Kawartha Lakes resident Dean Nighswander took this shot of an Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry water bomber dropping its load on a brush fire north of Glenarm in the City of Kawartha Lakes on July 7, 2018. (Photo courtesy of Dean Nighswander)
Kawartha Lakes resident Dean Nighswander shared these photos he took of a water bomber collecting water from Balsam Lake on Saturday (July 7) to help fight a nearby brush fire.
The De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter is one of six operated by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for firefighting operations (in total, the ministry has a fleet of 16 fixed-wing and rotary aircraft).
The 12-hectare (30-acre) brush fire was located southwest of Balsam Lake on Fenel Road north of Glenarm.
The underside of the De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter, one of six operated by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for firefighting operations. (Photo courtesy of Dean Nighswander)The water bomber on approach to Balsam Lake to collect a load of water. (Photo courtesy of Dean Nighswander)The water bomber comes in for a landing on Balsam Lake to scoop up water from the lake. (Photo courtesy of Dean Nighswander)
With crews from the Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service battling the fire on the ground, the water bomber assisted with the containment efforts.
Many people don’t realize that water bombers are not used to actually extinguish fires — that’s the work of ground crews. Instead, the water bombers are used to “knock down” hot spots to help prevent fires from spreading and to cool down the environment so ground crews can work safely.
To fill their holding tanks, the water bombers land on a nearby water source and skim along the surface for around 600 metres (2,000 feet). During the landing, probes located on the bottom of the floats are extended to scoop up the water into the holding tanks, which takes between 10 and 30 seconds. The water bomber then lifts off to drop their load either directly or around the fire, depending on the size of the fire, returning as quickly as possible to the water source to collect another load.
To fill its holding tanks, a water bomber skims along the surface for around 600 metres. (Photo courtesy of Dean Nighswander)During the landing, probes located on the bottom of the floats are extended to scoop up the water into the holding tanks, which takes between 10 and 30 seconds. (Photo courtesy of Dean Nighswander)The water bomber finishing its run after dropping a load of water. (Photo courtesy of Dean Nighswander)
The Glenarm brush fire is one of three fires in the City of Kawartha Lakes this past week.
On Tuesday, a lightning strike started a 12-hectare forest fire in Trent Lakes township, near Udra Lake west of County Road 507 and Catchacoma, about 20 kilometres north of Buckhorn.
Later in the week, crews were battling a fire in Carden near Dalrymple, about 45 kilometres (28 miles) northwest of Lindsay. Some nearby residents were asked to evacuate their homes.
The De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter water bomber silhouetted against the sun. (Photo courtesy of Dean Nighswander)
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry owns a fleet of around 100 fixed wing and rotary aircraft. The actual number is 16.
On July 6, 2018, Brian "Buzz" Thompson passed away in Toronto at the age of 68 while being treated for a heart attack and stroke. Here Buzz is pictured performing at the Dutch Mason Blues Festival in Nova Scotia. (Photo: Randy MacNeil / 2010)
Veteran musician Brian “Buzz” Thompson of Peterborough has died at the age of 68.
According to Buzz’s cousin Mark Beatty, Buzz died at Toronto General Hospital yesterday (July 6) after being treated for a heart attack and a stroke he suffered in Peterborough in late June.
Buzz was originally being treated at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) but was transferred to Toronto General for specialized treatment. His treatment was not going well and he was expected to be transferred back to PRHC this week. He passed away before the transfer could take place.
Ronnie Hawkins with Buzz Thompson. (Photo courtesy of Theresa Mackenzie)
Affectionately referred to as “Mr. Soul”, Buzz was a veteran Peterborough soul singer, guitarist, and harmonica player who was much loved and respected in the local music scene.
He was a founding member of The Hangmen in the 1960s, was a long-time guitarist and vocalist for Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks. While playing in Hawkins’ band along with Brent Bailey, he appeared on the Conan O’Brien Show, the Mike Bullard Show, and the Rita MacNeil Show.
Buzz’s friend Theresa Mackenzie posted on Facebook a quote by Buzz from the 2013 book A Portrait of Blues in Canada – a Photographic Documentary by Randy MacNeil and Francine Aubrey (the feature photo of Buzz for this story was taken by MacNeil).
“I’ve made sacrifices — two marriages, and a life of poverty,” Buzz says. “Travelling around putting my life in danger many times. Actually, after I started playing with Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks, things started getting better. I’ve been playing with Ronnie now for 20 years. I have been treated much better since then.”
The members of Max Mouse & The Gorillas: Buzz Thompson, J.P. Hovercraft, George Bertok, Jim Leslie, and Bobby Watson (not pictured: Chris Cuddy).
Buzz had also recorded and played with some of the big names in the music business, including members of The Band, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Lonnie Mack, John Sebastian, George Olliver, The Stampeders, Kris Kristofferson, Jeff Healey, and more.
