As of July 7, 2017, the following beaches have been posted as unsafe for swimming:
Peterborough City/County – Ennismore
Peterborough City/County – Roger’s Cove
City of Kawartha Lakes – Bobcaygeon Area – Riverview Beach Park
City of Kawartha Lakes – Fenelon Falls Area – Bond Street
Northumberland County – Port Hope/Cobourg Area – Bewdley Beach
Here are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County.
In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White’s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.
Peterborough Public Health samples the water quality of popular city beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day during the summer. The health unit will post signage if a beach is unsafe for swimming, such as this sign at Rogers Cove from last year. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Important note
The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.
You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.
While we strive to update this story with the current conditions, you should confirm the most recent test results by visiting the local health unit websites at Peterborough Public Health and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. As noted above, the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead are tested every business day so the results listed below may not be current.
The mama loon with one of her chicks, just a day and a half old, on her back. The other chick, who was born only hours before this photo was taken, is tucked under the other wing. (Photo: Cliff Homewood)
Photographer Cliff Homewood has captured some amazing shots of a pair of loons as they raise their newborn chicks. He’s been posting updates in his Instagram feed over the past week, where they caught our attention.
In case you’re concerned, Cliff — an experienced wildlife photographer — has been taking the photos very carefully as to not disturb the loons or their chicks.
“We’ve known this loon pair for many years and they are used to us observing them,” Cliff writes on Instagram. “As long as we keep our distance, move slowly and don’t outstay our welcome they ignore us.”
As you look at Cliff’s photos below, it helps to know a bit about how loons are born and raised. After a pair of loons mate, they build their nest clost to water — on the edge a small island or a half-submerged log for example — and they’ll often use the same sites from year to year. Both the male and female help with nest building, using mud, grass, and other vegetation. The female will lay usually one or two eggs in late May or June, with the eggs incubating for almost a month.
In late June or early July, the eggs hatch and the chicks emerge, covered in brownish black down. They can swim right away, but will spend time riding on their parents’ backs to conserve energy and to avoid predators like large fish, birds, and snapping turtles. Their parents feed them minnows and insects during their first few weeks of life. After about two months, the chicks begin to dive for some of their own food. By three months, they are catching almost all of their own food and are able to fly. By early fall, the young loons are able to look after themselves completely.
Here are Cliff’s photos of the loons. We’ll update this story with new photos as Cliff posts them on Instagram, or you can follow his Instagram feed yourself @kerrybrook (he shares a lot of wonderful photos of wildlife and nature). Cliff also owns and operates Kerrybrook Web Design at kerrybrookwebdesign.ca.
Check back over the next few weeks as we update this story with more photos from Cliff.
Sunday, August 6
He still doesn’t look like an adult loon, but all that fish is helping the chick grow.
Pays d'en Haut (Jim Gleason, Curtis Dreidger, Leslie McGrath. Benj Rowland, and Matt Watson) bring Cajun music to downtown Peterborough with a performance at Catalina's on July 7. (Photo: Pays d'en Haut / 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, July 6 to Wednesday, July 12.
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.
Tom Cochrane is performing a free concert with Red Rider at Peterborough Musicfest in Del Crary Park on Saturday, July 8. (Publicity photo)
If Tom Cochrane had written, recorded, and performed just that song and did nothing else, that alone would have been more than enough to solidify his firm footing on the Canadian music landscape.
Peterborough Musicfest presents Tom Cochrane with Red Rider
When: Saturday, July 8, 2017 at 8 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. 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.
What has elevated the Manitoba native to the next level and keeps him there still at age 64, is there was and remains much more in his arsenal besides “Life Is A Highway”. This will again be evident on Saturday, July 8th when he returns to Peterborough Musicfest’s Fred Anderson Stage in Del Crary Park.
“I think Mick Jagger said it the best — ‘I like playing the hits because I like seeing people get off,'” said Cochrane in a 2015 interview at www.musicaddict.ca.
“When we play Life Is A Highway, the energy alone that you get back makes it a different sort of ride, excuse the pun. The song really pulls people together and creates a lot of joy and energy. It’s hard not to like doing a song like that.”
