Egyptian rescue dog Layaly was successfully trapped on July 27, 2019 after more than a week after escaping from her foster home near Cavan. Layaly was brought to Canada to receive additional medical treatment for her throat and lymph nodes, which were damaged by a string that had been tied around her neck so long it caused her neck to swell greatly. (Photo: Anette Targowski / Facebook)
Layaly, the Egyptian rescue dog, has been found more than a week after she escaped from the Cavan-area foster home where she had been staying.
She was trapped on Saturday night (July 27) by a team of volunteers.
Layaly, a lab-malinois mix, was brought to Canada from a shelter in Egypt where she had been rescued seven months ago.
Layaly in an Egypt animal rescue shelter where she had been recuperating from her physical and psychological health issues for seven months. She was brought to Canada on July 15, 2019 to receive additional medical treatment and escaped from her foster home near Cavan three days later. (Photo: Facebook)
In Egypt, Layaly was a stray dog who had had a string tied around her neck for so long it caused her neck to swell, creating serious damage to her throat and lymph nodes. It took Egyptian rescuers 10 nights to rescue her, so they named her Layaly (her name in Arabic is the plural form of “night”).
She was treated for her health issues while at the Egypt shelter and, while her wounds healed, she needed additional medical treatment unavailable in Egypt. She also had severe emotional and psychological issues as a result of the cruelty she suffered.
Through the efforts and donations of volunteer organizations including Omemee’s Furry Family Animal Rescue, founded by Anette Targowski, Layaly was brought to Canada on July 15th to receive medical treatment.
VIDEO: Layaly’s struggle to live
Layaly has been staying in a foster home near Cavan when she broke through a screen door on July 18th and disappeared. Despite the efforts of volunteers and several reported sightings, she remained on the loose until July 27th.
After being successfully trapped on July 27th, Layaly was taken to a vet.
Every Friday during swimming season, we post The Beach Report™, our weekly report of the results of water quality testing at beaches in the Kawarthas, and then update it throughout the week as conditions change.
As of July 31, 2019, the following beaches are posted as unsafe for swimming:
Squirrel Creek Conservation Area – Peterborough County
Bewdley Beach – Northumberland County
Harwood Beach – Northumberland County
Here are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County.
In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White’s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.
During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E. coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like the beach at Roger’s Cove in Peterborough’s East City, are tested every business day while most other beaches are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Important note
The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.
You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.
While we strive to update this story with the current conditions, you should confirm the most recent test results by visiting the local health unit websites at Peterborough Public Health and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. As noted above, the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead are tested every business day so the results listed below may not be current.
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Peterborough City/County
City of Peterborough Beaches (sampled each business day)
Roger’s Cove (131 Maria St, Peterborough) – sample date July 30 -SAFE
Beavermeade (2011 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough) – sample date July 30 – SAFE
Peterborough County Beaches (sampled weekly)
Back Dam Beach (902 Rock Rd., Warsaw, Township of Douro-Dummer) – sample date July 29 – SAFE
Buckhorn (John Street, Buckhorn) – sample date July 29 – SAFE
Crowe’s Line Beach (240 Crowe’s Line Rd, Harvey) – sample date July 30 – SAFE
Curve Lake Lance Woods Park (Chemong St S, Curve Lake) – sample date July 30 – SAFE
Curve Lake Henry’s Gumming (Whetung St E, Curve Lake) – sample date July 23 – SAFE
Douro (205 Douro Second Line, Douro-Dummer) – sample date July 29 – SAFE
Ennismore (1053 Ennis Road, Ennismore) – sample date July 30 – SAFE
Hiawatha (1 Lakeshore Rd, Hiawatha) – sample date July 30 – SAFE
Jones Beach (908 Jones Beach Road, Bridgenorth) – sample date July 29 – SAFE
Lakefield Park (100 Hague Boulevard, Lakefield) – sample date July 29 – SAFE
Norwood (12 Belmont St, Norwood) – sample date July 29 – SAFE
Sandy Lake (1239 Lakehurst Road, Municipality of Trent Lakes) – sample date July 30 – SAFE
Selwyn (2251 Birch Island Road, Selwyn) – sample date July 29 – SAFE
Squirrel Creek Conservation Area (2445 Wallace Point Rd, South Monaghan) – sample date July 30 – UNSAFE
Warsaw Caves (289 Caves Rd, Warsaw) – sample date July 29 – SAFE
Peterborough County Beaches (sampled monthly)
Belmont Lake (376 Miles of Memories Road, Belmont) – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Chandos Beach (Hwy 620, North Kawartha) – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Kasshabog Lake (431 Peninsula Road, Methune) – sample date July 11 – SAFE
Quarry Bay (1986 Northey’s Bay Rd, Woodview) – sample date July 11 – SAFE
White’s Beach (Clearview Drive, Galway) – sample date July 4 – SAFE
Charlene "Charlie" Earle belting out a tune with Little Fire in April 2014 at the former Barbeside Salon, with Aaron Cavon on bass, Dave Tough on guitar, and Brandon Root. Two celebrations of the life of Earle, who passed away suddenly at the age of 33, are taking place on July 27 and 28 in Peterborough. (Photo: Esther Vincent / evmustang.ca)
Two events are happening this weekend to commemorate the life of Peterborough musician Charlene Earle — one organized by Peterborough’s musical community and the other by her family and friends.
