Along with Pat Hooper (not pictured), Danny Bronson, Beth McMaster, and Len Lifchus are reviving the popular "Spring Tonic" Showplace fundraisers in the form of "Tonic @ Twenty", which runs on October 28 and 29 at Showplace Performance Centre. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
On October 28th and 29th, the creative team of Beth McMaster, Len Lifchus, Pat Hooper, and Danny Bronson are reviving a beloved theatre event of the past to help raise funds for Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough.
Showplace presents Tonic @ Twenty
When: Saturday, October 28, 2017 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, October 29, 2017 at 2 p.m. Where: Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: $25
A fundraiser for Showplace Performance Centre. Script by Beth McMaster, directed by Len Lifchus, musical direction by Danny Bronson, and producted by Pat Hooper. Featuring Megan Murphy, Brian MacDonald, Robert Ainsworth, Paul Crough, Darcy Mundle, Wayne Robinson, Lisa Devan, Kate Suhr, Roy Braun, Matt Diamond, Connie Burton, Dick Plant, Terry Guiel, Gillian and Paul Wilson, Karen Ruth Brown, Tim Rowat, The Citiots, and more.
Tickets are available in person at the Showplace box office, by phone at 705-742-7469, or online at www.showplace.org.
The foursome is bringing together over two dozen of Peterborough’s favourite performers for “Tonic @ Twenty”, a revival of Beth’s popular “Spring Tonic” variety fundraisers for Showplace that closes out the non-profit organization’s 20th anniversary year.
Originating in the early 2000s, Spring Tonic was a yearly musical revue written by Beth that featured a large cast of Peterborough performers. The shows would follow a theme and were very popular with audiences, selling out year after year.
The final Spring Tonic was performed in 2009, but is being brought back to the stage once again to help Showplace out.
“Showplace has a deficit in their operating budget right now but everybody has been working hard to turn it around,” Beth says. “There have already been some significant changes to help that, and we are hoping to help supplement it by doing this fundraiser.”
“All the performers have been giving their time for free, and we have almost no budget,” says Len, who is directing the show. “We also have seven incredible sponsors — one for each decade. The show has been written in a decade format, and Beth has written an interesting twist.”
“We are starting the show when this building was built 70 years ago in 1947 as the Odeon Theatre,” Beth explains. “Tonic At Twenty follows the history of the building.”
The cast from Spring Tonic 2002 … Celebrating Five Years! rehearsing one of the chorus numbers. That show was a recapturing of entertainment during the first five years of Spring Tonic, and Tonic @ Twenty captures what has happened at the building housing Showplace since it first opened as Odeon Theatre in 1947. (Photo courtesy of Beth McMaster)
Originally built in 1947 as the Odeon Theatre, the building now housing Showplace briefly became Trent Cinemas in the 1990s before being acquired by the Showplace Board of Directors in 1995. Largely due to the efforts of volunteers and a successful capital fundraising campaign, the building was totally gutted and reconstructed based on a design by architectural firm Lett/Smith, and reopened as Showplace Performance Centre on October 5, 1996.
The storyline of “Tonic @ Twenty” follows Megan Murphy and Brian MacDonald, who play a director and a musical director casting a show at Showplace, with Danny Bronson and his band present on stage as the musical accompaniment. The musical acts are the performers auditioning for the show, and include music from many of the shows and acts that have appeared at Showplace over the years, as well as the films appearing at the Odeon prior to that.
Meanwhile, a comedic subplot of the show features actor Robert Ainsworth as a rival director who is trying to organize his own Canada 150 show opposite Tonic @ Twenty.
“Rob Ainsworth is wonderful on stage,” says Beth. “He has been writing as well. He’s been dropping things into the script and helping me.”
Some of the cast of “Tonic @ Twenty”, which runs on October 28 and 29 at Showplace Performance Centre, during a rehearsal: Robert Ainsworth, Wayne Robinson, Connie Burton, Roy Braun, Dick Plant, Darcy Mundle, Danny Bronson, Beth McMaster, and Len Lifchus. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
Along with Megan Murphy, Brian MacDonald, and Robert Ainsworth is an incredible cast of Peterborough favourites including Paul Crough, Darcy Mundle, Wayne Robinson, Lisa Devan, Kate Suhr, Roy Braun, Matt Diamond, Connie Burton, Dick Plant, Terry Guiel, Gillian and Paul Wilson, Karen Ruth Brown, Tim Rowat, and The Citiots.
The show also features dance production numbers by dancers from Move N’ Groove Dance Studio under the direction of Julie Fallis, and a few other surprise guests — which the production team is being very tight lipped about.
Jonathan and Stephen Cullen with Laura and Kate McLeod at Spring Tonic 2002 … Celebrating Five Years!. The four performed several numbers including “The Bare Necessities” and “Let There be Peace on Earth”. (Photo courtesy of Beth McMaster)
“I’ve worked with almost everybody in the show, with perhaps the exception of Matt Diamond,” says Danny, who acts as the shows musical director. “Many of the performers are ones who have been involved with the original Tonic.”
Also included in the show will be a sneak peek of St. James Players’ upcoming production of Mary Poppins, featuring Gillian Harknett as the title character and Warren Sweeting as Bert the Chimney Sweep.
“We always liked to promote an upcoming show in Tonic, so this time we’re promoting Mary Poppins,” Len says.
“St. James Players is bringing one of their musical numbers to our show, so Mary and Bert are going to be on our stage.”
But as Len notes, despite the immense cast, the turnaround to produce a Tonic show is very fast.
“This show does not have multiple weeks of rehearsals,” Len explains. “It is put together professionally, but very quickly. We have two choral rehearsals with our core group of singers, and then on the Sunday of show week I stage the show. Then Julie Fallis comes in with her dancers, and then it just magically comes together.
