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What’s new on Netflix Canada in May 2018

By kawarthaNOW -
In the Danish dystopian series "The Rain", which premieres on Netflix on Friday, May 4th, two siblings join a band of young survivors seeking safety and answers six years after a brutal rain-borne virus wipes out most of Scandinavia's population. (Photo courtesy of Netflix)

April showers bring May flowers — and a new slew of shows on Netflix Canada, including 40 new titles on May 1st alone.

While you (hopefully) won’t be spending as much time indoors during May, you may still be turning to Netflix on those rainy spring days, insomniatic nights, and mental health days when you don’t want to sport a sunburn when you return to the office.

Speaking of rainy spring days, one of the more interesting shows coming to Netflix is the Danish dystopian series The Rain, which follows two siblings as they fight for survival after a toxic virus spread by rainwater kills off most of the population (“stay dry, stay alive”).

VIDEO: “The Rain” Official Trailer

On the lighter side of things, Netflix has a new comedy/history show called The Who Was? Show, based on the Who Was … book series from Penguin, and A Little Help with Carol Burnett stars comedy icon Carol Burnett with a panel of clever kids who dish out brutally honest advice to adults and celebrities.

The Break with Michelle Wolf features the American comedian and writer, who has worked on The Daily Show and Late Night with Seth Meyers, poking fun at everything and everyone on this new weekly series. And Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life features the two comedy icons teaming up for musical sketches and conversations about their lives in show business and stand-up.

Returning series include season two of Brain Games, season two of Riverdale, season two of Dear White People, season three of Bill Nye Saves the World, season four of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and season seven of Call The Midwife. There’s a double shot of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman in May, with two episodes featuring Tina Fey and Howard Stern.

VIDEO: “A Little Help with Carol Burnett”

New movies coming to Netflix include the horror thriller Cargo, set in rural Australia and starring Martin Freeman as a infected dad attempting to get his infant daughter to safety before he turns into a zombie (the film is a remake of the 2013 award-winning short of the same name).

The controversial psychological horror film Mother!, written and directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris, and Michelle Pfeiffer, also premieres in May.

For kids both young and old, Disney-Pixar’s Oscar-winning animated film Coco by is coming to Netflix Canada in May.

VIDEO: “Cargo” Official Trailer

Below is the complete list of everything coming to Netflix Canada in May (along with what’s leaving Netflix).

May 1

  • 27: Gone Too Soon – Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison all died at the age of 27 between 1969 and 1971. Unseen footage and interviews with medical experts, music critics and people who knew the famous artists who all coincidentally died at the age of 27.
  • 28 Days – After her drunken antics result in property damage, an alcoholic journalist enters rehab — and soon meets a fellow resident who changes her outlook.
  • 47 Ronin – This action-adventure follows the exploits of 47 samurai warriors who plot to exact revenge on a court official responsible for their master’s death.
  • The Angry Birds Movie – Sentenced to anger management class, grumpy Red becomes a hero who trains his fellow birds to unleash their inner fury when pigs invade their island.
  • Bram Stoker’s Dracula – When Dracula heads to London in search of a woman who looks like his long-dead wife, vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing sets out to end the madness.
  • Coffee For All – In Naples, Buenos Aires and New York, people reflect on the Neapolitan tradition of “suspended coffee” and how it changed their lives.
  • Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – In 1940’s Greece, a doctor is forced to share his house with an Italian soldier who has eyes for the doctor’s beautiful and strong-willed daughter.
  • The Carter Effect – Featuring eight-time NBA All-Star Vince Carter, this documentary takes an in-depth look at his impact on pop culture and the Canadian basketball scene.
  • CIA: Comrade in America – A young man in Kerala has two weeks to stop the woman he loves from a fixed marriage in the U.S., but he doesn’t have the papers to get there.
  • Darc – To bring down a global human trafficking ring, an Interpol agent recruits the help of a brutal criminal with inside knowledge of the yakuza.
  • Did You Hear About the Morgans? – After watching a hit man commit murder, an estranged couple leaves New York City and lands in Wyoming when they enter the Witness Protection Program.
  • Dragonfly – After his wife is killed while performing relief work in Central America, a doctor’s patients begin delivering messages from her from the afterlife.
  • Duck Butter – Wary of dishonesty in relationships, two young women embark on a 24-hour experiment on intimacy, but their romance flounders as the clock winds down.
  • Erin Brockovich – Julia Roberts earned an Oscar in this emotional drama for her portrayal of a twice-divorced mother who sees an injustice and takes on the bad guys.
  • Food On The Go – Epicureans and experts trace the migration of Italian cuisine and its evolution in the Americas, delving into ideas of origin, diaspora and heritage.
  • Friends with Money – As four Los Angeles friends — three married, one single — move from one group event to the next, financial difference begins to take its toll.
  • Honey – A tough, sexy dancer from the inner city becomes a successful music video choreographer, but her career is threatened when her mentor blackmails her.
  • Honey 2 – Determined to prove herself as a street dancer, Maria heads from juvie to a Bronx rec centre where she’s introduced to her dance idol, Honey Daniels.
  • How High – Two potheads smoke some brain-enhancing weed and, to their surprise, score high enough on entrance exams to get scholarships at Harvard.
  • iZombie: Season 4 – A medical student-turned-zombie tries to retain her humanity by eating brains at the morgue and finds she has an uncanny new gift for solving crimes.
  • Jeepers Creepers 3 – While an overmatched sheriff’s task force pursues the Creeper, the mother of one of his victims has a vision of what must be done to stop the terror.
  • John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous Live at Radio City (Netflix original) – John Mulaney relays stories from his childhood and “SNL,” eviscerates the value of college and laments getting older in this electric comedy special.
  • Life – After a small-time hustler picks the pocket of a gambling bank teller, the two men are framed and must endure each other’s presence in the same jail.
  • My Girl – This coming-of-age charmer follows a summer in the life of an 11-year-old girl who learns about love and loss as she grapples with profound changes.
  • My Perfect Romance – Just in time for Valentine’s Day, a program developer pitches a revolutionary dating algorithm to her new CEO, who volunteers them as guinea pigs.
  • The Other Boleyn Girl – Ambitious Boleyn sisters Anne and Mary compete for the heart of powerful but intemperate King Henry VII in this opulent historical drama.
  • Patch Adams – After spending time in a mental institution, a man decides to become a doctor, hypothesizing that humour will improve patients’ quality of life.
  • Pilgrimage – In 13th-century Ireland, a motley group of monks takes on a perilous mission to deliver a precious ancient relic to Rome.
  • PJ Masks: Season 1 – Three 6-year-old kids who live normal lives during the day become superheroes at night, fighting crime as a team known as PJ Masks.
  • Please Give – Life gets knotty when Alex and Kate develop a relationship with the granddaughters of the elderly woman who lives in the apartment next door.
  • Pocoyo & Cars – Pocoyo gears up for exciting car races and learns that friends, teamwork and imagination are what matter the most.
  • Pocoyo & The Space Circus – Acrobatic aliens arrive on spaceships and perform for everyone, but when angry aliens arrive as well, Pocoyo and his friends must now put on a show.
  • Pocoyo Carnival – To celebrate the carnival, everyone learns to dance to different music. Plus, Pocoyo’s friends surprise him with something delicious.
  • Pocoyo Halloween: Space Halloween – Pocoyo and his friend have a costume contest to celebrate Halloween and learn new things about planets and stars in space.
  • Pocoyo Halloween: Spooky Movies – Pocoyo finds a special toy and plays new games with his friends, then they’re spooked by a scary box and try to find out who’s inside.
  • Pocoyo Special Sports – Everyone is getting excited for the games. Pocoyo plays baseball and golf, and races with his friends. Ready, set, go!
  • Seven Years in Tibet – During World War II, an escaped POW makes his way to Tibet, where he meets the Dalai Lama, whose friendship ultimately transforms his outlook on life.
  • Sometimes (Netflix film) – Seven strangers anxiously waiting for their HIV test results decide to bribe the clinic receptionist to get them early, learning one is positive.
  • Stephanie – A menacing, unseen force stalks a young girl living by herself in a suburban house, where she’s surrounded by reminders of her once-happy family.
  • The Thirteenth Floor – In director Josef Rusnak’s mind-bending sci-fi thriller, a murder mystery unravels in a virtual reality that recreates 1930s-era Los Angeles.

 

May 2

  • The 100: Season 5 – One hundred young exiles from a dying space station are sent to Earth 97 years after a nuclear apocalypse to test if the planet is now inhabitable.
  • Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments: Season 3 (Netflix original, weekly episodes) – The life of typical teen Clary Fray is upended when she learns that she’s part of a race of demon-hunting humans who have the blood of angels.
  • The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes: Season 1 – Award-winning architect Piers Taylor and actress/property enthusiast Caroline Quentin travel the world to tour unconventional homes in extreme places.

