Arhitect's rendering of the completed Shorelines Casino Peterborough. (Graphic: Chris Dikeakos Architects Inc.
If you’re looking for a full- or part-time job, you might want to check out the Shorelines Casino Peterborough job fair from 2 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 24th at Fleming CREW Employment Centre (1550 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough).
Construction of Peterborough’s new casino on Crawford Drive at The Parkway is nearing completion, with a grand opening expected in late August or early September.
The 50,000-square-foot facility will have 500 slots, 20 gaming tables, a lounge, restaurant, and multi-purpose spaces.
The Shorelines Casino Peterborough building under construction on May 19, 2018. Aurora-based company Matheson Constructors is managing the project, which is expected to be completed by late summer. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
The casino is looking to fill up to 150 new gaming and hospitality positions (around 150 other positions are to be filled by current employees transferring from Shorelines Slots at Kawartha Downs in Fraserville).
“The time has come for us to start looking for dynamic, high-energy individuals who are driven by service excellence and want to join the Shorelines Casino family,” says Bryan Buchanan, General Manager of Shorelines Slots at Kawartha Downs, in a media release.
The casino is looking for people to fill full-time and part-time positions in the following roles: card dealers, table games supervisors, food and beverage supervisors, bartenders, food and beverage servers, sous chef, cooks, and various other positions.
Previous gaming experience is not necessary to apply for the gaming positions.
“Appropriate paid training will be provided by our in-house trainers,” Buchanan says. “We are focused on creating employment opportunities that offer personal and professional development in career-track roles.”
Those who are unable to attend the job fair can apply online during the last week of May at gcgaming.com/careers.
Shorelines Casino Peterborough is owned and operated by the Ontario Gaming East LP, in which Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, is the majority shareholder and lead operator. It was selected at the successful proponent by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation to operate gaming facilities in the East Gaming Bundle, including the new casino in Peterborough.
The Victoria Day long weekend marks the unofficial beginning of summer, when many people go camping and open their cottages for the season.
Victoria Day, celebrating Queen Victoria’s birthday (May 24, 1819), was first declared a holiday in Canada in 1845. It was originally observed on May 24 every year unless that date was a Sunday, in which case it was celebrated on May 25. In 1952, the federal government changed the date to celebrate Victoria Day on the Monday preceding May 25. From sunset to sunrise on Victoria Day, the Royal Union Flag (the “Union Jack”) is flown alongside the Canadian flag at federal buildings, airports, military bases and other federal buildings and establishments across Canada.
The Victoria Day weekend is colliqually known as the May Two-Four weekend, referring both to the Queen’s birthdate and Canadian slang for a case of 24 beers (a popular beverage during the weekend). It’s informally considered to mark the beginning of summer, and many people go camping, open their cottages, garden, or travel during the weekend. Victoria Day itself is traditionally celebrated with fireworks displays on Monday night.
Since Victoria Day is both a federal and a provincial statutory holiday, government offices, post offices, libraries, and schools are closed, as are liquor stores and beer stores. Many grocery stores are open, as are some shopping malls, pharmacies, banks, and large retail stores. Most tourist attractions, medical clinics, smaller stores, restaurants, museums, and theatres are usually open. Some stores that are closed on Monday have extended hours on Sunday (check with the store).
For your convenience, we provide this list of 258 selected businesses, services, and organizations from across the Kawarthas. While we strive to make the information on this list as accurate as we can, you should call first to confirm hours if you’re travelling any distance (we’ve included phone numbers). If your business or organization is listed and the hours are incorrect, please let us know by using our content feedback form.
Bewdley Transfer Station 7650 County Rd. 9, Hamilton 905-342-2514
CLOSED
Brighton Landfill 1112 County Rd. 26, Brighton 613-475-1946
CLOSED
Canada Post Mail Delivery / Offices (Note: post offices operated by the private sector will be open according to the hours of service of the host business
No collection or delivery
City of Kawartha Lakes City Hall, Municipal Service Centres, and Administration Offices 26 Francis St., Lindsay 705-324-9411
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Parks, Recreation and Culture facilities, arenas, and pools Various locations, City of Kawartha Lakes 705-324-9411
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Public Libraries Various locations, City of Kawartha Lakes 705-324-9411 x1291
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Waste and Recycling Collection 26 Francis St., Lindsay 1-888-822-2225
Moves to Tue May 22 (May 22 to 23, May 23 to 24, May 24 to 25)
City of Peterborough Day Cares Peterborough 705-748-8830
CLOSED
City of Peterborough Garbage Pickup Peterborough 705-745-1386
No change
City of Peterborough Green Waste Pickup Peterborough 705-876-1600
No change
City of Peterborough Recycling Pickup Peterborough 705-876-1600
No change
City of Peterborough Social Services Peterborough 705-748-8830
CLOSED
County of Haliburton Administration Offices 11 Newcastle St., Minden 705-286-4085
CLOSED
County of Northumberland Waste and Recycling Collection 555 Courthouse Rd., Cobourg 1-866-293-8379
Moves to Tue May 22 (May 22 to 23, May 23 to 24, May 24 to 25)
County of Peterborough 470 Water St., Peterborough 705-743-0380
CLOSED
County of Peterborough Garbage Pickup Peterborough 705-745-1386
Check your township at ptbocounty.ca or install My Waste App
County of Peterborough Recycling Pickup Peterborough 705-775-2737
Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Kim Rudd cuts the ribbon officially opening Venture13, Cobourg's new innovation and entrepreneurship centre for Northumberland County, along with repreentatives from the Town of Cobourg, Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation, Cobourg Police Service, Fleming College, Northumberland Makers and more. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
“Welcome to the Rural Renaissance”.
On Thursday (May 17), Cobourg Mayor Gil Brocanier acted as emcee for the grand opening of Venture13, Northumberland County’s new entrepreneurial hot spot, heralding it as a “great day for Cobourg and all of Eastern Ontario”.
Brocanier said the Town of Cobourg and Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) have a lot to be proud of — and the journey has just begun.
“This remarkable journey, that included repurposing one of our existing municipal properties into a state-of-the-art innovation and entrepreneurship centre, would not have been possible without the dedication and leadership of Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation and the support of FedDev Ontario,” he said.