“It’s interesting because one might think it’s stressful, but it’s actually a lot of fun. We don’t get too fancy. It’s kept simple because we want people to watch what’s happening on the stage and just sit back and enjoy it.”
A few flyers from past Spring Tonic performances at Showplace Performance Centre. (Image courtesy of Stuart McMaster)
A fun night with an incredible line-up of performers, Tonic @ Twenty is sure to be a fun night out, and a great way to support the non-profit Showplace. Tonic @ Twenty takes place on Saturday, October 28th at 8 p.m., with a second matinee performance on Sunday, October 29th at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $25 and available at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough), by phone at 705-742-7469, or online at www.showplace.org.
“Tonic @ Twenty” is made possible with support by the following sponsors: McColl Turner; Monkman, Gracie and Johnston; McWilliams Moving and Storage; Guardian Pharmacy – High Street Apothecary; Liftlock Group; Investors’ Group – Debbie Carslake and John Mazziotti; and Best Western Otonabee. kawarthaNOW.com is a media sponsor of the event.
Since Thanksgiving Monday is a statutory holiday in Ontario, all government offices, banks, and liquor and beer stores are closed. Many grocery stores and other businesses are also closed. Most tourist attractions and recreational services remain open.
Thanksgiving is an annual holiday to celebrate and give thanks at the close of the harvest season, a practice of First Nations and Native Americans centuries before the arrival of Europeans in North America. In Canada, Thanksgiving days were observed sporadically beginning in 1799.
After the American Revolution, American refugees who remained loyal to Great Britain moved from the newly independent United States and came to Canada. They brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada, such as the turkey, pumpkin, and squash.
Thanksgiving is always observed in Canada on the second Monday of October, which coincides with the U.S. observance of Columbus Day (American Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November).
Since Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in Ontario, all government offices, banks, and liquor and beer stores are closed. Many grocery stores and other businesses are also closed. Some tourist attractions and recreational services remain open.
For your convenience, we provide this list of 249 selected businesses, services, and organizations from across the Kawarthas. While we strive to make the information on this list as accurate as we can, you should call first to confirm hours if you’re travelling any distance (we’ve included phone numbers). If your business or organization is listed and the hours are incorrect, please let us know by using our content feedback form.
Bewdley Transfer Station 7650 County Rd. 9, Hamilton 905-342-2514
CLOSED
CLOSED
Brighton Landfill 1112 County Rd. 26, Brighton 613-475-1946
CLOSED
CLOSED
Canada Post Mail Delivery / Offices (Note: post offices operated by the private sector will be open according to the hours of service of the host business
No mail delivery
No mail delivery
City of Kawartha Lakes City Hall, Municipal Service Centres, and Administration Offices 26 Francis St., Lindsay 705-324-9411
No change
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Parks, Recreation and Culture facilities, arenas, and pools Various locations, City of Kawartha Lakes 705-324-9411
No change
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Public Libraries Various locations, City of Kawartha Lakes 705-324-9411 x1291
CLOSED
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Waste and Recycling Collection 26 Francis St., Lindsay 1-888-822-2225
Not applicable
Moves to Oct 10 (Oct 10 moves to Oct 11, 11 to 12, 12 to 13)
City of Peterborough Day Cares Peterborough 705-748-8830
CLOSED
CLOSED
City of Peterborough Garbage Pickup Peterborough 705-745-1386
Not applicable
No change
City of Peterborough Green Waste Pickup Peterborough 705-876-1600
Not applicable
No change
City of Peterborough Recycling Pickup Peterborough 705-876-1600
Not applicable
No change
City of Peterborough Social Services Peterborough 705-748-8830
CLOSED
CLOSED
County of Haliburton Administration Offices 11 Newcastle St., Minden 705-286-4085
CLOSED
CLOSED
County of Northumberland Waste and Recycling Collection 555 Courthouse Rd., Cobourg 1-866-293-8379
Not applicable
Moves to Oct 10 (Oct 10 moves to Oct 11, 11 to 12, 12 to 13)
County of Peterborough 470 Water St., Peterborough 705-743-0380
CLOSED
CLOSED
County of Peterborough Garbage Pickup Peterborough 705-745-1386
Not applicable
Check your township at ptbocounty.ca or install My Waste App
County of Peterborough Recycling Pickup Peterborough 705-775-2737
Some of the members of Kawartha Collaborative Practice, an association of family lawyers, financial professionals, and family professionals in Peterborough, Lindsay, and Cobourg who work with divorcing or separating couples to find a mutually agreeable settlement without going through the often adversarial, time consuming, and costly traditional court process. (Photo: Kawartha Collaborative Practice)
When the waters are choppy, when the going gets tough, the best thing to do is to make sure you have as much information as possible and a hand on the steering wheel.
That’s exactly what Kawartha Collaborative Practice does for couples who are divorcing: ensures the information they need to make decisions about their respective futures is readily available, and allows them the chance to have a hand in steering the ship.
More and more, couples are considering collaborative law process for their divorces, says Lindsay family lawyer — and a member of Kawartha Collaborative Practice — Jarret Johnston.
“It’s definitely growing,” he says. “More and more people are saying ‘Yes, I’ve heard of that. Tell me more.'”
In a collaborative process, each individual, represented by a lawyer, meets to find ways to end the marriage that leave both spouses in control of their own futures.
Rather than apply a traditional financial framework, the collaborative process allows for the consideration of other factors — children, heirlooms, property, and health. Rather than going to a courtroom where the proceedings are a matter of public record, the discussions in collaborative law are held privately, in confidence.
