Peterborough-based Kawartha Credit Union and London-based Libro Credit Union have announced plans to merge into a single credit union as of January 1, 2026.
The announcement of the merger intention on Thursday (July 17) by the boards of the two Ontario credit unions comes after merger discussions in the first quarter of this year followed by the completion of due diligence, according to a website created for the proposed merger.
As a credit union is owned by its members, members of both credit unions will be asked to vote on the proposed merger later this year if regulators approve the merger. The merger will only proceed if members vote to do so.
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“The boards of both credit unions believe this merger is in the best interests of members/owners, employees, communities, and the credit union,” says Libro Credit Union board chair Garrett Vanderwyst in a media release. “By coming together, we can scale and be better prepared for the future, while at the same time maintain the benefits and advantages of a community-focused credit union.”
“Both credit unions have a long history of helping members/owners achieve their financial goals,” says Kawartha Credit Union board chair Allison Chenier. “By coming together, the merged credit union will focus on providing the products, services and advice our members/owners need, while continuing to invest in our local communities.”
If the merger proceeds, the new credit union would have around $11 billion in total assets, over 180,000 members, and 57 locations across Ontario — combining Kawartha Credit Union’s 58,000 members and 23 branches with Libro Credit Union’s 120,000 members and 34 branches.
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“No branch closures are planned as part of this merger,” states the merger website. “Kawartha and Libro have no geographic overlap in our branch networks.”
As for whether there will be any impact on employees, the website states that “Members will continue to work with the same familiar faces they are used to working with in our branches,” adding “With our larger branch network and larger merged credit union there will be many opportunities for employees to grow.”
The website also states that, following the merger, both the Kawartha Credit Union and Libro Credit Union brands “will continue to operate in their respective regions for the foreseeable future, so you will still see the credit union name you recognize.”
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Existing membership accounts and services at each credit union, as well as banking arrangements including direct deposits, automatic payments, and cheques, will be maintained immediately after the merger. Any future changes “will be clearly communicated in advance,” according to the website.
The credit unions will prepare a merger application over the summer to be submitted to the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, with regulatory review expected to take place in the fall followed by a “democratic voting process” by members. The results of the membership vote would be announced in December and, if the merger proceeds, the new credit union would officially launch on January 1, 2026.
More information about the proposed merger is available at goforwardtogether.ca.
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Mergers are nothing new for either Kawartha Credit Union or Libro Credit Union.
Formed in 1952 as Cangeco Credit Union by employees of Canadian General Electric in Peterborough, the credit union’s name changed to Kawartha Credit Union in 1978 when it was opened up to anyone living and working in Peterborough. In 1985, a Lindsay branch opened after a merger with Lindsay Community Credit Union. In 1992, branches were opened in Bancroft and Coe Hill after a merger with North Hastings Credit Union. In 2001, branches were opened in Huntsville, Bracebridge, Magnetawan, Emsdale, South River, Burk’s Falls, and Parry Sound after a merger with Parry Sound Muskoka Credit Union. Other mergers included the Peterborough Industrial Credit Union as well as Mariposa Credit Union in 2007, Unity Savings and Credit Union in 2012, and Smiths Falls Community Credit Union in 2024.
Formed in 1951 in London by Dutch Catholic immigrants, Libro Credit Union was renamed as St. Willibrord Community Credit Union in 1953 and as Libro Financial Group in 2006. The credit union has grown and expanded across southwestern Ontario through mergers with other credit unions in London, Blenheim, Kitchener-Waterloo, St. Thomas, and Wingham. In 2014, Libro merged with United Communities Credit Union, one of Ontario’s largest credit unions at the time. Other mergers included the Kellogg Employee Credit Union in 2014, following the closure of the Kellogg cereal plant in London, and the Hald-Nor Credit Union and its four branches in Haldimand and Norfolk counties in 2015.
Port Hope mayor Olena Hankivsky speaks outside the Port Hope Walk-in Clinic at 99 Toronto Road on July 16, 2025, announcing the results of a recent 10-day fundraising campaign to support the clinic that raised more than $189,000, including a matching donation from the Port Hope & District Healthcare Foundation. The funds will allow for the hiring of nurse practitioners to increase the hours and days the clinic is open and also provide mental health services. (Photo: Municipality of Port Hope)
From hiring nurse practitioners to extend its hours to providing some mental health supports, the Port Hope Medical Walk-in Clinic has received a dose of the best medicine in the form of more funding thanks to the local community.
The Municipality of Port Hope announced Wednesday (July 16) that a recent 10-day fundraising drive to support the Port Hope Medical Walk-in Clinic was a big success, generating a total of $189,280.42, including a matching donation from the Port Hope & District Healthcare Foundation.
Through a campaign spearheaded by Port Hope mayor Olena Hankivsky, with support from councillors Les Andrews and Adam Pearson, and launched in partnership with the Port Hope & District Healthcare Foundation, the call issued in late June asked for the community to help support the ongoing operation of the clinic at 99 Toronto Road in Port Hope.