VIDEO: Cutting the ribbon for Venture13 in Cobourg on May 17, 2018
“The Town of Cobourg is extremely proud of the educational opportunities and community engagement that will be made possible at Venture13 as we work with Fleming College, Northumberland Makers, and all of our partners, to position Northumberland County and Eastern Ontario for the innovation age.”
A place for business start-ups
Venture13 is located at 739 D’Arcy Street in Cobourg at the location formerly known as “Building 13”. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
On Thursday, Venture13 — known as V13 for short — officially opened its doors at 739 D’Arcy Street in Cobourg with a grand opening celebration that included a ribbon cutting and a tour of the facility.
The new innovation and entrepreneurship centre features three “essential components” to assist business start-ups.
The VentureZone is an accelerator space supported by the Northumberland CFDC. The MakerLab is a full-service lab with cutting-edge equipment that can be used for custom desktop manufacturing and 3D printing, prototyping and engineering. The third essential component is an 80-seat lecture hall with adjoining seminar rooms that offers a community space for discussions and workshops.
The new Venture13 innovation and entrepreneurship centre features the VentureZone, the MakerLab, an 80-seat lecture hall with adjoining seminar rooms, and more. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
Also in attendance for the grand opening was Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Kim Rudd, who kicked off her message to the community with a congratulatory video from the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
“Venture13 is one of the most exciting projects ever undertaken in Eastern Ontario,” Rudd said.
“I firmly believe it will be the crown jewel in any ongoing innovation strategy for the region. I want to give credit to the efforts of Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation, the Town of Cobourg, and Cobourg Police Services. Their dynamic collaboration is jump-starting a new era in rural innovation.”
About the Site
This mural reflects the history of “Building 13” in Cobourg, once the site of a Canadian Forces Base and the Town of Cobourg’s largest employer in the 1950s. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
The building itself is an inspiring place for learning and innovation.
With the vision of local architect Reno Piccini, the impressive open-concept 15,000-square-foot first floor of the building includes a 80-seat lecture hall, demo space and two seminar and activity rooms. The site also includes the 800-square-foot MakerLab and a scannable tool library.
“The planning for this site was a labour of love,” Piccini said.
Some of the partners located in Venture13. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
The colour red can be seen throughout the building. According to Northumberland CFDC Executive Director Wendy Curtis, the red is “Canada Red”, a strong nod to our country and commitment to shaping the economic future of our nation. A 30-foot mural greets visitors near the entrance, and natural light floods the space from its many windows.
The building was once the site of a Canadian Forces Base known as “Building 13” — hence the Venture13 name. During the 1950s, Building 13 was the Town of Cobourg’s largest employer at its peak. With Cobourg Police Services signed on to inhabit the second floor of the site, the Town is hopeful that Building 13 will once again be a major source of jobs for the local economy.
The VentureZone
The VentureZone is a flexible co-working and business accelerator space for technology startups and entrepreneurs. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
With The VentureZone, the Northumberland CFDC has created a flexible co-working and business accelerator space for technology startups and entrepreneurs. The VentureZone includes 24-hour secured access, fibre connection and public wifi, as well as web-based booking.
“Together with the Town of Cobourg, and with the support of the Government of Canada and FedDev Ontario, we have designed and created a unique and inspiring platform — a truly local response to the imperative of innovation in the twenty-first century,” said Wendy Curtus, Executive Director of the Northumberland CFDC,
The VentureZone includes 24-hour secured access, fibre connection and public wifi, as well as web-based booking. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
The MakerLab
The MakerLab is supported by a community organization known as the Northumberland Makers. Teaching applied skills and offering experiential learning, the lab is an inspiring space with cutting-edge equipment for prototyping and engineering.
“We believe that making is a skill that should be accessible to all who wish to learn,” says Northumberland Makers President Phil Mandryk.
Venture13’s MakerLab is a full-service lab with cutting-edge equipment that can be used for custom desktop manufacturing and 3D printing, prototyping, and engineering. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
“We cannot wait to have a home base at Venture13 to deliver community programming that offers individuals the opportunity to ‘learn through doing’ in an accessible social environment.”
The MakerLab aims to play a major role in positioning Northumberland County and Eastern Ontario “as a place for technology entrepreneurship and innovation”, Mandryk said.
The MakerLab is supported by Northumberland Makers, a community organization that will use the space to teach applied skills and offer experiential learning. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
Programming will focus on STE(A)M education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) with bi-weekly safety and equipment training, a Tedx-inspired talk series, and a one-week “Lego robotic camp” for children in the summer.
Innovation and Law Enforcement
When it comes to Venture13’s second floor, while no uniformed officers will be working on site, the presence will definitely be blue upstairs.
Cobourg Police Services have found a home for their administrative operations and growing technology business unit at this new location.
VIDEO: Official promotional video for Venture13
Cobourg Chief of Police Kai Liu believes that job creation will continue to grow on the second floor, as the police add secure servers and other innovative technological advancements to their practices.
Innovations in policing will be paramount and access to the second floor will be highly restricted.
According to Liu, this initiative is ground-breaking by nature as it is “unique amongst police services” to have a dedicated place to focus on the use of new technology in policing.
Education
Fleming College, which joined the strategic board of innovation partners in November 2017, will deliver a technical programming component at Venture13. Courses will be offered in Business and Leadership as well as Trades and Technology and will be booked on a regular basis at the centre.
“We are delighted to support the Venture13 initiative in partnership with the Town of Cobourg and the Northumberland CFDC,” said Tony Tilly, President of Fleming College. “We see a clear alignment between our innovative programming and the needs of those developing new and growing enterprises throughout the region”.
The grand opening celebration of Venture13 on May 17, 2018 also included a presentation of the innovation and entrepreneurship centre’s development. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
“As a primary post-secondary partner, Fleming College is committed to providing training experiences that are responsive to employer needs and areas of job growth,” added David Francis, the college’s Dean of Professional and Continuing Education.
“We are also committed to bringing the Fleming College experience more broadly to Cobourg and Northumberland County in terms of providing guest speakers and linkages to the community.”
While post-secondary students are currently first in line to benefit from the new centre, plans to include younger students at the high school and elementary school levels are likely in Venture13’s future. In the meantime, parents who are interested in getting younger kids involved are welcome to look into age-appropriate workshops, camps, and seminars.
