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Couples who want to stay in control of their divorce choose Kawartha Collaborative Practice

Some of the members of Kawartha Collaborative Practice, an association of family lawyers, financial professionals, and family professionals in Peterborough, Lindsay, and Cobourg who work with divorcing or separating couples to find a mutually agreeable settlement without going through the often adversarial, time consuming, and costly traditional court process. (Photo: Kawartha Collaborative Practice)

When the waters are choppy, when the going gets tough, the best thing to do is to make sure you have as much information as possible and a hand on the steering wheel.

That’s exactly what Kawartha Collaborative Practice does for couples who are divorcing: ensures the information they need to make decisions about their respective futures is readily available, and allows them the chance to have a hand in steering the ship.

More and more, couples are considering collaborative law process for their divorces, says Lindsay family lawyer — and a member of Kawartha Collaborative Practice — Jarret Johnston.

“It’s definitely growing,” he says. “More and more people are saying ‘Yes, I’ve heard of that. Tell me more.'”

In a collaborative process, each individual, represented by a lawyer, meets to find ways to end the marriage that leave both spouses in control of their own futures.

Rather than apply a traditional financial framework, the collaborative process allows for the consideration of other factors — children, heirlooms, property, and health. Rather than going to a courtroom where the proceedings are a matter of public record, the discussions in collaborative law are held privately, in confidence.

According to the Ontario Collaborative Law Federation, the “heart of Collaborative Practice or Collaborative Divorce … is to offer you and your spouse or partner the support, protection, and guidance of your own lawyers without going to court.”

Collaborative practice also holds space for other professionals to assist the process, in many cases, cutting costs and time. Financial experts and family professionals can assist in making information available and guiding respectful and efficient conversation.

Working in collaboration with lawyers and professionals, Johnston says, the couple is able to divorce privately, expediently, and respectfully.

Family lawyer Jarret Johnston of Kawartha Collaborative Practice. (Photo: Kawartha Collaborative Practice)
Family lawyer Jarret Johnston of Kawartha Collaborative Practice. (Photo: Kawartha Collaborative Practice)

“It’s so important for clients to know about this opportunity,” he says. “There are so many couples who are either working out their own agreements and missing things, or getting locked into lengthy litigation unnecessarily. This process can be the answer.”

Johnston uses an example of the potential tax consequences of selling family property or dividing investments.

A couple that writes their own agreement may not consider these unforeseen tax consequences — but it wouldn’t be missed in a collaborative process.

There would be potential ways to save both parties significant funds if the property, pension, and investments are untangled the right way.

Another example is the difficulty that arises at the start of a divorce, when difficult decisions need to be made quickly — decisions such as “Who will take the kids to dance next week?” or “How will I pay the household bills?”

Johnston explains that in the collaborative process, these decisions are sought immediately, with meetings and discussions happening right away, rather than the prolonged back-and-forth communication in traditional settlement negotiation between lawyers or due to significant delays in the court system.

“In a collaborative process, we may be sitting down at a table and rolling our sleeves up at the very first meeting,” he says. “These kinds of decisions can be made virtually immediately.”

“I definitely think more people should be considering collaborative process. As lawyers, we all have that file at court where we think this has gone on too long, perhaps this could have resolved more efficiently if we just let the parties engage and converse at a meeting, rather than letting the lawyers dictate the decisions and process.”

Collaborative practice allows that to happen, he says, by involving other financial and family professionals and by considering those things the court process may not be as well-equipped to consider and deal with in a timely fashion — things that might be more emotional, health issues, immediate financial chaos, and the overall well-being of the children.

If you are facing a separation or a divorce and don’t want to go through the traditional court process, call 705-928-3218 or visit www.kawarthacollaborative.com. You can also find them on Facebook.

Some of the professionals at Kawartha Collaborative Practice (from front to back): lawyer Chantel Lawton, lawyer Nicole Lawson, lawyer Anna Friend, financial professional Laura Abrams, lawyer Brett Walmsley, financial professional Douglas Lamb, financial professional Joe Hilton, family professional Carolyn McAlpine, and lawyer Jarret Johnson.  (Photo: Kawartha Collaborative Practice)
Some of the professionals at Kawartha Collaborative Practice (from front to back): lawyer Chantel Lawton, lawyer Nicole Lawson, lawyer Anna Friend, financial professional Laura Abrams, lawyer Brett Walmsley, financial professional Douglas Lamb, financial professional Joe Hilton, family professional Carolyn McAlpine, and lawyer Jarret Johnson. (Photo: Kawartha Collaborative Practice)

Kimberly Paget and her team at Paget Denture Clinic celebrate 30 years of smiles

Kim Paget, owner and operator of Paget Denture Clinic, with locations in Peterborough and Lakefield. (Photo: Cynthia Sager, snapd Peterborough)

Kim Paget is all too familiar with the old adage, if you smile, the world smiles back.

That’s why the owner and operator of Peterborough’s Paget Denture Clinic strives to help her clients smile confidently again by recreating their natural teeth with prosthetics.

Paget Denture Clinic’s origins began in 1977 when Kim was offered a job at Meredith Denture Clinic in Peterborough, while her mother was being fitted one afternoon for dentures. She initially declined as she was interested in attending university to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree, but was urged by her parents to take the job to help pay for her education.

She took the position and weeks later, after being steeped in the science of making dentures, Kim says she realized denturism was her calling.

“I just loved working with my hands and creating a smile for someone and making them happy was a great feeling,” says Kim.

After seven years of working for the local denturist, Kim decided to get professionally certified, graduating from a three-year denturism program at George Brown College and getting certified by the College of Denturists to practice denturism. In March 1987, she opened her first practice, a small 450 square-foot clinic in the Charlotte Mews in downtown Peterborough.

It was during that start-up period that Kim met her future husband, Wayne, a carpenter, who was intrigued by her profession. Kim says Wayne was blessed with “an intuitive natural ability with tools and materials” and decided to pursue denturism. He joined his wife at the clinic in 1989 and became the second denturist at the practice after getting certified in denturism in 1997.

Business was booming to the point where a larger location was necessary, so Wayne and Kim restored a heritage building on Simcoe Street across from the city bus terminal in 1991. The building became a local landmark and focal point on the street.

The following years were busy for the husband and wife team. They started a family, continued house calls after hours, and conducted denture seminars and clinics at almost every retirement home in Peterborough.

“Meeting clients face-to-face and word of mouth really helped our practice thrive,” says Kim.

By 2002, the clinic employed five full-time staff members as well as several part-time employees. That same year, the Paget’s purchased and renovated the former Roy residence at 308 Rubidge Street what is now the clinic’s permanent home. They also opened a satellite clinic in association with other oral healthcare professionals in the Village Dental Centre in Lakefield.

Keeping the business family-orientated, Kim and Wayne’s two daughters, Brooks and Whitney, also joined the family practice: Brooks is the clinic’s administrative assistant and Whitney is the social media manager. Kim’s niece Melissa Hope also came onboard as a third denturist.

The larger clinic space in Peterborough allowed the business to expand comfortably as the need for denturism increased. It includes wheelchair access, parking for up to 26 vehicles, a state-of-the-art in-house laboratory and four treatment rooms.

Their services include fabricating, adjusting, repairing and performing denture fittings on partial, full or implant supported dentures, flexible partials, sports guards, anti-snoring devices, and teeth whitening. Oral cancer screenings are also offered to ensure a client’s good health.

