Northumberland County has hired veteran recruiter Paula Mason as its first physician recruitment specialist and has also launched a formal doctor recruitment advisory committee. (Photo courtesy of Northumberland County)
With the shortage of family doctors being one of Northumberland County’s “most pressing” issues, the county announced on Friday (September 12) that it has hired its first-ever physician recruitment specialist and has formally launched a related advisory committee.
The county is hoping to make headway when it comes to the growing local shortage of family doctors with the hiring of veteran recruiter Paula Mason and establishing the new physician recruitment advisory committee. These initiatives are part of a two-year Northumberland County-led pilot project to improve access to primary healthcare for residents across all seven municipalities of the county.
“Council has heard clearly from residents and partners that the shortage of family doctors is one of the most pressing issues facing our community,” said county warden Brian Ostrander in a statement.
“With (Mason’s) expertise and the launch of the new advisory committee, this pilot represents a united county-wide approach, bringing healthcare partners, community members, business leaders, and municipalities together to find solutions that will strengthen access to primary care for all Northumberland residents.”
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Since 2018, Mason has served as manager of physician recruitment and retention for Docs by the Bay, a physician recruitment organization serving the Municipality of Brighton and the City of Quinte West.
She has a reputation for creating strong networks and achieving results in physician attraction and retention. With more than 30 years of client service expertise across healthcare, retail, and banking, she is known as a skilled communicator and collaborative leader, a media release noted.
A long-standing member of the Canadian Society of Physician Recruitment, she served two years as chair of its board of directors and, in 2023, received the organization’s lifetime achievement award. She is currently vice-chair of the Eastern Ontario Physician Recruitment Alliance.
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“I’m excited to join Northumberland County as physician recruitment specialist and to lead the effort to attract and retain exceptional physicians for our communities,” Mason told kawarthaNOW. “Northumberland is a wonderful place to live and practise, and I look forward to working with our healthcare partners to help meet local healthcare needs.”
Mason will lead the design and implementation of a recruitment action plan, working closely with health sector partners and local communities to attract and retain physicians to Northumberland, the county said.
Mason will also facilitate the doctor recruitment advisory committee, which will be charged with providing strategic guidance and co-ordination to support the county’s recruitment efforts.
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The committee comprises the members listed below who represent healthcare provider, municipal, community, and business perspectives, with the goal of ensuring that physician recruitment efforts reflect both community health needs and the economic importance of primary care access.
Ed Gannon, executive director, Lakeview Family Health Team – OHT-N Collaboration Council
Delayne Donald, executive director, Trent Hills Family Health Team – OHT-N Collaboration Council
Dr. Michelle Cohen, primary care physician, Lakeview Family Health Team – OHT-N Primary Care Network
Dr. Michelle Long, primary care physician, Ganaraska Family Health Organization – OHT-N Primary Care Network
Councillor Greg Booth from the Township of Alnwick/Haldimand
Councillor Anne Butwell from the Municipality of Brighton
Councillor Randy Barber from the Town of Cobourg
Spencer Cobourn of the Township of Cramahe
Robert Gibson from the Township of Hamilton
Councillor Les Andrews for the Municipality of Port Hope
Councillor Daniel Giddings from the Municipality of Trent Hills
Olinda Casimiro, executive director, Art Gallery of Northumberland
Robert Seguin, managing partner, Thrive Partnership Group, Inc.
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The Ontario Medical Association estimates there are 2.5 million people in the province who are without a family doctor. In Northumberland County, more than 8,000 residents do not have a primary care provider and this number could rise to more than 20,000 by 2026, according to information from the county.
“Hiring Paula and launching the advisory committee are important first steps,” said Glenn Dees, Northumberland County director of health and human services.
“This pilot project is about collaboration — aligning efforts to ensure Northumberland is recognized as a place where physicians want to practise and families can count on reliable access to primary care.”
Dees spoke with kawarthaNOW earlier this year about the physician shortage.
As another strategy aimed at increasing access to primary care, the county reopened in 2024 the Port Hope Medical Walk-in Clinic in Port Hope, in partnership with the Community Health Centres of Northumberland. The initiative is a one-year pilot project, and Dees said the county would evaluate the feasibility of providing the walk-in clinic services on a permanent basis.
Mason will begin her role with Northumberland County next Monday (September 22). Meanwhile, the physician recruitment advisory committee will hold its first meeting in October.
Rose Terry, Manager of the Business Advisory Centre and Corporate Communications at Community Futures Peterborough, leads growth-stage business entrepreneurs during the first workshop in SOAR, a free training program launched by Community Futures Peterborough and supported by Scotiabank. Over the course of four months and four different cohort programs, successful applicants will learn through expert-led workshops, have access to one-on-one consultations, and learn from other local business owners. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
Over the next four months, growth-stage businesses will be soaring to new heights with the guidance, support, and community gained through a new cohort training program from Community Futures Peterborough (CFP).
Delivered by CFP’s Business Advisory Centre and supported by Scotiabank, SOAR is a free, limited-capacity series designed to help established businesses expand and scale operations.
Over four months and across four cohort programs, participants will gain valuable training in critical areas of business development through expert-led workshops, one-on-one consultations, and network building.
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“This program was built on the success Community Futures Peterborough has already had supporting growth-stage businesses through initiatives like ScaleUP,” says Rose Terry, Manager of the Business Advisory Centre and Corporate Communications.
“We recognized the continued need for more programs dedicated to those in the growth, expansion, and scaling phase. This new program was built to meet that demand and help established businesses take their next big leap. We have a lot of existing businesses in both the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County that need support at the next level to get them to where they want to be.”
SOAR offers exactly that, and applications are available to businesses within the city and county of Peterborough, including Hiawatha First Nation and Curve Lake First Nation. To be eligible, applicants must have a proven business model, be actively selling their products, and ideally have had their registered business for a minimum of three years. Applicants with clear goals for growth will benefit the most from the SOAR program.
