Tina Bromley, owner of Tiny Greens, at the Peterborough Farmers' Market. As part of her prize as winner of the inaugural Win This Space competition, Tina gets a free 12-month lease for a storefront in downtown Peterborough. (Supplied photo)
The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) recently completed its inaugural Win This Space competition. It was a robust process that took a number of local entrepreneurs through a workshop and business planning process.
The competitors were narrowed down to 10, and then five, finalists. This week I thought I’d profile all five finalists, starting with:
The Winner: Tiny Greens
Owner Tina Bromley is two years into her business. A regular at the Lakefield and Peterborough Farmers Markets, Tina sells microgreens, vegetables, and herbs. She also supplies a number of local chefs and caterers.
Tiny Greens has been selling microgreens for two years (supplied photo)
Her new downtown store will allow her to expand all of her products in a retail setting, add custom gifts, juices, and salad mixes, workshops, training and supplies for the do-it-yourself crowd, and continue to build her chef tray business.
A sample of Tara Genge’s work refinishing furniture at Chalk Therapy (photo: Tara Genge / Facebook)
Owner Tara Genge turned months of chemo therapy into a new business refinishing furniture.
Tara takes unfit, broken, or cast-off items, then repairs and refinishes them — not only saving them from the landfill, but creating beautiful products that she sells to her customers.
Anna Eidt, owner of Lou Brown Vintage, with a sample of her work (supplied photo)
Scoop was Anna Eidt’s business idea.
Anna is already in business, operating as Lou Brown Vintage, turning dusty old china into wall décor with sass. Anna wants to create a hub for local art lovers called Scoop.
You can find Lou Brown Vintage on Facebook and Etsy.
Finalist: META4 Contemporary Craft Gallery
META4 is located in Port Perry (supplied photo)
META4 Contemporary Craft Gallery is a well-known Port Perry business.
The partners — local artists Jennifer Hardie, Birgitta MacLeod and Bonnie Thomson — want to expand into downtown Peterborough.
META4 features the work of Ontario artists and artisans, and you can find them at 200 Queen Street in Port Perry, or online at www.meta4gallery.ca.
Congratulations to all of the participants, and to Terry Guiel and the team at the DBIA for a fantastic concept, executed perfectly in its first year.
The youth foster home is located in a rural area near Oakwood, which is west of Lindsay in the City of Kawartha Lakes (photo: Google Maps)
The teen charged with second-degree murder following a fire on Friday afternoon (February 24) at a youth group home in Oakwood near Lindsay has now been charged with an additional count of second-degree murder.
Police laid the additional charge after an employee at the group home died at hospital as a result of injuries sustained during the fire. The teen has also been charged with arson causing bodily harm.
At around 4:30 p.m. on Friday, February 24th, the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP responded to a disturbance at the group home, located on 725 Quaker Road, a rural area northwest of the Village of Oakwood, which is 12 kilometres west of Lindsay.
Upon arriving, police found the building on fire and requested the assistance of the Kawartha Lakes Fire and Rescue Service and the City of Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service.
One person died in the fire, and two people were injured as a result of the fire and transported to hospital. One of the people injured in the fire, who police have only identified as an employee of the group home, has since died at hospital.
The City of Kawartha Lakes OPP, led by Detective Inspector Dave Robinson of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, continue to investigate the circumstance of the fire with assistance from the Office of the Fire Marshall and Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Services.
On Saturday, February 25th, the Office of the Chief Coroner in Toronto conduced a post-mortem examination and identified the first victim who was killed. The OPP is not be releasing the victim’s name, age, or gender to protect the integrity of the investigation. Police reports imply the first victim may be another resident of the group home, although this is not confirmed.
City of Kawartha Lakes Mayor Andy Letham released a statement about the fire: “I am deeply saddened by the tragic fire that has taken place. Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of those involved. I’m proud, as always, of the Kawartha Lakes Fire and Paramedic Services and the OPP for their valiant efforts tonight.”
The youth foster home is operated by Connor Homes, a private group and foster care system of homes licensed under the Child and Family Services Act by the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services. Based out of Campbellford, Connor Homes operates homes across Ontario.
The teenaged resident of the group home who has been charged cannot be identified under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Peterborough MPP Jeaf Leal and Ontario Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca demonstrate the electric vehicle charging station at Lansdowne Place Mall. The mall is one of seven locations in the City and County of Peterborough offering electric vehicle charging, which is free for the first year of operation. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
Steven Del Duca made the most of his first visit to Peterborough as Ontario’s transportation minister, announcing Friday (February 24) that Peterborough Utilities Group has installed nine electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at seven city and county locations.
The recipient of $291,480 from the Electric Vehicle Chargers Ontario (EVCO) program, the local utility group has installed Level 2 and/or Level 3 chargers at the following locations:
McDonald’s, Lansdowne Street West at The Parkway (Level 3)
Lansdowne Place (Levels 2 and 3)
King Street Parking Garage in downtown Peterborough (Level 2)
Riverview Park and Zoo (Level 2)
Tim Horton’s, 1527 Water Street (Level 2)
Downtown Lakefield (Level 2)
Asphodel Norwood Township office (Levels 2 and 3)
Level 2 charging stations use a 240-volt system and can fully charge a vehicle from zero percent in four to eight hours. Level 3 charging stations, meanwhile, use a 480-volt system and can charge a vehicle to 80 percent in just 30 minutes.
The Peterborough EV charging stations are part of a move to install close to 500 across the province to service an estimated 9,000-plus electric vehicles currently on the road.
For the first year of operation, charging is free. After that time, that will be re-evaluated based on demand.
“Climate change is one of the single most challenging circumstances that we face…transportation emissions pose one of Ontario’s greatest challenges with respect to achieving the greenhouse gas emission targets that we have,” said Minister Del Duca.