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“This incredible result reflects the strong spirit of collaboration and care in our community,” Hankivsky said in a statement. “It has truly been a grassroots effort, from the (Port Hope & District Healthcare Foundation) to the many volunteers, donors, and local businesses who stepped forward to contribute.”
The mayor gave a shout-out to summer student Daniel Diamond and municipal staff for their assistance. “I express my heartfelt appreciation to all those in Port Hope and Cobourg who rallied behind this important cause.”
The money raised will allow for the hiring of nurse practitioners to increase the hours and days the clinic is open. The clinic will also be introducing some mental health supports and services in the coming months, according to a media release.
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The campaign received “outstanding support” from local businesses and organizations, including contributions of $10,000 each from Trade Tech Industries, Dancing Bee Equipment, Santos Auto Group, Mason Homes, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and partners, Ontario Power Generation, and Enbridge.
Community-driven events in Northumberland County such as book sales, donation boxes at storefronts, and a successful charity car wash organized by the Port Hope Police Service and Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services, helped raised money for the cause. The campaign was also supported by a donation from Show and Shine for Spencer Devine, which will enable the mental health awareness and services at the clinic.
“The clinic provides timely access to care, fills gaps in access to primary care, leads to the avoidance of unnecessary emergency room visits, and plays an integral role in the local health care infrastructure,” Hankivsky said.
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Matthew Clayton, president of the Port Hope & District Healthcare Foundation, shared his thoughts about the community response to the campaign.
“A couple of months ago, when we were discussing this proposal, we wondered whether we would get a response,” Clayton said. “What has happened since then has rendered me almost speechless. This is a shining light for our foundation: a community that comes together and watches each other’s back.”
The Port Hope & District Healthcare Foundation will manage the matched funds “to ensure they are directed to clinic operations that support sustainable, long-term access to care,” the release stated.
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The Port Hope Medical Walk-in Clinic opened in August 2024 as a one-year pilot project of Northumberland County, delivered in partnership with the Community Health Centres of Northumberland (CHCN).
Glenn Dees, Northumberland County’s director of health and human services, recently shared with kawarthaNOW a few insights into the clinic’s use.
Dees said people are visiting the clinic for ailments such as fever and systemic infections, respiratory issues, injury issues, and skin allergies, which he called “the typical things people would go to see their primary care provider for, for the most part, if they have a primary care provider.”
“That’s really the intent of the clinic: to provide primary care services to those individuals who are not attached to a doctor,” he added.
For almost 20 years, a medical walk-in clinic was available to the community at 99 Toronto Road until it closed in 2020, which prompted the county to get involved.
Cobourg police have a warrant for the arrest of 44-year-old Jason Robitaille of Cobourg in connection with a serious assault on July 15, 2025. Police have arrested and charged another suspect in the assault and Robitaille, who remains at large, is facing the same charges as well as five counts of failing to comply with a probation order. (Photo supplied by Cobourg Police Service)
Cobourg police are searching for a suspect in connection with an assault on Tuesday (July 15) that left one victim with serious injuries.
At around 7 a.m. on Tuesday, officers responded to a report of assault in the wooded area south of Fisher and Kerr streets in Cobourg.
Two men dressed in dark clothing and wearing face coverings had entered the wooded area, where they assaulted two people in a tent with bear spray and a baseball bat and fled on foot. One victim sustained minor injuries and was cleared on scene, while the other victim was transported to hospital with serious injuries.
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Through investigation, police confirmed the two victims and two suspects were well known to each other, and confirmed the identities of the two suspects.
On Wednesday (July 16), police arrested 50-year-old Kevin Oakely of Waterloo and charged him with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, disguise with intent, and administering a noxious thing (bear spray).
Oakely was held for a bail hearing and remains in police custody.
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UPDATE – On September 13, 2025, members of the Port Hope and Cobourg Police Services, with the assistance of the Belleville Police Service K9 Unit, located and arrested Robitaille in an apartment complex in the Town of Port Hope. Robitaille is facing the same charges as Oakely, along with five counts of failure to comply with a probation order, as well as an additional three counts of failure to comply with a probation order as a result of a subsequent warrant that was issued while he remained at large.
The second suspect, who has been identified as 44-year-old Jason Robitaille of Cobourg, remains at large and police have obtained a warrant for his arrest. Robitaille is facing the same charges as Oakely, as well as five counts of failing to comply with a probation order.
Anyone with information on Robitaille’s whereabouts is asked to call Cobourg police at 905-372-6821. If you prefer to remain anonymous, leave a tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS or visiting stopcrimehere.ca. Tips received through Crime Stoppers may be eligible for a cash reward.
Police are advising anyone who sees Robitaille not to approach him but to call 9-1-1 immediately.