“We’ve been operating the Business Advisory Centre for over a year now and there are no shortage of businesses and people who continue to lean on us for expert business advisory in different areas of their operations,” says Terry. “We continue to see demand from our businesses for specific support to get to that next level of growth.”
Each monthly program in the series will have limited entry and businesses can apply to one, all four, or as many as they feel will bring value to their scaling goals.
Participants in the first cohort of the SOAR training series for growth-stage businesses, delivered through Community Futures Peterborough’s Business Advisory Centre and supported by Scotiabank. Led by seasoned experts, the workshops for the first program, “Marketing Mastery and Pitch Perfect” take place on Thursdays throughout September at Peterborough’s Venture North Building and will explore critical areas of branding for growth and mastering pitching. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
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“Anyone who has ever entered the world of small business knows how much of their time, energy, and resources are spent on making the business succeed,” says Nolan Frazer, Ontario Central East Business Banking Team Lead at Scotiabank.
“Having an accessible program like SOAR, with customized program areas for entrepreneurs, allows them to receive the valuable insights and guidance to help their business develop and grow, without using their time to find resources to do so. This is incredibly valuable to business owners of all stages.”
Except for the final program that will be held at the Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre, each expert-led workshop will take place at Peterborough’s Venture North building.
Thanks to “Team PTBO” and its connected ecosystem, participants will not only benefit from one-on-one consultations with Terry, they will also have access to a free six-month trial membership with the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce and receive a conditional pre-approved microloan up to $20,000 from CFP.
Photographer Kayla Le Franc is one of the leaders of the “Marketing Mastery and Pitch Perfect” workshops being held during September as part of Community Futures Peterborough’s SOAR program, along with marketing strategist Rose Terry, digital marketing expert Kat Tepylo Murphy, confidence coach and speaker Erika Eileen, and video producer Kait Howell. (Photo: Brooke Schaal)
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The first SOAR cohort, made up of participants coming from a range of industries, has already begun the September workshops for the “Marketing Mastery and Pitch Perfect” program. The participants are learning to build compelling brands and marketing strategies, master pitching, and have access to complimentary branded photography and videography sessions, through a sponsorship from the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).
“Downtown Peterborough is home to many resilient and innovative entrepreneurs,” says DBIA executive director Nour Mazloum. “We are proud to support Community Futures Peterborough’s SOAR program that will help businesses with their next chapter of growth while showcasing their energy, vibrancy, and creativity through this cohort. I am excited to see their stories unfold and proud to champion programs and initiatives that give local businesses the tools they need to scale and thrive in our beautiful community.”
Held on Thursdays throughout September, the “Marketing Mastery and Pitch Perfect” workshops are led by marketing strategist Rose Terry, digital marketing expert Kat Tepylo Murphy, confidence coach and speaker Erika Eileen, video producer Kait Howell, and photographer Kayla Le Franc.
Jason Fiorotto, a professor at Fleming College who has held several senior-level positions, is a marketing leader with more than 25 years of experience working with companies ranging from equity-backed 50-person start-ups to Fortune 50 brands. Fiorotto will be leading three workshops in the “Business Development, Networking & Sales Accelerator” October cohort of the SOAR series for growth-stage businesses delivered by Community Futures Peterborough, its Business Advisory Centre, and Scotiabank. (Photo courtesy of Jason Fiorotto)
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The October program, “Business Development, Networking & Sales Accelerator,” will include three workshops led by Jason Fiorotto, a successful marketing leader with more than 25 years of experience with companies ranging from equity-backed 50-person start-ups to Fortune 50 global brands. Successful applicants will learn practical approaches and strategies that drive revenue growth, from learning to strengthen networking skills and building a business development pipeline to closing deals with confidence.
“We’ve built this series to ensure each participant walks away with the tools to not only survive, but to thrive, today and well into the future,” says Fiorotto.
“We’ll tackle the topics fundamental to continued business success, including a deep understanding of your market and your ideal customer, the truly special value your business offers them, and how to efficiently and effectively build your business development and sales function to create customers for life.”
Applications for the October cohort close on September 17.
Michael Riseley, CPA and partner at Holmes Riseley CPAs and Tax Advisors, and Nicole Truman, lawyer and partner at Fox Law, will lead a November workshop on business transition, whether through sale, purchase, or succession, as part of Community Future Peterborough’s SOAR program. (Photos: Holmes Riseley CPAs and Tax Advisors and Peterborough and Fox Law)
In November, companies looking to expand to new provinces or across borders can master market entry and the necessary digital tools, while learning to optimize their e-commerce presence. Workshops in the “Business Expansion & E-Commerce” program will be led by the Regional Office of the Trade Commissioner Service, e-commerce and Shopify expert Brendan Quigley, and patent professional Marcelo Sarkis. Applications for the expansion series are open until October 17.
The final program will focus on the transition of a business, whether through sale, purchase, or succession. Michael Riseley, CPA and partner at Holmes Riseley CPAs and Tax Advisors, and Nicole Truman, lawyer and partner at Fox Law, will lead the first workshop, while the second workshop in the series will feature a panel of entrepreneurs and business owners who have experience selling, acquiring, and succession planning. Applications for the final program are open until November 17.
“We have heavy-hitting experts coming and the participants of SOAR are going to get a lot of actionable learnings from it,” says Terry. “The entrepreneurs get to have this expert advice and support entirely for free, which is a great opportunity that Scotiabank has allowed us to do through their sponsorship.”
Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) executive director Nour Mazloum (right) speaks with Rose Terry, Manager of the Business Advisory Centre and Corporate Communications at Community Futures Peterborough. The first SOAR cohort has already begun the September workshops for the “Marketing Mastery and Pitch Perfect” program, where they are learning to build compelling brands and marketing strategies, master pitching, and have access to complimentary branded photography and videography sessions, through a sponsorship from the Peterborough DBIA. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
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For Scotiabank’s part, Frazer says partnering to deliver the program not only supports the company’s value in being “community-focused,” but supports the economic growth of the community as a whole.
