Trent University student Sarah Miller received her promotion to shodan (first degree black belt) during a ceremony at the Trent Judo Club on December 10, 2018. She is the first female at the club to obtain a black belt. (Supplied photo)
Sarah Miller is the Trent Judo Club’s first female black belt.
The 21-year-old Trent University nursing student received the promotion to shodan — first degree black belt — from sensei (instructor) Tom Hino at a ceremony at the Trent Athletics Centre on Monday night (December 10).
Practitioners of judo, known as judoka, are ranked according to skill and knowledge of the art, with their rank indicated by the colour of belt that they wear.
The original ranking system was introduced by Kano Jigoro, the Japanese educator and athlete who founded judo in 1883. Ranks are divided into two broad categories, kyu and dan, with the shodan black belt being the first of the 10 dan ranks.
Sarah Miller demonstrates nage no kata (“forms of throwing”) with sensei (instructor) Paul Teleki, who is Sarah’s uke (training partner), as sensei Tom Hino looks on. (Supplied photo)
“This black belt promotion is truly an honour,” Miller says. “I began judo at three years old. I was taught discipline, courage, modesty and respect for my fellow judoka. I started competing at four years old, I learned very quickly that it’s not easy to win; in addition, losing is sometimes harder.”
Miller competed at the 2012 Canadian Judo Championships, where she earned a bronze medal.
Sensei Paul Teleki assisted Miller in obtaining her black belt as her uke (in Japanese martial arts, a uke is a skilled training partner).
Sarah Miller with sensei Tom Hino. Pictured on the wall in the background is Kano Jigoro, the Japanese educator and athlete who founded judo in 1883. (Supplied photo)
Teleki began his martial arts training in 2003 while living in Japan and working as an English teacher. In 2015, he received his black belt at Hino’s club and has obtained nationally recognized coaching certification.
Sarah Miller displaying her first degree black belt in judo. She began practicing judo when she was three years old, and began competing when she was four years old. She won a bronze medal at the 2012 Canadian Judo Championships. (Supplied photo)
Hino, who opened the Trent Judo Club in 2011, explains that Miller’s promotion is significant because the ratio of men to women in judo is often one sided.
“Sarah’s black belt promotes positive role modelling for the girls in our junior classes to be equals among genders,” he says.
Hino also says Miller was able to obtain her black belt despite her heavy workload as a Trent University student.
“Judo training can go hand-in-hand with academic success for all levels of study,” he says. “Last year we had a masters degree student who got his Ph.D. as well as his black belt, and went on to become a professor at Queen’s.”
Led by sensei Tom Hino, the Trent Judo Club is run out of Trent Athletics Centre and is open to all members of the community. Youth and adult programs are available. For more information, contact Tom Hino at 705-876-1784 or tomoyoshihino@hotmail.com.
The free New Year's Eve service on Peterborough Transit was first offered in 2015, sponsored by Wolfe Lawyers. (Photo: Don Vassiliadis / Twitter)
For the fourth year in a row, Wolfe Lawyers and the City of Peterborough are sponsoring free bus rides on Peterborough Transit on New Year’s Eve.
You can ride for free on all 12 regular routes between 7:20 p.m. on Monday, December 31st and 3:20 a.m. on Tuesday, January 1st. The last bus will leave Peterborough’s downtown terminal at 2:40 a.m.
“This service is for everyone,” says Councillor Kemi Akapo, the city’s chair of transportation. “If you are planning to drink, please plan ahead to drink responsibly and take free Peterborough Transit to get to and from New Year’s festivities.”
Handi-Van service will also run during the same hours. Handi-Van trip requests from eligible clients will be accepted until 12:20 a.m. and service will continue until 3:20 a.m. Bookings are accepted on a first come, first served basis. Riders wishing to travel during peak times are encouraged to reserve their trips in advance.
In addition to sponsoring free transit rides, this year Wolfe Lawyers is also sponsoring a free New Year’s Eve Family Skate at the Evinrude Centre.
Both ice pads will be open on Monday, December 31st: the Atom Pad from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the Leon’s Pad from 6:15 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For hours and operations and route maps, visit www.peterborough.ca/transit. The information will also be available at the downtown transit terminal.
The Sapphire Room's berry mulled wine sits for 10 days with fruit and liqueurs. When it's prepared, the whole bar smells like strawberries and cinnamon. Discover this and more seasonal favourites in this month's Knosh News. (Photo: Eva Fisher / kawarthaNOW.com)
This month, food writer Eva Fisher beats the winter blues with some delicious seasonal treats from local businesses, discovers a living history dinner at Viamede Resort, takes stock on a community-building soup series from Nourish, and celebrates the opening of Nateure’s Plate, Peterborough’s newest vegan restaurant.
For many of us, winter is a season of foodie decadence. Lovers of peppermint, nutmeg, cranberry and sweets will enjoy these decadent seasonal creations from local businesses.
Here are just some of the special seasonal offerings available in the Kawarthas:
The Publican House (300 Charlotte St, Peterborough, 705-874-5743)
The Publican House’s Festive Hot Mess is an indulgent choice when you feel like a festive hot mess. (Photo: The Publican House Brewery)
What is a Festive Hot Mess? Publican House chefs take toasted white bread and top it with shredded turkey, cheese curds, green peas, fries, gravy, and cranberry ranch dressing.
On the side, they offer an “everything” truffle — because every festive hot mess needs a little bit of sugar to keep him or her going.
The Publican House is also offering a limited run Cranberry Wheat Beer in their restaurant and their brewery store.
To get the cranberry taste, they infuse the beer with pressed cranberries hand picked in the Muskokas.
The mixture sits for just over a week to create a crisp, clean, and light cranberry taste. They expect to sell out within the next few weeks.
The Sapphire Room (137 Hunter St W, Peterborough, 705-749-0409)
Cocktail lovers will want to head to the Sapphire Room for some exciting winter seasonal offerings.