It’s equally hard not to like Cochrane who, both as the frontman for 1980s’ band Red Rider and as a solo artist since 1991. His catalogue of hit songs has few peers in Canadian recorded music history; his eight Juno Awards, Order of Canada membership, and Canadian Walk of Fame induction are all strong testaments to his recorded music success and philanthropic efforts — not just in his native country but globally as well.
Tom Cochrane with Red Rider in the 1980s. (Photo: Denise Grant / Capitol Records)
As is the case for many who go on to bigger and better things, a ‘let’s see where this goes’ leap of faith got the ball rolling for Cochrane in 1978 when, at Toronto’s famed El Mocambo, he hooked up with Red Rider.
What followed was a 10-years-plus run with the band anchored by the recording of six studio albums and the release of a number of hit singles, including “White Hot”, “Lunatic Fringe”, “Human Race”, “Boy Inside The Man”, and “Big League”.
Come 1991, Cochrane kick-started his solo career by reaching back for a song that he written years earlier as “Love Is A Highway”. In a December 2016 interview with www.cbc.ca, Cochrane says a trip to East Africa to raise awareness and money for World Vision Canada inspired him to revisit the song.
VIDEO: “Life Is A Highway” – Tom Cochrane (crank it up!)
“It was an overwhelming experience that left a lot of scars on my psyche,” says Cochrane, noting he was shot at and witnessed people dying of starvation during the trek.
“I needed something really positive to pull me out of this funk. That song had the ability to, no matter who the people were, just light them up — that power and that momentum just made people happy, if only for four minutes. You sometimes write the happiest songs when you’re down.”
Nominated for a Grammy Award, “Life Is A Highway” anchored Cochrane’s Mad Mad World album, which took him into a whole other stratosphere with more than six million sales worldwide.
Also including the monster singles “No Regrets”, “Sinking Like A Sunset”, and “Washed Away”, the album earned Cochrane four Juno Awards — Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. That was a tough act to follow, but Cochrane delivered four more studio albums in its wake with the latest being 2015’s Take It Home.
VIDEO: “Sinking Like a Sunset” – Tom Cochrane
Twenty-five years since Mad Mad World‘s release, Cochrane still shakes his head over its success.
“It’s one of those records that when you think about it, one out of every 30 or 25 Canadians had it,” he said in a March 2017 interview with Medicine Hat News’ Chris Brown.
“It (Life Is A Highway) ended up a pep talk to millions of other people and it just keeps going.”
To mark the 25th anniversary of the release of Mad Mad World in 2016, the album was re-issued as a re-mastered deluxe edition which includes the original demo recording of “Love Is A Highway” and selections from a 1992 live performance staged in Chicago.
VIDEO: “Lunatic Fringe” – Red Rider
Between touring and recording, Cochrane hasn’t let up in terms of lending his name and influence to charitable causes. As well as being a longtime supporter of World Vision for which he’s made several treks to Africa, he has actively supported Amnesty International and the Make Poverty History campaign — to name but a few of the causes he has aided.
“The thing is I’ve been extremely blessed in my life and career,” he relates on his website at www.tomcochrane.ca.
“I’ve had the good fortune of having some good people around me over the years. I’ve put one foot ahead of the other to see where the road would take me and providence has been kind, so from time to time I’ve happened to or tried to do the right thing. The biggest reward though is when someone comes up and says this song or that song got me through some tough times or was part of the best times in my life, or when I fell in love, that was our song.”
VIDEO: Boy Inside The Man” – Tom Cochrane & Red Rider
Cochrane’s Peterborough Musicfest appearance, which will see him joined by Red Rider original band members Kenny Greer and Jeff Jones, is presented by Darling Insurance. Other sponsors include My Broadcasting Corporation, Peterborough This Week, AB Solutions, Atria Development/Y Lofts, Enbridge, Long & McQuade, PepsiCo, Rova’s, The Staffing Connection/Level A, and Tom’s Heating and Cooling.
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.