The 33-year-old vocalist, who performed under the names Charlie Earle and Charlie Maine, passed away suddenly sometime last Friday (July 19).
Police discovered her body in the Otonabee River in Peterborough and the Ontario coroner is now investigating her death.
Peterborough musicians Rob Foreman (The Lohrwoods, The Quickshifters) and Ryan Weber (The Weber Brothers), who were friends and musical collaborators with Earle, were interviewed on CBC Radio’s Here and Now on Tuesday (July 23).
They discussed the upcoming celebration of life taking place on Sunday (July 28) at the Historic Red Dog in downtown Peterborough — the same venue where, the night before she died, Earle had delivered the final performance of her life.
“Getting the news this had happened was not even 24 hours from the concert that she had just done,” says Weber, who had invited Earle to perform at the weekly music series presented by his and his brother Sam’s music production company.
“Her concert was nothing short of triumphant. She obliterated the room (and received) a standing ovation — I actually call it a jumping ovation because it really was. That’s the kind of performer and singer she was, from her first note it was game over. You could really feel what she felt.”
“After the way that that night went, I thought she’ll be selling out theatres in no time … She was feeling pure joy up on stage and pure joy afterwards. She was really glowing afterwards.”
Earle was best known for her powerful voice, and was particularly fond of singing blues and rhythm and blues in the style of some of the musicians who influenced her, including Etta James, Aretha Franklin, and Tina Turner. She also wrote and sung her own original songs, “reminiscent of the blues and of jazz and folk in a way”, according to Foreman.
In the CBC interview, Weber says Earle’s final performance at the Red Dog was recorded, so the Peterborough music community will be able to come together and “make the album she would have wanted to make with this concert.”
As for Sunday’s celebration of Earle’s life at the Red Dog (189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough), which runs from 1 to 11 p.m., many of the musicians with whom Earle collaborated and performed will be on stage. While there are already set times for those musicians, a sign-up sheet is available so that anyone who wants to perform will have the opportunity.
Charlene Earle as a child and as an adult. (Photo via Facebook)
While the Red Dog event will celebrate Earle’s contributions to Peterborough’s music community, her family and friends are also hosting an event at 7 p.m. on Saturday (July 27) at Confederation Park in downtown Peterborough.
The “ancestral candlelight vigil” will honour and celebrate Earle’s entire life.
“Charlene was a beautiful black woman who always showed up in support of her community whenever needed,” the Facebook event reads. “She was a talented singer painter and all around good human who will be missed greatly by many.”
“This night is about connecting with Charlie’s ancestors, we ask for her safe passage, for her easy rest, for her to never yearn for anything in the afterlife. There will be different performers, rituals, and art pieces done in order to honour her memory. She will know that it is safe to join her ancestors in the afterlife.”
“There will be a space for BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of colour) folx to perform a piece to honour her memory or share a ritual that is traditionally done in your culture to honour a person’s passing, or help them move on to the next life.”
“Please bring candles, flowers, pictures, her paintings or food offerings for her and her ancestors to help aid her in her journey.”
In addition to the vigil, Earle’s mother has set up a crowdfunding campaign so the family can lay Earle’s spirit to rest in British Columbia.
“Our family plans to take Charlene to the top of Mount Albert Edward in BC. She was so proud of that climb. She was on top of the mountain there and that’s where she will be set free.”
Residents of Kawartha Lakes are invited to 'jump in' and register for a new online citizen engagement platform offered by the municipality. Jump In, Kawartha Lakes at jumpinkawarthalakes.ca offers opportunities for residents to get up-to-date information on important municipal projects such as the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan and to provide feedback o provide feedback through surveys, quick polls, interactive maps, and idea forums.
Kawartha Lakes is encouraging citizens to get informed and get involved through Jump In, Kawartha Lakes, the municipality’s new online citizen engagement platform at jumpinkawarthalakes.ca.