 

May 3

  • Riverdale: Season 2 (Netflix original, weekly episodes) – While navigating the troubled waters of sex, romance, school and family, teen Archie and his gang become entangled in a dark Riverdale mystery.
  • Star: Season 2 (weekly episodes) – Two half sisters raised in foster care and a young songwriter hiding her celebrity parentage join forces in Atlanta to chase dreams of music stardom.

 

May 4

  • Anon (Netflix film) – In a future where technology has rendered privacy obsolete, a detective investigates a serial assassin who has been deleted from all visual records.
  • A Little Help with Carol Burnett (Netflix original) – In this original unscripted series starring comedy legend Carol Burnett, kids dish out advice to celebrities and everyday people in front of a live audience.
  • Busted!: Season 1 (Netflix original, weekly episodes) – Suspense, surprises and fun abound in this Korean variety game show featuring big personalities and even bigger mysteries in every episode.
  • Dear White People: Volume 2 (Netflix original) – Students of colour navigate the daily slights and slippery politics of life at an Ivy League college that’s not nearly as “post-racial” as it thinks.
  • End Game (Netflix original) – Directed by Academy Award winning filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, End Game is an intimate verite style documentary short that follows visionary medical practitioners who are working on the cutting edge of life and death — and dedicated to changing our thinking about both.
  • The Exception – A German soldier tries to determine if the Dutch resistance has planted a spy to infiltrate the home of Kaiser Wilhelm in Holland during the onset of World War II, but falls for a young Jewish Dutch woman during his investigation.
  • Forgive Us Our Debts (Netflix film) – Threatened by creditors, a newly unemployed man agrees to work for a debt collector, but soon discovers his deal with the devil has unexpected costs.
  • Kong: King of the Apes: Season 2 (Netflix original) – Lukas and friends explore a lost world full of prehistoric beasts, uncover clues to Kong’s past and race to stop a robot uprising led by Botila.
  • Manhunt (Netflix film) – A Chinese pharmaceutical lawyer framed for a vile crime teams up with a sharp-witted Japanese detective to stop a dangerous corporate plot.
  • My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: Tina Fey (Netflix original) – Tina Fey opens up about her family, the changing culture at SNL and the one moment she wishes she could take back. Plus, blues icon Buddy Guy.
  • The Rain: Season 1 (Netflix original) – Six years after a brutal virus wipes out most of Scandinavia’s population, two siblings join a band of young survivors seeking safety — and answers.

 

May 5

  • Dynasty: Season 1 (Netflix original, weekly episodes) – The Carringtons and the Colbys feud for control over their fortune — and their children — in this updated reboot of the classic prime-time soap.
  • Pup Star: World Tour – Talented pooches from around the world compete to be the next Pup Star, but behind-the-scenes schemes threaten to ruin the fun.

 

May 6

  • The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale (Netflix original, weekly episodes) – Trending news, pop culture, social media, original sketches and more come together in host Joel McHale’s new weekly comedy commentary show.

 

May 7

  • Danny Collins – A hard-living rocker at the end of his career revisits his artistics roots after finding a 40-year-old letter from John Lennon.
  • Mike Tyson Mysteries: Season 3 (weekly episodes) – Mike Tyson, his adopted Korean Daughter and a pigeon who was once a man team up to solve mysteries in this adult animated comedy series.

 

May 8

  • Hari Kondabolu: Warn Your Relatives (Netflix original) – Hari Kondabolu breaks down identity politics, celebrity encounters, his mango obsession and more in a stand-up set full of unexpected twists.

 

May 11

  • Bill Nye Saves the World: Season 3 (Netflix original) – Bill and his guests explore the future of food, the science of addiction and more in a new set of episodes of the Emmy-nominated series.
  • Central Intelligence – After he reconnects with an awkward pal from high school through Facebook, a mild-mannered accountant is lured into the world of international espionage.
  • Evil Genius: the True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist (Netflix original) – This docuseries investigates the true story of a pizza delivery man who robbed a bank, then was killed by a bomb fastened around his neck.
  • The Kissing Booth (Netflix film) – When teenager Elle’s first kiss leads to a forbidden romance with the hottest boy in high school, she risks her relationship with her best friend.
  • Spirit Riding Free: Season 5 (Netflix original) – In a small Western town, spunky ex-city girl Lucky forms a tight bond with wild horse Spirit while having adventures with best pals Pru and Abigail. Inspired by the Oscar(r) nominated film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
  • The Who Was? Show: Season 1 (Netflix original) – A live-action sketch comedy show for kids starring the greatest names in history. Based on the best-selling book series.

 

May 13

  • Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife (Netflix original) – Pregnant again, Ali Wong returns in her second original stand-up comedy special and gets real on why having kids is not all it’s cracked up to be.

 

May 14

  • Hello, My Name Is Doris – An unassuming 60-year-old wo takes a self-help seminar after her mother’s death is inspired to be more open and pursue a decades-younger co-worker.

 

May 15

  • Animal Intervention: Season 1 – Alison Eastwood, Billy McNamara and Donald Schultz offer to help relocate exotic animals being kept as personal pets and roadside attractions.
  • Brain Games: Season 2 – This interactive series uses games, illusions and experiments to illustrate how our brains manufacture our reality and often play tricks on us.
  • Call the Midwife: Series 7 – This period drama set in impoverished East London in the 1950s follows a newly qualified midwife and her colleagues at a nursing convent.
  • Crimes Against Nature: Season 1 – An international taskforce investigates and sheds light on the illegal animal trade.
  • Disaster Earth: Season 1 – Using real footage and geographical representations, this series offers a literal window into the center of Earth, where likely natural disasters churn.
  • Doomsday Preppers: Season 1 – This series highlights a diverse group of survivalists as they prepare for various catastrophic scenarios that could cause civilization to collapse.
  • How Big Can It Get: Season 1 – Experts explore the possibility that the most menacing apex predators, such as saltwater crocodiles, can get even larger than previously imagined.
  • Inside Cocaine Wars: Season 1 – Intrepid DEA agents pursue vicious and wildly drug traffickers, from Colombia to the Caribbean, in a deadly fight to stop cocaine from reaching America.
  • Unusual Cultures: Season 1 – From intriguing conventions to charming societies, this series explores the fascinating lifestyles of people all over the globe.

 

May 16

  • A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits – Forced to assist her cruel stepmother and stepsisters at a “Cinderella” audition, teen Tessa secretly wins the role and tries to conceal her success.

 

May 17

  • The Little Prince – A little girl lives in a very grown-up world with her mother, who tries to prepare her for it. Her neighbor, the Aviator, introduces the girl to an extraordinary world where anything is possible, the world of the Little Prince.

 

May 18

  • Cargo (Netflix film) – Stranded in rural Australia in the aftermath of a violent pandemic, an infected father desperately seeks a new home for his infant child, and a means to protect her from his own changing nature.
  • Catching Feelings (Netflix film) – A Johannesburg professor and his journalist wife find their relationship tested in new ways when a famous, hard-partying writer enters their lives.
  • The Foreigner – A humble businessman with a buried past seeks justice when his daughter is killed in an act of terrorism. A cat-and-mouse conflict ensues with a government official, whose past may hold clues to the killers’ identities.
  • The Legend of Tarzan – After some time living in civilized 19th-century London, the ape-raised Tarzan returns to wild Congo and faces off against abominable colonialists.

 

May 19

  • Beatriz at Dinner – A holistic medicine practitioner attends a wealthy client’s dinner party after her car breaks down.

 

May 21

  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 5 – Jake Peralta, an immature but talented NYPD detective in Brooklyn’s 99th Precinct, comes into immediate conflict with his new commanding officer, the serious and stern Captain Ray Holt.
  • Money Monster – Financial TV host Lee Gates and his producer Patty are put in an extreme situation when an irate investor takes them and their crew as hostage.

 

May 22

  • Men on a Mission: 2018 – Male celebs play make-believe as high schoolers, welcoming star transfer students every week and engaging in battles of witty humor and slapstick.
  • Mob Psycho 100: Season 1 (Netflix original) – There’s an organization gathering espers for a nefarious purpose. Powerful psychic Mob, however, is just trying to be the protagonist of his own life.
  • Terrace House: Opening New Doors: Part 2 (Netflix original) – As Shion and Tsubasa grow closer day by day, Ami and Takayuki’s relationship grows complicated, and new housemates join the group.
  • Tig Notaro Happy To Be Here (Netflix original) – Comedian Tig Notaro unleashes her inner prankster in a playful stand-up special packed with funny anecdotes, parenting confessions and more.