The most popular, according to owner Kerri Niemi, is the Silent Night. It’s a blend of crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and eggnog with a peppermint kiss shaved over top and dropped in the bottom. The shaved mint chocolate has a delicious lingering effect on the palate.
The Sapphire Room’s most popular seasonal cocktail, The Silent Night is a blend of crème de menthe, crème de cacao and eggnog with a peppermint kiss shaved over top. (Photo: Eva Fisher / kawarthNOW.com)
Kerri also recommends the berry mulled wine, which sits for 10 days with fruit and liqueurs.
“When you heat it up the cinnamon and the strawberries smell incredible, it entices everyone to drink it.”
The Confederation Tea is warm and cozy with whisky (maple and regular), Drambuie, hot earl grey tea, cinnamon and clove.
Need to relax? Try the Winter Slumberland, made with aromatic lavender gin, maple syrup, grapefruits juice and soda.
Hard Winter Bread Company (Lakefield, 705-931-4922)
As well as crisp and buttery shortbread, these large and soft spiced ginger cookies are another festive favourite from the Hard Winter Bread Company. (Photo: Hard Winter Bread Company)
What could be more festive than crisp, buttery shortbread or spicy ginger cookies baked in a wood-fired oven?
Hard Winter Bread Company offers these and other treats, festively packaged, for a limited time over the holiday season.
Find them at the Peterborough Farmers’ Market until December 22nd. You can preorder through their website (for pickup only) at hardwinterbreadco.com/order/.
The Monaghan Cafe (1017 Monaghan Rd, Peterborough, 705-743-4800)
The Monaghan Cafe’s Turkey Eggs Benedict is the perfect way to start a December morning. (Photo: The Monaghan Cafe)
You may have had a taste of the Monaghan Cafe’s turkey eggs benedict over Thanksgiving.
This popular menu item is back until Christmas, featuring sweet potato and bread stuffing base, spinach, fresh dark and white meat, a poached egg, turkey gravy and fresh cranberry sauce. T
The Monaghan Cafe is also offering a poached pear tart with homemade eggnog ice cream, available only until December 25th.
Kawartha Coffee Company (58 Bolton St, Bobcaygeon, 705-738-1500)
Kawartha Coffee Company will keep you cozy with their Spiked Peppermint Mocha. (Photo: Kawartha Coffee Company)
Head to Kawartha Coffee Company in Bobcaygeon for the Spiked Peppermint Mocha, a blend of espresso, vodka, schnapps and frothed Kawartha Dairy chocolate milk that is sure to keep you going well into the spring.
You don’t have a sweet tooth? Kawartha Coffee Company also has a number of warm and cozy seasonal offerings, including a weekly classic roast beef dinner with all of the fixings, served every Sunday evening. Reservations are encouraged.
Viamede’s Dark Winter’s Feast transports visitors to January of 1877
Viamede Resort is a destination for unique dining experiences. (Photo: Viamede Resort)
The fireplace crackles in the 19th century chapel, candles light the table, and a feast awaits you.
For those looking for a truly immersive dining experience, Viamede Resort will host Dark Winter’s Feast on January 18th from 5 to 9 p.m.
Viamede chefs will prepare foods that would have been available to voyageurs exploring the Kawarthas in January of 1877. The dinner will be served family style by the hearth in Viamede’s 19th century chapel.
Dark Winter’s Feast will be held in this historic chapel, located on the Viamede Resort grounds. (Photo: Viamede Resort)
General Manager Ben Samann says that our food is deeply entwined with our history.
“Human history is based on trade and food shortages and people suddenly having a taste for certain spices. Food is the history of people, and in order to understand the food from 150 years ago we have to understand the history.”
Eat as the voyageurs did, but better, at Viamede’s Dark Winter’s Feast. (Graphic: Viamede Resort)
Warm clothing is encouraged, as the space will be warmed only by fire and candlelight.
This experience is only available to guests who are 19 or older. Call Viamede at 1-800-461-1946 to reserve your spot.
Soup/er series builds community one bowl at a time
Nourish’s Soup/er Series comes to Lakefield this January. (Graphic: Nourish)
A great soup recipe can work magic, turning a fridge full of nothing to eat into something delicious, healthy and warming.
Nourish’s Soup/er series creates soup magic with residents of Curve Lake First Nation, Lakefield, and Havelock.
For this free four-week series, participants cook and share soup recipes. You are invited to take some of each soup home with you after the workshop.
Participants are also given $10 in Nourish dollars to use at farmers’ markets or to purchase a JustFood Produce Box.
The Soup/er Series suggests great recipes to enjoy local produce from Nourish’s JustFood boxes or from the Farmers’ Market. (Photo: Nourish)
According to the Nourish website, “JustFood is a community-building program that works to provide respectful access to healthy affordable food for everyone.”
JustFood produce boxes are available on the 2nd and 4th weeks of the month and feature a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, often sourced from local farms.
Facilitator Janice McCue says that the workshop’s purpose is to make use of readily available ingredients.
“The series will focus on using ingredients that are in our JustFood Box as well as other seasonal produce or staple we may have in our cupboards.”
Lakefield’s Soup/er series will be held on Fridays from January 11th to February 1st from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. John the Baptist (81 Queen St., Lakefield). You can register online at nourishproject.ca/souper-series or by emailing Janice at jmccue@ywcapeterborough.org.
If you are a resident of Curve Lake First Nation or Havelock, email Janice to be updated on scheduling.
Nateure’s Plate is open for business in new vegan hub in downtown Peterborough
Siblings Nate and Danielle White officially opened their new restaurant, Nateure’s Plate, on Decenber 11th. (Photo: Nateure’s Plate)
New vegan restaurant Nateure’s Plate (182 Charlotte St., Peterborough) is now open.
Siblings Danielle and Nate White’s new restaurant serves satisfying vegan comfort food, in the space previously occupied by Brio Gusto.
