Kawartha Dairy is famous for its ice cream, but it also makes other dairy products and supplies a wide range of retailers, restaurants, and large grocery chain. It is building a new state-of-the-art refrigeration facility.
Earlier today (August 2), Premier Kathleen Wynne was at Kawartha Dairy in Bobcaygeon to announce $311,200 in provincial funding to help the family-owned company build a new state-of-the-art refrigeration and distribution facility.
“Kawartha Dairy is a wonderful Ontario success story,” said Premier Wynne. “Our support for this major expansion project will help the company build on its success and create new jobs in the food processing sector.”
Premier Wynne also took the opportunity to serve ice cream cones to some Kawartha Dairy customers.
Kawartha Dairy’s new refrigeration and distribution facility will create 10 new jobs and support 115 existing jobs in Bobcaygeon. The Province of Ontario is funding four per cent of the project, with Kawartha Dairy funding the remaining 96 per cent. The facility is expected to be completed by the fall of 2017.
The investment, through the Eastern Ontario Development Fund, will help Kawartha Dairy better ensure consistent product quality and explore new product lines so it can expand its domestic and export markets.
“Our new state-of-the-art refrigerated and frozen distribution facility in Bobcaygeon will help take our company to the next level by growing our presence and exploring new product lines,” said Blake Frazer, Vice-President and General Manager of Kawartha Dairy.
Kawartha Dairy, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, sells products such as ice cream, milk, and butter through its nine retail stores. It also supplies a wide range of retailers, restaurants, and large grocery chains including Loblaws, Sobeys, and Wal-Mart.
Kawartha Dairy makes all of its products using fresh milk from Ontario farms and is an important employer in the Kawarthas region. Visit kawarthadairy.com for more information.
Kawartha Collaborative Practice is an association of lawyers and family and financial professionals who provide divorcing couples with an alternative to traditional, and often adversarial, family law.
When wedding bells ring, the last thing a couple expects is the toll of the divorce knell. Yet for one in every three marriages in Canada, that day will come.
What is collaborative law?
Collaborative law was born in the late 1980s in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After practicing traditional family law for two decades, Stu Webb sought an alternative way to help couples resolve disputes. He was convinced that when court was removed as an option, lawyers would work harder to resolve their clients’ issues.
Webb simply told his clients that, as of 1990, he would no longer go to court on their behalf; he would instead help his clients negotiate creative settlements. If he failed, he would refer his clients to a traditional family lawyer.
Within two years, financial professionals, mediators, and social workers had become part of the collaborative law model. Today, there are more than 300 collaborative law practices around the world and in most provinces across Canada.
It’s a sobering statistic, considering the documented impact of divorce on the emotional and financial well-being of the people involved and their children.
In 2012, a group of lawyers and family and financial professionals in Peterborough, Lindsay, and Cobourg decided they could do something about the emotional and financial devastation that often comes with the traditional divorce story.
Lawyer Chantel Lawton is one of them.
“Divorce law grew out of civil law which is traditionally adversarial,” Lawton says. “There’s a winner and a loser. It ignores the impact on the family as a whole.”
Lawton belongs to Kawartha Collaborative Practice, an association of like-minded professionals who are turning the traditional divorce story on its head — and breaking the cycle of conflict in the process.
Chantel Lawton, a lawyer with Kawartha Collaborative Practice. (Photo: Kawartha Collaborative Practice)
Rather than two individuals pitted against one another in a battle fought primarily through letters shared between law offices or in court — one that typically lasts well in excess of a year — couples who choose to divorce through Kawartha Collaborative Practice sit at a table, work out details of an agreement, and explore the options that work best for their family.
“The traditional process just doesn’t allow room for that kind of conversation,” Lawton explains. “The collaborative process does.”
Choosing a collaborative divorce is like writing a personalized “divorce story” according to Lawton. The final product reflects the values and interests of each of the spouses and, when children are involved, their children. In the traditional divorce process, Lawton says, what is important to each person is not taken into account.
Consider two people who are divorcing, and both want to keep the family home.
In a traditional divorce, if the parties failed to agree, a judge may order the house sold. In a collaborative divorce, alternatives are explored to address the needs and interests of the whole family and allow each spouse to have a living arrangement that meets their needs.
One of the benefits of collaborative law is that financial and family professionals are ready to assist at the table. Carolyn McAlpine is a social worker and mediator with Kawartha Collaborative Practice.
Carolyn McAlpine, a social worker and mediator with Kawartha Collaborative Practice. (Photo: Kawartha Collaborative Practice)
“Collaborative law is a real shift in philosophy from traditional law,” McAlpine says.
“In collaborative practice, we talk about what is most important to you, what you want your future to look like, and how to communicate so that the kids are okay. It ensures you know you have creative choices.”
The conversations are never easy, says McAlpine, adding that there can be difficult concerns at the table that must be dealt with up front.
“If a spouse is worried about speaking at the table, we are able to provide support around that,” she says. “Sometimes it might mean the professional team talking ahead of time to create a respectful and supported environment to allow for forward moving discussions. It’s hard work, and it requires a commitment on the part of each spouse.”
That commitment empowers both individuals to write their own “divorce story” — often resulting in relief rather than anger and resentment.
“When we come together, we’re dealing with people in crisis,” Lawton says. “We’re helping those people have difficult conversations that may otherwise never occur. Our goal is that everyone at the table feels heard and has their needs met.”
Is collaborative law for you?
Collaborative law is particularly helpful for couples with children, who value their privacy and wish to avoid the public forum of a courtroom, and who wish to preserve their assets.
There are three key elements that each spouse must agree to, in writing:
The voluntary and free exchange of information between the spouses.
The pledge not to go to court.
A commitment to cooperate in order to maximize the goals of both spouses.
If you are facing a divorce, you can speak to any member of Kawartha Collaborative Practice to see how this solution will suit you. Call 705-928-3218 or visit www.kawarthacollaborative.com for more information.