In the first five months of 2025 alone, the City of Peterborough's organics program has diverted almost 600 tons of organic waste from the landfill. Finished compost produced at the Peterborough Organics Facility, which meets the highest quality standard, is now available for purchase at the Bensfort Road landfill site and at GreenUP's Ecology Park. (Photo: Barry Campbell / City of Peterborough)
What goes around truly comes around, now that Peterborough’s municipal organics program offers finished compost produced from the community’s curbside organic program back to the community.
In the fall of 2023, the community accepted the invitation to divert household organics from the city and county-owned landfill with open arms.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by guest author Shivaan Burke, Environmental Services Division, City of Peterborough.
Through the second year of the program, the organics diversion rate has continued to grow. This year, from January to May, almost 600 tons of organic material was processed monthly at the Peterborough Organics Facility. This represents a three per cent increase over the same five-month period last year.
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Last summer, residents shared their enthusiasm for the program at the city’s waste diversion booth at the Peterborough Folk Festival, boasting, “We only have ONE bag of garbage every TWO weeks!” and “I hardly throw anything out anymore.”
This positive feedback and the sheer volume of organic material being collected reflects the community’s commitment to waste diversion. About 95 per cent of the organic material processed at the Peterborough Organics Facility is collected from the city’s curbside program.
Amid the successes of this program, one of the challenges that persists is contamination — specifically plastic contamination.
Textiles disposed in organics are another challenge for the City of Peterborough’s organics program, as they get tangled around the processing machinery, causing damage and processing delays. It is important to ensure careful sorting of material before placing it in the green bin. Reusable grocery bags are not suitable for collecting and disposing of organic material for composting. (Photo: Barry Campbell / City of Peterborough)
While plastic has become almost unavoidable in food packaging, even glass and other obviously non-compostable materials turn up in the green bin. These things negatively affect the processing of organics and the final quality of compost.
Materials like textiles and reusable grocery bags get wrapped around screening and shredding machines, causing processing delays and equipment damage. All of this can be avoided with a bit of careful sorting on waste day.
That mouldy jar of salsa at the back of the fridge? Dump the contents into the green bin and recycle the jar (after a quick rinse, of course). Did those grapes — now raisins — spend too long in the crisper drawer? Make sure they come out of the bag before going into organics. Has that cucumber gone soggy in the wrapper? Peel the plastic off into the garbage before putting the cucumber in with organics.
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Plastic is the most common contaminant found with organics because it is so widely used in food packaging, and it’s problematic in the composting process because it breaks down into tiny pieces that are very difficult to separate.
Not only that, but many products also brand themselves as “green” or “biodegradable” or “100% natural,” making it hard for consumers to know what really can and can’t go in the green bin. BPI-certified compost bags are the only approved compostable plastic product that the Peterborough Organics Facility can accept, and all other plastic should be disposed of in the garbage or blue box.
Residents of Peterborough have done a great job with a new waste diversion program that required changes to a lot of practices, all at once. Growing pains like this are expected with new programs, and to help address the issue of contamination, city staff will be launching a media campaign followed by a curbside engagement campaign this summer.
Despite the success of the City of Peterborough’s organics program, contamination of organic waste continues to be an issue. Glass and metal are some of the worst contaminants in organics because sharp fragments can reduce the quality of the entire batch of finished compost and can pose a hazard to end users. Pictured are some of the glass bottles and jars pulled from organics at the Peterborough Organics Facility during various stages of processing. (Photo: Barry Campbell / City of Peterborough)
The goal is to identify contamination at the curb before it’s all mixed in and to educate residents on what can and can’t go in the green bin. Hopefully, understanding that the sorting decisions made at home have a huge impact on the quality of the finished compost will lead residents to be extra careful with what goes in the green bin.
Another great tool is the City of Peterborough Waste app that residents can download for free at www.peterborough.ca/garbage to search for items and where they should be disposed.
All finished compost produced at the Peterborough Organics Facility meets the AA quality standard under the Ontario Compost Quality Standards, which is the highest quality rating. To meet the AA standard, there must be no sharps (broken glass, metal shards) greater than 3mm in size. It is with quality and safety in mind that all this work goes into collecting, screening, shredding, and composting household organics.
Finished compost produced from the Peterborough household organics program is available for purchase by weight (4.5 cents per kilogram) at the Bensfort Road site or at GreenUP Ecology Park on Ashburnham Drive. For more information, visit www.peterborough.ca/landfill.
"Wild Irish Geese" playwright and actor Megan Murphy and director Kim Blackwell (left) on July 16, 2025 with some of the cast of 29 professional and volunteer actors/musicians who are performing in the world premiere play at 4th Line Theatre that tells the story of the Peter Robinson emigration of Irish settlers in 1825: Jasper Chesser (third from left), M. John Kennedy (behind Jasper), Paul Crough, Darragh O'Connell, Lindsay Wilson, Indigo Chesser, Sebastian Sage (behind Indigo), and Padrick Wilson. The play runs from July 29 to August 30 at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNOW)
Imagine, for a moment, being herded onto a ship for a crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, with no prospect of ever seeing your family or friends again.