Partnerships
Collaboration between partners has been at the foundation of Venture13. Pictured are: Dereck Paul, President & CEO, Lakefront Utility Services Inc.; Kai Liu, Police Chief, Cobourg Police Service; Wendy Curtis, Executive Director of the Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation; Gil Brocanier, Mayor, Town of Cobourg; Stephen Peacock, Chief Administrative Officer for The Town of Cobourg; and Phil Mandryk, President, Northumberland Makers. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
According to Curtis, partnerships are essential to the success of Venture13. She said collaboration has been at the foundation of everything accomplished to date and will continue to play an ongoing role in the future successes of the centre.
“We are not alone in this endeavor,” she explained. “We have brought together local innovation-focused community organizations with our wider network of regional innovation centres from Oshawa to Peterborough to Cornwall, and across Eastern Ontario.”
N100 Evolution: a pitch-based competition for tech start-ups
N100 Evolution is an enhanced version of the previous N100 invitational technology startup competition. It’s now biennial with a larger prize of up to $250,000 in investment funding. (Photo: Northumberland CFDC)
Curtis also announced the inception of N100 Evolution, Northumberland’s “biennial open invitational technology startup competition”.
With start-up funding from $100,000 to $250,000 up for grabs, projects with high-growth potential that are technology-driven and that will have a presence and impact in Northumberland County are invited to pitch their ideas for a chance to make their business dreams a reality.
The deadline to apply for the first N100 Evolution is Friday, July 13, 2018. Eight semi-finalists will be selected to compete in the N100 Pitch Contest at Venture13 on Thursday, September 13th. The top three finalists will then present their investment proposals in October, with the winner announced in November.
If you’ve got a great business idea and need help to get it off the ground, N100 is now accepting applications for the 2018 technology start-up competition. Visit www.n100.ca to find out more and to apply.
To learn more about how you can get involved and support Venture13, visit venture13.ca.
In "My Heart's A Suitcase", Anwen O'Driscoll (right) plays Chris, an angrily impoverished waitress who shares a flat with Hannah (Ilan O'Driscoll), a philosophical ceramics teacher in the early stages of multiple sclerosis. The role of Hannah will also be performed by Mackenzie Kruyf (not pictured) on different nights of the play, which has a five-performance run at Lindsay Little Theatre until May 27. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
On Friday, May 18th, the Lindsay Little Theatre opens up some heavy emotional baggage with director Rebecca Bloom’s production of late British playwright Clare McIntyre’s My Heart’s A Suitcase.
Featuring the talents of Anwen O’Driscoll, Mackenzie Krunyf, Ilan O’Driscoll, Tori O’Neil, Andre Canivet, Katisha Shaw, and Vasco J.W. Silva, this award-winning British play sports strong performances in an emotionally charged show.
Lindsay Little Theatre presents My Heart’s A Suitcase
When: Friday, May 18 & Saturday, May 19 at 8 p.m.; Friday, May 25 & Saturday, May 26 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, May 27 at 2 p.m. Where: Lindsay Little Theatre (55 George St W., Lindsay, 705-880-2445) How much: $20
Written by Clare McIntyre, directed by Rebecca Anne Bloom, and starring Anwen O’Driscoll, Mackenzie Krunyf, Ilan O’Driscoll, Tori O’Neil, Andre Canivet, Katisha Shaw, and Vasco J.W. Silva.
Tickets are available in person or by phone at the Academy Theatre box office (2 Lindsay St. S., Lindsay, 705-324-911), online at www.kawarthatickets.ca or at the door the night of the performance. Advance tickets by phone or online are subject to a $2 surcharge.
Making its debut at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 1990, My Heart’s A Suitcase was one of the celebrated plays to come from Britain’s feminist theatre movement that emerged in the 1980s. Containing a multitude of various subjects, including PTSD, depression, illness, fear, and class conflict, the play earned McIntyre the most promising playwright award from The London Evening Standard and quickly became a fixture of feminist literature.
Chris (Anwen O’Driscoll), an angry waitress suffering from PTSD from a recent emotional trauma, accepts the offer to stay in a beach-side flat owned by an old flame who has become wealthy. Although reluctant to stay in the sparsely decorated apartment, Chris succumbs to the encouragement of her best friend Hannah (Mackenzie Kruyf / Ilan O’Driscoll), a good-natured ceramics teacher who has just been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
However, it’s quickly established that this isn’t going to be a blissful weekend getaway for either of them. As Hannah embraces life, Chris wallows in self-pity and fear, which manifests in the form of two figures in her own mind: the motherly and religious Luggage (Katisha Shaw) and the horrifying Pest (Vasco J.W. Silva), a product of her mental and emotional trauma.
Playwright Clare McIntyre died from multiple sclerosis at the age of 57 in 2009, 24 years after she was first diagnosed with the disease.
Meanwhile, the girls encounter another pair of intruders in their ill-fated weekend getaway: the flat owner’s uppity wife Tunis (Tori O’Neil) and an alcoholic businessman named Elliot (Andre Canivet). Forever searching for an answer to their place in the world, the girls seek solace in an uncompromising world where, ultimately, their only sense of peace is based on their frame of mind.
My Heart’s A Suitcase is a well-acted and produced production, although the script suffers from some structural flaws that left me searching for more. But through the talents of the performers on stage, the problematic script is well executed.
CBC viewers will recognize Anwen O’Driscoll, in the lead role of Chris, as the actress who plays Taylor Matheson on the hit dramatic series Burden of Truth. Angry, depressed, and self-isolated, Chris is captive to her emotional fears as well as her crippling cynicism. Obsessed with her role in life and the fact she is not part of the elite, Chris is angry at the world to the point that she can’t even go out into it.
CBC viewers will recognize Anwen O’Driscoll, in the lead role of Chris, as the actress who plays Taylor Matheson on the dramatic series “Burden of Truth”. (Photo: CBC)
Anwen manages to bring something likeable and sympathetic to her hostile and toxic character. This is partially due to her inner conversations with Luggage and Pest, but mainly because of the conviction in her performance.
The role of Hannah will be played by two different performers, Mackenzie Kruyf and Ilan O’Driscoll, on different nights. The performance I watched featured Ilan, who happens to be Anwen’s real-life sister. Although a supporting character in the piece, Ilan’s performance makes her the audience favourite — not only because she creates Hannah’s sunny disposition which evens out Chris’ darkness, but also because of her perfect sense of comedic timing and subtle yet effective delivery. Ilan makes every sentence count with her unusually quiet and understated tone that steals every scene.