Ray Marshall with filmmaker Megan Murphy at the June 2016 premiere of her documentary "Murphy's Law" at Showplace Performance Centre. After 11 years as general manager at Showplace, Marshall has announced he is resigning from the position. (Photo: Megan Murphy / murphyslawfilm.net)
After 11 years, Ray Marshall has announced he is resigning as general manager of Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough.
According to a post yesterday (August 1) on his Facebook page, the 64-year-old Marshall handed in his resignation last week.
“It is time to check out new roads for me,” Marshall writes. “I hope for great things for Showplace and everyone there.”
Marshall’s departure from Showplace comes while the venue is in summer hiatus before its fall season begins. There’s no word yet on when Showplace will be seeking a new general manager.
Tickets for upcoming shows are available exclusively online at www.showplace.org. The next show at Showplace is the Peterborough Folk Festival’s kick-off concert with Buffy-Sainte Marie on August 18th.
The award-winning indie rock band Rheostatics at their final show at Toronto's Massey Hall in March 2007. In 2016, original members Tim Vesely, Dave Bidini, Dave Clark, and Martin Tielli reunited and have since been writing new material and performing at special events, including Peterborough Musicfest on August 23. (Photo: Simon Law)
The summer is finally heating up and August is filled with excellent live music. I’ve a highlighted a few great shows, with an emphasis on some of the amazing free events taking place all month long in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
Emilie-Claire Barlow at Westben in Campbellford on August 5
Juno-winning jazz singer Emilie-Claire Barlow will appear at the beautiful Westben Arts Festival Theatre (6698 County Road 30 North, Campbellford, 705-653-5508 or 877-883-5777) on Saturday, August 5th.
Barlow has released 11 albums full of fresh takes on standards and much, much more. This will be a classy show in a great setting. Accompanying Barlow will be pianist Amanda Tosoff and bassist Jon Maharaj.
Tickets are $41 for regular seats, $39 for 65+, $15 for students under 30, and $5 for youth 18 and under, available at www.westben.ca. It’s an early show beginning at 2 p.m.
VIDEO: “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright by Bob Dylan” performed by Emilie-Claire Barlow
The Hootenanny on Hunter Street in Peterborough on August 12
One of Peterborough’s favourite summertime events returns once again on Saturday, August 12th. That’s right, it’s time once again for The Hootenanny on Hunter Streett. A full day and evening of music, vendors, and (hopefully) sunny patios in downtown Peterborough’s café district.
There is something so special when Hunter Street West is open for partying, and this year’s musical acts are just as diverse and exciting as any year.
Hunter Street West is open for partying on Saturday, August 12 for the annual Hootenanny on Hunter Street. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW)
Melissa Payne returns with her fiddle and emotive roots sound. Jordan Mac of The Birthday Boys plays a solo set full of swagger and good writing. The Bluegrass Menagerie bring the hoedown vibes. Sean Conway and his band go beyond rock and roots, bringing something fresh in between. Diamond Dave & The Smoke Eaters play country-rock.
Tarantuela reform with a rhythm-and-blues-meets-The Band-meets-garage-rock sound. Dylan Ireland brings some new songs forward with his great songwriting. Mokomokai play old-school metal. Well-known New York City DJ Jonathan Toubin spins classic soul.
Last but not least, headliners The Big Sound, a 25+-piece band playing hits of soul and Motown, will close the night.
The Hoot begins at 11 a.m. and goes on right until 1 a.m. The event is free to all.
VIDEO: “Nowhere to Run” by Martha and the Vandellas performed by The Big Sound
The Sheepdogs at Peterborough Musicfest on August 16
Saskatchewn-based rockers The Sheepdogs bring their retro-yet-new classic rock sound to Peterborough Musicfest in Del Crary Park on Wednesday, August 16th … and this time they’re going to have Bailieboro super talent Jimmy Bowskill with them as well.
Since 2007, The Sheepdogs have released five studio records and continue to tour behind their latest one, the aptly named Future Nostalgia. Del Crary Park will be rocking and you don’t want to miss it.
Music begins at 8 p.m. and, as always, it’s completely free.
VIDEO: “Right On” – The Sheepdogs featuring Jimmy Bowskill
Buffy Sainte-Marie at Showplace Performance Centre in Peterborough on August 18
Another excellent free event in Peterborough is the Peterborough Folk Festival, which runs from August 18th to 20th. The three-day festival is one of the best of the summer and this year’s line-up is a diverse and exciting lineup throughout.
The Friday night gala on August 18th is the only ticketed part of the weekend, and this year it’s the absolutely iconic Buffy Sainte-Marie at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-7469). Saint-Marie is one of the most accomplished Canadian songwriters having won awards like Oscars, Golden Globes, Junos, and the Polaris Prize. Her protest songs in the 1960’s were a huge part of the civil rights movement, and her continuing career has been a legendary one.
Tickets for the show are $49.50 plus fees and are available exclusively online www.showplace.org. A portion of the proceeds from the show benefits the Folk Fest.
The show begins at 8 p.m. and will also feature the 2017 Peterborough Folk Festival Emerging Artist: Mary-Kate Edwards who will open for Buffy Sainte-Marie.
VIDEO: “Starwalker” – Buffy Sainte-Marie
Peterborough Folk Festival at Nichols Oval in Peterborough on August 19 and 20
The rest of the Peterborough Folk Festival is free and runs on Saturday, August 19th and Sunday, August 20th at the lovely Nicholls Oval in Peterborough. Artists who will play include The Sadies, Hannah Georgas, Hollerado, Donovan Woods, Jenn Grant, The Wooden Sky, Sharon & Bram, Fast Romantics, Delhi 2 Dublin, Cat Clyde, Kirty, Samito, and Mary-Kate Edwards.