“Our denture specialists take the time to get to know a client and helping them decide on which denture options will work best to suit their lifestyle, comfort, and aesthetic preferences.”

Over the years, the clinic has received two Chamber of Commerce Awards of Excellence (one for best commercial restoration), and has won favourite denture clinic in Peterborough 22 times. In 2006, Kim received the honour of being named Business Woman of the Year.

Reflecting back on the past 30 years, Kim says “it has been an honour to serve the people of Peterborough.” Although materials and clinical techniques have changed dramatically over the decades, she notes her team’s commitment to quality and service have made Paget Denture Clinic a favourite within the community with denture wearers.

Paget Denture Clinic is located at 308 Rubidge Street in Peterborough (705-742-7703) and 57 Queen Street in Lakefield (705-652-6604). For more information, visit www.pagetdentureclinic.com or email info@pagetdentureclinic.com. You can also follow Paget Denture Clinic on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest.

nightlifeNOW – October 5 to 11

Peterborough fuzz-folk duo Mayhemingways (Benj Rowland and Josh Fewings) perform at Marley's in Buckhorn on Friday, October 6th. This will your last chance to see them before they head off on their first European tour later this month and in November. (Photo: Kevin Warren / Facebook)

Every Thursday, we publish live music and performance events at pubs and clubs in Peterborough and The Kawarthas based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, October 5 to Wednesday, October 11.

If you’re a pub or club owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our Nightlife Editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com.

ARIA

331 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 743-0333

Friday, October 6

10pm - Tequila Fest

Arlington Pub

32990 Highway 62, Maynooth
(613) 338-2080

Saturday, October 7

9pm - Pete Eastmure ($10)

Coming Soon

Saturday, October 14
9pm - Salty Dog ($10)

Saturday, October 28
9pm - Weber Brothers Halloween Party ($10)

Arthur's Pub

930 Burnham St., Cobourg
(905) 372-2105

Thursday, October 5

8pm - Karaoke Night

Saturday, October 7

7:30pm - Brian Ferris

Black Horse Pub

452 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-0633

Thursday, October 5

7:30pm - Jazz and Blues w/ Marsala Lukianchuk and the Rob Phillips Trio

Friday, October 6

8:30pm - Brother Sweet Brother

Saturday, October 7

5pm - Tyler Koke; 8:30pm - House Brand

Sunday, October 8

3pm - Live music (TBA)

Monday, October 9

7pm - Crash and Burn w/ Gailie & Friends

Tuesday, October 10

7pm - Open mic w/ Randy Hill

Wednesday, October 11

7pm - Battle of the Student Bands

Coming Soon

Thursday, October 12
7:30pm - Jazz and Blues w/ Marsala Lukianchuk and the Rob Phillips Trio

Friday, October 13
8:30pm - Cadillacs

Saturday, October 14
8:30pm - Flashback

The Cat & The Fiddle Cobourg

38 Covert St., Cobourg
(905) 377-9029

Coming Soon

Friday, October 13
8-11pm - Cowboys Don't Cry

Catalina's

131 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 874-5972

Friday, October 6

5-7pm - Happy Hour with Chester Babcock

Saturday, October 7

8pm - Patricia Cano "Madre Amiga Hermana" CD Launch ($30, includes CD)

Coach & Horses Pub

16 York St. S., Lindsay
(705) 328-0006

Thursdays

10pm - Open Jam w/ Gerald Vanhalteren

Wednesdays

7-11pm - Live music

The Cow & Sow Eatery

38 Colborne St., Fenelon Falls
(705) 887-5111

Coming Soon

Friday, October 27
8pm - Halloween Bash ft Live on the Line

Dobro Restaurant & Bar

287-289 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 775-9645

Thursday, October 5

10pm - Live music TBA (no cover)

Friday, October 6

10pm - High Waters Band (no cover)

Saturday, October 7

10pm - High Waters Band (no cover)

Wednesdays

Open stage

Dominion Hotel

113 Main St., Minden
(705) 286-6954

Friday, October 6

8-11pm - Open Mic w/ John Dawson and Friends

Sunday, October 8

4-7pm - Gord Kidd and Friends

Coming Soon

Saturday, October 14
8pm - The Sinners Choir ($25)

Frank's Pasta and Grill

426 King St. E., Cobourg
(905) 372-2727

Fridays

9pm-12am - Karaoke Night Girls Night Out; 12am - DJ Chrome

Saturday, October 7

10pm - Thanksgiving Weekend Party w/ DJ McPimpin

Tuesdays

7pm & 8pm - Salsa Classes beginners & intermediate ($10/lesson)

Wednesdays

8-11pm - Open Mic

Coming Soon

Saturday, October 14
8:30pm - Head Case; 11:30pm - DJ

Ganaraska Hotel

30 Ontario St., Port Hope
(905) 885-9254

Friday, October 6

10pm - Quickshifters

Saturday, October 7

10pm - The Reasons

Wednesdays

8pm - Open mic w/ Rob Foreman and Clayton Yates

The Garnet

231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 874-0107

Thursday, October 5

5-7pm - Pints N' Politics; 9pm - Sarah DeCarlo, Lacey Hill

Friday, October 6

Aerialists, Ptarmigan

Saturday, October 7

Antixx, La Cavale, NaNaNa

Monday, October 9

Copper Crown

Tuesday, October 3

7-9pm - Mary-Kate Edwards & Lisa Anderson

Coming Soon

Thursday, October 12
5-7pm - Pints N' Politics; 9pm - Skye Wallace

Friday, October 13
5-9pm - Gianna Lauren, Michael Fuerstack, Tim Crabtree, Dan Goldman; 10pm - Carolyn Mark, Allison Brown, Naomi Kavka

Saturday, October 14
5-7pm - LMJC Jazz; 8pm - Megan Nash, Bears In Hazenmore

Sunday, October 15
Deeps

Golden Wheel Restaurant

6725 Highway 7, Peterborough
(705) 749-6838

Friday October 6

8-11pm - Oldies Dance w/ DJ ($10)

Wednesdays

7-9pm - Line Dancing Lessons w/ Marlene Maskell ($7 per person, all levels welcom

Coming Soon

Saturday, October 21
7-11pm - One Year Celebration ft dinner and House Brand ($15)

Gordon Best Theatre

216 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 876-8884

Friday, October 13

10pm - Dance Party w/ Shawna Blackwood ($5)

Hot Belly Mama's

378 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 745-3544

Thursdays

8pm - The Quickshifters (PWYC)

Junction Nightclub

253 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 743-0550

Friday, October 6

10pm - Y2K Flashback w/ DJ Bill Porter (no cover)

Sunday, October 8

10pm - Country Night w/ DJ Bill Porter ($5 cover)