Now imagine it’s 1825, and your ultimate destination is a foreign land far removed from anything you know or think you know. To have survived the ocean crossing is one thing, but to survive what lies ahead is quite another.
The Peter Robinson emigration of 1825 saw 2,024 Irish settlers, including 234 families, leave behind the abject poverty and social unrest of their homeland for a new start in a new land, specifically designated settlement areas in what is now Peterborough County.
The brainchild of prominent Upper Canada politician Peter Robinson, the emigration “experiment” saw nine ships undertake a perilous six-week ocean crossing, making landfall at Quebec City before their human cargo proceeded by river and land, via Kingston and Cobourg, to their new home in and around Scott’s Plains, later named Peterborough.
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With this year seeing a number of events commemorating the bicentennial of the Robinson emigration taking place, most all of them organized, coordinated, or supported by Nine Ships 1825 Inc., one of the most anticipated is Wild Irish Geese, a play making its world premiere from July 29 to August 30 at 4th Line Theatre in Millbrook.
Directed by 4th Line managing artistic director Kim Blackwell, Wild Irish Geese is the debut full-length play by Peterborough’s Megan Murphy, who is already a filmmaker, actor and performer, writer, storyteller, and more. Murphy also performs as the play’s seanchaí — a traditional Irish storyteller.
The play relates the story of the Robinson emigrants, including their hopes and dreams and their anguish over leaving behind the only life they knew for the uncertainty and challenge of building a new life in a harsh environment.
During a media event held Wednesday (July 16) at 4th Line Theatre’s Winslow Farm venue, Murphy explained how being tasked with writing the play some five years ago by 4th Line Theatre founder Robert Winslow marked the start of a creative process that challenged her like never before.
“Wild Irish Geese” playwright Megan Murphy chats with kawarthaNOW writer Paul Rellinger during a media event at 4th Line Theatre’s Winslow Farm on July 16, 2025. Murphy also performs as a seanchaí (a traditional Irish storyteller) in the play that runs from July 29 to August 30 at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNOW)
“Thinking ahead, they were looking to the bicentennial celebration of the Irish coming to this area,” recounts Murphy, referring to 4th Line’s motivation for asking her to write the play.
“I had never done a huge play like that. I thought ‘How hard could this be?’ And then I realized, ‘Really hard.'”
The research process, says Murphy, saw the local community “come out in droves, and give me huge bins full of material. I went to Ireland and fell in love with it. I knew the story (of the emigration) but I didn’t know all of it.”
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Of note, Murphy had ancestors on one of the ships that made the crossing, noting “Part of the reason our family is in this area is because of the Robinson emigration.”
Murphy admits to having been “overwhelmed” by the breadth of the story, which has layers upon layers of themes — survival in the face of great hardship among them.
“I live in this community and I know so many of the (family) names. I was trying to honour everybody’s story, but then you realize that’s impossible. I was trying to make everybody happy, and that also isn’t possible.”
“Eventually I stumbled across Paul Hickey,” Murphy says. “He owned (advertising agency) Outpost 379 in downtown Peterborough. He didn’t know all that much about his family story, but one of his ancestors was a vigilante in Ireland, so that gave me one side of it, allowing me to write about the political climate. His fifth great grandmother came over with their eight children, but he (the vigilante) didn’t. I thought ‘This is an interesting story.'”
“Another family I followed was that of Nancy Towns, a good friend of mine who is also in the play. Her family story is also fascinating, and they have records,” Murphy says, adding “People generously allowed me to use their ancestry and I flushed the rest out.”
Actor M. John Kennedy as Upper Canada politician Peter Robinson in a scene from “Wild Irish Geese” at a media event at 4th Line Theatre’s Winslow Farm on July 16, 2025. In 1825, Robinson administered the emigration of 2,024 Irish settlers, including 234 families, who were carried aboard nine migrant ships that sailed to Canada, with many of the emigrants settling in the Peterborough region. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNOW)
Murphy notes that many of those who made the overseas journey had Irish wakes held in their honour before they left, as all in attendance knew they would never see the emigrants again.
“They’d have a living wake, and then they’d walk them to the boats,” she says.
“What struck me was just how hard it was. They were refugees. They were desperate. They had no rights. They couldn’t own land. They couldn’t vote. They couldn’t speak their own language. They couldn’t celebrate their religion. They couldn’t educate their children. They had no food. They had no options. Fifty thousand applied for 2,000 spots. That shocked me.”
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Immensely proud of her Irish roots, Murphy says the opportunity to delve deep into the Robinson emigration story was nothing short of a privilege.