There will also be live music workshops with these artists, as well as children’s activities, artisan and food vendors and, of course, delicious beer at the Pavilion. The Saturday and Sunday shows begin around 11 a.m. both days. Check out www.peterboroughfolkfest.com for all the details
VIDEO: Peterborough Folk Festival Promo (featuring music by Mayhemingways)
Pine Box String Band at Elmhirst’s Resort in Keene on August 22
Every Tuesday in August, you can check out some great music at the lovely Elmhirst’s Resort (1045 Settlers Line, Keene, 705-295-4591 or 800-461-1940) on their boardwalk as part of Tuned Up Tuesdays.
On August 22nd, musical entertainment will be provided by the excellent Pine Box String Band. The group plays low-down old-time blues songs. From stomping to howling to slow-burners, their music has a little something for everybody. Come early and get a great Texas-style smoked beef brisket buffet dinner at 6:30 p.m. Music begins at 7:30 p.m. and is free to check out.
Other artists for the month include Mark Sepic at August 8th, Bridget Foley and Mike Graham on August 15th, Carling Stephen on August 29th.
VIDEO: “Bring Another Half Pint” – Pine Box String Band
Rheostatics at Peterborough Musicfest on August 23
One of Canada’s most influential and eclectic rock bands, Rheostatics will take the stage at Peterborough Musicfest at Del Crary Park on Wednesday, August 23rd.
The band was most prominent in the ’90s and early 2000s, calling it quits in 2007, until a reunion eight years later. The Rheos released 11 studio albums, toured with The Tragically Hip, and have made it to numerous all-time best Canadian Albums lists.
If you have never heard or seen the Rheostatics, this is a great chance to see an iconic Canadian band with their own sound. If you have been a fan for years, then you know exactly what you’re in for and I’m guessing you’re pretty excited.
As always at Musicfest, the show is free and music begins at 8 p.m. The Rheostatics show is sponsored by kawarthaNOW.com and we’ll have lots of free VIP seats to give away. For your chance to win, make sure you’re subscribed to kawarthaNOW’s weekly e-news.
VIDEO: Rheostatics Live at Massey Hall in 2016
Fin De Fiesta Flamenco at Catalina’s in Peterborough on August 26
Sometimes an event speaks for itself. On Saturday, August 26th, Fin De Fiesta Flamenco presents “Liåndola: An Electrifying Evening of Flamenco Music and Dance” at Catalina’s (131 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-5972).
This is a rare chance in Peterborough to take in the captivating essence of flamenco all the way from Seville, Spain. A beautiful way to spend an evening.
Tickets are $10 in advance, from Catalina’s or Union Studio, and $15 at the door. Call 705-874-5972 for more information.
VIDEO: Fin de Fiesta Flamenco 2016 National Tour Highlights
Detail of Patrick Stewart's "Summer Number One", one of his abstract paintings on display at the Art Gallery of Bancroft until August 26. (Photo courtesy of Art Gallery of Bancroft)
This August, take in some electronic and data-based conceptual arts, along with traditional drawing and painting.
The Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth will feature interactive electronic sculptures by Douglas Back, and Artspace in Peterborough is showing William Robinson’s “Pickard Quarry Transpose”, an installation based on site-specific information about the Mount Allison University Chapel.
Then you could stop in at the Art Gallery of Bancroft to see some abstract paintings, the Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio in Peterborough for a stroll down memory lane into the world of vintage Steam trains, or Galerie Q in Cavan for a retrospective of the late Armand Tatossian’s paintings.
Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth presents Douglas Back’s “(Noun) Pulse” series of interactive electronic sculptures
Don’t miss this interesting show of electronic sculpture by Douglas Back. (Graphic: Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth)
Doug Back works primarily in electronic and media arts, and was one of the pioneers of teaching physical computing at the Ontario College of Art and Design. Physical computing, in very basic terms, involves using sensors to translate analog input such as movement (for instance, a motion sensor) into a software system that can then control mechanical devices such as lights or motors.
In this show, we are presented with a series of interactive electronic sculptures. These sculptures will respond to the viewer’s presence in some way. I for one am definitely curious. This sounds like a show worth seeing — if you are interested in art, and also if you are interested in electronics and computers.
An opening reception will be held at the Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth on Saturday, August 5th at 7 p.m. On the same evening from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. there will be a live jazz performance featuring San Murata on volin and Steve Holt on piano.
Ah! Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth is located at 35 Church Street in downtown Warkworth. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. For more information, please contact Rebecca Baptista, Arts Administrator, at info@ahcentre.ca or 705-925-4450.
Artspace presents “Pickard Quarry Transpose” by William Robinson
“The Counsel”, 2017, inkjet print of William S. Godfrey holding Mount Allison University Chapel architectural model. (Photo: Mount Allison University Archives)
“Pickard Quarry Transpose” is an artistic investigation into the Mount Allison University Chapel and the Pickard Quarry where the rock was sourced. Artist William Robinson looks at the architectural design, materials used, and the industrial history involved in the building of the chapel. He explores these themes through sound, visual, and sculptural elements.
William has created an installation based on encoding and transposing site-specific data and historical information. As part of this, William overlaid architectural design plans for the chapel with a topographical map of the quarry where the rock was sourced.
He then mapped out the intersecting points in the drawings to create an abstracted image and gave them to musical collaborator Nicholas Veltmeyer.
Nicholas created a musical score for the pipe organ based on these markings and then recorded it in the chapel. This recording constitutes one audio part of the installation.
The other aspects involve images and sculptural/architectural configurations displayed in the gallery space. A hallmark of William’s work is that he creates site-specific sound and music, in that he uses information from a specific site, location or from cultural ephemera to create and conceptualise his work.
“The Composer”, 2017, Inkjet print. Portrait of Nicholas Veltmeyer at Pickard Quarry, by William Robinson. (Photo of installation: Shannon Taylor)
In this installation, William encodes and brings together information in different ways, resulting in new compositions that all reference the sites of his exploration, namely the Mount Allison University Chapel and the Pickard Quarry.
The show is on display now in both gallery spaces until Saturday, September 9th.