“Emissions from the transportation sector, at 35 percent of all emissions in the province, account for more than any other industry. More than iron, steel, cement and chemical emissions combined.”
The Province is investing $20 million from its Green Investment Fund to build close to 500 EV charging stations at more than 250 locations province wide. Building a more robust network of public chargers across Ontario allows EV owners to plan longer trips and reduces concerns about the range of vehicles. (Photo: Province of Ontario)
Minister Del Duca explained the Province’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 15 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, 37 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050.
“We can get there unless we break the back of that 35 percent in the transportation sector,” he added, speaking specifically to the encouragement of wider electric vehicle acceptance and use.
The Province is investing $20 million from its Green Investment Fund to build close to 500 EV charging stations at more than 250 locations province wide. To that end, the Province is working with 24 private and public sector entities “to create an unprecedented network of electric vehicle charging stations in cities, along highways and at workplaces and other public spaces.”
A byproduct of charging stations being operational, added Minister Del Duca, is a reduction in “range anxiety” experienced by electric vehicle operators.
“With the EVCO network of public EV charging stations, electric vehicle drivers will be able to travel from Windsor to Ottawa, or from Toronto to North Bay, not mention within and around our major rural and urban centres,” he explained.
“Electric vehicle owners will be able to plan longer trips and have the confidence that they can recharge nearby.”
EV charging stations, he added, also send a strong signal to those considering switching to an electric vehicle that the infrastructure is in place to look after their charging needs.
Also speaking were Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal, Mayor Darryl Bennett, County Warden Joe Taylor and Peterborough Utilities Group president/CEO John Stephenson, who praised his people for their involvement in, and contribution to, the EV charging station project.
“EV adoption has to be led by infrastructure,” said Stephenson. “This is the first step through our utility, through government participation, to making that happen.”
On February 24, 2017, Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef announced over $1.4 million in cultural funds for The Canadian Canoe Museum on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage (photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
Those who think the planned new home of the Canadian Canoe Museum is still in the pipe dream stage received the definitive wake-up call Friday (February 24).
Before a large gathering of museum board members, staff and volunteers, Parks Canada employees and community leaders, Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef announced the project is receiving $1,410,672 from Ottawa.
Culled from the federal government’s Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, the money will cover the cost of architectural and engineering plans for the construction of the museum’s new home at the base of the Peterborough Lift Lock on the west shore of the Trent-Severn Waterway.
“The investment is a recognition of the heritage that is preserved in this space and the exceptional collection of canoes, kayaks and paddled watercraft. The canoe’s ability to tell Canada’s story is recognized with this investment,” said MP Monsef, who also serves as Minister of Status of Women.
“Cultural spaces like this matter because they bring us together. They allow Canadians to have greater access to our arts and culture, whether its performing arts, the visual arts, media arts, museum collections or heritage displays. I know the new facility will inspire museum lovers and paddlers alike.”
Chief Phyllis Williams of Curve Lake First Nation welcome attendees at the announcement to the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe Nation (photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, administered by the Ministry of Canadian Heritage, was established in 2001 to aid not-for-profit arts and heritage organizations with the improvement, renovation and construction of facilities as well as the acquisition of specialized equipment and the development of studies related to infrastructure projects. As of March 2016, $410 million had been forwarded to 1,381 projects across Canada. This year, 157 projects in 96 communities will benefit from the fund.
In his remarks, museum board chair Bill Morris termed the funding announcement “a turning point” in the ongoing journey leading to the new museum, singling out MP Monsef for being “a very strong advocate” of the museum’s redevelopment project since day one.
“This funding comes at a critical time as it allows us to continue with our pre-construction phase,” said Morris, noting the federal funding is a matching amount, prompting his thanking private donors for their contributions to date.
“The museum’s collection is a cultural asset that reflects our national heritage. We’re building a new home that aspires to be innovative; as innovative as the canoe itself. The new museum will care for the collection in the way it deserves to be cared for, and preserve it, protect it, and showcase it for generations to come.”
Morris shared that the complete collection will be accessible to visitors to the museum’s new home, noting what’s on display at any given time at the current 910 Monaghan Road location represents just 20 percent of its 600-plus paddled watercraft.
“We will be basically doubling the museum space and showing the full collection. It will be a reunion of sorts.”
Canadian Canoe Museum board chair Bill Morris, with museum general manager Carolyn Hyslop, thanked MP Monsef for being a strong advocate for the museum (photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
Estimated to cost close to $50 million when all is said and done, the new museum, located on Parks Canada property, will be comprised of three main components: a 17,000 square foot exhibition gallery, a restaurant/café and gift shop, and a 250-seat multi-purpose room. In addition, a 20,000 square foot storage space will be accessible to an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 visitors annually — double the museum’s current attendance.
Chosen via a committee headed by former longtime Globe & Mail architectural critic Lisa Rochon, heneghan peng of Dublin, Ireland is the lead design and landscape architect, working in tandem with architect of record Kearns Mancini and landscape designer Phil Collins of Foggy River Farm. Among heneghan peng’s benchmark design projects is The Palestinian Museum in Berzeit, Palestine and the Grand Egyptian Museum situated between the pyramids and Cairo.
Opened July 1, 1997, the Canadian Canoe Museum’s birth can be traced back earlier to when a committed group of paddlers and historians welcomed the Canadian Canoe Museum collection to Peterborough from Camp Kandalore in the early 1990s.
The initial plan was to locate the museum on Little Lake beside Beavermead Park on property owned by the City of Peterborough. However, before that property could be developed, Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC), which was closing its Peterborough operation, offered to sell its office and factory space on Monaghan Road for $1. The existing buildings and infrastructure made OMC the best site option at the time.