 

May 23

  • Explained (Netflix original, weekly episodes) – This series spotlights topical and timely issues that impact our lives — from the gender wage gap to geopolitical politics.

 

May 24

  • Fauda: Season 2 (Netflix original) – Doron teams up with his old undercover unit when a militant who has targeted him for revenge also launches a more ambitious covert plan.

 

May 25

  • 24 Hours to Live – An assassin seeks redemption after being given a second chance at life.
  • Ibiza (Netflix film) – When Harper’s two best friends tag along on her work trip to Barcelona, they ditch work and fly to Ibiza for Harper, who against her better judgement, falls for a hot DJ.
  • Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life (Netflix original) – Comedy icons Steve Martin and Martin Short team up for musical sketches and conversations about their legendary lives in show business and stand-up.
  • The Toys That Made Us: Season 2 (Netflix original) – The new season features Star Trek, Transformers, LEGO and Hello Kitty.
  • Trollhunters: Part 3 (Netflix original) – The fate of both trolls and humans hangs in the balance as the final chapter begins. Will Gunmar succeed in shrouding the world in darkness?

 

May 26

  • Sara’s Notebook (Netflix film) – A woman embarks on a harrowing search for her missing sister that brings her into the depths of the treacherous, war-torn Congolese jungle.

 

May 27

  • The Break with Michelle Wolf (Netflix original, weekly episodes) – Michelle Wolf pokes fun at everything and everyone on her weekly show. Wolf has worked on The Daily Show and Late Night with Seth Meyers.

 

May 28

  • mother! – A couple’s relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence.

 

May 29

  • Disney Pixar’s Coco – Aspiring musician Miguel, confronted with his family’s ancestral ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer.

 

May 30

  • Animal Kingdom: Season 2 – When his mother dies, Joshua “J” Cody moves to his estranged grandmother’s seaside house, where he becomes entangled in the family’s life of crime.
  • Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Season 4 (Netflix original) – Kimmy gets a job at a tech startup, Titus pretends to have a TV show to impress Mikey, and Jacqueline starts a talent agency.

 

May 31

 

Leaving Netflix in May

Note: Release dates and titles are subject to change.

Celebrate and support your local independent bookstore this Saturday

By Bruce Head -

Last Saturday was Record Store Day, a day held every April to celebrate independent record stores, and this Saturday (April 28) is your chance to support your local independent bookstore.

Canadian Independent Bookstore Day is held on the last Saturday of April to celebrate indie bookstores in communities across Canada. It’s a day when authors take the time to give back to the bookstores by making appearances and when readers show their appreciation by visiting and supporting their local indie bookstore.

It’s also a day when we can all raise awareness of indie bookstores and how important they are to our communities, our reading lives, and our cultural well-being.

Held annually on the last Saturday in April, Canadian Independent Bookstore Day was born from Authors For Indies, a national grassroots movement in support of independent bookstores.
Held annually on the last Saturday in April, Canadian Independent Bookstore Day was born from Authors For Indies, a national grassroots movement in support of independent bookstores.

In the Kawarthas, most independent bookstores are hosting events for Canadian Independent Bookstore Day. All events are free to attend.

In Brighton from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lighthouse Books (65 Main St., Brighton, 613-475-1269) will be celebrating Canadian Independent Bookstore Day by welcoming authors Susanna Kearsley (“Bellewether”), Ania Szado (“Studio Saint-Ex”, “Beginning of Was”), Cathy Marie Buchanan (“The Painted Girls”), Trevor Cole (“Whiskey King”), and Brad Smith ( “The Return of Kid Cooper”).

In Cobourg from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Let’s Talk Books (45B Covert St., Cobourg, 289-252-2214) will be welcome local authors Reva Nelson (“Hippie Chick Abroad”), Stuart Ross (“Pockets”), Linda Hutsell-Manning (“That Summer in Franklin”), Jennifer Bogart (“Newvember”, “Hot Dogs are Diet Food”), Felicity Reid (“Alone: A Winter in the Woods”, “Hill Spirits III”), Cynthia Reyes (“Myrtle the Purple Turtle”), Kim Aubrey (“What We Hold in Our Hands”), Cindy Stone (“Scorpion”, “The Incidental Guru”), Susan Statham (“The Painter’s Craft”), Rene Schmidt (“Canadian Disasters”, “Leaving Fletchville”), and Shane Joseph (“Crossing Limbo”, “In the Shadow of the Conquistador”).

In Port Hope from 10 a.m. to noon, Furby House Books (65 Walton Street, Port Hope, 905-885-7296) will be hosting Canadian authors Susanna Kearsley, Ania Szado, Cathy Marie Buchanan, Trevor Cole and local authors Dan Buchanan and Heather Chisvin. The celebration continues in the afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. at Cobourg Public Library (200 Ontario St., Cobourg) with Brad Smith (“The Return of Kid Cooper”) in conversation with Kelly Beers and Julie Maynard.

In Lindsay from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Kent Books (15 William St. N., Lindsay, 705-328-1600) will welcome local authors Shayne Randall (“The Pepper Kid: The Life and Times of Ken Randall, Hockey’s Bad Hombre”), Catherine Cerveny (The Felicia Sevigny Series), and Geoff Taylor (“Tom Thomson’s Last Bonfire”). You can also play “Bookstore Bingo” for a chance to win $1,000 worth of books, and there will be door prizes, treats, and lots of bargains.

In Campbellford, beginning at 2:30 p.m., Kerr’s Corner Books (39 Bridge St. E., Campbellford, 705-653-4335) will welcome four authors in celebration of Canadian Independent Bookstores Day: Ania Szado (“Studio Saint-Ex”), Dan Buchanan (“Murder in the Family”), Cathy Marie Buchanan (“Painted Girls”), and Trevor Cole (“Whiskey King”).

In Peterborough, Hunter Street Books (164 Hunter Street Unit #3, Peterborough, 705-400-8229) isn’t holding a Canadian Independent Bookstore Day celebration this year, but from 2 to 4 p.m. is hosting the SPARK Photo Festival opening reception of “An Accidental Collection of Photographic Prints” featuring works from the private collection of SPARK festival director Robert Boudreau.

As far as we know, no Canadian Independent Bookstore Day celebration is planned at Happenstance Books & Yarns (44 Queen St., Lakefield, 705-652-7535), but drop by the store anyway on Saturday to support Lakefield’s independent bookstore.

Ontario commits $71 million to fill gaps in cellular coverage in eastern Ontario

By kawarthaNOW -
On April 23, 2018 in Belleville, Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal, Minister Responsible for Small Business and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, announced a $71 million contribution from the Province of Ontario to an initiative proposed by the Eastern Ontario Regional Network, a non-profit organization created by the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus, to to fill gaps in celluar coverage in eastern Ontario. Also pictured are Peterborough County Warden Joe Taylor, Frontenac County Warden Ron Higgins, Lanark County Warden and Eastern Ontario Leaderswhip Council Chairman John Fenick, EORN Chairman J. Murray Jones, Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus Chairwoman Robin Jones, Northumberland County Warden Mark Loveshin, Prince Edward County Mayor Robert Quaiff, and Hastings County Warden Rodney Cooney. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough County)

The Government of Ontario will be contributing $71 million towards an initiative to fill gaps in cellular coverage in eastern Ontario.

The funding was formally announced at an event in Belleville yesterday (April 23) by Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal, Minister Responsible for Small Business and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

In May 2017, the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) — a non-profit organization created by the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, which represents 13 municipalities across eastern Ontario, to improve broadband access across the region — proposed a $213 million public-private partnership to enhance both the reach and quality of cellular data services. EORN submitted a detailed business case to both the provincial and federal governments to secure funding for the initiative.

“This commitment from the province is a great vote of confidence in the project,” says J. Murray Jones, EORN chair and Mayor of the Township of Douro-Dummer. “EORN is building on the investment we’ve already made in fibre optics across the region to close the gap in cell services and improve economic growth, quality of life and public safety.”

According an EORN-commissioned engineering study, around a quarter of eastern Ontario where there are homes, businesses, or major roads contain cellular “dead zones’, where people cannot access any cellular services and, where cellular service does exist, nearly two-thirds of the area doesn’t have enough capacity to provide high-quality mobile broadband service.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) recently designated both mobile and fixed broadband as basic services for all Canadians. As rural areas don’t generate enough revenue for cell carriers to build adequate services, the private sector has been unable to address the issue.