An inductee of Peterborough’s Pathway of Fame, Buzz was known for performing locally in The Rocket Revue and Max Mouse & The Gorillas.
Buzz had been suffering from ill health for years. In the summer of 2015, he experienced a series of mini strokes. That fall, local musicans banded together to hold a benefit “Because It’s Buzz”, which featured performances by The Hawks, Jimmy Bowskill & The Barnburners, Rick Fines with Roly Platt, The Weber Brothers, Rocket Revue featuring Jane Archer and Jerome Godboo, Beau Dixon, Al Black and the Steady Band, Shea and Brent Bailey, Jerome Levon Avis, Dave Mowat, and many more.
Tributes to Buzz have been flooding social media following the news of his passing, from friends and musicians like JP Hovercraft, Gailie Young, Al Black, Ryan Weber, Kim Doolittle, Shea Bailey, Gene Hardy, Amanda Robb, and many more.
VIDEO: “Find Out For Yourself” – Buzz Thompson
VIDEO: Buzz Thompson playing with The Hawk on The Rita McNeil Show
VIDEO: “Cut Me Up” – Buzz Thompson & The Downtown Sound (1990)
During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E.coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like this beach at Beavermead Park in Peterborough, are tested every business day while most are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Every Friday during swimming season, we post a weekly report of the results of water quality testing at beaches in the Kawarthas and update it throughout the week.
As of July 7, 2018, the following beaches have been posted as unsafe for swimming:
Riverview Beach Park – Bobcaygeon Area
Crowe Bay Fun Park – Campbellford Area
Here are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County.
In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White’s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.
Peterborough Public Health samples the water quality of popular city beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day during the summer. The health unit will post signage if a beach is unsafe for swimming, such as this sign at Rogers Cove from last year. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Important note
The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.
You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.
While we strive to update this story with the current conditions, you should confirm the most recent test results by visiting the local health unit websites at Peterborough Public Health and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. As noted above, the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead are tested every business day so the results listed below may not be current.
Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Kawarthas for this evening.
As a cold front moves across southern Ontario breaking this week’s heat wave, conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing torrential rain.
Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop this evening across central Ontario.
Given the high heat and humidity, a few of these thunderstorms could be intense resulting in localized torrential downpours.
As these thunderstorms are expected to move slowly across the area, some locations could receive as much as 25 to 50 mm of rain over a short period of time. Localized wind gusts up to 90 km/h will also be a concern. Intense lightning is likely with any thunderstorm that develops.
Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Fast-moving water across a road can sweep a vehicle away.
The Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management recommends that you take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches.
Toronto alt-rockers Ready The Prince (Stephen De Ciantis, Daniel Prada, Jordan Ross) are performing at the Red Dog in downtown Peterborough on Saturday, July 7th, with special guests Onionface and Heartless Romantics. (Photo: Sabrina DiRenzo)
Every Thursday, we publish live music and performance events at pubs and clubs in Peterborough and The Kawarthas based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, July 5 to Wednesday, July 11.
If you’re a pub or club owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our Nightlife Editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com.
6-9pm - Bloom Town Bash ft food, karaoke, henna artist, and more. Themed attire encouraged. ($30, available at www.visitbobcaygeon.com, Kawartha Coffee Co., Impact 32 Welcome Centre at the locks)
Sunday, July 8
7-11pm - Canada Day Karaoke
Marley's Bar & Grill
17 Fire Route 82 Catalina Bay, Buckhorn
(705) 868-2545
Friday, July 6
7-10pm - Melissa Payne
Saturday, July 7
7-10pm - Blue Hazel
Coming Soon
Friday, July 13 7-10pm - Washboard Hank
Saturday, July 14 7-10pm - Lenny Bull
McGillicafey's Pub & Eatery
13 Bridge St.. N., Hastings
(705) 696-3600
Thursday, July 5
7-11pm - Karaoke w/ Jefrey Danger
Friday, July 6
8pm - Live music (TBA)
Wednesday, July 11
7-10:30pm - Open mic
McThirsty's Pint
166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 743-2220
Thursdays
9pm - Live music with JJ Thompson
Fridays
10pm - Live music with Brian Haddlesey
SatSaturdays
10pm - Live music with Brian Haddlesey
Sundays
8pm - Open stage hosted by Ryan Van Loon
Mondays
9:30pm - Trivia Night hosted by Cam Green
Tuesdays
9pm - Vintage Tuesdays ft Brendan Lawless
Wednesdays
9pm - Live music
The Mill Restaurant and Pub
990 Ontario St., Cobourg
(905) 377-8177
Thursday, July 5
7pm - Invisible Sideman
Coming Soon
Thursday, July 12 7pm - Wicklow
Moody's Bar & Grill
3 Tupper St., Millbrook
(705) 932-6663
Thursday, July 5
8-11pm - Open Mic
Murphy's Lockside Pub & Patio
3 May St., Fenelon Falls
(705) 887-1100
