Scott Gilbert of the Toronto Police Service is Peterborough's new Chief of Police. (Photo: CityNews Toronto)
Earlier today (June 14), the Peterborough Police Services Board announced that Scott Gilbert has been appointed as the ninth Chief of the Peterborough Police Service.
As of July 1st, Gilbert will replace Chief Murray Rodd, who announced his retirement last October after 35 years with the Peterborough Police Service, including the past 10 years as chief.
Gilbert comes from the Toronto Police Service, where he started as a cadet and rose through the ranks.
He has served as a member of Toronto’s Emergency Task Force, held various positions in the Criminal Investigations Bureau, was an inspector in Prosecution Services, and superintendent of various divisions.
He was also elected as the President of the Toronto Senior Officers’ Association for two years and was a director with the provincial association. He is a graduate of Humber College and Guelph-Humber University.
A composite sketch of a man wanted for an alleged sexual assault and robbery near Bobcaygeon on May 17, 2018. (Graphic: Ontario Provincial Police)
The City of Kawartha Lakes detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect in an alleged sexual assault and robbery last month.
According to police, the victim reported that the incident occurred in the early morning of Thursday, May 17th in the area of Pigeon Lake Road south of Bobcaygeon.
Police have released a composite sketch of the suspect, along with a sketch of a bird tattoo on the suspect’s forearm.
A sketch of a bird tattoo on forearm of the suspect in an an alleged sexual assault and robbery near Bobcaygeon on May 17, 2018. (Graphic: Ontario Provincial Police)
The suspect is described as being a man in his mid ’30s, around 6’2″ in height and weighing 260 lbs.
Police ask anyone with information to contact Detective Constable Katie Carr at the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP at 705-324-6741.
Information can also be reported anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or by visiting the Kawartha Lakes-Haliburton Crime Stoppers website at www.khcs.ca and submitting an anonymous tip online.
Students attending this 2018 Peterborough Children’s Water Festival hold up their favourite invertebrates. The Otonabee Conservation activity centre allows children to get up close with many aquatic bugs and insects to understand how their unique features allow them to live in water. This year's festival, which took place on June 6th and 7th, had registration numbers. (Photo: Karen Halley / GreenUP)
Last week on June 6th and 7th, the Riverview Park and Zoo was flooded — flooded with many hundreds of elementary school students in grades 2 to 5 attending the 17th annual Peterborough Children’s Water Festival (PCWF).
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Heather Ray, GreenUP Water Programs Manager.
This year’s festival was a splashing success, with record registration numbers! In recent years, the PCWF has seen an increasing thirst for water education in the Peterborough region. Daily registration numbers have continued to climb and some classes have had to be temporarily placed on wait lists.
Each year, thanks to in-kind and financial support from partners, grants, and the local community, teachers are able to register for fully subsided spaces for their students to attend the PCWF. This funding and support helps to ensure that all students have an opportunity for water education, regardless of their economic situation.
In recent years, the PCWF has seen an increasing thirst for water education in the Peterborough region. Daily registration numbers have continued to climb and some classes have had to be temporarily placed on wait lists.
The PCWF Steering Committee wants to ensure that all students in our region have access to this important water education opportunity, and have worked hard to increase the capacity of the festival, raising the daily limits each year.
Attendees of this year’s Peterborough Children’s Water Festival participate in the Sponge Bog Frog activity centre, led by a high school volunteer, seen in the yellow apron. For this activity, students are frogs who need to hop safely from their hibernation spot to their pond after experiencing both positive and negative events (pollution, garbage, chemicals) along the way. (Photo: Karen Halley / GreenUP)
This year, registration numbers for the two-day festival broke a record level, with almost 1,600 elementary students attending the festival. This is hundreds more than in previous years. June 7th alone saw almost 900 students attending, which is 150 more students than have ever attended in any one day of the festival.
Why is there an increasing demand for the Peterborough Children’s Water Festival? The secret lies in the hands-on, interactive activity centres that not only present important water-related programming in a fun and engaging way, but all centres link with the Ontario Elementary Curriculum for each grade — all while maintaining scientific and local accuracy.
Each year the PCWF Steering Committee welcomes and creates new activity centres to join the circuit. This year, the PCWF presented 36 activity centres (more than in previous years) and created three new activity centres:
“Drop in the Bucket” is a centre that was developed with support from Nourish, promoting the Nibi Giinwiindawan (We Are Water) curriculum.
“Salty Solutions” is a centre that was developed to allows students to learn about the impacts of road salt and sand on local waterways.
“Aqua Quest” is a scavenger hunt style activity that encourages students to quiz themselves about what they learn at the PCWF, winning a bracelet at the end that will act as a reminder each day, even after the festival, of the water messages learned.
This year’s festival also saw a return of fan favourites, “3P'”s, “Doing the Laundry”, “Lather UP”, and a new favourite, “Water in Plastic, Plastic in Water”.
At the activity centre, Pioneer Water Race, children experience first hand, how difficult it is to carry water, and gain an appreciation for the water that we have piped directly into our homes, schools, and businesses. (Photo: Karen Halley / GreenUP)
So what exactly do students learn at the PCWF? One of the activity centres that we often hear back from parents about is “2 Times a Day”. This centre focuses on water conservation where students learn that if they turn off the tap while brushing their teeth, they save three litres of water, two times a day.