“Initially, it stymied me,” she says of writing the play. “I put a lot of pressure on myself to honour my ancestors, thinking ‘How do I make them proud?'”
“When I went to Ireland (for the filming of her feature documentary Murphy’s Law) following in my dad’s footsteps, there was a piece of me looking for where I belong. Some piece of me is Irish. Some piece of me is Canadian. I kind of exist somewhere over the Atlantic.”
“When my life fell apart for a while, this community rose up to meet me and saved me in many ways, reminding me of who I am and where I belong,” recalls Murphy, referring to the time when she had both lost her mother and ended a romantic relationship. “So some of this (play) is a love letter to my community.”
Veteran local actor Paul Crough carries Jasper Chesser in a scene from “Wild Irish Geese” at a media event at 4th Line Theatre’s Winslow Farm on July 16, 2025. Making his 4th Line Theatre debut, Crough plays John Hickey, the patriarch of the Hickey family who is “fighting” for Ireland while also trying to be a good father who makes sure his family is safe and provided for. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNO
Making his 4th Line Theatre debut is veteran local actor Paul Crough, who plays John Hickey, the patriarch of the Hickey family who is “fighting” for Ireland while also trying to be a good father who makes sure his family is safe and provided for.
Crough, who is making his 4th Line Theatre debut with Wild Irish Geese, has ventured to Ireland a few times to trace his family history and learn more about “that decision to pack into a wooden crate and go across the ocean.”
“It’s a reminder of the innate resiliency that the Irish are famous for,” he says. “I grew up in Ennismore. To this day, there’s still a real connection to our Irish roots and history. Growing up in that environment, a small farming community where people depended on others for survival, that’s a trait that has been passed on for generations.”
“There’s a line in play that says ‘It’s in me bones.’ There’s this underlying current, always in me, that there’s some type of greater force or power or spirit that we draw on to push us forward.”
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For her part, Blackwell is “jazzed” to again bring an “epic” story to the Winslow farm.
“This is really within my wheelhouse,” she says. “It’s that beautiful melding of a large cast, music, choreography.”
“It’s probably most similar to Hero of Hunter Steet and The Cavan Blazers — a large, epic community-based play. I’m deeply thrilled and honoured to be working on it. It is one of the most beautiful companies I’ve worked with.”
Actors Lindsay Wilson and Indigo Chesser perform a scene from “Wild Irish Geese” at a media event at 4th Line Theatre’s Winslow Farm on July 16, 2025. Written by Megan Murphy and directed by Kim Blackwell, the play runs from July 29 to August 30 at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook, coinciding with a number of other events in August commemorating the bicentennial of the Robinson emigration. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNOW)
Both Blackwell and Murphy hope audiences come away with a better understanding of the Robinson settlers and how they put down roots in the region.
“I hope that people see themselves in it a little bit,” says Murphy.
“This is a story of the past, but it’s actually very universal — it’s very present. People are people are people are people. No matter when it happened, the struggles are the same. I also hope it makes people realize how lucky we are and perhaps ask themselves ‘What is the mark you’re leaving on the planet?'”
The cast of 29 professional and volunteer actors/musicians in Wild Irish Geese also includes M. John Kennedy (who starred in the 4th Line Theatre productions of The Great Shadow and The Tilco Strike) as Peter Robinson, Toronto-based actor Sebastian Sage (who is returning to theatre for the first time since the pandemic), Lindsay Wilson (who also appeared in The Tilco Strike as well as Jim Watts: Girl Reporter), Indigo Chesser (whose 4th Line credits include The Cavan Blazers, The Great Shadow, and Jim Watts: Girl Reporter) and Darragh O’Connell (who performed in The Cavan Blazers and Jim Watts: Girl Reporter).
Actor M. John Kennedy and actor/playwright Megan Murphy perform a scene from “Wild Irish Geese” at a media event at 4th Line Theatre’s Winslow Farm on July 16, 2025. Both Kennedy and Murphy are descendants of the Irish settlers who emigrated to the Peterborough area in 1825, as are other actors performing in the play and likely some members of the audience who will come to see the play that runs from July 29 to August 30 at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography for kawarthaNOW)
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Behind the scenes, assistant direction is by Mikayla Stoodley with musical direction by Justin Hiscox, costume design by Bonnie Garland, choreography by Monica Dottor, original set design by Michelle Chesser, fight direction by Edward Belanger, Indigenous story consultation by Patti Shaughnessy and, handling intimacy direction, Greg Carruthers.
Sponsored by Pyle Wealth Advisory – CIBC Private Wealth Wood Gundy with support from The Hickey Family Bursary, Wild Irish Geese runs at 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays from July 29 to August 30, with preview nights on July 29 and 30, opening night on July 31, and an additional Monday performance on August 25.
Tickets are $52 for adults and $45 for youth, with a discounted price of $38 for both adults and youth on preview nights, plus tax and fee.