Thursday, July 5
8-11pm - Open Mic Night
Tuesday, July 10
7-9pm - North Country Express
Coming Soon
Thursday, July 19 8:30pm - The Kents Acoustic Show ($25 in advance at Murphy's)
Oasis Bar & Grill
31 King St. E., Cobourg
(905) 372-6634
Thursdays
6:30pm - Live music
Sundays
5:30pm - PHLO
Wednesdays
6:30pm - Live music
Pappas Billiards
407 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-9010
Thursday, July 5
7-10pm - Open Mic
Saturday, July 7
1-3pm - Shipwrecked Saturdays with Keigan & Whitney and special musical guest
Publican House Brewery
300 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 874-5743
Friday, July 6
6-8pm - Shai Peer
Saturday, July 7
7-10pm - Joe Bulger
Sunday, July 8
3-6pm - Ace and The Kid
Coming Soon
Friday, July 13 6-8pm - House Brand
Saturday, July 14 7-10pm - Rob Phillips
Sunday, July 15 3-6pm - Kevin Foster
Puck' N Pint Sports Pub
871 Chemong Rd., Peterborough
(705) 741-1078
Friday, July 6
8pm - Open Mic hosted by Jacques Graveline
Coming Soon
Friday, July 13 8pm - Thunderkatz
Red Dog Tavern
189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 741-6400
Thursday, July 5
10pm - Hip Hop show ft Locksmith and Junk ($20 in advance, $25 at door)
Friday, July 6
10pm - Ian K. with Present Tense
Saturday, July 7
8:30pm - Ready The Prince w/ Onionface and Heartless Romantics ($10)
VIDEO: "Drunk Without A Drug" - Ready The Prince
Sunday, July 8
5-10pm - Oppressed Logic w/ Dirty Bird and Knifehammer ($10)
Tuesday, July 10
9pm - Open mic w/ Matt Diamond (sign up at 8pm)
Coming Soon
Friday, July 13 10pm - Indian Handcrafts w/ Cross Dog ($10)
Nathan Clifford (left) of Green Improvements is developing a computer-based system to enable beekeepers to monitor the health of their hives. Nathan is one of nine young entrepreneurs participating in this year's Summer Company program in the Kawarthas, an Ontario government program administered locally through the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre. A showcase of the student-run companies was held at Staples in Peterborough as part of the province-wide Summer Company-Staples Youth Entrepreneurship Day on July 4, 2018. (Photo: Amy Bowen / kawarthaNOW.com)
Once again Peterborough has demonstrated it is a hotbed for young entrepreneurs. On Wednesday (July 4), nine students showcased their startups at Staples on Park Street in Peterborough.
The showcase was supported by the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre — part of the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development organization — that supports the creation of new student-owned and operated companies.
Summer Company, Ontario’s flagship youth entrepreneurship program, provides students aged 15 to 29 an opportunity to open and operate their own business during summer break. Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre has partnered with the program since 2001.
The program is based on the notion that empowering youth benefits the whole community.
“A big focus in economic development is on the attraction, development and retention of a skilled workforce,” says Rhonda Keenan, President & CEO of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development.
“This program offers an opportunity for students from high school, college or university to test the waters of entrepreneurship and get connected in the business community.”
Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett speaks at the Summer Company-Staples Youth Entrepreneurship Day on July 4, 2018 at Staples in Peterborough, as young entrepreneur Noah Abrahamse of GoldWing Jazz looks on. (Photo: Amy Bowen / kawarthaNOW.com)
Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett was in attendance and addressed the crowd, commenting on the positive impact Summer Company has on its participants.
“When I bump into the young entrepreneurs after the showcase, they always describe it as positive experience,” Bennett says. “This generation has many opportunities with new media to reach a wide audience, something my generation didn’t have.”
Bennett’s comments ring true for all participants, who have used a variety of social media channels to spread awareness about their projects. Connectivity and self-marketing are invaluable tools for anyone starting a business and young people are taking advantage.
Lucas Graham – Socialize
Lucas Graham’s smartphone app, Socialize, helps people connect and network in real life. (Photo: Amy Bowen / kawarthaNOW.com)
Lucas Graham is one of those young people. His product, Socialize, aims to help people network. His proximity-based app uses Bluetooth technology to display information about other app users in the vicinity.
The app may sound similar to LinkedIn but Graham is quick to note that Socialize is more about in-the-moment, face-to-face connections.
“The goal is to connect people in person, rather than simply online,” he says, noting that he envisions the app being used by both professionals and students.
One feature of Socialize will be the virtual business card, where users can simply tap their smart phones and transfer their contact information and a user profile.
Graham acknowledges that among the next steps will be reaching out to businesses and organizations to raise awareness about Socialize.
Eric Hall – Spotless
Eric Hall is running Spotless, an interior car-detailing business, whose clients include the auto dealership who advised him there was no demand for the service. (Photo: Amy Bowen / kawarthaNOW.com)
Reaching out to local businesses is something Eric Hall, whose interior car-detailing business is called Spotless, started with when he began his journey into entrepreneurship.