At “Water in You”, students learn why they need to drink five to seven cups of water each day, and at “Rolling Thru the ‘Shed” students learn what a watershed is and the importance of limiting the amount of contaminants that flow through the (water)shed, such as pesticides, litter, and pet waste.
If you are a parent and your child(ren) attended the PCWF, you may have already heard some of these and other important teachings.
Another secret to success of the PCWF is the diversity of water perspectives that bring the Festival to life. Activity centres are created and led through a unique collaboration between high-school student volunteers, the PCWF Steering Committee, water professionals, agencies within the community, and local knowledge holders.
Each year, local organizations and knowledge holders from the community, such as Peterborough Public Health, Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, Ontario Water Power Association, and Otonabee Conservation join us as activity centre hosts — many of whom are assisted by high-school volunteers who learn leadership skills, presentation skills, and water messaging throughout the day.
The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre introduced attendees of the PCWF to a few of their rehabilitated turtle friends. This Blanding’s Turtle was injured on a road and now only has one eye; this animal now acts as an ambassador with outreach programs to help us understand the importance of turtle conservation. (Photo: Karen Halley / GreenUP)
Some activity centres are crafted by the PCWF Steering Committee and, this year, were fully delivered by high-school students from Holy Cross, TASS, and Crestwood. The result is a balanced view of the importance of water, reaching students through a number of perspectives and topics, and allowing attendees to gain a sense of how far and complex water impacts are within our community.
With the increasing popularity of the Festival, the PCWF Steering Committee is hopeful that the festival can run for three days in 2019, so there can be ample space for students to participate in this premiere water event in the future. You can help us make this happen by contributing to the 2019 PCWF. To find out how, visit pcwf.net/sponsor-information/.
The 2018 PCWF Steering Committee is comprised of a number of agencies such as the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Utilities Services Inc, Otonabee Conservation, GreenUP, Trent University, Riverview Park and Zoo, Nourish, and local community members.
Carmela Mangos, co-owner of Sugar Dust Bakery & Cafe, and her husband George have launched a "pay-it-forward" meal program where customers can buy lunch for a person in need. Unlike similar pay-it-forward programs, the Mangoses provide customer-purchased meal vouchers to local community organizations who identify people to receive the free meal. (Photo: April Potter / kawarthaNOW.com)
Carmela and George Mangos, owners of Sugar Dust Bakery & Cafe in Port Hope, wanted to do something to give back to their community.
The couple were introduced to the concept of a pay-it-forward meal program while visiting a friend’s restaurant in Oshawa. Taking note of what worked well (and what didn’t), Carmela and George decided to approach community outreach groups directly to create a program that is both unique and discreet.
“One of the things we took away from the restaurant in Oshawa was that their program was offered to buy lunch for anyone, not just someone in need,” George says. “We saw how that caused a lot of problems.”
Sugar Dust Bakery & Cafe is located at 74 Walton St, in Port Hope. (Photo: April Potter / kawarthaNOW.com)
“Because the donated lunches in Oshawa were available to any customer at all, the restaurant had to deal with customers arguing over who would receive a free meal,” Carmela explains.
“For us it was easy to set the boundary of offering lunches to a specific group of people, because we want to make sure that our lunches go directly to those most in need. It is important to us that our donors are getting what they paid for — a chance to help someone who really needs it.”
Reaching out to local grassroots charity Greenwood Coalition and The Port Hope Food Cupboard (an organization in partnership with the Fare Share Foodbank and Salvation Army), Carmela and George have found the best way to distribute their donated lunches.
“As soon as we have collected a few vouchers, we contact one of our community outreach groups and provide them the vouchers to distribute as they see fit,” Carmela says. “When a recipient comes in, they simply exchange the voucher for their complimentary lunch.”
A sample of a fresh and healthy “pay it forward” lunch provided by Sugar Dust Bakery & Cafe to a person in need, paid for by customers. (Photo: Sugar Dust Bakery & Cafe)
“We are open to working with any local outreach organization that has access to people who need the help,” she adds. “Any organization that could distribute donated lunches is welcome to contact us and join the program.”
The Sugar Dust model offers customers two ways to donate. The restaurant already offers a free lunch loyalty program to regular diners, who can collect six stamps after buying six lunches and get the seventh lunch free. As part of the pay-it-forward program, these complimentary “bonus” lunches can now be donated back to the restaurant.
The second way to participate is to pay a fixed price of $7.00.
Sugar Dust Bakery is an all-butter, fresh-ingredient “from scratch” restaurant and bakery located at 74 Walton Street in Port Hope — not far from Port Hope’s biggest tourist attraction, the Capitol Theatre. While the lunch program is geared towards local customers who regularly stop in to buy lunch, tourists can also make donations.
Sugar Dust Bakery & Cafe co-owner Carmela Mango at work in the kitchen. In addition to ice cream, crepes, coffee, and sweets, the restaurant offers a lunch menu with items like Peameal on a Kaiser, Roast Beef on a Kaiser with Coleslaw and Potato Salad, Mediterranean wrap, Strawberry Fields Salad, Cremini mushroom soup, and more. (Photo: April Potter / kawarthaNOW.com)
“We wanted to provide a fixed price as an option for irregular customers who love the idea, or for regular customers who want to donate more than their loyalty card,” George says. “It’s a way for anyone to participate, at any donor level.”
Some donors have been very generous to date.
“So far we have had a lot of success,” Carmela notes. “Every time we post about pay-it-forward on social media, there is increased interest.”