The two sisters have a natural patter with one another, with Ilan getting the cute moments. Her performance not only steals the show, but steals the audience’s hearts. Ilan O’Driscoll is someone to keep an eye on, especially when she makes her big screen debut in a character part in the big-screen adaptation of DC Comic’s Shazam in 2019.
Anwen O’Driscoll as Chris with Vasco J.W. Silva as the horrifying Pest, a subconscious product of her emotional trauma, in some of the most disturbing and tense moments of the show. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
The show is assisted by strong supporting character roles. Katisha Shaw plays the maternal Luggage with passion and kindness, bringing heart to an often-harsh script, while Vasco J.W. Silva gives an unnerving performance as Pest in some of the most disturbing and tense moments of the show.
In his stage debut, Andre Canivet creates the pathetic figure of a sad and hopeless man in Elliot, who proves that having money will not bring you happiness. He also has a disturbing chemistry with Ilan, whose on-stage fear of the strange man brings forth a very real sense of potential danger.
But it’s Tori O’Neil, in the role of pompous and privileged Tunis, who proves to be another stealing performer. Deliciously blunt in her delivery, Tori creates tension on the stage that can be both funny and hostile. Paired with Ilan, the two create the highlight of the show with their painfully awkward conversation as one woman who is unsatisfied despite having everything and another woman who is happy despite having nothing.
Tori O’Neil (left), as the pompous and privileged Tunis, with Anwen O’Driscoll as Chris and Ilan O’Driscoll as Hannah. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
Tori’s chemistry with Anwen is like mixing gasoline with fire, creating the explosive crux of the production. I found Tori O’Neil, in spite of the obnoxious bitchiness of her character, to be delightful to watch.
Although My Heart’s A Suitcase is a highly regarded play, I couldn’t help but find flaws within its structure and narrative that left me feeling slightly empty by the end. The play begins as a journey through Chris’s battle for her own sanity, but somehow switches to become a materialistic battle between the haves and the have-nots.
The performers create a beautiful sense of tension that foreshadows either a horrific tragedy or an emotional breakthrough, but the play’s resolution is confusingly anti-climactic. While I came to care about the characters, I’m not certain anything is ever resolved.
Andre Canivet as Elliot and Katisha Shaw as Luggage. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
Perhaps what is more potent about the play is the underlying theme of invasion in the lives of Chris and Hannah. Although they should feel safe with one another while on holiday, their space and safety is continually compromised by both hostile and potentially frightening intruders who barge into their lives, as well as the demons who live in Chris’ self-conscious.
These intrusions and the lack of safe spaces send a powerful, albeit understated, message that the women are not in control of the world around them.
Despite some structural flaws in the source material, My Heart’s A Suitcase contains fine performances by a fantastic cast of actors, and has been created with passion by Rebecca Bloom and her company. Filled with emotion, the play will mean different things to different people.
My Heart’s A Suitcase runs at the Lindsay Little Theatre on May 18, 19, 25 and 26 at 8 p.m. and on May 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are available at the Lindsay Academy Theatre Box Office or by calling 705.324.9111 or online at www.kawarthatickets.ca.
This photo of a fictitious kangaroo sanctuary near Millbrook was our top-viewed photo on Instagram in April. It was actually taken by photographer in Tasmania but, given the reaction from many of our readers to our April Fool's Day story, we think a kangaroo sanctuary in the Kawarthas is a winning idea. (Photo: Bernadette Camus, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary)
April is a month I usually love, but this April was the spring that never happened, with relentless cold and snow and the ice storm that kept us all inside for a full weekend. In cottage country, ice breakup was more than two weeks late, setting date records on some lakes. It was also the first time that I have ever snowshoed on the third week of April.
And yet the beauty of the Kawarthas still shone through on Instagram. We noticed that some photographers were even saying that they might miss the snow — but let’s say goodbye to snow for at least six months!
We started the month off with a bang with an April Fools’ Day story and lead photo about a fictitious kangaroo sanctuary near Millbrook that fooled many of our readers. Our managing editor is a prankster with a sense of humour and our readers are now on guard for next April.
#1. Kawartha Kangaroos by kawarthaNOW @kawarthanow
This isn’t a photo from the Kawarthas, of course. It was taken by Bernadette Camus of the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Tasmania @bonorong. April Fool’s! Posted April 1, 2018. 8,835 views.
#6. Cleaning up for Earth Day by kawarthaNOW @kawarthanow
Students from King George Public School in Peterborough organized a clean up of Armour Hill and Rube Brady Park in East City, in this photo provided to us by @ptbogreenup. Posted April 19, 2018. 5,663 views.
This photo by Paul Hudson was also part of his “Power of Peace” exhibit during the 2018 SPARK Photography Festival in Peterborough. Posted April 4, 2018. 5,567 views.
On May 17, 2018, volunteers decorated Bancroft with hand-knit and crocheted turtles as part of a "yarn bomb" campaign to raise awareness for the local turtle population. The turtles will remain on display for 10 days, including on World Turtle Day on Wednesday, May 23. Knittervention, the volunteer group that created the turtles, is encouraging residents and visitors to Bancroft to share photos of the turtles on social media. (Photo courtesy of Knittervention)
Hundreds of hand-knit and crocheted turtles have taken over Bancroft to remind motorists to watch for turtles crossing local roads and highways on the Victoria Day long weekend.
This is the third community yarn bomb created, crafted, and installed by a group of volunteers from Hospice North Hastings who call themselves “Knittervention”.
The volunteer group meets on a weekly basis, when they’re not volunteering to provide patient care at Hospice North Hastings and support at the two social enterprises operated by the small rural charity: the Bancroft Village Playhouse and the Vintage on Hastings thrift shop.
The members of Knittervention are also volunteers for Hospice North Hastings, whose supporters donated the yarn, wool, and stuffing for the turtles. Vintage jewelry and buttons used for turtle eyes was selected from donations to Vintage on Hastings, the thrift shop run by Hospice. Knittervention’s “yarn bombs” are helping to create positive awareness for Hospice North Hastings in the community. (Photo courtesy of Knittervention)
For the past few months, Knittervention members have worked on a top-secret operation to craft hundreds of uniquely styled turtles to raise awareness in the community, just as local turtles are starting to cross highways across the region.
The project began last fall, after Knittervention successfully installed a Remembrance Day yarn bomb that covered a Bancroft bridge with over 1,000 poppies. Bancroft resident Kelly Wallace from the Think Turtle Conservation Initiative contacted Hospice North Hastings with a request to partner for an upcoming project.