“Open communication and engagement with our residents is a priority for the municipality and Council,” explains Kawartha Lakes CAO Ron Taylor. “The residents and businesses of Kawartha Lakes have outstanding ideas, opinions and lived experiences. We want to capitalize on these local talents and perspectives, and Jump In is the platform to do so.”
Jump In, Kawartha Lakes is being piloted in 2019, with the first large-scale citizen engagement project being the Strategic Plan for the next four years. However, it will be used for other projects in the future as well.
“Jump In builds community in Kawartha Lakes, and Council is very excited about that,” adds Mayor Andy Letham. “Hearing what residents, visitors and businesses have to say about municipal projects is key to creating sustainable plans in Kawartha Lakes.”
The online platform offers a convenient way for residents to both become informed and to provide feedback through surveys, quick polls, and interactive maps — with idea forums coming soon.
Jump In, Kawartha Lakes is a new online citizen engagement platform offered by the municipality of Kawartha Lakes. The website provides a convenient way for residents to both become informed and to provide feedback through surveys, quick polls, interactive maps, and idea forums. Kawartha Lakes residents are encouraged to register on the platform at jumpinkawarthalakes.ca and complete a survey on the municipality’s 2020-2023 Strategic Plan, which will be available until August 1, 2019. (Screenshot)
“Jump In is an accessible, informative and fun way to get residents involved with the projects taking place across all areas of local government — from road repairs and budgeting to arts, culture and recreation initiatives,” says Cheri Davidson, Manager of Communications, Advertising and Marketing with Kawartha Lakes.
“An online platform adds a convenient 24-7 option for residents who can’t attend daytime Council meetings or open houses to learn more and have their say on topics of interest.”
Currently, Jump In, Kawartha Lakes is offering an online survey to residents on the municipality’s 2020-2023 Strategic Plan, which will be available until August 1, 2019. (For residents without access to a computer or the internet, print copies of the survey are available at municipal service centres).
“Consultation with the public and our staff is a key component of the development of the plan,” says Brenda Stonehouse, Strategy and Performance Specialist with Kawartha Lakes.
Kawartha Lakes residents are encouraged to register at jumpinkawarthalakes.ca and fill out a survey on the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan to let the municipality know your priorities and ideas. The survey, which takes five to 10 minutes to complete, will be available until August 1, 2019. (Screenshot)
The survey, which takes five to 10 minutes to complete, asks residents to imagine what they want Kawartha Lakes to look like in the next 10 to 20 years.
Residents are also asked to select (and offer) the actions they feel are most important to achieving each of the four priorities of the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan: a vibrant and growing economy, an exceptional quality of life, a healthy environment, and good governance.
The Strategic Plan is the guiding document used by Council and staff to offer the services and programs needed in the community. Council and senior staff began working on the first stage of the new 2020-2023 Strategic Plan back in May, and are now asking residents to complete the survey so they can better understand community priorities.
“Residents are encouraged to fill out the Strategic Plan survey to tell us their priorities and ideas.” Stonehouse says. “We want to ensure the priorities reflect the needs of our community.”
Although the survey is only available until August 1st, the engagement process doesn’t end then. Council and staff will use resident feedback to help refine the Strategic Plan, and residents will have further opportunities to provide feedback on Jump In until December.
While the primary purpose of Jump In, Kawartha Lakes is to engage residents of the municipality, it also provides valuable information for visitors and tourists. The Summer Fun Map identifies and describes attractions and points of interest across the municipality, submitted by Kawartha Lakes residents and others who use the platform. (Screenshot)
While the primary purpose of Jump In, Kawartha Lakes is to engage residents of the municipality, it also provides valuable information for visitors and tourists.
For example, the interactive Summer Fun Map identifies and describes attractions and points of interest across the municipality — submitted by those who use the platform.
And you don’t even have to be a permanent resident of Kawartha Lakes to register on the platform.
“Kawartha Lakes has a large seasonal population each summer, so even if people aren’t full-time residents of Kawartha Lakes, we still recommend they register and join the conversation if they have an opinion on what’s happening across the municipality,” Davidson says.
If you want to provide your input on the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan, register at jumpinkawarthalakes.ca.
Click the blue “Register to Stay Informed” button and you’ll also receive email updates about municipal initiatives, including new citizen engagement projects that become available on Jump In, Kawartha Lakes.
VIDEO: How to Register on Jump In, Kawartha Lakes
This story was created in partnership with Kawartha Lakes.
Juno-nominated pop singer-songwriter Tyler Shaw headlines a free, sponsor-supported concert at Peterborough Musicfest at Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough on July 27, 2019, with Peterborough's own Jayde opening. (Publicity photo)
“I think that pop (music), and to some extent rock, are like the sport and fashion industries in that they’re about the exuberance of youth.”