Since launching the program in May, a total of 23 lunches have been donated — and at least one customer has purchased multiple lunches to kick off the program.
Sugar Dust Bakery & Cafe co-owner George Mangos hands an ice cream cone to customer Samantha Guigue, who decided to treat herself after donating to the pay-it-forward program. (Photo: April Potter / kawarthaNOW.com)
Port Hope resident Glyn Marr was the very first lunch donor and he loves the idea. What made him want to participate?
“I support anything that can help people, and I usually help a little bit if I can.”
George believes a program like this is long overdue.
“I think it should have been done a long time ago. When you see someone come in with a big smile on their face, getting a free lunch — that’s pretty amazing.”
For details about the Sugar Dust Bakery menu, hours of operation, and community initiatives, visit www.sugardustbakery.com or follow them on Instagram @sugar_dust_bakery.
To find out more about Greenwood Coalition, visit www.greenwoodcoalition.com. The Port Hope Food Cupboard is open to the public on Thursday afternoons from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and is located at the Port Hope Community Health Centre (99 Toronto Rd., Port Hope).
Ken Tremblay, incoming President of the Rotary Club of Peterborough, tries out a piece of equipment at Peterborough's first adult outdoor gym at the official opening on June 13, 2018 at Beavermead Park. The Rotary Club of Peterborough and the Rotary CLub of Peterborough Kawartha each contributed $25,000 to the gym's construction, with the City of Peterborough contributing $40,000. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
While a rainy and humid morning wasn’t the best weather for an outdoor workout, Peterborough’s first adult outdoor gym was officially opened today (June 13) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Beavermead Park.
Representatives from the City of Peterborough, the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha, and the Rotary Club of Peterborough attended the event, with remarks made by Mayor Daryl Bennett, Peterborough Kawartha Rotary Club president Len Lifchus, and incoming Peterborough Rotary Club president Ken Tremblay.
The outdoor gym equipment was funded by contributions of $25,000 each from Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha and the Rotary Club of Peterborough, with $40,000 committed by the City of Peterborough.
Peterborough Kawarthas Rotary Club president Len Lifchus, City of Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett, and incoming Peterborough Rotary Club president Ken Tremblay cut the ribbon officially opening Peterborough’s first outdoor adult gym on June 13, 2018 at Beavermead Park. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
The Rotary Outdoor Gym is located in Beavermead Park just north of the beach volleyball courts and beside the beach. It includes a variety of exercise machines, some of which are accessible for people with disabilities.
At the opening, Peterborough Kawartha Rotary Club member Tom Bennett explained the background of the project, which was several years in the making. While the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha conceived of the idea, both the Rotary Club of Peterborough and the City of Peterborough quickly came on board, he said.
“This is a gift to the City of Peterborough for the sesquicentennial year,” Tom Bennett said, and introduced the two Rotary Club presidents, city councillors Keith Riel and Gary Baldwin who represent the ward, and Mayor Daryl Bennett.
Peterborough-Kawartha Rotary Club member Wendy Swain, who was the chair of the adult gym project, with Brian Salter, Project Manager of New World Park Solutions in Brantford. New World Park Solutions, which designed and constructed the gym, is an authorized dealer for Playworld Systems, which supplied the equipment. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
“This is another project where partnership plays such a vital role in what we do in this community,” Mayor Bennett said, acknowledging the contribution of the two Rotary Clubs.
“Fifty thousand dollars from Rotary and forty thousand dollars from the city makes it possible for a whole bunch of people in this community to make use of (the gym), for a long time.”
Peterborough Kawartha Rotary Club president Len Lifchus also spoke.
“On behalf of the 47 members of the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha, we are delighted to give the city this gift, along with the Peterborough Club,” he said.
Peterborough city councillor Don Vassiliadis along with councillors Keith Riel and Gary Baldwin, who both represent Ashburnham Ward where Beavermead Park is located. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)City councillor and mayoral candidate Diane Therrien stands beside the Rotary Outdoor Gym sign. Sevearl years in the making, the project was announced in 2017 as part of Canada’s 150th birthday. Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett, who also made remarks at the opening, is pictured in the background. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
Lifchus thanked project chair Wendy Swain, along with Rob Anderson from the city’s parks department and Phil Jacobs from the city’s public works department, for helping to make the project happen.
“We’ve already heard and seen people using this gym in the last couple of weeks since it was completed,” Lifchus added. “We’re really excited that the residents of Peterborough are helping us make a difference in our community, by jumping on the gym and participating and getting fit.”
After Lifchus finished his remarks, incoming Peterborough Rotary Club president Ken Tremblay also made remarks.
Rotary club member Donna Geary tries out a piece of the equipment. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
“The 77 members of the Peterborough Rotary Club really came forward to support it,” Tremblay said. “It’s really important we can enrich the community to create a legacy of fitness and engagement … let’s hope we can become a real fit community.”
The gym was designed and constructed by New World Park Solutions in Brantford, an authorized dealer for Playworld Systems, which supplied the equipment.
New World Park Solutions project manager Brian Salter, who has been in the playground industry for 18 years, travelled to Peterborough to attend the official opening.
VIDEO: Official opening of Peterborough’s first outdoor adult gym
Business After Hours Woodview Hop – Wednesday, June 13th, 5 to 7 p.m.
On June 13, 2018, the Kawartha Chamber is hosting a Business After Hours event in Woodview beginning with a tour of Viamede Resort on Stoney Lake.