Artspace is an accessible space located at 378 Aylmer Street in downtown Peterborough. Regular hours of operation are Tuesday to Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Parking is available in the municipal lot on Hunter Street between Aylmer and George. For more information, call 705-748-3883 or visit artspace-arc.org.
Art Gallery of Bancroft presents “Four Seasons, Different Lens” by Patrick Stewart
“Winter Number One” by Patrick Stewart. (Photo courtesy of The Art Gallery of Bancroft)
Patrick Stewart’s abstract paintings are studies of light as it reflects and refracts on glass, water, and various surfaces and atmospheres.
Painting intuitively, Patrick uses the external world for inspiration, and his internal feelings and intuition to guide him as he decides where to put the next brush stroke.
Art and religious faith have helped him a lot in life, and today his aim is to benefit others. Patrick donates all proceeds from art sales to missions around the world that help poor and disadvantaged people.
An opening reception will be held on Friday, August 4th at 7:30 p.m., and the show will be on display from Wednesday, August 2nd until Saturday, August 26th. The exhibition is sponsored by Gertrud Sorensen.
The Art Gallery of Bancroft is located at 10 Flint Avenue in Bancroft. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday. For more information, visit www.artgallerybancroft.ca.
Galerie Q presents oil paintings by the late Armand Tatossian
“Canton de l’est Quebec” by Armand Tatossian, oil on canvas. 30 x 40″. (Photo courtesy of Galerie Q)
This August, a selection of paintings by the late Armand Tatossian will be on display at Galerie Q along with some works from the permanent collection of the Tatossian Foundation.
Armand was born in Egypt and then his family emigrated to Canada. He continued to call Canada home until his death in 2012. Early in his career, Armand became a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and the term “Tatossianisme” was coined to describe his distinct painting style.
An opening reception will be held on Saturday, August 12th during gallery hours (1 0a.m. until 6 p.m.). After the reception, the show will remain on display until Friday, September 22nd,
Galerie Q is located at 1521 County Road 10 in Cavan. Gallery hours are 10a.m. until 6 p.m. daily. For more information, visit www.galerie-q.com or contact Kathryn Last at 705-944-8888 or at kl@galerie-q.com.
Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio presents Julia Carr-Wilson’s “Vintage Steam Trains” and “Faces and Figures” group show and sale
“Vintage Steam Train – in Operation Around 150 Years Ago” by Julia Carr-Wilson. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio)
From Wednesday, August 2nd until Sunday, August 13th, the Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio will be showing a series of charcoal and mixed-media works based on vintage steam trains by local artist Julia Carr-Wilson.
The collection includes Julia’s impressions of The Flying Scotsman, Mallard, and Wolf of Badenoch.
An opening reception will be held on Saturday, August 5th from 1 to 4 p.m.
Later in the month, the gallery will host a group show and sale of portraits and figurative work. “Faces and Figures” will run from Wednesday, August 16th until Saturday, September 10th, with an opening reception on Sunday, August 20th from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.
Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio is a not-for-profit artist’s co-operative, located at 420 O’Connell Road in Peterborough. Hours of operation are Wednesday to Sunday from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.kawarthaartists.org.
The City of Kawartha Lakes has launched a completely revamped municipal website. The new mobile friendly website provides the most relevant, accurate, and easy-to-find content based on a series of public consultations.
A change is not only as good as a rest — it’s also a new beginning that promises a positive result for everyone involved.
Such is the case with the City of Kawartha Lakes’ brand new municipal website at www.kawarthalakes.ca, which just launched today (August 1).
The new website is more user-friendly with added features for both residents and visitors. It’s also now mobile responsive — so it can be easily read on your smartphone or tablet — and is fully accessible for people with visual or auditory disabilities.
“It was time,” says Cheri Davidson, Manager of Communications, Advertising and Marketing for the City of Kawartha Lakes, “Council chose to invest in upgrading our online presence so we can better serve our residents, while also reaching out to others we want to draw to Kawartha Lakes in a way that showcases all we have to offer.”
Rather than having internal staff design the website as in the past, the City made sure to consult with users from the public.
“It’s been created by users to be user friendly,” Davidson explains. “The first thing we did was a public survey in 2016. We asked what people liked and what they didn’t like about our website, and what they would like to see on a new site.”
The new website is mobile responsive, so you can easily use it from your smartphone or tablet.
But the research process didn’t stop there. A series of nine public focus groups followed, as well as site mapping sessions where members of the public and City staff offer suggestions for the section headings and menus as well as the pages featured under each.
“We asked ‘Is this where you would go to find these things or would you look somewhere else?’ We spent a lot of time up front on what people want to see and where they are going to look for it.”
Part of the redesign process included making sure the content on the website is focused on what people actually need.
“We’ve taken the old thousand page website and gone through every single page’s content,” Davidson says. “Each division has been active in gathering the most relevant and accurate content for the public so that it’s easy to find and they’re getting what they need.”
The technology behind the new website is supplied by Waterloo-based eSolutions Group, a company that specializes in digital solutions for public sector clients.
The new user-friendly website is also fully accessible, now providing options for people who have visual or auditory disabilities. It also has enhanced customer service features including a new “report an issue” form and an improved search for municipal by-laws.
Besides its greatly improved usability and mobile responsiveness, Davidson says the new website is now fully accessible for people with disabilities — a key feature mandated by legislation for new public sector websites,
“We invested the resources required to have a platform that’s accessible,” she says. “You can enlarge every web page and you can browse aloud. It’s built to be fully accessible and compliant with WCAG 2.0 Level AA specifications, the highest standard on the web.”
Davidson explains the improved usability and the requirement for accessibility means that fewer documents are available for download from the new website.
“We’ve culled the content based on what people said they need and also, if it’s not accessible, it’s not going online.”
However, Davidson notes that if people are looking for a particular document that isn’t available for download from the website, they can still contact the municipality to request it. More documents are being converted into an accessible format and posted every day.
The new website includes several new and improved customer service features, including a feedback form where citizens can report an issue to the municipality.