Hall kicked off his project by contacting local auto dealerships to determine whether there was a demand for a car detailing service. Hall says he received mixed responses.
“One dealership told me that the market was too competitive for me to be successful,” Hall recalls. “Another one told me they had cars available right then that needed detailing.”
Hall went ahead with his plans and now has trouble keeping up with his clients, which include one of the dealerships that initially told him there was no need for his services.
Alexander McGrath – College Lake Labour
Alexander McGrath (right) is operating College Lake Labour with his best friend Bryce Wasson (left). The two are offering labour-for-hire services to clients in the Catchacoma and Gold Lake regions. (Photo: Amy Bowen / kawarthaNOW.com)
Alexander McGrath and Bryce Wasson of College Lake Labour are also experiencing a high volume of clients only a few months into their business.
Their startup is a small student-run, labour-for-hire service that assists clients with simple jobs around their cottage, marina, or home in the Catchacoma and Gold Lake regions.
“This business also allows me to put into practice the knowledge I’m learning at university,” explains McGrath, who is minoring in business at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
“We do work for our clients so they can enjoy their summer.”
Eric Wootton – The Highlands Dock Company
With his business The Highlands Dock Company, Eric Wootton is building high-quality and affordable docks. (Photo: Amy Bowen / kawarthaNOW.com)
Likewise, Eric Wootton’s product also aims to help cottagers enjoy their summers. Wootton’s one-man startup, The Highlands Dock Company, specializes in building quality custom docks at affordable prices.
Wootton, who just graduated high school, prides himself on efficiency and quality. For example, he says he can build a 6′ by 12′ dock with a ramp in as little as three days.
“The big companies can be expensive, and sometimes the product is even lower quality. I provide an affordable service that is equal to if not better than the quality of the docks made by the big companies.”
Jaleel Siddiqui – Alliance Living
Jaleel Siddiqui’s business Alliance Living intends to connect mature students looking for affordable housing with homeowers who need help maintaining their homes. (Photo: Amy Bowen / kawarthaNOW.com)
Affordability is an important factor in Jaleel Siddiqui’s business, Alliance Living.
As a student at Trent University, Siddiqui was forced to commute daily from Pickering to Peterborough due to the lack of affordable housing options in the city.
Siddiqui, who has a business administration degree and is now studying physiotherapy, built his startup around two different needs he identified within the city. While those over 55 are struggling to maintain their homes, students are struggling to find affordable accommodation.
Still in the marketing phase, Alliance Living aims to allow mature students to offset the cost of rent by assisting seniors with tasks around the house. The arrangement allows seniors to earn income and maintain their independence.
For those interested, Alliance will arrange each step in the process including screening applicants, interviewing candidates, and even coordinating payments.
Nathan Clifford – Green Improvements
Nathan Clifford of Green Improvements displays a honeycomb frame from a beehive. Nathan is developing PiHive, a beehive monitor that will provide beekeepers with accurate data about the health of their hives. (Photo: Amy Bowen / kawarthaNOW.com)
Nathan Clifford also saw a need within the community as declining bee populations pose a risk to our food supply.
Clifford’s startup, Green Improvements, is working on PiHive, a computer-based system that will enable beekeepers to monitor the health of their hives.
“I feel like this is important research,” says Clifford. “This tool will be able to provide scientists and beekeepers in this area with accurate data.”
Clifford notes that there is a lot of conflicting information about beekeeping in circulation. By creating this monitor, he hopes to take the speculation out of beekeeping. At this time, he is unaware of any comparable products in Canada.
Mason McMullen – Backwoods Landscaping Supplies and Woodworking
Mason McMullen will be offering a variety of local wood products through his business Backwoods Landscaping Supplies and Woodworking. (Photo: Amy Bowen / kawarthaNOW.com)
Using wood available on his family’s property in Lakefield, Mason McMullen of Backwoods Landscaping Supplies and Woodworking creates a variety of products, including cedar fence post/rails, firewood, mulch, meat smoker supplies, rough-cut lumber, custom furniture, and custom planters.
Gregory Postill – Metal Arts
Gregory Postill of Metal Arts, who unfortunately was unable to attend the event, is an artisan metal jewellery maker who uses traditional goldsmithing techniques to create one-of-a-kind pieces.
Noah Abrahamse – GoldWing Jazz
Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School student Noah Abrahamse is offering his musical skills for hire with his company GoldWing Jazz. (Photo: Amy Bowen / kawarthaNOW.com)
Noah Abrahamse of GoldWing Jazz, a soon-to-be grade 12 student at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School, has turned his passion for music into a music entertainment company for hire.
From solo alto saxophone to a fun and funky jazz combo, light background music or a lively show, Abrahamse can provide the entertainment. You can sample his tunes every Saturday from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Hot Belly Mama’s in downtown Peterborough.