The Chamber’s next Business After Hours event is today (June 13) in Woodview. The Chamber will be visiting member businesses in the Woodview area, including Viamede Resort and Woodview on the Lake.
The event will begin with a tour of Viamede Resort’s facilities on Stoney Lake and then travel to Woodview on the Lake for a tour of their property on Julian Lake.
At Woodview on the Lake, attendees will enjoy refreshments of beer and wine accompanied with beef tenderloin sandwiches, fruit, cheese, and cupcakes.
Join the Chamber for a great kick off to the summer season! Register here.
Save the Date – November 8th
The Kawartha Chamber is proud to announce that its 19th Annual Awards of Excellence will be presented on Thursday, November 8th.
The event will be held this year at Lakefield College School — be sure to mark it in your calendars!
The Chamber looks forward to seeing you at this wonderful event.
Did You Know? Benefits of Chamber membership
Standard and Select Chamber memberships provide a great selection of extra marketing opportunities.
Standard and Select members receive greater visibility on the Chamber website with benefits including enhanced directory listings, and an ad that will display in the rotating ad space in the Chamber’s directory, results, and events pages. Both membership levels also provide the opportunity to write guest articles for the Chamber blog.
Select members receive even more benefits, including a 15-second ad for a full year on the Chamber’s flat screen monitors in the Lakefield ServiceOntario Office, the Douro-Dummer Community Centre, and the North Kawartha Community Centre.
For a full list of benefits, visit the Chamber’s Become a Member page.
Lakefield Charlotte Street Reconstruction Update And Paving Offer For Businesses
The installation of the new water main under Charlotte Street in Lakefield was completed on Monday, June 4th. Pressure and water quality testing will occur this week.
Balterre, the company overseeing the installation, says that the biggest part of the excavation is wrapping up.
Balterre is offering businesses and residences along Charlotte Street who were affected by the construction the same pricing as the township, should anyone in the area wish to have their driveway or parking lot resurfaced. The paving can be scheduled for this year at the same time as the first lift of asphalt is applied, or in 2019 with the second application of asphalt.
Federal Government Requests Business Owner Feedback On Proposed Tariffs
The Government of Canada is requesting feedback from business owners on the planned tariffs to be implemented July 1st, 2018 on a selection of American goods.
Spring Policy Survey Deadline Extended To Friday June 15th
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has extended the deadline for members to answer the Spring Policy Survey.
The survey is now open until Friday, June 15th at 5 p.m. All responses will be kept strictly confidential.
The Ontario Chamber Network is committed to ensuring government understands the issues impacting business in this province. That’s why the Chamber needs your help to express the voice of business loud and clear at Queen’s Park.
Complete the survey, and in five minutes let the provincial government know what’s important to you.
Tourism Industry Awards Nominations Open
The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario has announced nominations for various tourism organization awards:
The Tourism Industry Awards of Excellence (TIAO)
Culinary Tourism Awards of Excellence (Culinary Tourism Alliance)
Ontario’s Choice Awards (Attractions Ontario)
Tourism Marketing & Travel Media Awards of Excellence (Destination Ontario)
The Lantern Restaurant & Grill (2281 McCracken’s Landing Rd. Unit 2, Douro-Dummer) has recently re-opened its doors for the warm weather.
The restaurant is open from 12 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 12 to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
If you have recently opened for the season, or will open soon, please let the Chamber know at info@kawarthachamber.ca so they can spread the word.
Lang Pioneer Village Hosts 22nd Annual Father’s Day Smoke & Steam Show – June 17th
This Father’s Day, Lang Pioneer Village celebrates with the largest show of antique smoke and steam-powered engines in the Kawarthas.
The festivities run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 17th, concluding with a huge tractor parade through the village starting at 3:15 p.m.
Local collectors bring to life some of the oldest antique tractors and steam engines around as they compete for over 20 awards! The day will be filled with great events such as the Tractor Games, great vendors, and wagon rides through the village.
The L’ll Big Band is performing at Cenotaph Park in Lakefield. (Photo: The L’ll Big Band)
In celebration of the Lakefield Jazz, Art, and Craft Festival’s 20th anniversary, the Township of Selwyn is hosting a promotional jazz tour on Saturday, June 23rd.
Jazz bands will be playing at different times and locations in Lakefield. Bands and locations include the The L’ll Big Band in Cenotaph Park, Pete Woolidge and Federico Pontani at The Chocolate Rabbit and The Nuddy Bean, Sean Hully at Lakefield Pantry and Happenstance Books and Yarn, Chris Smith at The Thirsty Loon, and more.
Lakefield Literary Festival 2018 List Of Authors – July 13 to 15
Canadian actor and comedian Mary Walsh is one of the authors coming to the Lakefield Literary Festival, which runs from July 13 to 15. Walsh recently published her debut novel “Crying for the Moon”, about a determined young woman coming of age in 1960s Newfoundland. (Publicity photo)
The authors’ list for the 2018 Lakefield Literary Festival has been revealed. The festival will take place July 13th to 15th.
Some great authors are involved including Mary Walsh, Adam Shoalts, Beverley Jacobs, Barbara Mitchell, John Wadland, and Edna Manitowabi.
Tickets are available online at the website or at Happenstance Books & Yarn in Lakefield.