EORN says its public-private partnership would reduce carriers’ infrastructure costs, creating a stronger business case to improve services while meeting the CRTC’s basic services goal. EORN estimates its proposal will create 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs over 10 years and generate $420 million in new business revenue.

At the Belleville event, Leal also announced Ontario will invest $20 million to support Telesat – Ontario with a satellite project, enabling access to secure broadband services in rural and remote Ontario.

Local musicians to pay it forward with 21 shows in 21 days for 21 charities

By Paul Rellinger -
Through their fundraising initiative 21 Charities, Lindsay natives Brooks Robinson and Dennis Carmichael want to perform 21 shows over 21 days in a row for 21 charities, beginning in August and culminating in a gala event at the Academy Theatre in Lindsay on September 14, 2018. (Photo courtesy of Brooks Robinson and Dennis Carmichael)

Special are those times when one is able to do something he or she loves to the great benefit of others.

For Lindsay natives Dennis Carmichael and Brooks Robinson, the love interest here is their lifelong performance of music, which over the last few years has manifested itself in the form of Boots of Hazard, a four-piece country music band that also includes guitarist Craig Stacey and drummer Gavin Gartshore.

What’s new is 21 Charities, an ambitious community outreach initiative that will see Carmichael and Robinson perform their two-person acoustic show for 21 consecutive days beginning Saturday, August 25th — with each performance hosted by an organization or community group looking to raise money for, and awareness of, their specific cause.

The music marathon of giving will culminate Friday, September 14th at Lindsay’s historic Academy Theatre, bringing together representatives of each of the involved charities for a grand celebration.

“A lot of times we have had turn down charity shows because we’re booked or we’re doing a video shoot … we’ve had to say no and we’ve felt bad about it,” notes Robinson, a guitarist who lives in Oshawa.

“What we decided was why don’t we take it (performing for charitable causes) into our own hands. Let’s try to come up with an idea that’s a real community builder, something that helps a bunch of small charities that might not have the time and raise the funds that a big charity would make.”

When the two first discussed the idea, they considered a 100-performance schedule — “I just about got sick to my stomach,” says Carmichael of his thoughts on that prospect — but they eventually settled on 21 performances in 21 days as the perfect scenario.

To date, five charities have signed on, and have specific dates and show locations in place, but Carmichael notes they expect to be over the halfway mark soon. The only requirement of each group is it provides a $100 donation to The Academy Theatre, which is the duo’s charity of choice.

To book your charity or cause for one the 21 show dates, visit 21charities.com.

“This whole thing is based on a pay-it-forward kind of philosophy,” Carmichael explains.

“There are so many people who I honestly believe are like closet fundraisers: they want to be involved but don’t know how. We’re just the ringleaders giving you an excuse and a conduit to get involved in your community, raise a few bucks, and get to know your neighbours and friends. We’re giving you a span of 21 days that we’re going to promote this in the media and online — everywhere.”

Without doubt, any two people organizing and undertaking an initiative of this scope couldn’t do so without complete trust in each other, not just musically but as friends. Carmichael and Robinson have that covered and then some, having first met in their late teens when the latter saw the former perform.

“He wanted to play,” Carmichael recalls. “He was learning how to play, the band sold him on the idea and he said ‘Ya, a I really want to do this too.’ We ended up playing together and here we are. We had a separation for seven or eight years. We both needed to be apart for a little while because we had already spent over 20 years together. We’ve now been back together for about four years.

“When we were separate, we both got into country unbeknownst to each other, so then when we got back together it was through country rock. That was a kind of oddity. We got a lot of strange looks. We love it though. It’s much easier on our ears, there’s a lot more opportunity to play, and we can write our own stuff.”

In their previous band, called rhubard, Carmichael and Robinson released a six-song EP titled Iron Bridge before issuing Mad Urban Cow, a full-length album. Although they were playing a lot of rock music, Carmichael notes “We were writing what probably were better country songs than rock songs.”

Country rock band Boots of Hazard is Dennis Carmichael (bass/vocals), Gavin Gartshore (drums/vocals), Craig Stacey (guitar/vocals), and Dennis Carmichael (guitar/vocals). The band released its first single "Muddy Water" in July 2017 and is working on a full-length album for release next year. (Photo courtesy of Boots of Hazard)
Country rock band Boots of Hazard is Dennis Carmichael (bass/vocals), Gavin Gartshore (drums/vocals), Craig Stacey (guitar/vocals), and Dennis Carmichael (guitar/vocals). The band released its first single “Muddy Water” in July 2017 and is working on a full-length album for release next year. (Photo courtesy of Boots of Hazard)

“How we become Boots of Hazard as it is now, with Gavin and Craig, is we really wanted to write some songs and take this from a country rock dance band to an original act,” says Robinson, noting the July 2017 release of the Boots of Hazard single “Muddy Water”, recorded at Toronto’s Phase One Studios, took the union to a whole other level.

“The song is about the Scugog River, fishing on that river with my dad, being given a fishing pole that I still have,” Robinson says. “For the first time in my life, we are writing songs about who we are, what it is that’s real to us. I think it’s the most honest writing and arranging that we’ve ever done. We’re sitting on a dozen songs that we think are as good, if not better, than that song.”

They’ll be releasing a video for “Muddy Water” soon and, although they are aiming now toward the release of a full-length Boots of Hazard album for release next year (and possibly an EP release prior to year’s end), 21 Charities is currently the duo’s central focus. Both see the project as not just an added line item for their musical resume, but as a prerequisite for any success moving forward as a performance and songwriting duo.

“If you want to make money doing music and you want to survive, you need to get involved and touch as many people as you possibly can,” says Carmichael, who plays bass with the band.

“This is an amazing way, a completely positive way, to touch as many people as we can using the best gift we have, which is our musicianship and our songwriting.”

When all is said and done, what success will look like, according to Carmichael, is someone picking up the charitable torch and going forth with an initiative of his or her own design.

“If we can plant a seed, even just one, that somebody walks away from this and is inspired enough to try to do something, take the same amount of risk and time to do something else, that would be a success. We have three weeks to try to get one person to do that.”

“Obviously we love to see a full house (on September 14),” adds Robinson. “We want people that do this to be able to say I was involved; I did something that I wouldn’t have done unless these guys said ‘Here, come on and try this.'”

As for anyone who suggests 21 Charities is self-serving, the benefactors being only the two musicians bringing it to fruition, well, Robinson has an answer for that.

“We talked about that (perception) and looked at each other and said ‘I don’t give a shit.’ Get off your ass, do 21 days for a charity of any kind and I will come to your house, shake your hand and say ‘Way to go.'”

VIDEO: Brooks Robinson and Dennis Carmichael

Carmichael adds both he and his partner acknowledge they’re not re-inventing the wheel here — musicians in communities across Canada have given freely and often of their time to help others — but rather they are also trying to create a model that can, and will, be duplicated by others.

“We would love to see this whole thing happen all over the country,” says Robinson.

“It (giving back) is in our hearts as musicians. It’s one of the only professions that is continually asked to do things for free. We’ve always given as much of our time as we could to charity. It’s always been good for us.

“If we can put our name on this and people say 10 years from now ‘You guys founded 21 Charities, it’s gone on to raise $50 million’ I would cry on my living room couch for days. The music is great but if we can make that kind of an impact, that’s really our goal.

“We know the likelihood of our becoming the next big thing is very slim. I think Dennis and I are the best-kept secret in Ontario. We work every day at music because we love to do this. To have success at something you love to do and tie that in to help somebody else, that’s a dream for us.”

At the wrap-up gala at The Academy Theatre, charities and causes involved in the project will also have the opportunity to put one item in a silent auction, with all proceeds from the sale of their item going back to them.

For more information on Boots of Hazard, visit bootsofhazard.com and to learn more about 21 Charities or to register your charity, visit 21charities.com.

businessNOW – April 23, 2018

By kawarthaNOW -
Some of the many people who attended the grand opening of Lock Stop Cafe at 1919 Lakehurst Road in Buckhorn on April 21, 2018. The cafe and restaurant is owned and operated by entrepreneur Kelli Coon, who also runs Coon's Cottage Care and Ship Shape Service in Buckhorn. (Photo: Lock Stop Café / Facebook)

This week’s business news features the grand opening of Lock Stop Café in Buckhorn, a zero-carbon certification for Olympus Burger in Port Hope, BlushDrop Wedding Video’s audition for CBC’s Dragons’ Den, Regional Tourism Organization 8 seeking volunteer board members, an award for B!KE Executive Director Tegan Moss, Kavtek and Percheron Plastic winning the 2018 Peterborough Bears’ Lair entrepreneurial competition, and a new owner for The Black Horse Pub in downtown Peterborough.