“We had a basic procedure where you email customer service, but now you can fill out a form that has the top 10 seasonal issues. If you’ve got a pothole you want to report, you click the box, and tell us where the pothole is. When you submit the form, you get a tracking number.
“Things are more streamlined. Your issue goes to the right division right away. It’s smarter customer service.”
The website also includes an improved way to search for municipal by-laws.
“It was a headache for people to find by-laws because they were buried in PDFs,” Davidson says. “Now you can search by keyword for the by-law you’re looking for.”
If launching a new municipal website isn’t enough, Kawartha Lakes Tourism has also redesigned and launched its website at www.explorekawarthalakes.com.
Kawartha Lakes Tourism also recently redesigned and launched a new website with improved content such as a listing of local beaches and major festivals, as well as an events calendar where you can submit your own community event.
“We’ve incorporated things that locals will also use, such as listings of where our beaches are and all our major festivals,” Davidson explains. “The events calendar is robust and you can submit your own tourism event to it.”
City residents keen to stay on top of things can subscribe to receive news sent directly to their email inbox. Better still, one can subscribe to receive updates in areas of their choosing, such as road closures.
Those who subscribe before October 15, 2017 will qualify to win a Samsung tablet courtesy of Bell World, corner of Kent and Albert Streets in Lindsay.
The websites were made possible through a grant from the Kawartha Lakes Community Futures Development Corporation under the Eastern Ontario Development Program’s Community Innovation stream.
"Where roads and rivers meet" won't be appearing on any signs for Peterborough. Public response to the new proposed tagline was largely negative, so the city will be looking at alternative taglines.
The people have spoken, and they didn’t like it.
So it’s back to the drawing board for the City of Peterborough’s proposed new tagline “where roads and rivers meet.”
The proposed tagline was the result of a community brand consultation that began in March 2017, with two public meetings and two online surveys that asked people how they would describe Peterborough. Local agency BrandHealth was selected to work on the branding process.
After reviewing 600 responses, BrandHealth presented the proposed tagline “Peterborough — where roads and rivers meet.” to Peterborough city council on Monday, July 24th.
After the proposed tagline became known, it was widely criticized on social media. The city made an online survey available so residents could provide feedback, and 891 responses were submitted.
It appears there was enough negative feedback that the city has decided to revisit the proposed tagline. BrandHealth will be working on developing an alternative tagline.
Slam poet, artist, dancer, choreographer, and actor Wes Ryan. (Photo: Erin Murphy)
Because as a child, trauma used to visit me between the sheets. – From “Coping” by Wes Ryan
For years, local performer Wes Ryan has been very candid about his past substance abuse, being a survivor of sexual abuse, and living with a brain injury.
However, when Wes felt his story was misinterpreted on stage late last year by a theatre group, he was prompted to create These Are Horizon Days, his first full-length show in 15 years, which runs from August 3rd to 5th at The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough.
In These Are Horizon Days, Wes reclaims his own story while looking at the way sensitive topics are presented on stage, as well as shared with the community, in a safe way.
“These Are Horizon Days” runs from August 3rd to 5th at The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough.
“About a year ago I got really busy traveling around Ontario and doing spoken word on top of studying at Trent,” Wes says. “As the workload increased, I wasn’t quite on top of things that I should be, such as my brain injury which has its own challenges.
“I shared my abuse story with a theatre group for part of a show about sexual assault and the justice system, but the way they presented my story was traumatic for me.
“I soon realized I did not possess the resilience needed to deal with the situation. These are Horizon Days is, in part, an exploration of that experience while reclaiming my personal narrative. It’s a way for me to explore resilience and to also engage the audience on a discussion about how we stage sensitive stories — how we deal with traumatizing content in front of an audience.”
Alongside Wes, These Are Horizon Days also features actress Hilary Wear and musician D. Dmuchowski on cello.
Wes Ryan performing at The Venue in Peterborough. (Photo: Kristine Webster)
“Horizons are a bit frustrating,” Wes says, explaining the title of the show. “We say that things are ‘just over the horizon’, or ‘reach for the horizon’, or ‘shoot for the horizon’. While those statements are encouraging, you can never reach the horizon. As soon as you do, the horizon is beyond you again. So it’s something that you have to always go after.
“Recovering from trauma is a lot like that. You get to a place where you feel grounded and stable and then events can happen and, depending on your adaptability and your stamina at the time, you can falter.”
For Wes, the creation of art and performance has always been a way to deal with the difficulties that he has faced throughout his life. These Are Horizon Days is a very bold and very public way to open up about not only his past, but also his present.
“The through line in all my life has been art making. As a kid it was a defense mechanism, and it was also a way to interrupt the violence in my home. As an adult I put on shows so we can talk about social issues, such as domestic violence, abuse, addiction, poverty and mental health. This is what I do. I’ve done some funny pieces, but most of the stuff I do is serious.
“I have a long history of presenting what I call trauma-informed theatre. When people from vulnerable backgrounds want to tell their stories, one has to be aware that much of the content could be triggering for that one person and it can be triggering for the audience.
“So you have to create a rapport and create safety and trust in the environment. As you work on the production, it’s key that you collaborate all the way through to show awareness about trauma.”
In These Are Horizon Days Wes speaks about various aspects of his past, but focuses on the sexual abuse he experienced when he was younger.
Wes Ryan performing in 2011. (Photo: Sean Ogorman / Fadebook)
“I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, as well as many of the repercussions that come with that. I had a long history of addiction and I’m now thirteen years sober. Although the show is about my experiences, about what happened in my early childhood, about what happened in my adolescence — and goes through right to testifying about one of my abusers — the story is told in fragments. It’s told as though the audience is watching the show being assembled.
“One of the challenges is how I make some of this content humorous. There’s a lot of absurdity in my life, with a lot of it linked to my past. Trying to live with and move through a traumatic history, you encounter a lot of comic irony. For instance, it’s quite common that people who try to do this type of theatre can get harmed. You’re always vulnerable on stage, although for me it’s probably the safest space.”