Peterborough video game studio Canuck Play new title Canadian Football 2017 has been certified for release on the XBox One and approved for distribution on Steam for PCs. (Photo: Canuck Play / Facebook)
Another finalist of the Bears’ Lair Entrepreneurial Competition is achieving commercial success: Peterborough video game studio Canuck Play Inc. has developed the first Canadian football sports game to be released on XBox One and PC.
“I’m proud to announce that Canadian Football 2017 has been certified for release on the XBox One, bringing Canada’s game to a major console for the first time,” says Canuck Play Inc. president and co-founder David Winter.
A launch party for the release of Canadian Football 2017 is taking place on Tuesday, July 25th from 7 to 9 p.m. at Retro’s Arcade and eSports Bar (172 Simcoe St. in downtown Peterborough), with the game officially releasing at midnight on July 26th on XBox One and Steam for PC gamers.
For both Xbox One and Steam, Canadian Football 2017 will cost $15.99 USD or $21 CDN. Agreements are in place for Canuck Play to develop the title on Sony PlayStation in the future.
VIDEO: Canadian Football 2017 Trailer
A digital technology client of the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas and a 2016 Bears’ Lair finalist, Canuck Play has grown their incubated company greatly since joining the cluster in March 2016.
“Canuck Play has showed endless persistence when it comes to growing their company and bringing it to market,” says Michael Skinner, President and CEO of the Innovation Cluster. “I congratulate them on reaching this new milestone.”
Winter, along with co-founder and vice-president Sheryl Loucks, combined their respective backgrounds of game development and administration to create Canuck Play, with a mission to bring Canada’s sports, heroes and culture to the gaming space. The gaming industry contributed $3 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2016.
Winter and Loucks have worked on every detail of Canadian Football 2017, including the animation to creating a character’s movement by wearing a motion capture suit.
Sheryl Loucks and David Winter, co-founders of Canuck Play Inc., at the 2016 Bears’ Lair Entrepreneurial Competition. (Photo: Innovation Cluster)
Canuck Play’s football game has been certified for release on multiple gaming platforms. Along with XBox One, Canadian Football 2017 has also been approved for PC distribution via Steam, allowing players on various platforms to experience and enjoy the game.
Nearing release date, Canuck Play has gained a social following of video gamers around the world interested in the product, eager to try it themselves.
“Fans are saying they will buy an XBox One just for the chance to play a Canadian football game on it,” Winter says. “Even professional players have tweeted in on the conversation.”
This isn’t the first time Canuck Play has developed a Canadian football video game. In 1998, under the name Wintervalley Software, they developed and released a title for Windows 98 that was the first video game officially licensed by the Canadian Football League and the CFL Players Association. In 2006, Wintervalley Software released Maximum Football for PC, a football arcade/simulation game allowing players to play North American football under Canadian, American, and Indoor rules.
For more information on Canuck Play, visit canuckplay.com.
A 29-year-old Peterborough man is facing several charges, including possession of stolen property and trespassing at night, following several vehicle break-ins.
On Wednesday (July 5), a man travelled by foot throughout the City of Peterborough entering unlocked vehicles and stealing property.
At around 3:50 a.m., police were called to a Crescent Street home after a resident observed a man inside his vehicle. Upon arriving at the home, officers found the man still inside the vehicle and arrested him.
During their investigation, police discovered the man possessed a large quantity of stolen property including hair dressing supplies, bank cards, gift cards, sunglasses, cologne, an iPhone, an iPod, and a purse. He was also found to be in possession of a knife and a quantity of cocaine.
As a result of the investigation, Daniel John Laundry, 29, of no fixed address in Peterborough, was arrested and charged with theft under $5,000, three counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, carrying a concealed weapon, trespassing at night, possession of a schedule I substance (cocaine), and failure to comply with a probation order.
Laundry was held in custody and appeared in court on July 5, 2017.
The Peterborough Police Service is seeing an increase in property being stolen from unlocked vehicles and remind residents to “lock it or lose it”.
Ensure your vehicle doors are locked and either take the valuables out of your vehicle or keep valuables hidden out of plain sight.