Marley's Bar & Grill

17 Fire Route 82 Catalina Bay, Buckhorn
(705) 868-2545

Friday, October 6

6-9pm - Mayhemingways

VIDEO: "End Up" - Mayheningways

McThirsty's Pint

166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 743-2220

Thursdays

10pm - Jan Schoute

Fridays

10pm - Brian Haddlesey

Mondays

10pm - Trivia Night

Tuesdays

9pm - Topper Tuesdays w/ DJ Jake Topper

Wednesdays

9pm - Cody Watkins

Murphy's Lockside Pub & Patio

3 May St., Fenelon Falls
(705) 887-1100

Thursday, October 5

7:30-10:30pm - Open mic hosted by David Evans & friends

Oasis Bar & Grill

31 King St. E., Cobourg
(905) 372-6634

Thursdays

6:30pm - Live music

Sundays

5:30pm - PHLO

Wednesdays

6:30pm - Live music

Pappas Billiards

407 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-9010

Thursdays

7-10pm - Open Mic

Pastry Peddler

17 King St., Millbrook
(705) 932-7333

Coming Soon

Wednesday, October 18
6:30-9:30pm - Anchor & Co. presents Cocktails & Crafting Sign Making Workshop ($65+tax per person)

Red Dog Tavern

189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 741-6400

Friday, October 6

10pm - Lumbermen with special guests ($10, available at www.ticketscene.ca/events/19338/)

Saturday, October 7

10pm - Billy Marks

Tuesdays

10pm - Open mic w/ Matt Diamond

Coming Soon

Thursday, October 12
Red Dog Laughs

Friday, October 13
10pm - Mokomokai, Indian Handcrafts, The Rippin' Donnies ($15)

Saturday, October 14
10pm - Silverhearts

Friday, October 20
10pm - The Pack AD ($10, available at www.ticketscene.ca/events/19058/)

Saturday, October 21
10pm - Elliott Brood ($20, available at www.ticketscene.ca/events/18330/)

Thursday, November 9
10pm - Deep Dark Woods ($12, available at www.ticketscene.ca/events/19184/)

Friday, November 17
10pm - The Elwins and Fast Romantics ($10, available at www.ticketscene.ca/events/19080/)

Thursday, November 23
10pm - One Bad Son ($10, available at www.ticketscene.ca/events/19034/)

Riley's

257 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 750-1445

Thursdays

Travis Berlinbach

Fridays

Travis Berlinbach

Saturdays

Josh Gontier

Sundays

Josh Gontier

Mondays

Josh Gontier

Tuesdays

Josh Gontier & Cale Gontier

Wednesdays

Guest performers

Shots

379 George Street K9H 3R2, Peterborough
(705) 749-9315

Wednesdays

10pm - Wednesday House Party

The Social

295 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 874-6724

Thursdays

Throwback Thursday

Saturdays

Saturday Night Live w/ live music & DJ

Sundays

Sunday Funday

Tuesdays

Social Circuit Games Night

Wednesdays

Student Pub Night w/ live music

Coming Soon

Friday, October 20
10pm - Punch Douglas

Southside Pizzeria

25 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough
(705) 748-6120

Fridays

9am-12pm - Open mic ($2);

The Spill

414 George St., Peterborough
(705) 748-6167

Thursday, October 5

9pm - Dear Rabbit w/ Nathan Miller, Basement Dweller, Travis Sivart ($5 or PWYC)

Friday, October 6

9pm - SCF, Onionface, No Pussyfooting ($10)

Saturday, October 7

3-6pm - Max Mouse and the Gorillas Thanksgiving fundraiser for Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (all ages); 10pm - Priors, Beef Boys, Uncontrollable Urge ($6)

Wednesday, October 11

9pm - Kitty Pit, Ornament & Crime, Jesse James Medicine Show, Sonorous

Coming Soon

Thursday, October 12
9pm - H. de Heutz, Meowlinda, Cold Eye, Olias ($8)

Friday, October 13
9pm - Strictly Sabbath, Ol' Time Moonshine, Oshawa's God Helmet ($8)

Saturday, October 14
3-6pm - Can't Stop The Signal 02 ft Conflict Avoider, Shelf, Rampancy, Disleksick, Harbinger Talisman ($5 or PWYC)

The Trend

110 London St., Peterborough
(705) 750-1265

Thursday, October 5

8-11pm - Trent University Music Society Open Mic

Turtle John's Pub & Restaurant

64 John St., Port Hope
(905) 885-7200

Coming Soon

Saturday, October 14
7pm - Do Good Badlies

The Venue

286 George Street North, Peterborough
(705) 876-0008

Coming Soon

Friday, November 10
8pm - Produce for Veterans presents Ambush, Dean James, Austin Carson Band, Sticks N' Tones ($25 til August 31, $30 advance, $35 at door)

Friday, November 17
7pm - USS w/ Ascot Royals ($25-30+ fees, available at www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1479651)

Sunday, November 19
1-10pm - A Day of Music to Benefit Ricky Young ($25)

Leslie Bradford-Scott’s resilience awes crowd at Women’s Business Network of Peterborough

Leslie Bradford-Scott, co-founder of Walton Wood Farm, told her life story at the October 4, 2017 meeting of the Women's Business Network of Peterborough in a presentation called "The Garden That Grew Her". (Photo: Jeanne Pengelly / kawarthaNOW.com)

What Leslie Bradford-Scott did not tell the group of more than 100 businesswomen at the meeting of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough last night (October 4) was that the entire thought of telling her personal story to a group that large rattled her.

“It was terrifying to get up in front of these women to tell my story,” she told kawarthaNOW following her presentation called ‘The Garden That Grew Her’ — one that left mouths hanging in awe of her resilience.

Bradford-Scott had anything but a smooth path to her current success as the co-founder of Walton Wood Farm in Bailieboro and the creative genius behind its funky gift products. Even Leonardo Di Caprio and the cast of The Revenant received Walton Wood Farm hand cream, as an item included in the Screen Actors Guild Awards gift bag in 2016.

The daughter of an international mobster, Bradford-Scott’s early childhood was like a fairy tale — complete with a dream and a multitude of obstacles to overcome.

“As a little girl, I didn’t have a care in the world,” she told the group, as she showed slides of her picturesque family home in Grimsby and the small secluded “writer’s cabin” down the road she imagined one day would be hers.

From Grade 1, Bradford-Smith dreamed of being a writer. She read insatiably and eventually turned to writing poems and stories to escape turmoil that started to seep into her life the day her father — her ‘god’ in her words — told her she wasn’t smart enough to be a writer, and wasn’t ‘male’ enough to be an airline pilot (her backup plan). She was eight then.

The group of more than 100 women at the Women's Business Network of Peterborough was entranced by how Leslie Bradford-Scott relentlessly pursued her dreams against all odds.  (Photo: Jeanne Pengelly / kawarthaNOW.com)
The group of more than 100 women at the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough was entranced by how Leslie Bradford-Scott relentlessly pursued her dreams against all odds. (Photo: Jeanne Pengelly / kawarthaNOW.com)

Not long after, she walked home from school to find police officers loading all the family belongings into a moving truck. Her mother whisked her away without explanation to a motel in Florida, where she lived with her mother, grandmother, and older brother until the family found a new home. It was years later she learned about her father’s “business” and that he’d been whisked away to prison as she was shipped south.

Her older brother helped to raise Bradford-Scott until he was killed by a drunk driver. She was 16 then.

At 17, she vowed to right the world by joining the U.S. Coast Guard. Still carrying her little-girl dream of being a writer, she took a post on Kure Atoll — an isolated island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There, she could write.

And she did, fulfilling the passion she has refused to abandon.

She married a Special Forces Greet Beret — “one of the most highly trained killers in the world.” She raised her two daughters, living in mortal fear of her husband for 15 years.

“He told me if I left him he would find us and burn all of us,” she said.

