Peterborough Academy of Circus Arts artistic director and coach Thomas Vaccaro during a make-up trial with student 13-year-old Ethan Hinshelwood. Ethan is one of six of the organization's advanced students who will be demonstrating their skills at Circus Idol, Peterborough's first-ever circus arts competition at the Market Hall on February 2, 2018. (Photo: PACA)
When you think of kids, the first activities that come to mind probably aren’t juggling fire or performing acrobatics while hanging from silk suspended high above a stage.
But that and more is exactly what a group of six young performers will be doing at the first-ever Circus Idol, a competition in circus arts taking place at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on Friday, February 2nd.
Peterborough Academy Of Circus Arts & Uncommon Entertainers present present Circus Idol
When: Friday February 2, 2018 at 6 p.m. Where: Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough) How much: $18 general admission ($13 for children 12 and under)
Circus youth students showcase their talents before a panel of judges for feedback and evaluation. Featuring guest performances by The Pyroflys and adult aerial students. Tickets are available at the Market Hall Box Office, by phone at 705-749-1146, or online at markethall.org.
The kids, ranging from age from 10 to 14, are all students in the advanced level of training with the Peterborough Academy of Circus Arts (PACA).
The non-profit organization was formed in Peterborough in 2015 to teach and practice multidisciplinary circus arts, the genre of performance art made most popular and famous by the Montreal company Cirque du Soleil.
The six students — Abby Vasey (13), Ella Conolly (13), Ethan Hinshelwood (13), Ewen Lyall (12), Taryn Walsh (14), Riddick MacHart (13), and Avery Packman (10) — have all trained in a variety of circus arts, and each has chosen her or his favourite disciplines to showcase at the Circus Idol competition.
Their performances will include aerial acrobatics on silks or lycra, hoop dancing, floor routines, a Cyr wheel routine, and fire juggling and spinning. A panel of veteran circus arts performers will grade each student’s performance and provide professional feedback on artistic merit, musicality, technical execution, and difficulty.
Peterborough Academy of Circus Arts artistic director and coach Thomas Vaccaro training with 13-year-old Ethan Hinshelwood. (Photo: Eric Hanes Photography)
The six kids have all been coached by Thomas Vaccaro, PACA’s artistic director, who is clearly proud of them.
“Someday they might be world-class circus artists for Cirque du Soleil or they might just do it as a hobby,” Vaccaro says. “Whatever they do, they are my legacy and what I will leave behind in this world. And I am so happy for having known them.”
13-year-old Ethan Hinshelwood training with a Cyr wheel. (Photo: Eric Hanes Photography)
The Circus Idol competition is one way to prepare the students for the very competitive world of circus arts. They dream of one day joining the esteemed National Circus School in Montreal, where they will be up against circus artists from around the world who are also vying for the coveted opportunity to study with the best of the best in the circus arts industry.
Most of the PACA students train a couple of days each week before school, with a strict start time of 6:30 a.m. Their training program focuses on technical skills, conditioning exercises, and troubleshooting their routines.
Not only have all the students created and choreographed their own performance pieces, but they’ve also contributed to the lighting and staging design.
These are the types of skills Vaccaro hopes will help set them apart and give them an edge.
VIDEO: 12-year-old Ewen Lyall in training with the Peterborough Academy of Circus Arts
Circus Idol is sponsored by Uncommon Entertainers, whose founder Jason Chessar is also general manager for the PyroFlys, a Peterborough-based company of professional fire dancers, aerial artists, circus performers, and more. The company has performed for the Dragons’ Den, Justin Bieber, and Lennox Lewis.
Circus Idol takes place on February 2, 2018 at the Market Hall in Peterborough.
“The magic of circus enabled me to overcome challenges in my childhood and continues to reward me in unexpected ways in adulthood,” Chessar says. “I want everyone to have a chance to share in that magic and wonder.”
Circus Idol is styled as a competition to help prepare the students for the rigorous demands and high expectations of future auditions.
Vaccaro says the feedback students get from the event judges will help them to further develop their art and achieve their goals.
The competition’s judges — Victoria Wood, Richard Emo, Tegan Moss, Opal Elchuk, and Nicole Malbeuf — are all recognized leaders in the circus arts who specialize in the same disciplines the PACA students will be showcasing.
“I am excited to see the future stars of circus and to help guide them on their magical journey,” says Wood, who goes by the stage name of Pyrobelle.