Tickets, season subscriptions, and gift certificates are available by phone at 705-932-4445 (toll-free at 1-800-814-0055), online at 4thlinetheatre.on.ca, and at 4th Line Theatre’s box Office location at 9 Tupper Street in Millbrook.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of 4th Line Theatre’s 32nd season.
Provincial and municipal politicians and healthcare representatives gathered at the Summit Wellness Centre under construction in Coboconk on July 15, 2025 for an announcement of $3,493,400 in funding from the Ontario government to the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Ontario Health Team for the Kawartha North Family Health Team to expand interprofessional primary care teams to Coboconk, Woodville, and Minden so that up to 6,902 people have access to primary healthcare. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)
Healthcare in the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County is getting a boost of almost $3.5 million from the provincial government.
The Ontario Ministry of Health will provide $3,493,400 to the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Ontario Health Team for the Kawartha North Family Health Team to expand interprofessional primary care teams to Coboconk, Woodville, and Minden so that up to 6,902 people have access to primary healthcare.
The funding announcement was made on Tuesday (July 15) by Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott at the $16-million Summit Wellness Centre, currently under construction off Highway 35 in Coboconk, which aims to be a community hub that will include doctors and nurse practitioners, a walk-in clinic, pharmacy, lab services, dental services, and more.
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“By building on existing infrastructure and supporting all healthcare providers across the system, this initiative will strengthen team-based care and enhance access to publicly funded high-quality primary healthcare in underserved communities,” MPP Scott said in a media release.
While the expansion will be led by the Kawartha North Family Health Team, the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton-Ontario Health Team will establish a process to accept new patients and will communicate that process to local communities.
The Ontario government introduced Ontario Health Teams in 2019 as a new integrated model for healthcare that brings healthcare providers in a region together as one collaborative team, with the aim of making it easier for patients to move from one provider to another to access the healthcare services they need.
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“This is a significant milestone in our journey towards fully integrated, team-based care for the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton region,” said Dr. Jacquelyn Choi, the primary care lead for the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton-Ontario Health Team.
“The new interprofessional team hubs will expand the geographical reach of our primary care providers by working collaboratively with other health professionals, ensuring that every patient receives the right care from the right provider at the right time.”
Interprofessional primary care teams connect people to a range of health professionals that work together under one roof, including registered and registered practical nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, and pharmacists.
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“This funding enables us to deliver on our community’s long-standing need for equitable, local access to high-quality primary care,” said Kawartha North Family Health Team executive director Marina Hodson.
“It’s a game changer for patients, especially in our rural and underserved communities. We are especially proud of the collaborative effort that this proposal represents — the collective focus on improving access to care in our community will be highly impactful.”
The Kawartha North Family Health Team was approved for provincial funding in a recent call for proposals as part of the Ontario government’s $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan to add over 300 new primary care teams across the province.
The plan includes $235 million in 2025-26 for over 130 new and expanded primary care teams to help connect 300,000 people to primary care this year, with the initial round of funding focused on communities, identified by postal codes, that have the highest number of unattached patients.
The Lakefield Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) has become the first living wage employer in Selwyn Township to receive certification from the Ontario Living Wage Network, joining 14 other workplaces in Peterborough and the Kawartha Lakes region and one of only seven organizations in Ontario's animal welfare sector to receive the certification. (Photo: LAWS)
The Lakefield Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) has become a certified living wage employer, the 15th workplace in Peterborough and the Kawartha Lakes region to receive certification from the Ontario Living Wage Network and the first in Selwyn Township.
Located halfway between Peterborough and Lakefield on County Road 29, LAWS provides care and shelter to hundreds of animals in need every year.
It is the latest employer in the animal welfare sector to become living-wage certified and joins only seven others in the province.
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Lyndsay Lisson-De Ell, director of operations at LAWS, shared why becoming certified was an important step for the animal welfare society.
“At LAWS, everything we do is rooted in compassion, respect, and care,” stated Lisson-De Ell in a media release.
“That applies not only to the animals we serve, but also to the people who make our work possible. Becoming a living wage employer was a natural extension of those values. We believe everyone deserves to be paid fairly for their time and talent. Work should not come at the cost of being able to afford the basic necessities of life.”
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A living wage is calculated by the Ontario Living Wage Network to show how much a worker must earn per hour to make ends meet and enjoy “modest” participation in civic and cultural community.
In LAWS case, this means all workers must earn at least $21.65 per hour, which is the current living wage for the area.
“If you work full time, you should be able to make ends meet,” Craig Pickthorne, director of communications for the Ontario Living Wage Network, told kawarthaNOW.
Each year, the Ontario Living Wage Network calculates 10 local living wages, and they are always well above the minimum wage, even with its modest yearly increases, he noted.
There is no place in the province where people can work a full-time minimum wage job and cover all of their expenses, Pickthorne added.