“It goes without saying that small business is the lifeblood of the Canadian economy, which is especially true at a local level,” he says. “Encouraging and supporting local businesses to grow in our community has positive impacts related to local employment opportunity, increased ability for businesses to align locally rather than outsourcing opportunities, and ensuring Peterborough is recognized as a community where businesses can not only survive but thrive as their own network, together.”
Terry says this network is strengthened not only through the participants’ connections to the experts, but also in their connection to one another.
“It can be extremely challenging to grow a business, so to be able to talk to other entrepreneurs who have either had the experience or are currently in the trenches allows them to have a community they can lean on, which is really important,” she says. “A huge part of each of the SOAR program is ensuring that all the businesses get to know each other and can work with one another. It’s all about building community as well.”
Marketing strategist Rose Terry, who is also Manager of the Business Advisory Centre and Corporate Communications at Community Futures Peterborough, leads a workshop in the first of the SOAR series programs, “Marketing Mastery and Pitch Perfect”, in September. The program is the first in a series of high-impact programs designed to support existing businesses in their growth stage. Other critical topic areas include branding, closing sales, e-commerce growth, and succession planning. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
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Between the ecosystem of business leaders and the support from CFP, participating businesses in the first cohort are already seeing the value of SOAR and the potential for their business growth.
“Being part of the SOAR program means having a strong network of support within our own community,” says Theresa Thibadeau, manager at Grady’s Feet Essentials, a participant in the primary cohort.
“It’s incredible to know that local experts and organizations are investing their time and resources to help small businesses grow and succeed. It gives me the confidence to move forward knowing I’m supported by a community of entrepreneurs and leaders who want to see us thrive.”
Digital marketing expert Kat Tepylo Murphy leads a workshop in the first of the SOAR series programs, “Marketing Mastery and Pitch Perfect”, in September. Other workshops in the program are led by marketing strategist Rose Terry, confidence coach and speaker Erika Eileen, video producer Kait Howell, and photographer Kayla Le Franc. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
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For his part, Frazer is excited to see the business growth that comes out of businesses participating in the program, highlighting the “amazing work” of CFP on a day-by-day basis and the results it will wield in the community.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be able to have such a great partner on this initiative,” he says. “As a community we are so lucky to have this leadership in place for Community Futures Peterborough. I truly cannot wait to follow the businesses that have been selected to participate in the SOAR program.”
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Community Futures Peterborough. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Grace Bowen's father Greg cuts the ribbon during a ceremony on September 14, 2025 at the Cobourg Community Centre to officially rename the Pond Arena as the Grace Bowen Arena, as actor Ryan Reynolds (far right) stands beside Grace's mother Andrea and sister Mackenzie. In April, Reynolds appeared before a committee of Cobourg council on behalf of the Bowen family to request the arena be renamed in memory of the nine-year-old Grafton hockey player who passed away from an aggressive form of bone cancer in 2015. (Photo: Natalie Hamilton / kawarthaNOW)
Canadian actor and Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds was in Cobourg on Sunday (September 14) to share heartfelt words about a nine-year-old Grafton girl he befriended and to help officially open the Grace Bowen Arena at the Cobourg Community Centre, which was named in her honour.
Grace Bowen, who played with the West Northumberland Girls Hockey Association, passed away from an aggressive form of bone cancer in 2015. Reynolds, who is a friend of the Bowen family, made a virtual delegation before a committee of Cobourg council on behalf of the family earlier this year suggesting the Pond Arena be renamed to recognize the young hockey player.
The motion was passed unanimously at a later meeting of council.
On Sunday, Reynolds joined the Bowen family, Cobourg mayor Lucas Cleveland, members of council members and staff, and other invited guests at the Cobourg Community Centre on D’Arcy Street for the official renaming ceremony. The event was emceed by Trudy Stacey of the West Northumberland Girls Hockey Association.
“She changed my life,” Reynolds said, noting Grace would be 20 years old today.
“I’ve never really been able to put into words what it is that she did, but she just kind of changed the way I saw the world. She helped me kind of understand where to channel curiosity and to filter it through like a prism of compassion.”
Actor Ryan Reynolds speaks about Grace Bowen during an official arena renaming ceremony on September 14, 2025 at the Cobourg Community Centre as Grace’s family looks on. In April, Reynolds appeared before a committee of Cobourg council on behalf of the Bowen family to request the Pond Arena be renamed as the Grace Bowen Arena in memory of the nine-year-old Grafton hockey player who passed away from an aggressive form of bone cancer in 2015. (Photo: Natalie Hamilton / kawarthaNOW)
Reynolds first met Grace when she was a guest of Canadian hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser at the 2014 Canada’s Walk Of Fame ceremonies, where both Wickenheiser and Reynolds were inductees.
As a result of meeting Grace, Reynolds began his tradition of making funny fundraising campaign videos in support of SickKids, where Grace received 11 months of treatment, often featuring a signature ugly Christmas sweater.
Since then, he has helped raise more than $3 million for SickKids through a combination of personal donations and his promotional efforts to encourage others to encourage others to donate.
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An emotional Greg Bowen, Grace’s father, who was joined by his wife Andrea and their daughter Mackenzie, spoke about both the impact of the renaming of the arena and the family’s appreciation for Reynolds’ 11 years of friendship and his efforts to bring smiles to other sick children and their families as well.
“I’ve spent hundreds of hours on that ice with a broken heart,” Bowen said about the loss of his daughter.
He recalled seeing Grace in the arena one time, on crutches, thinking it might be her last — and it was. But Grace will continue to be a part of the arena for years to come. In addition to the sign above the arena, Grace’s silhouette is etched into the glass doors of the rink.