Leslie Bradford-Scott's company Walton Wood Farm produces high-quality gifts for hard-to-buy-for men and women.  (Photo: Jeanne Pengelly / kawarthaNOW.com)
Leslie Bradford-Scott’s company Walton Wood Farm produces high-quality gifts for hard-to-buy-for men and women. (Photo: Jeanne Pengelly / kawarthaNOW.com)

She did leave him, and then she was a single woman with two children and a dog to feed. She took a job selling cars because it “came with a car.”

“I was determined to feed those two girls and the dog,” she said. The job was far from stimulating.

“I became so mind-numbingly bored, I was forced to go back to my childhood dream,” she said.

This time, she tried her hand at screenwriting. She wrote her plays on post-it notes that she would keep in her suit-jacket pocket until she got home at night, fed the girls, and put them to bed. Then she’d transfer them to computer.

Fate has relentlessly teased Bradford-Scott. She won an award at an international film festival and had 17 requests from producers to consider her screenplay. None came to fruition but her confidence grew to the point that, when her boss downgraded her salary, she chose the door.

Her girls were older, and Bradford-Scott found herself a cabin where she wrote another screenplay. This one also won first place in a festival and was optioned out, but the company producing it went bankrupt.

When she ran out of money after about nine months writing in the cabin, she took a job selling recreational vehicles near Killarney Provincial Park. She would retreat to the park on weekends and it was on one of those truncated trips into the park — one she had to make by floatplane to get back to work on time — that she met the man who is now her husband and partner in Walton Wood Farm.

“I had to trust that Peter wouldn’t be a snapperhead idiot like the other men I’d known,” she said.

He wasn’t. He was a pilot, though. Now Bradford-Scott is also a pilot — another dream realized.

Peter also longed to return to his roots as a farmer. They found the Baileboro property and bought it, with the goal of finding a way to preserve the farming heritage that shaped this part of the country. That would require a money-making venture still had to be determined.

Bradford-Scott says she tried a lot of things before landing on the one that worked in 2014. She was 49 then.

“The one thing that had saved me my entire life was a hot bath,” she said. “It was where I could regain my sanity, then get into my fuzzy pyjamas, go to bed, and hit restart to face the next day.”

Bath salts it was.

But, of course, Bradford-Scott is a writer. So bath salts, with stories. And her stories are good. They are peppered with inside-out cynicism that is twisted into an edgy humour. The number-one product she sells now is B’Ver Balm. You can guess from the name: it’s a feminine shaving salve.

Leslie Bradford-Scott making her pitch on CBC Television's "Dragons' Den" in 2016. (Photo: CBC)
Leslie Bradford-Scott making her pitch on CBC Television’s “Dragons’ Den” in 2016. (Photo: CBC)

The success of Walton Wood Farm is partly due to the resilience Bradford-Scott developed over the years, but also to a foray on the CBC hit television show Dragons’ Den in 2016.

There, dragon Jim Treliving (chairman and owner of Boston Pizza International Inc.) offered to buy her business for $2 million. Fate was teasing with that offer too, though: the other dragons picked on Treliving to the point where he walked away from the set — and that unbelievable offer. In the end, she accepted a $150,000 investment for a 12 per cent stake in her company by Manjit Minhas, co-founder and co-owner of Minhas Breweries, Distillery and Wineries.

Walton Wood Farm products are no longer made in the farmhouse kitchen; the company operates from a factory. Not only are the products sold locally, they’re also sold in more than 1,000 brick-and-mortar outlets across Canada and the United States. And Bradford-Scott still indulges her first passion of writing with her natural business ability: she writes almost all the stories that accompany her products.

Against all odds, Bradford-Scott was determined to succeed.

“I didn’t care how long it would take me to be successful,” she says. “I just did it,”

But she also remembers the rocks she’s stumbled upon.

“I see my life a lot like a movie,” she says. “I’m the person getting chased by the guy with the axe. I picture I’m living in a garden and pulling weeds. All gardens have weeds. Bad things happen to people. You’re not getting off this planet without that happening.”

The idea, she says, is to work through the fear.

“Be relentless,” she says. “If you’re scared, push yourself along.”

Fall is the best time of the year to plant a tree

Volunteers plant a Bronte Oak tree at GreenUP Ecology Park to commemorate the countless hours of work they contributed to the park over the year. The Ecology Park Little Autumn Tree Sale on Sunday, October 15th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will feature many native and locally grown trees at the lowest prices of the year to make way for 2018 stock. Fall is the best time to plant a tree as the cool and wet autumn conditions provide optimum conditions for tree roots to establish themselves before winter. (Photo: GreenUP)

The hot and humid conditions we have been experiencing over the past few weeks are certainly not usual for fall in Peterborough. Some of us have enjoyed the recent hot weather that we hoped for all summer, but the weather forecasts now show more seasonal temperatures.

When typical autumn conditions arrive, the weather turns cool and with lots of rain the soil conditions become perfect for tree roots to establish themselves — this makes fall the best time to plant a tree.

These conditions are just in time for the GreenUP Ecology Park’s Biggest Little Autumn Tree Sale!

The sale will be one day only on Sunday, October 15th, with trees, shrubs, and plants starting at only one dollar. Now is a great time to make plans and considerations for choosing the right tree for your yard.

Trees are well known for improving air quality, providing wildlife habitat, growing food, and increasing property value. Their ability to combat climate change, reduce energy needs, and improve physical and psychological health is clear. Why not plant a tree this fall?

Many of us have a favourite tree species that we’d like to see in our yard; however, it is best to understand the planting location before choosing a species to plant there. The more you know about your yard, the easier it will be to select a species that will thrive there.

Just like people, trees are particular about their living conditions. It is best to find a good match between the tree’s requirements and the conditions present in your yard. Soil type, moisture, sun, and exposure are all important factors that will affect tree growth.

You can start by understanding the soil so that you are are able to plant species that will grow healthy roots. Is the soil heavy and wet? Is it dry and gritty?

If you don’t know much about your soil, you can look for some clues about its consistency. For example, when you water plants in your yard, does the water soak in quickly? If so, it is likely to be a sandy or gravelly soil whereas, on clay, water will sit longer and soak in after some time.

You can gain more information by digging up a small sample. Clay feels lumpy and sticky when it is wet, sandy soil feels gritty, silty soil feels soapy, and loamy soil is spongy. A handful of soil with a high clay consistency will form a shape in your hand when you squeeze it in your fist, whereas sandier soil will break apart.

When choosing a planting location, you will want to consider the roots, all the way up to the canopy. If the planting location is in a low-lying area that remains moist, you will want to plant a species that will thrive with ‘wet feet’ as its roots will be moist for extended periods of time. Up to the canopy, how much sun will the tree receive? Some trees are tolerant of shady conditions while others are not and need full sun to prosper.

Backyards are ideal areas for planting a tree. They are often are isolated from streets, have greater space for the canopy to grow, and have deep soils to grow into. There are a variety of trees that will grow well in these tree-friendly sites: Dogwoods, Pines, and Tamarack are species to consider.

The stresses of city life on urban trees can lead to shorter lifespans. The average life expectancy of an urban tree is only 10 to 15 years but, with attentive planning and ongoing care, trees can live longer.

Trees planted in the city are subject to built features: overhead wires, pavement, underground wires, and fences. Your planting location should consider all these factors, which can reduce the growing-space both above and below ground and can affect the long term health of the tree.