This summer, enjoy the outdoors and all the benefits it can provide for healthy childhood development. Balancing the risks with appropriate precautions and taking preventative measures for things like black-legged ticks, will allow your family to experience fun in nature, at the cottage, or at camp this summer. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
It’s camp season and many families are preparing for their summer adventures. As we toss our pencils and workbooks aside, we replace them with hiking boots and sunhats. The summer break is a great opportunity to get out of the classroom (and the office) to spend time outdoors. For children this is a welcome reprieve, but for many parents this is a worry.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Danica Jarvis, GreenUP Environmental Education Coordinator.
Like many parents, I worry about the potential risks this summer. What about bee stings, West Nile virus, poison ivy, and ticks?!
But, as an environmental educator, I also worry about the risks of being over cautious. What are the effects of keeping my child indoors?
This year we are hearing a lot in the news and on social media about the spread of ticks in Ontario and, more specifically, about the blacklegged tick which if infected can spread Lyme disease to humans. So how can we ensure that our children are getting necessary healthy outdoor time while keeping them safe from the risks of things like ticks that naturally live outdoors?
The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for Children and Youth, recommend that five 17 year olds get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Despite these recommendations, new data from Statistics Canada reveals that only 9% of this age group meets this target. The numbers show that kids need to be getting more exercise!
The 2015 ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth (Toronto, ON) says, “We may be so focused on trying to intervene in our children’s lifestyles to make sure they’re healthy, safe, and happy that we are having the opposite effect. We call this the protection paradox. We overprotect kids to keep them safe, but keeping them close and keeping them indoors may set them up to be less resilient and more likely to develop chronic diseases in the long run”.
So before we get alarmed and decide to call off the family camping trip or to change our summer cottage plans, let’s be sure to know the facts about ticks and how we can get outdoors with peace of mind.
Taking precautions and proper preventions such as dressing appropriately, can help us to be ‘tick smart’ while also allowing our children to enjoy the outdoors and all the benefits that free play provides. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
Yes, it is true that the range of the blacklegged tick is expanding, likely because of changes in range, season length, and host animal range due to changing climate. The Peterborough Public Health website reports that since the 1990s the range of the blacklegged tick in Ontario has expanded from one to 12 regions in 16 years.
However, the closest listed regions to Peterborough are Prince Edward County and the Rouge Valley and parts of Toronto and Durham. Peterborough is not currently listed.
Blacklegged ticks are sometimes found outside their known listed ranges, including recently in Peterborough. This can happen as nymph or larvae hitch rides with migratory birds that carry and drop ticks outside their normal range. However, according to The Public Health Ontario Vector-borne Diseases Summary Report, the majority of human exposures occur where blacklegged ticks have become established.
While that doesn’t mean the risks are zero, that is good news for Peterborough-area residents and outdoor enthusiasts! And taking precautions and proper preventions can help us to be ‘tick smart’ while also allowing our children to enjoy the outdoors, and all the benefits that free play provides.
“We need to provide children with rich immersion time in the living world that surrounds them,” explains Executive Director of Camp Kawartha, Jabob Rodenburg. “Not doing so effectively cuts them off from the knowledge and understanding of what it means to be a living being, and in sharing a world with other living beings.”
With so many mental and physical health benefits associated with being in nature, it makes more sense to prepare your family for unwanted bug bites and to continue enjoying the outdoors, rather than stay inside this summer.
If you are venturing into wooded or grassy areas within known blacklegged tick regions, you can avoid tick and mosquito bites by wearing lightweight, light-coloured, long clothing including long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks. Tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants.
Stick to marked trails to avoid ticks that, when present, will linger in the longer grasses and weeds that are found off the main trails. Sticking to the trail is also a good practice to minimize your footprint on a natural area, prevent trampling of sensitive plants, avoid disturbing nesting animals, and to ensure you don’t get lost.
After spending time outdoors, get in the habit of checking yourself and your pets for ticks. Don’t forget to check the hidden spots like your belly button, groin, armpits, scalp, and backs of the knees. Go one step further and have a shower to wash off any ticks that may have hitched a ride home with you.