Actor Ryan Reynolds (right) with (from left) Grace Bowen’s father Greg, sister Mackenzie, and mother Andrea in front of the newly renamed Grace Bowen Arena during a ceremony on September 14, 2025 at the Cobourg Community Centre. In April, Reynolds appeared before a committee of Cobourg council on behalf of the Bowen family to request the Pond Arena be renamed in memory of the nine-year-old Grafton hockey player who passed away from an aggressive form of bone cancer in 2015. (Photo: Natalie Hamilton / kawarthaNOW)
“Today is a very special day, for the Bowen family, and our entire community,” said Mayor Cleveland.
“Today we honour the legacy of nine-year old Grace Bowen, in the place that she loved and where she played her favourite sport — hockey. Today we remember her tenacity, her passion for life and the game of hockey, her kind and caring nature for others, and her relentlessness in everything that she did. She embodied the very meaning of her name — Grace.”
The ceremony was available for the public to watch via a livestream displayed on the Bowl Arena’s score clock. Following the ceremony, the Bowen family dropped the puck for a half-hour scrimmage game with Grace’s teammates. The public was invited afterwards for a free one-hour public skate in the newly renamed Grace Bowen Arena.
Actor Ryan Reynolds with some of Grace Bowen’s teammates who played a scrimmage game at the Cobourg Community Centre following a ceremony on September 14, 2025 to officially rename the Pond Arena as the Grace Bowen Arena. Grace played with the West Northumberland Girls Hockey Association before she passed away in 2015 at the age of nine from an aggressive form of bone cancer. (Photo: Natalie Hamilton / kawarthaNOW)
This summer, more than 70 Bancroft and area professional and amateur artists helped revitalize an iconic mural on the west side of the 23 Bridge Street building as part of the "Embrace" community-driven project held by A Place for the Arts. The revitalized mural, which was originally painted by celebrated local artist Arne Roosman in 2014, was unveiled at a celebratory community event on September 13, 2025. (Photo: Megan Gallant / kawarthaNOW)
Bancroft has been given an extra splash of colour thanks to a community project and more than 70 local artists.
On Saturday (September 13), artists, community members, and media gathered on the west side of the building at 23 Bridge Street, just steps away from the York River, as A Place for the Arts (APFTA) celebrated the completion of the “Embrace” summer-long project to revitalize an iconic mural.
“The visitors coming to our centre embraced the project we went through — they wished they were part of the mural once they saw it — and then those that came to actually put their mark on the mural were so enthusiastic, so dedicated,” said Debbie Christie, a staied glass artist and the chairperson of the artists’ collective.
“I can’t say how much inspiration it gave to me alone. We hope that we’ve depicted the embracing of Bancroft and area nature and wildlife, created by so many different artists from and around our community of Bancroft.”
Painted in 2014 by celebrated award-winning artist Arne Roosman, the 44-foot-long mural depicts the history of Bancroft and area since the arrival of the settlers. Though Roosman, who now resides in Coe Hill, was not in attendance, he gave his blessing to revitalize the mural, which has faded in colour in recent years.
To bring new life to the mural, APFTA marketing director Gayle Crosmaz whitewashed the deteriorating areas and outlined two large dragonflies, a firefly, and blades of grass in a black frame reminiscent of stained glass. With the intent to “salvage” as much of Roosman’s art as possible, Christie explained the new images were overlayed in the foreground to “embrace” the original work.
The images were divided into individual vignettes and, throughout July and August, the participating artists filled them in with images of their favourite things about Bancroft. Now, the four-by-eight 11-panel mural is adorned with a kaleidoscope of lakes, waterfalls, foliage, animals, watercraft, and other idyllic natural scenes.
Artist and marketing director for A Place for the Arts in Bancroft, Gayle Crosmaz stands with the yin-yang-inspired white and black ravens she painted for the “Embrace” mural revitalization project at 23 Bridge Street. Crosmaz also designed the layout of the two large dragonflies and firefly that make up the foreground which were divided into smaller vignettes for community artists to paint images of what they love about Bancroft. (Photo: Megan Gallant / kawarthaNOW)
“We wanted the images of what has been here since time immemorial — we wanted it to be the flora and fauna of our community that will remain forever, and that we see every day around Bancroft,” said Christie, adding that artists ranged from five to 85 years old.
“Over 70 artists gathered throughout the summer — young and old, renowned artists and budding, realist artists and abstract, muted and colourful, whimsical and serious — to add their contribution to this incredible project of respect and inclusion.”
Christie explained that while some artists gathered as families to paint the mural, others were fans of Roosman who chose to “embrace the opportunity to be included as a small part of his legacy.”
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Acknowledging that “it takes a village,” Christie thanked those who worked behind the scenes, including Crosmaz who, in addition to designing the mural, organized the artists to paint the panels in intervals throughout the summer.
Christie also thanked sponsor It Stix Sign & Graphics and Bancroft BMR PRO, who donated all paint and the coating to make the mural weatherproof, and the Algonquin Arts Council, which offered financial support when the collective did not have exhibiting artists as they worked on the mural.
She then thanked building owner Burke Chamberlin, who first approached APFTA with the revitalization plan. Chamberlin then spoke to the audience about getting to know more people in the community through the project.
To revitalize the 2014 Arne Roosman mural at 23 Bridge Street in Bancroft, A Place for the Arts took inspiration from stain-glass designs by overlaying two large dragonflies, a firefly, and blades of glass with a black, thick outline. The new images were then divided into smaller sections that community members painted with images they liked about Bancroft. (Photo: Megan Gallant / kawarthaNOW)
Bancroft Deputy Mayor Wayne Wiggins also spoke and further highlighted how many of the artists came from even outside of Bancroft to be a part of the project.
“This is a true example of community involvement, and our town needs and lives on it,” he said. “When everybody comes to town and looks over here, it’s the first thing (they see) and such a great entrance into our town.”