One of the unique aspects of These Are Horizon Days is that Wes has developed the show using a variety of different performance techniques including theatre, spoken word, music, and dance. Wes explains how he uses these performance techniques on a daily basis as a way to focus on and remember material.
“I have a brain injury,” Wes reveals. “I am also on the Asperger’s scale and I am neurodivergent. So when I’m researching for an essay, I’ll be seeing dance. When I’m writing out what I’m going to say, I’ll be hearing music in the background. Because of my brain injury, in order for me to remember something I need to condense it into poetry. I’m trying to present this show compassionately, and in different forms of art because that’s how my brain works.
VIDEO: “Coping” – Wes Ryan at the 2013 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Montreal
“There are sequences where I have choreography to explore trauma. Then there are sequences where I tell my story in a spoken word format. For one of those, I am backed up by a cello. Then there are scenes with dialogue between me and Hilary Wear’s role of ‘The Drama Scourge’ who represents that self-talk voice we have. The show has elements of vaudeville and physical comedy, theatre, contemporary dance, and verbatim dance.”
One of the centrepieces of the show is a verbatim dance performance Wes has created around the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) questionnaire used to measure degrees of trauma and abuse experienced by both children and adults alike.
“It’s being utilized in the United States right now, and more and more in Canada. So if kids are acting out in school, you might ask them these ten questions. What they are finding out is that the higher that the kids rate out of these ten questions, the more likely it is that they will face various challenges including physical health, mental health, and emotional well-being. I score ten out of ten on the questionnaire. How often is it that we are perfect at something?
Wes Ryan at Peterborough Musicfest earlier this summer. (Photo: Peterborough Musicfest)
“One of the reasons I’m going to dance in this production is because trauma is felt in the body and dance is expressed through the body. It’s impossible not to be dancing on this planet. If you are breathing you are dancing. It’s impossible to be static. You are always dancing.”
But These Are Horizon Days is not just a way for Wes to present his story. The most important part of the performance is creating a discussion about how sensitive material should be presented on stage.
“It’s my story but the subject of childhood sexual abuse, and how we present dramatic stories on stage and approach these kinds of narratives, is what I’m inviting other people’s input on.”
While preparing his performance, Wes has kept the well-being of his audience in mind — especially those who have also experienced abuse or trauma during their life. He will have a counsellor present at every performance, as well as support information available at the theatre for those audience members looking for more help.
“I recognize a certain percentage of the audience will have their own trauma history. The show acknowledges this while striving to create a safe and trusting environment to explore trauma and resilience. The audience will have a choice about participating during the collaborative portion — collaboration being a key element of the trauma-informaed approach — and there will be support people on site.”
Although there will only be three performances of These Are Horizon Days, Wes reveals that he has bigger plans for the show.
VIDEO: “Icarus” by Wes Ryan (film by Michael Morritt, music by Jonathan Dowdell)
“I am presenting the audience a pitch for a longer show. I am hoping that this is the beginning of being able to bring this show to its proper staging, which would be a large stage with multiple performers.
“Moving forward, I want the show to be a venue for other people to tell their stories and explore their stories artistically. I want it to be a venue for service providers to feel that they can engage artists in this conversation, so we can better represent the issues they want covered. But more than anything, I want this to be accessible to people.”
These Are Horizon Days will be performed at The Theatre on King at 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 3rd and Friday, August 4th and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 5th. Tickets are $10 and can be ordered in advanced by email at thesearehorizondays@gmail.com or by phone at 705-875-4239. For more information, visit thesearehorizonday.wixsite.com/mysite.
Our Lady Peace headlines Peterborough Musicfest with openers Coleman Hell and River Town Saints in a free ONtour concert on August 2. (Publicity photo)
Local fans of one of Canada’s most popular rock bands would certainly agree that the result was well worth the wait.
Peterborough Musicfest/ONtour present Our Lady Peace with Coleman Hell and River Town Saints
When: Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 7 p.m. (VIP seating opens 5:30 p.m.) Where: Del Crary Park (100 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: free
Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets (lawn chairs are available to rent for $4/chair).
VIP seating available for Sponsors and Fest Friends. Note: for this concert, the VIP seating section will be relocated to the east side of the stage to open up new front of stage access.
No smoking, alcohol, or pets permitted. There’s no public parking at Del Crary Park, but there’s neighborhood street parking nearby and ample parking in downtown Peterborough.
Earlier this year, they were among many waiting for confirmation of the headliner for the August 2nd date of Peterborough Musicfest’s 17-concert schedule.
When ONtour announced it was bringing Our Lady Peace to Del Crary Park as part of its 2017 offering of 23 free concerts province wide, their wait was over and anticipation began in earnest.
With opening acts Coleman Hell and River Town Saints, the four-time Juno Award-winning quartet takes to the Fred Anderson Stage, capping a rare tripleheader for the free summer concert series.
Those planning to attend should note the special start time of 7 p.m., with the VIP seating section opens at 5:30 p.m.
Note that VIP seating will be relocated to the east side of the stage for this concert, and seat location will be allotted on a first come, first served basis.
The host for the evening is Sudbury beatboxer Emilie Carrey aka Sparx (she took second place at the World Beatbox Championships in 2015). She will be on stage from 7 to 7:15 p.m. River Town Saints perform from 7:15 to 8 p.m., followed by Coleman Hell from 8:30 to 9 p.m. Headliners Our Lady Peace perform a 75-minute set from 9:45 to 11 p.m.
VIDEO: “Starseed” — Our Lady Peace
Formed in Toronto in 1992 and still headed by co-founder and lead singer Raine Maida — Our Lady Peace’s name is taken from a Mark Van Doren poem of the same name — the band has since sold millions of albums worldwide, taking home four Juno Awards and 10 MuchMusic Video Awards in the process.