Avoid planting larger trees below wires, plant as far away from the road and sidewalks as possible, leave at least 20 feet between other trees, and be sure to request locates for underground services well in advance of planting.

With all these considerations, perhaps you’re now picturing your yard and wondering how a tree will ever grow there. If you wish to plant near a road, have limited space near a sidewalk, or live in a new subdivision with only compacted soil to work with, you can choose a hearty species that is more likely to grow under difficult conditions. If this is the case, Honeylocust, Ironwood, or Bur Oak may be species to add to your shortlist.

Consider choosing a species that is native to our region. They have developed complex evolutionary relationships with other native species, grow well in local soil conditions, and have adapted to the area’s unique climate.

It is always beneficial to plant a diverse range of species. With a changing climate, we are able to consider planting a broader range of trees and shrubs that are now able to thrive in the Peterborough area. Planting Carolinian forest species, which typically thrive in more southern regions, allows even greater biodiversity of our urban forest; Hoptree, Kentucky Coffee Tree, and Tulip Tree are unique trees that are able to grow in sites that are protected from bitter winter winds.

Thanks to funding from the Peterborough Utilities Group, wehn you spend $100 on trees, you will receive a complimentary water bag to get your tree started right! A water bag allows the tree to receive a slow release of water and provides a continuous supply for a new tree while it establishes itself. Limited numbers are available.

Whether you are planting a tree to increase shade, attract birds, beautify your yard, grow food, or reduce flooding, there is a lot to consider. Mark you calendar and visit GreenUP Ecology Park’s Biggest Little Autumn Tree Sale on Sunday, October 15th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to choose the right tree for the job — sale species and prices will be available at Ecology Park on sale day only. Staff will be on hand to help and answer your questions.

RBC confirms Apsley will lose its only bank

The RBC branch at 135 Burleigh Street in Apsley. (Photo: Google Maps)

After more than 56 years, the Apsley branch of Royal Bank of Canada will be closing.

kawarthaNOW learned of the pending closure of the RBC branch at 135 Burleigh Street in Apsley yesterday (October 4) after news leaked on social media, shocking local residents.

After kawarthaNOW broke the story, Scott Mancini, regional vice-president of RBC Kawartha-Lakeshore region, confirmed to the media the branch will close on April 20, 2018.

It will be merged with the next closest RBC branch at 50 Queen Street in Lakefield, located around 40 kilometres south of Apsley.

Employees at the Apsley branch, who were advised of the decision last week, will be tranferred to the Lakefield branch.

Clients at the Apsley branch will receive a formal letter about the decision to close the branch next week. Any client accounts remaining at the Apsley branch will be transferred to Lakefield when the merger happens.

RBC says it will maintain an ATM in Apsley, in addition to one located in Bancroft. ScotiaBank, TD Canada Trust, and Kawartha Credit Union also have branches in Bancroft — all of which are about a 30-minute drive from Apsley.

Apsley has a year-round population of around 2,400 people, but the area includes many thousands of seasonal residents who own cottages on the surrounding lakes.

Apsley resident Amanda Kaschak-Gray, who shared the news about the closure on Facebook yesterday (October 4), has since created a Facebook group called Stop Apsley RBC Closure!. As of the time and date of this update, the group has 200 members.

She has also created an online petition Save Apsley RBC, which has 117 signatures as of the time and date of this update.

Carolyn Ball, a councillor with North Kawartha Township and operator of Eels Lake Marina north of Apsley, is supporting efforts to save the Apsley branch.

“Unlike large urban areas and cities where there is a ‘veritable plethora’ of financial institutions, shutting down the only bank in Apsley for over 50 years is a terrible blow to our community,,” she wrote on Facebook. “Whether you are a seasonal or permanent resident and whether you bank there or not, this will negatively affect all of us who love to be here.”

The situation in Apsley reflects a continuting trend among all major banks to close branches in smaller communities, forcing customers who wish to bank in person to travel to larger centres. In Saskachewan, 20 rural bank branches in 2017 are closing.

In August 2017, Royal Bank announced the closure of 25 branches mainly in city centres across Canada. RBC attributed those closures to increasing customer reliance of online banking.

TD Canada Trust announced the closure of the only bank in Millbrook in August, merging with a branch in Peterborough.

RBC reported nearly $2.8 billion of profit for its fiscal third quarter this past summer.

artNOW – October 2017

'Studies in Light and Energy no.128' by Rebecca Last who, along with painter Janet Read, is featured at Christensen Fine Art in Peterborough this month. (Photo courtesy of Christensen Fine Art)

As fall gets underway this month, there are several new art shows and events happening in the area.

The Whetung Ojibwa Centre Thanksgiving art show is coming up on October 7th and 8th; a six-person art show at Artspace, based on Peterborough’s history as a test market, opens on the 13th; there’s a striking conceptual photography show at Evans Contemporary and Star X gallery; the abstracted atmospheric paintings of Rebecca Last and Janet Read are on display at Christensen Fine Art; and ‘Dots on a Line’, geometric patterns ‘Dots on a Line’ by Gwyneth Fischer, opens at Acme Art and Sailboat Co.

There’s also abstract work by Carol Forbes at the Kawartha Artist’s Gallery, Andrew Cripps’ ‘Careful what you wish for’ series of abstracted paintings at Coeur Nouveau, and a whole new set of shows are on display at The Art Gallery of Peterborough — not to mention their annual fundraiser gala coming up on October 28th. There will be a ‘First Friday Art Crawl’ on Friday, October 6th, featuring a number of galleries (mentioned above) in the downtown core, so mark that Friday on the calendar as well!

Finally, there’s a new initiative in Lakefield to look at turning an unused Parks Canada property into an arts and culture hub, which could include studio space and a public art gallery.


Evans Contemporary and Star X present Mamoru Tsukada’s ‘The Exhausted Sky’

Two photos by Mamoru Tsukada in the 'The Exhausted Sky' exhibit presented at both Evans Contemporary and Star X Gallery. (Photos courtesy Evans Contemporary)
Two photos by Mamoru Tsukada in the ‘The Exhausted Sky’ exhibit presented at both Evans Contemporary and Star X Gallery. (Photos courtesy Evans Contemporary)

Evans Contemporary and Star X Gallery will both be showing the latest work by photographer Mamoru Tsukada. ‘The Exhausted Sky’ is presented in the two gallery spaces as a series of 112 black and white photographs, presented in a grid formation at Evans Contemporary, and another series of 250 colour photographs lining the floor of the Star X Gallery.

These conceptual works have been digitally layered to include traces of the mushroom cloud from the Hiroshima nuclear attack, as well as images of the sky from two other related sites: Berlin and the Trinity test site in New Mexico. The images are beautiful and striking, as the sky is said to have been after the nuclear bomb that devastated Hiroshima.

The work is focused on the sky, but at its core is about humanity as a whole, and points to a glaring lack of humanity, which as a species we have both caused and encountered throughout history. The sky itself, our atmosphere, is something we all share and rely on regardless of social class or nationality, and is a fitting vehicle for the message encrypted in this series of pictures.

The opening reception will be held on Friday, October 6th from 6 p.m. until midnight and will run until October 28th.