Camp Kawartha Surf ‘N’ Turf Gala Dinner And Auction Less Than Two Weeks Away
Nestled on the shores of Clear Lake, and with more than 185 acres of wetlands, woodlands and meadows, Camp Kawartha’s Outdoor Education Centre and summer camp (1010 Birchview Road, Douro-Dummer) is a natural for outdoor learning. (Photo: Camp Kawartha)
Camp Kawartha’s annual Surf ‘n’ Turf Gala and Auction fundraiser is less than two weeks away.
Attendees will enjoy a dinner of steak and lobster, and have the opportunity to bid on a variety of amazing items and services.
If your business or organization has a job opportunity you would like to advertise, you can add them to the Chamber’s website through your Member Information Centre account (or submit the description to info@kawarthachamber.ca) and the Chamber will share them in its next Newsflash.
Great Canadian Giving Challenge on Now until June 30th
The Great Canadian Giving Challenge is on now until June 30th.
Give to any registered Canadian charity by the end of June and they will be automatically entered to win $10,000! Note that donations must be made through the charity’s donation challenge page.
This challenge makes it a great time to donate to a cause you believe in! Visit the Challenge website at givingchallenge.ca for more details and to donate.
The Lakefield Triathlon is scheduled for Sunday, June 24th. This is an Ontario Youth and Junior Cup series race, open to athletes of all abilities aged four to 19.
The event is expected to bring hundreds of athletes and their families from all over Ontario to Lakefield.
Registration for the Triathlon closes on Wednesday, June 20th.
The races will start at Lakefield College School at 8 a.m. and spectators are welcome. Parking can be found at Lakefield College School until 8 a.m. and at the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre after that.
Camp Kawartha’s Surf ‘n’ Turf Gala Dinner and Auction – June 23rd
Jazz Tour Lakefield – June 23rd
Lakefield Triathlon – June 24th
Tek Savvy Seniors Seminar – June 27th
Family Paddle Day – June 27th
Lakefield Jamboree – June 28th to July 1st
For more information about the businesses and events listed above, please visit the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism website at kawarthachamber.ca.
All photos supplied by Kawartha Chamber of Commerce except where noted.
After 15 years on Peterborough radio, Catherine Hanrahan has retiired to pursue a new career. (Photo: Heather Doughty / Inspire Project)
After 15 years as a radio host, Peterborough’s Catherine Hanrahan is retiring from radio to pursue a new career. Her last day will be July 12, 2018.
She made the announcement in her profile on Heather Doughty’s Inspire : The Women’s Portrait Project website at inspirethewomensportraitproject.com.
“I’m hanging up my headphones on July 12th and retiring from radio to pursue a new career,” Hanrahan writes.
“The past 15 years on the air in Peterborough have been rewarding in so many ways. I have had the opportunity to work with legends of the industry and legends in the making who were not only mentors but also friends who welcomed me into this community with open arms.
“It’s been a privilege to be invited into the homes, cars, and workplaces of the good people of this city day after day. There’s no other job like it and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.”
Catherine Hanrahan recently moved to the country with her partner, local realtor Ben vanVeen. (Photo: Heather Doughty / Inspire Project)
Ashley Wright with her two children, 11-year-old Brinlee and 13-year-old Logan. Logan lives with severe autisim and the Wright family was publicly shamed twice by the same man while they were visiting the Peterboroug Zoo on June 10, 2018. Wright has written an open letter to the man that is going viral. (Photo: Ashley Wright / Facebook)
A Belleville woman’s Facebook post about the public shaming of her autistic son on Sunday (June 10) at the Peterborough Zoo is going viral.
So far, Ashley Wright’s post has been shared more than 4,000 times with more than 4,000 “likes”.
In her post, Wright describes how she and her two children, 11-year-old Brinlee and 13-year-old Logan, drove two hours from Belleville to visit the Peterborough Zoo. According to Wright’s post, Logan lives with severe autism and other disabilities. He is also large for his age — over 6 feet tall and 190 pounds.
While the family was walking into the Peterborough Zoo, Logan was being loud, flapping his hands and jumping out of excitement.
Wright says a man with his own family was walking ahead of the Wright family when he glared back at them and yelled “Why do people bring kids like that out in public?”
A short time later, Logan acted out due to stress and, while Wright was trying to deal with it — including protecting herself, her daughter, as well as her son — the same man came up close to her and yelled again.
“Why do people bring kids like that out in public? They ruin society!”
Another man then intervened, told the yelling man to leave the family alone, and then asked Wright if she was okay. After finding out she was, he commended her and left the family alone.
Wright then took her son to see the camels, his favourite animals at the zoo. While the yelling man was also there, he didn’t say anything else.
Wright’s post, which was written as an open letter to the yelling man, ends with the following statement:
“All I can hope is that in the future if a situation like this happens again you don’t make another family feel the way you made ours feel today. I also sincerely hope your children don’t grow up feeling that kids like Logan shouldn’t be out in public.
“Because he needs that social interaction. He deserves to get to see his camels after a good week of behaviour. He deserves to be treated just as good as anyone else.”
Here is her complete post:
To the man at the Peterborough Zoo today who loudly yelled well glaring at us "Why do people bring kids like that out in…
There have been several incidents reported in the media of how individuals and families living with autism have been discriminated against, publicly shamed, and otherwise poorly treated.
Sometimes there are some positive stories though, raising understanding and tolerance of people who are living with autism.
On June 9th, a British father posted a photo on Facebook of a mother sitting in the middle of a sidewalk, cradling her autistic child to comfort him.
