum and poses the question “Is the drum I danced to in my mother’s womb the same beat I follow in the world as a dancer?” INKOSI, meaning king in Zulu, is a stirring ensemble work for five performers inspired by the experiences of Nelson Mandela. It explores the brutal realities of Mandela’s time in prison, and honours his unwavering perseverance, resilience, and vision for a just South Africa. (Note: Muchochoma will also be teaching an all-levels Afro Fusion Dance Class at the New Canadians Centre from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, September 22.)
who will save the night sky? – Phillip Geller
Sunday, November 9 (Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space at Trent University)
Philip Geller performing in “who will save the night sky?” (Photo: Kate Dalton)
Curated by Indigenous Performance Initiatives and presented in partnership with Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space, who will save the night sky? blends bouffon, clown, storytelling, and spectacle. This interactive solo performance by Philip Geller reminds us of the importance of our relationship to the stars and sky world. Note: the time of the performance will be announced at a later date.
Bijuriya – Gabriel Dharmoo
Tuesday, November 18 at 7:30 p.m. (Market Hall Performing Arts Centre)
Gabriel Dharmoo performing in “Bijuriya”. (Photo: Jonathan Goulet)
Bijuriya is a jubilant exploration of Gabriel Dharmoo’s hybrid identity as both a composer/experimental vocalist and a charismatic drag artist. Constantly code switching between drag performance, original songs, and the porous space between singing and lip-syncing, this multi-faceted celebration of South Asian heritage and contemporary queer identity is set to an eclectic score.
Rinse – Amrita Hepi with Mish Grigor
Wednesday, January 28 at 7:30 p.m. (Market Hall Performing Arts Centre)
Amrita Hepi performing in “Rinse”. (Photo: Zan Wimberley)
Known for her fearless and inventive approach, Amrita Hepi explores the idea of beginnings with a mix of dance, storytelling, and satire. Created in collaboration with theatre-maker Mish Grigor and produced by Performing Lines, Rinse features a witty, irreverent monologue that reimagines an origin story through personal narrative. The performance touches on themes of art, feminism, desire, pop culture, and colonial history, all framed within a striking minimalist set of icy blue and white.
the village trilogy/Matryoshka Crush – Laura Taler
Friday, March 27 at 7 p.m. (Art Gallery of Peterborough)
A still from Laura Taler’s 1995 film “the village trilogy”. (Photo: Laura Taler)
Romanian-born Canadian Laura Taler made her first film the village trilogy in 1995. Heralded by Dance International Magazine as marking the beginning of the dance film boom in Canada, it alludes to the millions of people uprooted through emigration over the past century, capturing a time and place that is beyond our grasp, but not beyond our memory. Presented in partnership with the Art Gallery of Peterborough, Taler will screen the village trilogy alongside her most recent film Matryoshka Crush, in which poison, exorcism, gender trouble, song, and dance intermingle in a darkly funny and disturbing tale of intense yearning.
Donnie and Me and the CBC – Chris Earle
Thursday, April 16 and Friday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. (Market Hall Performing Arts Centre)
Chris Earle in a promotional photo for “Donnie and Me and the CBC”. (Photo: John Scully)
In Montreal in 1974, an 11-year-old’s fiercely unconventional mother, Donnie, ditched the family TV. From that moment on, the radio was always tuned to CBC. In his funny and touching new solo show directed by Shari Hollett, acclaimed writer-actor and Second City alum Chris Earle shares the story of his ferociously loving mom and the quintessentially Canadian soundtrack to their sometimes turbulent relationship. The result is a touching, hilarious show about love, listening, and growing up in the 1970s.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a long-time media sponsor of Public Energy Performing Arts.
Local businessman Lucas Cleveland was elected Mayor of Cobourg in October 2022. (Photo: Town of Cobourg)
The Town of Cobourg’s mayor is offering to share his chair with a young person — for a day anyway — as part of a contest this fall aimed at stimulating interest in local leadership and public service.
Mayor Lucas Cleveland is inviting Cobourg children and teens in grades 7 to 10 to apply for the “Mayor for the Day” contest, with applications being accepted now until Friday, October 17.