If by chance you find a tick attached to you, remain calm. Lyme disease is an infection that is passed on to us by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick that has been attached for at least 24 to 36 hours. Also, we have many types of ticks that live in Ontario; the blacklegged tick is the only species that can pass on Lyme disease, and not all blacklegged ticks carry Lyme disease.
Calmly remove the tick by its mouthparts with tweezers. You can submit it to Peterborough Public Health for identification and analysis.
This summer, enjoy the outdoors and all the benefits it can provide for healthy childhood development, while balancing the risks with appropriate precautions and preventative measures. It’s great to play in nature, and that experience is one all children should have!
To view the 2015 ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth and a summary of its findings, visit participactionreportcard.com. For a full list of known blacklegged tick population areas, tick prevention tips, and more, you can visit peterboroughpublichealth.ca and publichealthontario.ca.
Juno-winning jazz pianist Robi Botos will be performing in his trio at the Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival on Saturday, July 8 at the Isabel Morris Park beside the Otonabee River. The festival also features local food vendors, artisans, and crafters, with live music from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Publicity photo)
The Chamber heard from many of you that the proposed changes such as increased minimum wage, 48 hours notice for canceled shifts, and more will have significant impacts on your business. So the Chamber wanted to make certain you were aware of these hearings.
This is an opportunity for you to have your position on raising the minimum wage and proposed labour reforms heard by the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs and the Chamber encourages you to participate.
If you are selected (number of presenters is limited) by the Clerk and wish to present in person, their office will reach out to inquire about your availability to present at the following locations on the dates listed below (please note the presenter registration deadline):
Presenter Registration Deadline is Monday, July 10, 2017 at 10 a.m.
Monday, July 17: London
Tuesday, July 18: Kitchener-Waterloo
Wednesday, July 19: Niagara
Thursday, July 20: Hamilton
Friday, July 21: Toronto
The registration deadline for the first week of presentations has passed.
Interested people who wish to be considered for an oral presentation on Bill 148 should provide their contact name, mailing address, phone number, and email address to Eric Rennie, Clerk of the Committee, at 416-325-3506.
If you would prefer to submit in writing, you can also participate by submitting your comments in writing to Eric Rennie at erennie@ola.org before 5:30 p.m. on July 21st. Learn more.
Available Space in Lakefield
Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board is holding a Facility Partnership Meeting on Wednesday, July 19.
Lakefield District Public School (formerly Lakefield District Secondary School) currently has one main floor room available for rent.
When Kawartha Pine Ridge schools have under-utilized space, the board can lease that space out to a group to use for their purposes (office space, program space etc.). This group must be willing to act in accordance with the Board Facility Partnership Principles, as well as enter into a lease agreement with KPR.
Attend the Facility Partnership Meeting on July 19th for more information. Meeting details above. Learn more.
Lakefield Legion 10th Annual Golf Tournament – July 8th
On Saturday, July 8th, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 77 (Lakefield) is hosting their 10th Annual Golf Tournament at the Katchiwano Golf & Country Club.
Registration is from 8 to 8:45 a.m. and shotgun start is at 9 a.m. It is $80 per person which includes green fees and a power cart, a steak BBQ at the Lakefield Legion, and prizes. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call 705-652-7988.
Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival – July 8th
The Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival takes place on Saturday, July 9th. (Logo: John Boorman)
The Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival takes place on Saturday, July 9th. (Logo: John Boorman)
This Saturday, July 8th, relax by the scenic Otonabee River in Isabel Morris Park and enjoy the Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival.
Come out and listen to a variety of jazz music while visiting local food vendors, multiple artisans and crafters, and the licensed refreshment area featuring Publican House Brewery. The exhibits open at 10 a.m. with the musicians performing from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Buckhorn Community Centre presents the Hall’s Bridge Players in “Buying the Moose” on Wednesday, July 19th and Thursday, July 20th and on Wednesday, July 26 and Thursday, July 27th.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and the play starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $22 each and include the live comedy, dessert, and coffee/tea. Tickets are on sale now; call 705-657-8833. Visit www.buckhorncommunitycentre.com for details.