According to the Ontario Collaborative Law Federation, the “heart of Collaborative Practice or Collaborative Divorce … is to offer you and your spouse or partner the support, protection, and guidance of your own lawyers without going to court.”
Collaborative practice also holds space for other professionals to assist the process, in many cases, cutting costs and time. Financial experts and family professionals can assist in making information available and guiding respectful and efficient conversation.
Working in collaboration with lawyers and professionals, Johnston says, the couple is able to divorce privately, expediently, and respectfully.
Family lawyer Jarret Johnston of Kawartha Collaborative Practice. (Photo: Kawartha Collaborative Practice)
“It’s so important for clients to know about this opportunity,” he says. “There are so many couples who are either working out their own agreements and missing things, or getting locked into lengthy litigation unnecessarily. This process can be the answer.”
Johnston uses an example of the potential tax consequences of selling family property or dividing investments.
A couple that writes their own agreement may not consider these unforeseen tax consequences — but it wouldn’t be missed in a collaborative process.
There would be potential ways to save both parties significant funds if the property, pension, and investments are untangled the right way.
Another example is the difficulty that arises at the start of a divorce, when difficult decisions need to be made quickly — decisions such as “Who will take the kids to dance next week?” or “How will I pay the household bills?”
Johnston explains that in the collaborative process, these decisions are sought immediately, with meetings and discussions happening right away, rather than the prolonged back-and-forth communication in traditional settlement negotiation between lawyers or due to significant delays in the court system.
“In a collaborative process, we may be sitting down at a table and rolling our sleeves up at the very first meeting,” he says. “These kinds of decisions can be made virtually immediately.”
“I definitely think more people should be considering collaborative process. As lawyers, we all have that file at court where we think this has gone on too long, perhaps this could have resolved more efficiently if we just let the parties engage and converse at a meeting, rather than letting the lawyers dictate the decisions and process.”
Collaborative practice allows that to happen, he says, by involving other financial and family professionals and by considering those things the court process may not be as well-equipped to consider and deal with in a timely fashion — things that might be more emotional, health issues, immediate financial chaos, and the overall well-being of the children.
If you are facing a separation or a divorce and don’t want to go through the traditional court process, call 705-928-3218 or visit www.kawarthacollaborative.com. You can also find them on Facebook.
Some of the professionals at Kawartha Collaborative Practice (from front to back): lawyer Chantel Lawton, lawyer Nicole Lawson, lawyer Anna Friend, financial professional Laura Abrams, lawyer Brett Walmsley, financial professional Douglas Lamb, financial professional Joe Hilton, family professional Carolyn McAlpine, and lawyer Jarret Johnson. (Photo: Kawartha Collaborative Practice)
Kim Paget, owner and operator of Paget Denture Clinic, with locations in Peterborough and Lakefield. (Photo: Cynthia Sager, snapd Peterborough)
Kim Paget is all too familiar with the old adage, if you smile, the world smiles back.
That’s why the owner and operator of Peterborough’s Paget Denture Clinic strives to help her clients smile confidently again by recreating their natural teeth with prosthetics.
Paget Denture Clinic’s origins began in 1977 when Kim was offered a job at Meredith Denture Clinic in Peterborough, while her mother was being fitted one afternoon for dentures. She initially declined as she was interested in attending university to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree, but was urged by her parents to take the job to help pay for her education.
She took the position and weeks later, after being steeped in the science of making dentures, Kim says she realized denturism was her calling.
“I just loved working with my hands and creating a smile for someone and making them happy was a great feeling,” says Kim.
After seven years of working for the local denturist, Kim decided to get professionally certified, graduating from a three-year denturism program at George Brown College and getting certified by the College of Denturists to practice denturism. In March 1987, she opened her first practice, a small 450 square-foot clinic in the Charlotte Mews in downtown Peterborough.
It was during that start-up period that Kim met her future husband, Wayne, a carpenter, who was intrigued by her profession. Kim says Wayne was blessed with “an intuitive natural ability with tools and materials” and decided to pursue denturism. He joined his wife at the clinic in 1989 and became the second denturist at the practice after getting certified in denturism in 1997.
Business was booming to the point where a larger location was necessary, so Wayne and Kim restored a heritage building on Simcoe Street across from the city bus terminal in 1991. The building became a local landmark and focal point on the street.
The following years were busy for the husband and wife team. They started a family, continued house calls after hours, and conducted denture seminars and clinics at almost every retirement home in Peterborough.
“Meeting clients face-to-face and word of mouth really helped our practice thrive,” says Kim.
By 2002, the clinic employed five full-time staff members as well as several part-time employees. That same year, the Paget’s purchased and renovated the former Roy residence at 308 Rubidge Street what is now the clinic’s permanent home. They also opened a satellite clinic in association with other oral healthcare professionals in the Village Dental Centre in Lakefield.
Keeping the business family-orientated, Kim and Wayne’s two daughters, Brooks and Whitney, also joined the family practice: Brooks is the clinic’s administrative assistant and Whitney is the social media manager. Kim’s niece Melissa Hope also came onboard as a third denturist.
The larger clinic space in Peterborough allowed the business to expand comfortably as the need for denturism increased. It includes wheelchair access, parking for up to 26 vehicles, a state-of-the-art in-house laboratory and four treatment rooms.
Their services include fabricating, adjusting, repairing and performing denture fittings on partial, full or implant supported dentures, flexible partials, sports guards, anti-snoring devices, and teeth whitening. Oral cancer screenings are also offered to ensure a client’s good health.
“Our denture specialists take the time to get to know a client and helping them decide on which denture options will work best to suit their lifestyle, comfort, and aesthetic preferences.”