Evans Contemporary is located at #2 Banker’s Common in downtown Peterborough. For more information, visit www.evanscontemporary.com or contact Paolo Fortin at evanscontemporary@gmail.com. Star X is located at 129-1/2 Hunter St. West, 3rd floor, in downtown Peterborough. Hours of operation are Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

 

Coeur Nouveau presents ‘Careful What You Wish For’ by Andrew Cripps

One of the paintings by Andrew Cripps on display this month at Coeur Nouveau. (Photo courtesy of Coeur Nouveau)
One of the paintings by Andrew Cripps on display this month at Coeur Nouveau. (Photo courtesy of Coeur Nouveau)

In ‘Careful What You Wish For’, colourful paintings by Andrew Cripps “explore civilization’s inability to understand that picking fights with nature is futile.”

This series looks at things which have not worked out as planned. Unforeseen complications and unknown factors causing unexpected negative results, which is indeed what we often see over time as new innovations prove problematic in unforeseen ways.

The title phrase ‘Careful what you wish for’ is emblematic of instances where you find yourself getting what you wished for literally, yet the change somehow results in unpleasant circumstances.

The opening reception will be held on Friday, October 6th from 6 p.m. until midnight.

Coeur Nouveau is on the 2nd floor of the Commerce Building at 129.5 Hunter St. West in downtown Peterborough.

 

Christensen Fine Art features recent work by painters Janet Read and Rebecca Last

'Reflection' by Janet Read (20"x40", oil and cold wax on canvas), one of her works on display at Christensen Fine Art. (Photo courtesy of Christensen Fine Art)
‘Reflection’ by Janet Read (20″x40″, oil and cold wax on canvas), one of her works on display at Christensen Fine Art. (Photo courtesy of Christensen Fine Art)

Painters Rebecca Last and Janet Read approach the canvas with very different methods of working, though they both find inspiration in water, cloud and light; the resulting abstracted works are each their own.

The show is on display now at the gallery at Christensen Fine Art until October 28th.

In addition to regular business hours, the gallery will be open for viewing on the evening of the First Friday Art Crawl on Friday, October 6th, so don’t forget to stop by and see these beautiful pieces for yourself.

'Studies in light and energy no.133' by Rebecca Last, 30"x40", acrylic on canvas. (Photo courtesy of Christensen Fine Art)
‘Studies in light and energy no.133’ by Rebecca Last, 30″x40″, acrylic on canvas. (Photo courtesy of Christensen Fine Art)

Christensen Fine Art is located at 432 George Street North in downtown Peterborough. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, visit www.christensenfineart.com.

 

'Crystal Clang' is one of the pieces featured in Carol Forbes' upcoming exhibition. (Photo courtesy Kawartha Artists' Gallery & Studio)
‘Crystal Clang’ is one of the pieces featured in Carol Forbes’ upcoming exhibition. (Photo courtesy Kawartha Artists’ Gallery & Studio)

This October, the Kawartha Artists’ Gallery & Studio (KAGS) will feature ‘Out of My Head’, a series of colourful abstract paintings by Carol Forbes. The opening reception will be held on Sunday, October 15th from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m., with the show on display from October 11th until October 22nd.

Later in the month, a collection of paintings by KAGS’ outdoor painters’ group called ‘Rural Outlook’ will open. The show will be on display from October 25th until November 12th, with an opening reception on Sunday, October 29th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio is a not-for-profit artist’s co-operative, located at 420 O’Connell Road in Peterborough. Hours of operation are Wednesday to Sunday from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.kawarthaartists.org.

 

Becky Welter-Nolan during her performance of 'Pushing It' at the Art Gallery of Peterborough. The sculpture, named 'Rocky III', is 6 feet in diameter and weighs 200 pounds. (Photo: Matt and Steph, courtesy of the Art Gallery of Peterborough)
Becky Welter-Nolan during her performance of ‘Pushing It’ at the Art Gallery of Peterborough. The sculpture, named ‘Rocky III’, is 6 feet in diameter and weighs 200 pounds. (Photo: Matt and Steph, courtesy of the Art Gallery of Peterborough)

‘Pushing It’ by Becky Welter-Nolan is a performative project featuring a roughly 200-pound quilted soft-sculpture “boulder” pushed uphill in true Sisyphean style. While Becky’s two public performances of ‘Pushing It’ took place in September, her show continues at the Art Gallery of Peterborough until January 7th, 2018.

Also on display is a retrospective of work by artist Brenda Francis Pelkey, known for her contributions to contemporary photography since the 1980s, and a group show ‘Public/Private’ that includes work by Anne Meredith Barry, Sheila Butler, Brian Kipping, Hugh Mackenzie, Waltraud Markgraf, and William Vazan. Both shows also continue until January 7th, 2018.

And don’t forget that the It’s all about ART! Gala Auction, the Art Gallery of Peterborough’s annual fundraiser, is on the horizon — scheduled for Saturday, October 28th.

The Art Gallery of Peterborough is located at 250 Crescent Street in downtown Peterborough and is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. It offers free admission, barrier-free access, and a gallery shop. Parking is available in the Del Crary lot. For more information, call 705-743-9179 or visit agp.on.ca.

 

Acme Art and Sailboat Co. presents Gwyneth Fischer’s ‘Dots on a line’

Detail of one of Gwyneth Fischer's pieces that will be on display at Acme Art and Sailboat Co. (Photo courtesy of Acme Art and Sailboat Co.)
Detail of one of Gwyneth Fischer’s pieces that will be on display at Acme Art and Sailboat Co. (Photo courtesy of Acme Art and Sailboat Co.)

Drop by and check out these geometric works by multi-disciplinary artist Gwyneth Fischer. The opening reception for this show will take place on Friday, October 6th from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Acme Art and Sailboat Company is located at 129-1/2 Hunter Street West, 3rd floor, in downtown Peterborough. Hours of operation are Thursday to Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

 

Artspace presents ‘A National Test Market’ featuring works by various artists

'Pillows' by Amber Helene Müller St. Thomas,  pigment print on premium lustre photo paper. (Photo courtesy of Artspace)
‘Pillows’ by Amber Helene Müller St. Thomas, pigment print on premium lustre photo paper. (Photo courtesy of Artspace)

Running from October 13th until November 17th, this six person show makes reference to Peterborough’s history as a test market. It is a interesting fact the demographics here are representative of those in other settler communities across Canada.

‘A National Test Market’ features work by artists Meagan Christou, Charlotte DiCarlo, Callista Durose Moya, Robin Love, Amber Helene Muller St Thomas, and Jemma Woolidge. The opening reception will be held on Friday, October 13th from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. and there will be a curator’s talk on Wednesday, November 1st at 7 p.m.

Artspace is an accessible space located at 378 Aylmer Street in downtown Peterborough. Regular hours of operation are Tuesday to Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Parking is available in the municipal lot on Hunter Street between Aylmer and George. For more information, call 705-748-3883 or visit artspace-arc.org.

 

Whetung Ojibwa Centre presents their Thanksgiving Art Show

The gallery at Whetung Ojibwa Centre in Curve Lake. (Photo courtesy of Whetung Ojibwa Centre)
The gallery at Whetung Ojibwa Centre in Curve Lake. (Photo courtesy of Whetung Ojibwa Centre)

Get out and see the Thanksgiving art show at the Whetung Ojibwa Centre at Curve Lake First Nation! The show will be held on Saturday, October 7th and Sunday, October 8th from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

With artists in attendance demonstrating their skills, this should be a fun event to attend. Also, if you live in the surrounding area, you can enjoy a nice fall drive on your way over.