Adam Poole posted this photo on Facebook of a mother comforting her autistic child and provided advice to others on what they should and shouldn’t do in this situation. His post has been shared more than 65,000 times. (Photo: Adam Poole / Facebook)
“Just some advice for those with no experience of autism,” Adam Poole wrote. “When you see a child having what appears to be a meltdown in public, just walk past and keep your mouth shut. Don’t shake your head, don’t stare, just get on with your day.”
He finished his post with “Best mum I know”. His heartfelt message has been shared more than 65,000 times, with 42,000 “likes” and almost 4,000 comments.
Note: The original version of this post misidentified Ashley Wright as being from Peterborough rather than Belleville.
The Monaghan Café in Peterborough is under new ownership. A new menu offers fresh new options like the Sunny Up Pizza, a breakfast pizza with fresh herbs and a sunny-side up egg. Food is made from scratch and served with a bowl of fruit and homemade peanut butter, jam, and ketchup. (Photo: Eva Fisher / kawarthaNOW.com)
This month, our food writer Eva Fisher checks out the menu at the new Monaghan Café in Peterborough, talks to vendors at the new and old Saturday farmers’ market in Peterborough, gets ready for a picnic in downtown Cobourg during the Cobourg Food and Music Festival, and learns about cooking in the backcountry with The Land Canadian Adventures.
Bold new ownership at Monaghan Café in Peterborough
Monaghan Café’s new owner and chef Jeffrey Wilfong comes to Peterborough from Ste. Anne’s Spa in Grafton. (Photo: Eva Fisher / kawarthaNOW.com)
The Monaghan Café (1017 Monaghan Rd, Peterborough, 705-743-4800) has reopened under new ownership, and visitors to the classic Peterborough cafe will notice some changes.
A new menu offers fresh new options like the Sunny Up Pizza, a breakfast pizza with fresh herbs, a sunny-side up egg, and your choice of toppings (which could include seared salmon or pork belly, among others).
There are also a variety of Eggs Benedict, from the classic “Bubba” served with buttery hollandaise and your choice of pork belly or ham, to the “Not Just Florentine”, served with a generous serving of seared salmon and an avocado hollandaise.
There are also vegetarian and vegan options. The Garden Bowl features fresh vegetables, potato, diced tomato, avocado, vegan bacon, jalapeno pesto, and cashew hollandaise.
The Monaghan Café still serves breakfast with a side of tomato. (Photo: Eva Fisher / kawarthaNOW.com)
Owner and Chef Jeffrey Wilfong has 25 years experience as an Executive Chef, beginning with a position at the British High Commission in Ottawa. Since then he has traveled and worked in France, England and Thailand. He served as Ron Joyce’s personal chef at Fox Harb’r, and most recently he was the Executive Chef at Ste. Anne’s Spa in Grafton.
At the Monaghan Café, Jeffrey works with his partner Ève-Alexandra St-Laurent, who is in charge of front-of-house, administration and public relations.
“We’ve always wanted our own little place that we could call home, and open our doors for everyone to come into our home,” Jeffrey says.
The decision to open a restaurant came together suddenly.
“One morning I woke up, put my freshly pressed jacket on and got all dolled up and went to work, and realized an hour into my shift that I didn’t have it anymore,” Jeffrey recalls. “So I went to HR and resigned.”
After finishing his shift he went home to tell Ève-Alexandra the news, but it turned out that she had some news of her own.
“She said ‘Well, that’s wonderful because we just bought the Monaghan Café!'”
From that time it was a whirlwind: finding a home in Peterborough, moving in, finding a school for his daughter, and reopening the cafe.
Some of the best details of the cafe have been preserved. That includes the stellar original waitstaff, and the cups of coffee that seem to small at first, but are constantly being refreshed. You can also still order a side of tomato slices with your meal.
Peterborough now has two bustling Saturday farmers’ markets
With a brand new Saturday farmers’ market in downtown Peterborough, some vendors have left the Saturday market beside Morrow Park while others like Andrew McIlmoyle of Waymac Farms, which has been there since 1978, are staying. Andrew has been going to the market for his whole life. (Photo: Eva Fisher / kawarthaNOW.com)
On Saturday, June 9th, a new Peterborough Farmers’ Market was born.
The Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market runs every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Citi Centre Courtyard (located beneath the Charlotte Towers) in downtown Peterborough.
The inaugural market was a hit, with 41 vendors attending, many of whom had sold out by 11:30 a.m. Peterborough Regional Farmers Market President Neil Hannam was delighted with the turnout.
“We didn’t expect the whole city to arrive,” he says.
A number of the 41 vendors present were previously vendors at the Peterborough Farmers’ Market, a weekly market held beside Morrow Park.
That market is still in operation and is held at the same time as the new market.
Some vendors’ applications to the summer Morrow market were denied, and they are now at the new downtown Saturday market. Some chose to leave the Morrow market for other reasons, while others opted to stay. I spoke with vendors about their decision to stay or go.
Why did you stay?