Danielle says that after a brief test run, they are excited to implement what they’ve learned and to finally launch.
During Nateure’s Plate’s soft launch, guests enjoyed their signature hearty vegan comfort food. (Photo: Peterborough VegFest)
“We are striving to create an exceptional dining experience, one in which is always adapting to be better,” she writes on Instagram. “We couldn’t be happier with our two test run nights and are ecstatic to be open to the public in a few short days. We appreciate you all so much; without you, our dream would be just that, a dream.”
In their first week of operation (December 11th to 15th), the restaurant will be open for dinner only, from 5 to 10 p.m.. After that they will be open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The Charlotte Street space will also be the new home of baker Vegan Sweet Home. In addition to selling their baked goods, Vegan Sweet Home will provide desserts and breads for Nateure’s Plate.
Nateure’s Plate aims to create hearty vegan fare that everyone can enjoy. (Photo: Nateure’s Plate)
Premier Doug Ford welcomes Kawartha Lakes Mayor Andy Letham to a one-on-one meeting at Queen's Park in Toronto on December 10, 2018. (Photo: Office of the Premier)
City of Kawartha Lakes Mayor Andy Letham was one of seven mayors from across southern Ontario who had a one-on-one meeting yesterday (December 10) with Premier Doug Ford at Queen’s Park in Toronto.
Ford also met with Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie, London Mayor Ed Holder, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, Oro-Medonte Mayor Harry Hughes, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.
Each meeting, which ranged from 30 to 45 minutes, was also attended by Dean French, the premier’s chief of staff, and Steve Clark, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark, Premier Doug Ford, and Chief of Staff Dean French meet with Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens on December 10, 2018. (Photo: Office of the Premier)
According to a statement from the Premier’s Office, the purpose of the one-on-one meetings was to discuss “shared priorities” including the economy, transportation infrastructure, housing, and plans for the private retail sale of cannabis.
“It felt a little bit, when we got the call on Friday, that we were being called to the principal’s office,” Mayor Letham said in an interview today on CBC radio. “But in the end it turned out to be a very productive conversation.”
At his meeting with the premier, Letham says they discussed working together, the growth plan for Kawartha Lakes (including expanding highways, development, and affordable housing), natural gas, broadband, and long term care beds.
“The premier seemed quite impressed that we had gone to great lengths ourselves to reduce our council from 16 to eight in the last election,” Letham said.
Earlier this fall, the Ontario government had forced the City of Toronto to reduce its council from 47 to 25 seats.
Letham said he didn’t discuss the cancellation of the Basic Income Pilot program during his meeting with Ford.
“I’ve had that conversation with the minister several months ago when they announced the cancellation, so it didn’t come up yesterday.”
Lethan says the premier promised to follow through on the items discussed and have a follow-up meeting.
Seven Peterborough-area entrepreneurs have received $28,000 in grants as part of the sixth intake the Starter Company Plus program, funded by the Government of Ontario and administered by the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre. (Photo: Peterborough & The Kawarthas Economic Development)
This week’s round of regional business news includes Starter Company Plus grant recipients in Peterborough and the City of Kawartha Lakes, a new augmented reality app developed by Kavtek that helps Monaghan Lumber’s customers choose new flooring for their home, and a new co-working space to open in January at Venture13 in Cobourg.
Every week, our managing editor collects business-related news and events from across the Kawarthas. If you’d like us to promote your business news or event in businessNOW, please email business@kawarthanow.com.
Also featured is the release of Peterborough game company Bloom Digital Media’s LGBTQ+ inclusive dating game for the Nintendo Switch, the winner of the Pitch to the Chief competition in Cobourg, and the official opening of Bancroft’s new LCBO store.
New regional business events added this week include Camp Kawartha’s annual general meeting on December 11th and the Port Hope Young Professionals Christmas social on December 13th.
Seven Peterborough-area entrepreneurs receive $28,000 in grants to grow their businesses
Hillary Flood of PedalBoro is one of seven entrepreneurs who have received $28,000 in grants under the Starter Company Plus program. PedalBoro, which received a $4,000 grant, is a multi-passenger bike tour company that will take passengers on a pedal-powered discovery ride through downtown Peterborough’s restaurant scene. (Image: PedalBoro)
Last Thursday (December 6), the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre announced the latest round of Peterborough-area entrepreneurs to receive grants under the Starter Company Plus program.
Seven business owners received a total of $28,000 in grants as part of the sixth intake of the program, which is funded by the Government of Ontario and administered in Peterborough by the Business Advisory Centre. The recepients are:
Fraser Smith of F Smith Consulting: Sustainable Forest Management Service, which provides sustainable and ethical forest management services for conservation authorities, local governments, land trusts, woodlot owners, and primary and secondary forest producers.
Carly Eagles of Sweet Simple Nutrition, a holistic nutrition consulting practice specializing in women’s wellness. Eagles’ business integrates a holistic approach to wellness to help individuals discover optimal health through lifestyle adaptations.
Caitlin Jacobs of Conflict Transformations, a consultancy serving workplaces and other organizations in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Jacobs’ business helps clients understand conflict, how to work towards transformation, collaboration and creative problem solving.
Vanessa Brown of Direct Visual Care, a local mobile optician that supports vision care needs. From pop-up clinics to personal one-on-one house calls, Brown’s business offers professional, personal, and affordable service to correct vision accurately.
Hillary Flood of PedalBoro, a multi-passenger bike tour company providing an innovative, eco-friendly transportation alternative for exploring downtown Peterborough. PedalBoro takes passengers on a discovery tour of the city’s vibrant food scene.
Jenn Austin-Driver of Farmhill Weddings, a non-traditional wedding venue located in Keene in the rolling hills of Millen + Smith Acres. The focus is on providing a scenic farm experience with local farm-to-table menu options.