All nine of the young entrepreneurs participating in this year’s Summer Company program developed their ideas from the resources at hand.
For more information about the Summer Company program, administered locally through the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre, visit peterboroughed.ca/small-business/summer-company/.
GreenUP Water Programs Coordinator Jenn McCallum places a BlueW Ptbo decal in the window at Black Honey Café on Hunter Street in downtown Peterborough. Look for the decal across the Kawarthas at businesses and public service buildings, marking them as destinations for re-filling up your reusable water bottle for free, or check bluewptbo.ca for a full listing. (Photo: Karen Halley / GreenUP)
Have you ever been out and about on a hot summer day, only to find out that your water bottle is empty? If so, you will want to tap into the GreenUP BlueW Ptbo program!
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Jenn McCallum, GreenUP Water Programs Coordinator.
BlueW Ptbo is an online map that shows you where you can find clean, free, public and commercial water sources to fill your reusable bottle at no cost, and with no expectation that you will buy anything. The map at bluewptbo.ca helps you to discover the local businesses and public service buildings that are participating in BlueW Ptbo.
You can also look for the BlueW decal in the windows of participating businesses.
Currently, there are 78 registered taps marked on the BlueW Peterborough map. Participating businesses are located throughout the Peterborough, Northumberland, and City of Kawartha Lakes region, and include Curve Lake, Hiawatha, and Alderville First Nations. Public libraries, parks, recreational facilities, and privately owned businesses are all mapped options for drinking water refills.
Participating businesses with the BlueW Ptbo decal will allow you to fill up your water bottle with municipal tap water at no cost and with no obligation to buy anything. (Graphic: BlueW Ptbo)
“I like to be part of a program that educates and informs,” says Lisa Dixon, owner of Black Honey Café in downtown Peterborough, “We are happy to offer a water bottle refill, and also encourage tap water to guests as they are seated.”
BlueW Ptbo is part of BlueW, an initiative that aims to provide free tap water wherever you are. This unique community-based program is dedicated to promoting municipal tap water as a healthy, easily accessible alternative to purchasing bottled drinks.
Evan Pilkington is the founder and managing director of BlueW.org program, which he launched in 2012.
“The goal of the BlueW is to promote access to drinking water, and to help people make better, healthier beverage choices,” Pilkington says. “The service that BlueW provides is in creating a dialogue between the water provider [municipalities], and the community that they provide water to.”
Since its inception, BlueW.org has expanded throughout North America, with over 26,000 businesses now listed for water refilling.
In 2016, GreenUP initiated the BlueW program in Peterborough through funding from the Healthy Kids Community Challenge, as part of its effort to promote drinking water over other — often sugary — beverage options. Currently, GreenUP delivers BlueW Ptbo through support from the Peterborough Utilities Group, promoting municipal tap water as a healthy and readily available source of drinking water.
“Since 1914 Peterborough Utilities has been providing safe, reliable, and consistently high-quality water from source to tap,” explains David Whitehouse, Vice-President Customer/Corporate Services and Conservation Officer at Peterborough Utilities Group. “When you find yourself away from your home tap, BlueW Ptbo can help you access tap water from other places around the city, maintaining a constant flow of refreshing and cold tap water even when your water bottle is empty.”
In the City of Peterborough, our municipal tap water comes from the Otonabee River — and is thoroughly treated before it reaches our taps, according to John Armour, Water Quality Specialist at the Water Treatment Plant.
“In addition to continual on-line monitoring throughout the drinking water treatment process, there are approximately 20,000 individual tests performed annually [to ensure that] Peterborough produces water that meets all Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards as outlined under Ontario Regulations 169/03.”
These 20,000 tests amount to one test every 30 minutes, and ensure that our drinking water is safe and healthy to drink.
In contrast, bottled water is regulated according to the Food and Drug Act, which has different standards and requirements and it is tested much less frequently. Water bottling plants are usually only inspected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency once every three to five years. When you consider that bottled water can cost up to 2,000 times the price of tap water, it seems like an unworthy expense.
Furthermore, it takes three litres of water and a quarter litre of fossil fuels to produce a single litre of bottled water, which is an intensive use of our natural resources. Many plastic water bottles end up in our landfills, or as litter in our forests and waterways, while very few make it to the recycling plant. Therefore, choosing to drink tap water in a reusable bottle is a better option for your health, your wallet, and for the environment.
The GreenUP store in downtown Peterborough carries a wide range of refillable water bottles of different sizes, shapes, and colours. (Photo: Peterborough GreenUP)
To learn which businesses and public service buildings will refill your water bottle for free, check out bluewptbo.ca and look for the BlueW decal in business windows.
We also have giveaway name tag stickers to help prevent you from losing your water bottle when you’re on the go! For more information about the program, contact Jenn McCallum, GreenUP Water Programs Coordinator, at jenn.mccallum@greenup.on.ca or by calling 705.745.3238 ext. 208.