Over the years, the clinic has received two Chamber of Commerce Awards of Excellence (one for best commercial restoration), and has won favourite denture clinic in Peterborough 22 times. In 2006, Kim received the honour of being named Business Woman of the Year.
Reflecting back on the past 30 years, Kim says “it has been an honour to serve the people of Peterborough.” Although materials and clinical techniques have changed dramatically over the decades, she notes her team’s commitment to quality and service have made Paget Denture Clinic a favourite within the community with denture wearers.
Peterborough fuzz-folk duo Mayhemingways (Benj Rowland and Josh Fewings) perform at Marley's in Buckhorn on Friday, October 6th. This will your last chance to see them before they head off on their first European tour later this month and in November. (Photo: Kevin Warren / 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, October 5 to Wednesday, October 11.
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.
3-6pm - Max Mouse and the Gorillas Thanksgiving fundraiser for Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (all ages); 10pm - Priors, Beef Boys, Uncontrollable Urge ($6)
Wednesday, October 11
9pm - Kitty Pit, Ornament & Crime, Jesse James Medicine Show, Sonorous
Coming Soon
Thursday, October 12 9pm - H. de Heutz, Meowlinda, Cold Eye, Olias ($8)
Friday, October 13 9pm - Strictly Sabbath, Ol' Time Moonshine, Oshawa's God Helmet ($8)
Saturday, October 14 3-6pm - Can't Stop The Signal 02 ft Conflict Avoider, Shelf, Rampancy, Disleksick, Harbinger Talisman ($5 or PWYC)
The Trend
110 London St., Peterborough
(705) 750-1265
Thursday, October 5
8-11pm - Trent University Music Society Open Mic
Turtle John's Pub & Restaurant
64 John St., Port Hope
(905) 885-7200
Coming Soon
Saturday, October 14 7pm - Do Good Badlies
The Venue
286 George Street North, Peterborough
(705) 876-0008
Coming Soon
Friday, November 10 8pm - Produce for Veterans presents Ambush, Dean James, Austin Carson Band, Sticks N' Tones ($25 til August 31, $30 advance, $35 at door)
Leslie Bradford-Scott, co-founder of Walton Wood Farm, told her life story at the October 4, 2017 meeting of the Women's Business Network of Peterborough in a presentation called "The Garden That Grew Her". (Photo: Jeanne Pengelly / kawarthaNOW.com)
What Leslie Bradford-Scott did not tell the group of more than 100 businesswomen at the meeting of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough last night (October 4) was that the entire thought of telling her personal story to a group that large rattled her.
“It was terrifying to get up in front of these women to tell my story,” she told kawarthaNOW following her presentation called ‘The Garden That Grew Her’ — one that left mouths hanging in awe of her resilience.
Bradford-Scott had anything but a smooth path to her current success as the co-founder of Walton Wood Farm in Bailieboro and the creative genius behind its funky gift products. Even Leonardo Di Caprio and the cast of The Revenant received Walton Wood Farm hand cream, as an item included in the Screen Actors Guild Awards gift bag in 2016.
The daughter of an international mobster, Bradford-Scott’s early childhood was like a fairy tale — complete with a dream and a multitude of obstacles to overcome.
“As a little girl, I didn’t have a care in the world,” she told the group, as she showed slides of her picturesque family home in Grimsby and the small secluded “writer’s cabin” down the road she imagined one day would be hers.
From Grade 1, Bradford-Smith dreamed of being a writer. She read insatiably and eventually turned to writing poems and stories to escape turmoil that started to seep into her life the day her father — her ‘god’ in her words — told her she wasn’t smart enough to be a writer, and wasn’t ‘male’ enough to be an airline pilot (her backup plan). She was eight then.
The group of more than 100 women at the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough was entranced by how Leslie Bradford-Scott relentlessly pursued her dreams against all odds. (Photo: Jeanne Pengelly / kawarthaNOW.com)
Not long after, she walked home from school to find police officers loading all the family belongings into a moving truck. Her mother whisked her away without explanation to a motel in Florida, where she lived with her mother, grandmother, and older brother until the family found a new home. It was years later she learned about her father’s “business” and that he’d been whisked away to prison as she was shipped south.
Her older brother helped to raise Bradford-Scott until he was killed by a drunk driver. She was 16 then.
At 17, she vowed to right the world by joining the U.S. Coast Guard. Still carrying her little-girl dream of being a writer, she took a post on Kure Atoll — an isolated island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There, she could write.
And she did, fulfilling the passion she has refused to abandon.
She married a Special Forces Greet Beret — “one of the most highly trained killers in the world.” She raised her two daughters, living in mortal fear of her husband for 15 years.
“He told me if I left him he would find us and burn all of us,” she said.
Leslie Bradford-Scott’s company Walton Wood Farm produces high-quality gifts for hard-to-buy-for men and women. (Photo: Jeanne Pengelly / kawarthaNOW.com)
She did leave him, and then she was a single woman with two children and a dog to feed. She took a job selling cars because it “came with a car.”
“I was determined to feed those two girls and the dog,” she said. The job was far from stimulating.
“I became so mind-numbingly bored, I was forced to go back to my childhood dream,” she said.
This time, she tried her hand at screenwriting. She wrote her plays on post-it notes that she would keep in her suit-jacket pocket until she got home at night, fed the girls, and put them to bed. Then she’d transfer them to computer.
Fate has relentlessly teased Bradford-Scott. She won an award at an international film festival and had 17 requests from producers to consider her screenplay. None came to fruition but her confidence grew to the point that, when her boss downgraded her salary, she chose the door.