Jordan Ahee of Biosphere GPS, a software startup that makes it easy to explore nature, discover new places, and plan outdoor activities more intelligently.
Starter Company Plus supports entrepreneurs who are starting, growing, or acquiring a business. It offers a series of workshops to support the creation of a formalized business plan, culminating in the chance to pitch for competitive grant dollars. Since the program began in March 2017, the Business Advisory Centre has seen more than entrepreneurs participate and has awarded $170,000 in grants.
“This program is generating results for our community and strengthening our region as a destination for small business,” explains Madeleine Hurrell, the economic development officer at the Business Advisory Centre who oversees the program.
In the past two years, the program has resulted in the creation of 53 startups and has supported 37 business expansions. The program has also seen the opening of 12 bricks-and-mortar locations in the region, and has created 110 jobs in the local community.
Six entrepreneurs in Kawartha Lakes receive Starter Company Plus grants
Recipients of the Starter Company Plus grants in the City of Kawartha Lakes. (Photo: KLSBEC)
The Starter Company Plus program also runs in the City of Kawartha Lakes, where it is administered by the Kawartha Lakes Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre (KLSBEC).
Last Wednesday (December 5), KLSBEC hosted a reception and gallery in Lindsay to showcase some of the businesses that have benefited from the program and to announce the final grant recipients in 2018:
Jessica Shea of Wild at Heart Hair Studio.
Lori Mitchell of Kawartha Restorative Acupuncture.
Amanda Lewis of Mouthpiece.
Graham Bashford of Aging GPS.
Ally Boothroyd of Sarovara Yoga.
Terri Mathews of Mathew Madlyn.
Through Starter Company Plus, KLSBEC has provided training and business plan development to 63 new entrepreneurs and has awarded a total of $132,000 to 33 of these businesses, creating 78 new jobs in the community.
Peterborough augmented reality startup Kavtek’s app helps Monaghan Lumber’s customers choose new flooring for their home
An augmented reality mobile app developed by Kavtek helps customers of Monaghan Lumber in Cavan choose new flooring for their home. (Supplied photo)
Monaghan Lumber in Cavan is using augmented reality to help customers choose new flooring for their home.
The building material supplier’s new mobile app was developed by Kavtek, a Peterborough startup that specializes in augmented reality solutions for home design and renovation.
Using the camera on a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet, the app allows users — without leaving their own home — to overlay Monaghan Lumber’s flooring options on top of their existing floors to see how the room will look with the new flooring.
VIDEO: Monaghan Lumber app
Kavtek has already created partnerships with RE/MAX Integra, Wayfair, and Dulux Paints. Monaghan Lumber is one of the first building material suppliers in Canada to embrace augmented reality.
“Working with Sanu and the Kavtek team has been an excellent experience,” says Warren Rose, Director of Sales and Public Relations at Monaghan Lumber. “The immediate impact on our service and customer experience has been tremendous, and we look forward to using the new technology while we work closely with designers, builders, renovators, and do-it-yourselfers.”
The consumer market for augmented reality software is projected to reach over $13 billion by 2022.
“Monaghan Lumber believed in our vision and we are very excited to introduce augmented reality to their consumer base,” says Sanu Somaweera, Co-Founder of Kavtek. “The app caters to the Uberized generation of consumers that need instant gratification by empowering them to visualize products in their space effortlessly.”
The app is available to download for free on the Apple App Store and on Google Play (just search for “Monaghan Lumber”).
New co-working space to open at Venture13 in Cobourg in January
Venture13 Innovation Centre is located at 739 D’Arcy St. in Cobourg. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
Venture13, Northumberland County’s innovation and entrepreneurship centre, has announced a new co-working space designed for telecommuters and independent consultants.
Called the “VentureZone Inn”, the space will open in January 2019 within the VentureZone, a flexible work and accelerator space delivered by the Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation (NCFDC).
“Digital technology continues to advance allowing workers to be more mobile and flexible, providing employers the opportunity to offer remote work policies and solutions,” says NCFDC executive director Wendy Curtis. “At Venture13 we want to capitalize on this by giving our entrepreneurial community access to yet another cohort for collaboration, idea sharing, and diversification.”
At a cost of $125 per month, the VentureZone Inn will offer one dedicated seat in the co-working desk space, a high-speed fibre internet connection (wired and wireless), one dedicated locker and combination lock, access to private meeting space, and more. Anyone who signs up for a VentureZone Inn membership will receive their first month free for a trial period with no obligations or strings attached.
Peterborough game company Bloom Digital Media releases LGBTQ+ inclusive dating game for Nintendo Switch
Developed by independent game company Bloom Digital Media, LongStory is an LGBTQ+ friendly dating sim designed to foster stronger relationships and inclusivity. The game, which has been available for several years for PCs and iOS and Android mobile devices, is now available on the Nintendo Switch. (Supplied photo)
Based in Peterborough and Toronto, independent game company Bloom Digital Media in has released its LGBTQ+ inclusive dating game LongStory on the Nintendo Switch — the fastest-selling game console in U.S. history.
The dating simulation game, set at the weirdly lovable Weasel Heights Middle School, has an eight-episode story arc. It lets you pick your gender designation and pronouns, as well as whether you would like to date any of your friends. In addition to the pains and pleasures of romance, LongStory offers players the chance to reflect on complex issues including consent, coming out, social anxiety, and bullying — all in a safe environment.
Miriam Verburg, founder of Bloom Digital Media, an independent game company based in Peterborough and Toronto. (Supplied photo)
Originally published in 2014, the game is already available for PCs (Windows and Mac) and as a mobile app for iOS and Android mobile devices (it has been downloaded more than 1.4 million times). The game was released for the Nintendo Switch in North America and Europe on December 6, 2018.
The game won a Jury’s Honorable Mention at the 12th International Mobile Gaming Awards in 2016.