Liz Raymond, owner of the Muse Gallery Café, which is located in the same building the mural is on, told kawarthaNOW she was eager to be included in the project because of how it involved the community and people of all ages and skills.
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“I think it’s exactly what our town needs — more community projects, more colour, more joy, and more involvement from people that feel the pride to be a part of something like this,” Raymond said. “It just brightens up our town. It’s amazing.”
Raymond said it was an “honour” to paint some of her favourite thing about Bancroft and have them visible to visitors driving into town from the south. Across four sections, she painted a garden of reeds, black-eyed Susans, blueberries, and northern lights.
“(Northern lights are) one of the most beautiful things to see up here,” she says. “The other ones are just inspiration near me. I have all these beautiful wildflowers and reeds all around my house, so I thought I’d like to do that since it adds so much colour. And wild blueberries are like gold up here, so we had to have them.”
11-year-old Amelia Taylor was among the more than 70 Bancroft and area artists, both amateur and professional, who painted a segment to revitalize a mural on the west side of the 23 Bridge Street building in Bancroft. To showcase some of her favourite things about Bancroft, Taylor painted a rainbow shining over a campsite as turtles walked by. (Photo: Megan Gallant / kawarthaNOW)
Though the project has done its job in bringing the community together and brightening the town, the unveiling does not mark the conclusion of “Embrace.”
Later this fall, APFTA will be releasing a book complete with photos of each artist and a blurb about their inspiration for their painted segments. A behind-the-scenes documentary is also in the works, which will be premiered at another community event organized by APFTA.
For more information about A Place for the Arts, visit www.apfta.ca.
A participating artist in the “Embrace” project, Liz Raymond shows off the image she painted of the northern lights, which she says is “one of the most beautiful things to see” in Bancroft. As the owner of The Muse Gallery Café, which is located in the same building at 23 Bridge Street, Raymond says revitalizing the mural was exactly the community project needed to bring colour to the town. (Photo: Megan Gallant / kawarthaNOW)
Local charities providing social and human services that address issues such as poverty and social exclusion can apply for up to $25,000 in funding through the United Way Peterborough & District.
The United Way announced on Tuesday (September 9) that it has launched a new three-year funding opportunity through its Agency Capacity Fund, where eligible organizations can apply for $25,000 per year over three years, totalling $75,000 in support.
The Agency Capacity Fund is the United Way’s largest reinvestment of donor contributions to date. This new fund supports registered human and social service charities across the city and county of Peterborough that are enhancing capacity to deliver inclusive programs and services.
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Funding priority will be given to agencies that provide essential services such as basic needs, life skills development, and community support programs.
The United Way is able to provide this funding because of the support it receives from its donors, who are integral in helping the United Way help charities doing important work in the community, the organization told kawarthaNOW.
“The best way we can support our community is by investing in its resilience,” United Way Peterborough & District CEO Jim Russell said. “That starts with raising funds and demonstrating the local impact of every donation.”
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“Our goal is to support charitable organizations tackling poverty and social exclusion, helping build a more inclusive and responsive Peterborough,” Russell added. “The more we raise, the more we can invest in lasting change — creating a community that meets the needs of everyone across the city and county.”
The Agency Capacity Fund is one funding stream of the United Way’s Community Impact Investment Model, which is based on the six investment principles of Reconciliation, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion (READI) and focuses on moving people from poverty to possibility and supporting strong and health communities.
As well as the Agency Capacity Fund, which is intended to provide organizations with flexible and stable operational funding, the other three funding streams are the Priority Issues Fund, Neighbourhood Fund, and Research & Social Planning Initiatives.
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Eligible charitable organizations can learn more about Community Impact Investment Model and apply for the Agency Capacity Fund at www.uwpeterborough.ca/funding/. The application period is open until Wednesday, October 15.
Successful applicants will be notified by December 31, with $25,000 in funding provided in each of three years from April 2026 to March 2029 for a total of $75,000. The funding can be used for operating costs, program delivery, and project-specific expenses.
All applicants for the Agency Capacity Fund must attend one of two virtual sessions to learn about the funding opportunity, eligibility, and how to apply, with the first session from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23 and the second session from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1. To register for a session, email impact@uwpeterborough.ca.
Canadian actor and playwright Jonathan Wilson performing in his one-man show "A Public Display of Affection" about his queer youth on the streets of Toronto in the late 1970s and beyond at its world premiere at Crow's Theatre in Toronto in April 2025. In partnership with Ptbo-Nogo Pride, New Stages Theatre is kicking off its 2025-26 season with a staged reading featuring Wilson on Saturday, September 20 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Dahlia Katz)
For Pride Week in Peterborough, New Stages Theatre is kicking off its 2025-26 season with a one-man show that is dynamic in story and subject and all things humour and heart, nostalgic and timely, and heartbreaking and hopeful.
For one night, playwright and Dora award-winning performer Jonathan Wilson will be presenting a staged reading of his popular and critically acclaimed show A Public Display of Affection, a semi-autobiographical show that explores his queer youth in Toronto.
Presented in partnership with Ptbo-Nogo Pride, Wilson will perform a staged reading at 7 p.m. on Saturday, September 20 at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough.
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Recently nominated for Outstanding New Production by the Toronto Theatre Awards, A Public Display of Affection saw its world premiere at Crow’s Theatre in Toronto this past April after being developed through Studio 180’s In Development program, but its origins began prior to the pandemic when Wilson was given a request that made him reflect on his responsibility to living queer history.
“A couple of years ago, I was asked to speak at a queer elder event to share history of Toronto in terms of things that are undocumented,” says Wilson, who turns 62 in October.
“This was the jumping off point of that and grappling with that word (elder) and what it meant, and what you share as someone who’s put in a historian position. Stories of my friends came to mind. It was a chance to take people on a tour of my younger teen life in Toronto and bring back some of my story.”