Her girls were older, and Bradford-Scott found herself a cabin where she wrote another screenplay. This one also won first place in a festival and was optioned out, but the company producing it went bankrupt.
When she ran out of money after about nine months writing in the cabin, she took a job selling recreational vehicles near Killarney Provincial Park. She would retreat to the park on weekends and it was on one of those truncated trips into the park — one she had to make by floatplane to get back to work on time — that she met the man who is now her husband and partner in Walton Wood Farm.
“I had to trust that Peter wouldn’t be a snapperhead idiot like the other men I’d known,” she said.
He wasn’t. He was a pilot, though. Now Bradford-Scott is also a pilot — another dream realized.
Peter also longed to return to his roots as a farmer. They found the Baileboro property and bought it, with the goal of finding a way to preserve the farming heritage that shaped this part of the country. That would require a money-making venture still had to be determined.
Bradford-Scott says she tried a lot of things before landing on the one that worked in 2014. She was 49 then.
“The one thing that had saved me my entire life was a hot bath,” she said. “It was where I could regain my sanity, then get into my fuzzy pyjamas, go to bed, and hit restart to face the next day.”
Bath salts it was.
But, of course, Bradford-Scott is a writer. So bath salts, with stories. And her stories are good. They are peppered with inside-out cynicism that is twisted into an edgy humour. The number-one product she sells now is B’Ver Balm. You can guess from the name: it’s a feminine shaving salve.
Leslie Bradford-Scott making her pitch on CBC Television’s “Dragons’ Den” in 2016. (Photo: CBC)
The success of Walton Wood Farm is partly due to the resilience Bradford-Scott developed over the years, but also to a foray on the CBC hit television show Dragons’ Den in 2016.
There, dragon Jim Treliving (chairman and owner of Boston Pizza International Inc.) offered to buy her business for $2 million. Fate was teasing with that offer too, though: the other dragons picked on Treliving to the point where he walked away from the set — and that unbelievable offer. In the end, she accepted a $150,000 investment for a 12 per cent stake in her company by Manjit Minhas, co-founder and co-owner of Minhas Breweries, Distillery and Wineries.
Walton Wood Farm products are no longer made in the farmhouse kitchen; the company operates from a factory. Not only are the products sold locally, they’re also sold in more than 1,000 brick-and-mortar outlets across Canada and the United States. And Bradford-Scott still indulges her first passion of writing with her natural business ability: she writes almost all the stories that accompany her products.
Against all odds, Bradford-Scott was determined to succeed.
“I didn’t care how long it would take me to be successful,” she says. “I just did it,”
But she also remembers the rocks she’s stumbled upon.
“I see my life a lot like a movie,” she says. “I’m the person getting chased by the guy with the axe. I picture I’m living in a garden and pulling weeds. All gardens have weeds. Bad things happen to people. You’re not getting off this planet without that happening.”
The idea, she says, is to work through the fear.
“Be relentless,” she says. “If you’re scared, push yourself along.”
Volunteers plant a Bronte Oak tree at GreenUP Ecology Park to commemorate the countless hours of work they contributed to the park over the year. The Ecology Park Little Autumn Tree Sale on Sunday, October 15th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will feature many native and locally grown trees at the lowest prices of the year to make way for 2018 stock. Fall is the best time to plant a tree as the cool and wet autumn conditions provide optimum conditions for tree roots to establish themselves before winter. (Photo: GreenUP)
The hot and humid conditions we have been experiencing over the past few weeks are certainly not usual for fall in Peterborough. Some of us have enjoyed the recent hot weather that we hoped for all summer, but the weather forecasts now show more seasonal temperatures.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Karen Halley, GreenUP Communications & Marketing Specialist.
When typical autumn conditions arrive, the weather turns cool and with lots of rain the soil conditions become perfect for tree roots to establish themselves — this makes fall the best time to plant a tree.
These conditions are just in time for the GreenUP Ecology Park’s Biggest Little Autumn Tree Sale!
The sale will be one day only on Sunday, October 15th, with trees, shrubs, and plants starting at only one dollar. Now is a great time to make plans and considerations for choosing the right tree for your yard.
Trees are well known for improving air quality, providing wildlife habitat, growing food, and increasing property value. Their ability to combat climate change, reduce energy needs, and improve physical and psychological health is clear. Why not plant a tree this fall?
Many of us have a favourite tree species that we’d like to see in our yard; however, it is best to understand the planting location before choosing a species to plant there. The more you know about your yard, the easier it will be to select a species that will thrive there.
Just like people, trees are particular about their living conditions. It is best to find a good match between the tree’s requirements and the conditions present in your yard. Soil type, moisture, sun, and exposure are all important factors that will affect tree growth.
You can start by understanding the soil so that you are are able to plant species that will grow healthy roots. Is the soil heavy and wet? Is it dry and gritty?
If you don’t know much about your soil, you can look for some clues about its consistency. For example, when you water plants in your yard, does the water soak in quickly? If so, it is likely to be a sandy or gravelly soil whereas, on clay, water will sit longer and soak in after some time.
You can gain more information by digging up a small sample. Clay feels lumpy and sticky when it is wet, sandy soil feels gritty, silty soil feels soapy, and loamy soil is spongy. A handful of soil with a high clay consistency will form a shape in your hand when you squeeze it in your fist, whereas sandier soil will break apart.
When choosing a planting location, you will want to consider the roots, all the way up to the canopy. If the planting location is in a low-lying area that remains moist, you will want to plant a species that will thrive with ‘wet feet’ as its roots will be moist for extended periods of time. Up to the canopy, how much sun will the tree receive? Some trees are tolerant of shady conditions while others are not and need full sun to prosper.