While the student competition is the highlight of Circus Idol and will be entertaining enough for the audience, there will also be a fire demonstration by PyroFlys’ duo Pyrobelle and Pyrometheus (the stage name of judge Richard Emo), an aerial performance by judge Nicole Malbeuf, as well as a group number by PACA’s adult aerial students.
Circus Idol begins at 6 p.m. on on Friday, February 2nd, at the Market Hall (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough). General admission tickets, including fees, are $15 ($10 for youth) and are available at the Market Hall Box Office, by phone at 705-749-1146, or online at markethall.org
Lindsay resident Christian Cooke (right) and colleague Brad Zoern with their 2012 sound mixing Emmy Awards for "Hatfields & McCoys". Cooke and Zoern, along with Peterborough native Glen Gauthier, have been nominated for the Sound Mixing Oscar for 'The Shape of Water'. (Photo: Emmy Awards)
First it was a BAFTA nomination for Lindsay resident Christian Cooke, and now it’s an Oscar nomination — and on his birthday to boot.
Along with Brad Zoern and Peterborough native Glen Gauthier, Cooke is one of the team nominated for an Oscar for Best Sound Mixing for the critically acclaimed The Shape of Water, directed by Guillermo del Toro.
The 2018 Oscar nominations were announced earlier today (January 23) — Cooke’s birthday — and The Shape of Water leads the race with 13 nominations.
Cooke, Zoern, Gautheir were already nominated for a BAFTA — the British equivalent of the Oscar — for Best Sound, along Nathan Robitaille. For the Oscar nomination, Robitaille is nominated separately for Best Sound Editing along with Nelson Ferreira. These are the first Oscar nominations for all five men.
Lindsay resident Christian Cooke of Deluxe Toronto has been working in sound mixing for 40 years and has won many awards for his work, including an Emmy as well as Gemini and Genie awards. (Photo: Deluxe Toronto)
Cooke and Zoern are sound re-recording mixers at Deluxe Toronto, part of the Deluxe Entertainment Services Group. For post-production on The Shape of Water, del Toro went to Deluxe Toronto, which he had used for previous projects including Crimson Peak and Pan’s Labyrinth.
The Shape of Water has been nominated for 13 Oscars: Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Original Music Score, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Production Design.
The record for nominations is 14, shared by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land.
As with the film’s BAFTA nomination, The Shape of Water is up against Baby Driver, Blade Runner 2049, Dunkirk, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi for sound mixing.
Cooke first began working in sound mixing in 1978, when he filled in for a couple of weeks at SoundMix, his father’s company. He never looked back and, in the past 40 years, has worked on many feature films, television movies, and tlevision series including Hamburger Hill, A History of Violence, Eastern Promises, Dieppe, Ready or Not, Billable Hours, Being Erica, and Bomb Girls.
He’s won multiple awards in the past, including Gemini Awards for sound for Being Erica (2010 and 2011), Billable Hours (2009), and Shades of Black: The Conrad Black Story (2007), as well as Genie Awars for A Dangerous Method (2012) and Eastern Promises (2008).
In 2012, both Cooke and Zoern won an Emmy for sound mixing for the Hatfields & McCoys miniseries on the History Channel, and also won a Cinema Audio Society in 2013 for their work on the series. Cooke was nominated for an Emmy in 2015 for his work on Texas Rising.
Former Peterborough resident Glen Gauthier is also part of the sound team nominated for the Oscar.
Gauthier, who left Peterborough as a teenager, also has a long list of film and television credits, including IT, Molly’s Game, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, Spotlight, Pixels, Being Erica, A History of Violence, Dolores Clairborne, The Shipping News, and Parenthood. He also previously worked on Guillermo del Toro’s 2013 robot epic Pacific Rim. He has won multiple Gemini and Genie awards for his work.
Peterborough native Glen Gauthier, who left Peterborough as a teenager, is also part of the BAFTA-nominated sound team for “The Shape of Water”. (Photo: IMDb)
Gauthier, who runs his own sound company Noise Boys Inc., is a location sound mixer. A member of the film crew who’s responsible for recording all sound on set during film-making, his work includes minimizing extraneous noise during filming rather than in post-production.
“There was always running water and steam pipes and lots of visual effects that create a lot of noise,” Gauthier says of The Shape of Water, in an interview with The Canadian Press.
Filmed in Toronto and Hamilton, The Shape of Water is an other-worldly fable set against the backdrop of Cold War era America in the early 1960s. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment.
VIDEO: The Shape of Water Trailer
The film, which has been nominated for seven Golden Globes, received the Golden Lion for Best Film at the Venice Film Festival.