New regional business events include a Peterborough Chamber tourism networking lunch event on April 24th, a Community Futures Peterborough small business financing workshop on April 25th, and a municipal election information session for Peterborough candidates and third party advertisers on April 26th,

We publish businessNOW every Monday. If you want your business news or even to appear in businessNOW, please email business@kawarthanow.com.

Kelli Coon opens her new Lock Stop Café in Buckhorn

Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal (second from left) was on hand to congratulate Kelli Coon (second from right) at the grand opening of her new venture Lock Stop Café in Buckhorn on April 21, 2018. (Photo: Lock Stop Café / Facebook)
Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal (second from left) was on hand to congratulate Kelli Coon (second from right) at the grand opening of her new venture Lock Stop Café in Buckhorn on April 21, 2018. (Photo: Lock Stop Café / Facebook)

There was a big turnout for the grand opening on Saturday (April 21) of Kelli Coon’s new Lock Stop Café at 1919 Lakehurst Road in Buckhorn.

The café and restaurant features coffee from locally roasted beans, loose leaf and bag tea, a variety of sandwiches on home-baked bread, soups, and sweets like croissants, petit fours, eclairs, and butter tarts. Take-out dinners will be featured every Friday. The restaurant also contains a marketplace showcasing products from local artisans and others.

Some of the treats available at Saturday's grand opening of Lock Stop Café in Buckhorn. Beginning April 21, the cafe will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be open until 7 p.m. after the May long weekend. (Photo: Lock Stop Café / Facebook)
Some of the treats available at Saturday’s grand opening of Lock Stop Cafe in Buckhorn. Beginning April 21, the cafe will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be open until 7 p.m. after the May long weekend. (Photo: Lock Stop Cafe / Facebook)

Beginning today (April 23), Lock Stop Café will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. When the Trent-Severn Waterway opens (usually on Victoria Day weekend), the café will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the summer.

In addition to the new café, Coon also runs Coon’s Cottage Care and Ship Shape Service in Buckhorn. She was a semi-finalist in the 2017 Bears’ Lair Entrepreneurial Competition.

 

Olympus Burger in Port Hope is Canada’s first “carbon zero” certified restaurant

Port Hope's Olympus Burger has been certified by as carbon neutral by Toronto company Carbonzero, the first restaurant in Canada to receive that certification. (Graphic: Olympus Burger)

Port Hope’s Olympus Burger has been certified by as carbon neutral by Toronto company Carbonzero, the first restaurant in Canada to receive that certification. (Graphic: Olympus Burger)

George Kallonakis, co-owner of Olympus Burger (55 Mill St. S., Port Hope) announced that, as of Earth Day (April 22), it is the first Carbonzero-certified restaurant in Canada and one of the few restaurants in Canada to achieve carbon neutrality.

Carbonzero is a Toronto-based company that helps transform organizations by aiding them in assessing, reporting, and reducing their emissions.

To acquire its Carbonzero certification and carbon-neutral status, the burger restaurant switched all its plastic — including cups, cutlery, and straws — for eco-friendly alternatives including wooden cutlery, compostable cups that are made from 100 per cent renewable resources, and paper straws.

To offset unavoidable carbon emissions created by the restaurant’s use of electricity and natural gas, Olympus Burger is investing in carbon-offset projects offered by Carbonzero, specifically a tree-planting project in Niagara Region.

VIDEO: Burger joint goes carbon neutral

In 2017, Canadian Living magazine named Olympus Burger as the best burger restaurant in Canada.

For more information about Olympus Burger, visit www.olympusburger.ca.

 

Peterborough tech startup BlushDrop Wedding Video to audition for CBC TV’s Dragons’ Den

BlushDrop Wedding Video allows newlyweds to produce a low-cost professionally edited wedding video using smartphone footage shot by their wedding guests. (Photo: BlushDrop / Facebook)
BlushDrop Wedding Video allows newlyweds to produce a low-cost professionally edited wedding video using smartphone footage shot by their wedding guests. (Photo: BlushDrop / Facebook)

BlushDrop Wedding Video, the innovation winner of the 2016 Peterborough Bears’ Lair competition, is stepping it up a notch by auditioning for CBC Television’s reality show Dragons’ Den on Thursday, April 26th.

Rick Dolishny founded BlushDrop to give newlyweds control over their wedding video costs by creating professional videos from clips shot on their wedding guests’ phones. Smartphone users drag and drop video footage into an easy-to-use interface and then the BlushDrop team create a professionally edited movie from the content.

Starting at $349, a BlushDrop package is purchased online by the bride and groom, or as a gift from friends and family. The company has customers across Canada, the United States, Mexico, the Middle East, and Brazil.

If CBC selects BlushDrop for the show, the company will appears during the new season of Dragons’ Den which premieres this fall.

 

Regional Tourism Organization 8 seeking volunteer board members

Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) — a not-for-profit organization promoting regional tourism activity in the City of Kawartha Lakes, the City and County of Peterborough, and the County of Northumberland — is seeking volunteers to sit on its Board of Director.

Volunteers should have a commitment to regional tourism efforts, a knowledge of and passion for the tourism industry, and an interest in becoming an active participant in RTO8 matters.

If you are interested, submit an expression of interest by completing an application form available on the RTO8 website at rto8.com/call-nominations-board-directors/.

Completed and signed nomination forms must be sent to: Regional Tourism Organization 8, 175 George Street North, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 3G6. Nomination forms must be received by Friday, May 11th. For more information, contact Brenda Wood at 705-874-6565 or brendawood@rto8.com.

Board member elections will be held at RTO8’s annual general meeting, which takes place from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20th at Iron Horse Ranch (804 Ontario 7A RR1, Bethany).

 

B!KE Executive Director Tegan Moss wins award at 2018 Ontario Bike Summit

B!KE Executive Director Tegan Moss with her award from the Ontario Bike Summit. (Supplied photo)
B!KE Executive Director Tegan Moss with her award from the Ontario Bike Summit. (Supplied photo)

Tegan Moss, Executive Director at B!KE, won the “Wheels of Change – Educating the Next Generation” award at the Ontario Bike Summit’s 10th Anniversary Reception and Awards Dinner last Tuesday (April 17).

B!KE is an incorporated not-for-profit business located in downtown Peterborough that provides cycling education and support for members, including teaching bike maintenance, repair, and riding skills.

One of 12 award winners, Moss was honoured for her efforts and energy in championing bike education and accessibility.

She initiated programs such as Pedal Power and Earn-a-Bike, which aim to build comfort and confidence in young riders and provide access to the equipment necessary to make riding a bike a viable transportation option.

She has run an Open Shop program at B!KE for over seven years, where volunteers and staff assist community members in fixing up their own bikes. Last year alone, Moss supervised more than 20 volunteers in delivering 1,721 hours of service to support 550 B!KE members at over 3,000 Open Shop visits.

For more information on B!KE, visit communitybikeshop.org.

 

Kavtek and Percheron Plastic Inc. win 2018 Bears’ Lair Entrepreneurial Competition

Percheron Plastic Inc. (which produces FireStraw fire starters) and virtual and augmented reality start-up Kavtek accepting their cash prize of $6,500 each at the final pitch event of the 2018 Bears' Lair Entrepreneurial Competition, held on April 18, 2018 at The Venue in downtown Peterborough. Along with the cash prize, the winners receive in-kind prizes, all donated by the 2018 Bears' Lair sponsors. (Photo courtesy of Scott Howard)
Percheron Plastic Inc. (which produces FireStraw fire starters) and virtual and augmented reality start-up Kavtek accepting their cash prize of $6,500 each at the final pitch event of the 2018 Bears’ Lair Entrepreneurial Competition, held on April 18, 2018 at The Venue in downtown Peterborough. Along with the cash prize, the winners receive in-kind prizes, all donated by the 2018 Bears’ Lair sponsors. (Photo courtesy of Scott Howard)

Kavtek and Percheron Plastic Inc. are the winners of the 2018 Bears’ Lair Entrepreneurial Competition. The final pitch competition was held last Wednesday (April 18) at The Venue in downtown Peterborough.

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Kavtek and Percheron Plastic Inc. win Bears’ Lair entrepreneurial competition

Kavtek, a digital startup that creates virtual and augmented reality platforms for realtors and tech companies, won in the innovation category. Percheron Plastic Inc., a plastic tank and material handling manufacturer that develops FireStraw fire starters made 100 percent from natural straw and a little wax, won in the goods and services category.

The two businesses will each receive a grand prize package valued at $35,000, which includes $6,500 in cash and in-kind prizes including public relations, accounting and consulting services, a promo video, and more.