Chief Phyllis Williams of Curve Lake First Nation carves a paddle as MP Maryam Monsef, museum board chair Bill Morris, Peterborough city councillor Lesley Parnell, and musueum general manager Carolyn Hyslop look on (photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
The decision to explore relocating the museum to an on-water location in Peterborough was made at a board strategic planning retreat in 2007. Subsequent strategic planning sessions led to the articulation and expansion of two-long term objectives for the organization: build a strong and sustainable organization, and work toward re-situating, re-developing and re-inventing the museum as a national canoeing hub and a marquee tourist draw on a new site on the water in or near downtown Peterborough. That call to action was written into a strategic plan titled “Onto The National Stage, first published in 2010.
Following the formal portion of MP Monsef’s announcement, Morris said the public fundraising campaign is “a year or two down the road,” adding it’s hoped ground will be broken on site in 2019.
“A year ago we were at the bottom of the mountain looking up,” said Morris. “We’ve made significant progress and we’re gaining momentum. We’ve got a lot of work to do but we’re feeling very confident.”
“There are a number of (government) ministries that have synergies with what we’re doing here. Certainly heritage is one, but obviously First Peoples is a very important part of the museum. One of the other things is the environmental aspect of the project. There are also the economic spin-offs, so we’re hoping the industry side of things will lead to some possibilities (in terms of funding).”
Natalie Dorsett as Sarah and Derek Weatherdon as Noah in the Peterborough Theatre Guild's production of Robert Ainsworth's "A Life Before", running February 24 to March 11 (photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW)
I’ve often noted that this year has been one of the boldest and most unusual seasons for the Peterborough Theatre Guild. In comparison to the usual Guild fare, the shows they have picked have been out of the ordinary.
In A Life Before, running from Feburary 24th to March 11th, director Robert Ainsworth pushes unusual past 10 and up to 11.
Peterborough Theatre Guild presents A Life Before
When: Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 8 p.m.; Thursday, March 2 to Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 8 p.m.; Thursday, March 9 to Saturday, March 11, 2017 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, February 26 and Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 2 p.m. Where: Peterborough Theatre Guild (364 Rogers St., Peterborough) How much: $20 adults, $18 seniors, $11 students
Written and directed by Robert Ainsworth. Derek Weatherdon as Noah, Natalie Dorsett as Sarah, Jacquie Butler as Carol, Keith Goranson as Mason, and Linda Driscoll as Anna. Set by Carolyn Boyer. Sound design by Andy Duncan. Tickets are available by calling 705-745-4211 or visiting the box office from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. The box office is also open one hour before performances on Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees.
This year’s Guild entry for the Eastern Ontario Drama League Festival, A Life Before is an play written by Ainsworth and making its debut on the Guild stage. A good-natured supernatural thriller about past lives, A Life Before is filled with mystery, melodrama, and a few well-placed chills.
When Noah (Derek Weatherdon) and his new bride Sarah (Natalie Dorsett) returns to his childhood home for a temporary stay, not only does Noah’s past catch up with him, but so does somebody else’s. After Noah is plagued by nightmares and flashbacks about a life that he never lived, his mother Carol (Jacquie Butler) reveals that as a child Noah claimed he had lived another life before as a boy named Jeffrey.
With the help of an eccentric psychiatrist friend named Mason (Keith Goranson), Noah begins to discover another reality beyond his own. However, when Noah’s paths cross with a lonely elderly woman named Anna (Linda Driscoll), the pieces of his past life begin to fall into place, solving a decades old mystery and revealing the truth about the sinister “Jigsaw Man” who haunts Noah’s dreams.
A Life Before is a compelling original show that will keep the audience on the edge of its seat. While the mystery itself is at times predictable, it never really matters: the story is so engaging and the characters so likeable that the audience becomes invested in the characters’ journey. The result is an intriguing tale of reincarnation, past lives, and the joining of two families — one from the present and another from the past — that are looking for answers about the mysterious Jeffrey.
Derek Weatherdon at Noah, Natalie Dorsett as Sarah, Jaquie Butler as Carol, and Keith Garanson as Mason (photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW)
The strength of A Life Before isn’t just the well-crafted story, but also the individual quirks that make the characters so real.
Derek Weatherdon gives a multi-dimensional performance as Noah, who puts on a series of different faces and emotions as his past lives haunt him. Somewhat goofy and often confused in the role of Noah, Derek can switch off the normal and transfer over to scary at breakneck speed. By changing his posture, his face, and his voice, Derek’s transformation into Jeffrey is very effective, creating instant goosebumps for those watching. This is a juicy role for a good actor, and Derek is fantastic as the centre of this production.
But Derek is also lucky to have a talented cast of supporting co-stars to work along, including Natalie Dorsett as his upbeat and supportive wife, Jacquie Butler as his cynical and overbearing mother, and Keith Gorman as an over-the-top cheese-puff-eating psychiatrist. Each of these characters brings his and her own charm to the show, as well as providing key support for Derek.
But the real emotional twist comes when Linda Driscoll, in the role of Anna, joins the story near the end of the first act. I don’t want to give much away about her character or role in the play, but once she joins the rest of the cast, both the mystery and the heart of the show come together. Linda gives a strong performance and the scenes where she interacts with Derek are among the best.
The real emotional twist comes with Linda Driscoll’s appearance as Anna near the end of the first act (photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW)
I also want to give mention to the very elaborate and functional set created by Carolyn Boyer. In the first act, it becomes a stylish living room/dining room combination with grand paintings and multiple levels. However, in the second act the very same set comes apart to double as the ruins of an old homestead. It is a fascinating set piece — a true work of art itself. Paired with some eerie soundscapes created by Andy Duncan, and the second act takes an eerie turn.