The 90th Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 4th at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, with comedian Jimmy Kimmel hosting for a second consecutive year. The BAFTA Awards ceremony takes place two weeks before in London, England, and might be a predictor of the film’s success at the Oscars.
The Village of Millbrook in the Township of Cavan Monaghan revitalized its main street in 2016, including new crosswalks. Under Ontario's Main Street Revitalization Initiative, the township will be one of many municipalities in the Kawarthas to receive funding for similar improvements. (Photo: Nexicom / Facebook)
The government of Ontario has announced $26 million in funding for rural municipalities under its “Main Street Revitalization Initiative”, intended to attract investment and tourism, create jobs, and enhance regional economic growth by supporting the revitalization of downtown and main streets across the province.
Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Minister Responsible for Small Business, made the announcement today (January 23) at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference in Toronto.
“Main streets are at the core of small, rural communities and are home to thousands of small businesses across the province,” Leal said. “That’s why our government is committed to ensuring they continue to remain vibrant hubs where residents meet, tourists visit and small businesses grow and prosper.”
The funding will be used to improve downtown and main streets through improvements such as the installation of pedestrian crosswalks or landscaping. Municipalities can also direct funding to local businesses to improve the appearance of their storefronts by installing lighting or new signage.
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario and its rural arm, the Rural Ontario Municipal Association, will administer the funds.
The government will allocate funds to municipalities based on population size, using the most recent data from the 2016 Statistics Canada Census of Population. Communities with fewer than 25,000 residents will receive an adjustment to ensure they receive sufficient funds.
Here are some of the communities in the Kawarthas receiving funding under the initiative:
Environment Canada has issued a fog advisory for all of the Kawarthas, including Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Hastings, and Haliburton.
Areas of dense fog have developed, with near zero visibility expected or occurring. The fog will lift later this morning or early this afternoon.
Motorists should allow extra time to reach their destination. Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility in some locations.
If travelling, be prepared for areas of near-zero visibility. If visibility is reduced while driving, slow down, watch for tail lights ahead and be prepared to stop.
Environment Canada issues fog advisories when near zero visibilities in fog are expected or occurring.
Canadian music icon Fred Penner will be performing a free family concert at Lansdowne Place Mall in Peterborough on March 3, 2018 as part of the week-long Peterborough Winter Folk Festival. (Photo: Kendra Hope)
Canadian music icon Fred Penner is returning to Peterborough to perform a free family concert at Lansdowne Place Mall (645 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough) on Saturday, March 3rd.
The children’s music peformer is best known for his song “The Cat Came Back” and his television show Fred Penner’s Place, which aired on CBC in Canada from 1985 to 1997.
The two-time Juno winner most recently took home the Best Children’s Record award at the 2017 Canadian Folk Music Awards, for his album Hear The Music, which features Ron Sexsmith, Alex Cuba, Basia Bulat, The Good Lovelies, Terra Lightfoot, Afie Jurvanen (a.k.a. Bahamas) with backup vocals from Fred’s own family.
VIDEO: “I Hear The Music” performed by Fred Penner
Fred last performed at the Peterborough Folk Festival in the summer of 2016.
Presented by Lansdowne Place and the Peterborough Folk Festival, the concert begins at 12:30 p.m. at Centre Court with performances by local musicians Kate Suhr and Melissa Payne, followed by Fred’s performance from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
“Children’s and family activities have always been an important part of the festival in the summer,” says Ryan Kemp, artistic director of the volunteer-run Peterborough Folk Festival. “We are really excited to team with Lansdowne Place to bring Canadian icon Fred Penner to Peterborough.”
The free concert is part of the Peterborough Winter Folk Festival (previously known as the February Folk Folly), which runs at various venues from Friday, March 2 to Saturday, March 10, 2018.
The festival also includes a series of ticketed concerts. Downchild Blues Band performs at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on Friday, March 2nd. The Sheepdogs will be at Showplace Performance Centre on Tuesday, March 6th, followed by Randy Bachman on Wednesday, March 7th, with special guests Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs opening on each night.
On Friday, March 9th, My Son The Hurricane with special guest Broken Harmony will take the stage at the Red Dog Tavern and, on Saturday, March 10th, Peterborough’s own Mayhemingways (Benj Rowland and Josh Fewings) will be releasing their new album “Skip Land” at The Mount, with special guest Ali McCormick.
For more information on the Peterborough Winter Folk Festival and how to buy tickets, visit www.peterboroughfolkfest.com.