In November 2017, Knittervention created more than 2,000 hand-crafted poppies for Remembrancce Day and installed them on the Constable Thomas Kehoe Memorial Bridge across the York River in Bancroft. (Photo: Hospice North Hastings / Facebook)
Wallace was working on a series of community lectures and a full-day event, all leading up to World Turtle Day on Wednesday, May 23rd. The Knittervention volunteers loved the idea of creating a turtle-themed yarn bomb and the idea was officially hatched.
Heather Brough, coordinator of Hospice North Hastings, says the turtle theme really works for the Knittervention group and for Hospice.
“The message is simple,” Brough explains. “Life is short so don’t rush through it. Slow down, appreciate the details, and watch for turtles.”
Volunteers have installed the turtles at pedestrian crossings in downtown Bancroft, reminding both residents and visitors of the ecological importance of turtles. (Photo courtesy of Knittervention)
Brough also says that the Knittervention Group, through all of their yarn bombs, is helping to create positive awareness for Hospice North Hastings in the community.
“You might not always see us but we’re always here, working in the background, ready to help,” Brough says. “And we’re trying to make every moment a bit brighter for those we support and for everyone in our community with the care we provide and with the fun whimsical projects that we take on.”
Brough recalls that, when Knittervention members began crafting the turtles, everyone tried to use natural colours and earth tones.
“That didn’t last,” she laughs. “The turtles started taking on personalities, and then we started using more colours, and then there were turtles being created with themed shell designs,”
Brough says the yarn, wool, and stuffing was all donated by Hospice supporters. Vintage jewelry and buttons used for turtle eyes was selected from donations to Vintage on Hastings, the thrift shop run by Hospice.
Volunteers have decorated all four gateway signs in Bancroft, reminding motorists to watch for turtles crossing roads at this time of year. (Photo courtesy of Knittervention)
“Every one of these turtles is unique,” Brough says. “They’re different styles, colours, and themes. We even have one with a Union Jack and two rings to celebrate the royal wedding.”
While the Knittervention group knit and crocheted their way through the long winter months and while real turtles slept, Wallace was busy offering workshops, lectures, and full-day turtle events — all to raise awareness for the time when these beautiful creatures would wake up, lay eggs, and start sharing our roads.
Wallace says the local yarn bomb was one more way to get the word out about the importance of turtles.
The idea of the turtle “yarn bomb” was hatched after Bancroft resident Kelly Wallace from the Think Turtle Conservation Initiative contacted Hospice North Hastings. (Photo courtesy of Knittervention)
“As lake bed scavengers and consumers of decaying plant and animal matter, turtles — in particular the snapping turtles — act as the caretakers of lakes and wetlands,” Wallace says.
“The quality of the water would suffer considerably in their absence as the bacteria levels would rise. The activities of the turtles control aquatic vegetation, promote a healthy fish population, healthy wetlands and safeguard humans against the threat of recreational water illnesses causes by bacteria.”
Wallace also says the turtles are a source of wonderment that can be appreciated by all members of our community.
Last year, Wallace says the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, home to Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre, admitted 920 injured turtles from across the region.
This number doubled from 2016 and, with turtles acting as the caretakers of our local lakes, they are definitely worth saving.
So after months of work, secret meetings, code words, and whispers, the turtles were installed at pedestrian crossings and on gateway signs in Bancroft on earlier today (May 17).
Vintage on Hastings (67 Hastings St. N., Bancroft) is Turtle Headquarters during the 10-day display. This is where people can grab turtle information as well as details for a scavenger hunt challenge.
A few of the hand-knit and crocheted turtles created by Knittervention for the group’s latest “yarn bomb” in Bancroft to raise awareness for the local turtle population. (Photo courtesy of Knittervention)
Both local residents and visitors to Bancroft are encouraged to interact with the turtles, choose favourites, and to share on social media using the hash tags #turtlebomb, #bancroftyarnbomb, and #worldturtleday in the name of raising awareness for turtles — as well as #caringthroughculture and #iamhospice to raise awareness for hospice.
The Knittervention group installed their first yarn bomb project a year ago with support from the New Horizons for Seniors Program and, two yarn bombs later, the turtle yarn bomb has grown in scope and size with assistance from residents at the Riverstone Retirement Home and from children at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School.
Local MP Mike Bossio and his team have also worked with Hospice North Hastings and the Knittervention Group to share some of the turtles with his colleagues in Ottawa.
MPs posed for pictures with some of the travelling, ambassador turtles, joining the Bancroft effort remotely, to raise awareness for our local turtles.
Now that the installation is complete, Wallace and Brough say they look forward to seeing how far the message to slow down, appreciate the beauty of life, and look out for others — in this case, the turtles we share out community with — will travel.
Turtle Walk 2018
Communities across the Kawarthas will be participating in Turtle Walk 2018 on Saturday, May 26th from 10 a.m. to noon. Walks to raise awareness, funding, and hope for turtles will be held in Bancroft, Peterborough, and Fenelon Falls (with an additional walk in Haliburton on Saturday, June 2nd). For more information and to register, visit www.turtlewalk.ca.
When people share photos on social media with the designated hashtags that are posted at the turtle crossings, the team will be able to track all the posts and follow the yarn bomb’s impact.
“At Hospice North Hastings we work on cultural projects and events as a way of raising funds and awareness for the programs and services we offer in our community,” Brough says. “We call this ‘caring through culture’ and we hope everyone will join us in sharing this yarn bomb on social media to help raise awareness for our community and the turtles we share it with.”
The inaugural Peterborough Arts Awards will be presented at the sold-out Mayor's Luncheon for the Arts on Friday, May 25th at the McDonnel St. Activity Centre in Peterborough. (Graphic: EC3)
The Electric City Culture Council (EC3) has announced the shortlisted finalists for the inaugural Peterborough Arts Awards.
The six awards of $2,000 each will be presented to the winners at the sold-out Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts on Friday, May 25th at the McDonnel St. Activity Centre in Peterborough.
EC3 received close to 50 nominations and decisions were made by a peer assessment jury. The shortlists have been arranged alphabetically by last name and do not reflect any other ranking.