If you would like to purchase a water bottle to take part in the BlueW program, check out the options at the GreenUP Store, which include S’Well, Kleen Kanteen, and Vapur water bottles of different sizes, shapes, and colours. S’Well and Kleen Kanteen bottles will keep your water cold for you for hours! For more information, stop by the GreenUP Store at 378 Aylmer Street North, between Simcoe and Hunter Streets.
Pop-reggae band Magic! (bassist Ben Spivak, lead singer/guitarist Nasi Atweh, drummer Alex Tanas, and guitarist/keyboardist Mark Pellizzer) performs a free concert at Peterborough Musicfest in Del Crary Park on Saturday, July 7, 2018. (Publicity photo)
The thing about a tough act being hard to follow is … well, it’s tough.
Peterborough Musicfest presents Magic!
When: Saturday, July 7, 2018 at 8 p.m. Where: Del Crary Park (100 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: free
Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets (lawn chairs are available to rent for $4/chair). VIP seating available for Sponsors and Fest Friends. No smoking, alcohol, or pets permitted. There’s no public parking at Del Crary Park, but there’s neighborhood street parking nearby and ample parking in downtown Peterborough.
Take, for example, the song “Rude” by Magic!, the Canadian reggae-pop band currently based in Los Angeles.
Released on October 12, 2013 as the first single from the soon-to-follow Don’t Kill The Magic, the band’s debut album, it climbed to #6 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart, cracked the Top 10 in numerous countries including the United States, the United Kingdom and Brazil, and enjoyed worldwide sales in excess of 10 million.
A juggernaut of a tune, “Rude” received more than 350 million streams, and the official video for the song now exceeds 1.5 billion views on YouTube — making it the 40th most viewed YouTube video of all time.
VIDEO: “Rude” – Magic!
“Rude” was clearly the ultimate tough act to follow. But on Saturday, July 7th at Del Crary Park, we will receive full evidence that there is plenty of “magic” left in the aftermath of initial success as Magic! performs a free concert at Peterborough Musicfest.
“I always enjoy singing Rude … but when you’re doing promo it’s different than when you’re touring,” says Magic! lead singer and guitarist Nasri Atweh in a 2016 interview with Dan Hyman of www.rollingstone.com.
“When you’re doing promo, you’re singing one or two songs over and over again. We would sing Rude three times a day, every day, often acoustically. It was like ‘This is ridiculous.’ It was a little much but still fun.”
Did the three words that every artist fears — one-hit wonder — ever fall on Nasri’s ears?
VIDEO: “Lay You Down Easy” – Magic!
“Nobody ever said that. I think a lot of people were like ‘Are you going to beat Rude?’ No and yes and who cares? We write our own music so whether it’s number one or number 20 (on the charts), it’s already successful for us because we’ve put out music that we’ve created.”
Each member of Magic! — Nasri along with Mark Pellizzer (guitar/keyboards), Ben Spivak (bass) and Alex Tanas (drums) — hails from Toronto. Heavily inspired by The Police and Bob Marley and The Wailers, they rehearsed their blend of reggae, pop, and R&B until they were ready to hit the studio to record Don’t Kill The Magic, from which all good things flowed. Along with the ongoing success of “Rude”, the album soared to #6 on the Billboard 100 chart.
VIDEO: “#SundayFunday” – Magic!
Almost overnight, it seemed everyone was talking or writing about Magic!, and the band subsequently toured with Maroon 5, performed with Marc Anthony at the 15th annual Latin Grammy Awards, and joined Wyclef Jean onstage for the 42nd annual American Awards.
Predictably, music industry acclaim followed in the form of two 2015 Juno Awards for Breakthrough Group of the Year and Single of the Year. In addition, Magic! was given the 2015 International Achievement Award by SOCAN (The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada).
Striking while the iron was hot, Magic! returned to the studio, the result being the June 2016 release of Primary Colours with its hit single “Lay You Down Easy” featuring Sean Paul. Both charted high in Canada, as did “#SundayFunday” which was released as a single only.
VIDEO: “No Way No” – Magic!
And that’s music to Nasri’s ears, as he wants Magic! to keep making music for a long, long time.
“We want people to trust us,” he says. “That’s not easy. But the consistency is how you develop trust. If we say ‘We’re going to deliver more great songs’ and fans listen and they don’t like it, they’ve lost interest. We have a plan and that plan is to take people on a musical adventure. We’re going to get old and weird and our songs have to be something that transcends everything.”
Following the breakout success of “Rude”, Magic!’s pop-reggae sound also attracted some criticism. One critic rather harshly wrote, “Rude is a reggae song the way a gas station taquito is a formal expression of Mexican cuisine. It’s a pop object with no content and only as much form as is necessary to deliver brief chemical gratification.”
VIDEO: “Kiss Me” – Magic!