One of the three men who broke into the rear entrance of Wild Rock in downtown Peterborough before stealing Canada Goose parkas. (Photo: Wild Rock / Facebook)
Outdoor gear retailer Wild Rock Outfitters in downtown Peterborough is asking for the public’s help in solving a break-in.
At around 4 a.m. overnight on Wednesday, January 10th, three men entered the store after bumping the lock on the rear door.
Once inside the store, the men stole a number of Canada Goose parkas.
One of the thieves captured on a security camera inside the store with one of the parkas. (Photo: Wild Rock / Facebook)
The trendy and expensive coats (which can retail for $900 or much higher depending on the coat) have been a favourite target of thieves. They are also a source of controversy among animal rights activists, largely for the company’s use of coyote fur to line the jacket hoods.
According to a post today (January 22) on Wild Rock’s Facebook page, the three men who stole the parkas drove a silver mini-van. The vehicle and a couple of the men were captured on security footage.
Wild Rock is offering a jacket of your choice if you can help them locate the thieves. You can contact them directly at 705-745-9133 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Canada Goose parkas have drawn the ire of animal rights activities for their use of coyote fur. The trendy and expensive coats are also a favourite target of thieves. (Photo: Canada Goose)
Josh Fewings and Benj Rowland of Mayhemingways have released the first single, "Frances the Truck Driver", from their new full-length record Skip Land. The single is available now on Spotify, Google Play Music, and iTunes, and the full album drops on February 23, 2018. (Photo: Wayne Eardley)
A common denominator of any successful partnership is shared give-and-take; each party gives equally, each party reaps rewards equally.
Since 2013, Josh Fewings and Benj Rowland have worked their partnership to perfection and live music fans across the country and beyond have benefitted. With their stage coupling — Mayhemingways — now about to turn the page on a new chapter of their journey together, both are steadfast in their determination to stay the course.
In other words, if it ain’t broke, why even consider fixing it?
On February 23rd in Calgary, Mayhemingways will officially release Skip Land, a new 10-track offering recorded about an hour south of the Alberta city in Nanton. The band has already released the first single, a track titled “Frances The Truck Driver”, which is available now on Spotify, Google Play Music, and iTunes.
VIDEO: “Frances the Truck Driver” – Mayhemingways
Produced by Steve Loree, who also produced Mayhemingways’ first critically acclaimed full-length album Hunter St. Blues, the new album was actually recorded close to a year ago. However, a very busy 2016 — which included a cross-Canada tour opening for (and backing) Joel Plaskett and his father Bill and a trek across Europe — put its release on the backburner.
Locally, the new album will be front-and-centre when Mayhemingways return from touring out west to headline a March 10th concert at the Mount Community Centre (1545 Monaghan Road, Peterborough, 705-875-5045) — part of the Peterborough Winter Folk Festival.
Tickets to the 8 p.m. licensed all-ages show cost $12 (including service fee) at Bluestreak Records and The Mount, or $15 at the door. You can also order them online at ticketscene.ca.
Opening is Ali McCormack, who had a residency at The Garnet, while former Pig’s Ear bartender Andrea Forsell will lend her skills to the occasion. With the now-closed Brock Street pub having been a favourite haunt of Mayhemingways, Josh says Andrea’s involvement is a no-brainer.
“If you can’t have The Pig’s Ear, you might as well bring the bartender,” he laughs.
The new record “is a little darker, a little more eclectic too,” according to Josh.
“How we recorded it was kind of different too,” he explains. “The producer had a vision he wanted to try, sort of capturing more of what our live show sounds like. It has a kind of realism to it.
“It’s not overly produced or perfect, which for the songs that are on it kind of fits. There are a lot of auxiliary sounds — Benj hums along on one song. It’s real and it kind of suits where we are at this point.”
Last year, Mayhemingways toured Canada with Bill and Joel Plaskett and played at Massey Hall in Toronto. (Photo: Mayhemingways)
For his part, Benj — who wrote the lyrics and music — says the album’s recording was equal parts satisfying and interesting.
“Some songs, you have an idea in your head of how they’ll sound but they don’t turn into that,” he says. “And then sometimes, they turn into something better than you thought they would. The last record was very intentionally place-specific. This album is something else. That wasn’t the focus. It goes somewhere else.”
“Where we’re from is always with us, but it’s not always literal,” Josh adds. “The influences both Benj and I had growing up — Washboard Hank and The Silverhearts — a lot of that stuff has kind of seeped into different parts of what we do.”