Finalists were selected from multidisciplinary pools of nominees in the following categories:
Outstanding Emerging Artist (Sponsor: Merit Realty)
Justin Million
Elisha Rubacha
Melody Thomas
Outstanding Mid-Career Artist (Sponsors: Betty and Bill Morris)
Brad Brackenridge
Laurel Paluck
Shannon Taylor
Outstanding Senior Artist (Sponsor: BrandHealth)
Michelle Berry
Sydney Birrell
Robert Winslow
Outstanding Achievement by an Indigenous Artist (Sponsor: LLF Lawyers)
Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
Sarah Charles-DeCarlo
Drew Hayden Taylor
Arts Catalyst (Sponsors: Kate and Alex Ramsay)
Krista English
Ryan Kerr
John K. Muir
Arts Champion (Sponsor: Ashburnham Realty)
Fran Fearnley
Beth McMaster
Charlie Werger
The Peterborough Arts Awards are produced and presented by the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) a not-for-profit organization serving the arts, culture, and heritage sector in Peterborough and the surrounding region.
The Victoria Day weekend is the unofficial beginning of the patio live music season. Marley's Bar & Grill in Buckhorn launches a summer of live music on its patio with Peterborough alt-country singer-songwriter Kayla Howran performing on Friday, May 18th and Saturday, May 19th. Chemong Lodge in Bridgenorth is also hosting live music on its patio with Sonny and Cloudy on Friday and The Donny Wood Band on Saturday. (Photo: Kayla Howran / Facebook)
Every Thursday, we publish live music and performance events at pubs and clubs in Peterborough and The Kawarthas based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, May 17 to Wednesday, May 23.
If you’re a pub or club owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our Nightlife Editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com.
4:30-8pm - Celtic Sunday w/ Tom Leighton & Ric Bauer
Monday, May 21
6pm - Rob Phillips
Tuesday, May 22
7:30pm - Beatles Tribute w/ Don Owen & Bruce Longman
Wednesday, May 23
8pm - Open mic
Coming Soon
Friday, May 25 8pm - Madman's Window
Saturday, May 26 8pm - The Devlin Brothers
Bancroft Eatery and Brew Pub
4 Bridge St., Bancroft
(613) 332-3450
Thursday, May 17
8pm - Jam Session w/ Wino Blues Band and Open Mic Night (bring your own instruments)
Friday, May 18
9pm - House Brand
Beard Free Brewing
649 Unit 4 The Parkway, Peterborough
(705) 775-2337
Saturday, May 19
2-5pm - Reckless Minstrel Buskers
Coming Soon
Saturday, May 26 2-5pm - Mathieu Murdoch Band
Black Horse Pub
452 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-0633
Thursday, May 17
7:30-11:30pm - Jazz and Blues w/ Marsala Lukianchuk and the Rob Phillips Trio
Friday, May 18
8:30pm - The Cadillacs
Saturday, May 19
8:30pm - Parkside Drive
Sunday, May 20
3-6pm - 3/4 House Brand
Monday, May 21
7-11pm - Crash and Burn w/ Rick & Gailie
Tuesday, May 22
7pm - Open mic w/ Randy Hill
Wednesday, May 23
7pm - Nicholas Campbell
Coming Soon
Thursday, May 24 7:30-11:30pm - Jazz and Blues w/ Marsala Lukianchuk and the Rob Phillips Trio
Friday, May 25 5-8pm - Tonya Bosch; 8:30pm - Game of Tones
Saturday, May 26 5-8pm - 3/4 House Brand; 8:30pm - Four Lanes Wide
Sunday, May 27 3-6pm - Odd Man Rush
Boathouse Cafe at Golden Beach Resort
7100 County Rd.18, Roseneath
(905) 342-5366
Saturday, May 19
6-9pm - Todd Mason
Boiling Over's Coffee Vault
148 Kent St. W., Lindsay
(705) 878-8884
Friday, May 18
6-8pm - Open Mic Night fundraiser for Machik Tibetan school
Coming Soon
Friday, May 25 7-9pm - Nathan Truax & His Troubles
The Cat & The Fiddle Cobourg
38 Covert St., Cobourg
(905) 377-9029
Friday, May 18
8pm - Chris Culgin Band
Champs Sports Bar
203 Simcoe St., Peterborough
(705) 742-3431
Thursdays
7pm - Open mic
Chemong Lodge
764 Hunter St., Bridgenorth
(705) 292-8435
Friday, May 18
7-11pm - Sonny and Cloudy
Saturday, May 19
7-11pm - The Donny Wood Band
The Church-key Pub & Grindhouse
26 Bridge St. W., Campbellford
(705) 653-0001
Thursday, May 17
8pm - Tuborg
Friday, May 18
5pm - Luke Mercier; 9pm - Lotus Wight
Saturday, May 19
9pm - Cale Crowe
Monday, May 21
Trivial Pursuit
Tuesday, May 22
OpinioNation w/ Bill Davenport
Wednesday, May 23
8pm - Whiskey Wednesday w/ Ken Tizzard
Coach & Horses Pub
16 York St. S., Lindsay
(705) 328-0006
Thursdays
10pm - Open Mic w/ Gerald Vanhalteren
Fridays
9:30pm - Karaoke Night w/ DJ. Ross
Wednesdays
7-11pm - Live music
The Cow & Sow Eatery
38 Colborne St., Fenelon Falls
(705) 887-5111
Saturday, May 19
9pm - Ty Baynton
Dobro Restaurant & Bar
287-289 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 775-9645
Friday, May 18
9pm - Black Rose ft Robin Hawkins (no cover)
Saturday, May 19
9:30pm - Music from the '70s ft The Beat Abattoir, Broken Harmony, Peace Sand Rest, London Burning ($10)
Wednesday, May 23
Open stage
Coming Soon
Friday, May 25 9pm - Peterborough LIVE presents Blues Breaker ft Al Black & The Steady Band, Nicholas Campbell, Luxury Mammals Jazz Collective ($10 show or $15 festival pass at www.ticketscene.ca/events/21026/)
Saturday, May 26 9pm - Peterborough LIVE presents Boot Knockers ft Kayla Howran, Jason O'Brien, Michaela Hetherington, Patrick Rees ($10 show or $15 festival pass)
Dominion Hotel
113 Main St., Minden
(705) 286-6954
Saturday, May 19
6-10pm - Summer Kickoff Party with Gord Kidd and Rockin Country (no cover)
1:30-5pm - PMBA Deluxe Blues Jam hosted by Logan Murray and The Spoon Lickers (PMBA t-shirts available for $25)
Frank's Pasta and Grill
426 King St. E., Cobourg
(905) 372-2727
Friday, May 18
9pm-12am - Karaoke; 12am - DJ