Peterborough Musicfest presents Tyler Shaw with Jayde
When: Saturday, July 27, 2019 at 8 p.m. Where: Del Crary Park (100 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: Free admission
Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets (lawn chairs are available to rent for $4/chair). VIP seating available for sponsors. No smoking, alcohol, or pets permitted. There’s no public parking at Del Crary Park, but there’s neighbourhood street parking nearby and ample parking in downtown Peterborough.
When English progressive rock musician Robert Wyatt made the above observation, he wasn’t excluding the older set from sharing a love of pop and rock music that is typically the domain of the younger generation. Wyatt did, however, nail one indisputable truth: young people, as performers and audience members, bring a whole other level of energy to both music genres that has been, and remains, refreshingly unique.
On Saturday, July 27th at Del Crary Park, Peterborough Musicfest will hand the reins over to the young, welcoming Juno Award-nominated pop recording artist Tyler Shaw with Peterborough’s own Jayde opening.
Admission to the 8 p.m. concert is free, thanks to the support of sponsors.
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Raised in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Shaw has been playing music for exactly half of his 26 years, having discovered a guitar hidden under a staircase at age 13 and taking to the instrument immediately. Six years later, while a student at the University of Prince Edward Island, his roommate convinced him to enter the 2012 Coca Cola MuchMusic Covers Contest. Shaw did, finishing in the top three with his interpretation of Britney Spears’ “I Wanna Go”.
Later the same year, Shaw was the winner at the MuchMusic Video Awards — coming out on top of 1,300 applicants. Signed to Sony Records Canada as part of his prize, Shaw took full advantage, co-writing and recording the single “Kiss Goodnight”. He suddenly found himself the subject of much attention as the song peaked at #24 on the Billboard Canadian Top 100 chart on its way to sales in excess of 70,000.
VIDEO: “Kiss Goodnight” – Tyler Shaw
VIDEO: “By My Side” – Tyler Shaw
Subsequent singles “By My Side”, “It Happens All The Time”, and gold-certified “House Of Cards” saw Shaw’s star continue to rise. Each of those songs, along with “Kiss Goodnight”, were included on his 2015 13-track debut album Yesterday — its release preceded by a 2014 Juno Award nomination as Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
In a November 2018 interview with Songwriters Association of Canada, Shaw admits to struggling to find his authentic artistry and his development as an artist.
“I was looking for guidance and direction because I was so new in the industry when I first started,” he says.
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“Now I have a way better understanding of how everything works and of how to guide the art. My art. This is my career, my music, my platform. I felt like I wasn’t being taken seriously. I had an eye opening a year and half, and was like ‘If it feels right to me, then it’s right.'”
Whatever Shaw was looking for, it’s clear he found it in spades and capitalized. In the aftermath of his debut album’s release, he’s opened shows for Shawn Mendes and Alessia Cara, toured with Selena Gomez and headlined We Day events across Canada.
In addition, he’s dipped his toe in the acting waters, playing the lead role in the 2017 film The Meaning Of Life. And just last September, Intuition, his second studio album, was released, producing the gold-certified single “With You” and the top 10 hit “Cautious”.
VIDEO: “House of Cards” – Tyler Shaw
VIDEO: “With You” – Tyler Shaw
For all his success in such a relatively short time frame, Shaw has remained refreshingly grounded.
“It is a tough industry and you do need talent but you need a bit of luck too…a right place, right time kind of thing,” Shaw says.
“Believe me when I say when I first started out I was awful. Ask anyone I went to high school with. I was really bad but I just kept with it, and with encouragement from my family and friends I got better and better. So if you stick with it with a never-give-up kind of thing, you never know.”
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Opener: Jayde
Jayde. (Publicity photo)
In Jayde, Peterborough Musicfest brings to the Fred Anderson Stage one those local musical gems better known beyond the city’s borders than she is at home.
Just 19 years old, Jayde — her full name is Jayde Mosher — began her songwriting journey at age 12 while teaching herself to play piano and guitar. Since graduating from high school, she has immersed herself in creating her own music, the result being songs such as “Lines”, “Give Me A Minute”, “Perfect Strangers”, and “Ultra Violence”. She’s now working towards an EP release late this year.
Not hurting her music career in any way was her being cast in season two of The Launch where she was mentored by Canadian music icon Jann Arden and producer Shaun Frank.
VIDEO: “Perfect Stranger” – Jayde
“I started making music because I suck at talking,” says Jayde in a February 2019 interview with The Press Release.
“I don’t like confrontation. I don’t like talking to people about how I’m feeling so, if someone makes me mad, I don’t know how to deal with it. I guess I started writing songs about it instead. So, what I’ve done is found a way to play them the song that I’ve written without telling them that it’s about them.”