New vendor Foragers Farm sees the Peterborough Farmers’ Market at Morrow Park as a great opportunity for farmers. (Photo: Eva Fisher / kawarthaNOW.com)
“We chose to stay here because we want to continue to be here for the customers who have made this market part of their weekly tradition, to include us in their Saturday of getting some perogies and a scone and just wandering around. That’s a great thing to do on a Saturday. We also chose to stay for our vendor friends, because we have so many here. Whether it’s our neighbours all around us or the Brunis next door, these are all people that we’ve spent the last five years of Saturdays with, and so they’re massively important to us.” – Graham Thoem, Hard Winter Bread Company
“I’ve been here all my life. As the late great Pino Bruni said, it’s paid a lot of bills. I jokingly say that it’s taken care of my farming habit for many years, and it’s true. In ’78 my dad started, and I wan born in ’83, so it’s a few years preceding me. Without this market being the way that it is, we would have never survived through the ’90s. I’m very thankful for this place.” – Andrew McIlmoyle, Waymac Farms
“I’ve come up here once or twice a year since I was younger. It’s always been a super vibrant, booming market with all different types of vendors. I’m in my second year as a farmer and I see it as a great opportunity to sell my stuff here.” – Tyler Davis, Foragers Farm (new to the Morrow market)
Why did you go?
Erin McLean of McLean Berry Farm says that a new market was necessary for vendors like her who already had their crops in the ground when their application for the Morrow market was denied. (Photo: Eva Fisher / kawarthaNOW.com)
“We submitted an application and we weren’t permitted to return. We’ve had crops in the ground for one to two years and tens of thousands of dollars, so we needed a place to sell things. We had to work with other people to make a place where we could sell.” – Erin McLean, McLean Berry Farm
“I choose to shift my business to the new market because I cannot tolerate the decision and how it was executed by the board of directors in throwing out several true blue farmers! As well, the air there at the old market was becoming very heavy and many consumers have stopped shopping there. It feels like it’s time for a new beginning, one that puts farmers first and the consumers as well.” – Sherry Patterson, Chick A Biddy Acres
Chick-a-biddy acres wasn’t ousted from the Morrow Park Farmers’ Market, but decided that for their farm it was time for a new beginning. (Photo: Eva Fisher / kawarthaNOW.com)
“The Farmers’ Market — I loved them, it was a great place, I spent eight years there, but they don’t follow their own rules. They aren’t taking any responsibility and I just feel that it’s not right.” – Martin Carbajal, La Mesita Catering
“This market’s so inviting for small farms. There are three other people here who are just like us, who just have an acre and love to grow vegetables.” – Ben Carlsen, Rhyzosphere
“I think there’s enough demand in Peterborough to support both markets and there are great vendors at both spots.” – Devin LeBel, Rhyzosphere
Second Annual Cobourg Food and Music Festival turns King Street into a “Grub Hub”
This year’s Cobourg Food and Music Festival on July 6, 2018, will be larger than last year’s, with a special section dedicated to treats and desserts. (Photo: Cobourg DBIA)
The Cobourg Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is hosting the second annual Cobourg Food and Music Festival on Saturday, July 7th from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Last year, the festival closed two downtown blocks. This year, three blocks will be barricaded for the festivities.
This year’s event will be picnic themed, with iconic red and white gingham tablecloths and plenty of picnic tables. Paige Wiggins, Event and Communications Coordinator for Downtown Cobourg, says that this event is all about eating communally.
At the Cobourg Food and Music Festival on Saturday, July 6th, vendors will fill the streets, offering food with a picnic theme. (Photo: Cobourg DBIA)
“We’re going for the concept of a big family picnic. We really want people to eat together. So we’re encouraging our restaurants to have a food and appetizer special, but something that they can easily make to go so that people can come and eat together.”
Festival-goers can enjoy “Treat Central”, a whole section of the festival dedicated to sweet treats.
Downtown Cobourg is home to Millstone Bread, The Dutch Oven, The Rustic Bean, The Human Bean, and the Black Cat Café, but more vendors will fill the street for the festival: KCC Catering, Our Little Bakery, Amina’s Bakeshop, A1 Gluten Free Gals, Whistle Stop Café, and more.
The Cobourg Food and Music Festival takes place on King Street on July 7th from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Graphic: Cobourg DBIA)
The rest of the festival, which Paige dubs the “Grub Hub”, will feature local restaurants already in the downtown, but will also contain food trucks. Paige is particularly excited for Meltdown Cheeserie, a food truck that specializes in over-the-top grilled cheese.
As the name implies, there will also be music. Max Mouse and the Gorillas, Storm the Palace, and Who Made Who (an AC/DC tribute band) are all slated to perform, among others.
Paige says that a food festival is an ideal way for people to build connection with their community.
“Even though people have different taste in music and different taste in food, there’s something about everyone sitting down at a table that brings conversation and a sense of community.”
The Land Canadian Adventures offers experiences for foodies gone wild
The Land Canadian Adventures offers culinary courses that enable you to eat well in the backcountry. Food on a trip can use traditional and even wild ingredients, like this meal of Three Sisters Stew and Cedar Tea. (Photo: The Land Canadian Adventures)
Could you make a delicious hot meal over a campstove?
The Land Canadian Adventures offers culinary courses that will not only enable you to eat well in the backcountry, they will teach you to identify and use wild edibles.
The Land Canadian Adventures is a team of local adventure guides who offer canoe trips, cycling trips, and a “School of the Wild Arts” to teach participants new skills such as photography, bushcraft skills, and backcountry cuisine.
The Land Canadian Adventures is a family business. From left: Avery, Briagh Hoskins-Hasbury, Lily, and Bretton Clark. (Photo: The Land Canadian Adventures)
Bretton Clark, who founded The Land Canadian Adventures with his wife Briagh Hoskins-Hasbury, understands that food is an important part of any backcountry experience. At their backcountry cooking workshops, they approach food a little bit differently than your standard cooking class.