Delay in Construction of Lakefield District Public School
The completion date of the new Lakefield District Public School has been moved to December 2017. (Graphic: Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board)
The completion date of the new Lakefield District Public School has been moved to December 2017. (Graphic: Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board)
Due to a delay in construction, the completion date of the new Lakefield District Public School has been moved to December 2017.
Kawartha Pine Ridge District School board has developed and communicated a contingency plan to house all new Lakefield District Public School students at the current Ridpath PS school facility. Read more.
Upcoming Events
Free Movies in the Park – July 6th
Lakefield Farmers’ Market – July 6th
Village Dental Centre 3rd Annual BBQ – July 6th
Stony Lake Trails 1 Year Anniversary – July 8th
21st Annual Transportation Day Car & Motorcycle Show – July 9th
For more information about the businesses and events listed above, please visit the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism website at kawarthachamber.ca.
All photos supplied by Kawartha Chamber of Commerce except where noted.
With summer finally here, now is the time to explore what our own backyard has to offer. We've selected two extraordinary experiences worth adding to your bucket list: ZimArt's Rice Lake Gallery and The Hutchison House Living Museum in Peterborough. Pictured is ZimArt's Rice Lake Gallery, which sits on a five-acre property and is home to 300 hand-carved Zimbabwean stone sculptures, the most comprehensive collection in Canada. (Photo: ZimArt's Rice Lake Gallery)
There’s no denying that the Kawarthas offers a bounty of opportunities to immerse yourself in public art and history and, with summer finally here, now is the time to explore what our own backyard has to offer.
We’ve selected two extraordinary experiences worth adding to your Kawarthas bucket list.
ZimArt’s outdoor gallery overlooking Rice Lake showcases diversity of Zimbabwean artwork
As you travel into the heart of the Kawarthas, near the north shores of Rice Lake, you typically don’t expect to stumble upon a five-acre outdoor gallery featuring Zimbabwean stone sculptures basking in the natural light.
This is not your typical gallery.
ZimArt’s Rice Lake Gallery (855 2nd line, Bailieboro, 705-939-6144), 15 minutes south of Peterborough, is home to 300 hand-carved Zimbabwean stone sculptures, the most comprehensive collection in Canada, and represents over 50 Zimbabwean sculptors.
ZimArt has been curating Shona sculpture exhibitions in an outdoor setting for 18 years.
“Showing sculpture in an outdoor setting is the most beautiful way to see the work,” says ZimArt owner and curator Fran Fearnley. “It’s how I see the sculptures when I travel to Zimbabwe.
“Being outside really does make the experience much more appealing than being in a traditional gallery setting with white walls and artificial light.”
The natural setting not only shows the sculpture to its best advantage, but also allows for a very instinctive response to the work. Yes, touching is allowed.
ZimArt is the perfect place to introduce children to art, where they are free to explore the scenic grounds and feel the sculptures on display. Yes, touching is allowed! (Photo: ZimArt’s Rice Lake Gallery)
Fearnley notes the gallery is the perfect place to introduce young people to art, where they are free to explore the scenic grounds, feel the sculptures on display, and immerse themselves in the beauty and emotional depth of the art.
“Children love that it’s okay to touch the work,” Fearnley says. “The idea is for them to feel the texture of the stone and the heat on a hot day. It really opens up all the senses to respond.”
Eclectic works of art
ZimArt is home to 300 hand-carved Zimbabwean stone sculptures, the most comprehensive collection in Canada. Here is a Shona stone sculpture called Song Bird by Rufaro Ngoma. (Photo: ZimArt’s Rice Lake Gallery)
All the sculptures are hand carved and procured directly from Zimbabwean artists during Fearnley’s annual visits to this Southern African country, where she discovers the work of new artists.
The works range from pieces small enough to fit in your hand to complex pieces several metres high.
“I start with artists I’ve been representing over the years and then I look for new interesting artists who do work that complements the other pieces I have at the gallery,” says Fearnley, who fell in love with the Shona sculpture while volunteering in Africa in the late 1990s.
“The gallery is a range of subject matter and treatment, and I kind of make it as eclectic as possible.
“Some of the work is completely abstract and some is totally representational, and everywhere in between.”