“That’s my way of getting my point across. It’s a way to talk about feelings without actually talking about it. It sounds so much prettier than my speaking voice.”
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Jayde adds that, while Peterborough is home, her progression required that she explore new horizons.
“Peterborough is very musical but it’s very folk. There’s not a lot of variation in the music scene here. There’s a lot of the same stuff. I found myself trapped in that. I just graduated from high school two years ago. I’ve been doing my own thing, which ended up taking me on a lot of writing trips like to Toronto. I find places where there’s so much diversity in culture and music more inspiring.”
VIDEO: Meet the Artists: Jayde
As for her music, Jayde’s hope for what it does for those who hear it isn’t unique, but sincere just the same.
“I hope that people can listen to it and see themselves in it,” she says.
“If I’m going through something and I find this song that pretty much explains exactly what’s going on then I feel so connected to that artist. I hope that people feel what I feel. This is going to sound so cheesy but they’ll know they’re not the only person feeling like that.”
Win VIP passes to MusicFest!
As a returning sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest, kawarthaNOW.com will be giving away VIP seats to every one of this summer’s concerts again this year.
While the concerts are free to all, VIP seats are not available to the general public — only to festival sponsors. You are guaranteed a chair near to the stage for the best view.
The giveaways are exclusive to subscribers to our weekly e-news. For your chance to win, sign-up to our weekly e-news at k-n.ca/subscribe.
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission, sponsor-supported concerts featuring a total of 21 acts during its 33rd season — each concert staged on Wednesday and Saturday nights at Del Crary Park.
Overseen by general manager Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission is to “provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”
For more information on this concert or the entire 2019 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
Maple Blues Award winning singer-songwriter and guitarist Emily Burgess, since here with Ryan Weber in The Weber Brothers Band in 2015, is performing at Daisy's Dockside Patio at the Bonnie View Inn in Haliburton on Wednesday, July 31st. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW)
Every Thursday, we publish live music and performance events at pubs and clubs in Peterborough and The Kawarthas based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, July 25 to Wednesday, July 31.
If you’re a pub or club owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our Nightlife Editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com.
Performance and spoken word artist Wes Ryan will stage "Turtle" on the fire escape behind The Only Cafe in downtown Peterborough for three 10-minute performances on July 27 and 28, 2019. The pop-up performances, which also features music by Fire Flower Revue and photography by Jessica Lynn Scott, explore themes of safety, disability, and accessibility, along with pushing personal boundaries and being in places you are not expected -- like a turtle crossing the highway. The performances will raise funds for the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre. (Photo: Jessica Lynn Scott)
This weekend, local performance artist Wes Ryan continues his series of pop-up dance presentations with his latest offering Turtle.
These Are Horizon Days presents Turtle
When: Saturday, August 3, 2019 at 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Where: 216 Hunter St., Peterborough (behind The Only Cafe) How much: Pay what you can
A 10-minute pop-up with choreography and verse by Wes Ryan, music by Fire Flower Revue, and photography by Jessica Lynn Scott. Proceeds will support the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre.
Collaborating with local DJ Fire Flower Revue, Wes will perform his 10-minute piece on the fire escape looking over the garden behind the Only Café, for three performances only on Saturday, July 27th and Sunday, July 28th. The pop-up performances will raise funds for the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre. Note: Two more performances have been scheduled for 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Satuday, August 3rd.
“If you go to YouTube and type in ‘turtle,’ you’ll find turtles show up in lots of strange places,” Wes says. “When turtles cross the roads and get hit by cars, many people might think about it as if the turtles are where they shouldn’t be, when really it’s the inverse that is true.”
“We built roads and subdivisions in habitats that have belonged to turtles for centuries. Turtles go on instinct to do what they deem necessary to survive, and it’s deemed and inconvenience and we have trauma centres now for the turtles. Over 1,100 turtles have been taken to the turtle trauma centre this year alone, which is already 300 more than last year.”
Turtle is the latest in a series of continuous pop-up dance productions Wes has been performing in Peterborough throughout the summer. The first performance, Crutch, was part of Public Energy’s 25th anniversary this past May, and a second, Pidge, was performed in June. Wes plans to continue developing new pop ups each month for the next 12 months.
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“Pop-up performances are typically common during Artsweek (Peterborough’s biennial festival of the arts), where you will encounter a pop up on the street in-between going to one venue to another,” Wes explains. “Pop ups are neat because they usually disrupt a public space. When you rehearse them in a public space, people will stop you and ask you what you’re doing and suddenly you’re talking about art. My art always have a social issue subtext and it’s great to engage people.”