On the road in the Czech Republic in November 2017. Since forming in 2013, Josh Fewings and Benj Rowland have performed more than 600 live shows across Canada and in Europe. (Photo: Mayhemingways)
Tom Wilson (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Lee Harvey Osmond, Junkhouse) has described their music as “mind-bending and original music with deep roots in the tradition of dark North American folk,” and Josh and Benj have been remarkably consistent in the delivery of that sound.
That, Benj notes, is by design, not by accident.
“There’s a formula,” he says. “I like it and I’m not bored of it.”
But while there’s a signature Mayhemingways sound, that doesn’t mean the music doesn’t evolve.
“There’s always progression whether you’re trying for that or not. Making another record is progression. I learn by doing. That’s progression for me. You’re a different person than you were when you made the last record.”
As for the chemistry at the root of their success, Josh says that has been nurtured and enhanced by the unique closeness of the duo format.
“When you’re in a car with someone for so long — we’ve played about 600 shows — you grow that thing twins have, where you know what the other one is thinking. It’s just like any couple in that you have to be ready to compromise.
“We have friends who are in bands of seven people. Just trying to figure out even basic things like hotels, I can’t imagine.”
Life on the road for touring musicians isn’t always fun, but for Josh and Benj there’s a definite benefit to Mayhemingways being a duo. “When you’re in a car with someone for so long, you grow that thing twins have, where you know what the other one is thinking.” (Photo: Mayhemingways)
In their partnership, Benj writes the songs and employs various instruments such as the banjo, mandolin, accordion, and guitar, while Josh adds “a bit of my own rhythms” — he also books shows and uses his more outgoing personality to handle networking.
“We’ve definitely had a lot of luck to be able to do it this long,” Josh says. “We’re super independent. Labels can be really good but as soon as they’re in there, they’re part of the decisions too.
“You need to keep on rolling, adding shows. The plan is to keep going at it and hopefully gain new fans.”
Benj concurs, attributing his part in Mayhemingways’ continued success to being “more adult, more stable, more mature”.
“We’re not trying to explode anything,” he says. “We get down to it and do the work. We both know what’s involved. We don’t have unreasonable expectations.”
For more on Mayhemingways, including a complete listing of upcoming shows, visit mayhemingways.com.
Josh Fewings and Benj Rowland of Mayhemingways in a publicity photo for their new record “Skip Land”, which follows their critically acclaimed 2016 album “Hunter St Blues”. (Photo: Wayne Eardley)
Andrew Winslow of Winslow Gerolamy Motors Limited (left) accepts the Environmental Excellence Business Award from Ontonabee Conservation at its 59th annual meeting on January 18, 2018. Winslow Gerolamy Motors donated a cube van to the environmental organization for use in transporting tree seedlings. (Photo: Otonabee Conservation)
This week we feature an environmental award from Otonabee Conservation for Winslow Gerolamy Motors, the first intake of 2018 for the Starter Company Plus at Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre, the new board of the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Horizon Plastics International of Cobourg being acquired by an American company, and upcoming business events including the nomination deadline for the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce annual business awards.
If you have business news or events you want us to share with our readers, email business@kawarthanow.com.
Ontonabee Conservation presents local automotive business Winslow Gerolamy Motors Limited with environmental award
Winslow Gerolamy Motors Limited (1018 Lansdowne St, W., Peterborough) received the Environmental Excellence Business Award from Otonabee Conservation at its 59th annual meeting in Keene on Thursday, January 18th.
Dealer principal Andrew Winslow accepted the award on behalf of the company.
For a number of years now, Winslow Gerolamy has donated the use of a cube van enabling Otonabee Conservation staff to pick up, store, and deliver thousands of tree seedlings to various planting sites throughout the watershed. Having the use of the van lessened Otonabee Conservation’s carbon footprint by reducing the number of trips it would otherwise take to transport the trees. The logistics were also simplified, helping the program to run more smoothly and efficiently.
Dr. Sue Carstairs (right), executive and medical director of the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, accepts the Environmental Excellence Stewardship Award from Ontonabee Conservation chair Andy Mitchell and vice-chair Sherry Senis. (Photo: Otonabee Conservation)
Also honoured were Meaghen Thompson and Olivia Handley of Ennismore Guides, who received the Environmental Excellence Conservationist Award for demonstrate leadershiping and inspire others to understand and become engaged citizens within our natural environment, and the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, which received the Environmental Excellence Stewardship Award for the organization’s dedication to the protection and conservation of Ontario’s native turtles.