Saturday, May 19
8pm - Nurse Joy; 11:30pm - DJ C. Martell
Wednesday, May 23
8-11pm - Open Mic
Coming Soon
Saturday, May 26 8pm - The Quickshifters; 11:30pm - DJ Mocha
Ganaraska Hotel
30 Ontario St., Port Hope
(905) 885-9254
Friday, May 18
10pm - DJ Loco Joe
Saturday, May 19
2pm & 10pm - Tamin' Thunder
Coming Soon
Friday, May 25 10pm - DJ Loco Joe
Saturday, May 26 2pm & 10pm - Blue Print
The Garnet
231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 874-0107
Friday, May 18
Pseudo
Saturday, May 19
9pm - Shit Liver, ELE, Gunt ($10 or PWYC)
Monday, May 21
9pm - Rap Club VII ft garbageface, Curta, Rich Jones ($7)
Tuesday, May 22
Wayne Kennedy
Wednesday, May 23
9pm - Sam Tudor, Sarah Fazackerley ($10)
Coming Soon
Thursday, May 24 Keith Hallet
Friday, May 25 9pm - Peterborough LIVE presents Holy Folk! ft Lance Isaacs, Blue Hazel, St. Homer, Nathan Miller ($10 show or $15 festival pass at www.ticketscene.ca/events/21028/)
Saturday, May 26 9pm - Peterborough LIVE presents Indie-go ft Shirazi, Paper Shakers, Nathan Bottomley Band, Niall Cormac ($10 show or $15 festival pass at www.ticketscene.ca/events/21056/)
Golden Wheel Restaurant
6725 Highway 7, Peterborough
(705) 749-6838
Thursday, May 17
7-9pm - Pop Country Line Dancing Lessons w/ Tina O'Rourke (beginner plus to intermediate, $7)
Wednesday, May 23
7-9pm - Line Dancing Lessons w/ Marlene Maskell ($7 per person, all levels welcome)
Coming Soon
Saturday, May 26 2-5pm - Spring Social/Dance hosted by Marlene Maskell and Tina O'Rourke (no cover)
Saturday, June 2 8:30pm - Jade Eagleson fundraiser for Centreville Presbyterian Church Youth Mission Trip w/ DJ Vince Steeenburg ($15 in advance, $18 at door)
Gordon Best Theatre
216 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 876-8884
Coming Soon
Friday, May 25 7pm - Peterborough LIVE Music Festival - Mic Drop ft Forest Gumption, NSY, Laugh Peterborough, Dave Cave, Richelle Nantais, Charmaine Magumbe, Peterborough Poetry Slam Collective, EJ, Chatell Motherboard, Swervey, QdaSauce, Gibb, Luqman ($10 show or $15 festival pass at www.ticketscene.ca/events/21126/)
Saturday, May 26 9pm - Peterborough LIVE Music Festival - Punk and Morty ($10 show or $15 festival pass at www.ticketscene.ca/events/21058/)
Sunday, May 27 8pm - Peterborough LIVE Music Festival - Eleanor Shore, Brandon Humphrey Experience, Puppet, LIVE Open Jam ($10 show or $15 festival pass at www.ticketscene.ca/events/21130/)
Hot Belly Mama's
378 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 745-3544
Thursday, May 17
6-8pm - Keigan & Whitney; 8pm - Quickshifters
Sunday, May 20
1-4pm - Monthly Jazz Jam hosted by Standard Time Trio (Pete Woolidge, John Climenhage, Craig Paterson)
Coming Soon
Sunday, May 27 12-5pm - Peterborough LIVE presents Jazz Cumbo ft Pete Woolidge & Friends, Ambrose Veno Trio, Devil May Care, Luxury Mammals Jazz Collective (free)
Junction Nightclub
253 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 743-0550
Sunday, May 20
10pm - Country Night w/ DJ Bill Porter ($5 cover)
Marley's Bar & Grill
17 Fire Route 82 Catalina Bay, Buckhorn
(705) 868-2545
Friday, May 18
7-10pm - Kayla Howran
VIDEO: "Country Radio" - Kayla Howran
Saturday, May 19
7-10pm - Kayla Howran
McGillicafey's Pub & Eatery
13 Bridge St.. N., Hastings
(705) 696-3600
Thursday, May 17
7-11pm - Karaoke w/ Jefrey Danger
Friday, May 18
8pm - Reckless Minstrel Buskers
Saturday, May 19
8pm - Gillies' Live Mic w/ Phoxy Music & Jefrey Danger
Wednesday, May 23
7-10:30pm - Open mic
McThirsty's Pint
166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 743-2220
Thursdays
9pm - Live music with JJ Thompson
Fridays
10pm - Live music with Brian Haddlesey
Saturdays
10pm - Live music with Brian Haddlesey
Sundays
8pm - Open stage hosted by Ryan Van Loon
Mondays
9:30pm - Trivia Night hosted by Cam Green
Tuesdays
9pm - Vintage Tuesdays ft Brendan Lawless
Wednesdays
9pm - Live music
Coming Soon
Saturday, May 26 6pm - Peterborough LIVE presents Celtic Jam ft Kane Miller, Fiddling Jay, & friends (free)
The Mill Restaurant and Pub
990 Ontario St., Cobourg
(905) 377-8177
Thursday, May 17
7pm - Lotus Wight
Coming Soon
Thursday, May 24 7pm - Down Beats
Moody's Bar & Grill
3 Tupper St., Millbrook
(705) 932-6663
Coming Soon
Saturday, June 16 2pm - Emily Burgess Band
Murphy's Lockside Pub & Patio
3 May St., Fenelon Falls
(705) 887-1100
Sunday, May 20
3-6:30pm - Bill Craig
Oasis Bar & Grill
31 King St. E., Cobourg
(905) 372-6634
Thursdays
6:30pm - Live music
Sundays
5:30pm - PHLO
Wednesdays
6:30pm - Live music
Pastry Peddler
17 King St., Millbrook
(705) 932-7333
Coming Soon
Friday, May 25 5:30pm & 7:45pm - Jazz Dinner Night ft Bernardo Padron and Mark Sepic ($45 per person)
Thursday, May 24 8pm - Peterborough LIVE presents Rockafellas w/ Broken Harmony, The Heartless Romantics, M.J. & The Beetus, Goombas, Rhys Climenhage ($15 for all-access festival pass or $10 per show, in advance at www.ticketscene.ca/events/21027/)
Saturday, May 26 8pm - Peterborough LIVE presents Mayhem w/ The Divided Line, Odd Ones, Jagged, My Affected Reality, Outshined, Present Tense ($15 for all-access festival pass or $10 per show, in advance at www.ticketscene.ca/events/21057/)
Boaters coming through Lock 32 in Bobcaygeon. The Trent-Severn Waterway officially opens for the 2018 season on Friday, May 18 and remains open until mid October. (Photo: Parks Canada / Facebook)
The Trent-Severn Waterway will open for the 2018 boating season on Friday, May 18th.