 

New owner for The Black Horse Pub in downtown Peterborough

Desmond Vandenberg, pictured here in 2015, has purchased The Black Horse Pub from Ray Kapoor and Nancy Kerr, who will be retiring. (Photo: Desmond Vandenberg / Facebook)
Desmond Vandenberg, pictured here in 2015, has purchased The Black Horse Pub from Ray Kapoor and Nancy Kerr, who will be retiring. (Photo: Desmond Vandenberg / Facebook)

Ray Kapoor has sold The Black Horse Pub and Restaurant in downtown Peterborough to Desmond Vandenberg of Toronto. The deal closes on May 7, 2018.

Related story
New owner of Black Horse Pub says it’s ‘business at usual’

Vandenberg is a Trent University graduate who says he intends to keep running the business as a pub and restaurant, while retaining existing staff and continuing to host live music events.

The sale means Kapoor and his wife Nancy Kerr, who opened The Black Horse in 2005, will be able to retire.

In March 2017, local developer Parkview Homes had a conditional offer on The Black Horse and had obtained a demolition permit, intending to repurpose the property, but the deal ultimately fell through.

 

Peterborough Chamber hosts tourism networking lunch event on April 24

The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is hosting a tourism networking event from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24th at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club (84 Lansdowne St. E., Peterborough).

“Leaders Lunch Series – Harnessing the Power of Local Ambassadors in Tourism” features keynote speaker Michele Harris, CEO of Headwaters Tourism, who will speak about the value of the tourism industry in Ontario and provide information related to harnessing the power of the local community to boost tourism to our region.

There will also be an interactive panel discussion with local experts Michael VanDerHerberg from Silver Bean Café, Anne Marshall from Elmhirst’s Resort, and more.

The event costs $25. For more information and to register, visit www.peterboroughchamber.ca.

 

Community Futures Peterborough small business financing workshop on April 25

Hands-on CFP workshop

The Innovation Cluster is partnering with Community Futures Peterborough to host a small business financing workshop from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25th at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).

“Hands-ON: Expand Your Small Business with Community Futures Peterborough” will feature Business & Loans Officer Ryan Plumpton who will provided information about Community Futures Peterborough, loan criteria, and provide assistance to attendees with a hands-on completion of a loan application.

In addition, Michelle Cathers, SOFII Loans Manager from Community Futures Ontario East, will provide information about the Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation (SOFII).

The workshop is free, but advance registration is required.

 

Municipal election information session for Peterborough candidates and third party advertisers on April 26

The City of Peterborough is hosting a municipal election information session for Peterborough candidates and third party advertisers from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 26th at the Peterborough Public Library (345 Aylmer St. N., Peterborough).

The free information session will focus on the recent changes to the Municipal Elections Act, and provide an overview of campaign-related items specific to the City of Peterborough.

The session will be live-streamed on the City’s election website at www.peterboroughvotes.ca beginning at 12:30 p.m.

 

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development Annual General Meeting and Open House on April 26

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) is holding its Annual General Meeting followed by a Community Open House on Thursday, April 26th at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).

The open house, which takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the main level, offers the general public the opportunity to learn more about the economic organization’s role in the community.

A celebration of the PKED’s first year at VentureNorth, the open house will include a meet-and-greet with the organization’s clients and a tour of offices including the Visitor Centre and the Business Advisory Centre. Refreshments will be available, catered by Hard Winter Bread Co. and EC Catering.

PKED’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) takes place from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the lower level and will include reports, the election/reappointment of board members, by-law amendments, an update from PKED President and CEO Rhonda Keenan, and volunteer and board member recognition. Seating is limited for the AGM and free registration is required at pked-agm-2018.eventbrite.ca.

 

Kawartha Lakes Construction offering free renovation workshop on April 26

Kawartha Lakes Construction (KLC) is hosting “The Value of Design-Build: Your Guide to a Stress-Free Renovation” from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 26th at its offices at 3359 Lakefield Road in Lakefield.

The free event includes an interactive presentation led by KLC’s Scott Wootton which discusses the elements of a great project and why solid planning is so important, including local by-laws to be aware of and choosing the right products and materials for your project.

Following the presentation, you will be able to spend one-on-one time with KLC’s team of designers and project developers to discuss your questions and concerns. Light refreshments will be provided.

Space is limited, so you must register in advance at Eventbrite.

 

Innovation Cluster Agriculture Tech Power Breakfast on April 27

Power Breakfast

The Innovation Cluster’s next quarterly Power Breakfast is on the topic of growth and innovation in agriculture technology and takes place on Friday, April 27th at the Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront (150 George St., Peterborough).

Presented by Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation, guest speakers are Jeal Leal (Peterborough MPP, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Minister Responsible for Small Business), Thien Quoc Nguyen and Suresh Narine of the Trent Centre for Biomaterials Research at Trent University, and Darren Goldin (Co-Founder and VP of Operations for Entomo Farms).

The breakfast event takes place from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and features a buffet breakfast of eggs benedict, fresh baked muffins, seasonal fruit yougurt parfaits, smoothies, and pan-friend potatoes.

The Power Breakfast is free, but registration is required.

 

Nominations for Lindsay Chamber of Commerce 2018 Excellence Awards open until April 27

Nominations for the Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Excellence Awards are open until Friday, April 27th.

Awards will be given out for Agricultural Excellence, Arts Excellence, Business Leader of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Customer Service Excellence, Design Excellence, Employer of the Year, Marketing Excellence, New Business of the Year, Not-For-Profit Excellence, Tourism Excellence, and Youth Mentorship Excellence.

The winners will be announced at the Evening of Excellence awards ceremony on Friday, June 1st at Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon.

For more information and nomination forms, visit www.lindsaychamber.com

 

Bobcaygeon Chamber of Commerce Awards of Excellence on April 28

The Bobcaygeon Chamber of Commerce’s annual Awards of Excellence takes place from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 28th at the Lakeview Arts Barn (2300 Pigeon Lake Rd., Bobcaygeon).

Awards will be presented in the following categories: Employee Achievement, Not for Profit Achievement, Business Achievement, Citizen of the Year, New Business Achievement, Tourism Achievement, Hospitality, and Creative Arts Achievement.

For more information, visit www.bobcaygeon.org.

 

Trent Hills Chamber Business Excellence Awards Ceremony on April 28

The Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony for the 2018 Celebration of Business Excellence takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 28th at Island Park Retirement Residence (18 Trent Drive, Campbellford).

Awards will be presented in the following categories: Emerging Entrepreneur Award, Customer Experience Award (Service-Based), Customer Experience Award (Product-Based), Pride And Progress Award, Ignite 2018 – Business, Ignite 2018 – Non-Profit Organization, Excellence In Business, Community Impact Award, Inclusive Community Employer Award, and Chair’s Award.

A cocktail reception begins at 7 p.m. followed by the awards ceremony at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $35+HST, available at trenthillschamber.ca/business-awards/.

 

Business Owners Sharing Solutions (BOSS) – Mental Health in the Workplace on May 9

The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism’s next Business Owners Sharing Solutions (BOSS) seminar takes place from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 9th at the Lakefield Legion (10 Nicholls St., Lakefield).

The session will focus on coping strategies and techniques to encourage mental wellness in your workplace, with panelists Jack Veitch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Dave Pogue of Team 55, and Ashley Challinor of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

The cost is $15 for Chamber members and $25 for non-members. Registration is requested.

 

Kawarthas Northumberland annual tourism partner meeting on June 20

Todd Lucier, co-founder of Northern Edge Algonquin Retreat Centre, a retreat designer and IGNITE facilitator will be the guest speaker at the Kawarthas Northumberland annual tourism partner meeting. (Photo: Northern Edge Algonquin Retreat Centre)

Todd Lucier, co-founder of Northern Edge Algonquin Retreat Centre, a retreat designer and IGNITE facilitator will be the guest speaker at the Kawarthas Northumberland annual tourism partner meeting. (Photo: Northern Edge Algonquin Retreat Centre)

RTO8’s Kawarthas Northumberland is inviting tourism operators from within the Kawarthas Northumberland region (City of Kawartha Lakes, City and County of Peterborough, and Northumberland County) to its annual partners meeting (annual general meeting) from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20th at Iron Horse Ranch (804 Ontario 7A RR1, Bethany).

The meeting will provide tourism operators with the opportunity to meet Kawarthas Northumberland board members and staff, along with representatives and advisors from the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and to network with other tourism operators.

The guest speaker at the session will be Todd Lucier, co-founder of Northern Edge Algonquin Retreat Centre, a retreat designer and IGNITE facilitator. Lucier will speak on how tourism operators can leverage their own resources to build new and exciting visitor experiences, with an appreciation for the importance of community collaboration.