“The awards recognize the conservation efforts of those who are very passionate about conservation but remain quite humble about their involvement and accomplishments,” says Otonabee Conservation chair Andy Mitchell. “It’s our way of saying thank you and sharing their success with the watershed community.”
Applications now open for Starter Company Plus program’s first intake of 2018
Madeleine Hurrell, Economic Development Officer who oversees the Starter Company Plus and Summer Company programs at the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre, shares information with Starter Company Plus participants at a summer workshop. (Photo: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
If you’re looking to start or expand a business in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, are over 18 and no longer enrolled in full-time studies, applications are now being accepted for the first intake of the Starter Company Plus program.
The program is funded by the Government of Ontario and administered locally by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development’s Business Advisory Centre,
The five-week program, which has three upcoming intakes in 2018, is designed to provide business training for aspiring and established entrepreneurs, aged 18 and over in the City and County of Peterborough who are launching a business or expanding an existing venture that has been in operation for five years or less.
There are four intake sessions taking place on Thursdays in February. The first “Starting Point” session starts Thursday, February 1st from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the VentureNorth boardroom just down the stairs from Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development office at 270 George St N, Peterborough.
Attendance at one of these sessions is a mandatory first step to applying for Starter Company Plus. Sessions will take place on February 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce announces 2018 Board of Directors
Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett swears in Jim Hill of James F. Hill Financial Management Services as the chair of the 2018 board of directors for the Peterborough Chamber. (Photo: Sofie Andreou)
On Tuesday, January 16th, the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce held the inaugural meeting of the 2018 Board of Directors.
The new chair of the board is Jim Hill of James F. Hill Financial Management Services, along with vice-chair Ben vanVeen (Century 21 United Realty Inc., Brokerage), treasurer Dawn Hennessey (Business Development Bank of Canada), secretary Stuart Harrison (Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce), and directors at large Joe Grant (LLF Lawyers LLP) and Allison Seiderer (Living Well Home Medical Equipment).
Directors are Sofie Andreou, Tim Barrie, Chris Calbury, Gwyneth James, Mary McGee, Lorrie McMullen, Neil Morton, Amy Simpson, and Morgan Smith.
Appointees to the 2018 board are Mayor Daryl Bennett (representing the City of Peterborough), Selwyn Township Deputy Mayor Sherry Senis, (representing the County of Peterborough), Lorie Gill (representing the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough) and Paul Glenn (representing the Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture).
American company acquires Horizon Plastics International Inc. in Cobourg
Cobourg’s Horizon Plastics International Inc., which operates plastic molding factories in Cobourg and Mexico, has been acquired by Core Molding Technologies Inc. of Columbus, Ohio for $63 million U.S. The acquisition is not expected to result in any restructuring, shut downs, or reduction of its 250 employees. (Photo: Horizon Plastics International Inc.)
Ohio-based Core Molding Technologies Inc., a leading North American compounder of custom sheet molding compound and molder of fiberglass reinforced plastics, has acquired Horizon Plastics International Inc. (HPI) of Cobourg for $63 million U.S.
HIP, which will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Core Molding Technologies Inc., was founded in 1972. The company is a custom low-pressure structural plastic molder with 250 employees at the head office and manufacturing facility in Cobourg and its second manufacturing facility in Mexico. The company had annual sales last year of around $60 million U.S.
HPI owner and CEO Brian Read says he was looking for a new owner for the company, and Core Molding Technologies was a good fit.
“As I looked to transition ownership of HPI, it was important to find the right partner,” Read says in a media release. “As a long-term Cobourg resident and business owner, future stability of the organization and support of our outstanding technical and production teams was a high priority. I also favoured a strategic partner with the scale and technology foundation to continue growing these specialized processes into expanded applications.”
Core Molding Technologies Inc. states it plans to continue all operations at HPI and “does not expect any significant restructuring, shut-down or employee severance costs.”
Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Business After Hours Lakefield Health and Wellness Hop on January 23
Robyn Jenkins and Evelyne Derkindren of The Robyn’s Nest Photography Company & Beauty Boutique in Lakefield, one of three businesses participating in the Business After Hours Lakefield Health and Wellness Hop.
Members of the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism will be visiting three Lakefield businesses on Tuesday, January 23rd from 5 to 7 p.m. to learn tips and tricks for wellness in the new year.
The Business After Hours Lakefield Health and Wellness Hop takes place at Salon Sorella & Day Spa, Robyn’s Nest Photography & Beauty, and Cuddles for Cancer.
Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting on January 30
The Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its 111th Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, January 30th at 6 p.m. at The Woodlawn Inn (420 Division Street, Cobourg).
Members are invited to attend and hear an overview of the Chamber’s activities for the past year, including presentation of the Chamber’s audited year-end financial report. The 2018 Executive will be introduced, and elections will be held to fill the available seats on the Board of Directors.
Immediately following the AGM, there will be “The Chair’s Dinner”, featuring a four-course meal with wines to accompany each dish.
For more information, visit the Chamber’s website at nccofc.ca.
Upcoming business seminars at Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland: January 31, February 7, March 6
The Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland is hosting three upcoming seminars as part of its Advanced Seminar Series.
On Wednesday, January 31st from noon to 1:30 p.m., Peter Thomas will present a social media seminar. He will speak about developing a social media marketing plan, understanding your buyer persona, and tools for social media with a focus on business Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
On Wednesday, February 7th from 1:30 to 3 p.m., professional photographer Mike Gaudaur will present a product and business photography workshop. He will discuss set up and lighting for your product photos, how to make your photos effective for your online marketing, and taking professional-quality photos of yourself and your staff.
On Tuesday, March 6th from noon to 2 p.m., Peter Thomas will present a seminar on today’s online marketing environment. He will speak about what makes a good website, search engine optimation, content marketing, digital marketing plans, and more.
The cost is $10 for members of the Port Hope and Trent Hill chambers and $15 for non-members (cash only at the door). Advance registration is required to secure a space. Email bizhelp@northumberlandcounty.ca or call 905-372-9279.
Launch & Learn at Headwaters Community Farm & Education Centre in Cobourg on February 7
Headwaters Community Farm & Education Centre is offering a “Launch & Learn” session about corporate and wellness day retreats offered at the farm on February 7. (Photo: Headwaters Community Farm & Education Centre / Instagram)
Headwaters Community Farm & Education Centre (3517 Rowe Rd, Cobourg) is hosting a “Launch & Learn” from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, February 7th.
Owners Linda and Tony Armstrong are inviting representatives from organizations to find out more about corporate and wellness day retreats offered at the farm, which is located 10 minutes north of Highway 401 between Port Hope and Cobourg.
The preview includes a sampling of Headwaters’ food and mocktails, a tour of their activity and meeting facilities, a presentation about what the centre has to offer, and a choice of three sample workshops.
To reserve your complimentary spot, email info@headwatersfarm.ca by Wednesday, January 31st.
Nomination deadline for Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce Business & Community Achievement Awards – February 15
Nominations for the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce’s 12th Annual Business & Community Achievement Awards are open until 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 15th.
Award categories are Business Achievement, Customer First, Business, Customer First, Employee, Entrepreneur of the Year, Innovation & Creativity, New Business (1-3 years), Young Professional of the Year, Not-for-Profit of the Year, Skilled Trades & Industry, Tourism & Hospitality, and Highlander of the Year.
The awards gala will be held on Saturday, March 17th at Pinestone Resort (4252 Haliburton County Rd 21, Haliburton).
Peterborough Chamber “Power Hour” evening with elected officials returns on February 21
MP Maryam Monsef, County Warden Joe Taylor, Mayor Daryl Bennett, and MPP Jeaf Leal listen to a question from moderator Sandra Dueck at the “Power Hour” event hosted by the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce on January 25, 2017. (photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Power Hour” — an evening with Peterborough’s elected officials — returns on Wednesday, February 21st.
The event takes place from 5:30 to 9 p.m at The Venue in downtown Peterborough.
There will be a full hour of questions and answers with Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, MPP Peterborough Jeff Leal, County of Peterborough Warden Joe Taylor, and City of Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett.
Tickets cost $65 for Chamber members and $75 for non-members (or $450 for a table of seven for members and $525 for non-members). HST will be added to the ticket price. Register here.
“Bridges Out of Poverty” workshop for employers on March 7
The City and County of Peterborough Social Services, along with Agilec, Employment Ontario, Employment Planning & Counselling, Fleming Crew Employment Centre, and the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge, are hosting a free workshop for employers on “Bridges out of Poverty”.
The Bridges out of Poverty fraemwork, which originated in the U.S. and has been adopted by other communities in Canada, aims to help people who grew up in poverty and educate the agencies who assist them. The workshop will provide information on the framework as well as the variety of financial incentives available for employers in the community. It will also provide information on understanding and retaining employees.
The free workshop takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7th at Agilec Peterborough office (Brookdale Plaza, 863 Chemong Rd, Unit 20-A). Refreshments will be served.