Bloom Digital Media was founded by Miriam Verburg, who has won several awards for the company’s innovative games, including a Jury’s Honorable Mention at the 12th International Mobile Gaming Awards in 2016 for LongStory.
VIDEO: LongStory Trailer – Bloom Digital Media
Verburg, who has been featured in publications such as VICE, Huffington Post, and the Globe and Mail, is a strong advocate for promoting female talent within Ontario’s game industry, through her participation in organizations like Dames Making Games, Interactive Ontario and as a sessional faculty member at Centennial and Humber College.
“Teens need a game that feels authentic,” Verburg says about LongStory. “They are living in the twenty-first century and they need a romantic game that reflects their reality. LongStory provides an opportunity for players to take control of their choices and their experience.”
According to the National Post, 10 per cent of young Canadians aged 18 to 34 identify as LGBTQ+, and according to the Canadian Mental Health Association, those who identify as LGBTQ+ face higher risks for some mental health issues due to the effects of discrimination and the social determinants of health.
Although other video game consoles like the Xbox and Sony Playstion have seen a decline in sales, the Nintendo Switch became the fastest-selling game console in U.S. history in 2018, selling 4.8 million units in its first 10 months of availability.
Northumberland County’s Amy Arthur wins Pitch to the Chief competition in Cobourg
Amy Arthur has won the second installment of the “Pitch to the Chief” competition in Cobourg for her hands-free personal safety device. (Photo: Venture13 / NCFDC)
Northumberland County resident Amy Arthur has won the second installment of the “Pitch to the Chief” competition in Cobourg for her hands-free personal safety device.
The competition, which was held in the Innovation Commons of Venture13 on November 28th, offers technology entrepreneurs the chance to pitch innovative products and services to the Chief of Police for Cobourg, in partnership with Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation (NCFDC).
A Baltimore resident and a former summer intern with the Ontario Provincial Police, Arthur is a McMaster University B.Sc. graduate who is currently finishing her Forensic Psychology degree at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). She previously invented a light therapy device, and demonstrated a prototype of her latest product — a hands-free personal safety device called Claxton — at the Pitch to the Chief competition
“In the market of personal safety devices, there is not one all-inclusive product that works for everyone and in all situations,” Arthur says. “I have taken on the task of solving this issue. I feel truly honoured to have had the opportunity to present my product idea and prototype to the Chief and his panel.”
Arthur’s prototype, was developed in-house at the Venture13 MakerLab — a collaborative prototyping, engineering and microfactory space created to support startups and makers — with fellow VentureZone member Alex Papanicolaou of Campbellford and with design input from Northumberland Makers.
Cobourg Chief of Police Kai Liu, Cobourg Police Services Board Chair Dean Pepper, and Inspector Jeff Sheils, along with NCFDC Board Member Pam Russell, formed the panel of judges. The presentation format was a 10-minute pitch including slides and demonstrations, followed by an interactive question and answer period. The entrepreneur pitches ranged from IoT sensors to robotics to connected and autonomous vehicle infrastructure to wearables.
The next Pitch to the Chief competition is set for the first half of 2019.
LCBO opens new store in Bancroft
If you’re in the #Bancroft area, make sure to stop in and check out their brand new beautiful #LCBO ?? tons of selection…
A new LCBO store in Bancroft officially opened last Wednesday (December 5).
Construction on the new building at 314 Hastings Street North (just south of the Canadian Tire and Foodland) began over the summer.
The new store is much larger than the previous location on Station Street in downtown Bancroft. It’s wheelchair accessible and features a Vintages corner, a cold beer room, and ample parking.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, 9;30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Peterborough Chamber breakfast meeting on attracting local shoppers on December 11 in Peterborough
The Peterborough Chamber’s next breakfast meeting takes place from 7 to 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 11th at Carousel Restaurant & Tavern (116 Lansdowne St. E., Peterborough).
Terry Guiel, executive director of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) will speak on the top “Santa Keeps it Local – How to Attract Local Shoppers”.
Networking begins at 7 a.m., with breakfast served at 7:30 a.m. (when you can make your best 30-second elevator speech to the room), followed by the guest speaker at 8 a.m.
The event is free (you only pay for whatever you order for breakfast).
Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce host a Holiday Open House in Haliburton on December 11
The Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Holiday Open House from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Demember 11th at the Chamber offices (195 Highland St., Haliburton).
The event will celebrate the past year and features treats and hot beverages.
Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce hosts Christmas Meet & Greet in Cobourg on December 11
The Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Christmas Meet & Greet from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Demember 11th at the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre (930 Burnham St., Cobourg).
This networking event is open to all local business people and is free both for Chamber members and non-members.
Camp Kawartha holds its annual general meeting on December 11
Camp Kawartha is holding its annual general meeting from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 11th at Camp Kawartha (1010 Birchview Rd, Douro-Dummer).
After networking and refreshments, the formal portion of the meeting gets underway at 6:40 p.m. The agenda includes annual reports, election of board members, and special presentations from Chris Magwood of the Endeavour Centre and Don Watkins from from the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha.
Magwood will speak about living buildings as the most sustainable building standard in the world and Camp Kawartha’s own unique living building project, and Watkins will talk about Adventure in Understanding, a program that brings First Nations and non-First Nations youth together through a canoe journey.
This is also an opportunity to learn about everything Camp Kawartha accomplished over the past year, and hear about future plans including the organization’s capital campaign.
Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre hosts small business workshop in Lindsay on December 12
Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre is hosting a “Building a Strong Small Business Community and Networking ” small business workshop from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 12th in the lower level meeting room at the Lindsay Public Library (190 Kent St. W., Lindsay).
Facilitated by Sandy Greenberg (serial entrepreneur, business coach, and former business advisor at Centennial College Centre of Entrepreneurship), the workshop will explore the benefits of creating a strong business community, including the importance of breaking down barriers to creating a collaborative environment, the value of strategic alliances, and creating buying programs, cross promotions, and shared resources with other community businesses.