Backyards are ideal areas for planting a tree. They are often are isolated from streets, have greater space for the canopy to grow, and have deep soils to grow into. There are a variety of trees that will grow well in these tree-friendly sites: Dogwoods, Pines, and Tamarack are species to consider.
The stresses of city life on urban trees can lead to shorter lifespans. The average life expectancy of an urban tree is only 10 to 15 years but, with attentive planning and ongoing care, trees can live longer.
Trees planted in the city are subject to built features: overhead wires, pavement, underground wires, and fences. Your planting location should consider all these factors, which can reduce the growing-space both above and below ground and can affect the long term health of the tree.
Avoid planting larger trees below wires, plant as far away from the road and sidewalks as possible, leave at least 20 feet between other trees, and be sure to request locates for underground services well in advance of planting.
With all these considerations, perhaps you’re now picturing your yard and wondering how a tree will ever grow there. If you wish to plant near a road, have limited space near a sidewalk, or live in a new subdivision with only compacted soil to work with, you can choose a hearty species that is more likely to grow under difficult conditions. If this is the case, Honeylocust, Ironwood, or Bur Oak may be species to add to your shortlist.
Consider choosing a species that is native to our region. They have developed complex evolutionary relationships with other native species, grow well in local soil conditions, and have adapted to the area’s unique climate.
It is always beneficial to plant a diverse range of species. With a changing climate, we are able to consider planting a broader range of trees and shrubs that are now able to thrive in the Peterborough area. Planting Carolinian forest species, which typically thrive in more southern regions, allows even greater biodiversity of our urban forest; Hoptree, Kentucky Coffee Tree, and Tulip Tree are unique trees that are able to grow in sites that are protected from bitter winter winds.
Thanks to funding from the Peterborough Utilities Group, wehn you spend $100 on trees, you will receive a complimentary water bag to get your tree started right! A water bag allows the tree to receive a slow release of water and provides a continuous supply for a new tree while it establishes itself. Limited numbers are available.
Whether you are planting a tree to increase shade, attract birds, beautify your yard, grow food, or reduce flooding, there is a lot to consider. Mark you calendar and visit GreenUP Ecology Park’s Biggest Little Autumn Tree Sale on Sunday, October 15th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to choose the right tree for the job — sale species and prices will be available at Ecology Park on sale day only. Staff will be on hand to help and answer your questions.
The RBC branch at 135 Burleigh Street in Apsley. (Photo: Google Maps)
After more than 56 years, the Apsley branch of Royal Bank of Canada will be closing.
kawarthaNOW learned of the pending closure of the RBC branch at 135 Burleigh Street in Apsley yesterday (October 4) after news leaked on social media, shocking local residents.
After kawarthaNOW broke the story, Scott Mancini, regional vice-president of RBC Kawartha-Lakeshore region, confirmed to the media the branch will close on April 20, 2018.
It will be merged with the next closest RBC branch at 50 Queen Street in Lakefield, located around 40 kilometres south of Apsley.
Employees at the Apsley branch, who were advised of the decision last week, will be tranferred to the Lakefield branch.
Clients at the Apsley branch will receive a formal letter about the decision to close the branch next week. Any client accounts remaining at the Apsley branch will be transferred to Lakefield when the merger happens.
RBC says it will maintain an ATM in Apsley, in addition to one located in Bancroft. ScotiaBank, TD Canada Trust, and Kawartha Credit Union also have branches in Bancroft — all of which are about a 30-minute drive from Apsley.
Apsley has a year-round population of around 2,400 people, but the area includes many thousands of seasonal residents who own cottages on the surrounding lakes.
Apsley resident Amanda Kaschak-Gray, who shared the news about the closure on Facebook yesterday (October 4), has since created a Facebook group called Stop Apsley RBC Closure!. As of the time and date of this update, the group has 200 members.
She has also created an online petition Save Apsley RBC, which has 117 signatures as of the time and date of this update.
Carolyn Ball, a councillor with North Kawartha Township and operator of Eels Lake Marina north of Apsley, is supporting efforts to save the Apsley branch.
“Unlike large urban areas and cities where there is a ‘veritable plethora’ of financial institutions, shutting down the only bank in Apsley for over 50 years is a terrible blow to our community,,” she wrote on Facebook. “Whether you are a seasonal or permanent resident and whether you bank there or not, this will negatively affect all of us who love to be here.”
The situation in Apsley reflects a continuting trend among all major banks to close branches in smaller communities, forcing customers who wish to bank in person to travel to larger centres. In Saskachewan, 20 rural bank branches in 2017 are closing.
In August 2017, Royal Bank announced the closure of 25 branches mainly in city centres across Canada. RBC attributed those closures to increasing customer reliance of online banking.
TD Canada Trust announced the closure of the only bank in Millbrook in August, merging with a branch in Peterborough.
RBC reported nearly $2.8 billion of profit for its fiscal third quarter this past summer.
'Studies in Light and Energy no.128' by Rebecca Last who, along with painter Janet Read, is featured at Christensen Fine Art in Peterborough this month. (Photo courtesy of Christensen Fine Art)
As fall gets underway this month, there are several new art shows and events happening in the area.
The Whetung Ojibwa Centre Thanksgiving art show is coming up on October 7th and 8th; a six-person art show at Artspace, based on Peterborough’s history as a test market, opens on the 13th; there’s a striking conceptual photography show at Evans Contemporary and Star X gallery; the abstracted atmospheric paintings of Rebecca Last and Janet Read are on display at Christensen Fine Art; and ‘Dots on a Line’, geometric patterns ‘Dots on a Line’ by Gwyneth Fischer, opens at Acme Art and Sailboat Co.