Our Lady Peace’s debut album Naveed was released in March 1994 and immediately paid a huge dividend in the form of a Canadian tour supporting I Mother Earth and 54-40 and, south of the border, opening for Van Halen on tour. The album’s title track and “Starseed” charted high, the latter included on the soundtrack for the film Armageddon.
VIDEO: “Superman’s Dead” — Our Lady Peace
Seven studio albums followed, the latest being 2012’s Curve, but it was the early 1997 follow-up to Naveed that took Our Lady Peace into a whole other stratosphere. Featuring the singles “Superman’s Dead”, “Automatic Flowers” and the title track, Clumsy achieved diamond-certified status on the strength of one million sales in Canada alone.
While subsequent album sales remained strong, the new millennium brought several changes to the band’s lineup, including the departure of original guitarist Mike Turner in early 2002.
“The last two records we’ve been yearning for a guitar player that can really stand up and have a strong voice and Mike (Turner) just wasn’t that kind of guitar player,” says Maida in a subsequent Winnipeg Free Press article, hinting at dissension in the ranks.
VIDEO: “Somewhere Out There” — Our Lady Peace
Gravity, Our Lady Peace’s fifth album, featured a more mainstream sound. While many fans and critics jumped on that, the album’s chart-topping single “Somewhere Out There” was, and remains, the band’s biggest international hit. After nearly breaking up during the recording of Healthy In Paranoid Times, the band’s sixth album, Our Lady Peace took a break, returning with Burn Burn in 2009 followed by Curve three years later.
However, as noted in an interview with Andrea Warner posted on www.cbcmusic.ca on the 20th anniversary of the release of Naveed, that first studio album still holds a special place in Maida’s heart.
“It was basically made out of naiveté,” says Maida.
“We didn’t know anything about the music business. It was probably the most pure piece of music we’ve ever made because of that.”
With the departure of original drummer Jeremy Taggart in June 2014, Our Lady Peace arrives in Peterborough with Steve Mazur (lead guitar), Duncan Coutts (bass guitar), and Jason Pierce backing Maida’s lead vocals.
In Coleman Hell and River Town Saints, Musicfest’s audience will be treated to two very different sounds.
Thunder Bay’s Coleman Hell. (Publicity photo)
Thunder Bay’s Coleman Hell released his debut single “2 Heads” in October 2015 and followed that up exactly year later with Top 30-charting Summerland, his first full-length album from which two singles, “Fireproof” and “Devotion”, also charted high.
VIDEO: “2 Heads” — Coleman Hell
VIDEO: “Fireproof” — Coleman Hell
The producer, singer, and songwriter brings an interesting mix of pop-rock, electronic, and rap music genres to the table with equally interesting results — “2 Heads”, for example, features a banjo-infused R&B dance sound.
Ottawa’s River Town Saints. (Publicity photo)
Ottawa’s River Town Saints was originally founded in 2013 as Labelle by Chris Labelle, Chris McComb, and Jeremy Bortot. With the addition of Jordan Potvin and Daniel DiGiacomo, the quintet released its first single “A Little Bit Goes A Long Way” in November 2015.
However, it was the follow-up single “Cherry Bomb” that turned heads, peaking at number 24 on the Billboard Canadian Country chart and bringing the band a 2017 Country Music Association of Ontario Award for Single of the Year.
VIDEO: “Cherry Bomb” — River Town Saints
VIDEO: “Bonfire” — River Town Saints
River Town Saints’ self-titled debut full-length album was released just this past June, featuring “Bonfire”, the band’s first Top 10 hit.
Our Lady Peace with Coleman Hell and River Town Saints is sponsored by Ashburnham Realty, Fairstone, Home Hardware, Package Plus, Porter Sound and Marj Tellis.
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 17 free-admission concerts featuring a total of 22 acts during its 31st season — each staged every Wednesday and Saturday night until August 26th.
Overseen by general manager Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission is to “provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”
For more information on this concert and/or the 2017 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
"Wedding guests" Sam Tweedle and Michelle Foster (right) with bride Shannon McGee (Shannon McCracken) and mother of the bride Flossie McGee (Anna Black) in Globus Theatre's unique dinner theatre comedy "Raising the Barn" at Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon until August 5th. (Photo: Shelby Camman)
In their newest production Raising the Barn, Globus Theatre invites you to Bobcaygeon’s social event of the year: the marriage of Shannon McGee to Brandon Jones.
Tearing down the wall between fantasy and reality, Raising the Barn is a brand new comedy written by Globus Theatre founders James Barrett and Sarah Quick, and features the largest cast ever assembled for a Globus production. What makes the show even more special is that it’s a tribute to the Lakefield Arts Barn and its special place in the Bobcaygeon community.
This year, the Lakeview Arts Barn celebrates 50 years as a community space for the town of Bobcaygeon. Originally a working cattle barn, in 1967 owner Fabien O’Neil transformed the barn into a dance hall to host local events. Since then the barn has been used as a hall for celebrations of all sorts, but most notably for weddings.
Globus Theatre presents Raising the Barn
When: Saturday July 29, 2017 at 6 p.m.; Monday, July 31 to Saturday, August 5, 2017 at 6 p.m.; Thursday, August 3, 2017 at 12 p.m. Where: Lakeview Arts Barn (2300 Pigeon Lake Road, Bobcaygeon) How much: $65.50 adults, $54 students
Written by Sarah Quick and James Barrett. Starring Brandon Swann, Shannon McCracken, Jennine Profeta, Dave Pearce, James Barrett, Sarah Quick, Anna Black, Mark Whelan, Kevin Sepaul, Shelby Camman, and Chris Gibbs. For tickets, visit the box office at Lakeview Arts Barn or call toll free at 1-800-304-7897 or or 705-738-2037.
When James and Sarah purchased the space in 2006 they transformed it into a theatre, although they still have continued its tradition of hosting weddings, dances, and other events.
Raising the Barn is a loving tribute to the Lakeview Arts Barn itself, as much as it is about the zany small-town characters and celebratory shenanigans of a local wedding gone awry.