Kawartha Chamber Business After Hours Holiday Social at Kawartha Lakes Construction on December 12
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is hosting its Business After Hours Holiday Social from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 12th at Kawartha Lakes Construction (3359 Lakefield Rd., Lakefield).
As part of the event, the team at Kawartha Lakes Construction will be again be running their employee contest for do-it-yourself Christmas trees, where they challenge staff to come up with creative Christmas trees and have guests vote on their favourite.
Kawartha Lakes Construction will also be collecting toys for the Lioness Club Toy Drive, as well as non-perishable food items for the Lakefield Food Bank.
Port Hope Young Professionals hosts a Christmas social in Port Hope on December 13
The Port Hope Young Professionals group is hosting a Christmas social from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, December 13th at Table+Loft (59 Walton St., Port Hope).
This free event will feature DJ Chris Martell and drinks and food will be available for purchase. Attendees are encouraged to dress in their “ugliest” festiva attire.
Bring a locally purchased and wrapped gift of a $10 value to participate in the buy local gift exchange.
The Southern Ontario Ice Climbing Festival (SOIce Fest) takes place from February 8 to 10, 2019 in Maynooth. Festival co-founder, photographer, and passionate climber Peter Hoang took this photo of an ice climber near Huntsville. Because of the granite rock walls of the Canadian Shield found in the area, northern and central Ontario is a popular destination for ice climbers. (Photo courtesy of Peter Hoang, peter-hoang.com)
For the fifth straight year, the Southern Ontario Ice Climbing Festival (SOIce Fest) is returning to Maynooth in 2019 from February 8th to 10th.
The town, located 22 kilometres north of Bancroft in Hastings Highlands, has hosted the annual festival since it was founded four years ago by climbers Andriy Kolos, Josh Smith, and Peter Hoang.
Originally an informal celebration of ice climbing, the non-profit festival is now led by the Ontario Alliance of Climbers (previously known as the Ontario Access Coalition).
The festival has continued to grow each year, drawing ice climbers from across Canada and the northern U.S. Last year, more than 250 climbers attended SOIce Fest.
“It’s a real draw for both experienced ice climbers and for those who have never tried it before,” Kolos says. “We’re able to build on every past year’s success and bring an increasing number of ice climbing guides to the festival, so that we can continue to provide high quality instruction to an ever-growing number of people who want to get into the sport.”
Ice climbing grew out of the sport of rock climbing and mountaineering, as climbers often had to traverse icy sections on their way to the summit. Because of the thrill and challenge of climbing on ice, it soon developed as its own dedicated sport.
Climbers use crampons, ice axes, and ropes to climb on ice formations including frozen waerwalls, icefalls, and cliffs and rock slabs covered with ice from frozen flows of waters. The granite rock walls of the Canadian Shield in central and northern Ontario provides the perfect terrain for ice climbing, making it a popular destination for climbers.
At SOIce Fest 2019, most of the weekend’s climbing activity will take place at Diamond Lake near Combermere, about 34 kilometres west of Maynooth. Evening events will take place at The Arlington in Maynooth. The weekend will also feature clinics, demonstrations, and vendors.
The festival is supported by Mountain Equipment Coop, Arc’teryx, the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, and Yamnuska Mountain Adventures, as well as local businesses and members of the community of Maynooth.
“We’re ever appreciative for the warm welcome we see every year from the Maynooth community,” says Randy Kielbasiewicz, co-chair of the Ontario Alliance of Climbers.
“We thank them for the important role they play in making this festival a continued success. Ice climbing areas are scattered around small communities in rural Ontario, and the ice climbing community is grateful for the hospitality they receive throughout the province.”
VIDEO: Climbing for Community: Southern Ontario Ice Festival
As well as supporting local businesses by bringing hundreds of climbers into Maynooth, SOIce Fest also raises funds for local community initiatives.
Over the past four years, the festival has raised more than $5,500 for the Rural and Overland Utility Transit (TROUT) — a bus service that connects rural residents to the greater Bancroft area — and children’s community programming in Maynooth.
For more information about SOIce Fest and updates on clinics and registration, visit www.soicefest.com.
In "The Other: A Strange Christmas Tale", Leanne (Jalen Brink, left) is the daughter of Bill (Danny Waugh, second from left) and Judy (Naomi Duvall, right), who is estranged from her bigoted father Ebbie Krank (Robert Winslow, second from right). When a mysterious woman arrives in the Village of Millbrook, Ebbie is taken on a journey through his past, present, and future to understand the causes of his racism. (Photo: Wayne Eardley, Brookside Studio)
From December 7th to 14th, join 4th Line Theatre for a lantern-lit journey through the streets and history of Millbrook with the outdoor theatre company’s latest original production The Other: A Strange Christmas Tale.
4th Line Theatre presents The Other: A Strange Christmas Tale
When: Friday, December 7 (sold out); Saturday, December 8; Wednesday, December 12 to Friday, December 14, 2018 (all performances at 7 p.m.) Where: St. Thomas Anglican Church (16 Centre St., Millbrook) How much: $27.50
Written by Beverley Cooper and directed by Kim Blackwell. Starring Linda Kash, Robert Winslow, Danny Waugh, Naomi Duvall, Mosun Fadare, Mark Hiscox, and many more. Musical direction, composition, and arrangements by Justin Hiscox. Costume design by Meredith Hubbard. Tickets available by calling 1-800-814-0055 or 705-932-4445 or online at www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca.
Written by Beverley Cooper and directed by Kim Blackwell, The Other is not only 4th Line Theatre’s first-ever holiday play, but it’s an immersive experiment following the format established in their popular Halloween show The Shadow Walk of Millbrook. The streets and buildings of the town of Millbrook provide a sensual backdrop for a potent story that is extremely topical, but filled with glimpses into the township’s past.