That criticism hasn’t deterred Magic! Nasri not only points out that the band is quite popular in Jamaica and with reggae musicians, but their genre-fusing pop sound allows them to be more creative.
“Pop music has changed,” he says. “In the late seventies or early eighties, pop was pretty creative. Now it’s not. But we feel like we’re one of those acts that are a little more creative. We have embraced our sound. As a songwriter, I can go in a lot of directions. I can make something creative for myself that you might not really get but may sound cool or I can do something that we’ll all love.
“My band mates are extraordinary musicians, so I don’t want people to hear our music and not hear that. We had to write a lot of songs to get to songs that are catchy but also musical.”
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 18 free-admission concerts featuring a total of 20 acts during its 32nd season — each staged on Wednesday and Saturday nights at Del Crary Park.
Overseen by general manager Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission is to “provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”
For more information on this concert or the entire 2018 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
Toronto's western swing band The Double Cuts are one of the bands performing at the Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival on Saturday, July 7th. Other performers include the Ron Marenger Big Band, Barbra Lica, Mark Kelso & The Jazz Exiles, Alan Black & The Steady Band, and headliners Coldjack. (Publicity photo)
Ginny Sadlier, Tess Wilson, and Rachel Rutherford are three summer students working for the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism and Buckhorn & District Tourist Association.
The Kawartha Chamber and Buckhorn & District Tourist Association have welcomed three summer students:
Rachel is from Keene and has grown up in and experienced the best of the Kawarthas all her life.
In the fall, she will be heading back to Trent University for her last year in the Media Studies Program. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the Kawarthas, especially while walking her dogs through the many picturesque trails the Kawarthas have to offer.
Rachel is very excited to be working with the Kawartha Chamber as the Marketing & Tourism Assistant in Lakefield this summer, where she will be able to gain valuable experience through connecting with member businesses and the community.
Tess Wilson, Special Events and Tourism Assistant
Tess has been fortunate to grow up on a farm near Douro and has enjoyed learning about the town of Lakefield and the surrounding area through various volunteer positions.
She is currently going into her second year at Trent University in the Forensic Science Department and is hoping that her degree will lead her into the medical profession. In her free time, Tess enjoys dog training, white water paddling and exploring her local community.
Tess looks forward to representing the Kawartha Chamber at many events and collaborating with Ginny at the BDTA on weekends.
Ginny has enjoyed growing up in Selwyn which has allowed her the opportunity to get to know Lakefield, Buckhorn, and the surrounding area very well.
She is a recent graduate of Trent University, where she completed a BA in History and English Literature. In the fall, she is returning to Trent to pursue her Master’s degree in eighteenth century British and colonial history. From there, she is hoping to continue to follow a career as a university professor. Besides history and literature, Ginny enjoys running with her dog through the many beautiful trails around her home, kayaking, and learning more about the beautiful Kawartha Lakes.
Ginny is very excited to be representing the area to tourists at the Buckhorn Welcome Centre, and to be a part of the Kawartha Chamber team.
Chamber Seeking Sponsor Of New Award Category: Service Sector Excellence
The Kawartha Chamber is seeking a sponsor for its newest Awards of Excellence category: Service Sector Excellence.
This award honours a business that excels in the service sector, including but not limited to the trades, health and wellness, and professional services. This may be demonstrated by a willingness to go beyond the normal call of duty, maintaining an effective pre- and post-service relationship, possessing exemplary environmental practices, providing the client with value for money, expanding market share, and exhibiting a high level of expertise. (Tourism/hospitality providers, retailers, and not-for-profits should be nominated in their respective categories.)
The Chamber’s annual Summer Accommodation and Business Tour has had another successful year in 2018. The Chamber thanks all of the accommodations and businesses that welcomed its summer staff over the five days of tours.
Thanks to those members, summer staff at the Kawartha Chamber and the Buckhorn Welcome Centre are knowledgeable and confident in their ability to recommend businesses to visitors throughout the summer.
Check out the Chamber’s Twitter account @KawarthaChamber for pictures from the tour.
Did You Know?
The Kawartha Chamber is part of the Ontario Chamber Network and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. This means the Chamber provides a voice for its member businesses at municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government to advocate on their behalf.
The Chamber welcomes input and concerns from its members so that it can better serve them as an advocate for business in the Kawarthas.
Tourism Industry Awards Nominations Extended To July 13th
The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario has extended its award nominations until Friday, July 13th. The following awards are up for nomination:
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)
Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival is this Saturday, July 7th
The bands performing at this year’s Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival.
The Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival and Selwyn Township invite you, your friends and family to come to a breezy day of outdoor summer living beside Lakefield’s scenic Otonabee River.
Enjoy a wide variety of hazz music, colourful works for sale by artisans and crafters, local food vendors, Black’s Distillery, and Publican House Brewery.