This is in stark contrast to last year, when high water levels and flows delayed the full opening of the waterway until early June.
This season, visitors to the waterway can take advantage of two free lockage days: on Sunday, June 24th and again on Canada Day.
New this year, paddlers get a 50 per cent discount on seasonal lockage permits for canoes and kayaks. The lockage permit is valid for the entire navigation season and provides passage through all of Parks Canada’s historic canals.
VIDEO: Welcome to the Trent-Severn Waterway
Also new for the 2018 navigation season is the recently launched Ontario Waterways Water Management InfoNet, accessible on the Trent-Severn Waterway website.
The portal contains background information on water management practices, water management updates, frequently asked questions about water management, various reports on water management, and the most recent water levels of lakes along the waterway.
Gardeners at the annual GreenUP Ecology Park Plant Sale on May 20, 2018 can choose from over 150 species of edible and native plants, shrubs, and trees that thrive in our region of Ontario. Selecting locally adapted native species to plant ensures that you are also providing habitat for wildlife and food sources for pollinators. (Photo: GreenUP)
For many, the May long weekend is the official start of the gardening season and for several hundred local gardeners, the season kicks off at the GreenUP Ecology Park Annual Plant Sale Fundraiser on Sunday, May 20th.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Karen Halley, GreenUP Communications & Marketing Specialist.
What makes Ecology Park’s plant sale so unique and why do so many Peterborough area gardeners wait for this sale, when they could get started earlier with plants from dozens of other garden centres? I sat down with GreenUP Ecology Park Landscape Manager, Vern Bastable to find out why customers return year after year, for their traditional start to the growing season.
“Some big box stores have had their garden centres open for over a month before Ecology Park’s sale and opening day on May 20th, but there are plenty of reasons to wait,” explains Bastable.
Just like you and me, many stores are thinking about spring planting from the very first moment the thermometer goes 10°C.
The problem with planting so early is that there is still a threat of frost. The average final frost date for this region is May 18th. So, while a warm day may get you excited to get your hands in the soil, a night of frost can send you back to the store to replace all the plants you lost from one cold frosty night.
Many large-scale garden centres source their plants from huge greenhouse operations that provide plants with a great deal of heat to grow so early in the season, and with ample care to ensure they are display worthy. The whole growing process starts months prior while most of us are still in winter hibernation mode.
So while many greenhouse plant varieties are being coddled in a very precisely controlled environment, being carefully tended to with the precise requirements for growth, most of GreenUP Ecology Park’s plants are roughing it out through a Peterborough winter and in the conditions you will actually plant them in.
When greenhouse plants experience conditions that differ from those they were grown in, they can experience shock and may show signs like drooping, discolouration, or leaf damage, and they may not recover.
Plants grown at Ecology Park are hearty because they are exposed to the conditions, soil, pests, and climate that we actually have in our backyards. You may be wondering: without a greenhouse, how do we ensure our plants survive through a cold winter?
The 2018 GreenUP Ecology Park Annual Spring Plant Sale takes place from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 20th at 1899 Ashburnham Drive in Peterborough. (Photo: GreenUP)
Each fall, volunteers and staff descend on Ecology Park’s plant nursery to tuck each plant in for the winter with a thick blanket of leaves. Each spring, we wait until it’s warm and safe outside to uncover them, and then we let them grow under real conditions.
“Ask a seasoned gardener and they’ll tell you that even May 20th is on the early side to plant in this region,” Bastable says.
So, even as we approach June, it’s best to keep an eye on the overnight temperature to ensure that your plants are covered in the event of a late frost.
Ecology Park carries a wide variety of plants including over 150 species of edible and native plants, shrubs, and trees that thrive in our region of Ontario.
“Ecology Park chooses to sell plants that help the community as a whole,” Bastable explains.
“A majority of the Ecology Park nursery plants are native, which means that they are adapted to local conditions and provide habitat and food for wildlife. These plants help native bugs, bees, birds, butterflies, bullfrogs, and other animals to strive and thrive, right here in the city of Peterborough.”
Bastable suggests to be careful when purchasing “native” plants from some of the big box stores.
“In some cases, varieties of native plants have been bred and adapted to enhance their features to make them more desirable. For example, it is common to see Bee Balm that has been bred to have showier flowers than their native counterpart.”
Altered varieties of plants sometimes end up with less ecological value. This is because the plant has been bred for flower size, but in the meantime has had to give up something important such as quantity of pollen produced, and may no longer be the right fit for a locally adapted pollinating insect.
“The truth is, Ecology Park is and has been dedicated to providing great plants to local folks for 25 years at our current location,” Bastable says passionately. “Our staff and nursery is small and that’s just the way we like it. All of our profits go back in to community education and environmental programs; we want to get to know our customers and sell them plants that will do well in their yard.”
The GreenUP Ecology Park Annual Spring Plant Sale is from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 20th at 1899 Ashburnham Drive in Peterborough. As always, along with our native plant stock, we will also have over 30 types of vegetables for sale, grown by TASS Horticulture students and in partnership with Nourish.
Come for the plants and stay for a picnic! C’est Chaud Pizza will be on site serving delicious wood-fired pizzas made with local ingredients. Attendees will also have an opportunity to purchase raffle tickets to win a rain barrel, a signed copy of the Big Book of Nature Activities, maple syrup, and locally produced GreenUP Community Beekeeping Program honey. For more information, visit greenup.on.ca.
kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.
Submit your event for FREE!
Use our event submission form to post your event on our website — for free.
To submit editorial content or ideas, please contact us.