VIDEO: “A Public Display of Affection” with Jonathan Wilson and Mark McGrinder
Wilson is a celebrated Canadian actor, playwright, and Second City Toronto alumni who won a Dora award for playing Timon in the Canadian premiere of The Lion King. He made his playwriting debut with 1996’s My Own Private Oshawa, which was nominated for a Governor General’s Award and two Dora awards and was adapted into a Gemini-nominated film.
Where that debut piece explored his past as a closeted gay teen in the outskirts of the city, A Public Display of Affection is a “companion piece” about landing in Toronto as a queer, 15-year-old high school drop-out.
“It’s looking back more honestly, revealing more and talking more about what really happened versus the softer, cuter version of what happened — still with humour and still with insight,” says Wilson.
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A Public Display of Affection will take audiences back to Wilson’s arrival in Toronto in 1979 and beyond, exploring the time when the city’s Gay Village at Church and Wellesley was known as the Ghetto. The show offers poignant stories and reflections on Toronto’s nude beaches, bath houses, the AIDS epidemic, and the ever-present threat of homophobic violence.
“The queer gay community then was very much underground,” Wilson recalls. “There were clubs that we would sneak into, there was a social life on the streets, and friends looked after you. There was also a certain amount of danger, and an element of being marginalized and pushed aside. It’s really about chosen family.”
Though Wilson says he perhaps didn’t initially welcome the “queer elder” label that was later given to him, he has since come to understand the responsibility it entails and which he continues to explore through A Public Display of Affection.
“I am here and I am bearing witness to a certain time,” he says. “I went from running away from that to embracing it and saying ‘If you want me to speak and give a history lesson and tell you what it was like, then let’s really go there.’ But it’s also having fun with that idea and, of course, being an elder is all relative.”
Having performed in New Stages Theatre’s staged reading of Harvey Fierstein’s “Torch Song” during Pride Week in 2019, Canadian playwright and performer Jonathan Wilson will be returning to the Market Hall to open New Stages’ 2025-26 season on Saturday, September 20 with a staged reading of his one-man autobiographical show “A Public Display of Affection.” In this comedic and poignant reflection, Wilson recalls his queer youth on the streets of Toronto beginning in 1979. (Photo: Dahlia Katz)
Since he first began putting pen to paper to write the show, Wilson explains that the world around him has changed and impacted the context and, ultimately, the messaging of the story he wanted to tell.
“It started as a celebration that we have gay marriage, equal rights, equal opportunity, the rainbow, and Pride festivals,” he says.
“Then politically, the swing to the right again and the easy targeting of the queer community, and marginalization and coding of trans and queer people again had an effect and made me realize how timely it actually was to remind people that we’ve been there before, and this is a tactic to divide us and to have the larger population turn against us. So, in a way, it’s a rallying cry.”
“The elder moniker became something that I embraced, realizing that it could be a way to unify people and to be an example and to be the person that I probably needed when I was a kid,” he adds.
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Wilson is hopeful that the “urban stories” of queer people “seeking anonymity” in larger cities, as depicted in A Public Display of Affection, will remain a thing of the past.
“Back in my youth, it was a real given that you had to leave your town to go to the city,” he explains.
“That’s where you had to go to reinvent yourself and you probably weren’t able to be part of your larger family. I hope that’s not true anymore — that people in smaller communities don’t have to flee, don’t have to feel like they can’t be part of the fabric of their family, or be an important thread in the family.”
Jonathan Wilson is a celebrated Canadian actor and playwright who won a Dora Award for playing Timon in the Canadian premiere of “The Lion King.” He made his playwriting debut with the 1996 semi-autobiographical play “My Own Private Oshawa” that was adapted into a film. He will be performing a staged reading of the companion piece, “A Public Display of Affection,” at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough on September 20, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Jonathan Wilson)
Though the reading has a restricted 18+ audience due to strong language, including homophobic slurs and discussion of mature and violent themes, A Public Display of Affection is also filled with humour and jokes — something Wilson says was important because, to him, humour is “part of queer culture.”
“Comedy is a survival skill,” he says. “You have to have humour, even in the darkest of times. I know that from my friends and from my community and even now it can bond us. I find with theatre, movies, book, and any kind of culture, if you cut humour, it doesn’t feel like true life. Humour is so much a part of our survival toolkit.”
Through the combination of history, humour, and moving reflection, Wilson says A Public Display of Affection is not only a public display of affection for Toronto and the queer community, but a story of unity across communities and generations.
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“We are all part of the same community — we’re all connected — and, as much as our history is sometimes hidden, it’s always there,” Wilson says. “Please share your stories. Always share your stories, the good and the bad. That’s what helps keeps our community alive.”
Limited tickets for the September 20 staged reading of A Public Display Of Affection are available for $30, with a $20 “welcome rate” for those who need it and a $40 “pay it forward rate” for those who can afford it, to help cover the costs of the welcome rate.
Tickets can be purchased at the Market Hall box office at 140 Charlotte Street, by calling 705-749-1146, or online at tickets.markethall.org/?category=20.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be media sponsor of New Stages Theatre Company’s 2025-26 season.
An avid hockey fan and player, Gracie Bowen was just two days shy of her ninth birthday when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, the same rare and aggressive bone cancer that took the life of Terry Fox. After undergoing 11 months of surgeries and chemotherapy treatments while maintaining her positive and determined outlook, Grace passed away on March 13, 2015. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of Town of Cobourg video)
The Town of Cobourg is inviting the public to attend a ceremony on Sunday (September 14) at the Cobourg Community Centre, where the Pond Arena will be officially renamed the Grace Bowen Arena in honour of the nine-year-old girl from Grafton who played hockey with the West Northumberland Girls Hockey Association before she passed away in 2015 from an aggressive form of bone cancer.
Back on April 9, famous Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds appeared virtually in a delegation to the Town of Cobourg’s community services, protection and economic development standing committee to propose the name change.