Although A Life Before isn’t the typical show audiences are used to from the Guild, it should become an instant crowd pleaser. While the mystery and subject matter may challenge some audience members, the show has a friendly charm throughout. The heart of the play is a well-told story of two souls living within one man.
A fantastic show with a wonderful cast, I am sure that A Life Before will bring Robert Ainsworth much success, and the show is completely buzz worthy. No matter how well it does when it’s adjudicated for the Eastern Ontario Drama League Festival on March 10th, in my book A Life Before is a winner.
If you have an interest in the supernatural, or are just looking for something a bit different A Life Before is a show you’ll want to see. The play runs from February 24th to March 11th at the Peterborough Theatre Guild at 364 Rogers St. in Peterborough. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $11 for students, available at the Guild box office.
As part of the Peterborough Folk Festival's February Folk Folly, Peterborough fuzz-folk duo Mayhemingways (Benj Rowland and Josh Fewings) are performing at The Pig's Ear in downtown Peterborough on Saturday, February 25 with special guests Murder Murder from Sudbury. This will be Mayhemingways last show at The Piggy, which is closing in April, before they head out on a cross-Canada tour with Joel and Bill Plaskett. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
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, February 23 to Wednesday, March 1.
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.
7:30pm - Jazz & Blues Night w/ Marsala Lukianchuk & Rob Phillips Trio
Friday, February 24
5pm - Rick & Gailie; 8:30pm - Four Lanes Wide
Saturday, February 25
5pm - Rick & Gailie; 8:30pm - The Randy Hill Band
Sunday, February 26
3pm - Odd Man Rush
Monday, February 27
7pm - Crash and Burn w/ Rick & Gailie
Tuesday, February 28
7pm - Open mic w/ Randy Hill
Wednesday, March 1
8pm - Trent student night
Coming Soon
Thursday, March 2 7:30pm - Jazz & Blues Night w/ Marsala Lukianchuk & Rob Phillips Trio
Friday, March 3 5pm - Rick & Gailie; 8:30pm - The Union Band
Saturday, March 4 5pm - Rick & Gailie; 8:30pm - House Brand
Sunday, March 5 3pm - Bluegrass Menagerie
Canoe & Paddle
18 Bridge St., Lakefield
(705) 651-1111
Saturdays
8-11pm - Live music
Sundays (2nd/4th of month)
2-5pm - Live music
Tuesdays
7-10pm - Open jam
The Cat & The Fiddle Cobourg
38 Covert St., Cobourg
(905) 377-9029
Friday, February 24
9pm - The St. Practice Day Band (replacing Wicklow Beach Boys)
Coming Soon
Friday, March 17 9pm - St. Patrick's Day Party ft Madman's Window
Catalina's
131 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 874-5972
Saturday, February 25
6-8pm - Peterborough Poetry Slam presents Soul Buffet ft Ian Keteku ($10 or PWYC)
Coming Soon
Sunday, March 5 3-4:30pm - Holly Bennett "Drawn Away" book launch
Wednesday, March 8 8pm - Rosie's Revue for International Women's Day ft Missy Knott, Hillary Dumoulin, Kerry Jayne, Britt Hall, Elisha Rubacha, Stephen Stamp, & more ($10 or PWYC)
Friday, March 31 7:30pm - Lynne Hanson & The Good Intentions album release
The Ceilie (Trent University student pub)
1600 West Bank Dr., Peterborough
(705) 748-1011
Coming Soon
Saturday, March 4 8pm - Dub Trinity (open to Trent University students and guests, all ages, $3)
Chemong Lodge
764 Hunter St., Bridgenorth
(705) 292-8435
Thursdays
5-9pm - Pianist Barry McMullen (dining room)
Fridays
5-9pm - Pianist Barry McMullen (dining room)
The Church-key Pub & Grindhouse
26 Bridge St. W., Campbellford
(705) 653-0001
Thursday, February 23
9pm - Robert Keyes
Friday, February 24
9pm - Derek Arsenault
Saturday, February 25
9pm - Lynne Hanson
Mondays
Trivia Monday
Wednesdays
Whiskey Wednesday w/ Ken Tizzard
Coming Soon
Saturday, April 8 - Saturday, April 22 2nd Annual Monopoly Tournament
Coach & Horses Pub
16 York St. S., Lindsay
(705) 328-0006
Thursdays
10pm - Open Jam w/ Gerald Vanhalteren
Wednesdays
7-11pm - Live music
Dobro Restaurant & Bar
287-289 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 775-9645
Friday, February 24
10pm - The Family Band (Waxxie Belbin, Brent Olgletree, Brent Bailey) w/ Howard Ross and Robin Hawkins
Saturday, February 25
10pm - LMT Connection ($10)
Wednesdays
Open stage
Dominion Hotel
113 Main St., Minden
(705) 286-6954
Coming Soon
Saturday, March 11 7pm - Jimmy Pearson (no cover)
Friday, March 17 8pm - St. Patrick's Day Blues w/ Chuck Jackson and Tyler Yarema ($25)
Friday, April 7 8pm - Jim Love CD Release Party (no cover)
Friday, June 8 7:30pm - Farmer the Band (by donation0
Dr. J's BBQ & Brews
282 Aylmer St., Peterborough
(705) 874-5717
Saturday, February 25
8pm - The Austin Carson Band
Frank's Pasta and Grill
426 King St. E., Cobourg
(905) 372-2727
Thursdays
5-8pm - Live music
Fridays
9pm-12am - Karaoke Night Girls Night Out; 12am - DJ Chrome
Friday, May 12 5:30pm - Peterborough Live Music Festival Acoustic Jam w/ Nathan Bottomley, The Templars (all ages, $5 or $15 for weekend pass, in advance at www.ticketscene.ca/events/17190/)
Riverside Grill & Gazebo - Holiday Inn
150 George St, Peterborough
(705) 743-1144
Coming Soon
Friday, March 10 8pm - Jack De Keyzer Solo Performance ($15)
Sapphire Room
137 Hunter St., Peterborough
(705) 749-0409
Friday, February 24
10pm - DJ Jas Nasty, DJ Mexican Poutine, and friends
Shots
379 George Street K9H 3R2, Peterborough
(705) 749-9315
Wednesdays
10pm - Wednesday House Party
Southside Pizzeria
25 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough
(705) 748-6120
Fridays
9am-12pm - Open mic ($2); 8pm - Karaoke
Tuesdays