The Whetung Ojibwa Centre is located at 875 Curve Lake Rd. in Curve Lake. For more information, call 705-657-3661 or visit www.whetung.com.

 

Creating an arts and culture hub in Lakefield

This Parks Canada property in Lakefield could be transformed from an abandoned building into an arts and culture hub. (Photo: Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism)
This Parks Canada property in Lakefield could be transformed from an abandoned building into an arts and culture hub. (Photo: Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism)

Residents of Lakefield will be familiar with the waterfront property at 2 Smith Street, owned by Parks Canada and previously the Trent-Severn Waterway maintenance yard. The building hasn’t been used for a long time and the windows and doors are boarded up. For the past few months, the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism has been meeting with Parks Canada staff, community members, and the Township of Selwyn to find out how the property could be better used.

A group of local artists led by Kay Gregg has been discussing the potential of making it an arts and culture hub, which might include a studio space, a public art gallery, and a location where visiting artists can give talks and seminars. The group has connected with Akin Collective, a Toronto-based arts organization that has spearheaded similar projects. The Kawartha Chamber is partnering with the local artists and Akin to apply for funding to conduct a feasibility study and prepare a business plan.

Akin is taking the lead on the application and report writing and is seeking public input through a brief online survey available at akincollective.com/lakefield.

Peterborough Regional Health Centre to open 24 new inpatient beds year round

Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has announced it will be opening an additional 24 unfunded inpatient beds later this month, and they will remain open year round.

PRHC normally only opens and staffs the additional beds temporarily, between December and March, to deal with the traditional surge in respiratory illnesses like the flu.

However, over the spring and summer, patient numbers have continued to exceed the hospital’s funded bed capacity, and PRHC has decided to keep the beds open year round.

“We are facing similar challenges to what is being seen in hospitals across the province,” says Colleen Armstrong, Director of Emergency & Medicine at PRHC. “This year we have had record numbers of patients coming through the doors of our Emergency Department and being admitted to inpatient beds every month, and there is no indication that these volumes can be expected to decrease anytime soon.”

Part of the challenge the hospital faces in managing patient volumes is due to around 80 existing beds being used by patients — usually elderly — who no longer require hospitalization, but who remain in hospital care because there is no safe and suitable alternative available for them in the community.

To address this challenge, PRHC and Peterborough Housing Corporation (PHC) jointly announced earlier this year the opening of a new seniors’ supportive housing development in the community. These units will provide safe, comfortable, and affordable housing options for seniors in both the community and the hospital, allowing them to maintain their independence while receiving the necessary level of daily care.

The housing initiative, jointly funded by PHC and the Central East LHIN, is expected to be ready for residents in 2018/19.

Peter McLaughlin, PRHC President & CEO, says the availability of the housing will allow PRHC to free up beds and resouces for patients requiring acute, hospital level care.

“We continue to work with our many partners in the community and region to develop innovative ways of addressing the challenges we are seeing across the healthcare system in Ontario,” McLaughlin says. “The Seniors’ Supportive Housing project is just one way in which we are collaborating with these partners to ensure patients are receiving the appropriate level of care to meet their needs.”

What’s new from the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism – October 4, 2017

In advance of the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism's annual Awards Gala, bidding is now open for a couples getaway package at Couples Resort in Whitney on the edge of Algonquin Park, a $1632 value with all proceeds supporting the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism. (Photo: Couples Resort)


A Note from the President

Cindy Windover, President of the Board of the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Cindy Windover, President of the Board of the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism

Well we’re now through our busy tourist season and into fall — pumpkins, mums, and scarecrows are starting to pop up everywhere! And I love it!

Just because summer is over, doesn’t mean there aren’t still fantastic local things happening: Pumpkin Festivals and Fall Fairs to name a couple, so make sure to get outside and take in some of the wonderful Autumn colours with these great events.

Read more.

 

Chamber Members Visit Buckhorn Businesses

Chamber members visit the Buckhorn Canoe Company, one of several stops during the Buckhorn Hop on September 30, 2017.
Chamber members visit the Buckhorn Canoe Company, one of several stops during the Buckhorn Hop on September 30, 2017.

Thanks to all who attended the Buckhorn Hop on September 20th! Thanks to Buckhorn Canoe Company, Style Your Nest, and Gallery on the Lake who welcomed Chamber guests into their businesses.

Chamber members were also joined by Lois O’Neill Jackson of the Municipality of Trent Lakes who gave an update on some of their upcoming initiatives.

Thanks to host businesses and to Pizza Alloro who contributed pizza to the refreshments at Gallery on the Lakes.

 

Save the Date – Upcoming Chamber Events!

Thursday, October 12th – Trail Town/Trent-Severn Waterway Workshop – Kawarthas Northumberland, in partnership with the Kawartha Chamber, is pleased to present this workshop free of charge. The workshop begins at 5:15 p.m. at the Lakefield Legion and includes a light supper. Registration deadline is October 9th, email sarahp@rto8.com.

Wednesday, October 25th – B.O.S.S. Business Owners Sharing Solutions – Effective Networking Techniques and Speed Networking, 5 to 7 p.m., Westwind in on the Lake. Free for Chamber members and $10 for future members. Register now.

Friday, November 3rd – 18th Annual Awards of Excellence Gala, Elmhirst’s Resort, $85 per person. Tickets sell out quickly. Register now.

Wednesday, December 13th – Holiday Drop In at Kawartha Lakes Construction from 5 to 7 p.m.

 

Submit Your Bids – Couples Resort!

Couples Getaway – $1,632 Value

The Chamber’s Annual Awards Gala is fast approaching! Each year, the Chamber has many fabulous items up for bid. To get you ready, the Chamber is starting its outside bid auction early this year with an excellent item: a 2 Night Stay at Couples Resort & Algonquin Spa! The value of this package is $1,632. (Note: restrictions apply).

Submit your maximum bid by emailing generalmanager@kawarthachamber.ca with the subject line “Couples Resort Auction Bid.” The auction will close October 22nd, 2017 at midnight.

Enjoy a 5 Star Resort & Spa, All-Inclusive Boutique Algonquin Jr. Suite including private hot tub, king bed, wood burning fire place, free breakfast in bed daily, free 5-course meal for 2 daily (semi-formal attire with tie), free Algonquin Park pass for trails and museum, free limited sports equipment. Learn more.

All proceeds support the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, advocating for local business and promoting tourism in the Kawarthas.

 

ServiceOntario Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day Hours

The Lakefield ServiceOntario office, at 133 Water Street will be closed on Monday, October 9th for Thanksgiving Day and on Saturday, November 11th for Remembrance Day.

The Kawartha Chamber business office will also be closed on Monday, October 9th.

 

Extended Minimum Wage Implementation Will Slash Job Loss Risk by 74%: Economic Analysis

The Kawartha Chamber, in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and the Keep Ontario Working (KOW) Coalition released two major reports that broadly capture the challenges associated with Bill 148 and the concerns of the employer community.

The first report is the final economic impact analysis of Bill 148 by the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis’ (CANCEA), which was peer-reviewed by Professor Morley Gunderson of the University of Toronto.

CANCEA’s analysis reveals that if government were to do nothing other than implement the minimum wage increase over five years instead of in the next 15 months, jobs at risk would decrease by 74 per cent in the first two years.