With shades of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, mixed with plot devices from some old The Twilight Zone episodes, the play begins at a Christmas pageant held at St. Thomas Anglican Church in Millbrook. Community members Phyllis (Linda Kash) and Reggie (Mark Hiscox) are surprised when local curmudgeon Ebbie Krank (Robert Winslow) shows up with his granddaughter Leanne (Jalen Brink), sent to visit her grandfather by Ebbie’s estranged daughter Judy (Naomi Duvall) — who has not spoken to her father since her marriage 15 years earlier.
Unsure how to communicate with his granddaughter, Ebbie becomes frustrated with Leanne’s focus on her phone, and Leanne meets her grandfather’s demands with pure defiance.
Then, when a mysterious woman speaking in a foreign language (Mosun Fadare) shows up at the church and approaches Leanne, Ebbie violently pushes her away from his granddaughter while shouting prejudiced remarks at her about her ethnicity.
Upset and disgusted by her grandfather’s blatant racism, Leanne flees the church, prompting Ebbie to follow. What happens next is a journey through Millbrook’s past and future, as Ebbie travels through 1909 to 2019 and discovers his family’s legacy of bigotry and intolerance towards those who are different — “The Other” of the play’s title.
Robert Winslow stars as Ebbie Krank, a bigot who has been estranged from his daughter since she married a Haitian 15 years before. Also pictured is Mark Hiscox as Reggie. (Photo: Wayne Eardley, Brookside Studio)
From the Roma visitors who came to Millbrook in 1909, to transient people looking for work and food during the Great Depression, to the Protestant feud with Catholics, to Canada’s current aid to Syrian refugees, Ebbie takes a long hard look at his past, leading to the events that tore his daughter out of his life.
Mosun Fadare as Angela, the mysterious women who arrives in Millbrook on the night of the Christmas pageant. (Photo: Wayne Eardley, Brookside Studio)
Is it too late for an old bigot to change his ways, or will he lose his family forever? Only a Christmas miracle can show Ebbie Krank the error of his ways and put love in his heart.
While keeping to the local historical themes that 4th Line Theatre is famous for, The Other is a very modern tale that strums a powerful emotional chord. Although it is sad to admit, we currently live in a society where the political backdrop in the United States, as well as in Canada, has allowed xenophobia, bigotry, and intolerance to once again rear their ugly heads.
Where once bigots stayed quiet in their beliefs, the politics of hate and intolerance has become dominant once again and racists now feel comfortable letting their slanted world view be aired out in the open.
The Other addresses this disturbing current trend head on by introducing the audience to a bigot. But instead of simply vilifying him, the play seeks to understand what elements in his life brought him to this point, exposing that history repeats itself. Playwright Beverley Cooper puts forth the idea that intolerance is generational and it is passed down from grandparents, to parents, to children.
The Other doesn’t hold back, and packs a powerful and potent punch when dealing with this sensitive subject. It’s refreshing to see such sensitive subject matter being dealt with in a Christmas story.
“The Other: A Strange Christmas Tale” takes the audience through the streets and history of Millbrook, from porches to parks. Pictured is Robert Winslow with Emma Khaimovich and Hilary Wear. (Photo: Wayne Eardley, Brookside Studio)
Robert Winslow gives another commanding performance as Ebbie Krank. Krank is a difficult character to play: he is insufferable, explosive, and intolerant. While playing a racist is never easy, Robert shows a very human side of his character. Despite his character’s reprehensible behaviour, Rob creates a character who becomes more and more sympathetic as he moves through the different vignettes.
When the audience first leaves the church, they witness Robert pacing the street frantically, up and down the asphalt and through the crowd as he searches for his granddaughter. In the process, he envelops himself in a frantic nervous energy that rips through the audience. It’s an interesting performance by a talented actor.
Robert is joined by a strong supporting cast of performers making up his past, present, and future. He meets his match in Naomi Duvall as his daughter Judy, who breaks the circle of hate when she falls in love with Haitian-born student Bill Toussaini (Danny Waugh).
Robert Winslow as the bigoted Ebbie Krank, with Mosun Fadare as the mysterious woman Angela who sets the play’s events into motion. Riffing on “A Christmas Carol”, Beverley Cooper’s script is ultimately a Christmas tale of redemption. (Photo: Wayne Eardley, Brookside Studio)
One of my favourite local performers, Naomi shows a heroic defiance as she chooses the man she loves over the legacy of bigotry that her family has tainted Millbrook with for over a century. Naomi and Danny are a charming pair, making a statement that love is colour blind and knows no boundaries.
One of the most important elements of this show is the performance by Mosun Fadare. With an unearthly beauty about her, Mosun has an otherworldly presence that creates the air of mystery to make the mysticism of this show work. Mosun is the embodiment of Christmas magic.
But the real star of The Other is Millbrook itself. The locations used for the backdrop of the show are very well chosen. From the church, to home porches, to parks, to the front of the Nexicom building, to dead-end streets, the production team makes clever use of space, and the old-fashioned small town architecture of Millbrook’s scenic downtown core believably takes you back in time.
Some performers are only seen in the shadows, while others disappear into the darkness. A roaming choir of familiar theatrical faces goes from location to location, creating a beacon of light and song to lead the roaming audience to the next location. A horse and a dog help bring the illusion of reality to the show. The journey through Millbrook is scenic, beautiful, and well done.
While the trek through the streets of Millbrook is the point of this theatrical experiment, it also becomes a burden for the drama of the play. Each scene in The Other contributes a powerful piece of the story, dealing with some very emotional material that has the potential to trigger audience members. However, as the audience listens to the comical banter of Linda Kash and Mark Hiscox while travelling to the next location, the audience is momentarily taken out of the drama and some of the power of those scenes is lost.
Once at the next location, the company starts all over again. Through the drama and performance, they eventually recapture the audience, but are at risk of losing them once again as the journey continues.