“I enjoyed the process of remounting Crutch for Public Energy’s 25th anniversary and I just got to thinking that I often express myself through movement, although I may be more recognized as a spoken word artist. The pop ups are good opportunity to explore new ideas and involve other people, especially people who don’t have a lot of exposure in regards to dance.”
Under the banner of These Are Horizon Days, which Wes began in 2017, Wes’ art explores often challenging social and political themes. Open about his history with substance abuse and physical and sexual abuse, Wes also has been vocal about surviving a head injury that still affects him today. He plans to make all of his pop ups fundraisers for charities related to the themes he explores in his productions.
In Turtle, Wes takes on not only the plight of the turtles being killed on Ontario highways, but includes a number of other themes surrounding the dangers humans face in their own environments.
“Turtle is about safety and disability and accessibility,” Wes says. “It’s about pushing personal boundaries to achieve new things, and about being in a place where you are not expected.”
Reflecting recent losses in Peterborough’s arts community, “Turtle” is also about the potential for danger (like turtles crossing a road) that people face in their everyday lives. Wes Ryan, who is a brain injury survivor who is performing on a fire escape, has rehearsed meticulously to ensure he is safe. (Photo: Jessica Lynn Scott)
“We all live pretty dangerous lives,” he adds. “The potential for danger is always there. There is so much activity and we are all in such a hurry. It just takes one slip. I think of all the dangerous theatrical things I did when I was younger, and I’m going back to that with this piece. Turtle could be considered quite dangerous, so I’ve had to rehearse it meticulously to ensure that I’m safe.”
“But it’s also been a really tough time for Peterborough this year. Within the arts community a lot of our people have died, and there is a lot of grief in this community. That is also part of the theme of the show.”
Using the fire escape leading to the Gordon Best Theatre behind the Only Café, Wes is staging the pop up over the weekend to what should be an instant audience.
“I’ll come out to the patio in The Only and I’ll say ‘In ten minutes I’ll be doing a ten-minute dance piece behind the building.’ It’s really low pressure for the audience. It’s pay what you can and I’ll pass the hat to raise money for a charity. A ten-minute commitment if you are in the area isn’t a big deal, and it’s a chance for people who may not normally have a chance to see a performance to have that opportunity.”
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“By doing art in public — with this format where I involve people who are interested and available and also want to play and have fun — is a way to curb the isolation of my everyday reality in regards to my head injury,” Wes observes. “It’s also a great way to get instant feedback from audience members. Right away I get feedback from people telling me what they like and what they don’t like and what they found interesting, and I can use that feedback to create longer shows.”
Wes is currently developing the next pop-up performance piece, which will also take place in the garden behind The Only in either late August or early September, this time collaborating with local poet PJ Thomas.
“PJ Thomas posts poems on Facebook for 24 hours and then takes them down,” Wes says. “I see a new poem from PJ almost every day, and I don’t know who else is writing that much poetry in this town. I’ve known PJ for over 25 years and I’m going through them and I’m developing a theme. PJ and I will be discussing the poems with one another, and I’m currently looking for dancers to participate in the next pop up.”
“After that I don’t know. That’s the great thing about the pop ups. I don’t know what they are until they hit me.”
The latest in a series of continuous pop-up dance productions Wes Ryan has been performing in Peterborough throughout the summer, “Turtle” will be staged three times on the fire escape behind The Only Cafe in downtown Peterborough on July 27 and 28, 2019. (Photo: Jessica Lynn Scott)
Wes Ryan is a thoughtful and intelligent artist with a unique vision, who has an intense way of expressing social issues through words and movement. Always powerful and inspiring to watch, Wes’ performances are something that are talked about long after they are done.
Turtle is presented behind Tithe Only Café on Saturday, July 27th at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday, July 28th at 8 p.m. A pay-what-you-can donation is encouraged, with all money being raised going to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre.
A still from a video of a fireball (upper right) captured by Western University's All-Sky Camera Network at 2:44 a.m. on July 24, 2019. As bright as a full moon (the waning moon is pictured in the lower left), the fireball disintegrated south of Bancroft and is likely to have dropped small meteorites in the area. (Photo: Western University)
Researchers are seeking the public’s help in locating fragments of a fireball that may have dropped meteorites in the Bancroft area.
The fireball, which was as bright as the full moon, was observed by Western University in London at 2:44 a.m. on Wednesday morning (July 24).
Western’s Physics and Astronomy Department runs an all-sky camera network in collaboration with NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama.
The network constantly monitors the sky for meteors.