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“While anyone is free to refer to our rates, we also certify and recognize employers like (LAWS) who agree to pay it to all staff at least a living wage,” Pickthorne explained. “These employers must also adhere to any increases when released in November if they wish to remain certified.”
“Many employers raise the wage of some workers in order to qualify for certification, and this is a powerful tool to combat working poverty.”
In its establishment of living wages, the Ontario Living Wage Network’s calculations gather expenses for three types of households: two adults supporting two small children, a single parent, and a single adult. The results are then aggregated, and include any applicable government taxes, transfers, and benefits.
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There are 10 regional living wage rates in Ontario, and LAWS falls under the rate for the east region.
“LAWS aspires to be a place where people not only find support, but also feel proud to work, volunteer, and contribute,” said Marilyn Strain, chair of the board of directors at LAWS. “Becoming a living wage employer is a meaningful step toward that vision.”
For more information about living wages in Ontario, including calculation documentation, a coverage map, and a certified employer directory, visit www.ontariolivingwage.ca.
Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for the southern Kawarthas region for Wednesday (July 16).
The special air quality statement is in effect for southern Peterborough County, southern Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County.
Elevated levels of pollution are expected Wednesday afternoon and evening.
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Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) values are expected to reach moderate to high risk levels as a result of increasing ground-level ozone combining with residual smoke.
The special air quality statement is in addition to the ongoing heat warning for the region that has been in effect since last Friday. Daytime temperatures will peak on Wednesday at 33 degrees Celsius, with humidex values reaching 41 degrees Celsius.
A cooler airmass is expected to arrive Thursday morning and bring an end to the heat wave.
Samantha Perry cut the ribbon alongside her parents Mike and Linda Belsey at a ceremony on May 30, 2025 to celebrate the start of the first full season of Pondview Estates. In partnership with Perry's business Samantha Ann & Co., the elevated do-it-yourself wedding venue in the Township of Asphodel-Norwood makes it a priority to work with other local wedding vendors, who they also celebrate through social media promotion and by hosting an annual open house and vendor market. (Photo: Shannon FC Photography)
On the stunning grounds of Pondview Estates wedding venue, families and friends come together to celebrate the commitment of the ultimate partnership. But, beside the river and beneath the canopy of trees, the Norwood venue is also creating lasting partnerships within the local business community.
On a 110-acre property complete with farm fields, forest, a small river, and a charming brick farmhouse, the Italian-inspired Pondview Estates offers a picturesque spot to tie the knot in the Township of Asphodel-Norwood, one of eight townships in Peterborough County.
The Belsey family purchased the property 28 years ago and, after years spent rejuvenating it, has partnered with Samantha Ann & Co. to turn it into an elevated do-it-yourself wedding venue available from May through October.
Clients of Pondview Estates will get access to a coordinator for the day of the wedding through Samantha Ann & Co., but will have entire freedom on details like chairs, tables, and dishware. From giving referrals to offering affordable rentals on high-end décor to organizing day-of rentals, Pondview Estates and Samantha Ann & Co. are there every step of the way down the aisle.
“You’re very taken care of, but your wedding is absolutely unique to you and you can make it what you want,” says Samantha Perry, owner and operator of Pondview Estates and founder of Samantha Ann & Co.
With a majority of Pondview Estate’s clients being local to the region, the venue makes it a priority to work with local vendors. The spacious tent is maintained by Create Shade Tent Rentals in Warsaw, who also provide clients with a large selection of tables and chairs for rent in different designs and styles. Other local businesses regularly supported by the venue include Jesse’s Tap & Grill and TP Toilets in Ennismore, Katherine’s Flower Shop in Bridgenorth, Pasquino Productions in Kawartha Lakes, and Sweet Bee Floral, Personal Touch Catering, and Shannon FC Photography in Peterborough.
These are only a few of the local businesses that Pondview Estates works with to give clients the wedding of their dreams.
Clients of Pondview Estates will get access to a coordinator for the day of the wedding through Samantha Ann & Co., but will have entire freedom on the details for their special day. With a commitment to helping grow the wedding industry in Peterborough County, the venue works with other local businesses for its spacious tent, table and chair rentals, dishware, catering, décor, flowers, photography, and more. (Photo: Shannon FC Photography)
To promote Pondview Estates and spotlight their partnerships with local businesses, Samantha Ann & Co. also uses its growing social media presence — including nearly 10,000 followers on Instagram. After every wedding, all the participating vendors are listed and tagged for thousands of people to see, reshare, and learn about other local businesses.
“Sometimes when I see some of my favourite vendors post things, I’ll share it just for fun because I love what they’re doing and want others to see it,” says Perry. “With the strong role that social media has in marketing now, especially when it comes to service-based businesses, I really make sure that’s a top priority.”
With her goal of cultivating a community of local businesses working in the wedding space, Perry also hosts an annual open house and wedding vendor market, where vendors can participate free of charge and connect with clients and each other.