Linda Kash and Mark Hiscox (not pictured) provide comic relief between the dramatic scenes of the play, while the audience travels to the next scene location. (Photo: Wayne Eardley, Brookside Studio)
I would be interested to see how The Other would work as a conventional production done on a traditional stage. I wonder if the material would be even more potent with shorter scene transitions and less comical banter.
However, what would be lost would be the irreplaceable scenic backdrop of the Village of Millbrook. The journey through the streets is truly the magical element of the show. Trying to mesh together the journey and the story is a complicated theatrical experiment that works on most levels, and successfully creates a memorable and unique experience.
But in the end this is a holiday story. Although there were only one or two young people in the audience at the show I attended, The Other is a perfect story to start a discussion with your children about the perils of bigotry and hatred for families and communities. It is a story simple enough to understand and engaging enough for audience members of all ages, without softening the blow of the material. Beverley Cooper shows a remarkable balance in her script.
The play is supported by musicians Rita Dottor, Justin Hiscox, and Mark Hiscox and a choir consisting of Nate Axcell, Rosemarie Barnes, Taylor Beatty, Sophie Botting, Katherine Carleton, Elaine Day, Natalie Dorsett, Tyler Evans Knott, Christie Ferguson Freeman, Keith Goranson, Brandon Grant Remmelgas, Gillian Harknett, Tim Jeffries, Heather Knechtel, Rowan Lamoreaux, and Darcy Mundle. (Photo: Wayne Eardley, Brookside Studio)
There are many holiday theatre options in the Kawarthas, but The Other: A Strange Christmas Tale is a definite winner in regards to material, originality, and in creating a memorable theatrical experience. It combines the warmth and mystery of the Christmas season with an important message of acceptance and tolerance in a world that seems to be full of hate.
The play includes fear, pathos, history, joy, and redemption. But most of all, it features the town of Millbrook in a majestic journey through its colourful past and beautiful streets.
The Other: A Strange Christmas Tale will be performed on Friday, December 7th and Saturday, December 8th, and through Wednesday, December 12th to Friday, December 14th. While the December 7th show is sold out, tickets are still available for the other performances. Each show begins at 7 p.m. at St. Thomas Anglican Church (16 Centre St., Millbrook). Tickets are $27.50 and can be purchased by calling 1-800-814-0055 or 705-932-4445 or online at www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca.
Note: Dress warmly and prepare for the elements. The outdoors portion of the show last approximately an hour and, even if it’s a mild winter’s night, it gets nippy after a while.
Karen Scott of Apsley has spun her way to $400,000.
She won the top prize in OLG’s The Big Spin Instant game, a $5 game that combines scrach play with prizes revealed in-store by an animated spinning wheel on the lottery terminal screen.
If the animated wheel stops on “Big Spin”, the player wins an in-person spin at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto, for a guaranteed prize of $100,000 to $500,000.
Scott took the spin in Toronto on Wednesday (December 5) and claimed a prize of $400,000.
The winning ticket was purchased at Foodland on Elgin Street in Madoc.
Serena Ryder's new video for the title track from her new record "Christmas Kisses" supports the Ontario SPCA by featuring more than 20 dogs, with some dressed in festive outfits and some giving kisses to their humans. Several dogs and their owners from the Kawarthas appear in the video. (Screenshot)
Millbrook native Serena Ryder has released a new video to promote the eponymous single from her new record Christmas Kisses and to support the Ontario SPCA — and the video includes a few Kawarthas pooches and their owners.
Directed by Lisa Mann, the video for the song “Christmas Kisses” features more than 20 dogs, with some dressed in festive outfits and some giving kisses to their humans.
Susan Dunkley, Manager of Development and Outreach at the Peterborough Humane Society, appears in the video with her dog Zoey. Sadie and Archie, who belong to Rhonda Barnet and Don Barnet of Steelworks Design Inc. in Peterborough, also make an appearance.
The Peterborough Humane Society’s Susan Dunkley gets a kiss from her dog Zoey. (Screenshot)Archie and Sadie, who belong to Rhonda Barnet and Don Barnet of Peterborough, appear in the video. (Screenshot)As Lisa Besseling looks on, Owen the Griff gives Marlon Hazlewood a kiss. (Screenshot)His quirky cuteness is one of the reasons why Owen the Griff has more than 75,000 followers on Instagram. (Screenshot)
So do Lisa Besseling and Marlon Hazlewood with their pup Owen the Griff. Like many of the other dogs featured in the video, Owen the Griff is a “dog influencer” on Instagram (he now has more than 73,000 followers @owenthegriff).
At the end of the video, viewers are encouraged to support local animal shelters and rescue centres. There’s a link to ontariospca.ca/serena where you can make a donation to the Ontario SPCA.
Currently the number one holiday song in Canada right now, “Christmas Kisses” was penned by Serena and songwriter Simon Wilcox. It is the only original song on Serena’s new record, which is a jazz treatment of holiday favourites including “Let It Snow”, “White Christmas”, “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”, “Blue Christmas”, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, “Jingle Bell Rock”, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, “Santa Baby”, and “Christmas Song”.
“Christmas Kisses”, Serena Ryder’s first-ever Christmas record, is a jazz treatment of nine holiday favourites along with the title track. It was produced by Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Bob Ezrin. (Publicity photo)
Christmas Kisses is Serena’s first-ever Christmas record. She says she was encouraged to make it by producer Bob Ezrin, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee who has worked with Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Pink Floyd, Deftones, 30 Seconds To Mars, and many more.
“When the man who produced Pink Floyd’s The Wall asks you to do a Christmas album, you just say yes,” Serena says in an interview with Jordan Parker of Halifax Today.
“He’s one of the most legendary, magical men on the planet. He asked me what Christmas made me feel, and I thought of the spirit of togetherness, and family.
“But something I loved as a kid was jazz music, like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. I always wanted to do a jazz record, and here it is.”
The new record and video is also something of a birthday present for Serena, who turns 36 on Saturday (December 8).
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