There’s also abstract work by Carol Forbes at the Kawartha Artist’s Gallery, Andrew Cripps’ ‘Careful what you wish for’ series of abstracted paintings at Coeur Nouveau, and a whole new set of shows are on display at The Art Gallery of Peterborough — not to mention their annual fundraiser gala coming up on October 28th. There will be a ‘First Friday Art Crawl’ on Friday, October 6th, featuring a number of galleries (mentioned above) in the downtown core, so mark that Friday on the calendar as well!
Finally, there’s a new initiative in Lakefield to look at turning an unused Parks Canada property into an arts and culture hub, which could include studio space and a public art gallery.
Evans Contemporary and Star X present Mamoru Tsukada’s ‘The Exhausted Sky’
Two photos by Mamoru Tsukada in the ‘The Exhausted Sky’ exhibit presented at both Evans Contemporary and Star X Gallery. (Photos courtesy Evans Contemporary)
Evans Contemporary and Star X Gallery will both be showing the latest work by photographer Mamoru Tsukada. ‘The Exhausted Sky’ is presented in the two gallery spaces as a series of 112 black and white photographs, presented in a grid formation at Evans Contemporary, and another series of 250 colour photographs lining the floor of the Star X Gallery.
These conceptual works have been digitally layered to include traces of the mushroom cloud from the Hiroshima nuclear attack, as well as images of the sky from two other related sites: Berlin and the Trinity test site in New Mexico. The images are beautiful and striking, as the sky is said to have been after the nuclear bomb that devastated Hiroshima.
The work is focused on the sky, but at its core is about humanity as a whole, and points to a glaring lack of humanity, which as a species we have both caused and encountered throughout history. The sky itself, our atmosphere, is something we all share and rely on regardless of social class or nationality, and is a fitting vehicle for the message encrypted in this series of pictures.
The opening reception will be held on Friday, October 6th from 6 p.m. until midnight and will run until October 28th.
Evans Contemporary is located at #2 Banker’s Common in downtown Peterborough. For more information, visit www.evanscontemporary.com or contact Paolo Fortin at evanscontemporary@gmail.com. Star X is located at 129-1/2 Hunter St. West, 3rd floor, in downtown Peterborough. Hours of operation are Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Coeur Nouveau presents ‘Careful What You Wish For’ by Andrew Cripps
One of the paintings by Andrew Cripps on display this month at Coeur Nouveau. (Photo courtesy of Coeur Nouveau)
In ‘Careful What You Wish For’, colourful paintings by Andrew Cripps “explore civilization’s inability to understand that picking fights with nature is futile.”
This series looks at things which have not worked out as planned. Unforeseen complications and unknown factors causing unexpected negative results, which is indeed what we often see over time as new innovations prove problematic in unforeseen ways.
The title phrase ‘Careful what you wish for’ is emblematic of instances where you find yourself getting what you wished for literally, yet the change somehow results in unpleasant circumstances.
The opening reception will be held on Friday, October 6th from 6 p.m. until midnight.
Coeur Nouveau is on the 2nd floor of the Commerce Building at 129.5 Hunter St. West in downtown Peterborough.
Christensen Fine Art features recent work by painters Janet Read and Rebecca Last
‘Reflection’ by Janet Read (20″x40″, oil and cold wax on canvas), one of her works on display at Christensen Fine Art. (Photo courtesy of Christensen Fine Art)
Painters Rebecca Last and Janet Read approach the canvas with very different methods of working, though they both find inspiration in water, cloud and light; the resulting abstracted works are each their own.
The show is on display now at the gallery at Christensen Fine Art until October 28th.
In addition to regular business hours, the gallery will be open for viewing on the evening of the First Friday Art Crawl on Friday, October 6th, so don’t forget to stop by and see these beautiful pieces for yourself.
‘Studies in light and energy no.133’ by Rebecca Last, 30″x40″, acrylic on canvas. (Photo courtesy of Christensen Fine Art)
Christensen Fine Art is located at 432 George Street North in downtown Peterborough. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, visit www.christensenfineart.com.
Kawartha Artists’ Gallery & Studio presents Carol Forbes’ ‘Out of My Head’ and group show ‘Rural Outlook’
‘Crystal Clang’ is one of the pieces featured in Carol Forbes’ upcoming exhibition. (Photo courtesy Kawartha Artists’ Gallery & Studio)
This October, the Kawartha Artists’ Gallery & Studio (KAGS) will feature ‘Out of My Head’, a series of colourful abstract paintings by Carol Forbes. The opening reception will be held on Sunday, October 15th from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m., with the show on display from October 11th until October 22nd.
Later in the month, a collection of paintings by KAGS’ outdoor painters’ group called ‘Rural Outlook’ will open. The show will be on display from October 25th until November 12th, with an opening reception on Sunday, October 29th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio is a not-for-profit artist’s co-operative, located at 420 O’Connell Road in Peterborough. Hours of operation are Wednesday to Sunday from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.kawarthaartists.org.
Three new exhibitions at the Art Gallery of Peterborough continue until January
Becky Welter-Nolan during her performance of ‘Pushing It’ at the Art Gallery of Peterborough. The sculpture, named ‘Rocky III’, is 6 feet in diameter and weighs 200 pounds. (Photo: Matt and Steph, courtesy of the Art Gallery of Peterborough)
‘Pushing It’ by Becky Welter-Nolan is a performative project featuring a roughly 200-pound quilted soft-sculpture “boulder” pushed uphill in true Sisyphean style. While Becky’s two public performances of ‘Pushing It’ took place in September, her show continues at the Art Gallery of Peterborough until January 7th, 2018.