VIDEO: Bright fireball event near Bancroft, Ont. may have dropped meteorites
Initial analysis of the video data by Steven Ehlert at the NASA Meteoroid Environment Office suggests the recent meteorite fragments are likely to have fallen to the ground near Bancroft
Astronomy professor Peter Brown confirmed that 10 all-sky cameras of Western’s Southern Ontario Meteor Network (SOMN) recorded a bright fireball over western Ontario on Wednesday morning. Cameras as far away as Montreal recorded the event.
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“This fireball likely dropped a small number of meteorites in the Bancroft area, specifically near the small town of Cardiff,” Brown says.
Cardiff, in the municipality of Highlands East, is located 15 kilometres west of Bancroft and the same distance north of Silent Lake Provincial Park, located north of Apsley.
“We suspect meteorites made it to the ground because the fireball ended very low in the atmosphere just to the west of Bancroft and slowed down significantly,” Brown adds. “This is a good indicator that material survived.”
The fall zone of the fireball, where meteorites may be found, is southwest of Cardiff. As the fall zone contains two large lakes — Paudash Lake and Eels Lake — it’s possible fragments landed in water.
The ground path of the fireball (in red), plus the fall zone where meteorites may be potentially found (rectangle in yellow). Smaller meteorites will be found to the south (closer to the fireball endpoint). (Map: Western University)
Preliminary results indicate the fireball first became visible just south of Oshawa over Lake Ontario at an altitude of 93 kilometres. It travelled over Clarington and passed just west of Peterborough before extinguishing just west of Bancroft.
The fireball rivalled the full moon in brightness and had a number of bright flares near the end of its flight. The meteoroid was roughly the size of a small beachball (around 30 centimetres in diameter) and likely dropped a small number of meteorite fragments ranging from tens to hundreds of grams on the ground.
Brown and his collaborators at Western and the Royal Ontario Museum are interested in connecting with people from the area of the potential fall who may have heard anything unusual or who may have found possible meteorites.
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“Meteorites are of great interest to researchers as studying them helps us to understand the formation and evolution of the solar system,” Brown explains.
Meteorites can be recognized by their dark and often scalloped exterior. Usually they will be denser than a regular rock and will often be magnetic due to their metal content.
Meteorites are not dangerous. If recovered, it is best to place them in a clean plastic bag or wrap them in aluminum foil. They should also be handled as little as possible to help preserve their scientific value.
VIDEO: Peter Brown on Bancroft Fireball Event
In Canada, meteorites belong to the owner of the land upon which they are found. If people plan to search for meteorites on private propery, they should always obtain permission of the landowner first.
Brown notes that, due to the large fall zone and the likely size of the meteorites, a systematic ground search is likely to be fruitless. However, area residents should be on the lookout for any unusual rocks they find.
If you have found a meteorite that may be from this event, you can email Peter Brown at Western University at pbrown@uwo.ca and Kim Tait of the Royal Ontario Museum at ktait@rom.on.ca.
Baileboro native Jimmy Bowskill takes centre stage at The Sheepdogs concert at Peterborough Musicfest in Del Crary Park on July 24, 2019. Eleven people attending the free concert were charged under the City of Peterborough's no-smoking for smoking, vaping, and using cannabis. (Photo: Eva Fisher / kawarthaNOW.com)
Eleven people attending The Sheepdogs concert at Peterborough Musicfest in Del Crary Park on Wednesday night (July 24) have been charged for violating the City of Peterborough’s no-smoking bylaw.
These are the first charges under the bylaw, which prohibits smoking, vaping, and cannabis use in all municipally owned parks.
As part of routine inspections, tobacco enforcement officers from Peterborough Public Health were at Del Crary Park during the Musicfest concert and observed people smoking, vaping, and using cannabis.
One charge was issued for cannabis use, one for vaping, and nine for smoking.
The fine under the no-smoking bylaw for smoking or vaping in a city park is $305. The bylaw covers 362 hectares of parkland including over 100 city parks, playgrounds, beaches, splash pads and sports fields.
“The city has utilized an educational approach so far this year, having spent the first six weeks of the summer informing park users about the bylaw and the health consequences of smoking outdoors,” says Julie Ingram, manager of environmental health programs at Peterborough Public Health.
“But some aren’t getting the message, or observing the signage in the parks. We are confident that further promotion of healthy living and compliance with the smoking bylaw will result in fewer charges being laid.”
Anyone who sees people smoking, vaping, or using cannabis within park boundaries may report a violation by calling tobacco enforcement officers at 705-743-1000 or reporting the offence online at www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/sfoa.