The contest is returning to the municipality as part of a “local government week” initiative, according to a media release, and is an opportunity for young people to submit an idea to council on how to make Cobourg a better place in which to live.
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“I am excited to bring back the Mayor for the Day contest and look forward to reviewing all the submissions,” Cleveland shared with kawarthaNOW.
“One of my reasons for running to be mayor was to engage different demographics of residents and this contest is a great opportunity to help youth learn how local government works and how they can make a difference in our community. It’s also a wonderful way to inspire future leaders and encourage an interest in public service.”
Students who live in the Town of Cobourg are encouraged to apply. Applicants can choose to submit written responses or provide a video.
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Cleveland himself will review all the entries and select the winner.
The winner of the contest will receive a tour of the municipal facilities, spend time with the mayor, and attend official meetings — including the chance to open a council meeting on Wednesday, October 29.
The winner will also be recognized with a temporary ceremonial street name placed on Second Street for a one-week period. In addition, the winner can also arrange for the mayor to visit their class and answer questions on municipal government. Lunch will be provided.
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Application forms are available online at www.cobourg.ca/MayorForTheDay or can be picked up at the customer service desk at Victoria Hall, which is located at 55 King St. W. For questions or to submit a video, email htodd@cobourg.ca.
“I look forward to welcoming the contest winner to Town Hall and visiting their classroom,” Cleveland said. “These conversations will bring fresh perspectives and inspire meaningful dialogue about the future of our community,” he added.
Cleveland is the 48th mayor of the Town of Cobourg. He moved to Cobourg from Alberta in 2016 and subsequently opened The Market & Smør, a “zero food waste” green grocer business at 39 King Street East. Cleveland was elected mayor in October 2022 with no previous political experience.
Ontario's Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden announced $6.3 million in funding to Curve Lake First Nation for a new multi-season outdoor arena on September 15, 2025. Also pictured left to right are Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation parliamentary assistant Will Bouma, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, Curve Lake First Nation chief Laurie Hockaday, and Curve Lake First Nation deputy chief Jeffrey Jacobs. (Photo: Office of Neil Lumsden / Facebook)
The Ontario government is providing $6.3 million to Curve Lake First Nation for the construction of a new multi-season outdoor arena.
Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden announced the funding at a media conference at Curve Lake First Nation on Monday morning (September 15), as part of a series of recent announcements of funding for projects under the province’s Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF).
Other attendees at the announcement included Curve Lake First Nation chief Laurie Hockaday, deputy chief Jeffrey Jacobs, council members, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, and Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma, who is the parliamentary assistant to Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation Greg Rickford.
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To be designed for year-round use, the new arena would feature a covered and refrigerated ice surface for activities like hockey and figure skating during winter and would be used for activities including lacrosse and ball hockey in the warmer months, and would include change rooms and accessible washrooms.
As a central community hub, the arena would also be used for community programs and events, after-school activities, skill-building workshops, seasonal markets, cultural gatherings, and youth leagues.
“Our government is proud to support the construction of the new arena in Curve Lake First Nation, which will create more opportunities for children, seniors. and families to stay active and connected within their community,” Lumsden said in a media release. “With new access to year-round programming, this investment will increase participation in sport and recreation, create local jobs, and build stronger community connections.”
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No details were provided in the media release about the total cost of the arena or when construction is expected to begin and be completed.
The $200-million CSRIF is an application-based program for municipalities, Indigenous communities, and non-profit organizations that are repairing and rehabilitating existing sport and recreation facilities and spaces or building new or transformative sport and recreation infrastructure.
Recently announced funding for other CSRIF projects include $10 million for the South Bowmanville Recreation Centre in the Municipality of Clarington, $3.2 million for a goalball court at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind’s Lake Joseph Centre in Muskoka and upgrades to the Métis Nation of Ontario’s Children and Youth Camp in Burk’s Falls, $10 million for a new 15-acre Family Recreation Area in Vaughan. $7.7 million for an aquatic centre in Uxbridge, and $11 million for the South End Community Centre and the Lyon Outdoor Pool Rehabilitation Project in Guelph.
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