Arts and crafts exhibits open at 10 a.m., and musicians begin performing at 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Here’s the line-up:
Selwyn Township Announces Local Food Co-Operative Advertising Campaign
Member business Strexer-Harrop and Associates will be leading a three-month co-operative advertising and social media campaign with a focus on local food for the Township of Selwyn.
Local food retailers and producers can sign up to be a part of the campaign which will promote said businesses through social media, print and electronic communications, and on the Township website using the tagline “Our Small Towns = Big Selection”. The Township is subsidizing the sign-up costs to make the campaign more accessible to businesses.
Read more. To participate in the campaign, contact Adrienne Harrop at 705-768-6770 by Friday, July 6th.
Lakefield Literary Festival Featured As A Top Arts & Cultural Festival In North America
Some of the authors who are coming to the Lakefield Literary Festival from July 13 to 15, 2018.
The Lakefield Literary Festival is less than two weeks away, running from July 13th to 15th. There will be a host of amazing authors coming to showcase their publications, as well as great talks on the craft of writing.
This month, the festival was featured in a FlightNetwork article of the 40 best Arts & Culture Festivals in North America. Read the article and find out more about the festival at lakefieldliteraryfestival.com.
Selwyn Township Bike Share Program
You can now rent bicycles at the Lakefield Marina. (Photo: Township of Selwyn)
Selwyn Township is now offering residents and visitors, 16 years of age and older, the opportunity to rent bicycles as part of its Bike Share Program.
Rentals, including a helmet and bike, are available for rent at the Lakefield Marina. Rental fees are $10 for a full day (based on the hours of operation at the marina on the day of rental) or $5 for four hours or less.
Bikes must be returned within 15 minutes of the marina’s closing time. Find out more.
Community Futures Moving To New Location
Community Futures Peterborough is moving to the VentureNorth building at the corner of George and King Street in downtown Peterborough. They join Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development and the Peterborough Innovation Cluster at that location.
“This move allows us to be in a shared space with some of our key partners and to further strengthen those relationships all while reaching a new client base,” says Executive Drector Gail Moorhouse.
Community Futures plans to move to their new space by September 2018.
North Kawartha To Record Council Meetings
The Township of North Kawartha has announced the end of the pilot project relating to the audio and video recording of Council meetings.
Due to its success, they will continue recording the meetings conditional upon any technical difficulties that may be encountered.
Public meetings held in the Council Chambers are audio and video recorded and made available on the Township’s Youtube channel. Meeting minutes remain the official and permanent record of all meetings.
Community Care Starry Night Dance – July 28th
Community Care Peterborough is hosting a Starry Night Dance fundraiser on Saturday, July 28th.
The dance will be held at the Quarry Golf & Country Club at 447 Tara Road in Ennismore, and will run from 8 p.m. to midnight. Attendees will enjoy dancing to live music by True Confessions, featuring blues and light rock from the ’60s up to today.
Tickets are being sold for $20 in advance at the Chemung and Lakefield Community Care offices. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $25.
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.
Disc Golf And Pickle Ball In Selwyn
Two new recreational activities are now available to residents and visitors to Selwyn.
The Ennismore Optimist Club has spearheaded the addition of a nine-hole disc golf course in Ennismore Waterfront Park. Discs are available to borrow free from the Ennismore Library.
In addition, the club has partnered with Selwyn Township and Kingdon Timber Mart to renovate the tennis courts at Douglas Sports Park in Lakefield to be used for pickle ball as well.
Farmer’s Market at Craftworks at the Barn – Every Saturday
Estate Jewellery & Coins Purchasing Event – July 5th
Lakefield Jazz, Art, and Craft Festival on the River – July 7th
Free Community BBQ and Odds & Sods Sale – July 7th
Tickets for Ennismore Homestead Theatre go on sale – July 7th
Church-Key Brewing Summer Concert Series – July 7th
Discovery Days at Beavermead Campground – July 7th
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.
Local photographer Kirk Doughty captured this shot of the 2018 Canada Day fireworks over Little Lake in Peterborough. (Photo: Kirk Doughty)
Photographing fireworks can be tricky, but a couple of local photographers managed to captured the splendour of the 2018 Canada Day fireworks display over Little Lake in Peterborough on Sunday, July 1st.
Jason of Tauruscope Photography (@lynxtalon on Instagram) and Kirk Doughty shared their spectacular photos with kawarthaNOW.com.
The fireworks took place after Nunuvat folk rockers The Jerry Cans performed at Peterborough Musicfest at Del Crary Park, the second concert of the free summer concert series.
An aerial view of the crowd at Del Crary Park on Little Lake. (Photo: Jason / Tauruscope Photography)The fireworks began at dusk, launched from a platform in Little Lake. (Photo: Kirk Doughty)Photo by Jason / Tauruscope Photography.Photo by Kirk Doughty.Photo by Jason / Tauruscope Photography.Photo by Kirk Doughty.Photo by Jason / Tauruscope Photography.
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