9am-12pm - Open mic (free); 8pm - Karaoke
The Spill
414 George St., Peterborough
(705) 748-6167
Thursday, February 23
8pm - Peterborough Poetry Slam ft Niambi ($5-10 or PWYC)
Friday, February 24
The Kerouacs
Saturday, February 25
Farewell Erik Party
Sunday, February 26
3-6pm - February Folk Folly Mardi Gras Party with Pays D'en Haut
Wednesday, March 1
8:30pm - Kerry Jayne w/ special guests ($5 or PWYC)
Coming Soon
Thursday, March 2 8pm - Hearing Trees w/ No Pussyfooting and Garbageface
Friday, March 3 9:30pm - Mary Kate Edwards EP Release Show ($10, includes copy of Blueberry Pie)
Monday, March 6 8pm - The Day of the Dude 2017 (entry by donation, no one turned away)
The Trend
110 London St., Peterborough
(705) 750-1265
NOTE
Closed for Reading Week, reopening February 27
Coming Soon
Thursday, March 2 7-10pm - Mysterious Entity Theatre Script Club
The Venue
286 George Street North, Peterborough
(705) 876-0008
The Peterborough County OPP detachment on 453 Lansdowne Street East in Peterborough was temporarily closed yesterday (February 22) while police investigated a possible explosive device contained in a briefcase.
At around 11:30 a.m. on February 22nd, members of the Peterborough County OPP spoke with a man who explained he had received a call about winning a lottery in the United States. The man was told he had won 2.5 million dollars and, in order to receive his winnings, he had to pay $5,000 in tax.
The man also received a locked briefcase and was told that it contained a portion of his winnings. A letter accompanying the briefcase indicated he had to first send the tax money and then he would receive a code to open the briefcase.
The letter also said the briefcase contained an explosive device and any efforts to open it without the proper code would cause the briefcase to explode.
The man brought the briefcase to the Peterborough County OPP detachment. Police closed the detachment to the public and contacted members of Central Region Tactics and Rescue Unit. Members of the Explosives Disposal Unit (EDU) were assisted by TRU in rendering the package safe. There were no explosives in the package.
Police remind members of the public that, if they find any military ordnance or a suspected explosive device, they should not touch, move, or transport the item. They should record any numbers that might appear on the device (this will assist with identification of the item) and call the local police for proper disposal.
Both the OPP and the Canadian Armed Forces have trained experts who will attend the location of the explosive device and can decide the safest method for its removal and disposal.
Nikki Weatherdon, Derek Bell, and Quinn Ferentzy perform in The Theatre of King's production of "No Exit" by Jean-Paul Satre, which runs from February 23 to 25 (photo: Andy Carroll)
Originally scheduled for December 2016, The Theatre on King’s (TTOK) production of Jean-Paul Sartre’s existential classic No Exit finally hits the stage on Thursday, February 23rd.
No Exit
When: Thursday, February 23 – Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 8 p.m. Where: The Theatre on King (159 King St., Suite 120, Peterborough) How much: $10 at the door or pay what you can
Written by Jean-Paul Sartre, directed by Ryan Kerr and co-director Simon Turner, and starring Derek Bell, Nikki Weatherdon, and Quinn Ferentzy. Set and costumes by Kate Story, lighting design by Ryan Kerr, stage management and lighting operation by Shannon McKenzie. Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
Directed by Ryan Kerr with assistance from Simon Turner, No Exit was months in the making — but the wait was well worth it.
The best known literary work of the French philosopher, No Exit first made its debut in Paris in 1944. The play was the source of Sartre’s most famous quote “L’enfer, c’est les autres”, which roughly translates to “Hell is other people.”
The one act play revolves around three characters: Joseph Garcin (Derek Bell), Inès Serrano (Nikki Weatherdon), and Estelle Rigault (Quinn Ferentzy). A coward, a seductress, and a murderer, the three recently deceased souls find themselves damned in hell. But instead of the fire and brimstone and torture they were expecting, they are locked together in an elegant room with nothing but each other’s company.
While awaiting their fate, the characters are able to see the people they left behind and eventually reveal to one another their sordid stories and the reasons they ended up in this place. As their conversation continues, different dynamics between the characters emerge, from lust and desire to disgust and hatred. Eventually the trio realizes just why they have been bundled together, and discover that the banality of their final fate is crueler than any sadistic torture chamber could offer.
There is much to love about TTOK’s No Exit, but what really makes the show is the wonderful cast assembled for the production. As Ryan Kerr pointed out to me, while many of the people involved in the show are known throughout the Peterborough artist community, for the most part this is the first time the majority of them have appeared in the TTOK space.
Derek Bell is Joseph Garcin, Quinn Ferentz is Estelle Rigault, and Nikki Weatherdon is Inès Serrano (photo: Andy Carroll)
Derek, Nikki, and Quinn play beautifully off of each other. Through a combination of lust and disgust for one another, the characters break each other down and expose their inner demons. The result is a show about the confessions and mind games of three truly terrible souls, but ones that are captivating enough to make you want to watch.