Over the years, ZimArt has evolved from a small collection of Shona sculpture to a seasonal art destination which has attracted thousands of visitors from across Canada and around the world.
All gallery pieces are for sale.
Zimbabwen artist on site
Each year, an artist from Zimbabwe travels to Canada for the summer season as the artist-in-residence. This year’s artist-in-residence is Rufaro Ngoma, who will be on site during the exhibition to talk about his work and give demonstrations.
This year’s artist-in-residence, Rufaro Ngoma from Zimbabwe, will be leading sculpting workshops over the summer, and will be on site during the exhibition to talk about his work and give demonstrations. (Photo: ZimArt’s Rice Lake Gallery)v
It is enormously appealing for visitors who can see a work in progress, handle the tools and the raw stone, and gain firsthand knowledge of how Shona sculpture is created — a skill that is passed down through the generations in Zimbabwe.
“There’s a spiritual quality to the work and it really moves people,” says Fearnley. “The most rewarding aspect of the business comes from the appreciation visitors have for the work.”
Like all visiting artists, Rufaro is giving sculpting workshops throughout the summer. To find out more, visit www.zimart.ca/workshops.html.
ZimArt annual exhibition this summer
ZimArt’s 18th annual exhibition runs from Saturday, August 5th to Sunday, September 3rd, with over 300 stone sculptures from Zimbabwe on display.
The public opening of the exhibition is on August 5th from 3 to 6 p.m. with live Zimbabwean music by Nhapatipi.
The exhibition continues until September 3rd from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with a closing party on September 3rd from 2 to 5 p.m., also featuring live Zimbabwean music by Nhapatipi. Admission is free.
ZimArt’s 18th annual exhibition runs from August 5 to September 3, with the opening and closing parties featuring live Zimbabwean music by Nhapatipi. (Photo: ZimArt’s Rice Lake Gallery)
Helping the children of Zimbabwe
While admission to the Rice Lake Gallery is free, donations are always welcome.
Funds raised go to a ZimKids Community Support, a Canadian not-for-profit supporting grassroots projects in Zimbabwe. The organization is currently building a rural primary school. For more information, visit www.zimkids.ca.
ZimArt’s Rice Lake Gallery is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Thanksgiving, with free parking and picnic facilities.
For more information on special events, sculpting workshops, and exhibitions, visit www.zimart.ca or contact Fran Fearnley directly at 705-939-6144 to arrange a curator’s talk and a tour for yourself or your group. You can also follow ZimArt on Facebook and Twitter.
Historic Hutchison House tour offers unique glimpse into Peterborough’s past
Hutchison House, located in downtown Peterborough, Ontario, is a living history museum offering a glimpse of life in Ontario in the 1800s. The limestone structure was built in 1837 for Dr. John Hutchison, the city’s first resident physician, and his family. (Photo: Paula Kehoe / kawarthaNOW)
Have you ever wondered how people lived 180 years ago?
If you’re a history buff and enjoy browsing the dwellings of yesteryear, there will be plenty to set your eyes on at Hutchison House Living Museum (270 Brock Street, Peterborough, 705-743-9710), a historical residence that offers a glimpse of life in Ontario in the 1800s.
Located in downtown Peterborough, the limestone structure was built in 1837 for Dr. John Hutchison, the city’s first resident physician, and his family, by citizen volunteers to entice him to stay in Peterborough.
Dr. Hutchison moved from Scotland to Upper Canada in 1818 and was a doctor in the Peterborough area from 1830 until his death in 1847.
A walk through history
Guided by a costumed interpreter, the museum tour sheds light on how the Hutchison family lived as well as other prominent people in the early community who resided there — one being Sir Sandford Fleming, a Scottish-born engineer and Dr. Hutchison’s younger cousin.
Fleming is known for designing Canada’s first stamp, as co-founder of the Royal Canadian Institute and surveyor of railways spanning the country, and — most notably — for inventing the concept of worldwide standard time.