From food and beverage providers and photographers to hair and makeup artists and beyond, this year’s event saw 42 vendors and 200 guests participating — double the amount from last year’s inaugural event. In addition to the opportunity to promote their businesses to potential clients, vendors receive professional photos of their booths and of them interacting with guests that they can use, entirely free of charge.
Despite all that Pondview Estates is already doing to connect and promote the local business community in Peterborough County, Perry says it’s only the beginning.
“I’m so excited and honoured to be a part of the Peterborough wedding industry and just can’t wait to keep building it for everybody,” she says.
The Local Advantage in Peterborough County is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in Peterborough County, created in partnership with Peterborough County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.
As part of its response to the impact of U.S. tariffs, Peterborough County is showcasing the many unique businesses located in the county, both by sharing their stories of success and how they support both residents and other businesses in their communities.
Whether by shopping at local businesses, dining at local restaurants, staying at local accommodation, or enjoying local experiences, residents and visitors can enhance the economic resilience of Peterborough County during these challenging times and help establish a sustainable foundation for the future.
For more information about economic development and tourism in Peterborough County, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev and The Kawarthas Tourism at thekawarthas.ca.
Northumberland County is advancing several key infrastructure projects in summer 2025, including bridge replacements, road rehabilitation, intersection improvements, and affordable housing expansion. (Photo: Northumberland County)
It’s summer, and that means construction season is underway in Northumberland County. While infrastructure work may not be “glamorous,” Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander says it’s an essential investment in the county’s future.
Northumberland County is currently advancing several key projects, from bridge replacements and road rehabilitation and improvements to intersections to the expansion of affordable housing.
“These investments are about more than concrete and asphalt — they’re about building a community that works for everyone, now and into the future,” Ostrander told kawarthaNOW.
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“The instigation of these projects really stems from a long-standing recognition that we can’t afford to wait for perfect conditions to invest in our future,” the warden explained.
“While provincial and federal support is always welcome, and often essential for larger-scale initiatives, we’ve had to be proactive and strategic with the resources we do have. That means planning ahead, building strong partnerships with our local municipalities, and making tough decisions to prioritize the projects that will have the greatest long-term impact.”
The current construction activity signifies a commitment to building a stronger and more resilient community, the county noted in a media release.
“Each of these projects reflects our ongoing efforts to modernize and maintain critical infrastructure, support housing needs, and improve safety for all road users,” said Denise Marshall, Northumberland County’s director of public works. “We’re building with intention — creating the conditions for sustainable growth and enhanced quality of life across Northumberland.”
Ostrander said these projects represent years of planning, advocacy, and community input.
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The major projects underway are listed below.
Elgin Park Redevelopment in Cobourg
Phase two of the Elgin Park affordable housing development has been approved for occupancy, providing another 20 units of subsidized and market rental housing to support the broader goal of adding 900 new affordable housing units to the community between 2019 and 2029.
Trent River Crossing in Campbellford
This once-in-a-generation infrastructure project will deliver a vital second crossing over the Trent River, the county said. “Now approaching 100 per cent design completion, the project is expected to unlock economic growth and improve connectivity for Northumberland.” Property acquisition and utility relocation are underway.
County Road 64/Prince Edward Street in Brighton
Entering its second year, this multi-year reconstruction delivered in partnership with the Municipality of Brighton will strengthen core infrastructure, enhance accessibility, and support community growth, the county said. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2026.
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Welcome Intersection in Port Hope
Construction begins in July on improvements to the intersection of County Road 2, County Road 10, and County Road 74. “This project will improve safety at a complex intersection that studies have shown may contribute to driver confusion,” the county said.
Burnley Bridge Replacement in Cramahe Township
Originally built in 1950, the Burnley bridge on County Road 29 is being replaced to meet modern safety and transportation standards. The bridge will be closed to all traffic from July 11 through to November 2025, with local detours in place. “This essential project will maintain a vital north-south link for local residents,” the county said.
Other projects include culvert rehabilitation near Warkworth, retaining wall repairs in Baltimore, ongoing preventative bridge maintenance in Trent Hills, and preventative raod maintenance including 10 kilometres of micro-surfacing across County Roads 9, 22, and 74 in Hamilton and Alnwick/Haldimand, 15 kilometres of crack sealing in Hamilton, Alnwick/Haldimand, and Brighton, and 20 kilometres of surface treatment of various county roads.
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“This infrastructure might not always be the most visible or glamorous part of local government, but it’s the backbone of everything we do,” Ostrander said.
“Whether it’s getting to work safely, accessing housing, or supporting local businesses, this work touches every part of daily life. These investments are about more than concrete and asphalt — they’re about building a community that works for everyone, now and into the future.”
Residents can learn more about planned construction and roadwork by visiting northumberland.ca/roads, where an interactive map is also available to explore updates and locations of ongoing and upcoming work.
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