Derek Bell gives an interesting performance as Joseph Garcin. Emotional and proud, there is also a sense of pathos to the character who, even in hell, tries to find validation of the life he left behind. It’s hard to like Garcin, but Derek manages to give the character such a tragic disposition that he becomes the figure that the audience most empathizes with, thus making him the anchor of the performance.
Nikki Weatherdon plays Garcin’s foil Inès as a hostile and abrasive ball of darkness, who prods and needles Garcin at every turn. The scariest member of the trio, Inès is also the strongest, and her constant attempts to seduce Estelle gives the performance some nice moments of eroticism. Nikki is just delicious to watch.
But it is Quinn Ferentzy who steals the show as Estelle. In her stage debut, Quinn shines bright white under the lights and beautifully plays off her two co-stars. Potentially the most complex and bleakest of the three characters, Estelle is the personification of evil and desire, with both Joseph and Inès feeding into the lust that she creates.
But what is most disturbing about Estelle is the fact that, while her co-prisoners seem to have different degrees of remorse for their crimes, she is completely indifferent to everything and everybody, both in her current situation and her past life. Quinn beautifully portrays a sociopath in a fantastic debut performance
“No Exit” is Jean-Paul Sartre’s existentialist depiction of an afterlife in which three deceased characters are punished by being locked into a room together for eternity (photo: Andy Carroll)
I want to give a special shout out to the fourth member of the production, Jean Francois Tremblay, who has the small role of “the valet” in the show’s opening moments. A familiar face within the local theatrical community, in recent years Jean-Francois has stayed off the stage working within promotion and stage management. No Exit is not only the first time that Jean-Francois has worked at TTOK, but it’s his first return to the stage since 2014.
It’s such a joy to see Jean-Francois back on stage and he is sardonic and wickedly funny in the role. Although a small role, it is a standout performance. Hopefully Jean-Francois won’t wait so long to get on the stage again.
While No Exit is cerebral in nature, the ideas and concepts expressed in the play — life, death, lust, regret, morality, and evil — are not so complex that the audience can’t comprehend or relate to the material. It’s brilliant, yet still accessible. Furthermore, Sartre’s commentary on hell is interesting, and makes us ponder if perhaps we are living in hell already.
As a result, No Exit is just good theatre and the kind of show that makes TTOK such an important theatrical institution. With a lot of choice for entertainment in Peterborough this weekend, make this show a priority as No Exit runs for only three nights, Thursday, February 23rd to Saturday, February 25th. Performances begin at 8 p.m. and tickets are $10 at the door (or pay what you can).
Homemade bee homes for wild cavity nesting bees can be made from natural, hollow, straw-like materials bundled together and placed in a nook of a tree or shrub. This bee house is made from the stems of grasses tied snugly together and hung at GreenUP Ecology Park in a place where wild bee activity can be easily observed.
Over the past few years, more people are transforming their yards from lawn to a more wildlife-friendly landscape, which provides a healthier habitat for many species including wild bees.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Marcy Adzich, Manager, GreenUP Landscape Programs.
Did you know that wild bees pollinate most of our backyard fruits, berries, and vegetables? Acccording to the Xerces Society, the ecological service native bees provide is necessary for the reproduction of over 85% of the world’s flowering plants — including more than two-thirds of the world’s crop species.
In 2011, over 350 species of bees were documented in the Greater Toronto Area. It was estimated that an average yard in the GTA hosted 50 bee species actively nesting or foraging. Wild bees are mostly solitary in nature and, like honeybees, they struggle to maintain their populations due to urbanization, pollution, invasive species, habitat loss, and disease.
Approximately 70% of Ontario’s wild bees nest in the ground in hidden spots such as underneath cracks in the sidewalk, in rotting logs, or in gravel and sandy areas. Some of our city’s worn footpaths and bare roadsides have created suitable nesting sites for ground nesting, wild bees who seek a certain type of soil and compaction for laying eggs. Wild bees appreciate you leaving a few bare patches of ground in your garden, so they can create a nesting site close to their foraging source.
Approximately 30% of Ontario’s wild bees are cavity dwellers meaning that solitary, female bees must find narrow, hollow crevices to lay their eggs in single rows. Eggs are placed within a pollen ball containing pollen and nectar and are usually round or oval in shape. Depending on the type of bee, the eggs are segmented from one other with mud mixtures, waterproofing plant cellulose, or leaf material collected by nearby plants.
Females lay an egg, close the cell, and repeat the process until the hollow cavity is full. It takes several weeks for the eggs to hatch. The larvae then consume the pollen and nectar ball, and then each larvae metamorphoses into an adult bee.
Bees are very industrious insects and will search high and low for the right nest site to raise their young. In urban settings, bees sometimes consider additional nest sites, such as at the base of fire hydrants, in strategically placed drinking straws, and in tunnels burrowed into decks. While these nest sites are sometimes a bit of an inconvenience for us, they are crucial to allow females to raise the next generation of pollinators.
A GreenUP staff member was surprised by several leafcutter bees that emerged from a piece of garden hose that was being stored in her desk drawer. During the previous season the hose had been used as part of a tree guard, at which time a female leaf cutter bee had laid her eggs inside.
Last summer at the GreenUP office, one of our staff members had a big surprise when she opened her desk drawer. Inside, several leafcutter bees were crawling around.
How did they get there? After the leafcutter bees were safely moved outside, we discovered a hollow section of garden hose inside the drawer — it had been used the season before as a tree guard. Before it was removed from the tree and brought into the office, a female leafcutter bee thought this hose was an ideal nesting site and had laid her eggs within it!