In addition, the Keep Ontario Working coalition released a second report, The Flip Side of “Fair”, which showcases testimonials from employers and outlines how they will be impacted by the legislation. The report gives a voice to those businesses who have felt excluded from the committee process and policy discussion around this legislation. The testimonials all share a common theme, that the minimum wage increase and labour reforms will have serious consequences for their business and their communities.

 

New Life for Parks Canada Property?

The waterfront property at 2 Smith Street in Lakefield, owned by Parks Canada, is currently unused and boarded up.
The waterfront property at 2 Smith Street in Lakefield, owned by Parks Canada, is currently unused and boarded up.

Over several months the Kawartha Chamber has been meeting with Parks Canada, community members, and the Township of Selwyn to explore opportunities for 2 Smith Street, Lakefield.

This waterfront property is owned by Parks Canada and was previously used as the Trent-Severn Waterway Maintenance Shop. As many will know, the building hasn’t been used for quite some time and the windows and doors are boarded up — not a desirable image for the Village.

One of the possible uses is an Arts and Culture Hub. A group of local artists led by Kay Gregg have been discussing the potential for studio space, a public art gallery, seminars, etc. They have connected with Akin Collective who have spearheaded similar projects. Akin is enthusiastic about evaluating the potential in Lakefield.

The Kawartha Chamber is partnering with the local artists and Akin to apply for funding to conduct a feasibility study and prepare a business plan. Akin is taking the lead on the application and report writing and would appreciate your input. With a focus on community and creativity, they are eager to look at ways to bring new life to the Trent-Severn Waterway Maintenance Yard. Your ideas and suggestions will be invaluable to the process of defining and designing the property, and they cannot wait to learn what you feel would cultivate a dynamic and creative space for the community.

A short, online survey can be completed at akincollective.com/lakefield. Please feel free to share with others who may be interested.

 

Selwyn Township Community Improvement Plan Open House

Members of the public and business owners are invited to an Open House to provide their feedback on the 5-year review of the Community Improvement Plan (CIP).

The Open House will begin with a 30-minute presentation at 6 p.m., followed by a 90-minute drop-in and informal Q&A session.

Visit the Township of Selwyn Council Chambers, 1310 Centre Line, on Thursday, October 5th from 6 to 8 p.m. Visit www.selwyntownship.ca or call 705-292-9507 ext. 239 for more information.

 

North Kawartha Public Meeting Re: Amendment to Comprehensive Zone By-law – October 7th

The Township of North Kawartha will be holding an informal public open house and a public meeting of Council to obtain public comments regarding the regulation of expansion and enlargement of dwellings and recreational dwellings within the water yard.

The meeting is being held on Saturday, October 7th, at 9:30 a.m. at Wilson Park Community Centre, 66 Northey’s Bay Road, Woodview.

The proposed amendment would apply to all waterfront properties in the Township of North Kawartha. Read more including the draft by-law and public notice.

 

Bridgenorth By-pass / Ward Street Widening Enviro. Assessment – Comment Deadline – October 6th

The County of Peterborough held a Public meeting on September 20th regarding County Road 18 Bridgenorth Causeway Link (Bridgenorth By-Pass) and Ward Street Widening Class Environmental Assessment.

The public has the opportunity to submit comments on this issue. The deadline for comments is Friday, October 6th.

 

Canadian Chamber: Tax Changes Advocacy

October 2nd marked the end of the consultation period for the federal government’s tax changes. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce stated they have never heard such an uproar on one particular issue from members.

Find out how the Canadian Chamber is advocating on this issue.

 

Canada Anti-spam Legislation – Your Feedback Requested

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Navdeep Bains has directed the INDU Committee (Parliamentary Standing Committee for Industry) to conduct a statutory review of Canada’s Anti-spam Legislation (CASL). That process began on September 26.

The Canadian Chamber has been working with multiple partners over the past decade to voice the opinions of business about CASL. In order to capture the largest number of responses, the Canadian Chamber is again working with these partners to distribute this survey.

The survey will remain open until October 27th. Take the survey.

 

A huge thank you to the Chamber’s 18th Annual Awards of Excellence sponsors! There are many people who come together to make this one of the most anticipated events of the year. The Chamber thanks their Wine, Award, and Networking Sponsors for their continued support of this very important tradition.

Wine Sponsors

  • Herod Financial Services
  • Savage Arms Canada Inc.
  • Timberline Custom Homes

Award Sponsors

  • BALL Real Estate Inc., Brokerage – Commercial Development or Renovation Sponsor
  • CIBC – Customer Service Excellence Sponsor
  • Community Futures Peterborough – Young Professional Sponsor
  • County of Peterborough – Outstanding Business Achievement Sponsor
  • Darling Insurance – Not-for-Profit Excellence Sponsor
  • Gastles – Registered Patent Agents – Entrepreneur Innovation Sponsor
  • Nexicom – Retailer of the Year Sponsor
  • Peterborough Economic Development – Tourism/Hospitality Sponsor
  • RBC Royal Bank – Citizen of the Year Sponsor

Networking Sponsors

  • Municipality of Trent Lakes
  • Township of Douro-Dummer
  • Township of North Kawartha
  • Township of Selwyn

 

Peterborough Airport Engagement Survey

Peterborough Airport

The Peterborough Airport is pleased to announce a public engagement exercise to determine public support for commuter air service between Peterborough Airport and Toronto Island Airport (Billy Bishop Airport).

The first step in attracting a commuter airline to Peterborough is understanding market demand. Take a short survey with nine questions and a comment section.

 

For more information about the businesses and events listed above, please visit the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism website at kawarthachamber.ca.

All photos supplied by Kawartha Chamber of Commerce except where noted.

Basic income pilot program launches in Lindsay next week

Lindsay is one of three communities taking place in the Ontario Basic Income Pilot, a three-year test project exploring whether an annual salary can help people in precarious work situations avoid poverty.

The Government of Ontario’s pilot project for a basic income is launching in Lindsay next week.

Lindsay is one of three communities taking place in the basic income pilot, a three-year test project exploring whether an annual salary can help people in precarious work situations avoid poverty. The other two locations are Hamilton, Brantford and Brant County, and Thunder Bay (including Oliver Paipoonge, Shuniah, Neebing, Conmee, O’Connor and Gillies).

Enrollment in the first two pilot sites (Hamilton, Brantford, Brant County and Thunder Bay and the surrounding area) began this June, and 400 people will receive a basic income payment this month, with more applications currently being processed.

Enrollment in Lindsay will begin next week. On Monday (October 22), representatives from organizations in the City of Kawartha Lakes appeared on TVO’s The Agenda with Steve Paikin to discuss poverty in Lindsay and the potential of the pilot project with local residents and community leaders.

VIDEO: “Basic Income Comes to Lindsay” – The Agenda with Steve Paikin

The largest study of its kind in North America, the pilot project will involve 4,000 participants to test whether a basic income can better support vulnerable workers and improve health and education outcomes for people on low incomes. Despite the Ontario economy being relatively strong, people are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living and facing “precarious employment” with little job security or benefits.

The first basic income payments were made on July 25, 2017. Ontario Basic Income Pilot payments are made on or around the 25th of each month.

Participants could receive up to $16,989 per year for a single person, up to $24,027 for a couple and up to an additional $6,000 per year for a person with a disability.

For more information about the Ontario Basic Income Pilot, visit www.ontario.ca/basicincome. People interested in learning more about this pilot can also email basicincome@ontario.ca.

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