Also on display is a retrospective of work by artist Brenda Francis Pelkey, known for her contributions to contemporary photography since the 1980s, and a group show ‘Public/Private’ that includes work by Anne Meredith Barry, Sheila Butler, Brian Kipping, Hugh Mackenzie, Waltraud Markgraf, and William Vazan. Both shows also continue until January 7th, 2018.
And don’t forget that the It’s all about ART! Gala Auction, the Art Gallery of Peterborough’s annual fundraiser, is on the horizon — scheduled for Saturday, October 28th.
The Art Gallery of Peterborough is located at 250 Crescent Street in downtown Peterborough and is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. It offers free admission, barrier-free access, and a gallery shop. Parking is available in the Del Crary lot. For more information, call 705-743-9179 or visit agp.on.ca.
Acme Art and Sailboat Co. presents Gwyneth Fischer’s ‘Dots on a line’
Detail of one of Gwyneth Fischer’s pieces that will be on display at Acme Art and Sailboat Co. (Photo courtesy of Acme Art and Sailboat Co.)
Drop by and check out these geometric works by multi-disciplinary artist Gwyneth Fischer. The opening reception for this show will take place on Friday, October 6th from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m.
Acme Art and Sailboat Company is located at 129-1/2 Hunter Street West, 3rd floor, in downtown Peterborough. Hours of operation are Thursday to Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Artspace presents ‘A National Test Market’ featuring works by various artists
‘Pillows’ by Amber Helene Müller St. Thomas, pigment print on premium lustre photo paper. (Photo courtesy of Artspace)
Running from October 13th until November 17th, this six person show makes reference to Peterborough’s history as a test market. It is a interesting fact the demographics here are representative of those in other settler communities across Canada.
‘A National Test Market’ features work by artists Meagan Christou, Charlotte DiCarlo, Callista Durose Moya, Robin Love, Amber Helene Muller St Thomas, and Jemma Woolidge. The opening reception will be held on Friday, October 13th from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. and there will be a curator’s talk on Wednesday, November 1st at 7 p.m.
Artspace is an accessible space located at 378 Aylmer Street in downtown Peterborough. Regular hours of operation are Tuesday to Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Parking is available in the municipal lot on Hunter Street between Aylmer and George. For more information, call 705-748-3883 or visit artspace-arc.org.
Whetung Ojibwa Centre presents their Thanksgiving Art Show
The gallery at Whetung Ojibwa Centre in Curve Lake. (Photo courtesy of Whetung Ojibwa Centre)
Get out and see the Thanksgiving art show at the Whetung Ojibwa Centre at Curve Lake First Nation! The show will be held on Saturday, October 7th and Sunday, October 8th from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.
With artists in attendance demonstrating their skills, this should be a fun event to attend. Also, if you live in the surrounding area, you can enjoy a nice fall drive on your way over.
The Whetung Ojibwa Centre is located at 875 Curve Lake Rd. in Curve Lake. For more information, call 705-657-3661 or visit www.whetung.com.
Creating an arts and culture hub in Lakefield
This Parks Canada property in Lakefield could be transformed from an abandoned building into an arts and culture hub. (Photo: Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism)
Residents of Lakefield will be familiar with the waterfront property at 2 Smith Street, owned by Parks Canada and previously the Trent-Severn Waterway maintenance yard. The building hasn’t been used for a long time and the windows and doors are boarded up. For the past few months, the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism has been meeting with Parks Canada staff, community members, and the Township of Selwyn to find out how the property could be better used.
A group of local artists led by Kay Gregg has been discussing the potential of making it an arts and culture hub, which might include a studio space, a public art gallery, and a location where visiting artists can give talks and seminars. The group has connected with Akin Collective, a Toronto-based arts organization that has spearheaded similar projects. The Kawartha Chamber is partnering with the local artists and Akin to apply for funding to conduct a feasibility study and prepare a business plan.
Akin is taking the lead on the application and report writing and is seeking public input through a brief online survey available at akincollective.com/lakefield.
Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has announced it will be opening an additional 24 unfunded inpatient beds later this month, and they will remain open year round.
PRHC normally only opens and staffs the additional beds temporarily, between December and March, to deal with the traditional surge in respiratory illnesses like the flu.
However, over the spring and summer, patient numbers have continued to exceed the hospital’s funded bed capacity, and PRHC has decided to keep the beds open year round.
“We are facing similar challenges to what is being seen in hospitals across the province,” says Colleen Armstrong, Director of Emergency & Medicine at PRHC. “This year we have had record numbers of patients coming through the doors of our Emergency Department and being admitted to inpatient beds every month, and there is no indication that these volumes can be expected to decrease anytime soon.”
Part of the challenge the hospital faces in managing patient volumes is due to around 80 existing beds being used by patients — usually elderly — who no longer require hospitalization, but who remain in hospital care because there is no safe and suitable alternative available for them in the community.
To address this challenge, PRHC and Peterborough Housing Corporation (PHC) jointly announced earlier this year the opening of a new seniors’ supportive housing development in the community. These units will provide safe, comfortable, and affordable housing options for seniors in both the community and the hospital, allowing them to maintain their independence while receiving the necessary level of daily care.
The housing initiative, jointly funded by PHC and the Central East LHIN, is expected to be ready for residents in 2018/19.
Peter McLaughlin, PRHC President & CEO, says the availability of the housing will allow PRHC to free up beds and resouces for patients requiring acute, hospital level care.
“We continue to work with our many partners in the community and region to develop innovative ways of addressing the challenges we are seeing across the healthcare system in Ontario,” McLaughlin says. “The Seniors’ Supportive Housing project is just one way in which we are collaborating with these partners to ensure patients are receiving the appropriate level of care to meet their needs.”
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