Making a simple bee house is a wonderful way to observe these remarkable pollinators in your yard (instead of inside your home or office). Depending on the time of year, season, and even the time of day, your bee house will be frequented by a variety of bees making it easy to closely study their unique characteristics.
GreenUP & The Endeavour Centre present Build Your Own Bee Hotel
When: Saturday, April 22, 2017 from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Where: The Endeavour Centre (910 High St., Peterborough) How much: $125
With instructors Jen Feigin and Marcy Adzich. Includes a 45-minute presentation “The Bees in Your Backyard”, nest block and wood block bee hotel design options, and the oppotunity to build your own bee hotel. Register at endeavourcentre.org.
Wild bee houses can be made with natural hollow, straw-like materials of varying diameters (ranging from 3mm to 10mm) and lengths (ranging from 10cm to 30cm). Simply bundle them tightly together and secure them in a nook of a tree branch or a shrub.
Some bee houses are similar in size and shape to a small birdhouse and contain removable reeds, cardboard and paper tube inserts, bamboo rods, or twigs.
Wild bee houses can also be made from untreated, solid wood logs or blocks drilled with varying diameter holes for bee nesting.
Unlike honeybees that regenerate their population throughout the season, only a few wild bees in our region live for more than one generation per year and species are rarely seen for more than a one-month period. The majority of our wild, solitary bees spend the winter as fully-grown larvae within the nesting cavity, emerging once per year in sync with the timing of the flowers they provide pollination services for.
This time of year, many wild bees (including bumblebees) are in a state called diapause, which is a type of hibernation that lasts until the weather warms up. This is a perfect time to make some bee houses and have them prepared to install early April.
GreenUP and The Endeavour Centre are hosting a workshop, “Build Your Own Bee Hotel”, on Saturday, April 22nd. In this workshop, participants will receive hands on instruction building a bee house, with a few designs to select from.
Participants will also learn more about Peterborough’s wild bees and pollinator-friendly plants, and will be introduced to GreenUP’s new Native Bee Share citizen science program, which will monitor cavity nesting bee numbers, nesting patterns, and pests and diseases, while stewarding and restoring pollinator habitat.
For more information about the Build Your Own Bee Hotel workshop and the GreenUP Native Bee Share program, visit greenup.on.ca.
All photos courtesy of GreenUP. Note: The “Build Your Own Bee Hotel” workshop originally scheduled for Sunday, April 16th now takes place on Saturday, April 22nd.
Carla Hunt has retired after 35 years at ServiceOntario in Lakefield, which is operated by the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism. Carla, pictured with outgoing Chamber president Kris Keller, was recognized at the Chamber Annual General Meeting on February 15.
Thanks to all who attended the Chamber’s Annual General Meeting on February 15th. Here’s a recap:
Recognizing Carla Hunt
After 35 years, Carla Hunt worked her last day at ServiceOntario on February 10th.
Carla’s friendly smile and wealth of knowledge are known by many in this community. Since 1982, she has been conducting driver and vehicle transactions and more recently Health Card transactions and Organ Donor registrations. Carla acted as the Assistant Supervisor in the office from 2004 until 2011 when she decided to reduce her hours of work.
In recognition of this exemplary service, Carla has chosen a gift certificate for Shoreline Furniture Co.
Thank you Carla for your dedicated service and best of luck on your future endeavours!
2017-18 Board of Directors
Introducing the Kawartha Chamber’s 2017-18 Board of Directors. Look for full introductions in the April/May Newsletter.
Brian Harrington, Clearview Cottage Resort
Bryan Kingdon, ISL Insurance
Chris Wilson, Let’s Get Digital
Cindy Windover, Windover Plumbing
Garry Douglas, North Kawartha Design and Kawartha Lakes Construction
John Penny, JC Penny Accounting & Tax Services
Kevan Herod, Herod Financial Services
Mike Walker, Agilec
Scott Matheson, CIBC
Sheri Hockaday, Salon Sorella & Day Spa
Tom LaBranche, Village Pet Food & Supply
Tonya Kraan, STREXER
Tracy Logan, Logan Tree Experts
Thank you Kris Keller!
Kris Keller (right) is retiring from the Board of Directors Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism after seven years, including the past two years as President.
Kris Keller is retiring from the Board of Directors after seven years. Kris has had a hand at some point in almost every committee: Membership & Programs, Marketing, Gala, Golf Tournament, Public Policy and Human Resources. She served as President in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
The Board of Directors will greatly miss Kris’s knowledge, dedication and efficiency in running a meeting, and extend their heartfelt thanks.
The Board of Directors will elect its new Executive at the March Board Meeting. Cindy Windover has been named as Interim President until that time.
Professional Development Sponsor
Lynn Woodcroft of Royal LePage Frank Real Estate is the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism’s Professional Development Sponsor for 2017-18
The Chamber is proud to announce Lynn Woodcroft, Sales Representative, Royal LePage Frank Real Estate as its Professional Development Sponsor for 2017-18. This generous sponsorship will support seminars as well as training that will be shared digitally.
Lynn has been part of this community since 1998. She is a graduate from Trent University with her B.Sc. in Biology with strengths in aquatic ecology.
She has been boating the Trent Severn Waterway for 30 years and knows these lakes inside out. Her focus is on cottage country and Peterborough County.
Lynn has been a Top Performer, achieving the director’s platinum award two consecutive years. This represents the top five percent in the marketplace based on closed and collected sales. Give her a call she will work hard for you.
Networking Sponsor Renewed
Blue Diamond Window Cleaning has renewed its Networking Event Sponsorship for 2017-18.