The event is free, but advance registration is required by 5 p.m. on Friday, June 8th. Register at Eventbrite.

A long, hot summer in store for Ontario?

By Bruce Head -
Victoria Beach on Lake Ontario in Cobourg. (Photo courtesy of Linda McIlwain)

After terrible weather for most of April so far, we’re finally getting some decent spring weather this weekend.

Saturday (April 21) was a beautiful spring day, and for Earth Day today and for the next two days, it’ll continue to be warm and sunny. That should take care of the last remnants of snow and ice. Rain will return on Wednesday though, so enjoy the sunny skies while you can.

But what about summer? Will it be hot and sunny this year, or cool and rainy like last year?

The inaugural Kawartha Craft Beer Festival in 2015. The fourth annual event returns to downtown Peterborough on June 8 and 9, 2018. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW.com)
The inaugural Kawartha Craft Beer Festival in 2015. The fourth annual event returns to downtown Peterborough on June 8 and 9, 2018. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW.com)

According to Dave Phillips, Environment Canada’s senior climatologist, we can expect a warmer than normal summer in 2018.

“I can already see the muscle shirts, the tank tops, and the beer starting to flow,” Phillips said in an interview with CTV back in March.

However, in that same interview Phillips said he wasn’t expecting any colder than normal conditions in March or April.

Okay, so he didn’t predict the freezing temperatures in April or the ice storm. We’ll give him a pass on that.

Free day use at all Ontario Parks returns this summer on Friday, July 20th. (Photo: Ontario Parks)
Free day use at all Ontario Parks returns this summer on Friday, July 20th. (Photo: Ontario Parks)

While we really, really, really want Environment Canada to be right about a hot summer, we’re taking it all with a grain of salt.

After all, last June Phillips also predicted we were in store for a “warmer than normal” summer. Two months later, after a summer marked by lots of rain and cool temperatures, he admitted it was “a bummer of a summer”.

Phillips has also predicted a “warmer than average” summer in each of the past five years (2014 to 2018). He was correct about 50 per cent of the time, which is about the same accuracy you’d get by guessing.

The inaugural Peterborough Pulse, Peterborough's Open Streets event, in 2015. A popular summer event, Pulse returns to downtown Peterborough in 2018 on Saturday, July 31st. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW.com)
The inaugural Peterborough Pulse, Peterborough’s Open Streets event, in 2015. A popular summer event, Pulse returns to downtown Peterborough in 2018 on Saturday, July 31st. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW.com)

If you prefer to throw meteorological science and computer modelling completely out the window, you can instead turn to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, which has been publishing continously since 1792.

According to their long-range forecast for Ontario, we are in for a hot and dry summer:

“April and May will be a bit cooler than normal, with near-normal precipitation. Summer will be hotter than normal, with rainfall below normal in Southwest Ontario and above normal elsewhere. The hottest periods will be in early and late June, early July, and mid- to late August.”

The Farmer’s Almanac claims its non-scientific forecasts are 80 per cent accurate, but take that with a salt shaker — their forecast for this weekend is rainy and cool.

Head to Moondance in downtown Peterborough for its final Record Store Day

By kawarthaNOW -
Record Store Day on April 21, 2018 celebrates independent record stores, and there's only one week left before Canada's oldest one, Moondance in downtown Peterborough, closes. Owner Mike Taveroff is offering 70 per cent off of most of the remaining stock. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)

Today (April 21) is Record Store Day, a day held every April to celebrate independent record stores.

Related story

Moondance closing its doors after 46 years as a downtown Peterborough fixture

It’s the final Record Store Day for Moondance located at 425 George Street North in downtown Peterborough — Canada’s oldest independent record store having opened in 1972.

In January, owner Mike Taveroff announced he was closing the shop and retiring. The final day before Moondance closes for good is Saturday, April 28th.

For Record Store Day 2018, Taveroff is offering 70 per cent off of most of the remaining stock.

He will have some of the new releases for Record Store Day — musicians from Abba to Bob Dylan are issuing new vinyl, while there are also re-releases from Arcade Fire, The Who, and AC/DC.

New owner of Black Horse Pub says it’s ‘business at usual’

By Paul Rellinger -
The Black Horse Pub and Restaurant is located at at 452 George Street North in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: National Trust for Canada)

Live music fans rejoice — The Black Horse Pub in downtown Peterborough will continue on its present form.

Current owner Ray Kapoor confirmed Friday (April 20) that he has sold the property at 452 George Street North to Desmond Vandenberg, a 54-year-old Trent University grad who has been living and working in Toronto in the technology sector since leaving Peterborough.

The deal closes May 7th, confirms Kapoor, noting the purchase price is “very close” to the listed $850,000.

“My goal is to keep it business as usual,” says Vandenberg.

“If someone comes (to The Black Horse) in a few months from now and says ‘Hey, you’ didn’t change anything’, I’m going to be like ‘Mission accomplished … we did what we set out to do.'”

Desmond Vandenberg, pictured here in 2015, has purchased The Black Horse Pub from Ray Kapoor and Nancy Kerr, who will be retiring. (Photo: Desmond Vandenberg / Facebook)
Desmond Vandenberg, pictured here in 2015, has purchased The Black Horse Pub from Ray Kapoor and Nancy Kerr, who will be retiring. (Photo: Desmond Vandenberg / Facebook)

He adds that his motivation to purchase the property, which also includes upper floor apartment units, was fueled by two things: good memories of his time in Peterborough and the prospect that the building could fall victim to the wrecking ball.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Trent,” Vandenberg recalls. “I waited on tables at Red Lobster and drove cabs and worked my way through school. I loved the city but work was in Toronto, so I went there and worked in restaurants … Red Lobster, The Keg, a number of independent places. But it was always in the back of mind that I want to get back to Peterborough.

“Over the last two years, I checked out every listing that came up in Peterborough. The Black Horse Pub is the kind of place I like going to. When I saw that Parkview Homes had purchased it, it was like ‘Aw, that’s terrible.’

“When that fell through, I thought here was my second kick at the can. The idea that people were getting ready to demolish that building, that’s a heartbreak. It’s a beautiful building.”

Desmond Vandenberg, new owner of The Black Horse Pub, brought his 1981 DeLorean sports car (one of approximately 6,000 believed to exist) to Galaxy Cinemas in 2015 (where his son was working at the time) to help promote a "Back to the Future" movie marathon. (Photo: Desmond Vandenberg / Facebook)
Desmond Vandenberg, new owner of The Black Horse Pub, brought his 1981 DeLorean sports car (one of approximately 6,000 believed to exist) to Galaxy Cinemas in 2015 (where his son was working at the time) to help promote a “Back to the Future” movie marathon. (Photo: Desmond Vandenberg / Facebook)
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According to Kapoor, he and Vandenberg started talking in December with the deal finalized “in the last month or so.”

He adds that Vandenberg’s intent to keep the pub open in its current state is a relief to everybody, including him, the staff, and the customers.

“It leaves me sort of my legacy,” Kapoor explains. “We started it and he’s going to continue it. He likes what’s here, he likes live music, and he wants to continue supporting that.”

Ray Kapoor, who opened The Black Horse in August 2005, says he and his wife Nancy Kerr will take a long overdue vacation and then settle into retired life in East City. (Photo: Black Horse Pub / Facebook)
Ray Kapoor, who opened The Black Horse in August 2005, says he and his wife Nancy Kerr will take a long overdue vacation and then settle into retired life in East City. (Photo: Black Horse Pub / Facebook)

Moving forward, Kapoor says he and wife Nancy Kerr will take a long overdue vacation and then settle into retired life in East City.

“I’m going to miss the people,” adds Kapoor, who opened The Black Horse in August 2005.

“I’m going to miss the industry. It’s still in my blood and is going to be there for awhile until I get comfortable doing something else.

“I do want to thank the people of Peterborough for supporting me the last 40 years. They followed me from the Holiday Inn to Falstaff’s and Rockwells and the Red Dog and then here. It’s been amazing.”

On Sunday (April 22), The Black Horse will host Musicians’ Appreciation Day from 1 to 9 p.m., featuring 15 acts with all proceeds going to benefit Peterborough musicians. Both Kapoor and Vandenberg will be at that event, with the intent to formally announce the purchase to patrons.

Vandenberg’s plan means Rick and Gailie Young, the longtime musical duo that is as much of a Black Horse fixture as the St. Patrick’s Day countdown clock above the stage, will continue their 12-year run of weekly performances.

“It (the sale) is great news but it’s not great news,” says Gailie, as it means their friend Kapoor will no longer be in the picture.

“But Ray deserves this retirement. I watch him at the end of the bar rubbing his face. I know he’s had enough.”