The New York Times has run a feature story on the impact of the pending closure of the GE plant in Peterborough. (Screenshot of NYT website)
The New York Times has just run a feature story describing the pending closure of the General Electric plant in Peterborough and the city’s economic challenges and successes.
The January 21st story, entitled This City Once Made Much of What Canada Bought. But No More., juxtaposes the pending closure against the Trump administration’s claim that Canada and Mexico have benefitted more from free trade than the United States.
“But the idea that Canada has prospered at America’s expense is a tough sell in Peterborough, a city northeast of Toronto,” writes Ian Austen, a Windsor native who now lives in Ottawa and has reported about Canada for The New York Times for more than a decade.
The story includes photos of Peterborough — the Quaker Oats plant, Peterborough mayor Daryl Bennett, The Canadian Canoe Museum, and more — taken by Toronto photographer Aaron Vincent Elkaim.
“This year General Electric, which employed about 6,000 people here at its peak, will add its name to the long list of manufacturers that have left town,” Austen writes. “The shutdown, which the company attributes to a 60 percent drop in demand over four years for the factory’s products, will end the corporation’s 126-year history in Peterborough.”
The article quotes Unifor union local Bill Corp, who has worked for GE for 35 years and attributes the plant closure to the impact of free trade under Nafta.
“They said it was going to be great,” Corp says in the story. “If this is great, then maybe nothing would be better.”
Austen then describes Peterborough as a city that “doesn’t fit the image of a down-at-the-heels Rust Belt town”, and goes on to mention Peterborough’s attractions including the Trent canal, the Peterborough Lift Lock, and Trent University, and notes that Peterborough is growing.
However, he also points out old factory sites in the city, including the Westclox clock factory (now the Time Square building) as well as the Outboard Marine Canada plant (now the location of the existing Canadian Canoe Museum).
Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett is also quoted in the story, pointing out that the local shift away from large-scale manufacturing predated free trade.
The article goes on to quote Corp wondering where older GE employees are going to find work once the plant stops operations.
“They’re in their mid 40s, mid 50s, and they’ve been tradesmen their whole lives,” Corp says in the story, adding that they are unlikely to find jobs that have the pay or benefits offered by GE.
Austen does point out that some industry continues to thrive in Peterborough, using the example of Peterboro Matboards. Previously Peterboro Cardboards Limited, the company was sold in 2001 and revitalized by the new owner, Alan Yaffe. The company now employs 34 people.
Yaffe tells Austen that, whenever Peterboro Matboards advertises a job, around 100 people apply with a couple of days.
“Peterborough’s got a good work force, there’s no question of that,” Yaffe tells Austen. “There’s just not places for those people to work. It’s crazy what’s going on here.”
It should be noted that Austen doesn’t mention the plans for the new $24-million Canadian Canoe Museum at the Peterborough Lift Lock, the planned new casino, the new Peterborough Library opening at the end of January, the VentureNorth building in downtown Peterborough, development of lands at Trent University, and other economic development activities under way in the area.
The iconic Hi Tops restaurant sign is now hanging in one piece on a wall in Hot Belly Mama's restaurant in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Hot Belly Mama / Facebook)
The Hi Tops restaurant sign, a piece of Peterborough’s history, has found a new home at Hot Belly Mama’s restaurant.
The neon sign was taken down in January 2013 from the former Hi Tops restaurant on George Street in downtown Peterborough, after owner Ed Hum closed the landmark restaurant in late 2012.
His family had operated the restaurant since the early 20th century, but Hum decided to close after his mother passed away and his father developed a terminal illness.
The iconic sign originally marked the location of the former Hi Tops restaurant on George Street in downtown Peterborough, which was operated by the Hum family since the early 1900s. (Photo: Hi Tops / Facebook)
When Bill Kimball, artistic director of Public Energy, found out the 20-foot sign was coming down, he asked Hum if he could have it.
In March 2013, at the invitation of owner Dave Tobey, Kimball agreed to have the sign placed inside The Spill — directly across the street from the former Hi Tops restaurant.
It was hung on the south wall there in two pieces until The Spill closed permanently in October 2017.
The sign was hanging in two pieces in The Spill, directly across the street from the former Hi Tops restaurant, until it also closed in October 2017. (Photo: Marguerite Pigeon)
When Travis Smith, owner of Hot Belly Mama’s, found out The Spill was closing, he asked Kimball whether he could display the sign in Hot Belly Mama’s.
The sign now hangs there, this time fully assembled.
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