The GreenUP Water Wise program recognizes residents that have adopted Water Wise landscaping practices, such as reducing the amount of lawn in their yard, planting drought-tolerant native species, and using a rain barrel, all of which help to reduce reliance on municipal water. (Photo: GreenUP)
There is nothing like the feeling of soft, cool grass beneath your bare feet; a feeling we often associate with parks, sports fields, and lawns. Conventionally just an area covered by turfgrass, a lawn is a popular area for children to play, pets to frolic, and groups of friends to gather.
A lush, green front lawn has been a sought-after property feature for centuries. And while well-to-do lawns are sometimes considered a symbol of status, and can even be associated with competition between neighbours, the realities of modern lawn-keeping can be somewhat less appealing.
Modern lawns seem to be in constant need of mowing, water, and hours of time.
As we become a more time- and eco-conscious population, we are seeing a decrease in the number of lawns in our community. Increasingly, people are opting for more multi-benefit landscapes like pollinator or food gardens that feature diverse perennial and wildflower species instead of grass.
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For some, these options are still not as appealing as a front lawn — and that’s okay. While drought-tolerant gardens are preferred if your desire is to conserve the maximum amount of water, lawns can actually thrive without copious pesticides, fertilizer, water, and time — simply by following a few key Water Wise tips.
In the summer months, residential water use can increase by as much as 50 per cent, with outdoor water use largely responsible for this seasonal increase. To raise awareness and to decrease water use, the GreenUP Water Wise program, offered with support from the Peterborough Utilities Group, aims to recognize residents who are taking steps to limit their usage this summer. Through recognition, the program also inspires others to take Water Wise steps at home and also at work.
What should you do (or not do) to maintain a Water Wise Lawn?
While beautiful drought-tolerant gardens are preferred if your desire is to conserve the maximum amount of water, lawns can actually thrive without copious pesticides, fertilizer, water, and time … simply by following a few key Water Wise tips. (Photo: GreenUP)
Just like you may have followed the advice of Marie Kondo and decluttered your closet, the first step to a Water Wise lawn is to declutter your turf — otherwise known as dethatching. Thatch is organic matter that can accumulate at the base of grass and prevent water from getting to the roots. Use a rake or dethatching tool to remove thatch buildup so rain can get to the roots of the lawn.
The second thing you can do to ensure your lawn stays green for longer, without excessive watering, is to mow high when it is dry. If there is a dry spell, try to mow your grass a bit less and raise the blades on your lawnmower. Keep grass 3 to 4 inches in height to help shade the soil, to preserve moisture in your lawn, and to encourage deeper roots.
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Next, stop the spray and skip the sprinkler by relying on the rain. Peterborough sees countless sprinklers turn on in the morning, spreading mists of water mostly on lawns but also on unwanted places like sidewalks, driveways, and pedestrians. While running through a sprinkler can be fun way to cool off, it is increasingly important that we learn how to use less water outside and to recognize wasteful usage, especially in the summer when our water supply is most stressed.
Sprinkler water often fails to penetrate to penetrate to the roots before runoff occurs, and can even evaporate before absorbing on the hotter days. Lawns grow best when there is more rain, but your lawn actually needs only 1 to 1.5 inches of rain per week to thrive. This amount can usually be collected with a rain barrel, and any excess can be used for other plants on your property.
This summer, skip the sprinkler and rely on the rain. While sprinklers mostly water lawns, they also water unwanted places like sidewalks, driveways, and pedestrians. It is increasingly important to use less water outside and to recognize wasteful usage, especially in the summer when our water supply is most stressed. (Photo: Heather Ray)
When the rain becomes less frequent, the most Water Wise thing you can do for your lawn is … nothing! Grass species used in conventional lawns do not thrive in drought conditions, but grass does have a natural way of protecting itself: in response to the stress caused by lack of rain, your lawn will enter a dormancy phase and turn brown or gold.
Don’t worry, your lawn is not dead or dying during this phase, but naturally protecting itself so it can come back green next year. This year, the Water Wise program will be recognizing home and businesses who are going for gold and keeping their front lawns brown this summer, so watch for signage or get your own lawn sign through GreenUP.
If you want to impress the Water Wise community even further, take some tips from some already recognized Water Wise front yards, and try swapping your grass seed for something with longer roots like clover, yarrow, thyme, or camomile. These species can still be mowed, but they don’t require it, as they grow into great surfaces for playing with the kids or kicking your shoes off!
GreenUP is now recognizing Water Wise Lawns in the City of Peterborough. Nominate a home or business property today and, upon approval, receive one of these signs to display proudly. (Photo: GreenUP)
To find out more about Water Wise, to nominate a front yard for recognition, or to be inspired by the Water Wise steps of your neighbours, visit greenup.on.ca/program/waterwise or contact Heather Ray at heather.ray@greenup.on.ca or 705-745-3238 ext. 204.
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