Reflecting on the Parkview Home’s plan to demolish the building, Gailie recalls “everyone was freaking out … thank God that fell through.”

“I had a had a chance to meet Desmond last week. A very nice guy. He knows what he’s doing, like if it’s not broke, why fix it? He said ‘Gailie, you’re keeping your Crash and Burn on Monday nights and I said ‘Oh, I love you.'”

Police seek help finding Lindsay area man now missing for 16 months

By kawarthaNOW -
34-year-old Cory Lanteigne has been missing since December 8, 2016. (Photo via Missing Persons of Ontario)

The City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service is asking the public for information to help them solve a cold case: the disappearance of 34-year-old Cory Lanteigne from Lindsay.

Lanteigne was last seen at 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 8, 2016, leaving a family member’s home on O’Reilly Lane in Ops Township near Lindsay.

After Lanteigne was reported missing, an unsuccessful search of the area around O’Reilly Lane was conducted by Kawartha Lakes Police with the assistance of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Central Region Emergency Response Team, Canine Units and a helicopter from the OPP Aviation Services.

Since that time, Kawartha Lakes Police have continued to investigate Lanteigne’s disappearance but have failed to locate him.

He is described as a white male, 5 feet 11 inches tall, and 165 lbs. He has brown hair that, at the time of his disappearance, was shaved very close to his head and he was unshaven.

Cory Lanteigne. (Photos via Missing Persons of Ontario)
Cory Lanteigne. (Photos via Missing Persons of Ontario)

Lanteigne was last seen wearing grey cotton casual pants, black Nike running shoes, a black canvas jacket, and a grey shirt. He has been known to have hitchhiked in the past.

Police do not suspect any foul play in his disappearance.

If you have information about Lanteigne’s disappearance or his possible whereabouts, contact Detective Constable Deb Hagarty at 705-324-6307 ext. 527 or dhagarty@klps.ca or Detective Sergeant Kirk Robertson at 705-324-6307 ext 515 or krobertson@klps.ca.

If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or at www.khcs.ca.

Murder is a laughing matter at Lindsay Little Theatre

By Sam Tweedle -
Ben Whyte as Mitchell, Holly English as Arlene, and Seamus McCann as Paul in the black comedy "Murder at the Howard Johnson's", running April 20 and 21 and April 27 and 28 at Lindsay Little Theatre. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)

Three lovers, three murder plots, three acts, and one hotel room. This is the recipe for a year’s worth of romance and revenge in Ron Clark and Sam Bobrick’s Murder at the Howard Johnson’s, which opens on Friday, April 20th at Lindsay Little Theatre.

Lindsay Little Theatre presents
Murder at the Howard Johnson’s

When: Friday, April 20 Saturday, April 21, Friday, April 27, and Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 8 p.m.
Where: Lindsay Little Theatre (55 George St W., Lindsay, 705-880-2445)
How much: $20

Written by Sam Bobrick and Ron Clark, directed by Kathryn Wooldridge-Condon with Dylan Robichaud and Rebecca Anne Bloom, and starring Holly English, Seamus McCann, and Ben Whyte.

Tickets are available in person or by phone at the Academy Theatre box office (2 Lindsay St. S., Lindsay, 705-324-911), online at www.kawarthatickets.ca or at the door the night of the performance. Advance tickets by phone or online are subject to a $2 surcharge.

Directed by Kathryn Wooldridge-Condon with assistance from Dylan Robichaud and Rebecca Anne Bloom, Murder at the Howard Johnson’s stars Holly English, Seamus McCann, and Ben Whyte in a farcical black comedy where loyalties change faster than you can get room service.

Opening on Broadway in 1979, Murder at the Howard Johnson’s wasn’t the biggest hit of the year, and after only 10 previews and four performances, the show closed abruptly. However, the show has remained popular for over three decades in community theatres throughout the world. Not everything can be a Broadway classic, but that doesn’t stop it from being a really fun show to watch.

Lindsay Little Theatre is able to bring life to this clever little show filled with seedy characters, bad ideas, and poorly executed killings.

Murder at the Howard Johnson’s follows a dysfunctional love triangle of likeable losers over the course of a year. On Christmas Eve, bored housewife Arlene (Holly English) checks into a room at the Howard Johnson’s with her lover Dr. Mitchell Lovell (Ben Whyte), a local dentist and self-proclaimed ladies’ man. The two plan to start a new life together, and summon Arlene’s husband Paul (Seamus McCann) to the hotel room to reveal their affair.

The plan is to give Paul a choice: either he can give Arlene a divorce or they’ll kill him. When Paul doesn’t take the pair seriously, they decide that Paul must meet a watery demise. But sometimes the best-laid plans don’t work out. As the show progresses, loyalties change, relationships change, rivalries are formed, and murder is on everybody’s mind. Tonight could be anybody’s last night at the Howard Johnson’s.

Bored housewife Arlene (Holly English) with her lover Dr. Mitchell Lovell (Ben Whyte). The pair decide to issue an ultimatum to Arelen's husband. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
Bored housewife Arlene (Holly English) with her lover Dr. Mitchell Lovell (Ben Whyte). The pair decide to issue an ultimatum to Arelen’s husband. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)

The strength of Lindsay Little Theatre’s production is in the casting of the characters, who could be considered relatively unlikeable. Due to each actor’s on-stage charisma and dedication to the role, likeable qualities begin to emerge so each character becomes fun to watch. The evolution of their situation, and the ever-changing loyalties between the three, keeps the audience captivated with the drama until the end.

At the centre of the show is Holly English as Arlene. Neurotic, bored, and not the sharpest crayon in the box, Arlene rips through the lives of the men in her world like a juggernaut of anxiety and selfishness. Although her husband has always treated her well, Arlene feels she has outgrown him and is looking for a better thing in the arms of her dentist.

What is interesting in Holly’s portrayal of Arlene, a true train wreck of a human being, is that she creates a character who may be the most divisive to the audience. Some audience members will really loathe her, while others may find her disturbingly relatable. Playing a succubus in thigh-high boots, Holly also manages to give Arlene a slightly trashy quality which is not over the top, but peeks out just above the surface to show the audience her true colours.

When her husband Paul (Seamus McCann) refuses to give Arlene (Holly English) a divorce, she and her lover decide to murder him. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
When her husband Paul (Seamus McCann) refuses to give Arlene (Holly English) a divorce, she and her lover decide to murder him. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)

Ben Whyte, in his acting debut, gives a strong performance as Dr. Mitchell. He plays the kind of jerk who has money, a good career, and is sleeping with your ex-girlfriend. You just can’t help but hate that guy. Successful and smooth with the ladies, Mitchell lies somewhere between a Casanova and a scoundrel. With a cocksure attitude, he believes he can always get the girl and literally get away with murder. So when the tables get turned on him, it’s a lot of fun to watch.

Despite his character’s potential unlikeability, just as Holly does with Arlene, Ben’s charisma brings a certain charm to his character.

But often it is Seamus McGann, as the cuckold husband Paul, who gets the biggest laughs and becomes the most likeable of the three. A wonderful actor who can take on any sort of role, Seamus presents Paul as a loveable loser who just can’t seem to get a break. He has a sort of self-deprecating confidence that keeps him safe and often keeps him coming out on top.

Seamus also has this unique delivery of his lines that is just intensely funny. It’s hard to describe and, when I asked Shamus what he’d call the tone of voice that he uses for his character, he was unable to define it himself. But his voice work, combined with his bewildered expressions and ability to always find the right comeback, makes him the real audience favourite.

The love triangle: Ben Whyte as Mitchell, Holly English as Arlene, and Seamus McCann as Paul. As the play progresses, loyalties change, relationships change, rivalries are formed, and murder is on everybody's mind. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
The love triangle: Ben Whyte as Mitchell, Holly English as Arlene, and Seamus McCann as Paul. As the play progresses, loyalties change, relationships change, rivalries are formed, and murder is on everybody’s mind. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)

Together, the trio of performers has a strong chemistry that holds the show together. As partnerships and relationships change in each act, the actors change their relationships with one another. Each act forces two of the actors to play off each another and against the third member. This creates both an interesting narrative and a constantly changing dynamic between the actors, keeping the audience guessing just how it’s all going to end.

A fun show with a likeable cast, Murder at the Howard Johnson’s will be performed at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 20th and Saturday, April 21st and Friday, April 27th and Saturday, April 28th at the Lindsay Little Theatre (55 George St., Lindsay).

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance in person or by phone at the Academy Theatre box office (2 Lindsay St. S., Lindsay, 705-324-911), online at www.kawarthatickets.ca, or at the door the night of each performance.

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