“Your first priority consideration is making sure that your dietary requirements are being met,” Bretton explains. “This means dropping a bit of science right off the bat.”
Bretton says that caloric expenditure on a trip can average 4,000 calories a day, so people should plan to eat more than they are used to on a trip to make sure that they stay sharp and strong.
Bannock, served on a trip with The Land Canadian Adventures. (Photo: The Land Canadian Adventures)
From there, participants are taught to build a menu to meet their needs, and to use cooking gear to prepare food in the wild.
“The flavour is so welcome when you’re traveling all day. The trick here is to take the science and incorporate the art into it as well.”
For Bretton, that means pineapple upside-down cake prepared in a dutch oven buried in coals, or hot apple crumble prepared for breakfast on the fifth day of a trip. Or Southern Thai Red Curry. Or Three Sisters Stew. Or dried mango slices. Or a good hot cup of tea. Food on a trip can be as diverse as food served at home.
The Land Canadian Adventures offers Pick Paddle and Party workshops, which teach participants to identify and enjoy wild edibles. (Photo: The Land Canadian Adventures)
In addition to their backcountry cooking class, The Land Canadian Adventures offers “Wild Foodies Pick, Paddle and Party,” an experience that teaches participants to identify and enjoy wild edibles.
“Food is everywhere, it’s all around us… you can connect with nature by learning how it’s there to help, whether medicinally or nutritionally.”
Bretton says that once you start to recognize wild edibles, the whole landscape begins to look different.
On a trip it’s important to make sure your nutritional requirements are being met. That can mean stopping mid paddle for a quick snack break. (Photo: The Land Canadian Adventures)
“You can’t paddle through thousands of acres of sweet gale and not talk about the delicious little seed cones or the catkins with a peppery flavour … and when you make tea out of it it helps you to remember your dreams.”
Lean more about The Land Canadian Adventures and their foodie adventures at canoecampingtrips.ca.
This 12-foot canoe once owned by Canadian wildlife artist and naturalist Robert Bateman is one of the artefacts on display in The Canadian Canoe Museum's new 'Just Add Water: Little Boats with Big Stories' exhibit, opening on June 13, 2018 in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum
You can see a canoe once owned by famous Canadian wildlife artist and naturalist Robert Bateman in a new exhibit at The Canadian Canoe Museum (910 Monaghan Rd., Peterborough) opening on Wednesday (June 13).
“Just Add Water: Little Boats with Big Stories” explores the scope of the museum’s collection, featuring artefacts from the museum’s extensive collection that have never been exhibited before.
The museum houses more than 500 watercraft and thousands of small artefacts and books, 80 per cent of which are stored in a warehouse space at the museum and are not available to the public except through specially arranged guided tours.
When the museum relocates to its new facility, to be built beside the Peterborough Lift Lock, the complete collection will become available to the public.
“This exhibit highlights the breadth of the collection as it examines and explores an array of stories and traditions that inspire us today,” says curator Jeremy Ward. “This exhibit will give visitors a taste of one of the experiences that will be offered in the new museum.”
One of the watercraft on display in the new exhibit is a 12-foot canvas-covered canoe owned by Robert Batemen, who is renowned for his paintings of Canadian nature and wildlife.
“Some of the most important, formative influences on my life were the four summers (1947-51) working, mostly as a ‘chore boy’ in Algonquin Park,” according to the text by Bateman that accompanies the exhibit.
“These summers were at the Wildlife Research Station. After hours, I would follow in the footsteps, or paddle strokes so to speak, of my heroes Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven. I would paddle to a picturesque spot and do a little oil painting.”
Built by legendary canoe builder May Minto, Robert Bateman’s canoe was featured in his painting “Rocky Point – October”, a print of which will also be on display at The Canadian Canoe Museum.
The museum acquired the canoe in 2016, and will be displaying it along with a print of Bateman’s painting “Rocky Point – October”, featuring the same canoe on the south shore of Lake Boshkung in Haliburton County. Bateman’s family owned a custom-built log home there since 1946, until the 88-year-old Bateman sold it in 2016.
Bateman’s canoe was built by May Minto, a legendary canoe builder from Minden. Bateman writes:
“When I had the chance to custom order a canoe from May Minto, one of Canada’s best canoe makers, I wanted a 12-footer which would be easy to transport but could carry 2 to 3 people in calm weather, so I could bring the family along. I mixed an olive drab colour to paint on it so that it would be easy to hide in the bushes.”
The ‘Just Add Water: Little Boats with Big Stories’ exhibit will include a photo booth where you can take a photo of yourself “portaging” this suspended canoe to post on social media. (Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum)
Other artefacts in the new exhibit include a Fijian outrigger canoe, more than 30 paddles from around the world, and a digital kiosk featuring several objects from the museum’s collection not on display.
As well as the exhibit, the museum will be offering a photo booth where you can climb under a suspended canoe and impress your family and friends with your “portaging prowess”. The museum is encouraging people who use the photo both to use the hashtag #justaddwater and to tag the museum @CndnCanoeMuseum when posting their photos on social media.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with a presentation beginning at 7 p.m. in The McLean Matthews Gallery in the museum’s foyer. All are invited and welcome to attend. There is no charge for this event.
For more information on The Canadian Canoe Museum, visit canoemuseum.ca.
kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.
Submit your event for FREE!
Use our event submission form to post your event on our website — for free.
To submit editorial content or ideas, please contact us.