The Deadpool star, who had first met Grace more than 10 years ago, agreed to appear before the committee at the request of Grace’s parents Greg and Andrea, who attended the committee meeting in person along with Grace’s sister Mackenzie.
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“It would be pretty beautiful if we could rename the arena the Grace Bowen Arena or the Grace Bowen Memorial Arena,” said Reynolds, after describing how he first met Grace when she was a guest of Canadian hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser at the 2014 Canada’s Walk Of Fame ceremonies, where both Wickenheiser and Reynolds were inductees.
Reynolds said that meeting “changed my life,” attributing his encounter with Grace with a change in the way he approached his philanthropic work. Previously, he had kept out of the public eye and didn’t use the platform he had to advocate for the causes he supported.
As a result of meeting Grace, Reynolds began his tradition of making funny fundraising campaign videos in support of SickKids, where Grace received 11 months of treatment, often featuring a signature ugly Christmas sweater. Since then, he has helped raise over $3 million for SickKids through a combination of personal donations and his promotional efforts to encourage others to donate.
Famous Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds appeared virtually from his New York home to address the Town of Cobourg’s community services, protection and economic development standing committee on April 9, 2025, lending his support to a request from the family of the late Grace Bowen that the Pond Arena in the Cobourg Community Centre be named after the nine-year-old Grafton hockey player who died less than a year after being diagnosed with bone cancer. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of Town of Cobourg video)
A few weeks after Reynolds’ appearance at the committee, Cobourg council voted to approve the request to rename Pond Arena.
“The Town of Cobourg is proud to rename the arena in honour of Grace Bowen,” said Mayor Lucas Cleveland.
“Her legacy will live on in this space as young athletes come together to play and celebrate the sport she loved.”
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The renaming ceremony at the Cobourg Community Centre (750 D’Arcy Street) will take place from 10 to 10:30 a.m. featuring emcee Trudy Stacey of the West Northumberland Girls Hockey Association, with a livestream of the ceremony displayed on the Bowl Arena’s score clock.
A craft table for kids will be available in the Grand Hall at 10:30 a.m., followed by a half-hour scrimmage game with Grace’s teammates starting at 11 a.m., when the Bowen family will drop the puck. The game will be followed at 11:30 a.m. with a free one-hour public skate in the newly renamed Grace Bowen Arena.
While the Town of Cobourg hasn’t confirmed whether Reynolds will make an appearance, in April he said that he would like to come to Cobourg to take part in any renaming ceremony.
A young girl gives Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander a high five during an event at the new Canton YMCA Child Care Centre in Port Hope on September 4, 2025 to mark an an expansion initiative to increase child care in the high-needs areas of Port Hope, Trent Hills, and Cobourg, which resulted in the creation of four new child care centres and 181 new spaces. (Photo: Northumberland County)
While an additional 181 children in Northumberland County will receive licensed child care at four new child care centres in Port Hope, Trent Hills, and Cobourg through a recent expansion, efforts continue to create more spaces for area families to address a growing waitlist.
Provincial and municipal politicians, child care provider partners, and families gathered last Thursday (September 4) at the new Canton YMCA Child Care Centre in Port Hope to mark the expansion, delivered in partnership with the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, local municipalities, and child care providers.
With the addition of 181 spaces, along with 10 new spaces in Brighton in 2023 and 35 existing spaces converted to the new funding model, Northumberland County said it is making headway towards achieving a provincially set 2026 target of 245 additional child care spaces funded under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program.
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Lesley Patterson, the county’s manager of Early Years services, shared her thoughts and waitlist data with kawarthaNOW following the celebration.
“Northumberland County is committed to fulfilling our Ministry-allotted CWELCC expansion of 245 spaces by 2026,” Patterson said.
“These new spaces will improve child care access for families, especially those in rural communities. We also recognize that significant need for services remains in our community, and we will continue to advocate to the province and work with our partners for additional expansion for Northumberland families.”
Patterson said there are currently 2,167 children on local waitlists for child care. Kids are spending an average of 13.6 months on the waitlist.
Children at the Ganaraska Child Care Riverside site, which opened January 2, 2025 at the former Ruth Clarke Activity Centre at 81 Mill Street South in Port Hope with 70 new spaces. (Photo: Northumberland County)
The new child care spaces and their locations are listed below.
49 spaces at the new Canton YMCA Child Care Centre operated by YMCA Northumberland at 5325 County Road 10 in Port Hope and expected to open by the end of September
70 spaces at the Ganaraska Child Care Riverside site, which opened January 2 at the former Ruth Clarke Activity Centre at 81 Mill Street South in Port Hope and is operated by Ganaraska Child Care
47 spaces at the Warkworth YMCA Child Care Centre operated by YMCA Northumberland, which opened January 13 at 161 Old Hastings Road in Warkworth
15 new child care spaces at the Cobourg East YMCA Child Care Centre, which opened January 20 at the Northumberland Centre for Individual Studies at 780 D’Arcy Street in Cobourg and is operated by YMCA Northumberland.
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“This is a significant milestone for Northumberland County in enhancing access to affordable, high-quality child care for local families,” said Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini in a media release.
“The addition of 181 new child care spaces reflects our shared commitment, both locally and provincially, to supporting families and Early Years providers. Through investments made under the CWELCC program, we are making meaningful progress toward building a more accessible child care system for all.”
The county said local leadership also played a critical role in making these spaces available.
“In Port Hope, we recognized that one of the best ways to respond to residents’ needs was to look inward at our own municipal facilities,” said Northumberland County Deputy Warden Olena Hankivsky.
“By working with the county and local child care providers to repurpose existing community spaces, we have ensured that families in our municipality have better access to child care. We know that significant need still exists, and more work must be done. This collaboration between municipalities, other levels of government, and providers shows what’s possible when we work together on solutions.”
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Ganaraska Child Care said the expansion is welcome news, alleviating a significant concern for some families.
“For many working parents, finding quality child care is one of the biggest stresses they face,” said Ganaraska Child Care board chair Tammie Staples.