This generous sponsorship will assist with the Chamber’s various networking events such as Business After Hours, the AGM, as well as title sponsorship of the Chanber’s upcoming Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast.
The Chamber expresses its sincere thanks to Gerry Herron and Blue Diamond Window Cleaning for the dedicated support.
Money raised for Warsaw Habitat Build
Dick Crawford and Tonya Kraan, two Chamber members who supported the Habitat for Humanity Build in Warsaw
Cindy Windover challenged AGM attendees to support the Habitat for Humanity Build in Warsaw by “buying 20 square feet for 20 dollars”.
Thanks to all who supported this great cause!
There are a few square feet left to buy on the Warsaw Build Blue Print. If you would like to support this cause, please contact the Chamber office at 705-652-6963.
Square feet are $1 each and can be purchased in any increment. Purchase at least 10 square feet and receive a coupon for a free pizza — while quantities last.
Thank you to businesses involved in the AGM
Thank you to the following businesses who helped make the Chamber AGM a success!
Food Donations
Lakefield Foodland
Jack’s Family Restaurant
M&M Food Market
Pizza Villa
The Nutty Bean Cafe
Meeting Room & Beverages
The Village Inn
Save the date: upcoming Chamber events
Thursday, March 30th: B.O.S.S. Business Owners Sharing Solutions, 7:30 AM, Lakefield Legion
Wednesday, April 19th: Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast, 7:30 AM, Beachwood Resort
More details to come!
Canadian Chamber of Commerce 5 Minutes for Business: How to Persuade on Trade
In this edition of 5 Minutes for Business, Hendrik Brakel, Canadian Chamber of Commerce Senior Director, Economic, Financial and Tax Policy, reflects on the Canada-U.S. trade partnership and how the uncertainty of the U.S.’s position on NAFTA could substantially impact employees, businesses, and economies around the world.
In an effort to advocate for NAFTA and a strong trading relationship between Canada and the U.S., the CCC reached out to allies in the U.S. business community, including U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Tom J. Donohue, who was in Ottawa on February 6th.
Read 5 Minutes for Business to learn how Mr. Donohue feels about NAFTA and what’s at stake for Canadian businesses.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce provides 5 Minutes for Business, a publication written by Hendrik Brakel, the Senior Director of Enconomic, Financial and Tax Policy. In these publication, Hendrik briefly describes current issues that affect the Canadian economy and provides insight on what it will mean for Canadians today and in the future.
Hot deal on tax return preparation
JC Penny Accounting & Tax Services is offering preparation of a basic tax return for $55 before March 31st, prepared and e-filed by John C. Penny, Certified Bookkeeper. Learn more.
Glow in the Dark Mini Funspiel at Lakefield Curling Club
Get your glow on at the Lakefield Curling Club for the Glow in the Dark Mini Funspiel on Saturday, February 25th.
Sign up as a team of four or as an individual. Cost is $20 per person for two to four end games. Draws at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wear your brightest neon or white colours and other glow accessories. There is a prize for best “glowing” team.
For more information, contact Lisa Donaldson at 705-875-0003 or email lakefieldglow@gmail.com.
Career Fair & Community Information on March 1st
The annual Career Fair & Community Information session is coming up on Wednesday, March 1st at the Lakefield Legion. Drop in between 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. — admission is free!
For more information, call 705-740-2577 ext. 5212 or email dayotte@agilec.ca.
First EV Charging Station in Lakefield
The EV Charging Station in the municipal parking lot in Lakefield
The Township of Selwyn has its first EV Charging Station in Lakefield, located in the municipal parking lot adjacent to The Village Inn.
Charging is free for 2017!
This charging station was installed in partnership with Peterborough Distribution Inc.
The charging station is a Level II charger that provides users with a 30A charge rate that can take a typical EV or PHEV from empty to full in 4-10 hours (depending on the vehicle’s battery size.)
Food & Agriculture Video Series Receives Provincial Recognition
Staff from Peterborough Economic Development
Peterborough Economic Development received a provincial marketing award in the advertising category for last year’s Food & Agriculture Video series. The award was presented at the Economic Developers Council of Ontario President’s Dinner earlier this month.
This series showcased the opportunities and experiences available to business, residents and visitors in the food and agriculture sector in Peterborough & the Kawarthas. Read more.
VIDEO: Agriculture in Peterborough
Canada Day in Lakefield – Sponsorship & Vendor Opportunities!
Celebrations for Canada 150 are taking place in Lakefield on Saturday, July 1st in Isabel Morris Park featuring Artisans in the Park, music and food, family games, and fireworks!
Various sponsorship levels are available to fit any budget. Learn more.
The Rotary Trail Bridge on the Scenic River Road Trail is being rehabilitated
Rehabilitation of the Rotary Trail Bridge (Township of Douro-Dummer) located on the Scenic River Road Trail at County Road 32 (locally known as River Road) and Hickey Road will begin on Monday, February 27th. The anticipated completion date is Friday, March 10th, 2017.
Work will require a full closure of the Scenic River Road Trail at the bridge. Work to the bridge includes repair of crib abutments, wing-walls, and railing.
Please note that timelines are approximate and weather dependent. Work on weekends may take place to accommodate completion of the project within the established construction schedule. Read more.
KPR Wall of Honour
In celebration of its 20th year as a school district, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board is seeking nominations to be considered for a newly established Wall of Honour.
This dedicated area within the Board’s Education Centre will serve to acknowledge those individuals who have made significant contributions to the Board and its students.
Do you know a worthy past or present student, staff, member of the public, or trustee? Nominations can be submitted online, from now until March 27, 2017. Learn more.
Upcoming events
Kawartha & Haliburton Trapper’s Carnival, North Kawartha Community Centre – March 4th
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.
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