One of the bedrooms is dedicated to Sir Sandford Fleming, a Scottish-born engineer and Dr. Hutchison’s younger cousin, who was a resident in the house when he came to Canada in 1845 at 18 years old. (Photo: Paula Kehoe / kawarthaNOW)
One of the bedrooms is dedicated to Fleming, who was a resident in the house when he came to Canada in 1845 at 18 years old.
In 1851, the house was sold to James Harvey, a prominent local merchant and remained in the Harvey/Connal family until 1969, when it was bequeathed to the Peterborough Historical Society.
The house was restored to the mid-1800s period and opened as Hutchison House Living Museum in 1978. While the house has been remodeled, it still boasts original details throughout.
“The house itself has a sensitivity and charm to it,” says museum curator Gale Fewings. “It welcomes you.”
As of June, the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and offers local and regional visitors an opportunity to take a step back in time.
The house features the Doctor’s study with medical instruments, books and furnishings, Fleming’s room (with one of his original maps of Peterborough, his sextant, and other surveying tools), an early Victorian parlour, historic open hearth kitchen with period cooking utensils, a child’s bedroom with toys from the 1880s, and period gardens, including a cooking and medicinal herb garden.
“When you hear the stories, even if you think you’re not interested in history, there is something that will spark your imagination,” says Fewings.
Unique day away from the classroom
The house features the doctor’s study with medical instruments, books and furnishings. Dr. Hutchison moved from Scotland to Upper Canada in 1818 and was a doctor in the Peterborough area until his death in 1847. (Photo: Paula Kehoe / kawarthaNOW)
Through school programs, Hutchison House offers local educators and students an interactive and memorable field trip experience.
The programs are geared to pique the interest of children and encourage them to pursue a deeper understanding of the people that have shaped Peterborough.
Through the guided tours, students can connect with people of earlier times by getting up close and personal with artifacts, diaries and letters.
“History is not as focused as it once was in schools,” says Fewings. “The good news is we have some teachers that often return with their classes, because they like the programs we offer here and the historical stories we tell.”
Fewings notes that because students generally seem to be losing their grasp of traditional history and cultural heritage, with less time being devoted to the subject in schools, it’s extremely critical to maintain smaller, cultural institutions like Hutchison House.
“We have to keep these small little places of history alive. I think the personal interaction of what we do is very important and special, and that’s what you’re going to get when you go a living history site. You learn a little about where you live and where you came from.”
Scottish tea party
Fancy a cuppa? During July and August, one of the museum’s biggest attractions is its Scottish tea. Last year, the event drew close to 2,000 guests for Scottish tea alone.
After learning a thing or two about the history of the Hutchison House, visitors can make afternoon tea a memorable affair on the terrace near the garden (a hidden gem) or in the historic kitchen, while indulging in delicious homemade scones and oatcakes, with a choice of jam and whipped cream. Tea is served by young volunteers dressed in period clothing.
Volunteers play an important role at Hutchison House. Some wear period costumes and assist with public tours and special events. (Photo: Hutchison House Living Museum)
Scottish tea is served daily (except Monday) starting on July 4th until September 3rd. Scottish Tea is $10 for adults and youth over 10, $5 for youth six to 10, and free for children five and under. The cost for tea also includes admission for a Hutchison House tour.
The museum also hosts monthly heritage lunches during the winter and events year round open to the community.
For more information on museum hours, calendar of events and prices, visit the Hutchison House Museum website at www.hutchisonhouse.ca. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
The bald eagle is a species of special concern in Ontario. (Photo: Province of Ontario)
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is asking for the public’s help to find the person responsible for destroying a bald eagle’s nest north of Peterborough.
On Wednesday, June 14th, an MNRF conservation officer visited an island in Buckhorn Lake and found evidence suggesting a tree that contained a bald eagle’s nest had been cut down.
The conservation officer found the nest destroyed, but there were no signs the young had been left behind.
The bald eagle is a species of special concern in Ontario. This means that, while it is not endangered or threatened, the bald eagle has the potential to become so from a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats.
The island where the evidence was found is known to be frequented by outdoor enthusiasts. MNRF is looking for information from anyone who may have been in the area, or witnessed the activity.
If you have any information, call the MNRF tips line at 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
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