“These new spaces will help relieve that pressure, allowing parents to focus on work and family knowing their children are safe, supported, and learning. As both a parent and a member of this community, I know how transformative this access can be and I am grateful to all those who made it possible.”
The initiative builds on Northumberland County’s expansion efforts in 2023 and 2024, and “reflects the strong, ongoing commitment of all partners to ensure more families across Northumberland have access to the child care services they need,” according to the release.
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As for the waitlist for child care spaces, Patterson said there were 1,119 children on the waitlist in April 2022, with that number increasing to 1,910 the following April.
Although the number of children on the waitlist went down to 1,581 in April 2024, it jumped to 2,167 as of September — an increase of 586 since April.
Patterson noted this could be due to a reduction in the maximum CWELCC program base fees to $22 per day that started on January 1.
“Care is becoming more affordable with CWELCC, and this is possibly prompting more families to seek licensed care when they otherwise would not have,” she shared.
Patterson said another factor for the increase could be parents returning to work at the office instead of virtually from home. She added that waitlist data is dynamic and can fluctuate on a year-to-year basis.
“Reasons for these annual changes can be difficult to track, as partial contributing factors could be annual changes in family need and/or the timing of centre waitlist cleaning processes relative to the county’s point-in-time data collection,” Patterson explained.
The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) is launching a new weekly mental health walk-in clinic in Minden on Thursdays effective September 18, 2025. In February, CMHA HKPR launched weekday mental health walk-in clinics in Lindsay and Peterborough. Pictured are virtual care clinic registered practical nurse Jessica Swift and CMHA HKPR programs and services director Tracy Graham. (Photo: CMHA HKPR
A new mental health walk-in clinic is available to residents of Haliburton County on Thursdays starting in September.
The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) has announced the clinic, located at 6 McPherson Street in Minden, will run weekly on Thursdays starting September 18.
In February, CMHA HKPR launched weekday mental health walk-in clinics in Peterborough and Lindsay, which have since served over 200 people.
All three clinics offer access to mental health support for individuals aged 16 and older who are not already connected with CMHA HKPR but are seeking mental health support and may not know how to get connected to care.
“We’re excited to bring this service to Minden,” says Calli Lorente, manager of integrated crisis services at CMHA HKPR, in a media release. “This clinic offers a low-barrier entry point for people seeking support and reflects our commitment to meeting the mental health needs of the community.”
CMHA HKPR created the clinics with the vision of providing people with real-time connection to a mental health worker who can assess and then connect them to the most appropriate care.
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The clinics are not for intended for people experiencing a mental health crisis or who require acute care. Those who are in crisis or experiencing emotional distress should contact the 9-8-8 National Suicide Crisis Line by calling or texting 9-8-8, which is available 24/7. People seeking acute care should go to the emergency department at their local hospital.
The Minden clinic is located at Haliburton Highlands Health Services at 6 McPherson Street and runs every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as of September 18.
The Peterborough clinic is located at 466 George Street North and the Lindsay clinic is located at 33 Lindsay Street South, with both clinics running from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday (except from noon to 1 p.m. daily, when they are closed for lunch).
Brianna Burkitt of Burkitt Solutions Co. in Peterborough is a chaos coordination specialist who helps overwhelmed entrepreneurs take control of the backend of their business operations. One-time or ongoing services include digital file cleanup, marketing support, admin, and light bookkeeping support, internal guide creation, and client experience coordination. She offers free discovery calls to prospective clients, as well as a $250 Chaos Audit that can be deducted from future service packages. (Photo courtesy of Burkitt Solutions Co.)
For many small businesses where work is booming and clients are happy, behind the scenes there are inconsistent onboarding processes, unorganized files, no systems in place, and entrepreneurs getting lost in the chaos of their own success.
That’s when Burkitt Solutions Co. can step in, taking control of anything that feels overwhelming and organizing a business behind the scenes so entrepreneurs can focus on what they do best.
Peterborough’s Brianna Burkitt has more than 10 years of experience in administration, marketing, and operations, working in a range of industries including retail, real estate, and trades. Now, as owner of Burkitt Solutions Co., the chaos coordination specialist works alongside entrepreneurs to clean up the backend of their business and make things run smoothly from concept to execution.
“There are entrepreneurs who are brilliant in their field but who maybe don’t know how to get everything out of their brains and into a system for their team, so they’re constantly repeating themselves,” Burkitt says. “I can help with that, so they can focus on doing the things they want to do without burning out.”
Included on her expansive list of personalized, hands-on services are project management setup, digital file cleanup, marketing and social media support, admin and light bookkeeping, inbox cleanup, team template and internal guide creation, and much more.
Burkitt also focuses on elevating the client experience by mapping out the journey from first contact to aftercare and relationship management, ensuring every client has the same great experience.
At Burkitt Solutions Co., Brianna Burkitt brings more than 10 years of experience working in marketing, admin, and operations in various service industries including real estate, retail, and trades. Now, she uses that expertise to support entrepreneurs and small business owners streamline backend operations so they can focus on doing what they love. (Photo courtesy of Burkitt Solutions Co.)
Recognizing that all business needs are different, Burkitt offers all of her services as a one-time system setup or cleanup or as part of an ongoing support package, as often as needed. Burkitt is available for virtual and in-person consultations in the City of Peterborough and surrounding area.
Entrepreneurs interested in calming the chaos can schedule a free discovery call with Burkitt to discuss their behind-the-scenes needs and receive a high-level proposal of how Burkitt Solutions Co. can help streamline operations.
Alternatively, prospective clients can start with a $250 Chaos Audit where Burkitt will — upon signing a confidentiality agreement — look at inboxes, marketing, and the various systems and operations a client currently has in place.
She will target the problems and map out a personalized plan to have the backend of business operations running smoothly again. Clients who then move forward with a service package will have the cost of the audit deducted from the service cost.
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