While Verona had the Montagues and Capulets and Tug River Valley had the Hatfields and the McCoys, Bobcaygeon has the McGees and the Joneses. For generations, the McGees and the Joneses have owned the two grocery stores in Bobcaygeon: Food-Mart and Valueland.
Despite a long history of animosity towards each other, the two families are putting aside their feud (albeit badly) on the wedding day of the youngest members of their clans: Brandon (Brandon Swann) and Shannon (Shannon McCracken). Their wedding, of course, takes place at the Lakeview Arts Barn.
However, while the day should be all about the bride and groom, the tension between Brandon’s mother Jolene Jones (Jennine Profeta) and Shannon’s father Mayor Randy McGee (Dave Pearce) seeps through the celebrations, creating havoc and shenanigans to the dismay of the bride and groom and the amusement of the wedding guests assembled at the barn.
Brandon Swann and Shannon McCracken as star-crossed bride and groom Shannon McGee and Brandon Jones in “Raising the Barn”. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW)
The term “guests” is dubious because the Lakeview Arts Barn has a double booking that night. Local director Jim Barnett (James Barrett — see what they did there?) was to stage his production of Romeo and Juliet before Mayor McGee bought out the owners of the barn for his daughter’s wedding. So, instead of wedding guests, the people in attendance (which is the actual audience for Raising the Barn) are there for the show rather than for the wedding.
The only person who doesn’t know this is the bride, and the entire cast of characters decides to keep this from her. The result is a night of fun, games, secrets, reveals, romance, music, and laughter in Globus’ biggest and most experimental theatrical production to date.
James and Sarah have called Raising the Barn “a dinner theatre experience” which is the perfect way to describe it. The entire performance takes place around the audience within the special dining area at the Lakeview Arts Barn before, during, and after the dinner. The show is a play set in reality, with a wedding taking place just as if it really were taking place, and with the audience very much becoming part of the set itself. There is a bit of audience participation, and lots of improvisation alongside the actual performance.
But what is most unique about the show is that the cast is made up of many of past performers who have become Globus Theatre regulars. Just as you are reunited with old friends and family at a wedding, in Raising the Barn you are reunited with many of the theatre’s most familiar faces.
Real-life married couple Dave Pearce and Jennine Profeta steal the show as business rivals Mayor Randy McGee and Jolene Jones. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW)
Alongside James, Jennine, and Dave are other members of the Globus family of performers including Anna Black as Randy’s wife and town lush Flossie McGee, Mark Whelan as cousin Adrian O’Keel, Sarah Quick and Kevin Sepaul as Globus actors Sara Click and Kevin Sopeal, Shelby Camman as Lexi the photographer, and Chris Gibbs as the master of ceremonies and wedding officiant Keely O’Keel. It’s a virtual reunion of Globus favourites in a huge show full of surprises.
As in an actual wedding, while bride and groom Shannon and Brandon should be the centerpiece of the play, Jennine Profeta and Dave Pierce steal the show as feuding grocers Jolene Jones and Mayor Randy McGee. A real-life married couple, the two have a natural chemistry with each other and bounce quips off one another with a quick and believable rapport. Their wild conflict and growing tension become the comedy of the piece; each time they interact, hilarity ensues.
Another dimension of their characters is that they become a parody of small-town elitism and politics, with Jolene as the tough businesswoman and Randy as the local political power (and he will remind you he is the mayor every chance he gets). Jolene and Randy are the typical big fishes in a small pond who would probably get buried outside of Bobcaygeon. Their own self-importance is hilarious to watch, making them the true stars of the show. Their performances are priceless.
In “Raising the Barn”, Globus Theatre founders and playwrights James Barrett and Sarah Quick parody themselves as director Jim Barnett and actress Sara Click. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW)
But let’s not forget the bride and groom. Brandon Swann brings a sort of sweetness to the show as hapless groom Brandon, who finds himself in over his head marrying his sweetheart Shannon. A nice kid with an overbearing ambitious mother, Brandon just wants the day to go right and wants his bride to be happy.
I’ll admit I kind of fell for Shannon McCracken as Shannon. A true product of her parents, Shannon is pretty and proper and knows how to work a room and exactly what to say. However, as the mayor’s daughter, she is also spoiled, explosive, and lacking in emotional maturity, which also creates a lot of the most memorable moments of the show. Shannon is a delight to watch as the bride and became my favourite character.
Together Brandon and Shannon are fantastic, especially for their musical finale that moved audience members to tears. Gifted singers, Brandon and Shannon do make wonderful music together.
A shout out to Chris Gibb as Keely O’Keel who is easily the audience favourite. As the master of ceremonies at the wedding, Keely is filled with small-town wit and good humour, and keeps the other characters and the audience engaged with one another. It’s a fun performance glueing together the pieces of the play.
Although Globus normally allows the audience to pick between two tickets options — one that includes dinner and the show and one for the show only — Raising the Barn is only available as dinner theatre due to the nature of the show. However, it’s totally worth every penny. The buffet-style three-course meal is decadent and is finished off with Sarah Quick’s famous Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert.
Raising the Barn is a unique evening of theatre unlike anything I’ve experienced in the Kawarthas in the time I’ve been writing theatre reviews. There is much more to the show I am not allowed to reveal, only to say that you need to experience it for yourself. But promise me when I say that it is something you need to see.
I’d even go one step further to say that Raising the Barn is one of the highlights of the 2017 theatrical year, a phenomenal show and the best I have seen so far all summer. Another hit for James and Sarah, it’s a great reason to visit Globus Theatre at the Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon this summer.
Raising the Barn runs until August 5th at the Lakeview Arts Barn (2300 Pigeon Lake Road, Bobcaygeon). Tickets are $65.50 ($54 for students) and include a three-course buffet dinner. The show starts at 6 p.m., with a special noon performance on August 3rd. For tickets, call the Globus box office toll free at 1-800-304-7897 or or 705-738-2037.
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